[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 103 (Friday, May 26, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34096-34101]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-12971]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 20


Priority Mail Global Guaranteed

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Amendment to interim rule.

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

SUMMARY: The Postal Service is amending the interim rule on Priority 
Mail Global Guaranteed service to extend service to most countries in 
the world and to create rate groups for these countries to reflect the 
cost associated with providing this service.

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 28, 2000. Comments on the amendment to the interim 
rule must be received on or before June 26, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be mailed or delivered to the 
Manager, Business Results, International Business, U.S. Postal Service, 
475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 370-IBU, Washington, DC 20260-6500. Copies 
of all written comments will be available for public inspection between 
9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, in International Business, 
10th Floor, 901 D Street SW, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Walter J. Grandjean, (202) 314-7256.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 19, 1999, the Postal Service 
announced in the Federal Register (62 FR 19039-19042) the introduction 
of Priority Mail Global Guaranteed on an interim basis.
    The U.S. Postal Service, through an alliance with DHL Worldwide 
Express Inc., is offering an enhanced expedited service, Priority Mail 
Global Guaranteed, from selected locations in the United States to 
selected countries. This service offers day-certain delivery with 
postage refund guarantee and document reconstruction coverage of $100 
for allowable contents.

[[Page 34097]]

    On November 4, 1999, the Postal Service announced in the Federal 
Register (64 FR 60106-60109) an amendment to the interim rule to add 
more U.S. acceptance locations and to extend the service to more 
destination countries. Public comments were requested by December 6, 
1999, and by that date two comments were received. Both comments 
related to the way in which the Postal Service categorized the U.S. 
acceptance offices and how the acceptance offices were selected.
    The acceptance offices were selected on their ability to meet the 
stringent service standards for this service based on local 
considerations such as timely transportation, mail processing 
capabilities, and access to national transportation.
    The presentation of acceptance offices has been changed. ZIP Code 
ranges can overlap metropolitan areas and state boundaries. 
Accordingly, the chart of acceptance offices has been changed to delete 
the reference to metropolitan areas and only state names are used as a 
guide to determining where service is available. The use of state 
designations is not meant to limit service within the specified ZIP 
Code ranges, since they are intended only to serve as a guide to the 
areas that offer Priority Mail Global Guaranteed service.
    The Postal Service is now extending service to more countries and 
redesigning the rates to reflect the cost of providing service to these 
additional countries. Service will be available to all country 
destinations listed in the International Mail Manual except 
Afghanistan, Ascension, China, Iraq, Japan, Democratic People's 
Republic of Korea (North), Libya, Pitcairn Island, Saint Helena, Sudan, 
and Tristan de Cunha.
    Although each network country has been placed into one of eight 
rate groups, rate groups 1 and 2, 3 and 7, and 4 and 6, respectively, 
contain duplicate rates at the present time. The applicable rates and 
the destination countries that are associated with each rate group are 
as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Rate Groups  1
                                       and 2
                                     (Canada,     Rate Groups  3  Rate Groups  4
     Weight not over (lbs.)         Mexico, and        and 7           and 6       Rate Group  5   Rate Group  8
                                   St. Pierre &
                                     Miquelon)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.5.............................          $20.00          $24.00          $29.00          $40.00          $60.00
1...............................           31.00           34.00           41.00           51.00           72.00
2...............................           31.00           34.00           41.00           65.00           87.00
3...............................           42.00           53.00           60.00           80.00          102.00
4...............................           44.00           60.00           67.00           94.00          115.00
5...............................           47.00           66.00           74.00          107.00          129.00
6...............................           50.00           71.00           81.00          119.00          141.00
7...............................           53.00           76.00           88.00          131.00          153.00
8...............................           56.00           81.00           95.00          142.00          165.00
9...............................           59.00           85.00          102.00          154.00          176.00
10..............................           62.00           89.00          109.00          166.00          188.00
11..............................           64.00           93.00          114.00          177.00          200.00
12..............................           66.00           98.00          120.00          187.00          212.00
13..............................           69.00          102.00          125.00          197.00          224.00
14..............................           72.00          106.00          131.00          207.00          235.00
15..............................           74.00          110.00          136.00          215.00          246.00
16..............................           77.00          114.00          141.00          223.00          258.00
17..............................           79.00          118.00          147.00          230.00          269.00
18..............................           82.00          121.00          152.00          238.00          280.00
19..............................           84.00          125.00          158.00          245.00          292.00
20..............................           87.00          128.00          163.00          253.00          303.00
21..............................           89.00          132.00          168.00          260.00          313.00
22..............................           91.00          136.00          173.00          268.00          322.00
23..............................           94.00          139.00          178.00          275.00          332.00
24..............................           96.00          143.00          183.00          283.00          341.00
25..............................           98.00          146.00          188.00          290.00          349.00
26..............................          100.00          149.00          193.00          298.00          358.00
27..............................          103.00          153.00          198.00          305.00          366.00
28..............................          105.00          156.00          203.00          313.00          375.00
29..............................          107.00          160.00          208.00          320.00          384.00
30..............................          110.00          163.00          213.00          328.00          392.00
31..............................          112.00          167.00          218.00          335.00          401.00
32..............................          114.00          170.00          223.00          343.00          410.00
33..............................          116.00          174.00          228.00          350.00          418.00
34..............................          119.00          177.00          233.00          358.00          427.00
35..............................          121.00          181.00          238.00          365.00          435.00
36..............................          123.00          184.00          243.00          373.00          444.00
37..............................          125.00          188.00          248.00          380.00          453.00
38..............................          128.00          191.00          253.00          388.00          461.00
39..............................          130.00          195.00          258.00          395.00          470.00
40..............................          132.00          198.00          263.00          403.00          479.00
41..............................          133.00          202.00          268.00          410.00          487.00
42..............................          135.00          205.00          273.00          418.00          496.00
43..............................          137.00          209.00          278.00          425.00          505.00
44..............................          138.00          212.00          283.00          433.00          514.00
45..............................          140.00          216.00          288.00          440.00          522.00
46..............................          142.00          219.00          293.00          448.00          531.00
47..............................          143.00          223.00          298.00          455.00          540.00
48..............................          145.00          226.00          303.00          463.00          548.00

