The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General invites you to
comment on this week’s “Pushing the Envelope” blog topic:
(Postal Employees) Having Problems with Your Time and Attendance
Records? The OIG Wants to Hear From You. The OIG’s Human Resources and
Security Team is interested in hearing from Postal Service employees who
might be experiencing problems with their time and attendance records. Take
the OIG’s survey and share your comments
here. The following reports also
have been posted today on the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector
General website (
http://www.uspsoig.gov/).
If you have additional questions concerning a report, please contact
Wally Olihovik at 703.248. 2201, or Agapi Doulaveris at 703.248.2286.
DM News has reported that "Young consumers may live their lives online,
but they trust offline marketing pitches more than web-based ones, according
to a survey. The poll also found privacy is a concern for all age groups.
Thirty-six percent of US households and 38% of Canadians said mail
information is more private than e-mail, compared to 29% of US respondents
and 35% of Canadians in 2008. However, the study noted that only 25% of
respondents are getting more postal mail now than a year ago, while 72% of
US households and 66% of Canadians say they're getting more e-mail."
From the
Courier, Express, and
Postal Observer:
- The
GDP numbers released last week were disappointing. Yet, the numbers
for the Postal Service and advertising in general were not that bad. Why
is that? It is simply that sales to domestic purchasers -- which include
consumers, businesses and the government -- rose 4.3%. An an industry
that depends on its ability to grow the sales of firms that sell
products and services to consumers and business, having customers whose
business is growing faster than the economy is good news. So why does
the economy seem to be slowing down? The reason is four fold.
- This weekend, the publisher of
Oxford English Dictionary announced that the next edition will be
published in
digital format only.
At the
Postal Regulatory
Commission: September
01, 2010 - Notice: Public hearings in Docket C2009-1 are scheduled for
Wednesday, September 1 and Thursday, September 2. Both hearings will begin at
9:30 a.m. Links to the audio will be posted here approximately 10 minutes prior
to the broadcasts.
August 29, 2010
Veterans Today has asked: "President Obama: Why Are You Allowing Your
Postmaster General to Run a Plantation?"
CBC has reported that "Staffing decisions by Canada Post have resulted
in unacceptable delays in mail delivery, the union representing letter
carriers in British Columbia says. Canada Post hasn't been backfilling
employees who become ill or take leave, Ken Mooney of the Canadian Union of
Postal Workers told CBC News. "The non-delivery has a ramification on the
community, of course, because people depend on GST cheques and family
allowance cheques and various other correspondence, and they depend on
Canada Post for that service," Mooney said."
"USA
Today, the nation's second largest newspaper, announced this week a
major restructuring effort designed to address a drop in advertising and
circulation and bring it up to speed in today's new world of smartphones and
tablets." [EdNote: And the Postal Service is doing . . . . what?]
Zawya
has noted that "The services of Empost, the national courier company, are
now available at main post offices across the UAE."

From
PR Web:
"She was the only woman, as of 2010, who rose from a clerk in the Georgia
Southern College Post Office to Deputy Postmaster General in the United
States Postal Service. In an inspiring memoir, MS. DEPUTY POSTMASTER
GENERAL, author Jackie A. Strange shares with readers her remarkable
achievements and how trusted leadership, courage, and innovations impacted
the postal service. Under physical and mental duress, she achieved
unprecedented records and saved billions of dollars for the postal
service—the largest non-military job in the world with 800,000 employees and
a $32 billion (in 1983 dollars) budget—through innovative programs."
August 28, 2010
Reuters has
reported that "Deutsche Post, the successor to the German federal postal
service, will offer bounties for bugs researchers find in its E-Postbrief secure
message service, the company announced this week. The firm, which also operates
the DHL overnight delivery service, will kick off a contest in October after it
pre-approves research teams that apply for what it's calling the Deutsche Post
Security Cup. Each team will be seeded with ?3,000 ($3,800), but must use their
own tools and agree to not touch any private data they come across during their
work. The teams must also keep quiet about any vulnerabilities they find until
December, when Deutsche Post will award prizes and reveal the bugs it's
patched."
