[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 198 (Friday, October 11, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 82647-82648]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-23585]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. MC2025-19; Order No. 7662]


Mail Classification Schedule

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is recognizing a recently filed Postal Service 
request to convert the experimental product offering USPS Connect Local 
Mail into a permanent product offering on the Mail Classification 
Schedule. This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public 
comment, and takes other administrative steps.

DATES: Comments are due: November 12, 2024.

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. Commission Action
III. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction and Overview

    On October 3, 2024, the Postal Service filed a request with the 
Commission pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 39 CFR 3045.18 to convert the 
experimental product offering USPS Connect Local Mail into a permanent 
product offering on the Mail Classification Schedule.\1\ In support of 
its Request, the Postal Service filed the following documents:
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    \1\ United States Postal Service Request to Convert USPS Connect 
Local Mail to a Permanent Offering, October 3, 2024 (Request). The 
Postal Service has previously filed two other requests to convert 
this experimental product into a permanent offering, both of which 
were denied. See Docket No. MC2023-12, Order Dismissing Without 
Prejudice Postal Service's Request to Convert USPS Connect Local 
Mail Market Test to a Permanent Offering, October 17, 2022, at 5-6 
(Order No. 6301); Docket No. MC2023-12, Order Dismissing Without 
Prejudice the Postal Service's Revised Request to Convert USPS 
Connect Local Mail Market Test to a Permanent Offering, January 20, 
2023 (Order No. 6423).

<bullet> Attachment A to Request--Proposed Changes to the Mail 
Classification Schedule;
<bullet> Attachment B to Request--Market Test Quarterly Data Collection 
Reports;
<bullet> Attachment C to Request--Resolution of the Governors of the 
United States Postal Service; and
<bullet> Attachment D to Request--Statement of Supporting Justification

See Request, Attachments A through D.
    The USPS Connect Local Mail market test was initially authorized by 
the Commission on January 4, 2022.\2\ It was then extended through 
January 9, 2025.\3\ Order No. 6080 at 20. USPS Connect Local Mail is a 
derivative of First-Class Mail that functions as an alternative to 
long-distance, end-to-end mailing for use by business mailers who wish 
to send mail locally with regular frequency. Id. at 2. The Postal 
Service asserts that the USPS Connect Local Mail market test has proven 
successful and that it now wishes to insert the USPS Connect Local Mail 
product offering into the Mail Classification Schedule under section 
1115 (Market Dominant Products: First-Class Mail: First-Class Mail 
Flats). Request at 5. The Postal Service maintains that the USPS 
Connect Local Mail product meets all the conditions in 39 U.S.C. 3642 
and 39 CFR 3045.18 for adding a non-experimental product based on an 
experimental product to the product list. Id. at 6-8. The Postal 
Service also, as required by 39 CFR 3045.18(e), filed a separate notice 
of the instant request in Docket No. MT2022-1.\4\ The planned rate for 
USPS Connect Local Mail is $2.95. See Request at 10.
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    \2\ Docket No. MT2022-1, Order Authorizing Market Test of 
Experimental Product--USPS Connect Local Mail, January 4, 2022 
(Order No. 6080).
    \3\ Docket No. MT2022-1, Order Authorizing Extension of USPS 
Connect Local Mail Market Test, December 13, 2023 (Order No. 6860).
    \4\ Docket No. MT2022-1, United States Postal Service Notice of 
Request to Convert USPS Connect Local Mail to Permanent Offering, 
October 3, 2024.
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II. Commission Action

    The Commission establishes Docket No. MC2025-19 to consider the 
Postal Service's Request. Interested persons may submit comments on 
whether the Request is consistent with the policies of 39 U.S.C. 3642, 
39 CFR 3045.18, and 39 CFR 3040.130 through .135. Comments are due by 
November 12, 2024.
    The Request and related filings are available on the Commission's 
website (http://www.prc.gov). The Commission encourages interested 
persons to review the Request for further details.
    The Commission appoints Joanne Diez to serve as Public 
Representative in this proceeding.

III. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. MC2025-19 for 
consideration of the United States Postal Service Request to Convert 
USPS Connect Local Mail to a Permanent Offering, filed October 3, 2024.
    2. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Joanne Diez 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 by interested persons are due by November 12, 2024.

[[Page 82648]]

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

    By the Commission.
Erica A. Barker,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-23585 Filed 10-10-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P