707 Periodicals
2.0 Rate Application and Computation
3.0 Physical Characteristics and Content Eligibility
4.0 Basic Eligibility Standards
5.0 Applying for Periodicals Authorization
7.0 Mailing to Nonsubscribers or Nonrequesters
8.0 Record Keeping Standards for Publishers
9.0 Changing Title, Frequency, or Known Office of Publication
12.0 Presorted Rate Eligibility
13.0 Carrier Route Rate Eligibility
14.0 Automation Rate Eligibility
15.0 Ride-Along Rate Eligibility
18.0 General Information for Mail Preparation
22.0 Preparing Presorted Periodicals
23.0 Preparing Carrier Route Periodicals
24.0 Preparing Letter-Size Automation Periodicals
25.0 Preparing Flat-Size Automation Periodicals
26.0 Combining Multiple Editions or Publications
1.0 Rates and Fees
1.1 Outside-County—Excluding Science-of-Agriculture
1.1.1 Pound Rates
a. For the nonadvertising portion: $0.203.
1.1.2 Piece Rates
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1.1.3 Discounts
f. 1.1.3e): $0.005.
1.1.4 Nonprofit Publications
7.0.
1.1.5 Classroom Publications
7.0.
1.2 Outside-County—Science-of-Agriculture
1.2.1 Pound Rates
a. For the nonadvertising portion: $0.203.
1.2.2 Piece Rates
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1.2.3 Discounts
f. 1.2.3e): $0.005.
1.3 In-County
1.3.1 Pound Rates
1.3.2 Piece Rates
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1.3.3 Discount
1.4 Ride-Along Rate
1.5 Fees
2.0 Rate Application and Computation
2.1 Rate Application
2.1.1 Rate Elements
Postage for all Periodicals includes a pound rate charge, a piece rate charge, and any discount for which the mail qualifies under the corresponding standards.
2.1.2 Applying Pound Rate
Pound rates are applied to the weight of the pieces in the mailing. Outside-County and Science-of-Agriculture Outside-County pound rates are based on the weight of the advertising portion of the mail sent to each postal zone (as computed from the entry office) and the weight of the nonadvertising portion without regard to zone. In-County pound rates consist of a delivery unit zone rate and a uniform (unzoned) rate for all other eligible pieces delivered within the county of publication. The minimum pound rate charge for any zone or other group for which a per pound charge is computed is 1 unit (1 pound) of the pound rate charge. For example, three 2-ounce pieces for a zone are subject to the minimum 1-pound charge.
2.1.3 Computing Weight of Advertising Portion
The pound rate charge is the sum of the charges for the computed weight of the advertising portion of copies to each zone, plus an additional flat (unzoned) charge for the total weight of the nonadvertising portion of all copies to all zones. For publications containing advertising, the minimum pound rate charge for any zone to which copies are mailed is 1 unit (pound) of the advertising pound rate charge. The minimum pound rate charge for the nonadvertising portion is that which applies to all weight not reported in the advertising (zoned) portion. (Authorized Nonprofit and Classroom publications with an advertising percentage that is 10% or less are considered 100% nonadvertising. When computing the pound rates and the nonadvertising adjustment, use "0" as the advertising percentage. Authorized Nonprofit and Classroom publications claiming 0% advertising must pay the nonadvertising pound rate for the entire weight of all copies to all zones.)
2.1.4 Per Piece Charge
Piece rates apply to each addressed piece, based on the sortation done by the publisher. An addressed piece can be a single individually addressed copy, a bundle of unaddressed copies with a single delivery address for the bundle, or a firm bundle containing unaddressed or individually addressed copies for the same address. The per piece charge is based on the number of addressed pieces (not the number of copies).
2.1.5 Discounts
Discounts and reductions apply per pound, per addressed piece, or per copy as specified for each in 4.0 through 15.0 and 28.0.
2.2 Computing Postage
2.2.1 Percentage of Advertising
The percentage of advertising shown on the postage statement must be based on the marked copy of the corresponding issue or edition provided as required. If necessary, round off the computed percentage of advertising to two decimal places. Advertising percentages also may be calculated through the Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Program using the procedures in 16.0, Postage Payment, and 17.0, Documentation.
