[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 48 (Monday, March 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12718-12719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2397]


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POSTAL SERVICE


Customized Postage

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Notice of authorization of Expanded Market Test for Customized 
Postage.

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SUMMARY: The Postal ServiceTM provides notice of its 
intention to expand testing of the concept of Customized Postage for a 
period of up to 2 years, commencing no sooner than March 20, 2006.

DATES: This notice is effective March 13, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel J. Lord, manager of Postage

[[Page 12719]]

Technology Management, at 703-292-3692 or by fax at 703-292-4073.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 27, 2005, the Postal Service 
published its notice of intention to resume testing of the concept of 
Customized Postage for a period of 1 year in Federal Register, Volume 
70, Number 80, Pages 21821-21822. As a result of that notice, three 
companies were authorized to conduct a 1 year market test of Customized 
Postage beginning in May 2005. This test, now referred to as Phase II, 
precluded the use of commercial images in Customized Postage.
    As a result of a recent amendment to 18 U.S.C. Sec.  475, the 
Postal Service is providing notice of its intention to conduct further 
market tests of the Customized Postage concept to include commercial 
images. These further market tests will be referred to as Phase III. 
Therefore, the Postal Service invites interested parties to submit 
proposed concepts for consideration.
    While each concept will be evaluated on its own merits, particular 
conditions may be required and agreed to by the Postal Service and the 
provider regarding the testing of that concept. The following 
conditions will be applied in common to all concepts:
    1. The provider must be an authorized PC Postage[supreg] provider, 
authorized postage meter manufacturer or distributor, or a company 
affiliated with an authorized postage provider under conditions 
respecting postage revenue security approved by the Postal Service in 
accordance with 39 CFR 501.1 and subject to all procedures and 
regulations set forth throughout 39 CFR part 501.
    2. The Customized Postage indicia and other printed matter must 
meet all Postal Service requirements respecting placement on a 
mailpiece, readability, avoidance of interference with and facilitation 
of mail processing, and identification of fraudulent indicia, as well 
as all regulations pertaining to PC Postage products and services.
    3. The provider will be responsible for ensuring that all images to 
appear in the ad plate area meet the requirements of 39 CFR 501.6(g) 
and 501.23(d); are not obscene, deceptive, or defamatory of any person, 
entity, or group; do not advocate unlawful action; do not emulate any 
form of valid postage, government, or other official indicia, or 
payment of postage; and do not harm the public image, reputation, or 
good will of the Postal Service. The provider will also have full 
responsibility for ensuring that a customer acknowledges, agrees, and 
warrants in writing that it bears full responsibility and liability for 
obtaining authorization to reproduce and otherwise use an image as 
proposed, and that it, in fact, has the legal authority to reproduce 
and otherwise use the image as proposed. It is the Postal Service's 
declared intent not to allow its Customized Postage program to become a 
public forum for dissemination, debate, or discussion of public issues.
    4. The test will be limited to full-rate single piece First-Class 
Mail[supreg] service, Priority Mail[supreg] service, and Express 
Mail[supreg] service.
    5. The provider must agree that it has obtained all intellectual 
property licenses (from customers or elsewhere) necessary to provide 
the approved service and that it will indemnify the Postal Service for 
any costs and damages it may incur as a result of its failure to honor 
this representation.
    6. The provider must acknowledge that it understands (and agrees) 
that the Postal Service has not invoked or exercised 28 U.S.C. 1498 
with respect to any aspect of the Customized Postage product or 
services.
    7. The provider must design its Customized Postage indicia in a 
manner that avoids the likelihood that the public will be misled into 
believing that the product image originated with the Postal Service.
    8. The Postal Service may suspend or cancel without prior notice 
and without liability for any costs incurred or losses sustained by a 
provider or customer, the approval of any customer as a test 
participant, or the Customized Postage test itself, in the event there 
is sufficient cause to believe that the test presents unacceptable risk 
to Postal Service revenues, degradation of the ability of the Postal 
Service to process or deliver mail produced by test participants, an 
assessment that continuation of the test may expose the Postal Service 
or its customers to legal liability, or an assessment that continuation 
of the test will cause public or political embarrassment or harm to the 
Postal Service in any way.
    9. The Postal Service will require approved providers of Customized 
Postage to pay an annual fee to participate in the test.
    10. Additional conditions and requirements may be set forth in 
individual product test approval letters.
    Persons interested in obtaining Postal Service authorization to 
participate in the Phase III Customized Postage market test should 
contact: Manager, Postage Technology Management, U.S. Postal Service, 
1735 North Lynn Street, Room 5011, Arlington, VA 22209-6030; (703) 292-
3592 (Telephone); (703) 292-4073 (Fax).

Neva Watson,
Attorney, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 06-2397 Filed 3-10-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P