
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 39USC3624]

 
                        TITLE 39--POSTAL SERVICE
 
                          PART IV--MAIL MATTER
 
             CHAPTER 36--POSTAL RATES, CLASSES, AND SERVICES
 
           SUBCHAPTER II--PERMANENT RATES AND CLASSES OF MAIL
 
Sec. 3624. Recommended decisions of Commission

    (a) The Postal Rate Commission shall promptly consider a request 
made under section 3622 or 3623 of this title, except that the 
Commission shall not recommend a decision until the opportunity for a 
hearing on the record under sections 556 and 557 of title 5 has been 
accorded to the Postal Service, users of the mails, and an officer of 
the Commission who shall be required to represent the interests of the 
general public.
    (b) In order to conduct its proceedings with utmost expedition 
consistent with procedural fairness to the parties, the Commission may 
(without limitation) adopt rules which provide for--
        (1) the advance submission of written direct testimony;
        (2) the conduct of prehearing conferences to define issues, and 
    for other purposes to insure orderly and expeditious proceedings;
        (3) discovery both from the Postal Service and the parties to 
    the proceedings;
        (4) limitation of testimony; and
        (5) the conduct of the entire proceedings off the record with 
    the consent of the parties.

    (c)(1) Except as provided by paragraph (2) of this subsection, in 
any case in which the Postal Service makes a request under section 3622 
of this title for a recommended decision by the Commission on changes in 
a rate or rates of postage or in a fee or fees for postal services the 
Commission shall transmit its recommended decision to the Governors 
under subsection (d) of this section no later than 10 months after 
receiving any such request from the Postal Service.
    (2) In any case in which the Commission determines that the Postal 
Service has unreasonably delayed consideration of a request made by the 
Postal Service under section 3622 by failing to respond within a 
reasonable time to any lawful order of the Commission, the Commission 
may extend the 10-month period described in paragraph (1) of this 
subsection by one day for each day of such delay.
    (d) The Commission shall transmit its recommended decision in a 
rate, fee, or classification matter to the Governors. The recommended 
decision shall include a statement specifically responsive to the 
criteria established under section 3622 or 3623, as the case may be.

(Pub. L. 91-375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 761; Pub. L. 94-421, Sec. 5(a), 
Sept. 24, 1976, 90 Stat. 1306.)


                               Amendments

    1976--Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 94-421 added subsec. (c) and 
redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d).


 Rate Change Request Made on September 18, 1975, or Under Docket Number 
                                  R76-1

    Section 5(b) of Pub. L. 94-421 provided that: ``The amendment made 
by subsection (a) of this section [adding subsec. (c) of this section] 
shall not apply to any action or proceeding with respect to the 
recommended decision of the Postal Rate Commission relating to proposed 
changes in rates of postage, and in fees for postal services, requested 
on September 18, 1975, by the United States Postal Service in a request 
which bears, or which at any time has been included under, Postal Rate 
Commission Docket Number R76-1.''

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 3628, 3641, 3662 of this 
title.
