The Postal Regulatory Commission has begun the process of reviewing Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) that has governed the postal rate making process for the past 10 years. Changes to the rate making process could have an impact on all areas of the industry.

A "Joint Motion For Modification of Procedural Framework" was recently filed by a coalition of associations including The American Catalog Mailers Association, Inc., the American Forest and Paper Association, the Association for Postal Commerce, the Data & Marketing Association, the Envelope Manufacturers Association, the Greeting Card Association, IDEAlliance, the Major Mailers Association, the National Association of Presort Mailers, the National Newspaper Association, the National Postal Policy Council, the News Media Alliance, the Parcel Shippers Association, and the Saturation Mailers Coalition.

The motion proposes an alternative process and sequence to save time and resources on during postal rate reviews.

According to the motion, “This alternative process would benefit all interested parties by limiting the Phase I comments to only whether the Objectives are being achieved under the current system. This is fully consistent with Order No. 3673, which contemplates that parties will comment on the definitions and metrics proposed therein, will lead to simpler, more focused comments, and will allow the Commission to make its initial determination more quickly.” and secondly, "conserve the Commission and parties’ time and resources. Under this approach, parties would devote effort to proposing modifications, if any, to better achieve only those Objectives that the Commission determines are not being achieved. This would avoid wasting time and resources on suggested modifications addressed to Objectives that the Commission determines are being achieved."

The Joint Motion For Modification of Procedural Framework is available on the Postal Regulatory Commission website:

https://www.prc.gov/docs/98/98698/Joint-Motion-To%20Modify-Process.pdf