[Federal Register: July 15, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 135)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 38083-38087] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr15jy98-6] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- POSTAL SERVICE 39 CFR Part 111 Changes in Preferred Postage Rates--Periodicals and Standard Mail AGENCY: Postal Service. ACTION: Final rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Public Law No. 103-123 authorizes annual changes in the reduced rates for preferred periodicals and non-profit standard mail formerly financed by appropriations for revenue forgone. This action implements these changes for FY 1999. DATES: Effective Date: October 4, 1998. The changes pertaining to postage rates will be implemented effective 12:01 a.m., Sunday, October 4, 1998. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas DeVaughan, (202) 268-4491. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under 39 U.S.C. 3626(a) and 3642, the Postal Service is authorized to make adjustments in the Periodicals Preferred In-County pound rates and the nonadvertising per piece rates for [[Page 38084]] Preferred Nonprofit publications, the nonadvertising pound rates and the per piece rates for Preferred Classroom publications; and postal rates for Nonprofit Standard Mail, Nonprofit Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail, and Library Mail. These adjustments are necessary to phase up the institutional-costs contribution of this mail to the levels required by law by FY 1999. The rates for Periodicals Science-of-Agriculture publications zones 1 and 2 will remain the same at 75 percent of the rates charged on advertising in regular-rate publications, as specified by law. These rates will not change until regular Periodicals advertising rates change through a general rate case. Also, since the maximum weight for automation heavy letters is traditionally the heaviest weight break Standard Mail (A) minimum per-piece rates, the maximum weight for these letters mailed at First-Class Mail and Periodicals is also changed with this notice. Please note, that the full rates resulting from these adjustments will be superseded by the full rates resulting from the Docket Number R97-1 Rate Case, which will take effect 12:01 a.m., Sunday, January 10, 1999. List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111 Postal Service. For the reasons discussed above, the Postal Service hereby adopts the following amendments to the Domestic Mail Manual, which is incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations (see 39 CFR Part 111). PART 111--[AMENDED] 1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 111 continues to read as follows: Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 3001- 3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001. 2. Revise the following sections of Domestic Mail Manual Issue 53 as set forth below: C Characteristics and Content * * * * * C800 Automation-Compatible Mail C810 Letters and Cards * * * * * 2.0 DIMENSIONS * * * * * 2.3 Maximum Weight [Amend 2.3f to read as follows:] Maximum weight limits are as follows: * * * * * f. 3.3388 ounces: automation First-Class Mail, automation Periodicals, and automation Nonprofit Standard Mail heavy letters, subject to 7.5. * * * * * E Eligibility * * * * * E600 Standard Mail E610 Basic Standards * * * * * E612 Additional Standards for Standard Mail (A) * * * * * 4.0 BULK RATES * * * * * 4.2 Minimum Per Piece Rates [Amend 4.2 by revising the first sentence to read as follows:] The minimum per piece rates (i.e., the minimum postage that must be paid for each piece) apply to Enhanced Carrier Route rate pieces weighing no more than 0.2066 pound (3.3062 ounces) rounded; Regular nonautomation and automation rate pieces weighing no more than 0.2068 pound (3.3087 ounces) rounded; Nonprofit Enhanced Carrier Route rate pieces weighing no more than 0.2084 pound (3.3348 ounces) rounded; and Nonprofit nonautomation and automation rate pieces weighing no more than 0.2087 pound (3.3388 ounces) rounded. * * * * * * * * P Postage and Payment Methods P000 Basic Information P010 General Standards * * * * * P013 Rate Application and Computation * * * * * 4.0 RATE APPLICATION--STANDARD MAIL (A) * * * * * 4.3 Bulk Rates [Amend 4.3 to read as follows:] Bulk rates are based on the weight of the pieces and are applied differently to pieces weighing less than or equal to a ``breakpoint'' (rounded to four decimal places) and those weighing more, as follows: a. The appropriate minimum per piece rate applies to pieces weighing: (1) 0.2066 pound (3.3062 ounces) or less for Enhanced Carrier Route rates (2) 0.2068 pound (3.3087 ounces) or less for Regular rates (3) 0.2084 pound (3.3348 ounces) or less for Nonprofit Enhanced Carrier Route rates (4) 0.2087 pound (3.3388 ounces) or less for Nonprofit rates b. A rate determined by adding the appropriate fixed per piece charge and the corresponding variable per pound charge (based on the weight of the piece) applies to pieces weighing more than the above. * * * * * R Rates and Fees * * * * * R100 First-Class Mail * * * * * Summary of First-Class Rates [Amend footnote 3 to read as follows:] 3. Weight not to exceed 3.3388 ounces; pieces over 3 ounces subject to additional standards. * * * * * R200 Periodicals 1.0 REGULAR * * * * * 1.2 Piece Rates [Amend footnote 1 to read as follows:] 1. Lower maximum weight limits apply: letter-size at 3 ounces (or 3.3388 ounces for heavy letters); flat-size at 16 ounces. * * * * * 2.0 PREFERRED--IN-COUNTY 2.1 Pound Rates Per pound or fraction: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Zone Rate ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Delivery Unit................................................ $0.116 All Others................................................... 0.126 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2.2 Piece Rates [Amend footnote 1 to read as follows:] 1. Lower maximum weight limits apply: letter-size at 3 ounces (or 3.3388 ounces for heavy letters); flat-size at 16 ounces. * * * * * 3.0 PREFERRED--NONPROFIT * * * * * 3.2 Piece Rates Per addressed piece: [[Page 38085]] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Automation \1\ Presort level Nonautomation ------------------------- Letter-size Flat-size ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Basic.......................... $0.219 0.189 0.195 3/5............................ 0.174 ........... 0.150 3-Digit........................ ............. 0.151 ........... 5-Digit........................ 0.151 ........... Carrier Route.................. 0.107 ........... ........... High Density................... 0.100 ........... ........... Saturation..................... 0.086 ........... ........... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ \1\ Lower maximum weight limits apply: letter-size at 3 ounces (or 3.3388 ounces for heavy letters); flat-size at 16 ounces. * * * * * 4.0 PREFERRED--CLASSROOM 4.1 Pound Rates Per pound or fraction: a. For the nonadvertising portion: $0.142. * * * * * 4.2 Piece Rates Per addressed piece: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Nonautomation Automation \1\ Presort ------------------------- level Letter-size Flat-size ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Basic............................ $0.219 $0.189 $0.195 3/5.............................. 0.174 ........... 0.150 3-Digit.......................... ........... 0.151 ........... 5-Digit.......................... ........... 0.151 ........... Carrier Route.................... 0.107 ........... ........... High Density..................... 0.100 ........... ........... Saturation....................... 0.086 ........... ........... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ \1\ Lower maximum weight limits apply: letter-size at 3 ounces (or 3.3388 ounces for heavy letters); flat-size at 16 ounces. 4.3 Discounts Piece rate discounts: * * * * * b. Delivery unit zone piece discount for each addressed piece claimed in the pound rate portion at the delivery unit zone rate: $0.012. c. SCF zone piece discount for each addressed piece claimed in the pound rate portion at the SCF zone rate: $0.006. 5.0 PREFERRED--SCIENCE-OF-AGRICULTURE * * * * * 5.2 Piece Rates [Amend footnote 1 to read as follows:] 1. Lower maximum weight limits apply: letter-size at 3 ounces (or 3.3388 ounces for heavy letters); flat-size at 16 ounces. * * * * * R600 Standard Mail * * * * * 4.0 NONPROFIT STANDARD MAIL 4.1 Letter-Size Minimum Per Piece Rates Pieces 0.2087 pound (3.3388 ounces) or less: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nonautomation Automation \1\ Entry discount ---------------------------------------------------------------- Basic 3/5 Basic 3-Digit 5-Digit ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- None........................................... $0.138 $0.120 $0.105 $0.101 $0.088 DBMC........................................... 0.125 0.107 0.092 0.088 0.075 DSCF........................................... 0.120 0.102 0.087 0.083 0.070 DDU............................................ ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ Pieces weighing over 3 ounces subject to additional standards. 4.2 Nonletter-Size Minimum Per Piece Rates Pieces 0.2087 pound (3.3388 ounces) or less: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nonautomation Automation \1\ Entry discount --------------------------------------------------- Basic 3/5 Basic 3/5 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- None........................................................ $0.201 $0.149 $0.177 $0.125 DBMC........................................................ 0.188 0.136 0.164 0.112 DSCF........................................................ 0.183 0.131 0.159 0.107 [[Page 38086]] DDU......................................................... ........... ........... ........... ........... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ Available only for automation-compatible flats. 4.3 Piece/Pound Rates Pieces more than 0.2087 pound (3.3388 ounces): ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nonautomation Automation \2\ Piece/pound rate \1\ --------------------------------------------------- Basic 3/5 Basic 3/5 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Per Piece................................................... $0.100 $0.048 $0.076 $0.024 Per Pound (includes entry discount if applicable)........... PLUS PLUS PLUS PLUS None........................................................ 0.484 0.484 0.484 0.484 DBMC........................................................ 0.422 0.422 0.422 0.422 DSCF........................................................ 0.396 0.396 0.396 0.396 DDU......................................................... ........... ........... ........... ........... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ Each piece is subject to both a piece rate and a pound rate. \2\ Available only for automation-compatible flats. 