Simplifying Threshold Volume Requirements for USPS Return Services, 54188-54190 [2014-21510]
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54188
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 176 / Thursday, September 11, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988, ‘‘Civil
Justice Reform.’’
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of
1995
This rule will not result in the
expenditure by State, local, and tribal
governments, in the aggregate, or by the
private sector, of $100,000,000 or more
in any one year, and it will not
significantly or uniquely affect small
governments. Therefore, no actions are
necessary under the provisions of the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of
1995.
Congressional Review Act
This action pertains to agency
management and, accordingly, is not a
‘‘rule’’ as that term is used by the
Congressional Review Act (Subtitle E of
the Small Business Regulatory
Enforcement Fairness Act). Therefore,
the reports to Congress and the General
Accounting Office specified by 5 U.S.C.
801 are not required.
List of Subjects in 28 CFR Part 0
Administrative practice and
procedure, Authority delegations
(Government agencies), Government
employees, Organization and functions
(Government agencies), Privacy,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Whistleblowing.
Accordingly, by virtue of the
authority vested in me as Attorney
General, including 5 U.S.C. 301 and 28
U.S.C. 509, 510, Chapter I of title 28 of
the Code of Federal Regulations is
amended as follows:
PART 0—ORGANIZATION OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
1. The authority citation for part 0
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 28 U.S.C. 509,
510, 515–519.
[Amended]
2. In § 0.35, remove the words
‘‘Associate Attorney General’’ each
place they appear and add in their place
the words ‘‘Deputy Attorney General’’.
■
§ 0.36
[Amended]
3. In § 0.36, remove the words
‘‘Associate Attorney General’’ each
place they appear and add in their place
the words ‘‘Deputy Attorney General’’.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
■
Dated: September 5, 2014.
Eric H. Holder, Jr.,
Attorney General.
[FR Doc. 2014–21678 Filed 9–10–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410–29–P
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39 CFR Part 111
Simplifying Threshold Volume
Requirements for USPS Return
Services
Postal ServiceTM.
Interim rule with request for
comments.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
To minimize customer
confusion and ensure consistent
administration, the Postal Service
proposes to change the total annual
volume thresholds required for USPS
Return Services products to qualify for
Commercial Plus® pricing. A minimum
volume of 50,000 will be established for
these products across the board to
simplify the product and make it easier
for customers to do business with the
Postal Service.
DATES: Effective date: The interim rule
is effective September 15, 2014.
Comment date: Comments are due on
or before November 10, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written
comments to the manager, Product
Classification, U.S. Postal Service, 475
L’Enfant Plaza SW., Room 4446,
Washington, DC 20260–5015. You may
inspect and photocopy all written
comments at the USPS® Headquarters
Library, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW., 11th
Floor N, Washington, DC by
appointment only between the hours of
9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through
Friday, by calling 202–268–2906 in
advance. Email comments, containing
the name and address of the commenter,
may be sent to: ProductClassification@
usps.gov, with a subject line of
‘‘Threshold Volume for USPS Return
Services’’. Faxed comments are not
accepted.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Subpart G—Office of the Pardon
Attorney
§ 0.35
POSTAL SERVICE
Karen F. Key at 202–268–7492
(karen.f.key@usps.gov); John F. Rosato
at 202–268–8597 (john.f.rosato@
usps.gov); or Suzanne Newman at 202–
695–0550 (suzanne.j.newman@
usps.gov).
The Postal
Service has determined that it is
immediately necessary to simplify its
returns shipping options. Currently,
there are different annual volume
threshold requirements to qualify for
Commercial Plus® pricing for products
under the USPS Return Services
umbrella. These products are Priority
Mail® Return Service, First-ClassTM
Package Return® Service, and Ground
Return Service.
