Postology - June, 2010: Harte-Hanks.com

Postal issues are understandably top of mind for today’s direct mailers and keeping up with
changes is important to being compliant and getting the most for postal dollars. In an effort to
continually improve our service, Harte-Hanks provides the Postology Report. This monthly
report is designed to keep you informed of the latest postal happenings and the impact
of these changes on your business.

If you'd like to see a specific topic covered, or want to express an opinion on something
shared here, please contact Charley Howard, Vice President of Postal Affairs, at
charley_howard@harte-hanks.com.

Thanks for your continued interest!

Postology Update: On July 6th the USPS delivered an Exigent Rate Filing, as one step among
many to address their declining revenue.
To read more click here.

In this Issue:

There Will Be An Exigent Rate Filing - SOON

There has been a great deal of “talk” about the USPS filing for an exigent rate this year. On March 2, while presenting the financial outlook of the postal service, Jack Potter indicated that it desired to file such a case with a “moderate” average increase of 5%. He reiterated that the USPS would file at the National Postal Forum in April, but without a percentage indicated. Comments from postal execs hinted at a higher average number, in the 8% to 10% range.

The USPS will file its exigent rate case with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) in early July 2010 with the goal of a January 2, 2011 implementation date...

Odds and Ends

On Thursday, May 13, several in the industry met with the USPS and its legal eagles to discuss the issue of the USPS not signing Bills of Lading anymore when mail is drop-ship entered to postal processing facilities. The postal decision stems from a lack of understanding of how the trucking industry operates in all its variations in the private industry...

Start-the-Clock

Another outcome of the May 13 meeting was the instigation of a new MTAC Work Group to determine the viable replacement to Electronic Mailing Data (EMD) scans from the 8125 as the Start-the-Clock mechanism. The USPS was to terminate EMD on May 14 but another stay of execution was given until sometime in early 2011...

A Point about Move Update Compliance

Since the requirement for First Class and Standard Mail is that addressees be move updated within 95 days of the mailing, many mail/list owners feel that quarterly updating is sufficient...

2010 Summer Sale

As in 2009, there will be a Standard Mail Summer Sale with a 30% discount...

Here is a sampling of industry news
from across the nation:

Postal workers oppose five-day week at hearing
Strong dismay over a proposal to eliminate Saturday mail services nationwide was evident during a public hearing Monday held by the Postal Regulatory Commission.

Business owners, community members, letter carriers and postal executives pleaded their cases at Las Vegas City Hall about a five-day postal week to the commission, which oversees the U.S. Postal Service...

House Postal Subcommittee Examines Potential Funding Sources for USPS
(From the DMA Direct from Washington 5/14 newsletter)

In May, Representative Stephen Lynch (D-MA) chaired a hearing of the House Postal Subcommittee, calling it an opportunity to explore potential funding sources for the financially troubled Postal Service...

PRC Issues RFP to Measure Social Value of Postal Services
Related to the Postal Regulatory Commission’s (PRC) review of the Postal Service’s request for an advisory opinion on 5-day delivery (N2010-1), the PRC is seeking research proposals to quantify the social value of postal services.

Bernstock Resigns from the Postal Service
In May, Postmaster General John Potter accepted the resignation of Robert F. Bernstock as president of Mailing and Shipping Services, effective June 4. Bernstock will pursue opportunities in the private sector...