80 FR 45467 - Periodic Reporting

POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 146 (July 30, 2015)

Page Range		45467-45468
FR Document		2015-18665

The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing requesting that the Commission initiate an informal rulemaking proceeding to consider changes to analytical principles relating to periodic reports (Proposal Five). This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 146 (Thursday, July 30, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 146 (Thursday, July 30, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45467-45468]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18665]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

39 CFR Part 3050

[Docket No. RM2015-13; Order No. 2599]


Periodic Reporting

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing 
requesting that the Commission initiate an informal rulemaking 
proceeding to consider changes to analytical principles relating to 
periodic reports (Proposal Five). This notice informs the public of the 
filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

DATES: Comments are due: August 31, 2015. Reply Comments are due: 
September 15, 2015.

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. Proposal Five: A New Methodology To Develop IMTS--Outbound and 
Inbound Product Costs
III. Initial Commission Action
IV. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

    In the Fiscal Year 2014 Annual Compliance Determination (FY 2014 
ACD), the Commission directed the Postal Service to report within 90 
days on the feasibility of developing attributable costs for the 
International Money Transfer Service (IMTS)--Outbound and Inbound 
products based upon alternatives to the In-Office Cost System 
(IOCS).\1\ Cost data for the IMTS--Outbound and Inbound products are 
reported in the International Cost and Revenue Analysis (ICRA) report.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Docket No. ACR2014, Fiscal Year 2014 Annual Compliance 
Determination Report, March 27, 2015, at 76 (FY 2014 ACD). The IOCS 
is one of several Postal Service statistical sampling systems used 
to develop product costs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On June 30, 2015, the Postal Service filed its response to this 
directive.\2\ In Item No. 4 of the Response, the Postal Service 
proposes to use data reported by the Federal Reserve Bank to estimate 
the transaction volume for the IMTS--Inbound product. Id. at 3. The 
Postal Service also proposes to use the inbound transaction volume in a 
new methodology to develop attributable costs for the IMTS--Outbound 
and Inbound products as an alternative to using IOCS statistical data. 
Id. at 5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Docket No. ACR2014, Responses of the United States Postal 
Service to Commission Requests for Additional Information Regarding 
IMTS and EPG in the FY 2014 Annual Compliance Determination, June 
30, 2015 (Response).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Pursuant to 39 CFR 3050.11 et. seq., the Commission establishes the 
instant docket to initiate an informal rulemaking proceeding to 
consider the changes proposed in Item No. 4 of the Response to the 
Commission's directive in the FY 2014 ACD. The proposed changes to the 
IMTS--Outbound and Inbound products are labeled as Proposal Five and 
will be considered in this docket.

II. Proposal Five: A New Methodology To Develop IMTS--Outbound and 
Inbound Product Costs

    The Postal Service proposes to estimate the transaction volume for 
the IMTS--Inbound product for the first time on an annual basis using 
data available from the Federal Reserve Bank on the number of foreign-
origin money orders cashed by the Postal Service. Id. at 3. Using this 
new inbound transaction volume, the Postal Service proposes a new 
methodology to develop the attributable costs of the IMTS--Outbound and 
Inbound products. Id. at 5.
    Currently, total attributable costs for the combined IMTS--Outbound 
and Inbound products are distributed between the products using IOCS 
tallies.\3\ The Postal Service states that both the IMTS--Outbound and 
Inbound products are small products with relatively few transactions. 
Response at 4. As a result, it is difficult to obtain a sufficient 
number of IOCS tallies to reliably estimate attributable costs for the 
IMTS--Outbound product, which causes relatively volatile unit costs 
year-to-year. Id. Moreover, in most fiscal years, the Postal Service 
has been unable to develop attributable costs for the IMTS--Inbound 
product because of an absence of IOCS tallies. In addition, the ICRA 
report does not present transaction volume for the IMTS--Inbound 
product because the Postal Service has been unable to estimate such 
transaction volume through special studies or the use of data from 
postal retail systems. Id. at 2-3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ See Docket No. RM2011-5, Order No. 724, Order Concerning 
Analytical Principles for Periodic Reporting (Proposals Ten through 
Twelve, May 4, 2011, at 6-8. The IOCS collects data on the 
proportion of time spent by an employee performing various functions 
on different mail products or services. These proportions of time 
are used to estimate the costs of such products or services. An 
example might be the time spent by city carriers in a delivery post 
office casing (i.e., sorting) mail. Individuals referred to as 
``tally takers'' sample the time data; hence, the term tally is used 
to identify the source of the data.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To develop attributable costs for the IMTS--Outbound and Inbound 
products, the Postal Service proposes to use an estimate of retail 
window service time for electronic wire transfer transactions to 
develop an electronic window service cost per transaction. Id. at 5. 
When multiplied by the number of electronic transfer transactions, the 
resulting total electronic window service costs is then subtracted from 
the total attributable costs for the combined IMTS products, with the 
remainder apportioned between transactions for outbound paper money 
orders and foreign-origin money orders cashed by the Postal Service 
based on transaction volume. Id.

