[Federal Register: May 24, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 100)]
    [Proposed Rules]              
    [Page 29100-29101]
    From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
    [DOCID:fr24my07-17]                        

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    POSTAL SERVICE

    39 CFR Part 111


    Electronic Option for Delivery Confirmation Service Required for
    Priority Mail Open and Distribute

    AGENCY: Postal Service.

    ACTION: Proposed rule.

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    SUMMARY: The Postal Service currently allows mailers to use the
    electronic option for Delivery Confirmation service on Priority Mail
    Open and Distribute containers. We are proposing to make this optional
    extra service a requirement.

    DATES: Submit comments on or before June 25, 2007.

    ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Mailing
    Standards, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Room 3436,
    Washington, DC 20260-3436. Copies of all written comments will be
    available for inspection and photocopying between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.,
    Monday through Friday, at the Postal Service Headquarters Library, 475
    L'Enfant Plaza, SW., 11th Floor North, Washington, DC 20260-0004.

    [[Page 29101]]


    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean Arnao, Package Services, 202-268-
    7467; or Garry Rodriguez, Mailing Standards, 202-268-7281.

    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 1, 2007, the Postal Service
    replaced Express Mail Drop Shipment and Priority Mail Drop Shipment
    with Express Mail Open and Distribute and Priority Mail Open and
    Distribute. The revised standards were designed to enhance the Postal
    Service's ability to provide mailers with expedited service to
    destination delivery units and other mail processing facilities. In the
    revision, we provided mailers with an option to use the electronic
    option for Delivery Confirmation service to verify delivery. We offered
    this option to enable mailers to receive, at no additional cost, vital
    performance information that includes the date, ZIP Code, and time
    their Priority Mail Open and Distribute containers are delivered to
    their destination. The new requirement for electronic option Delivery
    Confirmation service on all Priority Mail Open and Distribute
    containers would allow the Postal Service to monitor these mailings by
    providing increased visibility to the individual mail containers,
    providing a measurement tool, and effectively communicating to mailers
    the delivery status of each container.
        Our proposal would require mailers to use the electronic option for
    Delivery Confirmation service for Priority Mail Open and Distribute
    containers in accordance with instructions in Publication 91,
    Confirmation Services Technical Guide. The required use of the
    electronic option for Delivery Confirmation service for Priority Mail
    Open and Distribute containers would be effective October 1, 2007.
        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 111.1.

    List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

        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); 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 414,
    416, 3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.

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

    700 Special Standards

    * * * * *

    705 Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems

    * * * * *

    16.0 Express Mail Open and Distribute and Priority Mail Open and
    Distribute

    * * * * *

    16.4 Additional Standards for Priority Mail Open and Distribute

    * * * * *

    16.4.2 Extra Services

        [Revise the first sentence in 16.4.2 to require the use of
    electronic option Delivery Confirmation service on each container of
    Priority Mail Open and Distribute as follows:]
        Electronic option Delivery Confirmation service is required on all
    Priority Mail Open and Distribute containers. * * *
    * * * * *

    16.5 Preparation

    * * * * *

    16.5.4 Tags 161 and 190--Priority Mail Open and Distribute

        [Delete item c.]
    * * * * *

    16.6.7 Delivery Confirmation Service

        [Revise the text of 16.6.7 as follows:]
        Mailers should prepare address labels on Label 23, Tag 161, and Tag
    190, using the formats in 16.6.8 through 16.6.11. A Delivery
    Confirmation service barcode must be incorporated in the address label
    (see 16.4.2). Mailers must obtain USPS certification for each printer
    used to print barcoded Delivery Confirmation service labels. Further
    certification and formatting specifications are included in Publication
    91, Confirmation Services Technical Guide.
    * * * * *
        We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to
    reflect these changes if our proposal is adopted.

    Neva Watson,
    Attorney, Legislative.
    [FR Doc. E7-9967 Filed 5-23-07; 8:45 am]

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