From the Federal Register:
Postal Regulatory Commission
NOTICES
New Postal Products , 53002–53003 [2010–21423]
[TEXT] [PDF]
Product List Transfer , 53003–53004 [2010–21438]
[TEXT] [PDF]
Long-time newspaper postal advocate, Max Heath, wrote in the
Georgetown News that "Members of the National Newspaper Association,
which publish about 2,000 community newspapers across America, do the same.
I serve as its long-time Postal Committee chairman. That’s why I want to
respond on behalf of them and other mailing industries in Kentucky to the
recent opinion piece printed in many state newspapers by Ellen Williams of
Kentucky, member of the United States Postal Service Board of Governors. The
United States Postal Service has decided to place an unnecessary burden on
Kentucky’s families, workers and businesses by proposing a major price
increase. Fortunately, Gov. Williams can help stop this, and that’s what
citizens in Kentucky should be asking her to do, instead of rubber-stamping
postal management decisions."
The
Daily
Camera has reported that "The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is offering
a reward of $1,000 for information related to the recent destruction of
mailboxes in Boulder. Police believe the mailboxes were damaged with
homemade explosive devices. Read more: U.S. Postal Services offers reward
for information about destroyed Boulder mailboxes."
Hellmail has reported that "Norway Post achieved earnings before
non-recurring items and write-downs of NOK 511 million in the first half of
2010 - an increase of NOK 130 million compared to the same period last year,
although addressed mail volume fell by 7.4 per cent. The improvement in
earnings was achieved despite the half year being affected by declining
volumes in the mail and logistics segments, a lower level of activity in the
IT market and a strike in the transport sector."
August 27, 2010
DMM
Advisory:
IMb™ Services Update.
New
FAST Help Desk (August 30, 2010):
As announced in the Facility Access and
Shipment Tracking (FAST®) 14.3.0
Release Notes (August 15, 2010), the Postal Service™ will launch the new
FAST Help Desk effective Monday, August 30. The FAST Help Desk will be
available to assist with application and operation-related issues by:
- Email at
FAST@usps.gov.
- Telephone at 877-569-6614. The FAST Help
Desk telephone number efficiently directs calls through a new IVR
network to ensure prompt routing of customer inquiries.
The FAST
Help Desk hours of operation will be Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to
7:00 p.m. CT. Telephone support will be available outside of these hours
including weekends and holidays. If the Help
Desk is unable to provide an immediate resolution, a Remedy Ticket will be
activated and escalated to the appropriate postal functional entity. All
FAST Remedy Tickets will follow the established Issue Resolution Process. The FAST
Welcome pages have been updated to reflect the new FAST Help Desk contact
information.
A copy
of the Postal Service Customer Relations Department organizational chart has
been posted on this site.
The
Parcel Shippers Association
(PSA) and the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) have asked the
Commission to issue a Commission Information Request (“CIR”), seeking
information necessary to fully understand the cost, revenue, market and
other factual bases upon which the Postal Service’s proposed transfer of
Standard Mail Fulfillment Parcels relies."
Press Release: "Announcing... a
revolutionary digital publishing service that helps clients market and
distribute print materials in easy-to-read digital editions via e-mail and
the Internet using only a standard Web browser! Nxtbook Media — LLC helps
publishers provide digital versions of their magazines, catalogs, travel and
other collateral. If you want to lower your distribution costs, reach a
wider audience and increase advertising revenues, Nxtbook Media will convert
your printed magazine into an online magazine, also known as a digital
magazine or e-magazine. We can also optimize print catalogs, travel and
other collateral materials into digital versions."
Washington's Blog has noted that "U.S. Postal Service Starts Quoting SDR
to Dollar Conversion Rates, and IMF Endorses Replacing Dollars with SDRs."