As the requirements now exist,
Commercial Plus pricing is available for
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PO 00000
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Sfmt 4700
cumulative Priority Mail Return Service
and First-Class Package Return Service
volume exceeding a combined total of
25,000 return pieces in the previous
calendar year. Additionally,
Commercial Plus cubic volume must
exceed a combined total of 85,000
pieces returned in approved packaging
in the previous calendar year, or
cumulative returns and outbound
volume must exceed a combined total of
90,000 pieces in the previous calendar
year to qualify. Commercial Plus pricing
customer commitments may differ
depending on the individual signed
agreements with USPS. The Postal
Service has discovered that these varied
and overlapping criteria are confusing to
customers, and increasingly difficult to
administer. Additionally, this change
better aligns with recently adopted
changes to the Priority Mail cubic
threshold, and to the outbound Priority
Mail CPP threshold, of 50,000 pieces.
To provide consistency for customers
without signed agreements, the Postal
Service proposes to establish a
minimum total annual threshold
volume requirement of 50,000 for all
USPS Return Services products in order
to qualify for Commercial Plus pricing.
This simplified approach will not affect
customers with the 25,000 piece
threshold until their agreements expire.
At that time, the 50,000 piece threshold
will apply unless an extension is
requested and approved by the Vice
President, Sales.
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111
Administrative practice and
procedure, Postal Service.
The Postal Service adopts the
following interim changes to Mailing
Standards of the United States Postal
Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM),
which is incorporated by reference in
the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39
CFR part 111.1. Accordingly, 39 CFR
part 111 is 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)
*
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 176 / Thursday, September 11, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
200 Commercial Mail Letters, Cards,
Flats, and Parcels
*
*
*
*
*
220
Commercial Mail Priority Mail
*
*
223
Prices and Eligibility
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
1.2 Commercial Base Prices
For prices, see Notice 123—Price List.
The Commercial Base prices are
available for:
[Revise the text of 1.2e to read as
follows:]
e. Permit holders using Merchandise
Return Service, including Priority Mail
Return Service, for mailpieces returned
at Priority Mail prices when all
requirements are met (505.0).
*
*
*
*
*
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
1.3
Commercial Plus Prices
1.3.1 Basic Eligibility
[Revise the entire text of 1.3.1 to read
as follows:]
For prices, see Notice 123—Price List.
Commercial Plus prices are available to
Priority Mail (including Critical Mail)
customers who qualify for Commercial
Base prices and whose cumulative
account volume exceeds a combined
total of 5,000 letter-size and flat-size
pieces (including Flat Rate Envelopes,
but not the Padded Flat Rate Envelope)
or 50,000 total pieces in the previous
calendar year (except Priority Mail
Open and Distribute) and who have a
customer commitment agreement with
USPS (New Priority Mail customers see
1.3.2), and are:
a. Registered end-users of USPSapproved PC Postage products.
b. Permit imprint customers.
c. Priority Mail Open and Distribute
(PMOD) customers whose account
volume exceeds 600 PMOD containers
(see 705.18.5.1).
d. Permit holders using Merchandise
Return Service, including USPS
Returns, for mailpieces returned at
Priority Mail prices, when all
requirements are met (505.0).
e. Customers using USPS-approved
IBI postage meters that print the IBI
with the appropriate price marking for
commercial price items (202.3.3) and
electronically transmit transactional
data daily to USPS for all mailpieces
and mail categories.
*
*
*
*
*
1.5
Commercial Plus Cubic
1.5.1 Commercial Plus Cubic
Eligibility
[Revise the entire text of 1.5.1 to read
as follows:]
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54189
Commercial Plus cubic prices are
available to Priority Mail customers
whose account volumes exceeded
50,000 pieces in the previous calendar
year and have a customer commitment
agreement with the USPS. New Priority
Mail customers see 1.5.5. Each
mailpiece must measure .50 cubic foot
or less, weigh 20 pounds or less, and the
longest dimension may not exceed 18
inches. Cubic-priced mailpieces may
not be rolls or tubes. The Commercial
Plus cubic prices are available for:
a. Registered end-users of USPSapproved PC Postage products.
b. Permit imprint customers.
