Is Postal Service 'Universal Service' being taken away?

Letters to the Editor

The Postal Service has changed the classification of 32,000 Post Office Boxes at 49 locations from market dominant to the competitive products category.

As a loyal customer of the United States Postal Service, I found myself searching the internet in an effort to check the pricing of Post Office Boxes for one of my business ventures. I have always been proud of the fact that I could use the USPS for my mail related needs without fear that my neighbors or my competition could get a better price than myself. I actually thought that there was a universal service law that mandated I could get the same mail service for the same price. Now I find that depending on where someone lives, they may get preferential treatment in pricing and benefits. Now the Postal Service has changed the classification of 32,000 Post Office Boxes at 49 locations from market dominant to the competitive products category. This new change now provides the following, that I do not qualify for, simply because I do not live in an area the Postal Service does not approve this service for:
The following new services now are available at the approved Post Offices:

A “Baker’s Dozen” promotion for new customers (13 months of service for a
12-month PO Box payment).

No key deposit required for the first two keys issued to new customers.

A “Signature on File” service for the following signature-required mail: Express Mail, Insured Mail over $200, Signature Confirmation and Return Receipt for Merchandise.

Expanded and earlier lobby access.

The discounts and benefits, in my opinion, are discriminatory and in violation of the essence of the concept of Universal Service. The sad thing is that this was approved by Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on June 17, 2010 according to the article found at http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/bulletin/2010/pb22301/html/info_008.html. It's almost like the U.S. Postal Service is attempting to turn this American service that was developed for the people by our nation's founding fathers, into some private company. This is a frightening thought ...and unneeded. If I wanted to use a private mail service, I would use FedEx, UPS, or some other overpriced corporate "for profit" company. Is Postal Service 'Universal Service' being taken away? I feel it is and something needs to be done to correct this immediately. If the Federal Government is looking to shed debt, the Postal Service is not the place to start. I certainly am never against discounts and extra benefits, but to offer it only to certain people based on geographical location or the distance to a USPS 'competitor' is an outrage. Fix this now! It is bad enough that the Postal Service offers huge discounts to big corporate "junk mailers" who pay just pennies to mail an item while as a citizen of the United States of America I do not get the same, but this is going too far.

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