DOCSLIB.ORG

Universal Service Obligation: History and Development of Laws Relating to the Provision of Universal Postal Services

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Universal Service Obligation: History and Development of Laws Relating to the Provision of Universal Postal Services Study on Universal Postal Service and the Postal Monopoly Appendix B Universal Service Obligation: History and Development of Laws Relating to the Provision of Universal Postal Services James I. Campbell Jr. UNIVERSAL SERVICE OBLIGATION 2 Contents Summary ............................................................................................................................ 6 1 Introduction: Defining "Universal Service Obligation" ......................................... 20 1.1 Objectives and Organization of This Study .......................................................... 20 1.2 Definition of “Universal Service Obligation” in This Study ................................ 21 1.2.1 Defining “Universal Postal Service” ........................................................ 22 1.2.2 Elements of Universal Service: §§ 101 and 403 of Title 39 ..................... 24 1.2.3 Defining “Universal Service Obligation” in This Study........................... 29 1.3 Legal Measures Establishing the USO ................................................................. 31 1.4 Legal Obligations of the Postal Service Outside the Scope of the USO .............. 34 2 Legal Evolution of National Postal Services ............................................................ 37 2.1 Establishment of the Post Office ........................................................................... 37 2.2 Evolution of the Geographic Scope of Postal Service, 1789-1945 ....................... 42 2.2.1 Intercity Postal Systems: Post Roads and Post Offices ............................ 42 2.2.2 Early City Delivery Services, 1792-1862 ................................................. 48 2.2.3 Free City Delivery Service, 1863.............................................................. 51 2.2.4 Rural Free Delivery, 1896......................................................................... 53 2.2.5 Village Delivery, 1912 .............................................................................. 63 2.3 Development of Rates and Classifications ........................................................... 64 2.3.1 Early Rates for Letters, Newspapers, and Magazines: 1792 to 1830s ...... 64 2.3.2 Cheap Letter Postage, 1845 and 1851 ....................................................... 65 2.3.3 Development of International Postal Services, 1847-1874 ....................... 66 2.3.4 Advertisements, In-County Newspapers, and Books, 1845-1852 ............ 67 2.3.5 Establishment of Mail Classes, 1863 to 1879 ........................................... 68 2.3.6 Postal Money Orders, 1864....................................................................... 72 2.3.7 Postal Savings Bank, 1911 ........................................................................ 72 2.3.8 2¢ Letter Rate for Intracity and Local Delivery Letters ........................... 73 2.3.9 Parcel Post, 1912 ....................................................................................... 73 2.3.10 Second Class Advertising Rates and Nonprofit Publications, 1917 ......... 74 2.3.11 Redefinition of Third and Fourth Classes by Weight, 1925 ..................... 75 2.3.12 Airmail, 1928 ............................................................................................ 75 2.3.13 Bulk Third Class Rates and Library Rate, 1928 ....................................... 76 2.3.14 Book Rate, 1938........................................................................................ 76 2.4 Summary ............................................................................................................... 77 3 Postal Policy Act of 1958 and Aftermath ................................................................. 81 GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY NOVEMBER 2008 UNIVERSAL SERVICE OBLIGATION 3 3.1 1951 Act Readjusting Postage Rates .................................................................... 81 3.2 Senate Advisory Council Report (1954) ............................................................... 86 3.3 Position of the Eisenhower Administration .......................................................... 94 3.4 Postal Policy Deadlock, 1954-1956 ...................................................................... 95 3.5 4¢ Stamp and Public Law 85-426 (1958) ............................................................. 97 3.6 Postal Policy Act of 1958 ................................................................................... 100 3.7 Postal Code of 1960 ............................................................................................ 107 3.8 5¢ Stamp and Revisions to the Postal Policy Act (1962) ................................... 108 3.9 Summary: Implications of the 1958 Act for the USO ........................................ 110 4 Postal Reorganization Act, 1970 ............................................................................. 112 4.1 6¢ stamp and the Kappel Commission................................................................ 112 4.2 Nixon Administration bill: H.R. 4 (as reported) ................................................. 115 4.3 Revised Nixon Administration-postal union bill: H.R. 17070 ........................... 119 4.4 Senate committee bill: S. 3842 ........................................................................... 123 4.5 Enactment of Postal Reorganization Act ............................................................ 128 4.6 Summary of the USO elements of the PRA........................................................ 131 5 Evolution of the Statutory USO, 1971-2006 ........................................................... 134 5.1 Postal Reorganization Act Amendments of 1976 ............................................... 134 5.1.1 Postal Service: “The Necessity for Change” (1975) ............................... 135 5.1.2 House consideration ................................................................................ 141 5.1.3 Senate consideration ............................................................................... 144 5.1.4 The 1976 amendment .............................................................................. 147 5.1.5 Commission on Postal Service, 1977...................................................... 148 5.1.6 Postal policy debates of the 1970s in retrospect ..................................... 152 5.2 Public service subsidy: the appropriations process ............................................. 