Customer Support Ruling

Production of Printed Sheets – Periodicals
REVISED June 2006

PS-070 (707.4.4.4)

This Customer Support Ruling discusses permissible methods of producing printed sheets for Periodicals publications.

Section 200.0103 of the Domestic Mail Classification Schedule (DMCS) recommended by the Postal Rate Commission and adopted by the Governors of the U.S. Postal Service June 2, 1976, carries forth the provisions of former Title 39, U.S.C. section 4354(a)(3), which require Periodicals (formerly Second-Class Mail) publications to be formed of printed sheets, the definition of "printing" being that adopted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Printing.

In conformity with the above, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 707.4.4.4 provides that Periodicals publications must be formed of printed sheets. Printed sheets may not be reproduced by stencil, mimeograph, or hectograph processes. Reproduction by any other process is permissible. Any style of type may be used. Sheets may be die cut or deckle-edged and may be made of paper, cellophane, foil, or other similar materials.

The offset printing process and xerography (photocopying) are examples of permissible methods of reproducing copies of Periodicals publications. The silk screen process, which is a stencil method of printing, is one example of a method that may not be used for pages of a Periodicals publication.

Publications produced on microfilm, microfiche, magnetic medium, CD-ROM, or similar media, are not acceptable in the mails at the Periodicals rates of postage. Such items are not printed sheets; therefore, they are subject to the appropriate First-Class Mail or Standard Mail postage rates.

(Signed)
Sherry Suggs
Manager
Mailing Standards
United States Postal Service
Washington DC 20260-3436