Effective November 29, 2009, the Postal Service™ will revise the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 503.9.0 and 503.10.0 to clarify that the electronic price for Delivery Confirmation™ service and Signature Confirmation™ service is available when customers privately print electronic Delivery Confirmation and Signature Confirmation labels. Included is an enhancement to list all U.S. territories and Freely Associated States where confirmation services are not available instead of referring the reader to another DMM section.
We also reorganized our standards to relax the formatting requirements for privately printed barcodes. The format changes accommodate customers who use a smaller label size. In addition, the changes allow customers who use a larger label size more flexibility to design their labels according to their individual business needs.
The following formatting requirements have changed:
n The thickness of the identification bars is changing from a minimum of 0.0625 inch to a minimum of 0.031 inch.
n The length of the human-readable service banner should not extend beyond the length of the identification bar.
n The clear space between the human-readable characters and the identification bar is changing from a minimum of 0.125 inch to a minimum of 0.031 inch.
Also included in this revision is the addition of the inch-equivalent font size in the human-readable service banner and barcode representation. The human-readable service banner text is changed from a minimum 12-point font size to a text height minimum of 9-point font size or 0.09 inch, and the human-readable barcode representation text is changed from a minimum 10-point font size to a minimum height of 9-point font size or 0.09 inch.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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500 Additional Mailing Services
503 Extra Services
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9.0 Delivery Confirmation
9.1 Delivery Confirmation Fee
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9.1.2 Fees and Postage
[Revise the text of 9.1.2 to clarify the availability of the electronic option as follows:]
The applicable Delivery Confirmation fee must be paid in addition to the correct postage. The retail and electronic option fee, and postage may be paid with postage stamps, meter stamps, PC Postage, or permit imprint. Precancelled stamps are not permitted as postage payment. The electronic price is applicable when customers privately print an electronic Delivery Confirmation label. (See Exhibit 9.3.1c).
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9.2 Basic Information
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9.2.4 Ineligible Matter
Delivery Confirmation is not available for the following:
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[Revise the text of 9.2.4g to clarify ZIP Codes where Delivery Confirmation is not available as follows:]
g. Mail addressed to ZIP Codes in the following U.S. territories or Freely Associated States:
1. Palau, Republic of 96939 & 96940
2. Pohnpei Island 96941
3. Chuuk (Truk) Island 96942
4. Yap Island 96943
5. Kosrae Island 96944
6. Northern Mariana Islands 96952
7. Majuro Island 96960
8. Ebeye Island 96970
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9.4 Barcodes
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9.4.3 Printing
Labels printed by mailers must meet the following specifications:
[Revise item a of 9.4.3 as follows:]
a. Each label must bear a unique Delivery Confirmation PIC barcode as specified in 9.4.2.
[Redesignate current items b through d of 9.4.3 as new items f through h and add new items b through e as follows:]
b. Each label must bear a human-readable service banner with the text “USPS DELIVERY CONFIRMATION” (if using retail service option, as specified in 9.2.5) or “e/USPS DELIVERY CONFIRMATION” (if using electronic service option, as specified in 9.2.5, and the postage is evident on the mailpiece) that must be printed as follows:
1. At a minimum, 0.125 inch above the barcode.
2. At a maximum, 0.5 inch above the barcode.
3. At a minimum, 0.031 inch below the identification bar.
4. Centered horizontally above the barcode.
5. With a text height minimum of 9-point or 0.09 inch.
6. In bold sans serif type (e.g., Helvetica or Arial).
7. All uppercase using standard spacing.
8. Not to exceed the length of the identification bars.
c. Human-readable characters that represent the barcode ID must be printed as follows:
1. At a minimum, 0.125 inch below the barcode.
2. At a maximum, 0.5 inch below the barcode.
3. At a minimum, 0.031 inch above the identification bar.
4. Centered horizontally below the barcode.
5. With a text height minimum of 9-point or 0.09 inch.
6. In bold sans serif type (e.g., Helvetica or Arial).
7. All uppercase using standard spacing.
8. Not to exceed the length of the identification bars.
9. Parsed in accordance with Publication 91.
d. The barcode must meet the following specifications:
1. The barcode symbology must be GS1-128.
2. The range of widths of narrow bars and spaces (X-dimension) is a minimum of 0.013 inch and a maximum of 0.021 inch. The preferred range is a minimum of 0.015 inch and maximum of 0.017 inch.
3. All bars must be at least 0.75 inch high.
4. A clear space around the barcode must be maintained at a minimum of 0.125 inch above and below the barcode. A clear space measuring at least 10 times the X–dimension shall be maintained immediately to the left and right of the barcode. No text, images, or other markings shall appear in this area. A minimum clear zone of 0.25 inch is recommended.
e. Identification bars are used to segregate the Delivery Confirmation barcode from other areas of the shipping label. Only information relating to Delivery Confirmation and other extra services may be placed between these bars. The identification bars must be printed as follows:
1. With a minimum clear space of 0.031 inch above the human-readable text and below the human-readable representation of the barcode.
2. Centered horizontally above and below the barcode area.
3. At a minimum, 0.031 inch thick, and at a maximum, 0.063 inch thick.
4. The line length should extend across the width of the label, but must extend at least the length of the barcode (see Exhibit 9.3.1c).
