[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 213 (Friday, November 2, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 66149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26697]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 213 / Friday, November 2, 2012 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 66149]]



POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Retirement of FASTforward Technology

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Postal Service will revise the Mailing Standards of the 
United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) 
602.5.0 to terminate the use of FASTforwardTM technology as 
a Move Update option for commercial First-Class Mail[supreg], First-
Class Package ServiceTM, Standard Mail[supreg], and Parcel 
Select Lightweight[supreg] mailings.

DATES: Effective date: January 27, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Hunt at 901-681-4651, or Bill 
Chatfield at 202-268-7278.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 4, 2012, the Postal Service 
published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (77 FR 53830) to 
retire FASTforward technology. We received no formal comments on the 
proposal. Therefore, we will proceed as proposed.
    FASTforward, a licensed hardware/software change-of-address system, 
was developed in 1996 to enable Multi-Line Optical Character Reader 
(MLOCR) users a means to meet the Move Update requirement for their 
commercial mailings. Using the best technology then available, most of 
the FASTforward ``black boxes'' were 386/486 processors using secured 
cards and cabling operations. By 2009, many of the original black boxes 
were failing, and finding replacement parts became difficult. In 
February 2009, the USPSTM announced its intention to retire 
the FASTforward system by the end of FY2012 and migrate the licensees 
to the newer more robust NCOALink[supreg] MPE (Mail Processing 
Equipment) licensed software system. In August 2011, the USPS 
established an ad hoc workgroup consisting of postal personnel, MLOCR 
manufacturers and mailers and representatives of the National 
Association of Presort Mailers (NAPM). The workgroup has resolved the 
issues to ensure a smooth migration from the antiquated FASTforward 
system to the newer NCOALink MPE system.
    The termination date for FASTforward will be January 27, 2013. 
Mailers may begin to use the NCOALink MPE system at any time as a 
method of meeting the Move Update standards.
    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):

* * * * *

600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services

* * * * *

602 Addressing

* * * * *

5.0 Move Update Standards

* * * * *

5.2 USPS-Approved Methods

    The following methods are authorized for meeting the Move Update 
standard:
* * * * *
    [Revise item 5.2b as follows:]
    b. National Change of Address Linkage System (NCOALink). This 
includes both pre-mail NCOALink processing systems and the physical 
mailpiece processing equipment system: National Change of Address 
Linkage System Mail Processing Equipment (NCOALink MPE). See the 
NCOALink page (NCOALink MPE Solutions) on ribbs.usps.gov \f\ or more 
information on the MPE application.
    [Delete item 5.2c in its entirety and redesignate current items 
5.2d and 5.2e as new 5.2c and 5.2d respectively.]
* * * * *
    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. 2012-26697 Filed 11-1-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P