Address Management Services-Elimination of the Manual Card Option for Address Sequencing Services, 41790-41792 [2010-17460]

Agencies

• Postal Service

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 137 (Monday, July 19, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 41790-41792]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-17460]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


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

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service proposes to revise Mailing Standards of the 
United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) 507.8 
to eliminate the manual cards option for Address Sequencing service.

DATES: We must receive your comments on or before August 18, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Mailing 
Standards, U.S. Postal Service[supreg], 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Room 
3436, Washington DC 20260-3436. You may inspect and photocopy all 
written comments at USPS[supreg] Headquarters Library, 475 L'Enfant 
Plaza SW., 11th Floor N, Washington DC between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday. E-mail comments concerning the proposed price 
eligibility, containing the name and address of the commenter, may be 
sent to: MailingStandards@usps.gov, with a subject line of ``Address 
Management Services comments.'' Faxed comments are not accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth Jones at 901-681-4585, or Bill 
Chatfield at 202-268-7278.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Current mailing standards provide for the 
sequencing of address lists into carrier route walk sequence order by 
ZIPTM Code. Mailers use this service to become eligible for 
electronic Computerized Delivery Sequence (CDS) service. CDS service is 
needed in order to qualify mailings for Enhanced Carrier Route pricing, 
which requires address sequencing. For the manual option of Address 
Sequencing service, customers send address cards to the appropriate 
Address Management Services district office or to the delivery unit for 
manual processing. Although there were approximately 12 customers in 
Fiscal Year 2009; for 2010 year-to-date only 3 customers have requested 
this service. USPS recommends that these customers use the electronic 
option for Address

[[Page 41791]]

Sequencing service which analyzes if a customer's address list has 
sufficient saturation at the 5-digit ZIP Code level to qualify for CDS 
service. Electronic Address Sequencing (EAS) service provides mailers 
an electronic process that is more economical and efficient than 
manually sequencing cards. The electronic process provides customers 
with a faster processing turnaround and more consistent results.

Procedures

    There is no price difference between the card and electronic 
options for Address Sequencing service; therefore, we propose to move 
customers to the electronic version, which conveys information in a 
secured electronic format. Currently, 2 of the 12 card option Address 
Sequencing customers already also subscribe to EAS service. Beginning 
in January 2011, the Postal Service proposes that the Address 
Sequencing card option would no longer be available to mailers.
    We also propose to improve DMM sections 507.8.2 through 507.8.7 by 
organizing, consolidating and rearranging the flow of information so 
that it is easier to read.
    Although we are exempt from the notice and comment requirements of 
the Administrative Procedure Act [5 U.S.C. of 553 (b), (c)] regarding 
proposed rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), we invite public comments on 
the following proposed revisions to Mailing Standards of the United 
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), incorporated by 
reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR part 111.1.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.

    Accordingly, 39 CFR Part 111 is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 111--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for 39 CFR Part 111 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 552(a); 13 U.S.C. 301-307; 18 U.S.C. 1692-
1737; 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 414, 416, 3001-3011, 3201-3219, 
3403-3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, 3633, and 5001.

    2. Revise the following sections of Mailing Standards of the United 
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) as follows:

Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail 
Manual (DMM)

* * * * *

500 Additional Mailing Services

* * * * *

507 Mailer Services

* * * * *
    [Revise heading of 8.0 as follows:]

8.0 Electronic Address Sequencing (EAS) Service

    [Revise title and text of 8.1 as follows:]

8.1 Service Description, Options, and Fees

    Electronic Address Sequencing (EAS) service processes a customer's 
addresses file for walk sequence and/or qualification for Computerized 
Delivery Sequence (CDS). EAS offers a basic service with two additional 
service options as explained below. Customers submit their address 
files to the National Customer Support Center (NCSC) in Memphis, TN, 
for electronic processing. See Notice 123, Price List, for fees.

8.1.1 Basic Service

    The basic service sequences the address files and removes all 
incorrect or undeliverable addresses. A fee is charged for each 
incorrect or undeliverable address that is removed. In addition, 
mailers can choose one of the services in 8.1.2 and/or 8.1.3. Fees are 
applied as follows:
    a. Sequence remaining addresses (no fee).
    b. Remove incorrect or undeliverable addresses (fee).

8.1.2 Adding Sequence Numbers for Missing Addresses

    This service option sequences the address files, removes all 
incorrect or undeliverable addresses, adds sequence numbers to all 
deliverable addresses submitted, and identifies the location of missing 
addresses. A fee is charged for each incorrect or undeliverable address 
that is removed. No fee is charged for identifying the location of 
missing addresses. Fees are applied as follows:
    a. Sequence remaining addresses (no fee).
    b. Remove incorrect or undeliverable addresses (fee).
    c. Identify the location of missing addresses (no fee).

