End of Old Rate Case Structure
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Board of Governors announced that any new postal rate increases will follow the modernized regulatory structure in the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006. Under the new structure brought about by postal reform, rates for mailing services (First-Class Mail, Standard Mail and Periodicals) will be capped at the rate of inflation.
The USPS Board of Governors had a window of opportunity to initiate one final rate case before enactment of the new law next year, and had not announced whether a future case would be promulgated under the pre-postal reform structure.
PIA/GATF is pleased that the USPS decided against “slipping in” a final case under the litigious and expensive former rate case structure established in 1971. The Board of Governors’ declaration follows the Postal Regulatory Commission’s (PRC) announcement of finalized rules governing the new rate structure.
Postmaster General John Potter praised the recent PRC work, stating, “This delivers one of the main goals of the new law for business mailers—a predictable price schedule.”
- People:
- John Potter