---
kind: "section"
citation: "39 U.S.C. § 102"
title: "39"
title_heading: "Postal Service"
number: "102"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/39/102"
units:
  - "Part I — General"
  - "Chapter 1 — Postal Policy and Definitions"
---

# §102. Definitions


As used in this title—

- (1) “Postal Service” means the United States Postal Service established by [section 201 of this title](/usc/39/201.md);
- (2) “Board of [Governors](#3)”, and “Board”, unless the context otherwise requires, mean the Board of [Governors](#3) established under [section 202 of this title](/usc/39/202.md);
- (3) “Governors” means the 9 members of the Board of Governors appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, under [section 202(a) of this title](/usc/39/202.md?p=a);
- (4) “Inspector General” means the Inspector General appointed under [section 202(e) of this title](/usc/39/202.md?p=e);
- (5) “[postal service](#1)” refers to the delivery of letters, printed matter, or mailable packages, including acceptance, collection, sorting, transportation, or other functions ancillary thereto;
- (6) “product” means a [postal service](#1) with a distinct cost or market characteristic for which a rate or rates are, or may reasonably be, applied;
- (7) “rates”, as used with respect to [products](#6), includes fees for [postal services](#1);
- (8) “market-dominant [product](#6)” or “[product](#6) in the market-dominant category of mail” means a [product](#6) subject to subchapter I of [chapter 36](/usc/39/chptIV/ch36.md);
- (9) “competitive [product](#6)” or “[product](#6) in the competitive category of mail” means a [product](#6) subject to subchapter II of [chapter 36](/usc/39/chptIV/ch36.md); and
- (10) “year”, as used in [chapter 36](/usc/39/chptIV/ch36.md) (other than subchapters I and VI thereof), means a fiscal year.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 720; Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(f) [title VI, § 662(a)(2)], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–314, 3009–379; Pub. L. 109–435, title I, § 101, Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 3199.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2006—Pars. (5) to (10). Pub. L. 109–435 added pars. (5) to (10).

1996—Par. (4). Pub. L. 104–208 added par. (4).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective July 1, 1971, pursuant to Resolution No. 71–9 of the Board of Governors. See section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as a note preceding section 101 of this title.