The Commission is recognizing a recent filing by the Postal Service to remove a section and to make accompanying classification changes to the Mail Classification Schedule. This...
The Commission is recognizing a recent filing by the Postal Service to remove a section and to make accompanying classification changes to the Mail Classification Schedule. This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.
DATES:
Comments are due:
October 16, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
Submit comments electronically via the Commission's Filing Online system at
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. Commission Action
IV. Ordering Paragraphs
I. Introduction
On September 16, 2026, pursuant to 39 CFR 3040.180-.181, the Postal Service filed a request to remove
Mail Classification Schedule
(MCS) section 2615.2 Competitive International Registered Mail from the Competitive product list and make accompanying classification changes in MCS sections 2340.5 and 2600.2.[1]
In addition, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 3622(c)(10) and 39 CFR 3040.130-.132 and 3040.220-.222, the Postal Service also requests to transfer the Inbound PRIME Registered Service Agreement 1 and the PRIME-USPS Registered Agreement from the Competitive product list to the Market Dominant product list, and add these two agreements to MCS section 1602.3.5 Inbound Market Dominant Multi-Service Agreements with Foreign Postal Operators 1. Request at 1-2.
II. Contents of Filing
The Postal Service states that at the Universal Postal Union (UPU) 2023 Riyadh Extraordinary Congress, the UPU amended the Universal Postal Convention (Convention) to require member countries to provide registered mail service for outbound and inbound airmail and priority letter-post items containing documents only, effective January 1, 2026.[2]
The Postal Service states that at the UPU 2025 Dubai Congress, the UPU further amended the Convention to eliminate the bulky letters (E) format, effective January 1, 2027.[3]
The Postal Service states that therefore, effective January 1, 2027, international registered service will no longer be available for Inbound Letter Post Small Packets bulky letter items that contain documents. Request at 3. The Postal Service states that instead, international registered service will be available only for MCS sections 1125 Outbound Single-Piece First Class Mail International and 1130 Inbound Letter Post Letters and Flats, which are both on the Market Dominant product list.
Id.
To align the Postal Service's offerings with these amendments to the Convention, the Postal Service requests to remove MCS section 2615.2 Competitive International Registered Mail from the Competitive product list and make accompanying classification changes in MCS sections 2340.5 and 2600.2 that mention Competitive International Registered Mail, effective January 1, 2027.
Id.
at 3; 3 n.4. The Postal Service also requests to transfer the Inbound PRIME Registered Service Agreement 1 (the subject of Docket No. MC2020-73) and the PRIME-USPS Registered Agreement (the subject of Docket No. CP2022-65) from MCS
( printed page 60164)
section 2515.10.5 Inbound Competitive Multi-Service Agreements with Foreign Postal Operators 1 on the Competitive product list to MCS section 1602.3.5 Inbound Market Dominant Multi-Service Agreements with Foreign Postal Operators 1 on the Market Dominant product list, effective January 1, 2027.
Id.
at 4.
With the Request, the Postal Service submits the following supporting documents: (1) Attachment 1, Governors' Decision No. 26-5; (2) Attachment 2, a copy of the MCS with the proposed changes in legislative format; (3) Attachment 3, a statement of supporting justification required by 39 CFR 3040.132; (4) Attachment 4, a redacted copy of the Inbound PRIME Registered Service Agreement 1; (5) Attachment 5, a redacted copy of the PRIME-USPS Registered Agreement; (6) Attachment 6, a redacted copy of the accession of an additional foreign postal operator to the PRIME-USPS Registered Agreement; and (7) Attachment 7, an application for non-public treatment of materials filed under seal.
Id.
at 4-5;
Id.
Attachments 1-7. In addition, the Postal Service submits a redacted copy of Annex 3 to the Inbound PRIME Registered Service Agreement 1.
Id.
at 6. Unredacted versions of Attachments 4 through 6, as well as Annex 3 to the Inbound PRIME Registered Service Agreement 1, are filed under seal.
Id.
The Postal Service also incorporates by reference the cost coverage information for the Inbound PRIME Registered Service Agreement 1 and the PRIME-USPS Registered Agreement filed in Docket No. ACR2025, Library Reference PRC-LR-ACR2025-NP2.
Id.
The Postal Service provides a discussion of its compliance with 39 CFR 3040.180-.181 for the proposed removal of MCS section 2615.2 Competitive International Registered Mail from the Competitive product list and accompanying classification changes in MCS sections 2340.5 and 2600.2.
Id.
at 8-12. The Postal Service also provides a discussion of its compliance with 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 3622(c)(10) and 39 CFR 3040.130-.132 and 3040.220-.222 for the proposed transfer of the Inbound PRIME Registered Service Agreement 1 and the PRIME-USPS Registered Agreement from the Competitive product list to the Market Dominant product list.
Id.
at 12-24. The Postal Service further provides a discussion of the functional equivalence of the Inbound PRIME Registered Service Agreement 1 and the PRIME-USPS Registered Agreement to the baseline agreement for the umbrella product, MCS section 1602.3.5 Inbound Market Dominant Multi-Service Agreements with Foreign Postal Operators 1.
Id.
at 24-27.
III. Commission Action
The Commission establishes Docket No. MC2026-387 for consideration of matters raised by the Request. The Commission invites comments on whether the Postal Service's filing is consistent with 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 3622(c)(10) and 39 CFR 3040.130-.132, 3040.180-.181, and 3040.220-.222. Comments are due October 16, 2026. The public portions of the filings can be accessed via the Commission's website (
www.prc.gov).
The Commission appoints Samuel Robinson to represent the interests of the general public (Public Representative) in this docket, pursuant to 39 CFR 3010.101(q)(3). The Public Representative does not represent any individual person, entity, or particular point of view, and, when Commission attorneys are appointed, no attorney-client relationship is established.
IV. Ordering Paragraphs
It is ordered:
1. The Commission establishes Docket No. MC2026-387 for consideration of matters raised by the Postal Service's Request.
2. Pursuant to 39 CFR 3010.101(q)(3), Samuel Robinson is appointed to serve as an officer of the Commission (Public Representative) to represent the interests of the general public in this proceeding.
3. Comments are due October 16, 2026.
4. This Order, or an abstract thereof, shall be published in the
Federal Register
.
By the Commission.
Parvaneh Higareda,
Senior Paralegal Specialist.
Footnotes
1.
Request of the United States Postal Service to Remove Competitive International Registered Mail from the Competitive Product List and Make Accompanying Classification Changes, and Transfer the Inbound PRIME Registered Service Agreement 1 as Well as the PRIME-USPS Registered Agreement to the Market Dominant Product List, and Application for Non-Public Treatment, September 16, 2026, at 1, 3 n.4 (Request).
www.prc.gov
39 CFR 3040.180
39 U.S.C. 3642
www.upu.int/UPU/media/upu/files/aboutUpu/acts/08-actsAndOtherDecisionsPreviousCongresses/CNG-ACTS%e2%94%80Doc-0-(5).pdf