[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 60 (Monday, March 29, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 16292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6887]


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POSTAL SERVICE


Plan for Secure Postage Meter Technology

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Revision of final plan.

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SUMMARY: The Postal\TM\ Service published a schedule for the withdrawal 
from the market of postage meters involving technology defined as 
within ``phases III and IV'' of the Postal Service's Plan for Secure 
Postage Meter Technology. The schedule and definition of these phases 
were published in the Federal Register on February 13, 2002 (Vol. 67, 
No. 30, pages 6766-6767). This notice revises the postage meter 
retirement schedule by extending the final date for placement of 
enhanced Computerized Meter Resetting System (CMRS) letterpress meters, 
identified in the Federal Register notice as phase IV meters, to 
December 31, 2004. No other changes are made to the plan as stated in 
the Federal Register.

DATES: This notice is effective March 29, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Wilkerson by fax at (703) 292-
4073.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Phases III and IV of the Postal Service Plan 
for Secure Postage Meter Technology describe the retirement of postage 
meters which employ letterpress printing technology. To address 
customer concerns regarding the availability of postage meters 
employing digital printing technology and capable of operating at 
sufficient speeds to meet the needs of market segments now using phase 
IV letterpress postage meters, the Postal Service is extending the date 
for final placements of phase IV meters to December 31, 2004. However, 
the final date for removal of these meters from the market remains 
December 31, 2008. To avoid any misunderstanding, we are reprinting in 
this notice the entire Postal Service Plan for the Retirement of 
Letterpress Postage Meters with the revised date for ending the 
placement of phase IV meters.

Revision of the Final Postal Service Plan for the Retirement of 
Letterpress Postage Meters

    (The changes are shown in italicized text.)
    Phases III and IV of the Postal Service Plan for Secure Postage 
Meter Technology affect postage meters that use letterpress printing 
technology and are reset remotely under the Computerized Meter 
Resetting System (CMRS). The affected meters print indicia with 
letterpress technology and may or may not have a digital display. If 
such a meter has an additional feature that automatically disables the 
meter if it is not reset within a specified time period or when certain 
preprogrammed criteria are met, it is called an enhanced meter. Phase 
III of the proposed plan required that the users of nonenhanced CMRS 
letterpress meters be notified by the manufacturer of the schedule for 
the retirement of their meters by December 31, 2001 and placement of 
nonenhanced CMRS letterpress meters could not continue after December 
31, 2002. These meters must be off the market and withdrawn from 
service by December 31, 2006. Prior to the signing of a contract for 
the new placement of any nonenhanced CMRS non-digitally printing meter, 
the manufacturer placing the meter must notify the customer that the 
meter must be withdrawn from service by December 31, 2006. Phase IV of 
the plan required that the customers of enhanced CMRS letterpress 
meters be notified of the schedule for the retirement of their meters 
by June 30, 2003. The placement of enhanced CMRS letterpress meters is 
scheduled to cease by December 31, 2004, and these meters must be off 
the market and withdrawn from service by December 31, 2008. Prior to 
the signing of a contract for the new placement of any enhanced CMRS 
non-digitally printing meter, the manufacturer placing the meter must 
notify the customer that the meter must be withdrawn from service by 
December 31, 2008.

Neva Watson,
Attorney, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 04-6887 Filed 3-26-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P