[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 17, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52353-52354]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-22475]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


New Mailing Standards for Domestic Mailing Services Products

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: On October 10, 2018, the Postal Service filed a notice of 
mailing services price adjustments with the Postal Regulatory 
Commission (PRC), effective January 27, 2019. This proposed rule 
contains the revisions to Mailing Standards of the United States Postal 
Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) that we would adopt to 
implement related regulatory changes coincident with the price 
adjustments.

DATES: Submit comments on or before November 16, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the manager, Product 
Classification, U.S. Postal Service[supreg], 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, 
Room 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. These records are available for review Monday through Friday, 
between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., by calling 202-268-2906. Send 
email comments, including the name and address of the commenter, to 
[email protected], with a subject line of ``January 2019 
Domestic Mailing Services Proposal.'' Faxed comments are not accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacqueline Erwin at 202-268-2158, or 
Alexander Petr at 202-268-4116.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposed prices will be available under 
Docket No. R2019-1 on the PRC website at www.prc.gov.
    The proposed rule includes changes to prices, mail classification 
updates, product simplification efforts, and a few minor revisions to 
the DMM.

Periodicals Address Corrections for Alternate Addressed Nonsubscriber-
Nonrequester Copies

    Currently, Periodicals publishers who mail alternate addressed 
nonsubscriber-nonrequester copies receive and pay for manual address 
corrections or Address Correction Service (ACSTM). 
Undeliverable-as-addressed Periodicals do not receive forwarding 
service and are provided address-related notices via PS Form 3579, 
Notice of Undeliverable Periodical, or electronic ACS.
    The Postal Service is proposing to introduce a specifically 
tailored Periodicals Service Type ID (STID) for publishers to include 
in the Intelligent Mail[supreg] barcode, (IMb[supreg]) along with 
authorized alternative addressing formats. If adopted, publishers will 
no longer receive address-related notices via PS Form 3579 or 
electronic ACS, if the address is vacant or not deliverable. 
Publications processed by the Postal Automated Redirection System, 
Computerized Forwarding System, or Remote Forwarding System will be 
discarded without notice to the publisher.

Correcting BRM/QBRM Postage Anomaly

    Currently, postage for basic and high volume Business Reply Mail 
(BRM) is based on the applicable retail ``metered'' letter price. This 
has resulted in basic and high volume BRM customers paying lower 
postage prices than QBRM customers.
    The Postal Service is proposing to correct the anomaly by applying 
the retail ``stamped'' letter price to basic and high volume BRM. To 
offset the postage increase, basic and high volume BRM per piece fees 
are proposed to decrease from the current prices.

Picture Permit Imprint Indicia

    Currently, a picture permit imprint indicia may be used to pay 
postage and extra service fees on commercial mailings of full-service 
automation First-Class Mail[supreg] or USPS Marketing Mail[supreg] 
postcards, letters, or flats. Mailpieces bearing a picture permit 
imprint indicia must be prepared as IMb full-service automation 
mailings.
    The Postal Service is proposing to eliminate the Full-Service 
requirement on commercial mailings of First-Class Mail or USPS 
Marketing Mail postcards, letters, or flats using picture permit 
imprint indicia.

Small Parcel Forwarding Fee

    Currently, shippers do not have an ACS option for receiving 
forwarding of small parcels.
    The Postal Service is proposing to add a ``small parcel'' 
forwarding fee for USPS Marketing Mail parcels, similar to the USPS 
Marketing Mail letter-size and flat-size pieces forwarding fees. The 
forwarding fee would only apply for pieces endorsed ``Change Service 
Requested'' under ``Option 2'' (ACS only), that are forwarded due to an 
active change-of-address. All other undeliverable pieces will be 
discarded and an electronic ACS notice is provided in both cases.

