[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 167 (Wednesday, August 27, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50584-50585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-19803]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


New Automation Requirements for Detached Address Labels

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

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service proposes revisions to the Mailing Standards 
of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) 
for detached address labels (DALs). To increase efficiency and reduce 
handling costs, we propose that DALs accompanying saturation mailings 
of Periodicals or Standard Mail[supreg] flats must be automation-
compatible and have a correct delivery point POSTNET<SUP>TM</SUP> 
barcode or Intelligent Mail[supreg] barcode with an 11-digit routing 
code. This proposal would not apply to DALs with simplified addresses.
    To be consistent with the current requirement for return addresses, 
we are proposing to add DALs to DMM 602.1.5.3, Required Use of Return 
Address.

DATES: We must receive your comments on or before September 26, 2008.

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, Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., USPS 
Headquarters Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., 11th Floor N, 
Washington, DC. Do not submit comments via fax or e-mail.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Monica Grein at 202-268-8411.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 7, 2007, at the request of many 
mailers, we revised our standards to allow advertising on the front of 
DALs provided that the DALs were barcoded and automation-compatible 
(see Postal Bulletin 22208 and DMM 602.4.2.5.b). This change provided 
mailers with the ability to offset the DAL surcharge, implemented in 
May 2007, with new opportunities for advertising revenue.
    Current mailing standards do not require DALs that accompany 
saturation mailings of Periodicals or Standard Mail flats to be 
automation-compatible and barcoded unless advertising appears on the 
front. Automation-compatible and barcoded DALs may be processed with 
letter mail in delivery point sequence (DPS) order, thereby eliminating 
the need for carriers to manually case the labels.
    Except for DALs prepared with simplified addresses, our proposal 
would require that all DALs accompanying saturation mailings of 
Periodicals or Standard Mail flats be automation-compatible and have a 
correct delivery point POSTNET barcode or Intelligent Mail barcode with 
an 11-digit routing code.
    We propose to allow mailers 90 days after the publication date of 
the Federal Register final rule to comply with the new standards for 
DALs, to afford mailers time to exhaust existing stock. We suggest that 
mailers work with their local mailpiece design analyst (MDA) to ensure 
that any new DALs accompanying saturation mailings of Periodicals or 
Standard Mail flats meet the new standards.
    Ninety days from the publication of the Federal Register final 
rule, saturation flats mailings presented with DALs that are not 
automation-compatible and barcoded will not qualify for saturation 
prices but may be entered at the basic carrier route price for 
Periodicals mailings or the basic Enhanced Carrier Route price for 
Standard Mail mailings.
    Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the 
Administrative Procedure Act [5 U.S. C. of 553(b), (c)] regarding 
proposed rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), the Postal Service invites 
public comments on the following proposed revisions to Mailing 
Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual 
(DMM), incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. 
See 39 CFR 111.1.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.

[[Page 50585]]

    Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is proposed to be amended as follows:

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, 414, 
416, 3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, 3633, 
and 5001.

    2. Revise the following sections of the Mailing Standards of the 
United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) as follows:
* * * * *

600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services

* * * * *

602 Addressing

1.0 Elements of Addressing

* * * * *

1.5 Return Addresses

* * * * *

1.5.3 Required Use of Return Addresses

    The sender's domestic return address must appear legibly on:
    [Add new item m to 1.5.3 as follows:]
* * * * *
    m. Detached addressed labels (DALs).
* * * * *

4.0 Detached Address Labels (DALs)

4.1 DALs Use

* * * * *
    [Revise text of 4.1.2 to require that DALs accompanying saturation 
mailings of Periodicals or Standard Mail flats be automation-compatible 
as follows:]

4.1.2 Periodicals or Standard Mail Flats Saturation Mailings

    Saturation mailings of unaddressed Periodicals or Standard Mail 
flats may be mailed with detached address labels (DALs). DALs 
accompanying saturation mailings of Periodicals or Standard Mail flats 
must be automation-compatible under 201.3.0. For this standard, 
saturation mailing means a mailing sent to at least 75% of the total 
addresses on a carrier route or 90% of the residential addresses on a 
route, whichever is less. Deliveries are not required to every carrier 
route of a delivery unit.
* * * * *

4.2 Label Preparation

4.2.1 Label Construction

    Each DAL must be made of paper or cardboard stock that is not 
folded, perforated, or creased, and that meets these measurements:
* * * * *
    [Revise item c of 4.2.1 and add new items d and e as follows:]
    c. At least 0.007 inch thick except under 4.2.1.d.
    d. If more than 4\1/4\ inches high or more than 6 inches in length, 
must be at least 0.009 inch thick.
    e. Must have an aspect ratio (length divided by height) between 1.3 
to 2.5, inclusive.

4.2.2 Addressing

    [Revise text of 4.2.2 to require a POSTNET or Intelligent Mail 
barcode with a delivery point routing code as follows:]
    The address for each item must be placed on a DAL, parallel to the 
longest dimension of the DAL, and must not appear on the item it 
accompanies. The DAL must contain the recipient's delivery address and 
the mailer's return address. A ZIP+4 code or 5-digit ZIP code is 
required unless a simplified address format is used. DALs that 
accompany saturation mailings of Periodicals or Standard Mail flats 
must include a correct delivery point POSTNET barcode or Intelligent 
Mail barcode with an 11-digit routing code (see 708.4) except when 
using a simplified address.
* * * * *

4.2.5 Other Information

    In addition to the information described in 4.2.2 and 4.2.4 and an 
indicium of postage payment, only the following may appear on the front 
of a DAL:
* * * * *
    b. Advertising, under the following conditions:
    [Delete item 1 and renumber current items 2 and 3 as new items 1 
and 2.]
* * * * *
    We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR 111 to reflect 
these changes if our proposal is adopted.

Neva R. Watson,
Attorney, Legislative.
[FR Doc. E8-19803 Filed 8-26-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P