From nanog-bounces+bonomi=mail.r-bonomi.com@nanog.org Sun Dec 19 23:31:25 2010
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2010 21:30:45 -0800
From: JC Dill <jcdill.lists@gmail.com>
To: NANOG list <nanog@nanog.org>
Subject: Re: Some truth about Comcast - WikiLeaks style> You can send letters
Technically, this is illegal. You can send "documents" via FedEx and UPS.
> just as well as packages via the other carriers.
>
> The "USPS monopoly" on first class mail is absurd. In fact, FedEx, UPS,
> et. al could offer a $0.44 letter product if they wanted to.No, they can't.
Private Express Statutes - Wikipedia
> They could not call it mail. They could call it "first class document delivery."
>
> However, the reality is that they probably couldn't sustain their business
> at that price point.
>
> The USPS doesn't have an actual monopoly so much as ownership of
> the term Mail almost like a trademark.It's not just a trademark, it's the class of service. Just try starting
up a regular mail service, and see how far you get before they SHUT YOU
DOWN.
Actually, the gov't -won't- shut you down in that situation. They *WILL*,
however make you pay -them- the statutory "first-class" postage rate for
each such piece you carry.
Aside: put a 'personal' sealed envelope communication inside a FedEx/UPS/
whatever shimpent, and you are _supposed_ to (a) 'declare' it on the
outside of the package, and (b) put the appropriate postage stamps on
the package.
The "FedEx' 'overnight letter' (and other carrier equivalents) is a really
cute case of threading the needle between what does and does not require
first-class postage. It makes _interesting_ reading to review the actual
tariffs and express service 'rules' on what you can send via that service.