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User Guide for the Postal 

Regulatory Commission’s 

Electronic Docketing 

System

EDOCKETS USER GUIDE
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CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................................5

II. SYSTEM NAVIGATION...........................................................................................................................................5

A. Navigation Menu ............................................................................................................................................5

B. Daily Listings ...................................................................................................................................................6

C. Active Cases.....................................................................................................................................................8

III. DOCKET SEARCH .................................................................................................................................................9

A. Advanced Docket Search ..............................................................................................................................12

1. Complex Searches: Special Character List ................................................................................................16

B. Rate Commission Archive Search...................................................................................................................19

C. Public Representatives..................................................................................................................................21

D. Docket Details ...............................................................................................................................................22

E. Filing Details..................................................................................................................................................23

IV. ACCOUNT SETUP...............................................................................................................................................24

A. Creating Your Account...................................................................................................................................24

B. Login..............................................................................................................................................................26

C. Logout...........................................................................................................................................................28

D. Updating Your User Profile ............................................................................................................................29

E. Resetting Your Password ..............................................................................................................................31

V. E-FILING GUIDELINES ..........................................................................................................................................33

A. Creating a New Filing....................................................................................................................................33

1. Docket Number.........................................................................................................................................33

2. Filing Party ................................................................................................................................................34

3. Authorized By ...........................................................................................................................................35

4. Title ...........................................................................................................................................................36

5. Comments.................................................................................................................................................37

6. Attachments .............................................................................................................................................37

7. Designating Documents Public or Non-public ..........................................................................................39

8. Creating PDF documents..........................................................................................................................39

9. Saving a Draft Filing ..................................................................................................................................41

10. Submitting a Filing.....................................................................................................................................41

11. Deferring a Filing.......................................................................................................................................43

B. Creating a New Docket...................................................................................................................................43

C. Agents...........................................................................................................................................................44
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1. Designating an Agent ................................................................................................................................44

2. Removing an Agent...................................................................................................................................45

3. Viewing Your Agents.................................................................................................................................45

D. Viewing Your Filings......................................................................................................................................46

1. View Draft Filings ......................................................................................................................................46

2. View Submitted Filings .............................................................................................................................46

3. View Published Filings ..............................................................................................................................47

VI. DOCUMENT ALERTS ..........................................................................................................................................47

1. Adding an Alert.........................................................................................................................................47

2. Alert Name................................................................................................................................................47

3. Alert Criteria .............................................................................................................................................48

4. Viewing Your Alerts...................................................................................................................................52

5. Editing an Alert..........................................................................................................................................53

6. Removing an Alert.....................................................................................................................................53
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Document Information

This document pertains to the Postal Regulatory Commission’s eDockets website. This document 

is accessible via both the eDockets website, https://prc.arkcase.com/portal/home, and the 

Commission’s primary website, www.prc.gov. 

For any questions regarding this Guide or the eDockets website, please contact 

dockets@prc.gov. 

Document History

Date Change Staff Responsible Version 

Number

June 9, 2023 Initial posting Docket Section staff 1.0

July 10, 2023 Added table of special 

characters for complex searches

Docket Section staff 1.1

August 21, 2023 Added Document Information 

page

Docket Section staff 1.2
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I. INTRODUCTION

This eDockets User Guide provides an overview of the system and instructions on how to use the 

Postal Regulatory Commission’s electronic filing and docketing system. The Guide includes 

instructions for navigating the system, setting up and managing accounts, creating and 

submitting electronic filings, and searching past Commission decisions and documents filed by 

parties.

The eDockets system is a secure online portal where users can electronically upload their 

documents and file them directly with the Commission. The eDockets system has been adopted 

by the Commission to streamline the filing process, increase efficiency, and reduce reliance on 

paper documents. Any user may search eDockets, which serves as the primary repository for the 

majority of Commission decisions and documents filed with the agency. 

The Commission’s electronic docketing system permits registered account holders to file 

documents with the Commission between the hours of 8:00 a.m. ET and 4:30 p.m. ET. If the user 

does not find a satisfactory answer to their question or problem by reviewing this Guide, the user 

may contact dockets@prc.gov. 

II. SYSTEM NAVIGATION 

The eDockets system is both an electronic filing and docketing system. Users can search 

Commission decisions and documents filed with the Commission, stay updated on new filings 

submitted to the Commission, and establish accounts to create and submit filings with the 

Commission. 

