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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111

 
Revisions to Weight and Preparation Standards for Barcoded Letter 
Mail

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Postal Service proposes to amend its regulations to 
increase temporarily the maximum weight of barcoded mailpieces 
acceptable at Barcoded letter rates for test purposes, subject to 
additional preparation standards.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 29, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be directed to Manager, Customer 
Mail Preparation, USPS Headquarters, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, 
DC 20260-2401. Copies of all written comments will be available for 
inspection and photocopying between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, in Room 5621 at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony M. Pajunas, (202) 268-3669.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For a period of up to 1 year, the U.S. 
Postal Service (USPS) proposes conducting a live test of barcoded 
letters weighing between 3.0 and 3.3067 ounces (for third-class regular 
rate) and 3.0 and 3.3363 ounces (for first- and second-class and third-
class nonprofit rate).
    Since implementing the current Barcoded rates for letter-size mail 
in February 1991, the USPS has been engaged in reassessing the 
eligibility criteria for those rates in order to increase mailer 
participation in barcoding. Initially, the maximum weight for all 
automation-rate letters (ZIP+4 and Barcoded rates) was set at 2.5 
ounces based on engineering tests. In response to mailer concerns that 
this weight limit presented a major barrier to mailer participation in 
the USPS barcoding program, the USPS and mailing industry 
representatives formed a working group to examine whether the 2.5-ounce 
weight limit could be relaxed. This issue was successfully resolved by 
increasing the maximum weight for Barcoded rate mailpieces to 3.0 
ounces. (The limit for ZIP+4 rate mail remained at 2.5 ounces based on 
the different capabilities of the optical character reader (OCR) 
equipment used to process that mail.)
    Recently, a segment of the third-class mailing industry has 
indicated that its participation in automation would increase if the 
weight limit for barcoded letters were raised once again. With the 
implementation of automated processing using a delivery point barcode, 
the USPS believes that now may be the time to explore new opportunities 
for both mailers and the USPS by which additional benefits may be 
derived from automation, because, in a delivery pint barcode 
environment, it is essential that all non-carrier-route presort letter-
size mail be barcoded as early in the processing stream as possible.
    When the USPS moved to a mechanized environment for processing 
mail, it gained experience over a 20-year period in determining which 
types of mail could be efficiently processed on multiposition letter 
sorting machines (MPLSMs). Initially, heavier pieces were excluded from 
MPLSM processing, but as experience was gained with the equipment, 
modifications were adopted that allowed the equipment to process a 
larger percentage of letter-size mail. Similarly, the USPS believes 
that it may now have an opportunity to process more letter-size mail on 
automated equipment by including heavier letter-size mailpieces, even 
though the candidate volume is small.
    Preliminary testing of pieces weighing between 3 and 4 ounces 
indicated that the USPS may benefit from raising the maximum weight for 
barcoded letters from 3.0 to 3.3 ounces. Currently, the majority of 
these heavier-weight pieces are processed on mechanization or manually 
and never receive a delivery point barcode. Thus, even though the 
processing of 3.3-ounce letter-size barcoded mail on barcode sorters 
resulted, when tested, in lower throughput on automation than with 
lighter pieces, the USPS believes that any decrease in barcode sorter 
efficiency will likely be offset by other processing gains due to 
moving this mail into the delivery point sequence (DPS) mailstream--
thereby avoiding numerous handlings through mechanization, manual 
sorting, and manual carrier casing, that must now be incurred.
    However, USPS preliminary testing also revealed that some 
additional preparation restrictions would need to be imposed on 3.3-
ounce pieces for this mail to be handled effectively on automation. 
When these heavier barcoded pieces were tested, USPS barcode sorters 
were unable to read barcodes located in the lower right barcode clear 
zone because of distortion caused by the edge curvature of thicker 
pieces. Accordingly, pieces could only be processed effectively when 
the barcode was located in the address block.
    In addition, USPS preliminary testing indicated a higher potential 
for damage to pieces weighing more than 3.0 ounces, particularly in the 
case of pieces with an open address window. Damage problems were 
magnified as the thickness of the piece increased. Based on these 
results, the USPS does not believe that it can effectively process 
brcoded pieces weighing over 3.0 ounces if they have open (i.e., 
uncovered) windows.
    Finally, the USPS has concluded that, if pieces weighing more than 
3.0 ounces are to be included in a Barcoded rate mailing, that mailing 
must be 100 percent delivery point barcoded because these heavier 
pieces cannot be processed on optical character readers to have 
barcodes applied.
    Given the preliminary results described above, the USPS has 
determined that further testing of heavier barcoded pieces is warranted 
in hopes that it can eliminate or reduce the separate manual/mechanized 
letter stream that runs parallel to the delivery point barcode and 
carrier route presort mailstreams. To that end, the USPS proposes to 
examine the impacts on mail processing from heavier barcoded letters in 
a ``live mail'' environment, including the benefits of giving this mail 
to the carrier in delivery point sequence so that it does not require 
manual casing.
    Accordingly, the USPS proposes to increase temporarily the maximum 
weight for Barcoded rate letter-size mailpieces from 3.0 to 3.3363 
ounces (or 3.3067 ounces for pieces mailed at regular bulk third-class 
rates). Although the engineering tests suggested a maximum weight of 
3.3 ounces, the USPS is setting the maximum weight for purposes of this 
test at 3.3363 ounces based on the current ``break point'' between 
nonprofit bulk third-class minimum per-piece rates and the two-part 
piece/pound rates. If the maximum weight were set at 3.3 ounces, a 
small amount of letter-size minimum per-piece rate mail would be 
excluded (by an almost immeasurable weight) from the rates otherwise 
available to letter mail. To avoid the potential administrative 
complications of this situation, the ``break point'' was chosen as the 
maximum weight. For simplicity and consistency, the maximum weight for 
first- and second-class barcoded letter mail is also set at 3.3363 
ounces. For regular bulk third-class rate letter mail only, the maximum 
is set at 3.3067 ounces, which is its ``break point.'' The decision to 
align the maximum weight for barcoded mail with the ``break point'' at 
this time is based on the current proximity of the two values and the 
consequent opportunity to avoid an otherwise potentially burdensome and 
confusing administrative problem. If the proposed test or changes in 
the ``break point'' indicate that this alignment is not in the best 
interest of the USPS, the maximum weight will be adjusted accordingly.
    In addition to meeting all other applicable Domestic Mail Manual 
(DMM) standards, barcoded mailpieces claimed at Barcoded rates, and 
that weigh between 3.0 and 3.3363 ounces, must:
    (1) Be part of a mailing that is 100 percent delivery point 
barcoded.
    (2) Bear barcodes placed in the address block.
    (3) Be in envelopes that have no open windows.
    (4) Not be bound or have stiff enclosures.
    Upon adoption of this proposal as an interim rule, the USPS will 
initiate a test period of up to 1 year for processing heavy letters and 
evaluating the results of that test to determine whether permanent 
adoption of an increased weight for barcoded mail is in the best 
interests of the USPS and its affected customers.
    Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(b), (c)) regarding proposed 
rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), the USPS invites comments on the 
following proposed revisions of the DMM, incorporated by reference in 
the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR Part 111.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Postal Service.

