[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 235 (Friday, December 8, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 85508-85511]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26923]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
New Mailing Standards for Domestic Mailing Services Products
AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: On October 6, 2023, the Postal Service (USPS[supreg]) filed a
notice of mailing services price adjustments with the Postal Regulatory
Commission (PRC), effective January 21, 2024. This final rule contains
the revisions to Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service,
Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) to implement the changes coincident
with the price adjustments and other minor DMM changes.
DATES: Effective January 21, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doriane Harley at (202) 268-2537 or
Dale Kennedy at (202) 268-6592.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 22, 2023, the PRC favorably
reviewed the price adjustments proposed by the Postal Service. The
price adjustments and DMM revisions are scheduled to become effective
on January 21, 2024. Final prices are available under Docket No. R2024-
1 (Order No. 6814) on the Postal Regulatory Commission's website at
www.prc.gov.
Certificate of Mailing--Automated Solution
Currently, Certificate of Mailing is processed manually at the BMEU
for individual pieces of Priority Mail[supreg], First-Class
Mail[supreg], USPS Marketing Mail[supreg], and Package Services.
Certificate of Mailing provides evidence of mailing only and does not
provide a record of delivery.
The Postal Service is adding an automated option for processing
forms 3606-D Certificate of Bulk Mailing; 3665 Certificate of Mailing;
and 3877 Firm Mailing Book for Accountable Mail at the BMEU when
electronically uploaded to PostalOne! and payment via EPS (Enterprise
Payment System).
Promotion Eligible Product Identification
Currently, mailers are unable to see the discount breakdown at
product level for each promotion; in addition, when a new promotion is
added or an existing promotion is enhanced, changes applied to the
product line is not readily available to mailers.
The Postal Service will implement an update that will enable
mailers to see promotion discounts at the product level for each
promotion as well as ensure all updates are applied to applicable
systems in sync.
These revisions will provide consistency within postal products and
add value for customers.
Market Dominant comments on Proposed changes and USPS responses.
The Postal Service did not receive any formal comments on the
October 2023 proposed rule (88 FR 71329-71332).
The Postal Service adopts the described changes to Mailing
Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual
(DMM), incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. We
will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to reflect
these changes.
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 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)
* * * * *
203 Basic Postage Statement, Documentation, and Preparation Standards
* * * * *
3.0 Standardized Documentation for First-Class Mail, Periodicals, USPS
Marketing Mail, and Flat-Size Bound Printed Matter
* * * * *
3.2 Format and Content
For First-Class Mail, Periodicals, USPS Marketing Mail, and Bound
Printed Matter, standardized documentation includes:
* * * * *
c. For mail in trays or sacks, list these required elements:
* * * * *
[Revise item 203.3.2c(6) to read as follows:]
6. For all Periodicals mailings, include a separate ``Entry''
column showing the applicable destination entry discount for those
copies using the entry abbreviations in 3.6.3.
* * * * *
d. For bundles on pallets, list these required elements:
* * * * *
[Revise item 203.3.2d(6) to read as follows:]
6. For all Periodicals mailings, include a separate ``Entry''
column showing the entry discount for those copies using the
abbreviations in 207.17.4.3. Report foreign copies separately.
* * * * *
[Revise the first sentence of the introductory text of 203.3.2(e)
to read as follows:]
e. At the end of the documentation, a summary report of the number
of pieces mailed at each price for each mailing by postage payment
method and the number of pieces in each mailing.* * *
* * * * *
[Revise the first sentence of item 203.3.2e(4) to read as follows:]
4. A summary of the number of copies for each entry price.* * *
* * * * *
[Revise the heading of 3.6 to read as follows:]
[[Page 85509]]
3.6 Detailed Entry Listing for Periodicals
3.6.1 Definition and Retention
[Revise the text of 3.6.1 to read as follows:]
The publisher must be able to present documentation to support the
number of copies of each edition of an issue mailed by entry point at
In-County and Outside-County prices. This listing is separate from the
standardized documentation required to support presort and may be
submitted with each mailing, or a publisher may keep these records for
2 months after the mailing date. A publisher must be able to submit
detailed entry listings for specific mailings upon request by the USPS.
