This final rule Federal Register provides a new option for mailers to combine Standard Mail® flats and Periodicals flats within the same bundle, when placed on pallets, and to combine bundles of Standard Mail flats and bundles of Periodicals flats on the same pallet. Standard Mail service standards will apply to all Periodicals flats pieces entered in these combined mailings. The entire final rule can be viewed on the Postal Explorer® website by clicking "Federal Register Notices" in the left blue navigation panel. The effective date is January 22, 2012. Postal Explorer® (pe.usps.com) is your source for up-to-date mailing standards. The Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) is fully searchable on Postal Explorer and features fly-out menus, cross-reference links, and an extensive subject index. Today, we updated our mailing standards to capture the following changes:
Bundle Preparation - Strapping Transparency. We revised 300, 400, 705 and 707 to provide standards for the transparency characteristic of clear strapping.
Clarification on Processing Refund Requests for Unused Meter Indicia. We revised 604.9.3 to clarify the standards that apply to the payment of approved refund requests for unused postage evidencing system indicia.
Forwarding and Return Service for Parcel Select Mailpieces. We revised 507.1.0 and 507.2.0 to discontinue the free local forwarding of Parcel Select mailpieces and to eliminate the option to request discontinuance of forwarding.
New Authorization Process for Mailers Using Special Postage Payment Systems. We revised 705 to reflect a new authorization process for mailers wishing to mail under a special postage payment system, and to remove reference to fixed 2-year authorization periods.
New Standards for Round-Trip Mailings of Optical Discs. We revised 100, 200, 300, and 500 to provide new standards for round-trip mailings with one standard optical disc no larger than 12 centimeters in diameter enclosed per mailpiece.
Adult Signature Service. We revised 503, 508.7.2, 601.11.6, and 703.3.2, to add a new extra service called Adult Signature.
Mobile Barcode Promotion. We revised 709.4.0 to add a temporary promotion for First-Class Mail cards, letters and flats, and Standard Mail letters and flats bearing two-dimensional mobile barcodes.
Bundle Preparation - Strapping Transparency. We revised 300, 400, 705 and 707 to provide standards for the transparency characteristic of clear strapping.
Clarification on Processing Refund Requests for Unused Meter Indicia. We revised 604.9.3 to clarify the standards that apply to the payment of approved refund requests for unused postage evidencing system indicia.
Forwarding and Return Service for Parcel Select Mailpieces. We revised 507.1.0 and 507.2.0 to discontinue the free local forwarding of Parcel Select mailpieces and to eliminate the option to request discontinuance of forwarding.
New Authorization Process for Mailers Using Special Postage Payment Systems. We revised 705 to reflect a new authorization process for mailers wishing to mail under a special postage payment system, and to remove reference to fixed 2-year authorization periods.
New Standards for Round-Trip Mailings of Optical Discs. We revised 100, 200, 300, and 500 to provide new standards for round-trip mailings with one standard optical disc no larger than 12 centimeters in diameter enclosed per mailpiece.
Adult Signature Service. We revised 503, 508.7.2, 601.11.6, and 703.3.2, to add a new extra service called Adult Signature.
Mobile Barcode Promotion. We revised 709.4.0 to add a temporary promotion for First-Class Mail cards, letters and flats, and Standard Mail letters and flats bearing two-dimensional mobile barcodes.
