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![handle is hein.crs/goveeqi0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional
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USPS Changes Postal Service Standards
October 14, 2021
Under new regulations that went into effect on October 1, 2021, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) adjusted
its service standards on select market-dominant products, specifically First-Class Mail and Periodicals.
Service standards reflect USPS's estimate of the amount of time it will take to deliver a piece of mail. The
new standards increase the target in-transit time for delivery by 1-2 days. While some market-dominant
mail will be unaffected, USPS expects that approximately 40% of First-Class Mail (particularly that
which travels longer distances) will be subject to an adjusted standard that is 1-2 days greater than the
previous standard. Most local First-Class Mail (i.e., mail traveling three hours or less) will keep its 2-day
standard.
USPS Service Standards
Postal service delivery standards are the stated delivery performance goal[s] for a mail class or product.
Taking into account network logistics and feasibility, a service standard reflects the number of days after
acceptance of mail by which the sender and recipient can expect it to be delivered. USPS also applies
business rules based on the distance a mail piece must travel.
As shown in Appendix A to Title 39, Section 121, of the Code of Federal Regulations and Table 1, the
end-to-end range for First-Class Mail within the contiguous United States through September 30, 2021,
was 1-3 days, for Periodicals it was 3-9 days, and for Marketing Mail (formerly Standard Mail) it was 3-
10 days.
Process to Change Postal Service Standards
To make changes to its service standards, USPS is required to file notice with the Postal Regulatory
Commission (PRC) seeking an advisory opinion within a reasonable time prior to the effective date of
such proposal (39 U.S.C. @3661). On April 21, 2021, USPS filed a request for an advisory opinion from
the PRC due to its planned changes to service standards (PRC Docket N-2021-1). On July 20, 2021, the
PRC issued its advisory opinion, which makes the following recommendations to USPS:
Communicate realistic performance targets,
Monitor implementation to balance savings and service,
Monitor implementation to drive transportation efficiency,
Gauge customer satisfaction specifically for its proposed changes,
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
IN11776
CRS INSIGHT
Prepared for Members and
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