[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 52 (Friday, March 16, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15605-15607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6086]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
Mobile Commerce and Personalization Promotion
AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Postal Service will revise the Mailing Standards of the
United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) 709.3
to add a new temporary promotion in the summer of 2012 for Presorted
and automation First-Class Mail[supreg] cards, letters and flats, and
Standard Mail[supreg] letters and flats bearing two-dimensional mobile
barcodes or equivalent print technology.
DATES: Effective Date: July 1, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Krista Becker at 202-268-7345, Bill
Chatfield at 202-268-7278, or mobilebarcode@usps.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 21, 2012, the Postal Service
filed a notice (R2012-6) with the Postal Regulatory Commission to
temporarily reduce the prices for certain types of First-Class Mail and
Standard Mail letters items that contain, in or on the mailpiece, a
transactional two-dimensional barcode or similar print technology such
as watermarks or tags (collectively ``Mobile Barcode'' or ``Mobile
Barcodes'') readable by consumer mobile devices. In recognition of the
success of the mobile barcode promotion in the summer of 2011, the
Postal Service offers a revised promotion from July 1, 2012, through
August 31, 2012.
In this final rule, the Postal Service provides a description of
the conditions for eligibility for the price reduction for the mobile
commerce and personalization promotion, and the revised mailing
standards to implement the promotion.
To be eligible, each Presorted and automation mailpiece in the
mailing that is listed on the postage statement for that mailing must
have a Mobile Barcode on the outside of each piece or on the contents
within each piece. When scanned, the Mobile Barcode must lead the
recipient of the mailpiece to either: a Web page that allows the
recipient to purchase a product or service, or a personalized URL that
leads to a Web page whose Web address and content are unique to the
mailpiece recipient. In both cases, the Web site must remain mobile-
optimized. Mobile Barcodes that direct consumers to Web pages that
allow payment for prior or future purchases, or encourage enrollment in
online bill payment or paperless statement services are not eligible
for the discount. Mailpieces with Mobile Barcodes that convey postage
information, destination, sender, or a machinable serial number for
security also are not eligible for the discount.
The promotion provides an upfront price reduction of 2 percent of
the eligible postage for qualifying mailpieces containing Mobile
Barcodes as described above. Qualifying mailings are Presorted and
automation mailings of First-Class Mail cards, letters, and flats, and
Standard Mail (including Nonprofit) letters and flats. Commingled, co-
mailed and combined mailings are allowed, but a separate postage
statement is required for mailpieces with Mobile Barcodes.
Eligible mailings must be accompanied by electronic documentation.
Mailings that are prepared by an entity other than the mail owner must
indicate the identity of the owner in the electronic documentation. The
electronic documentation must identify the mail owner and mail preparer
in the ``By/For'' fields for all mailings, either by Customer
Registration ID (CRID), Mailer ID (MID) or other account type that is
assigned by USPS[supreg]. Mailings of automation letters or flats must
have Intelligent Mail[supreg] barcodes. Mailpieces with
POSTNETTM barcodes will not be eligible for the price
reduction.
The price reduction will be taken off the postage amount due at the
time of mailing, and there will be no refunds or postage credit
provided under this promotion. The promotion discount does not apply to
single-piece First-Class Mail pieces including residual single-piece
First-Class Mail pieces on a postage statement for Presorted and
automation mailings.
Postage Payment Methods
Postage payment methods will be restricted to permit imprint,
metered postage, or precancelled stamps. Pieces with metered postage
must bear an exact amount of postage as stipulated by the class and
shape of mail. Affixed postage values for metered mailings will be as
follows:
First-Class Mail postcards.................................... $0.20
First-Class Mail automation and (PRSTD) machinable letters.... 0.25
First-Class Mail nonmachinable letters........................ 0.45
First-Class Mail automation and Presorted flats............... 0.35
STD Mail Regular letters..................................... 0.12
STD Mail Regular flats........................................ 0.13
STD Nonprofit letters......................................... 0.05
STD Nonprofit flats........................................... 0.06
Mailings with postage paid by metered or precancelled stamp postage
will have the percentage discount deducted from the additional postage
due, except for Value Added Refund mailings, which may include the
amount of the discount with the amount to be refunded.
The mobile barcode promotion discount cannot be combined with other
incentives, with the exception of the full-service Intelligent Mail
barcode discount.
Promotion Dates and More Information
To participate in the promotion, customers must register on the
Business
[[Page 15606]]
Customer Gateway at www.gateway.usps.com and specify which permits and
CRIDs will participate in the promotion. Registration opens May 1,
2012, and must be completed at least 24 hours prior to the first
mailing date. The Postal Service will implement the promotion and
temporary price reduction for mailings made on July 1, 2012, through
August 31, 2012. Plant-verified drop shipment (PVDS) mailings accepted
no later than August 31, 2012, may be entered at destinations through
September 15, 2012. Program requirements, including updated FAQs, are
available on the RIBBS Web site at https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=mobilebarcode or by email to mobilebarcode@usps.gov.
