[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 135 (Wednesday, July 15, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38083-38087]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-18752]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
Changes in Preferred Postage Rates--Periodicals and Standard Mail
AGENCY: Postal Service.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: Public Law No. 103-123 authorizes annual changes in the
reduced rates for preferred periodicals and non-profit standard mail
formerly financed by appropriations for revenue forgone. This action
implements these changes for FY 1999.
DATES: Effective Date: October 4, 1998. The changes pertaining to
postage rates will be implemented effective 12:01 a.m., Sunday, October
4, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas DeVaughan, (202) 268-4491.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under 39 U.S.C. 3626(a) and 3642, the Postal
Service is authorized to make adjustments in the Periodicals Preferred
In-County pound rates and the nonadvertising per piece rates for
[[Page 38084]]
Preferred Nonprofit publications, the nonadvertising pound rates and
the per piece rates for Preferred Classroom publications; and postal
rates for Nonprofit Standard Mail, Nonprofit Enhanced Carrier Route
Standard Mail, and Library Mail. These adjustments are necessary to
phase up the institutional-costs contribution of this mail to the
levels required by law by FY 1999.
The rates for Periodicals Science-of-Agriculture publications zones
1 and 2 will remain the same at 75 percent of the rates charged on
advertising in regular-rate publications, as specified by law. These
rates will not change until regular Periodicals advertising rates
change through a general rate case. Also, since the maximum weight for
automation heavy letters is traditionally the heaviest weight break
Standard Mail (A) minimum per-piece rates, the maximum weight for these
letters mailed at First-Class Mail and Periodicals is also changed with
this notice.
Please note, that the full rates resulting from these adjustments
will be superseded by the full rates resulting from the Docket Number
R97-1 Rate Case, which will take effect 12:01 a.m., Sunday, January 10,
1999.
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. Revise the following sections of Domestic Mail Manual Issue 53
as set forth below:
C Characteristics and Content
* * * * *
C800 Automation-Compatible Mail
C810 Letters and Cards
* * * * *
2.0 DIMENSIONS
* * * * *
2.3 Maximum Weight
[Amend 2.3f to read as follows:]
Maximum weight limits are as follows:
* * * * *
f. 3.3388 ounces: automation First-Class Mail, automation
Periodicals, and automation Nonprofit Standard Mail heavy letters,
subject to 7.5.
* * * * *
E Eligibility
* * * * *
E600 Standard Mail
E610 Basic Standards
* * * * *
E612 Additional Standards for Standard Mail (A)
* * * * *
4.0 BULK RATES
* * * * *
4.2 Minimum Per Piece Rates
[Amend 4.2 by revising the first sentence to read as follows:]
The minimum per piece rates (i.e., the minimum postage that must be
paid for each piece) apply to Enhanced Carrier Route rate pieces
weighing no more than 0.2066 pound (3.3062 ounces) rounded; Regular
nonautomation and automation rate pieces weighing no more than 0.2068
pound (3.3087 ounces) rounded; Nonprofit Enhanced Carrier Route rate
pieces weighing no more than 0.2084 pound (3.3348 ounces) rounded; and
Nonprofit nonautomation and automation rate pieces weighing no more
than 0.2087 pound (3.3388 ounces) rounded. * * *
* * * * *
P Postage and Payment Methods
P000 Basic Information
P010 General Standards
* * * * *
P013 Rate Application and Computation
* * * * *
4.0 RATE APPLICATION--STANDARD MAIL (A)
* * * * *
4.3 Bulk Rates
[Amend 4.3 to read as follows:]
Bulk rates are based on the weight of the pieces and are applied
differently to pieces weighing less than or equal to a ``breakpoint''
(rounded to four decimal places) and those weighing more, as follows:
a. The appropriate minimum per piece rate applies to pieces
weighing:
(1) 0.2066 pound (3.3062 ounces) or less for Enhanced Carrier Route
rates
(2) 0.2068 pound (3.3087 ounces) or less for Regular rates
(3) 0.2084 pound (3.3348 ounces) or less for Nonprofit Enhanced Carrier
Route rates
(4) 0.2087 pound (3.3388 ounces) or less for Nonprofit rates
b. A rate determined by adding the appropriate fixed per piece
charge and the corresponding variable per pound charge (based on the
weight of the piece) applies to pieces weighing more than the above.