2.2.2 Weight Per Copy
To determine the weight per copy, select and weigh a random sample of 10 or more copies and divide the total sample weight by the number of pieces in the sample. Express the weight per copy in decimal pounds rounded off to four decimal places. Per-copy weights also may be calculated through the Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Program using the procedures in 16.0 and 17.0.
2.2.3 Computing Other Weights
To find the total weight of mailed copies per zone or rate level, multiply the corresponding number of copies by the computed weight per copy. Round off each result to the nearest whole pound, except that when the result is under 0.5 pound, round to 1 pound. To find the weight of the advertising portion for each zone, where applicable, multiply the total weight of copies for that zone by the percentage of advertising. Round off each result to the nearest whole pound, except that when the result is under 0.5 pound, round to 1 pound. To find the weight of the nonadvertising portion, subtract the total weight of the advertising portion to all zones from the total weight of copies to all zones. To find the weight of In-County rate copies, multiply the number of copies by the weight per copy and round off the total weight to the nearest whole pound, except that when the result is less than 0.5 pound, round to 1 pound.
2.2.4 Pound Rate
To compute the pound rate postage for Regular and Preferred outside-county copies, multiply the weight of the advertising and nonadvertising portions by the corresponding rates, add the unrounded results, and subtract all applicable discounts. To compute the pound rate postage for In-County rate copies, multiply their total weight by the corresponding rate per pound.
2.2.5 Piece Rate
To find the piece rate postage for outside-county and In-County rate copies, multiply the number of addressed pieces (not copies) by the appropriate rate, based on the presort of the pieces as mailed.
2.2.6 Nonadvertising Adjustment
To compute the nonadvertising adjustment (where applicable), subtract the advertising percentage from 100, multiply the remainder by the nonadvertising adjustment per piece, multiply the unrounded product by the number of pieces, and round off the product to four decimal places.
2.2.7 Total Postage
Total Outside-County postage is the sum of the per pound and per piece charges, and any Ride-Along charge, less all discounts, rounded off to the nearest whole cent. Total In-County postage is the sum of the per pound and per piece charges, and any Ride-Along charge, less all discounts, rounded off to the nearest whole cent. For mailings that include foreign copies, total foreign postage is the sum of the per piece charges, less a discount, rounded off to the nearest whole cent.
3.0 Physical Characteristics and Content Eligibility
3.1 Physical Characteristics
3.1.1 General
See 201 for the physical characteristics for letter-size Periodicals, 301 for flat-size Periodicals, and 401 for parcel-size Periodicals.
3.2 Addressing
3.2.1 General
Each addressed piece, including the top copy of a firm bundle, must bear the addressee's name and address. The address must include the correct ZIP+4 code or 5-digit ZIP Code.
3.2.2 Address Label
White or other light-colored paper must be used for the address label. To identify the mailpiece as Periodicals, the mailer may place, vertically along the left-hand side of the label, a 1/4-inch or narrower strip of solid pink or of pink "PER" characters.
3.2.3 Address Placement
The delivery address must be clearly visible on or through the outside of the mailpiece, whether placed on a label or directly on the host publication, a component, or the mailing wrapper. If placed on the mailing wrapper, the address must be on a flat side, not on a fold (see Exhibit 3.2.4). If a polybag is used, the address must not appear on a component that rotates within the bag, and the address must remain visible throughout the addressed component's range of motion.
3.2.4 Return Address
The return address must appear on any mailing wrapper that is endorsed "Address Service Requested."
