Postal Regulatory Authority

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Postal Regulation Authority (PostReg)
Headquarters Bern
Chief Marc Furrer
Employees 9 (2009)
At sight Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communication
Subordinate offices Post Offices Commission
Website www.postreg.admin.ch

The Postal Regulation Authority ( PostReg ; French Autorité de régulation postale , Italian Autorità di regolazione postale ) was a professionally independent authority in the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communication (DETEC) . It existed from January 1, 2004 to October 1, 2012. It was replaced by PostCom .

The authority monitored the entire Swiss postal market and ensured that the basic services were offered efficiently, in good quality and affordable for everyone. PostReg also dealt with complaints from citizens about the universal service and ensured fair and functioning competition in the emerging postal market, for example by checking compliance with the industry's standard working conditions or the prohibition of cross-subsidization. The authority prepared the decisions of the Federal Council and DETEC, ran the office of the Post Offices Commission and represented Switzerland in international postal organizations.

Regulation of the postal market

primary care

The universal service includes the nationwide supply of postal services as well as payment transactions. These had to be done according to the same principles in good quality and at reasonable prices. Swiss Post is obliged to offer all basic services. This included the transport of addressed letters (up to 1 kilogram), parcels up to 20 kilograms as well as newspapers and magazines with subscription. Payment transactions included deposits, withdrawals and transfers. The basic service was divided into reserved services (monopoly) and non-reserved services.

Since January 1, 2004, the PostReg has performed regulatory tasks in the Swiss postal system. It was administratively and partly also technically subordinate to the DETEC General Secretariat. Their job included quality assurance in the area of ​​basic services.

In addition, PostReg guaranteed that compliance with the principles of cost and performance accounting and the prohibition of cross-subsidization are subjected to an independent review. PostReg handled regulatory reports on the universal service, prepared decisions on postal traffic for the attention of DETEC and implemented them.

Main functions of regulation

In accordance with the Postal Ordinance (VPG) and the European environment, the PostReg can be divided into three main functions:

  • Ensuring a comprehensive and high quality basic service at reasonable prices;
  • Ensuring functioning and fair competition, in particular through the implementation of the concession system;
  • Market observation and supervision.

The main features of the tasks of postal regulation were defined by the Federal Council and Parliament as a whole on the further development of the Swiss postal system and regulated by the Federal Council in the Postal Ordinance. With 12 employees (10.4 positions), the postal regulatory authority PostReg on the one hand performed the regulatory tasks, on the other hand, similar to the activities of a federal office, processed sovereign questions in the postal system. PostReg was therefore more than just a market regulator.

As a professionally independent regulatory authority

  • PostReg ensured independent quality control of the universal service and access to it;
  • she ensured that an independent review of compliance with the principles of cost and performance accounting and the prohibition of cross-subsidization is carried out;
  • she handled regulatory ads related to universal service.

PostReg also performed the following tasks in the area of ​​regulation:

  • it carried out the licensing system (however, DETEC is the licensing authority);
  • it prepared price decisions for the department in the monopoly area;
  • it evaluated the gradual market opening.

In addition, PostReg prepared and implemented decisions by DETEC and the Federal Council in a line function. She represented Switzerland's interests in international organizations in the postal sector (UPU Universal Postal Union, CERP, etc.). She was also responsible for managing the Post Offices Commission. PostReg was also obliged to publish an annual activity report, which provided information in particular on the main developments in the postal sector and especially in the universal service.

management

Marc Furrer was the overall head of PostReg, represented the authority externally and was President of the Federal Communications Commission (ComCom). Michel Noguet was the internal head of PostReg and deputy to Marc Furrer. There were currently nine employees at PostReg.

See also

Web links

Coordinates: 46 ° 56 '30.3 "  N , 7 ° 26' 10.3"  E ; CH1903:  599814  /  198961