[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 216 (Monday, November 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60416-60418]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29999]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
POSTAL SERVICE
Changes in Domestic Rates, Fees, and Mail Classifications
AGENCY: Postal Service.
ACTION: Notice of implementation of changes to the Domestic Mail
Classification Schedule, domestic rates, and fees and of corrections to
the notice published at 63 FR 39124.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the rate and fee changes and the
accompanying Domestic Mail Classification Schedule (DMCS) changes to be
implemented as a result of the Decision of the Governors of the United
States Postal Service on the Further Recommended Decision of the Postal
Rate Commission on Postal Rate and Fee Changes, Docket No. R97-1
(October 5, 1998). This notice also contains minor corrections to the
notice published at 63 FR 39124.
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 10, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel J. Foucheaux, Jr., (202) 268-
2989.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 10, 1997, 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 Proposed
Changes in Rates of Postage and Fees for Postal Services (Request). The
PRC designated the filing as Docket No. R97-1. The PRC published a
notice of the filing, with a description of the Postal Service's
proposals, on July 23, 1997, in the Federal Register (62 FR 39660).
On May 11, 1998, pursuant to its authority under 39 U.S.C. 3624,
the PRC issued its Recommended Decision on the Postal Service's Request
to the Governors of 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 June 29, 1998. In
one decision, the Governors rejected the PRC's recommendations
regarding Prepaid Reply Mail and Courtesy Envelope Mail. Decision of
the Governors of the United States Postal Service on the Recommended
Decisions of the Postal Rate Commission on Prepaid Reply Mail and
Courtesy Envelope Mail, Docket No. R97-1 (June 29, 1998). In the second
decision, the Governors acted on the remainder of the PRC's
recommendations. Decision of the Governors of the United States Postal
Service on the Recommended Decision of the Postal Rate Commission on
Postal Rate and Fee Changes, Docket No. R97-1 (June 29, 1998). The
Governors approved all of the remaining classification, fee, and rate
changes (see 63 FR 39124), except that the Governors allowed under
protest and returned for reconsideration recommendations related to
three categories of mail. In particular, the Governors requested
further action or clarification on the PRC's recommendations concerning
Within County, Library Mail, and destination delivery unit Parcel Post.
In response, the PRC solicited comments on those matters from all
interested parties, and thereafter issued a Further Recommended
Decision upon reconsideration on September 24, 1998. On October 5,
1998, the Governors approved the relatively minor recommended changes
in the rate and fee schedules for those three subclasses, along with
associated classification changes, recommended by the PRC in its
further Recommended Decision. Also on October 5, 1998, the Board of
Governors of the Postal Service, pursuant to its authority under 39
U.S.C. 3625(f), determined to implement the rate, fee and
classification changes approved by the Governors effective at 12:01
a.m. on January 10, 1999 (Resolution No. 98-12).
In accordance with the Decision of the Governors and Resolution No.
98-12, the Postal Service hereby gives notice that the classification,
fee, and rate changes set forth below will become effective at 12:01
a.m. on January 10, 1999. For the affected subclasses and rate
categories, the rate and fee schedules published below supersede those
rate and fee schedules accepted or allowed under protest by the
Governors in their Decision on the Recommended Decision of the Postal
Rate Commission on Postal Rate and Fee Changes, Docket No. R97-1 (June
29, 1998) and published at 63 FR 39124.
Changes in implementation regulations published in the Domestic
Mail Manual also become effective on January 10, 1999, as noted in a
separate notice in the Federal Register.
A copy of the attachments to the Governors' Decision, setting forth
the classification, fee, and rate changes ordered into effect by the
Governors on the PRC's Further Recommended Decision, is set forth
below.
A correction to Fee Schedule 943, which was published in the
Federal Register on July 21, 1998 (63 FR 39143), is also published
below. No substantive change is made to Fee Schedule 943; rather, the
second heading entitled ``Express Mail Insurance'' is moved from the
center to the left to clarify its applicability to the first two fee
groupings for Express Mail Insurance. In addition, the Postal Service
hereby gives notice that, due to complications apparently arising from
word processing software conversions, the term ``correction''
surrounded by quotation marks in Domestic Mail Classification Schedule
sections 221.24(b), 222.34(b), 321.231(c), 321.33, 321.431(c), 423.81,
and 423.82 appears as ``Acorrection@'' in the version of Attachment B
to the Decision of the Governors of the United States Postal Service on
the Recommended Decision of the Postal Rate Commission in Docket No.