A. Navigation Menu

The navigation menu is located on the left side of your screen. See the figure below for a brief 

description of each item on the navigation menu. 
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Certain modules are available without logging into eFiling. These default modules are displayed in

the lefthand navigation menu. Upon logging into eFiling, the lefthand navigation menu will 

update to show additional modules.

B. Daily Listings

The Daily Listings page shows all published Filings for a specific date. To view Daily Listings, select 

the “Daily Listings” module from the lefthand navigation menu.

By default, the system will display the Daily Listings for the current date. Users may select the

date field to change the date.
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You may expand Filings to download associated Public Materials attachments.

You may also select the Docket # or Filing Title to navigate to the associated Details page.

 
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C. Active Cases

The Active Cases page displays all currently open Dockets. To view Active Cases, select the

“Active Cases” module from the lefthand navigation menu.

You may click the Docket # to navigate to the relevant Docket Details page.
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The table uses pagination. You may change the number of displayed items per page as well as

navigate between pages.

III. DOCKET SEARCH

To view the Docket Search, select “Docket Search” from the lefthand navigation menu.
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The Docket Search uses a wildcard search against all published Filings in the system. 

Specifically, the system searches against the following datapoints:

• Associated Docket Title

• Associated Docket Number

• Filing Title

• Document Type

• Filing Party

• Witness Name

• POIR Number

• NOI Number

• CHIR Number

• CIR Number

• Order Number

• Ruling Number

• Full Text of any Word/PDF attachments that are marked as Public Materials

Enter a general search term and select the “Search” button or push the “Enter” key to execute

the search.

Upon executing the search, the system will display a list of matching Filings.
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You may select from the facets on the right-hand side of

the screen to further drill down results.

You may expand the results to download any associated Public Materials.

You may export the results by selecting the “Export” button.
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A. Advanced Docket Search

The Advanced Docket Search offers an input-based search against all published Filings in the system. 

Specifically, the system searches against the following search types:

• Documents

• Orders

• Rulings

• POIRs

• CIRs

• CHIRs

• NOIs

• Transcripts

• Library References

The system defaults to the “Documents” option.

To view the Advanced Docket Search, select “Advanced Docket Search” from the lefthand 

navigation menu.
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Select a search type then either select “Search” or add additional terms to in the “Filter Options” 

section below the Type dropdown box. 

The Filter Option fields change with the search Type chosen at the top of the Advanced Docket 

Search section. For example, if you select an “Order” search, the system will provide an “Order 

Number” field.
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Or if you select a “Transcripts” search, the system will provide a “Transcripts” field.
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Start your search by selecting the Type at top,

then add terms to the Filter Options to 

provide more specific search results. 

Then select the “Search” button. 

You may sort any results column with the up/down carets at the end of the column’s name.

You may also add or remove filters after you have received your search results, to further drill 

down your research. Select the “Search” button again to activate the newest filter.
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1. Complex Searches: Special Character List

In order to do more complex searches, you may add special characters to your queries, to 

better fine-tune your search results. These characters, already widely used in Google searches, 

may be found in the table below: 

Special Character Complex Search Function Example

&& 

2 ampersands

Requires both terms on either side of 

characters be present in all search results 

• BOTH/AND function 

Using the words filing && docket would 

require terms filing AND docket to appear in 

all results

|| 

2 vertical bars

(no space between)

Requires either term be present in all 

search results

• EITHER/OR function 

filing || docket would require one or both 

terms to appear in all results

! 

exclamation point

Prohibits a term

• EXCLUDE function 

!filing would NOT return anything with the 

term filing

docket && !filing would return results that 

contain docket but do NOT contain filing

 -

 minus sign

Prohibits a term

• NOT function 

-filing would NOT return anything with the 

term filing

+

plus sign

Requires a term

• MUST HAVE function 

+filing would require that the term filing

appear in all results

+filing hello would require filing, but would 

not require hello

()

parenthesis

Allows grouping operations

• MUST return results in 

entire, specified word order 

• can be used to search for 

multiple phrases that may 

not appear in close proximity 

in documents 

(filing by Postal Regulatory Commission)

would require all results to have that phrase 

appear

?

question mark

Single character wildcard th?s would return all results including this

and thus

*

asterisk

Multi character wildcard tes* yields test, testing, tester, tested, etc.

""

double quotes

Exact matches “negotiated service agreement” returns all 

results with that exact phrase
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If you select an individual Filing, that Filing’s record page will open in a new browser window. 

