Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 84 Part 1.djvu/818

 760

Ante,

PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970

p. 739.

72l"'^'^^" ^^^'

[84 STAT.

"(2) Expenses incurred under any budget approved under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be paid out of the Postal Service Fund established under section 2003 of this title. " ( ^) The provisions of section 410 and chapter 10 of this title shall apply to the Commission, as appropriate. ' ' SUBCHAPTER II — P E R M A N E N T R A T E S AND C L A S S E S OF MAIL

matJd exists""

"§ 3621. Authority to fix rates and classes "Except as othervrise provided, the Governors are authorized to establish reasonable and equitable classes of mail and reasonable and equitable rates of postage and fees for postal services in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Postal rates and fees shall be reasonable and equitable and sufficient to enable the Postal Service under honest, efficient, and economical management to maintain and continue the development of postal services of the kind and quality adapted to the needs of the United States. Postal rates and fees shall provide sufficient revenues so that the total estimated income and appropriations to the Postal Service will equal as nearly as practicable total estimated costs of the Postal Service. For purposes of this section, 'total estimated costs' shall include (without limitation) operating expenses, depreciation on capital facilities and equipment, debt service (including interest, amortization of debt discount and expense, and provision for sinking funds or other retirements of obligations to the extent that such provision exceeds applicable depreciation charges), and a reasonable provision for contingencies. "§ 3622. Rates and fees "(a) From time to time the Postal Service shall request the Postal Rate Commission to submit a recommended decision on changes in a rate or rates of postage or in a fee. or fees for postal services if the Postal Service determines that such changes would be in the public interest and in accordance with the policies of this title. The Postal Service may submit such suggestions for rate adjustments as it deems suitable. "(b) Upon receiving a request, the Commission shall make a recommended decision on the request for changes in rates or fees in each class of mail or type of service in accordance with the policies of this title and the following factors: "(1) the establishment and maintenance of a fair and equitable schedule; "(2) the value of the mail service actually provided each class or type of mail service to both the sender and the recipient, including but not limited to the collection, mode of transportation, and priority of delivery; "(3) the requirement that each class of mail or type of mail service bear the direct and indirect postal costs attributable to that class or type plus that portion of all other costs of the Postal Service reasonably assignable to such class or type; "(4) the effect of rate increases upon the general public, business mail users, and enterprises in the private sector of the economy engaged in the delivery of mail matter other than letters; "(5) the available alternative means of sending and receiving letters and other mail matter at reasonable costs; "(6) the degree of preparation of mail for delivery into the postal system performed by the mailer and its effect upon reducing costs to the Postal Service;

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