[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 231 (Monday, December 4, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 84179-84180]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26528]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. CP2024-72; Order No. 6817]


Competitive Price Changes

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is recognizing a recently filed Postal Service 
document with the Commission concerning changes in rates and 
classifications of general applicability for competitive products. This 
notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and 
takes other administrative steps.

DATES: Comments are due: December 15, 2023.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents

I. Introduction and Overview
II. Summary of Changes
III. Initial Administrative Actions
IV. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

    On November 22, 2023, the Postal Service filed notice with the 
Commission concerning changes in rates and classifications of general 
applicability for Competitive products.\1\ The Postal Service 
represents that, as required by 39 CFR 3035.102(b) and 39 CFR 
3035.104(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 proposed changes will take effect no earlier than July 
1, 2024. Id.
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    \1\ USPS Notice of Changes in Rates and Classifications of 
General Applicability for Competitive Products, November 22, 2023 
(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.
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    Attached to the Notice is Governors' Decision No. 23-6, which 
states the new prices are in accordance with 39 U.S.C. 3632 and 3633 
and 39 CFR 3035.102-.104.\2\ The Governors' Decision 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 3035. Governors' Decision No. 23-6 at 1. The Attachment to 
the Governors' Decision No. 23-6 sets forth the classification and 
price changes and includes draft Mail Classification Schedule (MCS) 
language for Competitive products of general applicability.
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    \2\ Notice, Decision of the Governors of the United States 
Postal Service on Changes in Rates and Classifications of General 
Applicability for Competitive Products (Governors' Decision No. 23-
6), at 1 (Governors' Decision No. 23-6).
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    In addition, the Notice includes a non-public annex showing FY 2024 
projected volumes, revenues, attributable costs, contribution, and cost

[[Page 84180]]

coverage for each product. See Notice at 1. The Postal Service also 
filed supporting forecast data and price adjustment calculations for 
each affected product as required by Order No. 1062. Id. at 2.
    The Notice also includes an application for non-public treatment of 
the unredacted version of the annex to the Governors' Decision, as well 
as the supporting materials for the data.\3\ Id.
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    \3\ See United States Postal Service Notice of Errata to 
Application for Nonpublic Treatment Accompanying USPS Notice of 
Changes in Rates and Classifications of General Applicability for 
Competitive Products, November 17, 2023.
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II. Summary of Changes

    The Notice proposes establishing Zone 10 rates for Priority Mail 
Express, Priority Mail, and USPS Ground Advantage. Id. at 2. The rates 
will apply to packages that have Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. Territories 
as their destination but not originating in the same state or 
territory. Id.
    The classification changes will be made in the relevant price 
charts to include new columns for Zone 10 prices. See Governors' 
Decision No. 23-6 at 2-3. The changes are summarized below.

A. Price Changes

    Prices are designed to be five percent higher than the Zone 8 
prices proposed in Docket No. CP2024-52 that are intended to take 
effect January 2024.\4\ Id. at 1. The Zone 9 prices for USPS Ground 
Advantage will be increased to align with the new Zone 10 prices. Id. 
The Zone 10 rates apply to (1) packages originating in the Lower 48 
States and destinating in Alaska, Hawaii, or the U.S. Territories; (2) 
packages originating in Alaska and destined to Hawaii or the U.S. 
Territories; (3) packages originating in Hawaii or a territory in the 
Pacific Ocean and destined to Alaska, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin 
islands; and (4) packages originating in Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin 
Islands and destined to Alaska, Hawaii, or a territory in the Pacific 
Ocean. Id.
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    \4\ See Docket No. CP2024-52, USPS Notice of Changes in Rates 
and Classifications of General Applicability for Competitive 
Products, November 15, 2023.
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B. Classification Changes

    References to Zone 10 will be added to the MCS Retail and 
Commercial Price Categories for Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, 
and USPS Ground Advantage products. Id.

III. Initial Administrative Actions

    The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2024-72 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, and 3642, 39 CFR part 3035, and 39 CFR 3040 subparts B and 
E. Comments are due no later than December 15, 2023. For specific 
details of the planned price changes, interested persons are encouraged 
to review the Notice, which is available on the Commission's website at 
www.prc.gov.
    Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Samuel J. Robinson is appointed to serve 
as Public Representative to represent the interests of the general 
public in this docket.

IV. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2024-72 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, and 3642, 39 CFR part 3035, and 39 CFR 3040 subparts B and E.
    2. Comments are due no later than December 15, 2023.
    3. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the Commission appoints Samuel J. 
Robinson to serve as an officer of the Commission (Public 
Representative) to represent the interests of the general public in 
this docket.
    4. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the 
Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Erica A. Barker,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-26528 Filed 12-1-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P