Exhibit 3.2.4 Address Placement for Periodicals
3.3 Permissible Mailpiece Components
3.3.1 Pages
Pages are the printed sheets forming the publication or one of the mailpiece's components, bearing advertising, nonadvertising, or both, including pages with text and graphics, blank spaces for writing or marking, and material to be completed or used by the reader. A minor portion of the pages in a Periodicals mailpiece may have unusual characteristics, such as a different size, shape, or construction, or portions that may be wholly or partially separable, and pages prepared for folding out. No page may have dimensions (when folded, if folded) that exceed the dimensions of the publication. Pages are also subject to these standards:
a. Multilayer pages (including pages formed by sheets glued together and pages that have unusual shapes, such as cutouts, movable flaps, or "pop-ups") may include small amounts of fastening material such as grommets, string, or rubber bands as needed to assemble the page. Multilayer pages may also be formed as pouches or pockets but may contain only permissible loose enclosures (see 3.3.4) or other securely affixed permissible components.
b. Multiple pages may be held together by staples or other means separate from and in addition to the regular binding of the publication.
c. Oversized pages may be used for illustrations, charts, maps, and other advertising and nonadvertising content.
3.3.2 Parts and Sections
Parts and sections are pages that are physically separate subdivisions of the publication, as identified by the publisher. Each part or section must show the publication title, and the number of parts or sections in the issue must be stated on the cover of the first part or section. Parts or sections produced by someone other than the publisher may not be mailed at Periodicals rates if these parts or sections are prepared by or for advertisers or if they are provided to the publisher free or at a nominal charge. On request, the publisher must submit contracts entered into with producers of parts or sections.
3.3.3 Enclosures at First-Class Mail or Standard Mail Rates
Material paid at First-Class Mail or Standard Mail rates may be enclosed in a Periodicals mailpiece subject to these conditions:
a. The total weight of all enclosed Standard Mail material must be less than 16 ounces.
b. Postage and fee payment is subject to 703.9.8 through 703.9.12 and 707.16.3. A permit imprint that may appear on a First-Class Mail or Standard Mail enclosure must not be visible when the mailpiece is prepared for mailing except as provided under 703.9.8 through 703.9.12 and 707.16.3.
c. When enclosing nonincidental First-Class Mail or any Standard Mail, combination envelopes or containers with separate parts for the two classes of mail may be used. If both the sender's and addressee's names and addresses are not on both pieces, the sender's name and address must be placed on one piece and the addressee's name and address on the other. Combination containers with inseparable parts may bear the names and addresses on only one part.
d. The applicable "First-Class Mail Enclosed" or "Standard Mail Enclosed" marking must be placed on or in the host publication if it contains any nonincidental First-Class Mail or any Standard Mail enclosure. If placed on the outer wrapper, polybag, envelope, or cover of the host publication, the marking must be set in type no smaller than any used in the required "POSTMASTER: Send change of address..." statement. If placed in the identification statement, the marking must meet the applicable standards. The marking must not be on or in copies not accompanied by a First-Class Mail or Standard Mail enclosure unless additional information is provided under the applicable postage payment standards in 703.9.8 through 703.9.12 and 707.16.3.
3.3.4 Loose Enclosures at Periodicals Rates
Only the following material may be included loose as an enclosure in a Periodicals mailpiece and be paid at Periodicals rates, subject to the corresponding conditions:
a. An incidental First-Class piece must be closely related but secondary to the Periodicals publication with which it is enclosed and must consist of material that, if mailed separately, would require First-Class postage. Examples of an incidental First-Class enclosure are a bill for the publication, a statement of account for past publication purchases, or a personal message or greeting included with the publication.
b. A receipt, request, or order for a subscription may be printed or written; prepared as a reply mail card or envelope for any authorized Periodicals publication (or a publication pending Periodicals authorization); or inserted in an envelope within the publication. The receipt or request may be part of, or accompanied by, printed material containing information related exclusively to a receipt or request or order for a subscription provided the printed material does not advertise, promote, or offer for sale other products or services.
c. A card or form for the recipient's use in providing address correction information to the publisher may be printed or written; prepared as a card or envelope, including business reply, or as a combination form for two or more Periodicals publications issued by the same publisher; inserted in an envelope that is attached to, bound in, or loose within the publication; or prepared as a detachable part of another permissible enclosure.
d. Enclosures listed in 3.3.4b and 3.3.4c are not counted when determining the percentage of advertising in the publication, but they are included in the total weight of the publication reported on the postage statement. If the publication otherwise consists entirely of nonadvertising material, an incidental First-Class enclosure may be treated as nonadvertising material. In all other cases, an incidental First-Class enclosure is considered part of the advertising portion of the publication.
