Effective January 21, 2024, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), in various sections, to reflect changes the Postal Service will implement related to January 2024 price adjustments.
On November 22, 2023, the Postal Regulatory Commission found that price adjustments that the Postal Service proposed for 2024 may take effect as planned. The price adjustments and these standards become effective on January 21, 2024. Final prices are available under Docket No. R2024-1 (Order No. 6814) on the Postal Regulatory Commission website, prc.gov.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
* * * * *
200 Commercial Mail Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels
* * * * *
203 Basic Postage Statement, Documentation, and Preparation Standards
* * * * *
3.0 Standardized Documentation for First-Class Mail, Periodicals, USPS Marketing Mail, and Flat-Size Bound Printed Matter
* * * * *
3.2 Format and Content
* * * * *
[Revise the text of item 203.3.2c(6) to read as follows:]
6. Using the entry abbreviations in 3.6.3, for all Periodicals mailings include a separate “Entry” column showing the applicable destination entry discount for copies.
* * * * *
[Revise the text of item 203.3.2d(6) to read as follows:]
6. Using the abbreviations in 207.17.4.3, for all Periodicals mailings include a separate “Entry” column showing the entry discount for copies. Report foreign copies separately.
* * * * *
[Revise the first sentence of item 203.3.2e(4) to read as follows:]
4. A summary of the number of copies for each entry price.***
* * * * *
[Revise the title of 3.6 to read as follows:]
3.6 Detailed Entry Listing for Periodicals
3.6.1 Definition and Retention
[Revise the text of 3.6.1 to read as follows:]
The publisher must be able to present documentation to support the number of copies of each edition of an issue mailed by entry point at In-County and Outside-County prices. This listing is separate from the standardized documentation required to support presort and may be submitted with each mailing, or a publisher may keep these records for 2 months after the mailing date. A publisher must be able to submit detailed entry listings for specific mailings upon USPS request.
3.6.2 Characteristics
* * * * *
[Revise the text of items a. and b. to read as follows:]
a. Report copies by each 3-digit ZIP Code in ascending numeric order. Include columns for: 3-digit ZIP Code, entry, and number of copies per entry. Include a summary of the number of copies at each entry price at the end of the report. A 3-digit ZIP Code may appear more than once if there are copies at different entry prices (e.g., In-County and Outside-County copies) for that 3-digit ZIP Code.
b. Report copies by each entry and by 3-digit ZIP Code in ascending numeric order. For each entry, include columns for: 3-digit ZIP Code and number of copies. Include a summary of the total number of copies for each entry at the end of each entry listing. A 3-digit ZIP Code may appear under more than one entry if there are copies at different entry prices for that 3–digit ZIP Code.
[Revise the title and text of 3.6.3 to read as follows:]
3.6.3 Entry Abbreviations
Use the price name or the authorized entry abbreviation in the listings in 3.0 and 207.17.4.2:
* * * * *
207 Periodicals
* * * * *
2.0 Price Application and Computation
2.1 Price Application
* * * * *
2.1.4 Applying Pound Price
* * * * *
[Revise the text of items a. and b. to read as follows;]
a. Outside-County (including Science-of-Agriculture) pound prices are based on the weight of the advertising portion sent to each destination entry and the weight of the nonadvertising portion to a destination entry.
b. In-County pound prices consist of a DDU entry price and a non-DDU entry price for eligible copies delivered to addresses within the county of publication.
* * * * *
2.1.5 Computing Weight of Advertising and Nonadvertising Portions
[Revise the text of 2.1.5 to read as follows:]
The pound price charge is the sum of the charges for the computed weight of the advertising portion of copies to each destination entry, plus the sum of the charges for the computed weight of the nonadvertising portion of copies to each destination entry. The following standards apply:
a. The minimum pound price charge for any entry level to which copies are mailed is the 1-pound price. For example, three 2-ounce copies for an entry are subject to the minimum 1-pound charge.
b. Authorized Nonprofit and Classroom publications with an advertising percentage that is 10 percent or less are considered 100 percent nonadvertising. When computing the pound prices and the nonadvertising adjustment, use “0” as the advertising percentage. Mailers of authorized Nonprofit and Classroom publications that they claim include 0 percent advertising must pay the nonadvertising pound price for the entire weight of all copies.
