[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 23, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16501-16502]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-06145]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. MC2022-46; Order No. 6122]


Mail Classification Schedule

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is recognizing a recent Postal Service filing 
requesting the transfer of Post Office Box service at a small number of 
selected locations from the market dominant to the competitive product 
list. This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public 
comment, and takes other administrative steps.

DATES: Comments are due: April 29, 2022. Reply comments are due: May 
13, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically via the Commission's Filing 
Online system at https://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 March 16, 2022, the Postal Service filed 
a request under 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 39 CFR 3040.130, et seq. to transfer 
Post Office Box service at a small number of selected locations from 
the market dominant to the competitive product list.\1\
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    \1\ Request of the United States Postal Service to Transfer Post 
Office Box Service in Selected Locations to the Competitive Product 
List, March 16, 2022 (Request).
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    Background. The Commission has previously approved two Postal 
Service requests to transfer Post Office Box service from the market 
dominant product list to the competitive product list. By Order No. 473 
\2\ and Order No. 780,\3\ the Commission approved the transfer of 
approximately 6,800 locations to the competitive product list. Request 
at 1. The Postal Service states that the requests were based upon 
whether the Post Office Box customers had sufficient access to private 
mailbox service providers. Id. The Postal Service further states that 
at the time of its requests, ``it was conducting further evaluations of 
all Post Office Box locations and might in the future seek the transfer 
of additional locations, if warranted, as it develops its understanding 
of the mailbox service market.'' Id. at 1-2 (footnote omitted). It 
further states that based on Commission approved criteria, it expanded 
the competitive service to one additional location in 2013, to 1,625 
locations in 2014 and to 227 locations in 2021. Id. at 2.
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    \2\ Docket No. MC2010-20, Order Approving Request to Transfer 
Selected Post Office Box Service Locations to the Competitive 
Product List, June 17, 2010 (Order No. 473).
    \3\ Docket No. MC2011-25, Order Approving Request to Transfer 
Additional Post Office Box Service Locations to the Competitive 
Product List, July 29, 2011 (Order No. 780). The Request erroneously 
cites to Order No. 870 which relates to a different proceeding.
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    Having recently completed further evaluation of the criteria that 
indicate competitive status, the Postal Service requests the Commission 
to transfer an additional 297 locations from the market dominant to the 
competitive Post Office Box fee group. Id. The Postal Service requests 
the Commission to update the criteria applied to competitor locations 
to build upon the existing five-mile criterion and extend it by three 
miles to a range of eight miles. Id. The Request claims recent market 
research ``shows customers are willing to travel longer distances for 
P.O. Box service than the current five-mile criterion recognizes.'' Id. 
It notes that the request for 297 locations represent a very small 
proportion of the 32,788 locations offering Post Office Box service. 
Id.
    Supporting materials. To support its Request, the Postal Service 
filed the following attachments:
    <bullet> Attachment A--Resolution of the Governors of the United 
States Postal Service, Transfer of Selected Post Office Box Service 
Locations to the Competitive Product List, May 6, 2021 (Resolution No. 
21-12);
    <bullet> Attachment B--Statement of Supporting Justification; and
    <bullet> Attachment C--Proposed Mail Classification Schedule 
Changes.
    Notice of filings. The Commission establishes Docket No. MC2022-46 
to consider the Postal Service's proposals described in its Request.
    Interested persons may submit comments on whether the Request is 
consistent with the policies of 39 U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR 3040.130 et 
seq., and the general provisions of title 39. Comments are due by April 
29, 2022. Reply comments are due by May 13, 2022. The Request and 
related filings are available on the Commission's website (https://www.prc.gov). The Commission encourages interested persons to review 
the Request for further details.
    The Commission appoints Eric D. Hughes to serve as Public 
Representative in this proceeding.
    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. MC2022-46 to consider the 
matters raised by the Postal Service's Request.
    2. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Eric D. Hughes 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 April 29, 2022.
    4. Reply comments are due by May 13, 2022.

[[Page 16502]]

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

    By the Commission.
Erica A. Barker,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-06145 Filed 3-22-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P