Customers are required to use the
Electronic Verification System (eVS)
program or submit an electronic postage
statement with a computerized manifest
under 705.2.0. Mailings must contain at
least 200 pieces or 50 pounds of mail.
Mailpieces are not required to be
identical in weight.
c. Permit holders using Merchandise
Return Service, including USPS
Returns, for parcels returned at Priority
Mail prices when all requirements are
met (505.0).
*
*
*
*
*
a. Establish a customer commitment
agreement with the Postal Service to
mail, or receive, more than 5,000 FirstClass Package Service machinable
parcels at Commercial Plus prices in a
calendar year.
b. Pay for postage by one of the
following methods:
1. Permit imprint using the Electronic
Verification System (eVS) or submit an
electronic postage statement with a
computerized manifest.
2. Are registered end-users of USPSapproved PC Postage products when
using a qualifying shipping label,
managed by the PC Postage system.
3. Permit holders using Merchandise
Return Service, including USPS
Returns, for First-Class Package Service
mailpieces, when all applicable
requirements are met (505.0).
*
*
*
*
*
280 Commercial Mail First-Class
Package Service
*
*
*
*
*
*
283
Prices and Eligibility
1.0 Prices and Fees for First-Class
Package Service
*
*
*
*
*
[Revise the entire text of 1.3 to read
as follows:]
1.3 Commercial Base Prices
Commercial Base prices are available
for presorted mailings or the residual
portion of a presorted mailing, prepared
under 285.4.0, or single-piece mailings,
paid by one of the following methods:
a. Registered end-users of USPSapproved PC Postage products when
using a qualifying shipping label,
managed by the PC Postage system.
b. USPS-approved IBI postage meters
that electronically transmit transactional
data to USPS.
c. Permit imprint.
d. Permit holders using Merchandise
Return Service, including First-Class
Package Return Service, for First-Class
Package Service mailpieces being
returned, when all applicable
requirements are met (505.0).
1.4 Commercial Plus Prices
[Revise the entire text of 1.4 to read
as follows:]
First-Class Package Service prices are
available for presorted or single-piece
mailings, and when customers:
PO 00000
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500
Additional Mailing Services
*
*
505
Return Services
*
*
3.0
Merchandise Return Service
3.1
Prices and Fees
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
[Revise the entire text of 3.1.5 to read
as follows:]
3.1.5 Priority Mail Commercial Base
and Commercial Plus Prices
See Notice 123—Price List for
applicable prices. Priority Mail
Commercial Base and Commercial Plus
prices are available to MRS permit
holders when the following criteria are
met:
a. Commercial Base prices are
available for permit holders using MRS
for Priority Mail items (223.1.2) when
all MRS requirements for Priority Mail
are met.
b. Commercial Plus prices are
available for permit holders using MRS
for Priority Mail items who qualify for
Commercial Base prices (223.1.2) and
whose account volume exceed 50,000
pieces in the previous calendar year or
who have a customer commitment
agreement with the USPS (223.1.3.2).
*
*
*
*
*
4.0
USPS Return Services
*
*
4.4
Pricing
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
[Revise the entire text of 4.4.2 to read
as follows:]
4.4.2 Commercial Plus Prices
Eligibility for Commercial Plus prices
are available to permit holders who
E:\FR\FM\11SER1.SGM
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54190
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 176 / Thursday, September 11, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
qualify for Commercial Base prices, and
at least one of the following:
a. Have cumulative volumes of
Priority Mail Return Service, First-Class
Package Return Service, or Ground
Return Service exceeding a combined
total of 50,000 return pieces in the
previous calendar year.
b. Have cumulative returns and
outbound Commercial Plus cubic
volume exceeding a combined total of
50,000 pieces returned in approved
packaging in the previous calendar year.
c. Have cumulative returns and
outbound volume exceeding a combined
total of 50,000 pieces in the previous
calendar year.
d. Have a signed Commercial Plus
returns customer commitment
agreement with USPS.
e. Have a signed Commercial Plus
Critical Mail commitment agreement
with USPS.
