49 U.S.C. § 41901 — General authority

(a) Title 39. The U.S. Postal Service can arrange for airlines to carry mail between U.S. states under section 5402(e) and (f) of title 39, and to and from other countries under section 5402(b) and (c) of title 39. (b) Authority To Prescribe Prices. Except as section 5402 of title 39 provides otherwise, the Secretary of Transportation -- either on the Secretary's own initiative or when the Postal Service or an airline asks -- must set and publish: (1) after notice and a chance for a hearing on the record, fair prices for each airline certified to carry mail between places in Alaska, covering the facilities used for that mail and the related services; (2) the method used to calculate each airline's or group of airlines' prices -- whether by mile flown, pound-mile, weight, space, or some combination; and (3) when those prices take effect. (c) Other Transportation. When setting these prices, the Secretary can include transportation other than by aircraft, if it's either incidental to flying the mail or needed because of an aviation emergency. (d) Authority To Prescribe Different Prices. Because conditions differ between airlines and types of service, the Secretary can set different prices for different airlines or classes of airlines, and for different classes of service. In setting a price, the Secretary must consider, among other things: (1) whether the airline can hold its mail certificate only by providing the necessary facilities and adequate service; and (2) legal standards for the character and quality of the service. (e) Statements on Prices. Anyone petitioning for a price under this section must say, in the petition, what price they believe is reasonable. (f) Statements on Required Services. In every proceeding under this section, the Postal Service must put into the record a full statement of what services it wants from the airline, plus any other information the Secretary considers relevant.