Significant Postal Service Events of the Past 10 Years

1996 The Mailroom Companion launched • Classification reform enacted • Periodicals replaces second-class mail • Standard Mail (A) replaces third-class mail • Standard Mail (B) replaces fourth class mail • Inspector General appointed by the Governors of the Postal Service • Postal Service releases automated postage software via Internet • Self-adhesive coil stamps sold for the first time • Aviation Mail Security Program established.

1997 Postal Service launches public Internet site (usps.com) • Robotic containerization systems deployed • The Mailroom Companion becomes Mailers Companion • Flat-sorters modified to handle newspapers and magazines • Linerless self-adhesive coil stamps offered • Stamps Online instituted.

1998 First U.S. semipostal stamp issued – “Breast Cancer Research” • William J. Henderson appointed 71st. Postmaster General • Automated Barcode Evaluator (ABE) system is first used • Postal Explorer® online (pe.usps.com) launched • Priority Mail Global Guaranteed® service launched • Parcel Select service introduced.

1999 Delivery Confirmation™ service launched • PC Postage® introduced • First automated flat sorting machine (AFSM) 100 installed • Lance Armstrong of the USPS Pro Cycling Team wins his first Tour de France.

2000 External First Class (EXFC) scores reach a record high of 94 percent for the first time • Flat Sorting Machine (FSM) 100 deployment begins.

2001 Package Services mail replaces Standard Mail (B) • Media Mail® replaces Special Standard Mail • Mailing Evaluation Readability Lookup Instrument® (MERLIN) deployment begins • Business alliance with FedEx formed • John E. Potter appointed 72nd. Postmaster General • Mail is irradiated due to anthrax threat • Signature Confirmation™ service launched • Global Express Guaranteed® (GXG) service replaces Priority Mail Global Guaranteed.

2002 First Transformation Plan released • The Postal Store® introduced at usps.com • President’s Commission on the United States Postal Service established • Record levels of service performance posted for First-Class Mail® and Priority Mail® • Postal Automated Redirect System (PARS) deployment begins • A Customer’s Guide to Mailing (DMM 100) is launched.

2003 Last multi-position letter sorting machine (MPLSM) is removed from service • Public Law 108-18 Postal Civil Service Retirement System Funding Reform Act is signed into law • A Guide to Mailing for Businesses and Organizations (DMM 200) is launched • First Negotiated Service Agreement (NSA) implemented • Parcel Return Service (PRS) experiment launched.

2004 Lance Armstrong wins his sixth Tour de France with the USPS Pro Cycling Team • The “permit system” is retired and replaced with PostalOne! • Pricing and Classification Service Center (PCSC) is established • Carrier Pickup™ service launched • Priority Mail Flat-Rate Boxes experiment launched • Automated Postal Centers® (APCs) introduced.

2005 The Postal Bulletin is 125 years old • Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service (DMM 300) is unveiled at the National Postal Forum • Strategic Transformation Plan 2006-2010 released • Standard Mail eligibility is clarified • Deliver a magazine for marketers launched • Premium Forwarding Service (PFS) experiment launched.

2006 Mailers Companion marks its 10th Anniversary.