NEWS ARCHIVES

JULY 2017

National News July31WashingtonTimes:WhentheU.S.PostalService’stopmarketingofficeragreedtohireGoldmanSachsnearlytwoyearsagowithoutawrittencontract,topexecutivesinsidepostalheadquartersscrambledtomaketheunauthorizeddealsquarewithpostalprocurementrules.Buttheno-bidcontracttheyeventuallyawardedtoGoldmanSachswasbackdatedandwasforthewrongkindsofservices:Thecompanywashiredunderabankingservicesagreement,butGoldmanSachs‘postalworkdidn’thaveanythingtodowithbanking,recordsshow.Intryingtofixa$1.5milliondealthatalreadygeneratedmisgivings,officialsmayhaveonlyaddedtothelistofproblemsthatremainunderreviewbythePostalService’sofficeofinspectorgeneralevenafterthecontract’sexpiration.Keydetailsaboutthearrangementhavesurfacedthroughtheinspectorgeneral’srecentlyreleasedreportonthetenureofthePostalService’sformerpresidentofshippingandmailingservices,RobertBernstock.TeamBHP:Mahindrahasbaggeda$11millionprototypecontractfromtheUSGovt.fornext-genpostaldeliveryvehicles.MahindraAutomotiveNorthAmericawilldeliver14prototypesforapprovalbyNovember,2017.Accordingtomediareports,theprototypeswillbebuiltinDetroitandwillbedeliveredforroad-testingintwophases.ThefirstbatchofeightprototypeswillbedeliveredinSeptemberandtheremainingsixbyNovember.Ifapproved,Mahindrawillhavetobuild1.8lakhvehiclesoverasixyearperiod.Thepriceofeachvehicleisexpectedtobearound$35,000andalsoamaintenanceandrepaircontractwillbeawarded.

July30Linn'sStampNews:Thenation’spostofficelobbiesareamess.That’stheverdictoftheUnitedStatesPostalService’sOfficeofInspectorGeneral.InaJuly21postingtitled“ThisOldPostOffice,”theinspectorgeneralsaid,“Itmakesnodifferencewhatpartofthecountryyou’rein,postofficesnationwideareinneedofupkeepandrepair.”ThatfindingwasbasedinpartonareviewofpostofficelobbiesinthePostalService’sEasternAreaofthecountry,buttheinspectorgeneral’sblogsaidthesameproblemscanbefoundelsewhere.IntheEasternArea,oneofsevenpostalareas,“morethan60percentofthefacilitiesreviewedhadbuildingandsecurityissuesaswellasOccupationalSafetyandHealthAdministrationviolations,”accordingtothereport.“Almosthalfoffacilitieshadcleanlinessandmaintenanceissues,”theblogsaid.July29Fortune:Peoplelivinginapartmentsandcondominiumshaveanew,moresecurewaytoreceiveAmazonpackagesinsteadofhavingtheirdeliveriestossedinlobbiesandinhallways.AmazondebuteditsHubdeliverylockersthisweekformulti-unitresidentialproperties.Resemblingalarge,whitefilingcabinetwithatouchscreen,theHubisintendedtopreventresidents'packagesfrombeingstolen.Customersusethetouchscreentoenteracodethatunlocksthecompartmentscontainingtheirorders.DeliverypeoplefromotherorganizationsUPSorFedExwillbeabletoaccesstheHub.PostalNews:TheU.S.DistrictCourtinWashington,DC,deniedtherequestoftwoNALCmembersforapreliminaryinjunctionthatwouldhavedeferredthecountingofballotsontheproposedtentative2016-2019NationalAgreementbetweenNALCandtheU.S.PostalService.ThomasHouffofRichmond,VABranch496andDavidNobleofWashington,DCBranch142filedalawsuittocanceltheratificationvote.Thecourt’sdenialoftheirmotionmeansthatthecountingofballotswillproceedasschedulednextweek.BallotcommitteememberswillarriveinWashington,DC,onJuly30tomonitorandobservethereceiptandtabulationoftheratificationballots.

July27Q13Fox:LinesatthepostofficecouldgetalittlelongerasUSPSannounceditseliminating12,000positionsnationwide.TheAmericanPostalWorkersUnionsaysifthesecutsgothrough,you’llfeeltheeffects.“Thepublic’sgoingtohavetowaitalotlongerinlineatalotofthesepostoffices.Thephonewon’tgetanswered,andthelevelofservicethepublichasgottenusedtocoulddeclineifthesejobcutsgothrough,”saidDavidYaowiththeunion.

July25CCJDigital:SmartDriveSystemsannouncedthatPostalFleetServices,Inc.,amajormailhaulerprimarilyservicingtheUnitedStatesPostalService,hasadoptedtheSmartDrivevideo-basedsafetysystemfollowingacompetitivereviewandpilotprogram.InpilotingtheSmartDriveprograminitsSt.Louis,MOservicearea,PostalFleetServicesimproveditsSmartDriveSafetyScoreby85percentwithinafewweeks,andsuccessfullyusedvideofootagetoexoneratedriversinthreecollisions—

leadingtocostsavingsthatmorethanpaidfortheSmartDriveplatform.Theseresults,coupledwiththedrivercoachingtools,ledcompanyleaderstochoosetheSmartDriveplatformovercompetingofferings.PostalNews:ThevalueoftheU.S.PostalService’s(USPS)letterdeliveryandmailboxmonopolieswas$5.45billioninfiscalyear2015,accordingtothemostrecentestimatepreparedbythePostalRegulatoryCommission(PRC),theregulatorofUSPS.ThisfiguresuggeststhatUSPS’snetincomewoulddeclinebythisamountifitsmonopolieswereeliminated.Todeveloptheseestimates,PRCidentifiesthemailcoveredunderUSPS’smonopoliesforwhichapotentialentrantmightcompetetoprovideserviceifthemonopoliesweretobeeliminated;suchmailisreferredtoas“contestable.”PRC’sestimatedvalueofthesemonopolieshasincreasedsubstantiallyinrecentyears—itwas$3.28billioninfiscalyear2012—andPRCstaffexpectsthatthevaluewillcontinuetoincreaseinthenextfewyearsduetoincreasedvolumesofcontestablemail.NarrowingoreliminatingUSPS’sletterdeliveryandmailboxmonopolieswouldlikelyhavevariedeffects,accordingtoviewsprovidedbypostalstakeholders,experts,USPS,andPRC.FederalNewsRadio:Rep.ToddRokita(R-Ind.)finallyre-introducedlegislationthatwouldclassifyallnewfederalhiresas“at-will”employees.RokitaintroducedsimilarlegislationlastSeptember,butthebillultimatelydiedintheprevioussessionofCongress.YetthecongressmanindicatedthatheplannedtoreintroducethePromoteAccountabilityandGovernmentEfficiency(PAGE)Actduringthe115thCongress,stirringimmediateoppositionfromfederalemployeegroupsandunions.Muchofthelegislationwouldapplytofederalemployeeshiredonorafteroneyearofthebill’senactment.Eachagencywouldbeaskedtodeveloptheirownstandardsforimplementingtheprovisionsinthebill.Specifically,agencieswoulddeterminehowthey’llplantonotifyemployeesofanat-willstatus,whichseniorofficialswouldhavetheauthoritytoremoveat-willworkersfromfederalserviceandhowthey’llensurethoseemployeesaren’tfiredordisciplinedfordiscrimination.Theharshestprovisionswouldtargetnewhires,butotherprovisionsinthePAGEActwouldimpactcurrentemployeesandseniorexecutives.LaconiaDailySun:Justafewyearsago,seeingadeclineinfirst-classmailascustomersturnedtoemail,instantmessaging,andsocialmediaforregularcommunications,thepostalservicewaslookingtorestrictmaildeliverytofivedaysaweek,eliminatingSaturdaydeliveries.NowitdeliversExpressMailandpackagessevendaysaweek,althoughnotalllocationshandletheSundaymail.SteveDoherty,USPScommunicationsspecialist,saidtheinternetagehasnotonlytransformedthewaypeoplepurchaseproducts,ithasshiftedtheirmailhabits.Dohertysaid,“Yearsago,peopledidn’texpectSundaydelivery.Nowtheywantitrightaway,andwe’readapting.“Doingawaywithsix-daydeliveryandgoingtofivedayswasathoughtatonetime,butwiththisneweraofovernightpackaging,Idon’tforeseethatcomingbackupasasuggestion.Idon’tthinkthepublicwasgenerallyopposedtotheeliminationofSaturdaymaildeliveries,butwhenyouputpackagesintoit,it’sadifferentstory.Thatshiftsourdynamicawayfromthethoughtoffive-daydelivery,”Dohertysaid.

July23FreightWaves:AreportfromFoxNewsonareportpublishedbytheOfficeofSpecialCouncil,notedthatanunnamedUSPSemployeespotted“unnecessaryovertimecosts”thatwere“improperlycoordinated”withtheNationalAssociationofLetterCarriers(NALC).Nevertheless,ithighlightedthebadfinancialsituationthatUSPSisin.Inanotherreport,thistimebyFoxBusiness,USPSseemedlikeitisbleedingmoney.USPSlost$5.1billionfortheyear2016.ThefinancialcrisisisonepossiblereasonthatchassisspecialistSpartanMotorswithdrewfromtheUSPSNextGenerationDeliveryVehicleProgram(NGDV)asitsbodybuilder.Thewithdrawalfueleddoubtsaboutthe$37.4milliongrantedbyUSPSincontractstoUtilimasterandothercompaniesselectedtoparticipateintheNGDVaccordingtoareportbyHeavyDutyTrucking.ThetroublesforUSPSalsoaffectthousandsoftruckingcompaniesthatrelyoncontractswiththemailcarrier.InapressreleaseannouncingthatSacramento-basedMathesonTrucking,Inc.wasoneof12companiestoberecognizedbyUSPSinitsannualawards(MathesonwontheSustainabilityExcellenceAward),itwasnotedthatsome17,000pluscompaniesparticipateinUSPS’ssupplierbaseprovidingtransportation-relatedservices.

July21EcommerceBytes:OnAugust1st,theUSPSwillbeginverifyingthatshippershavepaidthecorrectamountforpostagepurchasedonlineforpackagestheysendthroughthePostalServiceandwillbillthemortheirvendorifpostageisdue.TheAutomatedPackageVerificationSystemwillrolloutonAugust1standpromisestocompensateshippersforover-paymentsaswell.TheUSPSnotifiedClickNShipcustomers,andPCpostageprovidershavebegunemailingcustomersoverthepastweekorsotoletthemknowabouttheprogram.SomesellerssaytheprogramcouldbepositiveinthatitwouldpreventunscrupuloussellersfromcheatingthePostalService.Onesellersaidtheyalwaysoverestimatedtheirpostage,sohopedthey'dreceivecreditsthroughtheprogram.Amajorareaofconcernamongsellersiswhethertheywillbeabletodisputeaclaimtheyunderpaidforapackage'spostage,whichthePostOfficecollectsthroughvendors.PostalNews:FromtheNationalAssociationofLetterCarriers:OnJuly19,theHouseBudgetCommitteereleasedandadopteditsFiscalYear2018budgetresolution,anditalsopublishedanon-bindingpolicystatement.DrawinginspirationfromtheWhiteHousebudget,proposedinMay,andfroma2010presidentialcommissionondeficitreduction,thetwodocumentstraintheirsightsonpostalandfederalemployeebenefitsandtargettheU.S.PostalServiceformassivecuts.OneofthemoretroublingproposalsintroducedbytheBudgetCommitteeisonetofoldthefinanciallyindependentU.S.PostalService,whichisan“off-budget”agency,intotheformalfederalbudget.MovingUSPSto“on-budget”statuscouldexposetheagencytoacross-the-boardspendingcutsundertheBudgetControlActof2011—betterknownas“sequestration.”SuchamovemightalsotemptmembersofCongresstopayfortheirspendingprioritiesusingPostalServicecutsthatwouldthreatenthequalityof

serviceweprovide—andperhapsevenourjobs.Anothertroublingproposalbeingfloated(actually,recycled)inthebudgetdebateistocuttherateofreturnonThriftSavingsPlan(TSP)retirementsavingsinvestedintheplan’sgovernmentsecuritiesindexfund(orGFund).FedWeek:ThePostalServiceisrevisingitspoliciesongrantingemployeesleavewithoutpayforpoliticallyrelatedpurposesthroughtheirunionsafterafindingbytheOfficeofSpecialCounselthattheagencyhadviolatedtheHatchActin2016.TheOSCmadeitsdeterminationafterthepostalIGreferredfindingsofaninvestigationintothegrantofLWOPtonearly100carriers,involvingsome2,700daysoff,belongingtotheNationalAssociationofLetterCarriersforworkonpartisancampaignsonbehalfoftheunion’sfavoredcandidates,includingpresidentialcandidateHillaryClinton.USPStoldthehearingthatinresponse,itwillexcludepoliticalactivityfromtheacceptableusesofLWOPforunionpurposes,thatitwillnotrequireorsuggestthatunionmembersbereleasedtoengageinpoliticalactivity,andthatitwillexpanditsinternalcommunicationsabouttheHatchActrestrictionsonpoliticalactivity.

July20TownHall:TheU.S.PostalServiceisinsteepdecline.Today,theU.S.PostalServicefailstomeeteventheirownwatered-downstandardsforlettermaildeliveryserviceandmanagementhasrunupover$121billionindebtandunfundedliabilities.First-Classmailservice,whicheveryAmericanrelieson,hasnotbeenfulfilledinasatisfactorymanner.Infact,USPSfailedtomeeton-timedeliverytargetsforeverysingleFirst-Classmailproduct.Additionally,accordingtothePostalService’sregulators,USPShasfailedtomeetperformancegoalsforStandardMaillettersforfiveconsecutiveyears.Despitedecliningvolumessincethedawnoftheinternetage,lettermaildeliveryremainsoneoftheirmostprofitableservices.First-Classmailcoveredcostsby$21billionlastyear.Asthesegovernment-protectedmonopolyproductscontinuetobeprofitable,therearemanydoubtsaboutthefinancialviabilityofothernewofferings.DeliveryserviceslikeAmazonpackages,flowers,andfishdeliveriesinNewYorkCityareallpartofitsrecentmarketingcampaignsandunfortunatelytheUSPSislesstransparentaboutrevenueandcostsassociatedwiththesecompetitiveproductlines.Allweknowforsureis,themoretheseservicesincreaseinvolume,themoretheirdebtincreases.GovExec:TheU.S.PostalServiceagreedtochangeitspolicythatallowedunionemployeestotakeunpaidtimeofftoengageinpoliticalactivityafteranindependentinvestigationfoundtheagencyengagedin“systemicviolations”oftheHatchActthatledtoan“institutionalbias”infavorofcertaincandidates.PostmasterGeneralMeganBrennanannouncedthechangesinaSenateHomelandSecurityandGovernmentalAffairshearingWednesday,whichfollowedaninspectorgeneral’sreportthatbroughttheissuetolight.ThatreportfoundUSPSspent$90,000onovertimetocoverforemployeeswhotooktimeofftocampaigninadvanceofthe2016election.TheOfficeofSpecialCounselfollowedupthosefindingswithareportofitsown—madepublicatWednesday’shearing—thatthePostalService’sactionshadviolatedtheHatchAct,whichbarsfederalemployeesfromengaginginpoliticalactivityinanofficialcapacity.Linns:TheUnitedStatesPostalServiceallowed97lettercarrierstoworkforHillaryClinton’spresidentialcampaignlastyearinwhatinvestigatorstoldCongresswasasystemicviolationofalawprohibitingfederalworkersfromengaginginpartisanpolitics.Theaccusation,madeataJuly19Senatehearing,drewanimmediateapologyfromPostmasterGeneralMeganJ.Brennan.ShecalledthePostalService’sviolationsoftheHatchAct“unintentional”andpromisedtoendtheabuses.Tostop“thesesystemicviolations”theOfficeofSpecialCounselsaidthePostalServiceshould“notrequire,directorsuggestthatlocalsupervisorsreleaseunionmemberstoengageinpoliticalactivity.”IturgedtheUSPStoadopta“handsoff”approachtotheunion’spoliticalactivities.ItalsosaidtheUSPSshoulddropreferencetopoliticalactivitiesbeingallowedforleavewithoutpay.WSJ:WhileJoshSandbultegetssomethingsrightabouttheU.S.PostalServicein“WhythePostOfficeGivesAmazonSpecialDelivery”(op-ed,July14),heprovidesaninaccurateandunfairaccountofthepackagedeliverysideoftheUSPS’sbusiness.Bylawourcompetitivepackageproducts,includingthosethatwedeliverforAmazon,mustcovertheircosts.Ourregulator,thePostalRegulatoryCommission(PRC),lookscarefullyatthisquestioneveryyearandhasdeterminedthattheydo.ThePRChasalsonotedthatcompetitiveproductshelpfundtheinfrastructureofthePostalService.ItisthatinfrastructurethatenablesustofulfillouruniversalserviceobligationtodelivertoeachandeveryaddressintheU.S.atanaffordablerate.ThePRChasalsoconcludedeveryyearthatproductscoveredbythelettermonopolydonotcross-subsidizethePostalService’scompetitiveproducts.Thereasonwecontinuetoattracte-commercecustomersandbusinesspartnersisbecauseourcustomersseethevalueofourpredictableservice,enhancedvisibilityandcompetitivepricing.FederalNewsRadio:Don’tlookforPostalServicelettercarriersoutonthecampaigntrailin2018.ThePostalServicewillnolongerpermitleavewithoutpayforunionpoliticalactivities,afteranOfficeofSpecialCounselHatchActinvestigationrecommendeda“handsoff”approachtotheservice’sunionpoliticalactivities.OSC’sreporthighlightedthatnotonlyarepostalunionsandemployeesallowedtomaintainpoliticalactioncommitteesandendorsecandidates,“thelaw,infact,encouragesthem,”alongwithenlistingunionmemberstohelpsupportcampaignagendaontheirowntime.WhatOSCfound,however,wasthatdespiteconcernsfromlocalsupervisorsthatthecarriersonunionofficialleavewithoutpaywouldhaveanimpactonoperations,andobjectionstothesomecarriers’release,“USPSmanagersinstructedthelocalsupervisorstoreleasealllistedcarrierssotheycouldparticipateinNALC’spoliticalactivity.”

