Clarification of the Post Office Box Lock Replacement Fee, 71548 [2010-29732]

Agencies

• Postal Service

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 226 (Wednesday, November 24, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 71548]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-29732]



[[Page 71548]]

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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Clarification of the Post Office Box Lock Replacement Fee

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service will revise Mailing Standards of the United 
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) 508.4.8.4 to 
clarify the applicability of the lock replacement fee for Post 
OfficeTM boxes to reflect current practice.

DATES: January 2, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nan McKenzie at 202-268-3089 or David 
Rubin at 202-268-2986.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 9, 2010, the Federal Register 
published the Postal Service proposed rule, New Standards for Domestic 
Mailing Services (75 FR 39477-39492). The applicability of the lock 
replacement fee for Post Office (PO) Boxes was included in this 
proposed rule.
    Current DMM standards require payment of the lock replacement fee 
when a customer requests that the lock be changed. The Postal Service 
also applies this fee when customers renew PO BoxTM service 
more than 10 days after the renewal due date. This provides an 
incentive for customers to pay their PO Box rental fee on time. For 
those customers who do not renew until after the 10-day grace period, 
the Postal Service often changes the lock or incurs other related 
costs, such as plugging the lock and bundling and holding mail 
separately for the owner of the PO Box. The lock replacement fee is 
treated as a late payment fee, even in those cases in which the Postal 
Service does not actually change the lock.
    No customer comments were received regarding the July 9, 2010 
proposed rule.
    The Postal Service hereby adopts the following changes to the 
Mailing Services of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail 
Manual (DMM), which is incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal 
Regulations. See 39 CFR 111.1.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.

0
Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is amended as follows:

PART 111--[AMENDED]

0
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.


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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

* * * * *

508 Recipient Services

* * * * *

4.0 Post Office Box Service

* * * * *

4.8 Keys and Locks

* * * * *

4.8.4 Lock Replacement

[Revise text of 4.8.4 by adding the following sentence as a new last 
sentence as follows:]

* * * The lock replacement fee also applies as a late payment charge 
when the customer renews a box more than 10 days after the renewal due 
date, whether or not the lock is actually changed.
* * * * *
    We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to 
reflect these changes.

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 2010-29732 Filed 11-23-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P