Independent Review Suggests that “Last Mile” Postal Reform Concept is Worthy of Consideration as Part of Comprehensive Postal Reform

STAMFORD, Conn. - In a report released today, the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) reviewed the potential for a “Hybrid Public-Private Postal Service” that was outlined in a concept paper earlier this year by a coalition of four long time postal policy leaders. The Academy report on the paper by John Nolan, George Gould, Ed Gleiman and Ed Hudgins provides a helpful analysis of one very promising long term option to secure affordable and universal postal delivery service in the U.S. The panel indicated that several reforms to the Postal Service are needed, but that this concept is worthy of consideration as a part of a comprehensive reform package.

We agree with the NAPA panel that the public wants--and our economy desperately needs--a healthy, universal, affordable and reliable postal system. Hundreds of thousands of jobs and almost a trillion dollars in commerce depend on it.

Like the panel, Pitney Bowes believes that the financial relief and operational flexibility requested by the US Postal Service are critical to its short term stability. We also believe that significant structural reform such as the “final mile” delivery model proposed by the authors of the concept paper should be considered as part of any postal reform package by Congress, and provides a promising way to help ensure the long term future of affordable universal mail delivery service in the U.S.

The “final mile delivery” model proposed in the white paper has the potential not only to protect, but also to strengthen, the nation’s only universal door-to-door delivery service by unleashing the creative energy of American business to find significant opportunities to increase mail volume, control costs and enhance services for rural, suburban and urban areas.

By concentrating on its strength in delivery, and charging only for that service, the Postal Service will encourage increased use of commercial providers to collect, transport and sort the mail, create a private sector market for mail use, and encourage development of new products and services that can help sustain universal delivery service well into the future.

We are confident that, when coupled with the reforms requested by the Postal Service, the long term structural changes outlined in the hybrid public-private postal system concept paper reviewed by the National Academy of Public Administration would go a long way toward ensuring a healthy future for the Postal Service and the mailing industry it supports.

Pitney Bowes is a strong proponent of policy research to help protect and improve our nation’s postal system. The policy review by the National Academy of Public Administration was made possible, in part, by a contribution from Pitney Bowes.