[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 8 (Thursday, January 11, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1320-1321]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00320]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

39 CFR Part 3050

[Docket No. RM2018-2; Order No. 4347]


Periodic Reporting Requirements

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recent filing requesting that the 
Commission initiate an informal rulemaking proceeding to consider 
revisions to the periodic reporting requirements codified at 39 CFR 
part 3050. This document informs the public of the filing, invites 
public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

DATES: Comments are due: March 7, 2018; Reply Comments are due: April 
6, 2018.

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
II. Background
III. Invitation To Comment
IV. Ordering Paragraphs

[[Page 1321]]

I. Introduction

    On December 27, 2017, the Postal Service filed a request for the 
Commission to consider revisions to the periodic reporting requirements 
codified in 39 CFR part 3050.\1\ The Commission initiates this 
rulemaking to seek comments and facilitate the Commission's examination 
of these periodic reporting requirements.
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    \1\ United States Postal Service Petition for Rulemaking on 
Periodic Reporting, December 27, 2017 (Petition).
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II. Background

    The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) granted the 
Commission enhanced information gathering and reporting 
responsibilities. See 39 U.S.C. 3652(e)(1). The PAEA provides that the 
Commission shall prescribe the content and form of the public reports 
the Postal Service files with the Commission under section 3652. In 
Docket No. RM2008-4, the Commission approved its current periodic 
reporting requirements.\2\
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    \2\ Docket No. RM2008-4, Order No. 203, Notice of Final Rule 
Prescribing Form and Content of Periodic Reports, April 16, 2009.
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    On December 27, 2017, the Postal Service filed a request for the 
Commission to consider revisions to the periodic reporting 
requirements. First, the Postal Service requests that the Commission 
adjust the deadlines for the quarterly Revenue, Pieces, and Weight 
(RPW) report; the Quarterly Statistics Report (QSR); the quarterly 
Billing Determinants report, and the monthly National Consolidated 
Trial Balance and the Revenue and Expense Summary (Trial Balance) 
report, to align the deadlines with other financial reporting 
deadlines. Petition at 1. The Postal Service states that revising the 
regulations so these deadlines align with other financial reporting 
deadlines will avoid potential restatements of the earlier filed 
reports once the data for the later filed reports are finalized. Id. at 
3.
    Specifically, the Postal Service wants to move the deadline for the 
RPW and QSR reports so that the quarterly and year-end report deadlines 
are the same as the Form 10-Q and Form 10-K report due dates. Id. at 2-
3. In addition, the Postal Service requests that the deadlines for the 
quarterly Billing Determinants reports be extended to 60 days after the 
end of Quarters 1, 2, and 3, and 90 days after the year-end for Quarter 
4.\3\ The Postal Service also requests that the Commission revise the 
periodic reporting rules so that the Trial Balance reports and the 
Monthly Summary Financial reports have the same deadline. Id. at 5-6.
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    \3\ Id. at 4. The Postal Service also requests that the Quarter 
4 Billing Determinants report be incorporated into the annual 
Billing Determinants report rather than submitted as a standalone 
filing. Id. The Postal Service states that eliminating the 
standalone filing would help the Postal Service more effectively 
allocate scarce time and resources. Id.
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    Second, the Postal Service requests that the Commission modify the 
format of the Monthly Summary Financial Report to make the report more 
consistent with the Postal Service's quarterly and annual financial 
reports. Id. at 1. The Postal Service states that the term ``Operating 
Revenue'' as it is used in Tables 1 and 2 of the Monthly Summary 
Financial Report does not correspond with its usage in its Form 10-K 
statements. Id. at 7. The Postal Service requests revisions to Tables 1 
and 2 of the Monthly Summary Financial Report so that the items and 
amounts reported for total operating revenue reconcile on both tables 
and the breakdown for revenue more closely aligns with the format in 
its other financial reports.\4\
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    \4\ Id. The Postal Service also requests updating Table 2 to 
reflect the name change of Standard Mail to USPS Marketing Mail. Id. 
Attachment 1 at 2.
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    Third, the Postal Service requests that the Commission consider 
eliminating or modifying any reporting requirements that have become 
unnecessary or irrelevant since the current periodic reporting rules 
were first implemented in 2009. Petition at 1. The Postal Service 
requests that the Commission consider eliminating or modifying these 
requirements to avoid imposing ``unnecessary or unwarranted 
administrative effort and expense'' on the Postal Service. Id. (citing 
39 U.S.C. 3652(e)(1)).

III. Invitation To Comment

    Interested persons are invited to provide written comments to 
facilitate the Commission's examination of the periodic reporting 
requirements. In addition to the specific revisions requested in the 
Postal Service's petition, the Commission also invites comments on 
whether specific periodic reporting requirements should be eliminated 
or modified or whether updates or enhancements to the requirements 
should be made.
    Comments are due no later than March 7, 2018. Reply comments are 
due no later than April 6, 2018. All comments and suggestions received 
will be available for review on the Commission's website, http://www.prc.gov.
    Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Lauren A. D'Agostino is appointed to 
serve as an officer of the Commission (Public Representative) to 
represent the interests of the general public in the above-captioned 
docket.

IV. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. RM2018-2 to consider 
revisions to the periodic reporting requirements.
    2. Comments are due no later than March 7, 2018. Reply comments are 
due no later than April 6, 2018.
    3. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the Commission appoints Lauren A. 
D'Agostino 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 notice in 
the Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Stacy L. Ruble,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-00320 Filed 1-10-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P