[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 108 (Monday, June 7, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 32143-32145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-13574]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
Submission of Electronic Documentation With Comailed and
Copalletized Mailings
AGENCY: Postal Service TM.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Postal Service is proposing to revise Mailing Standards of
the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg])
705 and 707 to require mail owners participating in a comailing or
copalletization process for letters or flats to provide electronic
documentation, through an approved method, to support their contributed
mailpieces. The Postal Service also proposes to require comail and
copalletization mailers to submit electronic documentation to the
USPS[supreg] by an approved method.
DATES: Submit comments on or before July 7, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Mailing
Standards, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Room 3436,
Washington, DC 20260-3436. You may inspect and photocopy all written
comments at USPS Headquarters Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., 11th
Floor North, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through
Friday. E-mail comments, containing the name and address of the
commenter, may be sent to: [email protected], with a subject
line of ``EDOC.'' Faxed comments are not accepted.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Guinther at 202-268-7769 or
Kevin Gunther at 202-268-7208.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Current mailing standards do not require
mailers preparing comailed or copalletized mailings, or mailers who
contribute mailpieces to a consolidated comail or copalletized mailing,
to submit electronic documentation to the USPS. The receipt of
electronic documentation, when received prior to USPS acceptance of
copalletized mailings, will enhance the electronic visibility of the
mailpieces, will result in a reduction in postal handling, and will
improve efficiency in the processing of copalletized mailings.
The Postal Service can accept piece-level electronic documentation
through either of two methods--Mail.dat[supreg] or Mail.XML[supreg].
The original container data, included in the Mail.dat or Mail.XML file,
permits the tracking of containers from their origin, through the
consolidation site, and ultimately into USPS processing. Original
container data is also an essential element in the generation of
standardized documentation (i.e. qualification reports) and postage
statements for comailed or copalletized mailings. Therefore, the Postal
Service proposes to require all mailers associated with the preparation
and presentation of comailed and copalletized mailings to transmit
electronic documentation to the USPS, using properly formatted
[[Page 32144]]
Mail.dat or Mail.XML files. Electronic postage statements prepared
through Postal Wizard will not fulfill the documentation requirement
under this proposed rule.
Electronic documentation provided with copalletized mailings may
include data for one or multiple mail owners. These standards would
require mailers preparing mailings of letter-size pieces in trays,
which include pieces to be incorporated within a copalletized mailing,
to prepare separate postage statements for the portion of the mailing
being accepted at the origin site, and separate statements for the
portion being directed to a consolidator. Consolidators preparing
copalletized mailings of trays must prepare electronic documentation
showing the assignment of the trays with Intelligent Mail[supreg] tray
labels to pallets bearing Intelligent Mail container placards, as well
as the postage statements for payment at the consolidator site.
Consolidators of letter-size pieces in trays will also be required to
drop ship copalletized mailpieces at the appropriate postal facility in
accordance with the entry discount claimed at the origin acceptance
location.
Origin mailers preparing mailings of bundles must prepare separate
postage statements for the portion of the mailing being accepted at the
origin site and provide the documentation for verification for that
portion being directed to a consolidator.
In accordance with DMM 705.22.0, Full-Service Automation Option,
electronic documentation is currently required with copalletized and
other mailings that include full-service Intelligent Mail letters or
flats. Mailers who include full-service Intelligent Mail pieces that
will later be copalletized must follow all requirements for full-
service Intelligent Mail, including the use of an approved electronic
method to transmit postage statements and mailing documentation to the
USPS, and the use of Intelligent Mail tray labels and container
placards.
The Postal Service is also proposing to require Periodicals mailers
to submit electronic documentation for each comailed and/or
copalletized mailing, identifying each title and version (or edition)
in the mailing. For mailings that are entered at origin, and later
copalletized at a consolidation site, the mail owner or preparer will
be required to submit electronic documentation (Mail.dat or Mail.XML)
for the copalletized portion of the mailing. Mailers consolidating
multiple mailings on pallets will be required to provide the electronic
submission equivalent of the comail (hard copy) documentation
requirements of DMM 707.27, Combining Multiple Editions or
Publications. For copalletized Periodicals mail, postage statements and
payment will be entered at the consolidator's site.