3.6.2 Characteristics
Report the number of copies mailed to each 3-digit ZIP Code area
using either one of the following formats:
[Revise the text of 203.3.6.2(a) and (b) to read as follows:]
a. Report copies by each 3-digit ZIP Code in ascending numeric
order. Include columns for: 3-digit ZIP Code, entry, and number of
copies per entry. Include a summary of the number of copies at each
entry price at the end of the report. A 3-digit ZIP Code may appear
more than once if there are copies at different entry prices (e.g., In-
County and Outside-County copies) for that 3-digit ZIP Code.
b. Report copies by each entry and by 3-digit ZIP Code in ascending
numeric order. For each entry, include columns for: 3-digit ZIP Code
and number of copies. Include a summary of the total number of copies
for each entry at the end of each entry listing. A 3-digit ZIP Code may
appear under more than one entry if there are copies at different entry
prices for that 3-digit ZIP Code.
[Revise the heading of 3.6.3 to read as follows:]
3.6.3 Entry Abbreviations
[Revise the text of 3.6.3 to read as follows:]
Use the actual price name or the authorized entry abbreviation in
the listings in 3.0 and 207.17.4.2:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Entry abbreviation Price equivalent
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ICD.................................. In-County, DDU.
IC................................... In-County, All Others.
DDU.................................. Outside-County, DDU.
SCF.................................. Outside-County, DSCF.
ADC.................................. Outside-County, DADC.
OC................................... Outside-County, All Others.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
207 Periodicals
* * * * *
2.0 Price Application and Computation
2.1 Price Application
* * * * *
2.1.4 Applying Pound Price
Apply pound prices to the weight of the pieces in the mailing as
follows:
[Revise items a and b to read as follows:]
a. Outside-County (including Science-of-Agriculture) pound prices
are based on the weight of the advertising portion sent to each
destination entry and the weight of the nonadvertising portion to a
destination entry.
b. In-County pound prices consist of a DDU entry price and a Non-
DDU entry price for eligible copies delivered to addresses within the
county of publication.
* * * * *
2.1.5 Computing Weight of Advertising and Nonadvertising Portions
[Revise the text of 2.1.5 to read as follows:]
The pound price charge is the sum of the charges for the computed
weight of the advertising portion of copies to each destination entry,
plus the sum of the charges for the computed weight of the
nonadvertising portion of copies to each destination entry. The
following standards apply:
a. The minimum pound price charge for any entry level to which
copies are mailed is the 1-pound price. For example, three 2-ounce
copies for an entry are subject to the minimum 1-pound charge.
b. Authorized Nonprofit and Classroom publications with an
advertising percentage that is 10% or less are considered 100%
nonadvertising. When computing the pound prices and the nonadvertising
adjustment, use ``0'' as the advertising percentage. Authorized
Nonprofit and Classroom publications claiming 0% advertising must pay
the nonadvertising pound price for the entire weight of all copies.
* * * * *
2.2 Computing Postage
* * * * *
2.2.3 Computing Other Weights
[Revise the text of 2.2.3 to read as follows:]
To find the total weight of mailed copies per entry level, multiply
the corresponding number of copies by the computed weight per copy.
Round off each result to the nearest whole pound, except that when the
result is under 0.5 pound, round to 1 pound. To find the weight of the
advertising portion for each entry, where applicable, multiply the
total weight of copies for that entry by the percentage of advertising.
Round off each result to the nearest whole pound, except that when the
result is under 0.5 pound, round to 1 pound. To find the weight of the
nonadvertising portion, subtract the total weight of the advertising
portion to all entry levels from the total weight of copies to all
entry levels. To find the weight of In-County price copies, multiply
the number of copies by the weight per copy and round off the total
weight to the nearest whole pound, except that when the result is less
than 0.5 pound, round to 1 pound.