III. Initial Commission Action

    The Commission establishes Docket No. RM2015-13 for consideration 
of matters raised by Item No. 4 of the Response, now identified as 
Proposal Five. More information on Proposal Five may be accessed via 
the Commission's Web site at http://www.prc.gov. The Postal Service 
filed portions of its supporting documentation under seal as part of a 
non-public annex. Information concerning access to non-public materials 
is located in 39 CFR part 3007.
    Interested persons may submit comments on Proposal Five no later

[[Page 45468]]

than August 31, 2015. Reply comments are due no later than September 
15, 2015. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Nina Yeh is designated as officer 
of the Commission (Public Representative) to represent the interests of 
the general public in this proceeding.

IV. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. RM2015-13 for 
consideration of the matters raised by the United States Postal Service 
in its Docket No. ACR2014, Responses of the United States Postal 
Service to Commission Requests for Additional Information Regarding 
IMTS and EPG in the FY 2014 Annual Compliance Determination, Item No. 
4, filed June 30, 2015, identified herein as Proposal Five.
    2. Comments by interested persons in this proceeding are due no 
later than August 31, 2015. Reply comments are due no later than 
September 15, 2015.
    3. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the Commission appoints Nina Yeh 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.
Ruth Ann Abrams,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-18665 Filed 7-29-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 146 / Thursday, July 30, 2015 / Proposed Rules 45467

rulemaking, and notice of public IV. Ordering Paragraphs Inbound products are distributed
hearing (REG–138526–14) contains an I. Introduction between the products using IOCS
error that may prove to be misleading, tallies.3 The Postal Service states that
and is in need of clarification. In the Fiscal Year 2014 Annual both the IMTS—Outbound and Inbound
Compliance Determination (FY 2014 products are small products with
Correction of Publication ACD), the Commission directed the relatively few transactions. Response at
Accordingly, the partial withdrawal of Postal Service to report within 90 days 4. As a result, it is difficult to obtain a
notice of proposed rulemaking, notice of on the feasibility of developing sufficient number of IOCS tallies to
proposed rulemaking, and notice of attributable costs for the International reliably estimate attributable costs for
public hearing (REG–138526–14) that is Money Transfer Service (IMTS)— the IMTS—Outbound product, which
subject to FR Doc. 2015–15411, is Outbound and Inbound products based causes relatively volatile unit costs year-
corrected as follows: upon alternatives to the In-Office Cost to-year. Id. Moreover, in most fiscal
System (IOCS).1 Cost data for the years, the Postal Service has been
§ 1.148–1 [Corrected] IMTS—Outbound and Inbound unable to develop attributable costs for
■ 1. On page 36305, second column, products are reported in the the IMTS—Inbound product because of
second line of paragraph (f)(3)(ii), the International Cost and Revenue an absence of IOCS tallies. In addition,
language ‘‘include’’ is corrected to read Analysis (ICRA) report. the ICRA report does not present
‘‘includes’’. On June 30, 2015, the Postal Service
transaction volume for the IMTS—
filed its response to this directive.2 In
Martin V. Franks, Inbound product because the Postal
Item No. 4 of the Response, the Postal
Service has been unable to estimate
Chief, Publications and Regulations Branch, Service proposes to use data reported by
Legal Processing Division, Associate Chief such transaction volume through special
the Federal Reserve Bank to estimate the
Counsel (Procedure and Administration). transaction volume for the IMTS— studies or the use of data from postal
[FR Doc. 2015–18614 Filed 7–29–15; 8:45 am] Inbound product. Id. at 3. The Postal retail systems. Id. at 2–3.
To develop attributable costs for the
BILLING CODE 4830–01–P Service also proposes to use the
IMTS—Outbound and Inbound
inbound transaction volume in a new
products, the Postal Service proposes to
methodology to develop attributable
use an estimate of retail window service
POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION costs for the IMTS—Outbound and
time for electronic wire transfer
Inbound products as an alternative to
39 CFR Part 3050 transactions to develop an electronic
using IOCS statistical data. Id. at 5.
Pursuant to 39 CFR 3050.11 et. seq., window service cost per transaction. Id.
[Docket No. RM2015–13; Order No. 2599] at 5. When multiplied by the number of
the Commission establishes the instant
docket to initiate an informal electronic transfer transactions, the
Periodic Reporting resulting total electronic window
rulemaking proceeding to consider the
AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission. changes proposed in Item No. 4 of the service costs is then subtracted from the
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. Response to the Commission’s directive total attributable costs for the combined
in the FY 2014 ACD. The proposed IMTS products, with the remainder
SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a changes to the IMTS—Outbound and apportioned between transactions for
recent Postal Service filing requesting Inbound products are labeled as outbound paper money orders and
that the Commission initiate an informal Proposal Five and will be considered in foreign-origin money orders cashed by
rulemaking proceeding to consider this docket. the Postal Service based on transaction
changes to analytical principles relating volume. Id.
to periodic reports (Proposal Five). This II. Proposal Five: A New Methodology
To Develop IMTS—Outbound and III. Initial Commission Action
notice informs the public of the filing,
invites public comment, and takes other Inbound Product Costs The Commission establishes Docket
administrative steps. The Postal Service proposes to No. RM2015–13 for consideration of
DATES: Comments are due: August 31, estimate the transaction volume for the matters raised by Item No. 4 of the
2015. Reply Comments are due: IMTS—Inbound product for the first Response, now identified as Proposal
September 15, 2015. time on an annual basis using data Five. More information on Proposal Five
available from the Federal Reserve Bank may be accessed via the Commission’s
ADDRESSES: Submit comments
on the number of foreign-origin money Web site at http://www.prc.gov. The
electronically via the Commission’s
orders cashed by the Postal Service. Id. Postal Service filed portions of its
Filing Online system at http://
at 3. Using this new inbound transaction supporting documentation under seal as
www.prc.gov. Those who cannot submit
volume, the Postal Service proposes a part of a non-public annex. Information
comments electronically should contact
new methodology to develop the concerning access to non-public
the person identified in the FOR FURTHER
attributable costs of the IMTS— materials is located in 39 CFR part 3007.
INFORMATION CONTACT section by
Outbound and Inbound products. Id. Interested persons may submit
telephone for advice on filing comments on Proposal Five no later
alternatives. at 5.
Currently, total attributable costs for
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 3 See Docket No. RM2011–5, Order No. 724,
the combined IMTS—Outbound and Order Concerning Analytical Principles for Periodic
David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at
Reporting (Proposals Ten through Twelve, May 4,
202–789–6820. 1 Docket No. ACR2014, Fiscal Year 2014 Annual
Lhorne on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS

2011, at 6–8. The IOCS collects data on the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Compliance Determination Report, March 27, 2015, proportion of time spent by an employee
at 76 (FY 2014 ACD). The IOCS is one of several performing various functions on different mail
Table of Contents Postal Service statistical sampling systems used to products or services. These proportions of time are
develop product costs. used to estimate the costs of such products or
I. Introduction 2 Docket No. ACR2014, Responses of the United services. An example might be the time spent by
II. Proposal Five: A New Methodology To States Postal Service to Commission Requests for city carriers in a delivery post office casing (i.e.,
Develop IMTS—Outbound and Inbound Additional Information Regarding IMTS and EPG in sorting) mail. Individuals referred to as ‘‘tally
Product Costs the FY 2014 Annual Compliance Determination, takers’’ sample the time data; hence, the term tally
III. Initial Commission Action June 30, 2015 (Response). is used to identify the source of the data.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 13:52 Jul 29, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\30JYP1.SGM 30JYP1

45468 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 146 / Thursday, July 30, 2015 / Proposed Rules

than August 31, 2015. Reply comments the person identified in the FOR FURTHER the use of the international accounting
are due no later than September 15, INFORMATION CONTACT section by data. Id. The Postal Service states this
2015. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Nina telephone for advice on filing change will streamline the ICRA data
Yeh is designated as officer of the alternatives. sources by eliminating 16 of the 20
Commission (Public Representative) to FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: datasets and retaining only four files for
represent the interests of the general David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at outbound Priority Mail Express
public in this proceeding. 202–789–6820. International data that are not provided
by SIRVO. Id. at 2. Further, Proposal
IV. Ordering Paragraphs SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Four will include data for the 186
It is ordered: Table of Contents additional countries/territories currently
1. The Commission establishes Docket I. Introduction subsumed in the four regional aggregate
No. RM2015–13 for consideration of the II. Summary of Proposal groups. Id.
matters raised by the United States III. Initial Commission Action The Postal Service states that despite
Postal Service in its Docket No. IV. Ordering Paragraphs movement in the costs for individual
ACR2014, Responses of the United products because of the new weighting
I. Introduction scheme, overall costs will remain the
States Postal Service to Commission
Requests for Additional Information On July 17, 2015, the Postal Service same (to within one ten-thousandth of 1
Regarding IMTS and EPG in the FY filed a petition pursuant to 39 CFR percent) due to the ICRA benchmarking
2014 Annual Compliance 3050.11 requesting that the Commission process. Id. at 4. The Postal Service
Determination, Item No. 4, filed June 30, initiate an informal rulemaking identifies 36 changes that differ by more
2015, identified herein as Proposal Five. proceeding to consider changes to than $0.01 and 1 percent at the same
2. Comments by interested persons in analytical principles relating to periodic time as a result of Proposal 4. Id. at 3.
this proceeding are due no later than reports.1 Proposal Four is attached to By way of example, the Postal Service
August 31, 2015. Reply comments are the Petition and identifies the proposed represents that the shift to the SIRVO
due no later than September 15, 2015. analytical method change as a change data sources will increase the volume-
3. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the relating to the use of the Summary of variable costs for International Priority
Commission appoints Nina Yeh to serve International Revenue and Volume Airmail and International Surface Airlift
as an officer of the Commission (Public Outbound statistical system (SIRVO) in by $125,000 and $85,000, respectively.
Representative) to represent the the International Cost and Revenue Id. The Postal Service asserts that this
interests of the general public in this Analysis (ICRA) report. Id. The Postal cost change is isolated in outbound