*
*
*
*
*
Following the expiration of the
comment period, the Postal Service will
publish its responses to any adverse
comments in a subsequent Federal
Register notice, together with its
determination whether to confirm the
interim rule as published, or modify the
rule in response to the comments
received.
Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Federal Requirements.
[FR Doc. 2014–21510 Filed 9–10–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710–12–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 1
[MD Docket No. 14–92; MD Docket No. 13–
140; MD Docket No. 12–201; FCC 14–129]
Assessment and Collection of
Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2014
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
In this document the
Commission revises its Schedule of
Regulatory Fees to recover an amount of
$339,844,000 that Congress has required
the Commission to collect for fiscal year
2014. Section 9 of the Communications
Act of 1934, as amended, provides for
the annual assessment and collection of
regulatory fees for annual ‘‘Mandatory
Adjustments’’ and ‘‘Permitted
Amendments’’ to the Schedule of
Regulatory Fees.
DATES: Effective September 11, 2014. To
avoid penalties and interest, regulatory
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
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fees should be paid by the due date of
September 23, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Roland Helvajian, Office of Managing
Director at (202) 418–0444.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
summary of the Commission’s Report
and Order (R&O), FCC 14–129, MD
Docket No. 14–92; MD Docket No. 13–
140; MD Docket No. 12–201, adopted on
August 29, 2014 and released on August
29, 2014.
I. Procedural Matters
A. Final Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995 Analysis
1. This Report and Order does not
contain any new or modified
information collection requirements
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104–13. In
addition, therefore, it does not contain
any new or modified information
collection burden for small business
concerns with fewer than 25 employees,
pursuant to the Small Business
Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public
Law 107–198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506 (c) (4).
B. Congressional Review Act Analysis
2. The Commission will send a copy
of this Report and Order to Congress
and the Government Accountability
Office pursuant to the Congressional
Review Act, see 5 U.S.C 801(a)(1)(A).1
C. Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
3. As required by the Regulatory
Flexibility Act of 1980 (‘‘RFA’’),2 the
Commission has prepared a Final
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
(‘‘FRFA’’) relating to this Report and
Order. The FRFA is set forth in the
section entitled Final Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis.
II. Introduction and Executive
Summary
4. This Report and Order concludes
the rulemaking proceeding initiated to
collect $339,844,000 in regulatory fees
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014, pursuant to
Section 9 of the Communications Act of
1934, as amended (the Act or
Communications Act).3 These
1 See 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A). The Congressional
Review Act is contained in Title II, 251, of the
CWAAA; see Public Law 104–121, Title II, 251, 110
Stat. 868.
2 See 5 U.S.C. 603. The RFA, see 5 U.S.C. 601–
612, has been amended by the Small Business
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996
(‘‘SBREFA’’), Public Law 104–121, Title II, 110 Stat.
847 (1996). The SBREFA was enacted as Title II of
the Contract With America Advancement Act of
1996 (‘‘CWAAA’’).
