Postal Regulatory Commission

US regulatory agency

United States
Postal Regulatory Commission

Agency overview
Formed| 1970
Headquarters| 901 New York Avenue NW Suite #200
Washington, D.C.
Employees| 65
Annual budget| $15 m
Agency executives|

* Michael M. Kubayanda, Chairman
* Robert G. Taub, Vice Chairman

Website| www.prc.gov

The United States Postal Regulatory Commission (or PRC), formerly called the Postal Rate Commission, is an independent regulatory agency created by the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970. Like the Postal Service, it was defined in law as an independent establishment of the executive branch.

## History

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### Postal Rate Commission

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The Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 created the PRC—originally named the Postal Rate Commission—to set the rates for different classes of mail by holding hearings on rates proposed by the United States Postal Service (USPS).

From 1970 through 2006, the PRC also had oversight authority over the USPS in areas besides rates changes. Specifically, that additional oversight consisted of conducting public, on-the-record hearings concerning proposed mail classification or major service changes and of recommending actions to be taken by the postal Governors.[1]

### Postal Regulatory Commission

[edit]

The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-435) enacted on December 20, 2006, made several changes to the Postal Regulatory Commission.[2][3] Besides giving the body its current name, the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act significantly strengthened the Commission's authority to serve as a counterbalance to new flexibility granted to the USPS in setting postal rates.

The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act requires the Postal Regulatory Commission to develop and maintain regulations for a modern system of rate regulation, consult with the Postal Service on delivery service standards and performance measures, consult with the Department of State on international postal policies, prevent cross-subsidization or other anti-competitive postal practices, promote transparency and accountability, and adjudicate complaints.

The law also assigns new and continuing oversight responsibilities to the Postal Regulatory Commission, including annual determinations of USPS compliance with applicable laws, development of accounting practices and procedures for the Postal Service, review of the Universal Service requirement, and assurance of transparency through periodic reports. New enforcement tools given to the PRC include subpoena power, authority to direct the Postal Service to adjust rates and to take other remedial actions, and levying fines in cases of deliberate noncompliance with applicable postal laws.

#### Retiree Health Benefits Fund

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According to the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, the United States Postal Service must make annual payments of between $5.4 billion and $5.8 billion to the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund from 2007. This provision of the law has been highly controversial, as no other federal agency is required to pre-fund future retirees' health benefits in this manner. The consequences of this funding requirement have been blamed for the perilous financial condition of the Postal Service, but no consensus has been reached on its fiscal effects, given other contributors such as stiff competition and other economic circumstances.[4][5]

In June 2011, the United States Postal Service had to suspend its weekly payment of $115 million into the fund because it had reached $8 billion in debt and the retirement plan had a surplus of $6.9 billion.[6]

## Composition

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The PRC is composed of five Commissioners—each of whom is appointed to a six-year term of office by the President and confirmed by the Senate, similar to many other high-level Executive Branch office holders.[7] As with Postal Governors, PRC commissioners are permitted to serve for one additional "holdover" year beyond the end of their term if a replacement has not been nominated and confirmed. The President designates one Commissioner as Chairman of the Commission. The Commissioners together designate one of their number as a Vice chairman for a one-year term. No more than three of the Commissioners can be from any one political party.

### Current commissioners

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The commissioners as of January 10, 2025[update]:[8]

Position  | Name  | Party  | Joined  | Term expires

|
|
|
|

Chairman  | Michael M. Kubayanda  | Democratic | January 29, 2019 (as member)
January 25, 2021 (as chair)  | November 22, 2026
Vice chairman  | Robert G. Taub  | Republican | October 8, 2011 | October 14, 2028
Member  | Ann C. Fisher  | Republican | August 8, 2019 | October 14, 2030
Member  | Ashley E. Poling  | Democratic | August 8, 2019 | November 22, 2030
Member  | Thomas G. Day  | Independent | October 12, 2023 | October 14, 2028

### Offices

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The PRC is organized into five operating offices: Accountability and Compliance, General Counsel, Public Affairs and Government Relations, Secretary, and Inspector General.[9]

## Past commissioners and chairmen

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Name[10] | Position | Party | Term started | Term expired

