USPS defends itself against austerity concerns
The United States Postal Service has been busy defending itself against a number of recent financial and budgetary challenges in recent months, particularly as the federal government struggles to address a mounting fiscal crisis.
This week, the USPS argued for a proposal to cut back mail delivery from six days per week to five, claiming such a measure would save the federal government some $3.1 billion annually. However, the initiative may also complicate businesses' direct mail programs, including address validation and web-to-print strategies.
"Despite electronic mail, the USPS handles trillions of dollars of transactions, including payments for more than one half of America’s household bills," the Postal Service declared in a letter to Congress.
"It is the linchpin in marketing and distribution systems through which businesses large and small can advertise services and distribute products - by itself or as the last mile for delivery by private sector companies," the letter added.
The USPS also responded to a report by the Postal Regulatory Commission that claimed the annual savings would only amount to $1.7 billion, by arguing that the analysis used to make the projection was flawed.