[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 1, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5055-5057]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1699]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Repositionable Notes on Letter and Flat Sized Mailpieces

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Interim rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is implementing an experimental 
classification, Repositionable Notes (RPNs), as a one-year provisional 
service allowing mailers to attach a reusable self-adhesive message 
note to the outside envelope or paper cover of discount First-Class 
Mail, Standard Mail, or Periodicals rate mailpieces for a fee. RPNs add 
impact, value, and ultimately a greater return on investment for direct 
mailers by calling attention to a product or service. This enhanced 
value to direct mail will provide an opportunity for the Postal Service 
to drive the growth of direct mail.

DATES: Effective Date: This interim rule is effective on April 3, 2005, 
and expires on April 3, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald Lagasse, 202-268-7269; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 11, 2005, following the 
recommended decision of the Postal Rate Commission issued on December 
10, 2004, the Governors of the Postal Service approved a provisional 
classification for repositionable notes (RPN). It is important to note 
that this provisional classification does not change any of the current 
rate eligibility standards for discount First-Class Mail and Standard 
Mail letters.
    The current standards allow mailers to place RPNs on First-Class 
Mail and Standard Mail letter-size mailpieces claimed at automation 
rates at no additional charge. This provisional classification applies 
a fee to the use of RPNs and expands the current standards to allow 
RPNs on all letter-size and flat-size mailpieces mailed at discount 
First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, or Periodicals rates.
    To be eligible, RPNs attached to discount First-Class Mail, 
Standard Mail, or Periodicals rate pieces must meet the standards for 
RPNs in this interim rule. RPNs must:
     Measure 3 inches by 3 inches, plus or minus \1/8\ inch for 
either dimension.
     Not contain phosphorescent or red fluorescent colorants.
     Not be manually affixed.
     Be adhered with a \3/4\ inch (plus \3/4\ inch or minus \1/
16\ inch) adhesive strip across the top portion on the reverse side of 
the note.
     Not be placed in a manner that interferes with the 
delivery address, rate markings, or postage.
     Not display a specific address or ZIP Code. References to 
general landmarks are permissible.
    In addition to the physical standards stated above, the written and 
graphic characteristics of the information appearing on RPNs are 
considered when determining eligibility of mailpieces mailed at 
Standard Mail and Nonprofit Standard Mail rates.
    In addition to the postage for the host piece, the rates for RPNs 
are as follows:
     $0.005 (\1/2\ cent) per piece for RPNs attached to 
discount First-Class Mail letter- or flat-size pieces.
     $0.015 (1\1/2\ cents) per piece for RPNs attached to 
Standard Mail or Periodicals letter- or flat-size pieces.
    Again, note that current rate eligibility standards for discount 
First-Class Mail and Standard Mail letter-size mailpieces are staying 
the same.
    This provisional service will be implemented on April 3, 2005, and 
expire on April 3, 2006. The Postal Service will give notice before 
expiration about whether the service will be allowed to expire, made 
permanent, or extended in some way.
    Accordingly, the Postal Service hereby adopts the following 
regulations on an interim basis. Although exempt from the notice and 
comment requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 410 
(a)), the Postal Service invites comments on the following revisions to 
the Domestic Mail Manual, incorporated by reference in the Code of 
Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR Part 111.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Administrative Practice and Procedure, Postal Service.

PART 111--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 111 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 414, 
3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.

0
2. Revise the following sections of the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) as 
set forth below:

C Characteristics

* * * * *

C800 Automation-Compatible Mail

* * * * *

C810 Letters and Cards

* * * * *
7.0 REPOSITIONABLE NOTES
    [Remove C810.7 and all subsections. This will be moved to the G900 
section in order to change this service to an experiment.]
* * * * *

G General Information

* * * * *

G000 The USPS and Mailing Standards

* * * * *

G040 Information Resources

* * * * *

[[Page 5056]]

G043 Address List for Correspondence

    [Remove address for Product Management--Correspondence and 
Transactions.]
* * * * *

G900 Experimental Classification and Rate Filings

* * * * *

G990 Experimental Classifications and Rates

* * * * *
    [Add new G994 to read as follows:]

