2016-25824. Competitive Price Adjustment  

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    AGENCY:

    Postal Regulatory Commission.

    ACTION:

    Notice.

    SUMMARY:

    The Commission is noticing a recently filed Postal Service notice of rate adjustments affecting competitive domestic and international products and services, along with numerous proposed classification changes. The adjustments and other changes are scheduled to take effect January 22, 2017. This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

    DATES:

    Comments are due: November 2, 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.

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    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at 202-789-6820.

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    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Table of Contents

    I. Introduction and Overview

    II. Initial Administrative Actions

    III. Ordering Paragraphs

    I. Introduction and Overview

    On October 19, 2016, the Postal Service filed notice with the Commission concerning changes in rates of general applicability for competitive products.[1] The Notice also includes related classification changes. The Postal Service represents that, as required by Commission rule 39 CFR 3015.2(b), the Notice includes an explanation and justification for the changes, the effective date, and a schedule of the changed rates. Notice at 1. The changes are scheduled to become effective on January 22, 2017. Id.

    Attached to the Notice is Governors' Decision No. 16-7, which states the new prices and classification changes are in accordance with 39 U.S.C. 3632, 3633, and 39 CFR 3015.2.[2] Governors' Decision No. 16-7 provides an analysis of the competitive products' price and classification changes intended to demonstrate that the changes comply with 39 U.S.C. 3633 and 39 CFR part 3015. Governors' Decision No. 16-7 at 1. The attachment to Governors' Decision No. 16-7 sets forth the price changes and includes draft Mail Classification Schedule (MCS) language for competitive products of general applicability.

    Governors' Decision No. 16-7 includes two additional attachments:

    • A partially redacted table showing FY 2017 projected volumes, revenues, attributable costs, contribution, and cost coverage for each product, assuming implementation of the new prices on January 22, 2017.
    • A partially redacted table showing FY 2017 projected volumes, revenues, attributable costs, contribution, and cost coverage for each product, assuming a hypothetical implementation of the new prices on October 1, 2016.

    The Notice also includes an application for non-public treatment of the attributable costs, contribution, and cost coverage data in the unredacted version of the annex to Governors' Decision No. 16-7, as well as the supporting materials for the data.

    Planned price adjustments. Governors' Decision No. 16-7 includes an overview of the Postal Service's planned percentage changes, which is summarized in the table below.

    Table I-1

    Product nameAverage price increase (percent)
    Domestic Competitive Products
    Priority Mail Express3.4
    Retail3.7
    Commercial Base2.4
    Commercial Plus2.3
    Priority Mail3.9
    Retail3.3
    Commercial Base4.1
    Commercial Plus4.5
    Parcel Select
    Destination-Entered4.9
    Lightweight8.0
    Parcel Select Ground2.7
    Parcel Return Service5.5
    Return Sectional Center Facility5.8
    Return Delivery Unit5.2
    First-Class Package Service4.1
    Retail Ground3.8
    Domestic Extra Services
    Premium Forwarding Service Enrollment Fee3.8
    Adult Signature Service
    Basic3.5
    Person-Specific3.4
    Address Enhancement Service1.9-7.9
    Competitive Post Office Box6.5
    Package Intercept Service3.2
    Pickup On Demand10
    International Competitive Products
    Global Express Guaranteed4.9
    Priority Mail Express International0.0
    Priority Mail International0.0
    International Priority Airmail3.8
    International Priority Airmail M-Bags3.9
    International Surface Air Lift3.8
    International Surface Air Lift M-Bags3.9
    Airmail M-Bags4.9
    First-Class Package International Service0.0
    International Ancillary Services and Special Services
    International Ancillary Services10.6
    International Postal Money Orders73.7
    Outbound International Registered Mail7.2
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    Governors' Decision No. 16-7 at 2-5; see Mail Classification Schedule sections 2105.6, 2110.6, 2115.6, 2125.6, 2135.6, 2305.6, 2315.6, 2335.6, 2510.9.6.

    Proposed classification changes. The Postal Service proposes several classification changes in its Notice and attaches proposed revisions to the MCS to Governors' Decision No. 16-7. Id. at 1; see id. Attachment Part B.

    II. Initial Administrative Actions

    The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2017-20 to consider the Postal Service's Notice. Interested persons may express views and offer comments on whether the planned changes are consistent with 39 U.S.C. 3632, 3633, 3642, 39 CFR part 3015, and 39 CFR 3020 subparts B and E. Comments are due no later than November 2, 2016. For specific details of the planned price and classification changes, interested persons are encouraged to review the Notice, which is available on the Commission's Web site, www.prc.gov.

    Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, James Waclawski is appointed to serve as Public Representative to represent the interests of the general public in this docket.

    III. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:

    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2017-20 to provide interested persons an opportunity to express views and offer comments on whether the planned changes are consistent with 39 U.S.C. 3632, 3633, 3642, 39 CFR part 3015, and 39 CFR 3020 subparts B and E.

    2. Comments are due no later than November 2, 2016.

    3. The Commission appoints James Waclawski to serve as Public Representative to represent the interests of the general public in this proceeding.

    4. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the Federal Register.

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    By the Commission.

    Stacy L. Ruble,

    Secretary.

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    Footnotes

    1.  Notice of the United States Postal Service of Changes in Rates of General Applicability for Competitive Products Established in Governors' Decision No. 16-7, October 19, 2016 (Notice). Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3632(b)(2), the Postal Service is obligated to publish the Governors' Decision and record of proceedings in the Federal Register at least 30 days before the effective date of the new rates or classes.

    Back to Citation

    2.  Notice, Decision of the Governors of the United States Postal Service on Changes in Rates of General Applicability for Competitive Products (Governors' Decision No. 16-7), October 11, 2016 (Governors' Decision No. 16-7).

    Back to Citation

    [FR Doc. 2016-25824 Filed 10-25-16; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P

Document Information

Published:
10/26/2016
Department:
Postal Regulatory Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice.
Document Number:
2016-25824
Dates:
Comments are due: November 2, 2016.
Pages:
74485-74486 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. CP2017-20, Order No. 3574
PDF File:
2016-25824.Pdf