82 FR 41074 - Market Test of Experimental Product-Customized Delivery

POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 166 (August 29, 2017)

The Commission is noticing a recently-filed Postal Service Motion for Clarification of Order No. 3319, or, in the Alternative, for Extension of Market Test Time Period. This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 166 (Tuesday, August 29, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41074-41075]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18292]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. MT2016-1; Order No. 4062]


Market Test of Experimental Product-Customized Delivery

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recently-filed Postal Service 
Motion for Clarification of Order No. 3319, or, in the Alternative, for 
Extension of Market Test Time Period. This notice informs the public of 
the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative 
steps.

DATES: Comments are due: September 25, 2017.

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. Background
III. Clarification
IV. Notice of Filing
V. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

    On August 22, 2017, the Postal Service filed a Motion for 
Clarification of Order No. 3319, or, in the Alternative, for Extension 
of Market Test Time Period.\1\ As discussed below, the Commission 
provides the requested clarification and treats the Motion as a request 
for a limited extension under 39 U.S.C. 3641(d) to satisfy 1-year 
agreements executed in the second year of a 2-year market test.
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    \1\ United States Postal Service Motion for Clarification of 
Order No. 3319, or, in the Alternative, for Extension of Market Test 
Time Period, August 22, 2017 (Motion).
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II. Background

    On May 25, 2016, the Commission authorized the Postal Service to 
proceed with a 2-year market test of an experimental product identified 
as Global eCommerce Marketplace (GeM) Merchant.\2\ GeM Merchant is an 
end-to-end international shipping service that allows participating 
domestic online merchants to offer their international customers the 
ability, at the time of purchase, to estimate and prepay duties and 
taxes that the foreign country's customs agency will assess when the 
item arrives in the foreign destination. Order No. 3319 at 2. The GeM 
Merchant market test began on June 27, 2016.\3\
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    \2\ Order Authorizing Market Test of Global eCommerce 
Marketplace (GeM) Merchant, May 25, 2016 (Order No. 3319).
    \3\ United States Postal Service Response to Order No. 3319 
Concerning Effective Date of GeM Merchant Solution Market Test, June 
8, 2016.
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III. Clarification

    The Postal Service seeks clarification that Order No. 3319 permits 
the Postal Service to execute GeM Merchant negotiated service 
agreements (NSAs) with 1-year terms during the second year of the test. 
Motion at 1. When authorizing the market test to proceed, the 
Commission found that ``[t]he Postal Service's application for a 
limited extension to satisfy 1-year GeM Merchant NSAs executed during 
the second year of the market test is premature at this time.'' Order 
No. 3319 at 21. The Commission stated that ``[t]he Postal Service may 
apply for an extension . . . after the Postal Service

[[Page 41075]]

files its third quarterly data collection report, due May 10, 2017.'' 
Id. Therefore, the Commission treats the Motion as an application for a 
limited extension under 39 U.S.C. 3641(d) to satisfy 1-year GeM 
Merchant NSAs executed during the second year of the market test.

IV. Notice of Filing

    The Commission reopens Docket No. MT2016-1 to consider matters 
raised by the Postal Service's Motion. The Commission invites comments 
on whether the Motion complies with applicable statutory and regulatory 
requirements, including 39 U.S.C. 3641, 39 CFR part 3035, and Order No. 
3319. Comments are due September 25, 2017. The public portions of these 
filings can be accessed via the Commission's Web site (http://www.prc.gov).
    39 U.S.C. 505 requires the Commission to designate an officer of 
the Commission to represent the interests of the general public in all 
public proceedings (Public Representative). The Commission previously 
appointed James Waclawski to serve as the Public Representative in this 
proceeding. He remains appointed to serve as the Public Representative.

V. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission reopens Docket No. MT2016-1 to consider matters 
raised by the Motion.
    2. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, James Waclawski remains appointed to 
serve as the Public Representative in this proceeding.
    3. Comments are due by September 25, 2017.
    4. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the 
Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Stacy L. Ruble,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-18292 Filed 8-28-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P