[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 91 (Wednesday, May 10, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29955-29956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-11700]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 20


Changes in International Postal Rates

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service, after considering the comments submitted 
in response to its request for comments on proposed changes in 
international postage rates published in the Federal Register on March 
1, 2000 (65 FR 11023-11024), hereby gives notice that it is 
implementing the proposed rates for regular printed matter, small 
packets, and books and sheet music and delaying the implementation for 
the proposed publishers' periodical rates.

EFFECTIVE DATES: 12:01 a.m., May 28, 2000; 12:01 a.m., January 13, 
2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Alepa, (202) 268-4071; or John 
Reynolds, (202) 314-7334.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 1, 2000, the Postal Service 
published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed changes in 
international postage rates (65 FR 11023-11024). The Postal Service 
requested comments by March 31, 2000. No comments were received on the 
proposed rates for regular printed matter, small packets, and books and 
sheet music. Comments on the proposed rates for publishers' periodicals 
were received from seven mailers who use the publishers' periodical 
rates and an organization representing publishers. The comments 
centered on three areas of concern.

[[Page 29956]]

    First, seven of the commenters mentioned the size of the proposed 
rate change, 15 percent for publishers' periodicals to countries other 
than Canada and Mexico and 20 percent for items to Mexico. Second, two 
mailers questioned the timing of the change, stating that budgets have 
already been set for the year, the increased expense is unanticipated, 
and subscription rates cannot be changed. Third, two commenters 
questioned the reliability of the cost data used by the Postal Service 
to set the new rates and requested that the Postal service re-examine 
the cost studies that underlie the rates.
    The Postal Service believes the cost information on which it based 
the proposed publishers' periodicals rates is correct. This cost 
information comes from the same data systems used to develop domestic 
rates. Those systems are reviewed by the Postal Rates Commission during 
domestic rate proceedings and the international revenue and cost 
information is furnished to the Postal Rate Commission for its annual 
report to the Congress.
    The rate changes proposed by the Postal Service are necessary to 
enable the rates of the affected categories of printed matter to better 
align with the costs involved in providing the service. However, the 
Postal Service believes that the commenters have raised valid concerns 
about the timing of the proposed rates for publishers' periodicals. By 
agreeing to defer the implementation date for that component of the 
rate change proposal, the Postal Service is seeking to provide affected 
mailers with additional time to incorporate postal rate adjustments 
into their corporate business plans.
    Accordingly, the proposed surface rates for regular printed matter 
and small packets to Mexico and for books and sheet music to all 
countries except Canada will take effect at 12:01 a.m., May 28, 2000. 
The implementation date for the publishers' periodical rates to all 
countries except Canada is being deferred to 12:01 a.m., January 13, 
2001.
    The Postal Service hereby adopts the following postal rates and 
amends 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, 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 is amended to incorporate the 
following postal rates:

      I. Mexico--Regular Printed Matter and Small Packets (Surface)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Weight not over
----------------------------------------------            Rate
          Lb.                    Oz.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              0                       1                       $0.72
              0                       2                        0.96
              0                       3                        1.27
              0                       4                        1.50
              0                       5                        1.80
              0                       6                        1.80
              0                       7                        2.22
              0                       8                        2.22
              0                       9                        2.63
              0                      10                        2.63
              0                      11                        2.96
              0                      12                        2.96
              0                      13                        3.37
              0                      14                        3.37
              0                      15                        3.77
              1                       0                        3.77
              1                       2                        4.12
              1                       4                        4.46
              1                       6                        4.81
              1                       8                        5.16
              1                      10                        5.50
              1                      12                        5.84
              1                      14                        6.19
              2                       0                        6.54
              3                       0                        8.84
              4                       0                       11.15
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each additional pound   .....................                 $2.30
 or fraction of a
           pound
------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Note: Maximum weight is 4 pounds for small packets and 11 pounds for 
regular printed matter.)

                   II. Books and Sheet Music (Surface)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             All other
                                                             countries
            Weight not over  (Lbs.)              Mexico   (except Canada
                                                            and Mexico)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.............................................     $2.26           $2.24
2.............................................      3.94            3.97
3.............................................      5.38            5.35
4.............................................      6.82            6.73
5.............................................      8.26            8.11
6.............................................      9.70            9.49
7.............................................     11.14           10.87
8.............................................     12.58           12.25
9.............................................     14.02           13.63
10............................................     15.46           15.01
11............................................     16.90           16.39
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                 III. Publishers' Periodicals (Surface)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Weight not over                            All other countries
---------------------------------      Mexico        (except Canada and
      Lb.              Oz.                                Mexico)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          0                1             $0.48                  $0.44
          0                2              0.60                   0.55
          0                3              0.78                   0.71
          0                4              0.90                   0.83
          0                5              1.13                   1.05
          0                6              1.13                   1.05
          0                7              1.36                   1.27
          0                8              1.36                   1.27
          0                9              1.57                   1.50
          0               10              1.57                   1.50
          0               11              1.80                   1.71
          0               12              1.80                   1.71
          0               13              2.03                   1.93
          0               14              2.03                   1.93
          0               15              2.26                   2.15
          0               16              2.26                   2.15
          0               18              2.46                   2.36
          0               20              2.68                   2.56
          0               22              2.88                   2.77
          0               24              3.10                   2.98
          0               26              3.30                   3.19
          0               28              3.52                   3.39
          0               30              3.72                   3.60
          0               32              3.94                   3.81
          3                0              5.38                   5.13
          4                0              6.82                   6.45
          5                0              8.26                   7.77
          6                0              9.70                   9.10
          7                0             11.14                  10.42
          8                0             12.58                  11.74
          9                0             14.02                  13.06
         10                0             15.46                  14.39
         11                0             16.90                  15.71
------------------------------------------------------------------------


Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 00-11700 Filed 5-9-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-U