Domestic Mail

DMM REVISION

Address Change Service

Effective May 11, 2006, we are revising the Address Change Service (ACS) standards in 507.3.2 of the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®).

The new standards better identify where mailers may place the ACS participant code and mailer keyline on mailpieces and better articulate the ACS standards overall. Our revisions do not change any of the ACS requirements.

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

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500 Additional Services

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507 Mailer Services

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3.0 Address Correction Services

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3.2 Address Change Service (ACS)

3.2.1 Description

[Revise the fifth sentence in 3.2.1 as follows:]

***Mailers must keep their address records in electronic format and mark their mailpieces with the correct ACS symbology under 3.2 and the correct ancillary service endorsement under 1.5 to obtain address correction.***

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3.2.3 Participant Code

[Revise 3.2.3 to include Publication 8 as a source for information as follows:]

Address Change Service (ACS) participant codes are provided to authorized mailers by the National Customer Support Center (NCSC) (see 608.8.0 for address). Each participant code consists of seven alpha characters, aligned left, and must be preceded by a single pound sign (#) delimiter. Additional information for using ACS is available in Publication 8, Address Change Service, at www.usps.com.

[Revise 3.2.4 as follows:]

3.2.4 Participant Code - Placement

ACS participant codes must appear on the top line of the address block, except as provided in 3.2.4c below. The address block may appear on an insert in a window or on an address label, or be preprinted on the mailpiece, as follows:

a. When using a window envelope, maintain a clearance of at least 1/25 inch between the top line of the address block and the top edge of the address window. This clearance must be maintained during the range of movement of the insert in the envelope.

b. When using an address label, maintain a clearance of at least 1/25 inch between the top line of the address block and the top edge of the address label.

c. When preprinting the participant code on an envelope (rather than printing it in the address block), mailers must also meet the following standards:

1. The preprinted participant code must be left-justified with the address block, with a tolerance of 1/4 inch left or right. No more than two lines of clear space (using the same size line spacing as used in the address block) may appear between the top line of the address block and the preprinted participant code.

2. When using a mailer keyline, it must be the top line of the address block (but below the preprinted participant code).

3. Optional endorsement lines (OELs) are prohibited when a mailer keyline is used.

[Renumber current 3.2.5 through 3.2.8 as new 3.2.6 through 3.2.9. Add new 3.2.5 as follows:]

3.2.5 Basic Standards for ACS

Mailers preparing ACS mailpieces must meet the following specifications:

a. Print and place the ancillary service endorsement according to the requirements in 102.4 and 507.1.5.

b. Print the ancillary service endorsement and the participant code in a non-narrow variant of Helvetica or Arial sans serif font in the range of 10 to 12 points.

c. Use equal line spacing in the address block, including the ACS participant code line and mailer keyline.

d. When placing the participant code in an optional endorsement line (OEL), arrange the participant code to occupy the first eight positions on the left side of the OEL and format as indicated in 708.7.2.3.

e. For mailers using delivery point barcodes in the address block, place the barcodes in one of the following positions. Additional information and examples are available in Publication 8, Address Change Service, at www.usps.com.

1. When using a mailer keyline, place the barcode between the top line of the address information and the mailer keyline.

2. When not using a mailer keyline, place the barcode between the top line of the address information and the participant code.

3. Below the "City State ZIP Code" line.

4. Above the participant code and OEL, except when placing the participant code according to 3.2.4.

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

—Mailing Standards,
Pricing and Classification, 4-27-06

REVISED PUBLICATION

Order Updated Ratefold and Posters

Notice 123, Ratefold, and Poster 123, Postal Rates and Fees, are available now through the Material Distribution Center (MDC). Quick Service Guide posters, with current rates, fees, and mail preparation information, are also in stock. You can order the Ratefold and the posters from the MDC and use touch tone order entry (TTOE): Call 800-332-0317, option 2. Poster 123 and the Quick Service Guide posters are intended for customers; do not hang these posters in retail lobbies.

To register to use TTOE, call 800-332-0317, option 1, extension 2925, and follow the prompts to leave a message. (Wait 48 hours after registering before placing your first order.) Here is the information you will need to order these posters and Notice 123.