* * * * *
2.2 Computing Postage
* * * * *
2.2.3 Computing Other Weights
[Revise the text of 2.2.3 to read as follows:]
The following applies:
a. To find the total weight of mailed copies per entry level, do the following:
1. Multiply the corresponding number of copies by the computed weight per copy.
2. Round off each result to the nearest whole pound, except when the result is under 0.5 pound. Then round to 1 pound.
b. To find the weight of the advertising portion for each entry, where applicable, multiply the total weight of copies for that entry by the percentage of advertising. Round off each result to the nearest whole pound, except when the result is under 0.5 pound. Then round to 1 pound.
c. To find the weight of the nonadvertising portion, subtract the total weight of the advertising portion to all entry levels from the total weight of copies to all entry levels.
d. To find the weight of In-County price copies, multiply the number of copies by the weight per copy and round off the total weight to the nearest whole pound, except when the result is less than 0.5 pound. Then round to 1 pound.
* * * * *
5.0 Applying for Periodicals Authorization
* * * * *
5.2 Mailing While Application Pending
* * * * *
[Revise the title of 5.2.2 to read as follows:]
5.2.2 Pending Periodicals Prices
* * * * *
[Revise the title of 5.2.3 to read as follows:]
5.2.3 Pending Periodicals Postage
* * * * *
[Revise the title of Exhibit 5.2.3 to read as follows:]
Exhibit 5.2.3 Pending Periodicals Postage
* * * * *
[Revise the title of 8.0 to read as follows:]
8.0 Record-Keeping Standards for Publishers
8.1 Basic Standards
* * * * *
8.1.2 Information Required
* * * * *
[Delete item c. in its entirety and renumber current items d. and e. as c. and d.]
* * * * *
8.2 Verification
8.2.1 Purpose
[Revise the text of 8.2.1 to read as follows]
A publisher must periodically make records available for USPS review and verification for USPS to do the following:
a. Evaluate indications of ineligibility for Periodicals entry;
b. Verify that the postage statement shows the correct number of copies mailed and the correct postage; and
c. Confirm that publications authorized to carry general advertising meet the applicable circulation standards.
* * * * *
11.0 Basic Eligibility
11.1 Outside-County Prices
11.1.1 General
[Revise the text of 11.1.1 to read as follows:]
Outside-County prices apply to copies of an authorized Periodicals publication that a publisher or news agent mails and that are not eligible for In-County prices under 11.3. Outside-County prices consist of:
a. An addressed per piece charge;
b. An entry-level charge for the weight of the advertising portion of the publication;
c. An entry-level charge for the weight of the nonadvertising portion; and
d. A bundle and container charge.
* * * * *
17.0 Documentation
* * * * *
17.2 Additional Standards for Postage Statements
* * * * *
17.2.3 Waiving Nonadvertising Prices
[Revise the first sentence of 17.2.3 to read as follows:]
Instead of markming a copy of each issue to show the advertising portion, the publisher may pay postage at the advertising prices on both portions of all issues or editions of a Periodicals publication (except a requester publication).***
* * * * *
17.2.7 News Agent’s Statement
[Revise the text of 17.2.7 to read as follows:]
A news agent presenting Periodicals matter subject to “All Other” prices must provide a statement showing the percentages of such matter devoted to advertising and nonadvertising.
* * * * *
[Revise the title of 17.4 to read as follows:]
17.4 Detailed Entry Listing for Periodicals
17.4.1 Basic Standards
[Revise the text of 17.4.1 to read as follows:]
The publisher must be able to present documentation that supports the number of copies of each edition of an issue, by entry level, at DDU, DSCF, DADC, All Others, and In–County prices. This listing is separated from the standardized presort documentation required under 17.3. This listing may be submitted with each mailing, or a publisher may keep such records for each mailing for 2 months after the mailing date. A publisher must be able to submit detailed entry listings for specific mailings upon USPS request.