Your search results will remain intact in your original browser window for your continued 

research.

You may expand the results to download one or all associated Public Material documents in each 

Filing’s record.

 

At the bottom of the results page, you may adjust how many search results you see per page, 

as well as turn the page. 
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You may export the search results to a .csv file by selecting the “Export” button.
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B. Rate Commission Archive Search

To search for Dockets and Filings published before 2004 with the Postal Rate Commission,

select the “Rate Commission Archives” from the lefthand navigation menu.

The Rate Commission Archive search uses a wildcard search against all Published Filings from

before 2004. Specifically, the system searches against the following datapoints:

• Docket No.

• Name

• Intervenor

• Title

• Plaintiff

• Defendant

• Determination

• City or State

• Order No.

• Name of File

• Category

• Responder

• Full Text of Any Attachments

Enter a general search term and select the “Search” button or push the “Enter” key to execute

the search.

Upon executing the search, the system will display a list of matching Filings.
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You may select from the facets on the righthand side of the screen to further drill down results.

You may expand the results to download any associated Public Materials.
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C. Public Representatives

To view Public Representatives, select the “Public

Representatives” module from the lefthand navigation 

menu.

The page will display a list of all Public Representatives that are currently assigned to active 

Dockets, along with contact information. You may select the Docket to navigate to the relevant 

Docket details.
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D. Docket Details

Selecting a Docket will bring you to the corresponding Docket Details page. The page will 

display the Docket’s Title, number of published filings, Public Representative (if present), and

Procedural Schedule (if present).

Additionally, the page will display a list of all published Filings associated with the Docket. You

may expand a Filing to download any associated Public Materials attachments.
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E. Filing Details

Selecting a Filing will bring you to the corresponding Filing Details page. The page will display

the Filing’s Filing Parties, associated Dockets, Title, and Filing Date. Additionally, the page will 

display the Filing’s Document Types as well as any Public Materials attachments. You may 

download the documents from this page.
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IV. ACCOUNT SETUP

A. Creating Your Account

To create your account, select “Access E-Filing” from the lefthand 

navigation menu.

From here, select “Create Account.”
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You will be prompted to enter account information. Upon entering all required data, select

“Create Account” to create the account. Required fields have a red mark in their top right 

corner.

You do not need to wait for the confirmation email – you will be able to log in immediately.
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B. Login

To log in to access eFiling, select “Access E-Filing” from the

lefthand navigation menu.

Enter user credentials and select “Log In.”
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Upon logging in, an alert will display. Select “Confirm” to continue.

Once logged in, new options will appear in the lefthand navigation menu.
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C. Logout

To log out of eFiling, simply select “Logout” from the lefthand navigation menu.

Please note that the system will automatically log out after 15 minutes of non-activity.
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D. Updating Your User Profile

To update your user profile, select “Edit Profile” from the lefthand 

navigation menu.

From here, select “Edit” to update your user profile.
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Note that only certain fields are actually editable. You may not change the email address 

associated with your account.
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E. Resetting Your Password

To reset your password, you must be sure to be logged out

of eFiling. From there, select “Access E-Filing.”

Next, select “Forgot Password.”
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Enter an email address and select “Send Password Reset Link”.

You will receive an email (featuring text similar to that shown below) with instructions on how to 

reset your password.
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V. E-FILING GUIDELINES

After becoming an account holder, you can access the Filing Online Login page by clicking the 

Filing Online link located at https://prc.arkcase.com/portal/home. You may then file documents 

or comments in any docket. 

All submissions must follow the Commission’s Rules of Practice set forth in 39 CFR Part 3010. Any 

filing that does not comply with an applicable Commission rule or order may be rejected. 39 CFR 

§ 3010.123. Any filing that is rejected is deemed not to have been filed with the Commission. 

Please review the Rules of Practice and this guide prior to filing online.

The majority of documents filed electronically must be submitted as a PDF (portable document 

format). Account holders must log in and fill out information related to the filing, upload 

documents, and submit between the hours of 8:00 a.m. EST and 4:30 p.m. EST. Documents of 

submissions that contain multiple documents must be filed completely by 4:30 p.m. or they will 

be posted the next business day.

A. Creating a New Filing

All account holders are eligible to create and file new documents with the Commission. To create

a Filing, you must be logged into eFiling. Select “Create Filing” from the lefthand navigation

menu. 

The first page prompts you to enter basic Filing metadata.

