Postal new is like any other kind – sometimes there’s a lot to report, other times it’s quiet.
Whether because everyone was busy preparing for last week’s National Postal Forum or for some other reason, the usual flow of developments has been less than usual, but that doesn’t mean here aren’t big issues awaiting resolution and reporting.
Undecided cases
The Postal Regulatory Commission has yet to rule on the Postal Service’s proposal, filed last December 20, to eliminate Bound Printed Matter and increase the weight limits for Marketing Mail. Because that proposal remains unresolved, the price change filed by the USPS on April 9 includes proposed rates under two scenarios: if elimination of BPM is approved and if it’s not.
There is no statutory or regulatory deadline by which the commission must issue a decision on the BPM mater, and the PRC reflect that when it urged the Postal Service to submit two versions of its proposed rates.
Meanwhile, there is a clock on the pending price change. In its official notice acknowledging the filing, the PRC set May 9 as the deadline for filing comments on the USPS proposal. Under its regulations, the commission has 21 days from the end of the comment period to issue its decision, so the PRC’s deadline is Friday, May 30.