[[Page 34098]]

 
49..............................          147.00          230.00          308.00          470.00          557.00
50..............................          148.00          233.00          313.00          478.00          566.00
51..............................          148.00          233.00          313.00          478.00          566.00
52..............................          152.00          240.00          323.00          492.00          583.00
53..............................          152.00          240.00          323.00          492.00          583.00
54..............................          154.00          247.00          333.00          505.00          601.00
55..............................          154.00          247.00          333.00          505.00          601.00
56..............................          156.00          254.00          343.00          516.00          617.00
57..............................          156.00          254.00          343.00          516.00          617.00
58..............................          159.00          261.00          353.00          527.00          633.00
59..............................          159.00          261.00          353.00          527.00          633.00
60..............................          161.00          268.00          363.00          538.00          649.00
61..............................          161.00          268.00          363.00          538.00          649.00
62..............................          164.00          275.00          373.00          549.00          666.00
63..............................          164.00          275.00          373.00          549.00          666.00
64..............................          166.00          282.00          383.00          560.00          684.00
65..............................          166.00          282.00          383.00          560.00          684.00
66..............................          168.00          289.00          393.00          571.00          701.00
67..............................          168.00          289.00          393.00          571.00          701.00
68..............................          171.00          296.00          403.00          583.00          718.00
69..............................          171.00          296.00          403.00          583.00          718.00
70..............................          173.00          303.00          413.00          594.00          735.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Rate
                            Country                               group
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afghanistan....................................................    (\1\)
Albania........................................................        8
Algeria........................................................        8
Andorra........................................................        8
Angola.........................................................        8
Anguilla.......................................................        7
Antigua & Barbuda..............................................        7
Argentina......................................................        5
Armenia........................................................        8
Aruba..........................................................        7
Ascension......................................................    (\1\)
Australia......................................................        4
Austria........................................................        3
Azerbaijan.....................................................        8
Bahamas........................................................        7
Bahrain........................................................        6
Bangladesh.....................................................        8
Barbados.......................................................        7
Belarus........................................................        8
Belgium........................................................        3
Belize.........................................................        5
Benin..........................................................        8
Bermuda........................................................        7
Bhutan.........................................................        8
Bolivia........................................................        5
Bosnia-Herzegovina.............................................        8
Botswana.......................................................        8
Brazil.........................................................        5
British Virgin Islands.........................................        7
Brunei Darussalam..............................................        8
Bulgaria.......................................................        8
Burkina Faso...................................................        8
Burma (Myanmar)................................................        8
Burundi........................................................        8
Cambodia.......................................................        8
Cameroon.......................................................        8
Canada.........................................................        1
Cape Verde.....................................................        8
Cayman Islands.................................................        7
Central African Republic.......................................        8
Chad...........................................................        8
Chile..........................................................        5
China..........................................................    (\1\)
Colombia.......................................................        5
Comoros........................................................        8
Congo, Democratic Republic of the..............................        8
Congo, Republic of the.........................................        8
Costa Rica.....................................................        5
Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)....................................        8
Croatia........................................................        8
Cuba...........................................................        8
Cyprus.........................................................        6
Czech Republic.................................................        8
Denmark........................................................        3
Djibouti.......................................................        8
Dominica.......................................................        7
Dominican Republic.............................................        7
Ecuador........................................................        5
Egypt..........................................................        6
El Salvador....................................................        5
Equatorial Guinea..............................................        8
Eritrea........................................................        8
Estonia........................................................        8
Ethiopia.......................................................        8
Falkland Islands...............................................        5
Faroe Islands..................................................        8
Fiji...........................................................        8
Finland........................................................        3
France.........................................................        3
French Guiana..................................................        5
French Polynesia...............................................        8
Gabon..........................................................        8
Gambia.........................................................        8
Georgia, Republic of...........................................        8
Germany........................................................        3
Ghana..........................................................        8
Gibraltar......................................................        3
Great Britain & Northern Ireland...............................        3
Greece.........................................................        3
Greenland......................................................        8
Grenada........................................................        7
Guadeloupe.....................................................        7
Guatemala......................................................        5
Guinea.........................................................        8
Guinea-Bissau..................................................        8
Guyana.........................................................        5
Haiti..........................................................        7
Honduras.......................................................        5
Hong Kong......................................................        3
Hungary........................................................        8
Iceland........................................................        8
India..........................................................        6
Indonesia......................................................        4
Iran...........................................................        6
Iraq...........................................................    (\1\)
Ireland (Eire).................................................        3
Israel.........................................................        6
Italy..........................................................        3
Jamaica........................................................        7
Japan..........................................................    (\1\)
Jordan.........................................................        6
Kazakhstan.....................................................        8
Kenya..........................................................        8
Kiribati.......................................................        8
Korea, Democratic People's Republic of (North).................    (\1\)
Korea, Republic of (South).....................................        4
Kuwait.........................................................        6
Kyrgyzstan.....................................................        8
Laos...........................................................        8
Latvia.........................................................        8
Lebanon........................................................        6
Lesotho........................................................        8
Liberia........................................................        8
Libya..........................................................    (\1\)
Liechtenstein..................................................        3
Lithuania......................................................        8
Luxembourg.....................................................        3
Macao..........................................................        3
Macedonia, Republic of.........................................        8
Madagascar.....................................................        8
Malawi.........................................................        8
Malaysia.......................................................        4
Maldives.......................................................        8
Mali...........................................................        8
Malta..........................................................        3
Martinique.....................................................        7
Mauritania.....................................................        8
Mauritius......................................................        8

