Domestic Mail

WEBBATS UPDATE

Rate and Fee Changes Will Be Transparent to WebBATS Users

The rate and fee changes that take effect January 8, 2006, will be transparent to WebBATS users. Changes to Post OfficeTM box fees and related fees (e.g., key deposit) will be implemented at the application host level, requiring no action on the part of the WebBATS user. All sites will maintain their current fee group.

Post Office box holders submitting payments on or after January 8, 2006, will pay the new Post Office box fees. WebBATS will allow users to post payments at the old Post Office box fees if the following two conditions are met:

• Payment is received (or postmarked, if mailed) before January 8, 2006.

• The payment date entered in the "Receipt Date" field of the Post Payment page is before January 8, 2006.

The online WebBATS Help system has additional instructions and information: go to https://webbats2.usps.gov/webbats/zhelp/!SSL!/WebHelp/webbats_help.htm and click on Rate Changes.

Additional information can be found in Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 508. For additional assistance or questions, contact Richard Moran at 202-268-5066.

— Retail Operations,
Delivery and Retail, 12-8-05

DMM REVISION

Labeling List Changes

Effective December 8, 2005, Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) Labeling Lists L001, L002, L003, L005, L007, L008, L201, L606, and L801 are revised to reflect changes in mail processing operations. Mailers are encouraged to label according to these revised lists immediately, but must comply with these changes no later than February 19, 2006.

Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)

* * * * *

Index and Appendices

* * * * *

L Labeling Lists

L000 General Use

L001 5-Digit Scheme-Periodicals, Standard Mail, and Package Services Flats and Irregular Parcels

* * * * *

* * * * *

L002 3-Digit ZIP Code Prefix Matrix

* * * * *

* * * * *

L003 3-Digit ZIP Code Prefix Groups-3-Digit Scheme Sortation

* * * * *

* * * * *

L005 3-Digit ZIP Code Prefix Groups-SCF Sortation

* * * * *

* * * * *

L007 5-Digit Scheme-Periodicals, Standard Mail, and BPM Flats in Bundles

* * * * *

* * * * *

L008 3-Digit Scheme-Periodicals, Standard Mail, and BPM Flats in Bundles

* * * * *

* * * * *

L200 Periodicals

L201 Periodicals Origin Split

* * * * *

* * * * *

L600 Standard Mail and Package Services

* * * * *

L606 5-Digit Scheme-Standard Mail and Package Services Parcels

* * * * *

* * * * *

L800 Automation Rate Mailings

L801 AADCs-Letter-Size Mailings

* * * * *

* * * * *

We will incorporate these revisions into the monthly update of the online DMM available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.gov.

— Logistics,
Network Operations Management, 12-8-05

CORRECTION

Parcel Post — Intra-BMC/ASF Rates

The article titled "Notice 123, RATEFOLD" in Postal Bulletin 22168A (12-1-05, pages 25-40) inadvertently printed the "Parcel Post - Inter-BMC/ASF" rates twice (on pages 32 and 33) while omitting the "Parcel Post - Local and Intra-BMC/ASF" rates. This issue of the Postal Bulletin includes both the "Parcel Post - Local and Intra-BMC/ASF" and "Parcel Post - Inter-BMC/ASF" rates on pages 5- 6. The online versions of Postal Bulletin 22168A have been corrected to show the "Parcel Post - Local and Intra- BMC/ASF" rates on page 32 and the "Parcel Post - Inter-BMC/ASF" rates on page 33.

— Implementation and Outreach,
Pricing and Classification, 12-8-05

PUBLICATION 109 REVISION

Online Version of Publication 109 Updated With "Hotlink" to PS Form 109

Effective December 8, 2005, Publication 109, Special Services Technical Guide: Postal Forms and Labels (Domestic Service Only), is revised to replace the image of PS Form 109, Application to Print Special Services Barcoded Forms/Labels, with a "hotlink" to the most current edition of that form located on the Postal ServiceTM Web site.

Publication 109 helps Postal Service customers comply with requirements for privately printed special services forms and labels. This publication provides detailed information on designing forms and labels and provides technical information about barcode specifications.

