[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 22, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10942-10944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-03569]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. CP2023-113; CP2023-114; Order No. 6442]


Competitive Price Changes

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is recognizing a recently filed Postal Service 
document with the Commission concerning changes in rates and 
classifications of general applicability for competitive products. This 
notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and 
takes other administrative steps.

DATES: Comments are due: March 17, 2023.

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 and Overview
II. Summary of Changes
III. Initial Administrative Actions
IV. Ordering Paragraphs

[[Page 10943]]

I. Introduction and Overview

    On February 10, 2023, the Postal Service filed notice with the 
Commission concerning changes in rates and classifications of general 
applicability for First-Cass Package Service.\1\ In support of the 
First-Class Package Service Notice, the Postal Service filed the 
Governors' Decision supporting the request, with an annex including 
proposed changes to the Mail Classification Schedule (MCS) and a 
Competitive Product Contribution & Cost Coverage Analysis, and a non-
public annex showing Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 projected volumes, revenues, 
attributable costs, contribution, and cost coverage for each 
product.\2\ Proposed price and classification changes are incorporated 
into the proposed changes to the MCS. See First-Class Package Service 
Notice at 1-2.
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    \1\ USPS Notice of Changes in Rates and Classifications of 
General Applicability for First-Class Package Service, February 10, 
2023 (First-Class Package Service Notice).
    \2\ See First-Class Package Service Notice, Decision of the 
Governors of the United States Postal Service on Changes in Rates 
and Classifications of General Applicability for Competitive 
Products (Governors' Decision No. 23-1) (Governors' Decision No. 23-
1). The Postal Service also filed public, redacted versions of 
materials filed under seal and an Application of the United States 
Postal Service for Non-Public Treatment of Materials. First-Class 
Package Service Notice at 2.
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    Also on February 10, 2023, the Postal Service filed notice with the 
Commission concerning changes in rates and classifications of general 
applicability for Parcel Select.\3\ In support of the Parcel Select 
Notice, the Postal Service filed the Governors' Decision supporting the 
request, with an annex including proposed changes to the MCS and a 
Competitive Product Contribution & Cost Coverage Analysis, and a non-
public annex showing FY 2023 projected volumes, revenues, attributable 
costs, contribution, and cost coverage for each product.\4\ Proposed 
price and classification changes are incorporated into the proposed 
changes to the MCS. See Parcel Select Notice at 2.
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    \3\ USPS Notice of Changes in Rates and Classifications of 
General Applicability for Parcel Select, February 10, 2023 (Parcel 
Select Notice).
    \4\ Parcel Select Notice, Decision of the Governors of the 
United States Postal Service on Changes in Rates and Classifications 
of General Applicability for Competitive Products (Governors' 
Decision No. 23-2) (Governors' Decision No. 23-2). The Postal 
Service also filed public, redacted versions of materials filed 
under seal and an Application of the United States Postal Service 
for Non-Public Treatment of Materials. Parcel Select Notice at 2.
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II. Summary of Changes

    First-Class Package Service changes. The proposed changes to the 
MCS attached to Governors' Decision No. 23-1 show the Postal Service's 
planned price changes for First-Class Package Service. Further 
classification changes for First-Class Package Service are summarized 
as follows:
     First-Class Package Service would be renamed ``USPS Ground 
Advantage.''
     Certificate of Mailing and Certified Mail would be removed 
from the list of available optional features.
     Dimensional Weight pricing would be made available up to 
Zone 9.
     The Dimension Noncompliance Fee would become applicable to 
the product.
    First-Class Package Service Notice at 2-5; Governors' Decision No. 
23-1 at 1. According to the Postal Service, its proposed changes to 
First-Class Package Service ``flow from'' its proposals in Docket Nos. 
MC2022-81 and MC2022-82 ``to expand and enhance the First-Class Package 
Service product[.]'' \5\
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    \5\ First-Class Package Service Notice at 1; see Docket Nos. 
MC2022-81 and MC2022-82, USPS Notice of Effective date, February 10, 
2023. The Commission approved the Postal Service's proposals in 
Docket Nos. MC2022-81 and MC2022-82. See Docket Nos. MC2022-81 and 
MC2022-82, Order Removing USPS Retail Ground From the Competitive 
Product List and Approving Competitive Classification Changes to 
First-Class Package Service and Parcel Select, October 28, 2022 
(Order No. 6318).
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    The Postal Service states that it ``plans to interpret all 
contractual references'' in negotiated service agreements (NSAs) ``as 
USPS Ground Advantage'' and ``[w]hen necessary'' to ``execute 
amendments with customers to clarify any contract interpretation 
issues.'' First-Class Package Service Notice at 3-4. According to the 
Postal Service, ``[n]ew contracts utilizing the new USPS Ground 
Advantage name will be executed with new customers over the coming 
months.'' Id. at 4.
    Parcel Select changes. The proposed changes to the MCS attached to 
Governors' Decision No. 23-2 show the Postal Service's planned price 
changes for Parcel Select. Further classification changes for Parcel 
Select are summarized as follows:
     A new Destination Hub (DHub) price category would be 
established.
     The machinable and nonmachinable price tables would be 
eliminated.
     The place of entry and zone options across the existing 
Parcel Select Destination Entry and Parcel Select Lightweight price 
tables would be aligned (including eliminating distinct Non-Destination 
Entered price categories for Parcel Select Lightweight).
    Parcel Select Notice at 2-4; Governors' Decision No. 23-2 at 1. 
According to the Postal Service, ``[t]hese changes are predominantly 
structural in nature, to simplify and streamline the Parcel Select 
product across all price categories.'' Parcel Select Notice at 1.
    Planned effective date. According to the Postal Service, the 
planned effective date of the changes proposed in the First-Class 
Package Service Notice and the Parcel Select Notice is July 9, 2023. 
First-Class Package Service Notice at 1; Parcel Select Notice at 1, 2.

III. Initial Administrative Actions

    The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2023-113 to consider 
matters raised by the First-Class Package Service Notice and Docket No. 
CP2023-114 to consider matters raised by the Parcel Select Notice. The 
instant dockets involve similar issues pertaining to simplifying and 
streamlining product offerings and price changes for those offerings. 
The Commission previously consolidated dockets related to simplifying 
and streamlining the First-Class Package Service and Parcel Select 
products.\6\ Accordingly, the Commission will consolidate Docket No. 
CP2023-113 and Docket No. CP2023-114. See 39 CFR 3010.104.
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    \6\ See Docket Nos. MC2022-81 and MC2022-83, Notice and Order 
Concerning Removal of USPS Retail Ground from the Competitive 
Product List and Competitive Classification Changes, July 15, 2022, 
at 3 (Order No. 6230).
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    The Commission invites comments on the First-Class Package Service 
Notice and the Parcel Select Notice. Comments are due no later than 
March 17, 2023. The Postal Service's notices are available on the 
Commission's website at www.prc.gov.
    Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Arif Hafiz is appointed to serve as 
Public Representative to represent the interests of the general public 
in this docket.

IV. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2023-113 to consider the 
matters raised by the First-Class Package Service Notice.
    2. The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2023-114 to consider the 
matters raised by the Parcel Select Notice.
    3. The Commission consolidates Docket No. CP2023-113 and Docket No. 
CP2023-114.
    4. Comments are due no later than March 17, 2023.
    5. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the Commission appoints Arif Hafiz to 
serve as an officer of the Commission (Public Representative) to 
represent the interests of the general public in this docket.
    6. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the 
Federal Register.


[[Page 10944]]


    By the Commission.
Erica A. Barker,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-03569 Filed 2-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P