[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 232 (Friday, December 1, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 75210-75215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-30582]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Shipping Label Requirements

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Postal Service, in its efforts to make package 
shipping easier for mailers, is developing standard guidelines for 
creating package shipping labels. The following changes are proposed to 
the markings (and endorsements) and Delivery Confirmation requirements 
in support of this effort:
     Addition of a service indicator at the top of the label to 
identify the class of mail.

[[Page 75211]]

     Modifications to the Delivery Confirmation format to 
support the new label design and identify the service option requested.
    These changes will be consolidated into the Domestic Mail Manual 
(DMM) and subsequently into a publication, which will identify 
requirements and specifications to assist mailers in designing their 
shipping labels.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 2, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to John Gullo, Expedited 
Package Services, United States Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW., 
Room 4000NB, Washington, DC 20260-7165. Copies of all written comments 
(available for $0.15 per copy per page) will be available for 
inspection and photocopying between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, at the following address: Library, United States Postal 
Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Room 11800, Washington, DC 20260-1540.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Gullo, 202-268-7322.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To meet customer ease-of-use needs, the 
Postal Service is developing a publication to help mailers design 
shipping labels for expedited and package products. Currently, a mailer 
or their vendor may design their own shipping labels providing they 
include all format elements specified in the DMM. Because of the 
expense involved in modifying mailing systems to conform to DMM 
requirements, mailers have requested that this information be made 
available in a single publication that is similar to other Postal 
Service publications used for designing letter, flat, and reply mail. 
By placing these standard requirements and guidelines into a single 
publication, it will be easier for mailers to create shipping labels 
that conform to DMM requirements. This, in turn, will improve the 
Postal Service's ability to process and deliver mailed items.
    The DMM currently provides specifications for postage, identifying 
class of mail, addressing standards, and requirements for adding 
special services on shipping labels. The Postal Service is recommending 
the addition of service indicators to identify the class of mail, and 
modifications to the Delivery Confirmation and other customer printed 
special services barcode formats. These changes apply only to Priority 
Mail and Standard Mail (B).
    The service indicators contain two elements, a service icon and a 
service banner. These new elements will satisfy the marking 
requirements for identifying the class of mail. The service icon 
appears in a 1-inch square in the upper left corner of the shipping 
label. Each of the supported services has a unique service icon to aid 
in handling the package. The letter ``P'' will be used to identify 
Priority Mail. All Standard Mail (B) subclasses (Parcel Post, Parcel 
Select, Bound Printed Matter, Special Standard Mail, and Library Rate) 
will be identified by a solid black box.
    The service icon parameters are as follows:
     1-inch (1") square.
     Minimum 1-point light lines bordering area.
     Class of mail icon must be 0.75 inch (\3/4\") or greater.
     ``P'' for Priority Mail or solid black box for Standard 
Mail (B).
    The service banner appears below the permit imprint indicia or 
postage area and service icon and is centered across the shipping 
label. The mail class or subclass is bordered above and below by 
separator lines to distinguish it from the surrounding elements.
    The service banner parameters are as follows:
     The mail class or subclass for Standard Mail (B) must be 
printed in minimum 20-point bold sans serif typeface.
     Text must be in uppercase letters and centered on label.
     Minimum \1/16\-inch clearance above and below text.
     Minimum 1-point separator lines above and below class of 
mail text.
    There are two modifications recommended to the existing Delivery 
Confirmation barcode format. These changes will help postal employees 
recognize Delivery Confirmation and other special services barcodes 
when printed on mailer shipping labels. The changes include extending 
the horizontal identification bars across the width of the label and 
adding identifiers to the Delivery Confirmation barcode format to help 
distinguish the retail from the electronic option barcodes when the 
postage amount is evident on the mailpiece (e.g., meter stamps, PC 
postage, adhesive postage stamps).
    Currently, DMM S918 requires the length of the horizontal 
identification bars above and below the Delivery Confirmation barcode 
to be equal to the length of the barcode. This specification is being 
modified to recommend that the identification bars extend across the 
width of the label. The identification bars may be used only when a 
special services barcode is printed on the label. Additionally, mailers 
who print their own Delivery Confirmation barcodes will be required to 
identify on the label if they are using the electronic option. This 
change will be required only for items on which the postage amount is 
evident on the mailpiece. Labels must be identified with the following 
information:
    (a) ``e/'' in front of the ``USPS DELIVERY CONFIRMATION'' text 
(i.e., ``e/ USPS DELIVERY CONFIRMATION'').
    (b) At the mailers option, the text ``ELECTRONIC RATE APPROVED #[D-
U-N-S]'' (where D-U-N-S is the customer 
certification number) may be added below the bottom horizontal 
identification bar.
    Mailers will be required to add the electronic identifier(s) by 
September 14, 2001.

