Title 39, Postal ServiceRelease 119-110

§3653 Annual Determination of Compliance

Title 39 › PART IV — MAIL MATTER › CHAPTER 36 — POSTAL RATES, CLASSES, AND SERVICES › SUBCHAPTER IV — REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND RELATED PROVISIONS › § 3653

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

After the Postal Regulatory Commission gets the yearly reports under section 3652, it must quickly let mail users, people affected, and a Commission officer who speaks for the public give comments. Within 90 days of getting the reports, the Commission must write a decision saying if any rates or fees, or any service standards, were not followed that year. If no problems are found, the decision must say that. If problems are found, the Commission must act under section 3662 as if a formal complaint had been proved. Each year the Commission must also check if the Postal Service met the goals in sections 2803 and 2804 and can offer recommendations. A timely written decision saying no problems creates a presumption that the Postal Service complied in any section 3662 case, but that presumption can be challenged.

Full Legal Text

Title 39, §3653

Postal Service, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Opportunity for Public Comment.—

After receiving the reports required under section 3652 for any year, the Postal Regulatory Commission shall promptly provide an opportunity for comment on such reports by users of the mails, affected parties, and an officer of the Commission who shall be required to represent the interests of the general public.

(b)Determination of Compliance or Noncompliance.—

Not later than 90 days after receiving the submissions required under section 3652 with respect to a year, the Postal Regulatory Commission shall make a written determination as to—

(1)whether any rates or fees in effect during such year (for products individually or collectively) were not in compliance with applicable provisions of this chapter (or regulations promulgated thereunder); or

(2)whether any service standards in effect during such year were not met.

If, with respect to a year, no instance of noncompliance is found under this subsection to have occurred in such year, the written determination shall be to that effect.

(c)Noncompliance With Regard to Rates or Services.—

If, for a year, a timely written determination of noncompliance is made under subsection (b), the Postal Regulatory Commission shall take appropriate action in accordance with subsections (c) and (e) of section 3662 (as if a complaint averring such noncompliance had been duly filed and found under such section to be justified).

(d)Review of Performance Goals.—

The Postal Regulatory Commission shall also evaluate annually whether the Postal Service has met the goals established under section 2803 and 2804, and may provide recommendations to the Postal Service related to the protection or promotion of public policy objectives set out in this title.

(e)Rebuttable Presumption.—

A timely written determination described in the last sentence of subsection (b) shall, for purposes of any proceeding under section 3662, create a rebuttable presumption of compliance by the Postal Service (with regard to the matters described under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b)) during the year to which such determination relates.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

39 U.S.C. § 3653

Title 39, Postal Service

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110