Postal Service Reform. Issues Relevant to Changing Restrictions on Private LetterDelivery. Volume 1

摘要

As you requested, this report discusses the statutory restrictions on the privatedelivery of letters. You were concerned about how possible changes to those restrictions and their enforcement by the Postal Service might affect its ability to meet public service obligations. Our objectives were to (1) determine the historical and current basis for restricting private deliver of letters, including the Service's efforts to administer and enforce those restrictions; (2) document changes in private sector letter delivery capacity since 1970; (3) analyze the possible financial effects of the Service's revenues, costs, and postage rates if restrictions on private delivery of letters were to be changed; and (4) obtain information on how some recently reformed foreign postal administrations provide universal service and restrict private letter delivery. We also identified issues that may be relevant to legislative deliberations.