[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 90 (Thursday, May 9, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31167-31168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-11507]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 265


Release of Information

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This proposed rule changes the procedures for the release of 
information about holders of postage meter licenses. The procedures are 
necessary to ensure individual privacy while providing for the release 
of information needed for customer protection.

DATES: The Postal Service must receive your comments on or before June 
10, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the manager, Postage 
Technology Management, 1735 N Lynn Street, Room 5011, Arlington, 
Virginia 22209-6050. You can view and copy all written comments at the 
same address between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Wilkerson, 703-292-3782, or by 
fax, 703-292-4050.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The current regulation that provides for the 
release of the name and address of a holder of a postage meter permit 
or license was adopted for consumer protection reasons at a time when 
postage meters were used almost exclusively by businesses or firms. 
Circumstances have changed, however, and individuals now hold meter 
licenses as well. The new procedures for releasing the name and address 
of a particular holder of a postage meter license will ensure that 
legitimate expectations of individual privacy are met, while providing 
for the release of information needed for consumer protection. The new 
procedures remove the processing of requests for information about 
meter license holders from field locations and enables Postage 
Technology Management at Postal Service Headquarters to ensure that 
information is released appropriately. The current regulation refers to 
information on a postage meter ``permit.'' There is no ``permit'' to 
use a postage meter issued by the Postal Service. The Postal Service 
issues postage meter licenses to postage meter users. The amendment 
revises the terminology to reflect correct usage. Since the possession 
of leased postage meters can change over time, the Postal Service is 
requesting that the original or a photocopy of the envelope or wrapper 
bearing the relevant postage meter indicium be submitted with the 
request for information to validate the accuracy of the request and to 
ensure that the correct meter license holder is identified. The Postal 
Service is requesting that a copy or description of the contents of the 
mailpiece also be submitted to support that the sender is a business or 
firm and not an individual.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 265

    Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.

The Amendment

    For the reasons set out in this document, the Postal Service is 
amending 39 CFR part 265 as follows:

PART 265--RELEASE OF INFORMATION

    1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 265 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552; 5 U.S.C. App. 3, 39 U.S.C. 401, 403, 
410, 1001, 2601.

    2. Amend Sec. 265.6 by revising paragraphs (d) introductory text 
and (d)(2); by redesignating paragraphs (d)(3) through (d)(8) as 
paragraphs (d)(4) through (d)(9), respectively; and by adding a new 
paragraph (d)(3) to read as follows:


Sec. 265.6  Availability of Records.

* * * * *
    (d) Disclosure of names and addresses of customers. Upon request, 
the names and addresses of specifically identified postal customers 
will be made available only as follows:
* * * * *
    (2) Name and address of permit holder. The name and address of the 
holder of a particular bulk mail permit, permit imprint or similar 
permit (but not including postage meter licenses), and the name of any 
person applying for a permit in behalf of a holder, will be

[[Page 31168]]

furnished to any person upon the payment of any fees authorized by 
paragraph (b) of Sec. 265.9. For the name and address of a postage 
meter license holder, see paragraph (d)(3) of this section. (Lists of 
permit holders may not be disclosed to members of the public. See 
paragraph (e)(1) of this section.)
    (3) Name and address of postage meter license holder. The name and 
address of the holder of a postage meter license authorizing use of a 
postage meter printing a specified indicium, will be furnished to any 
person upon the payment of any fees authorized by paragraph (b) of 
Sec. 265.9, provided the holder is using the license for a business or 
firm. The request for this information must be sent to the manager of 
Postage Technology Management, Postal Service Headquarters. The request 
must include the original or a photocopy of the envelope or wrapper on 
which the meter indicium in question is printed, and a copy or 
description of the contents to support that the sender is a business or 
firm and not an individual. (Lists of postage meter license holders may 
not be disclosed to members of the public. See paragraph (e)(1) of this 
section.)
* * * * *

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 02-11507 Filed 5-8-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P