[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 203 (Tuesday, October 21, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60052-60054]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26438]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
Sender-Identified Mail: Enhanced Requirement for Discount Rate
Mailings
AGENCY: Postal Service.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: This proposed rule would revise the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
to require enhanced sender identification for all discount rate
mailings.
DATES: Submit comments on or before November 20, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Mailing
Standards, U.S. Postal Service, 1735 N. Lynn Street, Room 3025,
Arlington, VA 22209-6038. Copies of all written comments will be
available for inspection and photocopying between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, at the Postal Service Headquarters Library, 475
L'Enfant Plaza, SW., 11th Floor North, Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joel Walker, Mailing Standards, United
States Postal Service, (703) 292-3648.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service is proposing this
enhanced requirement because sender identification of all discount rate
mailings would serve as a tool in identifying the senders of a large
portion of the mailstream. It could also facilitate investigations into
the origin of suspicious mail.
As background, two congressional committees urged the Postal
Service to explore the concept of sender identification, including
``the feasibility of using unique, traceable identifiers applied by the
creator of the mail piece.'' S. Rept. 107-212, p. 50; see also H. Rept.
107-575, p. 46. The President's Commission on the United States Postal
Service recently recommended the use of sender identification for every
piece of mail. ``Embracing the Future,'' Report of the President's
Commission on the United States Postal Service (July 31, 2003) pp. 147-
8. Requiring sender-identification for discount rate mail is an initial
step on the road to intelligent mail.
It should be noted that the pieces in most discount rate mailings
already bear some evidence of the identity of the sender. The sender's
identity usually can be determined via the postage payment method used
by the mailer, since all discount rate mailings must have postage paid
using permit imprints, precanceled stamps, or meter postage.
Except for a company permit imprint format, mailers who pay postage
using regular permit imprints must display an indicia on each mailpiece
that shows the permit imprint number and the city and state where the
permit is held. Mailpieces bearing a company permit imprint (which do
not require the indicia to show the permit imprint number and the city
and state of issue) must display the sender's domestic return address
on each mailpiece as stated in current DMM A010.4.3. Mailers who pay
postage on their discount rate mailings using precanceled stamps also
are required to display the sender's domestic return address on each
mailpiece. For discount rate mailings that bear meter postage, the
meter imprint or indicia on each mailpiece must contain information
that can be used to identify the name and address of the meter license
holder.
In this proposed rule, the Postal Service seeks to enhance mail
security by requiring that all discount mail be ``sender identified.''
Specifically, the Postal Service proposes revisions to the mailing
standards in DMM E050, E110, E211, E610, and E710. The revision to DMM
E050 would state that franked mail sent at discount rates would be
considered sender-identified mail. The revisions to DMM E110, E211,
E610, and E710 would require all discount rate mailings to meet a
sender-identification requirement. Since many discount rate mailings
already meet this requirement, the Postal Service proposal would have
little impact on most discount rate mailers. However, it is likely that
some discount rate mailers may need to change their current procedures
to comply with the proposed sender-identification requirement. If the
requirement is adopted, its effect would be slightly tighter
requirements for identifying the sender of a discount rate mailing.
The proposed rule would further enhance existing requirements by
specifically requiring that all discount rate mailings allow a
reasonable means for identifying the sender of a mailpiece sent at a
discount postage rate.
Under this proposal, sender-identified mail would include all
mailpieces that are part of a First-Class Mail, Periodicals, Standard
Mail, or Package Services mailing that is eligible for and claims any
discounted postage rate. To be considered as sender-identified, each
discount rate mailpiece would be required to meet one of the following
requirements:
[sbull] Postage paid using a permit imprint or metered postage: If
the permit imprint permit or meter license is not issued in the same
name as that of the sender (i.e., owner) of the mailpiece, one of the
following requirements must be met:
(a) Each mailpiece must display a domestic return address that is
the actual address of the sender (i.e., owner) of the mailpiece such
that it enables identification of the origin location or organization
of the mailing.
(b) The permit imprint holder or meter licensee must maintain
adequate records that indicate the actual name and address of the
sender (i.e., owner) of the mailpiece. The records must be
[[Page 60053]]
retained for one year from the date of the mailing and must be made
available to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service immediately upon
request.
[sbull] Postage paid using precanceled stamps: Each mailpiece must
bear a domestic return address. If the return address is not the
address of the precanceled stamp permit holder, the party located at
the return address shown on the mailpiece must maintain adequate
records that indicate the actual name and address of the sender (i.e.,
owner) of the mailpiece. The records must be retained for one year from
the date of the mailing and must be made available to the U.S. Postal
Inspection Service immediately upon request.
Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the
Administrative Procedure 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 revisions 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
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,
416, 3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.
2. Amend the following sections of the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
as set forth below:
E Eligibility
E000 Special Eligibility Standards
* * * * *
E050 Official Mail (Franked)
1.0 BASIC INFORMATION
* * * * *
[Add new 1.8 specifying that franked mail meets the sender-identified
requirement, to read as follows:]
1.8 Sender-Identified Mail Requirement
Placement of the written or printed facsimile signature or other
markings specified in Exhibit 1.1 meets the sender-identified
requirement for discount rate franked mailings made under E100, E600,
and E700.
