Effective June 20, 2021, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), sections 207.1.0, 207.5.2, 207.5.3.6e, 207.17.2.5, and 207.28.2, to clarify and make consistent the mailing standards for a Periodicals publication pending authorization.
The Postal Service is revising section 207.5.2 to:
n Reorganize the current text.
n Clarify the definition of “pending price” and “records of deposit” standards.
n Add postage statement requirements.
n Specify the classes of mail where applicable.
The Postal Service is updating section 207.5.3.6e to add Priority Mail® as a class of mail under the standards in that section, and deleting section 207.17.2.5 because the revisions to section 207.5.2 include postage statement standards for Periodicals pending authorization. The Postal Service is also revising section 207.28.2 by relocating price-related text under 207.1.0, “Prices and Fees.”
Although the Postal Service will not publish these revisions in the DMM until June 20, 2021, the standards are effective immediately.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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200 Commercial Mail Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels
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207 Periodicals
1.0 Prices and Fees
1.1 Outside-County — Including Science of Agriculture
[Add new 1.1.1 to read as follows and renumber current 1.1.1 through 1.1.5 as 1.1.2 through 1.1.6:]
1.1.1 General
Only a publisher or registered news agent with authorized Periodicals mailing privileges may mail at the Periodicals prices (see 207.5.2 for Periodicals pending authorization pricing). Copies that the public or a printer send to a publisher must be mailed at any other eligible price.
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5.0 Applying for Periodicals Authorization
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[Revise the text of section 5.2 in its entirety to read as follows:]
5.2 Mailing While Application Pending
5.2.1 General
A publisher or news agent may mail Periodicals mailings while an application is pending, as provided under 5.2.
5.2.2 Pending Prices
A publisher or news agent may not mail at Periodicals prices before the PCSC approves the application for Periodicals mailing privileges. Postage may be paid until final action is taken on the application as follows:
a. For no refund after the application is approved, at any eligible price.
b. For a refund after the application is approved, at USPS Marketing Mail, Bound Printed Matter, and Parcel Select prices or at single-piece Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, and First-Class Package Service — Retail prices under the exception in 207.5.3.6e.
5.2.3 Records of Deposit
USPS keeps a record of deposits and mailings made while an application is pending, when postage is paid under 5.2.2b through an advance deposit account. If a publisher or news agent intends to apply for a refund after a publication is approved and postage is not paid through an advanced deposit account, the publisher or news agent must maintain a record of mailings.
5.2.4 Postage Statements
A publisher or news agent mailing under an advance deposit account while a Periodicals application is pending must submit a Periodicals postage statement (annotated with the words “Pending Application”) with each mailing. A publisher or news agent not mailing under an advance deposit account while a Periodicals application is pending must submit both a Periodicals postage statement (annotated with the words “Pending Application”) and the postage statement for the applicable pending class of mail with each mailing.
5.2.5 Preparation
Mailings must be prepared and presorted according to the Periodicals guidelines under 207 while the application is pending.
5.3 Decision on Application
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5.3.6 No Refund
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[Revise the text of item e. to read as follows:]
e. Postage paid at Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, First-Class Package Service — Retail, or First-Class Package Service — Commercial prices. Exception: For a mailing presorted and prepared as Periodicals mail that is less than 200 pieces or 50 pounds, a refund may be authorized when postage is paid at single-piece Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, or First-Class Package Service — Retail prices as provided on the applicable postage statement.
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17.0 Documentation
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17.2 Additional Standards for Postage Statements
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[Delete 17.2.5 in its entirety and renumber current 17.2.6 through 17.2.8 as 17.2.5 through 17.2.7.]
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28.0 Enter and Deposit
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28.2 Basic Standards
[Revise the text of 28.2 to read as follows:]
The publisher or news agent must present mailings at the Periodicals prices only at the times and places designated by the postmasters of the Post Offices where original or additional entry or exceptional dispatch is authorized (or as approved by the AMC/AMF manager; see 28.4).
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The Postal Service will incorporate these revisions into the next edition of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Product Solutions, 5-20-21
