[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 76 (Thursday, April 19, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 23396]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9396]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 501


Revisions to the Requirements for Authority To Manufacture and 
Distribute Postage Evidencing Systems

AGENCY: Postal Service <SUP>TM</SUP>.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This rule establishes the responsibility of the providers of 
Postage Evidencing Systems (PES) to notify the U.S. Postal 
Service[supreg] of any cyber attacks to their systems.

DATES: This rule is effective May 21, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Payment 
Technology, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Room 3436, 
Washington, DC 20260-0911. Copies of all written comments will be 
available for inspection and photocopying between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, at the Payment Technology office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marlo Kay Ivey, Business Programs 
Specialist, Payment Technology, U.S. Postal Service, at 202-268-7613.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Providers currently must disclose all 
findings or results of any testing concerning the security or revenue 
protection features, capabilities, or failings of any PES, as well as 
all potential security weaknesses or methods of tampering with the PES. 
This rule applies the same standard to cyber attacks against the 
provider's systems.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 501

    Postal Service.

    Accordingly, for the reasons stated, 39 CFR Part 501 is amended as 
follows:

PART 501--AUTHORIZATION TO MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTE POSTAGE 
EVIDENCING SYSTEMS

0
1. The authority citation for 39 CFR Part 501 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 410, 
2601, 2605, Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended (Pub. L. 95-
452, as amended); 5 U.S.C. App. 3.


0
2. Section 501.11 is amended by adding paragraph (b)(3) as follows:


Sec.  501.11  Reporting Postage Evidencing System security weaknesses.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) Cyber attacks that include, but are not limited to, gaining 
unauthorized access to digital systems for purposes of misappropriating 
assets or sensitive information, corrupting data, or causing 
operational disruption. Cyber attacks may also be carried out in a 
manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as by 
causing denial-of-service attacks on Web sites. Cyber attacks may be 
carried out by third parties or insiders using techniques that range 
from highly sophisticated efforts to electronically circumvent network 
security or overwhelm Web sites to more traditional intelligence 
gathering and social engineering aimed at obtaining information 
necessary to gain access. Cyber security risk disclosures reported must 
adequately describe the nature of the material risks and specify how 
each risk affects the Postage Evidencing System.
* * * * *

Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Legal Policy & Legislative Advice.
[FR Doc. 2012-9396 Filed 4-18-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P