View source for Postal Regulatory Commission

{{short description|US regulatory agency}}
{{Infobox Government agency
| agency_name     = United States<br/> Postal Regulatory Commission
| nativename      = 
| nativename_a    = 
| nativename_r    = 
| logo            = 
| logo_width      = 
| logo_caption    = 
| seal            = File:Seal of the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission.svg
| seal_width      = 
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| formed          = 1970
| preceding1      = 
| preceding2      = 
| dissolved       = 
| superseding     = 
| jurisdiction    = 
| headquarters    = 901 New York Avenue NW Suite #200<br/> [[Washington, D.C.]]
| latd            = 
| latm            = 
| lats            = 
| latNS           = 
| longd           = 
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| longEW          = 
| region_code     = US-DC
| employees       = 65
| budget          = $15 m
| chief1_name     = Michael M. Kubayanda
| chief1_position = Chairman
| chief2_name     = Robert G. Taub
| chief2_position = Vice Chairman
| child1_agency   = 
| child2_agency   = 
| website         = {{url|https://www.prc.gov/}}
| footnotes       = 
}}

The [[United States]] '''Postal Regulatory Commission''' (or '''PRC'''), formerly called the Postal Rate Commission, is an [[Independent agencies of the United States government|independent regulatory agency]] created by the [[Postal Reorganization Act]] of 1970. Like the [[United States Postal Service|Postal Service]], it was defined in law as an independent establishment of the [[United States Executive Branch|executive branch]].

==History==
===Postal Rate Commission===
The [[Postal Reorganization Act]] of 1970 created the PRC—originally named the '''Postal Rate Commission'''—to set the rates for different classes of mail by holding hearings on rates proposed by the [[United States Postal Service]] (USPS).

From 1970 through 2006, the PRC also had oversight authority over the USPS in areas besides rates changes. Specifically, that additional oversight consisted of conducting public, on-the-record hearings concerning proposed mail classification or major service changes and of recommending actions to be taken by the [[Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service|postal Governors]].<ref>[https://www.scribd.com/doc/49061423/Postal-Reorganization-Act-1970 Postal Reorganization Act of 1970]</ref>

===Postal Regulatory Commission===
The [[Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act]] of 2006 (Public Law 109-435) enacted on December 20, 2006, made several changes to the Postal Regulatory Commission.<ref>"[http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:H.R.6407: Bill summary and status] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217071008/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:H.R.6407: |date=2012-12-17 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-109publ435/html/PLAW-109publ435.htm Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 (PAEA) - H.R. 6407]". via Library of Congress. December 20, 2006.</ref> Besides giving the body its current name, the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act significantly strengthened the Commission's authority to serve as a counterbalance to new flexibility granted to the USPS in setting postal rates.

The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act requires the Postal Regulatory Commission to develop and maintain regulations for a modern system of rate regulation, consult with the Postal Service on delivery service standards and performance measures, consult with the [[United States Department of State|Department of State]] on international postal policies, prevent cross-subsidization or other anti-competitive postal practices, promote transparency and accountability, and adjudicate complaints.

The law also assigns new and continuing oversight responsibilities to the Postal Regulatory Commission, including annual determinations of USPS compliance with applicable laws, development of accounting practices and procedures for the Postal Service, review of the Universal Service requirement, and assurance of transparency through periodic reports. New enforcement tools given to the PRC include subpoena power, authority to direct the Postal Service to adjust rates and to take other remedial actions, and levying fines in cases of deliberate noncompliance with applicable postal laws.

