The following announcements, reminders, and revisions to the Domestic Mail Manual will be incorporated into the printed version of DMM 57 and into the monthly update of the online DMM available via Postal Explorer at http://pe.usps.gov.

DMM Revision

Products Mailable at Nonprofit Standard Mail Rates

Effective January 1, 2002, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) E670.5.11 is revised to reflect an increase from $7.60 to $7.90 for low-cost products mailable at Nonprofit Standard Mail rates. Under statutory restrictions implemented in DMM E670, products may not be mailed at the Nonprofit Standard Mail rates unless the products meet at least one of three exceptions. Under the Internal Revenue Code, a low-cost item is one of these exceptions.

The value of a low-cost item—the actual cost to the authorized organization—is determined each year by the Internal Revenue Service, based on cost of living. For 2002, the maximum limit for the value of a low-cost item has been adjusted to $7.90.

— Mail Preparation and Standards

DMM Reminder

The table below summarizes recent and upcoming mail preparation changes that have been published in the Postal Bulletin or are currently included in the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM). Customers with questions about these changes should contact their district manager of business mail entry.

As a reminder, the DMM is updated online once a month and is available via the Postal Explorer Web site (http://pe.usps.gov).

Effective Date — January 1, 2002

Type of Mail — Media Mail

Mail Preparation Change — Discontinued the use of "Special Standard Mail" (or "SPEC STD") marking. All mailers must use "Media Mail."

DMM Reference — M012.3.1

Type of Mail — Library Mail

Mail Preparation Change — Discontinued the use of "Library Rate" marking. All mailers must use "Library Mail."

DMM Reference — M012.3.1

Type of Mail — Presorted Bound Printed Matter

Mail Preparation Change — Discontinued the use of "Presorted Standard" (or "PRSRT STD") marking. All mailers must use "Presorted" (or "PRSRT").

DMM Reference — M012.3.3

Effective Date — March 31, 2002

Type of Mail — First-Class Mail flats, Periodicals flats, and Standard Mail flats

Mail Preparation Change — Mailers will have the option to combine automation-rate pieces and Presorted-rate pieces into the same package.

DMM Reference — Many sections of the DMM; see Postal Bulletin 22064.

Type of Mail — Periodicals flats and irregular parcels, Standard Mail flats, and Bound Printed Matter flats

Mail Preparation Change — Mailers will have the option to prepare 5-digit metro pallets using new labeling list L006. This option is available only for a limited number of sectional center facility (SCF) service areas.

DMM Reference — Many sections of the DMM; see Postal Bulletin 22066

Effective Date — January 10, 2004

Type of Mail — Standard Mail and Package Services machinable parcels

Mail Preparation Change — Discontinue the use of USS Code 128, USS Code I 2/5, and USS Code 39 barcode symbologies. After January 10, 2004, only UCC/EAN Code 128 barcode

symbology may be used.

DMM Reference — C850.1.2

DMM Reminder

Postage Evidencing System Inspection and Examination

The licensee must, upon request, make immediately available for examination and audit by the provider or by the USPS any postage evidencing system or PSD in the licensee’s possession and any corresponding transaction records (DMM P030.3.7). The USPS can perform physical or remote examination of any postage evidencing system or PSD. The licensee must meet the requirements for provider inspections and USPS examinations. All postage evidencing systems are inspected in accordance with the Postage Evidencing Systems Inspection and Examination Schedule below.

Security Level 1

Postage Evidencing System — Manually reset postage meter

Provider Inspection — Every 6 months

USPS Examination Requirements — Must bring to post office for examination when not reset within 3 months

Security Level 2

Postage Evidencing System — Remotely reset postage meter with letterpress or digital indicia, but without self-disabling feature

Provider Inspection — Annually or every 6 months when there is no setting activity in 6 months

USPS Examination Requirements — Examinations in special circumstances

Security Level 3

Postage Evidencing System — Remotely reset meter with letterpress indicia and self-disabling feature

Provider Inspection — Every 2 years or every 6 months when there is no setting activity in 6 months

USPS Examination Requirements — Examinations in special circumstances

Security Level 4

Postage Evidencing System — Remotely reset postage meter with digital indicia and self-disabling feature

Provider Inspection — Every 2 years or enhanced inspection process when approved by USPS

USPS Examination Requirements — Examinations in special circumstances

Security Level 5

Postage Evidencing System — PSD meter, IBI meter, or a PC Postage system

Provider Inspection — Inspections in special circumstances

USPS Examination Requirements — Examinations in special circumstances

— Postage Technology Management, Product Development

DMM Reminder

Last Line on the Pallet Label — Last but Not Least

It may be the last line of postal information on a pallet label, but sometimes it can be the first to cause confusion. So let’s clarify what is suppose to appear there. DMM M031.4.7 was amended last July to state that the office of mailing or mailer information line, the bottom line of required information on a pallet label, must show either the city and state of the entry post office OR the mailer’s name and the city and state of the mailer’s location.

By "entry post office" we mean the postal facility where the mailer enters the mail. If a mailer drop ships pallets to a bulk mail center (BMC) or sectional center facility (SCF), the city and state of the BMC or SCF is considered the entry office, because that is where the mail enters the mail stream.

The city and state of the mailer’s location, on the other hand, is usually the location where the mail is verified by business mail entry and where the postage is paid. The bottom line is, the mailers may use either of these options as the last line on their pallet labels.

— Chicago Rates and Classification Service Center

DMM Reminder

Publishers Submission of Form 3510 for Action on Additional Entry

When submitting Form 3510, Application for Additional Entry, Reentry, or Special Rate Request for Periodicals Publication, to open and/or close an additional entry for your publication, please review the additional entries that are currently open for the publication. Check to see if all are active additional entries. If they are not active, please close these additional entries on the same Form 3510 you are submitting.

— New York Rates and Classification Service Center