[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 233 (Friday, December 4, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67017-67026]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31974]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 20


International Postal Rates; Proposed Changes

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Proposed changes in international postal rates.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to its authority under 39 U.S.C. 407, the Postal 
Service is proposing changes in international postal rates. As required 
under the Postal Reorganization Act, the proposed changes will result 
in international postal rates that do not apportion the costs of the 
service so as to impair the overall value of the service to the users, 
are fair and reasonable, and are not unduly or unreasonably 
discriminatory or preferential.

DATES: Comments on the proposed changes must be received on or before 
January 4, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be mailed or delivered to the 
Manager, Pricing, Costing, and Classification, International Business 
Unit, U.S. Postal

[[Page 67018]]

Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW, Room 370-IBU, Washington, DC 20260-
6500. Copies of all written comments will be available for public 
inspection between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, in 
the International Business Unit, 10th Floor, 901 D Street SW, 
Washington DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angus MacInnes, (202) 268-2268.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed international rates, shown in 
the tables below, are needed by the Postal Service to accommodate 
changes in the cost of providing international mail service. In 
addition, the Postal Service believes that the proposed changes will 
result in improved international mail service.
    The Postal Service is proposing to change only the rates contained 
in the charts below. Rates not contained in these charts, such as the 
letter/letter package to countries other than Canada, air AO rates to 
all countries other than Canada and Mexico, and surface AO rates to 
Canada are not being changed.
    Country rate groupings have been changed for Express Mail 
International Service and air parcel post. These grouping changes were 
necessary to more closely align the cost of providing service to 
certain countries to the rate charged for the service.
    The country groupings for Global Priority Mail flat-rate envelope 
(large and small envelope) and single-piece variable weight option have 
been simplified from 3 to 2 groups. All countries to which this service 
is available are combined into a single group with only Canada having a 
separate rate. Variable weight sticker option volume rates 
(International Mail Manual (IMM) 226.43), flat-rate box rates (IMM 
226.44), flat-rate box volume rates (IMM 226.44) are eliminated. These 
services are being abolished. Sections 226.43 through 226.452, and 
226.52 of the IMM will be eliminated.
    The Postal Service is also proposing drop shipment discounts for 
publishers' periodicals tendered at the New Jersey International and 
Bulk Mail Center. The proposed discount is $0.25 per pound. Mail will 
have to be presorted and sacked by country as is currently required; 
however, the per sack minimum weight will be eliminated for drop 
shipment.
    This notice does not address proposed changes in the International 
Priority Airmail (IPA) service program, which is the subject of a 
separate notice. Changes in certain international special mail service 
fees (see 63 FR 40180) will be implemented on January 10, 1999.
    Although the Postal Service is exempted by 39 U.S.C. 410(a) from 
the advance notice requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act 
regarding proposed rulemaking (5 U.S.C. 553), the Postal Service 
invites public comment at the above address.
    The Postal Service proposes to adopt the following rates and fees 
and to amend the International Mail Manual, which is incorporated by 
reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 20.1.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20

    Foreign relations, Incorporation by reference, International postal 
services.

PART 20--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 20 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 401, 404, 407, 408.

    2. The International Mail Manual will be amended to incorporate the 
following postal rates:

Proposed International Postage Rates

    (See section VII for rate groups for individual countries.)

I. Express Mail International Service

A. On Demand Service

1. Country-Specific Rates

 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Country
                                                          ------------------------------------------------------
                  Weight not over (lb.)                                            Great
                                                             Canada     Mexico    Britain     China      Japan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.5......................................................     $15.50     $15.50     $18.50     $15.00     $15.00
1........................................................      18.00      18.00      22.50      18.00      17.50
2........................................................      21.50      21.50      26.50      21.00      20.50
3........................................................      25.00      25.00      30.50      25.00      24.50
4........................................................      28.50      28.50      34.50      30.00      29.50
5........................................................      32.00      32.00      38.50      35.00      34.50
6........................................................      34.50      34.50      42.50      39.50      39.00
7........................................................      37.00      37.00      46.50      44.00      43.50
8........................................................      39.50      39.50      50.50      48.50      48.00
9........................................................      42.00      42.00      54.50      53.00      52.50
10.......................................................      44.50      44.50      58.50      57.50      57.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each additional pound or fraction of a pound.............      $2.50      $2.50      $4.00      $4.50      $4.50
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Rate Group Countries

