[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 17, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52351-52353]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-22473]



[[Page 52351]]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 20


International Mailing Services: Product and Price Changes--CPI

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Postal Service proposes to revise Mailing Standards of the 
United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM[supreg]), 
to reflect changes in the prices, product features, and classification 
changes to Mailing Services. These changes would also implement a lower 
maximum weight limit on First-Class Mail International[supreg] (FCMI) 
large envelopes (flats), to bring them closer to compliance with 
Universal Postal Union (UPU) standards.

DATES: We must receive your comments on or before November 16, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver comments to the manager, Product 
Classification, U.S. Postal Service[supreg], 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, RM 
4446, Washington, DC 20260-5015. 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, 
between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, by 
calling 202-268-2906 in advance. Send email comments, including the 
name and address of the commenter, to: [email protected], 
with a subject line of ``January 2019 International Mailing Services 
Price Change--CPI.'' Faxed comments are not accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paula Rabkin at 202-268-2537.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

International Price and Service Adjustments

    On October 10, 2018, the Postal Service filed a notice with the 
Postal Regulatory Commission in Docket No. R2019-1 of mailing services 
price adjustments, effective on January 27, 2019. The Postal Service 
proposes to revise Notice 123, Price List, available on Postal 
Explorer[supreg] at https://pe.usps.com, to reflect these new price 
changes. Proposed prices are or will be available under Docket Number 
R2019-1 on the Postal Regulatory Commission's website at www.prc.gov.
    Over the course of time, country names have changed due to a 
variety of political or cultural reasons. In collaboration with 
International Postal Affairs and requests made through the UPU, the 
Postal Service is updating country names throughout mailing standards, 
changing Great Britain and Northern Ireland to United Kingdom of Great 
Britain and Northern Ireland and changing Swaziland to Eswatini.
    This proposed rule also describes the price and classification 
changes and the corresponding mailing standards changes for the 
following market dominant international services:

 First-Class Mail International (FCMI) service
 International extra services and fees.

First-Class Mail International

    We propose no increase in prices for single-piece FCMI letters, 
postcards, and flats. The price for a single-piece 1-ounce letter 
remains $1.15. The FCMI letter nonmachinable surcharge remains $0.21.
    On October 10, 2018, the Postal Service filed a notice with the 
Postal Regulatory Commission in Docket No. MC2019-3. In this filing we 
propose a change in the maximum weight limit for First-Class Mail 
International (FCMI) large envelopes (flats) to 15.994 ounces, in lieu 
of the current 64 ounce limit. This change will more closely align the 
Postal Service's definition of FCMI large envelopes (flats) with the 
Universal Postal Union Convention's definition, which allows a maximum 
weight of 500 grams (17.6 ounces) for flat-shaped letter post items.
    A mailpiece weighing 16 ounces or more that is presented as an FCM 
large envelope (flat) will be charged the applicable First-Class 
Package International Service[supreg] price. Alternatively, the mailer 
could elect to use another class of mail such as Priority Mail Express 
International[supreg] or Priority Mail International[supreg], if the 
mailpiece meets the requirements for those mail classes.

International Extra Services and Fees

    The Postal Service proposes the following increase in fees for 
certain market dominant international extra services including:
     Certificate of Mailing.
     Registered Mail TM.
     Return Receipt.
     Customs Clearance and Delivery Fee.
     International Business Reply TM Mail Service.

                         Certificate of Mailing
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individual pieces:
    Individual article (PS Form 3817)...................           $1.45
    Duplicate copy of PS Form 3817 or PS Form 3665 (per             1.45
     page)..............................................
    Firm mailing sheet (PS Form 3665), per piece                    0.41
     (minimum 3) First-Class Mail International only....
Bulk quantities:
    For first 1,000 pieces (or fraction thereof)........            8.55
    Each additional 1,000 pieces (or fraction thereof)..            1.07
    Duplicate copy of PS Form 3606......................            1.45
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Registered Mail
    Fee: $16.00.
Return Receipt
    Fee: $4.10.
Customs Clearance and Delivery
    Fee: Per piece $6.40.
International Business Reply Service
    Fee: Cards $1.45; Envelopes up to 2 ounces $1.95.

    Following the completion of Docket No. R2019-1, the Postal Service 
will adjust the prices for products and services covered by the IMM. 
These prices will be listed on Postal Explorer at https://pe.usps.com.
    Accordingly, although 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), the Postal Service 
invites public comment on the following proposed changes to Mailing 
Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail 
Manual (IMM [supreg]), which is incorporated by reference in the Code 
of Federal Regulations in accordance with 39 CFR 20.1, and to 
associated changes to Notice 123, Price List.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20

    Foreign relations, International postal services.