8.1.3 Adding Missing or New Addresses

    This service option sequences the address files, removes all 
incorrect or undeliverable addresses, and adds new or missing addresses 
(including rural address conversions to city-style addressing). For 
each 5-digit ZIP Code grouping, the address list must contain 90% to 
110% of all possible deliveries. Address groupings include city carrier 
(residential addresses only); city carrier (business addresses only); 
city carrier (combination of residential and business addresses); rural 
and highway contract route addresses; and Post Office box addresses. A 
fee is charged for each incorrect or undeliverable address that is 
removed and for each address (possible delivery) that is added to the 
customer's address list. For apartment or office buildings with a 
series of addresses for which the USPS provides a range of addresses, 
the charge is for each address (possible delivery) in the range or 
series. Customers requesting this service will be allowed only three 
attempts to qualify a ZIP Code grouping in a 12-month period. Fees are 
applied as follows:
    a. Sequence remaining addresses (no fee).
    b. Remove incorrect or undeliverable addresses (fee).
    c. Insert missing or new addresses (fee).
    [Delete current items 8.2 through 8.7 in their entirety and replace 
with items 8.2 through 8.4 as follows:]

8.2 Submission and Processing of Electronic Files

8.2.1 Submission of Electronic Files

    The customer must submit address files on electronic media in a 
flat text file to the CDS Department at the NCSC (see 608.8 for 
address). The customer must not submit an address file in excess of 
110% of the possible deliveries for a specific 5-digit ZIP Code 
delivery area. Additional information is available in the EAS User 
Guide on RIBBS at https://ribbs.usps.gov.

8.2.2 Delivery Unit Summary

    The customer must submit an electronic Delivery Unit Summary for 
each file submitted indicating the 5-digit ZIP Code to be processed.

8.2.3 Payment

    Once payment is received for services provided in 8.1.1 and 8.1.2, 
the NCSC returns the address file to the customer. For services 
provided in 8.1.3, all fees must be received prior to fulfillment of 
CDS data.

8.2.4 Seasonal Addresses

    For CDS qualified mailers, addresses receiving mail only during 
specific seasons (e.g., summer only) are identified in the CDS file.

8.2.5 Address Seeds

    For CDS qualified mailers, the USPS will provide seed addresses to 
list owners for inclusion in their address files for file protection 
upon request. If

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a request for sequencing contains a seed address, the owner of the seed 
address will be notified within 30 days.

8.3 No Charge Services

    The following services are provided at no charge for all three 
levels of service:
    a. If the customer includes a rural-style address (RR/box number) 
in an address file submitted for sequencing, and a street address is 
assigned to that box number, the correct address is included at no 
charge.
    b. The USPS attempts, but does not guarantee, to make simple 
corrections to addresses (e.g., obvious spelling errors) that can be 
identified as specific delivery addresses and are not undeliverable as 
addressed or nonexistent.

8.4 Submitting Properly Sequenced Mailings

8.4.1 Customer Responsibility

    Customers must ensure that mailings are prepared in correct carrier 
route delivery sequence and resequence an address file when necessary. 
The USPS does not provide list-sequencing service for mailings not 
prepared in correct carrier route delivery sequence if the customer is 
so notified but fails to take corrective action.

8.4.2 Changes

    When delivery changes affect delivery sequence, CDS customers will 
automatically receive an updated electronic file from the USPS.

8.4.3 Out-of-Sequence Mailing

    If a mailing is found to be out of sequence, the customer is 
informed in writing both of the error and that, unless the situation is 
corrected, the USPS will not provide carrier route sequencing service. 
If the customer does not take corrective action, the USPS gives written 
notice that the customer is no longer allowed to submit address files 
to the NCSC for sequencing. Within 30 days, the customer may file a 
written appeal with the postmaster who gave notice.

8.4.4 Reinstatement

    A customer denied address file sequencing service for a specific 
ZIP Code may not submit address files to the NCSC for sequencing where 
that sequencing service was terminated for 1 year after the effective 
date of termination. After that time, the customer is again authorized 
to submit the ZIP Code address files to the NCSC for sequencing. At any 
time during the year after termination of service, the customer may 
renew the submission if the NCSC is provided evidence that the customer 
has taken all necessary action to correct the past errors.
* * * * *

509 Other Services

1.0 Address Information Systems Products

* * * * *

1.4 Carrier Route Schemes

    [Revise text of 1.4 as follows:]
    Under, 507.7.2.2, Carrier Route File, a mailer may ask for a copy 
of the city scheme used by clerks for sorting mail. The mailer is 
responsible for sorting using the current bimonthly Carrier Route File 
scheme.
* * * * *
    We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR Part 111 to 
reflect these changes if our proposal is adopted.

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 2010-17460 Filed 7-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-P