2. RIDE-ALONG EXPERIMENT EXTENSION CASE: DOCKET NO. MC2001-3
On September 28, 2001, the Postal Service filed a request with the PRC to extend the expiration date of the ongoing experimental Periodicals Ride-Along classification, which had been established in Docket No. MC2000-1. The Ride-Along experiment permits an enclosure included in periodicals mailings to pay a flat, per-piece rate of 10 cents. This is more affordable for mailers than the prior requirement to pay the Standard Mail rate for the piece. It is also simpler for the Postal Service to administer.

The Postal Service requested the extension, pending the issuance of a Postal Rate Commission recommendation on the permanent classification and rate changes for Ride-Along proposed in the omnibus rate case, Docket No. R2001-1. The experimental classification would have expired on February 20, 2002, unless the Postal Rate Commission recommended the requested extension.

The participants in the proceeding negotiated a settlement agreement based on the Postal Service’s proposal. On January 11, 2002, the Commission issued its Recommended Decision, essentially adopting the unopposed Stipulation and Agreement to extend the experiment. The Governors approved the recommendations in a decision dated February 4, 2002. The changes were implemented on February 24, 2002.