-CITE- 39 USC CHAPTER 1 - POSTAL POLICY AND DEFINITIONS 01/03/2007 -EXPCITE- TITLE 39 - POSTAL SERVICE PART I - GENERAL CHAPTER 1 - POSTAL POLICY AND DEFINITIONS -HEAD- CHAPTER 1 - POSTAL POLICY AND DEFINITIONS -MISC1- Sec. 101. Postal policy. 102. Definitions. -End- -CITE- 39 USC Sec. 101 01/03/2007 -EXPCITE- TITLE 39 - POSTAL SERVICE PART I - GENERAL CHAPTER 1 - POSTAL POLICY AND DEFINITIONS -HEAD- Sec. 101. Postal policy -STATUTE- (a) The United States Postal Service shall be operated as a basic and fundamental service provided to the people by the Government of the United States, authorized by the Constitution, created by Act of Congress, and supported by the people. The Postal Service shall have as its basic function the obligation to provide postal services to bind the Nation together through the personal, educational, literary, and business correspondence of the people. It shall provide prompt, reliable, and efficient services to patrons in all areas and shall render postal services to all communities. The costs of establishing and maintaining the Postal Service shall not be apportioned to impair the overall value of such service to the people. (b) The Postal Service shall provide a maximum degree of effective and regular postal services to rural areas, communities, and small towns where post offices are not self-sustaining. No small post office shall be closed solely for operating at a deficit, it being the specific intent of the Congress that effective postal services be insured to residents of both urban and rural communities. (c) As an employer, the Postal Service shall achieve and maintain compensation for its officers and employees comparable to the rates and types of compensation paid in the private sector of the economy of the United States. It shall place particular emphasis upon opportunities for career advancements of all officers and employees and the achievement of worthwhile and satisfying careers in the service of the United States. (d) Postal rates shall be established to apportion the costs of all postal operations to all users of the mail on a fair and equitable basis. (e) In determining all policies for postal services, the Postal Service shall give the highest consideration to the requirement for the most expeditious collection, transportation, and delivery of important letter mail. (f) In selecting modes of transportation, the Postal Service shall give highest consideration to the prompt and economical delivery of all mail and shall make a fair and equitable distribution of mail business to carriers providing similar modes of transportation services to the Postal Service. Modern methods of transporting mail by containerization and programs designed to achieve overnight transportation to the destination of important letter mail to all parts of the Nation shall be a primary goal of postal operations. (g) In planning and building new postal facilities, the Postal Service shall emphasize the need for facilities and equipment designed to create desirable working conditions for its officers and employees, a maximum degree of convenience for efficient postal services, proper access to existing and future air and surface transportation facilities, and control of costs to the Postal Service. -SOURCE- (Pub. L. 91-375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 719.) -MISC1- EFFECTIVE DATE Section effective Jan. 20, 1971, pursuant to Resolution No. 71-10 of the Board of Governors. See section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91-375, set out as a note preceding this section. SHORT TITLE OF 2006 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 109-435, Sec. 1(a), Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 3198, provided that: "This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act'." SHORT TITLE OF 2004 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 108-447, div. J, title III, Sec. 301(a), Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3350, provided that: "This title [amending section 5402 of this title] may be cited as the 'Rural Air Service Improvement Act of 2004'." SHORT TITLE OF 2003 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 108-86, Sec. 1, Sept. 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 1052, provided that: "This Act [amending section 1004 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 1004 of this title] may be cited as the 'Postmasters Equity Act of 2003'." SHORT TITLE OF 2002 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 107-206, title III, Sec. 3002(a), Aug. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 910, provided that: "This title [amending section 5402 of this title, section 2703 of Title 19, Customs Duties, section 1626 of Title 43, Public Lands, and section 41901 of Title 49, Transportation, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 5402 of this title, section 112 of Title 1, General Provisions, and sections 2703 and 3203 of Title 19] may be cited as the 'Rural Service Improvement Act of 2002'." SHORT TITLE OF 2001 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 107-67, title VI, Sec. 650(a), Nov. 12, 2001, 115 Stat. 556, provided that: "This section [amending section 414 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 414 of this title] may be cited as the 'Breast Cancer Research Stamp Act of 2001'." SHORT TITLE OF 2000 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 106-253, Sec. 1, July 28, 2000, 114 Stat. 634, provided that: "This Act [enacting section 416 of this title, amending section 414 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 414 and 416 of this title] may be cited as the 'Semipostal Authorization Act'." SHORT TITLE OF 1998 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 105-241, Sec. 1, Sept. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 1572, provided that: "This Act [enacting section 415 of this title and amending sections 404 and 3622 of this title, section 7902 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, and sections 652 and 668 of Title 29, Labor] may be cited as the 'Postal Employees Safety Enhancement Act'." SHORT TITLE OF 1997 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 105-41, Sec. 1, Aug. 13, 1997, 111 Stat. 1119, provided that: "This Act [enacting section 414 of this title and provisions set out as a note under section 414 of this title] may be cited as the 'Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act'." SHORT TITLE OF 1993 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 103-123, title VII, Sec. 701(a), Oct. 28, 1993, 107 Stat. 1267, provided that: "This title [enacting section 3642 of this title, amending sections 410, 2401, 3202, 3601, 3625 to 3627, and 3683 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 2401, 3621, 3626, and 3683 of this title] may be cited as the 'Revenue Forgone Reform Act'." SHORT TITLE OF 1976 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 94-421, Sec. 1, Sept. 24, 1976, 90 Stat. 1303, provided: "That this Act [amending sections 404, 2003, 2401, 3601, 3604, 3622, 3623, 3624, 3626, 3641, and 3683 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 404, 3601, 3624, 3641, and 3661 of this title] may be cited as the 'Postal Reorganization Act Amendments of 1976'." SHORT TITLE Pub. L. 91-375, Sec. 1, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 719, provided: "That this Act [revising this title, enacting sections 1735 to 1737 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, amending section 356 of Title 2, The Congress, section 19 of Title 3, The President, sections 101, 104, 2104, 2105, 3104, 3304a, 4301, 5102, 5303, 5304, 5312, 5314 to 5316, 5541, 6301, 6323, 7101, and 8344 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, sections 24 seventh par., 1701d-3, and 1701e of Title 12, Banks and Banking, section 637 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, section 460l-1 of Title 16, Conservation, section 8 of former Title 17, Copyrights, sections 12, 440, 441, 500, 501, 612, 876, 877, 1114, 1303, 1341, 1342, 1463, 1696, 1699, 1703, 1704, 1707, 1709 to 1713, 1715, 1716, 1716A, 1717, 1718, 1721 to 1725, 1729, 1730, 1733, and 3061 of Title 18, section 611 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse, sections 72 fifth par., 129, and 724a of former Title 31, Money and Finance, sections 356, 474, 615, 723, and 724 of former Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, and section 2942 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, repealing section 3327 of Title 5 and section 1028 of former Title 31, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 201, 601, 1001, 1003, 1201, 2002, 2004, 3010, and 3621 of this title] may be cited as the 'Postal Reorganization Act'." -End- -CITE- 39 USC Sec. 102 01/03/2007 -EXPCITE- TITLE 39 - POSTAL SERVICE PART I - GENERAL CHAPTER 1 - POSTAL POLICY AND DEFINITIONS -HEAD- Sec. 102. Definitions -STATUTE- As used in this title - (1) "Postal Service" means the United States Postal Service established by section 201 of this title; (2) "Board of Governors", and "Board", unless the context otherwise requires, mean the Board of Governors established under section 202 of this title; (3) "Governors" means the 9 members of the Board of Governors appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, under section 202(a) of this title; (4) "Inspector General" means the Inspector General appointed under section 202(e) of this title; (5) "postal service" refers to the delivery of letters, printed matter, or mailable packages, including acceptance, collection, sorting, transportation, or other functions ancillary thereto; (6) "product" means a postal service with a distinct cost or market characteristic for which a rate or rates are, or may reasonably be, applied; (7) "rates", as used with respect to products, includes fees for postal services; (8) "market-dominant product" or "product in the market- dominant category of mail" means a product subject to subchapter I of chapter 36; (9) "competitive product" or "product in the competitive category of mail" means a product subject to subchapter II of chapter 36; and (10) "year", as used in chapter 36 (other than subchapters I and VI thereof), means a fiscal year. -SOURCE- (Pub. L. 91-375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 720; Pub. L. 104-208, div. A, title I, Sec. 101(f) [title VI, Sec. 662(a)(2)], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009-314, 3009-379; Pub. L. 109-435, title I, Sec. 101, Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 3199.) -MISC1- AMENDMENTS 2006 - Pars. (5) to (10). Pub. L. 109-435 added pars. (5) to (10). 1996 - Par. (4). Pub. L. 104-208 added par. (4). EFFECTIVE DATE Section 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. -End-