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 Domestic Mail Manual as noted below:

C810  Letters and Cards

1.0  GENERAL DIMENSIONS
* * * * *

1.5  Barcoded
    The weight of each piece in a Barcoded rate mailing must not exceed 
3 ounces, except that until [6 months after the beginning of the test], 
the maximum weight is 3.3363 ounces (or 3.3067 ounces if mailed at 
regular bulk third-class rates).

1.6  Heavy Letter Mail

    Heavy letter mail (pieces weighing more than 3 ounces) must be 
prepared in an envelope and must meet the additional barcoding 
standards in C840.
2.0  PROHIBITIONS
* * * * *

2.3  Heavy Letter Mail

    Heavy letter mail (as defined in 1.6) may not be prepared as a 
self-mailer or bound or booklet-type mailpiece.
* * * * *

C840  Barcoded Mailpieces

* * * * *
2.0  BARCODE LOCATION
* * * * *

2.2  Letter-Size Barcoded Rate Mailings

    Except for pieces subject to 2.3, pieces may bear a DPBC within 
either the address block or the barcode clear zone in the lower right 
corner of the address side. * * * [Renumber existing 2.3 through 2.10 
as 2.4 through 2.11, respectively; addnew 2.3, and revise renumbered 
2.9, as follows:]

2.3  Heavy Letter Mail

    Heavy letter mail (letter-size pieces weighing more than 3 ounces 
up to the maximum weight for barcoded pieces) must bear a DPBC in the 
address block, subject to 2.9.
* * * * *

2.9  Placement in Address Block

* * * * *
    d. [Replace the last sentence with the following:] Address block 
windows on heavy letter mail (as defined in 2.3) must be covered; such 
windows may be covered on other mail. Covers for address block windows 
are subject to 6.3.
* * * * *
6.0  ADDITIONAL STANDARDS FOR WINDOWS (LETTER-SIZE MAIL)
* * * * *

6.2  Window Construction

    Barcode windows must extend fully to the lower edge of the 
envelopes, must be of wraparound construction, and must be covered 
subject to 6.3.

6.3  Window Covers

    Window covers must be a nontinted clear or transparent material 
(e.g., cellophane or polystyrene), whose edges are securely glued to 
the envelope, and that permits the barcode and its background, as 
viewed through the window material, to meet the reflectance standards 
in 4.0.
* * * * *

E144  Barcoded Rate (Letters and Cards)

1.0  BASIC STANDARDS
* * * * *

1.2  Rate Application

* * * * *
    c. Meets the applicable standards in 1.3 through 1.8.

