Listing of USPS-Approved Adult Fowl Mailing Containers

We revised 601.9.3.4 to add a reference for a new listing of USPS-approved container vendors for the mailing of adult fowl and other approved birds.

Centralization of Move Update and ZIP Code Accuracy Standards

We revised 233.3.0, 243.3.0, 333.3.0, 343.3.0, 363.4.0, 433.3.0, 443.3.0, and 463.4.0 to consolidate and centralize Move Update and ZIP Code accuracy standards into new sections 602.5.0 and 602.6.0.

Post Office (PO) Box Fee Groups for Merged Locations

We revised 508.4.0 to allow Post Office Box (PO Box) fee groups to be merged into a single location due to Post Office mergers and to have the ability to change a fee group more than one higher or lower level at a time in limited circumstances.

Suspension of Periodicals Privileges

We revised 707.8.3.4 to amend the authority for noncompliance from the postmaster to the Pricing and Classification Service Center (PCSC) when a publisher does not file PS Form 3526, Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation, or publish the information provided on the form.

USPS Return Services

We revised 126.1.0, 136.1.0, 156.1.0 and 705.24.0 to introduce new options designed for the return of merchandise; and to add a new subchapter 505 to consolidate all other USPS return service standards.

Reassignment of ZIP Codes Between NDCs and ASFs: Revision to Destination Entry Exhibits

We revised 246, 346, 366, 446, 453, and 466 to change the exhibits for destination network distribution center (DNDC) eligibility to reflect the reassignment of certain 3-digit ZIP Code ranges.

Mailing Firearms—Clarification

We revised 601.12.1 through 601.12.3 to clarify the standards surrounding the mailability of firearms.

Our next scheduledDMMupdate is January 22.

On October 18, we filed notices of a Market Dominant Price Adjustment for both domestic and international Mailing Services with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), to be effective on January 22, 2012.

New Standards for Domestic Mailing Services –This proposed rule contains revisions to the DMM^® to accompany the price changes, including several mail classification changes, modifications to mailpiece characteristics, and changes in classification terminology.

International Mail: Proposed Product Rate and Fee Changes – This proposed rule contains revisions to the IMM^®, including price changes to First-Class Mail International^® and international extra services.

The proposed rules are now available on the Postal Explorer^® website at pe.usps.com by clicking on “Federal Register Notices” in the left frame.

Customers are encouraged to comment on or before November 23, 2011. Final rules will be published shortly after the comment period ends.

The comment period closes on October 21. Please send any comments to the special email address created for the mailing industry: industryfeedback@usps.gov.

Parcel Return Service—Clarifications

We revised 507.13.0 to clarify standards regarding Parcel Return Service (PRS).

2010 Standard Mail Incentive Program Removal

We revised 709 by removing section 2.0, Standard Mail Incentive Program.

Service Standards for Express Mail Military Service (EMMS)

We revised 703.2.0 which clarifies the USPS service commitment for Express Mail items sent to and from APO/FPO and DPO destinations.

First-Class Package Service

We revised 401, 402, 433, 434, 435, 436, 503, 507, 602, 705, and 708 to introduce First-Class Package Service, which replaces and removes First-Class Mail commercial base and commercial plus parcels from the market-dominant product offering.

PostalOne!® and FAST^® Deployment — PostalOne!^® Release 27.0.3 and Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST) Release 17.2 will be deployed during the scheduled maintenance window on Sunday, October 2, 2011, from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. CDT. PostalOne!^® will not be available from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. CDT and FAST will not be available from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. CDT.

PostalOne!^® 27.0.3 Release Notes are posted on the RIBBS^® website.

FAST 17.2 Release Notes and User Guides will be posted on the FAST website (Resources/Reference Documents section) and on RIBBS on Sunday, October 2. Please direct any questions to the FAST Help Desk (FAST@usps.gov or 1-877-569-6614).

PostalOne!^® Release 27.0.3 and FAST Release 17.2 will deploy to the Test Environment for Mailers (TEM) on Monday, October 3, 2011; FAST TEM will not be available from 8 a.m. to 12 noon CDT.

PostalOne!^® Maintenance — PostalOne!^® users should note that the scheduled maintenance windows on Sunday, October 9, 2011 and Sunday, October 16, 2011, from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. CDT, may be used for critical back end system changes to prepare for Release 28.0. Exact start and end times of any planned outages in those maintenance windows will be provided.

PostalOne! Full-Service and Mail Quality reports will be unavailable to mailers from 5 p.m. CDT Thursday, March 24, 2011, to 6 a.m. CDT Monday, March 28, 2011, while the USPS™ MicroStrategy reporting servers are upgraded from MicroStrategy Version 8.x to MicroStrategy Version 9.x.

Flats Sequencing System Presort Level ID Codes — As more mailers begin to adopt the optional Flats Sequencing System (FSS) bundle preparation standards, the Intelligent Mail^® barcode system needs a way to indicate that level of presort. Barcode ID 20, currently used for optional endorsement line (OEL) 5-digit and 5-digit scheme presorts, has been extended for use on flats prepared under the rules for optional FSS bundle preparation.

The barcode ID tables have been updated in the Barcode ID table and Technical Resource Guide on RIBBS^®. Clarifying the use of Barcode ID 20 for FSS OEL will not affect systems using Barcode ID information, but rather enable the Intelligent Mail barcode system to reflect bundles prepared under the FSS optional preparation.

New Mail.dat^® Client for Reply Rides Free Program: The new Mail.dat Client will be available as part of Release 26.0 to support the Reply Rides Free incentive program. Mailers must download the new Mail.dat Client prior to the February 15, 2011, expiration of the previous versions.

Today’s announcement, made following consultation with key industry leaders, means that mailers also may continue to use the POSTNET barcode for reply mail (such as Business Reply Mail (BRM), QBRM and Permit Reply Mail) and PLANET Code® for Confirm® Service.

The relaxing of requirements beyond the planned May POSTNET retirement timeframe allows for an easier transition to the full use of the IMb while continuing to receive automation discounts. 

The value of the IMb is a proven technological advantage with more than 41 billion pieces of IMb-enabled mail processed by the USPS. As more Industry leaders continue to embrace the IMb, the Postal Service is committed to enhancing the benefits of Intelligent Mail Services.

The new prices take effect on April 17, 2011, almost two years since the Postal Service last raised prices for Mailing Services products. Based on a price cap calculated by the PRC using Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, we will increase prices by an average of 1.741 percent across each Mailing Services class of mail.

The new prices can be viewed online on Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com. Click on the link in the left blue navigation frame under “*New* April 17, 2011 Pricing Information.”

We will use the DMM Advisory to keep you informed.

Postalone!® Release 26 will be deployed on January 2, 2011.  Three training seminars have been scheduled in conjunction with this release:

Thursday December 23, 2010 – 2 pm to 4 pm EST
EVENT Number:  991 533 779
EVENT Address for attendees: https://usps.webex.com/usps/onstage/g.php?d=991533779&t=a

Thursday, December 30, 2010 – 2 pm to 4 EST
EVENT Number:   994 264 624
EVENT Address for attendees: https://usps.webex.com/usps/onstage/g.php?d=994264624&t=a

Thursday, January 7, 2011 – 2:00pm to 4:00pm EST
EVENT Number:  996 233 811
EVENT Address for attendees: https://usps.webex.com/usps/onstage/g.php?d=996233811&t=a