Current Issues

Postal Service News & Issues

DMANF Comments to Independent Sector Panel on the Nonprofit Sector

DMANF letter of support for Kansas SB121

DMANF Opposes Rate Hike for Premium Packages
The DMANF filed comments on January 31st seeking a one-year delay in the rule implementation of the new United States Postal Service’s regulations, issued in a Federal Register Notice on January 16, 2007. Citing a new desire to create a shape-based postal system, the USPS has unwittingly bumped many nonprofit mail pieces into the much higher parcel or NFM rate due to go into effect this May.

“This is a shockingly high rate increase for those organizations that are least likely able to afford a rate increase,” said DMANF Senior Vice President, Corporate and Social Responsibility Senny Boone. “The Postal Service has purchased flats sorting equipment that can only handle a small fraction of the kinds of mail that nonprofits prepare, and it plans to have us pay a rate increase of 100-200% as a result. We estimate that most major nonprofit organizations will be impacted by the rate increase scheduled to go into effect as part of the overall rate increase this May. The new rule impacts as much as 40% of the nonprofit mail volume.”

In its comments, the DMANF urges the Postal Service to delay implementation of the rule for one year to allow nonprofit mailers a chance to test the new specifications in the rule. “To raise postal rates for these flat size front-end premium packages as much as postal management proposes without any time to plan and test is ruinous for the Postal Service, nonprofits and society. It is ultimately the beneficiaries of nonprofits’ good works who will bear the price of insufficient or no planning.” For a copy of the DMANF's comments please contact Alicia Osgood.

USPS PROPOSES NEW STANDARDS FOR DOMESTIC MAILING SERVICES
On Sept. 27, 2006, the USPS published in the Federal Register a proposal providing new mailing standards to accompany the 2007 postal rate increaeses. The rate case is now before the Postal Regulatory Commission. In today’s Federal Register, the USPS publishes a revised proposal in which it responds to the comments it received, summarizes its changes, and further revises the mailing standards. Comments on today’s Federal Register notice are due on or before Jan. 31, 2007. Federal Register

US POSTAL SERVICE
INTERNATIONAL POST CORP. RE-ELECTS US POSTMASTER GENERAL AS VICE BOARD CHAIRMAN US Postmaster General John E. (Jack) Potter has been re-elected as vice chairman of the International Post Corporation (IPC) Board. The IPC, a cooperative association of 23 national postal operators in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific, accounts for 80% of the world’s mail. From PR Newswire

POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION PRC TO HOLD OPEN MEETING TO DISCUSS MATTERS.
In the Federal Register, the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) -- formerly the Postal Rate Commission - announced it will host a meeting on Feb. 1 to consider, “1. Agency organization -- establishment of the Office of the Inspector General and the position of Inspector General of the Postal Regulatory Commission. 2. Agency organization -- establishment of the Office of Public Affairs and Congressional Relations and the position of Director, Office of Public Affairs and Congressional Relations.” In addition to a new name, the PRC has a new chairman: Dan Blair, a longtime postal aide on Capitol Hill and most recently the deputy director of the Office of Personnel Management. More information

Updated February 2007

DMA Nonprofit Federation
1615 L Street, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20036
202.861.2447
nonprofitfederation@the-dma.org