[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 49 (Monday, March 14, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14303-14304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-05241]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. N2022-1; Order No. 6115]


Service Standard Changes

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is acknowledging a filing by the Postal Service 
of its intent to conduct a pre-filing conference regarding its proposed 
changes to the service standards for Retail Ground and Parcel Select 
Ground. This document informs the public of this proceeding and the 
pre-filing conference, and takes other administrative steps.

DATES: Pre-filing conference: March 15, 2022, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., 
Eastern Daylight Time--Virtual Online.

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: Pursuant to 39 CFR 3020.111(d), on March 4, 
2022, the Postal Service filed a notice of its intent to conduct a pre-
filing conference regarding its proposed changes to the service 
standards for Retail Ground and Parcel Select Ground.\1\ Due to the 
COVID-19 pandemic, the conference will be held virtually on March 15, 
2022, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). See 
Notice at 1, 3. At this conference, Postal Service representatives 
capable of discussing the Postal Service's proposal will be available 
to educate the public and to allow interested persons to provide 
feedback to the Postal Service. See id. The registration instructions, 
which are available at https://about.usps.com/what/strategic-plans/delivering-for-america/#conference, direct interested persons to a 
website to register to participate using Zoom, and participants have 
until March 10, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time to register.
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    \1\ Notice of Pre-Filing Conference, March 4, 2022 (Notice). 
Retail Ground is an ``economical ground shipping solution'' for 
retail customers comprised of ``packages, thick envelopes, and tubes 
weighing less than 70 pounds and smaller than 130 inches combined 
length and width,'' and that are not otherwise required to be sent 
as First-Class Mail. Notice at 1 n.1. Parcel Select Ground differs 
in that it is targeted at large- and medium-sized commercial 
shippers. Id. at 1 n.2.
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    The Commission establishes Docket No. N2022-1 to consider the 
Postal Service's proposed changes to the service standards for Retail 
Ground and Parcel Select Ground.
    The Postal Service ties its proposed changes to its ``Delivering 
for America'' plan and avers that the instant proposal furthers the 
fundamental goals of service excellence and financial

[[Page 14304]]

stability.\2\ The Postal Service states that the proposal would align 
competitive products (within the contiguous United States) service 
standards, specifically by raising Retail Ground and Parcel Select 
Ground standards to the level of the First-Class Package Service 
standard. Notice at 2-3. The First-Class Package Service standard is 
planned to be reduced from a 2-to-3 day standard to a 2-to-5 day 
standard and was the subject of a Commission advisory opinion issued 
September 29, 2021.\3\ With regard to the improved standards for Retail 
Ground and Parcel Select Ground, the Postal Service submits that 
``customers would benefit from a low-cost, medium-speed, shipping 
service for packages in excess of one pound.'' Notice at 3. The Postal 
Service also notes that the parcel market has seen significant recent 
growth and is expected to continue to grow. Id.
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    \2\ See id. at 2; see also United States Postal Service, 
Delivering for America: Our Vision and Ten-Year Plan to Achieve 
Financial Sustainability and Service Excellence, March 23, 2021, at 
53, available at https://about.usps.com/what/strategic-plans/delivering-for-america/assets/USPS_Delivering-For-America.pdf.
    \3\ Id.; see Docket No. N2021-2, Advisory Opinion on the Service 
Standard Changes Associated with First-Class Package Service, 
September 29, 2021. The Postal Service intends to implement the 
general reduction in the First-Class Package Service standards 
either before or concurrently with the general promotion of Retail 
Ground and Parcel Select Ground standards. Notice at 2 n.4.
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    The Postal Service must file its formal request for an advisory 
opinion with the Commission at least 90 days before implementing any of 
the proposed changes. 39 CFR 3020.112.\4\ This formal request must 
certify that the Postal Service has made good faith efforts to address 
the concerns raised at the pre-filing conference and meet other content 
requirements. 39 CFR 3020.113. After the Postal Service files the 
formal request for an advisory opinion, the Commission will set forth a 
procedural schedule and provide additional information in a notice and 
order that will be published in the Federal Register. 39 CFR 3020.110. 
Before issuing its advisory opinion, the Commission must provide an 
opportunity for a formal, on-the-record hearing pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
556 and 557. 39 U.S.C. 3661(c). The procedural rules in 39 CFR part 
3020 apply to Docket No. N2021-2.
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    \4\ The Commission may consider whether to extend the 90 days 
for a decision based on good cause.
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    Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3661(c) and 39 CFR 3020.111(d), the 
Commission appoints Joseph K. Press to represent the interests of the 
general public (Public Representative) in this proceeding. Pursuant to 
39 CFR 3020.111(d), the Secretary shall arrange for publication of this 
order in the Federal Register.
    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. N2022-1 to consider the 
Postal Service's proposed changes to the service standards for Retail 
Ground and Parcel Select Ground.
    2. The Postal Service shall conduct a virtual pre-filing conference 
regarding its proposal on March 15, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. 
EDT.
    3. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3661(c) and 39 CFR 3020.111(d), Joseph K. 
Press is appointed to serve as an officer of the Commission (Public 
Representative) to represent the interests of the general public in 
this proceeding.
    4. Pursuant to 39 CFR 3020.111(d), the Secretary shall arrange for 
publication of this order in the Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Erica A. Barker,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-05241 Filed 3-11-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P