Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 141 / Monday, July 23, 2018 / Proposed Rules 34807 Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 13 U.S.C. 301– eVS parcels. An Intelligent Mail barcode 604 Postage Payment Methods and 307; 18 U.S.C. 1692–1737; 39 U.S.C. 101, in the address block must be placed Refunds 401, 403, 404, 414, 416, 3001–3011, 3201– according to 5.3. 3219, 3403–3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, * * * * * * * * * * 3633, and 5001. 4.0 Postage Meters and PC Postage ■ 2. Revise the Mailing Standards of the 8.0 Facing Identification Mark (FIM) Products (‘‘Postage Evidencing United States Postal Service, Domestic * * * * * Systems’’) Mail Manual (DMM) as follows: 8.2 Pattern * * * * * Mailing Standards of the United States 4.3 Postage Payment Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual [Revise the third sentence in the (DMM) introductory text of 8.2 to read as * * * * * follows:] * * * * * * * * The required FIM pattern as 4.3.3 Placement of Postage 200 Commercial Mail Letters, Cards, shown in Exhibit 8.2.0 below depends * * * When placing indicia on Flats, and Parcels on the type of mail and the presence of mailpieces, position indicia at least 1⁄4 an Intelligent Mail barcode as follows: inch from the right edge of the * * * * * 1 * * * * * mailpiece and ⁄4 inch from the top edge of the mailpiece and as follows: 202 Elements on the Face of a 204 Barcode Standards Mailpiece * * * * * Overview * * * * * [Revise the text of item e to read as [Revise the link heading under follows:] 5.0 Barcode Placement Letters and ‘‘Overview’’ to read as follows:] e. Do not allow the indicia to infringe Flats on the areas reserved for the FIM, 1.0 Standards for Intelligent Mail 5.1 Letter-Size Intelligent Mail barcode, or optical Barcodes character reader (OCR) clear zone. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * [Revise the heading of 1.0 to read as 5.1.4 Additional Barcode Index Permissibility follows:] * * * * * [Revise the text of 5.1.4 to read as 1.0 Standards for Intelligent Mail follows:] Barcodes P An automation letter or a letter 1.1 General * * * * * claimed at Enhanced Carrier Route [Delete the ‘‘POSTNET’’ line item in [Revise the text of 1.1 to read as saturation or high density automation the Index.] follows:] letter prices may not bear a 5-digit or * * * * * ZIP+4 Intelligent Mail barcode in the An Intelligent Mail barcode is a lower right corner (barcode clear zone). USPS-developed method to encode ZIP Ruth Stevenson, The piece may bear an additional Code information on mail that can be Attorney, Federal Compliance. Intelligent Mail barcode in the address read for sorting by automated machines. Intelligent Mail barcodes also encode [FR Doc. 2018–15549 Filed 7–20–18; 8:45 am] block only if a qualifying Intelligent BILLING CODE 7710–12–P Mail barcode with a delivery point other tracking information. routing code appears in the lower right [Delete 1.2, POSTNET Barcode, in its entirety and renumber 1.3 through 1.6 corner. POSTAL SERVICE as 1.2 through 1.5.] * * * * * * * * * * 39 CFR Part 111 5.2 Flat-Size 507 Mailer Services New Mailing Standards for 5.2.1 Barcode Placement for Flats * * * * * Merchandise Return Service [Revise the fifth sentence of 5.2.1 to read as follows:] 4.0 Address Correction Services AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM. * * * An additional Intelligent Mail * * * * * ACTION: Proposed rule. barcode may also appear in the address SUMMARY: The Postal Service is block of an automation flat, when the 4.2 Address Change Service (ACS) proposing to revise Mailing Standards qualifying Intelligent Mail barcode is * * * * * of the United States Postal Service, not in the address block. * * * 4.2.6 Additional Standards—When Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) to * * * * * Using Intelligent Mail Barcodes provide for new procedures for the 6.0 Barcode Placement for Parcels * * * Mailpieces must meet the processing and rating of Merchandise following specifications: Return Service (MRS) pieces, and in the * * * * * future, to transition all current MRS * * * * * [Revise the heading and text of 6.3 to permit holders to use the new read as follows:] [Revise the text of item b to read as follows:] procedures. 6.3 Intelligent Mail Barcodes b. Flat-size mailpieces may be mailed DATES: Submit comments on or before Intelligent Mail barcodes (IMb) do not at nonautomation or automation prices. August 22, 2018. meet barcode eligibility requirements * * * * * ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written for parcels and do not qualify for any comments to the manager, Product barcode-related prices for parcels, but 600 Basic Standards For All Mailing Classification, U.S. Postal Service, 475 one barcode may be included only in Services L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 4446, the address block on a parcel, except on * * * * * Washington, DC 20260–5015. If sending VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:31 Jul 20, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\23JYP1.SGM 23JYP1 amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with