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 The National Newspaper Association is working to preserve essential postal delivery, so that its member newspapers may continue distributing their publications in a timely manner through the U.S. Postal Service. NNA sent the letter below to its members Dec. 7.
Dear NNA Member:
Earlier this year, we wrote to assure you of the National Newspaper Association’s commitment to preserving essential postal delivery for its members. Now, as news has broken of serious cutbacks in service by the U.S. Postal Service, many members have contacted us to express alarm. Here is the situation as of today.
1. USPS does plan to slow up the delivery of First Class Mail and Periodicals by one day. But, your Destination Delivery Unit (local post office) mail should not be disrupted by this plan. Overnight or even same-day delivery of locally entered mail should not be affected by this plan.
2. If you are currently entering mail at a Sectional Center Facility (SCF), or allowing mail to ride up to the SCF from your post office and then to other post offices in your market area to reach your primary market, you should plan immediately to set up Exceptional Dispatch privileges to take newspapers to every local post office that you can reasonably reach through your own transportation. SCF mail will be disrupted as processing hubs are moved farther away.
3. USPS is looking into setting up some “transfer hubs” for 5-digit containers of mail, rather than hauling all of it into more distant processing facilities, just to be trucked back again. This may mean that we can avoid or mitigate some of the service disruption. NNA is working closely with USPS to identify areas where this option may be needed and possible.
4. Long-distance subscribers will no doubt see bad service become really rotten. Your efforts to convert these readers to electronic subscriptions may soon be helped by a rule change by USPS that will permit you to claim those electronic subscribers as paid circulation on your statement of ownership. The campaign by NNA to make that happen is now in its fourth year, but we hope to see a rule change early in 2012. If you need help identifying vendors to help you create electronic subscriptions, please contact NNA.
5. The status of 6-day mail delivery remains uncertain because of the unsteady situation in Congress. We are closely watching HR 2309, which would mandate the end of Saturday delivery. Right now, we believe this session of Congress will NOT pass this bill. But political pressures related to the federal deficit could change that status on short notice. If Congress recesses this month without action, we believe Saturday mail delivery will be preserved throughout 2012.
6. On Jan. 12, a moderate increase in postage rates in the 2.1 percent range for Periodicals and Standard Mail will occur. A proposal by President Obama to create an immediate, steep “exigency” postage increase failed with the demise of the so-called Super Committee. The postmaster general has assured us that he intends to have only the cost-of-living increase in 2012, though the Postal Regulatory Commission is holding open a case that would permit him to ask for more. USPS is nearing insolvency. Various political forces could seize control and create a major increase. NNA is fighting it.
There will be a lot of change ahead for the nation’s postal system. NNA supports S1789, the Senate bill that we believe has the best chance of preserving universal service. With or without it, the USPS malaise will affect our world in pretty negative ways. Our commitment is to do all we can to shape the outcomes and help you get your news to your readers.
We appreciate your support and are counting on you to maintain your commitment to NNA as we go through this tough battle for fair service.
NNA members with questions are always welcome to contact Tonda Rush (
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) or Max Heath (
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). We are here to help.
Sincerely,
Reed Anfinson
NNA President
Max Heath
NNA Postal Committee Chair
Tonda Rush
NNA Chief Executive Officer |