[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 209 (Tuesday, October 31, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50346-50348]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-23615]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


eInduction Option, Seamless Acceptance Program, and Full-Service 
Automation Option, Verification Standards

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is proposing to amend Mailing Standards of 
the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]), 
sections 705.20, eInduction Option, 705.22, Seamless Acceptance 
Program, and 705.23, Full-Service Automation Option, to add the 
verification standards.

DATES: Submit comments on or before November 30, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the manager, Product 
Classification, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Room 4446, 
Washington, DC 20260-5015. If sending comments by email, include the 
name and address of the commenter and send to 
[email protected], with a subject line of ``Verification 
Standards''. Faxed comments are not accepted. You may inspect and 
photocopy all written comments, by appointment only, at USPS[supreg] 
Headquarters Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW., 11th Floor North, 
Washington, DC 20260. These records are available for review on Monday 
through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., by calling 202-268-2906.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Dyer at (207) 482-7217, or 
Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service is proposing to amend DMM 
sections 705.20, eInduction Option, 705.22, Seamless Acceptance 
Program, and 705.23, Full-Service Automation Option, to add the 
applicable verification descriptions, error thresholds, and postage 
assessments, standards. These standards have been made available to the 
public via Publication 6850, Publication for Streamlined Mail 
Acceptance for Letters and Flats, available at https://postalpro.usps.com, which also contains additional information on the 
verification processes.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.

    Although we are exempt from the notice and comment requirements of 
the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(b), (c)) regarding 
proposed rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), we invite public comments on 
the following proposed revisions to Mailing Standards of the United 
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), incorporated by 
reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 111.1. 
Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is proposed to be 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)

* * * * *

700 Special Standards

* * * * *

705 Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems

* * * * *

705.20.0 eInduction Option

20.1 Description

    [Revise the fourth sentence of 20.1 to read as follows:]
    * * * For additional information on the eInduction Option see 
Publication 6850, Publication for Streamlined Mail Acceptance for 
Letters and Flats, available at https://postalpro.usps.com.
* * * * *
    [Add new subsection 20.5, Verifications, to read as follows:]

20.5 Verifications

    The six eInduction option verification descriptions, error 
thresholds, and postage assessments, are provided in 20.5.1 through 
20.5.6.

20.5.1 Undocumented (Extra) Containers Verification

    An Undocumented Container error occurs when a scanned IMcb is not 
found in an eDoc, or is included in an eDoc and associated to a postage 
statement in estimated (EST) status. Containers will be flagged as 
Undocumented 10 days after the scan unload date/time if no eDoc has 
been uploaded or if the postage statement is still in EST status. The 
threshold is 0%. All errors will be subject to an

[[Page 50347]]

assessment amount of the average postage paid for each container mailed 
by the eDoc submitter CRID over the current invoice period to the eDoc 
submitter CRID or CRID tied to the MID contained within the IMcb.

20.5.2 Payment Verification

    All containers must be linked to a finalized postage statement in 
eInduction to verify payment. The error threshold is 0%. Payment 
verification errors are logged when a scanned and accepted eInduction 
container is associated with a postage statement that is not in FIN or 
FPP status at the time of scanning. Containers above the error 
threshold will be subject to an assessment amount equal to the 
containers eDoc postage amount as indicated on the non-finalized 
postage statements. For payment errors logged on physical siblings of 
logical containers, the full postage of the logical container is 
charged to the first physical sibling container scanned. Any additional 
scans among other physical siblings will log errors, but will not 
result in an additional charge. Assessments will be logged against the 
eDoc submitter CRID.

20.5.3 Duplicate Verification

    eInduction requires IMcbs to remain unique for 45 days. The error 
threshold is 0.17%. Duplicate errors are logged when an IMcb is scanned 
and accepted during more than one FAST appointment in the previous 45 
days. Though a duplicate error will not be logged if the duplicate scan 
takes place within 5 hours of the original scan. Errors above the 
threshold are subject to an assessment amount equal to the average 
postage paid for each container mailed by the eDoc submitter CRID over 
the invoice period.

