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Postal News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2002
Contact: (202) 268-2155
Release No. 02-041
Postal Service and Postal Rate Commission Announce Agenda for Ratemaking Summit

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Postal Service and the Postal Rate Commission yesterday released the agenda for the Tuesday, May 28 Ratemaking Summit.

The Ratemaking Summit will provide a forum for interested parties to suggest and discuss new approaches for pricing postal products and services. The major focus of the May 28 Summit will be the often-proposed idea of phased rates, which make postal price changes more regular and predictable.

"This is a significant step in the transformation process," said Anita Bizzotto, chief marketing officer and senior vice president for the Postal Service. "We look forward to a lively discussion of ways to improve the process for pricing of postal products within the framework of the existing laws."

The Postal Service delivered its Transformation Plan to Congress and the General Accounting Office on April 4, 2002. The Transformation Plan is a detailed document outlining strategies to preserve universal mail delivery and strengthen the mail system in the future. Among the proposals included in the plan is a thorough review of the ratemaking process with an eye to enabling the Postal Service greater flexibility to respond to the ever-changing 21st century marketplace and to continue to provide quality universal mail delivery service for the nation.

Because of the complex and technical nature of the discussions, the Postal Service and the Postal Rate Commission have scheduled a Ratemaking Summit "Day Two" for June 27. The June Summit will include a discussion of negotiated service agreements and other customized ratemaking approaches and will follow-up suggestions made in the first session.

Registration for the May 28 Summit is closed, but those interested attending the June 27th Day Two summit may register at www.usps.com. Both sessions will take place at the William F. Bolger Academy for Leadership Development in Potomac, MD.

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AGENDA

United States Postal Service - Postal Rate Commission
Ratemaking Summit, Day One, May 28, 2002

8:00 - 9:00Continental Breakfast
9:00 - 9:30Opening - Anita Bizzotto, Chief Marketing Officer, U.S. Postal Service

Welcome - John E. Potter, Postmaster General, U.S. Postal Service
Welcome - George Omas, Chairman, Postal Rate Commission
Introduction of Moderator - Charles Pou, Jr., Dispute Resolution Services
9:30 - 10:45Panel Discussion I: Flexible/Predictable Pricing, Part I
10:45 - 11:00Break
11:00 - 12:15 Panel Discussion II: Flexible/Predictable Pricing, Part II
12:15 - 1:00Lunch
1:00 - 2:15Panel Discussion III: Current Procedures and Suggestions for Improvement, Part I
2:15 - 2:30Break
2:30 - 3:45Panel Discussion IV: Current Procedures and Suggestions for Improvement, Part II
3:45 - 4:15Closing/Next Steps - Mary Anne Gibbons, Vice President, General Counsel, U.S. Postal Service


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