We have a dedicated team of expert professionals who not only provide outstanding technical support, but we help keep you up to date. Staying abreast of the ever-changing rules and regulations, policies and procedures in the mailing and shipping industry is a daunting task at best. We hope you will find this blog filled with pertinent information you can use to run your business more efficiently and profitably. As always, we welcome your feedback and comments.
0
There is a good article in DM News here regarding the Intelligent Mail Barcode participation expectations to be coming out in an imminent Federal Register notice. After that, there will be a 45 day period to provide feedback.
Mailers, will you be ready to participate? The key requirement will be the ability to get the Intelligent Mail Barcode onto your mailpieces. Participation in the “Full Service” IMB program will require some technology like eDocs and IMB container labels – will you be ready by January 2009?
Questions? Feel free to contact me at lbowes@windowbook.com
Best wishes,
Lisa
A very important Advance Notice has been released by the USPS, having to do with the upcoming Federal Register regulations regarding Intelligent Mail barcodes and guidelines for the critical January 2009 implementation date. All mailers need to stay on top of developments in this area, as it will affect your postage rates in 2009.
Questions and comments on this plan are critical. Provide the USPS with feedback asap. Let us know if we can be of any assistance on this.
Best wishes,
Lisa
From the USPS DMM Advisory today:
We have posted the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on
the implementation of Intelligent Mail barcodes on Postal Explorer at pe.usps.com. Due to an end-of-year backlog, the Federal Register is not likely to publish this notice until the first week of January. We will accept comments for 45 days after the notice is published in the Federal Register.
The notice provides the technical specifications required for mailpiece, tray and container Intelligent Mail barcodes. Additionally, the notice proposes that in January 2009, we will require mailers to meet one of two options using Intelligent Mail barcodes to access automation prices for letters and flats.
The first option, referred to as “Full Service” Intelligent Mail, will require the use of unique Intelligent Mail barcodes applied to letter and flat mailpieces, trays, sacks and containers, such as pallets, and the submission of electronic mailing documentation.
The second option, or “Basic” Intelligent Mail, will only require mailers to apply Intelligent Mail barcodes on mailpieces and not on trays and containers. Starting in January 2009, automation prices will no longer be available for the use of the POSTNET barcode.
Your feedback is welcome. You can send questions or comments to imb@usps.gov.
2008 is going to be a busy year for mailers. Changes are coming, as the Postal Service transforms and tries to met the goals of the new ratemaking and service performance measurement requirements.
MTAC workgroups have been at the peak of activity this month. Mail.dat activity is taking place, support for the Intelligent Mail barcodes system, eDocs, Seamless Acceptance, FSS Sorters – stay tuned for updates as they come.
Look for a lengthy Federal Register before the end of this month, containing a lot of the blueprint for at least the first few months of 2008.
Best wishes,
Lisa
Although it has been a while since I posted a blog, it is only because of a busy Decmber. MTAC Workgroup #117, deamless Acceptance, and work with some of the subgroups from this umbrella group (Web services, MLOCR, First Class Palletization, eDocs) we are covering so much fo what will be coming in 2008. Expect changes and more from the Postal Service. Expect changes to accommodate Intelligent Mail initiatives (such as Intelligent Mail Container barcodes) and expect to see eDocumentation in one form or another in your mailing future.
Details will be coming soon,
Best wishes,
Lisa
Back to top