Federal Register, Volume 77 Issue 109 (Wednesday, June 6, 2012)

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 6, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33314-33315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13636]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


POSTNET Barcode Discontinuation

AGENCY: Postal Service.^TM

ACTION: Final rule; correction.

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SUMMARY: This document corrects an earlier revision to the Mailing 
Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual 
(DMM[supreg]) which discontinued price eligibility based on the use of 
POSTNET^TM barcodes on all types of mail. The correction adds 
DMM revisions that were inadvertently omitted in the original final 
rule.

DATES: Effective date: January 28, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Chatfield, 202-268-7278 or Jeff 
Freeman, 202-268-2922.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On May 3, 2012, the Postal Service published a final rule in the 
Federal Register (77 FR 26185-26191) to discontinue price eligibility 
for POSTNET barcodes for all types of mail. This revision adds DMM 
revisions (regarding Periodicals automation letters and flats) that 
were inadvertently omitted in the original final rule, but does not 
change any of the DMM revisions previously published in that rule.

Implementation

    Effective January 28, 2013, the Postal Service will discontinue 
price eligibility for the use of POSTNET barcodes and allow only 
Intelligent Mail barcodes (IMbs) for automation price eligibility 
purposes, including Qualified Business Reply Mail (QBRM) prices. The 
Postal Service understands that some mailers currently use POSTNET 
barcodes and we are committed to providing information to and working 
with individual mailers and software providers to ensure that the use 
of an Intelligent Mail barcode is achievable for all mailing customers.

Change for Letters and Flats

    For the past several years, both USPS and the mailing industry have 
used the IMb to gain information about letters and flats as they move 
from induction to delivery. As of January 28, 2013, the use of the IMb 
will be required for all automation letters, including Business Reply 
Mail[supreg] letters that qualify for Qualified Business Reply Mail 
prices, Permit Reply Mail letters, and automation flats.
    The Postal Service adopts the following additional 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 further amended as follows:

PART 111--[AMENDED]

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


[[Page 33315]]


    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.

    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)

* * * * *

700 Special Standards

* * * * *

707 Periodicals

* * * * *

12.0 Nonbarcoded (Presorted) Eligibility

12.1 Basic Standards

* * * * *

12.1.3 Barcode Quality

    [Revise the text of 12.1.3 as follows:]
    Any Intelligent Mail barcode on a mailpiece must be correct for the 
delivery address and meet the standards in 708.4.0 and 708.3.0.
* * * * *

13.0 Carrier Route Eligibility

13.1 Basic Standards

* * * * *

13.1.3 Barcode Quality

    [Revise the text of 13.1.3 as follows:]
    Any Intelligent Mail barcode on a mailpiece must be correct for the 
delivery address and meet the standards in 708.4.0 and 708.3.0.
* * * * *

14.0 Barcoded (Automation) Eligibility

    [Revise 14.1 to include the standards in current 14.1.1, with 
revised text as follows:]

14.1 Basic Standards

    [Revise the introductory text of 14.1 as follows:]
    All pieces in a Periodicals barcoded (automation) mailing must:
* * * * *
    [Revise the first sentence of item 14.1.1c as follows:]
    c. Bear an accurate Intelligent Mail barcode encoded with the 
correct delivery point routing code, matching the delivery address and 
meeting the standards in 202.5.0 (for letters), 302.4.0 (for flats), 
and 708.4.0.
* * * * *
    [Delete the heading of current 14.1.1, and delete current 14.1.2, 
Enclosed Reply Cards and Envelopes, in its entirety.]
* * * * *

14.5 Address Standards for Barcoded Pieces

* * * * *

14.5.3 Numeric Delivery Point Barcode

    [Revise the text of 14.5.3 as follows:]
    A numeric equivalent of the delivery point routing code is formed 
by adding two digits directly after the ZIP+4 code.
* * * * *
    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. 2012-13636 Filed 6-5-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P