[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 52 (Friday, March 16, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15605-15607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6086]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Mobile Commerce and Personalization Promotion

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service will revise the Mailing Standards of the 
United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) 709.3 
to add a new temporary promotion in the summer of 2012 for Presorted 
and automation First-Class Mail[supreg] cards, letters and flats, and 
Standard Mail[supreg] letters and flats bearing two-dimensional mobile 
barcodes or equivalent print technology.

DATES: Effective Date: July 1, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Krista Becker at 202-268-7345, Bill 
Chatfield at 202-268-7278, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 21, 2012, the Postal Service 
filed a notice (R2012-6) with the Postal Regulatory Commission to 
temporarily reduce the prices for certain types of First-Class Mail and 
Standard Mail letters items that contain, in or on the mailpiece, a 
transactional two-dimensional barcode or similar print technology such 
as watermarks or tags (collectively ``Mobile Barcode'' or ``Mobile 
Barcodes'') readable by consumer mobile devices. In recognition of the 
success of the mobile barcode promotion in the summer of 2011, the 
Postal Service offers a revised promotion from July 1, 2012, through 
August 31, 2012.
    In this final rule, the Postal Service provides a description of 
the conditions for eligibility for the price reduction for the mobile 
commerce and personalization promotion, and the revised mailing 
standards to implement the promotion.
    To be eligible, each Presorted and automation mailpiece in the 
mailing that is listed on the postage statement for that mailing must 
have a Mobile Barcode on the outside of each piece or on the contents 
within each piece. When scanned, the Mobile Barcode must lead the 
recipient of the mailpiece to either: a Web page that allows the 
recipient to purchase a product or service, or a personalized URL that 
leads to a Web page whose Web address and content are unique to the 
mailpiece recipient. In both cases, the Web site must remain mobile-
optimized. Mobile Barcodes that direct consumers to Web pages that 
allow payment for prior or future purchases, or encourage enrollment in 
online bill payment or paperless statement services are not eligible 
for the discount. Mailpieces with Mobile Barcodes that convey postage 
information, destination, sender, or a machinable serial number for 
security also are not eligible for the discount.
    The promotion provides an upfront price reduction of 2 percent of 
the eligible postage for qualifying mailpieces containing Mobile 
Barcodes as described above. Qualifying mailings are Presorted and 
automation mailings of First-Class Mail cards, letters, and flats, and 
Standard Mail (including Nonprofit) letters and flats. Commingled, co-
mailed and combined mailings are allowed, but a separate postage 
statement is required for mailpieces with Mobile Barcodes.
    Eligible mailings must be accompanied by electronic documentation. 
Mailings that are prepared by an entity other than the mail owner must 
indicate the identity of the owner in the electronic documentation. The 
electronic documentation must identify the mail owner and mail preparer 
in the ``By/For'' fields for all mailings, either by Customer 
Registration ID (CRID), Mailer ID (MID) or other account type that is 
assigned by USPS[supreg]. Mailings of automation letters or flats must 
have Intelligent Mail[supreg] barcodes. Mailpieces with 
POSTNETTM barcodes will not be eligible for the price 
reduction.
    The price reduction will be taken off the postage amount due at the 
time of mailing, and there will be no refunds or postage credit 
provided under this promotion. The promotion discount does not apply to 
single-piece First-Class Mail pieces including residual single-piece 
First-Class Mail pieces on a postage statement for Presorted and 
automation mailings.

Postage Payment Methods

    Postage payment methods will be restricted to permit imprint, 
metered postage, or precancelled stamps. Pieces with metered postage 
must bear an exact amount of postage as stipulated by the class and 
shape of mail. Affixed postage values for metered mailings will be as 
follows:

First-Class Mail postcards....................................     $0.20
First-Class Mail automation and (PRSTD) machinable letters....      0.25
First-Class Mail nonmachinable letters........................      0.45
First-Class Mail automation and Presorted flats...............      0.35
 STD Mail Regular letters.....................................      0.12
STD Mail Regular flats........................................      0.13
STD Nonprofit letters.........................................      0.05
STD Nonprofit flats...........................................      0.06
 

    Mailings with postage paid by metered or precancelled stamp postage 
will have the percentage discount deducted from the additional postage 
due, except for Value Added Refund mailings, which may include the 
amount of the discount with the amount to be refunded.
    The mobile barcode promotion discount cannot be combined with other 
incentives, with the exception of the full-service Intelligent Mail 
barcode discount.

Promotion Dates and More Information

    To participate in the promotion, customers must register on the 
Business

[[Page 15606]]

Customer Gateway at www.gateway.usps.com and specify which permits and 
CRIDs will participate in the promotion. Registration opens May 1, 
2012, and must be completed at least 24 hours prior to the first 
mailing date. The Postal Service will implement the promotion and 
temporary price reduction for mailings made on July 1, 2012, through 
August 31, 2012. Plant-verified drop shipment (PVDS) mailings accepted 
no later than August 31, 2012, may be entered at destinations through 
September 15, 2012. Program requirements, including updated FAQs, are 
available on the RIBBS Web site at https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=mobilebarcode or by email to [email protected].
    The Postal Service adopts the following changes to Mailing 
Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual 
(DMM), which is 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 amended as follows:

PART 111--[AMENDED]

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

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 13 U.S.C. 301-307; 18 U.S.C. 1692-
1737; 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 414, 416, 3001-3011, 3201-3219, 
3403-3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, 3633, and 5001.