3 Section 9 regulatory fees are mandated by
Congress and collected to recover the regulatory
costs associated with the Commission’s
enforcement, policy and rulemaking, user
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
regulatory fees are due in September
2014. This Report and Order also adopts
several proposals from our June 13,
2014 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
and Second Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (FY 2014 NPRM).4
Specifically the proposals adopted are:
(1) Ending the exemption of AM
expanded band licenses from regulatory
fees; (2) revising the apportionment
between International Bureau licensees
to reduce the proportion paid by the
submarine cable/terrestrial and satellite
bearer circuits by approximately five
percent; (3) increasing the regulatory
fees paid by earth station licensees by
approximately 7.5 percent to more
accurately reflect the regulation and
oversight of this industry; (4) increasing
our annual de minimis threshold from
under $10 to $500; (5) eliminating
several regulatory fee categories (218–
219 MHz, broadcast auxiliaries, and
satellite television construction permits)
from regulatory fee requirements; and
adopting a regulatory fee for each toll
free number managed by a Responsible
Organization. The increase in the
annual de minimis threshold, the
elimination of three regulatory fee
categories, and the new toll free
category will be effective in FY 2015,
following the required notification of
Congress. The other provisions adopted
in this Report and Order will be in effect
for FY 2014 upon publication of a
summary of this Report and Order in the
Federal Register and are reflected in the
fee schedule attached as Appendix C.
III. Background
5. The Commission is required by
Congress to assess regulatory fees each
year in an amount that can reasonably
be expected to equal the amount of its
appropriation.5 The Commission
calculates the fees by first determining
the full-time equivalent (FTE) 6 number
of employees performing the regulatory
activities specified in section 9(a),
‘‘adjusted to take into account factors
information, and international activities. 47 U.S.C.
159(a). In FY 2013, the Commission was also
required to collect $339,844,000 in regulatory fees.
The final collection amount was $10.9 million over
this total, which the Commission deposited in the
U.S. Treasury. The year-to-date accumulated total is
$81.9 million.
4 Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees
for Fiscal Year 2014, Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, Second Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, and Order, MD Docket Nos. 14–92, 13–
140, and 12–201, 79 FR 37982 (July 3, 2014) (2014)
(FY 2014 NPRM).
5 47 U.S.C. 159(b)(1)(B).
6 One FTE, a ‘‘Full Time Equivalent’’ or ‘‘Full
Time Employee,’’ is a unit of measure equal to the
work performed annually by a full time person
(working a 40 hour workweek for a full year)
assigned to the particular job, and subject to agency
personnel staffing limitations established by the
U.S. Office of Management and Budget.
E:\FR\FM\11SER1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 176 (Thursday, September 11, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54188-54190]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-21510]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
Simplifying Threshold Volume Requirements for USPS Return
Services
AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.
ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: To minimize customer confusion and ensure consistent
administration, the Postal Service proposes to change the total annual
volume thresholds required for USPS Return Services products to qualify
for Commercial Plus[supreg] pricing. A minimum volume of 50,000 will be
established for these products across the board to simplify the product
and make it easier for customers to do business with the Postal
Service.
DATES: Effective date: The interim rule is effective September 15,
2014.
Comment date: Comments are due on or before November 10, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the manager, Product
Classification, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Room 4446,
Washington, DC 20260-5015. You may inspect and photocopy all written
comments at the USPS[supreg] Headquarters Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza
SW., 11th Floor N, Washington, DC by appointment only between the hours
of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, by calling 202-268-2906 in
advance. Email comments, containing the name and address of the
commenter, may be sent to: ProductClassification@usps.gov, with a
subject line of ``Threshold Volume for USPS Return Services''. Faxed
comments are not accepted.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen F. Key at 202-268-7492
(karen.f.key@usps.gov); John F. Rosato at 202-268-8597
(john.f.rosato@usps.gov); or Suzanne Newman at 202-695-0550
(suzanne.j.newman@usps.gov).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service has determined that it is
immediately necessary to simplify its returns shipping options.
Currently, there are different annual volume threshold requirements to
qualify for Commercial Plus[supreg] pricing for products under the USPS
Return Services umbrella. These products are Priority Mail[supreg]
Return Service, First-ClassTM Package Return[supreg]
Service, and Ground Return Service.
