Details of Annual Golf Tournament Announced

The Lehigh Valley Postal Customer Council will hold its 12th Annual Golf Tournament (rain or shine) at the Bethlehem Municipal Golf Club on Friday, September 10, 2010. 

Don’t miss this great opportunity for networking with friends in the postal community!

The cost is $80 per person; including greens fees, cart, dinner, and prizes. All reservations and payments must be received by Friday, August 30, 2010. Please make checks payable to LVPCC.

Mail your completed registration form and payment to:

Susan Powell
United States Postal Service
1000 Postal Road
Allentown, PA 18109-8900

For further information contact:

Greg Cunningham: 610-776-8352
Bill Raven: 484-240-6500

Download information pack and registration form

Updated Federal Register Notices

The following Federal Register notices are available on the Postal Explorer® website at pe.usps.com. Please review and note the deadline for comment periods on the proposed rules.

Content of Periodicals Mail 

We are updating “content requirements” on materials eligible for mailing at Periodicals prices with authorized Periodicals publications. This final rule, pending publication, may be implemented at the mailers’ convenience, and will be incorporated into the September update of the DMM®.

Address Management Services – Elimination of the Manual Card Option for Address Sequencing Services

We published this proposed rule to eliminate the manual cards option for Address Sequencing service. Customers are encouraged to comment on or before August 18, 2010.

New Standards for Domestic Mailing Services

We filed a notice of mailing services price adjustments with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), effective in January 2011. This proposed rule provides the mailing standards that would accompany the new prices in 2011. Customers may comment on or before August 9, 2010.

International Mail: Proposed Changes in Prices and Fees

We filed a notice of mailing services price adjustments with the Postal Regulatory Commission, effective in January 2011. This proposed rule provides the mailing standards that would accompany new prices in 2011. Customers may comment on or before August 9, 2010.

DMM Advisory – July Update

Postal Explorer® (pe.usps.com) is your source for up-to-date mailing standards. The Domestic Mail Manual 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:

Plant-Verified Drop Shipment (PVDS)—Nonpostal Documentation
We revised 705.15.2.14 which clarifies the use and purpose of PS Form 8125, Plant-Verified Drop Shipment (PVDS) Verification and Clearance, as well as other documents that mailers’ nonpostal transportation providers (carriers) may present at the time of induction.

Revenue Deficiency
We revised 604.10.0 and 608.8.0 to incorporate the new Headquarters manager, Revenue Assessment and Control (MRAC) into the assessment and appeal procedures governing shortages in fees or postage.

Business Reply Mail Online Application Option
We revised 507.9.3.2 and 507.9.5.2 to eliminate the option to obtain a Business Reply Mail® (BRM) permit online. Additionally, the electronic version of PS Form 6805, Qualified Business Reply Mail (QBRM) Application, will also be removed.

Restricting the Mailing of Replica or Inert Explosive Devices
601.12.5 was added to implement a new standard restricting the mailing of replica or inert explosive devices, such as simulated grenades that are not dangerous but bear a realistic appearance to explosive devices, by Registered Mail™ service only.

Deposit of Stamped Mail Over 13 Ounces sent to APO, FPO, and DPO Destinations—Clarification and Update
We deleted 703.2.1.7 and revised 703.2.3 to clarify the deposit of items bearing only postage stamps sent to APO, FPO, and DPO destinations.

2010 Standard Mail Incentive Program (aka 2010 Summer Sale)
We revised 709.2.0, applicable to the Standard Mail® Volume Incentive Program that ended on September 30, 2009, with new standards describing the 2010 Standard Mail Incentive Program.

Treatment of Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco as Nonmailable Matter
We revised 503.6.0, 601.11.0, and 608.8.0 to describe new standards pertaining to the mailing of tobacco, cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.

Our next scheduled DMM update is August 2.

Escalation Process for Mailers

On occasion, the Postal Service™ receives inquiries from mailers about who they should contact when they cannot get questions resolved at the acceptance unit of their business mail entry office. This DMM Advisory provides the escalation process and contact information to assist mailers in getting their questions answered as quickly as possible.

For questions concerning business mail preparation or acceptance, mailers should always consult first with the local Post Office^® or Business Mail Entry Unit where they hold their permits and deposit their mail. A BME Supervisor or Postmaster can be a good resource for information and assistance.

If you have questions regarding mailpiece design, contact your local Mailpiece Design Analyst.  You can search by using the Mailpiece Design Analyst Lookup.

The first step in escalating an issue or concern is to contact your District Business Mail Entry Manager. You can search by using the District Business Mail Entry Locator.

If you are unable to resolve your issues, you can escalate to the local District Marketing Manager. Marketing Managers and their Districts’ 3-digit ZIP Codes are listed on RIBBS>Business Mail Acceptance, under Important Links.

Mailers with Detached Mail Units (DMUs) and/or Special Postage Payment Systems may contact their District Business Mail Entry Manager. If unresolved they should contact their Business Mailer Support (BMS) Analyst.  A list of BMS Analysts can be found on RIBBS>Business Mail Acceptance, under Important Links.

The next step in the escalation process is the Area Marketing Manager. You can find contact information on RIBBS>Business Mail Acceptance, under Important Links.

If you feel that your concerns have not been addressed and you want to escalate it further, send an email to MailerSOXConcerns@usps.gov to have your issue addressed at the Headquarters level.

DMM Advisory – June Update

Postal Explorer (pe.usps.com) is your source for up-to-date mailing standards. The Domestic Mail Manual 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:

Booklets: New Optional Design for Letter-Sized Booklets
We revised 201.3.0 to modify language that refers to the bound edge of a booklet as an edge and to rename the bound edge as the spine; to modify the reference to cover paper for one design format; to extend booklet design parameters; and to introduce a second folding option in the folded booklet category.

New Deflection Standards for Commercial Flat-Size Mail
We revised 301.1.0 to implement new deflection standards on commercial flat-size mail.

New Facing Identification Mark (FIM) E Pattern
We revised 708.9.0 to add a new FIM E pattern that will be used for future customized services.

Click-N-Ship Insurance Indemnity Coverage Increase—Feasibility Test Extension
We revised 709.4.0 to extend the feasibility test period that permits the purchase of domestic Click-N-Ship online insurance coverage up to $5,000.00

Labeling List Changes
We revised Labeling List(s) L001, L002, L003, L004, L005, L007, L008, L009, L011, L201, L606, and L607 to reflect changes in mail processing operations.

Our next scheduled DMM update is July 6.