[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 35 (Monday, February 23, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8893-8894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4382]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 501
Manufacture, Distribution, and Use of Postage Meters
AGENCY: Postal Service.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: This proposal would clarify and expand the sources of and uses
of applicant information derived from PS Form 3601-A and PS Form 3601-
C, both printed and electronic versions.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 25, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be mailed or delivered to the
Manager, Metering Technology Management, U.S. Postal Service, Room
8430, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW Washington DC 20260-2444. Copies of all
written comments will be available at the above address for inspection
and photocopying between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicholas S. Stankosky, (202) 268-5311.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To provide greater specificity regarding
uses of the information derived from the meter license applications
received by the United States Postal Service (``Postal Service'') from
meter users and authorized meter manufacturers. Such information is
hereafter referred to as ``Applicant Information.'' Applicant
information is derived from postal forms, both printed and electronic
versions.
Notice of Proposed Changes in Regulations
Appropriate amendments to 39 CFR part 501 to reflect these changes
will be published if the proposal is adopted.
Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(b, c,)) regarding proposed
[[Page 8894]]
rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), the Postal Service invites public
comments on the following proposed amendments to the Code of the
Federal Regulations.
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 501
Administrative practice and procedure.
For the reasons set forth above, the Postal Service proposes to
amend 39 CFR part 501 as follows:
PART 501--AUTHORIZATION TO MANUFACTURER AND DISTRIBUTE POSTAGE
METERS
1. The authority citation for part 501 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a): 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 410, 2610, 2605;
Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended (pub L. 95-452, as
amended), 5 U.S.C. App 3.
2. Section 501.22 is amended by revising paragraph (b) to read as
follows:
Sec. 501.22 Distribution controls.
* * * * *
(b) On behalf of applicants, transmit electronically copies of
completed PS Forms 3601-A, Application for a License to Lease and Use
Postage meters, to the designated Postal Service central data
processing facility. The Postal Service may use Applicant Information
for the following purposes in the administration of postage meter and
related activities:
(1) Issuance (including re-licensing, renewal, transfer, revocation
or denial, as applicable) of a meter license to a postal patron that
uses a postage meter, and communications with respect to the status of
such license.
(2) Disclosure to a meter manufacturer of the identity of any meter
required to be removed from service by that meter manufacturer, and any
related licensee data, as the result of revocation of a meter license,
questioned accurate registration of that meter, or de-certification by
the Postal Service of any particular class or model of postage meter.
(3) Use for the purpose of tracking the movement of meters between
a meter manufacturer and its customers and communications to a meter
manufacturer (but not to any third party other than the applicant/
licensee) concerning such movement. The term ``meter manufacturer''
includes a meter manufacturer's dealers and agents.
(4) To transmit general information to all meter customers
concerning rate and rate category changes implemented or proposed for
implementation by the United States Postal Service.
(5) To advertise Postal Service services relating to the
acceptance, processing, delivery, or postage payment of mail matter to
all meter customers.
(6) Any internal use by Postal Service personnel, including
identification and monitoring activities relating to postage meters,
provided that such use does not result in the disclosure of Applicant
Information to any third party or will not enable any third party to
use Applicant Information for its own purposes; except that the
Applicant Information may be disclosed to other governmental agencies
for law enforcement purposes as provided by law.
(7) Identification of authorized meter manufacturers or
announcements of de-authorization of an authorized meter manufacturer,
or provision of currently available public information, where an
authorized meter manufacturer is identified, all authorized meter
manufacturers will be identified, and the same information will be
provided to all meter customers.
(8) To promote and encourage the use of postage meters, including
remotely set postage meters, as a form of postage payment, provided
that the same information is provided to all meter customers, and no
particular meter manufacturer will be recommended by the Postal
Service.
(9) To contact meter customers in cases of revenue fraud or revenue
security except that any meter customer suspected of fraud shall not be
identified to other meter customers.
(10) Disclosure to a meter manufacturer of Applicant Information
pertaining to that meter manufacturer's customers that the Postal
Service views as necessary to enable the Postal Service to carry out
its duties and purposes.
(11) To a meter manufacturer of all applicant and postage meter
information pertaining to that manufacturer's customers and postage
meters that may be necessary to synchronize the computer files of the
manufacturer with the computer files of the Postal Service including
but not limited to computerized data that reside in Postal Service
meter management databases.
(12) Subject to the conditions stated herein, to communicate in
oral or written form with any or all applicants any information that
the Postal Service views as necessary to enable the Postal Service to
carry out its duties and purposes.
* * * * *
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 98-4382 Filed 2-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P
