This handbook and the accompanying applications, appendixes, and
worksheets are designed to help you determine whether or not to apply for
Periodicals mailing privileges from the United States Postal Service and, if so,
how to proceed. Complete information on the requirements that apply to
Periodicals mail is published in the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM). You are
responsible for fulfilling all DMM requirements for Periodicals mailing
privileges. You can access the DMM online via Postal Explorer
(http://pe.usps.gov).
This handbook provides basic information on whether or not your publication
can qualify for Periodicals mailing privileges. If you decide to go forward with
the application, additional instructions help you determine the appropriate
category and provide the basic criteria that your publication must meet.
This handbook contains a copy of the new PS Form 3500, Application for
Periodicals Mailing Privileges, with step-by-step instructions for completing
the application. The new PS Form 3500 replaces PS Forms 3501, Application
for Periodicals Mailing Privileges (General); 3501-A, Application for
Periodicals Mailing Privileges (News Agents or Foreign); 3502, Application for
Periodicals Mailing Privileges (Institutions and Societies); and 3511,
Application for Periodicals Mailing Privileges (Requester).
This handbook contains appendixes to help you determine eligibility for
publications of Institutions and Societies, nonprofit eligibility, and In-County
rates. There is also information for Requester publications regarding
telemarketing and Internet requests and a worksheet to verify the accuracy
and completeness of your publication's identification statement.
This handbook also contains PS Form 3510, Application for Additional Entry,
Reentry, or Special Rate Request for Periodicals Publication, with instructions
for completing the form and obtaining an International Standard Serial
Number (ISSN).
Basic Eligibility for Periodicals Rates
DMM E200 contains the standards for eligibility for a publication to qualify for
Periodicals rates. DMM C200 contains the standards for Periodicals
mailpiece components and mailpiece construction.
A publication must meet prescribed criteria to be eligible for Periodicals
mailing privileges. These include basic criteria that all authorized publications
must meet, as well as additional criteria for the qualification category selected
for the publication.
Once you submit an application and pay the appropriate fee, the Postal
Service reviews the application, copies of the publication, and supporting
documents to determine whether or not the publication is eligible for
Periodicals rates. This handbook explains the standards for Periodicals and
describes the types of supporting documents you must submit with an
application for Periodicals mailing privileges. In addition, this handbook helps
you through the application process by describing each step in completing
the application.
Basic Criteria
Although you must meet specific standards for your chosen qualification
category, four basic criteria apply to all Periodicals:
1. Periodical Publication (DMM E211.2)
You must show intent to publish issues of a publication indefinitely with
continuity from issue to issue. The purpose of the publication must be to
transmit information of a general or specific nature.
2. Frequency of Publication (DMM E211.5)
Periodicals publications must be published (not necessarily mailed) at a
regular frequency of at least four times a year. You must adopt a statement of
frequency showing how many issues are to be published each year and at
which regular intervals, and must adhere to this stated frequency. Some
examples of acceptable frequencies are as follows:
a. Quarterly.
b. Four times a year, in January, April, July, and October.
c. Monthly.
d. Bimonthly (every other month).
e. Daily except Sunday.
f. Weekly.
g. Monthly except August.
3. Known Office of Publication (DMM E211.4)
You must maintain a known office of publication at the location where the
original entry Post Office for Periodicals mailing privileges is authorized. The
known office of publication is a public office where normal business of the
publication is conducted during normal posted business hours. You must
keep circulation records of the publication at the office or make them
available upon request at that office for review by Postal Service personnel.
4. Printed Sheets (DMM E211.3)
Periodicals publications must be formed of printed sheets. You may not
reproduce them by stencil, mimeograph, or hectograph. However, you may
reproduce them by any other process.
Mailpiece Construction
Bound Publications
There are a number of ways to create a bound publication. Bound
publications are held together by two or more staples or in a wire binding
process known as "saddle stitching." Heavier bound publications may also be
glued together at the spine edge in a process called "perfect binding."
Although rare, spiral binding is considered an eligible means of creating a
bound publication.
Unbound Publications
Unbound publications are made of sheets forming pages that are nested, one
within the other, to form an issue. Unbound publications may contain one
staple to hold them together. Pamphlet-style publications may be a single or
a folded sheet.
Filing the Application
You must file the application at the Post Office that serves the known office of
publication. You must fully complete the application and include two copies of
the issue published nearest to the date of application. These copies must
have a complete identification statement (see Appendix A), and you must
mark the copies to show the advertising content and indicate on the cover the
percentage of advertising.
Application Fee
As of June 2002, the application fee for Periodicals mailing privileges is
$375.00. Because this fee is subject to change, please ask your local
postmaster for the current amount. The fee covers the processing costs of
the application and is nonrefundable, even if your application is denied. You
may pay the fee by cash, check, or credit card. Make checks payable to
"Postmaster." Additional entry fees and services are covered in the
instructions for completing PS Form 3510 later in this handbook.
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