July18

CIO:Forresterforecastsglobalmobiledeviceusagewillreachmorethan5.5billionusersby2022.PoweredbyrisingmobileadoptioninAsiaPacificandAfrica,mobilepenetrationshouldreach70percentoftheworld’spopulationinfiveyears.Thisisnearlydoublethetotalnumberofusersin2008,saysForrester.“Weexpectthenumberofglobalsmartphonesubscriberstoreach3.8billionby2022,crossingthe50percentmarkforsmartphonepenetrationbypopulationin2017andreaching66percentby2022.STLNews:FollowingreportsfromUnitedStatesPostalService(USPS)managersinMissourithattheirstaffingneedshavebeendisregarded,U.S.SenatorClaireMcCaskilliscallingforanswersonwhatUSPSwilldotomakesureitismaximizingefficiencyatpostofficesinMissouriandacrossthecountry.McCaskillservesasthetop-rankingDemocratontheHomelandSecurityandGovernmentalAffairsCommittee,whichhasoversightandlegislativeauthorityoverUSPS.InalettertoPostmasterGeneralMeganJ.Brennan,McCaskilldetailedtheconcernsthatmid-levelandseniorUSPSmanagersinMissourisharedoverinsufficientstaffingattheirpostoffices.Toooften,therearenotenoughentry-levelclerksandmailhandlers,which“add[s]toinefficienciesinthesystem[and]…cancausedirectfinancialharmtoUSPS.”McCaskillisalsoseekinganswersonifUSPSismakingcost-effectivedecisionswhenitconsidershiringfulltimeversustemporaryemployees.FoxNews:TheU.S.PostalServiceviolatedfederallawbylettingemployeesdounion-fundedworkforHillaryClinton'scampaignandotherDemocraticcandidateswhileonleavefromtheagency,accordingtoanOfficeofSpecialCounselreportobtainedbyFoxNews.TheOSCdeterminedtheUSPS"engagedinsystemicviolations"oftheHatchAct,afederallawthatlimitscertainpoliticalactivitiesoffederalemployees.Accordingtothereport,roughly97NALCmembersrequestedtheleavewithoutpaytoparticipate.TheNALC,whichendorsedClintonlastJune,compensatedthoseUSPSworkersusingtheLetterCarrierPoliticalFund,theunion’sPAC.ButUSPSPostmasterGeneralMeganBrennansaidthat“seniorpostalleadershipdidnotinanywayguideunionleadershipinselectingthecandidatesforwhomNALCemployeescouldcampaign”andthatUSPS“didnotapproveorchoosecandidatesfortheunionstosupport”or“asktheuniontoadvocateforpoliticalcandidatesonbehalfofthePostalService.”WashingtonPost:TheHousebudgetproposalreleasedTuesdaycontinuesRepublicaneffortstocutfederalemployees’compensationbymakingthempaymoreforretirementbenefits.WhiletheRepublican’s“PlanforFiscalResponsibility”didnotprovidedetails,itechoespreviousproposals,includingoneofferedbyPresidentTrumpthisyear.Heproposedincreasingindividualout-of-pocketpaymentstowardretirementby1percentagepointeachyearuntiltheyequalthegovernment’scontributionforthoseintheFederalEmployeesRetirementSystem(FERS).Overasix-yearperiod,thiswouldresultinincreasedpaymentsofabout6percent.Withnoincreaseinbenefits,thatwouldequala6percentdropinpay.UnlikeTrump’sproposals,theHouseplandoesnotmentionbasingfederalpensionsontheaverageofthehighfiveyearsofsalary,insteadofthehighthree,whichisnowthecase.Usingmoreyearsinthecalculationwouldleadtolowerpensions.WorkdayMinnesota:Federalandpostalunionmembersnationwidewillconductamasscall-intoCongressonTuesday,July18,tocampaigntosavetheirpayandpensionsfromdeepcutsproposedbyPresidentTrump.Thecutscouldcosttheworkers$149billion,theleaderofthelargestfederalworkerunionsays.Thecall-inandcampaignsarenecessarybecausetheTrumpadministrationandtheGOP-runCongressagainproposedeepcutsinfederalworkers’pay,byforcingthemtocontributeevenmoretotheirpensions,withnocorrespondingbenefitincreasesatretirement.Trumpalsodemandsmostagenciessubmitpersonnel-cuttingplansforfiscal2018,whichstartsOct.1,andbeyond.InresponsetoTrump’sschemes,unionistsfromAFGE,theTreasuryEmployees(linkisexternal),theLetterCarriers(linkisexternal),thePostalWorkers(linkisexternal),theMailHandlers-LaborersandtheMachinists(linkisexternal),amongothers,willcalltheirlawmakersonJuly18.

July17PostalNews:FromtheNationalPostalMailHandlersUnion:USPSmanagementcontinuestoimplementitsill-conceivedplanstorealignitsworkforce.Theirplansinvolvemassivebidreversionsandjobabolishmentsinalmosteverymailprocessingfacilitythroughoutthecountry.Inmostcases,managementisbasingitsstaffingneedsontheflawedFunction1SchedulerthatthePostalServiceusestodeterminestaffinglevelsatthelargemailprocessingplants.Postalmanagementcontinuestoarguethatthesereversionsand/orabolishmentsarenecessarybecauseofthecontinuingdeclineinmailvolumes.Inresponsetotheseunwarrantedattacksonthepostalworkforce,NPMHUPresidentPaulHogrogianandAPWUPresidentMarkDimondsteinsentajointlettertoPostmasterGeneralMeganBrennanprotestingthePostalService’sproposedactions.ThetwoPresidentsvowedthatbothunionswouldworktogethertocombatthePostalService’sattacksonitsemployees.

July15,2017FedSmith:LegislationhasbeenintroducedintheHousetomakethepensioninformationofretiredfederalemployeespublicinformationsubjecttotheFreedomofInformationAct(FOIA).TheTaxpayerFundedPensionDisclosureAct(H.R.3200)wasintroducedintheHousethisweekbyRonDeSantis(R-FL).InaneditorialintheWashingtonExaminer,DeSantissaidthatthecostofprovidingpensionstoretiredfederalworkersisover$100billion,yetthereiscurrentlylittletransparencytotheinformation.

July14CPI:TheConsumerPriceIndexforAllUrbanConsumers(CPI-U)wasunchangedinJuneonaseasonallyadjustedbasis,theU.S.BureauofLaborStatisticsreportedtoday.Overthelast12months,theallitemsindexrose1.6percent.TheenergyindexdeclinedagaininJune,falling1.6percent;thisoffsetanincreaseintheindexforallitemslessfoodandenergy.Allthemajor

energycomponentindexesdeclined,withthegasolineindexfalling2.8percent.ThefoodindexwasunchangedinJune,withtheindexforfoodathomedecliningslightlyasfiveofthesixmajorgrocerystorefoodgroupindexesdecreased.WallStreetJournal:TheU.S.PostalServicedeliversthecompany’sboxeswellbelowitsowncosts.Likeanaccelerantaddedtoafire,thissubsidyisspeedingupthecollapseoftraditionalretailersintheU.S.andprovidinganunfairadvantageforAmazon.In2007thePostalServiceanditsregulatordeterminedthat,ataminimum,5.5%oftheagency’sfixedcostsmustbeallocatedtopackagesandsimilarproducts.Adecadelater,around25%ofitsrevenuecomesfrompackages,buttheirshareoffixedcostshasnotkeptpace.First-classmaileffectivelysubsidizesthenationalnetwork,andthepackagesgetafreeride.AnAprilanalysisfromCitigroupestimatesthatifcostswerefairlyallocated,onaverageparcelswouldcost$1.46moretodeliver.ItisasifeveryAmazonboxcomeswithadollarortwostapledtothepackingslip—agiftcardfromUncleSam.Amazonisbigenoughtotakefulladvantageof“postalinjection,”andthathastippedthescalesintheinternetgiant’sfavor.Selecthigh-volumeshippersareabletodropoffpresortedpackagesatthelocalPostalServicedepotfor“lastmile”deliveryatcut-rateprices.Withhighvolumesandwarehousesnearthelocaldepots,Amazonenjoyslowratesunavailabletoitscompetitors.LATimes:TheU.S.PostalServicehasstoppeddeliveringmailtoaneighborhoodinGlassellParkonceconsideredamongthemostdangerousinLosAngelesafteracarrierwasnearlyshottherelastmonth,aUSPSofficialsaid.“Ourprimarygoalistoensurethesafetyofouremployeeswhileprovidingservicetoourcustomers,”spokeswomanEvelinaRamirezsaidinastatement.“Wearereviewingalloptionstocomeupwiththebestsolution.”Fornow,residentslivinginthe3300and3400blocksofDrewStreethavetotravelaboutamiletotheGlassellParkStationofficetopickuptheirmail,Ramirezsaid.

July13FoxBusiness:StateofficialsfromRhodeIsland,Virginia,Maryland,andKentuckytestifiedbeforetheHouseEnergy&CommerceCommitteeWednesdaytourgeCongresstoclosealoopholeintheGlobalPostalSystemthatisallowingdeadlysyntheticdrugstobeshippedfromabroad.KentuckySecretaryoftheJusticeandPublicSafetyCabinetJohnTilleyaskedCongresstopasstheSTOPACT—whichwasintroducedbackinFebruary—thatwillrequireallpackagestohaveelectronicsecuritydatathatwouldallowlawenforcementofficialstoscreenandstopdeadlymaterial—likefentanyl(adrug50to100timesmorepowerfulthanmorphine)andothersyntheticopioidsfromcomingintotheU.S.PostalNews:TheAmericanPostalWorkersUnionreachedatentativecollectivebargainingagreementwithSalmonCompanies,thelargestgroundtransportationsuppliertotheUnitedStatePostalService.Truckdriversfortheprivate-sectorcompanyaremembersoftheAPWUSupportServicesDivision.ThecontractcoverslocalsfromDallas,TX,Shreveport,LA,LittleRock,AR,andMemphis,TN.“Wewereabletostrengthenlanguageregardingjobbidding,bumpingrightsandseniorityclassifications.WealsooverhauledlanguageconcerningtheuseofExtra-boardsanddispatchingprocedures,”reportedSupportServicesDirectorSteveBrooks.“AnotherhighlightoftheagreementistheexpansionofauthorizedphysiciansfordrugtestingandDepartmentofTransportation(DOT)physicals,andclarificationonlanguageregardingcompany-coveredexpenses.

July12IMAG:TheInternationalMailers’AdvisoryGroup(IMAG),thepremierrepresentativeoftheU.S.internationalmailingsector,istellingoutboundinternationalmailerstoprepareforasignificantmid-Augustpriceincreasethatwasnotpartof2017budgets.ThepricechangeswillaffecttwooutboundinternationalmailproductsofferedbytheU.S.PostalService:InternationalPriorityAirmail(IPA)andInternationalSurfaceAirLift(ISAL).Botharepopularecommercemailingservicesandusedheavilybysellersontheecommerceplatforms.ThepriceincreaseisduetoachangeinthenegotiatedserviceagreementcontractsthatthePostalServicehaswithoutboundinternationalconsolidators,itsworksharepartnersthatperformonboarding,preparationandtransportationservicesforinternationalmailersandshippers.Campaigns&Elections:Eighty-sixpercentofregisteredvoterschecktheirmailboxesatleast5timesperweek,accordingtoanewlyreleasedjointpaperfromtheUnitedStatesPostalService®andtheAmericanAssociationofPoliticalConsultants(AAPC).ButhowdoAmericansinteractwiththeirmailastheysort,readandprocessit?BasedonlisteningsessionswithAAPCmemberpoliticalconsultants,weheardthemailmomentismoreimportantthanever:“Peopleareconsistentlyinundatedwithinformationinthe24-hournewscycle,”saysoneDemocraticpoliticalconsultant.“Mailcanbereallyhelpfulbecauseitisphysicalandfeelsreal.Votersslowdownandwillactuallylookatapieceofmail.”“Ourfirmfoundthattargetingwithmailismoreprecisethanwithanyotherformofmedia,”saysaRepublicanpoliticalconsultant.“Itallowsyoutogethyper-targetedwithmessages.TherecanbealotofwasteinradioandTVadvertising,thegeographictargetingisnotaspreciseasyoucanbewithmail.”WashingtonPost:Rep.RobBishopisaUtahRepublicanknownasasolidright-winger.LikemanyRepublicans,hegenerallydoesn’tgetgoodgradesonfederalworkforceissues.Butwait—whilehehasvotedagainstpositionsfavoredbyemployeegroupsonmanyissues,herecentlyledaletterfromnineRepublicansopposingfederalretirementcutsproposedbyPresidentTrump.CitingthevariouswaysTrump’sbudgetplanwouldhitfeds,despitehiscallfora1.9percentpayraise,thelettersays“ourstrongestobjectionishowtheproposalsbreakapromisetoemployeesandretireeswhohavebasedcareerplanningonlongstandingpromisedbenefitcalculations.Theyandtheirfamiliesdon’tdeservetobetreatedinthiscavaliermanner.”STLToday:Fentanylandcarfentanilhavebeenidentifiedascomingmainlyfromoverseas,particularlyfromfactoriesinChina.Butdespitetheirveryrealnationalsecuritythreat(carfentanilhasbeenusedasachemicalweapon),traffickerscaneasilysenddrugsandingredientsundetectedbylawenforcementthroughthemail,duetoaloopholeintheglobalpostalsystem.

