Customized Postage, 21821-21822 [05-8487]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 27, 2005 / Notices
Week of May 30, 2005—Tentative
POSTAL SERVICE
Wednesday, June 1, 2005
Customized Postage
9:30 a.m.
Discussion of Security Issues
(Closed—Ex. 1).
AGENCY:
Thursday, June 2, 2005
SUMMARY: The Postal Service(TM)
provides notice of its intention to
resume testing of the concept of
Customized Postage for a period of one
year commencing 20 calendar days from
the date of publication of this notice in
the Federal Register. PC Postage() is a
method of providing evidence of prepayment of United States postage using
a personal computer and printer and
Internet access to an authorized PC
Postage provider infrastructure
approved by the Postal Service under 39
CFR part 501. Like postage meters, PC
Postage services facilitate customer
access to postage payment and use of
the mail. PC Postage and postage meter
products that print digitally generated
barcode indicia contain human readable
and machine readable elements that
facilitate mail processing and
counterfeit detection due to
identification enabling characteristics.
The typical indicia design consists of
two elements: a postage block and a
distinctly separate block typically called
an ‘‘ad plate.’’ The historical use of ad
plates consists of printed advertising
messages authorized, enabled, and
controlled by a Postal Service approved
postage meter or PC Postage provider.
Customized Postage differs from
conventional PC Postage in two
respects: First, it utilizes the ‘‘ad plate’’
area to print a digital, graphic image.
The image may be one selected from a
‘‘library’’ of images provided by the
authorized PC Postage provider or a
customer supplied image that meets
acceptance criteria established by the
PC Postage provider; and, second,
instead of the customer printing the
selected image on a personal computer
the images are printed by the
Customized Postage provider under
controlled conditions and the finished
product is mailed to the customer. With
respect to postage meter ad plates the
Postal Service will require evaluation
and approval of any process established
by an authorized provider which results
in the printing of a graphic ‘‘ad plate.’’
DATES: This notice is effective April 27,
2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Manager of Postage Technology
Management, at 703–292–3691 or by fax
at 703–292–4073.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In July
2004, the Postal Service authorized a
limited market test of the first exemplar
Postal Service.
Notice of authorization of
market test for Customized Postage.
ACTION:
9:30 a.m.
Briefing on Office of International
Programs (OIP) Programs,
Performance, and Plans (Public
Meeting). (Contact: Margie Doane,
(301) 415–2344).
This meeting will be Web cast live at
the Web address—https://www.nrc.gov.
1:30 p.m.
Discussion of Management Issues
(Closed—Ex. 2&9).
*The schedule for Commission
meetings if subject to change on short
notice. To verify the status of meetings
call (recording)—(301) 415–1292.
Contact person for more information:
Dave Gamberoni, (301) 415–1651.
‘‘Discussion of
Security Issues (Closed—Ex. 1),’’
originally scheduled for Thursday, April
21, 2005 at 1:30 p.m. was not held.
The NRC Commission Meeting
Schedule can be found on the Internet
at: https://www.nrc.gov/what-we-do/
policy-making/schedule.html.
The NRC provides reasonable
accommodation to individuals with
disabilities where appropriate. If you
need a reasonable accommodation to
participate in these public meetings, or
need this meeting notice or the
transcript or other information from the
public meetings in another format (e.g.
braille, large print), please notify the
NRC’s Disability Program Coordinator,
August Spector, at (301) 415–7080,
TDD: (301) 415–2100, or by e-mail at
aks@nrc.gov. Determinations on
requests for reasonable accommodation
will be made on a case-by-case basis.
This notice is distributed by mail to
several hundred subscribers; if you no
longer wish to receive it, or would like
to be added to the distribution, please
contact the Office of the Secretary,
Washington, DC 20555 (301) 415–1969).
In addition, distribution of this meeting
notice over the Internet system is
available. If you are interested in
receiving this Commission meeting
schedule electronically, please send an
electronic message to dkw@nrc.gov.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Dated: April 21, 2005.
Dave Gamberoni,
Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 05–8493 Filed 4–25–05; 9:23 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–M
VerDate jul<14>2003
16:41 Apr 26, 2005
Jkt 205001
PO 00000
Frm 00092
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
21821
of Customized Postage. The test was
concluded on September 30, 2004.
The Postal Service is interested in
obtaining additional knowledge
regarding the market for Customized
Postage, and, therefore, is authorizing an
additional market test of Customized
Postage concepts. By this notice, the
Postal Service invites interested parties
to submit proposed concepts for
consideration.
