(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Commission shall conduct proceedings in conformance with the notice and comment procedures of this subpart whenever:

(1) The Commission is considering the issuance, amendment, or repeal of any Commission rule or regulation;

(2) The Commission is seeking information to inform potential future Commission action with or without the issuance of a final decision; or

(3) The Commission in the exercise of its discretion determines it is appropriate.

(b) Unless the Commission orders otherwise, this subpart shall not apply to proceedings governed by subpart F of this part (Proceedings with an Opportunity for a Hearing on the Record). This subpart also shall not apply to the following parts of subchapter D of chapter III (Special Rules of Practice for Specific Proceeding Types) of this title: part 3020 (Rules Applicable to Requests for Changes in the Nature of Postal Services), part 3021 (Rules for Appeals of Postal Service Determinations to Close or Consolidate Post Offices), part 3022 (Rules for Complaints) of this chapter, part 3023 (Rules for Rate or Service Inquiries), and part 3024 (Special Rules for Complaints Alleging Violations of 39 U.S.C. 404a). This subpart shall not apply to any proceeding governed by §§ 3041.325, 3041.505(f), and 3041.505(g) (Competitive Negotiated Service Agreements) of this chapter.

(a) The Commission may on its own motion initiate a proceeding under this subpart by issuing a notice and order initiating proceeding pursuant to § 3010.151.

(b)(1) Any person may request the initiation of a proceeding under this subpart by filing a petition with the Commission pursuant to the filing requirements of subpart B of this part. The petition shall:

(i) Provide the name, address, phone number and other pertinent contact information of the requesting person;

(ii) Identify the subject matter of the petition;

(iii) Provide specific proposals, including specific language, in regard to the subject matter of the petition;

(iv) Provide all facts, views, arguments, and data deemed to support the action requested; and

(v) Describe the impact of the proposal on the person filing the petition, the Postal Service, the mailing community, and the Commission, as applicable.

(2) Upon consideration of the petition, the Commission in its discretion may initiate a proceeding under this subpart by issuing a notice and order initiating proceeding pursuant to § 3010.151, reject the petition, or defer a decision whether to grant or reject the petition. The Commission shall provide an explanation for the rejection or delay in consideration of any petition.

(c) Subparts A, B, C, and D of this part apply to the initiation and conduct of proceedings under this subpart E.

(a) Comments. The primary method for participating in notice and comment proceedings is through the filing of comments in accordance with § 3010.140. The notice and order initiating proceeding filed pursuant to § 3010.151 shall provide the deadline for filing comments, and if provided for, reply comments.

(b) Information requests. The Commission, Chairman, or presiding officer may in its or their own discretion or, if requested by an interested person by motion, issue information requests pursuant to § 3010.170.

(c) Technical conferences. The Commission, Chairman, or presiding officer may in its or their own discretion or, if requested by an interested person by motion, convene one or more off the record technical conferences to consider the matters being considered.

(d) Oral presentations. The Commission, Chairman, or presiding officer may in its or their own discretion or, if requested by an interested person by motion, permit oral presentations regarding the matters being considered.

(e) Other procedures. The Commission, the Chairman, or presiding officer may order additional procedures as appropriate.

(a) The Commission shall consider all relevant comments and material of record before taking any final action. Any final decision which includes the issuance, amendment, or repeal of a rule or regulation, shall, at a minimum, publish the final rule or regulation in the Federal Register.

(b) Any issuance, amendment, or repeal of a rule or regulation will be made effective not less than 30 days from the time it is published in the Federal Register except as otherwise specified in paragraph (c) of this section. If the order issuing, amending, or repealing a rule does not specify an effective date, the effective date shall be 30 days after the date on which the Commission's order is published in the Federal Register, unless a later date is required by statute or is otherwise specified by the Commission.

(c) For good cause shown by publication with the rule, any issuance, amendment, or repeal of a rule may be made effective in less than 30 days from the time the Commission's order is published in the Federal Register.

(d) Rules involving any military, naval or foreign affairs function of the United States; matters relating to agency management or personnel, public property, loans, grants, benefits or contracts; rules granting or recognizing exemption or relieving restriction; rules of organization, procedure or practice; or interpretative rules; and statements of policy may be made effective without regard to the 30-day requirement.