|
|
|
|

Howard Elliott | Commissioners | Republican | November 23, 1970 | February 28, 1973
William J. Crowley | Chairman | October 15, 1970 | May 1, 1973
John L. Ryan | Commissioner | November 23, 1970 | August 3, 1970
Chairman | August 4, 1973 | October 31, 1973
Rod Kreger | Commissioner | August 6, 1973 | January 7, 1974
Nathan A. Baily | Commissioner | Democratic | October 15, 1970 | October 14, 1974
Fred B. Rhodes | Chairman | Republican | January 18, 1974 | December 30, 1974
Paul A. Miltich | Commissioner | March 13, 1975 | March 7, 1977
Frank P. Saponaro | Commissioner | Independent | October 15, 1970 | October 14, 1977
Carlos C. Villarreal | Commissioner | Republican | April 15, 1973 | February 1, 1979
Kieran O'Doherty | Commissioner | Conservative | February 20, 1975 | October 14, 1980
A. Lee Fritschler | Chairman | Democratic | July 31, 1979 | March 4, 1981
Commissioner | March 5, 1981 | August 31, 1981
Clyde S. DuPont | Commissioner | Republican | September 20, 1974 | March 13, 1975
Chairman | March 14, 1975 | July 29, 1979
Commissioner | July 30, 1979 | September 14, 1981
Simeon M. Bright | Commissioner | Democratic | December 15, 1977 | October 12, 1984
James H. Duffy | Commissioner | May 11, 1979 | September 11, 1985
Henrietta F. Guiton | Commissioner | December 20, 1984 | June 19, 1987
Janet D. Steiger | Commissioner | Republican | October 15, 1980 | February 2, 1982
Chairman | February 3, 1982 | August 10, 1989
Patti Birge. Tyson | Commissioner | Democratic | September 12, 1985 | November 22, 1991
Henry R. Folsom | Commissioner | Republican | March 9, 1982 | December 29, 1992
John Crutcher | Commissioner | March 9, 1982 | October 14, 1993
Wayne A. Schley | Commissioner | December 30, 1992 | October 14, 1995
Edward H. Quick | Commissioner | Democratic | December 2, 1991 | November 22, 1997
George W. Haley | Chairman | Republican | February 14, 1990 | October 14, 1993
Commissioner | December 1, 1993 | September 10, 1998
Edward J. Gleiman | Chairman | Independent | February 23, 1994 | February 2, 2001
W.H. "Trey" LeBlanc | Commissioner | Democratic | November 24, 1987 | November 22, 2001
Dana B. "Danny" Covington | Commissioner | Republican | November 2, 1998 | October 14, 2005
George A. Omas | Commissioner | August 8, 1997 | November 29, 2001
Chairman | November 30, 2001 | December 9, 2006
Dawn Tisdale | Commissioner | Democratic | December 1, 2004 | November 22, 2007
Dan Gregory Blair | Chairman | Republican | December 9, 2006 | August 5, 2009
Commissioner | August 6, 2009 | June 30, 2011
Ruth Y. Goldway | Commissioner | Democratic | April 15, 1998 | August 5, 2009
Chairwoman | August 6, 2009 | December 3, 2014
Commissioner | December 4, 2014 | November 22, 2015
Tony Hammond | Commissioner | Republican | August 6, 2002 | October 7, 2011
April 30, 2012 | October 14, 2013
December 10, 2014 | August 7, 2019
Nanci E. Langley | Commissioner | Democratic | June 9, 2008 | November 22, 2013
December 10, 2014 | August 7, 2019
Mark D. Acton | Commissioner | Republican | August 17, 2006 | October 5, 2023

### Office of Accountability & Compliance

[edit]

The Office of Accountability & Compliance (OAC) provides analytic support to the Commission for the review of various Postal Service proposed actions: rate changes, negotiated service agreements (NSAs), classification of products and services, the Annual Compliance Determination, the Annual Report to President and Congress, changes to postal services, post office closings and other issues before the Commission. Areas of expertise include economic and econometric analysis, analysis of operational characteristics of the postal system, analysis of Postal Service operating costs and cost methodologies. OAC also collects, analyzes and periodically summarizes financial and various other statistical information to support Commission responsibilities.[11]

### Office of General Counsel

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The Office of General Counsel provides legal assistance on matters involving the Commission's responsibilities; defends Commission decisions before the courts; and advises the Commission on the legal aspects of proposed legislation, rulemaking, and policies on procurement, contracting, personnel matters, ethics, and other internal legal matters.[11]

### Office of Public Affairs & Government Relations

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The Office of Public Affairs & Government Relations (PAGR) manages communications and public outreach for the Commission with the public, Members of Congress, the Postal Service, state and local governments, and the news media. PAGR engages in public outreach, responds to media inquiries and disseminates information concerning Commission decisions and activities to the public. PAGR also provides information to postal customers and assists in the resolution of informal complaints, called "rate and service inquiries", from members of the public.[11]

### Office of Secretary & Administration

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The Office of Secretary & Administration records and preserves PRC actions and documents, manages the dockets, reference materials, and interagency reporting. It also helps to manage the administrative aspects of the PRC, including budgeting and accounting, strategic planning, contracting, human resources and personnel, and serves as a point of contact for audits. It also manages facilities and infrastructure, and provides support services.[11]

### Office of Inspector General

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The Office of Inspector General is a watchdog office that seeks out fraud, waste and abuse in the PRC programs and operations, and conducts audits of programs to identify areas of potential improvement. The Office of Inspector General also investigates allegations and complaints.

### Public Representative

[edit]

The law (39 U.S.C. 505) requires that the Commission designate an individual to represent the interest of the general public in every public proceeding. This obligation is likely unique in the federal government, although state-level public utility commissions have similar arrangements. Since 2007, the Commission has used the method of appointing a staff member, on a case-by-case basis, to represent the public interest before the Commission for the duration of that particular case. This appointee is called the Public Representative. The Public Representative can obtain legal or technical support if necessary to fulfill that responsibility, but no one working in the Public Representative role can participate in the Commission's decision-making process.

