[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 6, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 8407]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02514]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 501
Authorization To Manufacture and Distribute Postage Evidencing
Systems; Discontinued Indicia
AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is amending the rules concerning the
manufacture and distribution of postage evidencing systems to clarify
that effective January 1, 2016, all postage evidencing systems (postage
meters and PC Postage[supreg] products) will be required to produce
Information-Based Indicia (IBI) or Intelligent Mail[supreg] Indicia
(IMI) for evidence of pre-paid postage, and that indicia from
noncompliant systems will not be recognized as valid postage.
DATES: Effective date: January 1, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marlo Ivey, Business Programs
Specialist, Payment Technology, U.S. Postal Service, (202) 268-7613.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1999, the Postal Service introduced the
Information Based Indicia Program (IBIP). Under IBIP, postage
evidencing systems submitted for Postal Service test and evaluation
were required to produce IBI--digital indicia that use a two-
dimensional (2-D) barcode. In 2012, the next generation of postage
evidencing was introduced through the publication of the IMI
performance criteria. Both IBI and IMI contain a 2-D barcode that
includes revenue security-related data elements and product and service
information.
On July 13, 2012, the Postal Service published a proposed rule (77
FR 41336) stating that after January 1, 2016, all postage evidencing
systems (postage meters and PC Postage products) will be required to
produce IBI or IMI for evidence of pre-paid postage. Indicia from
postage evidencing systems that are not IBI-compliant or IMI-compliant
will not be recognized as valid after December 31, 2015. The following
amendment to 39 CFR part 501 is intended to clarify that noncompliant
indicia will be decertified, and will not be recognized as valid after
that date.
One comment was received. The vendor understands the need to
implement such changes to maintain revenue protection and
accountability. However, by discontinuing the non-IBI or non-IMI
indicia over such a short period of time it would put them at risk in
the market due to the amount of resources needed to complete upgrading
their customers in just 3 years.
Our response noted that this proposed rule was expected over the
past several years, since the Postal Service has discussed with the
industry the need to discontinue these indicia. Since the introduction
of the IBI, the Postal Service has made significant investment in
infrastructure to enhance the revenue security and processing of the
mail. Postage meter indicia that do not bear an IBI or IMI indicia are
inconsistent with these enhanced systems and processes and pose a
threat to their effectiveness. Also, they do not have the enhanced
revenue security features required under today's performance criteria.
Recent experiences have demonstrated that these meters pose revenue
risks to the Postal Service.
In addition, metering systems producing non-IBI or IMI do not
provide the Postal Service and its customers the product level and mail
processing visibility needed to manage business in today's information
rich environment.
Given these compelling reasons, the Postal Service does not intend
to delay the discontinuance of non-IBI or IMI beyond December 31, 2015.
We believe this date (about 3 years in the future) provides the best
compromise for all parties impacted by this ruling.
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 501
Postal Service.
Accordingly, the Postal Service amends 39 CFR part 501 as follows:
PART 501--AUTHORIZATION TO MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTE POSTAGE
EVIDENCING SYSTEMS
0
1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 501 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 410,
2601, 2605, Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended (Pub. L. 95-
452, as amended); 5 U.S.C. App. 3.
0
2. Add Sec. 501.20 to read as follows:
Sec. 501.20 Discontinued Postage Evidencing Indicia.
(a) Decertified indicia (evidence of pre-paid postage) are indicia
that have been withdrawn by the Postal Service as valid forms of
postage evidence through publication by the Postal Service in the
Federal Register, or by voluntary withdrawal undertaken by the
provider.
(b) Effective January 1, 2016, all Postage Evidencing Systems
(postage meters and PC Postage products) will be required to produce
Information-Based Indicia (IBI) or Intelligent Mail Indicia (IMI) for
evidence of pre-paid postage. Non-IBI and non-IMI indicia will be
decertified effective January 1, 2016, and may not be used as a valid
form of postage evidence. These decertified indicia will not be
recognized as valid postage after December 31, 2015.
Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Legal Policy & Legislative Advice.
[FR Doc. 2013-02514 Filed 2-5-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P