—Mailing Standards, Pricing and Classification, 4-27-06

PS FORM 3800

Fluorescent Taggant No Longer Required on Certified Mail Receipt

Effective May 1, 2006, a fluorescent taggant will no longer be required on PS Form 3800, Certified Mail Receipt. As shown in the image below, the taggant is located next to the barcode on PS Form 3800. (In this image, the taggant is to the left of the barcode, but it may also be to the right of it.)

The taggant was required on PS Form 3800 to ensure that Certified MailTM detectors (CMDs) on lettersorting equipment could identify and extract Certified Mail pieces from delivery point sequencing mail. However, the taggant is no longer necessary because lettersorting equipment now uses the wide-field-of-view (WFOV) camera, which identifies Certified Mail pieces by reading the barcodes on the labels.

Offices should continue to use their existing inventory of PS Form 3800 until they are depleted - do not discard PS Forms 3800 that include taggants. Revised forms without taggants will not be available from the Material Distribution Center (MDC) until the MDC's existing inventory is exhausted.

—Value Added and Special Services,
Product Development. 4-27-06

NOTICE

Updated Publication 804, Drop Shipment Procedures for Destination Entry

Initially published in April 2000, Publication 804, Drop Shipment Procedures for Destination Entry, has been updated. The procedures in Publication 804 do the following:

• Supplement the standards found in the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®).

• Establish official Postal ServiceTM policy for the handling of drop shipments for the following items: Periodicals, Standard Mail®, and Package Services, including Parcel Select®.

The updates to Publication 804 include new information on:

• Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST).

• Electronic Verification System (e-VS).

• Electronic Mail Improvement Reporting (eMIR).

Publication 804 is available on the Postal Service 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 Publications.

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

—Processing Operations,
Network Operations Management, 4-27-06

NOTICE

Meter Indicia Produced With Black, Nonfluorescent Ink

The office of Postage Technology Management has approved the use of information-based indicia (IBI) printed with black, nonfluorescent ink.

Postage meters that produce this type of indicia have the capability to print the IBI with or without a facing identification mark (FIM). However, whether or not a FIM is used with an IBI printed with black, nonfluorescent ink depends on the type of mail, as noted below:

• Single-piece First-Class Mail® items must contain a FIM. Mail using this indicium may be deposited in the same fashion as any single-piece mail item.

• Presort mail must not contain a FIM. This indicium, known as an "acceptance mail indicium," may be entered only through the business mail acceptance process.

Exhibits 1 and 2 show examples of approved IBI printed with black, nonfluorescent ink.

Exhibit 1
IBI With a FIM - Single-Piece First-Class Mail Items

Exhibit 2
IBI Without a FIM - Presort Mail Items

—Postage Technology Management,
Product Development, 4-27-06

MARKETING MATTERS — FACTS AT A GLANCE

Flat-rate Pricing Makes Shipping "Quick, Easy, Convenient"

Priority Mail® service - one of the best values in the shipping industry - offers flat-rate shipping containers at no extra charge. The flat-rate envelope is 12-1/2 inches x 9-1/2 inches - just right for important reports and documents. And the flat-rate box comes in two convenient sizes:

• 12 inches x 3-1/2 inches x 14 inches - ideal for garments, board games, books, and other relatively thin items.

• 11 inches x 8-1/2 inches x 5-1/2 inches - perfect for shoes, model cars, and taller items.

Priority Mail flat-rate pricing offers customers the following benefits:

• An average delivery of 2-3 days to any destination in the United States.

• The ability to print labels and pay for postage online with Click-N-Ship® service.

• Package pickup the next business day at your or office at no extra charge using Carrier PickupTM online notification.

• A set shipping price - as much as you can properly secure in the Priority Mail flat-rate envelope for $4.05 or in the Priority Mail flat-rate box for $8.10.

Priority Mail flat-rate envelopes and boxes are available at a local Post OfficeTM or online at USPS.com®; under "Shipping Tools," click on Supplies.

—Marketing Strategy and Support,
Marketing, 4-27-06