[[Page 34099]]

 
Mexico.........................................................        2
Moldova........................................................        8
Mongolia.......................................................        8
Montserrat.....................................................        7
Morocco........................................................        8
Mozambique.....................................................        8
Namibia........................................................        8
Nauru..........................................................        8
Nepal..........................................................        8
Netherlands....................................................        3
Netherlands Antilles...........................................        7
New Caledonia..................................................        8
New Zealand....................................................        4
Nicaragua......................................................        5
Niger..........................................................        8
Nigeria........................................................        8
Norway.........................................................        3
Oman...........................................................        6
Pakistan.......................................................        6
Panama.........................................................        5
Papua New Guinea...............................................        8
Paraguay.......................................................        5
Peru...........................................................        5
Philippines....................................................        4
Pitcairn Island................................................    (\1\)
Poland.........................................................        8
Portugal.......................................................        3
Qatar..........................................................        6
Reunion........................................................        8
Romania........................................................        8
Russia.........................................................        8
Rwanda.........................................................        8
St. Christopher (St. Kitts) & Nevis............................        7
Saint Helena...................................................    (\1\)
Saint Lucia....................................................        7
Saint Pierre & Miquelon........................................        1
Saint Vincent & Grenadines.....................................        7
San Marino.....................................................        3
Sao Tome & Principe............................................        8
Saudi Arabia...................................................        6
Senegal........................................................        8
Serbia-Montenegro (Yugoslavia).................................        8
Seychelles.....................................................        8
Sierra Leone...................................................        8
Singapore......................................................        3
Slovak Republic (Slovakia).....................................        8
Slovenia.......................................................        8
Solomon Islands................................................        8
Somalia........................................................        8
South Africa...................................................        8
Spain..........................................................        3
Sri Lanka......................................................        8
Sudan..........................................................    (\1\)
Suriname.......................................................        5
Swaziland......................................................        8
Sweden.........................................................        3
Switzerland....................................................        3
Syrian Arab Republic (Syria)...................................        6
Taiwan.........................................................        3
Tajikistan.....................................................        8
Tanzania.......................................................        8
Thailand.......................................................        4
Togo...........................................................        8
Tonga..........................................................        8
Trinidad & Tobago..............................................        7
Tristan da Cunha...............................................    (\1\)
Tunisia........................................................        8
Turkey.........................................................        6
Turkmenistan...................................................        8
Turks & Caicos Islands.........................................        7
Tuvalu.........................................................        8
Uganda.........................................................        8
Ukraine........................................................        8
United Arab Emirates...........................................        6
Uruguay........................................................        5
Uzbekistan.....................................................        8
Vanuatu........................................................        8
Vatican City...................................................        3
Venezuela......................................................        5
Vietnam........................................................        4
Wallis & Futuna Islands........................................        4
Western Samoa..................................................        4
Yemen..........................................................        6
Zambia.........................................................        8
Zimbabwe.......................................................       8
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ No Service.