 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Rate group
                   Weight not over (lb.)                   -----------------------------------------------------
                                                               1        2        3        4        5        6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.5.......................................................   $19.00   $21.00   $15.00   $19.00   $18.00   $20.00
1.........................................................    21.50    24.50    19.00    23.00    21.00    22.50
2.........................................................    25.50    28.50    23.00    27.50    24.50    26.50
3.........................................................    29.50    32.50    28.00    32.00    28.00    30.50
4.........................................................    34.00    37.00    33.00    36.50    31.50    35.00
5.........................................................    39.00    41.50    38.00    41.00    35.00    39.50

[[Page 67019]]

 
6.........................................................    43.50    45.50    42.50    45.00    38.00    44.00
7.........................................................    48.00    49.50    47.00    49.00    41.00    48.50
8.........................................................    52.50    53.50    51.50    53.00    44.00    53.00
9.........................................................    57.00    57.50    56.00    57.00    47.00    57.50
10........................................................    61.50    61.50    60.50    61.00    50.00    62.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each additional pound or fraction of a pound..............    $4.50    $4.00    $4.50    $4.00    $3.00    $4.50
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Custom Designed Service

1. Country-Specific Rates

 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Country
                                                          ------------------------------------------------------
                  Weight not over (lb.)                                            Great
                                                             Canada     Mexico    Britain     China      Japan
--------------------------------------------------------------\1\-----------------------------------------------
0.5......................................................  .........     $23.50     $26.50     $23.00     $23.00
1........................................................  .........      26.00      30.50      26.00      25.50
2........................................................  .........      29.50      34.50      29.00      28.50
3........................................................  .........      33.00      38.50      33.00      32.50
4........................................................  .........      36.50      42.50      38.00      37.50
5........................................................  .........      40.00      46.50      43.00      42.50
6........................................................  .........      42.50      50.50      47.50      47.00
7........................................................  .........      45.00      54.50      52.00      51.50
8........................................................  .........      47.50      58.50      56.50      56.00
9........................................................  .........      50.00      62.50      61.00      60.50
10.......................................................  .........      52.50      66.50      65.50      65.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each additional pound or fraction of a pound.............  .........      $2.50      $4.00      $4.50     $4.50
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Custom designed service not available.

2. Rate Group Countries

 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Rate Group
                   Weight not over (lb.)                   -----------------------------------------------------
                                                               1        2        3        4        5        6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.5.......................................................   $27.00   $29.00   $23.00   $27.00   $26.00   $28.00
1.........................................................    29.50    32.50    27.00    31.00    29.00    30.50
2.........................................................    33.50    36.50    31.00    35.50    32.50    34.50
3.........................................................    37.50    40.50    36.00    40.00    36.00    38.50
4.........................................................    42.00    45.00    41.00    44.50    39.50    43.00
5.........................................................    47.00    49.50    46.00    49.00    43.00    47.50
6.........................................................    51.50    53.50    50.50    53.00    46.00    52.00
7.........................................................    56.00    57.50    55.00    57.00    49.00    56.50
8.........................................................    60.50    61.50    59.50    61.00    52.00    61.00
9.........................................................    65.00    65.50    64.00    65.00    55.00    65.50
10........................................................    69.50    69.50    68.50    69.00    58.00    70.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each additional pound or fraction of a pound..............    $4.50    $4.00    $4.50    $4.00    $3.00    $4.50
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 67020]]

II. Letters and Letter Packages

A. Canada

 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Weight not over
----------------------------------------------------------------   Rate
                         (lb.)                           (oz.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0                                                           0.5    $0.48
0                                                             1     0.55
0                                                           1.5     0.67
0                                                             2     0.76
0                                                             3     1.00
0                                                             4     1.20
0                                                             5     1.40
0                                                             6     1.60
0                                                             7     1.80
0                                                             8     2.00
0                                                             9     2.19
0                                                            10     2.39
0                                                            11     2.59
0                                                            12     2.79
1                                                             0     3.59
1                                                             8     4.52
2                                                             0     5.44
2                                                             8     6.36
3                                                             0     7.29
3                                                             8     8.21
4                                                             0     9.14
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A 4-pound maximum applies except for registered items sent to 
Canada. Canada-bound registered items may weigh up to 66 pounds. For 
registered items weighing over 4 pounds, the rate is $1.85 for each 
additional pound up to the 66-pound limit.