5.0 NONPROFIT ENHANCED CARRIER ROUTE STANDARD MAIL 5.1 Letter-Size Minimum Per Piece Rates Pieces 0.2084 pound (3.3348 ounces) or less: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nonautomation Automation\1\ ----------------------------------------------------- Entry discount High Basic density Saturation Basic ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- None...................................................... $0.099 $0.093 $0.087 $0.085 DBMC...................................................... 0.086 0.080 0.074 0.072 DSCF...................................................... 0.081 0.075 0.069 0.067 DDU....................................................... 0.075 0.069 0.063 0.061 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ Pieces weighing over 3 ounces subject to additional standards. * * * * * 9.0 LIBRARY MAIL ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Single- Weight not over (pounds) piece ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.......................................................... $1.12 2.......................................................... 1.54 3.......................................................... 1.96 4.......................................................... 2.38 5.......................................................... 2.80 6.......................................................... 3.22 7.......................................................... 3.64 8.......................................................... 3.86 9.......................................................... 4.08 10........................................................... 4.30 11........................................................... 4.52 12........................................................... 4.74 13........................................................... 4.96 14........................................................... 5.18 15........................................................... 5.40 16........................................................... 5.62 17........................................................... 5.84 18........................................................... 6.06 19........................................................... 6.28 20........................................................... 6.50 21........................................................... 6.72 22........................................................... 6.94 23........................................................... 7.16 24........................................................... 7.38 25........................................................... 7.60 26........................................................... 7.82 27........................................................... 8.04 28........................................................... 8.26 29........................................................... 8.48 30........................................................... 8.70 31........................................................... 8.92 32........................................................... 9.14 33........................................................... 9.36 34........................................................... 9.58 35........................................................... 9.80 36........................................................... 10.02 37........................................................... 10.24 38........................................................... 10.46 39........................................................... 10.68 40........................................................... 10.90 41........................................................... 11.12 42........................................................... 11.34 43........................................................... 11.56 44........................................................... 11.78 45........................................................... 12.00 46........................................................... 12.22 47........................................................... 12.44 48........................................................... 12.66 49........................................................... 12.88 50........................................................... 13.10 51........................................................... 13.32 52........................................................... 13.54 53........................................................... 13.76 54........................................................... 13.98 55........................................................... 14.20 56........................................................... 14.42 57........................................................... 14.64 58........................................................... 14.86 59........................................................... 15.08 60........................................................... 15.30 61........................................................... 15.52 62........................................................... 15.74 63........................................................... 15.96 64........................................................... 16.18 65........................................................... 16.40 66........................................................... 16.62 67........................................................... 16.84 68........................................................... 17.06 69........................................................... 17.28 70........................................................... 17.50 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [[Page 38087]] * * * * * An appropriate amendment to 39 CFR 111.3 will be published to reflect these changes. Stanley F. Mires, Chief Counsel, Legislative. [FR Doc. 98-18752 Filed 7-14-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7710-12-P