* * * * *
R Rates and Fees
* * * * *
R100 First-Class Mail
* * * * *
Summary of First-Class Rates
[Amend footnote 3 to read as follows:]
3. Weight not to exceed 3.3388 ounces; pieces over 3 ounces subject
to additional standards.
* * * * *
R200 Periodicals
1.0 REGULAR
* * * * *
1.2 Piece Rates
[Amend footnote 1 to read as follows:]
1. Lower maximum weight limits apply: letter-size at 3 ounces (or
3.3388 ounces for heavy letters); flat-size at 16 ounces.
* * * * *
2.0 PREFERRED--IN-COUNTY
2.1 Pound Rates
Per pound or fraction:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zone Rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delivery Unit................................................ $0.116
All Others................................................... 0.126
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.2 Piece Rates
[Amend footnote 1 to read as follows:]
1. Lower maximum weight limits apply: letter-size at 3 ounces (or
3.3388 ounces for heavy letters); flat-size at 16 ounces.
* * * * *
3.0 PREFERRED--NONPROFIT
* * * * *
3.2 Piece Rates
Per addressed piece:
[[Page 38085]]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Automation \1\
Presort level Nonautomation -------------------------
Letter-size Flat-size
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic.......................... $0.219 0.189 0.195
3/5............................ 0.174 ........... 0.150
3-Digit........................ ............. 0.151 ...........
5-Digit........................ 0.151 ...........
Carrier Route.................. 0.107 ........... ...........
High Density................... 0.100 ........... ...........
Saturation..................... 0.086 ........... ...........
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Lower maximum weight limits apply: letter-size at 3 ounces (or
3.3388 ounces for heavy letters); flat-size at 16 ounces.
* * * * *
4.0 PREFERRED--CLASSROOM
4.1 Pound Rates
Per pound or fraction:
a. For the nonadvertising portion: $0.142.
* * * * *
4.2 Piece Rates
Per addressed piece:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nonautomation
Automation \1\ Presort -------------------------
level Letter-size Flat-size
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic............................ $0.219 $0.189 $0.195
3/5.............................. 0.174 ........... 0.150
3-Digit.......................... ........... 0.151 ...........
5-Digit.......................... ........... 0.151 ...........
Carrier Route.................... 0.107 ........... ...........
High Density..................... 0.100 ........... ...........
Saturation....................... 0.086 ........... ...........
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Lower maximum weight limits apply: letter-size at 3 ounces (or
3.3388 ounces for heavy letters); flat-size at 16 ounces.
4.3 Discounts
Piece rate discounts:
* * * * *
b. Delivery unit zone piece discount for each addressed piece
claimed in the pound rate portion at the delivery unit zone rate:
$0.012.
c. SCF zone piece discount for each addressed piece claimed in the
pound rate portion at the SCF zone rate: $0.006.
5.0 PREFERRED--SCIENCE-OF-AGRICULTURE
* * * * *
5.2 Piece Rates
[Amend footnote 1 to read as follows:]
1. Lower maximum weight limits apply: letter-size at 3 ounces (or
3.3388 ounces for heavy letters); flat-size at 16 ounces.
* * * * *
R600 Standard Mail
* * * * *
4.0 NONPROFIT STANDARD MAIL
4.1 Letter-Size Minimum Per Piece Rates
Pieces 0.2087 pound (3.3388 ounces) or less:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nonautomation Automation \1\
Entry discount ----------------------------------------------------------------
Basic 3/5 Basic 3-Digit 5-Digit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
None........................................... $0.138 $0.120 $0.105 $0.101 $0.088
DBMC........................................... 0.125 0.107 0.092 0.088 0.075
DSCF........................................... 0.120 0.102 0.087 0.083 0.070
DDU............................................ ........... ........... ........... ........... ...........
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\1\ Pieces weighing over 3 ounces subject to additional standards.
