January 28, 2009

Proposed Standards for Domestic Mailing Services

We are revising our proposed New Standards for Domestic Mailing Services that were published on pe.usps.com January 22, 2009. Several changes are being made now so that customers need not address these features of the original proposal in their comments.

The changes include elimination of the new window placement standards. This change is in response to the early comments received from customers. Instead, we will work with envelope manufacturers and mailers to achieve the objective of the proposed standard through gradual modification to mailpiece designs.

Also, we are changing the proposed static charge and coefficient of friction standards for automation and machinable letters from a requirement to a recommendation. We will continue to explore the development of testing methods and mailpiece design factors that impact static charge and coefficient of friction.

We will post revised standards on pe.usps.com as soon as possible.