* * * * *
E100 First-Class Mail
E110 Basic Standards
* * * * *
[Renumber current 4.0 and 5.0 as new 5.0 and 6.0, respectively. Add new
4.0 to state the new requirements for sender-identified mail to read as
follows:]
4.0 SENDER-IDENTIFIED MAIL
4.1 Requirement
To be eligible for any First-Class Mail discount postage rates
under E130 or E140, all mailpieces must identify the sender. Postage
must be paid using a permit imprint, meter, or precanceled stamp.
Sender-identified mail must meet the requirements in 4.2, 4.3, or 4.4.
4.2 Permit Imprint Mailings
If the permit imprint appearing on discount rate First-Class Mail
pieces is not issued in the same name as that of the sender (i.e.,
owner) of the mailpiece, one of the following requirements must be met:
a. Each mailpiece must display a domestic return address that is
the actual address of the sender (i.e., owner) of the mailpiece such
that it enables identification of the origin location or organization
of the mailing.
b. The permit imprint holder must maintain adequate records that
indicate the actual name and address of the sender (i.e., owner) of the
mailpiece. The records must be retained for one year from the date of
the mailing and must be made available to the U.S. Postal Inspection
Service immediately upon request.
4.3 Precanceled Stamp Mailings
Each mailpiece bearing precanceled stamps and sent at a First-Class
Mail discount postage rate must bear a domestic return address. If the
return address is not the address of the precanceled stamp permit
holder the party located at the return address shown on the mailpiece
must maintain adequate records that indicate the actual name and
address of the sender (i.e., owner) of the mailpiece. The records must
be retained for one year from the date of the mailing and must be made
available to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service immediately upon
request.
* * * * *
E200 Periodicals
E210 Basic Standards
E211 All Periodicals
* * * * *
[Renumber current 1.4 as 1.5. Add new 1.4 to state the new requirements
for sender-identified mail read as follows:]
1.4 Sender-Identified Mail Requirement
To be eligible for any Periodicals discount postage rates under
E217, E220, E230, E240, E250, E260, and E270, all mailpieces must
identify the sender. A Periodicals publication that bears a properly
prepared identification statement as required in E211 meets the sender-
identified requirement.
* * * * *
E600 Standard Mail
E610 Basic Standards
[Renumber current 5.0 through 9.0 as 6.0 through 10.0 respectively. Add
new 5.0 to state the new requirements for sender-identified mail to
read as follows:]
5.0 SENDER-IDENTIFIED MAIL
5.1 Requirement
To be eligible for claiming any Standard Mail discount postage
rates under E620, E630, E640, E650, and E670, all mailpieces must
identify the sender. Postage must be paid using a permit imprint,
meter, or precanceled stamp. Sender-identified mail must meet the
requirements in 5.2 or 5.3.
5.2 Permit Imprint and Metered Mailings
If the permit imprint or meter indicia appearing on discount rate
Standard Mail pieces is not issued in the same name as that of the
sender (i.e., owner) of the mailpiece, one of the following
requirements must be met:
a. Each mailpiece must display a domestic return address that is
the actual address of the sender (i.e., owner) of the mailpiece such
that it enables identification of the origin location or organization
of the mailing.
b. The permit imprint holder or meter licensee must maintain
adequate records that indicate the actual name and address of the
sender (i.e., owner) of the mailpiece. The records must be retained for
one year from the date of the mailing and must be made available to the
U.S. Postal Inspection Service immediately upon request.
5.3 Precanceled Stamp Mailings
Each mailpiece bearing precanceled stamps and sent at a Standard
Mail discount rate must bear a domestic return address. If the return
address is not the address of the precanceled stamp permit holder, the
party located at the return address shown on the mailpiece must
maintain adequate records that indicate the actual name and address of
the sender (i.e., owner) of the mailpiece. The records must be
[[Page 60054]]
retained for one year from the date of the mailing and must be made
available to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service immediately upon
request.
* * * * *
E700 Package Services
E710 Basic Standards
* * * * *
[Renumber current 4.0 as 5.0. Add new 4.0 to state the new requirements
for sender-identified mail to read as follows:]
4.0 SENDER-IDENTIFIED MAIL
4.1 Requirement
To be eligible for any Package Services discount postage rates
under E712, E713, E714, E751, E752, and E753, all mailpieces must
identify the sender. Postage must be paid using a permit imprint,
meter, or precanceled stamp. Sender-identified mail must meet the
requirements in 4.2 or 4.3.
4.2 Permit Imprint and Metered Mailings
If the permit imprint or meter indicia appearing on discount
postage rate Package Services mailpieces is not issued in the same name
as that of the sender (i.e., owner) of the mailpiece, one of the
following requirements must be met:
a. Each mailpiece must display a domestic return address that is
the actual address of the sender (i.e., owner) of the mailpiece such
that it enables identification of the origin location or organization
of the mailing.
b. The permit imprint holder or meter licensee must maintain
adequate records that indicate the actual name and address of the
sender (i.e., owner) of the mailpiece. The records must be retained for
one year from the date of the mailing and must be made available to the
U.S. Postal Inspection Service immediately upon request.
4.3 Precanceled Stamp Mailings
Each mailpiece bearing precanceled stamps and sent at a Package
Services discount postage rate must bear a domestic return address. If
the return address is not the address of the precanceled stamp permit
holder, the party located at the return address shown on the mailpiece
must maintain adequate records that indicate the actual name and
address of the sender (i.e., owner) of the mailpiece. The records must
be retained for one year from the date of the mailing and must be made
available to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service immediately upon
request.
* * * * *
We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR 111 to reflect
these changes if the proposal is adopted.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 03-26438 Filed 10-20-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P