The Postal Service adopts the following changes to Mailing
Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual
(DMM), which is incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal
Regulations. See 39 CFR 111.1.
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111
Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.
Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is amended as follows:
PART 111--[AMENDED]
0
1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 111 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 13 U.S.C. 301-307; 18 U.S.C. 1692-
1737; 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 414, 416, 3001-3011, 3201-3219,
3403-3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, 3633, and 5001.
0
2. Revise the following sections of the Mailing Standards of the United
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM):
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail
Manual (DMM):
* * * * *
700 Special Standards
* * * * *
709 Experimental and Temporary Classifications
* * * * *
[Revise the title of 3.0 as follows:]
3.0 Mobile Commerce and Personalization Promotion
3.1 Program Description and Scope
[Revise 3.1 by incorporating the text of current items a and b into
the body of 3.1 and revising the text as follows:]
The mobile commerce and personalization promotion provides a two
percent discount for pieces mailed at Presorted and automation prices
in mailings of First-Class Mail cards, letters, and flats, and Standard
Mail (including Nonprofit) letters and flats that include a
transactional two-dimensional mobile barcode when the mailpieces meet
all the conditions in these standards. Images such as watermarks and
tags that, when scanned, direct consumers to mobile-optimized sites
under conditions in 3.0 are also eligible. Automation pieces must bear
Intelligent Mail barcodes; pieces with POSTNET barcodes are not
eligible for this promotion. The promotion is valid for mailings
entered from July 1, 2012 through August 31, 2012. Plant-verified drop
shipment (PVDS) mailings meeting all relevant standards may be accepted
at origin as late as August 31, 2012 if they are entered no later than
September 15, 2012 at the destination.
3.2 Eligibility Standards
[Revise 3.2 as follows:]
To be eligible for the two percent discount, customers must
register on Business Customer Gateway at gateway.usps.com, and specify
which permits and CRIDs will participate in the promotion. Registration
opens May 1, 2012, and must be completed at least 24 hours prior to the
first mailing date. Mailpieces must be mailed under the following
conditions:
a. A two-dimensional mobile barcode or similar image must be on
each mailpiece, either on the outside or printed on the contents of the
piece. Brief instructions or directional copy must be printed near the
barcode to instruct the recipient to scan the barcode. One-dimensional
barcodes do not qualify.
b. The mobile barcode must be readable by a mobile device and must
lead to a mobile-optimized Web site. The barcode must be relevant to
the contents of the mailpiece. Scanning the barcode must lead the
consumer to a Web page that allows the recipient a good or service on
the mobile device, or to a personalized URL that leads to a Web page
unique to an individual recipient. In either situation, the Web site
must remain mobile-optimized. Barcodes with links that direct consumers
to sites that allow payment for prior or future purchases or that
encourage enrollment in online bill payment or paperless statement
services are not eligible for the discount. Mailpieces with mobile
barcodes that convey postage information, destination, sender, or a
machinable serial number for security also are not eligible for the
discount.
c. The mailpieces with mobile barcodes must be one of the
following:
1. Presorted or automation First-Class Mail cards, letters, or
flats. Automation pieces must bear Intelligent Mail barcodes.
2. Standard Mail (including Nonprofit) letters or flats.
d. Postage must be paid by permit imprint or by affixing metered
postage or a precanceled stamp to each piece of mail; the postage
statement and mailing documentation must be submitted electronically.
Mailings that are prepared by an entity other than the mail owner must
indicate the owner's identity in the electronic documentation
(``eDoc''). The eDoc must identify the mail owner and mail preparer in
the By/For fields, either by Customer Registration ID (CRID), Mailer ID
(MID) or other account type assigned by the USPS. All Presorted and
automation pieces declared on a postage statement must contain a mobile
barcode that qualifies for the discount.
e. Mailers must provide the USPS acceptance unit with an
unaddressed sample of the mailpiece that contains a mobile barcode. If
mobile personalization is used, at least two samples must be submitted,
demonstrating that the web addresses are unique to each addressee.
Mailers must also retain, until October 31, 2012, a sample of each
mailpiece claiming a discount.
f. Other than a full-service Intelligent Mail discount (see
705.24), no other incentives apply for mailpieces claiming a discount
under this promotion.
g. Participants must agree to participate in a survey conducted
during or after the promotional period.
h. Federal government official mailings under OMAS are not eligible
for this promotion.
3.3 Discount
[Revise the first sentence of 3.3 and add new second and third
sentences as follows:]
Mailers must claim the two percent postage discount on the postage
statement at the time the statement is electronically submitted.
Mailings with postage affixed will deduct the discount amount from the
additional postage due, except that mail service providers authorized
to submit Value Added Refund (VAR) mailings may include the refund for
the incentive discount in the VAR amount. Pieces with metered postage
must bear an exact amount of postage as stipulated by the class and
shape of mail. Affixed postage values for metered mailings may be found
in the
[[Page 15607]]
Federal Register notice available at pe.usps.com. * * *
* * * * *
We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to
reflect these changes.
Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Legal Policy and Legislative Advice.
[FR Doc. 2012-6086 Filed 3-15-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P