The United States Postal Service announced a pre-meeting to discuss the proposed changes to operating and service standards on August 22. The USPS will discuss the changes made during the virtual conference To September 5 at 1:00 p.m. ETand will then submit a formal request for an opinion from the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). After receiving the PRC’s opinion, the Postal Service will consider the Commission’s opinion and make its final decision.

One of the most significant changes is the introduction of an additional delivery day for mail items that are more than 50 miles from a regional processing and distribution center. USPS has alerted stakeholders to the following changes:

Magazines:

Service upgrade: 4.3%
Service downgrade: 2.5%
No change in service: 93.2%

Marketing email:

Service upgrade: 8%
Service downgrade: 2.1%
No change in service: 89.9%

Other changes include moving from three-digit to three-digit postal code standards to more precise five-digit to five-digit postal code standards, and adjusting pickup and drop-off times for mail between post offices and processing facilities when post offices are located far from regional hubs.

The changes are expected to save the USPS approximately $3 billion annually. Register for the conference Here.

Holly Lubart is vice president of government affairs at the News/Media Alliance. She was previously vice president of government affairs at the PA NewsMedia Association and began her career as a journalist. Lubart has more than 20 years of experience in policy and communications.