R97-1 (June 29, 1998) published at 63 FR 39124.
[[Page 60417]]
Attachment A to the Decision of the Governors of the United States
Postal Service on the Further Recommended Decision of the Postal
Rate Commission in Docket No. R97-1
(October 5, 1998)
Changes to Domestic Rates and Fees
Standard Mail Rate Schedule 322.1E, Parcel Post Subclass, Destination
Delivery Unit Rates (Continued)
[Dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weight (pounds)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2........................................................... 1.21
3........................................................... 1.26
4........................................................... 1.32
5........................................................... 1.37
6........................................................... 1.41
7........................................................... 1.45
8........................................................... 1.50
9........................................................... 1.55
10........................................................... 1.59
11........................................................... 1.63
12........................................................... 1.67
13........................................................... 1.72
14........................................................... 1.74
15........................................................... 1.78
16........................................................... 1.82
17........................................................... 1.85
18........................................................... 1.90
19........................................................... 1.92
20........................................................... 1.96
21........................................................... 1.99
22........................................................... 2.02
23........................................................... 2.06
24........................................................... 2.08
25........................................................... 2.12
26........................................................... 2.15
27........................................................... 2.19
28........................................................... 2.21
29........................................................... 2.25
30........................................................... 2.27
31........................................................... 2.31
32........................................................... 2.33
33........................................................... 2.36
34........................................................... 2.40
35........................................................... 2.43
36........................................................... 2.46
37........................................................... 2.47
38........................................................... 2.51
39........................................................... 2.54
40........................................................... 2.57
41........................................................... 2.60
42........................................................... 2.62
43........................................................... 2.65
44........................................................... 2.67
45........................................................... 2.70
46........................................................... 2.74
47........................................................... 2.77
48........................................................... 2.79
49........................................................... 2.82
50........................................................... 2.84
51........................................................... 2.87
52........................................................... 2.90
53........................................................... 2.92
54........................................................... 2.94
55........................................................... 2.98
56........................................................... 3.01
57........................................................... 3.03
58........................................................... 3.07
59........................................................... 3.07
60........................................................... 3.10
61........................................................... 3.13
62........................................................... 3.16
63........................................................... 3.18
64........................................................... 3.21
65........................................................... 3.24
66........................................................... 3.27
67........................................................... 3.29
68........................................................... 3.31
69........................................................... 3.34
70........................................................... 3.38
Oversize parcels \1\......................................... 8.69
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Schedule 322.1E Notes:
\1\ See DMCS section 322.161 for oversize Parcel Post.
\2\ Parcel Post pieces exceeding 84 inches in length and girth combined
and weighing less than 15 pounds are subject to a rate equal to that
for a 15 pound parcel for the zone to which the parcel is addressed.
\3\ A fee of $100.00 must be paid each year for DBMC, DSCF, and DDU.
Standard Mail Rate Schedules 323.1 and 323.2: Special and Library Rate
Subclasses
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rates
(cents)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Schedule 323.1: Special
First Pound:
Not presorted \4\.......................................... 113
Level A Presort (5-digits) \1\ \2\......................... 64
Level B Presort (BMC) \1\ \3\ \4\.......................... 95
Each additional pound through 7 pounds....................... 45
Each additional pound over 7 pounds.......................... 28
Schedule 323.2: Library
First Pound:
Not Presorted \4\.......................................... 113
Level A Presort (5-Digits) \1\ \2\......................... 64
Level B Presort (BMC) \1\ \3\ \4\.......................... 95
Each additional pound through 7 pounds....................... 45
Each additional pound over 7 pounds.......................... 28
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Schedule 323.1 and 323.3 Notes:
\1\ A fee of $100.00 must be paid once each 12-month period for each
permit.
\2\ For mailings of 500 or more pieces properly prepared and presorted
to five-digit destination ZIP Codes.
\3\ For mailings of 500 or more pieces properly prepared and presorted
to Bulk Mail Centers.
\4\ For Barcoded Discount, deduct $0.03 per-piece.
