81 FR 95204 - Postal Rate and Related Classification Changes

POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 248 (December 27, 2016)

The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing announcing its intention to change rates not of general applicability for Inbound Parcel Post (at Universal Postal Union (UPU) Rates) and related classification changes. This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 95204-95205]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31075]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. MC2017-58 and CP2017-86; Order No. 3677]


Postal Rate and Related Classification Changes

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing 
announcing its intention to change rates not of general applicability 
for Inbound Parcel Post (at Universal Postal Union (UPU) Rates) and 
related classification changes. This notice informs the public of the 
filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

DATES: Comments are due: December 28, 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: 

Table of Contents

I. Introduction
II. Contents of Filing
III. Proposed Classification Change
IV. Commission Action
V. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

    On December 19, 2016, the Postal Service filed notice announcing 
its intention to change rates not of general applicability for Inbound 
Parcel Post (at Universal Postal Union (UPU) Rates) effective January 
1, 2017.\1\ The Postal Service also filed proposed changes to the Mail 
Classification Schedule (MCS). Notice at 1-2.
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    \1\ Notice of the United States Postal Service of Filing Changes 
in Rates Not of General Applicability for Inbound Parcel Post (at 
UPU Rates), Change in Mail Classification Schedule, and Application 
for Non-Public Treatment, December 19, 2016, at 1-2 (Notice).
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II. Contents of Filing

    To accompany its Notice, the Postal Service filed the following 
materials:
     Attachment 1--an application for non-public treatment of 
materials filed under seal;
     Attachment 2--a redacted copy of UPU International Bureau 
(IB) Circular 169, which contains the new rates;
     Attachment 3--a redacted copy of UPU IB Circular 168, 
which contains the new rates;
     Attachment 4--a copy of the certification required under 
39 CFR 3015.5(c)(2);
     Attachment 5--redacted documentation sent by the Postal 
Service to the UPU to justify its bonus payments;
     Attachment 6--documentation in support of inflation-linked 
adjustment for inward land rates;
     Attachment 7--a redacted copy of Governors' Decision No. 
14-04;
     Attachment 8--a redacted copy of Governors' Decision No. 
11-6; and
     Attachment 9--proposed changes to the text of the MCS 
Notice, Attachments 1-9.
    The Postal Service also filed supporting financial workpapers, 
unredacted copies of Governors' Decision No. 14-04 and Governors' 
Decision No. 11-6, an unredacted copy of the new rates, and related 
financial information under seal.
    In accordance with Order Nos. 2102 \2\ and 2310,\3\ the Postal 
Service has: (1) Provided documentation supporting the inflation-linked 
adjustment as Attachment 6; (2) updated its advisory delivery 
information in a timely manner in the UPU's online compendium to 
justify bonus payments; (3) provided the date that the UPU advised the 
United States of the Inward Land Rate, and provided the calculation of 
the rate for the pertinent year, in UPU IB Circulars 169 and 168 as 
Attachments 2 and 3, respectively; (4) provided the special drawing 
rights (SDR) conversion rate of 1 SDR to $1.35 U.S. dollars used for 
the cost coverage analysis; and (5) provided the estimated cost 
coverage for Inbound Parcel Post (at UPU rates) for the pertinent year. 
Notice at 8-9.
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    \2\ Docket No. CP2014-52, Order Accepting Price Changes for 
Inbound Air Parcel Post (at UPU Rates), June 26, 2014, at 6 (Order 
No. 2102).
    \3\ Docket No. CP2015-24, Order Accepting Changes in Rates for 
Inbound Parcel Post (at UPU Rates), December 29, 2014, at 4 (Order 
No. 2310).
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III. Proposed Classification Change

    The Postal Service proposed a classification change in its Notice 
and attached proposed revisions to the MCS. Id. at 3-6, see id. 
Attachment 9. The Postal Service stated that it will begin accepting 
Inbound Parcel Post mailpieces under the UPU's e-commerce parcel 
delivery option, known as ECOMPRO, on or after January 22, 2017. Notice 
at 4. The Postal Service proposed MCS revisions to clarify that the 
ECOMPRO rates are ``fixed by the UPU after notification by the Postal 
Service.'' Id. at 6. In addition, the Postal Service proposed that any 
future bilateral agreements that offer discounted rates for ECOMPRO 
Inbound Parcel Post mailpieces be filed in this docket rather than 
separate dockets. Id. at 6-7.

IV. Commission Action

    The Commission establishes Docket Nos. MC2017-58 and CP2017-86 for 
consideration of matters raised by the Notice.
    The Commission invites comments on whether the Postal Service's 
filing is

[[Page 95205]]

consistent with 39 U.S.C. 3632, 3633, and 39 CFR part 3015. Comments 
are due no later than December 28, 2016. The public portions of the 
filing can be accessed via the Commission's Web site (http://www.prc.gov).
    The Commission appoints Katalin K. Clendenin to serve as Public 
Representative in these dockets.

V. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket Nos. MC2017-58 and CP2017-86 
for consideration of the matters raised by the Postal Service's Notice.
    2. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Katalin K. Clendenin is appointed to 
serve as an officer of the Commission to represent the interests of the 
general public in this proceeding (Public Representative).
    3. Comments are due no later than December 28, 2016.
    4. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the 
Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Stacy L. Ruble,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-31075 Filed 12-23-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P