3.3.5 Supplement
A supplement is one or more pages (subject to 3.3.1) formed by one or more printed sheets that are not bound into a publication. A supplement may be devoted to a single topic and may contain material different from that in the host publication. The external dimensions of a supplement (its length and height) may not exceed those of the host publication except when the host publication and the supplement are contained in an envelope, polybag, or other complete wrapper. Supplements are also subject to these conditions as applicable:
a. A loose supplement to a bound Periodicals publication must contain at least 25% nonadvertising material and bear the endorsement "Supplement to" followed by the title of the publication; the name of the publisher; or "Periodicals Publication." A bound publication with one or more supplements must be enclosed in a wrapper. If a supplement to a bound publication is formed of more than one sheet, all sheets making up the supplement must be bound together.
b. A supplement to an unbound publication must be combined with and inserted within the publication under 3.5.4. If the supplement is included loose outside the unbound publication, the publication and its supplement must be enclosed in a wrapper or envelope, and the supplement must bear the endorsement "Supplement to" followed by the title of the publication; the name of the publisher; or "Periodicals Publication."
3.3.6 Cover and Protective Cover
A cover may be placed on the outside of a Periodicals publication. A protective cover is an additional cover placed around the outside of a publication; preparation is subject to 3.5.6. Advertising, nonadvertising, or both may be printed on the cover or protective cover. The cover and protective cover on a publication are included when measuring advertising percentage. Nothing may be attached to the cover or protective cover except as permitted under 3.3.8, Attachment.
3.3.7 Mailing Wrapper
A mailing wrapper is an envelope, sleeve, partial wrapper, or polywrap used to enclose the mailpiece. Advertising may be printed on the mailing wrapper and is included when measuring advertising percentage. Nothing may be attached to the mailing wrapper except as permitted under 3.3.8.
3.3.8 Attachment
[6-8-06] Mailers may attach the following material to a cover, protective cover, or mailing wrapper of a publication:
a. Stickers of any size and shape. If stickers are attached to the cover, protective cover, or mailing wrapper, no portion of the publication title may be obscured.
b. Material allowed as a loose enclosure described in 3.3.3, Enclosures at First-Class Mail or Standard Mail Rates, or 3.3.4, Loose Enclosures at Periodicals Rates. When nonincidental First-Class Mail and/or Standard Mail enclosures (see 3.3.3) are attached, the marking "First-Class" or "Letter Enclosed" must be on a First-Class Mail attachment; "Standard" or "STD," on a Standard Mail attachment.
c. Material normally allowed within the contents of the publication composed of advertising, nonadvertising, or a combination of both may be attached to the cover or protective cover only when the publication and attached material are enclosed in a wrapper or prepared under 3.5.4. No portion of the publication title may be obscured.
3.3.9 Printed Addition
Only the following may be printed on a copy of a Periodicals publication after it is printed or placed on its cover, protective cover, or mailing wrapper:
a. The name and address of the intended recipient or of the publisher or sender.
b. The printed title of the publication and its place of publication.
c. The expiration date of the subscription.
d. The request for address correction information from the addressee.
e. The words "Sample Copy" (if the copy is a sample), "Marked Copy" (if the copy contains a marked item or article), or "Address Service Requested" (if the copy is to be returned to the sender if undeliverable as addressed).
f. The number of copies enclosed in a bundle (on the outside of the bundle) or a bundle count such as "2 of 4" (on the bundle wrapper).
g. Corrections of typographical errors or a mark, except by written or printed words, to call attention to a word or passage.
h. Printed messages not required to be mailed as First-Class Mail or Express Mail.
