Title 39, Postal ServiceRelease 119-110

§3703 Postal Service Program for State Governments

Title 39 › PART IV — MAIL MATTER › CHAPTER 37 — NONPOSTAL SERVICES › § 3703

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Postal Service can make a program to sign agreements with State, local, or tribal agencies to offer property or nonpostal services to the public for non‑commercial reasons. The services must add real value to the public (like lower cost, better quality, or easier access). They must not hurt postal operations or reduce customer access to retail services (for example, by increasing wait times or limiting parking). Each agreement must reimburse at least 100 percent of the costs tied to the services each year. The Postal Service and the Postal Regulatory Commission can decide to review similar agreements together. Within 90 days of starting a service, the Postal Service must put the agreement and a business plan on its website. The business plan must say what will be offered, how it helps the public, and how the Postal Service will be paid. The program needs a recorded majority vote by the Postal Service Governors, posted on the website. The Postal Service does not have to disclose information covered by section 410(c) or by the exemptions in 5 U.S.C. 552(b).

Full Legal Text

Title 39, §3703

Postal Service, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In General.—

Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the Postal Service may establish a program to enter into agreements with an agency of any State government, local government, or tribal government to provide property or nonpostal services to the public on behalf of such agencies for non-commercial purposes, but only if—

(1)such property or nonpostal services—

(A)provide enhanced value to the public, such as by lowering the cost or raising the quality of such services or by making such services more accessible;

(B)do not interfere with or detract from the value of postal services, including by—

(i)harming the cost and efficiency of postal services; and

(ii)unreasonably restricting access to postal retail service, such as customer waiting time and access to parking; and

(2)such agreements provide a net contribution to the Postal Service, defined as reimbursement that covers at least 100 percent of the costs attributable to all property and nonpostal services provided under each relevant agreement in each year, except that agreements determined to be substantially similar by the Postal Service with the concurrence of the Postal Regulatory Commission shall be reviewed based on their collective revenue and costs attributable.

(b)Public Notice.—

Not more than 90 days after offering a service under the program, the Postal Service shall make available to the public on its website—

(1)the agreement with the agency regarding such service; and

(2)a business plan that describes the specific property or nonpostal service to be provided, the enhanced value to the public, and terms of reimbursement to the Postal Service.

(c)Approval Required.—

The Postal Service may not establish the program under subsection (a) unless the Governors of the Postal Service approve such program by a recorded vote that is publicly disclosed on the Postal Service website with a majority of the Governors then in office voting for approval.

(d)Confidential Information.—

Subsection (b) shall not be construed as requiring the Postal Service to disclose to the public any information—

(1)described in section 410(c); or

(2)exempt from public disclosure under section 552(b) of title 5.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

39 U.S.C. § 3703

Title 39, Postal Service

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110