17.4.2 Format
[Revise the text of 17.4.2 to read as follows:]
Using one of the following formats, report the number of copies mailed to each 3-digit ZIP Code area at entry prices:
a. Report copies by 3-digit ZIP Code, in ascending numeric order, for all ZIP Codes in the mailing. The listing must include these columns: 3-digit ZIP Code, entry level, and number of copies. Include a summary of the number of copies at each entry price at the end of the report. A 3-digit ZIP Code may appear more than once if there are copies at different entry prices for that ZIP Code (for example, In-County and Outside-County copies).
b. Report copies by zone (In-County DDU, In-County others, Outside-County DDU, Outside-County DSCF, Outside-County DADC, and Outside-County All Others) and by 3-digit ZIP Code, in ascending numeric order, for each entry level. For each entry level, the listing must include these columns: 3-digit ZIP Code and number of copies in the mailing. Include a summary of the total number of copies for each entry level at the end of each entry listing. A 3-digit ZIP Code may appear under more than one entry level if there are copies at different entry prices for that ZIP Code.
[Revise the title and text of 17.4.3 to read as follows:]
17.4.3 Entry Abbreviations
Use the price name or the authorized entry abbreviation in the listings in 17.3 and 17.4.2.
* * * * *
26.0 Physical Criteria for Nonmachinable Flat-Size Periodicals
* * * * *
26.2 Weight and Size
[Revise the first sentence of 26.2 to read as follows:]
The maximum weight is 4.4 pounds for pieces prepared in 5-digit bundles only.***
* * * * *
28.0 Enter and Deposit
* * * * *
28.3 Exceptional Dispatch
* * * * *
28.3.2 Intended Use
[Revise the first sentence of 28.3.2 to read as follows:]
The provision for exceptional dispatch is intended for local distribution (In-County and DDU) of publications with total circulation of no more than 25,000 and is not to be used to circumvent additional entry standards.***
* * * * *
500 Additional Mailing Services
503 Extra Services
* * * * *
1.0 Basic Standards for All Extra Services
* * * * *
1.10 Receipts
[Add a new sentence immediately after the fourth sentence to read as follows:]
***When used for commercial mailings, PS Form 3877 (firm sheet) may be submitted electronically to PostalOne! and processed at the BMEU.***
* * * * *
5.0 Certificates of Mailing
5.1 Basic Standards
5.1.1 Description — Individual Pieces
[Add a new sentence at the end of 5.1.1 to read as follows:]
***PS Form 3665 (firm sheet) may be submitted electronically to PostalOne! and processed at the BMEU.
5.1.2 Paying Fees
[Add a new sentence at the end of 5.1.2 to read as follows:]
***When electronically submitted, postage for PS Form 3665, Certificate of Mailing — Firm (Domestic), must be paid with an EPS (Electronic Payment System) account.
* * * * *
5.1.6 Acceptance
[Revise the last sentence of 5.1.6 to read as follows:]
***PS Form 3665, Certificate of Mailing — Firm (Domestic), (including USPS-approved privately printed versions and electronic PS Form 3665) with mailings of at least 50 pieces or 50 pounds of corresponding articles presented at one time must be presented to a Post Office business-mail entry unit (BMEU) or authorized detached mail unit (DMU).
* * * * *
5.2 Other Bulk Quantities — Certificate of Bulk Mailing
5.2.1 Description
[Add new text at the end of 5.2.1 to read as follows:]
***Mailers must upload the electronic PS Form 3606-D, Certificate of Bulk Mailing — Domestic, before presenting the mailing at the BMEU for processing. Each electronic PS Form 3606-D will receive a watermark date-stamped receipt after finalization of the mailing.
5.2.2 Paying Fees
[Add a new sentence at the end of 5.2.2 to read as follows:]
***Mailers submitting electronic PS Form 3606-D must pay certificate-of-mailing fees at the time of mailing, using an EPS account.
5.2.3 Acceptance
[Revise the last sentence of 5.2.3 to read as follows:]
***PS Form 3606-D, Certificate of Bulk Mailing — Domestic, (including USPS-approved facsimiles and electronic PS Form 3606-D) with identical-weight mailings of at least 50 pieces or 50 pounds must be presented to a business-mail entry unit (BMEU) or authorized detached mail unit (DMU).
* * * * *
700 Special Standards
* * * * *
705 Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems
* * * * *
15.0 Combining USPS Marketing Mail Flats, Bound Printed Matter Flats, and Periodicals Flats
15.1 Basic Standards
* * * * *
15.1.3 Documentation
* * * * *
[Revise the text of item e. to read as follows:]
e. Documentation to support entry and bundle totals, if requested.
* * * * *
The Postal Service will incorporate these revisions into the January 21, 2024, edition of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Product Solutions, 12-14-23
