NOTE: COMMENTS REGARDING ANY FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE MUST BE SENT TO THE ADDRESS INDICATED IN THE DOCUMENT. ANY COMMENTS ON THE RAPID INFORMATION BULLETIN BOARD SYSTEM (RIBBS) ABOUT ANY FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES WILL NOT BE USED OR CONSIDERED IN THE COURSE OF ANY RULE MAKING. _______________________________________________________________________ Part III Postal Service _______________________________________________________________________ 39 CFR Part 20 et al. Changes in International and Domestic Postal Fees and Rates; Final Rules POSTAL SERVICE 39 CFR Part 20 Changes in International Special Service Fees AGENCY: Postal Service. ACTION: Changes in international special service fees. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to its authority under 39 U.S.C. 407, the Postal Service is changing fees for international special mail services to become effective simultaneously with changes to domestic rates and fees. EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1995. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John F. Alepa, (202) 268-2650. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States Postal Service (USPS) is a member of the Universal Postal Union (UPU). By virtue of that membership, the USPS adheres to the agreements of the UPU to which it is signatory. Specifically, the Universal Postal Convention (Convention), the Postal Parcels Agreement (Parcels Agreement), and the Money Orders Agreement contain provisions concerning the fees member countries can charge for special mail services. The Convention provides charges for (1) nonstandard letters, (2) inquiries, (3) return receipts, (4) registered mail service, (5) special delivery (EXPRES), (6) restricted delivery, and (7) recorded delivery; the Parcels Agreement provides charges for insured mail service; and the Money Orders Agreement provides charges for international money orders. The charges provided in these agreements are less than the USPS charges for the equivalent domestic service. The agreements authorize member countries whose internal service charges are higher than those that are fixed in the agreements to apply their domestic charges in the international service. The USPS charges international special service fees that are the same as the equivalent domestic special service fees to avoid having international fees that are less than those charged domestically. Accordingly, the USPS is adjusting international special service fees concurrently with the changes adopted by the Governors of the Postal Service as a result of the current proceedings before the Postal Rate Commission. This notice does not address charges for services that do not have corresponding domestic service. These charges will be addressed in a separate notice in conjunction with anticipated adjustments in international postage rates. The Postal Service is exempted by 39 U.S.C. 410(a) from the advance notice requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act regarding proposed rulemaking (5 U.S.C. 553). The Postal Service adopts the following rates and fees: List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20 Foreign relations, Incorporation by reference, International postal services. PART 20--[AMENDED] 1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 20 continues to read as follows: Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 401, 404, 407, 408. 2. The International Mail Manual is amended to incorporate the following postal rates and fees: Fees for Special Mail Services and Miscellaneous Charges A. Certificate of Mailing ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fee ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Piece Mailings: Basic service (Form 3817).................................... $0.55 Firm mailing book (Form 3877)................................ 0.20 Bulk Mailings: Up to 1,000 identical pieces................................. 2.75 Each additional 1,000 pieces................................. 0.35 Duplicate copy............................................... 0.55 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ B. Inquiry Fee: $6.60 C. Insured Mail ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fee Limit of indemnity Canada ------------------------------------------------------------------------ $50............................................................ $0.75 100............................................................ 1.60 200............................................................ 2.50 300............................................................ 3.40 400............................................................ 4.30 500............................................................ 5.20 600............................................................ 6.10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The insured mail fees for all countries other than Canada are unchanged. D. Money Orders ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Type Fee ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Orders issued on domestic form................... $0.85 per money order. Copy of a paid money order....................... $2.75 per copy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The fees for international money orders issued on Form MP1 and pursuant to an Authorization to Issue an International Money Order are unchanged. E. Nonstandard Surcharge--Letters and regular printed matter weighing 1 ounce or less: $0.11. F. Pickup Fee (for Express Mail International Service and parcel post): $4.95. G. Recorded Delivery: $1.10. H. Registered Mail 1. Canada ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Limit of indemnity Fee ------------------------------------------------------------------------ $100.00........................................................ $4.95 500.00......................................................... 5.40 1,000.00....................................................... 5.85 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. All Other Countries ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Limit of indemnity Fee ------------------------------------------------------------------------ $32.35......................................................... $4.85 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I. Restricted Delivery: $2.75. J. Return Charge For returned publishers' periodicals originally mailed to Canada by publishers or registered news agents (see International Mail Manual 781.5a). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Weight not over (oz.) Charge ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.............................................................. $0.32 2.............................................................. 0.55 3.............................................................. 0.78 4.............................................................. 1.01 5.............................................................. 1.24 6.............................................................. 1.47 7.............................................................. 1.70 8.............................................................. 1.93 9.............................................................. 2.16 10............................................................. 2.39 11............................................................. 2.62 12............................................................. 2.90 13............................................................. 2.90 14............................................................. 2.95 15............................................................. 2.95 16............................................................. 2.95 Weights over 1 pound--use domestic zone 8 fourth-class rate. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ K. Return Receipt: $1.10. L. Special Delivery ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Not over Over 2 Class of mail 2 pounds pounds ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Letters, letter packages, and post/postal cards... $9.95 $10.35 Printed matter, matter for the blind, and small packets.......................................... 10.45 11.25 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ M. Special Handling ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Weight (lb.) Rate ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Not over 10.................................................... $5.40 Over 10........................................................ 7.50 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ An appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 20 will be published. Stanley F. Mires, Chief Counsel, Legislative. [FR Doc. 94-30969 Filed 12-15-94; 8:45 am]