United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office General Government Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1995-11-15 monographic deposited born digital 39 p. GA 1.13:GGD-96-8 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-8 P0b002ee1803a466a f:gg96008 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-8 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-8 GGD-96-8 Postal law Postal rates Postal service Competition Cost control Labor costs Operations analysis Government sponsored enterprises Labor-management relations Letter Report GGD

GAO examined the U.S. Postal Service's proposals for modifying the postal ratemaking process, focusing on: (1) how the current ratemaking process could be improved; and (2) the effects of the 1970 Postal Reorganization Act on postal rates.<p/>GAO found that: (1) the Postal Service has petitioned the Postal Rate Commission to give it more flexibility in pricing postal products and establish a market-based mail classification schedule; (2) new Postal Service pricing mechanisms could minimize mail volume losses and keep rates lower for most mail classes; (3) Congress may have to clarify the 1970 ratemaking criteria because the Postal Service and Commission disagree on the extent that market forces impact postal rates; (4) postal ratemaking usually takes 10 months to complete and it does not include the time the Postal Service spends preparing rate cases and appeals; (5) proposed postal ratemaking reforms include developing accelerated procedures for market testing new products, establishing rate bands for competitive products, and allowing volume-based rates for high volume shippers; and (6) the Postal Service needs to be able to control labor costs and resolve workforce issues to remain competitive in the postal marketplace. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-8/html/GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-8.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-8/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-8.pdf GAO/GGD-96-8 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-8 Letter Report GAO/GGD-96-8; U.S. Postal Service: Postal Ratemaking in Need of Change; Postal law Postal rates Postal service Competition Cost control Labor costs Operations analysis Government sponsored enterprises Labor-management relations Title 18 Section 1693-1699 18 U.S.C. 1693-1699 Title 39 Section 3622(b) Title 39 Section 601-606 39 U.S.C. 3622(b) 39 U.S.C. 601-606