20.5.4 Misshipped Verification

    Containers claiming a destination entry discount must be delivered 
to the correct entry locations per the active version of the Mail 
Direction File. The error threshold is 1.05%. Misshipped errors are 
logged when the container is scanned at an incorrect entry location, 
per the Mail Direction File. Errors over the threshold are subject to 
an assessment amount equal to the difference between the eDoc postage 
claimed, and the correct postage amount for the container. For 
misshipped errors logged against physical siblings of logical 
containers, postage is recalculated on the logical container, and 
divided by the number of physical siblings. This amount is then applied 
to each physical sibling in error to the eDoc submitter CRID.

20.5.5 Zone Discount Verification

    Pieces claiming a Zone Discount must be entered at the valid 
facility. The error threshold is 0.01%. Zone Discount errors are logged 
when the Zone Discount claimed in the eDoc is a lower entry zone than 
the zone calculated between the location where the container was 
entered, and the eDoc destination. Errors above the threshold are 
subject to an assessment amount equal to the difference between the 
eDoc postage claimed, and the correct postage amount for the container. 
For containers claiming a non-numeric Zone Discount in the eDoc, 
correct postage amount is calculated using the piece rate for the Entry 
Discount that is valid at the actual entry point for the mail class, 
shape, weight, mail prep, and presort identified in the eDoc. For Zone 
Discount errors logged against physical siblings of logical containers, 
postage is recalculated on the logical container, and divided by the 
number of physical siblings. This amount is then applied to each 
physical sibling in error to the eDoc submitter CRID.

20.5.6 Entry Point Discount (EPD) Verification

    eInduction pieces are required to be entered at a valid facility 
when claiming a destination entry discount. The error threshold is 
0.5%. EPD errors are logged when one or more pieces on a container 
claim an entry discount level that is not available at the location 
where the container was entered. Errors above threshold are subject to 
an assessment amount equal to the difference between the eDoc postage 
claimed and the correct postage amount for the container. For EPD 
errors logged against physical siblings of logical containers, postage 
is recalculated on the logical container, and divided by the number of 
physical siblings. This amount is then applied to each physical sibling 
in error to the eDoc submitter CRID.
* * * * *

705.22.0 Seamless Acceptance Program

22.1 Description

    [Revise the second sentence of 22.1 to read as follows:]
    * * * For additional information, on the Seamless Acceptance 
Program see Publication 6850, Publication for Streamlined Mail 
Acceptance for Letters and Flats, available at https://postalpro.usps.com.
* * * * *
    [Add new subsection 22.4, Verifications, to read as follows:]

22.4 Verifications

    The five seamless acceptance program verification descriptions, 
error thresholds, and postage assessments, are provided in 22.4.1 
through 22.4.5.

22.4.1 Undocumented (Piece) Verification

    An Undocumented error is logged when the IMb gathered during 
sampling or MPE scan cannot be linked to any eDoc submitted within the 
last 45 days. The error threshold is 0.3%. Pieces above the error 
threshold will be subject to an assessment amount equal to the average 
piece rate by mail class and CRID for the assessment month.

22.4.2 Delivery Point Verification

    A valid delivery point must be provided in the piece IMb. The error 
threshold is 2%. Delivery Point errors are logged when the delivery 
point provided in the eDoc is either not valid, or contains a generic 
+4 information with an address record type that is not General 
Delivery. Errors above the threshold are subject to an assessment 
amount equal to difference between the eDoc piece postage and correct 
postage amount.

22.4.3 Nesting/Sortation (MPE) Verification

    A Nesting/Sortation error is logged when the piece scanned is 
nested in a different tray or bundle than the tray or bundle that was 
identified in the eDoc. The error threshold is 1%. Errors above this 
threshold are subject to an assessment amount equal to the difference 
between the eDoc piece postage and the correct postage amount.

