Postal Service asks regulators for opinion on changing to 5-day delivery

Post office files seeks opinion on 5-day service

WASHINGTON — The Postal Service is asking regulators for an opinion on dropping delivery service on Saturdays.

Plagued by loss of mail business to the electronic media, the post office was required to send its request to the independent Postal Regulatory Commission electronically.

The commission posted the request on its Web site late Tuesday afternoon.

The post office said last week it would request the opinion on its plan to drop Saturday deliveries to homes and businesses to save money. Post offices would remain open on Saturdays.

Congress would also have to approve the change, but it likely to give great weight to the regulatory commission’s response.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Postal Service may have provided a clue is regulators for an opinion on dropping delivery service on Saturdays.

Plagued by loss of mail business to the electronic media, the post office was required to send its request to the independent Postal Regulatory Commission electronically.

The commission posted the request on its Web site late Tuesday afternoon.

The post office said last week it would request the opinion on its plan to drop Saturday deliveries to homes and businesses to save money. Post offices would remain open on Saturdays.

Congress would also have to approve the change, but it likely to give great weight to the regulatory commission’s response.