Commission Initiates Public Outreach on Universal Postal Service Study

The Postal Regulatory Commission today established Docket No. PI2008-3 and invited public comment on universal postal service and the postal monopoly in the United States. The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) requires the Commission to submit a report to the President and Congress on "universal postal service and the postal monopoly in the United States, including the monopoly on the delivery of mail and on access to mailboxes. The report is to be submitted not later than December 19, 2008.

In preparing its report, the PAEA requires the PRC to "consult with the Postal Service and other Federal agencies, users of the mails, enterprises in the private sector engaged in the delivery of the mail, and the general public". Further, the legislation requires the Commission to address in its report any written comments that it receives. As part of its effort to fulfill these obligations, the Commission is initiating this docket to solicit comments on universal postal service and the postal monopoly.

Initial comments are due 60 days after publication of the notice in the Federal Register. Reply comments are due 90 days after publication of this notice in this Federal Register. All comments and suggestions received will be available for review on the Commission's website at www.prc.gov.

In addition to this solicitation of comments, the Commission intends to hold several public hearings at locations outside of Washington, D.C., in order to hear from a broad cross section of the mailing public. The dates and locations for those hearings are as follows:

May 21, 2008 (2 pm):

Flagstaff City Hall

211 West Aspen Avenue

Flagstaff, AZ 86001

June 5, 2008 (10 am):

City Hall/Court House Building

City Council Chambers, 3^rd Floor

15 Kellogg Boulevard

St. Paul, MN 55102

June 19, 2008 (2 pm):

City Hall

1 Junkins Avenue

Portsmouth, NH 03801

Additionally, the Commission intends to sponsor an open workshop in Washington, D.C. during May 2008, to receive public comment.

Further details on the field hearings and other steps to be taken in this docket will be posted on the Commission's website at www.prc.gov.

The Postal Regulatory Commission is an independent federal agency comprised of five Presidentially-appointed and Senate-confirmed Commissioners, each serving terms of six years. The Chairman is designated by the President. In addition to Chairman Blair, the other Commissioners are Ruth Goldway, Tony Hammond, and