153 5.2.1 Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1980 and the 20¢ stamp ....................... 153 5.2.2 Postal Service appropriations act 1982: origin of the USO rider ............ 156 5.2.3 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 and the public service appropriation ....................................................................................................... 161 5.2.4 Appropriations riders, 1983 to 1985: the standard USO rider ................ 162 5.2.5 Appropriations acts, 1986 to 2008: additional provisions and directions168 5.2.6 Practical Effects of the Appropriations Provisions ................................. 171 5.3 Revenue forgone: free and reduced rates for preferred classes of mail .............. 172 5.3.1 Reduced rates under section 3626........................................................... 172 5.3.2 Free mail privileges................................................................................. 174 5.3.3 Revenue Forgone Reform Act of 1993 ................................................... 175 5.4 Universal Postal Convention............................................................................... 178 GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY NOVEMBER 2008 UNIVERSAL SERVICE OBLIGATION 4 5.4.1 Obligations relating to universal postal service ...................................... 179 5.4.2 Relationship between the UPU Convention and U.S. postal law ........... 181 5.4.3 Obligations with respect to international mail ........................................ 184 5.5 Summary of evolution of the statutory USO, 1971-2006 ................................... 188 6 Interpretation and Administration of the USO, 1971-2006 .................................. 190 6.1 Geographic scope of universal service ............................................................... 190 6.1.1 Geographic scope of express mail .......................................................... 190 6.1.2 Geographic scope of parcel post: Alaska bypass mail ............................ 192 6.2 Range of universal service products ................................................................... 196 6.2.1 Special delivery service .......................................................................... 196 6.2.2 Single-piece advertisements.................................................................... 197 6.3 Access to universal services................................................................................ 197 6.3.1 Post office establishment ........................................................................ 197 6.3.2 Post office closings ................................................................................. 199 6.3.3 Public collection boxes ........................................................................... 201 6.4 Delivery of universal services ............................................................................. 202 6.4.1 Cluster box delivery program ................................................................. 203 6.4.2 Judicial decisions .................................................................................... 203 6.4.3 Commission complaint cases relating
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Usps Nationwide Historic Context Study: Postal Facilities Constructed Or Occupied Between 1940 and 1971
    DRAFT REPORT USPS NATIONWIDE HISTORIC CONTEXT STUDY: POSTAL FACILITIES CONSTRUCTED OR OCCUPIED BETWEEN 1940 AND 1971 Prepared for U.S. Postal Service 475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW, Room 6670 Washington, DC 20260-1862 September 2012 URS Group, Inc. 12420 Milestone Center Drive, Suite 150 Germantown, MD 20876 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION ONE: INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY ....................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Project Purpose and Need ........................................................................ 1-1 1.1.1 Request for Proposals .................................................................. 1-2 1.1.2 Study Work Tasks ........................................................................ 1-3 1.2 Research and Data Collection .................................................................. 1-5 1.3 Survey of Associated Property Types ...................................................... 1-7 1.3.1 Survey Expectations..................................................................... 1-7 1.3.2 Sampling Methodology ................................................................ 1-9 1.3.3 Field Survey Methodology ........................................................ 1-19 1.4 Context Development ............................................................................ 1-20 1.5 Associated Property Type Development ............................................... 1-22 1.5.1 General Process Overview ......................................................... 1-22 1.5.2 Study Approach ........................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • £;Q¬@ an Activity Is Conducted Title III! Or Information Placed Stop
    x _ -92-__ T --~----- ---- -~_-+--- ------'-1--~- ---.- --------~ Ms H .+ ._-.__ ~ ____ W . _ __ _ _. ._ . __. ___. ___ _ . -A 1 . _ l Sé __ni *._ . 1 _ g _ e'}.f,- =__' ,-,_"';. --51% -es? ' Sensitive £4--E.1 -4,34,. 0 . r - . ,1 . *$ .,£n I Manual of Investigative Operationsand Guidelines _ ~t»'.-iv Part II __ '_" 5 _ ";. .T _ ' "3 ~ ' PAGE 10 ; .- . V . I Y . - . ' . _ ' Wx . __;._ SECTION 10.. RECORDS AVAILABLE AND INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES 192 at .1 . 10-1 INTRODUCTION ! The following information is being provided as a reference for investigative personnel seeking additional data and/or the location of individuals who are the subjects of FBI investigations. This information is presented in two parts, Records Available and Investigative Techniques. _ _ r- a! %Records Available are those documents which may assist in either compiling a necessary profile either of a group, an individual or a business enterprise!, or will assist in locating subjects, suspects, witnesses or victims. : dd ' b! An Investigative Technique isa method by.which £;Q¬@activity anconducted is III! or informationTitle stop placed . -32- . ..T§ notice! which may aidlin the identification or location of a subject "' orin the gathering of evidence. g £ ! The use of any of these records or investigative techniques must be in accord with legal and ethical investigative procedures. In many cases, the obtaining of records or use of an -M. -cg ,..'*~- . -|--- investigative technique must be authorized by the SAC, Department of JWE.
