Postal rates become more expensive for small and medium-sized newspapers
The Swiss Postal Service will be allowed to increase rates for the delivery of small and medium-sized local and regional newspapers by 4.4 percent in early 2008. This move is intended to allow the Postal Service to pass on the inflation that has accumulated since 2004. The Swiss Press Association criticized the decision.
Swiss Post may increase the rates for the transportation of small and medium-sized local and regional newspapers by 4.4 percent at the beginning of 2008. This is intended to enable Swiss Post to pass on the inflation that has accumulated since 2004. The new press promotion system provides for the Confederation to reduce postal rates for regional and local newspapers with a circulation of up to 40,000 copies by a total of CHF 20 million (see
). In June, Leuenberger assured Parliament that the current rates for these papers were "guaranteed in any case". Now, however, the Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Telecommunications (DETEC) has approved Swiss Post's application for a 4.4 percent rate increase as of January 1, 2008, as confirmed by DETEC and Swiss Post in response to an SDA inquiry.
The Swiss Press Association criticized the decision, saying that it was "offensive" after the assurances given in parliament. In addition, Swiss Post emphasized that a rate increase or inflation adjustment would not be necessary in the coming years because transport costs could have been reduced by tens of millions thanks to the logistical cooperation between publishers and Swiss Post.
The response from price watchdog Rudolf Strahm to a petition from the association and affected publishers is still pending. The submission is directed against Swiss Post's announcement that it will increase the transport prices of large and medium-sized titles that will no longer be promoted in 2008 by around CHF 20 million.
). In June, Leuenberger assured Parliament that the current rates for these papers were "guaranteed in any case". Now, however, the Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Telecommunications (DETEC) has approved Swiss Post's application for a 4.4 percent rate increase as of January 1, 2008, as confirmed by DETEC and Swiss Post in response to an SDA inquiry.
The Swiss Press Association criticized the decision, saying that it was "offensive" after the assurances given in parliament. In addition, Swiss Post emphasized that a rate increase or inflation adjustment would not be necessary in the coming years because transport costs could have been reduced by tens of millions thanks to the logistical cooperation between publishers and Swiss Post.
The response from price watchdog Rudolf Strahm to a petition from the association and affected publishers is still pending. The submission is directed against Swiss Post's announcement that it will increase the transport prices of large and medium-sized titles that will no longer be promoted in 2008 by around CHF 20 million.
