COMMISSION APPEARANCE. PMG Jack Potter appeared before the Presidential Commission on the USPS yesterday at its opening meeting in Washington, DC. He began by thanking President Bush for establishing the Commission, noting that it reflected the President's interest and concern about the future of the Postal Service.

Potter provided the Commission with the historical context for postal reform via Presidential commission, describing the need for a similar commission that helped create the U.S. Postal Service 35 years ago from the old U.S. Post Office Department. He also described the initiative undertaken with the Transformation Plan "to begin the process of preparing for the future ... to preserve America's trust in our ability to deliver." CFO Richard Strasser gave the Commission an overview about USPS finances and the "challenges associated with funding a $67-billion organization."

RECORD DELIVERY SCORES. USPS Consumer Advocate Francia Smith told the Board of Governors Tuesday that the most recent Gallup survey shows 93% of households nationwide reported having a positive view of the Postal Service. This is the fifth consecutive quarter in which ratings of overall performance have reached 93%. The independent measurement by The Gallup Organization surveys a variety of postal issues and services, including delivery accuracy and consistency, as well as customer service issues.

DISCOUNT EXPERIMENT APPROVED. The USPS Board of Governors has accepted a Postal Rate Commission recommended decision on a periodicals co-palletization experiment. The experimental change becomes effective April 20, and establishes two new rate categories and discounts for publishers, printers and mail consolidators to combine different publications or print runs on pallets. The experiment will last two years to allow mailers sufficient time to take advantage of the incentives, and for USPS to analyze the program.