B. Bulk Letter Service to Canada

 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Weight not over (oz.)                         Rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.5............................................................    $0.43
1..............................................................     0.52
1.5............................................................     0.62
2..............................................................     0.71
3..............................................................     0.95
------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Post/Postal Cards and Aerogrammes

A. Post/Postal Cards

 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Country                                Rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canada.........................................................    $0.45
Mexico.........................................................     0.40
All others.....................................................     0.55
------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Aerogrammes

    All countries: $0.60 each.

IV. Global Priority Mail (GPM)

A. GPM--World Wide Flat-Rate Prices

 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Envelope \1\
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Small    Large
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canada................................................    $4.00    $7.00
All other countries...................................    $5.00   $9.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum weight is 4 pounds.

B. GPM--World Wide Single-Piece Weight-Based

 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     All other    Canada
                                                     countries  --------
                 Weight \1\ (lb.)                  -------------
                                                        Rate       Rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.5...............................................        $8.00    $6.00
1.0...............................................        13.00    10.00
1.5...............................................        18.00    15.00
2.0...............................................        21.00    17.00
2.5...............................................        25.00    19.00
3.0...............................................        28.00    21.00
3.5...............................................        32.00    23.00
4.0...............................................        34.00   25.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum weight is 4 pounds.

V. Other Articles (AO)

A. Regular Printed Matter and Small Packets--Surface

 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Weight not over                    Mexico     All other
------------------------------------------------------------  countries
                                                                except
                                                                Canada
                (lb.)                   (oz.)       Rate    ------------
                                                                 Rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0                                            1        $0.60        $0.70
0                                            2         0.80         1.04
0                                            3         1.06         1.30
0                                            4         1.25         1.45
0                                            5         1.50         1.96
0                                            6         1.50         1.96
0                                            7         1.85         2.46
0                                            8         1.85         2.46
0                                            9         2.19         2.96
0                                           10         2.19         2.96
0                                           11         2.47         3.47
0                                           12         2.47         3.47
0                                           13         2.81         3.97
0                                           14         2.81         3.97
0                                           15         3.14         4.48
1                                            0         3.14         4.48
1                                            2         3.43         4.84
1                                            4         3.72         5.20
1                                            6         4.01         5.56
1                                            8         4.30         5.92
1                                           10         4.58         6.28
1                                           12         4.87         6.64
1                                           14         5.16         7.00
2                                            0         5.45         7.36
3                                            0         7.37         9.66
4                                            0         9.29        11.96
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each additional pound or
fraction of a pound                                   $1.92        $2.30
------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Valuepost/Canada

 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Weight                                Rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter-size
    1 ounce or less.......................  $0.42
    Over 1 ounce..........................  $0.39 plus $0.51 per pound
                                             or fraction of a pound
Flat-size
    5 ounces or less......................  $0.71
    Over 5 ounces.........................  $0.43 plus $1.16 per pound
                                             or fraction of a pound
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 67021]]

C. Publishers' Periodicals--Surface

 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Weight Not Over                    Mexico     All other
------------------------------------------------------------  countries
                                                                except
                                                                Canada
                (lb.)                   (Oz.)       Rate    ------------
                                                                 Rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0                                            1         0.40         0.38
0                                            2         0.50         0.48
0                                            3         0.65         0.62
0                                            4         0.75         0.72
0                                            5         0.94         0.91
0                                            6         0.94         0.91
0                                            7         1.13         1.10
0                                            8         1.13         1.10
0                                            9         1.31         1.30
0                                           10         1.31         1.30
0                                           11         1.50         1.49
0                                           12         1.50         1.49
0                                           13         1.69         1.68
0                                           14         1.69         1.68
0                                           15         1.88         1.87
1                                            0         1.88         1.87
1                                            2         2.05         2.05
1                                            4         2.23         2.23
1                                            6         2.40         2.41
1                                            8         2.58         2.59
1                                           10         2.75         2.77
1                                           12         2.93         2.95
1                                           14         3.10         3.13
2                                            0         3.28         3.31
2                                            0         4.48         4.46
4                                            0         5.68         5.61
5                                            0         6.88         6.76
6                                            0         8.08         7.91
7                                            0         9.28         9.06
8                                            0        10.48        10.21
9                                            0        11.68        11.36
10                                           0        12.88        12.51
11                                           0        14.08        13.66
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Dropship Discount--$0.25 per pound for volume made up to country 
and tendered at the New Jersey International and Bulk Mail Center.

