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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. The the forms, nor provision of the piece- the price adjustments and other minor commenter continued that price level data from mail processing DMM changes. increases in 2014 have already impacted equipment. The current acceptance and DATES: Effective date: May 31, 2015. mail volumes, and mailers are offering sampling procedures were not changing. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: e-gifts, over postage and fulfillment Return Receipt After Mailing costs. Further, with diminishing Karen Key, 202–268–7492, John Rosato, We received two comments from volumes due to price increases, the 202–268–8597, or Suzanne Newman, mailers and one from mailer commenter suggested that the Postal 202–695–0550. associations who disagreed with our Service pursue internal efficiency goals, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Prices are proposal to retire Return Receipt after including reducing the costs of labor, available under Docket Number R2015– MailingTM (RRAM). Opposition facilities, and processing instead of 4 on the Postal Regulatory surrounded the flexibility and the costs enacting postage increases. Commission’s Web site at www.prc.gov. to purchase return receipts at the time Response: The Postal Service signaled The Postal Service’s final rule includes of mailing versus after mailing. One its intention in January 2015 that new changes to certain market dominant third-party mailer using Certified Mail® pricing, combined with increased prices. Directly below, we discuss voiced concern that this appeared to be efficiencies gained through network comments on proposed price changes, reducing the level of Certified Mail consolidation and improved processing, and the Postal Service’s responses to service. those comments, followed by a supported the overall strategic direction Response: The Postal Service believes summary of minor DMM changes. of the Postal Service. that allowing a mailer to purchase a One Mail Service Provider return receipt at the time of mailing still Comments on Proposed Changes commented on the virtues of provides the same or a preferable Summary eDocumentation (eDoc) and seamless service to customers. A hard-copy acceptance and directed his return receipt purchased at the time of The Postal Service received four recommendation in support of future formal responses to our proposed rule as mailing provides the recipient’s actual price increases to reduce the differences hardcopy signature when the mailpiece comments, questions, or suggestions between automation and non- related to prices. can be successfully delivered as automation prices, to encourage more addressed. A PS Form 3811–A, Request Changes to Prices mailers to participate in eDoc, which is for Delivery Information/Return Receipt We received one formal question from a requirement for seamless acceptance After Mailing, provides either a mailer on prices and three formal participation. information from the delivery record comments from mailers voicing Response: The Postal Service (recorded and postmarked by an opposition to the price increases. One appreciates the recommendation and employee on the form) or an electronic mailer questioned why First-ClassTM will consider it during future pricing signature (electronic return receipt) commercial automation prices in the evaluations. provided to the mailer when an email PRC filing were slightly lower than the Changes to Extra Services address has been provided. Restricting proposed prices posted on Postal the purchase of a return receipt to only Certificate of Mailing Explorer®. at the time of mailing will eliminate Response: We believe that the mailer We received two comments from manual efforts needed to process a hard- was viewing the CPI prices without mailers related to the changes to copy PS Form 3811–A. The cost of exigent surcharges within the filing; Certificate of Mailing service, generally purchasing return receipt (PS Form therefore, the customer was advised to stating that there has not been a 3811, Domestic Return Receipt) at the view Attachment A, Part II, Changes to sufficient amount of notification for the time of mailing (currently $2.70) or an Mail Classification Schedule (CPI Prices changes, that mailers were not directly electronic return receipt at the time of + Exigent Surcharges) which was filed engaged in the development of these mailing (currently $1.35) are both under Docket Number R2015–4 on the proposed changes, and the technical significantly lower than the cost of Postal Regulatory Commission’s Web integration work required of the mailers purchasing a return receipt after mailing site at www.prc.gov. to comply with the changes will take (currently $5.25). The Postal Regulatory One periodicals printer/mailer time and be a significant cost factor. Commission’s Order 2388 on March 10, commented that the Industry as a whole There appeared to be some confusion on 2015, confirmed that the elimination of were unaware of the Postal Service’s the actual extent of the changes RRAM does not violate applicable law intentions for price changes any time in proposed. One commenter further and regulations. Therefore, this product VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:56 May 01, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\04MYR3.SGM 04MYR3 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES3 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 85 / Monday, May 4, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 25529 will be removed from the Postal so, a formal advanced notice would be of insurance available for purchase with Service’s product offering. provided. returns as detailed under the insurance section of this final rule. Additionally, Other Comments Indemnity Claims and Refunds Parcel Return Service—Full Network is Three other formal comments were In continuing our efforts to streamline eliminated as a general offering and received; one comment on more than and improve the refunds and claims retained only as an option for customers one item, one with a question not processes for our customers, the Postal under a Negotiated Service Agreement related to the proposed rulemaking, and Service proposed that mailers would file (NSA). one with a suggestion. One mailer their requests for any applicable extra Merchandise Return Service association voiced displeasure regarding service fee refunds using an online changes to FSS preparation, Certificate application instead of submitting The Postal Service will replace the of Mailing, and the late fee proposed for hardcopy requests to the local use of market dominant First-Class Mail overdue Address Correction Service Postmaster. Although the Postal Service parcels, Package Services (Media Mail, fees. The association urged the Postal has approval to proceed with this Library Mail, and Bound Printed Service not to implement any price or enhancement, the final implementation Matter), and Standard PostTM for MRS mail preparation changes. Another date is not yet determined and will be with First-Class Package Service and ® mailer association commented that there communicated in a future final rule. Parcel Select Nonpresort (ground) products. were too many changes in the proposed Summary of Changes To Be The Postal Service believes that our rule and suggested that changes be Implemented separated into three or four separate business mailers using MRS today can proposals. One representative of a Changes for First-Class Mail Prices receive the same handling and delivery mailer association questioned the The Postal Service will maintain the service options when using our context of a DMM section mentioned in First-Class Mail single-piece stamp price commercially-priced products, or one of the proposed rule that was outside of at 49 cents, and the price for single- the other existing returns products. the proposed rulemaking.
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