[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 195 (Wednesday, October 10, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57505-57506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-19931]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


New Address Requirements for Automation, Presorted, and Carrier 
Route Rate Letters

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service proposes new type size and spacing 
requirements for delivery addresses on all automation, presorted, and 
carrier route rate letters.

DATES: We must receive your comments on or before December 10, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Mailing 
Standards, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Room 3436, 
Washington, DC 20260-3436. You may inspect and photocopy all written 
comments at Postal Service Headquarters Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza, 
SW., 11th Floor N, Washington, DC between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday 
through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carrie Witt, 202-268-7279.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are proposing revisions to the address 
standards for letter-size pieces mailed at automation, presorted, or 
carrier route rates. Under the new standards, all letters mailed at 
discount rates must be addressed using a minimum of 8-point type. In 
addition, for automation rate letters, the lines and the characters in 
the address must not touch or overlap, and each element on the address 
line may be separated by no more than three blank character spaces.
    We are proposing these changes to improve address readability for 
our high-speed processing systems and for our letter carriers during 
delivery. Legible, standardized address information enhances the 
processing and delivery of mail, reduces undeliverable-as-addressed 
mail, and provides mutual cost reduction opportunities through improved 
efficiency. We can better ensure effective, accurate, and timely 
delivery when letter carriers receive mailpieces clearly addressed in a 
readable format.
    Many postal processing systems rely on optical character readers 
that require standardized, high-quality addresses for efficient 
processing. Even barcoded pieces must include a readable address for 
systems like the Postal Automated Redirection System (PARS). PARS 
relies on the printed address to identify and redirect forwardable mail 
during processing, and pieces read by PARS are instantly routed to 
their new address for the most efficient delivery.
    We recently proposed similar address requirements for flat-size 
mail in preparation for the new Flats Sequencing System technology. 
These revisions for letters will further promote consistent addressing 
for both letters and flats and ensure that address standards are met 
when letters are used as label carriers for flat-size pieces.
    To mitigate the larger type size requirements in the address block, 
we are looking at ways to shorten optional endorsement lines and allow 
mailers to place mailer-specified information (such as customer 
numbers) to the left of the optional endorsement line when OneCode ACS 
is used. We are also planning to reduce the amount of clear space 
required under the Intelligent Mail barcode. We will publish these 
changes in a future revision.
    Mailers can also take advantage of the Intelligent Mail barcode to 
save valuable space on letter-size pieces. One Intelligent Mail barcode 
can include all tracking and routing information, including ACS and 
CONFIRM, for that mailpiece. For other ways to reduce address block 
size, we encourage mailers to refer to Publication 28, Postal 
Addressing Standards (available on Postal Explorer at pe.usps.com; 
click on ``Address Quality'' in the left frame, then ``Address 
Management Publications''). Publication 28 also provides tips and best 
practices to help mailers address all of their mailpieces successfully.
    Although we are exempt from the notice and comment requirements of 
the Administrative Procedure Act [5 U.S.C. 553(b), (c)] regarding 
proposed rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), we invite public comments on 
the following proposed revisions to Mailing Standards of the United 
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), incorporated by 
reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 111.1.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.

    Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 111--[AMENDED]

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

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 414, 
416, 3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.

    2. Revise the following sections of Mailing Standards of the United 
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), as follows:

200 Discount Mail: Letters and Cards

* * * * *

202 Elements on the Face of a Mailpiece

1.0 All Mailpieces

* * * * *
    [Revise 1.2 as follows:]

[[Page 57506]]

1.2 Delivery Address

    The delivery address specifies the location to which the USPS is to 
deliver a mailpiece. Except for mail prepared with detached address 
labels under 602.4.0, the piece must have the address of the intended 
recipient, visible and legible, only on the side of the piece bearing 
postage (see 2.0). Use at least 8-point type (8-point type is 
approximately \1/10\-inch high). An Arial font is preferred. These 
additional standards apply to automation rate letters:
    a. The individual characters and the individual lines in the 
address cannot touch or overlap. A minimum 0.028-inch clear space 
between lines is preferred.
    b. Each element on each line of the address may be separated by no 
more than three blank character spaces. For example, ``ANYTOWN U.S. 
12345,'' not ``ANYTOWN U.S. 12345.''
* * * * *

230 First-Class Mail

233 Rates and Eligibility

* * * * *

5.0 Additional Eligibility Standards for Automation Rate First-Class 
Mail Letters

* * * * *

5.4.4 Address Elements

    [Revise 5.4.4 to add a new last sentence as follows:]
    * * *Addresses must also meet the standards for address placement, 
line spacing, and type size in 202.1.2.
* * * * *

240 Standard Mail

243 Rates and Eligibility

* * * * *

7.0 Eligibility Standards for Automation Rate Standard Mail

7.1 Basic Eligibility Standards for Automation Rate Standard Mail

    All pieces in a Regular Standard Mail or Nonprofit Standard Mail 
automation rate mailing must:
* * * * *
    [Revise item d to delete ``or numeric equivalent to the delivery 
point barcode (DPBC)'' as follows:]
    d. Bear a delivery address that includes the correct ZIP Code or 
ZIP+4 code and that meets these address quality standards:
    [Renumber items d1 and d2 as items d2 and d3. Insert new item d1 as 
follows:]
    1. The address placement, line spacing, and type size standards in 
202.1.2.
* * * * *

700 Special Standards

* * * * *

707 Periodicals

* * * * *

3.0 Physical Characteristics and Content Eligibility

* * * * *

3.2 Addressing

* * * * *

3.2.3 Address Placement

    [Revise 3.2.3 to reference the new address standards for letters as 
follows:]
    The delivery address must be clearly visible on or through the 
outside of the mailpiece, whether placed on a label or directly on the 
host publication, a component, or the mailing wrapper. If placed on the 
mailing wrapper, the address must be on a flat side, not on a fold. If 
a polybag is used, the address must not appear on a component that 
rotates within the bag, and the address must remain visible throughout 
the addressed component's range of motion. For flat-size pieces, 
mailers must follow the additional address placement and formatting 
standards in 302.2.0 and 302.5.0. For letter-size pieces, mailers must 
follow the additional address placement and formatting standards in 
202.1.0.
* * * * *

13.0 Carrier Route Rate Eligibility

13.1 Basic Standards

* * * * *

13.1.2 Address Quality

    All pieces in a Periodicals carrier route rate mailing must bear a 
delivery address that includes the correct ZIP Code or ZIP+4 code and 
that meets these address quality standards:
* * * * *
    [Insert new item d as follows:]
    d. For flat-size pieces, mailers must follow the additional address 
placement and formatting standards in 302.2.0 and 302.5.0. For letter-
size pieces, mailers must follow the additional address placement and 
formatting standards in 202.1.0.
* * * * *
    We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to 
reflect these changes if our proposal is adopted.

Neva R. Watson,
Attorney, Legislative.
[FR Doc. E7-19931 Filed 10-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P