A very important Advance Notice has been released by the USPS, having to do with the upcoming Federal Register regulations regarding Intelligent Mail barcodes and guidelines for the critical January 2009 implementation date. All mailers need to stay on top of developments in this area, as it will affect your postage rates in 2009.
Questions and comments on this plan are critical. Provide the USPS with feedback asap. Let us know if we can be of any assistance on this.
Best wishes,
Lisa
From the USPS DMM Advisory today:
We have posted the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on
the implementation of Intelligent Mail barcodes on Postal Explorer
at pe.usps.com. Due to an end-of-year backlog, the Federal Register is not
likely to publish this notice until the first week of January. We will accept
comments for 45 days after the notice is published in the Federal Register.
The notice provides the technical specifications required
for mailpiece, tray and container Intelligent Mail barcodes. Additionally, the
notice proposes that in January 2009, we will require mailers to meet one of
two options using Intelligent Mail barcodes to access automation prices for
letters and flats.
The first option, referred to as “Full Service” Intelligent
Mail, will require the use of unique Intelligent Mail barcodes applied to
letter and flat mailpieces, trays, sacks and containers, such as pallets, and
the submission of electronic mailing documentation.
The second option, or “Basic” Intelligent Mail, will only
require mailers to apply Intelligent Mail barcodes on mailpieces and not on
trays and containers. Starting in January 2009, automation prices will no
longer be available for the use of the POSTNET barcode.
Your feedback is welcome. You can send questions
or comments to imb@usps.gov.