While each concept will be evaluated
on its own merits, particular conditions
may be required and agreed to by the
Postal Service and the Customized
Postage provider regarding the testing of
that concept. The following conditions
will be applied in common to all
concepts:
1. The provider must be an authorized
PC Postage provider, authorized postage
meter manufacturer or distributor, or a
company affiliated with an authorized
postage provider under conditions
respecting postage revenue security
approved by the Postal Service in
accordance with 39 CFR part 501.1 and
subject to all procedures and regulations
set forth throughout 39 CFR Chapter
501.
2. The Customized Postage indicia
and other printed matter must meet all
Postal Service requirements respecting
placement on a mail piece, readability,
avoidance of interference with and
facilitation of mail processing, and
identification of fraudulent indicia, as
well as all Postal Service regulations
pertaining to PC Postage products and
services.
3. The provider must maintain an
image control process which prevents
the distribution of images that could
harm the public image of the Postal
Service in accordance with 39 CFR
501.6(g) and 501.23(d) and any
subsequent incorporation of
requirements specific to the evolving
concept of Customized Postage.
4. Images which consist of notices or
advertisements may not be included in
Customized Postage produced during
the test.
5. The test will be limited to full rate
First-Class Mail, Priority Mail and
Express Mail services only.
6. The provider must agree that it has
obtained all intellectual property
licenses necessary to provide the
approved service and that it will
reimburse the Postal Service for any
costs and damages the Postal Service
may incur as a result of the provider’s
failure to honor this representation.
7. The provider must agree that the
Postal Service has not exercised 28
U.S.C. 1498 with respect to the
approved Customized Postage product.
E:\FR\FM\27APN1.SGM
27APN1
21822
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 27, 2005 / Notices
8. The provider must design its
Customized Postage indicia in a manner
approved by the Postal Service, which
reduces the likelihood that the public
will be misled into believing that the
product image originated with the
Postal Service.
9. The Postal Service may suspend or
cancel without prior notice and without
liability for any costs incurred or losses
sustained by a provider or customer, the
approval of any customer as a test
participant, or the Customized Postage
test itself, in the event there is sufficient
cause to believe that the test presents
unacceptable risk to Postal Service
revenues, degradation of the ability of
the Postal Service to process or deliver
mail produced by the test participants,
an assessment that continuation of the
test may expose the Postal Service or its
customers to legal liability, or an
assessment that continuation of the test
will cause public or political
embarrassment or harm to the Postal
Service in any way.
10. The Postal Service will require
approved providers of Customized
Postage to pay a fee to defray the costs
of the Postal Service in testing and
evaluating Customized Postage.
11. Additional conditions and
requirements may be set forth in
individual product test approval letters.
Persons interested in submitting
proposed Customized PC Postage
concepts should contact: Manager,
Postage Technology Management, U.S.
Postal Service, 1735 North Lynn Street,
Room 5011, Arlington, VA 22209–6030;
(703) 292–3590 (Telephone); (703) 292–
4073 (Fax); ptm@USPS.gov.
Neva Watson,
Attorney, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 05–8487 Filed 4–26–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710–12–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. IC–26836; File No. 812–13054]
New England Life Insurance Co., et al.,
Notice of Application
April 21, 2005.
Securities and Exchange
Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’).
ACTION: Notice of application for an
order pursuant to Sections 11(a) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
‘‘Act’’).
AGENCY:
Applicants: New England Life
Insurance Company (‘‘NELICO’’), New
England Variable Life Separate Account
(the ‘‘Variable Account’’), and New
England Securities Corporation (‘‘NES’’)
Summary of the Application:
Applicants request an order pursuant to
VerDate jul<14>2003
16:57 Apr 26, 2005
Jkt 205001
Section 11(a) of the Act approving the
terms of the following proposed offer of
exchange of variable life insurance
contracts offered by NELICO and made
available through the Variable Account:
outstanding scheduled premium
variable life insurance contracts
(‘‘Zenith Life Contract,’’ ‘‘Zenith Life
Plus Contract,’’ ‘‘Zenith Life Plus II
Contract,’’ ‘‘Zenith Life Executive 65
Contract,’’ and ‘‘Zenith Variable Whole
Life Contract’’ and, collectively, the
‘‘Scheduled Premium Contracts’’) for
the Zenith Flexible Life 2001 contract
(the ‘‘Zenith 2001 Contract’’).