    [Show full text]
  • Options to Bring the Postal Service Back from Insolvency
    OPTIONS TO BRING THE POSTAL SERVICE BACK FROM INSOLVENCY HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED THIRTEENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION APRIL 17, 2013 Serial No. 113–50 Printed for the use of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.fdsys.gov http://www.house.gov/reform U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 82–436 PDF WASHINGTON : 2013 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate Aug 31 2005 10:09 Sep 04, 2013 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 C:\DOCS\82436.TXT APRIL COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM DARRELL E. ISSA, California, Chairman JOHN L. MICA, Florida ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS, Maryland, Ranking MICHAEL R. TURNER, Ohio Minority Member JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR., Tennessee CAROLYN B. MALONEY, New York PATRICK T. MCHENRY, North Carolina ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, District of JIM JORDAN, Ohio Columbia JASON CHAFFETZ, Utah JOHN F. TIERNEY, Massachusetts TIM WALBERG, Michigan WM. LACY CLAY, Missouri JAMES LANKFORD, Oklahoma STEPHEN F. LYNCH, Massachusetts JUSTIN AMASH, Michigan JIM COOPER, Tennessee PAUL A. GOSAR, Arizona GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia PATRICK MEEHAN, Pennsylvania JACKIE SPEIER, California SCOTT DESJARLAIS, Tennessee MATTHEW A. CARTWRIGHT, Pennsylvania TREY GOWDY, South Carolina MARK POCAN, Wisconsin BLAKE FARENTHOLD, Texas TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois DOC HASTINGS, Washington ROBIN L. KELLY, Illinois CYNTHIA M. LUMMIS, Wyoming DANNY K. DAVIS, Illinois ROB WOODALL, Georgia PETER WELCH, Vermont THOMAS MASSIE, Kentucky TONY CARDENAS, California DOUG COLLINS, Georgia STEVEN A.
    [Show full text]
  • Plaintiff, Defendants
    IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MONTANA GREAT FALLS DIVISION STEVE BULLOCK, in his official capacity as Governor of Montana; Case No. ______________ Plaintiff, vs. COMPLAINT FOR MANDAMUS, DECLARATORY, AND UNITED STATES POSTAL INJUNCTIVE RELIEF SERVICE; and LOUIS DEJOY, in his official capacity as Postmaster General, Defendants. In 1895, Mary Fields became the first African American woman—and only the second woman in the United States—to obtain a United States Post Office Department contract to be a Star Route Carrier. The quickest applicant to hitch a team of six horses, Fields was already in her early sixties when she won the contract. For eight years, she rode the 17-mile route between Cascade, Montana, and St. Peter’s Mission, braving harsh weather, wolves, and rough road conditions—while wielding a rifle and revolver to fend off bandits and thieves. Her relentless reliability soon earned her the nickname Stagecoach Mary. She never missed a day of mail delivery. When the snow was too deep for her horses, Fields snowshoed her route. She was beloved in her community: when she died in 1914, her funeral was said to be among the most well attended in Cascade’s history. Fields, extraordinary though she was, represents only one of countless moments 1 that the U.S. Post Office has defied the odds and delivered the mail. The Post Office began at this nation’s founding, led by Benjamin Franklin as the first U.S. Postmaster General during the American Revolution. The Constitution specifically granted Congress the authority to establish Post Office and post roads.
