PRC Announces Simplified, More Transparent Rules For Post Office Closure Appeals
Filed under: post office closings, postal news, press releases, usps
Washington, DC– The Postal Regulatory Commission today issued updated procedures for the review of Postal Service determinations to close or consolidate post offices (Docket RM2011-13).
The simplified rules will, among other things, ease requirements for persons who file appeals but do not or can not use the internet; allow interested persons to file comments without first formally intervening; and grant participants extra time to respond to Postal Service motions and briefs. The rules streamline the Commission’s review process as well.
Chairman Ruth Y. Goldway said, “It has been thirty-five years since the Commission first adopted post office closure appeal rules. As the Postal Service has moved forward to reduce its retail network, and the Commission has received an increasing number of appeals of post office closings, it is important to simplify the process and to make it easier for the public to participate in and to understand our decision-making process. The new rules will allow postal customers to submit their petitions and supporting documentation in plain language. In addition, these changes will save the Commission money.” Read more
Statement on USPS Asking PRC to Accelerate Review of Network and Service Standard Changes
The U.S. Postal Service today asked the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) to expedite consideration of the Postal Service’s plan to make its operations more efficient, reduce costs and ensure the long-term affordability of mail.
The request filed with the PRC calls on the Commission to issue its non-binding advisory opinion on planned Postal Service network and service standard changes by mid-April 2012. The current moratorium on the closing of any Post Office or mail processing facility expires on May 15, 2012. The Postal Service voluntarily agreed to the moratorium in response to congressional requests in the hope it would help facilitate the enactment of comprehensive postal legislation. Read more
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
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson Supports PRC Report On USPS PO Closures
Filed under: Congress, post office closings, postal, postal news, postal reform, usps
Washington, DC – (Thursday, January 5, 2012) –Today, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson acknowledged her support for the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) Report on the Postal Service’s Retail Access Optimization Initiative (RAOI). The report outlined significant miscalculations in the USPS’s methodology for indentifying over 3,600 post offices and other retail branches for possible closure.
The Dallas Processing and Distribution Center and four retail branches in the 30th Congressional District are being considered for closure or relocation under the existing RAOI. Several smaller branches in the District have already closed or have been consolidated.
“These recent findings by the Commission align with my initial criticisms,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “Aside from the obvious job implications for tens of thousands of hard-working Americans, this attempt to reduce costs would only drastically cut services for businesses and individuals that rely heavily on the Postal Service, but not actually resolve the agency’s problem of avoiding insolvency.”
Congresswoman Johnson has met with USPS leadership in Dallas and Washington, DC since 2009 to avert any postal closures in the 30th Congressional District. Citing the same concerns as the PRC panel, Congresswoman Johnson has been vocal in her opposition to the method which the post offices were being selected. The USPS has since announced a moratorium on any post office closures until May 15, 2012.
The full report on the Postal Regulatory Commission can be found here:
http://www.prc.gov/Docs/78/78971/N2011-1_AdvisoryOP.pdf
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
PRC Advisory Opinion Finds USPS Proposal for Retail Closures Lacks Proper Analysis
Washington, DC –The Postal Regulatory Commission today issued its Advisory Opinion in Docket N2011-1 on the Postal Service’s Retail Access Optimization Initiative (RAOI), a program that identified more than 3,600 post offices and other retail facilities for possible closure this year.
The Postal Service is required to ask the Commission for an Advisory Opinion on any change in nationwide service it proposes. The Commission found that the RAOI is likely to affect access to postal services.
The Commission’s primary finding is that the RAOI 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.
Ruth Goldway, Chairman of the PRC explained: “The Commission was unanimous in expressing its concern that the Postal Service’s plan did not and could not, because of lack of data and analysis, determine the facilities most likely to serve the greatest number, reduce the greatest costs, or enhance the potential for growth or stability in the system. We agree that the Postal Service access network should be right-sized but found that the RAOI was not the proper approach to meet that goal.”
The Commission was unable to develop reliable cost savings estimates because the Postal Service does not collect facility-specific revenue and cost data, or separate retail costs from other operational costs. The Commission found that such data should be available for use in comprehensive facility closing plans.
The Commission review also included examination of an updated Postal Service process to evaluate facilities for closure. While acknowledging significant improvements, the Commission identified methods for enhancing the process to ensure meaningful public participation.
Specifically, the Commission recommends that training for local managers responsible for implementing the process include: (1) the statutory requirements applicable when evaluating a retail postal facility for closure, (2) more robust processes for obtaining and evaluating relevant community information, and (3) information on how other Postal Service initiatives may impact service in the affected area.
A core concern of the Commission is the question of suitable alternative access. Many current alternatives offer only a limited array of services, such as stamp sales and post office boxes. The Commission believes that alternative access for sites being closed must be presently available, viable and an adequate substitute for existing access.
“More than 160 appeals of decisions to close individual post offices, not related to the RAOI, have come before the Commission recently. In each case, we have seen how concerned local communities have been with losing access. With real, practical alternatives available, these communities would be far less likely to feel the loss of a neighborhood post office and would join with the Postal Service in the move to efficient alternatives,” commented Chairman Goldway.
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. The Commission holds regular public monthly meetings and posts all of its activities: dockets, appeal cases, Advisory Opinions, etc. on its website: www.prc.gov.
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
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