Publication 109, Special Services Technical Guide: Postal Forms and Labels (Domestic Service Only)

* * * * *

7 Barcode Requirements

* * * * *

7-2 Privately Printed Barcode Certification

* * * * *

[Revise introductory text of item 2 to read as follows (indicating a new Exhibit 7-2 for PS Form 109) (the revised text appears in bold merely for emphasis):]

2. Complete PS Form 109, Application to Print Special Services Barcoded Forms/Labels, as shown in the link provided in Exhibit 7-2, and either fax it to 901-681-4521 or mail it to the following address:

* * * * *

[Before 7-3, add the following text:]

Exhibit 7-2 PS Form 109, Application to Print Special Services Barcoded Forms/Labels

Click on the link below to view the latest edition of PS Form 109. When finished viewing the form, click on Back to return to this publication.

www.usps.com/forms/_pdf/ps109.pdf.

* * * * *

[On the last page of the publication, remove the graphic of the February 2003 edition of PS Form 109.]

Publication 109 is available on the Postal ServiceTM PolicyNet Web site:

• Go to http://blue.usps.gov.

• Under "Essential Links" in the left-hand column, click on References.

• Under "References" in the right-hand column, under "Policies," click on PolicyNet.

• Click on PUBs.

(The direct URL for the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site is http://blue.usps.gov/cpim.)

Publication 109 is also available on the Postal Service Internet:

• Go to www.usps.com.

• Click on All Products & Services, then Publications, then Postal Periodicals and Publications, and then Publications.

— Value Added and Special Services,
Product Development, 12-8-05

FORMS

Postage Statement Redesign — Obsolete Forms

Effective January 8, 2006, we are eliminating several postage statements as part of the postage statement redesign project. The new statements reduce the number of forms mailers need by providing one form with all rates for each category or class of mail, plus a simplified "EZ" form. Mailers will now find all First-Class Mail® and Priority Mail® rates on PS Form 3600-R, First-Class Mail and Priority Mail; all regular Standard Mail® rates on PS Form 3602-R, Standard Mail; all Nonprofit Standard Mail rates on PS Form 3602-N, Nonprofit Standard Mail; all Package Services rates on PS Form 3605-R, Package Services; and all Periodicals rates on PS Form 3541, Periodicals - One Issue or One Edition.

Although several of the new forms have multiple pages, mailers use only the pages needed for a particular mailing. The first page of PS Forms 3600-R, 3602-R, 3602-N, 3605-R, and 3541 includes a "Parts Completed" section, which allows mailers to identify the parts of the form they are using. Mailers complete the identified parts and include only those parts with the first page. To allow mailers to include extra services, PS Forms 3600-R, 3602-R, 3602-N, and 3605-R include a new Part S. Also, the Instructions page on each form contains additional information for mailers.

First-Class Mail (Including Priority Mail)

First-Class Mail and Priority Mail mailers will use PS Forms 3600-EZ (First-Class Mail only) or 3600-R, dated January 2006, for all mailings. The following First-Class Mail and Priority Mail postage statements are obsolete:

• PS Form 3600-P, First-Class Mail - Postage Affixed (8/2003)

• PS Form 3600-PM, Priority Mail - Permit Imprint (6/2002)

• PS Form 3600-PMX, Priority Mail Flat-Rate Box Experiment - Permit Imprint (11/2004)

Periodicals

Periodicals mailers will use PS Forms 3541 or 3541-M (for monthly mailings), dated January 2006, for all mailings. The following Periodicals postage statements are obsolete:

• PS Form 3541-A, Periodicals - Condensed - One Issue or Edition (6/2002)

• PS Form 3541-X, Periodicals Co-Palletization Experiment (4/2003)

Standard Mail

Regular Standard Mail mailers will use PS Forms 3602-EZ, 3602-C, or 3602-R, dated January 2006, and PS Form 3602-G, dated November 2001, for all mailings. The following regular Standard Mail postage statements are obsolete:

• PS Form 3602-HP, Standard Mail Heavy Letters - Postage Affixed (6/2002)

• PS Form 3602-HR, Standard Mail Heavy Letters - Permit Imprint (6/2002)

• PS Form 3602-P, Standard Mail Letters and Flats - Postage Affixed (8/2003)

