[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 120 (Friday, June 23, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41132-41133]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13332]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. CP2022-34; Order No. 6545]


Inbound Competitive Multi-Service Agreements With Foreign Postal 
Operators

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is recognizing a recent Postal Service filing 
of a change in certain modifications to the Competitive Multi-Product 
Agreements with Foreign Postal Operators 1 products to be effective 
July 1, 2023. This notice informs the public of the filing, invites 
public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

DATES: Comments are due: June 23, 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. Commission Action
III. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

    On June 15, 2023, the Postal Service filed a notice with the 
Commission pursuant to 39 CFR 3035.105 and Order No. 546, giving notice 
of: (1) certain modifications to the competitive multi-product 
``Interconnect Renumeration Agreement USPS and Specified Postal 
Operators II'' (IRA-USPS II Agreement); and (2) two accessions to the 
IRA-USPS II Agreement.\1\ The IRA-USPS II Agreement is included within 
the Competitive Multi-Service Agreements with Foreign Postal Operators 
1 product.\2\
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    \1\ Notice of United States Postal Service of Modification to 
Inbound Competitive Multi-Service IRA-USPS II Agreement, June 15, 
2023 (Notice). Docket Nos. MC2010-34 and CP2010-95, Order Adding 
Inbound Competitive Multi-Service Agreements with Foreign Postal 
Operators 1 to the Competitive Product List and Approving Included 
Agreement, September 29, 2010 (Order No. 546).
    \2\ Order Approving Additional Inbound Competitive Multi-Service 
Agreement with Foreign Postal Operators, December 23, 2021, at 5-7 
(Order No. 6074).
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    On December 23, 2021, the Commission approved the inclusion of the 
IRA-USPS II Agreement in the Inbound Competitive Multi-Service 
Agreements with Foreign Postal Operators 1 product as well as the 
initial inbound rates proposed by the Postal Service. Order No. 6074 at 
5-7. Pursuant to the IRA-USPS II Agreement, any party to the IRA-USPS 
II Agreement can change or modify the agreement at any time and enter 
into separate bilateral or multilateral agreements with terms that 
differ from the IRA-USPS II Agreement. Notice at 2. The modifications 
proposed in the Notice are intended to take effect on July 1, 2023. Id. 
The Postal Service avers that it has agreed to the modifications with 
three parties and expects additional parties will accede to it in the 
future. Id. The Postal Service indicated its intent to update the 
docket as additional parties accede to the modifications. Id.
    Specifically, the modifications revise: (1) the termination 
provisions and references to quality of service incentives; (2) the 
list of annexes with references to quality of service incentives; (3) 
the definitions in an annex; (4) the date of submission for certain 
rates to the International Post Corporation; (5) the structure of the 
quality of services incentives and related references; and (6) the 
accounting processes related to quality of service incentives and 
related references. Id. at 2-3. The Postal Service also noted that two 
additional Foreign Postal Operators (FPOs) acceded to the IRA-USPS II 
Agreement. Id. at 3.
    Concurrent with the Notice, the Postal Service has filed: (1) the 
agreement to modify the IRA-USPS II Agreement and the modified version 
of the IRA-USPS II Agreement; (2) a certified statement concerning the 
rates under the modified IRA-USPS II Agreement as required by 39 CFR 
3035.105(c)(2); (3) the Deed of Accession executed by the additional 
FPOs; and (4) supporting financial documentation. Id. at 4, Attachments 
1-4. The Postal Service also requests that the Commission continue to 
treat materials filed as non-public pursuant to its Application for 
Non-Public Treatment, which was filed with the Postal Service's initial 
notice and is incorporated by reference. Id. at 4.
    The Commission shall review the proposed IRA-USPS II Agreement 
modification to ensure that the Inbound Competitive Multi-Service 
Agreements with Foreign Postal Operators 1 product continues to cover 
its attributable costs, does not cause Market Dominant products to 
subsidize Competitive products as a whole, and contributes to the 
Postal Service's institutional costs. 39 U.S.C. 3633(a); 39 CFR 
3035.105 and 3035.107.

II. Commission Action

    The Commission seeks public comments from interested persons on 
whether the Postal Service's Notice concerning the IRA-USPS II 
Agreement as modified is consistent with 39 U.S.C. 3633 and 39 CFR 
3036.105. Comments are due by June 23, 2023.
    The Notice and related filings are available on the Commission's 
website (http://www.prc.gov). The Commission encourages interested 
persons to review the Notice for further details.

[[Page 41133]]

    The Commission appoints Christopher C. Mohr to serve as the Public 
Representative in this proceeding.

III. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission seeks public comment from interested persons on 
whether the Notice of the United States Postal Service of Modification 
to Inbound Competitive Multi-Service IRA-USPS II Agreement, filed June 
15, 2023, is consistent with 39 U.S.C. 3633 and 39 CFR 3035.105.
    2. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Christopher C. Mohr is appointed to 
serve as an officer of the Commission (Public Representative) to 
represent the interests of the general public in this proceeding.
    3. Comments by interested persons are due by June 23, 2023.
    4. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the 
Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Erica A. Barker,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-13332 Filed 6-22-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P