January 10, 2011
January DMM Update
Postal
Explorer® (pe.usps.com) is
your source for up-to-date mailing standards. The
Domestic Mail Manual
is fully searchable on Postal Explorer and features fly-out menus,
cross-reference links, and an extensive subject index. Our mailing standards
were updated to capture the following changes:
Domestic Shipping
Services—Pricing and Mailing Standards Changes
We revised standards throughout the DMM to support the pricing change
approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission (Docket CP2011-26). Our new
prices reflect changes in operations and the marketplace and will enhance
efficiency, offer more choices, and ensure that all types of mail cover
their costs. We will implement new prices on January 2, 2011, for Express
Mail, Priority Mail, Parcel Select and Recipient Services.
2011 Changes for Domestic
Mailing Services
We revised standards throughout the DMM to incorporate standards for the
introduction of Address Information System services, for the discontinuation
of rigid flats claiming flats prices, a change in the expression of decimal
pounds for Package Services parcels, and other clarifications.
Extension of the Simplified
Address Format
We revised
345.6.9.4,
445.7.6.2,
507.1.2.3, and
602.3.2 to remove a restriction on
the use of simplified addressing for saturation flat-size mailpieces and
irregular parcels that are delivered by USPS city carriers or to PO
boxholders at Post Office locations with city delivery service, and to add
reference to new standards related to updated delivery sequence data for use
on mailpieces bearing a simplified address.
Optional Mail Preparation
Standards for Flat-Size Mailpieces in FSS Zones
We revised
343.6.0,
343.7.0,
345.2.0,
363,
705.12.0,
707.13.0,
707.14.0 and
707.19.0 to provide optional
standards for bundle and pallet preparation of flat-size Standard Mail,
Periodicals and Bound Printed Matter mailpieces prepared for delivery within
the ZIP Codes served by Flats Sequencing System (FSS) processing.
New Incentive Programs for
2011
We revised
233,
243, and
343 to implement two new incentive
programs.
Open and Distribute—Express
Mail and Priority Mail Changes and Updates
We revised
705.16.0 to
require mailers to place a single-ply address label with a service barcode
on all Express Mail Open and Distribute containers; to establish a
guaranteed "end-of-day" service commitment for Express Mail Open and
Distribute; and to establish a five-pound minimum weight requirement for
Express Mail and Priority Mail Open and Distribute sacks.
Products
Mailable at Nonprofit Standard Mail Prices
We revised
703.1.6.11 to update the maximum
price of low-cost product items permitted to be mailed with nonprofit
pieces.
Clarification
of the Post Office Box Lock Replacement Fee
We revised
508.4.8.4 to clarify the
applicability of the lock replacement fee for P.O. Boxes to reflect current
practice.
Labeling List
Changes—New L006
We revised the labeling list by creating new labeling list
L006 to reflect new, optional FSS
changes in mail processing operations.
Our next
scheduled DMM update is February 7.
