The U.S. Postal Service has proposed service standards for its market-dominant products, something it must establish by Dec. 20.
In its 32-page Federal Register notice published Wednesday, the USPS is proposing in part:
* That it will deliver via surface transportation 79.6% of standard mail weighing 16 ounces or less within two to five days; 20.2% within six to 10 days and 0.2% in 10 days or longer.
* That it deliver 99.7% of first class mail both by surface and air in one to three days and 0.4% in four to five days.
* That it will deliver 92.4% of periodicals in one to four days; 7.2% in five to nine days and 0.4% in more than nine days.
The postal service said it came up with all these proposals after consulting with the Mailers Technical Advisory Committee, reading customer satisfaction and other surveys.
The USPS is required by the Postal Accountability and Enhancement (postal reform) Act passed last December to set up these standards in consultation with the Postal Regulatory Commission.
The USPS will accept comments on all its proposals until Nov. 16.