Summary: Several competitors of the U.S. Postal Service believe that the law that allows the Postal Service sole access to American mailboxes is unfair and should be repealed. The Postal Service contends that the "mailbox restriction" is needed to protect postal revenue, facilitate efficient and secure delivery of mail, and guard the privacy of postal customers. A GAO survey found that 82 percent of adults oppose allowing just anyone to place material in mailboxes, although 58 percent favored allowing express delivery companies to use the boxes for their deliveries. Fewer adults favored allowing companies to leave other types of material in mailboxes, such as utility bills; magazines or newspapers; and catalogs, coupons, or ads. This report discusses (1) the history of the mailbox restriction; (2) public attitudes toward the mailbox restriction; (3) the views of the U.S. Postal Service, competitors, major mailers, postal labor organizations, the Justice Department, and the Postal Rate Commission on the mailbox restriction; and (4) the experiences of the United States and other countries regarding mail theft and the need for a mailbox restriction.