* * * * *
5.0 Applying for Periodicals Authorization
* * * * *
5.2 Mailing While Application Pending
* * * * *
[Revise the heading of 5.2.2 to read as follows:]
5.2.2 Pending Periodicals Prices
* * * * *
[Revise the heading of 5.2.3 to read as follows:]
5.2.3 Pending Periodicals Postage
* * * * *
[Revise the heading of Exhibit 5.2.3 to read as follows:]
Exhibit 5.2.3 Pending Periodicals Postage
* * * * *
8.0 Record Keeping Standards for Publishers
8.1 Basic Standards
* * * * *
8.1.2 Information Required
Records must be available so that the USPS can determine: * * *
[Delete item c and renumber items (d and e) as (c and d)]
* * * * *
8.2 Verification
8.2.1 Purpose
[Revise the text of 8.2.1 to read as follows]
A publisher must make records available for USPS review and
verification on a periodic basis to evaluate indications of
ineligibility for Periodicals entry, to verify that the postage
statement shows the correct number of copies mailed and the correct
[[Page 85510]]
postage, and to confirm that publications authorized to carry general
advertising meet the applicable circulation standards.
* * * * *
11.0 Basic Eligibility
11.1 Outside-County Prices
11.1.1 General
[Revise the text of 11.1.1 to read as follows:]
Outside-County prices apply to copies of an authorized Periodicals
publication mailed by a publisher or news agent that are not eligible
for In-County prices under 11.3. Outside-County prices consist of an
addressed per piece charge, an entry level charge for the weight of the
advertising portion of the publication, an entry level charge for the
weight of the nonadvertising portion, and a bundle and container
charge.
* * * * *
17.0 Documentation
* * * * *
17.2 Additional Standards for Postage Statements
* * * * *
17.2.3 Waiving Nonadvertising Prices
[Revise the first sentence of 17.2.3 to read as follows:]
Instead of marking a copy of each issue to show the advertising
portion, the publisher may pay postage at the advertising prices on
both portions of all issues or editions of a Periodicals publication
(except a requester publication).* * *
* * * * *
[Revise 17.2.7 to read as follows:]
17.2.7 News Agent's Statement
A news agent presenting Periodicals matter subject to ``All Other''
prices must provide a statement showing the percentages of such matter
devoted to advertising and nonadvertising.
* * * * *
[Revise the heading of 17.4 to read as follows:]
17.4 Detailed Entry Listing for Periodicals
17.4.1 Basic Standards
[Revise the text of 17.4.1 to read as follows:]
The publisher must be able to present documentation to support the
actual number of copies of each edition of an issue, by entry level, at
DDU, DSCF, DADC, All Others, and In-County prices. This listing is
separated from the standardized presort documentation required under
17.3. This listing may be submitted with each mailing, or a publisher
may keep such records for each mailing for 2 months after the mailing
date. A publisher must be able to submit detailed entry listings for
specific mailings when requested by the USPS.
17.4.2 Format
[Revise the text of 17.4.2 to read as follows:]
Report the number of copies mailed to each 3-digit ZIP Code area at
entry prices using one of the following formats:
a. Report copies by 3-digit ZIP Code, in ascending numeric order,
for all ZIP Codes in the mailing. The listing must include these
columns: 3-digit ZIP Code, entry level, and number of copies. Include a
summary of the number of copies at each entry price at the end of the
report. A 3-digit ZIP Code may appear more than once if there are
copies at different entry prices for that ZIP Code (for example, In-
County and Outside-County copies).
b. Report copies by zone (In-County DDU, In-County others, Outside-
County DDU, Outside-County DSCF, Outside-County DADC and Outside-County
All Others) and by 3-digit ZIP Code, in ascending numeric order, for
each entry level. For each entry level, the listing must include these
columns: 3-digit ZIP Code and number of copies in the mailing. Include
a summary of the total number of copies for each entry level at the end
of each entry listing. A 3-digit ZIP Code may appear under more than
one entry level if there are copies at different entry prices for that
ZIP Code.
[Revise the heading of 17.4.3 to read as follows:]
17.4.3 Entry Abbreviations
[Revise the text of 17.4.3 to read as follows:]
Use the actual price name or the authorized entry abbreviation in
the listings in 17.3 and 17.4.2.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Entry abbreviation Price equivalent
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ICD.................................. In-County, DDU.