PROPOSALS1 34808 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 141 / Monday, July 23, 2018 / Proposed Rules comments by email, include the name at some point in the near future, and is can be used for electronic funds and address of the commenter and send intended to ultimately eliminate the transfer, retail deposit, mobile deposit, to [email protected] with need for the manual rating process used and ACH Debit. Business mailers will be a subject line of ‘‘Merchandise Return with traditional MRS. The Postal able to view payment information in a Service’’. Faxed comments are not Service expects to eliminate the use of consolidated format on an EPS accepted. You may inspect and USPS Return Services and the scan- dashboard that shows account balances, photocopy all written comments, by based payment process no sooner than postage statement reports, transactions appointment only, at USPS January 2020 and traditional MRS no history, and other information. For EPS Headquarters Library, 475 L’Enfant sooner than January 2021. During the set-up or support, contact Postalone@ Plaza SW, 11th Floor North, transition to the new methodology, the usps.gov or call 1–800–522–9085. Washington, DC 20260. These records Postal Service intends to work with the The Automated Returns methodology are available for review Monday through mailing industry to ensure all existing is expected to use the same prices as Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., by calling 202– USPS Return Services and MRS permit those currently applied to USPS Return 268–2906. holders are transitioned to the new Services, and to apply those prices to FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: process before these deadlines arrive. each individual return mailpiece in near Direct questions to Karen F. Key by Permit holders who are unable to meet real time. Because of the greater level of email at [email protected] or phone the deadlines stated above can contact accuracy and granularity associated at (202) 268–7492, or Vicki Bosch by the Postal Service to request with the new process, the Postal Service email at [email protected] or consideration for an extension. The does not expect current USPS Return phone at (202) 268–4978. Postal Service will evaluate extension Services permit holders to be negatively requests on a case-by-case basis. affected. As a result, the Postal Service SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of The new methodology will include proposes to notify and transition current its Package Platform initiative, the many of the features associated with the USPS Return Services permit holders Postal Service is leveraging the devices current USPS Return Services process, meeting the necessary criteria to an EPA that were installed as part of the and will be tentatively called account automatically, and unless the Automated Verification System to Automated Returns. The three service permit holder objects, to convert their enhance the capability of equipment categories under Automated Returns are permits to the Automated Returns used for the processing of package-size proposed to be Automated Priority Mail methodology without further action mailpieces. The upgraded equipment is Returns, Automated First-Class Package required by the permit holder. The able to capture near real-time data on Returns, and Automated Ground Postal Service expects to work with mailpiece dimensions, weight, mail Returns, which will be linked to Priority current traditional MRS permit holders class or product, and the presence of Mail®, First-Class Package Service®— to eventually transition them to the new Extra Services, and to transmit these Commercial, and Parcel Select process. data to Postal Service information GroundTM product prices, respectively. The Postal Service proposes to limit systems as applicable. The Postal For Priority Mail, Commercial Plus® Extra Services available for the new Service is proposing to use this new and Commercial Base® prices are Automated Returns methodology to technology to streamline its processes proposed to apply to qualifying Insurance, Signature ConfirmationTM, for the identification, rating, and Automated Returns account holders, and Certificate of Mailing. USPS postage assessment of returns. Under based on the payer’s outgoing volume. Tracking® will still be included as part this process, automated package-sorting Negotiated Service Agreement prices are of the service. The Postal Service equipment will identify return packages also expected to be available for eligible proposes to omit the options to use as they pass special scanners, determine customers using Automated Returns. Registered Mail®, Special Handling, and the weight, dimension and mail class of Similar to the process used with Return Receipt for Merchandise with the packages, use the captured data to traditional MRS and USPS Return Automated Returns. Over time, the use determine postage charges associated Services, the Postal Service does not of these services has declined, and they with each package, and enable account expect to require account holders to pay are now rarely used with MRS.