4.2 Nonletter-Size Minimum Per Piece Rates
Pieces 0.2087 pound (3.3388 ounces) or less:
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Nonautomation Automation \1\
Entry discount ---------------------------------------------------
Basic 3/5 Basic 3/5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
None........................................................ $0.201 $0.149 $0.177 $0.125
DBMC........................................................ 0.188 0.136 0.164 0.112
DSCF........................................................ 0.183 0.131 0.159 0.107
[[Page 38086]]
DDU......................................................... ........... ........... ........... ...........
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\1\ Available only for automation-compatible flats.
4.3 Piece/Pound Rates
Pieces more than 0.2087 pound (3.3388 ounces):
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Nonautomation Automation \2\
Piece/pound rate \1\ ---------------------------------------------------
Basic 3/5 Basic 3/5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Piece................................................... $0.100 $0.048 $0.076 $0.024
Per Pound (includes entry discount if applicable)........... PLUS PLUS PLUS PLUS
None........................................................ 0.484 0.484 0.484 0.484
DBMC........................................................ 0.422 0.422 0.422 0.422
DSCF........................................................ 0.396 0.396 0.396 0.396
DDU......................................................... ........... ........... ........... ...........
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\1\ Each piece is subject to both a piece rate and a pound rate.
\2\ Available only for automation-compatible flats.
5.0 NONPROFIT ENHANCED CARRIER ROUTE STANDARD MAIL
5.1 Letter-Size Minimum Per Piece Rates
Pieces 0.2084 pound (3.3348 ounces) or less:
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Nonautomation Automation\1\
-----------------------------------------------------
Entry discount High
Basic density Saturation Basic
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
None...................................................... $0.099 $0.093 $0.087 $0.085
DBMC...................................................... 0.086 0.080 0.074 0.072
DSCF...................................................... 0.081 0.075 0.069 0.067
DDU....................................................... 0.075 0.069 0.063 0.061
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\1\ Pieces weighing over 3 ounces subject to additional standards.
* * * * *
9.0 LIBRARY MAIL
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Single-
Weight not over (pounds) piece
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................................................... $1.12
2.......................................................... 1.54
3.......................................................... 1.96
4.......................................................... 2.38
5.......................................................... 2.80
6.......................................................... 3.22
7.......................................................... 3.64
8.......................................................... 3.86
9.......................................................... 4.08
10........................................................... 4.30
11........................................................... 4.52
12........................................................... 4.74
13........................................................... 4.96
14........................................................... 5.18
15........................................................... 5.40
16........................................................... 5.62
17........................................................... 5.84
18........................................................... 6.06
19........................................................... 6.28
20........................................................... 6.50
21........................................................... 6.72
22........................................................... 6.94
23........................................................... 7.16
24........................................................... 7.38
25........................................................... 7.60
26........................................................... 7.82
27........................................................... 8.04
28........................................................... 8.26
29........................................................... 8.48
30........................................................... 8.70
31........................................................... 8.92
32........................................................... 9.14
33........................................................... 9.36
34........................................................... 9.58
35........................................................... 9.80
36........................................................... 10.02
37........................................................... 10.24
38........................................................... 10.46
39........................................................... 10.68
40........................................................... 10.90
41........................................................... 11.12
42........................................................... 11.34
43........................................................... 11.56
44........................................................... 11.78
45........................................................... 12.00
46........................................................... 12.22
47........................................................... 12.44
48........................................................... 12.66
49........................................................... 12.88
50........................................................... 13.10
51........................................................... 13.32
52........................................................... 13.54
53........................................................... 13.76
54........................................................... 13.98
55........................................................... 14.20
56........................................................... 14.42
57........................................................... 14.64
58........................................................... 14.86
59........................................................... 15.08
60........................................................... 15.30
61........................................................... 15.52
62........................................................... 15.74
63........................................................... 15.96
64........................................................... 16.18
65........................................................... 16.40
66........................................................... 16.62
67........................................................... 16.84
68........................................................... 17.06
69........................................................... 17.28
70........................................................... 17.50
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[[Page 38087]]
* * * * *
An appropriate amendment to 39 CFR 111.3 will be published to
reflect these changes.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 98-18752 Filed 7-14-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P