G994 Repositionable Notes

1.0 USE
    a. Repositionable Notes (RPN) may be attached to letter- and flat-
size discount First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, and Periodicals 
mailpieces.
    b. For letter-size mailpieces, a single RPN may be attached only to 
the address side of the mailpiece.
    c. For flat-size mailpieces, a single RPN may be attached to either 
the address side or non-address side of the mailpiece and attached in 
the locations described and shown in Exhibits 3.0a and 3.0b.
    d. RPNs are included as an integral part of the mailpiece for 
weight and postage rate computation purposes.
    e. The written and graphic characteristics of the notes are 
considered when determining eligibility of mailpieces mailed at the 
Standard Mail and Nonprofit Standard Mail rates.
2.0 MAILPIECE CHARACTERISTICS
    Each mailpiece must:
    a. Not be in a plastic wrapper (e.g., polybag, polywrap, or 
shrinkwrap).
    b. Be letter-size (including cards) or flat-size.
3.0 RPN CHARACTERISTICS
    RPNs must:
    a. Measure 3 inches by 3 inches, plus or minus \1/8\ inch for 
either dimension.
    b. Not contain phosphorescent or red fluorescent colorants.
    c. Be adhered with a \3/4\ inch (plus \1/4\ inch or minus \1/16\ 
inch) adhesive strip across the top portion on the reverse side of the 
note.
    d. Not be placed in a manner that interferes with the delivery 
address, rate markings, or postage and must not display a specific 
address or ZIP Code. References to general landmarks are permissible.
    e. Not be manually affixed.
    f. On letter-size mailpieces, be positioned parallel with the 
length of the piece, affixed by standard labeling equipment, placed no 
closer than \3/8\ inch from the left edge of the delivery address, and 
be at least \1/2\ inch (plus or minus \1/8\ inch) from the bottom and 
left edges of the mailpiece.
    g. On flat-size mailpieces, be positioned according to Exhibit 3.0a 
if the RPN is placed on the address side of the flat or Exhibit 3.0b if 
the RPN is placed on the non-addressed side of the mailpiece.
Exhibit 3.0a Placing RPNs on Flats--Address Side
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR01FE05.009

Exhibit 3.0b Placing RPNs on Flats--Non-address Side

[[Page 5057]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR01FE05.010

4.0 RPNs ON AUTOMATION-RATE MAILPIECES

4.1 Letter-Size Pieces

    Letter-size mailpieces with RPNS claiming automation rates must 
meet the standards in 1.0-3.0, C810, and the following additional 
standards:
    a. Each mailpiece must be rectangular and have a surface smoothness 
of 195 Shefield Units or smoother.
    b. Enveloped mailpieces. Each mailpiece prepared in an envelope 
must be constructed from paperstock having a basis weight of 20 pounds 
or greater. Window envelopes must have a closed panel made of 
polystyrene or glassine. Each enveloped mailpiece is limited to the 
following dimensions:
    (1) For height, no less than 4\1/8\ inches and no more than 6 
inches high.
    (2) For length, no less than 8 inches and no more than 9\1/2\ 
inches long.
    (3) For thickness, no less than 0.02 inch and no more than 0.125 
inch thick.
    c. Oversize cards. Each mailpiece prepared as an oversize card is 
limited to the following dimensions:
    (1) For height, no less than 4\1/2\ inches and no more than 6 
inches high.
    (2) For length, no less than 8\1/2\ inches and no more than 9 
inches long.
    (3) For thickness, no less than 0.009 inch thick (cards 5\3/4\ 
inches or more in height must be no less than 0.012 inch thick.)

4.2 Flat-Size Pieces

    Flat-size mailpieces with RPNs claiming automation rates must meet 
the standards in 1.0-3.0 and C820:
5.0 RATES
    Discount First-Class Mail--$0.005
    Standard Mail and Periodicals--$0.015
6.0 COMPLIANCE
    Mailers must comply as follows:
    a. Repositionable notes must be obtained from an approved 
repositionable notes vendor (see www.usps.com for a listing of approved 
vendors). Prospective vendors can obtain USPS standards and test 
procedures from USPS Engineering (see G043 for address). Testing must 
be performed by a certified independent laboratory.
    b. Mailers must present evidence at the time of mailing to show 
that their repositionable notes have been supplied by an approved 
vendor. The vendor name on the reverse of the note will be sufficient 
as evidence; in lieu of the vendor name printed on the notes, an 
invoice from the approved vendor for purchase of the repositionable 
notes will constitute such evidence.
    c. Each mailing must include, as part of the mailing, two pieces 
addressed to the manager, USPS Engineering Letter Tech (Attn: RPN 
Sample), and two pieces addressed to the Manager, Pricing and 
Classification Service Center (Attn: RPN Sample). See G043 for 
addresses.
* * * * *
    An appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 will be published to 
reflect these changes.

Neva Watson,
Attorney, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 05-1699 Filed 1-31-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P