WhilepackagessentthroughprivatecarriersrequireelectronicdatathathelpsCustomsandBorderProtectiontargetspecificdangerousshipments,foreignpostalservicesarenotrequiredtoincludethisdata.Fortunately,lawmakershavemadesomeprogresstowardclosingthissecuritygapandcuttingofftheflowofthedeadlyopioids.ThebipartisanSyntheticsTraffickingandOverdosePreventionActissteadilygainingsupport,with18co-sponsorsintheU.S.Senateandover180intheHouseofRepresentatives,includingMissouriansRep.AnnWagner,EmanuelCleaverII,SamGraves,BillyLongandJasonSmith.ThisbillwouldrequiresecuritydataforallpackagesshippedtotheUnitedStates,placingthesamestandardsonforeignpostalservicesasprivatecarriersandensuringthatlawenforcementhasthebesttoolsatitsdisposaltoscreenandstopdangerousmaterial.HeatStreet:TheUnitedStatesPostalServicehasbeenonthebrinkofcompletebankruptcyfornearlytwodecades,butthatdidn’tstopitfrompayingout$90,000tocoverforpaidemployeeswhotooktimeofftocampaignforHillaryClinton.AccordingtoanInspectorGeneral’sreport,100USPSworkerstookextendedleavesofabsencetohitthecampaigntrailonbehalfofthepostalunion—theNationalAssociationofLetterCarriers.Theunion,whichhadbythenendorsedHillaryClinton,usedthesesamepostalworkerstosupplementtheirgrassrootspoliticaloperationsinswingstates.Technically,postalworkersareallowedtotakeunpaidholidaysinordertohelptheunion,butgovernmentemployeesaren’tsupposedtoactivelycampaignforacandidate.TheInspectorGeneraliscurrentlyinvestigatingwhetherthepostalworkerswhotooktimeoffviolatedthatprecept.

July11CNBC:Amazon'sthirdannualPrimeDayhasanewpiecetoitsshippingpuzzle:airplanes.ThenewPrimeAirfleetwillhelpdelivertheEchodevices,flat-screenTVsandcountlessothermarked-downgoodsexpectedtolureconsumers'dollarswiththeeasyswipeofatab.The30-hourBlackFriday-likesaleseventismarketedtoPrimemembers,meaningthemillionsofprojectedshipmentsdestinedfordoorstepswillhavetwodaysorlesstogetthere.EnterPrimeAir—theaircargoserviceAmazonofficiallyintroducedlastsummer.Traditionalcargoflightstypicallyinvolvehubstops;flyingpointtopointmeansflyingdirecttoafinaldistributionareafromwhereashipmentwilldepartonavehicleontheso-calledlastmileofdeliverytoaresidence.Thedirectoptioncanshave12to15hoursoffofacross-countryjourney—acrucialreductionwhentheturnaroundisatight48hoursorless.PIWorld:TheROIthatcanbeachievedfrompersonalizedandtargeteddirectmailsentthroughtheU.S.postalstreamisundeniable.AddtothatinnovativemobileandothertechnologyapplicationslikeAR,QR,NFC,snaptags,watermarks,direct-to-digital,tactileandsensorydirectmail,video-in-printandeventheadditionofcolortotraditionaltransactionalbillsandstatementsandtheresponseratesandrecipientinteractivitysoarevenhigher.That’swhysmartmarketersoftenrelyondirectmailasakeysparktohelpthemelectrifytheiromnichannelcampaigns.Recognizinghowthecombinationofdigitaltechnologiesandprintamplifiesthepowerofdirectmail,theU.S.PostalService(USPS)iscommittedtodemonstratinghowdirectmailcontinuestobearelevantpartofthemarketingmixandhowitoffersgreatervalue.TheUSPSdoesso,inpart,throughanannualMailingPromotionsprogramthatencouragesmarketers,brandmanagersanddirectmailerstoadoptandinvestintechnologiesthatenhancehowconsumersinteractandengagewithmail.Anotherprogramhasbeenthecreationoftheirresistiblemail.comwebsiteandacompanionsamplebookfeaturingpracticalsamplesthatharnessanarrayofvirtualandaugmentedrealtyexperiences,andthelatestinsensoryprintingtechniques.GovExec:TheU.S.PostalServicespent$90,000onovertimetocoverforemployeeswhotooktimeofftocampaigninadvanceofthe2016election,accordingtoanewreport.Unionizedpostalworkersareallowedtotakeunpaidleavetoengageinofficialactivitiesonbehalfoftheirlaborgroups,accordingtotheUSPSinspectorgeneral,buttheagencydidnotfollowproperprotocolstoensureitshouldhavegrantedthetimeoff.Ninety-sevenlettercarriersacrossthecountrytookleavewithoutpayto“participateinpoliticalactivitiesonbehalfof”theNationalAssociationofLetterCarriersinthemonthsleadinguptotheNovemberelection.Headquartersdidnotcoordinatetheleaverequestswiththeproperstafftoensurethattheemployeestakingoffwouldnotbedisruptivetolocaloperations.

July10InsiderLouisville:ThethirdannualPrimeDayisTuesday,July11,but30hoursofsalesforthoseAmazonPrimemembers(whotypicallypay$99ayear)begintonightat9,thecompanysaidinitsprimer“GetthemostoutofPrimeDay.”EventhoughAmazondoesnotseemtohaveitscleverAmazonLockersintheLouisvilleareayet,therearewaystosecureyourshipments.Ifyouknowyou’llbeatwork,havethepackageshippedthere,ortoyourneighbororafamilymemberwhocansecurethepackageforyou.Amazonsuggeststrackingyourpackagetoknowwhenitshippedandwhenitwasdelivered.OnehandyservicetheUnitedStatesPostalServiceoffersisUSPSPackageIntercept,forcustomerswhoknowtheywon’tbehomefordelivery.Forafeepriortodelivery,mostdomesticshipmentscanbererouted.YoucanalsohavetheitemheldatyourpostofficebranchusingtheRequestHoldMailservice,whichisgreatifyouareawayforafewdaysonvacation.Or,ifyouplantoorderonlineroutinely,thePostalServicesuggestsyourentaPostOfficeBox.

July7TownHall:TheU.S.PostalServiceisaniconicinstitution–basedintheConstitutionandolderthanthecountryitself–that’severybitasrelevanttodayasever.ItprovidesAmericansandtheirbusinesseswiththeindustrialworld’smost-affordabledeliverynetworkwhileservingasthecenterpieceofthe$1.3trillionnationalmailingindustry,whichemploys7millionAmericansintheprivatesector.Andyet,agooddealofmisinformationcirculatesaboutthePostalService’sfinancialsituation

and,byextension,aboutpostallegislation.Afterall,ifyouareledtobelievethatUSPSisawashinredinkbecausebusinessisdwindling,thatwouldsuggestonetypeoflegislativeresponse.If,however,yourealizethatthebusinessmodelissolidbutthatflawedpublicpolicyneedsfixing,it’seasiertounderstandwhysomelegislativeadjustmentsareneeded–withoutbreakingwhatworks.

July6USAToday:LanceArmstrong’slongtimeagentandbusinesspartnerhaveagreedtopay$158,000togetoutofa$100millionfederallawsuitscheduledtogototrialagainstArmstronginNovember.TheagreementwaspartofadealwithformercyclistFloydLandis,whosuedthemandArmstrongonbehalfoftheUnitedStatesgovernmentin2010.TheirdismissalclearsthedeckforLandisandthefederalgovernmenttogoafterArmstrongaloneintheupcomingtrialinWashington,D.C.ThegovernmentissuingArmstrongonbehalfofthePostalService,allegingthatArmstrong’scyclingteamviolateditssponsorshipcontractwiththePostalServicebyusingperformance-enhancingdrugsandbloodtransfusionstocheatinraces.ItarguesthePostalServicewouldnothavepaidthecyclingteamifithadknownaboutthedopingandsaysthatArmstrongconcealedtheviolationstokeepgettingpaid,effectivelycausingfalseclaimstobesubmittedtothegovernment.Post&Parcel:TheInternationalPostCorporation(IPC)announcedtoday(6July)thatpreliminary2016resultsshowtheglobalpostalindustrygrowby1.3%,despitechallengingmarketconditionsandongoingdeclinesinmailvolumes.Increasingparcelsandexpressvolumes–especiallyB2Ce-commerceitems–supportedrevenuegrowthformanyposts,addedIPC,andrevenuediversificationcontinuedacrosstheindustryandremainsakeydriverforgrowth.Whilemailvolumesdeclinedacrossmostmarkets,maildivisionsremainedprofitableonaverageaspostsfurtherstreamlinedmailoperationsandincreasedefficiency.Postsalsocontinuedtoexpandtheirparcelnetworkstocapitalizeonthegrowthine-commerceandimprovecustomerconvenience.

July5Post&Parcel:Birmingham-baseddirectmailfulfilmentandprintmanagementservicesprovider,bakergoodchild,hasrespondedtoindustryreportsthattargeteddirectmailmaterialvolumesareontheincrease,statingthatstrategicprintdoesappeartobeontherise,asmarketersincreasinglyareturningtoprinttogettheirmessagesacross.Althoughprintvolumesarenotreturningtothehighsofpreviousyears,bakergoodchildhasrevealedthatprintandpromotionalmaterialareincreasinglybeingusedmoreaseffectivecommunicationtoolsfordirectmailcross-mediamarketingcampaigns,thatalsoincludetheuseofdigitalmediaasacomplementarytool.

July2PostalEmployeeNetwork:USPS–Onceagain,BrianMcNicollmisleadsreadersofTownhall.comabouteffortstoreturntheU.S.PostalServicetofinancialstability.Surprisingly,theconservativecommentatortakesissuewithabillthatwouldcutbillionsofdollarsinfederalspendingandrequireafederalentitytofollowprivate-sectorbestpractices.ContrarytowhatMr.McNicollwouldhaveyoubelieve,thePostalAccountabilityandEnhancementActof2006didnotgivethePostalService“realcontrol”overitsfate.Forinstance,the2006lawcreatedanausterepricecapthatrestrictedthePostalService’sabilitytoadjustpricesofproductsthatgenerateover70percentofourrevenue.ThecurrentcapdoesnottakechangesinPostalServicevolumesandcostsintoaccount,andhenceiswhollyunsuitabletoensuringthePostalService’scontinuedabilitytoprovidepromptandreliableuniversalservicesinaself-sufficientmanner.Withoutlegislativeandregulatoryreform,ournetlosseswillcontinueandourfinancialpositionwillworsen—threateningourabilitytomeetAmerica’sevolvingmailingandshippingneeds.It’salsoimportanttounderstandthatthePostalServicedidnotchooseitscurrentpensionandhealthcaresystems—theyaretheresultofafederalstatute.Becauseofdecliningmailvolumes,thecurrentpensionandhealthcaresystemsanduniquepre-fundingrequirementsimposedbyCongressareunaffordable,andthat’sthereasonthePostalServicehasdefaultedonthehugeprefundingpayments.SWTimes:ByacquiringWholeFoods,Amazonisbuyingnotjustanestablished,upscalesupermarketbrand,butalsoavastdistributionnetworkofwarehousesandmorethan460storesworldwide—repletewithbackroomsandcoldstorage—insomeofthemostaffluentZIPcodesinAmerica.That’sasignificantboostinnumbersfortheSeattlecompany,whichcurrentlyoperatesfewerthan100distributioncentersintheU.S.Morehubsmeanquickerandfresherdelivery,whichwillbolsterAmazon’sexistinggrocerydeliveryservice,AmazonFresh.WhilethebidforWholeFoodsmaynotbridgeAmazon’s“lastmile,”itcertainlybringsitcloser,expertssay.Thedealcouldalsomakecompetingdeliveryservicessuperfluous.WhypayforfooddeliveryelsewhereifAmazonischeaperandeasier?Tothatend,AmazonisencroachingonterritorylongdominatedbythelikesofUPS,FedExandtheU.S.PostalService.Inthepasttwoyears,ithasleased20Boeing767aircargojetsfromAtlasAirWorldwideHoldings,wonshippinglicensesthatallowsittopayforcontainersatwholesaleratesandrentthemoutformoreexpensiveretailrates,andaddedthousandsoflong-haultrucksemblazonedwiththeAmazonlogo.MontgomeryHerald:Likemostmonopolies,theU.S.PostalServiceisn’tinterestedinchangingitsbusinessmodel.Anenterprisehemorrhagingcashinafreemarketwouldcutprices,improveservice,lookfornewrevenuestreams,orsimplycloseitsdoors.TheUSPSsolution,asusual,istoraisepricesandhopeforthebest.Alternativeproposal:Let’sputitoutofitsmisery.TheServicepostedlossesof$562millioninthefirstquarterof2017,theAssociatedPressreports.ThisyearwilllikelybringtheService’ssixthstraightannualoperatingloss.Whileitspackagedeliveryrevenueshavegrown,theareasinwhichitenjoysamonopoly—“firstclass”(letter)mailand“marketing”(junkmail)—areindeclinethankstotheascendanceofemail

andotherInternettechnologies.Intruth,we’veknownfornearly175yearsthattheService’sgovernment-grantedmonopolyisallthatkeepsitafloat.Itspricesdon’treflectthemarketvalueofitsservices.TheOutlet:TheOccupationalSafetyandHealthAdministration,orOSHA,haslongrequiredemployersinthe29statesunderitsjurisdictiontoreportwhenaworkerdiesonthejob.Butin2015,theagencybeganrequiringemployerstoreportwhenworkersget“severelyinjured”tobetteridentifydangerousworkplacesandpreventfutureincidents.Fromthebeginningof2015throughtheendof2016,theUnitedStatesPostalServicereported395severeinjuries,themostofanyemployer.BehinditwasWalmart,with155severeinjuriesandtheUnitedParcelServicewith136.Nootheremployerduringthattimeperiodhadmorethan75.ThehighnumberscanbepartlyexplainedbytheUSPS’sgargantuanworkforce.Afterall,thePostalServiceisoneofAmerica’slargestemployerswithroughly640,000employees.AnotherpossiblecontributingfactorinthehighinjuryratesisthefactthatthePostalServicehashadasurgeofnewhiresinrecentyears.InastatementprovidedtoTheOutline,theUSPSmaintainsthatworkersafetyisoftheutmostimportancetotheorganization.

InternationalNewsJuly31PAKISTAN:DailyTimes:Senate'sStandingCommitteeonCommunicationsonFridayexpressedconcernoverthenon-implementationofitsrecommendationsforintroducingreformsinthepostofficesofthecountry.CommitteeChairmanSenatorDaudKhanAchakzaisaidthatthecommitteehadbeensendingrecommendationsregardingreformsinthepostofficesforthelastfouryears.ThecommitteestatedthatthePostalServicesDepartmenthadbeengivensevenmonthsforcomputerisingitsoffices.ThePostalServicesDGtoldthemeetingthattheinstitutionhadreceivedaverylowbudgetthisyear.PORTUGAL:TechExplore:AwarmmealwasquicklydeliveredbyadronefromanESAbusinessincubatorstart-uptothelastinhabitantinaremotevillageinPortugal."Evenifthevillageisnotfaraway,ittakesadriverbycaroverhalfanhourtodeliverthemealtoJoaquimReisinPodentinhosandcomebackduetobadandunpavedroads.Ourdronearrivedinjustthreeminutes,withouttheneedofapilot,"explainsRaphaelStanzaniofConnectRobotics,hostedatESA'sbusinessincubatorinPortugal."Oneoperatorcanhandlesixofourdronesatthesametime.Thedronetakesoffbyitself,takingcareofweather,elevationandflightroutes.Afterdroppingthepackage,itreturnsautomatically."UNITEDKINGDOM:Post&Parcel:InastatementsenttoPost&Parceltoday(31July),Mobileyesaidthatthetechnologyprovidesautomatedauralandvisualwarningstodriversinrealtimeifthey’reatriskofacollisionwithanothervehicle,pedestrianorcyclist.AccordingtoMobileye:“Unlikeothersafetysystems,Mobileyealertsadriverbeforeanincident,enablingthemtotakeavoidingaction.Thetechnologyworkson‘lastmile’deliveryvansaswellaslargervehiclesmovingbetweenhubs.”Mobileyeadded:“OneUKfleetthathadanaverageofone‘atfault’collisionpermonthintheprevious18monthsreducedtheircollisionratetozeroduringathreemonthtrialofMobileye’stechnology.”Aswellaswarningagainstimminentcollisions,Mobileyedetectsunintendedlanedeparture,speedinganddrivinganunsafedistancefromthevehicleinfront.Thesystem,whichusesbuilt-insoftwaretocontinuallyanalyseimagesfromitscameras,canbeinstalledonvansforacostofaround£600pervehicle.July29UNITEDKINGDOM:DailyRecord:ANARKSHIREresidentsareamongthemostlikelytoseetheirpostdeliveredontime.TheMLpostcodesaw93.9percentoffirst-classpostdeliveredwithinadayin2016/17.Thatwasaheadofthetarget–whichwassetat91.5percent.Anditwasalsobetterthanthepreviousyear’sfigurethatsaw92.8percentdeliveredwithin24hours.Acrossthecountry,111outof118postcodeareasreachedthetargettodeliver91.5percentoffirst-classpostontime–upfrom104in2015/16.

