[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 90 (Friday, May 9, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25756-25757]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-12207]



  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 90 / Friday, May 9, 1997 / Notices  

[[Page 25756]]



POSTAL SERVICE


Experimental Nonletter-Size Reply Mail Categories and Fees; 
Changes in Domestic Classifications and Fees

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Notice of implementation of changes to the Domestic Mail 
Classification Schedule and accompanying fee changes.

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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the changes to the Domestic Mail 
Classification Schedule and the accompanying fee changes to be 
implemented as a result of the May 5, 1997, Decision of the Governors 
of the United States Postal Service on the Recommended Decision of the 
Postal Rate Commission on the Experimental Nonletter-Size Business 
Reply Mail Categories and Fees.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 8, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Tidwell, (202) 268-2998.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 13, 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 experimental classifications and fees for nonletter-size Business 
Reply Mail. The PRC designated the filing as Docket No. MC97-1. The PRC 
published a notice of the filing, with a description of the Postal 
Service's proposals, on December 24, 1996, in the Federal Register (61 
FR 67860-67862).
    On April 2, 1997, pursuant to its authority under 39 U.S.C. 3624, 
the PRC issued to the Governors of the Postal Service its Recommended 
Decision on the Postal Service's Request. The PRC recommended the 
experimental nonletter-size Business Reply Mail classifications and 
fees requested by the Postal Service.
    Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3625, the Governors of the United States 
Postal Service acted on the PRC's recommendations on May 5, 1997. 
Decision of the Governors of the United States Postal Service on the 
Recommended Decision of the Postal Rate Commission on the Experimental 
Nonletter-Size Business Reply Mail Categories and Fees, Docket No. 
MC97-1. The Governors determined to approve the PRC's recommendations, 
and the Board of Governors set an implementation date of June 8, 1997, 
for the classifications and fee changes to take effect. A copy of the 
attachments to that Decision, setting forth the classification and fee 
changes approved by the Governors, is set forth below.
    Also on May 5, 1997, the Board of Governors of the Postal Service, 
pursuant to their authority under 39 U.S.C. 3625(f), determined to make 
the classification and fee changes approved by the Governors effective 
at 12:01 a.m. on June 8, 1997 (Resolution No. 97-8).
    In accordance with the Decision of the Governors and Resolution No. 
97-8, the Postal Service hereby gives notice that the classification 
and fee changes set forth below will become effective at 12:01 a.m. on 
June 8, 1997. Implementing regulations also become effective at that 
time, as noted elsewhere in this issue.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.

Attachment A to the Decision of the Governors of the United States 
Postal Service on the Recommended Decision of the Postal Rate 
Commission on the Experimental Nonletter-Size Business Reply Mail 
Categories and Fees, (May 5, 1997)

CHANGES IN THE DOMESTIC MAIL CLASSIFICATION SCHEDULE

    The following material represents changes to the Domestic Mail 
Classification Schedule (DMCS) approved by the Governors of the United 
States Postal Service in response to the Commission's Recommended 
Decision in Docket No. MC97-1. Changes are identified by underlining 
additions to the DMCS.

Domestic Mail Classification Schedule SS-2 Business Reply Mail

2.01  Definitions

    2.010  Business reply mail is a service whereby business reply 
cards, envelopes, cartons and labels may be distributed by or for a 
business reply distributor for use by mailers for sending First-Class 
Mail without prepayment of postage to an address chosen by the 
distributor. A distributor is the holder of a business reply license.
    2.011  A business reply mail piece is nonletter-size for purposes 
of Classification Schedule SS-2 if it meets addressing and other 
preparation requirements, but does not meet the machinability 
requirements prescribed by the Postal Service for mechanized or 
automated letter sortation.
    This provision expires June 7, 1999.

2.02  Description of Service

    2.020  The distributor guarantees payment on delivery of postage 
and fees for all returned business reply mail. Any distributor of 
business reply cards, envelopes, cartons and labels under any one 
license for return to several addresses guarantees to pay postage and 
fees on any returns refused by any such addressee.

2.03  Requirements of the Mailer

    2.030  Business reply cards, envelopes, cartons and labels must be 
preaddressed and bear business reply markings.
    2.031  Handwriting, typewriting or handstamping are not acceptable 
methods of preaddressing or marking business reply cards, envelopes, 
cartons, or labels.

2.04  Fees

    2.040  The fees for business reply mail are set forth in Rate 
Schedule SS-2.
    2.041  To qualify as an active business reply mail advance deposit 
trust account, the account must be used solely for business reply mail 
and contain sufficient postage and fees due for returned business reply 
mail.
    2.042  An accounting fee as set forth in Rate Schedule SS-2 must be 
paid each year for each advance deposit business reply account at each 
facility where the mail is to be returned.