    Although the Postal Service is exempted by 39 U.S.C. 410(a) from 
the advance notice requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act 
regarding proposed rulemaking (5 U.S.C. 553), the Postal Service 
invites public comment on the amendment to the interim rule at the 
above address.
    The Postal Service is amending International Mail Manual chapter 2, 
Conditions for Mailing, which is incorporated by reference in the Code 
of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 20.1.
    A transmittal letter changing the relevant pages in the 
International Mail Manual will be published and automatically 
transmitted to all subscribers. Notice of issuance of the transmittal 
will be published in the Federal Register as provided by 39 CFR 20.3.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20

    Foreign relations, International postal service.

PART 20--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for 39 CFR Part 20 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 401, 404, 407, 408.

    2. Chapter 2 of the International Mail Manual (IMM) is amended as 
follows:
2  CONDITIONS FOR MAILING

210  Express Mail International Service

* * * * *

215  Priority Mail Global Guaranteed

* * * * *

215.3  Service Areas

215.31  U.S. Origins

    Priority Mail Global Guaranteed (PMGG) items must be entered at 
post offices that are located in the following ZIP Code areas:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 State                            ZIP code areas
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arizona................................  850, 852-853
California.............................  900, 902-908, 910-918, 926-928,
                                          937, 939-941, 943-944, 946,
                                          949-951, 954
Colorado...............................  802
Connecticut............................  060-069
Delaware...............................  197-199
District of Columbia...................  200, 202-203, 205
Florida................................  320, 322, 327-338, 342, 346-347
Georgia................................  300-303, 305-306, 311
Illinois...............................  600-608, 610-611, 620, 622, 629
Indiana................................  460-470, 472-475, 478-479
 Kentucky..............................  410, 452
Maine..................................  039-041
Maryland...............................  206-212, 214, 217, 219
Massachusetts..........................  010-027
Michigan...............................  481-482, 486-491, 493-497
Minnesota..............................  550-551, 553-554, 558-559
Missouri...............................  630-631, 633
New Hampshire..........................  030-034, 038
New Jersey.............................  070-085, 087-089
New York...............................  100-101, 103-105, 107, 109-119,
                                          124-127
North Carolina.........................  270-278, 280-282, 286
Ohio...................................  430-438, 440-458

[[Page 34100]]

 
Pennsylvania...........................  189-191, 193-196
Rhode Island...........................  028-029
Tennessee..............................  372
Texas..................................  750-752, 760-764, 769-770, 772-
                                          778, 780-782, 784, 791, 794
Virginia...............................  201, 220-225, 230-232, 238-239
Vermont................................  054, 056
Washington.............................  980-982
Wisconsin..............................  530-532, 534
------------------------------------------------------------------------

215.32  Foreign Destinations

    Priority Mail Global Guaranteed (PMGG) service is available to all 
locations that are referenced in the Individual Country Listings except 
for the following:

Afghanistan
Ascension
China
Iraq
Japan
Korea, Democratic People's Republic of (North)
Libya
Pitcairn Island
Saint Helena
Sudan
Tristan de Cunha

