[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 184 (Tuesday, September 22, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59484-59486]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-19096]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Addressing 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]) in 
various sections of 602, Addressing, to update addressing standards.

DATES: Submit comments on or before October 22, 2020.

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 PC Federal 
[email protected], with a subject line of ``Addressing Standards''. 
Faxed comments are not accepted.

Confidentiality

    All submitted comments and attachments are part of the public 
record and subject to disclosure. Do not enclose any material in your 
comments that you consider to be confidential or inappropriate for 
public disclosure.
    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: James Wilson at (901) 681-4600, Kai 
Fisher at (901) 681-4634, or Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Currently, DMM section 602.6.0, ZIP Code Accuracy Standards, 
provides that a ZIP Code may be used on a mail piece within 12 months 
after verified by the use of an approved method. Once a ZIP Code is 
used on a mailpiece, the same

[[Page 59485]]

address is considered to meet the standards for an additional 1 year.
    DMM sections 602.7.0, Carrier Route Accuracy Standard, and 9.0, 
Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS), provide that Address Matching 
and Coding Update standards require coding to be performed within 90 
days before the mailing date for carrier route mailings and 180 days 
for all non-carrier route mailings using the most current USPS 
database. The current product release schedule allows for use of a 
database that is valid for 105 days and may be used for an additional 6 
months beyond that timeframe. As such, an address added or modified in 
the database may not be updated on a mailing list for nearly 1 year 
after the change was made.
    In 2012 the Postal Service implemented address management product 
fulfillment via an electronic product fulfillment method designed to 
provide subscription products to customers more efficiently. The 
database product updates are posted each month to a secure site where 
customers can log in to simply download the product files. A recent 
survey of licensed Address Management data products indicate that CASS 
and Multiline Accuracy Support System (MASS) Certified software and 
service providers are retrieving and using the monthly updates during 
the address matching and coding processes.

Proposal

    The Postal Service is proposing a database product cycle that 
aligns with the release of other mailing products. This will provide 
consistency across all mailing products and the method by which the 
data files are available and distributed. This proposal would require 
the use of monthly updates for both carrier route and non-carrier route 
mailings and would reduce the risk of using data that is no longer 
current.
    More frequent updates allow the customer and the Postal Service to 
take advantage of the most current information available for the 158.6 
million addresses served by the USPS. It will maximize mailers' ability 
to obtain postage discounts and improve the ability to sort that mail 
to the proper carrier and in the proper sequence for delivery.
    The proposed release schedule allows for an overlap in dates for 
product use and will allow mailers adequate time to transfer and 
install the new data files and test their systems. Mailers will be 
expected to update their systems with the latest data files as soon as 
practicable and should not wait until the ``last permissible use'' 
date.
    The Postal Service is proposing to implement this change effective 
July 1, 2021. However, mailers may opt to use the new monthly update 
cycles for both carrier route and non-carrier route mailings 
immediately.
    We believe this proposed revision will provide customers with a 
more efficient process and will reduce the risk of using address 
information that is not current.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.
    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 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.
    We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to 
reflect these changes.
    Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 111--GENERAL INFORMATION ON POSTAL SERVICE

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 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)

* * * * *

600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services

* * * * *

602 Addressing

* * * * *

6.0 ZIP Code Accuracy Standards

6.1 Basic Standards

    Except for mail bearing a simplified address, addresses used on 
pieces in a mailing at all commercial First-Class Mail, nonbarcoded 
presorted Periodicals, USPS Marketing Mail, Parcel Select Lightweight, 
and Bound Printed Matter presorted and carrier route prices are subject 
to the ZIP Code accuracy standard and must meet these requirements:
    [Revise the text of items a and b to read as follows:]
    a. Each address and associated 5-digit ZIP Code on the mailpieces 
in a mailing must be verified and corrected within 6 months before the 
mailing date with one of the USPS-approved methods in 6.2.
    b. If an address used on a mailpiece in a mailing at one class of 
mail and price is verified and corrected with an approved method, the 
same address may be used during the following 6 months to meet the ZIP 
Code accuracy standard required for mailing at any other class of mail 
and price.

6.2 USPS--Approved Methods

    The following methods meet the ZIP Code accuracy standard:
* * * * *
    b. For manually maintained lists or small computerized lists, 
options include the following:
    [Delete item b1 and renumber items b2 through b5 as items b1 
through b4.]
* * * * *

7.0 Carrier Route Accuracy Standard

7.1 Basic Standards

    * * * Addresses used on pieces claiming any Periodicals carrier 
route prices, any USPS Marketing Mail Enhanced Carrier Route prices 
(including DALs or DMLs used with Product Samples), or any Bound 
Printed Matter carrier route prices are subject to the carrier route 
accuracy standard and must meet the following requirements:
    [Revise the text of item a to read as follows:]
    a. Each address and associated carrier route code used on the 
mailpieces (or DALs or DMLs) in a mailing must be updated within 60 
days before the mailing date with one of the USPS-approved methods in 
6.2.
* * * * *
    [Revise the text of item c to read as follows:]
    c. If the carrier route code (and accuracy) of an address, used on 
a mailpiece in a carrier route mailing at one class of mail and price, 
is updated with an approved method, the same address may be used during 
the following 60 days to meet the carrier route accuracy standard 
required for mailing at any other class of mail and price.
* * * * *

9.0 Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS)

* * * * *

[[Page 59486]]

9.3 Date of Address Matching and Coding

9.3.1 Update Standards

    [Revise the second sentence and last sentence of 9.3.1 to read as 
follows:]
    * * * Coding must be done no more than 60 days before the mailing 
date for all carrier route mailings and for all non-carrier route 
automation price mailings. * * *
    * * * The ``current USPS database'' product cycle is defined by the 
table in Exhibit 9.3.1.
    [Delete current table under 9.3.1 and add new table as Exhibit 
9.3.1 to read as follows:]

                                   Exhibit 9.3.1--USPS Database Product Cycle
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Release date  (posted)         Product date        Mandatory begin     Expiration date    Last permissible
-----------------------------------------------------     usage date       (last permissible     mailing date
                                                     --------------------      use date)     -------------------
                                                                         --------------------
    Use of file  released on        (Publish date)       Must begin no      And must end no     (Exp date + 30
                                                          later than          later than             days)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
November 15.....................  December 1........  January 1.........  February 28/29....  March 31
December 15.....................  January 1.........  February 1........  March 31..........  April 30
January 15......................  February 1........  March 1...........  April 30..........  May 31
February 15.....................  March 1...........  April 1...........  May 31............  June 30
March 15........................  April 1...........  May 1.............  June 30...........  July 31
April 15........................  May 1.............  June 1............  July 31...........  August 31
May 15..........................  June 1............  July 1............  August 31.........  September 30
June 15.........................  July 1............  August 1..........  September 30......  October 31
July 15.........................  August 1..........  September 1.......  October 31........  November 30
August 15.......................  September 1.......  October 1.........  November 30.......  December 31
September 15....................  October 1.........  November 1........  December 31.......  January 31
October 15......................  November 1........  December 1........  January 31........  February 28/29
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* * * * *

Joshua J. Hofer,
Attorney, Federal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2020-19096 Filed 9-21-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P