[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 17, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31527-31528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10530]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. CP2023-151; Order No. 6508]


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: June 1, 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
II. Summary of Changes
III. Initial Administrative Actions
IV. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

    On May 10, 2023, the Postal Service filed notice with the 
Commission concerning changes in rates and classifications of general 
applicability for Competitive products.\1\ The Postal Service 
represents that, as required by 39 CFR 3035.102(b) and 39 CFR

[[Page 31528]]

3035.104(b), the Notice includes an explanation and justification for 
the changes, the effective date, and a schedule of the changed rates. 
Notice at 1. The changes are scheduled to take effect on July 9, 2023. 
Id.
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    \1\ USPS Notice of Changes in Rates and Classifications of 
General Applicability for Competitive Products, May 10, 2023 
(Notice). Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3632(b)(2), the Postal Service is 
obligated to publish the Governors' Decision and record of 
proceedings in the Federal Register at least 30 days before the 
effective date of the new rates.
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    Attached to the Notice is Governors' Decision No. 23-3, which 
states the new prices are in accordance with 39 U.S.C. 3632 and 3633 
and 39 CFR 3035.102.\2\ The Governors' Decision provides an analysis of 
the Competitive products' price and classification changes intended to 
demonstrate that the changes comply with 39 U.S.C. 3633 and 39 CFR part 
3035. Governors' Decision No. 23-3 at 1. The Attachment to the 
Governors' Decision 23-3 sets forth the classification and price 
changes and includes draft Mail Classification Schedule (MCS) language 
for Competitive products of general applicability.
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    \2\ Notice, Decision of the Governors of the United States 
Postal Service on Changes in Rates and Classification of General 
Applicability for Competitive Products (Governors' Decision No. 23-
3), at 1 (Governors' Decision No. 23-3).
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    The proposed pricing and classification changes in the Notice 
assume Commission approval of pending pricing and classification 
changes proposed in Docket Nos. CP2023-113 and CP2023-114. See Notice 
at 3.
    The Notice also includes an application for non-public treatment of 
the attributable costs, contribution, and cost coverage data in the 
unredacted version of the annex to the Governors' Decision, as well as 
the supporting materials for the data. Id. at 1-2.

II. Summary of Changes

    Proposed changes are limited to Parcel Select, First-Class Package 
Service, International Ancillary Services and Special Services, and 
Officially Licensed Retail Products. No other price or classification 
changes are proposed in this docket. See Governors' Decision 23-3 at 2-
3.
    Parcel Select changes. The proposed changes to the MCS in the 
Governors' Decision No. 23-3 show the Postal Service's planned price 
changes for Parcel Select. On average, Parcel Select prices are 
proposed to increase 1.4 percent. See id. at 2. In a change from the 
proposal under consideration in Docket No. CP2023-114, the Postal 
Service proposes to maintain its ounce-based prices at 15.999 ounces, 
as well as including a 1-pound price. See id. The Postal Service states 
that this change is to accommodate mailers' concerns regarding 
programming changes. Id.
    First-Class Package Service changes. The proposed changes to the 
MCS in the Governors' Decision No. 23-3 show the Postal Service's 
planned price changes for First-Class Package Service, which will be 
renamed as USPS Ground Advantage. On average, Retail prices are 
proposed to decrease 3.2 percent and Commercial prices are proposed to 
decrease 0.7 percent. See id. at 2-3. In a change from the proposal 
under consideration in Docket No. CP2023-113, the Postal Service 
proposes to maintain its ounce-based prices at 15.999 ounces, as well 
as including a 1-pound price. See id. at 3. The Postal Service states 
that this change is to accommodate mailers' concerns regarding 
programming changes. Id. Other changes listed for First-Class Package 
Service in Governors' Decision 23-3 were either previously approved in 
Order No. 6318 or previously proposed in Docket No. CP2023-113.\3\
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    \3\ 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); Docket No. 
CP2023-113, USPS Notice of Changes in Rates and Classifications of 
General Applicability for First-Class Package Service, February 10, 
2023.
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    International Ancillary Services and Special Services. The proposed 
changes to the MCS in the Governors' Decision 23-3 show the Postal 
Service's planned price changes for International Ancillary Services 
and Special Services. On average, prices are proposed to increase 6.3 
percent. Governors' Decision 23-3 at 3.
    Officially Licensed Retail Products. The proposed changes to the 
MCS in the Governors' Decision 23-3 show the Postal Service's planned 
price changes for Officially Licensed Retail Products. The upper price 
limit is proposed to increase to $16,000. See Attachment to the 
Governors' Decision 23-3. The Postal Service states that the increase 
in the upper bound of the price limit is to give the Postal Service 
more flexibility to enter into licensing partnerships with retailers on 
items with a higher price point. Notice at 2.

III. Initial Administrative Actions

    The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2023-151 to consider the 
Postal Service's Notice. Interested persons may express views and offer 
comments on whether the planned changes are consistent with 39 U.S.C. 
3632, 3633, and 3642, 39 CFR part 3035, and 39 CFR 3040 subparts B and 
E. Comments are due no later than June 1, 2023. For specific details of 
the planned price changes, interested persons are encouraged to review 
the Notice, which is 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. CP2023-151 to provide 
interested persons an opportunity to express views and offer comments 
on whether the planned changes are consistent with 39 U.S.C. 3632, 
3633, and 3642, 39 CFR part 3035, and 39 CFR 3040 subparts B and E.
    2. Comments are due no later than June 1, 2023.
    3. 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.
    4. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the 
Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Erica A. Barker,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-10530 Filed 5-16-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P