Advertising in Periodicals Issues

UPDATED January 2017

PS-241 (207.6)

This CSR discusses the advertising content of an issue of a general or requester publication prepared in editions.

Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 207.6.1.3, provides that general publications primarily designed for advertising purposes may not qualify for Periodicals mailing privileges. This includes publications which contain more than 75% advertising in more than half of the issues published during any 12-month period.

DMM 207.6.4.1, prescribes that a Periodicals requester publication may not contain more than 75% advertising in more than 25% of the issues published during any 12-month period.

When an issue of a general or requester publication is prepared in editions, the advertising content and number of copies of each edition may vary. However, if the advertising content of any one edition exceeds the prescribed 75% advertising limitation, the issue will be considered as having more than 75% advertising matter. It should be noted that when an issue of a general or requester publication is prepared in editions, it is not permissible to determine the percentage of advertising in the issue by averaging the percentage of advertising in the editions.

Postage at the applicable USPS Marketing Mail price must be paid for the mailed copies of the editions of a general publication that contain more than 75% advertising in more than half of the issues published during any 12-month period and of a requester publication that contain more than 75% advertising in more than a quarter of the issues published during any 12-month period.

Lizbeth J. Dobbins

Manager

Product Classification

Headquarters, US Postal Service

Washington, DC  20260-3436