[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 6, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74671-74672]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-26429]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. PI2023-1; Order No. 6347]


Service Standards for Market Dominant Mail Products

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is recognizing a recent filing by the Postal 
Service of its intent to establish new service standards for USPS 
Connect Local Mail and proposing corresponding revisions to its Service 
Performance Measurement (SPM) Plan for Market Dominant products. This 
notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and 
takes other administrative steps.

DATES: Comments are due: December 14, 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: On November 23, 2022, the Postal Service 
filed a notice, pursuant to 39 CFR 3055.5, notifying the Commission of 
the Postal Service's intent to establish new service standards for USPS 
Connect Local Mail and proposing corresponding revisions to its Service 
Performance Measurement (SPM) Plan for Market Dominant products.\1\ The 
Postal Service also, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3691(b)(2), requests 
approval to apply its existing internal service performance measurement 
system to USPS Connect Local Mail. Notice at 1. The most recent version 
of the SPM Plan that is the subject of this proceeding was approved for 
implementation on July 18, 2022, in Docket No. PI2022-3.\2\ 
Accompanying the Notice is a library reference, which contains a copy 
of the Postal Service's SPM Plan, revised November 23, 2022 (both 
redline and clean versions).\3\
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    \1\ United States Postal Service Notice Concerning the 
Establishment of Service Standards and Measurement for USPS 
ConnectTM Local and Request for Use of Internal 
Measurement System, November 23, 2022, at 1 (Notice).
    \2\ Docket No. PI2022-3, Order Directing the Postal Service to 
Request an Advisory Opinion Prior to Implementing its Proposed 
Change to the Critical Entry Times for Periodicals and Approving the 
Other Proposed Revisions to Market Dominant Service Performance 
Measurement Plan, July 18, 2022 (Order No. 6232).
    \3\ Library Reference USPS-LR-PI2023-1/1, November 23, 2022.
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    On November 10, 2021, the Postal Service announced its intention to 
conduct a market test of an experimental product denominated as USPS 
Connect Local Mail.\4\ USPS Connect Local Mail is intended for local 
delivery, enabling customers to deposit USPS Connect Local Mail items 
at participating Destination Delivery Units (DDUs) or present them to 
mail carriers along their lines of travel to participating DDUs. Notice 
at 2. The Commission authorized the proposed market test on January 4, 
2022.\5\ The Postal Service now seeks to classify USPS Connect Local 
Mail as a new, permanent classification in the Mail Classification 
Schedule (MCS).\6\ The Postal Service states that assuming its proposed 
classification changes are adopted in accordance with the expected date 
of implementation of January 22, 2023, the Postal Service plans to add 
USPS Connect Local Mail

[[Page 74672]]

as price category within First-Class Mail Flats. Notice at 2.
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    \4\ Docket No. MT2022-1, United States Postal Service Notice of 
Market Test of Experimental Product--USPS Connect Local Mail, 
November 10, 2021.
    \5\ Docket No. MT2022-1, Order Authorizing Market Test of 
Experimental Product--USPS Connect Local Mail, January 4, 2022 
(Order No. 6080).
    \6\ Notice at 3; see Docket No. MC2023-12, United States Postal 
Service Revised Request to Convert USPS Connect Local Mail to a 
Permanent Offering, November 9, 2022.
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    Related to the Postal Service's request to add USPS Connect Local 
Mail as a new, permanent classification, the Postal Service plans to 
establish new service standards for USPS Connect Mail Local. Notice at 
2. The Postal Service plans for USPS Connect Local Mail items accepted 
at a participating DDU by 0700 to receive a same-day service standard, 
and for mailpieces received at a participating DDU or by carrier pickup 
after 0700 to receive a 1-day service standard. Id. at 3. The Postal 
Service states its intention to revise 39 CFR 121.1 to establish a 0-
day service standard for USPS Connect Local Mail and to include USPS 
Connect Local Mail in the 1-day service standard.\7\
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    \7\ Id. at 3-4. This proposed change was published in the 
Federal Register. See 87 FR 73468-69 (Nov. 30, 2022).
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    The Postal Service also proposes, pursuant to 39 CFR 3055.5, to 
modify the existing SPM Plan to add USPS Connect Local Mail, describe 
the approach that will be followed to measure its service performance, 
and identify when such performance measurements will be reported. Id. 
at 4.
    Finally, the Postal Service requests, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 
3691(b)(2), that the Commission approve the Postal Service's use of 
internal SPM to measure service performance for USPS Connect Local 
Mail. Id. The Postal Service specifically proposes using its existing 
internal Intelligent Mail package barcode (IMpb) system, which employs 
automated equipment to sort and track mailpieces. Id. at 4-5. The 
Postal Service proposes using IMpb tracking barcode scans at acceptance 
and delivery to measure service performance for USPS Connect Local 
Mail. Id. at 5.
    Interested persons are invited to comment on the Postal Service's 
planned new service standards for USPS Connect Local Mail, proposed 
revisions to its SPM Plan, and request to use internal service 
performance measurement for USPS Connect Local Mail. Comments are due 
December 14, 2022. The Commission does not anticipate the need for 
reply comments at this time. The Commission intends to evaluate the 
comments received and use those suggestions to help carry out its 
service performance measurement responsibilities under Title 39 of the 
United States Code. Material filed in this docket will be available for 
review on the Commission's website, http://www.prc.gov. The Commission 
appoints Christopher C. Mohr to represent the interests of the general 
public (Public Representative) in this docket.
    It is ordered:
    1. Docket No. PI2023-1 is established for the purpose of 
considering the Postal Service's planned new service standards for USPS 
Connect Local mail, proposed revisions to its Service Performance 
Measurement Plan for Market Dominant products, and request to use 
internal service performance measurement for USPS Connect Local Mail.
    2. Interested persons may submit written comments on any or all 
aspects of the Postal Service's proposals no later than December 14, 
2022.
    3. Christopher C. Mohr is designated to represent the interests of 
the general public in this docket.
    4. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Erica A. Barker,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-26429 Filed 12-5-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P