[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 49 (Monday, March 13, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13258-13260]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6050]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Delivery of Mail to a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Proposed rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this proposal is to amend section D042.2.6(e) 
of the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) to revise the requirements for 
delivery of an addressee's mail to a commercial mail receiving agency. 
The proposal provides an additional optional secondary address 
designation element that may be used in the delivery address of holders 
of private mailboxes.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 12, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be mailed to Manager, Delivery, U.S. 
Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW Room 7142, Washington, DC 20260-
2802. Copies of all written comments will be available for inspection 
and photocopying between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roy E. Gamble, (202) 268-3197.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 25, 1999, the Postal Service 
published a final rule in the Federal Register adopting revised 
regulations governing the operation of commercial mail receiving 
agencies (CMRAs) with an effective date of April 26, 1999 (64 FR 
14385). One of the revised rules, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 
D042.2.6(e), required the use of ``PMB'' (private mailbox) in the 
complete mailing address of all CMRA customers. The Postal Service 
believes the required use of ``PMB'' in the CMRA customer's private 
mailbox address will provide CMRA mailbox holders' correspondents with 
the true identity of the mailing address of the mailbox holder. Under 
previous standards, many CMRA mailbox holders used addresses bearing 
secondary address indicators such as ``Suite,'' ``Apartment,'' or other 
designator indicating a physical presence at that street address. The 
Postal Service adopted the ``PMB'' designation to ensure that the 
public would be aware that the address is not a physical location and 
thereby discourage fraudulent or deceptive practices that might 
adversely affect senior citizens and other consumers, businesses, and 
even federal, state, and local governments.
    This proposal to amend DMM D042.2.6(e) is an outgrowth of meetings 
the Postal Service conducted after publication of the revised rules 
with various groups representing the CMRA industry, small businesses, 
the self-employed, small and home office (SOHO) operators, and 
government organizations. Some of these participants asserted, as had 
commentors during the rulemaking, that the use of the ``PMB'' 
designation would have a negative effect on the businesses of CMRA 
mailbox holders. That is, they asserted that some consumers might be 
discouraged from doing business with CMRA mailbox holders due to 
perceptions that those businesses are somehow ``unsavory.'' Although 
the Postal Service, as discussed in the March 25 rulemaking, is not 
convinced that this would happen, it nonetheless wishes to ensure that 
this unintended consequence does not occur. During the discussions 
referenced above, some of the participants proposed a modification that 
would allow private mailbox holders the alternative to use the ``#'' 
sign in lieu of ``PMB'' in their mailing addresses at a CMRA. Although 
the Postal Service believes that the rule adopted on March 25, 1999, 
best serves the consumer protection needs of the American public, it 
nevertheless wishes to balance this goal with the concerns of the small 
business community. The Postal Service believes that the proposal 
outlined herein balances these interests.

Summary of Proposed Change

    Proposed DMM section D042.2.6(e) provides that the CMRA delivery 
address designation for customer's mail must contain specific address 
elements identifying it as the location to which a mailpiece is 
delivered. Unlike the current rule, the proposed rule would permit use 
of the ``#'' sign as an alternative to the ``PMB'' designation, the 
only authorized secondary designation that may be used in the delivery 
address under the rules published on March 25, 1999. As with that rule, 
the mailbox holder would not be permitted to use ``Suite,'' 
``Apartment,'' or any other designator indicating a physical presence 
at the address. Instead, it would require the use of the designation 
``PMB'' or the alternate ``#'' designation, along with the appropriate 
unique number assigned to the mailbox holder by the CMRA.
    Current standards specify that a four-line format should be used 
for CMRA customer addresses. Domestic Mail Manual section D042.2.6(e) 
remains the preferred format. Nevertheless, CMRA customers will be 
permitted an option to use a three-line format, if the sender of the 
mailpiece is unable to provide the four-line format due to computer

[[Page 13259]]

software or storage limitations, with the exceptions discussed below. 
Examples of acceptable three-line format addresses are:

JOE DOE
10 MAIN ST PMB 234
HERNDON VA 22071-2716
or
JOE DOE
10 MAIN ST #234
HERNDON VA 22071-2716
or
JOE DOE
10 MAIN ST STE 11 PMB 234
HERNDON VA 22071-2716

    The CMRA customer must not use the # sign in the three-line format 
when the physical address of the CMRA contains a secondary address 
element on the delivery address line; for example, ``Rural Route Box 
Number,'' ``Suite,'' ``Floor,'' ``Building,'' ``Unit,'' ``#,'' or other 
term. For example, the use of the # sign in a three-line format address 
of a CMRA customer is not permitted in the following addresses:

JOE DOE
10 MAIN ST STE 11 PMB 234
HERNDON VA 22071-2716
or
Joe Doe
RR 1 BOX 12 PMB 234
HERNDON VA 22071-2716

    In this case, the following must be used:

JOE DOE
#234
10 MAIN ST STE 11
HERNDON VA 22071-2716
or
JOE DOE
#234
RR 1 BOX 12
HERNDON VA 22071-2716

    Note:  It is also impermissible to combine the secondary address 
element of the physical location of the CMRA address and the CMRA 
customer private mailbox number (e.g., 10 MAIN ST STE 11-234). In 
CMRA physical addresses which contain a secondary address element on 
the delivery address line, the addition of the # sign and the 
private mailbox number of a CMRA customer on the delivery address 
line will likely cause operational problems. The problems are 
related to automation misreading the address, leading to returned or 
misdirected mail, service delays, and increased costs in processing 
and delivering the mail. Accordingly, where the CMRA address 
contains a secondary address element, the CMRA customer must not use 
the # sign in the address in the three-line format. The four-line 
format currently set forth in DMM section D042.2.6(e) must be used.