• PS Form 3602-PS, Standard Mail Subject to Surcharge - Postage Affixed (8/2003)

• PS Form 3602-RS, Standard Mail Subject to Surcharge - Permit Imprint (8/2003)

Nonprofit Standard Mail

Nonprofit Standard Mail mailers will use PS Forms 3602-NZ, 3602-C, or 3602-N, dated January 2006, for all mailings. The following nonprofit Standard Mail postage statements are obsolete:

• PS Form 3602-NHP, Nonprofit Standard Mail Heavy Letters - Postage Affixed (6/2002)

• PS Form 3602-NHR, Nonprofit Standard Mail Heavy Letters - Permit Imprint (6/2002)

• PS Form 3602-NP, Nonprofit Standard Mail Letters and Flats - Postage Affixed (8/2003)

• PS Form 3602-NPS, Nonprofit Standard Mail Subject to Surcharge - Postage Affixed (8/2003)

• PS Form 3602-NS, Nonprofit Standard Mail Subject to Surcharge - Permit Imprint (8/2003)

Package Services

Package Services (Bound Printed Matter, Library Mail, Media Mail®, Parcel Post®, and Parcel Select®) mailers will use PS Form 3605-R, dated January 2006, for all mailings. The following Package Services postage statements are obsolete:

• PS Form 3605-BFP, Bound Printed Matter Flats - Postage Affixed (6/2002)

• PS Form 3605-BFR, Bound Printed Matter Flats - Permit Imprint (6/2002)

• PS Form 3605-BPP, Bound Printed Matter Parcels - Postage Affixed (6/2002)

• PS Form 3605-BPR, Bound Printed Matter Parcels - Permit Imprint (6/2002)

• PS Form 3605-DFP, Destination Entry Bound Printed Matter Flats - Postage Affixed (6/2002)

• PS Form 3605-DFR, Destination Entry Bound Printed Matter Flats - Permit Imprint (6/2002)

• PS Form 3605-DPP, Destination Entry Bound Printed Matter Parcels - Postage Affixed (6/2002)

• PS Form 3605-DPR, Destination Entry Bound Printed Matter Parcels - Permit Imprint (6/2002)

• PS Form 3605-PP, Parcel Post - Postage Affixed (6/2002)

• PS Form 3605-PR, Parcel Post - Permit Imprint (6/2002)

• PS Form 3605-SP, Parcel Select - Postage Affixed (6/2002)

• PS Form 3605-SR, Parcel Select - Permit Imprint (6/2002)

• PS Form 3608-P, Media Mail or Library Mail - Postage Affixed (6/2002)

• PS Form 3608-R, Media Mail or Library Mail - Permit Imprint (6/2002)

International Mail

The following International postage statements are obsolete:

• PS Form 3602-IRS, International Inbound Standard Mail Subject to Surcharge - Permit Imprint (6/2002)

• PS Form 3659, Global Direct - Mexico - Permit Imprint (6/2002)

Special Postal Bulletin 22168A, dated December 1, 2005, provides more information on postage statements, including ordering instructions and availability.

— Mailing Standards,
Pricing and Classification, 12-8-05

NOTICE

Phase III Postage Meters Scheduled for Decertification

We remind Phase III postage meter users who plan to continue using a meter for postage that they must complete their transition to a more secure Postal ServiceTM-approved postage meter by the December 31, 2006, decertification date established in 2001.

Phase III postage meters use older rotary (letterpress) technology to print postage and do not automatically disable if reset outside certain criteria. Customers using this technology should keep in mind that the automated funds downloading systems will not recognize Phase III meters once they are decertified.

In addition to this notice, the Postal Service has provided all commercial postage meter vendors with a letter outlining the transition requirements that they can distribute to their clients.

Postal Service employees should direct customers requesting specific information about approved replacement models to contact a commercial postage meter vendor. Mailing system representatives at these companies have received specialized training, can explain the features offered by each postage meter model, and can answer questions about this transition process.

General information on digital technology, postage meter decertification schedules, and a listing of Postal Service-approved postage meter vendors can also be found at www.usps.com/postagesolutions/flash.htm.

— Postage Technology Management,
Product Development, 12-8-05