PRC Proceeds With Delivering for America Inquiry

The Postal Regulatory Commission’s (PRC) public inquiry into Delivering for America will continue after it denied USPS’s motion for reconsideration. 

In a June 21 order, the PRC contended “that the Postal Service’s motion is premature,” stating that the inquiry it announced in April will continue. The Postal Service requested May 5 that the PRC drop its inquiry, asserting that it was “unnecessary [and] unwarranted.” 

“The commission has merely opened a docket, creating a forum to learn more about strategic plan initiatives that may have a significant impact on the postal community,” read the PRC’s response. “The commission has not issued any orders or directed the Postal Service to take any action in this proceeding. By opening this inquiry, the commission has not required the Postal Service to delay the implementation of any [Delivering for America] plan initiatives or required the Postal Service to postpone further strategic planning.” 

The commission also noted that in “multiple recent instances, the commission learned about the deployment of new facilities from media statements or learned about potential changes in the nature of services while conducting another proceeding.” 

These instances, the PRC contended, serve to “underscore the importance of the commission acting proactively” to obtain more information about the plan. USPS could choose to challenge this decision in court. 

First Request 

The PRC also filed the first information request in the inquiry on June 21, giving USPS a June 28 deadline. 

The asked-for details include: 

• A schedule of “planned facility activations,” including location, facility type, opening date and a list of the other facilities that will be affected 

• A specific analysis of the Postal Service’s estimate that the plan would save $34 billion over 10 years 

• Confirmation that no post offices will be closed as part of Delivering for America, nor will customers experience changes to their “local post office retail operations” 

• Confirmation that USPS “considered requesting an advisory opinion from the commission prior to the implementation of its new facilities”