PRC supports National Newspaper Association criticisms of post office closings
Filed under: post office closings, postal, postal news, PRC, press releases, usps
PRC supports NNA recommendations for better selection criteria for post office closings
WASHINGTON—The Postal Regulatory Commission has recommended that the U.S. Postal Service take another look at its approach to closing post offices, supporting many criticisms made by National Newspaper Association in its fall 2011 testimony.
The PRC released its opinion in the USPS proposal to close retail offices, laid out in the case Retail Access Optimization Initiative. The Postal Service is required to seek the PRC’s input whenever it embarks upon major service changes.
NNA participated in the case to argue that although it did not categorically oppose small post office changes, the selection of offices to be closed and the manner in which USPS sought public feedback were flawed. The PRC agreed with NNA and strongly suggested that USPS revise its plans. PRC Chair Ruth Goldway was particularly critical in a separate opinion, saying the proposals “reveal a pattern of inaccurate and overly optimistic economic savings calculations and of careless disregard of community concerns.” Read more
PRC Commissioner Nanci Langley begins term as Vice Chairman
Press Release from the Postal Regulatory Commission
January 6, 2012
Washington, DC–Postal Regulatory Commission Chairman Ruth Y. Goldway this week announced the start of Nanci E. Langley’s term as Vice Chairman of the Commission, succeeding Commissioner Mark Acton. PRC regulations provide that the Commissioners elect a member to serve as Vice Chairman for a term of one year. Vice Chairman Langley was elected on December 7, 2011 to the post, with her term beginning January 1, 2012. She previously served as PRC Vice Chairman from October 2008 – October 2009.
At the request of Chairman Goldway, Langley led the Commission’s work last year on its first report under section 701 of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 that directs the Commission to report to the President and Congress every five years on how well the law is operating and recommend measures to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of postal laws. Read more
Collins: PRC Opinion On PO Closures Increases Urgency To Pass Postal Reform
Filed under: Congress, post office closings, postal, postal news, PRC, press releases, usps
Washington, DC – December 23, 2011- U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and one of the authors of bipartisan postal reform legislation, today issued the following statement regarding the Postal Regulatory Commission’s advisory opinion on the U.S. Postal Service’s plan to close almost 3700 post offices and other retail facilities. The Postal Service is required to ask the PRC for a non binding opinion on nationwide service changes.
The PRC said “the Commission’s primary finding is that the (closure plan) was not designed to optimize the network. The Commission recommends the use of modern optimization tools and techniques to better maximize net retail revenues while fulfilling statutory service obligations.”
“The Commission’s unanimous findings support my and many of my colleagues’ skepticism about the wisdom of mass postal closures without a more thoughtful, transparent, and data-driven process,” said Senator Collins. “Fortunately, such a process is included in the 21st Century Postal Reform Act, which I authored along with Senators Lieberman, Carper and Brown. Our bill would require the Postal Service to find savings and internal efficiencies first – before raising prices and cutting service that could drive away the very customers keeping the mail in business. Today’s PRC opinion only highlights the increasing urgency for Congress to pass comprehensive postal reform if we are to preserve the Postal Service for the next generation of Americans.
USPS To Market Test First Class Tracer
USPS will test a new product called First Class Tracer in a limited market area. The product will enable customers to follow their greeting cards, postcards, and personal and business letters as they travel through the mail processing system.
Here’s how it will work. Customers will purchase an adhesive barcode that will be placed directly under the postage of their individual letters.They will be able to follow the mailpiece using the tracer barcodes by checking the numbers online at www.usps.com, or by using a unique QR code with their mobile device. Read more
USPS Notice To PRC Requesting Changes To Service Standards
Excerpts from USPS filing to the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) requesting an advisory opinion regarding service standards. USPS received 4,200 comments from its Federal Register notice in September 2011.
Based on an analysis of fiscal year 2010 costs, the Postal Service has determined that a combination of service changes centered on eliminating overnight service for significant portions of First-Class Mail and Periodicals could generate a net improvement to postal finances of approximately $2.1 billion on an annual basis. While this would not cure all of the Postal Service’s long-term financial ills, this constitutes an opportunity for such a substantial improvement in financial stability that the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service has directed postal management to pursue expeditious implementation of the service and operational changes to hasten the time when full savings from the initiative can be realized.
As implemented by 39 C.F.R. § 3001.72, section 3661(b) requires the Postal Service to file its advisory opinion request not less than 90 days before the scheduled implementation of the planned service changes. Assuming no disabling legislative enactment, the Postal Service would be authorized to implement the service changes within the scope of this Request no earlier than March 5, 2012.15 In any event, the Postal Service will not implement any service standard changes within the scope of its Request before the completion of the aforementioned rulemaking affecting 39 C.F.R. Part 121. Assuming a 60-day comment period and an additional 30 days to consider and address all comments before determining whether to publish notice of a final rule change in the Federal Register, the rulemaking can not realistically conclude until some time in the first half of March 2012. No service changes associated with this Request will be implemented earlier than some time in the first half of April 2012. Accordingly, the filing of this request today satisfies the section 3661(b) requirement that it be filed “a reasonable time prior to the effective date” of the proposed changes. USPS Request To PRC To Change Service Standards| All files relating to USPS’ Request for Advisory Opinion can be found at the PRC web site Daily Listing for December 5, 2011.
USPS FAQs On PRC FILING TO CHANGE SERVICE STANDARDS
On Monday, Dec. 5, the Postal Service will transmit to the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) a request for an advisory opinion regarding service standards associated with a significant rationalization of its mail processing network. Shortly thereafter, the Postal Service will publish a notice in the Federal Register soliciting public comment on the proposed service standard changes.