July28BOTSWANA:Mmegi:Theincreasingusageoftheinternetforcommunicationpurposesseemstohavereducedthevolumesofthetraditionalpostalmail,figuresreleasedbyStatisticsBotswana(SB)show.Thestatisticsshowthatthetotalvolumeofpostedparcelsdecreasedby1.3%in2015,from18,571totalparcelsdispatchedin2014to18,815parcelsin2015.Foreignreceivedparcelsdecreasedby56.3%in2015,reducingfrom7,202parcelsin2014to3,148parcelsin2015.Registereditemspostedalsodecreasedby25.1%in2015,from319,920itemsrecordedin2014to400,217itemsrecordedin2015.However,foreignregistereditemsincreasedby25.1%from19,230itemsin2014to24,057in2015.Bothdispatchedandreceivedexpressmailservice(EMS)itemsdecreasedin2015.Foreigndispatchedexpressmailitemsdecreasedby35%whileforeignreceivedEMSitemsdecreasedby6.1%comparedtothepreviousyear.

July27ESTONIA:Post&Parcel:Last-miledeliveryspecialistCleveronisattemptingtomakecommercialdronedeliveryarealitybyofferingcustomersanopportunitytoordercolddrinksdeliveredbydronesatapublicbeachinViljandi,Estonia.Cleveronpromisestofulfillordersinlessthanfiveminutesaspartofatwo-weektrialtodemonstratethesafeapplicationoflast-miledronedelivery.Thepublicdronedeliveryserviceenablesanycustomertoorderadrinkviaatextmessage,whicharethendeployedfromtheothersideofthelakeviadrone.UNITEDKINGDOM:BelfastTelegraph:RoyalMailistobuy100electricvansforpostalworkerstouseontheirdeliveryrounds.ThePeugeotPartnerElectricvehicleswillbebasedindeliveryofficesacrosstheUKfromDecember,withchargingstationsinstalledatsomesites.PaulGatti,RoyalMailfleetdirector,said:"Ourresearchhasshownthatelectricvansareagoodoperationalfitwithourbusinessandwearedelightedtobeorderingsuchalargevolumetouseinourdailyoperations.CANADA:CBC:Accordingtothefederalgovernment,therateofdisablinginjuriestopostalworkersisontherise.AspartofCanadaPost'spostaltransformationproject,mailcarriersareluggingmoreparcelsforhomedelivery.In2013,therewerefewerthanfouroutofevery100full-timepostalcontractorswithadisablinginjury.By2015,thatnumberhadshotuptomorethansevenoutofevery100—higherthananyotherfederalsector—accordingtoareportonoccupationalinjuriesamongfederalemployers.FINLAND:YLE:ThenewspaperKarjalainenreportsthatbusinessesthatwanttocontinuesendingandreceivingmailonTuesdayswillrequireaspecialzipcodeinfuture.Purchaseofthenewpostalcodewouldputfirmsback5,500euros,andtheservicewillcostupwardsof100eurosmonthlytomaintain.ThenationalpostalcarrierPostiannouncedthisweekthatitwouldsoondiscontinueTuesdaymaildeliveriesinFinlandinordertosaveonoperatingexpenses.Otheraddedchargesmaybeaddedtothis,dependentonthevolumeofdeliveriesandthesortingmethodsthatarerequired,acostthepaperestimatesatanywherebetween200to5,000eurospermonth.

INDIA:EconomicTimes:Mahindra&Mahindra(M&M)isinracefora$6billionorderfromtheUSgovernmentforpostaldeliveryvehicles,andwillsubmitoveradozenprototypesforroad-testingbetweenSeptemberandNovemberthisyearastheprocessentersitsfinalround.M&Miscompetingwithfourothercompaniesforthishigh-valuecontract.Whilethepervehiclecostisexpectedtobeover$35,000,thecompanyalsohopestogainfromthemaintenanceandrepaircontract.SINGAPORE:TodayOnline:Aftermonthsofhypeandspeculation,AmazonfinallylauncheditsservicesinSingaporeonThursday(July27).Theonlineretailgiant'sAmazonPrimeNowservicepromises“ultra-fastdeliveries”intwohoursforthousandsofitemswithaminimumspendingofS$40,orataS$5.99feeforordersbelowS$40.One-hourdeliveryisalsoavailable“inmostpostalcodesservicedbyAmazonPrimeNow”withanadditionalfeeofS$9.99,accordingtoAmazon’sSingaporewebsite.Italsostatesthatdeliveriesareavailablefrom“10amto10pm,sevendaysaweek”.

July26INDIA:NewsOnAir:Governmentwillopen81Sub-PostOfficesand100BranchPostOfficesduringthecurrentfinancialyearundertheRuralBusinessandAccesstoPostalNetworkScheme.CommunicationsMinisterManojSinhasaidthisinawrittenreplyinLokSabhatoday.MrSinhasaid,morethan99percentofthepostofficesarecomputerised.Hesaid,theDepartmentofPoststakesaction,fromtimetotime,toupgradethesystemtocatertothegrowingmarketrequirementsandtoincreaserevenueearnings.TheMinistersaidthattheincreaseorrevisionofratesofpostalproductsandservicesisanongoingexercisecarriedoutfromtimetotime.HealsosaidthereisnoproposaltoincreasetheratesofpremiumBusinessDevelopmentproductsatpresent.

July25AUSTRALIA:CulturalCaboose:OnlinebeautyandmakeupbusinessownerSerenBrussaardsaysit's'phenomenal'howmanycustomersshelosestohighshippingcostssetbyAustraliaPost.ItcomesaftertheAustraliaSmallBusinessandFamilyEnterpriseombudsmanKateCornell'sreportfoundAustraliaPostfavouredbigbusinessbeforesmallbusiness.OmbudsmanMsCarnellsaidshewaslookingatoptionstoleveltheplayingfieldforsmallbusinessesownerslikeMsBrussaardandMsCrittedon."Oneofthebiggestbarriersthatsmallbusinessesfaceonlineisthecostofsendingparcels,”shesaid."Inoneexample,amusicshopinregionalSouthAustraliawasquoted$75tosendasmallguitartoapostofficeinNorthQueensland,whileabigbusinesscompetitorwasabletoofferfreepostage.Australiapostiscurrentlytriallingnewsmallbusinessinitiatives.

July24UNITEDKINGDOM:Post&Parcel:RoyalMailistotrialanewdoorstepmailcollectionserviceforresidentialcustomersinfourpostalareasoverthenexttwomonths.ThiswillbethefirsttimethatRoyalMailpostmenandwomenhavecollectedlettersandsmallparcelsdirectfromcustomersinurbanareaswhileontheirdeliveryrounds.CustomerswillbeabletogiveFirstClassorSecondClassstampedoronlinepostagepaidlettersandsmallpacketstotheirpostmanorwomanfordeliveryinsteadoftakingthemtoapostboxorpostofficebranch.Theywillalsobeabletohandoverprepaidpostagesuchasbusinessrepliesandfreepostitems.

July21INDIA:HimalayanTimes:AmbassadorofIndiaManjeevSinghPurihandedoverachequeforanamountofINR148.37million,whichisequivalenttoRs237.39million,toDevendraKarki,secretaryattheMinistryofPhysicalInfrastructureandTransporthereonWednesday.Theamounthasbeenreleasedtowards25percentoftenderedcost,including10percentmobilisationadvance,ofthetwocontractedroadstretchesnamelyMaisthan-Gaushalabazaar-SamsiRoadandBirendrabazaar-Yadukuha-MahinathpurRoadbeingimplementedunderPostalHighwayProjectinNepalwithIndiangovernment’sgrantassistanceworthRseightbillion,asperamediarelease.NEWZEALAND:Stuff.NZ:Moveasidemobilityscooters,adifferentkindofelectricvehiclecouldsoonbehittingfootpathsinMarlboroughasNewZealandPostrollsoutitsnewdeliveryfleet.Thestate-ownedenterpriseisworkingwiththecouncilonalegalagreementtoallowittousethedistinctiveredbuggies,knownasPaxsters,inBlenheim.Thevehicles,designedandmanufacturedinNorway,arealreadyinuseinseveralcentresacrossthecountryfollowingasuccessfultrialinNewPlymouthin2015.UNITEDKINGDOM:Post&Parcel:UK-basedpostaloperatorWhistlhasofficiallyopeneditsnewsuperdepotlocatedontheLogisticsNorthdevelopmentinBolton,NorthWestEngland.TheBoltonhubhasconsolidatedoperationsfromLeedsandWarringtonandisabletoexpanditscapacitybymorethan30%toaccommodatefuturemail,packetandparcelbusiness.ThemovetoBoltonwillhelpimprovetheoperationalefficiencyofWhistlasthebuildinghasfourlevelaccessdoors,20docklevelers,50trailerparkingspaces,31loadingpositionsand222carparkingspaces.Thecompanyexpectstocreate500jobsatthesiteandhasbeenworkingwithBoltonCounciltorecruitpeople.UNITEDKINGDOM:Post&Parcel:RoyalMailtradingfiguresforthelastthreemonthshaveshowna1%increaseinrevenueforthegroup,whichhasbeenpredominantlyattributedtoGLSanda3%riseinparcelrevenue.RoyalMail’sothercoredivision,UKPIL,suffereda1%decreaseinoverallrevenueanda4%declineinletterrevenue.Parcelvolumeswereup5%overall,withagoodperformanceinRoyalMail’strackedserviceswhichsawstrongvolumegrowthof39%.Addressedlettervolumesdecreasedby6%butbenefittedfromcertainmailingsassociatedwiththe2017GeneralElection,whichhada1%positiveimpactontheoverallfigure.

July20DENMARK:TheLocal:Postnord,thecompanyresponsiblefordistributionofDenmark’spost,hasdoubleditslossesduringthefirsthalfof2017.Thecompany,whichhas60percentSwedishand40percentDanishownership,lost748millionSwedishkronor(78millioneuros)duringthefirsthaldof2017,morethandoubletheamount304millionSwedishkronor(32millioneuros)lossfromthesameperiodlastyear.Turnoverforthecompanyhasdroppedbytenpercentto4.3millionSwedishkronor(450,000euros)duringthefirsthalfof2017,accordingtoDR’sreport.Postnordcitesdigitalisation,withbothprivatecustomersandbusinessesturningtoemailandDenmark’ssecuredigitalmailsystemEboks,asthebasisforthedecreaseinturnover.Inadditiontothedeclineinmail,Postnordstillemploysseveralthousandnumbersofcivilservantswhoareverydifficulttolayoff,reportsDR.

July19IRELAND:BreakingNews:TheGovernmenthasbeenwarnedthatmorepostofficeswillclosearoundthecountry,becausepostmasterscannotmakealivingfromthebusiness.PostmastersareholdingaprotestoutsidetheDepartmentofCommunicationsatnoontodayseekingtheinvolvementoftheMinisterintheirstalledtalkswithAnPost.TheUnionpulledoutoftalksbecauseitsaysanewcontractonofferfromthecompanywillseethemlosingearnings.NIGERIA:WorldStageGroup:TheNigerianPostalService(NIPOST)hasresolvedtotapintothemoneyremittancesbusinessasNigerianmigrantworkersaresaidtoberemittingbetween$23and$24billionintothecountryannually.PostMaster-GeneralofNIPOST,AdebisiAdegbuyiwhorevealedthisinIlorinonTuesdayafterhisvisittotheservice’sfacilities,said“wearegoingtostartfinancialservices.WestandtomakealotofmoneyfromremittancesinAfrica.Ourmigrantworkersalloverremithomebetween23and23billionDollarseveryyear.UNITEDKINGDOM:ThisisMoney:EventheslewofpostsentduringtheUK'sgeneralelectionwasnotenoughtohaltthedeclineofRoyalMail'slettersbusiness.Theprivatisedpostalservicesaidvolumesofofficialletterspushedthroughletterboxesforlocalauthoritiesandgovernmentbodiesonlyputa1percentdentintherateofdecline,whichwasstill6percent.Thisdidnotincludepostsenttovotersbypoliticalparties,atradingupdateforthethreemonthstoJune25saidyesterday.

July18BULGARIA:Seenews:OnlinecommerceinBulgariahasexpandedby14%in2016,aheadoftheaveragegrowthrateof12%recordedinEuropeinthesameyear,thecountry'sdeputyministeroftransport,informationtechnologyandcommunications,DimitarGenovski,said.Thedynamicgrowthofe-commerceinrecentyearsisasignificantfactorforthepostalsector,accordingtoGenovski.In2016,thetotalnumberofconsignmentsandservicesprovidedbypostaloperatorsinBulgariaroseto184million,anincreaseof5%comparedto2015,Genovskisaid.INDIA:IndianExpress:Snailmailisinthethroesofrapid,fundamentalandwidespreadchange.Withtheintroductionofothermeansofcommunication,thepostaldepartment’sgrowthhas,contrarytopopularperception,notquitebeenstalled.Farfromit.Apeekintothechangesthedepartmenthasundergoneinthelasttwodecadesrevealsthatithaskeptpacewiththechangingtimes—embracingtechnology,introducinginnovation.Theadoptionoftechnologyhasresultedinadropinthenumberofpostofficesaswellasstaffstrength,thoughnotdrastically.IRELAND:TheLiberal:TherewasgoodnewsforonlineshopperstodayasAnPostunveileditsnewpostalservicethatwillallowconsumerstoavailofproductsfromtheUKandtheUSmoreeasily.ThenewservicenamedAddressPalwillgivecustomersaproxyaddressforonlinedeliverythatisusuallyrestrictedincountriessuchastheUKandtheUS.AnPostsaythenewservicewillnowallowIrishconsumerstoavailofproductstheywereunabletogettheirhandsoninthepastduetoleadingwebsitesrestrictionsonpostage.Thenewservicewillcostfromaslittleas€3.75to€53.99dependingontheweightoftheitemanditslocation.SINGAPORE:StraitTimes:TheformerboardofdirectorsofSingaporePostdidnotfullyconsidercertainkeyrisksbeforesigningoffonthepostalserviceprovider'slargestacquisition,anindependentreviewhasfound.Inparticular,informationrelatingtocertainkeyrisksidentifiedinthecourseofduediligenceandthevaluationofTradeGlobal-theloss-makingUnitedStatese-commercebusinessthatSingPostacquiredforUS$168.5million(S$236million)inOctober2015-wasnotraisedtotheboardbeforeitapprovedtheacquisition,areportfromSingPost'slegalcounselhasfound.UNITEDKINGDOM:Yahoo:Election-relatedlettersandgrowthfromitscontinentalEuropeanparcelbusinesshelpedBritain'sRoyalMailtoekeouta1percentgaininfirst-quarterrevenue,theresilienceboostingitsshares.Afteryearsofunderinvestment,theformermonopolywasprivatisedin2013andhassincereducedlayersofmanagement,upgradedtechnologyandcutitspropertybill.However,thecompanywasleftstrugglinglastyearasitsdomesticparcelsbusinessfacedstiffcompetitionandasuncertaintyfollowingBritain'svotetoleavetheEuropeanUnionworsenedtherateofdeclineinitslettersbusiness.RoyalMailhasbeenbulkingupitsGLSdeliverybusiness,asithasforecastcontinuedchallengingconditionsinBritainandnowfacesanuphillbattlenegotiatingpensionarrangementswithsomeofthecountry'slargestunions.UNITEDKINGDOM:Post&Parcel:DHLSupplyChainhasstartedworktoday(18July)onanew150,000sq.ftcross-dockfacilityatAvonmouthwhichisscheduledtobecompletedinJanuary.ThenewsiteisanextensionofDHL’sexistingcapabilitiesatAvonmouthandrepresentsatotalinvestmentof€24.75m.Itwillbringincreasedcapabilityforcustomersthatrequireacleanretail/foodgradeenvironmentandwillconsistofa30,000sq.ft.tri-temperaturecontrolledcross-dockchamberandanambientcross-dockchamberofapproximately110,000sq.ft.TheAvonmouthfacilitywillalsosupport

deliveryintoBristolandBathcitycentresusingall-electricvehiclesandthecollectionanddisposalofrecyclableproductsandmanagementofwaste.UNIVERSALPOSTALUNION:NewVision:Ugandawillhostafive-daymeetingoftheEastAfricanCommunicationsOrganisation(EACO)Congress,startingJuly24.AccordingtoastatementfromtheUgandaCommunicationsCommission,datedJuly14,2017,themeetingwithabout300participantsexpectedtoattend,willbeheldattheSilverSpringsHotelinthecitysuburbofBugolobi.PrimeMinisterRuhakanaRugunda,isexpectedtoofficiateattheopeningceremony.Thestakeholdersareexpectedtodeliberateonthefast-pacedtechnologicaldevelopmentsandhowitcanbenefitthemasses.

