[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 76 (Thursday, April 18, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17206-17209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9594]
[[Page 17205]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part VII
Postal Service
_______________________________________________________________________
39 CFR Part 111
Experimental First-Class and Priority Mail Small Parcel Automation Rate
Category Implementation Standards; Changes in Domestic Mail
Classifications and Rates; Final Rule and Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 76 / Thursday, April 18, 1996 / Rules
and Regulations
[[Page 17206]]
POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
Experimental First-Class and Priority Mail Small Parcel
Automation Rate Category; Implementation Standards
AGENCY: Postal Service.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This final rule sets forth the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
standards adopted by the Postal Service to implement the Decision of
the Governors of the United States Postal Service on the Recommended
Decision of the Postal Rate Commission on the Experimental First-Class
and Priority Mail Small Parcel Automation Rate Category, Docket No.
MC96-1.
EFFECTIVE DATE: April 28, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leo F. Raymond, (202) 268-5199, or
Susan Duchek, (202) 268-2990.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 19, 1995, 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 an experimental rate category for specific types of nonpresorted
barcoded First-Class and Priority Mail. The PRC designated the filing
as Docket No. MC96-1. The PRC published a notice of the filing, with a
description of the Postal Service's proposals, on December 27, 1995, in
the Federal Register (60 FR 66999-67000).
The Postal Service's Request to the PRC proposed that the Postal
Service be permitted to establish automation rate categories and 4-
cent-per-piece discounts for certain nonpresorted bulk barcoded First-
Class and Priority Mail small parcels entered for outgoing primary
distribution at three test sites on a 2-year experimental basis.
Eligible parcels would be processed on small parcel and bundle sorters
(SPBSs) equipped with barcode scanners. Currently, such SPBSs are
installed at only three postal facilities: the Southeastern, PA,
Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC); the Philadelphia, PA,
Airport Mail Center (AMC); and the St. Petersburg, FL, P&DC. These
facilities will be the test sites for the experiment.
A mailer wishing to prepare test mailings will be required to
submit a written application to the Manager, Customer Mail Preparation,
USPS Headquarters, at least 14 days before the earliest requested
mailing date. The application must describe the mailpieces to be
presented; preparation level and containerization mode (as applicable);
typical daily and annual volumes and a schedule of mailings; deposit
sites for mailings; postage payment method; sites of any corresponding
authorizations for precanceled stamps, postage meters, or permit
imprints. The mailer must also submit enough sample barcoded parcels to
the plant manager of the test site where pieces are to be processed so
that the accuracy and readability of the barcodes can be determined. If
the barcodes on the submitted parcels are found accurate, correctly
prepared, and readable, mailings may begin when approved by the
Manager, Customer Mail Preparation, subject to the conditions in the
authorization letter. The complete standards for participation are set
forth in the DMM revision that follows.
The goals of the Postal Service in requesting and conducting the
experiment are: (1) To determine whether it is feasible to offer an
automation discount for nonpresorted barcoded First-Class and Priority
Mail small parcels; (2) to gauge mailer interest and acceptance of this
type of discount; and (3) to confirm that the use of a barcode scanner
with an SPBS provides significant sortation quality and productivity
enhancements when comparing the automated processing of nonpresorted
barcoded small parcels with the manual keying of the same or similar
pieces. The 4-cent discount is based on the estimated cost difference
between keying a nonbarcoded parcel and scanning a barcoded parcel.
Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3624, the PRC on March 13, 1996, issued to
the Governors of the Postal Service its Recommended Decision on the
Postal Service's Request. The PRC recommendation substantially followed
the mail classification structure and rates requested by the Postal
Service. After reviewing the PRC's Recommended Decision and its
consequences for the Postal Service and postal customers, the
Governors, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3625, acted on the PRC's
recommendations on April 1, 1996. Decision of the Governors of the
United States Postal Service on the Recommended Decision of the Postal
Rate Commission on the Experimental First-Class and Priority Mail Small
Parcel Automation Rate Category, Docket No. MC96-1. The Governors
determined to approve the PRC's recommendations, and the Board of
Governors set an implementation date of April 28, 1996, for those rate
and classification changes to take effect. A notice announcing the
Governors' Decision and the final Domestic Mail Classification Schedule
and Rate Schedule changes is published elsewhere in this issue of the
Federal Register.