    [Show full text]
  • Extensions of Remarks
    April 12, 1978 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 9937 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS "GOING PLACES WITH OL' JOE" Wheel Men and the Bicycle Manufacturers This concept in regards to air passenger Association are right in there at the Senate and freight movement, and other concepts hearings on the Carter transportation bill that we will suggest as we look at some other HON. DALE MILFORD plugging for blkeways, bike !acllities and forms of transportation, actually could be called the modular concept or transportation OF TEXAS asking !or more !unding !or transportation facilities !or the non-motorist. center development. Intermodal transit pro­ lN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Is there any hope !or innovations in trans­ grams will probably be key complements in Wednesday, April 12, 1978 portation to successfully break through the urban economic development programs and bureaucratic process and become useful? Is the revitalization programs o! certain metro­ e Mr. MILFORD. Mr. Speaker, the there any need for innovations? I say, Yes! politan areas. Transportation Club of Dallas this week Figures !rom reliable transportation sur­ As we look at transportation of freight by heard some interesting, and I believe veys indicate that between 85 and 90% o! trucks, this modal concept will become in­ valid observations on the relationship the total passenger trips are still by car, with creasingly important. Statistics presented at between the Federal Government and one person per car. We can certainly con­ the 4th National Conference on "Effects o! the transportation industry. clude that transportation pattern shl!ts are Energy Constraints on Transportation Sys­ needed. tems" indicate that the modal shi!t concept The speaker was Joe P.
    [Show full text]
  • Postal Worker Appreciation Month” in Suffolk County
    Intro. Res. No. 1668-2020 Laid on Table 9/9/2020 Introduced by Presiding Officer Calarco and Legislators Sunderman, Fleming, Anker, Richberg, Berland RESOLUTION NO. 732 -2020, DESIGNATING OCTOBER AS “POSTAL WORKER APPRECIATION MONTH” IN SUFFOLK COUNTY WHEREAS, the United States Postal Service (“USPS”) traces its roots to 1775 during the Second Continental Congress, when Benjamin Franklin was appointed the first postmaster general; and WHEREAS, the Post Office Department was created in 1792 with the passage of the Postal Service Act and was elevated to a cabinet-level department in 1872, with the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 transforming the United States Postal Service into an independent agency; and WHEREAS, considered an “essential service” by an act of Congress, “The United States Postal Service shall be operated as a basic and fundamental service provided to the people by the Government of the United States, authorized by the Constitution, created by an Act of Congress, and supported by the people.”; and WHEREAS, today the postal service employs 7.3 million people, is one of the largest employers of military veterans and has a diverse workforce, with almost 40% minority employees; and WHEREAS, the USPS continually strives to support the communities it serves; the day before Mother’s Day the postal service conducts the largest one-day food drive in America, collecting more than 75.7 million pounds of food in all 50 states and each year during the holiday season, the USPS sponsors “Operation Santa” to provide a channel where people
    [Show full text]
  • DME MAC Jurisdiction C
    WINTER 2020 DME MAC Jurisdiction C © 2020 Copyright, CGS Administrators, LLC. TWO VANTAGE WAY | NASHVILLE, TN 37228-1504 | CGSMEDICARE.COM DME MAC JURISDICTION C SUPPLIER MANUAL WINTER 2020 UPDATE We IMPACT lives. January 2020 Dear Supplier: The Winter 2020 version of the DME MAC Jurisdiction C Supplier Manual has been released. Please read the updated manual carefully. The DME MAC Jurisdiction C Supplier Manual is designed to provide vital, current DME MAC information. Supplier Manual updates are issued quarterly. Any new or revised material in this revision is shown in red text, while all text that has remained unchanged is shown in black text. Note that Web addresses/hyperlinks are an exception to this rule, as they are displayed in blue or teal. A summary of the changes is listed below. We strongly recommend using electronic copies of the Supplier Manual in order to ensure that you are using the most recent version. You can find the latest version of the Supplier Manual on our website at http://www.cgsmedicare.com/jc/pubs/supman/index.html. Please be sure to read the DME MAC Insider (the Jurisdiction C quarterly newsletter) for additional information. The DME MAC Insider is available on our website at http://www.cgsmedicare.com/jc/pubs/insider/index.html. Also visit the “News” page on the website for special notices concerning changes in regulations issued between publication releases. To receive automatic notification via email of the posting of policies, publications, and other important Medicare announcements, subscribe to the CGS email ListServ at http://www.cgsmedicare.com/medicare_dynamic/ls/001.asp.