D. Books and Sheet Music--Surface

 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Weight not over                    Mexico     All other
------------------------------------------------------------  countries
                                                                except
                                                                Canada
                     (lb.)                          Rate    ------------
                                                                 Rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.............................................        $1.88        $1.87
2.............................................         3.28         3.31
3.............................................         4.48         4.46
4.............................................         5.68         5.61
5.............................................         6.88         6.76
6.............................................         8.08         7.91
7.............................................         9.28         9.06
8.............................................        10.48        10.21
9.............................................        11.68        11.36
10............................................        12.88        12.51
11............................................        14.08        13.66
------------------------------------------------------------------------

E. Air--Other Articles (Printed Matter, Matter for the Blind, and Small 
Packets)

1. Canada and Mexico--Air

 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Weight not over                      Canada   Mexico
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    (lb.)                       (oz.)     Rate     Rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0                                                  0.5    $0.60    $0.60
0                                                    1     0.69     0.76
0                                                  1.5     0.84     0.91
0                                                    2     0.85     0.89
0                                                    3     1.26     1.30
0                                                    4     1.50     1.56
0                                                    5     1.74     1.82
0                                                    6     1.84     2.08
0                                                    7     2.06     2.34
0                                                    8     2.29     2.60
0                                                    9     2.51     2.86
0                                                   10     2.74     3.12
0                                                   11     2.96     3.38
0                                                   12     3.19     3.64
1                                                    0     4.09     4.68
1                                                    8     4.68     6.76
2                                                    0     5.60     8.84
2                                                    8     6.52    10.92
3                                                    0     7.44    13.00
3                                                    8     8.36    15.08
4                                                    0     9.28    17.16
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each Additional \1/2\ pound or fraction of \1/2\ pound    $0.92    $2.08
------------------------------------------------------------------------

VI. Parcel Post

    (The weight limits for parcels vary by country. Parcels to Canada 
have a minimum weight limit of 1 pound.)

A. Surface Parcel Post

 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Canada      Bahamas,    All other
                                  -------------   Bermuda,    countries
                                                 Caribbean  ------------
                                                  Islands,
                                                  Central
                                                  America,
      Weight not over (lb.)                     Mexico, and
                                       Rate      St. Pierre      Rate
                                                    and
                                                  Miquelon
                                               -------------
                                                    Rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2................................       $11.33       $14.65       $15.70
3................................        11.69        15.34        16.60
4................................        13.13        16.01        17.47
5................................        13.51        16.65        18.32
6................................        13.90        18.85        20.88
7................................        14.28        19.52        21.75
8................................        15.88        20.17        22.59
9................................        16.30        20.80        23.42
10...............................        16.71        21.42        24.22
11...............................        18.45        23.86        27.10
12...............................        18.89        24.51        27.93
13...............................        19.34        25.14        28.76
14...............................        19.79        25.77        29.57
15...............................        20.23        26.38        30.36
16...............................        20.68        26.99        31.15
17...............................        21.13        27.59        31.93

[[Page 67022]]

 
18...............................        21.57        28.18        32.69
19...............................        22.02        28.77        33.45
20...............................        22.47        29.35        34.20
21...............................        22.91        29.93        34.94
22...............................        23.36        30.50        35.68
23...............................        23.81        31.07        36.41
24...............................        24.25        31.63        37.14
25...............................        26.03        33.42        39.09
26...............................        26.48        33.98        39.80
27...............................        26.92        34.53        40.51
28...............................        27.37        35.07        41.22
29...............................        27.82        35.62        41.92
30...............................        28.27        36.16        42.61
31...............................        28.71        36.70        43.31
32...............................        29.16        37.24        44.00
33...............................        29.61        37.77        44.68
34...............................        30.05        38.30        45.37
35...............................        30.50        38.83        46.05
36...............................        30.95        39.36        46.73
37...............................        31.39        39.89        47.40
38...............................        31.84        40.41        48.07
39...............................        32.29        40.93        48.75
40...............................        32.73        41.45        49.41
41...............................        33.18        41.97        50.08
42...............................        33.63        42.49        50.75
43...............................        34.07        43.01        51.41
44...............................        34.55        43.52        52.07
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each additional pound or fraction
 of a pound......................        $0.50        $0.60        $0.70
------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Air Parcel Post

    (See section VII for country rate groups.)

