[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 82 (Friday, April 27, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 25082-25083]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-10014]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
Picture Permit Imprint Indicia
AGENCY: Postal Service\TM\.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Postal Service will revise Mailing Standards of the United
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) 604.5 to add
picture permit imprint indicia standards allowing customers to include
business-related color images, such as corporate logos, company brand
or trademarks, in the permit indicia area of First-Class Mail[supreg]
full-service automation letters and postcards, and all Standard
Mail[supreg] letters.
DATES: Effective Date: June 24, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nii-Kwashie Aryeetey 202-268-7442 or
Suzanne Newman at 202-268-5581.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The use of picture permit imprint indicia is
designed to improve the effectiveness of a mailpiece by including a
business-related color image within the permit imprint indicia. When
tested, indicia placed in the upper right corner of the mailpiece that
contained color images did not impede the Postal Service's ability to
obtain the required postage payment information from the permit
indicia.
Additionally, market research shows that customers believe that
picture permit imprint indicia will enhance the perception of mail.
Mailers indicated that they would use picture permit imprints for
existing mail volume and some said they would increase their mail
volumes if picture permit imprint indicia were allowed.
Therefore, this final rule expands current permit imprint standards
to allow mailers to, subject to additional Postal Service standards,
include a color image of a business-related design, such as corporate
logos or trademarks, as part of their permit imprint indicia on full
service automation IMb\TM\ mailings, for a per piece fee in addition to
postage. Mailers interested in picture permit imprint indicia may
contact [email protected] for more information.
Pending favorable action by the Postal Regulatory Commission on the
Postal Service's March 28, 2012 filing of the price and classification
changes related to charges for picture permit imprint indicia, 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 Mailing Standards of the United
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), as follows:
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail
Manual (DMM)
* * * * *
600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services
* * * * *
604 Postage Payment Methods
* * * * *
5.0 Permit Imprint (Indicia)
5.1 General Standards
5.1.1 Description
[Revise 5.1.1 by adding a new last sentence to read as follows:]
* * * A picture permit imprint indicia (5.4) may not be used on
reply mail pieces.
* * * * *
5.1.4 Permit and Fees
[Revise the text of 5.1.4 as follows:]
A mailer may obtain a permit to use a permit imprint indicia by
submitting PS Form 3615, Mailing Permit Application and Customer
Profile, and the applicable fees to the Post Office where mailings are
made. Except for mailpieces bearing picture permit imprint indicia
(5.4), there are no other fees for the use of a permit imprint indicia
but other fees (e.g., an annual
[[Page 25083]]
presort mailing fee) may be due depending on the class of mail to be
prepared.
* * * * *
5.3 Indicia Design, Placement, and Content
* * * * *
5.3.4 Indicia Placement on Mailpiece
[Revise the second sentence of 5.3.4 and the text of 5.3.4a as
follows:]
* * * The indicia may not be placed below the address or encroach
on reserved space (e.g., ACS participant code, delivery point barcode).
The indicia can be placed in one of these four positions:
a. Upper right corner of the mailpiece. (Also the recommended
location for picture permit imprint indicia)
* * * * *
[Revise 5.3.4c as follows:]
c. Upper right area (not lower than the address area) on an affixed
address label or when printed in an address block.
* * * * *
5.3.11 Indicia Formats
[Revise the text of 5.3.11 as follows:]
Unless prepared under 5.3.12 or 5.4, permit imprint indicia on
mailpieces must be prepared in one of the formats in Exhibit 5.3.11, as
applicable to the price claimed or type of mail. (Not all permissible
combinations of content elements are shown.) Specific markings may be
required as applicable for the price claimed.
