In the PRC order approving the rate hikes, it states “the Commission shares The News/Media Alliance’s concerns about Periodicals’ costs and continues to encourage the Postal Service to take steps to address them.”

The post USPS Market Dominant Price Increases Take Effect on January 21 appeared first on News/Media Alliance.

The United States Postal Service filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) of price changes on October 6, to take effect January 21, 2024. Sharon Owens, Vice President, Pricing & Costing will lead a webinar to provide an overview of the January Market Dominant Price Change filing on Thursday, October 12th at 12:00 pm (EST).

Attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions during the webinar via the chat box. However, if you would like to submit your questions before the webinar, you can send them to IndustryFeedback@usps.gov.

Please note: If you are unable to attend the webinar, the presentation will be recorded and posted on PostalPro.

Join Zoom Meeting:
Phone one-tap: US: +15033361236,,1614729459#,,,,*298639# or +1952-229-5070,,1614729459#,,,,*298639#
Meeting URL: https://usps.zoomgov.com/j/1614729459?pwd=NU5hT0VxQkJDZVRTU2lsc0dHNlF6QT09
Meeting ID: 161 472 9459
Passcode: 298639

Join by Telephone:
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Dial:
US: +1 503 336 1236 or +1 952-229-5070 or +1 650-581-7094 or +1 855-860-4313 or +1 678 317 3330
Meeting ID: 161 472 9459
Passcode: 298639

Join from an H.323/SIP room system
H.323: sip.zoomgov.com
Meeting ID: 161 472 9459
Passcode: 298639
SIP: 1614729459@sip.zoomgov.com
Passcode: 298639

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The post January 2024 Market Dominant Price Change Filing Webinar appeared first on News/Media Alliance.

The post USPS Office of Inspector General Releases Flat-Shaped Mail Audit Report appeared first on News/Media Alliance.

On May 31, the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) approved the USPS market-dominant rate increases proposed by the Postal Service on April 10. Periodicals rates will increase 8.122% while marketing mail will increase 5.378%. In addition, the PRC noted that there were numerous errors in the Postal Service’s initial filing, including errors in the workpapers for all five mail classes. The PRC directed the Postal Service to investigate its initial filing procedures and to file a report with the results of its investigation and its plan to correct the issues identified in this proceeding in future rate adjustment proceedings by July 31.

To further address member concerns on rate increases and service delivery, the News/Media Alliance submitted joint comments to the US House Subcommittee on Government Operations following a hearing May 17 – Tracking the Postal Service: An Update on the Delivering for America (DFA) Plan. The Alliance is part of the Coalition for a 21st Century Postal Service, which stated the relentless, twice-yearly postage rates increases are endangering the Postal Service’s mail business and is destructive to businesses. The hearing was a solid first step toward ongoing oversight of the DFA plan; however, The Alliance will continue to advocate for additional hearings and oversight. The Alliance is also working on recommendations to Congress on ways to strengthen the PRC’s oversight of USPS rates and service and to provide greater accountability for USPS actions.

The post PRC Approves July Postal Rate Increases & The Alliance Joins Coalition Letter to Congressional Subcommittee Concerned about Rates and Service, Calls for Additional Reform appeared first on News/Media Alliance.

The Alliance filed a Petition to the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) to Initiate a Proceeding Regarding the Appropriate Analytical Principle for Retiree Health Benefit Normal Costs on December 19. The PRC opened a docket following their December 9 order, rescinding their earlier approval of the USPS accounting treatment for removal of retirement liabilities from the Postal Service Reform Act. Meanwhile, the USPS filed their petition December 12 continuing to push for their proposed changes. Our petition argues that these costs should be treated as accrued in FY 2022 and distributed in the same manner they have been since FY 2008. View the Alliance Petition here.

The post Alliance Files Petition to Postal Regulatory Commission to Initiate Proceeding Regarding Retiree Health Benefit Normal Costs appeared first on News/Media Alliance.

In response to the News/Media Alliance and other mailers motion for reconsideration of the Postal Regulatory Commission’s (PRC) earlier approval of the Postal Service’s announced change in accepted analytical principles, the PRC issued an order on December 9, rescinding its October 7 letter and approval of the USPS accounting treatment for removal of retirement liabilities from the Postal Service Reform Act (PSRA). The PSRA resulted in a one-time reversal of $59.6 billion for accrued but unpaid retiree health benefits as of March 2022. On August 12, the Postal Service unilaterally declared in a letter to the PRC that the USPS plans to omit $57 billion in negative expenses from the Annual Compliance Review and that it plans to not accrue Retiree Health Benefits normal costs in FY 2022, in response to the PSRA’s cancellation of any payment required from the Postal Service under the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund. If the Postal Service seeks to change the established methodology, it must now file a petition in support of its proposed analytical principle changes, and cannot simply choose to make changes.

The post Postal Regulatory Commission Rescinds Earlier Approval of Postal Service Accounting of Retirement Liabilities Due to the Alliance’s Motion for Reconsideration appeared first on News/Media Alliance.

The News/Media Alliance sent a letter to the United States Postal Service Board of Governors on Friday before their next scheduled meeting on Tuesday, August 9 to discuss a proposed change in Periodicals Critical Entry Times (CETs). The Postal Service filed a request at the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on April 22 to change CETs for Periodicals mail to 8 am. Periodical mailings currently have as many as five different CETs, depending on the nature of the mailing and the facility.

The Alliance and MPA previously filed comments with the PRC asserting: (1) that the Postal Service’s proposal requires that it seek an advisory opinion from the PRC prior to implementation; and (2) that the proposal will harm publishers who must meet tight production, printing, and delivery schedules. While the PRC agreed with us and has ordered the Postal Service to request an advisory opinion before implementing its proposed CET modifications, the ultimate implementation decision lies with the Postal Service itself. The Alliance will continue to keep you apprised.

The post News/Media Alliance Sends Letter to USPS Board of Governors on Critical Entry Time Proposed Change appeared first on News/Media Alliance.

On July 29, the News/Media Alliance submitted comments to the Postal Regulatory Commission’s (PRC) call for stakeholder input on the size and timing of the August 2021 rate increases for market-dominant products and the PAEA process that led to them.

The comments will inform a PRC report required by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022. The Alliance’s comments detail how the PRC did not properly account for the COVID-19 pandemic on the Postal Service’s financial condition, particularly higher package revenues and $10 billion in emergency funding, as well as concerns on the authorization of above-CPI rate authority leading to exorbitant rate increases. In addition, the Alliance joined the National Newspaper Association on comments showing the harm these price increases have had on the news and magazine industry.

The post News/Media Alliance Submits Comments to PRC on Rate Increases for Market-Dominant Products appeared first on News/Media Alliance.

The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) has favorably reviewed new competitive and market dominant price increases that will take effect July 10, 2022. For Periodicals, the overall increase is 8.540 percent, while Marketing Mail sees an overall increase of 6.5 percent. See the final orders on the price adjustments and related mail classification changes, as well as the price change tables. Meanwhile, the PRC has also invited stakeholder input regarding a study on USPS rate increases. The Alliance continues to work with the PRC, USPS and Congressional leaders on solutions that will help protect news publishers and communities’ access to high-quality journalism.

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The post Postal Regulatory Commission Approves Rate Increases & Requests Stakeholder Input appeared first on News/Media Alliance.