PRC Invites Input On First-Class Service Standards Study

WASHINGTON, DC — The Postal Regulatory Commission has been directed by Congress “to analyze the feasibility of restoring service standards for market-dominant products that were in effect on July 1, 2012, including an examination of the resources and structural and operational changes needed, and the impacts on market growth and revenue.”

The PRC is asking interested persons to provide input on the issues identified by the Report language above via email to stakeholderinput@prc.gov or by letter to the Commission at 901 New York Ave., N.W., Ste. 200, Washington, DC 20268 by February 24, 2023.

As adopted by the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, the House of Representatives Report 117-79 states:

First-Class Service Standards.—The Committee is concerned about further changes to the service standards for market-dominant mail products, particularly the Postal Service’s recent proposal to extend first-class service standards to as long as five days. The Committee believes this change would further erode public confidence in the USPS. The Committee directs the PRC to analyze the feasibility of restoring service standards for market-dominant products that were in effect on July 1, 2012, including an examination of the resources and structural and operational changes needed, and the impacts on market growth and revenue. If service standards are decreased from their January 2021 levels, the PRC shall also conduct a similar analysis of the costs and benefits of restoring USPS service and performance levels to their January 1, 2021, levels. The PRC shall report to the Committee on its findings within 1 year of enactment of this Act.

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