[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 178 (Thursday, September 12, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48071-48072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-23394]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Classification Reform; Implementation Standards

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule sets forth additional Domestic Mail Manual 
(DMM) standards adopted by the Postal Service to implement the Decision 
of the Governors of the United States Postal Service on the Recommended 
Decision of the Postal Rate Commission on Nonprofit Standard Mail, 
Nonprofit Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail, Nonprofit Periodicals, 
and Within County Periodicals, Docket No. MC96-2, Classification Reform 
II.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 6, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Leo F. Raymond, (202) 268-5199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 4, 1996, pursuant to its authority 
under 39 U.S.C. 3621, et seq., the Postal Service filed with the Postal 
Rate Commission (PRC) a request for a recommended decision on several 
mail classification reform proposals for nonprofit Periodicals and 
Standard Mail (Classification Reform II). The PRC designated the filing 
as Docket No. MC96-2. On April 11, 1996, the PRC published a notice of 
the filing, with a description of the Postal Service's proposals, in 
the Federal Register (61 FR 16129-16146). The PRC issued its Opinion 
and Recommended Decision on Docket No. MC96-2 on July 19, 1996. In that 
document, the PRC favorably recommended what the Postal Service had 
proposed, with the exception of those provisions in the Classroom 
Periodicals rate schedule; the PRC reopened the record in Docket No. 
MC96-2 for further proceedings on that category of mail. On August 6, 
1996, the Governors of the Postal Service accepted the Recommended 
Decision and the Board of Governors set October 6, 1996, as the date on 
which the provisions of Docket No. MC96-2 would take effect. A notice 
of the Decision of the Governors was published on August 15, 1996 (61 
FR 42464-42476).

    The DMM standards that were proposed to take effect to implement 
Docket No. MC96-2 were published for public comment in the Federal 
Register on June 24, 1996 (61 FR 32606-32616). Because no comments were 
received on the proposed rule, it was adopted without change as the 
final rule, except as noted therein to reflect the absence of rate 
provisions for Classroom Periodicals in the PRC's Recommended Decision 
that was accepted and implemented by the Governors, and published on 
August 15, 1996 (61 FR 42478-42489).
    Because the PRC's Recommended Decision, as accepted and implemented 
by the Governors, excluded rate changes for Classroom Periodicals that 
had been proposed by the Postal Service, the rate schedule for 
Classroom Periodicals was unchanged, retaining ZIP+4 Classroom rates. 
Because of this difference from what the Postal Service had proposed in 
its request and in the proposed rule, the August 15 final rule also 
proposed standards for ZIP+4 Classroom rate mail that were different 
from those published in DMM Issue 50. (In general, the Postal Service 
proposed to establish eligibility standards for ZIP+4 Classroom rate 
mail that parallel those for other automation rate Periodicals. Mail 
preparation standards for ZIP+4 Classroom rate mail would be 
essentially similar to those for upgradable mail in other classes, 
except a ZIP+4 code would be required in the address. The Postal 
Service anticipated minimal adverse impact from this proposal on the 
mailing community, given the applicability of ZIP+4 rates to only 
letter-size pieces and the likely absence of a significant volume of 
letter-size mail in the Classroom Periodicals subclass.) Because those 
specific standards were not part of the June 24 proposed rule, the 
Postal Service accepted further comments on those standards from 
interested parties for an additional 21 days (i.e., through September 
5, 1996).
    No comments were received on the proposed rule for ZIP+4 Classroom 
Periodicals rate eligibility and mail preparation. Therefore, the 
Postal Service adopts the corresponding DMM standards as the final 
rule.
    These relevant standards are shown below for the information of 
readers, but are the same as the corresponding standards published in 
the August 15 final rule.
    All references to DMM sections shown in this rule are based on DMM 
Issue 50 (July 1, 1996) as amended by the August 15 final rule.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Postal Service.

    For the reasons discussed above, the Postal Service hereby adopts 
the following amendments to the Domestic Mail Manual, which is 
incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations (see 39 
CFR part 111).

PART 111--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 111 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 3001-
3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.

