Mailer Consortium Tells USPS Board Extra Rate Hikes Will Doom Postal System

On October 22nd, a consortium of 17 mailing industry organizations, including the ACMA, sent a pointed letter to USPS Board Chairman Robert M. Duncan and the four other postal Board of Governors, who recently established a quorum for the first time in several years. The letter, which was specifically timed a few weeks prior to the Board’s next quarterly meeting, can be accessed here. Below are some brief highlights:

• the 17 mailer groups comprise over 90% of funding of universal postal services in the US;
• undue reliance on raising prices to stabilize the Postal Service would ultimately doom the mailing industry and undermine any comprehensive plan to address the Postal Service’s difficulties;
• costs, service, revenues, and the funding of the universal service obligation (USO) must all be addressed;
• catalogs have never completely recovered from the 2007 rate hike that initiated an accelerated volume decline that has now exceeded 40%;
• new postal products, services, and solutions are also critical;
• include input from all key stakeholders in USPS’s 10-year plan; and
• the consortium proposed that the Board meet with the group to consider our shared future and prioritize the efforts that can create a sustainable path forward.

The ACMA is happy to answer any questions from members and will keep you apprised of possible next steps.