Periodicals Rate Schedule 423.2
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rate
(cents)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Within County (Full Rates)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Pound:
General.................................................... 13.3
Delivery Office \1\........................................ 10.7
Per Piece:
Required Presort........................................... 9.5
Presorted to 3-digit....................................... 8.8
Presorted to 5-digit....................................... 8.0
Carrier Route Presort...................................... 4.3
Per Piece Discount:
Delivery Office \2\........................................ 0.4
High Density (formerly 125 piece) \3\...................... 1.4
Saturation................................................. 1.8
Automation Discounts for Automation Compatible Mail \4\
From Required:
Prebarcoded Letter size.................................... 4.9
Prebarcoded Flat size...................................... 3.0
From 3-digit:
Prebarcoded Letter size.................................... 4.4
Prebarcoded Flat size...................................... 2.6
From 5-digit:
Prebarcoded Letter size.................................... 3.9
Prebarcoded Flat size...................................... 2.2
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Schedule 432.2 Notes:
\1\ Applicable only to carrier route (including high density and
saturation) presorted pieces to be delivered within the delivery area
of the originating post office.
\2\ Applicable only to carrier presorted pieces to be delivered within
the delivery area of the originating post office.
\3\ Applicable to high density mail, deducted from carrier route presort
rate. Mailers also may qualify for this discount on an alternative
basis as provided in DMCS section 423.83.
\4\ For automation compatible pieces meeting applicable Postal Service
regulations.
Schedule 1000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------
First-Class Presorted Mailing................................ $100.00
Periodicals:
A. Original Entry.......................................... 305.00
B. Additional Entry........................................ 50.00
C. Re-entry................................................ 50.00
D. Registration for News Agents............................ 50.00
Regular, Enhanced Carrier Route, Nonprofit, and Nonprofit
Enhanced Carrier Route, Standard Mail Bulk Mailing.......... 100.00
Parcel Post: Destination BMC, SCF, and DDU................... 100.00
Special and Library Standard Mail Presorted Mailing.......... 100.00
Authorization to Use Permit Imprint.......................... 100.00
Merchandise Return (per family receiving merchandise return
labels)..................................................... 100.00
Prepaid Reply Mail Permit (see Fee Schedule 934)
Business Reply Mail Permit (see Fee Schedule 931)
[[Page 60418]]
Authorization to Use Bulk Parcel Return Service.............. 100.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attachment B to the Decision of the Governors of the United States
Postal Service on the Further Recommended Decison of the Postal
Rate Commission in Docket No. R97-1
Changes to the Domestic Mail Classification Schedule
Amend the Domestic Mail Classification Schedule by Inserting Italicized
Text and Deleting Bracketed Text as Follows:
STANDARD MAIL
CLASSIFICATION SCHEDULE
* * * * *
323.2 Library Subclass
* * * * *
[323.22 Basic Rate Category. The basic rate category applies to all
Library subclass mail.]
323.22 Single-Piece Rate Category. The single-piece rate category
applies to Library subclass mail not mailed under section 323.23 or
323.24.
323.23 Level A Presort Rate Category. The Level A presort rate
category applies to mailings of at least 500 pieces of Library
subclass mail, prepared and presorted to five-digit destination ZIP
Codes as specified by the Postal Service.
323.24 Level B Presort Rate Category. The Level B presort rate
category applies to mailings of at least 500 pieces of Library
subclass mail, prepared and presorted to destination Bulk Mail
Centers as specified by the Postal Service.
323.2[3]5 Barcoded Discount. The barcoded discount applies to
Library subclass mail that is entered at designated facilities,
bears a barcode specified by the Postal Service, is prepared as
specified by the Postal Service in a mailing of at least 50 pieces,
and meets all other preparation and machinability requirements of
the Postal Service.
* * * * *
382 Special and Library Subclasses
A presort mailing fee as set forth in Schedule 1000 must be paid
once each year at each office of mailing by or for any person who
mails presorted Special or Library subclass mail. Any person who
engages a business concern or other individuals to mail presorted
Special or Library subclass mail must pay the fee.
* * * * *
Correction to Fee Schedule 943 Published at 63 FR 39143 (July 21, 1998)
Fee Schedule 943
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fee (in addition to
Insurance postage)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Express Mail Insurance
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Document Reconstruction Coverage:
$0.01 to $500.......................... No charge.
Merchandise Coverage:
$0.01 to $500.......................... No charge.
500.01 to $5000........................ $0.95 for each $100 (or
fraction thereof) over
$500 value.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Insurance Coverage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 0.01 to $50.............................. $0.85 \1\
50.01 to 100............................... $1.80 \1\
100.01 to 5000............................. $1.80 plus $0.95 for each
$100 (or fraction thereof)
over $100 in coverage \1\.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For bulk insurance, deduct $0.40 per piece.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 98-29999 Filed 11-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P