July17VIETNAM:Post&Parcel:DHLeCommercehaslauncheditsnationwidedomesticdeliveryoperationsinVietnam.Inastatementissuedtoday(17July),DHLsaidthatthedomesticdeliverynetworkwillofferarangeofservices“tailored”forthee-commercesector.CharlesBrewer,CEO,DHLeCommerce,commented:“TheVietnamesee-commercemarketrepresentsahugeandrelativelyuntappedpotentialforlocalretailers,e-tailersandmarketplaces:in2016,totale-commercespendinghitUS$1billiondespitebarelyover50%ofthepopulationbeingonline.“Withe-commercespendingexpectedtogrowataround23%peryearbetweennowand2020,locale-tailersneedscalable,high-qualitylogisticssolutionswithnationwidecoveragemorethaneverbefore.”“Only15%ofVietnam’se-commerceshopperspaidonlinein2016,makingcashondeliveryamust-havefeaturefore-commercetosucceed.That,combinedwithconcernsaboutthehassleofreturnsandrefunds,hasmadegrowthanuphillbattleformanylocale-tailers,”saidThomasHarris,ManagingDirector,DHLeCommerceVietnam.NETHERLANDS:Post&Parcel:PrimeVisionandUnmannedLifehaveperformedalivedemonstrationoftheir“AutonomousSorting”solutiontoaninvitedaudienceatZoetermeer,TheNetherlands.Theproof-of-conceptdemonstration,whichtookplaceinanemptywarehouselastTuesday(11July),aimedtoshowhowasortingcentrecanberunusingautonomousroboticunmannedvehicles(UVs).Thetwocompaniesareworkingtogethertodevelopthesolutionforthebroadermailandparcelindustry.AccordingtoPrimeVision:“This‘pop-up’sortingcentrecanbedeployedinanybuildinginlessthanaday.TheseUV’sor‘Rovers’asPrimeVisionliketocallthem,requirenootherequipmentorexistingplanttooperateandaresafetoworkalongsidehumanworkers.Thesystemcanbescaledupordownandroverscanevenbedispatchedtootherlocationsdependingonthedaysrequirements.”UNITEDKINGDOM:IsleofMan:DelegateswhoattendedtheSmallEuropeanPostalAdministrationCooperations’(Sepac)conference,hostedbyIsleofManPostOffice,arehailingitahugesuccess.Lastweekmorethan14delegatesrepresentingsmallpostaladministrationsfromaroundEuropeincludingAland,Malta,Luxembourg,FaroeIslands,ChannelIslands,GibraltarandtheVaticanvisitedtheIslandforatwo-dayforumheldattheSeftonHotel,Douglas.TheforumwasbyinvitationonlyandallowsSepacmemberstoshareexperiencesandgainknowledgefromtheircounterpartsfromacrossEurope.Themembersmeetonceayeartodiscusstopicalissuesandchallengesaseachpostaladministrationconsidershowtheindustrywilldevelopinthefuture.

July16CANADA:ChronicalJournal:ThetimehascometobringCanadaPostintothebankingbusiness.Withthebigsixinbankingscramblingtoknowwheretheirnextbilliondollarsiscomingfrom,theycontinuetocutjobsandservices,particularlyinsmall,ruralcommunities.Itmightbepossibletodemandthatbankscontinuetoprovidein-personservicetosmallcommunitiesbutit’snotnecessary.Postalbankingisarealisticoption.Themandateofthebanksistomakeasmuchmoneyaspossible.Themandateofapostalbankwouldbebroaderandmoresociallyoriented.PostalbankingcanplayameaningfulroleinbuildingandmaintainingthequalityoflifeinCanada.AnotherimportantbenefitofpostalbankingistheboostitwouldgivetoastrugglingCanadaPost.Itwouldcreateanewsourceofincomeforthepostofficewhichwouldthenassistinmaintainingotherdesiredservicessuchasdoor-to-doordelivery.TUNISIA:Post&Parcel:TheUniversalPostalUnion(UPU)andTunisiahavesignedanagreementforthedevelopmentofe-commerceinthecountryundertheEcom@Africaprojectinitiative.Inastatementissuedyesterday(13July),theUPUsaid:“ThecooperationagreementformalizescommitmenttoimplementtheEcom@AfricaTunisianplatform.ExpertsfromtheUPUandTunisiahaveforthepastmonthsbeensettingupsuitabletechnicalandoperationalstructuresthatwillenabletherolloutoftheproject.”TheUPUlaunchedtheEcom@AfricainitiativetoassistAfricancountriesdevelopandfacilitateonlinetradeusingthepostalnetwork.

July15NIGERIA:GuardianNG:TheSenatehasbegunmovestocarryoutcomprehensivereformsinthecountry’spostalindustryandmakeitmoreeconomicallybeneficial.ThePostalSectorReformBill,whichhasreachedanadvancedstage,establishesthePostalServiceCommissionasthenewregulatoryauthorityinthesectorinplaceoftheNigeriaPostalService(NIPOST).ChairmanofSenateCommitteeonCommunications,GilbertNnaji,whoconfirmedthisyesterday,lamentedwhatheobservedas“theerosionofpublicconfidenceinthecountry’spostalsystem,”pointingoutthatthewaningconfidencewasonaccountoftheinabilityofNIPOSTtodeliveronvirtuallyallstatutoryobligations,includingbasicandcorepostalservices.

July14UNITEDKINGDOM:FT:ThemaintradeunionatRoyalMailhasrepeateditsoppositiontoaproposednewpensionarrangement,increasingthepossibilityofafirstnationwidestrikesincethepostaloperatorwasprivatisedfouryearsago.The

defiantstancefromtheCommunicationWorkers’UnioncameasanotherunionrepresentingmanagersatRoyalMailsaiditwouldseekoutitsmembers’viewsonwhatitcalled“thebestachievable[offer]inthecircumstances”.TheimpassesetsupasummerofcrunchnegotiationsbetweentheCWUandRoyalMail,whoarealsointhemiddleofpaytalks.SolvingtheissuepeaceablyisoneofthebiggestchallengesfacingchiefexecutiveMoyaGreene,whoisleadingamodernisationofthe500-year-oldorganisation.UNITEDKINGDOM:Post&Parcel:RoyalMailwillberunninganonlinepricetrialforsecondclassmediumparcelsbetween2kgand5kg.Thecostofsendingasecondclassmediumparcelwillbereducedfrom£13.75to£6.29forathree-monthperiodstarting17thJuly,onlineonly.Thetrialendson16October.Inaddition,thecostofsendingsecondclassSignedFor,mediumparcelswillbe£7.29,reducedfrom£14.75.AspokespersoninformedPost&Parceltoday:“Thetrialisdesignedtotestthepopularityofthispricepointratherthanbeingatrialoftheonlinechannel.We’reofferingthistrialpricepointonlinesimplybecauseitmakesiteasierforustoexecute.”UNITEDKINGDOM:Post&Parcel:UPSissettoincreasethenumberofelectricvehiclesoperatingfromitsCamdendepotincentralLondondepotsbyalmost50%.Theproject,whichhasbeenawardedfundingof£3mtohelpimproveLondon’sairquality,willseetheCamdendepotbecomeatestbedforleadingedgetechnologyaimedatreducingthecostofchargingfreightelectricvehicles.WorkingwithUKPowerNetworks,UPSwillincreasethenumberofelectricfreightvehiclesoperatinginthefleetfrom50to70–andpavethewayforrunningmorethan150vehiclesfromthesite.UNITEDKINGDOM:Invezz:SharesinRoyalMailGrouphavefallenintotheredinLondonthismorning,asthecompanyupdatedthemarketonitspensionreview,havingwarnedthatitscurrentdefinedbenefitschemeisunaffordablebeyondnextyear.RoyalMailannouncedinastatementthismorningthatfollowingextensivetalkswithitsunions,itwasnowofferingitsemployeesachoicebetweenanewdefinedbenefitschemeandadefinedcontributionscheme.Thepostaloperatorexpectstheoverallcostoftheproposaltobefundedwithinitscurrent£400millionannualpensioncontribution.

July13IRAN:FinancialTribune:IranandVietnamaregoingtocooperateonexchangeofinternationalpostalmoneyorderthroughtheInternationalFinancialSysteminUniversalPostalUnion.IFSisastandaloneapplicationthattakescareoftheelectronictransferofinternationalmoneyorders.NIGERIA:DailyPost:TheChairman,SenateCommitteeonCommunications,SenatorGilbertNnajihasraisedfearsonregulatorycrisisiftheNigeriaPostalServicesandTelecommunications(NIPOST)wasallowedtoactasaregulatorandoperatoratthesametimeintheproposedreforms.“Iwanttostressontheimperativenessofthereform,butIwanttocautionthatanyarrangementthatallowstheNigerianPostalService,(NIPOST)toactasregulatorandoperatoratthesametimewouldposeserioussetbacktogovernmentefforts,particularlyatatimegovernmentneedsrevenuestotakethecountryoutofrecession”,hesaid.NnajisaidreformofNIPOSTwasoccasionedbythelackofdeliveryonitsstatutoryresponsibilities,notingthattheproposedestablishmentofPostalServiceCommissionandthatofNationwideToll-freeEmergencyNumberbillwouldgeneratehealthyrevenuesforthecountry.

July12AUSTRIA:EthNews:TheVienna-basedstartupfirmBitPandapublishedapressreleaseannouncingitsnewpartnershipwiththeÖsterreichischePost(Austria’sofficialpostalservice).“BitPandatogo”nowfacilitatestheexchangeofeurosforcryptocurrenciesinpostofficesalloverAustria.AsofJuly10,400postbranchesand1,300postalpartnersinAustriahaveimplementedBitPandatogo,andthecryptostartupclaimstohavefavorablepricesduetoitsabilitytosellthedigitalassetsatcost.Inaddition,freshlypurchasedcoinsneednoverification.Theywillbesentdirectlytotheintegratedwalletofthecustomer,atwhichpointtheycanbespent“freelyandinstantly.”RUSSIA:TheMoscowTimes:ThefinalchapterofDmitryStrashnov’scontroversialreignoverRussia’spostalserviceendedFridaywiththeappointmentofhissuccessor,handpickedbyRussianPrimeMinisterDmitryMedvedev.UnderStrashnov,thecompanygeneratedrecordrevenuesandprofits.Today,RussianPosthas42,000postoffices,servicing6.5millioncustomersdaily.Apartfromsellingstampsandsendingletters,thecompanyprocessesutilitypayments,cashtransfersandconsumerloans.Itevensellslottery,flightandtheatertickets.By2016,RussianPosthadsuccessfullyhandled225millioninternationalpackages—twiceasmanyas2015and10timesmorethan2012.Itsrevenuesballooned24percentto165billionrublesfrom2013to2016,withprofitssoaring72-foldto1.7billionrublesoverthesameperiod.Thecompanypaiditsmainshareholder,thefederalgovernment,adividendof913millionrubles($15million).AspartingadvicetoPodguzov,Strashnovsaidthecompanymustcontinuetomodernizeandadapttomarketdemands.ItshouldcapitalizeonRussiabeingabridgebetweenAsiaandEurope,hesaid,citingplansforaregularpostalroutebetweenBeijing,MoscowandBerlin.CANADA:CBC:SomeCanadaPostworkersonruralroutesnearOttawahavebecomesoconcernedaboutexhaustspewingintothecabsoftheiragingdeliverytrucksthatthey'vestartedcarryingcarbonmonoxidedetectors.ButCanadaPostdeniesthere'sawidespreadproblemandsaysthevehiclesarewellmaintained.TheGrummanLLVceasedproductionin1994.OriginallybuiltundercontractfortheU.S.PostalService,theright-hand-drivetrucksweresupposedtobesafer,healthierandmoreergonomicallysuitedtomaildelivery.In2010CanadaPostsignedadealwithFordCanadatosupplyreplacementvehiclesthattheCrowncorporationpromisedwouldbe"muchmoreefficientandenvironmentallyfriendly"thantheGrummans.ButtheGrummansarestillontheroad,andthenewestamongthemis23yearsold.Replacementpartsarebecomingdifficulttofind.

GERMANY:Post&Parcel:DeutschePostDHLGroupandtechnologymanufacturerWärtsilähavecompletedapilotprojecttestingmobilerobotsfromFetchRoboticsforwarehouseapplications.ThepilotwascarriedoutinWärtsilä’scentraldistributioncenterinKampen,theNetherlands,whereDHLisresponsibleforrunningthewarehouseandensuringthesmoothoperationoftheentirelogisticschain,fromorderintaketocustomerdelivery.Theautonomousmobilerobotshavealoadingcapacityof78kg(172lb)andcancoveradistanceof2m/s(4.5mph).Whenthebatterylifeofmaximumninehourscomestoanend,thefreightrobotindependentlymakesitswaytothechargingunit.Theintelligentrobotsrecognizetheirlocationandsurroundings,andcandifferentiatebetweendynamicandstaticobstacles,thusenablingevasiveactiontoworksafelywithandaroundpeople.UNITEDKINGDOM:Post&Parcel:UK-basedparcelcomparisonwebsiteParcel2GohasenteredthepostalmarketwiththenewLettersandSmallParcelsservice.AccordingtoParcel2Go,theservice-whichis“poweredbyWhistl”–willenablesmallbusinesses,onlinesellersandmicroSMEstosendtheirlettersandsmallparcelsonapay-as-you-gobasisat“significantdiscounts”.Parcel2Goaddedthattheservicewilloffer“heavilydiscountedrates(comparedtoRoyalMail2ndclassstamps)givingbusinessesahugesavingofupto35%offwhilststillhavingtheiritemsdeliveredbyalocalpostman”.Businessesusingtheservicewillbeofferedtheoptionofhavingtheiritemscollected,ordroppedoffatalocaldropshop.

July11BARBARDOS:BarbadosAdvocate:PostmasterGeneral,MargaretAshby,isurgingmembersofthepostalsectoracrosstheregiontoseethepostasbeingcriticalforthevibrancyoftheireconomies.Shesaidthiscanonlybeachievedbyembracingthefast-growingindustryofE-Commerce.PermanentSecretary(PS)intheMinistryofHomeAffairs,GayleFrancis-Vaughan,saidthataccordingtotheRegionalDevelopmentPlan2017-2020fortheCaribbeanandLatinAmericanregion,UPUhasprojectedthatparcelpostgrowthrateswillincreasebyfivepercentby2020–upfromthreepercentin2014.ShenotedthatotherresearchonE-Commercesuggestthatin2018,139.3millionpeopleinLatinAmericaareexpectedtobuygoodsandservicesonline–thisisupfrom84.7millionin2013.IRAN:Irna:PostBankofIranandVietnamPostsignedamemorandumofunderstanding(MoU)onexchanginginternationalpostalbillthroughInternationalFinancialSysteminUniversalPostalUnion.

