The U.S. Postal Service, which expects to lose $7 billion this year, could pick up more than a bit of spare change by helping the Federal Communications Commission and the National Telecommunications Administration conduct a national analysis of spectrum usage, according to the FCC's National Broadband Plan, which it recently sent Congress.
FCC said the national inventory of spectrum usage would require sniffing the airwaves with spectrum analyzers mounted on postal vehicles, and it put the cost at $15 million.
That won't come close to erasing the Postal Service's deficit, estimated to hit $238 billion by 2020, but, hey, every million bucks here and there counts when you are struggling to get by.
COMMENTS
I agree. Close the small offices that are leased, move them to larger postal owned facilities and adjust the routes the mail carriers travel. Instant savings. No lease payments, fuel cost drastically reduced, and faster mail delivery. Also they should charge a fee for the supplies ordered through their service. Currently they ship boxes, tape, and labels for free. Many people use these supplies for purposes other than they were intended.
Ron Poole 03/23/10 09:22 am ET
USPS is losing business (and thus postage sales) because of the internet. They are using the internet to sell postage and for customers to mail packages. But I think they could also embrace the internet change by offering internet cafe services at the local postal offices.
Vicky H 03/22/10 10:18 am ET
It makes sense. What I think, is USPS should set up an Email system, which could utilize your home address, thus insuring content, and security. then charge a small fee for this service.
Richard Gebbie 03/22/10 09:34 am ET
I have filed several charges with the fcc and there policy
is that they dont investigate. The money would be better
spent paying people to investigate charges rather then
test ideas. Another example of a govt agency that doesnt do much when charges are filed.
guy potter 03/21/10 05:15 pm ET
The Post Office doesn't need to be in the Hole at all. As a matter of fact they could be way in the BLACK if they would stop making dope deal's for BULK MAIL. The normal customer pays 44 cents for a stamp. But a bulk mail customer can go as low as 10.5 cents per letter. Bulk mail makes up almost 60% of the mail that passes thru the system. They also pay rent / up kept on a great deal of their buildings many of which are empty. When was the last time you saw a Post Office move? By changing two things they’re in the black... They are supposed to be a business no being carried by the government.
Steve Grant 03/20/10 10:09 am ET
South Korea has it all over the US in broadband access. To save face, the (unconstitutional) FCC has thought of national broadband plan , which will put faster internet and phone access, as well as rural internet access at insane speeds in more hands, and even save people a payday advances or small installment loans worth every year. It may also create more jobs, and the aim is to possess a national broadband network.
National Broadband Plan 03/20/10 05:03 am ET
South Korea has it all over the US in broadband access. To save face, the (unconstitutional) FCC has thought of national broadband plan , which will put faster internet and phone access, as well as rural internet access at insane speeds in more hands, and even save people a payday advances or small installment loans worth every year. It may also create more jobs, and the aim is to possess a national broadband network.
National Broadband Plan 03/20/10 05:02 am ET
IF they're struggling & losing money, why the $1.2B FSS contract with northrup grumman?
What other organization pretends to lose billions, but yet pays out bonuses?
Someone is confusing struggling with wasting.
Struggling or Wasting? 03/20/10 12:35 am ET