SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Introduction

II. Background

III. Commission Analysis

IV. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

On February 23, 2026, the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers (ANM) filed a motion for a 1-week extension of time until March 9, 2026, for parties to file responses to petitions filed in the instant proceedings.^[1] For the reasons discussed below, the Commission partially grants the Motion and extends the deadline for responses to petitions to March 6, 2026.

II. Background

On January 13, 2026, the Commission issued Order No. 9427 to set a deadline of 30 days after the date of the publication of that order in the Federal Register for interested persons to request, by petition in the instant proceedings, that the Commission consider specific proposals for modifications to the Market Dominant ratemaking system or for an alternative system.^[2] On December 22, 2025, the Postal Service filed two petitions.^[3] Order No. 9427 also set a deadline of 44 days after the date of publication of that order in the Federal Register for ( printed page 10423) responses to any petition (including the Postal Service Petitions). Order No. 9427 at 5. Order No. 9427 was published in the Federal Register on January 16, 2026.^[4] Therefore, the deadline for interested persons to file petitions was February 17, 2026, and the deadline for responses to any petition (including the Postal Service Petitions) is March 2, 2026. Id. at 2093.

On February 17, 2026, six interested persons filed petitions.^[5] On or before February 17, 2026, other interested persons also filed comments for the Commission's consideration.^[6]

On February 23, 2026, ANM filed the Motion seeking a 1-week extension of time until March 9, 2026, for parties to file responses to petitions. Motion at 1. ANM states that due to adverse weather conditions in the Washington, DC region on February 22 and 23, 2026, it requests a 1-week extension of the deadline. Id. at 2. ANM argues that the Commission has recognized “severe weather” as a basis for granting extensions of time in the past.^[7] ANM asserts that its requested extension would have a minimal effect on the Commission's procedural schedule and would not adversely impact any party. Id.

On February 24, 2026, the Association for Postal Commerce (PostCom) filed a response to the Motion, stating that it does not oppose the Motion and agrees that the requested extension would provide parties with time to fully digest the petitions and would not impact the timing of the Commission's proceedings.^[8]

III. Commission Analysis

A motion for extension of time “shall only be granted upon consideration of the potential adverse impact, if any, on other participants and the overall impact on the procedural schedule.” 39 CFR 3010.162(c). Having reviewed the Motion, the Commission finds that the Motion has partially met the criteria in 39 CFR 3010.162(c). The Motion is unopposed. Response at 1. Because the requested extension would apply to all interested persons, no other participant would be adversely impacted by the extension. However, the adverse weather conditions in the Washington, DC region lasted only 2 days on February 22 and 23, 2026, 1 of which was a Sunday. The Federal government was open on February 23, 2026, with 2 hours delayed arrival and the option for unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework.^[9] This is unlike the severe weather conditions experienced by the region in February 2010 or January 2016, both of which triggered multiple days of Federal government closure.^[10] In the future, interested persons should not expect the Commission to grant an extension of time owing to adverse weather conditions that is much longer than what the duration of adverse weather conditions would justify. In addition, considering that the Commission intends to expedite consideration of any proposals it decides to pursue in its discretion based on consideration of petitions and also any additional proposals as the Commission may make,^[11] the Commission finds that the requested 1-week extension would have some adverse impact on the procedural schedule. Therefore, the Commission partially grants the Motion and extends the deadline for responses to petitions to March 6, 2026.

IV. Ordering Paragraphs

It is ordered:

1. The Motion of Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers for Extension of Time for Parties to Respond to Petitions, filed on February 23, 2026, is partially granted.

2. Responses to any petition (including the Postal Service Petitions) are due March 6, 2026.

3. This Order, or abstract thereof, shall be published in the Federal Register .

91 FR 10422