The
Financial Times has reported that "A Kosovan plan to sell hundreds of
millions of euros of state telecom assets has prompted warnings of legal
repercussions from Serbia, setting off another skirmish in the former
Yugoslavia’s most stubborn ethnic dispute. Kosovo’s ministry of finance and
economy has called for pre-qualification bids by September 13 to buy large
tranches of shares. The planned 75 per cent sell-off encompasses fixed-line,
wireless and mobile communications subsidiaries, while the unreformed,
inefficient postal service stays in state hands."
The latest issue of
the PostCom Bulletin is available online. In this issue:
-
Through newly released memos, the Washington Times has reported that the
Postmaster General and top officials gave postal inspectors varying accounts
about the decision to allow a top executive to retain his six-figure outside
corporate jobs while working full time, earning more than $230,000 as a vice
president of shipping, for the USPS.
-
The Postal Service published its unaudited July results with the Postal
Regulatory Commission. USPS lost $764 million in July 2010. This is brings
the year-to-date loss to $6.0 billion.
-
The Congressional Research Service has released its report - The U.S. Postal
Service’s Financial Condition: Overview and Issues for Congress. The report
provides an overview of USPS’ financial condition, recent legislation to
alleviate the USPS’ financial challenges, and possible issues for the 111th
Congress.
-
According to the Courier, Express, and Postal Observer, “readers that are
expecting an answer to the question in the title will be disappointed. The
truth is I do not know. However, I do know that the most recent forecasts,
or at least those contained in the exigent rate case are woefully out of
date even though they are at worst 6 months old.”
-
The Affordable Mail Alliance - a growing coalition of non-profits, Fortune
500 companies, small businesses, major trade associations, consumer groups,
and citizens representing the vast majority of the mail sent in the United
States - today announced the addition of its one thousandth member group.
-
Marketers brace for paper cost increase. Digital advertising is being
clobbered by traditional media. MTAC forms new workgroup. PRC established
docket for SM parcel transfer. Meredith mag puts video in select copies.
Latest USPS org chart available. GovDelivery and Zumbox partner to reduce
paper mail. FedEx board declares quarterly dividend. APWU President speaks
at union’s national convention. USPS identifies two key ideas from MTAC
symposium. UPS reduces expected number of furloughed pilots. Leaving the
mail stream: Verizon.
-
An update on DMM Advisories issues by the U.S. Postal Service.
-
An update on postal rules and notices published in the Federal Register.
-
An update on business before the Postal Regulatory Commission.
-
An update from the USPS Office of Inspector General.
-
A review of postal news from around the world.
-
Postal previews
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The
Financial Express has reported that "The government on Thursday approved
second phase of modernisation of post offices at a cost of Rs 1,877 crore.
As per the decision, all departmental and Grameen Dak Sevak (GDS) post
offices in the country will be computerised. The approval has also been
accorded for creation of IT infrastructure, including establishment of data
centre, networking of the departmental post offices, development of
scalable, integrated and modular software for all operations of the postal
department. The project will be implemented over a three year period
covering till 2012-13."
The
Wall Street Journal told its readers: "Here’s a question: What does a
world-leading logistics and mailing company that already delivers 70 million
letters a day do for growth? European Pressphoto Agency If you’re Deutsche
Post AG, the former state-owned German mail authority, you deliver online
advertising. Earlier this week, Bonn, Germany-based Deutsche Post acquired
nugg.ad AG, Europe’s largest targeted online ad platform according to the
company for an undisclosed sum. With the purchase, it seems Deutsche Post
wants to be king of the online ad market. “The acquisition of nugg.ad is our
first step into the online advertising market,” Ingo Bohlken, head of
marketing for Deutsche Post, told German daily Frankfurter Allegemeine
Zeitung. “We want to offer the European advertising market a steady,
independent technology platform,” he said."
