Published in the Federal Register March 8, 2023.

Mailing Currency

AGENCY:  Postal Service^™.

ACTION:  Final rule.

SUMMARY:  The Postal Service is amending Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM^®) to clarify the standards for mailing currency.

DATES:  Effective Date: April 30, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Dale Kennedy at (202) 268-6592 or Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On January 23, 2023, the Postal Service published a notice of proposed rulemaking (88 FR 3944-3945) to clarify the standards for mailing currency. The proposed standards required commercial cash deposits over $500.00 be sent using Registered Mail^® service. In response to the proposed rule, the Postal Service received comments from nine commenters.

Published in the Federal Register February 16, 2023.

Counterfeit Postage

AGENCY:  Postal Service^™.

ACTION:  Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

The Postal Service is proposing to amend Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM^®) in various sections to clarify the handling of items found in the mail bearing counterfeit postage.

DATES:  Submit comments on or before March 20, 2023.

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. If sending comments by email, include the name and address of the commenter and send to PCFederalRegister@usps.gov, with a subject line of “Counterfeit Postage”. Faxed comments are not accepted.

Confidentiality - All submitted comments and attachments are part of the public record and subject to disclosure. Do not enclose any material in your comments that you consider to be confidential or inappropriate for public disclosure. You may inspect and photocopy all written comments, by appointment only, at USPS® Headquarters Library, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, 11th Floor North, Washington, DC, 20260. These records are available for review on Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., by calling 202-268-2906. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Jane Quenk at (202) 268-7098 or Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

In recent years, the use of counterfeit postage has increased substantially, especially on packages. Use of counterfeit postage is a crime; it reflects an intentional effort to defraud the Postal Service; and it has resulted in a significant loss of revenue to the Postal Service. Typically, such mail does not have an accurate return address. The Postal Service proposes to amend current regulations to distinguish counterfeit postage from mail without any postage affixed and to address the use of counterfeit postage more effectively.

Published in the Federal Register February 13, 2023.

Hardcopy Postage Statements Discontinued

AGENCY:  Postal Service^™.

ACTION:  Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

The Postal Service is proposing to amend Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM^®) in various sections to discontinue the use of hardcopy postage statements for domestic commercial mailings.

DATES:  Submit comments on or before March 15, 2023.

ADDRESSES:  Mail or deliver written comments to the Director, Product Classification, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 4446, Washington, DC 20260-5015. If sending comments by email, include the name and address of the commenter and send to PCFederalRegister@usps.gov, with a subject line of “Hardcopy Postage Statements Discontinued”. Faxed comments are not accepted. Confidentiality - All submitted comments and attachments are part of the public record and subject to disclosure. Do not enclose any material in your comments that you consider to be confidential or inappropriate for public disclosure.

You may inspect and photocopy all written comments, by appointment only, at USPS® Headquarters Library, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, 11th Floor North, Washington, DC, 20260. These records are available for review on Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., by calling 202-268-2906. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Michael Filipski at (312) 765-3089 or Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Currently, unless manifested using eVS^® or mailings entered under the full-service automation program, domestic commercial mailers had the option to submit a completed hardcopy or electronic postage statement for any mailing claiming a discount and all permit imprint mailings.  

The Postal Service is proposing to discontinue the use of hardcopy postage statements to improve efficiency by expediting the acceptance of commercial mail. Except for eVS mailings, all domestic commercial mailings must use an approved electronic method to transmit a postage statement to the

PostalOne! ^® system.

Published in the Federal Register February 7, 2023.

Address Correction Notices

AGENCY:  Postal Service^™.

ACTION:  Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Postal Service is amending Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM^®) sections 507.4.2.6 and 705.23, to update information regarding address correction requests and to remove hardcopy address correction notice options for Full-Service and Seamless Acceptance mailers.

DATES:  Effective Date: July 9, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Starlene Blackwood at (901) 681-4475 or Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On November 9, 2022, the Postal Service published a notice of proposed rulemaking (87 FR 67615-67617) to update information regarding address correction requests and to remove hardcopy address correction notice options for Full-Service and Seamless Acceptance mailers.

Published in the Federal Register January 25, 2023.

Post Office Box Fee Refund

AGENCY:  Postal Service^™.

ACTION:  Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Postal Service is amending Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM^®) subsection 508.4.6 by adding a new subsection 508.4.6.3 to clarify the refund policy for customers who qualified for a Group “E” (free) Post Office Box^™ and subsection 508.4.5.2c for clarity. The Postal Service is also amending subsection 604.9.0 for consistency with refund standards.

DATES:  Effective March 1, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Phong T. Quang at (202) 268-2857 or Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On December 13, 2022, the Postal Service published a notice of proposed rulemaking (87 FR 76170-76171) to clarify the refund policy for customers who qualified for a Group “E” (free) PO Box. The Postal Service did not receive any customer comments.

