[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 17, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52353-52354]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-22475]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
New Mailing Standards for Domestic Mailing Services Products
AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: On October 10, 2018, the Postal Service filed a notice of
mailing services price adjustments with the Postal Regulatory
Commission (PRC), effective January 27, 2019. This proposed rule
contains the revisions to Mailing Standards of the United States Postal
Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) that we would adopt to
implement related regulatory changes coincident with the price
adjustments.
DATES: Submit comments on or before November 16, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the manager, Product
Classification, U.S. Postal Service[supreg], 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW,
Room 4446, Washington, DC 20260-5015. You may inspect and photocopy all
written comments, by appointment only, at USPS[supreg] Headquarters
Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, 11th Floor North, Washington, DC,
20260. These records are available for review Monday through Friday,
between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., by calling 202-268-2906. Send
email comments, including the name and address of the commenter, to
[email protected], with a subject line of ``January 2019
Domestic Mailing Services Proposal.'' Faxed comments are not accepted.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacqueline Erwin at 202-268-2158, or
Alexander Petr at 202-268-4116.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposed prices will be available under
Docket No. R2019-1 on the PRC website at www.prc.gov.
The proposed rule includes changes to prices, mail classification
updates, product simplification efforts, and a few minor revisions to
the DMM.
Periodicals Address Corrections for Alternate Addressed Nonsubscriber-
Nonrequester Copies
Currently, Periodicals publishers who mail alternate addressed
nonsubscriber-nonrequester copies receive and pay for manual address
corrections or Address Correction Service (ACSTM).
Undeliverable-as-addressed Periodicals do not receive forwarding
service and are provided address-related notices via PS Form 3579,
Notice of Undeliverable Periodical, or electronic ACS.
The Postal Service is proposing to introduce a specifically
tailored Periodicals Service Type ID (STID) for publishers to include
in the Intelligent Mail[supreg] barcode, (IMb[supreg]) along with
authorized alternative addressing formats. If adopted, publishers will
no longer receive address-related notices via PS Form 3579 or
electronic ACS, if the address is vacant or not deliverable.
Publications processed by the Postal Automated Redirection System,
Computerized Forwarding System, or Remote Forwarding System will be
discarded without notice to the publisher.
Correcting BRM/QBRM Postage Anomaly
Currently, postage for basic and high volume Business Reply Mail
(BRM) is based on the applicable retail ``metered'' letter price. This
has resulted in basic and high volume BRM customers paying lower
postage prices than QBRM customers.
The Postal Service is proposing to correct the anomaly by applying
the retail ``stamped'' letter price to basic and high volume BRM. To
offset the postage increase, basic and high volume BRM per piece fees
are proposed to decrease from the current prices.
Picture Permit Imprint Indicia
Currently, a picture permit imprint indicia may be used to pay
postage and extra service fees on commercial mailings of full-service
automation First-Class Mail[supreg] or USPS Marketing Mail[supreg]
postcards, letters, or flats. Mailpieces bearing a picture permit
imprint indicia must be prepared as IMb full-service automation
mailings.
The Postal Service is proposing to eliminate the Full-Service
requirement on commercial mailings of First-Class Mail or USPS
Marketing Mail postcards, letters, or flats using picture permit
imprint indicia.
Small Parcel Forwarding Fee
Currently, shippers do not have an ACS option for receiving
forwarding of small parcels.
The Postal Service is proposing to add a ``small parcel''
forwarding fee for USPS Marketing Mail parcels, similar to the USPS
Marketing Mail letter-size and flat-size pieces forwarding fees. The
forwarding fee would only apply for pieces endorsed ``Change Service
Requested'' under ``Option 2'' (ACS only), that are forwarded due to an
active change-of-address. All other undeliverable pieces will be
discarded and an electronic ACS notice is provided in both cases.
Overweight Item Charge
As discussed in the August 29, 2018, Federal Register final rule
(83 FR 43985-43986), the Postal Service is introducing a charge for
items identified in the postal network that exceed the 70 pound weight
limit for Postal Service products, and are therefore nonmailable.
Overweight items identified in the postal network will be assessed a
$100 charge payable before release of the item, unless the item is
picked up at the same facility where it was entered.
Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(b), (c)) regarding proposed
rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), the Postal Service invites public
comments on the following proposed revisions to Mailing Standards of
the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual
[[Page 52354]]
(DMM), 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 proposed to be 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 Mailing Standards of the United
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), as follows:
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail
Manual (DMM)
* * * * *
500 Additional Mailing Services
* * * * *
505 Return Services
1.0 Business Reply Mail (BRM)
1.1 BRM Postage and Fees
1.1.1 Basic BRM
[Revise the first sentence of the introductory text in 1.1.1 to
read as follows:]
For basic BRM, a permit holder is required to pay an annual permit
fee as provided under 1.2 and a per piece fee under 1.1.7 in addition
to the applicable Retail First-Class Mail (stamped letters), First-
Class Package Service -- Retail, or Priority Mail postage for each
returned piece.* * *
* * * * *
1.1.3 Basic Qualified BRM (QBRM)
[Revise the first sentence of the introductory text in 1.1.3 to
read as follows:]
For basic qualified BRM, a permit holder is required to pay an
account maintenance fee under 1.1.8, and a per piece fee under 1.1.7 in
addition to the applicable retail letter or card First-Class Mail
(stamped letters) postage for each returned piece.* * *
* * * * *
507 Mailer Services
1.0 Treatment of Mail
* * * * *
1.5 Treatment for Ancillary Services by Class of Mail
* * * * *
1.5.2 Periodicals
Undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) Periodicals publications
(including publications pending Periodicals authorization) are treated
as described in Exhibit 1.5.2, with these additional conditions:
* * * * *
[Revise the text in items 1.5.2b and 1.5.2c to read as follows:]
b. Publications with an alternative addressing format under 602.3.0
are delivered to the address when possible. Forwarding service is not
provided for such mail.
c. Address correction service is mandatory for all Periodicals
publications, except when publishers use alternative addressing and an
IMb with proper STID. An address correction service fee must be paid
for each notice issued.
* * * * *
1.5.3 USPS Marketing Mail and Parcel Select Lightweight
* * * * *
Exhibit 1.5.3 Treatment of Undeliverable USPS Marketing Mail and Parcel
Select Lightweight
Mailer Endorsement USPS Treatment of UAA Pieces
* * * * *
``Change Service Requested'' 1, 4
* * * * *
[Revise the parenthetical for ``Option 2'' to read as follows:]
(Available via ACS only; for USPS Marketing Mail (all shapes) and
Parcel Select Lightweight)
* * * * *
If change-of-address order on file:
[Revise the text under ``If change-of-address order on file:'' for
``Months 1 through 12'' to read as follows:]
Months 1 through 12: Piece forwarded; postage due charged to the
mailer at applicable Forwarding Fee based on the piece shape for USPS
Marketing Mail or Parcel Select Lightweight; separate notice of new
address provided (electronic ACS fee charged).
* * * * *
600 Basic Standards For All Mailing Services
* * * * *
602 Addressing
* * * * *
3.0 Use of Alternative Addressing
3.1 General Information
* * * * *
3.1.3 Treatment
[Revise the third sentence of the introductory text in 3.1.3 to
read as follows:]
* * * Periodicals publishers are notified when a mailpiece with an
occupant or exceptional address format is undeliverable for solely
address-related reasons, (except publishers using an IMb with proper
STID on non-subscriber or non-requester copies under 207.7.0.* * *
* * * * *
604 Postage Payment Methods and Refunds
* * * * *
5.0 Permit Imprint (Indicia)
* * * * *
5.4 Picture Permit Imprint Indicia
5.4.1 Description
[Revise the third sentence of 5.4.1 to read as follows:]
* * * Picture permit imprints may be used to pay postage and extra
service fees on commercial mailings of First-Class Mail or USPS
Marketing Mail postcards, letters, or flats.
* * * * *
5.4.5 Picture Permit Imprint Indicia Format
As options to the basic format under 5.3.11and if all other
applicable standards in 5.0 are met, permit imprint indicia may be
prepared in picture permit imprint format subject to these conditions:
* * * * *
[Delete 5.4.5f in its entirety and renumber current 5.4.5g through
5.4.5k as new 5.4.5f through 5.4.5j.]
* * * * *
We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to
reflect these changes.
Ruth B. Stevenson
Attorney, Federal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2018-22475 Filed 10-16-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P