Monday, June 15, 2009

USPS Could Cut Services

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) may get rid of Saturday mail delivery and close more post offices as a way to deal with fiscal losses caused by decreased mail volume. The Wall Street Journal reports that increased tendencies to use the Internet for correspondence and bill payment have reduced the amount of mail handled by the USPS, and the recession has had an additional negative impact on the agency: the USPS lost nearly $2 million for the second quarter ending March 31. Also see the USPS Annual Report 2008.

Postmaster General John Potter told the Journal that although the USPS has eliminated nearly 200,000 full-time positions since 2000, it still needs to cut expenses as well as "tens of thousands" more jobs.

If mail delivery were reduced from 6 to 5 days per week, the change would have to be approved by Congress and then signed off by the Postal Regulatory Commission. The PRC is an independent agency that has been regulating the USPS since 1970.

How are other communications formats faring in comparison with the postal service? Check out our guide to Telecommunications.

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