USPS Office of Inspector General

The U.S. Postal Service we know today looks much different than it did a century ago. Its delivery network — including curbside mailboxes and delivery vehicles — was originally designed to deliver letters.

With the explosive growth of ecommerce over recent years, the Postal Service finds itself focusing more on delivering packages to mailboxes and front doors across the country. The Postal Service delivered about 6 billion packages in 2019, doubling its volume over a decade.

Even though the Internet has only been a part of our lives for a relatively short time, its transformative power is virtually unrivaled in modern history. It’s hard to imagine what life would be like without it.

Unfortunately, many Americans don’t have to imagine. According to the Federal Communications Commission, more than 18 million Americans don’t have access to high-speed Internet service. These “have-nots” constitute the so-called “digital divide” and are shut out of the myriad of economic, educational, and social benefits the Internet has to offer.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, the importance of the Postal Service has never been so evident. But did you know the Postal Service historically has played an important role in our nation’s response to natural disasters and emergencies?