    The public would be provided the means to know that an address 
bearing the ``#'' designation is located at a CMRA, although in some 
instances attainment of this knowledge would require a step in addition 
to reading the address on the mailpiece. An address bearing the ``PMB'' 
designation would always be located at a CMRA. However, an address 
bearing the ``#'' designation may or may not be at a CMRA; the Postal 
Service will maintain a toll-free number which will allow individuals 
to ascertain whether the ``#'' designation address is located at a 
CMRA. The Postal Service will also engage in an information campaign to 
educate the public on the ``PMB'' and ``#'' designations and the 
availability of the toll-free number. Under the rules published by the 
Postal Service on March 25, 1999, and subsequent extensions, mail 
addressed to private mailboxes was to include the ``PMB'' designation 
by April 26, 2000. Due to the time required for the public comment 
period and the issuance of the final rule for this proposal, the April 
26, 2000, deadline is extended to August 26, 2000.
    Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the 
Administrative Procedures Act (5 U.S.C. of 553(b), (c)) regarding 
proposed rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), the Postal Service invites 
public comment on the following proposed revision to the Domestic Mail 
Manual, incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. 
See 39 CFR 111.1.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.

    For the reasons discussed above, the Postal Service proposes to 
adopt the following amendments to the Domestic Mail Manual, which is 
incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations (39 CFR 
part 111):

PART 111--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 111 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 3001-3011, 
3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 5001.

    2. Section D042.2.0 of the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) is amended by 
revising subsection D042.2.6 (e) to read as follows:

D  DEPOSIT, COLLECTION, AND DELIVERY

D000  Basic Information

* * * * *

D040  Delivery of Mail

* * * * *

D042  Conditions of Delivery

* * * * *
2.0  DELIVERY TO ADDRESSEE'S AGENT
* * * * *

2.6  Delivery to CMRA

* * * * *
    e. A CMRA must represent its delivery address designations for the 
intended addressees by the use of private mailbox (PMB) or the 
alternative (#) sign. The CMRA delivery address designations must 
specify the location to which a mailpiece is delivered. Mailpieces must 
bear a delivery address that contains the following elements, in this 
order:

Preferred Format

    (Line 1) Intended addressee's name or other identification. 
Examples: JOE DOE or ABC CO.
    (Line 2) PMB and number or the alternative # sign and number. 
Example: PMB 234 or #234.
    (Line 3) Street number and name or post office box number or rural 
route designation and number. Examples: 10 MAIN ST or PO BOX 34 or RR 1 
BOX 12.
    (Line 4) City, state, and ZIP Code (5-digit or ZIP+4).
    Example: HERNDON VA 22071-2716.
    Examples of acceptable four-line format addresses are:

JOE DOE
PMB 234
RR 1 BOX 12
HERNDON VA 22071-2716
or
JOE DOE
#234
10 MAIN ST STE 11
HERNDON VA 22071-2716

Alternate Format

    (Line 1) Intended addressee's name or other identification.
    Examples: JOE DOE or ABC CO.
    (Line 2) Street number and name or post office box number and PMB 
and number or the alternative # sign and number.
    Examples: 10 MAIN ST PMB 234 or #234 or PO BOX 34 PMB 234 or #234.
    (Line 3) City, state, and ZIP Code (5-digit or ZIP+4).
    Example: HERNDON VA 22071-2716.
    The CMRA customer must not use the # sign in the three-line format 
when the physical address of the CMRA contains a secondary address 
element on the delivery address line; for example, ``Rural Route Box 
Number,'' ``Suite,'' ``Floor,'' ``Building,'' Unit,'' ``#,'' or other 
term. For example, the use of the

[[Page 13260]]

# sign in a three-line format address of a CMRA customer is not 
permitted in the following addresses:

JOE DOE
10 MAIN ST STE 11 #234
HERNDON VA 22071-2716
or
Joe Doe
RR 12 BOX 512 #234
Herndon VA 22071-2716

    In this case, the following must be used:
JOE DOE
10 MAIN ST STE 11 PMB 234
HERNDON VA 22071-2716
or
JOE DOE
#234
10 MAIN ST STE 11
HERNDON VA 22071-2716
or
JOE DOE
RR 12 Box 512 PMB 234
HERNDON VA 22071-2716
or
JOE DOE
#234
RR 12 Box 512
HERNDON VA 22071-2716

    It is also impermissible to combine the secondary address element 
of the physical location of the CMRA address and the CMRA customer 
private mailbox number, e.g., 10 MAIN ST STE 11-234. In CMRA physical 
addresses which contain a secondary address element on the delivery 
address line, the addition of the # sign and the private mailbox number 
of a CMRA customer on the delivery address line will likely cause 
operational problems. The problems are related to automation misreading 
the address, leading to returned or misdirected mail, service delays, 
and increased costs in processing and delivering the mail. Accordingly, 
where the CMRA address contains a secondary address element, the CMRA 
customer must not use the # sign in the address in the three-line 
format. The CMRA must write the complete CMRA delivery address used to 
deliver mail to each individual addressee or firm on the Form 1583 
(block 3). The Postal Service may return mail without a proper address 
to the sender endorsed ``Undeliverable as Addressed, Missing PMB or # 
Sign.''
* * * * *
    An appropriate amendment to 39 CFR 111.3 to reflect this change 
will be published if the proposal is adopted.

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 00-6050 Filed 3-10-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P