    [Show full text]
  • Wee Deliver: the In-School Postal Service. an Introductional Guide to the Postal Service's Wee Deliver In-School Literacy Program
    DOCUMENT RESUME ED 448 442 CS 217 256 TITLE Wee Deliver: The In-School Postal Service. An Introductional Guide to the Postal Service's Wee Deliver In-School Literacy Program.. INSTITUTION Postal Service, Washington, DC. PUB DATE 1997-00-00 NOTE 44p. PUB TYPE Guides Classroom Teacher (052) EDRS PRICE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Elementary Education; Job Skills; *Letters (Correspondence); *Literacy; *Reading Skills; *School Activities; *Writing (Composition) IDENTIFIERS *Post Office ABSTRACT Suggesting that schools can provide valuable reading and writing practice for their students through the implementation of a school post office program, this booklet describes the United States Postal Service's "Wee Deliver" program and provides some materials to get the program started. Participants may model their school after a town by naming streets and assigning addresses. Jobs can then be posted and filled through an application and interview process, with students selected based on achievement and attendance, thereby strengthening student motivation to do well. Students will learn real life skills by performing tasks, being on time for work and developing teamwork. Contains 41 references, a sample news release, application, and employment examination, and sample letter formats and certifications. (EF) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. CS I I An introductional guide to the Postal Service's Wee Deliver In-School Literacy Program U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality.
    [Show full text]
  • Federal Register/Vol. 80, No. 85/Monday, May 4, 2015/Rules And
    25528 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 85 / Monday, May 4, 2015 / Rules and Regulations POSTAL SERVICE 2015. This commenter recommended suggested that the Postal Service leaving the Exigent pricing in place as eliminate pursuing changes as mailers 39 CFR Part 111 long as there were no additional are moving toward electronic increases for the next two to three years. notifications instead of purchasing New Mailing Standards for Domestic A fulfillment company which uses Certificate of Mailing service. The Mailing Services Products various classes of mail and serves both commenter also stated that the Postal AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM. consumer and business customers, Service should permit the two domestic ACTION: Final rule. including commercial and non-profit, Certificate of Mailing options to remain urged deferral of the proposed price as they are today, and implement the SUMMARY: On April 16, 2015, the Postal increase for postage rates in 2015 until new version as optional. The mailer also Service filed a notice of mailing services 2016, except for the increases applicable suggested that the Postal Service change price adjustments with the Postal to Standard Mail® parcels. The the proposed rule to an Advanced Regulatory Commission (PRC), effective commenter stated that the Postal Service Notice. May 31, 2015. This final rule contains did not signal postage increases for Response: To provide clarification, the revisions to Mailing Standards of 2015, any time during 2014. Therefore, the proposed changes to Certificate of the United States Postal Service, mailers/clients budgeted accordingly Mailing did not include eliminating the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) to and any increases would cause the provision of a date stamp (postmark) on implement the changes coincident with customers to mail less, if at all.
    [Show full text]
  • Postal Service
    39 Revised as of July 1, 2003 Postal Service Containing a codification of documents of general applicability and future effect As of July 1, 2003 With Ancillaries Published by Office of the Federal Register National Archives and Records Administration A Special Edition of the Federal Register VerDate Jan<31>2003 08:44 Jul 16, 2003 Jkt 200138 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 8091 Sfmt 8091 Y:\SGML\200138F.XXX 200138F U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 2003 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512-1800; DC area (202) 512-1800 Fax: (202) 512-2250 Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate Jan<31>2003 08:44 Jul 16, 2003 Jkt 200138 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 8092 Sfmt 8092 Y:\SGML\200138F.XXX 200138F Table of Contents Page Explanation ................................................................................................ v Title 39: Chapter I—United States Postal Service ........................................ 3 Chapter III—Postal Rate Commission ............................................. 343 Finding Aids: Material Approved for Incorporation by Reference ............................ 481 Table of CFR Titles and Chapters ....................................................... 483 Alphabetical List of Agencies Appearing in the CFR ......................... 501 List of CFR Sections Affected ............................................................. 511 iii VerDate jul<14>2003 08:35 Aug 06, 2003 Jkt 200138 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 8092 Sfmt 8092 Y:\SGML\200138F.XXX 200138F Cite this Code: CFR To cite the regulations in this volume use title, part and section num- ber. Thus, 39 CFR 1.1 refers to title 39, part 1, section 1. iv VerDate Jan<31>2003 08:44 Jul 16, 2003 Jkt 200138 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 8092 Sfmt 8092 Y:\SGML\200138F.XXX 200138F Explanation The Code of Federal Regulations is a codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the Executive departments and agen- cies of the Federal Government.
