Holly Lubart, Author at News/Media Alliance https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/author/netforum_hollynewsmediaalliance-org/ Tue, 06 Feb 2024 14:45:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 FTC Holds Additional Hearings on Negative Option Rule https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/ftc-holds-additional-hearings-on-negative-option-rule/ Tue, 06 Feb 2024 14:45:25 +0000 https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/?p=14594 The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held an informal hearing on proposed amendments to the Negative Option Rule regarding subscriptions and recurring payments, including a “click to cancel” provision on January 16.

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]]> The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held an informal hearing on proposed amendments to the Negative Option Rule regarding subscriptions and recurring payments, including a “click to cancel” provision on January 16. The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) scheduled an additional hearing on disputed issues of material fact, which was held on January 31. The Alliance joined a stakeholder letter raising concerns. The ALJ scheduled another hearing on February 14. The Alliance will continue to monitor this issue and keep you apprised of developments.

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]]> Congressional Letter Asks for Pause on Postal Increases https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/congressional-letter-asks-for-pause-on-postal-increases/ Fri, 26 Jan 2024 21:09:53 +0000 https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/?p=14578 Congressmen Emanuel Cleaver and Sam Graves, along with 17 other cosigners, sent a letter to the Postal Board of Governors on January 19 asking the USPS to pause future rate increases.

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]]> Congressmen Emanuel Cleaver and Sam Graves, along with 17 other cosigners, sent a letter to the Postal Board of Governors on January 19 asking the USPS to pause future rate increases. The letter expresses concern on the negative impact the rate increases are having on mail customers. In addition, the letter raises concerns about the service problems many members of Congress have raised with the USPS in the last year. Last September, Congressmen Gerry Connolly and Jake LaTurner sent a letter and the Coalition for a 21st Century Postal Service, of which The Alliance is a member, sent a letter last June. The Alliance continues to raise concerns with the Postal Service, Postal Regulatory Commission, USPS Office of Inspector General and others on these alarming rate increases.

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]]> USPS Market Dominant Price Increases Take Effect on January 21 https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/usps-market-dominant-price-increases-take-effect-on-january-21/ Fri, 19 Jan 2024 21:51:48 +0000 https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/?p=14561 As a reminder, the Market Dominant Price Increases go into effect on January 21. View the USPS webinar, "Market Dominant Price Change" to learn more.

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]]> As a reminder, the Market Dominant Price Increases go into effect on January 21. View the USPS webinar, “Market Dominant Price Change” to learn more.

In the PRC order approving the rate hikes, it states “the Commission shares The News/Media Alliance’s concerns about Periodicals’ costs and continues to encourage the Postal Service to take steps to address them.”

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]]> Alliances Files Comments on Rural Carrier Costs https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/alliances-files-comments-on-rural-carrier-costs/ Fri, 19 Jan 2024 21:41:43 +0000 https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/?p=14559 The News/Media Alliance  submitted comments on the Postal Service’s proposal to change the methodology for calculating rural carrier attributable costs.

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]]> The News/Media Alliance  submitted comments on the Postal Service’s proposal to change the methodology for calculating rural carrier attributable costs. The Alliance supports the use of data from its news Rural Route Evaluated Compensation System, which should reduce Periodicals costs by approximately 1 cent per piece (3 percent).

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]]> Alliance Files Additional Comments on USPS Mail Processing Plan https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/alliance-files-additional-comments-on-usps-mail-processing-plan/ Fri, 19 Jan 2024 21:35:03 +0000 https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/?p=14557 The News/Media Alliance (N/MA) submitted additional comments on the Postal Service’s Flats Plan on January 12 following the Postal Regulatory Commission’s (PRC) Order 6803 approving our motion.

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]]> The News/Media Alliance submitted additional comments on the Postal Service’s Flats Plan on January 12 following the Postal Regulatory Commission’s (PRC) Order 6803 approving our motion. The PRC identified multiple causes of inefficiencies in the collection, sorting, transportation, and delivery of flats and provided eight recommendations. The USPS plan lacks both details and analytical support needed to evaluate the plan and determine whether it addresses the inefficiencies. The Alliance encouraged the PRC to continue asking probing questions to flesh out implementation details of the plan’s initiatives and to continue evaluating whether the initiatives will have the beneficial impacts claimed by USPS. In addition, the Alliance stated that the Postal Service must be held accountable through additional enforcement.