On Sep. 15, 2011, the Postal Service announced it would begin studying 252 mail processing facilities for possible closure. At that time, the Postal Service announced that it was considering changing service standards and an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was being filed with the Federal Register that day. [ PR link: USPS Study List] Read more
President Obama Names Republican Tony Hammond to Postal Regulatory Commission
Filed under: politics, postal, postal news, PRC, press releases, usps
Ignores Union’s call to appoint Democrat to the Postal Regulatory Commission
December 2, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:
- Tony Hammond – Commissioner, Postal Regulatory Commission
Tony Hammond, Nominee for Commissioner, Postal Regulatory Commission
Tony Hammond served on the Postal Regulatory Commission and its predecessor agency, the Postal Rate Commission, from August 1, 2002 to October 7, 2011. During that time, he was elected to two separate terms as Vice Chairman of the Commissions. Previously, Mr. Hammond was owner and managing member of T. Hammond Company, LLC, a private consulting firm. In addition, he was Senior Vice President of the direct marketing firm FL&S, and Senior Consultant to Forbes 2000, Inc. Mr. Hammond served for ten years on the staff of then-Southwest Missouri Congressman Gene Taylor, the ranking member of the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee. Mr. Hammond received a B.S. from Missouri State University. – White House Press Release
If confirmed, Mr. Hammond will join the Commission with his fellow Republicans Mark Acton and Robert G. Taub, and Democrats Ruth Y. Goldway and Nanci E. Langley. Read more
PRC Issues Order Denying Postmasters Complaint Over Management Of Post Offices
Filed under: NAPUS, post offices, postal, postal news, Postmasters, PRC, usps
The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) issued a decision to deny a complaint by NAPUS and the League of Postmasters to renew an expedited complaint or a request a stay to prevent the Postal Service’s Final Rule from going into effect on December 1, 2011. The PRC did grant the Postmaster associations the right to re-file a complaint.
The Postal Regulatory Commission Issues Order Denying Motion for Renewal and Alternative Request for a Stay of the Effective Date.
Effective December 1, 2011, this change will allow the Postal Service to convert a Post Office into, or replace it with, another type of USPS-operated retail facility (including changing it to a station or branch) without following the discontinuance process. The change would also make it possible to change the staffing of a Post Office such that it is staffed only part-time by a Postmaster, or not staffed by a Postmaster at all, but rather by another type of USPS employee, and it would not be a discontinuance action.
The other “final rule” change would also allow a Post Office to be operated or managed by a Postmaster or by another type of postal employee at the direction of a Postmaster, including when the Postmaster is not physically present.
Leaders of both Postmaster organizations will confer with legal counsel next week to consider their options. Additional information on this very important issue will be provided as it becomes available.
read full story from NAPUS
USPS Begins FY 2012 With Net Loss of $139 Million
The US Postal Service filed its first month preliminary financial report of the 2012 fiscal year (unaudited) with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) . USPS reported a net operating loss of $139 million for the month of October 2011. This same period last year saw a $283 million net profit. USPS reported a drop of volume in all classes of mail except shipping which rose 34.6% during the month of October. Most all non-personnel expenses such as Vehicle Maintenance Service, Information Technology, Rural Carrier EMA, supplies and services saw an increase.
USPS Preliminary Financial Information (Unaudited )
Commissioners Robert Taub and Mark Acton begin their new terms at the PRC
Washington, DC – Officially sworn in on October 8th, Postal Regulatory Commissioner Robert Taub assumed his new responsibilities, while Vice Chairman Mark Acton began his second term. They join PRC Chairman Ruth Y. Goldway and Commissioner Nanci Langley.
Currently, the Commission is engaged in crucial deliberations regarding the future of the United States Postal Service, including the number of its post offices, the level of service it will provide and its future financial stability.
Immediately prior to joining the PRC, Taub served as Special Assistant to United States Secretary of the Army John McHugh. Earlier, Taub worked in the U.S. House of Representatives, including service for a decade as Chief of Staff to then Congressman McHugh. He has extensive expertise with postal policy and was instrumental in developing the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. Taub also served for 12 years on the U.S. House of Representative’s Oversight & Government Reform Committee in a series of senior positions, including service as Staff Director of its former Postal Service Subcommittee.
Commissioner Acton was nominated to his first term by President George W. Bush in November of 2005 and subsequently nominated for a second term by President Barack Obama in May of 2011. He was elected by his fellow commissioners to serve a one-year term as Vice Chairman this past December. Prior to his appointment, Acton served as Chief of Staff at the former Postal Rate Commission, assisting in managing all aspects of agency operations since 2002.
Chairman Goldway said, “I am very pleased to welcome back Mark Acton whose diligence and sense of fairness have contributed to the widespread acceptance of Commission decisions. And I am enthusiastic in welcoming Robert Taub whose proven combination of professionalism and devotion to postal issues will add to our strength as an independent agency.”
The Postal Regulatory Commission is an independent federal agency that provides regulatory oversight over the U.S. Postal Service to ensure the transparency and accountability of the Postal Service and foster a vital and efficient universal mail system.
source: PRC
Update: List Of Post Offices No Longer Under Review For Closure
Filed under: politics, post office closings, postal, postal news, PRC
September 21, 2011 – RAO Initiative Candidate Facility Status Update submitted to the Postal Regulatory Commission. The list of post offices no longer review are highlighted.
Update: List Of Post Offices No Longer Under Review For Closure