An online blog has noted that "The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) already
facing a $420,000 worker endangerment fine for faulty electrical work at a
Vermont mail distribution center has now been slapped with a $350,000 fine
for similar violations in New Hampshire. The Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) says that, just like it did in Vermont, the USPS had
knowingly assigned untrained and unqualified workers to perform
"troubleshooting and voltage testing on or near live electrical equipment
and wiring that had not first been de-energized." "These citations and the
sizable fines proposed here reflect the Postal
Service's ongoing knowledge of and failure to address conditions that
exposed its workers to the severe and potentially deadly hazards
of electric shock, arc flashes and arc blasts," said Assistant Secretary of
Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels in a press release. The really bad news is
that by filing "enterprise-wide" complaints against the USPS for these
electrical work safety violations, OSHA is implying that more fines for more
violations at more postal facilities could be coming. With the USPS losing
another $3.5 billion in the third quarter of 2010, you have to wonder - but
not for long -- who's going to pay for all this?"
Post & Parcel has reported that "Swiss Post has generated Group profit
of 484m Swiss francs for H1 2010 - an increase of 35% year on year. Swiss
Post posted good results in all four markets, primarily due to a rise in
customer deposits, higher net interest income and the revival of the
economy, the company said.
The Next Web has reported that "Home video rental giant Blockbuster is
reportedly preparing to file for bankruptcy next month as it struggles to
cope with competition from Netflix, Lovefilm and Redbox, companies who have
revolutionised the rental industry with their postal and on-demand
services."
The
Washington Post has reported that "The Carlyle Group suffered a rare
setback Wednesday when one of its portfolio companies, toy supplier Oriental
Trading Co., filed for bankruptcy protection, citing heavy debt and higher
shipping costs. Carlyle bought Oriental Trading in June 2006, during the
heady days of the buyout boom, for $1 billion. But the heavy debt load,
higher postal rates and the weak economy proved too much for the Nebraska
firm. "Dramatically increased postal costs
and the Great Recession took their toll on expenses and revenues at the
company," Carlyle spokesman Chris Ullman said. "
APWU
members vowed to escalate the fi ght against the Postal Service’s plan
to eliminate Saturday mail delivery on the fourth day of the union’s 20th
Biennial National Convention, unanimously approving a resolution to engage
in “rallies, marches, and pickets” in concert with other unions and public
interest organizations. The declaration also denounced the “ force
relocation” of postal workers and other USPS attacks."
According to the
Detroit News, "Tuesday's march in Detroit against the proposed ending of
Saturday mail delivery should be seen for what it was: an effort to sustain
union jobs and benefits even as the U.S. Postal Service hemorrhages billions
of dollars trying to sustain what may no longer make sense."
From the Federal Register:
Postal Regulatory Commission
NOTICES
New Postal Product , 52786–52788 [2010–21329]
[TEXT] [PDF]
The
Washington Times has reported that "The executive in charge of the U.S.
Postal Service's $13 billion supply-management operation has acknowledged
"cracks in the system," saying more than
30 percent of the agency's contracting-officer positions remained unfilled.
The statements by Susan Brownell, vice president of supply management, were
made earlier this year in a previously undisclosed interview with the Postal
Service's Office of Inspector General, which was looking into the award of
no-bid contracts by a former top postal executive to his former business
associates. The inspector general's investigation, which ended this summer,
found that several of the contracts awarded by the
Postal Service's former top marketing officer violated postal policies and
procedures. . . . The Postal Service said it "is not commenting
on individual statements made by executives to the inspector general's
office during its investigation."
August 26, 2010
The
Memphis
Democrat has reported that "Rural route or street address? The question
has been put to rest by the United States Postal Service in the city of
Memphis as official addresses for mail delivered within the city limits have
been switched over to the city’s assigned street address. Memphis Post
Master Monica March said the process is ongoing, with most affected
residents receiving notification at the end of the July. Gail Bell of the
USPS address management systems explained the changes. She said the postal
service inadvertently issued rural box numbers in place of city-style
addresses assigned by the City of Memphis several years ago. The USPS will
continue to deliver mail addressed with the old rural route information for
one year. All affected patrons are encouraged to make address changes with
all regular mailers as soon as possible over the next 12 months. After that
time period all mail sent to the former rural route address will be returned
to sender."
