
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: 39USC3661]

 
                        TITLE 39--POSTAL SERVICE
 
                          PART IV--MAIL MATTER
 
             CHAPTER 36--POSTAL RATES, CLASSES, AND SERVICES
 
              SUBCHAPTER IV--POSTAL SERVICES AND COMPLAINTS
 
Sec. 3661. Postal services

    (a) The Postal Service shall develop and promote adequate and 
efficient postal services.
    (b) When the Postal Service determines that there should be a change 
in the nature of postal services which will generally affect service on 
a nationwide or substantially nationwide basis, it shall submit a 
proposal, within a reasonable time prior to the effective date of such 
proposal, to the Postal Rate Commission requesting an advisory opinion 
on the change.
    (c) The Commission shall not issue its opinion on any proposal until 
an opportunity for hearing on the record under sections 556 and 557 of 
title 5 has been accorded to the Postal Service, users of the mail, and 
an officer of the Commission who shall be required to represent the 
interests of the general public. The opinion shall be in writing and 
shall include a certification by each Commissioner agreeing with the 
opinion that in his judgment the opinion conforms to the policies 
established under this title.

(Pub. L. 91-375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 764.)


                             Effective Date

    Subchapter effective July 1, 1971, pursuant to Resolution No. 71-9 
of the Board of Governors. See section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91-375, set out 
as a note preceding section 101 of this title.


                      Commission on Postal Service

    Pub. L. 94-421, Sec. 7, Sept. 24, 1976, 90 Stat. 1307, related to 
establishment, appointment and compensation of personnel and officers of 
a Commission on Postal Service and its duty to determine public service 
aspects of Postal Service and extent to which public service aspects of 
Postal Service are to be supported by appropriations, to study rate 
making, and to review service levels and electronic fund transfers and 
communication techniques, with appropriate recommendations to be 
transmitted to President and Congress on or before Mar. 15, 1977, 60 
days after which transmittal it was to cease to exist.