As the requirements now exist, Commercial Plus pricing is available
for cumulative Priority Mail Return Service and First-Class Package
Return Service volume exceeding a combined total of 25,000 return
pieces in the previous calendar year. Additionally, Commercial Plus
cubic volume must exceed a combined total of 85,000 pieces returned in
approved packaging in the previous calendar year, or cumulative returns
and outbound volume must exceed a combined total of 90,000 pieces in
the previous calendar year to qualify. Commercial Plus pricing customer
commitments may differ depending on the individual signed agreements
with USPS. The Postal Service has discovered that these varied and
overlapping criteria are confusing to customers, and increasingly
difficult to administer. Additionally, this change better aligns with
recently adopted changes to the Priority Mail cubic threshold, and to
the outbound Priority Mail CPP threshold, of 50,000 pieces.
To provide consistency for customers without signed agreements, the
Postal Service proposes to establish a minimum total annual threshold
volume requirement of 50,000 for all USPS Return Services products in
order to qualify for Commercial Plus pricing. This simplified approach
will not affect customers with the 25,000 piece threshold until their
agreements expire. At that time, the 50,000 piece threshold will apply
unless an extension is requested and approved by the Vice President,
Sales.
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111
Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.
The Postal Service adopts the following interim changes to Mailing
Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual
(DMM), which is incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal
Regulations. See 39 CFR part 111.1. 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.
0
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)
* * * * *
[[Page 54189]]
200 Commercial Mail Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels
* * * * *
220 Commercial Mail Priority Mail
* * * * *
223 Prices and Eligibility
* * * * *
1.2 Commercial Base Prices
For prices, see Notice 123--Price List. The Commercial Base prices
are available for:
[Revise the text of 1.2e to read as follows:]
e. Permit holders using Merchandise Return Service, including
Priority Mail Return Service, for mailpieces returned at Priority Mail
prices when all requirements are met (505.0).
* * * * *
1.3 Commercial Plus Prices
1.3.1 Basic Eligibility
[Revise the entire text of 1.3.1 to read as follows:]
For prices, see Notice 123--Price List. Commercial Plus prices are
available to Priority Mail (including Critical Mail) customers who
qualify for Commercial Base prices and whose cumulative account volume
exceeds a combined total of 5,000 letter-size and flat-size pieces
(including Flat Rate Envelopes, but not the Padded Flat Rate Envelope)
or 50,000 total pieces in the previous calendar year (except Priority
Mail Open and Distribute) and who have a customer commitment agreement
with USPS (New Priority Mail customers see 1.3.2), and are:
a. Registered end-users of USPS-approved PC Postage products.
b. Permit imprint customers.
c. Priority Mail Open and Distribute (PMOD) customers whose account
volume exceeds 600 PMOD containers (see 705.18.5.1).
d. Permit holders using Merchandise Return Service, including USPS
Returns, for mailpieces returned at Priority Mail prices, when all
requirements are met (505.0).
e. Customers using USPS-approved IBI postage meters that print the
IBI with the appropriate price marking for commercial price items
(202.3.3) and electronically transmit transactional data daily to USPS
for all mailpieces and mail categories.
* * * * *
1.5 Commercial Plus Cubic
1.5.1 Commercial Plus Cubic Eligibility
[Revise the entire text of 1.5.1 to read as follows:]
Commercial Plus cubic prices are available to Priority Mail
customers whose account volumes exceeded 50,000 pieces in the previous
calendar year and have a customer commitment agreement with the USPS.
New Priority Mail customers see 1.5.5. Each mailpiece must measure .50
cubic foot or less, weigh 20 pounds or less, and the longest dimension
may not exceed 18 inches. Cubic-priced mailpieces may not be rolls or
tubes. The Commercial Plus cubic prices are available for:
a. Registered end-users of USPS-approved PC Postage products.
b. Permit imprint customers. Customers are required to use the
Electronic Verification System (eVS) program or submit an electronic
postage statement with a computerized manifest under 705.2.0. Mailings
must contain at least 200 pieces or 50 pounds of mail. Mailpieces are
not required to be identical in weight.
c. Permit holders using Merchandise Return Service, including USPS
Returns, for parcels returned at Priority Mail prices when all
requirements are met (505.0).