Business Daily Africa has reported that "The postal and courier
businesses are experiencing a decline in the number of letters sent as most
Kenyans embrace e-mails and e-commerce, a new report from the industry
regulator says. The statistics released by Communication Commission of Kenya
(CCK) early this week indicate that the number of letters sent by courier
services declined 35.7 per cent from 113,781 during the previous quarter to
73,162 this quarter. During the same period the number of letters sent using
postal services fell to 23 million from 25 million letters the previous
period. A decline of 9.7 per cent. International incoming letters fell 16.6
per cent from the previous quarter and 25.6 per cent compared to the same
period last year."
The
Wall
Street Journal has reported that "French state-owned postal operator La
Poste on Thursday said it is in exclusive talks with mobile operator SFR,
subsidiary of French media conglomerate Vivendi SA to launch mobile services
under the La Poste brand."
From
PR-USA.net: "To facilitate the needs of their international customers
MyAddressUS.com has announced the launch of a new updated online package
management tool, which provides customers easier international US online
purchasing, package management and package forwarding solution."
Dead Tree Edition has told its readers that "The Postal Service's
sole-source contracts with associates of former executive Robert F.
Bernstock had the tacit approval of Postmaster General Jack Potter,
according to documents published last night."
The
Courier, Express, and Postal Observer has told its readers that "The
Postal Service filed their July 2010 preliminary financials with the Postal
Regulatory Commission and the results raise more questions about its
financial viability and its ability to develop realistic financial plans."
The
Washington Times has reported that "The U.S. postmaster general and his
top officials gave investigators varying accounts about the decision to
allow a top executive to retain his six-figure outside corporate jobs while
working full time, earning more than $230,000 as a vice president of
shipping, for the U.S. Postal Service, records show. Newly released memos of
extensive interviews conducted earlier this year by the U.S. Postal
Service's office of inspector general with Postmaster John E. Potter and
other executives provide a rare look into the operations in the top reaches
of the Postal Service. The documents also suggest that executives deferred
to their former top marketing officer, Robert Bernstock, even as some inside
the agency began raising questions about his outside business interests."
Business Daily Africa has reported that "Kenyan companies are adopting
electronic funds transfer as a method of paying dividends and other dues to
shareholders in a move meant to enhance efficiency and reduce costs incurred
in tracking uncollected cheques."
The
Toronto Sun has reported that "Rules are rules, says Canada Post, even
for double-amputee Tom Thompson, who will have to move his mailbox at least
150 feet to comply with new regulations regarding box placement. “I guess
it’s a safety issue for their drivers,” said Thompson, who lives in Simcoe,
Ont. “I guess it’s not a safety issue for me when I have to wheel through a
foot of snow down the road to get my mail.” Thompson has lost both legs to
complications of diabetes. He says the situation is “nuts” because while he
has a Decou Road address, his home and mailbox front onto Willow Wood Drive
— a short dead-end street with 11 homes. CUPW has complained that rural
delivery is ergonomically unsafe for lone drivers. As a result, many
delivery vehicles now carry two people — one to drive and one to fill
mailboxes. CUPW has also made an issue of the safety of rural delivery
routes." [EdNote: You remember CUPW, don't you. Those are the folks who
believe every effort should be made to deliver mail to Gaza (despite the
Israeli gunboats), but can't see fit to make mail delivery to a double
amputee more convenient.]
August 25, 2010
At the
Postal Regulatory
Commission: The
Postal Service's
Preliminary
Financial Information for July 2010 has been posted on the PRC web site.
Press
Release: "BÖWE BELL + HOWELL (BBH) today announced the availability of a new
service offering that provides small to mid-sized mailers with access to the
kind of sophisticated document and data-processing capabilities that are
traditionally found only in high-volume production mailers. For more
information, contact marketing@bowebellhowell.com or call 1-800-220-3030."
The
Kansas City Star
has reported that "The U.S. Department of Labor intends to fine the U.S.
