Customer Support Ruling

Advertising in Periodicals Issues
Updated October 1996

PS-241 (707.6)

This Customer Support Ruling discusses the advertising content of an issue of a general or requester publication prepared in editions.

Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 707.6.1.3, provides that general publications primarily designed for advertising purposes may not qualify for Periodicals mailing privileges.  This includes publications which contain more than 75% advertising in more than half of the issues published during any 12-month period.

DMM 707.6.4.1, prescribes that no issues of a Periodicals requester publication may contain more than 75% advertising.

When an issue of a general or requester publication is prepared in editions, the advertising content and number of copies of each edition may vary.  However, if the advertising content of any one edition exceeds the prescribed 75% advertising limitation, the issue will be considered as having more than 75% advertising matter.  It should be noted that when an issue of a general or requester publication is prepared in editions, it is not permissible to determine the percentage of advertising in the issue by averaging the percentage of advertising in the editions.

Postage at the applicable Standard Mail rate must be paid for the mailed copies of the editions of a requester publication that contain more than 75% advertising matter. 

 (Signed)
Anita J. Bizzotto
Manager
Mailing Standards
United States Postal Service
Washington DC 20260-3436