 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Rate Groups
       Weight not over (lb.)        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Canada     Mexico       A          B          C          D          E
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..................................     $10.94      $9.98     $10.86     $11.76     $13.80     $15.11     $16.69
2..................................      12.61      12.12      13.71      15.42      17.28      19.83      20.68
3..................................      13.28      13.36      15.57      18.01      19.51      23.19      23.15
4..................................      15.11      15.82      18.87      22.31      23.55      28.76      27.75
5..................................      15.84      17.16      20.88      25.12      25.96      32.40      30.43
6..................................      16.56      18.50      22.89      27.92      28.37      36.03      33.11
7..................................      17.29      19.84      24.90      30.73      30.78      39.67      35.79
8..................................      19.40      22.81      28.99      36.11      35.75      46.63      41.42
9..................................      20.18      24.26      31.15      39.13      38.34      50.55      44.30
10.................................      20.97      25.70      33.31      42.15      40.94      54.47      47.19
11.................................      21.75      27.15      35.48      45.17      43.54      58.38      50.07
12.................................      22.53      28.59      37.64      48.19      46.14      62.30      52.95
13.................................      23.32      30.04      39.81      51.21      48.73      66.21      55.84
14.................................      24.10      31.48      41.97      54.23      51.33      70.13      58.72
15.................................      24.88      32.93      44.14      57.25      53.93      74.04      61.60
16.................................      25.66      34.37      46.30      60.27      56.52      77.96      64.49
17.................................      26.45      35.82      48.47      63.29      59.12      81.88      67.37
18.................................      27.23      37.26      50.63      66.31      61.72      85.79      70.25
19.................................      28.01      38.71      52.80      69.33      64.32      89.71      73.14
20.................................      28.79      40.15      54.96      72.35      66.91      93.62      76.02

[[Page 67023]]

 
21.................................      29.58      41.60      57.13      75.37      69.51      97.54      78.90
22.................................      30.36      43.04      59.29      78.39      72.11     101.45      81.79
23.................................      31.14      44.49      61.46      81.41      74.70     105.37      84.67
24.................................      31.92      45.93      63.62      84.43      77.30     109.29      87.55
25.................................      34.04      48.71      67.12      88.76      81.23     114.53      91.61
26.................................      34.82      50.15      69.28      91.78      83.83     118.44      94.49
27.................................      35.60      51.60      71.45      94.80      86.42     122.36      97.38
28.................................      36.38      53.04      73.61      97.82      89.02     126.27     100.26
29.................................      37.17      54.49      75.78     100.84      91.62     130.19     103.14
30.................................      37.95      55.93      77.94     103.86      94.21     134.11     106.03
31.................................      38.73      57.38      80.11     106.88      96.81     138.02     108.91
32.................................      39.51      58.83      82.27     109.90      99.41     141.94     111.79
33.................................      40.30      60.27      84.44     112.92     102.00     145.85     114.68
34.................................      41.08      61.72      86.60     115.94     104.60     149.77     117.56
35.................................      41.86      63.16      88.77     118.96     107.20     153.68     120.44
36.................................      42.65      64.61      90.93     121.98     109.80     157.60     123.33
37.................................      43.43      66.05      93.10     125.00     112.39     161.52     126.21
38.................................      44.21      67.50      95.26     128.02     114.99     165.43     129.09
39.................................      44.99      68.94      97.43     131.04     117.59     169.35     131.98
40.................................      45.78      70.39      99.59     134.06     120.18     173.26     134.86
41.................................      46.56      71.83     101.76     137.08     122.78     177.18     137.74
42.................................      47.34      73.28     103.92     140.10     125.38     181.09     140.63
43.................................      48.12      74.72     106.09     143.12     127.98     185.01     143.51
44.................................      48.91      76.17     108.25     146.14     130.57     188.95     146.39
Each additional pound or fraction
 of a pound........................      $0.80      $1.40      $1.50      $3.00      $2.60      $4.00      $3.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VII. Country Table