3.3.10 Label Carrier
[3-15-07] A label carrier may be used to carry the delivery address for the mailpiece and must consist of a single unfolded, uncreased sheet of card or paper stock, securely affixed to the cover of the publication or large enough so that it does not rotate inside the wrapper, subject to these conditions:
a. The label carrier must include the following elements:
1. The title of the Periodicals publication or the name and address of the publisher. Mailers may also include incidental graphics of the host Periodicals publication, other Periodicals publications of the publisher, or Periodicals publications of one or more affiliates or subsidiaries of the publisher (or any combination thereof), provided that all of the publications are under common 100% ownership. If such graphics are used they are treated as advertising, and mailers must use an area no larger than 3 inches by 5 inches to show the title of the Periodicals publication or the name and address of the publisher and the graphic or graphics.
2. The Periodicals imprint "Periodicals Postage Paid at..." or the word "Periodicals" in the upper right corner of the address side (unless "Periodicals" is printed on the address side of the polybag).
3. The address to which the mailpiece can be returned if undeliverable, if endorsed "Address Service requested."
b. The label carrier may bear a request for address correction from the addressee. It also may bear information about requesting or subscribing to any Periodicals publication (or a publication pending Periodicals authorization), including a request or subscription form.
c. As applicable, the label carrier may show the endorsement "First-Class Mail Enclosed," "Standard Mail Enclosed," or "Ride-Along Enclosed," or the permit imprint used to pay postage for the First-Class Mail or Standard Mail enclosure if that permit imprint is below the Periodicals imprint or the word "Periodicals."
d. Other printed information, whether advertising or nonadvertising, is permitted only on the back of the label carrier and is subject to measurement and postage payment accordingly. Incidental text calling attention to information on the reverse, or to information within the contents of the Periodicals publication, may be placed on the front of the label carrier. If any information referred to on the reverse of the label carrier or within the contents of the Periodicals publication is advertising, the incidental text on the front also is treated as advertising.
3.4 Impermissible Mailpiece Components
3.4.1 General
Regardless of preparation or characteristics, the materials described in 3.4.2 through 3.4.5 are not eligible for Periodicals rates.
3.4.2 Prohibited Material
Material that contains any one of the following printed items or that is referred to in a component of the Periodicals mailpiece (by the use of one of these items) is ineligible to be mailed at Periodicals rates:
a. A separate price or subscription instructions different from those of the host publication.
c. A First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, or Package Services permit imprint.
d. An ISBN (International Standard Book Number).
e. An ISSN (International Standard Serial Number) or USPS number different from that of the host publication.
3.4.3 Products
Products may not be mailed at Periodicals rates. Examples include stationery (such as pads of paper or blank printed forms); cassettes; floppy disks; merchandise; envelopes containing enclosures, other than receipts, orders for subscriptions, and incidental First-Class material; and wall, desk, and blank calendars. Printed pages, including oversized pages and calendars, are not considered products if they are not offered for sale.
3.4.4 Package Services
Package Services may not be combined with a Periodicals publication.
3.4.5 Nonprinted Sheets
Any matter not formed of printed sheets (except as permitted under 3.3.1a) is not eligible for Periodicals rates.
3.5 Mailpiece Construction
3.5.1 Bound/Unbound
Publications may be prepared in either a bound or unbound form, with or without wrappers unless required by 3.5.7. A bound publication is a publication in which pages are securely held together by two or more staples, spiral binding, glue, stitching, or other permanent fastening. All other publications are unbound, including folded multisheet and single-sheet publications and those in which pages are loose and collated ("nested") or in which pages are held together by a single staple.
3.5.2 Size and Weight
Periodicals mail may not weigh more than 70 pounds or measure more than 108 inches in length and girth combined. Additional size and weight limitations apply to individual Periodicals rate categories. Requester publications must contain at least 24 pages per issue.
3.5.3 Uniformity
Automation-compatible pieces must remain uniformly thick. Cover attachments, tabbed or glued half covers, flat-surfaced ride-along enclosures, loose subscription materials, and flat-surfaced enclosures of other classes may be included as long as the overall uniform thickness of the flat is maintained.