July10COSTARICA:Post&Parcel:CorreosdeCostaRicaisrunningapilotprogramme,testingtheuseofparcellockersinstalledatAMPMandFreshMarketstores.Thepilotprogrammebeganinthreesupermarketsthismonth(July)andsourcesreportthattheplanisto“expandnationwidesoon”.SourcesatCorreosdeCostaRicasaidthattheparcellockershavebeenintroducedinresponsetothecontinuingincreaseinthevolumeofparcelsorderedbyonlineshoppers.JAPAN:Asia.Nikkea:Japan'sFinanceMinistrywillnotsellsharesinJapanPostHoldingsthissummerasoriginallyplanned,insteadoptingtowaituntilthepricerecoverstoamoreprofitablelevel.Thegovernmentlookstoreduceitsroughly80%remainingstakeinthepostalholdingcompanytoalittlemorethan30%assoonaspossible,asrequiredbyJapan'spostalprivatizationlaw.Theroughly20%stakesoldinthecompany'sNovember2015initialpublicofferingbroughtin1.4trillionyen($12.2billion).NETHERLANDS:NLTimes:TheDutchpostalserviceisinurgentneedofareassessment,MinisterHenkKampofEconomicAffairssaidonMonday.Fundamentalchoicesmustbemadetokeeppostaldeliveryaffordableandavailable.Thiscouldentaillessfrequentdeliveriesathighercosts,hesaidinastatement,NU.nlreports.RecentstudiesdoneonbehalfortheMinistryofEconomicAffairsshowthatWhatsAppisnowthenumberonemeansofcommunicationintheNetherlands.Mobilecallingandemailcameinsecondandthird.Physicalmaildroppedtosixthplace.Over60percentofrespondentscalledcommunicationbypostahassle.In2012morethanhalfcalledpostcommunicationseasy.Dutchconsumersandbusinessesnowsend35percentlesspostthanin2011.Thoughtheactualnumberofpostalitemsremainedstableataround2.9billion.Businessesaccountfor2.7billionofthesemailitems.Theunregulatedparceldeliverymarketisseeinganincrease,ontheotherhand.Everyyeararound350millionparcelsaresentandreceivedthroughthismarket,anincreaseof81percentcomparedto2011.

July7ETHIOPIA:Post&Parcel:UAEpostaloperatorAramexhasreachedaMasterFranchiseAgreementwithIndianlogisticsfirmLogixExpresstoexpanditslast-miledeliverysolutionsinEthiopia,EastAfrica.Aspartofitsbusinessexpansionstrategy,Aramexisnowpresentin23AfricancountriesandwillinaugurateanotherfiveoutletsintheEthiopiancapitalAddisAbababyAugust2017,takingthetotalnumberofoutletsinthecityto10.Aramex’soperationsinEthiopiaincludedoor-to-doordeliveryandpickup,customsclearing,freightforwardingande-services.MALAYSIA:MalaysianDigest:MalaysiahasproposedthatthecooperationofthepostalnetworkbetweencountriesintheAsia-Pacificregionbestrengthenedtosupporttherapidgrowthofthedigitaleconomy.DeputyMinisterofCommunicationsandMultimediaDatukJailaniJoharisaidthepostalnetworkwasastrategicinfrastructureandcrucialcomponentofthedigitaleconomicecosystemwhichmustbestrengthenedfromtimetotime.Atthesession,heurgedthegovernmenttotakepro-activestepstorejuvenatetheUniversalPostalServicespolicytoensurethatpostalservicescontinuedtobeintunetothebehaviouralhabitsofconsumersandfast-changingmarketdemands.

July6

JAPAN:Post&Parcel:Toyota’ssubsidiaryHinoMotorsisreportedlylookingtopartnerwithotherautomanufacturerstodevelopautonomousparceldeliveryvehicles.Inanarticlepublishedtoday(6July)byTheJapanTimes,Hino’sPresidentYoshioShimoisquotedassayingthathiscompanyislookingtoformpartnershipwithoverseasfirms,aspartoftheireffortstoaddresstheshortageofdriversforparceldeliveryservicesinJapan.TheJapanTimesalsoquotedShimoassayingthathewasconfidenttechnologicalhurdlescanbeovercometointroducedeliveryservicesusingunmannedtrucks.UNITEDKINGDOM:ECommerceNews:Parcelcompaniescouldimprovetheefficiencyoftheirdeliveryby30percentiftheyuseWhat3words,theUKstartupclaims.WithWhat3words,youdon’trefertoaddressestheusualway(“MainStreet1”),butbypinpointingexactdeliverylocationsusingauniquecombinationofthreedifferentwords.What3words,whichwontheGameChangerandRisingStarawardsattheecommerceeventDeliverlastyear,spoketodelegatesattherecentDeliver#2conferenceinBerlin.Itrevealedthatitssystemhasbeenadoptedbysevennationalpostalservicessincetheeventoflastyear.InarecenttestinLondon,on-demanddeliverycompanyQuiqupwasabletotake30percentofftheirdeliverytimewhentheyusedthe3wordaddresses.AndintheCaribbeanislandofSintMaarten,globalfast-foodgiantDominoshasalsotestedthissystem.

July5HAITI:HaitiLibre:AspartofthemodernizationandinstallationofnewpostalservicesinallofficesoftheOfficedesPostesd’Haïti(OPH)throughthenationalterritory,CarelAlexandre,theDirectorGeneraloftheOPHprocededonJune30,attheinaugurationofastandardizedreceptionstructureattheOPHTriCenterlocatedtotheNationalSocietyofIndustrialParks(SONAPI).TheSONAPIsortingcenterwillnowbeequippedwithanEMSserviceExpressMailService);Ahomedeliveryservice(extractsfromarchives,baptismalacts,marriage,etc.)andthecontinuationoftheshipmentandthereceiptofdifferentparcels.IRAN:IRNA:IranPostCompanyandChinaPostsignedamemorandumofunderstanding(MoU)onWednesdayexpectingariseincooperationonfinancialsoftwareandelectroniccommerce.TheMoUisexpectedtopromoteIran-Chinapostalcooperationwithsomestepstobetakenforlaunchingafinancialsoftware.IRELAND:LBBOnline:Ireland’snationalpostalservice,AnPost,todaylaunchesadramaticnewbrandcampaign,focusingontheirstanceagainstaturbulentworldthat’sclosingitsbordersandturninginonitself.Createdbyaward-winningDublinagency,TargetMcConnells,thecampaignheraldsanewbeginningforIreland’spostalservice.PJBrigdale,AnPostHeadofMarketingadds;“ThiscampaignmarksthebeginningofanexcitingneweraforAnPostaswesignalourintenttoaggressivelygrowourParcelsbusiness.InthecomingweeksyouwillseearangeofgreatnewAnPostproductsandservices,thatthrowstheworldwide-openforIrishshoppersandbusinesses,withhugerelevanceforyoungercustomers.Thelaunchadiscinematicandbold,it’sreallyacallingcardforAnPost’snewdirection.”

July4-HappyFourthofJulyUNITEDKINGDOM:LFPress:ThesightofaCanadaPostlettercarrierwalkingtheirroutehasalmostvanishedfromLondonstreets.AspartofanationalplanbyCanadaPost,lettercarriersatfouroffiveLondonpostaldepotsnowusesmallvanstodelivermailandparcelstohomesandcommunitymailboxes.CanadaPost’sSylvieLapointesaidtheCrowncorporationisgraduallyeliminatingwalkingroutesbyprovidingcarrierswithvans.Shesaidvansareneededtodeliverthegrowingnumberofparcelsdeliveredforonlineretailers,avaluablemarketforCanadaPostasthevolumeoftraditionallettermaildrops.

July3,2017AUSTRALIA:Post&Parcel:AustraliaPosthasannouncedthatitsemployeeshavevotedtheirapprovaloftheEBA2017enterpriseagreement,whichoffersaguaranteed6%payincreaseoverthreeyearsandprotectionofkeyexistingtermsandconditionsofemployment.Inastatementissuedtoday(30June)AustraliaPostsaidthatthevotefromits29,500Awardlevelemployeessecureda74%majorityinfavourofEBA2017.AustraliaPostalsoagreedtocontinuethecommitmentforthelifeofEBA2017tonoforcedredundanciesforanyemployeeimpactedbyreformofletters,providedtheyarelookingforanotherjobinthebusiness,andanadditional$22mtofundskillstrainingforfrontlineemployees.QATAR:MenaFN:TheinternationalshippingservicesofQatarPostarecontinuingnormallyandnotaffectedbythecurrentblockade.MaudDaniel,HeadofMarketingandCommunicationsofQatarPostwhiletalkingtoThePeninsulahassaidthat'CONNECTED,Q-Post'se-commerceservice,wasoneofcompany'sstrongestandmostappreciatedproducts.'Despitethecurrentdiplomaticcrisis,ourinternationalshippingservicecontinuestooperateanddeliverwithnointerruption,showcasingthereliabilityofthisstarproduct,sheadded.ToaquestionaboutQ-Post'srevamp,shesaidthatQatarPostwascurrentlygoingthroughamajorstructuralchangeacrossallbusinessdepartments,aimedatproviding21stcenturypostalservicestoeachcitizen'sandeachbusiness'doorstep.Inparallel,MaudsaidthatQatarPosthadalsolaunchedaQatarizationprocessaimedatbuildingastrongQatariworkforcedrivingtheNation'spostalsector.'QatarPostispartneringwiththebestorganisationsinthesectoronaglobalscaleinordertoexchangebestpractices.SinceSingPost(SingaporePost)andTurkishPostareleadersinthepostalsector,theyarenaturalplayerstoteamupwithandlearnfrom.QATAR:MenaFN:TheSmartInnovationLaboftheMinistryofTransportandCommunicationsincollaborationwithQatarPosthassuccessfullycompletedapilotprojectondronedeliverysystem.'Thepilotprojectwasasuccessandnowweareexploringpotentialroutesandassessingthemarketdemand,aidMaudDaniel,HeadofMarketingandCommunicationsofQatarPostwhiletalkingtoThePeninsula.Shesaidthatdronedeliverywasattheheartofthecurrentinnovationdebatewithinthepostalsectorglobally.'Whileitgivesastrongcompetitiveedgetopostalorganisations,theoptionofdronedelivery

isstillinatestingphasewithmajorreliability,safetyandregulatoryissuescurrentlybeingexamined.Atthisstage,thedebateisstillongoingbetweenkeyindustrystakeholders,regulatoryauthoritiesandcivilsociety,sheadded.DanielsaidthatQatarPosthadsignedaMemorandumofUnderstanding(MoU)withtheMinistryofTransportandCommunicationsaimedatdevelopinganautonomousdronedeliveryservice'changingthewaywedeliverparcelsandgoodsinQatar.UNITEDKINGDOM:CWU:RoyalMailhasrevealedthatoverthelastfiveyearstherehavebeenaround14,500dogattacksonpostmenandwomanacrosstheUK,witharound2,500inthelastyearalone.Thenumberofdogattacksonpostmenandwomenhasfallenonthepreviousyear.Thisreductioninattacksisencouragingbutitisstilltoohighat2,500ayear.Everydogattackisoneattacktoomany.Onaveragethereisstillasmanyassevenattackstakeplaceeachday,someleadingtoapermanentanddisablinginjury.

July2,2017KENYA:BusinessDailyAfrica:ThenumberoflettersKenyanssentlocallyfellbyalmosthalfinthequartertoMarch2017,highlightingthecontinueddeclineofthepostalsector.AccordingtostatisticsreleasedbytheCommunicationsAuthorityonFriday,Kenyanssent8.2millionlettersinthethreemonthstoMarch,48.3percentlowerthanthe15.9millioninthepreviousquarter.Whilethisdeclineisexpectedwiththeendoftheholidayandexaminationseason,thenumbersarestillsignificantlylowerthanthe12.9millionlettersthatweresentduringasimilarperiodlastyear.ThesetrendspointtotheurgencyofmeasuresbeingtakenbythegovernmenttofindalternativesourcesofrevenueinthesectorandtorescuetheailingPostalCorporationofKenya.Oneofthesolutionstoutedise-commerce.

Postal/IndustryNewsJuly31,2017OfficeofInspectorGeneral:UsingalltheToolsintheToolbox.BecausemailprocessingefficiencyisakeygoalfortheU.S.PostalService,it’simportantthatpostalmanagementusesallthetoolsatitsdisposal–suchastheMailProcessingVariance(MPV)model–toimproveproductivity.MPVmeasuresannualmailprocessingperformanceandefficiency,butarecentOIGauditreportindicatedthatUSPSwasnotemployingittoitsfullestextent.Inthisweek’sPushingtheEnvelopeblog,wediscussthebenefitsoftheMPVmodel.TheOIGalsowantsyouropinion:WhatideasdoyouhavetoimprovetheMPVmodel?Whatwayscouldplantmanagersimproveoperations?Tellusonourblog:https://go.usa.gov/xRQtkIndustryAlert:MailSpokenHere.TheelectronicnewslettersummarizingrecentPostalServicenewsanddevelopments.

July26,2017OfficeofInspectorGeneral:ProhibitedInboundInternationalMailings.TheUSPSOfficeofInspectorGeneralreleasedanauditreporttitledProhibitedInboundInternationalMailings.Readmorehere:https://go.usa.gov/xRQRrIndustryAlert:DiscontinuedSupportforFileTransferProtocol(FTP)*REMINDER*REMINDER:Only5weekslefttoconverttoaSecureTransmissionMethod.EffectiveAugust31,2017,theUnitedStatesPostalService(USPS)willdiscontinuesupportforFileTransferProtocol(FTP)formailerstosendand/orreceiveshippingfilesanddatathroughtheProductTracking&Reporting(PTR)system.MailersusingFTPtosendand/orreceiveshippingfilesanddatathroughPTRwillneedtosetupasecuretransmissionmethodutilizingoneofthemethodsbelow:Option1-SecureFileTransferProtocol(SFTP)-SFTPisasecureconnectivityoptionavailabletoexchangefilesusingUSPS’sSFTPserver(orifthecustomerprefers,theirownSFTPserver).WesupportSFTPloginusingKeyAuthenticationorusername/password.USPSprefersAESor3DESalgorithmsifyouchoosetoencryptyourdatausingPGP(Prettygoodprivacy).WealsosupportkeyloginusingOpenSSLkeysratherthanusername/passwordlogin.MailersmustcompletetradingpartnersetupthroughourDataTransferServices(DTS)group.Allowatleast30daystocompletethissetup.ForadditionalinformationreferPublication199,IntelligentMailPackageBarcode(IMpb)ImplementationGuideforConfirmationServicesandElectronicVerificationSystem(eVS)Mailers,Section6Communications,6.1Transmissionmethods,“SFTP”athttps://ribbs.usps.gov/intelligentmail_package/documents/tech_guides/PUB199IMPBImpGuide.pdf.Option2-ElectronicDataInterchangeInternetApplicabilityStandard2(EDIINTAS2)-ThisoptionrequiresthattheBusinessPartneruseanEDIINTAS2capablesoftwareproduct.MailersmustcompletetradingpartnersetupthroughourDataTransferServices(DTS)group.Allowatleast30daystocompletethissetup.ForadditionalinformationreferPublication199,IntelligentMailPackageBarcode(IMpb)ImplementationGuideforConfirmationServicesandElectronicVerificationSystem(eVS)Mailers,Section6-Communications,6.1Transmissionmethods,“EDIINTAS2”athttps://ribbs.usps.gov/intelligentmail_package/documents/tech_guides/PUB199IMPBImpGuide.pdf.Option3-ParcelDataExchange(PDX)-ParcelDataExchange(PDX)isawebservicesapplicationthatinterfacesbetweentheUSPS’sPTRsystemandCustomerstoprovidedatatransferservices.Customerscanusethissecuremethodtouploadmanifestfilesandreceivescaneventextractfiles.ForadditionalinformationreferthePDXOnlineuserguidesonRIBBSathttps://ribbs.usps.gov/evs/documents/tech_guides/pubs/PDXOnlineUserGuide.PDF.MailersusingaUSPScertifiedsoftwarevendororathirdpartyserviceprovider,shouldcontactthemtodeterminethesecureconnectivityoptionsavailableorconsultyourinternaltechnicalteampriortocontactingtheUSPS.PleasecontacttheUSPSConfirmationServicesTechnicalSupportTeamwiththeselectedoptionatdelivery.confirmation@usps.govor(877)264-9693.Ifcontactingviaemailpleaseprovidecontactname,title,companyname,emailaddressandphonenumber.Foradditionalinformation,referencetheFTPFactSheetpostedonPostalProathttps://postalpro.usps.com/node/3636.Inaddition:EffectiveSeptember30,2017,USPSwillnolongersupportFTPformailersenrolledinIMbTracingorInformedVisibility(IV).Migrationswillbeperformedintwosteps:First,IMbTracingcustomerswillbemigratedtoIVoncethepilotiscomplete.Thatdatewillbesharedwiththeimpacteduserswhenitisavailable.Then,IVparticipantswillalsoneedtotransitiontoSecureFTPoncetheyhavemigratedfromIMbTracing.MigrationdocumentationisavailableonbothPostalProandRIBBsunderInformedVisibility(https://postalpro.usps.com/visibility-and-tracking/informed-visibility-iv),andtheInformedVisibilityHelpDeskcanbecontactedatInformedVisibility@usps.gov.OfficeoftheInspectorGeneral:RegisteredMailRegisteredMailistheU.S.PostalService’smostsecuremethodforcustomersneedingtomailextremelyvaluableorirreplaceableitems.Whennotintransit,RegisteredMailpiecesmustbestoredinalockedsafe,room,orcageseparatedfromothermail.ThelatestOIGauditreportevaluatesUSPS’sinternalcontrolsoverRegisteredMailandidentifiespotentialimprovementsandefficiencies.Readourfindingsandrecommendationsathttps://go.usa.gov/xRRd3.FederalRegister:PostalService:MailingStandards;Revisions:LithiumBatteries,34712–34715[2017–15624][PDF]ProductChanges:PriorityMailExpress,PriorityMail,andFirst-ClassPackageServiceNegotiatedServiceAgreement,34712[2017–15620][PDF]

