PRC delivers report on postal monopoly to President, Congress

The Postal Regulatory Commission today completed its report on universal postal service and the postal monopoly and delivered it to the President and Congress.

The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 directed the commission to identify the scope and standards of both based on a comprehensive review of their history and development, according to the PRC.

The annual cost of the USPS' universal service obligation was estimated at $4.4 billion, according to the PRC. The estimated value of the combined letter mail and mailbox monopolies ranges from $200 million to $7.1 billion, with $3.48 billion as the most plausible estimate, according to FY 2007 figures.

The report found that the public is generally satisfied with the current level of universal service provided by the USPS, said the PRC. While no changes to either the universal service obligation or the monopoly are recommended at this time, the PRC noted the serious financial situation currently facing the USPS and the general economy.