[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 93 (Tuesday, May 14, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21238-21240]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-09840]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
New Electronic Signature Option
AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is amending Mailing Standards of the United
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) to include a
more flexible option for package addressees to provide an electronic
signature indicating delivery of a package.
DATES: Effective June 23, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen F. Key at (202) 268-7492,
Tiffany S. Jesse at (202) 268-7303, or Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-
7281.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service published a notice of
proposed rulemaking on March 15, 2019, (84 FR 9470-9471) to amend the
DMM in various sections to offer a more flexible option for package
addressees (or their representatives) to provide an electronic
signature indicating delivery of a package, when the sender chooses the
following signature services: Priority Mail Express[supreg], Signature
ConfirmationTM service, and Insurance for more than $500.
Generally, current practice is for the recipient of the package to sign
at the time of delivery.
The Postal Service received one formal response to the proposed
rule, which included multiple comments and suggestions.
The responder was generally in agreement with the continuing
efforts of the Postal Service to enhance the level of service. However,
the responder had several comments and suggestions as follows:
Comment: The Postal Service should resolve ambiguity in the process
of registering for the electronic signature service and providing the
signature.
Response: To sign up for the Electronic Signature Online
(eSOLTM) service, a customer must be an Informed
Delivery[supreg] registered user or must register before they enroll
for the service. When a customer logs on to their Informed Delivery
account, they will see the eSOL icon to proceed with the enrollment.
The signature will be collected/provided through an electronic process
by computer or mobile phone.
Comment: The Postal Service should clarify what effects the
transition to the electronic signature service may have on the ability
to provide its service, or how customers will be affected by the
transition to this new service.
Response: The Postal Service does not expect any transition issues
to arise. After signing up and providing an electronic signature, the
customer would receive notice via Informed Delivery of each eligible
package expected to arrive, and an option to use the electronic
signature for that package. Thus, the only impact on customers is that
they can receive Priority Mail Express, Signature Confirmation and
items Insured for over $500 more conveniently if they are registered
for Informed Delivery and eSOL. The Postal Service will not leave a PS
Form 3849, We Redeliver for You! notice and the customer would not be
required to either be home for the delivery or pick up the item from a
Post Office or schedule a redelivery.
Comment: The third comment questioned the potential of package
theft, and the possibility of the Postal Service collecting data on the
prevalence of such thefts.
Response: eSOL is an option for each item. If the item does not fit
in the customer's mailbox, the customer has the option of providing
instructions to their carrier indicating where to leave the item. The
Postal Service will continue to offer the option of requiring
[[Page 21239]]
a recipient signature at the time of delivery. If a customer feels at
risk due to potential package theft, eSOL may not be a service that
they would like to use. For this initiative, the Postal Service is
focused on providing an option to customers for a successful delivery
of packages. We do not plan to collect data on the number of package
thefts for ESOF items after the delivery is completed.
Suggestion: The Postal Service should deploy the electronic
signature service through a digital platform requiring steps that
increase perceived levels of security and prevent potential liability
disputes from occurring.
Response: eSOL is available through Informed Delivery, a digital
platform. To provide their signature, customers must successfully pass
vigorous Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA) to validate their
identity. All standard security protocols for protecting customer
signatures have been vetted and the signatures are maintained on a
secure server.
Suggestion: The Postal Service should deploy photo delivery
confirmation.
Response: Photo delivery confirmation is an option that the Postal
Service is currently exploring. However, photo delivery confirmation is
not being deployed with the eSOL application.
Suggestion: The Postal Service should give a customer the option to
provide and update special delivery instructions.
Response: The option to provide delivery instructions is currently
provided online for items that will not fit in the customer's mailbox.
Suggestion: The Postal Service should provide scheduled delivery
service.
Response: Scheduled delivery service is an option that the Postal
Service is currently exploring. However, scheduled delivery service is
not being deployed with the eSOL application.
Suggestion: The Postal Service should extend the service to all
packages, rather than just Commercial packages, and provide notice of
this update.
Response: The application of an eSOL is available for consumers per
the requirement to be a registered Informed Delivery customer.
Currently, Informed Delivery is not available to business customers.
However, shippers who want the Postal Service to obtain a signature at
the time of delivery have the option to indicate this requirement in
the shipping manifest. The Postal Service will provide notice if and
when it expands the availability of the eSOL option to Retail packages
that are Priority Mail Express, Insurance or Signature Confirmation.
As discussed in the Proposed Rule, the Postal Service is adding an
electronic option for deliveries. Customers have the option to sign up
through Informed Delivery and provide a signature electronically. This
will enable the customer to apply the previously provided signature to
future Commercial package deliveries sent to the customer's address
using Priority Mail Express, Signature Confirmation service, or
Insurance for more than $500, eliminating the need for a signature at
the time of delivery. When the shipper does not reject the use of the
previously provided signature, the customer who previously provided an
electronic signature will be given the option for each delivery whether
to sign at the time of delivery, or use the previously provided
electronic signature.
