[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 208 (Tuesday, October 28, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61485-61486]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-27087]


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POSTAL SERVICE


Flat Mail Identification Code System (FICS)

ACTION: Notice.

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AGENCY: Postal Service.
SUMMARY: This notice announces a new system that the United States 
Postal Service (USPS) plans to deploy for

[[Page 61486]]

applying unique USPS identification (ID) codes (or ``tags'') to flat-
size mailpieces not bearing POSTNET barcodes. Deployment is scheduled 
for early 2004. Once the initial ID code is applied to the mailpiece, 
subsequent sorting will recognize the code and sort the flat-size piece 
without need for further manual keying. The ID code provides reference 
to access a database containing the original keying results. The 
application of these codes onto mailpieces will have no impact on 
current mailing standards or preparation requirements for flat-size 
mail.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Coupar, (703) 280-7437, 
Engineering, United States Postal Service.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The manual video keying of nonbarcoded flat-
size mailpieces by Postal Service employees represents a significant 
cost to the Postal Service. Currently, the keying of a mailpiece by 
video keying operators can occur several additional times as the 
nonbarcoded piece is sorted through stages of mail processing. In order 
to reduce the costs associated with this labor-intensive manual keying, 
the Postal Service has developed a system that should eliminate most of 
the additional keying.
    This new system, called the Flat Mail Identification Code System 
(FICS), applies a unique USPS identification (ID) code (tag) to flat-
size mailpieces not bearing a POSTNET barcode. The ID code, printed on 
a label, will be mechanically applied to the address side of the 
mailpiece in the bottom right or top left corner, before the address is 
manually resolved by a video keying operator. The FICS saves the 
initially keyed information in a database along with the corresponding 
ID code assigned to the piece. Once the FICS ID code is generated and a 
label containing that code is applied to the mailpiece, further manual 
keying will not be required for that piece as it moves through 
additional mail processing operations. Moreover, because a label 
bearing the ID code will be placed on individual flat-size pieces, this 
new system will provide additional capabilities in tracking and tracing 
these coded (tagged) flat-size pieces.
    The FICS physical ID code consists of a black, International 
Mailing Standard, 4-state barcode printed on a white pressure-sensitive 
label measuring \1/2\ inch high by 3 inches wide or \1/2\ inch high by 
4\3/8\ inches wide. The label is applied to the address side of 
nonbarcoded flats. The label, which can be manually peeled from the 
mailpiece, is made of the same material as is currently used by the 
USPS Letter Mail Labeling Machine (LMLM) which affixes labels on 
certain types of letter mail pieces, such as postcards.
    Preproduction testing is currently in progress and the USPS expects 
to deploy the system nationally in the second quarter of fiscal year 
2004. The USPS does not plan to introduce new mailing requirements 
related to FICS.

Neva R. Watson,
Attorney, Legislative, Office of Legal Policy and Ratemaking.
[FR Doc. 03-27087 Filed 10-27-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P