80 FR 68336 - Public Inquiry on Service Performance Measurement Data
POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 213 (November 4, 2015)
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 213 (November 4, 2015)
| Page Range | 68336-68336 | |
| FR Document | 2015-28054 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 213 (Wednesday, November 4, 2015)] [Notices] [Page 68336] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-28054] [[Page 68336]] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket Nos. PI2016-1; Order No. 2791] Public Inquiry on Service Performance Measurement Data AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Commission is establishing a public inquiry to receive comments regarding the Postal Service's service performance measurement data. This notice informs the public of this proceeding, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps. DATES: Comments are due: December 14, 2015. Reply Comments are due: January 11, 2016. 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: I. Introduction II. Background III. Comments Requested IV. Public Representative V. Ordering Paragraphs I. Introduction The Commission establishes Docket No. PI2016-1 to invite public comments on potential issues related to the quality and completeness of service performance data measured by the Postal Service. II. Background On September 30, 2015, Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report titled Actions Needed to Make Delivery Performance Information More Complete, Useful, and Transparent. U.S. Gov. Accountability Office, GAO-15-756, U.S. Postal Service: Actions Needed to Make Delivery Performance Information More Complete, Useful, and Transparent (2015) (Report). The Report was publicly released on October 5, 2015. In the Report, GAO recommended that the Commission hold a public proceeding involving the Postal Service, the mailing industry, and other interested parties to address how the Postal Service may improve the completeness of its service performance data. Id. at 31. The instant docket responds to that recommendation. GAO separately recommended that the Commission provide service performance data and analyses in a more readily available format. See id. at 26, 31. In response, the Commission recently updated its Web site to allow instantaneous access to service performance related reports and dockets under a tab titled Reports/Data Service Reports. This Web site update will make it easier for prospective commenters to access background information related to the instant docket. III. Comments Requested The Commission invites public comments on potential issues related to the quality and completeness of service performance data provided by the Postal Service. Specifically, the Commission is interested in the following: 1. Describe any potential deficiencies with respect to the accuracy, reliability, and representativeness of the current service performance measurement data. If data are limited in a specific area, discuss how the Postal Service could improve that data. 2. The Report states the Postal Service's ``measurement of on-time delivery performance has expanded greatly over the past 9 years, but remains incomplete because only about 55 percent of market-dominant mail volume is currently included in measurement.'' Id. at 11 (footnote omitted). The Commission, however, has not concluded that the percentage of mail in measurement should be the primary determinant of accurate, reliable, or representative service performance data, instead focusing on sampling fractions, confidence intervals, and margins of error at the district level. Id. at 52-53. The Report asserts that for mail measured using a census-type approach, it is necessary to assess non-sampling error, which ``would require determining whether the mail not included in measurement systematically differed from the mail included in the measurement, particularly regarding characteristics associated with on-time delivery.'' Id. at 35. a. Accounting for product and service standard, discuss any systematic differences between mail in measurement and mail not in measurement that are likely to impact service performance. b. Discuss whether and how non-sampling error might have a material impact on service performance results and actions the Postal Service could take to minimize non-sampling error. 3. The Report suggests that ``[t]he main causes for incomplete measurement of bulk mail can be broadly grouped into two different reasons: (1) Mailers not applying a unique Intelligent Mail barcode [IMb] to each mail piece to enable tracking (trackable barcodes) or (2) lack of needed information.'' Id. at 14-15 (footnote omitted). a. Discuss specific actions the Postal Service should take to increase participation in the full-service IMb program. b. Discuss specific actions the Postal Service needs to take to decrease the amount of mail excluded from measurement. Comments are due no later than December 14, 2015. Reply comments are due no later than January 11, 2016. IV. Public Representative Section 505 of title 39 requires designation of an officer of the Commission (Public Representative) in all public proceedings to represent the interests of the general public. The Commission hereby designates Richard A. Oliver as Public Representative in this proceeding. V. Ordering Paragraphs It is ordered: 1. The Commission establishes Docket No. PI2016-1 to invite public comments on potential issues related to the quality and completeness of service performance data measured by the Postal Service. 2. Comments are due no later than December 14, 2015. 3. Reply comments are due no later than January 11, 2016. 4. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Richard A. Oliver is appointed to serve as an officer of the Commission to represent the interests of the general public in this proceeding (Public Representative). 5. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the Federal Register. By the Commission. Stacy L. Ruble, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2015-28054 Filed 11-3-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P
![68336 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 213 / Wednesday, November 4, 2015 / Notices
POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION GAO separately recommended that reasons: (1) Mailers not applying a
the Commission provide service unique Intelligent Mail barcode [IMb] to
[Docket Nos. PI2016–1; Order No. 2791]
performance data and analyses in a each mail piece to enable tracking
Public Inquiry on Service Performance more readily available format. See id. at (trackable barcodes) or (2) lack of
Measurement Data 26, 31. In response, the Commission needed information.’’ Id. at 14–15
recently updated its Web site to allow (footnote omitted).
AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission. instantaneous access to service
performance related reports and dockets a. Discuss specific actions the Postal
ACTION: Notice.
under a tab titled Reports/Data Service Service should take to increase
SUMMARY: The Commission is Reports. This Web site update will make participation in the full-service IMb
establishing a public inquiry to receive it easier for prospective commenters to program.
comments regarding the Postal Service’s access background information related b. Discuss specific actions the Postal
service performance measurement data. to the instant docket. Service needs to take to decrease the
This notice informs the public of this amount of mail excluded from
III. Comments Requested
proceeding, invites public comment, measurement.
and takes other administrative steps. The Commission invites public
comments on potential issues related to Comments are due no later than
DATES: Comments are due: December
the quality and completeness of service December 14, 2015. Reply comments are
14, 2015. Reply Comments are due:
performance data provided by the Postal due no later than January 11, 2016.
January 11, 2016.
Service. Specifically, the Commission is IV. Public Representative
ADDRESSES: Submit comments
interested in the following:
electronically via the Commission’s 1. Describe any potential deficiencies
Filing Online system at http:// Section 505 of title 39 requires
with respect to the accuracy, reliability, designation of an officer of the
www.prc.gov. Those who cannot submit and representativeness of the current
comments electronically should contact Commission (Public Representative) in
service performance measurement data. all public proceedings to represent the
the person identified in the FOR FURTHER If data are limited in a specific area,
INFORMATION CONTACT section by interests of the general public. The
discuss how the Postal Service could
telephone for advice on filing Commission hereby designates Richard
improve that data.
alternatives. 2. The Report states the Postal A. Oliver as Public Representative in
Service’s ‘‘measurement of on-time this proceeding.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at delivery performance has expanded V. Ordering Paragraphs
202–789–6820. greatly over the past 9 years, but
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: remains incomplete because only about It is ordered:
I. Introduction 55 percent of market-dominant mail 1. The Commission establishes Docket
II. Background volume is currently included in No. PI2016–1 to invite public comments
III. Comments Requested measurement.’’ Id. at 11 (footnote on potential issues related to the quality
IV. Public Representative omitted). The Commission, however, and completeness of service
V. Ordering Paragraphs has not concluded that the percentage of performance data measured by the
mail in measurement should be the Postal Service.
I. Introduction
primary determinant of accurate,
The Commission establishes Docket reliable, or representative service 2. Comments are due no later than
No. PI2016–1 to invite public comments performance data, instead focusing on December 14, 2015.
on potential issues related to the quality sampling fractions, confidence intervals, 3. Reply comments are due no later
and completeness of service and margins of error at the district level. than January 11, 2016.
performance data measured by the Id. at 52–53. The Report asserts that for
Postal Service. 4. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Richard
mail measured using a census-type
A. Oliver is appointed to serve as an
II. Background approach, it is necessary to assess non-
sampling error, which ‘‘would require officer of the Commission to represent
On September 30, 2015, Government determining whether the mail not the interests of the general public in this
Accountability Office (GAO) published included in measurement systematically proceeding (Public Representative).
a report titled Actions Needed to Make differed from the mail included in the 5. The Secretary shall arrange for
Delivery Performance Information More measurement, particularly regarding publication of this order in the Federal
Complete, Useful, and Transparent. U.S. characteristics associated with on-time Register.
Gov. Accountability Office, GAO–15– delivery.’’ Id. at 35.
756, U.S. Postal Service: Actions By the Commission.
a. Accounting for product and service
Needed to Make Delivery Performance standard, discuss any systematic Stacy L. Ruble,
Information More Complete, Useful, and differences between mail in Secretary.
Transparent (2015) (Report). The Report measurement and mail not in [FR Doc. 2015–28054 Filed 11–3–15; 8:45 am]
was publicly released on October 5, measurement that are likely to impact BILLING CODE 7710–FW–P
2015. service performance.
In the Report, GAO recommended b. Discuss whether and how non-
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
that the Commission hold a public sampling error might have a material
proceeding involving the Postal Service, impact on service performance results
the mailing industry, and other and actions the Postal Service could
interested parties to address how the take to minimize non-sampling error.
Postal Service may improve the 3. The Report suggests that ‘‘[t]he
completeness of its service performance main causes for incomplete
data. Id. at 31. The instant docket measurement of bulk mail can be
responds to that recommendation. broadly grouped into two different
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Document Created: 2018-03-01 11:27:55
Document Modified: 2018-03-01 11:27:55
| 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 | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| Dates | Comments are due: December 14, 2015. Reply Comments are due: January 11, 2016. | |
| Contact | David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at 202-789-6820. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 68336 |
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