New Electronic Signature Option, 21238-21240 [2019-09840]

Agencies

• Postal Service

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 93 (Tuesday, May 14, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21238-21240]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-09840]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


New Electronic Signature Option

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is amending Mailing Standards of the United 
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) to include a 
more flexible option for package addressees to provide an electronic 
signature indicating delivery of a package.

DATES: Effective June 23, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen F. Key at (202) 268-7492, 
Tiffany S. Jesse at (202) 268-7303, or Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-
7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service published a notice of 
proposed rulemaking on March 15, 2019, (84 FR 9470-9471) to amend the 
DMM in various sections to offer a more flexible option for package 
addressees (or their representatives) to provide an electronic 
signature indicating delivery of a package, when the sender chooses the 
following signature services: Priority Mail Express[supreg], Signature 
ConfirmationTM service, and Insurance for more than $500. 
Generally, current practice is for the recipient of the package to sign 
at the time of delivery.
    The Postal Service received one formal response to the proposed 
rule, which included multiple comments and suggestions.
    The responder was generally in agreement with the continuing 
efforts of the Postal Service to enhance the level of service. However, 
the responder had several comments and suggestions as follows:
    Comment: The Postal Service should resolve ambiguity in the process 
of registering for the electronic signature service and providing the 
signature.
    Response: To sign up for the Electronic Signature Online 
(eSOLTM) service, a customer must be an Informed 
Delivery[supreg] registered user or must register before they enroll 
for the service. When a customer logs on to their Informed Delivery 
account, they will see the eSOL icon to proceed with the enrollment. 
The signature will be collected/provided through an electronic process 
by computer or mobile phone.
    Comment: The Postal Service should clarify what effects the 
transition to the electronic signature service may have on the ability 
to provide its service, or how customers will be affected by the 
transition to this new service.
    Response: The Postal Service does not expect any transition issues 
to arise. After signing up and providing an electronic signature, the 
customer would receive notice via Informed Delivery of each eligible 
package expected to arrive, and an option to use the electronic 
signature for that package. Thus, the only impact on customers is that 
they can receive Priority Mail Express, Signature Confirmation and 
items Insured for over $500 more conveniently if they are registered 
for Informed Delivery and eSOL. The Postal Service will not leave a PS 
Form 3849, We Redeliver for You! notice and the customer would not be 
required to either be home for the delivery or pick up the item from a 
Post Office or schedule a redelivery.
    Comment: The third comment questioned the potential of package 
theft, and the possibility of the Postal Service collecting data on the 
prevalence of such thefts.
    Response: eSOL is an option for each item. If the item does not fit 
in the customer's mailbox, the customer has the option of providing 
instructions to their carrier indicating where to leave the item. The 
Postal Service will continue to offer the option of requiring

[[Page 21239]]

a recipient signature at the time of delivery. If a customer feels at 
risk due to potential package theft, eSOL may not be a service that 
they would like to use. For this initiative, the Postal Service is 
focused on providing an option to customers for a successful delivery 
of packages. We do not plan to collect data on the number of package 
thefts for ESOF items after the delivery is completed.
    Suggestion: The Postal Service should deploy the electronic 
signature service through a digital platform requiring steps that 
increase perceived levels of security and prevent potential liability 
disputes from occurring.
    Response: eSOL is available through Informed Delivery, a digital 
platform. To provide their signature, customers must successfully pass 
vigorous Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA) to validate their 
identity. All standard security protocols for protecting customer 
signatures have been vetted and the signatures are maintained on a 
secure server.
    Suggestion: The Postal Service should deploy photo delivery 
confirmation.
    Response: Photo delivery confirmation is an option that the Postal 
Service is currently exploring. However, photo delivery confirmation is 
not being deployed with the eSOL application.
    Suggestion: The Postal Service should give a customer the option to 
provide and update special delivery instructions.
    Response: The option to provide delivery instructions is currently 
provided online for items that will not fit in the customer's mailbox.
    Suggestion: The Postal Service should provide scheduled delivery 
service.
    Response: Scheduled delivery service is an option that the Postal 
Service is currently exploring. However, scheduled delivery service is 
not being deployed with the eSOL application.
    Suggestion: The Postal Service should extend the service to all 
packages, rather than just Commercial packages, and provide notice of 
this update.
    Response: The application of an eSOL is available for consumers per 
the requirement to be a registered Informed Delivery customer. 
Currently, Informed Delivery is not available to business customers. 
However, shippers who want the Postal Service to obtain a signature at 
the time of delivery have the option to indicate this requirement in 
the shipping manifest. The Postal Service will provide notice if and 
when it expands the availability of the eSOL option to Retail packages 
that are Priority Mail Express, Insurance or Signature Confirmation.
    As discussed in the Proposed Rule, the Postal Service is adding an 
electronic option for deliveries. Customers have the option to sign up 
through Informed Delivery and provide a signature electronically. This 
will enable the customer to apply the previously provided signature to 
future Commercial package deliveries sent to the customer's address 
using Priority Mail Express, Signature Confirmation service, or 
Insurance for more than $500, eliminating the need for a signature at 
the time of delivery. When the shipper does not reject the use of the 
previously provided signature, the customer who previously provided an 
electronic signature will be given the option for each delivery whether 
to sign at the time of delivery, or use the previously provided 
electronic signature.
    For Priority Mail Express, the shipper already must request a 
signature in order for it be collected. This will make the previously 
provided electronic signature available for such deliveries, unless the 
shipper indicates on the shipping manifest that the signature needs to 
be collected from the recipient at the time of delivery.
    Application to all shipments using Priority Mail Express, Signature 
Confirmation service, and Insurance for more than $500, rather than 
just Commercial shipments, may be phased in later.
    Changes to the DMM language include a more general reference to the 
signature for the affected services, while adding a description of 
``signature'' which distinguishes between the traditional signature and 
the electronic signature.
    In addition, the Postal Service is removing outdated text referring 
to Priority Mail Express labels printed prior to January 2012.
    We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to 
reflect these changes.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.

    Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is amended as follows:

PART 111--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for 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 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)

* * * * *

100 Retail Mail Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels

* * * * *

110 Priority Mail Express

* * * * *

115 Mail Preparation

* * * * *

2.0 Priority Mail Express 1-Day and 2-Day

* * * * *
    [Delete 2.2 Waiver of Signature, in its entirety and renumber 2.3 
and 2.4 as 2.2 and 2.3.]

2.2 Signature Required

    [Revise the first sentence of renumbered 2.2 to read as follows:]
    For editions of Priority Mail Express Label 11-B or Label 11-F 
printed on or after January 2012, a mailer sending a Priority Mail 
Express item, and requiring a signature, must instruct the USPS to 
provide a signature by checking the ``signature required'' box on Label 
11-B or Label 11-F or indicating signature is requested on single-ply 
commercial label. * * *
* * * * *

200 Commercial Mail Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels

* * * * *

210 Priority Mail Express

* * * * *

215 Mail Preparation

* * * * *

2.0 Priority Mail Express 1-Day and 2-Day

* * * * *
    [Delete 2.2 Waiver of Signature, in its entirety and renumber 2.3 
and 2.4 as 2.2 and 2.3.]

2.2 Signature Required

    [Revise the first sentence of renumbered 2.2 to read as follows:]
    For editions of Priority Mail Express Label 11-B or Label 11-F 
printed on or after January 2012, a mailer sending a Priority Mail 
Express item, and requiring a signature, must instruct the USPS to 
provide a signature by checking the ``signature required'' box on Label 
11-B or Label 11-F or indicating

[[Page 21240]]

signature is requested on single-ply commercial label. * * *
* * * * *

500 Additional Mailing Services

503 Extra Services

1.0 Basic Standards for All Extra Services

1.1 Description

    [Revise the first sentence of 1.1 to read as follows:]
    Extra services described in 2.0 through 11.0 provide optional 
services such as insurance coverage, restricted delivery, and evidence 
of mailing, or a record of delivery (which includes a signature). * * *
* * * * *

1.8 Obtaining Delivery Information and Delivery Records

    Delivery records for extra services are available as follows:
    [Revise the text of item a to read as follows:]
    a. Information by article number can be retrieved at www.usps.com 
or by calling 1-800-222-1811. A proof of delivery letter (including a 
signature, when available) may be provided by email. When a proof of 
delivery letter includes a signature, the signature provided may be a 
signature that was obtained from the recipient at the time of delivery 
or, for certain services, an electronic signature that was previously 
provided by the addressee (or representative) and is maintained on file 
with the Postal Service. Eligible mailers may require at the time of 
mailing that a signature be obtained from the recipient at the time of 
delivery.
* * * * *

4.0 Insured Mail

* * * * *

4.3 Basic Standards

4.3.1 Description

    Insured mail is subject to the basic standards in 1.0; see 1.4 for 
eligibility. The following additional standards apply to insured mail:
* * * * *
    [Revise the fourth and fifth sentences of item c to read as 
follows:]
    c. * * * An item insured for more than $500.00 receives a delivery 
scan (includes returns products meeting the applicable standards in 
505) and the USPS provides a signature as the delivery record to the 
mailer electronically (excludes returns products). Customers may 
optionally obtain a delivery record by purchasing a printed return 
receipt (Form 3811 (also see 6.0; excludes returns products). * * *
* * * * *

8.0 USPS Signature Services

8.1 Basic Standards

8.1.1 Description

    * * * USPS Signature Services are available as follows:
    [Revise the second sentence of item a to read as follows:]
    a. * * * A delivery record (including a signature) is maintained by 
the USPS and is available electronically or by email, upon request. * * 
*
* * * * *

508 Recipient Services

1.0 Recipient Options

1.1 Basic Recipient Concerns

* * * * *

1.1.7 Priority Mail Express and Accountable Mail

    The following conditions also apply to the delivery of Priority 
Mail Express, Registered Mail, Certified Mail, mail insured for more 
than $500.00, Adult Signature, or COD, as well as mail for which a 
return receipt is requested or the sender has specified restricted 
delivery:
* * * * *
    [Revise the text of item b to read as follows:]
    b. Unless an electronic signature is used as described in 503.1.8a, 
a mailpiece may not be opened or given to the recipient before the 
recipient signs and legibly prints his or her name on the applicable 
form or label and returns the form or label to the USPS employee.
* * * * *

Ruth B. Stevenson,
Attorney, Federal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2019-09840 Filed 5-13-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P