Postal Affairs Blog

The Federal Register notice that is supposed to clarify and refine many of the issues surrounding Intelligent Mail will not be coming out in March.  Expect to see it the first or second week of April, with new Technical Specifications to follow about a week later. 

Busy months ahead!

Best wishes,
Lisa

Per a DMM Advisory Extra distributed today, the USPS has sent a recommendation to the PRC for adjusted rates on the May 12th schedule, reducing prices by 1.1 cents for Standard Mail machinable (nonauto) mixed AADC letters.  The adjustment applies to Commercial and Nonprofit Mail entered at Origin or BMC. 

These adjustments apply to only four rates.  When the PRC responds to the recommendation, the new rates, if accepted, will be added to the ratefold and May postage statements.

USPS – Keeping us guessing

Best wishes,
Lisa

Sometimes it seems that the only news revolving around MTAC happens at General Session time. The next General Sessions take place in late April, but there is a lot more to MTAC than the General Sessions! The Sessions are actually a meeting to recap the activities of the workgroups.

I participate in the following workgroups:

• WG #117 Seamless Acceptance and Service Performance
• #117 Subgroup – PostalOne! Web Services (industry co-chair)
• #117 Subgroup – MLCOR
• #117 Subgroup – Palletization for First Class and Origin Mail
• #117 Subgroup – eDocs
• WG #118 Software Certification for PostalOne! (industry co-chair)

Most of these groups listed above meet via telecon on a weekly basis. There is also a lot of activity in related areas. These groups are not official MTAC groups, but work vey closely with the MTAC groups:

• TM (Transaction Messaging) Specification Business Group
• Mail.dat Editorial Group
• PostalOne! User Group

The groups represent all areas of the mailing industry, and come together to hammer out the specifications, guidelines, and business processes for mail. Companies invest a great deal of time and resources to contribute to this collective. Participation can be hard work, but also rewarding work.

If anyone has any questions about MTAC, and the work that takes place there, feel free to drop me a note or comment this blog,

Best wishes –
Lisa

I can’t stress enough the value of the resources located at this USPS webpage:

http://ribbs.usps.gov/onecodesolution/

From here you can access the following, the bolded items are must-reads –

• Encoder software and fonts
• FAQs
• Handout on Creating the Barcode
• Resource Guide
• Intelligent Mail Barcode specification
• Mailer ID Guidelines
• OneCode ACS
• OneCode Confirm
• Videos
• Presentations
• Online decoder tool

Take a look, and let me know if you have any questions.  There is a way to comment on the blogs to ask questions so everyone can benefit from the answers.  There are lots of questions still surrounding the implementation, as we await clarifications from a Federal Register notice due by the end of March.

More soon!

Lisa

The USPS has published and advance Federal Register notice regarding new mailing standards for automation and machinable self-mailers and booklets here [HTML] | [PDF]

Comments back to the Postal Service are due before April 14th.

We know from the past USPS response to the Intelligent Mail feedback was swift and decisive, so your input into this system does make a big difference.  Review the notice and comment as appropriate,

Best wishes,
Lisa

As you can see, I was unable to live blog from the Symposium yesterday, mainly because it was a packed house.  I don’t think there was an empty seat in the auditorium.  The USPS will be posting recordings of the Symposiums as soon as they are completed (the last one is today in Atlanta), I recommend taking a look if you were unable to attend a session.  I’ll post a link when I see that they have been published. 

I can’t list the highlights of the talks without mentioning a lighthearted moment – when the first USPS speaker, Manager of Marketing Technology and Channel Management Pritha Mehra opened (and closed) her talk by singing the first line of “New York, New York”: “Start spreading the news”.  The USPS is clearly excited and energized by the opportunities afforded to mailers via the new Intelligent Mail technologies. 

The most important information I came away with was a softening of the USPS position on Mailer IDs.  Having the mail OWNER Mailer ID printed on each mailpiece was a requirement that was not well-received by the industry.  It was stated at the Symposium that either the Mailer ID or the Mail Preparer ID will be acceptable, depending on the circumstances. 

Another important note, especially for those mailers developing their own Intelligent Mail container barcode solutions – the specifications for the sack and tray tag information are being reviewed and changed.  Do not use the specifications that are currently posted at RIBBS, new information will be forthcoming. 

A panel of industry pilot-testing Intelligent Mail mailers were on hand to discuss their own experiences, and answer questions.  All-in-all, it was a very educational session, and by blogging here I hope I am helping to do my part continue to spread the news.

Best wishes,
Lisa

New May 2008 Postage statements here:
http://www.usps.com/prices/postagestatements.htm

Item to note, there is a new box added for Move update method on some forms.

Let me know if I can help with any questions,

Best wishes,

Lisa

Pricing highlights from the DMM Advisory:

Pricing Highlights:

Express Mail is switching to a zone-based pricing system, resulting in customers paying less for nearby destinations. Customers will receive a 3 percent price reduction by purchasing Express Mail online or through corporate accounts. Additional price reductions are available for those who ship quarterly minimums.

Priority Mail will have an average 3.5 percent savings for customers who use electronic postage or meet other requirements.

Parcel Select – our “last mile” delivery to every door – will feature pricing and volume incentives for large- and medium-size shippers.

Parcel Return Service will move entirely to a weight based pricing system, resulting in significant price reductions for many lighter packages.

New Shipping Services prices here

usps.com/prices

Best wishes,
Lisa

I will be attending the Intelligent Mail Symposium, sponsored by the Greater NY PCC (Postal Customer Council) this week.  This is one of four informational sessions being held around the country.  It will be interesting to see what the public presentation of the complex Intelligent Mail information looks like.

I will be traveling by train down from Connecticut, to Grand Central.  If anyone from the area is going, and would like to meet up and share cab fare to/from Grand Central, drop me an email.

Look for a blog on the event later this week.  I’m thinking of bringing my laptop along, perhaps I’ll even try “live blogging” from the event itself.  Stay tuned.

Best wishes,
Lisa

There has been a public notice posted by the USPS regarding a suggested rule that relates to current efficiency gains and future FSS (Flats Sequencing System) needs here.

Effective September 14, 2008, the USPS is proposing to require mailers to place presort bundles on pallets with the addresses facing up. Comments back to the USPS on this proposal are required no later than April 3, 2008. Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Mailing Standards, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW., Room 3436, Washington, DC 20260-3436. Do not submit comments via fax or e-mail.

Placement of presort bundles on pallets with the address side up is needed for efficient processing in today’s processing environment and, eventually, for the automated preparation and induction for FSS in the future.