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Welcome to the DPCC (Denver Postal Customer Council) website.

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Earlier today (March 11th), the Postal Service issued another Advance Notice of Rulemaking (“ANR”).  This one deals with Letter-Sized Booklets and Folded Self-Mailers.  The proposed rule is set out below in full. 

 If you wish to comment on this proposed rule, you will have 30 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register.  Which has not yet occurred.  In the normal course of events, the ANR will be published in the Federal Register sometime next week.  However, you should note that comments must be received on or before the 30th day following publication.  Since receipt can take a week or even more, I strongly recommend that you treat Friday, April 4, 2008 as the deadline for comments.

 

 AGENCY:  Postal Service™.

 

ACTION:  Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.

 

SUMMARY:  The Postal Service is developing new mailing standards for folded self-mailers, booklets, and folded booklets mailed at automation and machinable letter prices. This notice provides advance information about the mail preparation changes to help mailers plan for future mailings.

 

DATES:  We must receive your comments on or before [30 DAYS FROM DATE OF PUBLICATION].

 

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 N, Washington DC between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Barry Walsh, 202-268-7595, or Bill Chatfield, 202-268-7278

 

Supplemental Summary (shortened by DPCC):

 

Background

Due to the price increases associated with mailing flat-size catalogs last year, letter-size catalogs have become more popular. These types of letter-size booklets and folded self-mailers are often called “slim jims.” Unfortunately, many slim jims will jam letter automation equipment or become significantly damaged during processing. To avoid these problems, slim jims often are run on flat-sorting equipment, where they process without significant problems, but at significantly greater cost. To rectify this situation, the Postal Service is developing new automation mail preparation standards for letter-size booklets and folded self-mailers that more accurately characterize which pieces can be run on our primary letter-sorting equipment.

 

Additional Mailpiece Characteristics

Other characteristics are known to be important. These characteristics include surface friction, static attraction, and tear strength on the cover; tab adhesives; tab application; and compatibility with current letter trays (slim jims are more sensitive to damage than regular enveloped letters). We will provide new standards for these characteristics in a future proposed rule.

 

Machinable Letters

Once we complete the new standards for booklets and folded self-mailers, we plan to extend those standards to all machinable letters. Booklets are mailable at automation prices when barcoded and tabbed or sealed. However, booklets with the spine on the bottom edge but without tabs are currently allowed as machinable letters when they are not barcoded. In the future, we plan to allow nonbarcoded booklets and folded self-mailers to be mailed as machinable letters only if they meet all of the mail preparation requirements for automation letters. This change will ensure efficient mail processing for all letter-size booklets and folded self-mailers.

 

Next Steps

Once our testing is completed and the results are validated, we will publish a proposed rule in the Federal Register, with a request for comments on the revised mailing standards. The revised standards will not change the preparation criteria for enveloped letters. Fully enveloped pieces up to 1/4-inch thick that meet automation standards will continue to be accepted at automation prices.

 

Authority:  5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 414, 416, 3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3626, 3632, 3633, 5001.

 

 

Neva R. Watson,

Attorney, Legislative.

[END DOCUMENT]

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

 

FEB. 29, 2008

 INTELLIGENT MAIL BARCODE       

Postmaster General Responds To Customer Feedback On Implementation          

 

The following is a letter from Postmaster General John E. Potter to postal customers:

 

Thank you for your feedback on January’s Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register concerning the implementation of the Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMB).

 

Your comments were thoughtful and thorough. I am encouraged by the number of responses received and the support of the IMB vision of true transparency, visibility and real-time data. It is all about increasing the value of the mail.

 

You also raised a number of implementation concerns that we need to address. Implementation of the IMB is so important to our future that I am taking the unusual step of giving you advance notice of some of the changes you can expect in the Proposed Rulemaking we plan to publish in the Federal Register next month.

 

Here is a preview:

 Many of you told us that January 2009 was too soon. We will propose a May 2009 implementation, concurrent with our next annual price change.

  • We understand from you that many factors will drive the choice between the basic and full-service options. The May 2009 implementation will include separate prices for the full-service and basic option.
  • The Postnet Barcode will remain eligible for an automation price until May 2010. Those prices will be announced with the May 2009 change.
  • The proposal will include new options for mail owner identification.
  • We are removing the requirement for green color bars on the container label.

 

Again, thanks for your responses. I encourage you to continue your implementation efforts and to comment on our next notice. Let’s work together to make the IMB vision a reality.