July24,2017IndustryAlert:WesternAreaImpactsDuetoFlooding–WisconsinandIowa.OperationshavebeentemporarilysuspendedasaresultoffloodinginthefollowingareasinWisconsinandIowa.WISCONSINTheRockSpringsPost

Office(53961)hassuspendedservices,customermayvisitNorthFreedomPostOfficeforretailserviceandtopickuptheirmail.NorthFreedomPostOffice102EWalnutSt.NorthFreedom,WI53951.Hoursofoperations:Mon-Fri,7:30a.m.to11:30a.m.,Sat.8a.m.to10a.m.,andclosedonSunday.Pleasecheckbackforupdates.IOWATheSumnerPostOffice(50674)hassuspendedservices,customermayvisiteitherFayetteorElkaderPostOfficeforservice.FayettePostOffice201EWaterSt.Fayette,IA52142Hoursofoperations:Mon-Fri,9:30a.m.to1p.m.,3p.m.to4:30p.m.,andclosedSaturdayandSunday.ElkaderPostOffice105MulberrySt.Elkader,IA52043Hoursofoperations:Mon-Fri,9:30a.m.toNoon,2:30p.m.to4p.m.,Sat9:30a.m.to11a.m.,andclosedSunday.IndustryAlert:AttentionPostalOne!®UsersProgramRegistrationRelease18.2.0.0iscompleteandtheapplicationisavailable.OfficeoftheInspectorGeneral:ThisOldPostOffice.ThepostofficeisthebusinessofficeoftheU.S.PostalServiceandoftentheonlyclose-uplookatpostaloperationsthatmanycustomersget.Ourlatestbloglooksatthemostrecentreportinaseriesofauditsexaminingtheupkeepandsafetyofpostofficebuildingsacrossthecountry.Amajorityofthepostofficelobbiesreviewedwereinneedofupkeepandrepair.Readtheblogtofindoutmore:https://go.usa.gov/xRW3R

July21,2017IndustryAlert:AttentionPostalOne!®andFASTUsers.TheUSPSwilldeployaLinuxpatchonSunday,July23,2017from4:00AMto8:00AMCT.Thiswillbearollingdeployment,howevermailersmayexperienceperiodicinterruptionsforthePostalOne!,FAST,andSASPapplications.ProgramRegistrationRelease18.2.0.0willdeployonSunday,July23,2017from12:00AMto10:00AMCT.TheProgramRegistrationapplicationwillnotbeavailableduringthistime.FederalRegister:PostalService:RulesofConduct:PostalEmployees,33806–33807[2017–15311][PDF]July20,2017OfficeoftheInspectorGeneral:MobileDeliveryDeviceProgramMobileDeliveryDevices(MDDs)arehandheldscanningtoolsusedbylettercarrierstotrackdeliveriesinreal-time.ThenewdevicesallowtheU.S.PostalServicetoprovideenhancedtrackingcapability,whichisessentialforUSPStoremaincompetitive.OIGauditorshavejustpublishedareportexaminingwhetherthePostalServicemetgoalsforperformance,savings,andcostsidentifiedinitsinitialplans.Seethefullresultsandrecommendationsintheauditreport:https://go.usa.gov/xRjvfMarketDominantBillingDeterminants:ProcessReviewBillingdeterminantsaremanuallyproducedspreadsheetsthattheU.S.PostalServiceusestotrackvolumeandrevenueforeverypriceineachmarket-dominantmailclass.USPSusesbillingdeterminantstoestimatefuturerevenue,developpricesforeachclassofmail,andensurepriceincreasesdonotexceedtheConsumerPriceIndex.AnewOIGauditreportexaminesthecurrentefficiencyoftheprocessaswellasPostalServiceresponsestopreviousaudits.Readtheresultsandrecommendationsinthefullreport:https://go.usa.gov/xRjpbIndustryAlert:DiscontinuedSupportforFileTransferProtocol(FTP)**Reminder**REMINDER:EffectiveAugust31,2017,theUnitedStatesPostalService(USPS)willdiscontinuesupportforFileTransferProtocol(FTP)formailerstosendand/orreceiveshippingfilesanddatathroughtheProductTracking&Reporting(PTR)system.MailersusingFTPtosendand/orreceiveshippingfilesanddatathroughPTRwillneedtosetupasecuretransmissionmethodutilizingoneofthemethodsprovided.

July19,2017OfficeoftheInspectorGeneral:OralStatementonUSPSActionsDuringthe2016CampaignSeason:ImplicationsfortheHatchActActingDeputyInspectorGeneralWilliamSiemer’soralstatementduringtheU.S.SenateCommitteeonHomelandSecurityandGovernmentalAffairshearingonthePostalService'sActionsDuringthe2016CampaignSeason:ImplicationsfortheHatchAct.IndustryAlert:PacificAreaPostOfficesImpactedbyCentralCaliforniaWildfire.ThePacificAreaandSacramentoDistrictarereportingtwopostofficesbeingimpactedbytheDetwillerFireinthearea.ThefirehascausedmandatoryevacuationsoftheMariposaPOat5109JessieSt,MariposaCA,95338andCatheysValleyPOat2675StateHwy140,CatheysValleyCA,95306.Atthistime,noalternativelocationsforserviceareavailable.FederalRegister:PostalService-Notices:EnvironmentalAssessments;Availability,etc.:CommercialOff-the-ShelfVehicleAcquisitions,Nationwide,33167–33168[2017–15082][PDF]ProductChanges:PriorityMailNegotiatedServiceAgreement,33168[2017–15081][PDF]

July18,2017News:BusinessWire:Gordian,theleadingprovideroffacilityandconstructioncostdata,softwareandexpertise,announcedtodayitisthewinneroftheUnitedStatesPostalService’s2016SupplierPerformanceAwardsProgram.GordianwasrecognizedforsuperiorsupplychainmanagementeffortswhichallowedthePostalServicetomoreeffectivelyachieveitsmissionofprovidingexceptionalmailservicetotheAmericanpublic.Duringthefiscalyearof2016,thePostalServiceworkedwithasupplierbaseof17,000.Toplacetheawardintocontext,Gordianisoneofonly12companiestoreceiverecognitionthisyear.FederalRegister:PostalService-Rules:ProductionorDisclosureofMaterialorInformation:AddingtheDefinitionofaRecordandClarifyingLanguageConcerningtheTimingofResponsestoRequestsandSpecificCategoriesofRecords,32766–32767[2017–14934][PDF]

July17,2017OfficeoftheInspectorGeneral:DirectMailEnhancesanIntegratedStrategy.Directmailstillhasvalueeveninachangingmarketinglandscape.Inaseriesoffocusgroupsandonlinesurveys,marketersidentifieddirectmail’sparticularvalueasitsabilitytostandoutfromthemanyadvertisementspeopleseeandheardaily.MarketingMail,whichishowdirectmailisgenerallysent,isvaluabletotheU.S.PostalService’sbottomlineaswell.Itearnedover$17billioninrevenuefortheU.S.PostalServiceinFY2016,despitedeclinessince2007.Readmoreandletusknowwhatyouthinkhttps://go.usa.gov/xNzuB

July16,2017IndustryAlert:AttentionPostalOne!®andFASTUsers:FASTRelease36.0.0.0deploymentcompleteandtheFASTsystemisavailable.

July15,2017FederalRegister:

• PostalRegulatoryCommission-CompetitiveProductList,32636–32641[2017–14865],[PDF];NewPostalProducts,32727[2017–14911],[PDF]

• PostalService-PriorityMailNegotiatedServiceAgreement,32727–32728[2017–14879],[PDF]

July14,2017FederalRegister:

• PostalRegulatoryCommission-NewPostalProducts,32589[2017–14796][PDF]• PostalService-InspectionServiceAuthority;TechnicalCorrection,32474[2017–14763][PDF],Product

Changes:PriorityMailNegotiatedServiceAgreement,32589[2017–14765][PDF]

July13,2017IndustryAlert:FASTMessageBoardMailDirectionFileIssueforJuly-PleasebeawarethattherewasanissuewithonepostingoftheMailDirectionFilespublishedonJune30th,2017(fortheAugust1st,2017effectivedate).IfyoupulledtheMDFfilefromFAST@USPS.CompriortoJuly12thusingthispath:Resources->MailDirectionFiles->EffectiveDate08/01/2017;thefilesdidnotproperlypost,pleasere-downloadthematthistime.AllotheraccesspointsfortheMDFfilecontainedthecorrectData.IndustryAlert:JulyDMM®Update.PostalExplorer®(pe.usps.com)isyoursourceforup-to-datemailingstandards.TheDomesticMailManual(DMM®)isfullysearchableonPostalExplorerandfeaturesfly-outmenus,cross-referencelinks,andanextensivesubjectindex.Monday,July10,2017,weupdatedourmailingstandardstoincludethefollowingchanges:

• ParcelSelectLightweight®DimensionalCriteria-Werevised201.7.6and201.8.5.3toclarifythedimensionalcriteriaofParcelSelectLightweight®(PSLW)parcels.WepublishedthisinformationintheJune22,2017,PostalBulletin.

• PreparingPallets-Werevised705.8.0toclarifythemaximumnumberofpalletsthatmaybestacked,andthesecuringmethodfortrayspreparedonapallet.WepublishedthisinformationintheJune8,2017,PostalBulletin.

• DomesticMailManualSimplification-WerevisedDMMinvariouschaptersaswecontinueoursimplificationinitiativewithoutchangestostandardstomakeitquicker,easier,andmoreconvenient.ToassistinthistransitionthePostalServicewillpostacrosswalkforeachsectionoftheDMM.WepublishedthisinformationintheJune8,2017,PostalBulletin.

• AddressInformationSystemServices-Werevised509.1.0toclarifytheprocessesforobtainingdeliverystatisticsandupdatetherequiredmethodtoreceiveproductupdatesfromthePostalService.Additionally,variousDMMsubsectionswillalsohaveminorrevisionsrelatedtotheaforementionedclarificationandupdate.WepublishedthisinformationintheMay25,2017,PostalBulletin

• OurnextscheduledDMMupdateisAugust7,2017.IndustryAlert:AttentionPostalOne!®andFASTUsers:PostalOne!Release45.3.0.3willdeployonSunday,July16,2017from4:00AMto10:00AMCT.AquarterlyOraclepatchwilldeployduringthismaintenancewindowandthePostalOne!systemwillnotbeavailableduringthistimeframe.FASTRelease36.0.0.0willdeployonSunday,July16,2017from4:00AMto10:00AMCTandtheFASTapplicationwillnotbeavailableduringthistimeframe.FederalRegister:PostalService-ProductChanges:ParcelSelectNegotiatedServiceAgreement,3238632386[2017–14633][PDF]

July11,2017OfficeoftheInspectorGeneral:InternalControlsOverNo-FeeMoneyOrderRefundsforMiscNon-PostalRevenue-YaleStation–NewHaven,CTTheOIGuseddataanalyticstoidentifypostofficesthatissuedthelargestamountofno-feemoneyorderrefundsformiscellaneousnon-postalrevenue.TheYaleStationPostOfficeinNewHaven,CT,issuedthesecondlargest

amountofrefundscomparedtootherofficesnationally.WethenlookedatwhetherYaleStationhadeffectiveinternalcontrolsinplaceforissuingsuchrefunds.Readourfindingsandrecommendationsinthefullreporthttps://go.usa.gov/xNearIndustryAlert:WildfireImpacts-ArizonaOffice.Duetothe“BurroFire,theWesternAreaandArizonaDistrictarereportingthedisruptionofoperationsattheMountLemmonAZPostOfficelocatedat12984NSabinoCanyonPkwy,MountLemmonAZ85619-9997.MountLemmoncustomersarebeingservicedbytheFortLowellStation–TucsonPOlocated6460EGrantRd,TucsonAZ,85715-9998.Customerscanpickuptheirmailorreceiveretailserviceatthisalternatelocation.FederalRegister:PostalRegulatoryCommission-PeriodicReporting,31930[2017–14422],[PDF];31929–31930[2017–14423],[PDF]PostalService-ProductChanges:PriorityMailandFirst-ClassPackageServiceNegotiatedServiceAgreement,32021–32022[2017–14421][PDF]

