Summary

Requires the postal regulator to block any extra USPS rate authority for periodicals unless USPS hits on‑time delivery benchmarks, measured against the service standards in place on the day the law is enacted. It also mandates annual public reporting on newspaper mail delivery performance and orders an independent study of alternative pricing options for products that don’t cover their costs. Together, these steps aim to improve delivery speed and reliability for newspapers and other periodicals, increase transparency on service performance, and explore fairer pricing structures without immediately raising costs for publishers and readers.

Key Points

• Blocks extra USPS rate authority for periodicals unless on‑time delivery meets set benchmarks.
• Uses the service standards in effect on the date of enactment to measure performance.
• Creates an annual public report on in‑county and out‑of‑county newspaper mail delivery.
• Directs the PRC and USPS to develop bundle‑level measurement if piece‑level data are missing.
• Allows use of the closest comparable mail data if newspaper mail can’t be isolated, with public explanation.
• Requires an independent GAO study of pricing alternatives for loss‑making products, including periodicals.
• Seeks to improve delivery reliability while protecting publishers from additional rate hikes absent performance gains.
• Aims to increase transparency in USPS service for local and community newspapers.

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