RULEMAKING DOCKET NUMBER

Summary of Proposed Rules

Status

RM2023-5

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeks comment on a proposal for reviewing contracts negotiated between the Postal Service and customers for competitive services.  These contracts are known as competitive negotiated service agreements (NSAs).   The proposal includes a default method for reviewing competitive NSAs and three optional streamlined methods.   Different requirements apply to each method for reviewing proposed competitive NSAs.  In addition, the proposal includes requirements for administering approved competitive NSAs.  The proposal is designed to streamline competitive NSA review, ensure transparency and accountability, preserve existing flexibility, and enable a smooth transition with minimum disruption for stakeholders.

Effective September 19, 2024, the Commission is adopting final rules establishing requirements for reviewing contracts negotiated between the Postal Service and customers for competitive services.  These contracts are known as competitive negotiated service agreements (NSAs).  The final rule includes a default method for reviewing competitive NSAs and three optional streamlined methods.  Different requirements apply to each method for reviewing proposed competitive NSAs.  In addition, the final rules include requirements for administering approved competitive NSAs. 

RM2024-4

The Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeks comment on the Commission’s review of the system for regulating rates and classes for Market Dominant products (ratemaking system).  The Commission previously reviewed the ratemaking system and adopted final rules via Order No. 5763. After the final rules took effect on January 14, 2021, the Postal Service filed five notices proposing to adjust rates for Market Dominant products, and Market Dominant volume and pieces have declined year-over-year.  These declines and stakeholder concerns prompted the Commission to initiate another review of the ratemaking system.

Reply comments due 9/12/24. 

RM2024-5

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeks comment on a proposal to amend the Commission’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) regulations.  The proposal is designed to improve readability by reorganizing and rephrasing existing content in a more accessible manner.   Additionally, the proposal would better align the Commission’s existing FOIA regulations with the practices of other agencies subject to the FOIA, as necessarily adapted to the Commission’s size and area of regulatory oversight.  Finally, the proposal includes amendments to clarify or amplify the information given to the public and improve the efficiency of the Commission’s FOIA administration.

Effective September 9, 2024, the Commission adopts amendments to its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) regulations.  The final rules: improve readability and clarity for the public; better align the Commission’s existing FOIA regulations with the practices of other agencies subject to the FOIA (as necessarily adapted to the Commission’s size and area of regulatory oversight); and improve the efficiency of the Commission’s FOIA administration. 

RM2024-9

The Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeks comment on the Commission’s review of the accuracy, reliability, and representativeness of the Postal Service’s Internal Service Performance Measurement (SPM) System.  SPM produces service performance results that are an amalgamation of granular and siloed evaluations of performance for the individual segments of mail collection (First Mile), mail processing (Processing Duration), and mail delivery (Last Mile).  Given recent changes in operations and mail mix, the Commission has concerns about the continued validity of the design and implementation of each of these three systems, as well as how the systems function collectively as a whole.

Comments due 9/11/24. 

Reply Comments due 10/9/24. 

RM2020-5 

The Second supplemental Notice of  Proposed Rulemaking seeks comment on amendments to its rules concerning rate incentives for Market Dominant products.  The Commission proposes to revise the criteria that a rate incentive must satisfy to be included in the percentage change in rates calculation.  The Commission also proposes to revise the definition of “rate of general applicability” for Market Dominant rate adjustment proceedings.  Further, the Commission proposes to modify associated filing and reporting requirements. 

Comments due 10/30/24. 

Reply Comments due 11/14/24.