This final rule contains the DMM standards adopted by the Postal
Service to implement the Governors' decision. Those standards take
effect April 28, 1996. The final rule reflects the criteria presented
by the Postal Service in its pleadings before the PRC. As described
above, the Postal Service is limiting this experimental rate category
to those pieces of nonpresorted First-Class and Priority Mail that are
outside the parameters of existing automation (i.e., letter and flat
sorting machines equipped with barcode readers). Moreover, because this
experiment focuses on the value of the mailer's worksharing effort not
in presorting the mail but in barcoding the mail, the final rule
excludes pieces prepared for a presort discount from concurrent
eligibility for an automation discount.
The final rule also presents the technical standards for the
barcode formats readable by the automated equipment on which mail will
be processed during this experiment. Although these standards have not
previously been published in the DMM, they are based on existing
industry standards and have been used in nonpostal applications for
some time. Therefore, the Postal Service finds no need to solicit
comment on those standards or to delay implementation of this
experiment pending their evaluation.
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111
Postal Service.
For the reasons discussed above, the Postal Service hereby adopts
the following amendments to the Domestic Mail Manual, which is
incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations (see 39
CFR part 111).
PART 111--[AMENDED]
1. 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. Add new G090 to the Domestic Mail Manual as follows:
G GENERAL INFORMATION
* * * * *
[[Page 17207]]
G090 Experimental Classifications and Rates
G091 Barcoded Small Parcels
1.0 BASIC ELIGIBILITY
1.1 Applicability
The standards in G091 apply to pieces claimed at the experimental
automation rates for First-Class and Priority Mail small parcels. All
pieces in an automation rate small parcel mailing under G091 must:
a. Meet the basic standards for First-Class Mail and Priority Mail
in E110 and E120, respectively, and the specific standards in 2.0
through 7.0.
b. Be part of a single mailing of at least 50 pieces of either
First-Class Mail or Priority Mail, eligible for and claimed at the
automation rate for small parcels. The same mailing may not contain
both First-Class and Priority Mail pieces.
c. Meet the applicable physical standards in 2.0.
d. Bear a delivery address that includes the correct ZIP Code or
ZIP+4 code.
e. Meet the address quality and coding standards in 4.0, A800, and
A950.
f. Bear an accurate barcode meeting the standards in 3.0.
g. Be marked and prepared as specified in 5.0.
h. Meet the documentation and postage payment standards in 6.0 and
P012.
i. Be deposited at a post office served by one of the test sites
designated in 1.4.
1.2 Rate Application
Each piece in an automation small parcel rate mailing qualifies for
the corresponding single-piece First-Class or single-piece Priority
Mail rate shown in 7.0.
1.3 Participation in Test
Participation in the test is subject to these conditions:
a. A mailer wishing to participate in preparing test mailings under
G091 must submit a written application to the Customer Mail Preparation
manager (for address, see G043) at least 14 days before the earliest
requested mailing date. The application must describe the mailpieces to
be presented; preparation level and containerization mode (as
applicable); typical daily and annual volumes and a schedule of
mailings; deposit sites for mailings; postage payment method; sites of
any corresponding authorizations for precanceled stamps, postage
meters, or permit imprints. The mailer must also submit sample barcoded
parcels to the plant manager of the test site where pieces are to be
processed so that the accuracy and readability of the barcodes can be
determined; the plant manager will specify the sample size. The mailer
is notified of any corrective action.
b. If the barcodes on the submitted parcels are found accurate,
correctly prepared, and readable, mailings may begin when approved by
the Customer Mail Preparation manager, subject to the conditions in the
authorization letter; no further notice is required except as specified
under 6.0.
c. An authorization is subject to amendment on 10 days' written
notice to the mailer and ends automatically at the end of the test
period (April 28, 1998). The mailer may end participation on 10 days'
written notice to the Customer Mail Preparation manager. The USPS may
terminate an authorization on 10 days' written notice to the mailer for
failing to meet the eligibility standards in G091 or in accordance with
a material change in the terms and conditions of the experimental
classification. The mailer may file a written appeal of a denied
application or revoked authorization, within 30 days of receipt of the
notice of denial or revocation, with the Marketing Systems vice
president (for address, see G043), who issues the final agency
decision.
1.4 Test Sites
As specified in the authorization letter, mail prepared under G091
must be entered at a post office for which outgoing primary
distribution is performed as follows:
a. For Priority Mail, at either the St. Petersburg, FL, Processing
and Distribution Center (P&DC) (3-digit ZIP Code area 337 and 5-digit
ZIP Codes 33504, 34634, 34635, 34640-34649, and 34664-34666) or the
Philadelphia, PA, Airport Mail Center (080-084, 189-194, and 197-199).
b. For First-Class Mail, at either the St. Petersburg, FL, P&DC (3-
digit ZIP Code area 337 and 5-digit ZIP Codes 33504, 34634, 34635,
34640-34649, and 34664-34666) or the Southeastern, PA, P&DC (3-digit
ZIP Code areas 189, 193, and 194).