July10,2017IndustryAlert:AttentionBusinessCustomerGatewayandPostalOne!Users:DiscontinuedSupportforFileTransferProtocol(FTP).REMINDER:Only6weekslefttoconverttoaSecureTransmissionMethod.EffectiveAugust31,2017,theUnitedStatesPostalService(USPS)willdiscontinuesupportforFileTransferProtocol(FTP)formailerstosendand/orreceiveshippingfilesanddatathroughtheProductTracking&Reporting(PTR)system.MailersusingFTPtosendand/orreceiveshippingfilesanddatathroughPTRwillneedtosetupasecuretransmissionmethodutilizingoneofthemethodsbelow:Option1-SecureFileTransferProtocol(SFTP).SFTPisasecureconnectivityoptionavailabletoexchangefilesusingUSPS’sSFTPserver(orifthecustomerprefers,theirownSFTPserver).WesupportSFTPloginusingKeyAuthenticationorusername/password.USPSprefersAESor3DESalgorithmsifyouchoosetoencryptyourdatausingPGP(Prettygoodprivacy).WealsosupportkeyloginusingOpenSSLkeysratherthanusername/passwordlogin.MailersmustcompletetradingpartnersetupthroughourDataTransferServices(DTS)group.Allowatleast30daystocompletethissetup.ForadditionalinformationreferPublication199,IntelligentMailPackageBarcode(IMpb)ImplementationGuideforConfirmationServicesandElectronicVerificationSystem(eVS)Mailers,Section6Communications,6.1Transmissionmethods,“SFTP”athttps://ribbs.usps.gov/intelligentmail_package/documents/tech_guides/PUB199IMPBImpGuide.pdfOption2-ElectronicDataInterchangeInternetApplicabilityStandard2(EDIINTAS2)-ThisoptionrequiresthattheBusinessPartneruseanEDIINTAS2capablesoftwareproduct.MailersmustcompletetradingpartnersetupthroughourDataTransferServices(DTS)group.Allowatleast30daystocompletethissetup.ForadditionalinformationreferPublication199,IntelligentMailPackageBarcode(IMpb)ImplementationGuideforConfirmationServicesandElectronicVerificationSystem(eVS)Mailers,Section6-Communications,6.1Transmissionmethods,“EDIINTAS2”athttps://ribbs.usps.gov/intelligentmail_package/documents/tech_guides/PUB199IMPBImpGuide.pdfOption3-ParcelDataExchange(PDX)-ParcelDataExchange(PDX)isawebservicesapplicationthatinterfacesbetweentheUSPS’sPTRsystemandCustomerstoprovidedatatransferservices.Customerscanusethissecuremethodtouploadmanifestfilesandreceivescaneventextractfiles.ForadditionalinformationreferthePDXOnlineuserguidesonRIBBSathttps://ribbs.usps.gov/evs/documents/tech_guides/pubs/PDXOnlineUserGuide.PDF;https://ribbs.usps.gov/evs/documents/tech_guides/pubs/APIUserGuide.PDFMailersusingaUSPScertifiedsoftwarevendororathirdpartyserviceprovider,shouldcontactthemtodeterminethesecureconnectivityoptionsavailableorconsultyourinternaltechnicalteampriortocontactingtheUSPS.PleasecontacttheUSPSConfirmationServicesTechnicalSupportTeamwiththeselectedoptionatdelivery.confirmation@usps.govor(877)264-9693.Ifcontactingviaemailpleaseprovidecontactname,title,companyname,emailaddressandphonenumber.Foradditionalinformation,referencetheFTPFactSheetpostedonPostalProathttps://postalpro.usps.com/node/3636.Inaddition:EffectiveSeptember30,2017,USPSwillnolongersupportFTPformailersenrolledinIMbTracingorInformedVisibility(IV).Migrationswillbeperformedintwosteps:First,IMbTracingcustomerswillbemigratedtoIVoncethepilotiscomplete.Thatdatewillbesharedwiththeimpacteduserswhenitisavailable.Then,IVparticipantswillalsoneedtotransitiontoSecureFTPoncetheyhavemigratedfromIMbTracing.MigrationdocumentationisavailableonbothPostalProandRIBBsunderInformedVisibility(https://postalpro.usps.com/visibility-and-tracking/informed-visibility-iv),andtheInformedVisibilityHelpDeskcanbecontactedatInformedVisibility@usps.gov.FederalRegister:PostalRegulatoryCommission-ProposedRules,MoveUpdateAssessment,31736[2017–14318],[PDF];Notes,NewPostalProducts,31789–31790[2017–14379][PDF]IndustryAlert:USPSMarketingMail™(StandardMail®)MarkingsandLabelsUpdateThePostalService™publishedaDMMAdvisoryonFriday,June30,2017,providinganupdateabouttherebrandingofStandardMail®asUSPSMarketingMail™.TheupdatestatedthePostalServicecontinuestoworkwiththeindustryonatimelineforimplementationfortherequireduseofnewpostagemarkingsandpermitimprintindicia,andweareestimatinga“begintotransition”dateinmid-2018.ThePostalServicewouldliketoclarifythatinadditiontopostagemarkingsandpermitimprintindicia,thetransitionappliestomarkingsincludedonsack,tray,andpalletlabels.WewillupdatetheDomesticMailManualandQuickServiceGuidesintheapplicablepreparationsectionstoprovideasimilarnotetothemarkingsandpermitimprintsectionsstating,“CustomersshouldnotconverttotheUSPSMarketingMailmarkingsuntiladateisannounced.”Inthemeantime,wecontinuetorequestthatcustomersdonottransitiontothenewmarkingsuntilwepublishthefinaldetailsthroughaDMM

AdvisoryandIndustryAlert.TheDomesticMailManual(DMM®)andDMMAdvisoriesareavailableonPostalExplorer®(pe.usps.com)

July7,2017IndustryAlert:AttentionPostalOne!Users:GoodAfternoon,OnSunday,July9beginningat7:00PMETUSPSplanstoperformmaintenancetotheUSPSnetwork.Themaintenancedurationisexpectedtobelessthan30minutes.TherearenoanticipatedoutagestoPostalOne!,however,shouldyouencounterissuesbeyondtheexpectedmaintenancewindowpleaseusestandardescalationprocedures.Thankyouforyourbusinessandcontinuedsupport.Ifyouhaveanyquestions,contactthePostalOne!HelpDeskat800-522-9085orviaemailat:postalone@usps.govIndustryAlert:USPSMarketingMail™(StandardMail®)MarkingsandLabelsUpdate.ThePostalService™publishedaDMMAdvisoryonFriday,June30,2017,providinganupdateabouttherebrandingofStandardMail®asUSPSMarketingMail™.TheupdatestatedthePostalServicecontinuestoworkwiththeindustryonatimelineforimplementationfortherequireduseofnewpostagemarkingsandpermitimprintindicia,andweareestimatinga“begintotransition”dateinmid-2018.ThePostalServicewouldliketoclarifythatinadditiontopostagemarkingsandpermitimprintindicia,thetransitionappliestomarkingsincludedonsack,tray,andpalletlabels.WewillupdatetheDomesticMailManualandQuickServiceGuidesintheapplicablepreparationsectionstoprovideasimilarnotetothemarkingsandpermitimprintsectionsstating,“CustomersshouldnotconverttotheUSPSMarketingMailmarkingsuntiladateisannounced.”Inthemeantime,wecontinuetorequestthatcustomersdonottransitiontothenewmarkingsuntilwepublishthefinaldetailsthroughaDMMAdvisoryandIndustryAlert.OfficeoftheInspectorGeneral:CarrierLeaveWithoutPayforUnionActivitiesFollowingaCongressionalrequest,OIGauditorsexaminedthePostalService’sleavewithoutpay(LWOP)policywithinthePostalServiceandwhethermanagementfolloweditingrantingcarriersLWOPforunionactivity.itseffectonPostaloperations.Tofindtheresultsgotohttps://go.usa.gov/xN6PeOfficeoftheInspectorGeneral:AssessingMarketers’BarrierstoDirectMail—ManagementAdvisoryReportDirectmailhasproventobeaneffectiveformofadvertising,butasdigitalmediachannelshavegrown,volumeandrevenueofdirectmailhavedeclined.Yetitstillaccountsforover$17billion–afull25percent–ofUSPS’stotalrevenue.TheOIG’srecentauditlooksatmarketers’viewofdirectmailandwhytheydon’tuseitmoreintheirmarketingplans.Readthefullreport:https://go.usa.gov/xN6Au

July6,2017IndustryAlert:ExecutiveDirectorProductManagementAnnouncement.VicePresidentofMarketingStevenMonteithannouncedtheappointmentofThomas(Tom)J.FotiastheExecutiveDirector,ProductManagementintheMarketingGroup.Inthisrole,TomwillberesponsibleformanagingalldomesticproductsforthePostalService.Heandhisteamwillownthevisionandproductstrategiesthatdrivecontribution,revenue,andvolume.ThiswillinvolveworkingcrossfunctionallywithinthePostalService,aswellaswithindustrytodevelopandultimatelyimplementthevisionandstrategies.Tomhasover27yearsofpostalexperienceandwasmostrecentlyondetailastheExecutiveDirectoroftheWorld-ClassInternationalPlatformInitiative,wherehewasresponsiblefordefiningthePostalService'sstrategiesandkeyinfrastructureinvestmentsforInternationalproductsandservices.Tomhasabachelor'sdegreefromtheStateUniversityofNewYorkatGeneseoandamaster'sdegreeinbusinessadministrationfromtheUniversityofMaryland.HeisalsoagraduateoftheAdvancedLeadershipProgram.IndustryAlert:AttentionPostalOne!®andFASTUsers:PostalOne!Release45.3.0.3willdeployonSunday,July16,2017from4:00AMto10:00AMCT.AquarterlyOraclepatchwilldeployduringthismaintenancewindowandthePostalOne!systemwillnotbeavailableduringthistimeframe.FASTRelease36.0.0.0willdeployonSunday,July16,2017from4:00AMto10:00AMCTandtheFASTapplicationwillnotbeavailableduringthistimeframe.IndustryAlert:SeamlessAcceptanceAutomatedAssessments*Reminder*AutomatedSeamlessAcceptanceAssessmentsforMailQualityMetricsbeginJuly11,2017forJunedata.Theassessmentsresultinadditionalpostageonthosepiecesinerrorabovethefollowingestablishedthresholds:Undocumented,DeliveryPoint,Nesting/Sortation,Postage,Weight,andMailCharacteristic.AutomatedemailAssessmentnotificationswillbesentasdescribedbelowonthe11thdayofeachmonth.TheseautomatedassessmentswillbeincludedwiththeFull-ServiceandeInductionassessments.Assessmentsaregeneratedattheelectronicdocumentation(eDoc)submitterCustomerRegistrationID(CRID)levelwhenthereareerrorsthatexceedtheestablishedthresholdsforacalendarmonth.ThePostalServicewillsendautomatedemailnotificationstotheuserassociatedtotheVerificationAssessmentEvaluator(VAE)servicefortheeDocsubmittersBusinessCustomerGateway(BCG)profile.ThePostalServicestronglyencouragesallSeamlessAcceptancemailerstorequestaccesstotheVerificationAssessmentEvaluator(VAE)servicethroughtheBCG.IntheeventthataVAEuserisnotidentified,theautomatedemailassessmentnotificationsaresenttotheassociatedBCGuserrolesinthefollowingorderofprecedence:

• VerificationAssessmentEvaluator(BusinessServiceAdministrator(BSA)orUserRole);ifnoVAEisidentifiednotificationissentto:

• BSAforManageMailingActivityifthereisnoBSAforManageMailingActivitynotificationissentto:• BSAforalternatePostalOne!service:AuditMailingActivity,eVS/PRSCustomer,ScanBasedPaymentCustomer.

Note:OnlyusersassociatedtotheBSAoruserroleforVerificationAssessmentEvaluatororManagedMailingActivityservicescanviewandtakeactiononAssessments.FederalRegister:PostalRegulatoryCommission,NewPostalProducts,31355[2017–14114][PDF]

July5,2017IndustryAlert:USPSAddressManagementUpdatesEffectiveAugust1,2017,USPSAddressManagementProductsareMovingtoaMoreSecureEncryptionMethod.TheaddressdatafilesusedbythemailingindustryarecurrentlysecuredusingthecryptographicfunctionknownasSecureHashAlgorithm(SHA-1)toprotectthesensitiveinformationcontainedwithinthefile.Since2016,theUnitedStatesPostalServiceanditscertifiedandlicensedvendorshavebeentransitioningtoanevenmoresecureversionofthiscryptographichashfunctiontechnology:SHA-256(sometimesreferredtoasSHA-2).ManyofthesevendorshavealreadystartedusingthenewSHA-256datafiles.ThosestillworkingtowardusingtheSHA-256versionhaveuntilJuly31,2017tocompletethetransition.EffectiveAugust1,2017theSHA-1versionofthedatafileswillnotbeavailable.Thefollowingsoftware,products,orservicesusedbythemailingindustryareaffectedbythischange:

• CASS™andMASS™Certifiedsoftwareorservices(includesDPV®,LACSLink®,andSuiteLink®)tovalidate,update,andstandardizeaddresses

• NCOALink®filesusedforMoveUpdateprocessing• DSF2®forsortingaddressesindeliveryorderandtoidentifyvacancies• RDI™toidentifyResidentialaddresses

Ifyouareunsureiftheapplicationorserviceyouusedhasbeenupdated,contactyourserviceprovider.IndustryAlert:SeamlessAcceptanceAutomatedAssessments.AutomatedSeamlessAcceptanceAssessmentsforMailQualityMetricsJuly11,2017forJunedata.Theassessmentsresultinadditionalpostageonthosepiecesinerrorabovetheestablishedthresholds:Undocumented,DeliveryPoint,Nesting/Sortation,Postage,Weight,andMailCharacteristic.AutomatedemailAssessmentnotificationswillbesentasdescribedbelowonthe11thdayofeachmonth.TheseautomatedassessmentswillbeincludedwiththeFull-ServiceandeInductionassessments.Assessmentsaregeneratedattheelectronicdocumentation(eDoc)submitterCustomerRegistrationID(CRID)levelwhenthereareerrorsthatexceedtheestablishedthresholdsforacalendarmonth.ThePostalServicewillsendautomatedemailnotificationstotheuserassociatedtotheVerificationAssessmentEvaluator(VAE)servicefortheeDocsubmittersBusinessCustomerGateway(BCG)profile.ThePostalServicestronglyencouragesallSeamlessAcceptancemailerstorequestaccesstotheVerificationAssessmentEvaluator(VAE)servicethroughtheBCG.IntheeventthataVAEuserisnotidentified,theautomatedemailassessmentnotificationsaresenttotheassociatedBCGuserrolesinthefollowingorderofprecedence:

• VerificationAssessmentEvaluator(BusinessServiceAdministrator(BSA)orUserRole);ifnoVAEisidentifiednotificationissentto:

• BSAforManageMailingActivityifthereisnoBSAforManageMailingActivitynotificationissentto:• BSAforalternatePostalOne!service:AuditMailingActivity,eVS/PRSCustomer,ScanBasedPaymentCustomer.

Note:OnlyusersassociatedtotheBSAoruserroleforVerificationAssessmentEvaluatororManagedMailingActivityservicescanviewandtakeactiononAssessments.

July4,2017-HappyFourthofJuly!FederalRegister:PostalRegulatoryCommission-NewPostalProducts,31107–31108[2017–13996][PDF]

July3,2017OfficeoftheInspectorGeneral:AttentionHolidayShoppers:ANewShippingSurchargeItisalmosttheholidayseasonandonlineretailersarealreadygettingScroogedbyUPS.Thecompanyrecentlyannouncednew“peak”surchargesonpackagesdeliveredtoresidencesbetweenThanksgivingandChristmas,FedExmayfollowsuit.OurlatestblogexamineshowtheU.S.PostalServicemaybepositionedtogainbusinessfromthismove.ThePostalServicelookspositionedtogainfromUPS’move.Areyouwillingtopaymoreforshippingduringtheholidays?https://go.usa.gov/xNs7VIndustryAlert:InformedDelivery®WebinarSeriesBeginsJuly11,2017at1:00p.m.(EDT)StartingJuly11,anewwebinarserieswillbeprovidedoverathreeweekperiodformailownersandmailserviceprovidersonInformedDeliverycampaigns–recentlyshowcasedattheMay2017NationalPostalForum.FeedbackfromtheForumandothersubsequentIndustry/PostalmeetingsindicatethereiswidespreadinteresttolearnmoreabouttheInformedDeliveryprogram.Therealsohavebeenrequestsformoreinformationontheintricaciesofplanningandimplementinginteractivemailercampaigns.Inanticipationofalargeturnoutandtheneedtokeepattendanceatareasonablelevelforeachwebinar,threewebinarswillbeoffered“first-come,first-serve.”Asyouregisterforthedateyouwant,keepinmindyoumaybepromptedtochooseoneoftheotherchoicesifyourfirstorevensecondchoiceisalreadyfilled.Spacesarelimited.Pleaseregisterasearlyaspossibletogetthedatemostconvenientforyou.Thethree“IntroductiontoInformedDelivery”webinarswillbeofferedasfollows:Tuesday,July11,2017at1:00p.m.(EDT)ATTENDEEINFORMATIONToll-FreeAttendeeDialIn:866-381-9870ConferenceID:47454032ClickthelinkbelowtoregisterandaddtoyourOutlookcalendar:AttendeeDirectURL:https://usps.webex.com/usps/onstage/g.php?MTID=e4f6beb0d6513924d9f48c18c01cc6a0d

Tuesday,July18,2017at1:00p.m.(EDT)ATTENDEEINFORMATIONToll-FreeAttendeeDialIn:866-381-9870ConferenceID:49532554ClickthelinkbelowtoregisterandaddtoyourOutlookcalendar:AttendeeDirectURL:https://usps.webex.com/usps/onstage/g.php?MTID=e38112742e2b6a287aa316f6ff849643bTuesday,July25,2017at1:00p.m.(EDT).ATTENDEEINFORMATIONToll-FreeAttendeeDialIn:866-381-9870ConferenceID:49541897ClickthelinkbelowtoregisterandaddtoyourOutlookcalendar:AttendeeDirectURL:https://usps.webex.com/usps/onstage/g.php?MTID=e958c7ca67de1ec50c5df50cad23e977e