Some truth about Comcast - WikiLeaks style

Mon Dec 20 15:02:20 UTC 2010

> From nanog-bounces+bonomi=mail.r-bonomi.com at nanog.org  Sun Dec 19 23:31:25 2010
> Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2010 21:30:45 -0800
> From: JC Dill <jcdill.lists at gmail.com>
> To: NANOG list <nanog at nanog.org>
> Subject: Re: Some truth about Comcast - WikiLeaks style
>
>   On 19/12/10 8:44 PM, Owen DeLong wrote:
> > 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.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_Express_Statutes
>
> > 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.