Press Release
August 25, 2014

PRC Seeks Comments on the Cost of Postal Service Activities

Washington, DC – The Postal Regulatory Commission has established Docket No. PI2014-1, to invite public comments on the meaning of “other public services or activities” by the Postal Service under 39 U.S.C.3651(b)(1)(C) for cost reporting in its Annual Report to the President and Congress.

In its Annual Report, the Commission is required to report an estimate of the costs incurred by the Postal Service to provide other public services or activities which, in the judgment of the Commission, would not otherwise have been provided by the Postal Service if the service wasn’t a legal requirement.

The Commission’s 2013 Annual Report estimated the costs of delivering mail six days a week instead of five days, and revenue “lost” from unzoned First-Class Mail and Library/Media rates. The Commission has noted that this approach may be too narrow and would like to receive comments on the cost of other Postal Service activities.

In early 2014, the Commission asked the Postal Service to provide an analysis of activities that could qualify for cost reporting. A copy of the Postal Service’s assessment is available in Docket No. PI2014-1.

The Commission will receive comments from all interested parties no later than September 17, 2014, and reply comments no later than October 1, 2014.