[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 13, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21930-21931]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-07817]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. R2022-1; Order No. 6146]


Market Dominant Price Adjustment

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is recognizing a recently filed Postal Service 
notice of inflation-based rate adjustments affecting market dominant 
domestic and international products and services, along with proposed 
classification changes. This notice informs the public of the filing, 
invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

DATES: Comments are due: May 6, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically via the Commission's Filing 
Online system at http://www.prc.gov. Those who cannot submit comments 
electronically should contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section by telephone for advice on filing 
alternatives.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at 
202-789-6820.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Introduction
II. Overview of the Postal Service's Filing
III. Initial Administrative Actions
IV. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

    On April 6, 2022, the Postal Service filed a notice of price 
adjustments affecting market dominant domestic and international 
products and services, along with proposed classification changes to 
the Mail Classification Schedule (MCS).\1\ The planned price 
adjustments described in the Notice are the second to be filed and 
reviewed pursuant to the new regulations of 39 CFR part 3030, which 
were finalized in Order No. 5763 and include new forms of rate 
authority.\2\ The intended effective date for the planned price 
adjustments is July 10, 2022. Notice at 1. The Notice, which was filed 
pursuant to 39 CFR part 3030, triggers a notice-and-comment proceeding. 
39 CFR 3030.125.
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    \1\ United States Postal Service Notice of Market-Dominant Price 
Change, April 6, 2022 (Notice).
    \2\ Docket No. RM2017-3, Order Adopting Final Rules for the 
System of Regulating Rates and Classes for Market Dominant Products, 
November 30, 2020 (Order No. 5763).
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II. Over of the Postal Service's Filing

    The Postal Service's filing consists of the Notice, which the 
Postal Service represents addresses data and information required under 
39 CFR 3030.122 and 39 CFR 3030.123; three attachments (Attachments A-
C) to the Notice; and five public library references and one non-public 
library reference.
    Attachment A presents the planned price and related product 
description changes to the MCS. Notice, Attachment A. Attachments B and 
C address workshare discounts and the price cap calculation, 
respectively. Id. Attachments B and C.
    The five public library references provide supporting documentation 
for the five classes of mail.\3\ The Postal Service also filed a 
library reference pertaining to the two international mail products 
within First-Class Mail (Outbound Single-Piece First-Class Mail 
International and Inbound Letter Post) under seal and applied for non-
public treatment of those materials.\4\
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    \3\ USPS Notice of Filing Public Library References, April 6, 
2022, at 1.
    \4\ USPS Notice of Filing USPS-LR-R2022-1-NP1, April 6, 2022, at 
1, Attachment 1.
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    The Postal Service's planned percentage changes by class are, on 
average, as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Planned
                                                                price
                   Market dominant class                      adjustment
                                                                 (%)
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First-Class Mail...........................................        6.506
USPS Marketing Mail........................................        6.500
Periodicals................................................        8.540
Package Services...........................................        8.511
Special Services...........................................        6.442
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Notice at 4.
    Price adjustments for products within classes vary from the 
average. See, e.g., id. at 6, 11 (Table 6 showing range for First-Class 
Mail products and Table 8 showing range for USPS Marketing Mail 
products). Most of the planned adjustments entail increases to market 
dominant rates and fees; however, in a few instances, the Postal 
Service proposes either no adjustment or a decrease. See id. at 11, 12, 
25.
    The Postal Service identifies the effect of its proposed 
classification changes on the MCS in Attachment A. Id. at 28; id. 
Attachment A. The Postal Service also notes that the promotions offered 
by the Postal Service in 2022 are not proposed to change as a result of 
this proceeding. Notice at 26.

III. Initial Administrative Actions

    Pursuant to 39 CFR 3030.124(a), the Commission establishes Docket 
No. R2022-1 to consider the planned price adjustments for market 
dominant postal products and services, as well as the related 
classification changes, identified in the Notice. The Commission 
invites comments from interested persons on whether the Postal 
Service's planned price adjustments are consistent with applicable 
statutory and regulatory requirements. 39 CFR 3030.125. The applicable 
statutory and regulatory requirements the Commission considers in its 
review are the requirements of 39 CFR part 3030, Commission directives 
and orders, and 39 U.S.C. 3626, 3627, and 3629. 39 CFR 3030.126(b). 
Comments are due no later than May 6, 2022. 39 CFR 3030.124(f).
    The public portions of the Postal Service's filing are available 
for review on the Commission's website (http://www.prc.gov). Comments 
and other material filed in this proceeding will be available for 
review on the Commission's website, unless the information contained 
therein is subject to an application for non-public treatment. The 
Commission's rules on non-public materials (including access to 
documents filed under seal) appear in 39 CFR part 3011.
    Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the Commission appoints Kenneth E. 
Richardson to represent the interests of the general public (Public 
Representative) in this proceeding.

IV. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. R2022-1 to consider the 
planned price adjustments for market dominant postal products and 
services, as well as the related classification changes, identified in 
the Postal Service's April 6, 2022 Notice.
    2. Comments on the planned price adjustments and related 
classification changes are due no later than May 6, 2022.
    3. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Kenneth E. Richardson is appointed to 
serve as an officer of the Commission to represent the interests of the 
general public (Public Representative) in this proceeding.
    4. The Commission directs the Secretary of the Commission to 
arrange for prompt publication of this notice in the Federal Register.


[[Page 21931]]


    By the Commission.
Erica A. Barker,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-07817 Filed 4-12-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P