 

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

 FEB. 11, 2008

 NEW PRICES COMING MAY 12    

Price For 1-Ounce First-Class Stamp Will Be 42 Cents        

 

On May 12, the Postal Service will adjust prices for mailing services — First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, Periodicals, Package Services and Special Services. The average increase by class of mail is at or below the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index.

 

A First-Class Mail stamp will be 42 cents. “The Postal Service developed the Forever Stamp for consumers to ease the transition during price changes,” said Postmaster General John Potter. “We encourage Americans to buy Forever Stamps now for 41 cents, because like the name suggests, they are good forever.” The price goes up to 42 cents on May 12. 

 

USPS has sold 5 billion Forever Stamps since the launch last April and plans to have an additional 5 billion in stock to meet the expected demand before the May price change.

 

We also will have a 62-cent stamp available shortly after May 12 for 1-ounce nonmachinable First-Class Mail letters, such as square greeting cards.

 

Pricing highlights:

 

§          No change in the First-Class Mail single-piece additional-ounce price.

§          Lower additional-ounce price for presorted First-Class Mail letters.

§          Lower pound price for Standard Mail saturation and high-density flats.

§          Shape-based pricing for First-Class Mail International letters, flats and parcels.

§          First-Class Mail International price groups expand from five to nine groups.

 

Selected prices:

 

First-Class Mail letter (1 oz.)

42¢

First-Class Mail letter (2 oz.)

59¢

Postcard

27¢

First-Class Mail large envelope (2 oz.)

$1.00

Certified Mail

$2.70

First-Class Mail International letter to Canada and Mexico (1 oz.)

72¢

First-Class Mail International letter to all other countries

(1 oz.)

94¢

 

See the Postal Service website at usps.com/prices for all mailing services prices and links to downloadable pricing files and additional information. New prices for shipping services — Express Mail, Priority Mail, Parcel Select and International Mail — will be announced in March.

 

Consistent with the postal law, prices for mailing services will be adjusted annually each May. The Postal Service plans to provide 90 days' notice before the price changes each year.

Future Pricing To Follow New Regulations    

FY 2007 marked by record service and productivity, smaller than expected loss   

 The Postal Service Governors announced today future prices will be adjusted using new regulations issued by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on Oct. 29. Consistent with the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006, future price increases will be capped at the rate of inflation for mailing services. (Mailing services include First-Class Mail, Standard Mail and Periodicals.)

 The Governors had the option of filing one last rate case under the regulations used since 1971 but voted to proceed with the new pricing regulations.

 

“We thank the Postal Regulatory Commission for completing the new rules eight months ahead of the statutory deadline,” said Postmaster General John Potter. “This delivers one of the main goals of the new law for business mailers — a predictable price schedule.” 

 

The new pricing regulations give the Postal Service added flexibility for shipping services. (Shipping services include bulk parcels and expedited package services such as Priority Mail and Express Mail.) “We intend to use this new flexibility to grow our competitive business,” said Potter, “offering volume discounts and contract pricing.”

 

“There are still many details to be worked out, but we look forward to partnering with the PRC and our customers to maximize the advantages of the new pricing rules,” Potter said.

 

Fiscal Year 2007 Results

 

The Postal Service also announced its financial results for fiscal year 2007, which ended Sept. 30. The Postal Service concluded the fiscal year with a $5.1 billion net loss, attributable to mandatory funding requirements in the Postal Act of 2006. The year-end loss is about $300 million less than projected earlier in the year. 

 

 

 

Industry news links

___postalnews.com ___ _______MSMA
___ ___


 

Our Mission

The Denver Postal Customer Council is organized to work
for the best mail service possible by establishing a means of regular
communication between postal customers and local postal managers
that will provide opportunities for the exchange of ideas and suggestions.

Our mission is to ensure that postal customers are aware of the latest
changes in postal services and rates, and to educate the public to
make the most effective and efficient use of postal services and products.

What is the PCC?

A Postal Customer Council is organized at the local community level to:

  • Establish a means of regular communication between postal customers and local postal managers.
  • Provide opportunities for the exchange of ideas and suggestions.
  • Ensure that postal customers are aware of the latest in postal services and rates.
  • Assist customer in improving their internal mail operations.
  • Create a better understanding of the Postal Service through business meetings, mailer clinics, mailing
  • seminars, tours of postal facilities and visits to other customers' plants.
  • Provide information necessary for customers to make the most effective and efficient use of postal services and products.
  • Provide an organized way for postal speakers to present postal programs to customers groups.


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