Postal Service Bulk Mail Center in Kansas City, Kan., for "numerous serious
and repeat safety violations." The Occupational Safety and Health
Administration proposed a $191,000 penalty after an onsite investigation
found hazardous working conditions. Problems cited include "deficiencies in
walking/working surfaces, fall protection, sling use, machine guarding,
welding and electrical equipment." Also cited were problems associated with
"exit routes, eye wash facilities, electrical equipment and hazard
communication." [Hundred thousand here, hundred thousand there. Next
thing you know it adds up to real money.]
From
Canada Post: "Thomas
Schmitt, SVP FedEx Solutions is joining Purolator as its new President
and CEO.
Louis O’Brien, Canada Post, Senior Vice-President and President of the
Parcels Line of Business will now be Senior Vice-President, Chief Customer
Officer."
The
Courier, Express, and Postal Observer has asked: "Are the Postal
Service's Earnings Forecast Too Optimistic?"
As
the
National Post put it: "It’s been too long since we’ve had a Canadian
union do something bizarre. So nice of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers
to step up to the plate and demonstrate, for the umpteenth time, the strange
obsession Canadian organized labour has with rocking boats. Or in this case,
a cargo ship. Isn’t it a bit weird that Canadian postal workers are suddenly
willing to brave the power of the Israeli Navy to get mail to Gazans when
they’re so easily deterred getting mail to you and I? If it snows more than
a centimetre or two in Toronto, little notices get put into mailboxes
announcing that delivery is suspended until safety conditions in front of
the house are improved — i.e. the steps gets shovelled. (Of course, postal
workers have to risk death on slippery front steps to deliver the warning,
but that’s just another example of their heroic devotion to duty.) In Moose
Jaw, delivery was recently cancelled due to the danger of mean birds."
"The
U.S. Postal Service’s Financial Condition: Overview and Issues for Congress"
Kevin R. Kosar Analyst in American National Government July 29, 2010

The Affordable Mail Alliance
– a growing coalition of non-profits, Fortune 500 companies, small
businesses, major trade associations, consumer groups, and citizens
representing the vast majority of the mail sent in the United States – today
announced the addition of its one thousandth member group.
The
Washington Post has reported that "FedEx sued New York Attorney General
Andrew M. Cuomo, claiming he is overstepping his authority in a state
investigation of the company's rates, routes and services. Cuomo notified
FedEx in June that his office was investigating the company's insurance
policies and coverage for items it ships. His office served a subpoena upon
the firm on June 8, 2010, seeking information about FedEx's "rates routes,
prices and or services," the company said in its complaint. FedEx has until
next week to respond to the subpoena."
The Star has reported that "Through rain, sleet and an international
blockade, the Canadian postal workers union is serious about getting mail to
Gaza. The union is throwing its support behind a coalition of Islamic and
human rights organizations planning to steer a Canadian-registered boat
through the Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory this fall. Such a
stamp of approval comes after Israel Post halted mail to the area earlier
this month. Canada Post wants to be clear: “This effort is in no way
affiliated with or supported by Canada Post,” the Crown corporation said in
a statement."
The
Associated Press has reported that "Hundreds of postal workers attending
their national convention in Detroit marched Tuesday in protest of plans to
suspend mail delivery on Saturdays. The Detroit News reports that the
blue-shirted American Postal Workers Union members chanted "Five day, no
way" as they walked Tuesday from Cobo Center to Campus Martius. The Rev.
Jesse Jackson and U.S. Rep. John Conyers participated."
Hellmail has reported that "Consumer Focus Post, the Northern Ireland
arm of UK watchdog Consumer Focus, is calling on Royal Mail to be more
transparent about the performance of First Class mail delivery between
Britain and Northern Ireland. It must also make sure the service meets the
UK-wide standard for 93% of first class mail to be delivered the next
working day, set by the regulator Postcomm."
Bernama has reported that "Pos Malaysia Bhd's earnings in financial year
2011 will grow by 66.4 per cent from financial year 2010 as full
contribution from the postal tariff hike takes effect, according to OSK
Research."
