Circular Letter No. 409

July 19, 1996

TO: Printing and Publishing Officials of the Federal Government

SUBJECT: U.S. Postal Service Changes to Domestic Mail Classes

The U.S. Postal Service has announced changes to the classes of domestic mail and select postage rate increases effective July 1, 1996. Rates for single-piece first-class, single-piece Standard Mail (formerly third- and fourth-class), and international mail classes did not change. The following general description of each new mail class and the enclosed rate scales are provided for your information in determining postage costs for all mailings made on or after July 1, 1996.

First-class mail has been retained. However, it was restructured into two new mail subclasses: Automation and Nonautomation.

• The Automation mail subclass must be 100-percent delivery point barcoded and certified every 6 months for addressing and presort accuracy.
• The Nonautomation mail subclass is the same as the previous first-class. However, bulk mailers are now required to certify the accuracy of the 5-digit ZIP Codes at least once a year, and the customer address mail list must be updated at least every 6 months.

Second-class mail was renamed Periodicals. In general, mailing requirements remained unchanged, except that there are more stringent requirements to qualify for the automation rates. If the mail piece does not qualify for automation rates, the mailer must use the more expensive nonautomation rates for respective sorting levels. Mailers must change the second-class endorsement to Periodicals by July 1, 1996, in order to comply with reform requirements.

Third- and fourth-class mail was restructured into Standard Mail (A) and Standard Mail (B):

Standard Mail (A) consists of three new mail subclasses: Automation, Enhanced Carrier Route, and Regular. The minimum bulk mailing requirement of 200 addressed pieces or 50 pounds of addressed pieces remains the same as under previous third-class mail rules, but now requires mail list certification.

• The Automation mail subclass must be 100 percent delivery point barcoded (11 digits) for letters. The ZIP+4 barcode is accept-able for flats. The carrier routes and coding accuracy for barcoded addresses must be certified quarterly and semi-annually, respectively.
• The Enhanced Carrier Route mail subclass requires that the basic carrier route be in a line of travel sequence and that the high density and saturation rate mail be in walk sequence to qualify for the respective rates.
• The Regular mail subclass must be certified annually for 5-digit ZIP Code accuracy.

Standard Mail (B) consists of the following mail subclasses: Parcel Post, Bound Printed Matter, Special Standard Mail, Library Mail, and Nonprofit. The latter two subclasses are not authorized for Government use. The mailing requirements for this mail class remain unchanged from fourth-class mail. However, the mail piece must bear the sender's return address, and the delivery address must include the correct ZIP Code. Special fourth-class mail was renamed Special Standard Mail, and the basic requirements for its use remain the same.

For additional information on specific details, you may wish to contact your agency's mail manager.

Sincerely,

ROBERT G. COX
Superintendent,
Departmental Account Representative Division

Questions or comments regarding this service? Contact wwwadmin@gpo.gov.

Page #CIR409 September 12, 1996