National Conversation on the Future of Mail

The Postal Regulatory Commission has recently posted on its website the text of a letter that Chairman Ruth Goldway sent to 162 organizations asking for input for what she calls a "national conversation on the future of mail and hardcopy communications in the United States and how changes currently underway may affect your members." (The entire letter and the list of organizations contacted is included at the end of this post.)

She asks for input in three separate areas:

1. The Postal Service's effort to close stations and branch Post Offices;
2. A new PRC study the Commission is initiating "on the present and future role of mail in American society and the societal impact of the existence of the postal system;" and
   
3. The Postal Service's proposal to reduce the number of delivery days from 6 to 5.

In her letter, she notes that input into the first and third areas should come within established Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) proceedings. The PRC actions in these two items follow standard legal requirements when the Postal Service makes changes in service.

The second item is new and is not in response to any action taken by the Postal Service nor is it a mandated study required by the PAEA. This should be a significant effort as if done right. It could provide a reasonable picture of the range of possible demands on the postal system, including both physical and digital delivery of documents as well as the delivery of parcels both five and ten years hence. That time frame is important given both the speed of legislation, organizational change, and regulatory change will likely result in a new business model and regulatory framework taking between five and ten years to implement.

Most likely, the PRC will use the information that the organizations contacted provide as the basis for its testimony before Congress on the PRC's view of what the Postal Service's future business model and regulatory framework should be. The organizations that the PRC contacted should look at this request as their first chance to frame the record that Congress will use to develop the new business model and regulatory framework for the Postal Service.


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TEXT OF THE CHAIRMAN’S INVITATION AND LIST OF INITIAL ORGANIZATIONS CONTACTED

In December 2006, the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act became law, changing the nature of government regulation over postal service in America. Under the Act, the U.S. Postal Service was given more flexibility in setting rates, entering into special postal service contracts, and offering new products. However, in exchange, the Service was also required to provide greater transparency for the public in areas such as financial reporting and service performance measurement. In addition, the renamed Postal Regulatory Commission was granted increased regulatory responsibility over the Postal Service.

Within our regulatory framework, I would like to encourage a national conversation on the future of mail and hardcopy communications in the United States and how changes currently underway may affect your members. (emphasis in original)

As you are probably aware, the Postal Service faces serious financial challenges. For some time, consumer shifts toward electronic communications and online bill payment have resulted in gradual declines in First Class mail volume. The current economic downturn has greatly exacerbated the problem, causing substantial, across-the-board mail volume declines.

The Postal Service has responded by downsizing their workforce and operations, reducing the number of facilities, eliminating a large fraction of mail collection boxes, altering delivery routes, and proposing further changes that could potentially have a significant impact on its customers and service nationwide. The Commission seeks your views on what these changes mean for you, your members and our nation.

Your input would be most helpful in the following three areas:

First, the Commission requests comments on a recent Postal Service proposal to consider whether the closing of station and branch post offices throughout the nation will result in a substantial nationwide change in postal service, and if so, whether that change would be in compliance with applicable laws. This includes a review of issues such as the public communication process and appeal rights for affected customers where a final determination has been made to close an office.

The Postal Service recently provided the Commission with an initial list of several hundred offices that it is reviewing for possible closure. These offices are located in metropolitan regions throughout the nation.

The Commission welcomes information on what effect such changes might have on your members and our nation’s mail service. The list of offices being reviewed and the public records on this proceeding can be found at our website (www.PRC.gov) under Docket N2009-1 – Station and Branch Optimization and Consolidation Initiative.

Second, we would welcome your thoughts on a study the Commission is initiating on the present and future role of mail in American society and the societal impact of the existence of the postal system. Your perspective and insights would be very much appreciated.

Finally, the Postal Service will likely seek an advisory opinion from the Commission on a proposal to decrease mail delivery service by one day a week, from the current six-day-a-week service to five-day delivery. If and when this occurs, we will solicit public comments and hope that you and your members will transmit your views on this proposal and its impact.

Please note that last year, at Congress’s request, the Commission completed a study of the Universal Service Obligation (USO), which assesses the level of postal services required to be provided in this country. The final report and the appendices are available on the left hand column on the home page of the Commission’s website http://www.PRC.gov.

Your unique perspective is valuable to the PRC in carrying out its responsibilities. We will provide you with whatever documents we have available and assist your staff in understanding the Commission review process. If you have any questions on the most appropriate way to participate in this dialogue and to submit comments in any of the Commission dockets, please contact the Commission’s Public Affairs and Government Relations office. Contact information is below.