1. Docket Number

Select the “Docket Number” dropdown to select a Docket. The Docket Number selection ties your 

documents uploaded to a specific issue, matter, or case that will be considered by the 

Commission. If you are unsure if your Filing should be associated with a Docket, leave this field

blank. If your Filing should be associated with multiple Dockets, select a single Docket, and add 

the additional Docket in the Comments section. If you need to create a new Docket, please go to 

the “Create a New Docket” section in this guide for instructions. 
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2. Filing Party

Select the “Filing Party” dropdown to select a Filing Party. The Filing Party identifies the individual 

or entity that is responsible for the materials to be filed with the Commission. If you are unsure if

your Filing should have a Filing Party, or you cannot find the Filing Party you need, leave this field 

blank and enter a note in the Comments section.
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3. Authorized By

Select “Authorized By” to select an Authorizing User. If a user has designated you as their 

Authorized Agent and you are filing on their behalf, their email will appear here. If you are filing 

on behalf of yourself or an entity you represent, or are unsure if you should set an Authorized By

user, leave this field blank.
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4. Title

Enter a Title for your filing. The title should be the name of your document that reflects the purpose of 

your filing with the Commission, consistent with the Commission’s Rules of Practice; examples may start 

with words like notice, motion, comments, etc. You may select the “Correct Capitalization” button to

correct the title’s capitalization. A Title is the bare minimum required to save a Draft Filing.

After entering the Title, select the “Next” button.
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5. Comments

Users may enter additional comments in the Comments section, if applicable. This may include 

Docket Associations, Filing Parties, or any other questions. Docket staff will review the

information in this section when working the Filing. This field can be left blank.

Select the “Next” button.

6. Attachments

Select “Choose Files” to upload attachments to the Filing.

The system generally accepts the following filetypes:

• .pdf

• .doc

• .docx

• .xls

• .xlsx

• .rtf

• .csv

• .sas
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Once you have selected your files, select “Upload” to upload the documents to the Filing.

NOTE: Uploading documents only uploads them to your filing and does not submit them to the 

Commission. Please see instructions on submitting a filing in this guide for official submission 

instructions.

You may select “Select More Files” to add more before uploading or select “Clear” to remove

the files before uploading.
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7. Designating Documents Public or Non-public

Once the documents have been uploaded, you may designate them as Public Materials or Protected 

Materials. Public Materials will be made available to the public when the Filing is published. Protected 

Materials are not made public – they are stored securely, but members of the public may request 

access to these documents by filing a request with the Commission.

8. Creating PDF documents

The majority of documents filed electronically must be submitted as a PDF (portable 

document format) or in native Excel format as prescribed by the Commission’s Rules of 

Practice. If filers are not able to convert their documents to a PDF before filing, the system 

permits users to convert files to PDF after uploading. 

The “Make PDF” button converts Word and other file types into a PDF file for submission. Only 

Word or Excel documents may be converted to a PDF. Each document must be converted 

separately.
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Additionally, you may combine multiple PDFs by selecting them and choosing the “Assemble”

button.

The system will prompt you to select the order of the documents. Furthermore, you may

extract specific pages from the entered pdf. Entering a range will extract that range of pages, 

whereas comma separated values will pick those specific pages. Both may be used in tandem. 

For instance, entering “1,3-5, 9” would extract pages 1, 3, 4, 5, and 9.

Enter a new filename and select “Assemble PDF” to create the new PDF.
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9. Saving a Draft Filing

You may save a Draft Filing at any time by selecting “Save Draft.” You must set a Title to be able

to save the Draft.

You may continue working on the Filing or return to it later from the View My Filings section.

NOTE: Draft Filings will be automatically deleted after 15 days of non-activity on the Filing.

10. Submitting a Filing

Submitting a Filing officially publishes the filing and documents with the Commission.

In order to submit a Filing, it must include:

• A title

• At least one PDF that is marked as Public Materials

To submit a Filing, select “Next” from the Attachments tab.
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The system will prompt you to review your Filing prior to submission.

Check the reCAPTCHA box and select “Submit Filing.” Once a Filing is submitted, you may no

longer edit it, nor can you un-submit it.

You will be redirected to the View My Filings page. Your Filing will appear in the “Submitted

Filings” table.
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11. Deferring a Filing

You may set a Deferral Date if the Filing should be held for Publishing until a specified date. The Deferral 

date cannot be in the past.

