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Periodicals Supplement with Demographic Distribution
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Updated January 2001 (Arial, 10 pt., black font)
PS-001 (707.3 )
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(Body is Arial 10 pt., black font) This Customer Support Ruling discusses the mailing of
a Periodicals publication that is prepared in parts with a
demographic distribution.
The issue of the publication in question was produced
in four parts. However, the copies presented for mailing were
incomplete because they were not comprised of all four parts.
Instead, only certain parts were mailed to certain individuals. For
example, Part I and Part 2, or Part I, Part 2, Part 3, or Part I and
Part 4, etc., were sent. When the regular pages of a Periodicals
publication are prepared in parts or sections under the provisions
of Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 707.3.3.2, copies of such a
publication are indeed incomplete and subject to the applicable
Standard Mail rates when any part or section is missing. This is
consonant with the provisions of section 707.4.7.1.
The publisher wanted to vary the distribution of the
so-called parts on a demographic basis according to regions. Thus,
the parts should have been prepared as supplements in accordance
with section 707.3.3.5. While all the mailed copies of a
publication must include all its parts or sections in order to be
complete, with supplements there is a kind of flexibility afforded
to publishers.
Supplements may be included with some or all copies
of the regular issues of a Periodicals publication. Since the
average weight per copy, the amount of advertising, and the amount
of nonadvertising are likely to differ with each of the various
demographic combinations, the copies of each combination must be
reported separately on the appropriate postage statement, PS Form
3541. Additionally, it is recommended that some type of designation
be printed on the front of each supplement denoting its demographic
distribution (for example, Region I, Region I and 2, Region I and 3,
etc.). Each postage statement should be annotated accordingly for
ease of identification and correlation with the copies it
represents. Should the inclusion of a supplement(s) carry the
advertising beyond 75 % in any Periodicals requester publication,
postage at the applicable Standard Mail rate will be properly
chargeable on those copies. The term "advertising" is defined in
section 707.4.12.1.
If more than 75
percent of advertising matter is contained in more than half of the
issues of a general publication published during any twelve month
period, it could have the effect of changing the character of the
publication so that it may be considered to be designed primarily
for advertising purposes and therefore, no longer qualified for
entry as Periodicals matter. (END BODY)
(Signed)
(Arial, 10 pt. black, italic font)
Sherry Suggs (Arial,
10 pt., black font)
Manager (Arial, 10 pt., black font)
Mailing Standards (Arial, 10 pt., black font)
United States Postal Service (Arial, 10 pt., black font)
Washington DC 20260-3436
(Arial, 10 pt., black font)
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