2.0 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
2.1 Automation Compatibility
Only pieces that do not meet the dimensional and other physical
standards in C810 or C820 may be claimed at the automation small parcel
rates, subject to 2.2 and 2.3. Pieces must not have loose string,
packaging material, or other protrusions that might snag or jam in
processing equipment or impede or damage the mail or mail processing
equipment. Pieces may not be prepared in envelopes or as unenclosed
bound or unbound pages. Pieces may be prepared in padded mailing
envelopes or in paper or plastic containers if the wrapper and dunnage
can protect the contents during automated processing.
2.2 Measurement
The dimensions of an irregularly shaped piece are based on the size
of the smallest cube that could contain the piece when placed in a
stable position for processing. The dimensions of other pieces are
those of the largest surface area of another surface area that faces up
when the piece is oriented for stable processing.
2.3 Dimensions and Weight
All pieces are subject to these size and weight limits:
a. The two horizontal dimensions (length and width) must be no less
than 3.5 by 5 inches but no more than 12 by 15.5 inches.
b. The vertical dimension (thickness) must be no more than 8 inches
but:
(1) More than 0.25 inch if the horizontal dimensions are 6.125 by
11.5 inches or less; or
(2) At least 0.01 inch if the horizontal dimensions are more than
6.125 by 11.5 inches.
c. The maximum weight of a piece must be no more than 20 pounds.
3.0 BARCODE CHARACTERISTICS
3.1 Basic Standards
Every addressed piece mailed at the automation small parcel rates
must bear the correct 6-digit barcode (a 5-digit ZIP Code and a 1-digit
verifier character) in Interleaved 2 of 5, Code 39, or Code 128 format.
Technical specifications for these three barcode formats appear in
Uniform Symbology Specification (USS) documents USS-I2/5, USS-39, and
USS-128, respectively, available from Automatic Identification
Manufacturers (AIM), Material Handling Institute, Inc., 1326 Freeport
Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15238-3131. Only one 6-digit barcode ending in a
``9'' character may appear on the mailpiece. The barcode must be
located as specified in 4.1. No printing may appear in an area 0.125
inch above, below, and on either side of the barcode, regardless of
location.
3.2 Dimensions
Narrow bars and spaces must be at least 0.013 inch wide; wide bars
and spaces, at least 0.030 inch wide. All bars must be at least 0.75
inch high. The gap between characters must equal the narrow bar width
if Code 39 is used.
[[Page 17208]]
The ratio of wide to narrow bar width may be in one of two ranges:
a. If only one 6-digit barcode appears on the address side of the
mailpiece, the ratio must be between 1.9:1 and 3.2:1, inclusive, for
the Interleaved 2 of 5 and Code 39 formats.
b. If more than one 6-digit barcode appears on the address side of
the mailpiece, the ratio must be between 1.9:1 and 2.2:1, inclusive,
regardless of barcode format.
3.3 Verifier
The verifier character must be the last digit of the 6-digit
barcode. The correct verifier digit is always 9. The verifier appears
only as part of the barcode and is not printed as part of the human-
readable ZIP Code.
3.4 Reflectance
When measured in the red spectrum (633 nanometers 5%)
by a USPS or USPS-licensed reflectance meter, the minimum white bar
(space) reflectance (Rs) must be 25%, and the maximum black bar
reflectance (Rb) must be less than 30%. The minimum print reflectance
difference (Rs-Rb) is 35%.
4.0 ADDRESS INFORMATION
4.1 Address
The address and barcode must be on the mailpiece side with the
largest surface area, except that the address and barcode must be on
the top surface of the mailpiece when its shape requires specific
orientation for stability during automated processing. The delivery
address and/or the barcode may be printed on an attachment or on an
enclosure in a window envelope, subject to the reflectance standards in
3.4.
4.2 Numeric Barcode
In addition to the ZIP Code or ZIP+4 code included in the delivery
address, human-readable characters representing the numeric equivalent
of the barcode (but omitting the verifier character), preceded by the
word ``ZIP,'' must be printed near the barcode but outside the barcode
clear zone in a type size equal to or larger than that used in the
delivery address.
