[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 163 (Thursday, August 21, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49348-49349]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-19340]
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POSTAL SERVICETM
39 CFR Part 111
Waiver of Signature Delivery Process
AGENCY: Postal Service.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is revising the Mailing Standards of the
United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[reg]) to update
the standards regarding delivery of Express Mail[reg] items with waiver
of signature and return receipt for merchandise items with waiver of
signature. Delivery employees deliver these items to the addressee's
mail receptacle or other secure location without first attempting to
obtain a signature from the addressee.
DATES: Effective Date: August 21, 2008.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Monica Grein at 202-268-8411.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Waiver of signature authorizes delivery to
be made without obtaining the signature of the addressee or addressee's
agent as long as the delivery employee establishes the article can be
left in the addressee's mail receptacle or other secure location. By
waiving signature, the sender agrees to accept the delivery time and
date scan information as valid record of delivery.
When Express Mail[reg] items with waiver of signature and return
receipt for merchandise items with waiver of signature are delivered,
the delivery employee will sign the PS Form 3849, Sorry We Missed You,
without attempting to obtain a signature from the addressee. After
signing the PS Form 3849, the delivery employee delivers the item to
the addressee's mail receptacle or other secure location. This process
expedites delivery time because the delivery employee is not required
to try to obtain a signature from the addressee or addressee's agent,
when a waiver of signature is indicated.
Comments Received: We received one comment on the proposal, from an
attorney. The commenter expressed concerns about our process for
handling disputes regarding mail delivery when the sender has
authorized a waiver of signature.
The delivery employee has always signed the Form 3849 when ``waiver
of signature'' was indicated and we have never provided the delivery
employee's name. The only change from the previous process is that the
delivery employee no longer needs to attempt to obtain a signature from
the addressee first when ``waiver of signature'' is indicated.
Therefore, the manner in which we handle delivery disputes has been
well established and will not be changed.
The Postal Service adopts the following changes to Mailing
Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual
(DMM[reg]), which is incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal
Regulations. See 39 CFR 111.1.
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111
Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.
0
Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is amended as follows:
PART 111--[AMENDED]
0
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, 414,
416, 3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, 3633,
and 5001.
0
2. Revise the following sections of Mailing Standards of the United
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) as follows:
* * * * *
100 Retail Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels
* * * * *
110 Express Mail
113 Prices and Eligibility
* * * * *
4.0 Service Features of Express Mail
4.1 General
The service features are as follows:
* * * * *
[Revise the text of the first and second sentences in item b as
follows:]
b. When a signature is waived by the mailer, the delivery employee
signs upon delivery. The item is delivered to the addressee's mail
receptacle or other secure location. * * *
* * * * *
115 Mail Preparation
* * * * *
2.0 Express Mail Next Day and Second Day
* * * * *
2.2 Waiver of Signature
[Revise the text of 2.2 as follows:]
A mailer sending an Express Mail item may instruct the USPS to
deliver an Express Mail Next Day Delivery or Express Mail Second Day
Delivery item without obtaining the signature of the addressee or the
addressee's agent by checking and signing the waiver of signature on
Label 11-B or Label 11-F, Express Mail Post Office to Addressee, or
indicating waiver of signature is requested on single-ply commercial
label. Completion of the waiver of signature authorizes the delivery
employee to sign upon delivery. The item is delivered to the
addressee's mail receptacle or other secure location. Mailers who waive
signature will be provided only the delivery date and time, and not an
image of the signature when accessing delivery information on the
Internet or when calling the toll-free number.
* * * * *
400 Commercial Parcels
* * * * *
410 Express Mail
413 Prices and Eligibility
* * * * *
4.0 Service Features of Express Mail
4.1 General
The service features are as follows:
* * * * *
[Revise the text of the first and second sentences in item b as
follows:]
b. When waiver of signature is indicated by the mailer, the
delivery employee signs upon delivery. The item is delivered to the
addressee's mail receptacle or other secure location. * * *
* * * * *
415 Mail Preparation
* * * * *
2.0 Express Mail Next Day and Second Day
* * * * *
2.2 Waiver of Signature
[Revise the text of 2.2 as follows:]
A mailer sending an Express Mail item may instruct the USPS to
deliver an Express Mail Next Day Delivery or Express Mail Second Day
Delivery item without obtaining the signature of the
[[Page 49349]]
addressee or the addressee's agent by checking and signing the waiver
of signature on Label 11-B or Label 11-F, Express Mail Post Office to
Addressee, or indicating waiver of signature is requested on single-ply
commercial label. Completion of the waiver of signature authorizes the
delivery employee to sign upon delivery. The item is delivered to the
addressee's mail receptacle or other secure location. Mailers who waive
signature are provided only the delivery date and time, and not an
image of the signature when accessing delivery information on the
Internet or when calling the toll-free number.
* * * * *
500 Additional Mailing Services
503 Extra Services
* * * * *
8.0 Return Receipt for Merchandise
* * * * *
8.3 Mailing
* * * * *
8.3.2 How to Mail
A mailer can obtain Form 3804 and Form 3811 (return receipt) at the
Post Office or from any rural carrier. Observe these procedures:
* * * * *
[Revise item f as follows:]
f. By signing the waiver on Form 3804, customers are instructing
the USPS to deliver the item without obtaining the addressee's or
addressee's agent's signature. Completion of the waiver of signature
authorizes the delivery employee to sign upon delivery. The item is
delivered to the addressee's mail receptacle or other secure location.
To waive signature, detach both parts of the gummed sections of label
3804 and attach to the mailpiece.
* * * * *
Neva Watson,
Attorney, Legislative.
[FR Doc. E8-19340 Filed 8-20-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P