    2. Revise the following sections of the Domestic Mail Manual as set 
forth below:

C  CHARACTERISTICS AND CONTENT

* * * * *

C800  Automation-Compatible Mail

C810  Letters and Cards

* * * * *
2.0  DIMENSIONS
* * * * *
[Revise the heading of 2.3 to read as follows:]

2.3  Maximum Weight

[Revise 2.3a to read as follows:]
    Maximum weight limits are as follows:
    a. 2.5 ounces: upgradable Presorted First-Class Mail, ZIP+4 
Classroom Periodicals, and upgradable nonautomation Standard Mail.
* * * * *

C840  Barcoding Standards

* * * * *
2.0  BARCODE LOCATION--LETTER-SIZE PIECES

2.1  Barcode Clear Zone

[Amend 2.1 by revising the first sentence to read as follows:]

    Each letter-size piece in an automation rate mailing, each piece of 
ZIP+4 Classroom Periodicals, and each piece of upgradable Presorted 
First-Class Mail or upgradable Standard Mail (A) must have a barcode 
clear zone unless the piece bears a DPBC in the address book. * * *
* * * * *

E  ELIGIBILITY

* * * * *

E200  Periodicals

* * * * *

E240  Automation Rates

1.0  BASIC STANDARDS

1.1  All Pieces

[Amend 1.1 by revising the introductory text to read as follows:]


[[Page 48072]]


    Except for Classroom Periodicals under 3.0, all pieces in an 
automation Periodicals mailing must:
* * * * *
[Revise the heading of 2.0 to read as follows:]

2.0  RATE APPLICATION--EXCEPT CLASSROOM PERIODICALS

* * * * *
[Add new 3.0 to read as follows:]
3.0  RATE APPLICATION--CLASSROOM PERIODICALS ONLY

3.1  ZIP+4 Rates

    ZIP+4 Classroom Periodicals must meet the basic standards in 1.1a 
through 1.1f and 1.2, except each piece must meet the physical 
standards for letter-size mail in C810 and the standards for OCR 
processing in C830, must bear the correct ZIP+4 code in the address, 
and must have address elements in the standardized format placed in the 
OCR read area, under A010. ZIP+4 rates apply to each letter-size piece 
that is sorted under M810 into the corresponding qualifying groups:
    a. Groups of 150 or more pieces in 5-digit or unique 3-digit trays 
qualify for the 3/5 ZIP+4 rate.
    b. Groups of fewer than 150 pieces in origin/entry 3-digit trays 
and groups of 150 or more pieces in other 3-digit or AADC trays, and 
all pieces in mixed AADC trays qualify for the Basic ZIP+4 rate.

3.2  Barcoded Rates

    Barcoded Classroom Periodicals must meet the basic standards in 
1.00 Barcoded rates apply to each letter-size piece that is sorted 
under M810 into the corresponding qualifying groups:
    a. Groups of 150 or more pieces in 5-digit trays qualify for the 5-
Digit Barcoded rate.
    b. Groups of 150 or more pieces in unique 3-digit trays qualify for 
the 3-Digit Barcoded rate.
    c. Pieces for unique 3-digit destination that is part of a 3-digit 
scheme group in L003 qualify for the 3-Digit Barcoded rate when placed 
in a 3-digit scheme tray if grouped separately from pieces for other 3-
digit areas.
    d. Groups of fewer that 150 pieces in origin/entry 3-digit/scheme 
trays and groups of 150 or more pieces in other 3-digit, 3-digit 
scheme, or AADC trays and all pieces in mixed AADC trays qualify for 
the Basic Barcoded rate.
* * * * *

M  MAIL PREPARATION AND SORTATION

* * * * *

M800  All Automation Mail

[Revise the heading of M810 to read as follows:]

M810  Letter-Size Mail

1.0  BASIC STANDARDS

1.1  Standards

[Amend 1.1 by replacing the term ``Regular Periodicals'' with 
``Periodicals'' in the first sentence to read as follows:]

    Letter-size automation rate First-Class Mail, Periodicals, and 
Standard Mail (A) must be prepared under M810 and the eligibility 
standards for the rate claimed.* * *

1.2  Mailings

[Amend 1.2 by adding the following sentence to the end of the section 
to read as follows:]

    * * *A Periodicals mailings may not contain both ZIP+4 Classroom 
pieces and any other automation rate Periodicals.
* * * * *

1.6  Scheme Sortation

[Amend 1.6 by adding the following sentence to the end of the section 
to read as follows:]

    * * *Scheme sortation is not available for ZIP+4 Classroom 
Periodicals.
* * * * *
3.0  PREPARATION--PERIODICALS

3.1  Tray Preparation

[Amend 3.1 by revising 3.1b to read as follows:]

    Tray size, preparation sequence, and labeling:
* * * * *
    b. 3-digit/scheme (3-digit only for ZIP+4 Classroom Periodicals): 
required (150-piece minimum except no minimum for required origin/
optional entry 3-digit(s)/scheme); overflow allowed; for Line 1, use 
L002, Column B (except use L002, Column A, for ZIP+4 Classroom 
Periodicals).
* * * * *

3.2  Line 2

[Revise 3.2 to read as follows:]

    Line 2: PER or NEWS (as appropriate), LTRS BC (except LTRS UPGR for 
ZIP+4 Classroom Periodicals), and:
* * * * *
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 96-23394 Filed 9-11-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-M