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[Insert new item i as follows:]
i. The indicator “e/” or the optional “ELECTRONIC PRICE APPROVED # [Mailer ID]” text is not used for Delivery Confirmation Electronic Verification System (eVS) mailpieces (see 705.2.9). Additionally, mailers approved for the electronic service option, at their discretion, may print the text “ELECTRONIC PRICE APPROVED #[Mailer ID]” in minimum 8-point or 0.08 inch to 10-point or 0.10 inch bold sans serif type directly below the bottom horizontal identification bar (see Exhibit 9.4.3).
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10.0 Signature Confirmation
10.1 Signature Confirmation Fee
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10.1.2 Fees and Postage
[Revise the text of 10.1.2 to clarify the availability of the electronic option as follows:]
The applicable Signature Confirmation fee in 10.1.1 must be paid in addition to the correct postage. The retail and electronic option fee, and postage may be paid with postage stamps, meter stamps, PC Postage, or permit imprint. Precancelled stamps are not permitted as postage payment. The electronic price is applicable when customers privately print an electronic Signature Confirmation label. (See Exhibit 10.3.1c).
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10.2 Basic Information
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10.2.3 Ineligible Matter
Signature Confirmation is not available for the following:
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[Revise the text of 10.2.3f to clarify ZIP Codes where Signature Confirmation is not available as follows:]
f. Mail addressed to ZIP Codes in the following U.S. territories or Freely Associated States:
1. Palau, Republic of 96939 & 96940
2. Pohnpei Island 96941
3. Chuuk (Truk) Island 96942
4. Yap Island 96943
5. Kosrae Island 96944
6. Northern Mariana Islands 96952
7. Majuro Island 96960
8. Ebeye Island 96970
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10.4 Barcodes
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10.4.3 Printing
Labels printed by mailers must meet the following specifications:
[Revise item a of 10.4.4 as follows:]
a. Each label must bear a unique Signature Confirmation PIC barcode as specified in 10.4.3.
[Redesignate current items b through e of 9.4.3 as new items f through i, and add new items b through e as follows:]
b. Each label must bear a human-readable service banner with the text “USPS SIGNATURE CONFIRMATION” (if using retail service option, as specified in 10.2.4) or “e/USPS SIGNATURE CONFIRMATION” (if using electronic service option, as specified in 10.2.4, and the postage is evident on the mailpiece) that must be printed as follows:
1. At a minimum, 0.125 inch above the barcode.
2. At a maximum, 0.5 inch above the barcode.
3. At a minimum, 0.031 inch below the identification bar.
4. Centered horizontally above the barcode.
5. With a text height minimum of 9-point or 0.09 inch.
6. In bold sans serif type (e.g., Helvetica or Arial).
7. All uppercase using standard spacing.
8. Not to exceed the length of the identification bars.
c. Human-readable characters that represent the barcode ID must be printed as follows:
1. At a minimum, 0.125 inch below the barcode.
2. At a maximum, 0.5 inch below the barcode.
3. At a minimum, 0.031 inch above the identification bar.
4. Centered horizontally above the barcode.
5. With a text height minimum of 9-point or 0.09 inch.
6. In bold sans serif type (e.g., Helvetica or Arial).
7. All uppercase using standard spacing.
8. Not to exceed the length of the identification bars.
9. Parsed in accordance with Publication 91.
d. The barcode must meet the following specifications:
1. The barcode symbology must be GS1-128.
2. The range of widths of narrow bars and spaces (X-dimension) is a minimum of 0.013 inch and a maximum 0.021 inch. The preferred range is a minimum 0.015 and maximum 0.017 inch.
3. All bars must be at least 0.75 inch high.
4. A clear space around the barcode must be maintained at a minimum of 0.125 inch above and below the barcode, and a minimum of 0.25 inch on the left and right side of the barcode. A clear space measuring at least 10 times the X–dimension shall be maintained immediately to the left and right of the barcode. No text, images, or other markings shall appear in this area. A minimum clear zone of 0.25 inch is recommended.
e. Identification bars are used to segregate the Signature Confirmation barcode from other areas of the shipping label. Only information relating to Signature Confirmation and other extra services may be placed between these bars. The identification bars must be printed as follows:
1. With a minimum clear space of 0.031 inch above the human-readable text and below the human-readable representation of the barcode.
2. Centered horizontally above and below the barcode area.
3. At a minimum, 0.031 inch thick, and at a maximum, 0.063 inch thick.
4 The line length should extend across the width of the label, but must extend at least the length of the barcode (see Exhibit 10.3.1c).
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[Insert new item j as follows:]
j. The indicator “e/” or the optional “ELECTRONIC PRICE APPROVED # [Mailer ID]” text is not used for Signature Confirmation Electronic Verification System (eVS) mailpieces (see 705.2.9). Additionally, mailers approved for the electronic service option, at their discretion, may print the text “ELECTRONIC PRICE APPROVED #[Mailer ID]” in minimum 8-point or 0.08 inch to 10-point or 0.10 inch bold sans serif type directly below the bottom horizontal identification bar (see Exhibit 10.4.4c).
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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, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Mailing Standards, Pricing, 10-22-09