Check the reCAPTCHA box and select “Submit Filing.” Once a Filing is submitted, you may no

longer edit it, nor can you un-submit it.

You will be redirected to the View My Filings page. Your Filing will appear in the “Submitted

Filings” table.

B. Creating a New Docket

All account holders may create a new Docket. A Docket designates the type and category of the matter 

that can be considered by the Commission. Once a new Docket is created, they cannot be deleted. If you 

are unsure whether you need to create a new Docket, please review the Commission’s Rules of Practice, 

39 CFR Part 3001. You may also contact dockets@prc.gov.

To create a Docket, you must be logged in to eFiling. Select “Create Docket” from the lefthand navigation 

menu.
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You will be prompted to enter a Docket Title and a Docket Type. Both are required. 

Check the reCAPTCHA box and select “Create Docket” to create the Docket.

The new Docket will now be available forselection in your Dockets dropdown list when creating

Filings.

C. Agents

Agents are users you may designate to submit Filings on your behalf. You must be logged into

eFiling to use the Agents module.

1. Designating an Agent

To designate an agent, select the “Add Agent” button.

Enter the email address of the user you would like to designate as your agent. Then select “Create 

Agent.”
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If the system finds an account with the email you have entered, the user will be set as your agent. 

They will receive an email notification letting them know they have been set as your agent.

NOTE: A user must have an eFiling account in order to be designated as an agent.

2. Removing an Agent

To remove an agent, select the options button next to an existing agent and select “Delete.”

3. Viewing Your Agents

To view your agents, select “Agents” from the lefthand navigation menu.
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The system will display a list of all Agents you have designated.

D. Viewing Your Filings

To view your Filings, select the “View My Filings” option from the lefthand navigation menu.

1. View Draft Filings

The Draft Filings table displays all Draft Filings you have saved. You may select the Filing Title to 

continue working on the Filing.

NOTE: Draft Filings will be automatically deleted after 15 days of nonactivity.

2. View Submitted Filings

The Submitted Filings table displays all Filings you have submitted. You may filter and sort on each 

column.
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3. View Published Filings

When your Filing is Published, you will see the Status change to “Published” and it will appear on 

the Commission's Daily Listing page for that day.

VI. DOCUMENT ALERTS

You may set email alerts to let you know when certain Filings are published. You must be logged

in to use the Alerts module.

1. Adding an Alert

To add an alert, select the “New” button.

2. Alert Name

Set a name for your alert by entering information in the “Name” field. The “Name” field is 

simply the alert Title and is all that is actually required to create the alert. However, if you do 

not enter any other criteria, you will receive an alert every time a Filing is Published.
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3. Alert Criteria

The system will prompt you to enter a name for your alert and criteria. Generally, you may 

enter only a single criteria per option. Furthermore, the criteria are additive – if you set more

than one, then each document filed must satisfy all of the criteria to trigger the alert.

If you check the “Daily Digest” option, you will 

receive a single alert email at the end of the day with 

all published Filings that match your alert criteria. 

Otherwise, you will receive alerts throughout the day

as Filings are published. These typically go out in 

batches during 30-minute intervals.
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The “Dockets” dropdown lets you select from a list

of Active Dockets. This will trigger any time a Filing 

associated with this Docket is published.

The “Witness” dropdown lets you select from any 

individual who has been designated as a Witness,

irrespective of their Witness Party. This will trigger 

any time a Filing with that Witness is published.
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The “Witness Party” dropdown lets you select 

from any Party that has been designated as a 

Witness Party. This will trigger any time a Filing 

with that Witness Party is published.

The “Filing Party” dropdown lets you select from

any Party that has been designated as a Filing 

Party. This will trigger any time a Filing with that 

Filing Party is published.
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The “Document Types” dropdown lets you select

from any Filing type. This will trigger any time a Filing 

with that Document Type is published.

Finally, the “Title Contains” field lets you enter

text. This will trigger any time a Filing containing 

that text in its Title is published.

Select “Create Alert” to create the alert.

NOTE: If you do not select any criteria for your alert, 

you will receive an alert every time a Filing is 

Published.
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4. Viewing Your Alerts

To view your alerts, select “Document Alerts” from the lefthand 

navigation menu.

You will see a list of all Alerts you have created.
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5. Editing an Alert

To edit an alert, simply select the “Edit” button on an existing Alert.

6. Removing an Alert

To remove an alert, simply select the “Delete” button on an existing Alert.