To support the automated electronic tracking of copalletized
mailpieces, the electronic documentation submitted at the origin site
must indicate which bundles, trays, or sacks will be sent to a
consolidator for copalletization. The standardized documentation and
postage statements will be available for viewing by acceptance offices
when the electronic documentation for the copalletized portion of the
mailing job is updated by the consolidator through the original
container data. The origin facility will then be required to transmit
electronic documentation to the PostalOne![supreg] system before the
consolidator's electronic documentation is transmitted to the USPS.
With this change, the consolidator will be responsible for updating
the electronic documentation from the mail owner or preparer for that
portion of the mailing going to the consolidation site. Mailers
consolidating multiple mailings on pallets must use the electronic data
received from the creator of the mailing to create new electronic data.
This electronic data will then be used to generate the original
container data, indicating the origin of the bundles, trays or sacks
comprising the copalletized mailing. For mailings of bundles, the
electronic data will be used to generate postage statements and payment
at the consolidator site.
Additional information concerning the submission of electronic
documentation can be obtained from the USPS online publication, A Guide
to Intelligent Mail Letters & Flats, at http://ribbs.usps.gov.
We are also proposing to revise portions of DMM 705.8.0, Preparing
Pallets, to include reference to the copalletization of letter-size
pieces within those sections.
Although we are exempt from the notice and comment requirements of
the Administrative Procedure Act [5 U.S.C. of 553(b), (c)] regarding
proposed rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), we invite public comments on
the following proposed revisions to Mailing Standards of the United
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), incorporated by
reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR Part 111.
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111
Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.
Accordingly, 39 CFR Part 111 is proposed to be amended as follows:
PART 111--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for 39 CFR Part 111 continues to read as
follows:
Authority:
5 U.S.C. 552(a); 13 U.S.C. 301-307; 18 U.S.C. 1692-1737; 39
U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 414, 416, 3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-
3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, 3633, and 5001.
2. Revise the following sections of Mailing Standards of the
United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), as
follows:
* * * * *
700 Special Standards
* * * * *
705 Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems
* * * * *
8.0 Preparing Pallets
* * * * *
[Revise title of 8.7 as follows:]
8.7 Copalletized, Combined, or Mixed-Price Level Palletized Mailings
8.7.1 General
[Revise 8.7.1 as follows:]
Copalletized, combined, or mixed-price level palletized mailings
of letter-size or flat-size pieces must be prepared under the
standards for the class of mail, subject to specific authorization
by Business Mailer Support when required. The following conditions
apply when making copalletized mailings:
1. Postage statements and mailing documentation must be
transmitted to the USPS using an approved electronic method.
2. In accordance with 708.6.5 and 708.6.6, Intelligent Mail tray
labels must be used on trays and sacks and Intelligent Mail
container placards must be used on pallets or similar containers.
3. If consolidating multiple mailings on pallets, update the
electronic data for each of the original mailings. This updated data
must be reflected in the electronic data transmitted to the USPS.
4. Meet postage payment requirements as specified by Business
Mailer Support.
* * * * *
8.7.3 Periodicals Publications
[Revise 8.7.3 by adding a new third sentence as follows:]
* * * Postage for copalletized mailings of flat-size Periodicals
must be paid at the consolidator's site. * * *
* * * * *
8.7.4 Standard Mail
[Revise the first sentence of 8.7.4 and add a new last sentence
as follows:]
To copalletize different Standard Mail letter- or flat-size
mailings, the mailer must consolidate on pallets all independently
sorted trays or bundles from each mailing to
[[Page 32145]]
achieve the finest presort level for the mailing, except that a
flat-size copalletized mailing prepared under 8.11 or 8.14 using the
bundle reallocation option may not always result in all bundles
being placed on the finest pallet level possible.* * * Origin
mailers participating in a copalletized mailing of Standard Mail
letters in trays must prepare a separate postage statement for the
portion entered at the origin site and another postage statement for
the portion directed to the consolidator.
