The United States Postal Service (USPS) handles cards, letters, and packages sent from sea to shining sea. Overall, the USPS delivers more than 200 billion pieces of mail a year to some 141 million addresses. The independent government agency relies on postage and fees to fund operations. Though it has a monopoly on delivering nonurgent letters, the USPS faces competition for services such as package delivery. The US president appoints nine of the 11 members of the board that oversees the USPS. The presidential appointees select the postmaster general, who, along with the deputy postmaster general, is a board member.