[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 190 (Wednesday, October 1, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51372-51373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26031]



[[Page 51372]]

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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Classification Changes; Bound Printed Matter

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This rule sets forth the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) standard 
to increase the weight of Bound Printed Matter from 10 pounds to 15 
pounds adopted by the Postal Service to implement the Decision of the 
Governors of the Postal Service on Postal Rate Commission Docket No. 
MC97-3.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 5, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia A. Bennett, (202) 268-6350.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In response to requests from Bound Printed 
Matter customers, the Postal Service proposed to increase the maximum 
weight limit for Bound Printed Matter from 10 to 15 pounds in Docket 
No. MC97-2, Parcel Classification Reform. This increase was to include 
single-piece, carrier route bulk, and basic bulk Bound Printed Matter. 
No change in existing rates was proposed for the subclass. Rather, the 
existing per-piece and per-pound rate elements were to remain in place, 
with the per-pound elements applied to the additional pounds. After the 
Postal Service withdrew its request in Docket No. MC97-2, a joint 
motion was filed by the Advertising Mail Marketing Association (AMMA), 
the Association of American Publishers (AAP), and the Direct Marketing 
Association (DMA), requesting that the PRC initiate the current 
proceeding in order to consider extending the weight limit for Bound 
Printed Matter.
    Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3624 on September 4, 1997, the PRC issued its 
Recommended Decision in Docket No. MC97-3 to increase the weight limit 
for Bound Printed Matter from 10 pounds to 15 pounds, to the Governors 
of the Postal Service. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3625, the Governors 
approved the PRC's recommendation, and the Board of Governors set an 
implementation date of October 5, 1997, for the increase in weight 
limit for Bound Printed Matter to take effect.

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, 5001.

    2. Amend the Domestic Mail Manual as set forth below:
Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)

C  CHARACTERISTICS AND CONTENT

* * * * *

  C600 Standard Mail

1.0  DIMENSIONS
* * * * *

1.2  Standard Mail (B)

[Amend 1.2a by replacing ``10 pounds'' with ``15 pounds'' to read as 
follows:]

    These dimensional standards apply to Standard Mail (B):
    a. No piece may weigh more than 70 pounds, except matter at Bound 
Printed Matter rates may not weigh more than 15 pounds.
* * * * *

E  ELIGIBILILTY

* * * * *

E600  Standard Mail

* * * * *

E620  Nonautomation Nonpresort Rates

* * * * *
3.0  BOUND PRINTED MATTER

3.1  Description

[Amend 3.1 by replacing ``10 pounds'' with ``15 pounds'' to read as 
follows:]

    Bound Printed Matter is Standard Mail weighing at least 1 pound but 
not more than 15 pounds and meeting the standards in E611 and E613. 
Bound Printed Matter rates are based on zones and on the weight of the 
piece.
* * * * *

P  POSTAGE AND PAYMENT METHODS

P000  Basic Information

P010  General Standards

* * * * *

P013  Rate Application and Computation

* * * * *
5.0  RATE APPLICATION--STANDARD MAIL (B)
* * * * *

5.3  Single-Piece Bound Printed Matter

[Amend 5.3 by replacing ``10 pounds'' with ``15 pounds'' to read as 
follows:]

    The single-piece Bound Printed Matter rate is charged per half-
pound from 1.5 through 5 pounds, and per pound from more than 5 through 
15 pounds. For pieces weighing 1 through 5 pounds or less, any fraction 
of a half-pound is considered a whole half-pound. For pieces weighing 
more than 5 but not more than 15 pounds, any fraction of a pound is 
considered a whole pound. * * *
* * * * *

R  RATES AND FEES

* * * * *

R600  Standard Mail

* * * * *
7.0  BOUND PRINTED MATTER
[Amend 7.0 by adding the rates for 11 pounds through 15 pounds in 7.1b, 
7.3a, and 7.3b to read as follows:]

7.1  Single-Piece

* * * * *
    b. Computed Bound Printed Matter Single-Piece:

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                                                                                                   Zone                                                 
            Weight not over (pounds)             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Local        1 & 2          3            4            5            6            7            8     
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11.0............................................        $1.40        $2.00        $2.24        $2.62        $3.21        $3.83        $4.58        $5.22
12.0............................................         1.43         2.06         2.31         2.73         3.38         4.05         4.87         5.56
13.0............................................         1.46         2.11         2.39         2.84         3.54         4.27         5.15         5.91
14.0............................................         1.49         2.17         2.46         2.95         3.71         4.49         5.44         6.25
15.0............................................         1.53         2.22         2.54         3.06         3.87         4.71         5.73         6.60
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* * * * *

7.3  Bulk Rate Computed Postage Amount With Postage Affixed

    a. Basic Bulk Bound Printed Matter:

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                                                                                                   Zone                                                 
            Weight not over (pounds)             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Local        1 & 2          3            4            5            6            7            8     
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11.0............................................       $0.783       $1.173       $1.393       $1.789       $2.372       $2.999       $3.747       $4.385
12.0............................................         .806        1.216        1.456        1.888        2.524        3.208        4.024        4.720
13.0............................................         .829        1.259        1.519        1.987        2.676        3.417        4.301        5.055
14.0............................................         .852        1.302        1.582        2.086        2.828        3.626        4.578        5.390
15.0............................................         .875        1.345        1.645        2.185        2.980        3.835        4.855        5.725
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    b. Carrier Route Bulk Bound Printed Matter:

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                                                                                                   Zone                                                 
            Weight not over (pounds)             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Local        1 & 2          3            4            5            6            7            8     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.0............................................       $0.720       $1.110       $1.330       $1.726       $2.309       $2.936       $3.684       $4.322
12.0............................................         .743        1.153        1.393        1.825        2.461        3.145        3.961        4.657
13.0............................................         .766        1.196        1.456        1.924        2.613        3.354        4.238        4.992
14.0............................................         .789        1.239        1.519        2.023        2.765        3.563        4.515        5.327
15.0............................................         .812        1.282        1.582        2.122        2.917        3.772        4.792        5.662
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* * * * *
    An appropriate amendment to 39 CFR 111.3 will be published to 
reflect these changes.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 97-26031 Filed 9-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P