IC................................... In-County, All Others.
DDU.................................. Outside-County, DDU.
SCF.................................. Outside-County, DSCF.
ADC.................................. Outside-County, DADC.
OC................................... Outside-County, All Others.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
26.0 Physical Criteria for Nonmachinable Flat-Size Periodicals
* * * * *
26.2 Weight and Size
[Revise to first sentence of 26.2 to read as follows:]
The maximum weight is 4.4 pounds for pieces prepared in 5-digit
bundles only.* * *
* * * * *
28.0 Enter and Deposit
* * * * *
28.3 Exceptional Dispatch
* * * * *
28.3.2 Intended Use
[Revise the first sentence of 28.3.2 to read as follows:]
The provision for exceptional dispatch is intended for local
distribution (In-County and DDU) of publications with total circulation
of no more than 25,000 and is not to be used to circumvent additional
entry standards.* * *
* * * * *
500 Additional Mailing Services
503 Extra Services
* * * * *
1.0 Basic Standards for All Extra Services
* * * * *
1.10 Receipts
[Add a sentence after the fourth sentence to read as follows:]
* * * When used for commercial mailings, Form 3877 (firm sheet) may
be submitted electronically to PostalOne! and processed at the BMEU.* *
*
* * * * *
5.0 Certificates of Mailing
5.1 Basic Standards
5.1.1 Description--Individual Pieces
[Add a sentence at the end of 5.1.1 to read as follows:]
* * * Form 3665 (firm sheet) may be submitted electronically to
PostalOne! and processed at the BMEU.
5.1.2 Paying Fees
[Add a sentence at the end of 5.1.2 to read as follows:]
* * * When electronically submitted, postage for Form 3665-Firm
must be paid with an EPS (Electronic Payment System) account.
* * * * *
5.1.6 Acceptance
[Revise the last sentence of 5.1.6 to read as follows:]
* * * Certificate of Mailing Form 3665 (including USPS-approved
privately printed versions and
[[Page 85511]]
electronic Form 3665) with mailings of at least 50 pieces or 50 pounds
of corresponding articles presented at one time must be presented to a
Post Office business mail entry unit (BMEU) or authorized detached mail
unit (DMU).
* * * * *
5.2 Other Bulk Quantities--Certificate of Bulk Mailing
5.2.1 Description
[Add text at the end of 5.2.1 to read as follows:]
* * * Mailers must upload the electronic Form 3606-D prior to
presenting the mailing at the BMEU for processing. Each electronic Form
3606-D will receive a watermark date stamped receipt after finalization
of the mailing.
5.2.2 Paying Fees
[Add a sentence at the end of 5.2.2 to read as follows:]
* * * Mailers submitting electronic Form 3606-D must pay
certificate of mailing fees, at the time of mailing, using an EPS
account.
5.2.3 Acceptance
[Revise the last sentence of 5.2.3 to read as follows:]
* * * Certificate of Bulk Mailing Form 3606-D (including USPS-
approved facsimiles and electronic Form 3606-D) with identical-weight
mailings of at least 50 pieces or 50 pounds must be presented to a
business mail entry unit (BMEU) or authorized detached mail unit (DMU).
* * * * *
700 Special Standards
* * * * *
705 Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems
* * * * *
15.0 Combining USPS Marketing Mail Flats, Bound Printed Matter Flats,
and Periodicals Flats
15.1 Basic Standards
* * * * *
15.1.3 Documentation
Mailers must present standardized electronic documentation
according to 203.3.0. This documentation must accurately reflect the
final piece count in the combined mailing. In addition, mailers must
provide:
* * * * *
[Revise item (e) to read as follows:]
e. Documentation to support entry and bundle totals, if requested.
* * * * *
Notice 123 (Price List)
[Revise prices as applicable.]
* * * * *
Sarah Sullivan,
Attorney, Ethics and Legal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2023-26923 Filed 12-7-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P