 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Express mail rate    Air parcel post
             Country                     group            rate group
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afghanistan \1\.................  ..................  E
Albania.........................  4 \2\.............  D
Algeria.........................  6 \2\.............  D
Andorra.........................  4.................  B
Angola..........................  6.................  D
Anguilla........................  ..................  A
Antigua and Barbuda.............  ..................  A
Argentina.......................  5.................  E
Armenia.........................  4.................  E
Aruba...........................  5.................  B
Ascension.......................  ..................  ..................
Australia.......................  3.................  D
Austria.........................  2.................  D
Azerbaijan......................  4.................  A
Azores..........................  4.................  D
Bahamas.........................  5.................  A
Bahrain.........................  6.................  C
Bangladesh......................  1.................  B
Barbados........................  5.................  A
Belarus.........................  4.................  C
Belgium.........................  2.................  D
Belize..........................  5.................  A
Benin...........................  6.................  A
Bermuda.........................  5.................  C
Bhutan..........................  1 \2\.............  D
Bolivia.........................  5.................  C
Bosnia-Herzegovina..............  2.................  A
Botswana........................  6.................  D
Brazil..........................  5.................  E
British Virgin Islands..........  ..................  A
Brunei Darussalam...............  1.................  A
Bulgaria........................  4.................  D
Burkina Faso....................  6.................  D
Burma...........................  ..................  B
Burundi \1\.....................  6.................  B
Cambodia........................  1.................  B

[[Page 67024]]

 
Cameroon........................  6.................  D
Canada..........................  Country-Specific    Country-Specific
                                   Rate \2\.           Rate
Cape Verde......................  6.................  D
Cayman Islands..................  5.................  A
Central African Republic........  6.................  E
Chad............................  6.................  D
Chile...........................  5.................  C
China...........................  Country-Specific    D
                                   Rate.
Colombia........................  5.................  B
Comoros.........................  ..................  B
Congo, Dem. Rep. of the \1\.....  6.................  B
Congo, Rep. of the (Brazzaville)  6.................  E
Corsica.........................  4.................  D
Costa Rica......................  5.................  A
Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast).....  6.................  C
Croatia.........................  4.................  C
Cuba............................  ..................  ..................
Cyprus..........................  4.................  C
Czech Republic..................  4.................  C
Denmark.........................  2.................  C
Djibouti........................  6.................  D
Dominica........................  ..................  A
Dominican Republic..............  5.................  A
Ecuador.........................  5.................  B
Egypt...........................  6.................  D
El Salvador.....................  5.................  A
Equatorial Guinea...............  6.................  B
Eritrea.........................  6.................  D
Estonia.........................  4 \2\.............  D
Ethiopia........................  6.................  B
Falkland Islands................  ..................  ..................
Faroe Islands...................  2.................  C
Fiji............................  1 \2\.............  A
Finland.........................  2.................  A
France (incl. Monaco)...........  4 \2\.............  D
French Guiana...................  5 \2\.............  E
French Polynesia................  1.................  E
Gabon...........................  6.................  D
Gambia..........................  ..................  A
Georgia, Republic of............  4.................  E
Germany.........................  2 \2\.............  A
Ghana...........................  6.................  D
Gibraltar.......................  ..................  B
Great Britain and Northern        Country-Specific    D
 Ireland.                          Rate.
Greece..........................  2.................  A
Greenland.......................  ..................  C
Grenada.........................  5.................  A
Guadeloupe......................  5 \1\.............  E
Guatemala.......................  5.................  A
Guinea..........................  6.................  A
Guinea-Bissau \1\...............  6.................  A
Guyana..........................  5.................  A
Haiti...........................  5.................  A
Honduras........................  5.................  A
Hong Kong.......................  3.................  D
Hungary.........................  2.................  C
Iceland.........................  2.................  A
India...........................  1.................  D
Indonesia.......................  1.................  D
Iran............................  ..................  E
Iraq............................  6.................  ..................
Ireland.........................  4.................  A
Israel..........................  6.................  D
Italy...........................  2.................  A
Jamaica.........................  5.................  A
Japan...........................  Country-Specific    D
                                   Rate.
Jordan..........................  6.................  B
Kazakhstan......................  4.................  B
Kenya...........................  6.................  D
Kiribati........................  ..................  A
Korea, Dem. People's Rep.         ..................  ..................
 (North).
Korea, Republic of (South)......  3.................  B

[[Page 67025]]

