The U.S. Postal Service won a partial victory in its year-long drive to keep certain information about its international operations secret.
The Postal Rate Commission Wednesday adopted a rule shielding the data from public disclosure but required it to be provided for inclusion in its annual report to Congress on USPS international operations.
Adoption of the rule means that direct marketers, mass mailers, the press and the public at large as well as USPS rivals United Parcel Service, Federal Express and others will be barred from obtaining the detailed information about USPS international mail costs and analyses.
The barred information also includes transportation and airport fees; agreements with foreign postal services (including Valuepost/Canada and bulk mail service to that country, Global Package Link, Global Priority Mail, Global Direct Services and International Customized Mail) as well as specific mail flows between the US and other nations.
International information that is available to the public includes volume and revenue totals.
There was no immediate comment from the USPS while its lawyers review the PRC’s action.SHORT CUT
CatalogCity.com has appointed Christopher J. Flannery as vice president of direct marketing. Flannery, 35, comes to CatalogCity.com from West Marine where he served as assistant vice president, business development.