    [Show full text]
  • Mail Covers and the Fourth Amendment: United States V. Choate
    Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review Volume 12 Number 1 Article 8 12-1-1978 Mail Covers and the Fourth Amendment: United States v. Choate Doris Schaffer Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/llr Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation Doris Schaffer, Mail Covers and the Fourth Amendment: United States v. Choate, 12 Loy. L.A. L. Rev. 201 (1978). Available at: https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/llr/vol12/iss1/8 This Recent Decision is brought to you for free and open access by the Law Reviews at Digital Commons @ Loyola Marymount University and Loyola Law School. It has been accepted for inclusion in Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Loyola Marymount University and Loyola Law School. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MAIL COVERS AND THE FOURTH AMENDMENT: UNITED STA TES v. CHOA4 TE In UnitedStates v. Choate,I the Ninth Circuit held that a mail cover 2 is not an unreasonable search and seizure in violation of the fourth amendment of the United States Constitution.3 The majority of the court recognized that the reasonableness of the mail cover procedure is to be measured by the criteria set forth in Katz v. United States,4 but did not find that an addressee seeks privacy with respect to the outside cover of his mail or that such an expectation would be reasonable. I. INTRODUCTION A mail cover is a surveillance of an addressee's mail conducted by postal employees at the request of law enforcement officials.5 While not expressly permitted by federal statute, a mail cover is authorized by postal regulations in the interest of national security and crime preven- tion,6 and permits the recording of all information appearing on the outside cover of all classes of mail.7 Under the regulations, the Chief 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Periodicals Mail Study Joint Report of the United States Postal Service
    Contents Executive Summary. 1 1 Introduction . 5 Mandate for Report . 5 Data Quality. 5 Efficiencies and Pricing Incentives . 5 Description of Periodicals Class. 6 Issues Related to Periodicals Mail’s Shape and Characteristics . 7 2 Classification and Pricing . 11 History. 11 Periodicals Under the Postal Reorganization Act . 11 Review Team 1997–1999 . 16 Periodicals Complaint Case . 18 Docket No. R2006-1 . 19 Pricing and the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act . 20 Mail Volume and Cost Coverage 1972–2010 . 21 Publications Database Analysis . 23 3 Operational Context. 31 Introduction. 31 Network, Facilities and Logistics . 31 Network . 31 Postal Processing Facilities (Plants) . 33 Logistics . 34 Flat-Shaped Mail Volume . 35 Packaging and Presort . 36 Flats Processing Equipment. 37 Bundle Sortation . 37 Automation Piece Sortation . 39 Manual Sortation . 42 Mail Entry . 42 Mail Entry. 42 Origin Entry . 43 Destination Entry . 43 Facility Access and Shipment Tracking . 43 September 2011 i Contents Mail Flow. 46 Mail Flow and Mailing Requirements . 48 Importance of Defining Requirements . 48 Changes in Requirements Promote Mail Efficiencies . 50 4 Service Performance Standards. 51 Introduction. 51 Background . 51 FY 2008. 52 Interim Reporting Approach . 53 5 Costs, Trends, and Data Quality. 57 Introduction. 57 Cost Revenue Analysis Methodology. 57 Data Quality Study and Methodology Changes . 61 Testing Data Quality and Ongoing Work . 62 Data for Within County Periodicals. 63 Analysis of FY 2010 Outside County Periodicals Costs. 64 FY 2010 Outside County Periodicals Attributable Costs . 64 Mail Processing. 65 Delivery Costs . 67 Periodicals Outside County Unit Cost Trends Over the Past Decade . 69 Comparison of Periodicals Flats Cost Estimates to Standard Mail Flats Cost Estimates .
    [Show full text]