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Contact: Rita Rich/Neena Moorjani (202) 298-9055 Rita.Rich@Dittus.com mailto:Neena.Moorjani@Dittus.com |
Magazine Publishers Achieve Single-Digit Goal
MPA worked with USPS to reduce originally proposed 15% hike
New York, NY (November 13, 2000) -Magazine Publishers of
America (MPA) today commended the Postal Rate Commission for rolling back
the proposed 15 percent postal rate hike for periodicals to a more
manageable 9.9 percent average increase in the regular rate for
periodicals.
"We achieved our objective of a single digit rate
increase," said Nina Link, President and CEO of MPA. "The winners are
America's 166 million magazine readers."
"We knew we could reduce
the proposed 15 percent rate hike if the Postal Service worked with us to
document more than $150 million in cost-savings identified by the joint
USPS/MPA study," continued Link. "We applaud the efforts of the USPS and
we are extremely grateful to the many Representatives and Senators on both
sides of the aisle who expressed their great concern about the proposed 15
percent increase to the Postal Service."
"MPA will not stop here,"
added Link. "While more reasonable, a 9.9 percent rate hike is still
significantly above the average rate increase. MPA will continue to push
for long-term reform of the postal system, so that rates for magazine
readers will fully reflect cost savings. Magazines are willing to pay
their share, but it's highly unfair to increase postal rates so much that
they become prohibitively expensive for the consumers who subscribe to
periodicals."
Last January, the MPA Board announced a comprehensive
issue advocacy campaign to bring the rate hike for periodicals more in
line with the rate of inflation and the more modest increases proposed for
other classes of mail, as well as bring about much needed reform of the
postal system. In March, MPA launched the successful lobbying and public
relations effort to encourage the Postal Service to reduce their proposed
rate hike of 15 percent
The Magazine Publishers of America is the industry association for the consumer magazine business. Established in 1919, the MPA represents more than 220 domestic publishing companies with approximately 1,200 titles, more than 75 international companies and more than 90 associate service providers. Staffed by magazine industry specialists, the MPA is headquartered in New York City, with an office of government affairs based in Washington, D.C.
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