 
Kuwait..........................  6.................  D
Kyrgyzstan......................  4.................  C
Laos............................  1.................  E
Latvia..........................  4.................  B
Lebanon.........................  ..................  A
Lesotho.........................  6.................  D
Liberia \1\.....................  6.................  ..................
Libya...........................  ..................  D
Liechtenstein...................  2.................  C
Lithuania.......................  4.................  D
Luxembourg......................  4.................  C
Macao...........................  1.................  D
Macedonia.......................  4.................  C
Madagascar......................  6.................  E
Madeira Islands.................  4.................  D
Malawi..........................  6.................  D
Malaysia........................  1.................  B
Maldives........................  1.................  E
Mali............................  6.................  D
Malta...........................  2.................  D
Martinique......................  5 \2\.............  E
Mauritania......................  6.................  A
Mauritius.......................  6.................  B
Mexico..........................  Country-Specific    Country-Specific
                                   Rate.               Rate
Moldova.........................  4.................  D
Mongolia........................  1.................  D
Montserrat......................  ..................  A
Morocco.........................  6.................  C
Mozambique......................  6.................  E
Namibia.........................  6.................  D
Nauru...........................  1 \2\.............  B
Nepal...........................  1.................  D
Netherlands.....................  2 \2\.............  B
Netherlands Antilles............  5.................  B
New Caledonia...................  1.................  E
New Zealand.....................  1.................  D
Nicaragua.......................  5.................  A
Niger...........................  6.................  C
Nigeria.........................  6.................  D
Norway..........................  2.................  D
Oman............................  1.................  B
Pakistan........................  1.................  D
Panama..........................  5.................  A
Papua New Guinea................  1.................  E
Paraguay........................  5.................  C
Peru............................  5.................  C
Philippines.....................  1.................  D
Pitcairn Island.................  ..................  D
Poland..........................  4.................  C
Portugal........................  4.................  D
Qatar...........................  6.................  B
Reunion.........................  ..................  E
Romania.........................  4.................  D
Russia..........................  4.................  E
Rwanda..........................  6.................  D
Saint Christopher (St. Kitts)     5.................  B
 and Nevis.
Saint Helena....................  ..................  C
Saint Lucia.....................  5.................  A
Saint Pierre and Miquelon.......  ..................  B
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  5.................  C
San Marino......................  ..................  A
Sao Tome and Principe...........  ..................  B
Saudi Arabia....................  6.................  B
Senegal.........................  6.................  D
Serbia-Montenegro...............  4.................  B
Seychelles......................  6.................  C
Sierra Leone \1\................  6.................  D
Singapore.......................  3.................  D
Slovak Republic.................  4.................  B
Slovenia........................  2.................  C
Solomon Islands.................  1.................  B
Somalia \1\.....................  6.................  ..................

[[Page 67026]]

 
South Africa....................  6.................  D
Spain...........................  4.................  B
Sri Lanka.......................  1.................  B
Sudan...........................  6.................  B
Suriname........................  ..................  A
Swaziland.......................  6.................  B
Sweden..........................  2 \2\.............  E
Switzerland.....................  2.................  C
Syrian Arab Republic............  6.................  C
Taiwan..........................  3.................  D
Tajikistan......................  4.................  C
Tanzania........................  6.................  C
Thailand........................  3.................  B
Togo............................  6.................  D
Tonga...........................  ..................  A
Trinidad and Tobago.............  5.................  A
Tristan da Cunha................  ..................  A
Tunisia.........................  6.................  B
Turkey..........................  6.................  B
Turkmenistan....................  4.................  D
Turks and Caicos Islands........  ..................  A
Tuvalu..........................  ..................  A
Uganda..........................  6.................  D
Ukraine.........................  4.................  D
United Arab Emirates............  6.................  C
Uruguay.........................  5.................  C
Uzbekistan......................  ..................  E
Vanuatu.........................  1 \2\.............  A
Vatican City....................  ..................  A
Venezuela.......................  5.................  A
Vietnam.........................  1.................  B
Wallis and Futuna Islands.......  ..................  E
Western Samoa...................  1.................  B
Yemen...........................  6.................  C
Zambia..........................  6.................  D
Zimbabwe........................  6.................  E
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ All mail service suspended.
\2\ On Demand service only.

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.

[FR Doc. 98-31974 Filed 12-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P