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]]> Alliance Partner to Receive Excellence Award https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/alliance-partner-to-receive-excellence-award/ Tue, 16 Jan 2024 16:43:55 +0000 https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/?p=14533 Women in Logistics and Delivery Services (WILDS) announced it will present the third Megan J. Brennan Award for Excellence to Kate Muth, Executive Director International Mailers Advisory Group (IMAG), at a meeting to be held on January 25, 2024

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]]> Women in Logistics and Delivery Services (WILDS) announced it will present the third Megan J. Brennan Award for Excellence to Kate Muth, Executive Director International Mailers Advisory Group (IMAG), at a meeting to be held on January 25, 2024. The award, named after the seventy-fourth Postmaster General of the United States, and the only woman to hold that office, recognizes appreciation for employees of an organization, the ability to work collaboratively, and the ability to look at problems and opportunities holistically. Muth started her career as a respected editor and journalist with awards from Newsletter Publishers Association and the National Press Club. The Alliance belongs to WILDS and works closely with a wide variety of stakeholders on postal issues. WILDS is a nonprofit organization created to promote women’s leadership in the postal, delivery and logistics industries and to address the challenges women and minorities regularly face in these industries. Read the full release here.

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]]> Department of Labor Announces Final Rule on Independent Contractors https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/department-of-labor-announces-final-rule-on-independent-contractors/ Tue, 09 Jan 2024 19:06:59 +0000 https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/?p=14517 The United States Department of Labor (DOL) announced a final rule on January 9 revising its interpretation of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) classification provision to determine whether a worker may be considered an independent contractor.

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]]> The United States Department of Labor (DOL) announced a final rule on January 9 revising its interpretation of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) classification provision to determine whether a worker may be considered an independent contractor. The rule will require that workers be considered employees rather than contractors when they are “economically dependent” on a company. The final rule rescinds the 2021 Independent Contractor Rule and replaces it. It largely mirrors the agency’s October 2022 proposed rule, adopting a six-factor, “totality-of-the-circumstances” framework for analyzing worker-employer relationships.

The DOL will consider six factors when examining the relationship between a worker and a potential employer:

  • Worker’s opportunity for profit or loss.
  • Investments made by the worker and the employer.
  • Degree of permanence of the work relationship.
  • Nature and degree of control over performance of the work.
  • Extent to which the work performed is an integral part of the employer’s business.
  • Use of the worker’s skill and initiative.

The rule will be published in the Federal Register on January 10, and will take effect March 11. The Alliance filed comments on the proposed rule on December 13, 2022.

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]]> News/Media Alliance Joins Stakeholder Letter on FTC Process for Negative Option Rule https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/news-media-alliance-joins-stakeholder-letter-on-ftc-process-for-negative-option-rule/ Mon, 08 Jan 2024 17:18:25 +0000 https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/?p=14510 The News/Media Alliance joined 20 other associations in a letter on December 22 outlining concerns with the process the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) established to solicit public feedback on its proposed amendments to the Negative Option Rule regarding subscriptions and recurring payments, including a “click to cancel” provision.

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]]> The News/Media Alliance joined 20 other associations in a letter on December 22 outlining concerns with the process the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) established to solicit public feedback on its proposed amendments to the Negative Option Rule regarding subscriptions and recurring payments, including a “click to cancel” provision. In addition, the organizations request the Commission to withdraw its Final Informal Hearing notice, which is scheduled for January 16, and issue an initial hearing notice consistent with previous rulemakings and federal law. This will provide an opportunity for interested parties to participate in an informal hearing as well as to petition the Presiding Officer to consider disputed issues of material fact. The Alliance will keep you apprised of developments.

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]]> News/Media Alliance Working to Fix Illinois Direct Marketing Law https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/news-media-alliance-working-to-fix-illinois-direct-marketing-law/ Thu, 04 Jan 2024 18:18:21 +0000 https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/?p=14507 The News/Media Alliance is working with the Illinois Press Association and other stakeholders to fix a consumer protection law, which attempted to prevent deceptive marketing preying on senior citizens.

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]]> The News/Media Alliance is working with the Illinois Press Association and other stakeholders to fix a consumer protection law, which attempted to prevent deceptive marketing preying on senior citizens. The IL Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act was amended and went into effect on January 1; however, the Attorney General’s Office will not enforce the law until the legislature enacts appropriate language for what the law is intended to do. We anticipate the law will be fixed this legislative session, which runs through mid-May. The current language states that it is unlawful practice to knowingly mail or send a postcard or letter to a recipient in the State if the postcard or letter does not disclose or disclaim any and all affiliations or lack thereof. In addition, all disclosures and disclaimers appearing on a postcard or letter must be conspicuously located at the top of the postcard or letter, be easily readable in clear and unambiguous language, and be printed in at least 14-point bold-face font in a black-outlined box. The Alliance will keep you apprised of developments.

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]]> FAQ: Newspaper Postal Delivery https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/faq-newspaper-postal-delivery/ Tue, 02 Jan 2024 17:43:27 +0000 https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/?p=14498 Sorry, but you do not have permission to view this content.

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