[[Page 75212]]

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Samples of Proposed Standard Shipping Label for Priority Mail & 
Parcel Post
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP01DE00.018

Sample of Modifications to Electronic Option Delivery Confirmation 
Labels

    Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(b), (c)) regarding proposed 
rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), the Postal Service invites comments on 
the following proposed revisions of the DMM, incorporated by reference 
in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR Part 111.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Postal Service.

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, 404-414, 
3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.

    2. Revise the DMM as follows:
* * * * *

E  Eligibility

* * * * *

E100  First-Class Mail

* * * * *

E120  Priority Mail

* * * * *

1.4  Marking

[Add the following to the end of 1.4:]

    Shipping labels are recommended to contain service indicators 
composed of two elements, the service icon and service banner (see 
Exhibit 1.4).
    (a) If used, the service icon should appear in a 1-inch square in 
the upper left corner of the shipping label. The letter ``P'' must be 
printed inside the 1-inch square and must be 0.75 inches (\3/4\") or 
greater. A minimum \3/4\-point line must border the 1-inch square.
    (b) The service banner should appear directly below the postage 
payment area and the service icon, and it should extend across the 
shipping label. If the service banner is used, the text ``USPS PRIORITY 
MAIL'' must be printed in minimum 20-point bold sans serif typeface, 
uppercase letters, centered within the banner, and bordered above and 
below by minimum 1-point separator lines. There must be \1/16\-inch 
clearance above and below the text.
* * * * *

[Add the following exhibit:]

Exhibit 1.4

    Priority Mail Service Indicators

[[Page 75213]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP01DE00.019

* * * * *

M  Mail Preparation and Sortation

M000  General Preparation Standards

M010  Mailpieces

* * * * *

M012  Markings and Endorsements

* * * * *

3.1  Basic Markings

* * * * *

[Add the following to the end of 3.1:]

    Optionally, the basic required marking may be printed on the 
shipping label as service indicators composed of a service icon and 
service banner:
    (a) The service icon must appear in a 1-inch square in the upper 
left corner of the shipping label. If the service icon is used, a 1-
inch solid black square will identify all Standard Mail (B) subclasses.
    (b) The service banner must appear directly below the postage 
payment area and the service icon, and it must extend across the 
shipping label. If the service banner is used, the appropriate subclass 
marking (e.g., PARCEL POST, BOUND PRINTED MATTER, etc.) must be 
preceded by the text ``USPS'' and must be printed in minimum 20-point 
bold sans serif typeface, uppercase letters, centered within the 
banner, and bordered above and below by minimum 1-point separator 
lines. There must be \1/16\-inch clearance above and below the text.
* * * * *

[Add the following exhibit:]

Exhibit 3.1

Standard Mail (B) Service Indicators
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP01DE00.020

* * * * *

S  Special Services

S900  Special Postal Services

* * * * *

S918  Delivery Confirmation

* * * * *

[Revise Exhibit 2.1c to read as follows:]

Exhibit 2.1c

Privately Printed Label

[[Page 75214]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP01DE00.021

* * * * *

3.3  Printing

[Replace a with the following:]

    a. Each barcoded label must bear a unique Delivery Confirmation PIC 
barcode as specified in 3.2. The text ``USPS DELIVERY CONFIRMATION'' 
(if using retail service option, as specified in 1.4) or ``e/USPS 
DELIVERY CONFIRMATION'' (if using electronic service option, as 
specified in 1.4, and the postage amount is evident on the mailpiece) 
must be printed between \1/8\ inch and \1/2\ inch above the barcode in 
minimum 12-point bold sans serif type. Additionally, mailers approved 
for the electronic service option, at their discretion, may print the 
text ``ELECTRONIC RATE APPROVED #[D-U-N-S NUMBER]'' in 
minimum 8-point bold sans serif type directly below the bottom 
horizontal identification bar (see Exhibit 3.3). Human-readable 
characters that represent the barcode ID must be printed between \1/8\ 
inch and \1/2\ inch under the barcode in minimum 10-point bold sans 
serif type. These characters must be parsed in accordance with 
Publication 91. A minimum \1/8\-inch clearance must be between the 
barcode and any printing. The preferred range of widths of narrow bars 
and spaces is 0.015 inch to 0.017 inch. The width of the narrow bars or 
spaces must be at least 0.013 inch but no more than 0.021 inch. All 
bars must be at least \3/4\ inch high. Minimum \1/16\-inch bold bars 
must appear between \1/8\ inch and \1/2\ inch above and below the 
human-readable endorsements to segregate the Delivery Confirmation 
barcode from other areas of the shipping label. The line length should 
extend across the width of the label but must extend the length of the 
barcode at a minimum (see Exhibit 2.1c). Only information relating to 
Delivery Confirmation and/or other special services must be placed 
between these lines. Mailers will be required to comply with this 
change by September 14, 2001.
* * * * *

[Add Exhibit 3.3:]

Exhibit 3.3

Electronic Service Option Identification

[[Page 75215]]

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Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 00-30582 Filed 11-30-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7210-12-U