[[Page 52352]]


    Accordingly, 39 CFR part 20 is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 20--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 20 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, 407, 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, International Mail Manual (IMM), as follows:

Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International 
Mail Manual (IMM)

* * * * *
    [Throughout the IMM, change all references to ``Great Britain and 
Northern Ireland'' to ``United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern 
Ireland'' and place them in the correct alphabetical order in lists]
    [Throughout the IMM, change all references to ``Swaziland'' to 
``Eswatini'' and place them in the correct alphabetical order in lists]

1 International Mail Services

* * * * *

120 Preparation for Mailing

* * * * *

122 Addressing

122.1 Destination Address

* * * * *
    [In item j., revise the country name in the first addressing 
example to read as follows:]

MR THOMAS CLARK
117 RUSSELL DRIVE
LONDON W1P 6HQ
UNITED KINGDOM

* * * * *

123 Customs Forms and Online Shipping Labels

* * * * *

123.6 Required Usage

123.61 Conditions

* * * * *
Exhibit 123.61

Customs Declaration Form Usage by Mail Category

* * * * *
    [In the First-Class Mail International section, in the ``Comment'' 
column, add a second paragraph listing weight limits for FCMI large 
envelopes (flats) and IPA and ISAL large envelopes (flats), to read as 
follows:]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Declared value,
           Type of item            weight, or physical    Required PS form          Comment (if applicable)
                                      characteristic
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First-Class Mail International Letters and Large Envelopes (Flats), as well as International Priority Airmail
 (IPA) Letters and Large Envelopes (Flats) and International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) Letters and Large Envelopes
 (Flats)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All letter-size and flat-size      Under 16 ounces....  None................  See 123.63 for additional
 items, as defined in 241.2,       16 ounces or more..  ....................   information concerning
 containing only nondutiable                            2976................   ``documents.'' Items containing
 documents.                                                                    merchandise must be mailed using
                                                                               Global Express Guaranteed
                                                                               service, Priority Mail Express
                                                                               International service, Priority
                                                                               Mail International service, or
                                                                               First-Class Package International
                                                                               Service; commercial mailers may
                                                                               also use IPA packages (small
                                                                               packets) and ISAL packages (small
                                                                               packets) to mail merchandise.
                                                                               Certain documents controlled by
                                                                               export regulatory agencies may
                                                                               also require customs
                                                                               documentation. See 510-590 and
                                                                               Publication 699 for additional
                                                                               information.
                                                                              FCMI large envelopes (flats) are
                                                                               limited to under 16 ounces; IPA
                                                                               flats and ISAL large envelopes
                                                                               (flats) are limited to 17.6
                                                                               ounces.
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

140 International Mail Categories

141 Definitions

* * * * *

141.5 First-Class Mail International

    [Revise the first sentence to read as follows (changing the weight 
limit for First-Class Mail International):] First-Class Mail 
International is a generic term for mailpieces that are postcard-size, 
letter-size, or flat-size and weigh less than 16 ounces. * * *
* * * * *

2 Conditions for Mailing

* * * * *

240 First-Class Mail International

241 Description and Physical Characteristics

* * * * *

241.2 Physical Characteristics

* * * * *

241.23 Physical Standards--Large Envelopes (Flats)

241.231 Weight Limit

    [Revise the text to read as follows, changing the weight limit for 
First-Class Mail International large envelopes (flats):]
    The weight limit for a First-Class Mail International large 
envelope (flat) is 15.994 ounces.
* * * * *

243 Prices and Postage Payment Methods

* * * * *

243.3 Permit Imprint--General

    [Revise the text to read as follows (keeping only the first three 
sentences and eliminating the rest of the text having information about 
FCMI items requiring customs forms):]
    Mailers may use a permit imprint for mailing identical- or 
nonidentical-weight First-Class Mail International items. Any of the 
First-Class Mail International permit imprint formats shown in Exhibit 
152.64 is acceptable. Permit imprints must not denote ``bulk mail,'' 
``nonprofit,'' or other domestic or special mail markings.
* * * * *

245 Mail Entry and Deposit

245.1 Place of Mailing

245.11 Items Eligible for Deposit or Pickup

    [Revise the first sentence and the Note to read as follows 
(eliminating information about FCMI items requiring customs forms):]

[[Page 52353]]

    First-Class Mail International items may be deposited through any 
of the following methods, provided postage is paid by a means other 
than the use of postage stamps: * * *

    Note:  First-Class Mail International letter-size and flat-size 
items weighing 13 ounces or less and bearing only postage stamps may 
also be deposited through the aforementioned methods.

* * * * *

3 Extra Services

* * * * *

370 International Money Transfer Service

* * * * *

372 Sure Money (Dinero Seguro)

* * * * *

372.3 Fees

* * * * *
Exhibit 372.3

Fees for Sure Money Service

    [Insert revised fees for Sure Money to read as follows:]

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Amount
                 Transaction type                    not over     Fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales.............................................       $750     $13.95
                                                        1,500      19.95
Refunds...........................................      1,500      29.95
Change of Payee...................................      1,500      15.50
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

New Prices Will Be Listed in the Updated Notice 123, Price List.

Ruth Stevenson,
Attorney, Federal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2018-22473 Filed 10-16-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7710-12-P