3.5.4 Without Mailing Wrapper
[6-8-06] When the mailpiece does not have a mailing wrapper, all the components of an unbound publication must be combined with and inserted inside the publication. Only enclosures mailable at Periodicals rates under 3.3.4 may be included loose inside a bound unwrapped publication. An enclosure under 3.3.3, Enclosures at First-Class Mail or Standard Mail Rates, or 3.3.4, Loose Enclosures at Periodicals Rates, or a single sheet prepared as an attachment under 3.3.8c, may be securely attached along the bound edge on the outside of an unwrapped publication if it does not exceed any dimension of the cover of the publication and comes within 3/4 inch of the edge opposite the fold or binding.
3.5.5 With Mailing Wrapper
Except as provided in 3.3.5, Supplement, when the mailpiece is completely enclosed in a mailing wrapper, the components may be placed anywhere within that wrapper. When a sleeve or other partial wrapper is used, the components must be secured so that they do not fall out during handling. Bound publications carrying loose supplements or prepared in physically separate parts or sections must be either completely enclosed in an envelope, plastic wrapper (polybag), or paper wrapper or inserted within a sleeve so that the component parts do not become separated while in the mail.
3.5.6 Cover Page and Protective Cover
If the piece is not completely enclosed in a mailing wrapper, then any protective cover or cover page must cover both the front and back of the host publication and extend to within at least 3/4 inch of the edge opposite the fold or binding. Exception: Flat-size pieces may have short covers as provided in 301.3.7.2. If the host publication is bound, the protective cover must be permanently attached to the publication.
3.5.7 APO/FPO Copy
Any single copy of an unbound publication that includes any enclosure, supplement, or more than one part or section and that is mailed to an APO/FPO address must be completely enclosed in a mailing wrapper.
3.5.8 Postal Inspection
Periodicals mail must be prepared so that it can be easily examined. The mailing of publications at Periodicals postage rates represents consent by the sender to USPS inspection of the contents whether loose or inserted in envelopes, wrappers, or other covers. Mailers who want to ensure that publications are not opened for postal inspection must pay First-Class rates and mark such mail accordingly.
3.6 Printed Features
3.6.1 Publication Title and Address Notice
The publication title must be displayed prominently on the publication and any protective cover. The title or the name and address of the publisher must be displayed prominently on any opaque mailing wrapper. The publication title, followed immediately by the USPS publication number (or ISSN if one has been assigned), and the mailing address to which undeliverable copies or change-of-address notices are to be sent may be shown in the upper left corner of the address side of a mailing wrapper or directly on the outside of the host publication if it can be read when the mailing wrapper is in place. The publication number includes an alpha prefix and is to be within parentheses, for example, THE NATIONAL WEEKLY (ISSN 9876-543X) or THE COMMUNITY (USPS 123-456).
3.6.2 Periodicals Imprint
Mailing wrappers that completely enclose the host publication must bear the Periodicals imprint "Periodicals Postage Paid at..." or the word "Periodicals" in the upper right corner of the address area. If a clear plastic wrapper is used, those words may appear anywhere on the address side of the wrapper or the topmost item inside.
3.6.3 Advertising
Advertising may be printed on the pages of any component of a publication, subject to the corresponding standards. Regardless of location, an advertisement must be prepared as an integral part of the publication. Except for advertisements in supplements, all advertisements in a bound publication must be permanently attached. Except as provided in 3.3.4d, all advertising must be included in the advertising portion of the issue measured under 16.0 and 17.0. Different advertising may occupy the same space in different editions of the same issue.
3.6.4 Marking of Paid Reading Matter
Under 18 USC 1734, if a valuable consideration is paid, accepted, or promised for the publication of any editorial or other reading matter in a Periodicals publication, that matter must be plainly marked "advertisement" by the publisher. When a single item of paid editorial or other reading matter occupies more than one page, it need only be marked "advertisement" on the first page. The word "advertisement" may be included in a statement that explains why the material is marked "advertisement." Such a statement must be prominent on the first page of the material and the word "advertisement" in the statement must be in bold or italicized print or otherwise emphasized so that it can be plainly seen. Editors or publishers who print such matter without plainly marking it "advertisement" are subject to a fine of not more than $500.
