[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 2, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34460-34461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15778]


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POSTAL SERVICE


Specifications for Postal Security Devices and Indicia 
(Postmarks)

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Notice of proposed specifications with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Historically, postage meters have been mechanical and 
electromechanical devices that (1) maintain through mechanical or 
electronic ``registers'' (postal security devices) an account of all 
postage printed and the remaining balance of prepaid postage, and (2) 
print postage postmarks (indicia) that are accepted by the Postal 
Service as evidence of the prepayment of postage. Two proposed 
specifications have been developed on these subjects, and are entitled 
``Information Based Indicia Program (IBIP) PSD Specification'' and 
``Information Based Indicia Program (IBIP) Indicia Specification.'' The 
U.S. Postal Service is seeking comments on these specifications.
    The Postal Service also seeks comments on intellectual property 
issues raised by the specifications if adopted in present form. If an 
intellectual property issue includes patents or patent applications 
covering any implementations of the specifications, the comment should 
include a listing of such patents and applications and the license 
terms available for such patents and applications.

DATES: Comments on the two specifications must be received on or before 
September 30, 1996. Comments addressing intellectual property issues 
must be received on or before July 15, 1996. A general meeting on this 
subject is being planned for mid-July in Washington, DC. All persons 
who have expressed an interest in the proposed specifications will be 
invited to attend the meeting. This meeting will focus solely on 
technical aspects of the two specifications. Interested parties may 
submit questions by July 1, 1996 which will be considered for 
incorporation into the meeting presentations.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Indicium and Postal Security Device 
Specifications may be obtained from: Terry Goss, United States Postal 
Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 8430, Washington, DC 20260-6807. 
Mail or deliver written comments to: Manager, Retail Systems and 
Equipment, United States Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 
8430, Washington, DC 20260-6807. Copies of all written comments may be 
inspected and

[[Page 34461]]

photocopied between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the 
above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terry Goss at (202) 268-3757.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: There are approximately 1.5 million postage 
meters in use in the United States which collectively account for 
approximately $20 billion in postal revenue annually. The manufacture 
and use of postage meters is governed by Postal Service regulations 
(see 39 CFR Part 501; Domestic Mail Manual P030). For several years 
USPS has been actively proposing a solution of the problem of 
inadequate postage meter security. To respond to the threat of 
fraudulent use of meters by physical tampering, USPS intends to 
decertify and remove from the market, in risk-driven phases, all 
postage meters using mechanical registers. Another problem USPS has 
faced is that currently available meter indicia are susceptible to 
counterfeiting. The Postal Service is exploring using current 
technology special purpose units such as computers and independent 
printers to provide prepaid postage.
    The Information Based Indicia Program (IBIP) is a Postal Service 
initiative supporting the development and implementation of a new form 
of postage indicia. This IBIP specification is intended to address the 
counterfeiting threat. USPS envisions that the new indicium standard 
may eventually support new or existing products and services. Specific 
products and services have not been determined. An ``IBIP indicium'' 
substitutes for a postage stamp or a postage meter imprint as evidence 
of the fact that postage has been paid on mailpieces. An ``IBIP Postal 
Secure Device'' provides cryptographic signature, financial accounting, 
indicium creation, device authorization, and audit functions.
    The goal for IBIP is to provide an environment in which customers 
can apply postage through new technologies that improve postal revenue 
security. The IBIP indicia is expected eventually to replace all 
metered postage imprints that rely on letter press printing technology. 
This requires a new form of postage indicia and the adoption of 
standards to facilitate industry investment and product development.
    The Postal Security Device will provide security services to 
support the creation of the new ``IBIP indicium.'' The PSD provides 
security-critical functions for IBIP customers. The PSD will be a 
hardware component for use with either a computer-based or postage 
meter-based host system. Each PSD will be a unique security device. The 
PSD core security functions are cryptographic digital signature 
generation and verification, and the secure management of the registers 
that track the remaining amount of money available for indicium 
creation ( i.e., descending register) and the total postage value used 
by the PSD ( i.e., ascending register). The PSD will be a tamper-
resistant device that may contain an internal random number generator, 
various storage registers, a date/time clock, and other circuits 
necessary to perform these functions. The PSD will comply with Federal 
Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-1 and will be validated 
through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
Computer Systems Laboratory's Cryptographic Module Validation Program.
    It is emphasized that this proposed standard is being published for 
comments and is subject to final definition. In particular, evaluation 
of alternative digital signing, printing standards, and symbology is 
continuing.
    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 proposed specifications.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 96-15778 Filed 7-1-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P