Overweight Item Charge

    As discussed in the August 29, 2018, Federal Register final rule 
(83 FR 43985-43986), the Postal Service is introducing a charge for 
items identified in the postal network that exceed the 70 pound weight 
limit for Postal Service products, and are therefore nonmailable. 
Overweight items identified in the postal network will be assessed a 
$100 charge payable before release of the item, unless the item is 
picked up at the same facility where it was entered.
    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 
comments on the following proposed revisions to Mailing Standards of 
the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual

[[Page 52354]]

(DMM), 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 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)

* * * * *

500 Additional Mailing Services

* * * * *

505 Return Services

1.0 Business Reply Mail (BRM)

1.1 BRM Postage and Fees

1.1.1 Basic BRM

    [Revise the first sentence of the introductory text in 1.1.1 to 
read as follows:]
    For basic BRM, a permit holder is required to pay an annual permit 
fee as provided under 1.2 and a per piece fee under 1.1.7 in addition 
to the applicable Retail First-Class Mail (stamped letters), First-
Class Package Service -- Retail, or Priority Mail postage for each 
returned piece.* * *
* * * * *

1.1.3 Basic Qualified BRM (QBRM)

    [Revise the first sentence of the introductory text in 1.1.3 to 
read as follows:]
    For basic qualified BRM, a permit holder is required to pay an 
account maintenance fee under 1.1.8, and a per piece fee under 1.1.7 in 
addition to the applicable retail letter or card First-Class Mail 
(stamped letters) postage for each returned piece.* * *
* * * * *

507 Mailer Services

1.0 Treatment of Mail

* * * * *

1.5 Treatment for Ancillary Services by Class of Mail

* * * * *

1.5.2 Periodicals

    Undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) Periodicals publications 
(including publications pending Periodicals authorization) are treated 
as described in Exhibit 1.5.2, with these additional conditions:
* * * * *
    [Revise the text in items 1.5.2b and 1.5.2c to read as follows:]
    b. Publications with an alternative addressing format under 602.3.0 
are delivered to the address when possible. Forwarding service is not 
provided for such mail.
    c. Address correction service is mandatory for all Periodicals 
publications, except when publishers use alternative addressing and an 
IMb with proper STID. An address correction service fee must be paid 
for each notice issued.
* * * * *

1.5.3 USPS Marketing Mail and Parcel Select Lightweight

* * * * *

Exhibit 1.5.3 Treatment of Undeliverable USPS Marketing Mail and Parcel 
Select Lightweight

Mailer Endorsement USPS Treatment of UAA Pieces

* * * * *

``Change Service Requested'' 1, 4

* * * * *
    [Revise the parenthetical for ``Option 2'' to read as follows:]
    (Available via ACS only; for USPS Marketing Mail (all shapes) and 
Parcel Select Lightweight)
* * * * *

If change-of-address order on file:

    [Revise the text under ``If change-of-address order on file:'' for 
``Months 1 through 12'' to read as follows:]
    Months 1 through 12: Piece forwarded; postage due charged to the 
mailer at applicable Forwarding Fee based on the piece shape for USPS 
Marketing Mail or Parcel Select Lightweight; separate notice of new 
address provided (electronic ACS fee charged).
* * * * *

600 Basic Standards For All Mailing Services

* * * * *

602 Addressing

* * * * *

3.0 Use of Alternative Addressing

3.1 General Information

* * * * *

3.1.3 Treatment

    [Revise the third sentence of the introductory text in 3.1.3 to 
read as follows:]
    * * * Periodicals publishers are notified when a mailpiece with an 
occupant or exceptional address format is undeliverable for solely 
address-related reasons, (except publishers using an IMb with proper 
STID on non-subscriber or non-requester copies under 207.7.0.* * *
* * * * *

604 Postage Payment Methods and Refunds

* * * * *

5.0 Permit Imprint (Indicia)

* * * * *

5.4 Picture Permit Imprint Indicia

5.4.1 Description

    [Revise the third sentence of 5.4.1 to read as follows:]
    * * * Picture permit imprints may be used to pay postage and extra 
service fees on commercial mailings of First-Class Mail or USPS 
Marketing Mail postcards, letters, or flats.
* * * * *

5.4.5 Picture Permit Imprint Indicia Format

    As options to the basic format under 5.3.11and if all other 
applicable standards in 5.0 are met, permit imprint indicia may be 
prepared in picture permit imprint format subject to these conditions:
* * * * *
    [Delete 5.4.5f in its entirety and renumber current 5.4.5g through 
5.4.5k as new 5.4.5f through 5.4.5j.]
* * * * *
    We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to 
reflect these changes.

Ruth B. Stevenson
Attorney, Federal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2018-22475 Filed 10-16-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7710-12-P