PRC holds hearing on universal service

The Postal Regulatory Commission is holding a public hearing on the universal postal service obligation on July 10 from 10am-12pm at its hearing room in Washington, DC.

Testimony from this hearing in addition to other pubic feedback will be used in developing a formal report due to Congress by December 19, on “universal postal service and the postal monopoly in the United States, including the monopoly on mail delivery and access to mailboxes.” The report is a requirement of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006.

According to the PRC, the report will focus on geographic scope, product offerings, access to facilities and services, frequency of delivery, rates and affordability, and quality of services.

The commission has already held field hearings on this topic in Flagstaff, AZ; St. Paul, MN; and Portsmouth, NH.

So far, a number of comments have been submitted to the PRC on the universal service obligation. They can be accessed from the commission's Web site at prc.gov.