[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 59 (Friday, March 27, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14820-14821]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8003]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
Extension of Group E (No-Fee) Post Office Box Service Eligibility
AGENCY: Postal Service.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) is amended to extend Group E
(no-fee) post office box eligibility to a customer whose physical
residence or business location is within the immediate vicinity of the
post office, and therefore ineligible for extension of carrier delivery
service as specified in postal standards concerning extension of
delivery service.
EFFECTIVE DATE: April 5, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Dorsey (202) 268-3295.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 7, 1996, pursuant to its authority
under 39 U.S.C. 3621, et seq., the Postal Service filed with the Postal
Rate Commission (PRC) a request for a recommended decision on several
special service reform proposals, including a proposal to establish
Group E (no-fee) post office box service for certain customers who are
ineligible for carrier delivery service. The PRC designated the filing
as Docket No. MC96-3, and published in the Federal Register (61 FR
31968-31979) a notice of the filing with a description of the Postal
Service's proposals on June 21, 1996.
Pursuant to 39 U.S.C 3624, the PRC issued its Recommended Decision
on the Postal Service's Request to the Governors of the Postal Service
on April 2, 1997. The PRC's Recommended Decision included eligibility
for no-fee post office box service for customers ineligible for carrier
delivery service, subject to administrative decisions regarding the
customer's proximity to a post office.
The Postal Service implemented the changes resulting from Docket
MC96-3, including the offering of no-fee post office box service to
customers who are ineligible for any form of carrier delivery. The
final rule published in the Federal Register (62 FR 31512-31516, June
10, 1997) eliminated post office box service fees for customers at
those post offices who are ineligible for carrier delivery service
(from any post office). Fees were also eliminated for box customers who
are ineligible for carrier delivery service at offices which provide
delivery service, except for those customers who reside in the
immediate vicinity of the office. This amendment eliminates the
exception for proximate customers, thus making all customers who are
ineligible for carrier delivery service equally eligible for no-fee
post office box service. Finally, the amendment eliminates the
reference to ``Group E'' offices, since eligibility for no-fee box
service is customer-specific.
Lists of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 1111
Postal Service
PART 111--[AMENDED]
The authority citation for 39 CFR part 111 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 3001-
3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.
2. Revise the following sections of the Domestic Mail Manual which
is incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations (See 39
CFR Part III) as set forth below:
* * * * *
D Deposit, Collection, and Delivery
* * * * *
D910 Post Office Box Service
* * * * *
[Amend heading of 4.0 to read as follows:]
4.0 BASIS OF FEES, PAYMENT, AND RENEWAL
4.1 General
[Amend 4.1 to read as follows:]
Post office box service fees are based on the size of the box
provided, and the fee group of the administering facility together with
customer eligibility for a Group E post office box as identified in
5.0.
* * * * *
4.5 Payment
[Amend 4.5 to read as follows:]
All fees are for a semiannual (6-month) period, and must be paid in
[[Page 14821]]
advance for no less than one but no more than two semiannual periods,
except as provided under 4.8, 4.9, and 4.12. Fees may be paid using
cash, credit or debit card, or check or money order payable to the
postmaster. A mailed payment must be received by the postmaster on or
before the due date.
[Amend heading of 4.6 and amend text to read as follows:]
4.6 Service Period
Except under 4.9, the beginning date for a post office box service
period is determined by the approval date of the application. The
period begins on the first day of the same month the application is
approved if approval is on or before the 15th of the month. If approved
after the 15th of the month, the period begins the first day of the
following month. Thereafter, fees for service renewal may be paid and
Group E post office box service renewal notification may be effected
any time during the last 30 days of the service period, but no later
than the last day of the service period.
[Add new 4.7 to read as follows:]
4.7 Group E Renewal
Group E post office box service and renewal are for an annual (12-
month) period.
[Redesignate current 4.7 as 4.8; no other changes.]
[Redesignate current 4.8 as 4.9, and amend heading and text to read as
follows:]
4.9 Exception for Small Offices
Postmasters at non-city delivery and non-delivery offices with
fewer than 500 post office boxes may set April 1 and October 1 as the
beginning payment periods for box customers in their offices. Payment
periods beginning other than April 1 or October 1 are brought into
alignment with these respective dates by adjusting fees as follows:
a. New service, one-sixth of the semiannual fee is charged for each
remaining month between the beginning of the new payment period and the
next April 1 or October 1.
b. Existing service, one-sixth of the semiannual fee is charged for
each remaining month between the end of all currently paid periods and
the next April 1 or October 1.
c. Next one or two semiannual payment periods, an adjustment may be
accepted in addition to fees.
[Redesignate current 4.9, 4.10, and 4.11 as 4.10, 4.11, and 4.12
respectively; no other changes:]
5.0 FEE GROUP ASSIGNMENTS
5.1 Post Offices
* * * * *
[Amend 5.1.b to read as follows:]
b. Post Office With Only Rural or Highway Contract Carrier
Delivery. A post office that does not provide city carrier delivery but
provides only rural carrier or highway contract carrier delivery at any
of its administered facilities applies Group D fees, except as provided
in 5.3. A customer whose physical residence or business location is
within the geographic delivery ZIP Code boundaries administered by that
non-city delivery post office, who is ineligible for any form of
carrier delivery service, and who does not receive carrier delivery via
an out-of-bounds delivery receptacle, may obtain one post office box
service through a box of the smallest available size (i.e., the
smallest box currently vacant) at the Group E fee (no-fee). Boxes at
Group E fees are also available as provided under 5.1c. * * *
* * * * *
An appropriate amendment to 39 CFR 111.3 will be published to
reflect these changes.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 98-8003 Filed 3-26-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P