* * * * *
8.8 Basic Uses
These types of mail may be palletized:
* * * * *
[Revise 8.8 by re-sequencing items f through i as the new g
through j and adding a new item f as follows:]
f. Copalletized multiple letter-size mailings, prepared in
trays, subject to 8.0.
* * * * *
[Revise title of 8.16 as follows:]
8.16 Copalletized Letter-Size and Flat-size Pieces--Periodicals or
Standard Mail
8.16.1 Basic Standards
[Revise 8.16.1 as follows:]
Copalletized letter- and flat-size mailings must meet the
applicable standards in 8.0. In addition, if copalletized under
10.0, 12.0, or 13.0, the applicable provisions of that preparation
option must also be met. Any combination of automation mailings and
nonautomation mailings is subject to the restrictions in 8.14. Trays
and bundles in a copalletized mailing qualify for the appropriate
presort level price, regardless of the pallet level on which they
are placed. Mailers participating in copalletized mailings must:
a. Transmit postage statements and mailing documentation to the
USPS using an approved electronic method.
b. In accordance with 708.6.5 and 708.6.6, use Intelligent Mail
tray labels on trays and sacks and Intelligent Mail container
placards on pallets or similar containers.
c. If consolidating multiple mailings on pallets, update the
electronic data for each of the original mailings. This updated data
must be reflected in the electronic data transmitted to the USPS by
the consolidator.
d. Meet postage payment requirements as specified by Business
Mailer Support.
8.16.2 Periodicals
Additional standards are as follows:
* * * * *
[Revise 8.16.2 by adding a new item d as follows:]
d. Postage for copalletized mailings of flat-size Periodicals
must be paid at the consolidator's site.
8.16.3 Standard Mail
Additional standards are as follows:
* * * * *
[Revise 8.16.3 by adding a new item f as follows:]
f. Origin mailers participating in a copalletized mailing of
Standard Mail letters in trays must prepare a separate postage
statement for the portion entered at the origin site and another
postage statement for the portion directed to the consolidator.
* * * * *
707 Periodicals
* * * * *
27.0 Combining Multiple Editions or Publications
* * * * *
27.5 Documentation
* * * The following additional standards apply:
[Revise 27.5 by adding a new item c and d as follows:]
c. Unless excepted by Business Mailer Support (BMS), mailers
combining Periodicals publications under 27.1a must transmit postage
statements and mailing documentation to the USPS using a BMS-
approved electronic method.
d. Mailers combining Periodicals publications under 27.1c must
transmit postage statements and mailing documentation to the USPS
using a BMS-approved electronic method.
[Renumber current 27.6 through 27.8 as new 27.7 through 27.9 and
add a new item 27.6 as follows:]
27.6 Additional Standards
Mailers combining Periodicals publications under 27.1a or 27.1c
must:
a. Use Intelligent Mail tray labels on trays and sacks and
Intelligent Mail container placards, under 708.6.5 and 6.6, on
pallets or similar containers.
b. When using a consolidator, prepare a separate postage
statement for the portion of the mailing accepted at the origin site
and another statement for that portion directed to a consolidator.
c. When using a consolidator under 27.1c, pay postage at the
consolidator's site.
d. If consolidating multiple mailings on pallets, update the
electronic data for each of the original mailings. This updated data
must be reflected in the electronic data transmitted to the USPS.
f. Meet postage payment requirements as specified by Business
Mailer Support.
* * * * *
We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR Part 111 to
reflect these changes if our proposal is adopted.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 2010-13574 Filed 6-4-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P