[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 4, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 6142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02131]



[[Page 6142]]

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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. PI2015-1; Order No. 2336]


Public Inquiry on Service Performance Measurement Systems

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is establishing a public inquiry to receive 
comments regarding the Postal Service's proposed service performance 
measurement systems for Market Dominant products. In addition, the 
Commission is scheduling a technical conference where the Postal 
Service will briefly outline its proposals. This notice informs the 
public of this proceeding and the technical conference, invites public 
comment, and takes other administrative steps.

DATES: Comments are due: March 26, 2015. Reply Comments are due: April 
8, 2015.

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: On October 17, 2014, the Postal Service 
began discussions with the Commission on proposals to develop new 
internal service performance measurement systems for several of its 
market dominant products, including products within domestic First-
Class Mail, Periodicals, Standard Mail and Package Services.\1\ Service 
performance, for the products under consideration, are currently 
measured using either external, or hybrid (combined internal and 
external), measurement systems.\2\
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    \1\ Internal service performance measurement systems are under 
the direct control of the Postal Service. External service 
performance measurement systems are under the direct control of an 
independent third party.
    \2\ See Docket No. PI2008-1, Order No. 140, Order Concerning 
Proposals for Internal Service Standards Measurement Systems, 
November 25, 2008, 73 FR 73664 (2008).
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    For reporting service performance to the Commission, service 
performance must be measured by an objective external performance 
measurement system unless the Commission approves the use of an 
internal measurement system. See 39 U.S.C. 3691(b)(1)(D) and (b)(2). 
This docket will consider a Postal Service request for the Commission 
to approve newly proposed internal service performance measurement 
systems for product level reporting within domestic First-Class Mail, 
Periodicals, Standard Mail and Package Services.
    The Postal Service's proposals are outlined in United States Postal 
Service, Service Performance Measurement, January 2015, which is 
concomitantly being filed as Library Reference PRC-LR-PI2015-1/1. The 
proposals would change at least two aspects of service performance 
measurement. First, the External First-Class system used for measuring 
single-piece First-Class Mail service performance would be replaced by 
a measurement system internal to the Postal Service. Second, the 
external reporters that are used to develop the last mile factors for 
all hybrid measurement systems for developing reports within First-
Class Mail, Periodicals, Standard Mail and Package Services would be 
replaced by mail carrier scans at delivery. If the proposals are 
approved by the Commission, the Postal Service intends to report 
service performance using the new measurement systems beginning FY 
2016.\3\
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    \3\ For compliance purposes, the Postal Service reports service 
performance for most market dominant products on an annual basis. 
See 39 CFR part 3055 subpart A; 39 U.S.C. 3652(a)(2)(i). For 
informational purposes, the Postal Service reports service 
performance for most market dominant products on a quarterly basis. 
See 39 CFR part 3055 subpart B.
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    The Commission's role under section 3691 of title 39 is to consult 
with the Postal Service concerning the establishment of service 
standards for market dominant products. Given its obligations under the 
Postal Accountability Enhancement Act (PAEA) and the Postal Service's 
proposals, the Commission is initiating this docket to solicit public 
comment on the Postal Service's proposed service performance 
measurement systems.
    The Commission will host an off-the-record technical conference on 
March 5, 2015, which is open to all persons interested in the Postal 
Service's service performance measurement systems proposals. The Postal 
Service shall briefly outline the proposals contained within its plan, 
and be available to answer questions.
    Interested persons are invited to comment on any or all aspects of 
the Postal Service's new proposals for service performance measurement 
and reporting systems. Comments are due March 26, 2015. Reply comments 
may be filed no later than April 8, 2015. The Commission intends to 
evaluate the comments received and use those suggestions to help carry 
out its service performance measurement responsibilities under the 
PAEA. Material filed in this docket will be available for review on the 
Commission's Web site, http://www.prc.gov.
    It is ordered:
    1. Docket No. PI2015-1 is established for the purpose of receiving 
comments regarding the Postal Service's proposed service performance 
measurement systems.
    2. A technical conference will be held in the Commission's hearing 
room at 10 a.m. on March 5, 2015, where the Postal Service will briefly 
outline its proposals, and be available to answer questions.
    3. Interested persons may submit written comments on any or all 
aspects of the Postal Service's proposed service performance 
measurement and reporting systems no later than March 26, 2015.
    4. Reply comments may be filed by no later than April 8, 2015.
    5. Lyudmila Y. Bzhilyanskaya is designated to represent the 
interests of the general public in this docket.
    6. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Ruth Ann Abrams,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-02131 Filed 2-3-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P