1.3  Barcode Window

    A mailpiece weighing 3 ounces or less, meeting the standards in 1.1 
and 1.2, but with a barcode window in the lower right corner, may be 
eligible for Barcoded rates only if the correct delivery point barcode 
appears through the window.

1.4  5-Digit Barcodes

    Subject to 1.8, barcoded rate mailings may include pieces with 
correct 5-digit barcodes if those pieces meet the standards in 1.1 and 
the standards for 5-digit barcodes in C840. * * *

1.5  ZIP+4 Barcodes

    Subject to 1.8, barcoded rate mailings may include pieces with 
correct ZIP+4 barcodes if those pieces meet the standards in 1.1 and 
the standards for ZIP+4 barcodes in C840. * * *

1.6  85% Rule

    Subject to 1.8, at least 85% of all pieces in a Barcoded rate 
mailing (regardless of presort or rate) must bear the correct delivery 
point barcode for the delivery address, as defined by the standards for 
address quality and coding accuracy in A950. * * *
* * * * *

1.8  100% Barcoding

    Each piece must bear the correct delivery point barcode:
    a. In 5-digit trays in a tray-based mailing under M814.
    b. In 5-digit packages in a package-based mailing under M815 or 
M816.
    c. In any mailing containing heavy letters (as defined in C810).
* * * * *

E244  Barcoded Discounts (Letter-Size Pieces)

1.0  BASIC STANDARDS
* * * * *

1.2  Rate Application

* * * * *
    c. Meets the applicable standards in 1.3 through 1.8.
* * * * *

1.3  Barcode Window

    A mailpiece weighing 3 ounces or less, meeting the standards in 1.1 
and 1.2, but with a barcode window in the lower right corner, may be 
eligible for Barcoded rates only if the correct delivery point barcode 
appears through the window.

1.4  5-Digit Barcodes

    Subject to 1.8, barcoded rate mailings may include pieces with 
correct 5-digit barcodes if those pieces meet the standards in 1.1 and 
the standards for 5-digit barcodes in C840. * * *

1.5  ZIP+4 Barcodes

    Subject to 1.8, barcoded rate mailings may include pieces with 
correct ZIP+4 barcodes if those pieces meet the standards in 1.1 and 
the standards for ZIP+4 barcodes in C840. * * *

1.6  85% Rule

    Subject to 1.8, at least 85% of all pieces in a Barcoded rate 
mailing (regardless of presort or rate) must bear the correct delivery 
point barcode for the delivery address, as defined by the standards for 
address quality and coding accuracy in A950. * * *
* * * * *

1.8  100% Barcoding

    Each piece must bear the correct delivery point barcode:
    a. In 5-digit trays in a tray-based mailing under M814.
    b. In 5-digit packages in a package-based mailing under M815 or 
M816.
    c. In any mailing containing heavy letters (as defined in C810).
* * * * *

E344  Barcoded Discounts (Letter-Size Pieces)

1.0  BASIC STANDARDS
* * * * *

1.2  Rate Application

* * * * *
    c. Meets the applicable standards in 1.3 through 1.8.
* * * * *

1.3  Barcode Window

    A mailpiece weighing 3 ounces or less, meeting the standards in 1.1 
and 1.2, but with a barcode window in the lower right corner, may be 
eligible for the Barcoded rates only if the correct delivery point 
barcode appears through the window.

1.4  5-Digit Barcodes

    Subject to 1.8, barcoded rate mailings may include pieces with 
correct 5-digit barcodes if those pieces meet the standards in 1.1 and 
the standards for 5-digit barcodes in C840. * * *

1.5  ZIP+4 Barcodes

    Subject to 1.8, barcoded rate mailings may include pieces with 
correct ZIP+4 barcodes if those pieces meet the standards in 1.1 and 
the standards for ZIP+4 barcodes in C840. * * *

1.6  85% Rule

    Subject to 1.8, at least 85% of all pieces in a Barcoded rate 
mailing (regardless of presort or rate) must bear the correct delivery 
point barcode for the delivery address, as defined by the standards for 
address quality and coding accuracy in A950. * * *
* * * * *

1.8  100% Barcoding

    Each piece must bear the correct delivery point barcode:
    a. In 5-digit trays in a tray-based mailing under M814.
    b. In 5-digit packages in a package-based mailing under M815 or 
M816.
    c. In any mailing containing heavy letters (as defined in C810).
* * * * *

R100  First-Class Mail

* * * * * 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Weight not over (ounces)            Presorted 3-digit barcoded               Presorted 5-digit barcoded      
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                
                                                  * * * * * * *                                                 
4 [ounces]....................  $0.887.................................  $0.881                                 
                                (Weight not to exceed 3.3363 ounces.)    (Weight not to exceed 3.3363 ounces.)  
                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                
                                                  * * * * * * *                                                 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    An appropriate amendment to 39 CFR 111.3 to reflect these changes 
will be published if the proposal is adopted.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 94-17105 Filed 7-13-94; 8:45 am]