Federal Register, Volume 77 Issue 199 (Monday, October 15, 2012)

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 199 (Monday, October 15, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62446-62449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-25059]

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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111

Every Door Direct Mail-Retail

AGENCY: Postal Service^TM.

ACTION: Final rule.

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[[Page 62447]]

SUMMARY: This final rule establishes the retail option of Every Door
Direct Mail-Retail[supreg] (EDDM-Retail) as a formal product offering
within Mailing Services, and ends the market test period for this
initiative.

DATES: Effective January 27, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Chatfield at 202-268-7278 or Dave
Mastervich at 202-268-7419.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service's final rule includes the
announcement to make EDDM-Retail a permanent product, and contains the
revisions to Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service,
Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) that we adopt to implement the
changes. The price for Standard Mail[supreg] saturation flats with
simplified addresses (EDDM flats) entered at a BMEU will be different
than the price for EDDM-Retail flats effective with the January 2013
price change.

EDDM-Retail a Permanent Product

In December 2010, the Postal Service announced a new market test to
begin in January 2011, to enable customers to mail saturation flats
with simplified addresses to all types of delivery in an even more
simplified manner. The USPS^TM developed a Web Tool to assist
customers in determining which routes cover certain delivery areas and
the number of residential, business, and total deliveries for each
delivery route or Post Office Box^TM section. The USPS also
waived permit imprint application fees and annual presort mailing fees
for mailers paying postage at the time of mailing while entering mail
(up to 5000 pieces per day) at the office of delivery. In addition,
mailers do not maintain a trust account for postage payment, instead
paying at the time of mailing and using a simplified postage statement.
This market test has been very successful in making it easier for
new customers to mail and increase their marketing efforts. On July 10,
2012, the Postal Service filed a request with the Postal Regulatory
Commission (PRC) pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 39 CFR 3020.30, et
seq., to modify the Mail Classification Schedule (MCS) by adding Every
Door Direct Mail-Retail (EDDM-Retail) to the market-dominant product
list. We have subsequently received approval from the PRC and will
convert this product to a permanent product offering.
Our current standards for use of simplified addresses on Standard
Mail and on other classes of mail entered through Business Mail Entry
Units are not changing. We are adding an alternative marketing name of
Every Door Direct Mail for commercial mailings of Standard Mail flats
with simplified addresses.
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 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):
* * * * *

100 Retail Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels

101 Physical Standards

* * * * *

2.0 Physical Standards for Flats

2.1 General Definition of Flat-Size Mail

Flat-size mail is:
[Revise item 2.1a as follows:]
a. More than 11\1/2\ inches long, or more than 6\1/8\ inches high,
or more than \1/4\ inch thick, except as allowed for EDDM-Retail flats
under 140. For general retail mailability, all pieces \1/4\ inch thick
or less must be a minimum of 5 inches long and 3\1/2\ inches high and
0.007 inch thick.
* * * * *
[Add new section 140 as follows:]

140 Standard Mail Flats--Every Door Direct Mail-Retail (EDDM-Retail)

143 Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Description, Price, and Fees

1.1 General Description of EDDM-Retail Service

Standard Mail flats with simplified addresses (under 602.3.0) may
be mailed under conditions in 140 as EDDM-Retail flats or as commercial
mail under 340 and 602.3.0.

1.2 EDDM-Retail Flats Characteristics

EDDM-Retail flats must weigh a maximum of 3.3 ounces and must have
a length greater than 10\1/2\ inches long, a height greater than 6\1/8\
inches high, or a thickness greater than \1/4\ inch thick. See 101.2.1
for general minimum dimensions. EDDM-Retail flats have the following
maximum dimensions:
a. The length (the longest dimension) must be a maximum of 15
inches.
b. The height must be a maximum of 12 inches.
c. The thickness must be a maximum of 0.75 inch.

1.3 Price

For price, see Notice 123--Price List. Flats mailed under EDDM-
Retail are not eligible for Nonprofit prices.

1.4 Fees and Services

There are no annual presort or mailing fees to mail pieces as EDDM-
Retail. Ancillary service endorsements are not allowed on pieces mailed
as EDDM-Retail flats.

2.0 Content Standards for EDDM-Retail Flats

2.1 Definition and Weight

EDDM-Retail flats are Standard Mail, and are generally subject to
Standard Mail eligibility standards, with differences as described in
2.0 due to the use of simplified addresses. EDDM-Retail mailpieces
consist of mailable matter that is neither mailed nor required to be
mailed as First-Class Mail and that is not authorized to be mailed as
Periodicals. All EDDM-Retail flats in a mailing must be of identical
content, size, and weight and cannot weigh more than 3.3 ounces. Each
piece must meet the physical standards for a flat under 101.2.0. See
101.2.1 for dimensions.