docket. Service concurrently filed a nonpublic products covered by SIRVO and any
4. The Secretary shall arrange for library reference, along with an affected NSAs in the international
publication of this order in the Federal application for nonpublic treatment of settlements estimates. Id. The Postal
Register. materials.2 Service also asserts that the only market
By the Commission. II. Summary of Proposal dominant category to experience a
change of 1 percent or more was the
Ruth Ann Abrams, The Postal Service explains that the total volume-variable cost increase of
Acting Secretary. ICRA processing currently uses 20 $10,000 for Outbound International
[FR Doc. 2015–18665 Filed 7–29–15; 8:45 am] individual quarterly international Cards to Transition System Countries at
BILLING CODE 7710–FW–P accounting datasets to provide country- Universal Postal Union rates. Id. at 4.
specific outbound mail flow data for 46
individual countries and four regional III. Initial Commission Action
POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION aggregated country groupings. Petition, The Commission establishes Docket
Proposal Four at 2. International No. RM2015–12 for consideration of
39 CFR part 3050 accounting data have been the source of matters raised by the Petition.
[Docket No. RM2015–12; Order No. 2601] the mail flow data for countries not Additional information concerning the
reported in the ICRA inputs by SIRVO. Petition may be accessed via the
Periodic Reporting Id. Commission’s Web site at http://
Under Proposal Four, the Postal www.prc.gov. Interested persons may
AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission. Service seeks to use expanded SIRVO submit comments on the Petition and
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. data in lieu of international accounting Proposal Four no later than August 31,
data. Id. The Postal Service asserts that 2015. Reply comments are due no later
SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a the change does not materially affect the
recent Postal Service filing requesting than September 15, 2015. Pursuant to 39
overall workings of the ICRA because U.S.C. 505, James F. Callow is
that the Commission initiate an informal the use of the SIRVO data is parallel to
rulemaking proceeding to consider designated as officer of the Commission
changes to analytical principles relating 1 Petition of the United States Postal Service for
(Public Representative) to represent the
to periodic reports (Proposal Four). This the Initiation of a Proceeding to Consider Proposed
interests of the general public in this
notice informs the public of the filing, Changes in Analytical Principles (Proposal Four), proceeding.
invites public comment, and takes other July 17, 2015 (Petition).
2 Notice of Filing of USPS–RM2015–12/NP1 and
IV. Ordering Paragraphs
administrative steps. Application for Nonpublic Treatment, July 17, 2015 It is ordered:
DATES: Comments are due: August 31,
Lhorne on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS

(Notice). The Library Reference is USPS–RM2015– 1. The Commission establishes Docket
2015. Reply Comments are due: 12/NP1—Nonpublic Material Relating to Proposal
Four (SIRVO Inputs to ICRA). The Notice
No. RM2015–12 for consideration of the
September 15, 2015. incorporates by reference the Application for Non- matters raised by the Petition of the
ADDRESSES: Submit comments Public Treatment of Materials contained in United States Postal Service for the
electronically via the Commission’s Attachment Two to the December 29, 2014, United Initiation of a Proceeding to Consider
States Postal Service Fiscal Year 2014 Annual
Filing Online system at http:// Compliance Report. Notice at 1. See 39 CFR part
Proposed Changes in Analytical
www.prc.gov. Those who cannot submit 3007 for information on access to nonpublic Principles (Proposal Four), filed July 17,
comments electronically should contact material. 2015.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 13:52 Jul 29, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\30JYP1.SGM 30JYP1

Document Created: 2018-02-23 09:29:55
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 09:29:55

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Proposed Rules
Action		Notice of proposed rulemaking.
Dates		Comments are due: August 31, 2015. Reply Comments are due: September 15, 2015.
Contact		David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at 202-789-6820.
FR Citation		80 FR 45467