## See also

[edit]

* Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service
* History of United States postage rates

## Notes

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1. ^ Postal Reorganization Act of 1970
2. ^ "Bill summary and status Archived 2012-12-17 at the Wayback Machine
3. ^ Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 (PAEA) - H.R. 6407". via Library of Congress. December 20, 2006.
4. ^ "Widespread Facebook post blames 2006 law for US Postal Service's financial woes". www.politifact.com. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
5. ^ "Status, Financial Outlook, and Alternative Approaches to Fund Retiree Health Benefits" (PDF). www.gao.gov. p. 7. Retrieved 11 April 2018. "Contrary to statements made by some employee groups and other stakeholders, PAEA did not require USPS to prefund 75 years of retiree health benefits over a 10-year period. Rather, pursuant to OPM's methodology, such payments would be projected to fund the liability over a period in excess of 50 years, from 2007 through 2056 and beyond (with rolling 15-year amortization periods after 2041). However, the payments required by PAEA were significantly "frontloaded," with the fixed payment amounts in the first 10 years exceeding what actuarially determined amounts would have been using a 50-year amortization schedule."
6. ^ U.S. Postal Service In Crisis: Proposals To Prevent A Postal Shutdown. Opm.gov. Retrieved on 2013-10-30.
7. ^ Postal Regulatory Commission: About PRC: Commissioners Archived 2011-01-09 at the Wayback Machine. Prc.gov (2012-11-22). Retrieved on 2013-10-30.
8. ^ "Leadership". PRC.gov. Postal Regulatory Commission. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
9. ^ Postal Regulatory Commission: About PRC Archived 2010-12-19 at the Wayback Machine. Prc.gov (2006-12-20). Retrieved on 2013-10-30.
10. ^ "Past PRC Commissioners/Chairmen".
11. ^ a b c d "ORDER AMENDING ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION IN 39 CFR PART 3002" (PDF). Postal Regulatory Commission. April 26, 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-18.

## External links

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* Official website
* Pub. L. 109–435 (text) (PDF) Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006
* Postal Regulatory Commission in the Federal Register

* v
* t
* e

United States Postal Service

Organizations|

* American Letter Mail Company
* American Postal Workers Union
* Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service
* Bureau of Transportation
* Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
* National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees
* National Association of Letter Carriers
* National Association of Presort Mailers
* National Postal Mail Handlers Union
* National Rural Letter Carriers' Association
* Postal Regulatory Commission
* Postal Transportation Service
* PostalWatch Incorporated
* United States Postal Inspection Service
* United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General

Systems|

* Address Management System
* Advanced Facer-Canceler System
* Coding Accuracy Support System
* Delivery Bar Code Sorter
* Flats Sequencing System
* Locatable Address Conversion System
* United States Postal Savings System

Services|

* Click-N-Ship
* Express mail in the United States
* National Change Of Address
* Permit mail
* Permit Reply Mail
* Postal notes
* Railway Mail Service
* Registered mail
* Special Delivery
* Special handling

Facilities|

* Air mail facility
* Boat railway post office
* Community post office
* Dead letter office
* Highway post office
* J. W. Westcott II
* List of United States post offices
* National Postal Museum
* Network distribution center
* Railway mail service library
* Red Brick Roads
* Sectional center facility
* Streetcar railway post office
* Terminal railway post office

Legal|

* Comstock Act of 1873
* Post Office Consolidation Act of 1872
* Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006
* Postal Reorganization Act of 1970
* Postal Service Act of 1792
* Postal Service Reform Act of 2022
* Private Express Statutes
* Rural Post Roads Act of 1916
* Title 39 of the United States Code

Related|

* 2020 United States Postal Service crisis
* United States airmail service
* CAR-RT SORT
* Catcher pouch
* Cimarron Redoubt
* Domestic Mail Manual
* Facing Identification Mark
* Flats
* Grumman LLV
* Information-Based Indicia
* The Inspectors
* Intelligent Mail barcode
* Label 228
* List of postal killings
* List of U.S. state abbreviations
* List of United States airmail stamps
* Mail bag
* Mail cover
* Mail hook
* Mail Isolation Control and Tracking
* Mail jumping
* Mail pouch
* Mail sack
* Mail satchel
* The Mail Story
* Nixie
* ORM-D
* Owney (dog)
* Pony Express mochila
* Postage stamps and postal history of the United States
* Postal Alpha Numeric Encoding Technique
* Postal Clause
* Postal voting in the United States
* Postal worker
* Postmaster General
* Prohibitory Order
* Remote Bar Coding System
* Rural Free Delivery
* Rural letter carrier
* STD-4C
* United States post office murals
* List of murals
* USPS Post Office Box Lobby Recycling program
* United States Postal Service creed

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States

Other|

* Yale LUX

*[Pub. L.]: Public Law
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