The FASTforward system contains more than 40 million permanent change-of-address (COA) records filed with the U.S. Postal Service® by relocating customers who want their mail forwarded to their new address. These COA records reflect an thirteen-month period relative to the move-effective date the customer provided. FASTforward COA data is updated weekly.

The FASTforward system consists of a licensed computer system containing FASTforward name- and address-matching software and the COA database. The Postal Service™ is the sole owner and distributor of the FASTforward hardware and software components that comprise the FASTforward system. Specifically, this includes the FASTforward software, the computer system itself, and the small computer systems interface (SCSI) cable that connects the FASTforward system to the licensee-owned or -leased system components. The FASTforward system is the sole property of the United States Postal Service, © 1996, All Rights Reserved.

FASTforward Multiline Optical Character Reader (MLOCR) was originally developed to interface with commercial mail-processing equipment, such as multiline optical character readers and remote video encoding (RVE) stations. Licensed systems are required to have a FASTforward interface that meets USPS specifications (contact your equipment manufacturer for details and pricing on this modification). In this application, FASTforward licensees redirect previously prepared mailpieces to the intended recipient's new address. The specific information (new address) is obtained through a matching process of the MLOCR optic lift (or RVE keyed data) from the mailpiece name and address against the national database of permanent COAs filed during the preceding thirteen months. Therefore, address change information is provided for application to the mailpiece only for those articles that, in fact, have a matching name and old address present. Any new address provided by FASTforward as the result of a match is appended with the ZIP + 4®/DPC information along with a text representation of the new (forwarded to) address. This returned information is applied to the mailpiece in real time by the MLOCR system. When FASTforward is used in conjunction with MLOCR (and/or RVE) processing, mailpieces avoid the delays associated with traditional mail-forwarding activities.

FASTforward Mailing List Correction (MLC), a second version of the FASTforward system, was retired on September 30, 2005, and replaced with the NCOALink® product.

You can obtain FASTforward MLOCR licensing information package by contacting the Move Update Support Department at 1-800-589-5766 or by visiting RIBBS™. In addition interested parties should contact their equipment manufacturers for information on obtaining a FASTforward interface system.

Use the links below for a list of FASTforward Licensees.