====Retiree Health Benefits Fund====
According to the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, the United States Postal Service must make annual payments of between $5.4 billion and $5.8 billion to the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund from 2007. This provision of the law has been highly controversial, as no other federal agency is required to pre-fund future retirees' health benefits in this manner. The consequences of this funding requirement have been blamed for the perilous financial condition of the Postal Service, but no consensus has been reached on its fiscal effects, given other contributors such as stiff competition and other economic circumstances.<ref>{{cite web|title=Widespread Facebook post blames 2006 law for US Postal Service's financial woes|url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/apr/15/afl-cio/widespread-facebook-post-blames-2006-law-us-postal/|website=www.politifact.com|access-date=4 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Status, Financial Outlook, and Alternative Approaches to Fund Retiree Health Benefits|url=https://www.gao.gov/assets/660/650511.pdf|website=www.gao.gov|access-date=11 April 2018 |page=7 |quote= Contrary to statements made by some employee groups and other stakeholders, PAEA did not require USPS to prefund 75 years of retiree health benefits over a 10-year period. Rather, pursuant to OPM's methodology, such payments would be projected to fund the liability over a period in excess of 50 years, from 2007 through 2056 and beyond (with rolling 15-year amortization periods after 2041). However, the payments required by PAEA were significantly "frontloaded,"  with the fixed payment amounts in the first 10 years exceeding what actuarially determined amounts would have been using a 50-year amortization schedule. }}</ref> 

In June 2011, the United States Postal Service had to suspend its weekly payment of $115 million into the fund because it had reached $8 billion in debt and the retirement plan had a surplus of $6.9 billion.<ref>[http://www.opm.gov/News_Events/congress/testimony/112thCongress/09_06_2011.asp U.S. Postal Service In Crisis: Proposals To Prevent A Postal Shutdown]. Opm.gov. Retrieved on 2013-10-30.</ref>

==Composition==
The PRC is composed of five Commissioners—each of whom is appointed to a six-year term of office by the [[President of the United States|President]] and confirmed by the [[United States Senate|Senate]], similar to many other high-level [[United States Executive Branch|Executive Branch]] office holders.<ref>[http://www.prc.gov/prc-pages/about/commissioners/default.aspx Postal Regulatory Commission: About PRC: Commissioners] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110109041720/http://www.prc.gov/prc-pages/about/commissioners/default.aspx |date=2011-01-09 }}. Prc.gov (2012-11-22). Retrieved on 2013-10-30.</ref> As with [[Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service|Postal Governors]], PRC commissioners are permitted to serve for one additional "holdover" year beyond the end of their term if a replacement has not been nominated and confirmed. The President designates one Commissioner as Chairman of the Commission. The Commissioners together designate one of their number as a Vice chairman for a one-year term. No more than three of the Commissioners can be from any one political party.
===Current commissioners===
The commissioners {{as of|lc=y|df=US|2025|1|10}}:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.prc.gov/leadership |title=Leadership |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=<!--Not stated--> |website=PRC.gov |publisher=Postal Regulatory Commission |access-date=January 10, 2025}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Position
! Name
! Party 
! Joined
! Term expires
|-
! Chairman 
| Michael M. Kubayanda
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| {{dts|2019|01|29}} (as member)<br>{{dts|2021|01|25}} (as chair)
| {{dts|2026|11|22}}
|-
! Vice chairman
| Robert G. Taub
| {{party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| {{dts|2011|10|08}}
| {{dts|2028|10|14}}
|-
! Member
| Ann C. Fisher
| {{party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| {{dts|2019|08|08}}
| {{dts|2030|10|14}}
|-
! Member
| Ashley E. Poling
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| {{dts|2019|08|08}}
| {{dts|2030|11|22}}
|-
! Member
| Thomas G. Day
| {{party shading/Independent}} | [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| {{dts|2023|10|12}}
| {{dts|2028|10|14}}
|}

===Offices===
The PRC is organized into five operating offices: Accountability and Compliance, General Counsel, Public Affairs and Government Relations, Secretary, and Inspector General.<ref>[http://www.prc.gov/prc-pages/about/default.aspx Postal Regulatory Commission: About PRC] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219202235/http://prc.gov/%28S%28was24xjlnkcmh1f4a4kiofqy%29%29/prc-pages/about/default.aspx |date=2010-12-19 }}. Prc.gov (2006-12-20). Retrieved on 2013-10-30.</ref>

