USPS Proposes Changes to Move Update Requirements on Mailing

The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) published a notice in the July 12, 2011 Federal Register regarding a change to the proposed rules for Move Update requirements. The original proposed changes were published by the USPS in September of 2010.

The original proposal

Originally, the USPS proposed the following changes to the Move Update requirements:

• All changes-of-address, whether filed by customers or by postal employees would be subject to Move Update requirements
• The online publication, Guide to Move Update, is the appropriate source for additional information and procedures for meeting Move Update requirements
• Changed the timeframe for providing address correction and nixie notices without charge for First-Class Mail®, Standard Mail®, and Bound Printed Matter (BPM) pieces eligible for Full Service Intelligent Mail® prices.

Why the changes?

There were numerous comments submitted by members of the mailing industry in response to the proposed rule changes in the fall of 2010. Mailing industry members commented that there was questionable benefit to either the USPS or the mailing industry based on the proposed changes. Other comments included requests for the USPS not to tighten the Move Update error threshold, to continue to provide “free” ACS for First-Class Mail pieces, asking for removal of the proposed requirements for Moved Left No Address (MLNA)/Box Closed No Order (BCNO), for the USPS to improve the quality of its own address database and address correction notice processes, to provide updated status on the USPS Undeliverable-As-Addressed (UAA) reduction goal, and to insure that the postal Inspection Service bases its audits and investigations only on official and publicly available standards.

The revised proposed rules

The revised proposed rules for Move Update include:

• Time frame for providing address correction and nixie notices without charge for Full-Service Intelligent Mail price pieces will remain the same as current.
• The MLNA/BCNO proposed requirements will stay, but the USPS will delay implementation for a period of one year from the publication date of the final rule in the Federal Register.
• The Guide to Move Update will remain the definitive source for the Move Update requirements since it contains technical details not suitable for the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM). However, the DMM will include references to the guide as appropriate. Also, the USPS will adopt a version control process for the guide to insure proper communication of changes to the regulations.
• The USPS provided clarification that Temporarily Away notices will not be included in the Move Update requirements, either now or in the future.

More information

For further details on the proposed changes, check out the July 12, 2011 Federal Register. Interested parties are invited to submit comments by August 11. Comments may be submitted to: Product Classification, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW., Room 4446, Washington, DC 20260–5015. Comments may also be submitted to the USPS by e-mail, containing the name and address of the commenter, may be sent to: MailingStandards@usps.gov, with a subject line of ‘‘Move Update.” Questions should be directed to Jim Wilson, USPS (901–681–4600), or Bill Chatfield, USPS (202–268–7278).

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