12764 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 42 / Friday, March 2, 2012 / Proposed Rules POSTAL SERVICE systems. USPS also uses this PART 111—[AMENDED] information for multiple purposes: to 39 CFR Part 111 fulfill regulatory commitments, to 1. The authority citation for 39 CFR manage staffing and workload, and to part 111 continues to read as follows: POSTNET Barcode Discontinuation improve service. We are proposing that Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 13 U.S.C 301– AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM. the use of the IMb would be required for 307; 18 U.S.C. 1692–1737:39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 414, 416, 3001–3011, 3201–3219, ACTION: Proposed rule. all automation letters, including Business Reply Mail® letters that qualify 3403–3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, 3633, SUMMARY: The Postal Service proposes for Qualified Business Reply Mail prices and 5001. to revise various sections of the Mailing and Permit Reply Mail letters, and 2. Revise the following sections of Standards of the United States Postal automation flats by January 2013. Mailing Standards of the United States Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) Proposed Change for Letters Only Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual to set the timetable for discontinuing the (DMM), as follows: use of POSTNETTM barcodes on all We propose to revise DMM 202.5.0 to types of mail for price eligibility. require barcode clear zones on all letters Mailing Standards of the United States DATES: We must receive comments on or and cards claiming an automation letter Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual before April 2, 2012. price or automation carrier route letter (DMM) ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written price, and to require all machinable * * * * * letters to have barcode clear zones. comments to the Manager, Product 200 Commercial Letters and Cards Classification, U.S. Postal Service, 475 Reserving a barcode clear zone in the L’Enfant Plaza SW., Room 4446, bottom right of the mailpiece allows for 201 Physical Standards Washington, DC 20260–5015. You may postal equipment to print and read * * * * * inspect and photocopy all written barcode routing information in cases comments at USPS® Headquarters where no customer-applied address 3.0 Physical Standards for Library, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW., 11th block barcode is present, or is Machinable and Automation Letters Floor N, Washington, DC by unreadable. It reduces processing costs and Cards appointment only between the hours of by increasing barcode recognition rates, 3.1 Basic Standards for Automation 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through keeping mail on automation equipment, Letters and Cards Friday by calling 1–202–268–2906 in and ensures mailpiece visibility. advance. Email comments, containing Standards for background and print Letters and cards claimed at any the name and address of the commenter, reflectance (in DMM 708.4.4) are also machinable, automation, or Standard may be sent to: needed to ensure readability of barcodes Mail automation carrier route letter [email protected], with a in the clear zone. price, must meet the standards in 3.0 and in 202.5.1 for barcode clear zone. subject line of ‘‘POSTNET Proposed Changes for Parcels Discontinuation.’’ Unless prepared as a folded self-mailer, Currently, the POSTNET barcode is booklet, or postcard under 3.14 through FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill an available option to satisfy the parcel 3.16, each machinable or automation Chatfield, 202–268–7278 or Jeff ® letter must be a sealed envelope (the Freeman, 202–268–2922. barcode requirement for Standard Mail parcels. We propose to eliminate the use preferred method) or, if unenveloped, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: of the POSTNET barcode on parcels, must be sealed or glued completely The Postal Service’s proposed rule unless it is printed in the address block. along all four sides. includes the basis for discontinuing use eVS® parcels would not be allowed to * * * * * of POSTNET barcodes and allowing bear POSTNET barcodes in any only Intelligent Mail® barcodes (IMbTM) 3.17 Enclosed Reply Cards and location. for automation price eligibility Envelopes purposes. The Postal Service General 3.17.1 Basic Standard understands that many mailers We encourage customers to comment currently use POSTNET barcodes and Mailers may enclose reply cards or on the proposed changes. This proposed we are committed to providing envelopes, addressed for return to a rule provides the opportunity for information to and working with domestic delivery address, within mailers to make adjustments to their individual mailers and software automation mailings subject to operations before the effective date. providers to ensure that the use of an provisions in 3.0 for enclosures. See Intelligent Mail barcode is achievable Although we are exempt from the 505.1.0 for Business Reply Mail (BRM) for all mailing customers. This proposed notice and comment requirements of the standards, 604.4.5.2 for postage rule also contains the proposed Administrative Procedure Act [5 U.S.C evidencing reply mail (also known as revisions to the DMM to implement the 553 (b), (c)] regarding proposed Metered Reply Mail or MRM) standards, changes. rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410 (a), we and 3.17.2 regarding Courtesy Reply invite public comments on the Mail (CRM). Proposed Change for Letters and Flats following proposed revisions to Mailing [Revise the tile and text of 3.17.2 as For the past several years, both Standards of the United States Postal follows:] USPS® and the mailing industry have Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), used the Intelligent Mail barcode to gain incorporated by reference in the Code of 3.17.2 Courtesy Reply Mail information about letters and flats as Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 111.1. Courtesy reply mail (CRM) is reply they move from induction to delivery. List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111 mail other than BRM or MRM enclosed Postal customers use this information in other mail, with or without for numerous purposes: to anticipate Administrative practice and prepayment of postage, for return to the store traffic, to coordinate sales and procedure, Postal Service. address on the reply piece. If postage is marketing efforts, and to design better Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is required, the customer returning the ‘‘just in time’’ inventory and fulfillment proposed to be amended as follows: piece affixes the applicable First-Class VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:18 Mar 01, 2012 Jkt 226001 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\02MRP1.SGM 02MRP1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 42 / Friday, March 2, 2012 / Proposed Rules 12765 Mail postage. Each piece must meet the current 5.7 through 5.11 as new 5.6 and at least 0.028 inch between the physical standards in 1.0 or 2.0. through 5.10.] barcode and the top edge of the window. * * * * * 5.6 Barcode in Address Block * * * * * 202 Elements on the Face of a When the barcode is included as part Mailpiece of the address block: 220 Priority Mail * * * * * * * * * * 223 Prices and Eligibility [Revise renumbered items 5.6c 3.0 Placement and Content of Mail * * * * * through 5.6e as follows:] Markings c. The minimum clearance between 3.0 Basic Standards for Priority Mail * * * * * the Intelligent Mail barcode and any * * * * * information line above or below it 3.5 Exceptions to Markings within the address block must be at 3.2 Additional Standards for Critical Exceptions are as follows: least 0.028 inch. The separation Mail Letters [Revise the first sentence in item 3.5a between the barcode and top line or * * * Critical Mail letters also must: as follows:] bottom line of the address block must * * * * * a. Automation letters. Automation not exceed 0.625 (5⁄8) inch. The [Revise item 3.2b as follows:] letters do not require an ‘‘AUTO’’ clearance between the leftmost and b. Bear a delivery address that marking if they bear an Intelligent Mail rightmost bars and any adjacent printing includes the correct ZIP Code, ZIP+4 barcode with a delivery point routing must be at least 0.125 (1⁄8) inch. code, or numeric equivalent to the code in the address block or on an insert d. If a window envelope is used, the delivery point routing code and which visible through a window. clearance between the leftmost and meets address quality standards in * * * * * rightmost bars and any printing or 233.5.5 and 708.3.0. window edge must be at least 0.125 (1⁄8) * * * * * 5.0 Barcode Placement inch. The clearance between the 5.1 Barcode Clear Zone Intelligent Mail barcode and the top and 230 First-Class Mail bottom window edges must be at least 233 Prices and Eligibility [Revise the first sentence of 5.1 as 0.028 inch. These clearances must be follows:] * * * * * maintained during the insert’s range of Each letter-size piece in mailings at movement in the envelope. Address 4.0 Additional Eligibility Standards machinable letter prices and in block windows on heavy letter mail for Nonautomation First-Class Mail automation or Enhanced Carrier Route must be covered. Covers for address Letters mailings at automation letter prices block windows are subject to 5.10. * * * * * must have a barcode clear zone as e. If an address label is used, a clear described below. * * * space of at least 0.125 (1⁄8) inch must be 4.2 Barcodes * * * * * left between the barcode and the left [Revise the text of 4.2 as follows:] 5.2 General Barcode Placement for and right edges of the address label. The Any Intelligent Mail barcode on a Letters clearance between the Intelligent Mail mailpiece in nonautomation First-Class barcode and the top and bottom edges Mail mailings must be correct for the [Revise the first sentence of 5.2, and of the address label must be at least delivery address and meet the standards add a new second sentence, as follows:] 0.028 inch.