For Priority Mail Express, the shipper already must request a
signature in order for it be collected. This will make the previously
provided electronic signature available for such deliveries, unless the
shipper indicates on the shipping manifest that the signature needs to
be collected from the recipient at the time of delivery.
Application to all shipments using Priority Mail Express, Signature
Confirmation service, and Insurance for more than $500, rather than
just Commercial shipments, may be phased in later.
Changes to the DMM language include a more general reference to the
signature for the affected services, while adding a description of
``signature'' which distinguishes between the traditional signature and
the electronic signature.
In addition, the Postal Service is removing outdated text referring
to Priority Mail Express labels printed prior to January 2012.
We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to
reflect these changes.
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 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 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)
* * * * *
100 Retail Mail Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels
* * * * *
110 Priority Mail Express
* * * * *
115 Mail Preparation
* * * * *
2.0 Priority Mail Express 1-Day and 2-Day
* * * * *
[Delete 2.2 Waiver of Signature, in its entirety and renumber 2.3
and 2.4 as 2.2 and 2.3.]
2.2 Signature Required
[Revise the first sentence of renumbered 2.2 to read as follows:]
For editions of Priority Mail Express Label 11-B or Label 11-F
printed on or after January 2012, a mailer sending a Priority Mail
Express item, and requiring a signature, must instruct the USPS to
provide a signature by checking the ``signature required'' box on Label
11-B or Label 11-F or indicating signature is requested on single-ply
commercial label. * * *
* * * * *
200 Commercial Mail Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels
* * * * *
210 Priority Mail Express
* * * * *
215 Mail Preparation
* * * * *
2.0 Priority Mail Express 1-Day and 2-Day
* * * * *
[Delete 2.2 Waiver of Signature, in its entirety and renumber 2.3
and 2.4 as 2.2 and 2.3.]
2.2 Signature Required
[Revise the first sentence of renumbered 2.2 to read as follows:]
For editions of Priority Mail Express Label 11-B or Label 11-F
printed on or after January 2012, a mailer sending a Priority Mail
Express item, and requiring a signature, must instruct the USPS to
provide a signature by checking the ``signature required'' box on Label
11-B or Label 11-F or indicating
[[Page 21240]]
signature is requested on single-ply commercial label. * * *
* * * * *
500 Additional Mailing Services
503 Extra Services
1.0 Basic Standards for All Extra Services
1.1 Description
[Revise the first sentence of 1.1 to read as follows:]
Extra services described in 2.0 through 11.0 provide optional
services such as insurance coverage, restricted delivery, and evidence
of mailing, or a record of delivery (which includes a signature). * * *
* * * * *
1.8 Obtaining Delivery Information and Delivery Records
Delivery records for extra services are available as follows:
[Revise the text of item a to read as follows:]
a. Information by article number can be retrieved at www.usps.com
or by calling 1-800-222-1811. A proof of delivery letter (including a
signature, when available) may be provided by email. When a proof of
delivery letter includes a signature, the signature provided may be a
signature that was obtained from the recipient at the time of delivery
or, for certain services, an electronic signature that was previously
provided by the addressee (or representative) and is maintained on file
with the Postal Service. Eligible mailers may require at the time of
mailing that a signature be obtained from the recipient at the time of
delivery.
* * * * *
4.0 Insured Mail
* * * * *
4.3 Basic Standards
4.3.1 Description
Insured mail is subject to the basic standards in 1.0; see 1.4 for
eligibility. The following additional standards apply to insured mail:
* * * * *
[Revise the fourth and fifth sentences of item c to read as
follows:]
c. * * * An item insured for more than $500.00 receives a delivery
scan (includes returns products meeting the applicable standards in
505) and the USPS provides a signature as the delivery record to the
mailer electronically (excludes returns products). Customers may
optionally obtain a delivery record by purchasing a printed return
receipt (Form 3811 (also see 6.0; excludes returns products). * * *
* * * * *
8.0 USPS Signature Services
8.1 Basic Standards
8.1.1 Description
* * * USPS Signature Services are available as follows:
[Revise the second sentence of item a to read as follows:]
a. * * * A delivery record (including a signature) is maintained by
the USPS and is available electronically or by email, upon request. * *
*
* * * * *
508 Recipient Services
1.0 Recipient Options
1.1 Basic Recipient Concerns
* * * * *
1.1.7 Priority Mail Express and Accountable Mail
The following conditions also apply to the delivery of Priority
Mail Express, Registered Mail, Certified Mail, mail insured for more
than $500.00, Adult Signature, or COD, as well as mail for which a
return receipt is requested or the sender has specified restricted
delivery:
* * * * *
[Revise the text of item b to read as follows:]
b. Unless an electronic signature is used as described in 503.1.8a,
a mailpiece may not be opened or given to the recipient before the
recipient signs and legibly prints his or her name on the applicable
form or label and returns the form or label to the USPS employee.
* * * * *
Ruth B. Stevenson,
Attorney, Federal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2019-09840 Filed 5-13-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P