22.4.4 General Postage Adjustment Factor Verification

    The Postage Adjustment Factor (PAF) is a method to apply an error 
rate determined from handheld scanner samplings to the entire 
population of mailings within a calendar month. PAF is calculated on a 
monthly basis and measures the difference between the correct postage 
and the postage paid, expressed as a ratio of the correct postage due 
to the sum of eDoc postage for the sampled pieces. General PAF is used 
for errors in postage and weight verifications. The General PAF 
threshold is 1.05. A mailer will only be subject to an assessment when 
the eDoc submitter has exceeded the PAF threshold in the current 
billing month and three or more times in the previous 11 billing 
months. The General PAF is applied to the total monthly eDoc postage 
for the eDoc submitter and assessments are issued to the eDoc 
submitter.

[[Page 50348]]

22.4.5 Mail Characteristic Postage Adjustment Factor Verification

    The Mail Characteristic, Postage Adjustment Factor (PAF), is used 
for errors in the processing category, mail class, nonprofit 
eligibility and content. The threshold is 1.05. A mailer will only be 
subject to an assessment when the eDoc submitter has exceeded the Mail 
Characteristic PAF threshold in the current billing month and three or 
more times in the previous 11 billing months. The Mail Characteristic 
PAF is applied at the eDoc Submitter CRID level and is calculated using 
the adjusted and eDoc postage attributed to the Mail Owner.
* * * * *

705.23.0 Full-Service Automation Option

23.1 Description

    [Revise the second sentence of 23.1 to read as follows:]
    * * * For additional information on the full-service automation 
option see Publication 6850, Publication for Streamlined Mail 
Acceptance for Letters and Flats, available on PostalPro at http://postalpro.usps.com.
* * * * *
    [Add new subsection 23.6, Verifications, to read as follows:]

23.6 Verifications

    The six full-service verification descriptions, error thresholds, 
and postage assessments, are provided in 23.6.1 through 23.6.6.

23.6.1 Mailer Identification (MID) Verification

    The MID is a code used for identification of mail's responsible 
party. A valid MID is one that is registered within the Postal Service 
systems and provided in the eDoc. The error threshold is 2%. Errors 
over the threshold will be subject to an assessment amount equal to the 
removal of the full-service discount claimed for each piece in error 
above the threshold.

23.6.2 Service Type ID (STID) Verification

    The STID is a three-digit code included in the IMb for a mailpiece 
to provide mail class and service level. The error threshold is 2%. 
Errors over the threshold will be subject to an assessment amount equal 
to the removal of the full-service discount claimed for each piece in 
error above the threshold.

23.6.3 By/For Verification

    The By/For relationship recognizes the Mail Owner and Mail Service 
Provider in the eDoc. The error threshold is 5%. An error occurs when a 
valid Mail Preparer is not identified, a valid Mail Owner is not 
identified, Mail Preparer is incorrectly recorded as the Mail Owner, or 
the Mail Owner is incorrectly identified as the Mail Preparer. Errors 
above the threshold are subject to an assessment amount equal to the 
removal of the full-service discount claimed for each piece in error 
above the threshold.

23.6.4 Barcode Uniqueness Verification

    Barcode uniqueness is met when a barcode is unique across all 
mailers and mailings for 45 days. The error threshold is 2%. Errors 
occur when the IMcb, IMtb or IMb is not unique across all mailings from 
all mailers over the previous 45 days of the postage statement mailing 
date that was provided in the eDoc. Errors above the threshold are 
subject to an assessment equal to the removal of the full-service 
discount claimed for each piece in error above the threshold.

23.6.5 Entry Facility Verification

    The entry facility location must be identified in the eDoc by a 
Locale Key or ZIP Code. The error threshold is 2%. Errors above the 
threshold are subject to an assessment amount of the full-service 
discount claimed for each piece in error above the threshold.

23.6.6 Unlinked Copal Verification

    Mailings that will be copalletized must be identified in the 
original eDoc submission and properly documented within 14 days of the 
mailing date to link trays or sacks to the container. The error 
threshold is 5%. Errors above the threshold are subject to an 
assessment amount equal to the full-service discount claimed.
* * * * *
    If the proposal is adopted, we will publish an appropriate 
amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to reflect these changes.

Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Federal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2017-23615 Filed 10-30-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7710-12-P