Filing Date: The application was filed
on December 22, 2003 and amended and
restated on April 21, 2005.
Hearing or Notification of Hearing: An
order granting the application will be
issued unless the Commission orders a
hearing. Interested persons may request
a hearing by writing to the Secretary of
the Commission and serving the
Applicants with a copy of the request,
personally or by mail. Hearing requests
should be received by the Commission
by 5:30 p.m. on May 12, 2005, and
should be accompanied by proof of
service on the Applicants, in the form
of an affidavit or, for lawyers, a
certificate of service. Hearing requests
should state the nature of the writer’s
interest, the reason for the request, and
the issues contested. Persons may
request notification of a hearing by
writing to the Secretary of the
Commission.
ADDRESSES: Secretary, Securities and
Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street,
NW., Washington, DC 20549–0609.
Applicants, c/o Marie C. Swift, Esq.,
New England Life Insurance Company,
501 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116.
Copies to: Stephen E. Roth, Esq. and
Mary E. Thornton, Esq., Sutherland
Asbill & Brennan LLP, 1275
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20004–2415.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Harry Eisenstein, Senior Counsel, or
Zandra Y. Bailes, Branch Chief, Office of
Insurance Products, Division of
Investment Management, at (202) 551–
6795.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Following
is a summary of the application. The
application is available for a fee from
the Commission’s Public Reference
Branch, 450 5th Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20549–0102 (telephone
(202) 551–8090).
Applicants’ Representations
1. NELICO is a stock life insurance
company organized under the laws of
Delaware in 1980 as New England
Variable Life Insurance Company. New
England Variable Life Insurance
PO 00000
Frm 00093
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Company was a wholly owned
subsidiary of New England Mutual Life
Insurance Company. On August 30,
1996, New England Mutual Life
Insurance Company merged into
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
(‘‘MetLife’’), a life insurance company
with principal offices in New York.
MetLife is a wholly owned subsidiary of
MetLife, Inc., a publicly traded
company. Thereafter, MetLife became
the parent of New England Variable Life
Insurance Company, and the latter
changed its name to New England Life
Insurance Company and changed its
domicile from the State of Delaware to
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
NELICO is authorized to operate in all
states and the District of Columbia.
2. NELICO established the Variable
Account on January 31, 1983, under
Delaware law. When NELICO changed
its domicile to Massachusetts on August
30, 1996, the Variable Account became
subject to Massachusetts law. The
Variable Account is registered under the
Act as a unit investment trust, and is a
‘‘separate account’’ as that term is
defined in Section 2(a)(37) of the Act.
NELICO is the legal owner of the assets
in the Variable Account. The obligations
to contract owners and beneficiaries
arising under the contracts are general
corporate obligations of NELICO, and
the general assets of NELICO support
the contracts. The assets of the Variable
Account equal to its reserves and other
contract liabilities are not available to
meet the claims of NELICO’s general
creditors, but are held and applied
exclusively to the benefit of holders of
those variable life insurance contracts
funded through the Variable Account.
The investment performance of the
Variable Account is independent of both
the investment performance of the
general account of NELICO and of any
other separate account that NELICO has
established or may establish in the
future.
3. NES is registered with the
Commission as a broker-dealer, and is a
member of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. NES serves as
principal underwriter for the Scheduled
Premium Contracts and the Zenith 2001
Contracts. NES is an indirect, wholly
owned subsidiary of NELICO.
General Description of Zenith Life 2001
Contracts
4. The Zenith 2001 Contracts are
flexible premium variable life insurance
contracts offered pursuant to a
registration statement under the
Securities Act of 1933 (‘‘1933 Act’’) (File
No. 333–103193). The Zenith 2001
Contracts are available for sale to
E:\FR\FM\27APN1.SGM
27APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 27, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21821-21822]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8487]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
POSTAL SERVICE
Customized Postage
AGENCY: Postal Service.