Sincerely,
Ruth Y. Goldway
Chairman
Postal Regulatory Commission

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Postal Regulatory Commission
Public Affairs and Government Relations Office
Attn: Ann Fisher, Director
901 New York Avenue NW #200
Washington, DC 20268
Email PRC-PAGR@prc.gov

Phone: 202-789-6800
Fax: 202-789-6886

Initial Stakeholder Contact List

1. Access Technology Association
2. Aricultural Circulation Association
3. Alliance of Independent Store Owners & Professionals
4. Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers
5. American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
6. American Association of Retired Persons
7. American Association of Retirement Communities
8. American Association of State Colleges and Universities
9. American Association of University Administrators
10. American Bankers Association
11. American Booksellers Association
12. American Business Media
13. American Catalog Mailers Association
14. American Chamber of Commerce
15. American Council of the Blind
16. American Council on Consumer Interests
17. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
18. American Hospital Association
19. American Institute of Philanthropy
20. American Library Association
21. American Medical Informatics Association
22. American Public Health Association
23. American Real Estate and Urban Economic Association
24. American Seniors Housing Association
25. American Association of Museums
26. Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America
27. APPA (The Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers)
28. American Postal Workers Union
29. Assisted Living Federation of America
30. Associated Mail & Parcel Centers
31. Association for Education & Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired
32. Association for Mail Electronic Enhancement
33. Association for Postal Commerce
34. Association of American Colleges and Universities
35. Association of American Publishers
36. Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
37. Association of Fundraising Professionals
38. Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges
39. Association of Public Television Stations
40. Association of Small Foundations
41. Authors and Publishers Association
42. Blinded Veterans Association
43. Braille Authority of North America
44. Check Payment System Association
45. Citizens Against Government Waste
46. City & Regional Magazine Association
47. Coalition of Religious Press Associations
48. Consumer Federation of America
49. Continuity Shippers Association
50. Council of State Community Development Agencies
51. Council for Affordable and Rural Housing
52. Council of Literary Magazines and Presses
53. Council of State Chambers of Commerce
54. Council of State Governments
55. County Executives of America
56. Custom Publishing Council
57. Direct Marketing Association
58. DMA Nonprofit Federation
59. Edison Electric Institute
60. Electronic Funds Transfer Association
61. Envelope Manufacturers Association
62. Executives Council for Community and Economic Research
63. Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of America
64. Financial Services Roundtable
65. Florida Gift Fruit Shippers Association
66. Fulfillment Management Association
67. IDEAlliance
68. Independent Charities of America
69. International Association of Audio Information Services
70. International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials and Treasurers
71. International Downtown Association
72. International Economic Development Coun.
73. International Municipal Lawyers Association
74. International Mailers' Advisory Group
75. International Rural Sociology Association
76. Lexington Institute
77. Mailing & Fulfillment Service Association
78. Magazine Publishers of America
79. Mail Contractors Association
80. Mail Order Association of America
81. Mail Order Gardening Association
82. Mail Systems Management Association
83. Mailers Council
84. Major Mailers Association
85. National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges
86. Nation Institute
87. National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees
88. National Association of Consumer Advocates
89. National Association for Printing Leadership
90. National Association of Advertising Distributors
91. National Association of College and University Mail Services
92. National Association of Consumer Agency Administration
93. National Association of Counties
94. National Association of County and City Health Officials
95. National Association of County Recorders Election Officials & Clerks
96. National Association of Election Officials
97. National Association of Independent College and Universities
98. National Association of Letter Carriers
99. National Association of Perishable Shippers
100. National Association of Postal Supervisors
101. National Association of Postmasters of the United States
102. National Association of Presort Mailers
103. National Association of Realtors
104. National Association of State Administrators and Supervisors of Private Schools
105. National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates
106. National Association of Towns and Townships
107. National Association of Working Women
108. National Black Chamber of Commerce
109. National Catholic Development Conference
110. National Congress for Community Economic Development
111. National Consumers League
112. National Council of Local Human Service Administration
113. National Council of State Agencies for the Blind
114. National Council on the Aging
115. National Family Business Council
116. National Federation of Independent Business
117. National Fraternal Congress of America
118. National Governors Association
119. National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry
120. National Industrial Transportation League
121. National League of Postmasters of the United States
122. National Newspaper Association
123. National Postal Mail Handlers Union
124. National Postal Policy Council
125. National Retail Federation
126. National Rural Letter Carriers' Association
127. National Small Business Association
128. National Small Business United
129. National Star Route Mail Contractors Association
130. Nationwide Alternate Delivery Alliance
131. Netflix
132. Newspaper Association of America
133. 9to5, National Association of Working Women
134. Offering Envelope Association
135. Parcel Shippers Association
136. Periodical Publications Association
137. Pharmaceutical Care Management Association
138. Printing Industries of America
139. Public Broadcasting Management Association
140. Public Citizen
141. Public Library Association
142. Recording Industry Association of America
143. Red Tag News Publications Association
144. Saturation Mailers Coalition
145. Small Business Council of America
146. Small Business Legislative Council
147. Specialized Information Publishers Association
148. Stamps.com
149. The Association of Boarding Schools
150. The Association of Educational Publishers
151. The Media Institute
152. United Amateur Press Association of America
153. United Farm Workers of America
154. United States Chamber of Commerce
155. United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
156. United States Junior Chamber (Jaycees)
157. Urban Affairs Association
158. Urban Financial Services Coalition
159. Urban Land Institute
160. Urban Libraries Council
161. Writers Guild of America, East
162. Yellow Pages Association