* * * * *
5.3.12 Optional Indicia Format
[Revise the introductory text in 5.3.12 as follows:]
As options to the basic format under 5.3.11, permit imprint indicia
may be prepared as picture permit imprint indicia under 5.4 or in other
formats subject to these conditions:
* * * * *
[Add new 5.4 as follows:]
5.4 Picture Permit Imprint Indicia
5.4.1 Description
Picture permit imprint indicia may contain business-related color
images, such as corporate logos, brand, trademarks and other pictorial
business images (5.4.3 5.4.5). These images are known as picture permit
imprints and may be used to pay postage and extra service fees on full
service IMb mailings of First-Class Mail automation letters and
postcards, and Standard Mail letters.
5.4.2 Postage and Fees
Picture permit imprint is charged a per piece fee, in addition to
the postage applicable for the class of mail. See Notice 123--Price
List.
5.4.3 Prohibitions
Color images used in picture permit imprint indicia must maintain
neutrality on social or political issues in order to avoid the creation
of a public forum for the debate or dissemination of political ideas by
private parties and must also adhere to the following prohibitions:
a. Must not resemble or imitate U.S. postage stamps, a postage
evidencing system indicia (604.4), postcard postage, Customized
Postage, postage printed from USPS Automated Postal Centers (APCs) and
USPS Certified 3rd Party Kiosks, precancelled postage stamps or other
postage payment methods.
b. The color image used in picture permit imprint indicia must not
include USPS-registered trademarks or words, symbols, or designs used
by the USPS to identify a class of mail, price of postage, or level of
service, unless such elements are correctly used under the applicable
standards for the mailpiece on which they appear and the corresponding
postage and fees have been paid.
c. Two-toned, black and white images are not permitted.
d. Only commercial images and/or text are eligible for inclusion.
Commercial images and/or text means images and/or text that promote
nothing other than a product or service available in commerce. Images
and/or text that take a position, explicitly or implicitly, on
government, public policy, morality, politics, or religion (whether or
not they also convey a commercial message) are not eligible for
inclusion.
e. Eligible commercial images and/or text must not: (1) Be indecent
or obscene; (2) depict violent or sexual material that would be harmful
to minors; (3) be unlawful or legally actionable; (4) compete with a
Postal Service product or service; or (5) promote alcohol, tobacco,
weapons, or gambling.
f. A picture permit imprint indicia (5.4) may not be used on reply
mail pieces.
5.4.4 Application
A Picture Permit Imprint Application must be completed and Postal
Service authorization must be obtained for individual picture permit
imprint indicia prior to the acceptance of mailpieces bearing these
indicia. Customers must sign an indemnification statement and, upon
request, provide a valid addressed sample of mailpieces bearing the
color images for testing. Contact the manager, Transaction and
Correspondence (608.8.1) for more information. Additional information
on the customer agreement is available at http://picturepermit.usps.com.
5.4.5 Picture Permit Imprint Indicia Format
As options to the basic format under 5.3.11, permit imprint indicia
may be prepared in Picture Permit Imprint format subject to these
conditions:
a. Indicia elements must be OCR readable (prefer sans serif) and no
smaller than 8 point font.
b. The class of mail must be printed in all capital letters.
c. Indicia must not be placed in any location lower than the
complete address information. The upper right corner of the mailpiece
is the preferred location.
d. A clear space of at least \1/4\ inch must be maintained to the
right and above the picture permit imprint indicia.
e. A clear space of at least 0.050 inch must be maintained to the
left and below the picture permit imprint indicia.
f. Mailpieces bearing picture permit indicia must be presented as
full service automation IMb mailings, under 705.24.
g. All pieces in the mailing must bear a picture permit.
h. Imprint (i.e.: image and text area) dimensions may be between
1.625'' to 2.00'' in height and between 1.31'' to 1.50'' in width.
i. Image dimensions may be between .84'' to 1.00'' in height and
between 1.31'' to 1.5'' in width.
j. A clear space of 5/32 inch (+/- 1/32 inch) on all sides must be
maintained between the color image and indicia text.
k. Only color images are permitted in image area (two-tone, black
and white print is prohibited).
* * * * *
We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to
reflect these changes.
Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Legal Policy & Legislative Advice.
[FR Doc. 2012-10014 Filed 4-26-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P