Exigent Rate Increase
Blog Tag
Time is Almost Up: The PRC Needs to Hear You’re Against Draconian Postage Rate Increases
This week, the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) received a letter from me that began, “We are writing to express our strong opposition to the rate-making framework you have proposed as a result of your 10-year review of the CPI-based annual price cap established under the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA).” The language […]
Long Live Betty White (and Direct Mail)
Some lines just never get old. They may not get the same hearty laugh or extended giggle as the first time you heard them, but they still draw at least a smile. For example, every time I’m on my way to the airport and see the Airport Diner marquee that says, “Eat now. Pay Waiter,” […]
A Little “Inside Baseball” as the PRC Launches Its Rate and Regulatory Review
It’s another month before pitchers and catchers arrive for the start of Major League Baseball’s Spring Training camps. While it may be a little early to start talking baseball, things are already heating up around several issues related to the U.S. Postal Service, so let’s talk a little “inside baseball” about what’s going on in […]
2017 Postage Rates Are Coming Into Focus
The direct marketing industry took notice last week when the Postal Service filed its 2017 postage rate case with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). The PRC will now review the rates to ensure they are within the legally-mandated inflation-based rate cap. The PRC’s ruling is expected in about six weeks – probably just before Thanksgiving. […]
Summer Postal Update
It’s the dog days of summer, and even Minnesota has been experiencing temperatures in the upper 90s. Summer travel for the IWCO Direct postal team has included industry association meetings and USPS-sponsored events such as the Mailer’s Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC) and Mailing Industry Area Focus Group Meetings. So it seems like a good time […]
Exigent Surcharge is Over: Postage Rates Slated to Drop in April
Those of us involved in the mailing industry are about to witness a unique event: Falling postage prices. The Postal Service has notified the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) that it will remove the exigent surcharge from postage rates on Sunday, April 10. The PRC rulings that allowed the Postal Service to collect the exigent surcharge […]
Postal Service News from the MTAC Meetings
Last week, I was able to escape the freezing temperatures in the Midwest for the (relatively) balmier weather of Washington D.C. and the quarterly Mailers Technical Advisory Council (MTAC) meetings. A lot of Postal Service news was shared during the meetings that could have a big impact on our industry, so today I wanted to […]
The Postage Rates Landscape for 2016
At this time of year, children may be nestled all snug in their beds with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads, but those of us involved in the mailing industry are more likely to be dreaming about what to do with our 2016 postage budgets. Although the outlook for postage rates in 2016 […]
An End is in Sight for Exigent Postage Rates
The good news is that we finally have some certainty about the future of the exigent postage rates. The bad news is that mailers have to wait until spring to see the rates finally rolled back. Regular readers of our postal updates will remember that in June the U.S. Court of Appeals for the […]
Your Mid-Year Postal Issues Update from IWCO Direct
It’s been a busy first half of the year for those of us involved in postal issues. From concerns about postage rates, to operational changes that resulted in service performance challenges, to new options for connecting mail and digital, we’ve had a lot of moving parts to track this year. Let’s jump in and see […]