From the
Federal Register:
Postal Service.
- Environmental Assessments; Availability, etc.:
Mobile Fueling Operations, Nationwide , 52377 [2010–21149]
[TEXT] [PDF]
- International Product Changes:
United States Postal Service Inbound Competitive Multi-Service Agreements
with Foreign Postal Operators , 52378 [2010–21147]
[TEXT] [PDF]
- United States Postal Service Inbound Market-Dominant Multi-Service
Agreements With Foreign Postal Operators , 52378 [2010–21148]
[TEXT] [PDF]
- Transfer of Commercial Standard Mail Parcels to Competitive Product List ,
52378 [2010–21146]
[TEXT] [PDF]
August 24, 2010
According to
SmarTrend, "the top five companies in the Air Freight & Logistics
industry as measured by return on equity (ROE). The ROE is a general
indication of the company's efficiency; Investors usually look for companies
with ROEs that are high and are growing. United Parcel Service, CH Robinson
Worldwide, Expeditors International of Washington, Park-Ohio Holdings,and
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings.
From
PR Newswire: "The U.S. Postal Service is modifying mailing regulations
of tobacco shipments from the U.S. to APO/FPO/DPO destinations by expanding
shipping options to include Priority Mail service with Delivery
Confirmation." See also
Federal Times and
Global Pensions.
From
Federal News Radio: "Is there a solution in sight for the Postal
Service's debt woes?" Lorie Nelson, the Director of Financial Reporting for
the USPS Office of Inspector General, explains how the Postal Service might
be able to use at least $5.5 billion of the $6.8 billion surplus in the
Federal Employees Retirement System.
The
Courier, Express, and Postal Observer has reported that "Today, Verizon
launched a campaign to convince more residential phone customers to both
receive their bills electronically and pay electronically. Verizon expects
the promotion will increase electronic bill presentment to rise by 250,000.
Following the promotion, Verizon will have around 16% of its customers both
receiving bills electronically and paying electronically."
At the
Postal Regulatory
Commission: The
transcript of the PRC Rapid City, SD hearing on the five-day service
proposal has been posted on the PRC web site.
The
latest Postal Service
headquarters organizational chart has been posted on this site.
From
Business Wire: "GovDelivery, the leading provider of
government-to-citizen communication solutions, and Zumbox, the leader in
digital postal mail services, today announced a partnership to aid
government agencies and municipalities across the United States in
dramatically reducing the financial and environmental costs associated with
sending paper mail."
AdWeek has reported that "According to Borrell Associates, political ad
spending will reach $4.2 billion this year, double the $2.1 billion the firm
estimated was spent in 2008." [EdNote: Hey. You wanna reach voters?
Reach 'em by mail. With less mail in mailboxes today than during elections past,
a well-designed ad is sure to catch voters' attention. So . . . exactly
what has the Postal Service done to promote mail to electioneering politicians?]
The
Board of Directors of FedEx
Corporation has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.12 per share on
FedEx Corporation common stock. The dividend is payable October 1, 2010 to
stockholders of record at the close of business on September 10, 2010.
The
Belfast Telegraph has reported that "The Government has been urged to
drop Royal Mail privatisation plans after a new survey of 2,000 people
showed most people wanted the postal service to remain publicly-owned. Just
one in seven polled by Labour leadership contender Ed Balls and the
Communication Workers Union (CWU) said they supported the privatisation
plan."
DM News has reported that "Direct marketers and catalogers are preparing
to face paper cost increases this fall, while also planning for a possible
significant postal rate increase in January. Marketers say volatility in the
paper market in recent years, due to economic instability, has made it
difficult for them to project costs from one year to the next. Many
marketers are facing paper price increases of as much as $3 per 100 pounds
this fall, on top of prior hikes in April and July, according to notices
from paper mills and industry experts. The increase means a 7% to 10% cost
increase for buyers, depending on the mill and type of paper. “This is not
good news for catalogers,” said Hamilton Davison, president and executive
director at the American Catalog Mailers Association. “They're going to get
a postage increase that's six-times the rate of inflation and a paper cost
increase that is nine times the inflation rate [for the year]."