To ensure uniform treatment of customers who were not provided Group E PO Box service, the Postal Service is providing a refund policy if it has been determined that a customer paying for PO Box service is entitled to Group E PO Box service. A refund of prorated fees may be issued for each full consecutive month preceding the determination, up to a maximum of 24 months. Interest will not be paid on the amount refunded.

Published in the Federal Register January 23, 2023.

Mailing Currency

AGENCY:  Postal Service^™.

ACTION:  Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

The Postal Service is proposing to amend Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM^®) subsections 503.2.1 and 601.1.0 to clarify mailing standards for currency.

DATES:  Submit comments on or before February 22, 2023.

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. If sending comments by email, include the name and address of the commenter and send to PCFederalRegister@usps.gov, with a subject line of “Mailing Currency”. Faxed comments are not accepted.

Confidentiality - All submitted comments and attachments are part of the public record and subject to disclosure. Do not enclose any material in your comments that you consider to be confidential or inappropriate for public disclosure. You may inspect and photocopy all written comments, by appointment only, at USPS® Headquarters Library, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, 11th Floor North, Washington, DC, 20260. These records are available for review on Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., by calling 202-268-2906. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Dale Kennedy at (202) 268-6592 or Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Postal Service is proposing to revise subsection 503.2.1 to require commercial cash deposits over $500.00 be sent using Registered Mail^® service. As more business customers look to the Postal Service to mail their cash deposits, it has become necessary to determine the most appropriate method to meet this mailing need. As a result, the Postal Service has determined that requiring commercial cash deposits over $500.00 be sent using Registered Mail, our most secured service, would benefit both customers and the Postal Service.

Published in the Federal Register January 12, 2023.

Commercial Mail Receiving Agencies

AGENCY:  Postal Service^™.

ACTION:  Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

The Postal Service is proposing to amend Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM^®) section 508.1.8, to update the regulations concerning Commercial Mail Receiving Agencies (CMRAs).

DATES:  Submit comments on or before February 13, 2023.

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. If sending comments by email, include the name and address of the commenter and send to PCFederalRegister@usps.gov, with a subject line of “Commercial Mail Receiving Agencies”. Faxed comments are not accepted.

Confidentiality - All submitted comments and attachments are part of the public record and subject to disclosure. Do not enclose any material in your comments that you consider to be confidential or inappropriate for public disclosure. You may inspect and photocopy all written comments, by appointment only, at USPS® Headquarters Library, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, 11th Floor North, Washington, DC, 20260. These records are available for review on Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., by calling 202-268-2906. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Judi Mummy at (858) 674-3155, Clayton Gerber at (202) 449-8076, or Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Postal Service is proposing to revise subsection 508.1.8 by reorganizing and revising the subsections in 508.1.8. These changes are occurring, in part because the Postal Service has developed an electronic database to collect and manage the information collected on PS Form 1583, Application for Delivery of Mail Through Agent, which has been collected and maintained as paper records. Following are the proposed changes to subsection 508.1.8.

Published in the Federal Register January 12, 2023.

Caller Service - Customized Address

AGENCY:  Postal Service^™.

ACTION:  Proposed rule; withdrawal.

SUMMARY: The Postal Service is withdrawing the proposed rule that announced a new service feature, Caller Service – Customized Address, which would’ve allowed current Caller Service customers to omit their Post Office Box number from the address of the mailpiece.

DATES: The proposed rule published June 17, 2022 (87 FR 36432-36433) is withdrawn as of January 12, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Dale Kennedy at (202) 268-6592 or Doriane Harley at (202) 268-2537.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In the proposed rule that was published in the Federal Register (87 FR 36432-36433) on June 17, 2022, the Postal Service proposed to allow approved Caller Service customers with a unique 5-digit ZIP Code to add Customized Address by paying for the right to omit the PO Box number and replacing it with a different approved address line. In consideration of concerns expressed by members of the mailing community during the proposed rule comment period, the Postal Service has elected to withdraw the proposed rule. Nevertheless, the Postal Service reserves the right to revisit this initiative at a later date.

Published in the Federal Register January 5, 2023.

Removal of Sacks – USPS Marketing Mail and Periodicals Flats

AGENCY:  Postal Service™.

ACTION:  Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM^®) to remove references to sacks as a handling unit for USPS Marketing Mail^® and Periodicals Flats.

DATES:  Effective Date: January 22, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dale Kennedy at (202) 268-6592 or Doriane Harley at (202) 268-2537.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

As part of its network redesign efforts, the Postal Service will eliminate the use of sacks as containers for Flats acceptance/entry but will continue to allow Flat trays as acceptable containers for acceptance and entry along with bundles on pallets for USPS Marketing Mail and Periodicals flat Mail. Carrier route, 5-digit scheme carrier routes and 5-digit carrier routes USPS Marketing Mail^® and Periodicals flat mail will continue to be allowed to use sacks as a handling unit.