[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 114 (Tuesday, June 15, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33429-33430]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-13348]


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POSTAL SERVICE


Change to the Retirement Plan for Manually Set Postage Meters

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Notice of proposed change to plan with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service proposes to revise the Retirement Plan for 
Manually Set Postage Meters, published in the Federal Register on 
December 13, 2000, for meters with lease expiration dates on or after 
October 1, 2004. The proposed retirement date for these manually set 
electronic meters will be May 31, 2005. The Postal Service will set no 
electronic manually set meters after February 28, 2005.

[[Page 33430]]


DATES: Submit comments on or before July 15, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments on this proposal to the 
Manager, Postage Technology Management, 1735 N Lynn Street, Room 5011, 
Arlington, VA 22209-6370. Copies of all written comments will be 
available at the address in this section for public inspection and 
photocopying between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne A. Wilkerson, manager of Postage 
Technology Management, at 703-292-3691 or by fax at 703-292-4073.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposed Changes

    The Retirement Plan for Manually Set Postage Meters, published in 
the Federal Register on December 13, 2000 (65 FR 77934), specified that 
a manually set electronic meter could be used until the end of the 
calendar quarter following the quarter in which the lease expires, at 
which time the meter must be retired and withdrawn from service. 
However, the Postal Service is upgrading the systems used to process 
point of sale transactions in local Post OfficesTM. Given 
the limited number of active manually set meters that will be in 
service after January 1, 2005 (fewer than 200), the Postal Service 
cannot justify the cost of including the associated transactions in the 
development of the new system. Therefore, the Postal Service proposes 
to retire all manually set electronic meters from service, effective 
May 31, 2005. The proposed change will affect fewer than 200 meters.

The Proposed Revised Plan

    The Postal Service retirement date for manually set electronic 
meters with lease expiration dates on or after October 1, 2004, will be 
May 31, 2005. The Postal Service will set no electronic manually set 
meters after February 28, 2005. Anyone in possession of a manually set 
meter must return it to the meter provider on or before May 31, 2005. 
The meter provider will withdraw the meter from service.
    Effective August 1, 2004, no manually set meter in service may be 
replaced by another manually set meter, even when the meter 
malfunctions, and no manually set meter may be relocated to a different 
licensing Post Office.
    Any manually set electronic postage meter that is capable of remote 
meter setting must be either converted to remote meter setting or 
retired from service and returned to the meter provider. The function 
that allows manual setting must be disabled.
    The manager of Postage Technology Management, Postal Service 
Headquarters, will send official notification to those affected users 
with an explanation of this plan. No other correspondence is official. 
The manager of Postage Technology Management reserves the right to 
review manufacturer correspondence to these meter users prior to its 
distribution.
    A final plan will be published after the Postal Service has 
received and reviewed all interested parties' comments.

Neva R. Watson,
Attorney, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 04-13348 Filed 6-14-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P