GOOD NEWS TRAVELS FAST. Customers are happy that recent, good financial news may help USPS keep postage rates stable until 2006, two years longer than anticipated. News outlets and consumer groups across the country are reporting that a recent financial analysis by the Office of Personnel Management found that USPS may be able to reduce its liability for Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) payments from $32 billion to about $5 billion. That would increase the amount available for USPS debt reduction in Fiscal Year 2003 from $800 million to more than $3 billion and hold postage rates at their current level a few more years.

Legislation has been drafted to push for regulatory changes that will allow USPS to realize these savings. However, all the benefits from the new financial analysis can only come about if the legislation is enacted. Postal stakeholders are hoping for quick passage.

PMG Jack Potter told the Board of Governors Tuesday that the new financial picture will allow the Board to focus more on the long-term health of the postal system. "I remain committed to the Postal Service's Transformation Plan," said Potter, including the promise "to take $5 billion out of our operating expenses through 2006, over and above the savings we expect to realize by implementing the legislative changes connected with our CSRS funding."

GREAT SERVICE TRAVELS FASTER. USPS continues to achieve record-breaking delivery scores for First-Class Mail in the nation's metropolitan areas. USPS Consumer Advocate Francia Smith told the Board of Governors Tuesday that First-Class Mail was delivered on time an average 94% of the time during the last quarter of Fiscal Year 2002. This is the second consecutive quarter First-Class Mail has met this benchmark nationwide.

According to Smith, North Dakota, South Dakota, central Illinois and San Jose, CA, each achieved on-time delivery performance scores of 96%. An additional 28 performance clusters attained on-time delivery scores of 95%.

AIR CARRIERS TRAVEL, TRACKED. Beginning next spring, USPS will require airline transportation carriers to scan mail from the time they receive it until it's turned over to the Postal Service. The announcement follows Board of Governors approval to fund the technology, the second phase of its Surface Air Support System.

"This technology will help the Postal Service ensure that America's postal customers are getting the best value for their postage," said VP Paul Vogel, Network Operations Management. With tracking in place, USPS will be in a better position to determine if it's getting the biggest bang for its buck.