Guiding Principles for Implementation of the Postal Act of 2006
These
guiding principles are consistent with the intent of Congress that the Postal
Service continue to provide reliable universal service at affordable prices,
while enhancing its ability to operate in a more businesslike manner and foster
growth and innovation in the mailing industry:
- Design a modern
pricing and regulatory system that:
- provides flexibility to respond effectively to market
and operational conditions, and the needs of all customers.
- provides incentives for the Postal Service and mailers
to operate in a fashion that improves the efficiency of the nation’s
postal system.
- supports the adoption of corporate best practices, such
as rational investments in the infrastructure, and the realignment of
resources to match the changing needs of customers and mailers, in order
to respond to the system’s incentives.
- promotes honest, economical, efficient management.
- allows the Postal Service's competitive products to
compete fairly in the marketplace.
- ensures adequate revenues to support the network and
set prices that cover cost in a manner required by law.
- streamlines the pricing and classification process to
increase predictability and reduce administrative burdens on all parties.
- Have service standards
consistent with universal service at reasonable prices that enhance the
value of postal services, and reasonably assure customers of delivery
reliability and speed through the use of transparent performance
measurement systems.
- Work together with the
Postal Regulatory Commission and stakeholders to provide a high degree of
financial transparency by improving the quality of postal data systems
through warranted and cost-effective enhancements.