September 1 DMM Update

 

Postal Explorer (pe.usps.com) always provides the most up-to-date version of the DMM. It’s fully searchable and features fly-out menus and cross-reference links for easy navigation. Today we made a special update to our mailing standards to capture the following changes:

  

4-State Customer Barcode
Mailers who participate in OneCode ACS Address Change Service may use the new 4-State Customer Barcode on First-Class Mail automation rate letters. In addition, mailers may use the new barcode on automation-rate First-Class Mail, Periodicals, or Standard Mail letters that are part of a Confirm service mailing. The new 4-State Customer Barcode offers enhanced tracking capability and greater visibility in the mailstream. We added this option to 202.3.4, 202.5.0, 233.5.1, 243.6.0, 243.7.1, 503.13.0, 507.3.0, 707.14.1.1, 708.4.0, and 708.7.0.

 

Delivery Confirmation Service
We revised 503.9.2.4 to offer Delivery Confirmation service to most APO/FPO destinations and to some Pacific islands. We are able to provide this additional level of Delivery Confirmation service because of enhancements to scanning equipment and transmission capabilities. The postage rate calculators on Postal Explorer are updated with the new destinations and can also provide a listing of the restrictions for all APO/FPO mail.

 

Check the Summary of Changes for a complete listing of updates. You will find revisions listed by effective date and also by chapter, with clickable links to revised sections.

 

Our next update is scheduled for September 14.

 

New "Statement of Ownership" Forms for Periodicals Mailers

All publishers who are authorized to mail at Periodicals rates must file PS Form 3526, Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation, on or before October 1 of each year, at their original entry Post Office. We updated PS Form 3526 and added a new PS Form 3526-R, Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation (Requester Publications Only). Both forms are designed to make the annual filing process easier for mailers and to clarify the circulation and other information that is required.

Publishers may use either the new PS Forms 3526 and 3526-R, dated September 2006, or the last edition of PS Form 3526, dated October 1999, to meet the October 1, 2006, filing requirement. Next year only the September 2006 editions may be used.

Both forms are available on Postal Explorer (click on “Business Forms” in the left frame).

 

Zebra Codes Are Not "Banned" – Just Endangered

We no longer require "zebra codes" (diagonal or vertical marks) on container labels for automation-rate mailings. But as long as the other label elements are accurate, mailers may continue to use labels with zebra codes to deplete existing label stock.

For more information, see our article titled "Sack Labels" in the May 11 Postal Bulletin.