[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]


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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.

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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