2.2 Personal Information

Personal information may not be included in an EDDM-Retail
mailpiece.

2.3 Bills and Statements of Account

Mail containing bills or statements of account as defined in
333.2.2 may not be entered as EDDM-Retail mail.

2.4 Handwritten and Typewritten Matter

Mail containing handwritten or typewritten matter may not be
entered as EDDM-Retail mail.

2.5 Attachments and Enclosures

EDDM-Retail mailpieces may not have First-Class Mail enclosures or
attachments. An EDDM-Retail flat may bear a label, a sticker, or a
release card eligible as Standard Mail matter, when affixed under 2.5
and 301.1.8.4. EDDM-

[[Page 62448]]

Retail flats may bear repositionable notes under 705.23.0. EDDM-Retail
flats also may bear other attachments eligible as Standard Mail matter
if these additional conditions are met:
a. The host piece must be at least .009 inch thick.
b. The attachment is securely attached, not larger than the host
piece, and does not extend beyond the host piece.
c. Each piece in the mailing bears the attachment, and the
attachment is of identical size, weight, and positioning on the host
piece.
d. The attachment does not interfere with processing or delivery.
Folded or multipage attachments must be secured and sealed to prevent
opening during handling.

2.6 Inspection of Contents

EDDM-Retail flats are not sealed against postal inspection.

3.0 Basic Standards for EDDM-Retail Flats

3.1 Basic Standards

EDDM-Retail flats must be part of a saturation flats mailing with
all pieces bearing simplified addresses meeting the saturation and
addressing standards in 602.3.0. Each mailing must consist of 200 or
more pieces or 50 or more pounds of mail up to a maximum of 5000 pieces
per day per 5-digit ZIP Code. As an exception to this minimum quantity,
a mailing to all addresses in a 5-digit ZIP Code area may contain fewer
than 200 pieces when there are fewer than 200 deliverable addresses in
the entire ZIP Code service area to which the pieces are mailed. All
pieces in a mailing must be entered at the designated Post Office
servicing the routes and Post Office Box sections to which delivery is
intended.

3.2 Forwarding and Return Service

No forwarding or return service is available for pieces mailed as
EDDM-Retail.

3.3 Extra Services

No extra services are available with EDDM-Retail mailpieces.

3.4 Additional Standards for EDDM-Retail Flats

Each EDDM-Retail mailing is subject to postage payment standards in
144, preparation standards in 145, and deposit and entry standards in
146.
EDDM-Retail flats are not subject to the ZIP Code accuracy or Move
Update standards. Additional basic standards for Standard Mail flats in
343.3.0 apply to EDDM-Retail flats, unless stated otherwise in 140.

144 Postage Payment and Documentation

1.0 Basic Standards for Postage Payment

1.1 Postage Payment Options

The mailer is responsible for proper postage payment. Postage for
EDDM-Retail flats must be paid with a postage evidencing system indicia
(604.4.0) of the correct amount of postage affixed to each piece or at
the time of mailing by cash, check, debit card, or credit card.

1.2 Customer Registration

Mailers must obtain a Customer Registration ID (CRID), available
online at https://gateway.usps.com/bcg/login.htm.

1.3 Postage Indicia

A postage indicia must be on each piece mailed as EDDM-Retail,
printed above and to the right of the simplified address. See Exhibit
1.3 for the required wording of the indicia.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15OC12.085

2.0 Mailing Documentation

2.1 Completing Postage Statements

Each mailing of EDDM-Retail flats must be accompanied by a postage
statement (PS Form 3587) completed and signed by the mailer.

2.2 Basic Documentation Standards

Documentation for mailings of EDDM-Retail flats includes the
postage statement (see 2.1), a sample mailpiece, and (if applicable) a
list of ``do not deliver'' addresses.

145 Mail Preparation

1.0 Preparation of EDDM-Retail Flats

1.1 General Information

All pieces mailed as EDDM-Retail mailings must be bundled under 1.3
and presented directly to the correct delivery Post Office or
destination delivery unit (DDU), or mailed to the DDU via Priority Mail
under 146.

1.2 Quantity per Mailing

EDDM-Retail flats must be part of one mailing of at least 200
pieces (or 50 pounds) of mail except under 143.3.1, but no more than
5000 pieces per mailing per day at any one Post Office. If a Post
Office serves multiple ZIP Codes, the maximum number of EDDM-Retail
pieces per day is 5000 per 5-digit ZIP Code.

1.3 Delivery Statistics, Sortation, and Bundling

EDDM-Retail flats must be separated by delivery route (or Post
Office Box section) under 145, using delivery statistics obtained from
the EDDM web tool at the Web site eddm.usps.com/eddm. EDDM-Retail flats
must be in bundles of 50-100. Place a facing slip on the top of each
bundle, under the straps, with the number of pieces in the bundle
written on the facing slip. See 602.2.0 and 602.3.2 for more
information.