* * * * *
280 Commercial Mail First-Class Package Service
* * * * *
283 Prices and Eligibility
1.0 Prices and Fees for First-Class Package Service
* * * * *
[Revise the entire text of 1.3 to read as follows:]
1.3 Commercial Base Prices
Commercial Base prices are available for presorted mailings or the
residual portion of a presorted mailing, prepared under 285.4.0, or
single-piece mailings, paid by one of the following methods:
a. Registered end-users of USPS-approved PC Postage products when
using a qualifying shipping label, managed by the PC Postage system.
b. USPS-approved IBI postage meters that electronically transmit
transactional data to USPS.
c. Permit imprint.
d. Permit holders using Merchandise Return Service, including
First-Class Package Return Service, for First-Class Package Service
mailpieces being returned, when all applicable requirements are met
(505.0).
1.4 Commercial Plus Prices
[Revise the entire text of 1.4 to read as follows:]
First-Class Package Service prices are available for presorted or
single-piece mailings, and when customers:
a. Establish a customer commitment agreement with the Postal
Service to mail, or receive, more than 5,000 First-Class Package
Service machinable parcels at Commercial Plus prices in a calendar
year.
b. Pay for postage by one of the following methods:
1. Permit imprint using the Electronic Verification System (eVS) or
submit an electronic postage statement with a computerized manifest.
2. Are registered end-users of USPS-approved PC Postage products
when using a qualifying shipping label, managed by the PC Postage
system.
3. Permit holders using Merchandise Return Service, including USPS
Returns, for First-Class Package Service mailpieces, when all
applicable requirements are met (505.0).
* * * * *
500 Additional Mailing Services
* * * * *
505 Return Services
* * * * *
3.0 Merchandise Return Service
3.1 Prices and Fees
* * * * *
[Revise the entire text of 3.1.5 to read as follows:]
3.1.5 Priority Mail Commercial Base and Commercial Plus Prices
See Notice 123--Price List for applicable prices. Priority Mail
Commercial Base and Commercial Plus prices are available to MRS permit
holders when the following criteria are met:
a. Commercial Base prices are available for permit holders using
MRS for Priority Mail items (223.1.2) when all MRS requirements for
Priority Mail are met.
b. Commercial Plus prices are available for permit holders using
MRS for Priority Mail items who qualify for Commercial Base prices
(223.1.2) and whose account volume exceed 50,000 pieces in the previous
calendar year or who have a customer commitment agreement with the USPS
(223.1.3.2).
* * * * *
4.0 USPS Return Services
* * * * *
4.4 Pricing
* * * * *
[Revise the entire text of 4.4.2 to read as follows:]
4.4.2 Commercial Plus Prices
Eligibility for Commercial Plus prices are available to permit
holders who
[[Page 54190]]
qualify for Commercial Base prices, and at least one of the following:
a. Have cumulative volumes of Priority Mail Return Service, First-
Class Package Return Service, or Ground Return Service exceeding a
combined total of 50,000 return pieces in the previous calendar year.
b. Have cumulative returns and outbound Commercial Plus cubic
volume exceeding a combined total of 50,000 pieces returned in approved
packaging in the previous calendar year.
c. Have cumulative returns and outbound volume exceeding a combined
total of 50,000 pieces in the previous calendar year.
d. Have a signed Commercial Plus returns customer commitment
agreement with USPS.
e. Have a signed Commercial Plus Critical Mail commitment agreement
with USPS.
* * * * *
Following the expiration of the comment period, the Postal Service
will publish its responses to any adverse comments in a subsequent
Federal Register notice, together with its determination whether to
confirm the interim rule as published, or modify the rule in response
to the comments received.
Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Federal Requirements.
[FR Doc. 2014-21510 Filed 9-10-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P