4.3 Address Quality
Effective January 1, 1997, addresses appearing on all pieces
claimed at automation rates must be updated within 6 months before the
mailing date by a USPS-approved address update tool (e.g., the
``Address Correction Endorsement,'' ACS, or NCOA). Mailers must certify
that this standard has been met when the corresponding mail is
presented to the USPS. This standard applies to each address
individually, not to a specific list or mailing. If a USPS-approved
address update tool is used, a valid update is obtained regardless of
the class of mail on which the address is placed. An address meeting
this standard may be used in mailings at any other rate to which the
standard applies throughout the 6-month period following its most
recent update.
5.0 MAIL PREPARATION
The standards in 5.0 apply exclusively to pieces claimed at the
experimental automation rates for First-Class and Priority Mail small
parcels. Pieces are subject to the basic eligibility standards in E100
applicable to First-Class or Priority Mail and the general standards in
M010, M020, and M030. Mail may be deposited at an eligible entry post
office, regardless of destination. No packaging is required or
permitted. No sortation or package labeling is required. First-Class
pieces must be marked ``EX-AUTO'' and either ``First-Class'' or
``Priority Mail,'' as appropriate. Pieces must be prepared in sacks or
other containers labeled as directed by the test site plant manager.
Use the city/state/ZIP for that facility on Line 1. For Line 2, use FCM
PP BC WKG; if required by the plant manager, the applicable processing
code must be right-justified on Line 2 under the ZIP Code on Line 1.
6.0 POSTAGE PAYMENT AND DOCUMENTATION
Full postage must be affixed to each piece by meter or precanceled
stamps, or paid by permit imprint, under an authorization issued by the
entry post office (which must be an eligible facility listed in 1.4);
plant-verified and other forms of drop shipment may not be used to
deposit mail at an authorized entry post office. A complete, signed
postage statement, using the correct USPS form or an approved
facsimile, must accompany each mailing. No other documentation is
required.
7.0 RATES AND FEES
7.1 First-Class Mail
First-Class Mail weighing 1 ounce or less may be subject to a
nonstandard surcharge under E100. Pieces weighing 11 ounces or less not
mailed as Priority Mail:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weight Increment Rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
First ounce or fraction of an ounce............................ $0.28
Each additional ounce or fraction of an ounce.................. 0.23
------------------------------------------------------------------------
7.2 Priority Mail
Single-piece Priority Mail rates for barcoded small parcels:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zone \1\
Weight Not Over (pounds) \2\ \3\ -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
L, 1, 2 & 3 4 5 6 7 8
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1................................. 2.96 2.96 2.96 2.96 2.96 2.96
2................................. 2.96 2.96 2.96 2.96 2.96 2.96
3................................. 3.96 3.96 3.96 3.96 3.96 3.96
4................................. 4.96 4.96 4.96 4.96 4.96 4.96
5................................. 5.96 5.96 5.96 5.96 5.96 5.96
6................................. 6.31 6.86 7.06 7.16 7.76 7.96
7................................. 6.61 7.46 8.06 8.36 9.16 9.76
8................................. 6.91 7.96 8.96 9.46 10.36 11.56
9................................. 7.36 8.56 9.76 10.56 11.26 12.96
10................................ 7.76 9.26 10.51 11.36 12.11 14.01
11................................ 8.21 9.86 11.31 12.16 12.96 15.06
12................................ 8.66 10.51 12.06 12.96 13.86 16.11
13................................ 9.06 11.16 12.76 13.76 14.71 17.16
14................................ 9.51 11.81 13.56 14.51 15.56 18.21
15................................ 9.96 12.41 14.31 15.31 16.46 19.26
16................................ 10.36 13.11 15.01 16.11 17.31 20.31
17................................ 10.81 13.71 15.76 16.91 18.16 21.36
18................................ 11.26 14.31 16.46 17.71 19.01 22.41
[[Page 17209]]
19................................ 11.66 15.01 17.21 18.51 19.91 23.46
20................................ 12.11 15.61 17.91 19.26 20.76 24.51
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Add $4.95 for each pickup stop.
\2\ The 2-pound rate is charged for matter sent in a ``flat rate'' envelope provided by the USPS.
\3\ Parcels weighing less than 15 pounds but measuring more than 84 inches in length and girth combined are
charged a minimum rate equal to that for a 15-pound parcel for the zone to which addressed.
A transmittal letter making these changes in the pages of the
Domestic Mail Manual will be published and will be transmitted to
subscribers automatically. Notice of issuance will be published in the
Federal Register as provided by 39 CFR 111.3.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 96-9594 Filed 4-17-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P