146 Enter and Deposit

1.0 Basic Options

1.1 Entry at Delivery Post Office

All EDDM-Retail mailings must be entered directly at the Post
Office (or DDU) responsible for the Post Office Box or carrier route
delivery for which the mailing is prepared, or shipped to that Post
Office under 1.2.

[[Page 62449]]

1.2 Alternate Entry by Priority Mail

1.2.1 Preparation

Place prepared EDDM-Retail mail, in bundles with facing slips, in
Priority Mail boxes, including Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes.

1.2.2 Documentation

Box 1 (see 1.2.3) for the EDDM-Retail mailing must contain
an envelope with the following:
a. Sample mailpiece.
b. Check or money order made out to ``Postmaster'' or ``Postal
Service'' for the amount of postage for the EDDM-Retail pieces (not for
the Priority Mail shipment). Include your telephone number on the front
of the check.
c. Completed EDDM-Retail postage statement (PS Form 3587).
d. The Postmaster Instruction letter; see https://www.usps.com/business/pdf/eddm-postmaster-letter.pdf for a copy.

1.2.3 Labeling the Boxes

On each box, write ``Every Door Direct Mail--Retail'' and ``Open
Immediately.'' For multiple boxes, number the boxes, starting with 1 of
X, (with ``X'' being the total number of boxes in the shipment).
Include the payment and documentation in box 1.

1.2.4 Shipping

Address the boxes to ``Postmaster'' at the Post Office that will
deliver the mailpieces. To ship them, either bring the boxes to your
local Post Office or use Click-N-Ship. Each box must have a Delivery
Confirmation label affixed by the mailer.
* * * * *

300 Commercial Mail Flats

* * * * *

301 Physical Standards

* * * * *

2.0 Physical Standards for Nonautomation Flats

* * * * *

2.2 Standard Mail

* * * * *
[Revise the title and introductory text of 2.2.2 as follows:]

2.2.2 Dimensions for Standard Mail and EDDM-Retail Flats with
Simplified Addresses

Standard Mail flats with simplified addresses for which saturation
flats prices are paid and EDDM-Retail flats (see 140) must have at
least one dimension that is greater than a letter-size maximum
dimension as noted in 1.1a. The minimum thickness must be at least
0.007 inch up to a maximum of 0.75 inch. As an exception to the minimum
length, flats with simplified addresses may have a length shorter than
a letter-size maximum length, under all of the following conditions: *
* *
* * * * *

302 Elements on the Face of a Mailpiece

* * * * *

3.0 Placement and Content of Mail Markings

* * * * *

3.2 First-Class Mail and Standard Mail Markings

3.2.1 Placement

Mailpieces must be marked under the corresponding standards to show
the class of service and/or price paid:
a. Basic Marking. The basic required marking that indicates the
class or subclass which must be printed or produced as part of,
directly below, or to the left of the permit imprint, meter imprint, or
stamp as follows:
[Revise items 1 through 4 as follows:]
1. ``First-Class Mail''
2. ``Standard,'' ``STD,'' ``Presorted Standard,'' or ``PRSRT STD''
3. ``Nonprofit Organization,'' ``Nonprofit Org.,'' or ``Nonprofit''
4. For Standard Mail flats mailed at saturation flats prices under
EDDM- Retail standards in 140 and 602.3.0, add ``EDDM-Retail'' as the
last line in the permit imprint indicia. See Exhibit 144.1.3 for an
example.
* * * * *

602 Addressing

* * * * *

3.0 Use of Alternative Addressing

* * * * *

3.2 Simplified Address

3.2.1 Conditions for General Use

The following conditions must be met when using a simplified
address on commercial mailpieces:
* * * * *
[Revise item 3.2.1c as follows:]
c. Standard Mail flats with simplified addresses (also known as
``Every Door Direct Mail'' or ``EDDM'') must have one dimension larger
than a letter-size maximum dimension, except under 301.2.2.2. Standard
Mail pieces, when mailed under conditions in 301.2.2.2 and delivered by
city route delivery or Post Office Box delivery in offices with city
route delivery, are considered to be flats and are charged postage for
Standard Mail saturation flats. Letter-size pieces that meet the size
standards in 301.2.2.2 and that are delivered by rural or HCR routes
may be mailed (when entered at a BMEU) as letters or flats with
simplified addresses, at the mailer's option. See 140 for more
information about entering EDDM pieces (EDDM-Retail) at Retail
locations.
* * * * *

3.2.4 Postage

[Add a new last sentence in 3.2.4 as follows:]
* * * Postage for pieces mailed as EDDM-Retail flats must be as
described in 144.
* * * * *
We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to
reflect these changes.

Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Legal Policy & Legislative Advice.
[FR Doc. 2012-25059 Filed 10-12-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P