Trading Markets has reported that "Germany-based postal services
provider Deutsche Post is acquiring Germany-based online targeting platform
nugg.ad to expand its competence as a service provider in the online
advertising market. Nugg.ad will continue as independent targeting service
provider for marketers and advertising agencies from the company's
headquarters in Berlin."
The
Times of Malta has reported that "MaltaPost has been awarded the World
Mail Security Award during the 11th World Mail awards held in Copenhagen,
Denmark. The World Mail Awards were conceived as a result of discussions at
the internationally recognised World Mail & Express Conferences – the unique
forum for industry leaders and key decision makers to discuss strategy."
CapitalVue has noted that "Nationwide postal service companies and
large-scale express delivery companies generated an operating revenue of
72.84 billion yuan in first 7 months of 2010, up 19 percent year-on-year,
reports Yicai.com, citing statistics published by the State Post Bureau.
Revenue in July grew 12.8 percent year-on-year to 9.58 billion yuan,
according to the State Post Bureau. The shipping volume of nationwide postal
service companies and large-scale express delivery companies in the first 7
months of 2010 reached 1.23 billion, up 23.6 percent year-on-year. Express
delivery shipping volume in July grew 18.7 percent from year-on-year to 190
million."
It
isn't only in America . . . .
Hellmail has reported that "TNT Post has lost an appeal against a
rejected planning application for a new distribution centre on the outskirts
of Derby. The proposed industrial development had originally been rejected
by Derbyshire District Council but despite an appeal, the decision to turn
down the planning application was upheld by government inspectors, agreeing
with Derbyshire District Council that the development would impact on nearby
listed buildings."
Mlive has reported that "More than 3,000 members of the American Postal
Workers Union are expected to march from Cobo Center to Campus Martius in
downtown Detroit today in an act of protest against management proposals to
end Saturday mail delivery."
"APWU
President William Burrus told delegates to the 20th Biennial National
Convention that the union is “alive and strong.” Despite the nation’s frail
economy, “We can point with pride to the fact that
our members were shielded from the tragic effects of layoffs and
downsizing,” he said."
Aol News gave a pop quiz -- "Based on Congress' legislative output over
the past year and a half, what do you think is the most pressing issue
facing the country? The crummy economy? Terrorist threats? Health care
costs? The sorry state of education? National defense? Global warming?
Immigration? Answer: None of the above. Nope, the biggest problem facing
America today is ... the desperate lack of appropriately named post
offices."
According to
Advertising Age, the "boom in multigenerational households has wide
implications for ad industry."
Media Daily News has reported that "Streaming video advertising will see
continued big growth -- increasing more than 60% to $5.6 billion next year."
Printing Impressions World has noted that "Against all odds, traditional
advertising is perceived by consumers as more informative, entertaining and
necessary than online advertising. Of more than 1,200 people surveyed for
digital marketing show ad:tech London by Zussi Research, 69 percent believed
traditional advertising was relevant to them, compared with 45 percent for
online. For the TV target audience—those aged between 25-34-years old—the
gap widens further: 81 percent (traditional) vs. 53 percent (online). Worse
still for digital marketers, annoyance around advertising on the Web is
twice as high online as offline. Comments made were that digital advertising
is "ill-structured," "mainly irrelevant" and represents a bigger, unwanted
distraction for the consumer, rather than a subtle influence."
From
Business Wire: "Pitney Bowes Inc. has announced it is offering a new
tabletop, dual-head tabber system for U.S. mailers. The Pitney Bowes W360
Multifunction Tabber System provides several tabbing applications and stamp
affixing in one solution to help mailers meet the latest United States
Postal Service (USPS) tabbing regulations and efficiently prepare
letter-size self-mailers and booklets for delivery."