2.043  Experimental Reverse Manifest Fees

    2.0431  A set-up/qualification fee as set forth in Rate Schedule 
SS-2 must be paid by each business reply mail advance deposit trust 
account holder at each destination postal facility at which it applies 
to receive nonletter-size business reply mail for which the postage and 
fees will be accounted for through a reverse manifest method approved 
by the Postal Service for ascertaining and verifying postage.
    A distributor must pay this fee for each business reply mail 
advance deposit trust account for which participation in the nonletter-
size business reply mail experiment is requested.
    This provision expires June 7, 1999.
    2.0432  A nonletter-size reverse manifest monthly fee as set forth 
in Rate Schedule SS-2 must be paid each month during which the 
distributor's reverse manifest account is active.
    This fee applies to the (no more than) 10 advance deposit account 
holders which are selected by the Postal Service to participate in the 
reverse manifest nonletter-size business reply mail experiment and 
which utilize reverse manifest accounting methods approved by the 
Postal Service for ascertaining and verifying postage and fees.
    This provision expires June 7, 1999.

    2.044  Experimental Weight Averaging Fees
    2.0441  A set-up/qualification fee as set forth in Rate Schedule 
SS-2 must be paid by each business reply mail

[[Page 25757]]

advance deposit trust account holder at each destination postal 
facility at which it applies to receive nonletter-size business reply 
mail for which the postage and fees will be accounted for through a 
weight averaging method approved by the Postal Service for ascertaining 
and verifying postage.
    A distributor must pay this fee for each business reply mail 
advance deposit trust account for which participation in the nonletter-
size business reply mail experiment is requested.
    This provision expires June 7, 1999.
    2.0442  A nonletter-size weight averaging monthly fee as set forth 
in Rate Schedule SS-2 must be paid each month during which the 
distributor's weight averaging account is active.
    This fee applies to the (no more than) 10 advance deposit account 
holders which are selected by the Postal Service to participate in the 
weight averaging nonletter-size business reply mail experiment.
    This provision expires June 7, 1999.
    2.05  Authorizations and Licenses
    2.050  In order to distribute business reply cards, envelopes, 
cartons or labels, the distributor must obtain a license or licenses 
from the Postal Service and pay the appropriate fee as set forth in 
Rate Schedule SS-2.
    2.0501  Except as provided in section 2.0502, the license to 
distribute business reply cards, envelopes, cartons, or labels must be 
obtained at each office from which the mail is offered for delivery.
    2.0502  If the business reply mail is to be distributed from a 
central office to be returned to branches or dealers in other cities, 
one license obtained from the post office where the central office is 
located may be used to cover all business reply mail.
    2.051  The license to mail business reply mail may be canceled for 
failure to pay business reply postage and fees when due, and for 
distributing business reply cards or envelopes which do not conform to 
prescribed form, style or size.
    2.052  Authorization to pay experimental nonletter-size business 
reply mail fees as set forth in Rate Schedule SS-2 may be canceled for 
failure of a business reply mail advance deposit trust account holder 
to meet the standards prescribed by the Postal Service for the 
applicable reverse manifest or weight averaging accounting method.
    This provision expires June 7, 1999.

Attachment B to the Decision of the Governors of the United States 
Postal Service on the Recommended Decision of the Postal Rate 
Commission on the Experimental Nonletter-Size Business Reply Mail 
Categories and Fees (May 5, 1997)

CHANGES TO RATE SCHEDULE SS-2

    The following material represents changes in Rate Schedule SS-2 
approved by the Governors of the United States Postal Service in 
response to the Commission's Recommended Decision in Docket No. MC97-1. 
Changes are identified by underlining additions to Rate Schedule SS-2.

                           Rate Schedule SS-2                           
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Fee \1\  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Active business reply advanced deposit account:                         
Per piece:                                                              
    Prebarcoded............................................         $.02
    Nonletter-size, using reverse manifest (experimental)..          .02
    Nonletter-size, using weight averaging (experimental)..          .03
    Other..................................................          .10
Payment of postage due charges if active business reply                 
 mail advance deposit account not used:....................          .44
Annual License and Accounting Fees:                                     
    Accounting Fee for Advance Deposit Account.............          205
    Permit fee (with or without Advance Deposit Account)...           85
Monthly Fees for customers using a reverse manifest or                  
 weight averaging for nonletter-size business reply:                    
    Nonletter-size, using reverse manifest (experimental)..        1,000
    Nonletter-size, using weight averaging (experimental)..        3,000
Set-up/Qualification Fee for customers using a reverse                  
 manifest or weight averaging for nonletter-size business               
 reply:                                                                 
    Nonletter-size, using reverse manifest (experimental)..        1,000
    Nonletter-size, using weight averaging (experimental)..       3,000 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Experimental per piece, monthly and set-up/qualification fees are   
  applicable only to participants selected by the Postal Service for    
  nonletter-size business reply mail experiment. The experimental fees  
  expire on June 7, 1999.                                               

[FR Doc. 97-12207 Filed 5-7-97; 9:42 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-U