[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 59 (Friday, March 27, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14820-14821]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8003]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Extension of Group E (No-Fee) Post Office Box Service Eligibility

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) is amended to extend Group E 
(no-fee) post office box eligibility to a customer whose physical 
residence or business location is within the immediate vicinity of the 
post office, and therefore ineligible for extension of carrier delivery 
service as specified in postal standards concerning extension of 
delivery service.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 5, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Dorsey (202) 268-3295.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 7, 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 
special service reform proposals, including a proposal to establish 
Group E (no-fee) post office box service for certain customers who are 
ineligible for carrier delivery service. The PRC designated the filing 
as Docket No. MC96-3, and published in the Federal Register (61 FR 
31968-31979) a notice of the filing with a description of the Postal 
Service's proposals on June 21, 1996.
    Pursuant to 39 U.S.C 3624, the PRC issued its Recommended Decision 
on the Postal Service's Request to the Governors of the Postal Service 
on April 2, 1997. The PRC's Recommended Decision included eligibility 
for no-fee post office box service for customers ineligible for carrier 
delivery service, subject to administrative decisions regarding the 
customer's proximity to a post office.
    The Postal Service implemented the changes resulting from Docket 
MC96-3, including the offering of no-fee post office box service to 
customers who are ineligible for any form of carrier delivery. The 
final rule published in the Federal Register (62 FR 31512-31516, June 
10, 1997) eliminated post office box service fees for customers at 
those post offices who are ineligible for carrier delivery service 
(from any post office). Fees were also eliminated for box customers who 
are ineligible for carrier delivery service at offices which provide 
delivery service, except for those customers who reside in the 
immediate vicinity of the office. This amendment eliminates the 
exception for proximate customers, thus making all customers who are 
ineligible for carrier delivery service equally eligible for no-fee 
post office box service. Finally, the amendment eliminates the 
reference to ``Group E'' offices, since eligibility for no-fee box 
service is customer-specific.

Lists of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 1111

    Postal Service

PART 111--[AMENDED]

    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 which 
is incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations (See 39 
CFR Part III) as set forth below:
* * * * *

D  Deposit, Collection, and Delivery

* * * * *

D910  Post Office Box Service

* * * * *
[Amend heading of 4.0 to read as follows:]
4.0  BASIS OF FEES, PAYMENT, AND RENEWAL

4.1 General

[Amend 4.1 to read as follows:]
    Post office box service fees are based on the size of the box 
provided, and the fee group of the administering facility together with 
customer eligibility for a Group E post office box as identified in 
5.0.
* * * * *

4.5  Payment

[Amend 4.5 to read as follows:]
    All fees are for a semiannual (6-month) period, and must be paid in

[[Page 14821]]

advance for no less than one but no more than two semiannual periods, 
except as provided under 4.8, 4.9, and 4.12. Fees may be paid using 
cash, credit or debit card, or check or money order payable to the 
postmaster. A mailed payment must be received by the postmaster on or 
before the due date.
[Amend heading of 4.6 and amend text to read as follows:]

4.6  Service Period

    Except under 4.9, the beginning date for a post office box service 
period is determined by the approval date of the application. The 
period begins on the first day of the same month the application is 
approved if approval is on or before the 15th of the month. If approved 
after the 15th of the month, the period begins the first day of the 
following month. Thereafter, fees for service renewal may be paid and 
Group E post office box service renewal notification may be effected 
any time during the last 30 days of the service period, but no later 
than the last day of the service period.
[Add new 4.7 to read as follows:]

4.7  Group E Renewal

    Group E post office box service and renewal are for an annual (12-
month) period.
[Redesignate current 4.7 as 4.8; no other changes.]
[Redesignate current 4.8 as 4.9, and amend heading and text to read as 
follows:]

4.9  Exception for Small Offices

    Postmasters at non-city delivery and non-delivery offices with 
fewer than 500 post office boxes may set April 1 and October 1 as the 
beginning payment periods for box customers in their offices. Payment 
periods beginning other than April 1 or October 1 are brought into 
alignment with these respective dates by adjusting fees as follows:
    a. New service, one-sixth of the semiannual fee is charged for each 
remaining month between the beginning of the new payment period and the 
next April 1 or October 1.
    b. Existing service, one-sixth of the semiannual fee is charged for 
each remaining month between the end of all currently paid periods and 
the next April 1 or October 1.
    c. Next one or two semiannual payment periods, an adjustment may be 
accepted in addition to fees.
[Redesignate current 4.9, 4.10, and 4.11 as 4.10, 4.11, and 4.12 
respectively; no other changes:]
5.0  FEE GROUP ASSIGNMENTS

5.1  Post Offices

* * * * *
[Amend 5.1.b to read as follows:]
    b. Post Office With Only Rural or Highway Contract Carrier 
Delivery. A post office that does not provide city carrier delivery but 
provides only rural carrier or highway contract carrier delivery at any 
of its administered facilities applies Group D fees, except as provided 
in 5.3. A customer whose physical residence or business location is 
within the geographic delivery ZIP Code boundaries administered by that 
non-city delivery post office, who is ineligible for any form of 
carrier delivery service, and who does not receive carrier delivery via 
an out-of-bounds delivery receptacle, may obtain one post office box 
service through a box of the smallest available size (i.e., the 
smallest box currently vacant) at the Group E fee (no-fee). Boxes at 
Group E fees are also available as provided under 5.1c. * * *
* * * * *
    An appropriate amendment to 39 CFR 111.3 will be published to 
reflect these changes.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 98-8003 Filed 3-26-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P