==Past commissioners and chairmen==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Name<ref>{{cite web|title = Past PRC Commissioners/Chairmen| url=https://www.prc.gov/about/former-commissioners}}</ref> !! Position !! Party !! Term started !! Term expired
|-
|[[Howard Elliott (PRC)|Howard Elliott]] || Commissioners || rowspan=5 {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] || November 23, 1970 || February 28, 1973
|-
|[[William J. Crowley]] || Chairman || October 15, 1970 || May 1, 1973
|-
| rowspan=2| [[John L. Ryan]] || Commissioner || November 23, 1970 || August 3, 1970
|-
| Chairman || August 4, 1973 || October 31, 1973
|-
| [[Rod Kreger]] || Commissioner || August 6, 1973 || January 7, 1974
|-
| [[Nathan A. Baily]] || Commissioner || {{party shading/Democratic}}|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]|| October 15, 1970 || October 14, 1974
|-
| [[Fred B. Rhodes]] || Chairman || rowspan=2 {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] || January 18, 1974 || December 30, 1974
|-
| [[Paul A. Miltich]] || Commissioner || March 13, 1975 || March 7, 1977
|-
| [[Frank P. Saponaro]] ||Commissioner || {{party shading/Independent}}|[[Independent politician|Independent]] || October 15, 1970 || October 14, 1977
|-
| [[Carlos C. Villarreal]] || Commissioner || {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] || April 15, 1973 || February 1, 1979
|-
| [[Kieran O'Doherty]] || Commissioner || {{party shading/Conservative}}|[[Conservative Party of New York State|Conservative]] || February 20, 1975 || October 14, 1980
|-
| rowspan=2| [[A. Lee Fritschler]] || Chairman || rowspan=2 {{party shading/Democratic}}|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] || July 31, 1979 || March 4, 1981
|-
| Commissioner || March 5, 1981 || August 31, 1981
|-
| rowspan=3| [[Clyde S. DuPont]] || Commissioner || rowspan=3 {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] || September 20, 1974 || March 13, 1975
|-
| Chairman || March 14, 1975 || July 29, 1979
|-
| Commissioner || July 30, 1979 || September 14, 1981
|-
| [[Simeon M. Bright]] || Commissioner || rowspan=3 {{party shading/Democratic}}|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] || December 15, 1977 || October 12, 1984
|-
| [[James H. Duffy]] || Commissioner || May 11, 1979 || September 11, 1985
|-
| [[Henrietta F. Guiton]] || Commissioner || December 20, 1984 || June 19, 1987
|-
| rowspan=2|[[Janet D. Steiger]] || Commissioner || rowspan=2 {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] || October 15, 1980 || February 2, 1982
|-
| Chairman || February 3, 1982 || August 10, 1989
|-
| [[Patti Birge. Tyson]] || Commissioner|| {{party shading/Democratic}}|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] || September 12, 1985 || November 22, 1991
|-
| [[Henry R. Folsom]] || Commissioner || rowspan=3 {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] || March 9, 1982 || December 29, 1992
|-
| [[John Crutcher]] || Commissioner || March 9, 1982 || October 14, 1993
|-
| [[Wayne A. Schley]] || Commissioner || December 30, 1992 || October 14, 1995
|-
| [[Edward H. Quick]] || Commissioner || {{party shading/Democratic}}|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] || December 2, 1991 || November 22, 1997
|-
| rowspan=2|[[George W. Haley]] || Chairman || rowspan=2 {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] || February 14, 1990 || October 14, 1993
|-
| Commissioner || December 1, 1993 || September 10, 1998
|-
| [[Edward J. Gleiman]] || Chairman || {{party shading/Independent}}|[[Independent politician|Independent]] || February 23, 1994 || February 2, 2001
|-
| [[W.H. "Trey" LeBlanc]] || Commissioner || {{party shading/Democratic}}|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] || November 24, 1987 || November 22, 2001
|-
| [[Dana B. "Danny" Covington]] || Commissioner || rowspan=3 {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] || November 2, 1998 || October 14, 2005
|-
| rowspan=2|[[George A. Omas]] || Commissioner || August 8, 1997 || November 29, 2001
|-
| Chairman || November 30, 2001 || December 9, 2006
|-
| [[Dawn Tisdale]] || Commissioner || {{party shading/Democratic}}|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] || December 1, 2004 || November 22, 2007
|-
| rowspan=2|[[Dan Gregory Blair]] || Chairman || rowspan=2 {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] || December 9, 2006 || August 5, 2009
|-
| Commissioner || August 6, 2009 || June 30, 2011
|-
| rowspan=3|[[Ruth Y. Goldway]] || Commissioner || rowspan=3 {{party shading/Democratic}}|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] || April 15, 1998 || August 5, 2009
|-
| Chairwoman || August 6, 2009 || December 3, 2014
|-
| Commissioner || December 4, 2014 || November 22, 2015
|-
| rowspan=3|[[Tony Hammond (PRC)|Tony Hammond]] || rowspan=3|Commissioner || rowspan=3 {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] || August 6, 2002 || October 7, 2011
|-
| April 30, 2012 || October 14, 2013
|-
| December 10, 2014 || August 7, 2019
|-
| rowspan=2|[[Nanci E. Langley]] || rowspan=2|Commissioner || rowspan=2 {{party shading/Democratic}}|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] || June 9, 2008 || November 22, 2013
|-
| December 10, 2014 || August 7, 2019
|-
| [[Mark D. Acton]] || Commissioner || {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] || August 17, 2006 || October 5, 2023
|}