ACTION: Notice of authorization of market test for Customized Postage.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Postal Service(TM) provides notice of its
intention to resume testing of the concept of Customized Postage for a
period of one year commencing 20 calendar days from the date of
publication of this notice in the Federal Register. PC Postage([reg])
is a method of providing evidence of pre-payment of United States
postage using a personal computer and printer and Internet access to an
authorized PC Postage provider infrastructure approved by the Postal
Service under 39 CFR part 501. Like postage meters, PC Postage services
facilitate customer access to postage payment and use of the mail. PC
Postage and postage meter products that print digitally generated
barcode indicia contain human readable and machine readable elements
that facilitate mail processing and counterfeit detection due to
identification enabling characteristics. The typical indicia design
consists of two elements: a postage block and a distinctly separate
block typically called an ``ad plate.'' The historical use of ad plates
consists of printed advertising messages authorized, enabled, and
controlled by a Postal Service approved postage meter or PC Postage
provider. Customized Postage differs from conventional PC Postage in
two respects: First, it utilizes the ``ad plate'' area to print a
digital, graphic image. The image may be one selected from a
``library'' of images provided by the authorized PC Postage provider or
a customer supplied image that meets acceptance criteria established by
the PC Postage provider; and, second, instead of the customer printing
the selected image on a personal computer the images are printed by the
Customized Postage provider under controlled conditions and the
finished product is mailed to the customer. With respect to postage
meter ad plates the Postal Service will require evaluation and approval
of any process established by an authorized provider which results in
the printing of a graphic ``ad plate.''
DATES: This notice is effective April 27, 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Manager of Postage Technology
Management, at 703-292-3691 or by fax at 703-292-4073.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In July 2004, the Postal Service authorized
a limited market test of the first exemplar of Customized Postage. The
test was concluded on September 30, 2004.
The Postal Service is interested in obtaining additional knowledge
regarding the market for Customized Postage, and, therefore, is
authorizing an additional market test of Customized Postage concepts.
By this notice, the Postal Service invites interested parties to submit
proposed concepts for consideration.
While each concept will be evaluated on its own merits, particular
conditions may be required and agreed to by the Postal Service and the
Customized Postage provider regarding the testing of that concept. The
following conditions will be applied in common to all concepts:
1. The provider must be an authorized PC Postage provider,
authorized postage meter manufacturer or distributor, or a company
affiliated with an authorized postage provider under conditions
respecting postage revenue security approved by the Postal Service in
accordance with 39 CFR part 501.1 and subject to all procedures and
regulations set forth throughout 39 CFR Chapter 501.
2. The Customized Postage indicia and other printed matter must
meet all Postal Service requirements respecting placement on a mail
piece, readability, avoidance of interference with and facilitation of
mail processing, and identification of fraudulent indicia, as well as
all Postal Service regulations pertaining to PC Postage products and
services.
3. The provider must maintain an image control process which
prevents the distribution of images that could harm the public image of
the Postal Service in accordance with 39 CFR 501.6(g) and 501.23(d) and
any subsequent incorporation of requirements specific to the evolving
concept of Customized Postage.
4. Images which consist of notices or advertisements may not be
included in Customized Postage produced during the test.
5. The test will be limited to full rate First-Class Mail[supreg],
Priority Mail[supreg] and Express Mail[supreg] services only.
6. The provider must agree that it has obtained all intellectual
property licenses necessary to provide the approved service and that it
will reimburse the Postal Service for any costs and damages the Postal
Service may incur as a result of the provider's failure to honor this
representation.
7. The provider must agree that the Postal Service has not
exercised 28 U.S.C. 1498 with respect to the approved Customized
Postage product.
[[Page 21822]]
8. The provider must design its Customized Postage indicia in a
manner approved by the Postal Service, which reduces the likelihood
that the public will be misled into believing that the product image
originated with the Postal Service.
9. The Postal Service may suspend or cancel without prior notice
and without liability for any costs incurred or losses sustained by a
provider or customer, the approval of any customer as a test
participant, or the Customized Postage test itself, in the event there
is sufficient cause to believe that the test presents unacceptable risk
to Postal Service revenues, degradation of the ability of the Postal
Service to process or deliver mail produced by the test participants,
an assessment that continuation of the test may expose the Postal
Service or its customers to legal liability, or an assessment that
continuation of the test will cause public or political embarrassment
or harm to the Postal Service in any way.
10. The Postal Service will require approved providers of
Customized Postage to pay a fee to defray the costs of the Postal
Service in testing and evaluating Customized Postage.
11. Additional conditions and requirements may be set forth in
individual product test approval letters.
Persons interested in submitting proposed Customized PC Postage
concepts should contact: Manager, Postage Technology Management, U.S.
Postal Service, 1735 North Lynn Street, Room 5011, Arlington, VA 22209-
6030; (703) 292-3590 (Telephone); (703) 292-4073 (Fax); ptm@USPS.gov.
Neva Watson,
Attorney, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 05-8487 Filed 4-26-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P