4.0 Basic Eligibility Standards
4.1 Second-Class Mail
On July 1, 1996, Second-Class Mail was renamed "Periodicals."
4.2 Qualification Categories
All Periodicals publications must be authorized Periodicals mailing privileges under one of five qualification categories (general publications, publications of institutions and societies, publications of state departments of agriculture, requester publications, and foreign publications). These publications are subject to the general standards below and the standards for each respective category.
4.3 General
Only newspapers and periodical publications meeting the mailability standards in 601 and the general and applicable specific standards in 4.0 through 15.0 and 28.0 may be authorized mailing at the Periodicals rates.
4.4 Periodical Publications
4.4.1 Definition and Characteristics
For Periodicals purposes, periodical publication or periodical is one published at a stated frequency with the intent to continue publication indefinitely, with these characteristics:
a. The continuity of the periodical must show from issue to issue. Continuity is shown by serialization of articles or by successive issues carrying the same style, format, theme, or subject matter.
b. The primary purpose of the periodical must be the transmission of information.
c. The content of the periodical may consist of original or reprinted articles on one topic or many topics, listings, photographs, illustrations, graphs, a combination of advertising and nonadvertising matter, comic strips, legal notices, editorial material, cartoons, or other subject matter.
d. The primary distribution of each issue must be made before that of each succeeding issue.
4.4.2 Other Publication Types
The following types of publications also qualify as periodical publications:
a. Any catalog or other course listing (including mail announcements of legal texts that are part of post-bar admission education) issued by any institution of higher education or by a nonprofit organization engaged in continuing legal education.
b. Any loose-leaf page or report (including any index, filing instruction, table, or sectional identifier that is part of such report) designed as part of a loose-leaf reporting service on developments in the law or public policy.
c. Any transportation guide containing schedules, fares, and related information.
4.4.3 Restriction
Material that has been, or is intended to be, distributed primarily as a book may not be converted into an issue of a periodical by merely placing a periodical's title on it, placing the material within a periodical's cover, or using similar superficial methods. This restriction does not prohibit excerpts or condensations of books from being proper subject matter for periodicals.
4.4.4 Printed Sheets
Periodicals publications must be formed of printed sheets. Sheets may be die cut or deckle-edged and may be made of paper, cellophane, foil, or other similar materials. They may not be reproduced by stencil, mimeograph, or hectograph. Reproduction by any other process is permitted. Any style of type may be used.
4.5 Known Office of Publication
4.5.1 Location
The publisher of a Periodicals publication must maintain a known office of publication at the location where the original entry for Periodicals mailing privileges is authorized.
4.5.2 Purpose
The known office of publication must be a public office for transacting the business of the publication during normal business hours. It must also be the office where the publication's circulation records are kept or can be available for USPS examination.
4.6 Regular Issuance
4.6.1 Frequency
Each Periodicals publication must be issued at a regular frequency of at least four times a year.
4.6.2 Statement of Frequency
The publisher must adopt a statement of frequency showing how many issues are to be published each year and at which regular intervals (for example: daily; weekly; quarterly; four times a year in January, February, October, and November; weekly during school year; monthly except during July and August).
4.6.3 Compliance With Frequency
All issues must be published regularly as called for by the statement of frequency. To change the number of issues scheduled or the statement of frequency, the publisher must file an application for reentry. If a publication does not maintain regular issuance according to its stated frequency, even after USPS notice, the PCSC revokes the publication's Periodicals mailing privileges.
4.7 Eligible Formats
4.7.1 Complete Copies
Complete copies of the regular issues of a Periodicals publication may be mailed at the applicable Periodicals rates. Incomplete copies (for example, those lacking pages or parts of pages) are subject to the applicable First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, or Package Services rates.
4.7.2 Issues and Editions
Issues and editions of a Periodicals publication may be mailed at the applicable Periodicals rates if they show continuity and meet the applicable standards in 4.8, Issues, or 4.9, Editions.