===Office of Accountability & Compliance===
The ''Office of Accountability & Compliance'' (OAC) provides analytic support to the Commission for the review of various Postal Service proposed actions: rate changes, negotiated service agreements (NSAs), classification of products and services, the Annual Compliance Determination, the Annual Report to President and Congress, changes to postal services, post office closings and other issues before the Commission. Areas of expertise include economic and econometric analysis, analysis of operational characteristics of the postal system, analysis of Postal Service operating costs and cost methodologies. OAC also collects, analyzes and periodically summarizes financial and various other statistical information to support Commission responsibilities.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.prc.gov/Docs/86/86870/Order_No_1705.pdf |title=ORDER AMENDING ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION IN 39 CFR PART 3002 |publisher=Postal Regulatory Commission |date=April 26, 2013 |access-date=2013-12-18}}</ref>

===Office of General Counsel===
The ''Office of General Counsel'' provides legal assistance on matters involving the Commission's responsibilities; defends Commission decisions before the courts; and advises the Commission on the legal aspects of proposed legislation, rulemaking, and policies on procurement, contracting, personnel matters, ethics, and other internal legal matters.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

===Office of Public Affairs & Government Relations===
The ''Office of Public Affairs & Government Relations'' (PAGR) manages communications and public outreach for the Commission with the public, Members of Congress, the Postal Service, state and local governments, and the news media. PAGR engages in public outreach, responds to media inquiries and disseminates information concerning Commission decisions and activities to the public. PAGR also provides information to postal customers and assists in the resolution of informal complaints, called "rate and service inquiries", from members of the public.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

===Office of Secretary & Administration===
The ''Office of Secretary & Administration'' records and preserves PRC actions and documents, manages the dockets, reference materials, and interagency reporting. It also helps to manage the administrative aspects of the PRC, including budgeting and accounting, strategic planning, contracting, human resources and personnel, and serves as a point of contact for audits. It also manages facilities and infrastructure, and provides support services.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

===Office of Inspector General===
The ''Office of Inspector General'' is a [[Watchdog (disambiguation)#Public oversight|watchdog]] office that seeks out fraud, waste and abuse in the PRC programs and operations, and conducts audits of programs to identify areas of potential improvement. The Office of Inspector General also investigates allegations and complaints.

===Public Representative===
The law (39 U.S.C. 505) requires that the Commission designate an individual to represent the interest of the general public in every public proceeding. This obligation is likely unique in the federal government, although state-level public utility commissions have similar arrangements. Since 2007, the Commission has used the method of appointing a staff member, on a case-by-case basis, to represent the public interest before the Commission for the duration of that particular case. This appointee is called the Public Representative. The Public Representative can obtain legal or technical support if necessary to fulfill that responsibility, but no one working in the Public Representative role can participate in the Commission's decision-making process.

==See also==
* [[Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service]]
* [[History of United States postage rates]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{official|https://www.prc.gov/}}
* {{USPL|109|435}} Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006
* [https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/postal-regulatory-commission Postal Regulatory Commission] in the [[Federal Register]]

{{United States Postal Service}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Independent agencies of the United States government]]
[[Category:United States Postal Service]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1970]]
[[Category:Postage rates]]