[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 245 (Friday, December 20, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77172-77173]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30335]
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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. CP2014-13; Order No. 1907]
New Postal Product
AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing
concerning a contract with Canada for the delivery of inbound Expedited
Parcels USA and Express Mail Services (EMS). This notice informs the
public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other
administrative steps.
DATES: Comments are due: December 23, 2013.
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: Stephen L. Sharfman, 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 December 13, 2013, the Postal Service filed Notice, pursuant to
39 CFR 3015.5, that it has entered into a successor negotiated service
agreement (Agreement) with Canada's foreign postal operator, Canada
Post Corporation (Canada Post).\1\
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\1\ Notice of United States Postal Service of Filing
Functionally Equivalent Inbound Competitive Multi-Service Agreement
with a Foreign Postal Operator, December 13, 2013 (Notice).
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The Postal Service seeks to have the inbound portion of the
Agreement, which concerns delivery of inbound Expedited Parcels USA and
Express Mail Services (EMS) in the United States, included within the
Inbound Competitive Multi-Service Agreements with Foreign Postal
Operators 1 (MC2010-34) product on the competitive product list. Notice
at 1, 3.
II. Contents of Filing
The Postal Service's filing consists of the Notice, financial
workpapers, and four attachments.\2\ Attachment 1 is an
[[Page 77173]]
application for non-public treatment of material. Attachment 2 is a
copy of the Agreement. Attachment 3 is the certified statement required
by 39 CFR 3015.5(c)(2). Attachment 4 is a copy of Governors' Decision
No. 10-3.
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\2\ The financial workpapers and Attachments 2 and 4 were filed
in redacted and unredacted versions. Terms and conditions associated
with International Business Return Service are not included in the
Notice because return service to U.S. customers has not yet been
launched. Id. at 3-4. The Postal Service states that it will file an
appropriate amendment and corresponding notice prior to the launch
of this product. Id. at 4.
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The Agreement's intended effective date is January 1, 2014. Id. at
3. The Agreement is set to expire two years after the effective date,
subject to termination pursuant to contractual terms. Id.
The Postal Service states that the Agreement is the successor to
the 2012 Canada Post Agreement approved in Order No. 1088.\3\ It also
identifies the 2012 Canada Post Agreement as the baseline agreement for
purposes of determining functional equivalence. Notice at 2. It asserts
that the Agreement fits within applicable Mail Classification Schedule
language included in Governors' Decision No. 10-3. See id. at 3,
Attachment 4. The Postal Service identifies differences between the
Agreement and the 2012 Canada Post Agreement, such as revisions to
existing articles and attachments, but asserts that these differences
do not detract from a finding of functional equivalency.\4\ Notice at
5-7. In addition, it states that both agreements incorporate the same
cost attributes and methodology, thereby making the relevant cost and
market characteristics the same. Id. at 6.
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\3\ Notice at 2; Docket No. CP2012-4, Order Adding an Additional
Bilateral Agreement to Inbound Competitive Multi-Service Agreements
With Foreign Postal Operators 1 Product, December 30, 2011 (Order
No. 1088).
\4\ See, e.g., in Article 13, revisions to procedures related to
filings in the regulatory process; in Attachment 5, inclusion of
initiatives intended to improve quality of service; and in
Attachment 7, inclusion of product development and collaborative
initiatives. Notice, Attachment 2 at 4-5, 43-44, 48.
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III. Commission Action
Notice of establishment of docket. The Commission establishes
Docket No. CP2014-13 for consideration of matters raised by the Notice.
The Commission appoints James F. Callow to serve as Public
Representative in this docket.
Interested persons may submit comments on whether the Postal
Service's filing in the above-captioned docket is consistent with the
policies of 39 U.S.C. 3632, 3633, and 3642 and the requirements of 39
CFR parts 3015 and 3020. Comments are due no later than December 23,
2013. The public portions of this filing can be accessed via the
Commission's Web site (http://www.prc.gov). Information on obtaining
access to sealed material appears in 39 CFR part 3007.
IV. Ordering Paragraphs
It is ordered:
1. The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2014-13 for
consideration of matters raised by the Postal Service's Notice.
2. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, James F. Callow 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 no later than December 23, 2013.
4. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the
Federal Register.
By the Commission.
Ruth Ann Abrams,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-30335 Filed 12-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P