0
2. Revise the following sections of the Mailing Standards of the United 
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM):

Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail 
Manual (DMM):

* * * * *

700 Special Standards

* * * * *

709 Experimental and Temporary Classifications

* * * * *
    [Revise the title of 3.0 as follows:]

3.0 Mobile Commerce and Personalization Promotion

3.1 Program Description and Scope

    [Revise 3.1 by incorporating the text of current items a and b into 
the body of 3.1 and revising the text as follows:]
    The mobile commerce and personalization promotion provides a two 
percent discount for pieces mailed at Presorted and automation prices 
in mailings of First-Class Mail cards, letters, and flats, and Standard 
Mail (including Nonprofit) letters and flats that include a 
transactional two-dimensional mobile barcode when the mailpieces meet 
all the conditions in these standards. Images such as watermarks and 
tags that, when scanned, direct consumers to mobile-optimized sites 
under conditions in 3.0 are also eligible. Automation pieces must bear 
Intelligent Mail barcodes; pieces with POSTNET barcodes are not 
eligible for this promotion. The promotion is valid for mailings 
entered from July 1, 2012 through August 31, 2012. Plant-verified drop 
shipment (PVDS) mailings meeting all relevant standards may be accepted 
at origin as late as August 31, 2012 if they are entered no later than 
September 15, 2012 at the destination.

3.2 Eligibility Standards

    [Revise 3.2 as follows:]
    To be eligible for the two percent discount, customers must 
register on Business Customer Gateway at gateway.usps.com, and specify 
which permits and CRIDs will participate in the promotion. Registration 
opens May 1, 2012, and must be completed at least 24 hours prior to the 
first mailing date. Mailpieces must be mailed under the following 
conditions:
    a. A two-dimensional mobile barcode or similar image must be on 
each mailpiece, either on the outside or printed on the contents of the 
piece. Brief instructions or directional copy must be printed near the 
barcode to instruct the recipient to scan the barcode. One-dimensional 
barcodes do not qualify.
    b. The mobile barcode must be readable by a mobile device and must 
lead to a mobile-optimized Web site. The barcode must be relevant to 
the contents of the mailpiece. Scanning the barcode must lead the 
consumer to a Web page that allows the recipient a good or service on 
the mobile device, or to a personalized URL that leads to a Web page 
unique to an individual recipient. In either situation, the Web site 
must remain mobile-optimized. Barcodes with links that direct consumers 
to sites that allow payment for prior or future purchases or that 
encourage enrollment in online bill payment or paperless statement 
services are not eligible for the discount. Mailpieces with mobile 
barcodes that convey postage information, destination, sender, or a 
machinable serial number for security also are not eligible for the 
discount.
    c. The mailpieces with mobile barcodes must be one of the 
following:
    1. Presorted or automation First-Class Mail cards, letters, or 
flats. Automation pieces must bear Intelligent Mail barcodes.
    2. Standard Mail (including Nonprofit) letters or flats.
    d. Postage must be paid by permit imprint or by affixing metered 
postage or a precanceled stamp to each piece of mail; the postage 
statement and mailing documentation must be submitted electronically. 
Mailings that are prepared by an entity other than the mail owner must 
indicate the owner's identity in the electronic documentation 
(``eDoc''). The eDoc must identify the mail owner and mail preparer in 
the By/For fields, either by Customer Registration ID (CRID), Mailer ID 
(MID) or other account type assigned by the USPS. All Presorted and 
automation pieces declared on a postage statement must contain a mobile 
barcode that qualifies for the discount.
    e. Mailers must provide the USPS acceptance unit with an 
unaddressed sample of the mailpiece that contains a mobile barcode. If 
mobile personalization is used, at least two samples must be submitted, 
demonstrating that the web addresses are unique to each addressee. 
Mailers must also retain, until October 31, 2012, a sample of each 
mailpiece claiming a discount.
    f. Other than a full-service Intelligent Mail discount (see 
705.24), no other incentives apply for mailpieces claiming a discount 
under this promotion.
    g. Participants must agree to participate in a survey conducted 
during or after the promotional period.
    h. Federal government official mailings under OMAS are not eligible 
for this promotion.

3.3 Discount

    [Revise the first sentence of 3.3 and add new second and third 
sentences as follows:]
    Mailers must claim the two percent postage discount on the postage 
statement at the time the statement is electronically submitted. 
Mailings with postage affixed will deduct the discount amount from the 
additional postage due, except that mail service providers authorized 
to submit Value Added Refund (VAR) mailings may include the refund for 
the incentive discount in the VAR amount. Pieces with metered postage 
must bear an exact amount of postage as stipulated by the class and 
shape of mail. Affixed postage values for metered mailings may be found 
in the

[[Page 15607]]

Federal Register notice available at pe.usps.com. * * *
* * * * *
    We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to 
reflect these changes.

Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Legal Policy and Legislative Advice.
[FR Doc. 2012-6086 Filed 3-15-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P