* * * * *

215.6  Postage

                                             215.61  Rate Groups \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Rate groups  1
                                       and 2
                                     (Canada,     Rate groups  3  Rate groups  4
    Weight not over (lb.) \2\       Mexico, and        and 7           and 6       Rate group 5    Rate group 8
                                   St. Pierre &
                                     Miquelon)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.5.............................          $20.00          $24.00          $29.00          $40.00          $60.00
1...............................           31.00           34.00           41.00           51.00           72.00
2...............................           31.00           34.00           41.00           65.00           87.00
3...............................           42.00           53.00           60.00           80.00          102.00
4...............................           44.00           60.00           67.00           94.00          115.00
5...............................           47.00           66.00           74.00          107.00          129.00
6...............................           50.00           71.00           81.00          119.00          141.00
7...............................           53.00           76.00           88.00          131.00          153.00
8...............................           56.00           81.00           95.00          142.00          165.00
9...............................           59.00           85.00          102.00          154.00          176.00
10..............................           62.00           89.00          109.00          166.00          188.00
11..............................           64.00           93.00          114.00          177.00          200.00
12..............................           66.00           98.00          120.00          187.00          212.00
13..............................           69.00          102.00          125.00          197.00          224.00
14..............................           72.00          106.00          131.00          207.00          235.00
15..............................           74.00          110.00          136.00          215.00          246.00
16..............................           77.00          114.00          141.00          223.00          258.00
17..............................           79.00          118.00          147.00          230.00          269.00
18..............................           82.00          121.00          152.00          238.00          280.00
19..............................           84.00          125.00          158.00          245.00          292.00
20..............................           87.00          128.00          163.00          253.00          303.00
21..............................           89.00          132.00          168.00          260.00          313.00
22..............................           91.00          136.00          173.00          268.00          322.00
23..............................           94.00          139.00          178.00          275.00          332.00
24..............................           96.00          143.00          183.00          283.00          341.00
25..............................           98.00          146.00          188.00          290.00          349.00
26..............................          100.00          149.00          193.00          298.00          358.00
27..............................          103.00          153.00          198.00          305.00          366.00
28..............................          105.00          156.00          203.00          313.00          375.00
29..............................          107.00          160.00          208.00          320.00          384.00
30..............................          110.00          163.00          213.00          328.00          392.00
31..............................          112.00          167.00          218.00          335.00          401.00
32..............................          114.00          170.00          223.00          343.00          410.00
33..............................          116.00          174.00          228.00          350.00          418.00
34..............................          119.00          177.00          233.00          358.00          427.00
35..............................          121.00          181.00          238.00          365.00          435.00
36..............................          123.00          184.00          243.00          373.00          444.00
37..............................          125.00          188.00          248.00          380.00          453.00
38..............................          128.00          191.00          253.00          388.00          461.00
39..............................          130.00          195.00          258.00          395.00          470.00
40..............................          132.00          198.00          263.00          403.00          479.00
41..............................          133.00          202.00          268.00          410.00          487.00
42..............................          135.00          205.00          273.00          418.00          496.00
43..............................          137.00          209.00          278.00          425.00          505.00
44..............................          138.00          212.00          283.00          433.00          514.00
45..............................          140.00          216.00          288.00          440.00          522.00

[[Page 34101]]

 
46..............................          142.00          219.00          293.00          448.00          531.00
47..............................          143.00          223.00          298.00          455.00          540.00
48..............................          145.00          226.00          303.00          463.00          548.00
49..............................          147.00          230.00          308.00          470.00          557.00
50..............................          148.00          233.00          313.00          478.00          566.00
51..............................          148.00          233.00          313.00          478.00          566.00
52..............................          152.00          240.00          323.00          492.00          583.00
53..............................          152.00          240.00          323.00          492.00          583.00
54..............................          154.00          247.00          333.00          505.00          601.00
55..............................          154.00          247.00          333.00          505.00          601.00
56..............................          156.00          254.00          343.00          516.00          617.00
57..............................          156.00          254.00          343.00          516.00          617.00
58..............................          159.00          261.00          353.00          527.00          633.00
59..............................          159.00          261.00          353.00          527.00          633.00
60..............................          161.00          268.00          363.00          538.00          649.00
61..............................          161.00          268.00          363.00          538.00          649.00
62..............................          164.00          275.00          373.00          549.00          666.00
63..............................          164.00          275.00          373.00          549.00          666.00
64..............................          166.00          282.00          383.00          560.00          684.00
65..............................          166.00          282.00          383.00          560.00          684.00
66..............................          168.00          289.00          393.00          571.00          701.00
67..............................          168.00          289.00          393.00          571.00          701.00
68..............................          171.00          296.00          403.00          583.00          718.00
69..............................          171.00          296.00          403.00          583.00          718.00
70..............................          173.00          303.00          413.00          594.00         735.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See the Individual Country Listings for the postage rates that are applicable to each PMGG destination
  country.
\2\ Maximum weight limit is 70 pounds to all destination countries.

* * * * *
[The Individual Country Listing pages in the International Mail Manual 
will be revised to reflect the availability of Priority Mail Global 
Guaranteed service and the applicable postage rates.]

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 00-12971 Filed 5-25-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P