81 FR 10158 - Revisions to the Requirements for Authority To Manufacture and Distribute Postage Evidencing Systems
POSTAL SERVICE Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 39 (February 29, 2016)
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 39 (February 29, 2016)
| Page Range | 10158-10159 | |
| FR Document | 2016-04237 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 39 (Monday, February 29, 2016)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 10158-10159] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-04237] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- POSTAL SERVICE 39 CFR Part 501 Revisions to the Requirements for Authority To Manufacture and Distribute Postage Evidencing Systems AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM. ACTION: Proposed rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Postal Service proposes to revise its rules concerning PC postage payment methodology by adding supplementary information to clarify the revenue assurance guidelines. DATES: Submit comments on or before March 30, 2016. ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Payment Technology, U.S. Postal Service[supreg], 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Room 3500, Washington, DC 20260. You may inspect and photocopy all written comments at the Payment Technology office by appointment only between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday by calling 1-202- 268-7613 in advance. Email and faxed comments are not accepted. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marlo Kay Ivey, Business Systems Analyst, Payment Technology, U.S. Postal Service, (202) 268-7613. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 17, 2015, the United States Postal Service published a final rule to revise the rules concerning authorization to manufacture and distribute postage evidencing systems and to reflect new revenue assurance practices. (See 80 FR 42392- 42393.) Postage collection under the new rules will start on December 31, 2016. This document proposes minor additional changes to the rules in support of our efforts to collect the appropriate revenue on mail pieces in a more automated fashion. If this proposal is adopted, the proposed clarifying changes will also be implemented on December 31, 2016. The revenue assurance guidelines can be found in 39 CFR 501.16, and on https://ribbs.usps.gov in the site index of Automated Package Verification (APV) documents, named APV Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 501 Administrative practice and procedure. Accordingly, for the reasons stated, the Postal Service proposes to amend 39 CFR part 501 as follows: PART 501--AUTHORIZATION TO MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTE POSTAGE EVIDENCING SYSTEMS 0 1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 501 continues to read as follows: Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 410, 2601, 2605, Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended (Pub. L. 95- 452, as amended); 5 U.S.C. App. 3. 0 2. In Sec. 501.16, revise paragraph (i) to read as follows: Sec. 501.16 PC postage payment methodology. * * * * * (i) Revenue Assurance. (1) The provider must support business practices to assure Postal Service revenue and accurate payment from customers. For purposes of this paragraph and the Automated Package Verification (APV) Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) document available at https://ribbs.usps.gov, references to ``provider'' and ``PC Postage Vendor'' shall include postage resellers when such resellers transmit postage revenue to the Postal Service in any manner other than through a PC Postage provider. With respect to such transactions, the resellers, and not the PC Postage providers who provides the labels, are responsible for complying with these regulations. A ``reseller'' is an entity that obtains postage through a provider and is authorized to resell such postage to its customers pursuant to an agreement with the Postal Service. (2) Specifically, the provider is required to pay the Postage Adjustment or to notify the customer and adjust the balance in the postage evidencing [[Page 10159]] system or otherwise facilitate postage corrections to address any postage discrepancies as directed by the Postal Service no later than 60 days after initial notification by the Postal Service, subject to the applicable notification periods and dispute mechanisms available to customers for these corrections. Postage Adjustment is defined as a difference between the postage paid for a service offered by the Postal Service and the current published/negotiated rate indicating the postage due to the Postal Service for the weight, packaging, dimensions and zone of the mail piece as applicable. The Postal Service will supply the provider with the necessary detail to justify the correction and amount of the postage correction to be used in the adjustment process. The provider must pay the postage adjustment or supply customers with visibility into identified postage correction, facilitate a payment adjustment from the customer in the amount equivalent to the identified postage discrepancies to the extent possible, and enable customers to submit electronic disputes of such postage discrepancies to the Postal Service. Further if the Customer does not have funds sufficient to cover the amount of the discrepancies or the postage discrepancies have not been resolved, the provider may be required to temporarily suspend or permanently shut down the customer's ability to print PC Postage as described in Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 604.4. (3) If the provider incorrectly programmed postage rates, delayed programming postage rate changes or otherwise provided systems or software, which caused customers to pay incorrect postage amounts, within two calendar weeks of the provider being made aware of such error, the provider shall correct the error and, in the event that the amount of collected revenue is less than the amount of revenue that should have been collected absent the error, (i) pay the Postal Service for the postage deficiency and (ii) provide the Postal Service with a detailed breakdown of how the error affected the provider's collection of revenue. (4) Except as may otherwise expressly be agreed to by contract, the provider is responsible for ensuring that: (i) All customers pay (and the Postal Service receives) the current published prices that are available to mailers who purchase postage through an approved PC Postage provider; and (ii) Payments to the Postal Service (or the log files necessary for the Postal Service to collect payments directly from customers) are complete and accurate and are initiated or transmitted, as applicable, to the Postal Service each day. (5) Each PC Postage Provider: (i) Is responsible for ensuring that customers are informed, understand and agree that they may be charged for deficient payment before they complete their initial transactions; (ii) Shall comply with applicable laws and ensure that its systems, software, interfaces, communications and other properties that are used to sell or market postal products accurately describe such products; (iii) Shall cover any costs that the Postal Service may incur as a result of any act or omission of such provider or its employees, contractors or representatives in connection with its role as a PC Postage provider; and (iv) In performing its obligations hereunder, shall comply with the APV SOP and all agreed to interface documentation (as updated from time to time). Stanley F. Mires, Attorney, Federal Compliance. [FR Doc. 2016-04237 Filed 2-26-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P
![10158 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 39 / Monday, February 29, 2016 / Proposed Rules
received during the comment period. As § 110.111 Marina del Rey Harbor, Calif. evidencing systems and to reflect new
demonstrated by this SNPRM, your An area in the main channel revenue assurance practices. (See 80 FR
comment can help shape the outcome of encompassed within the following 42392–42393.) Postage collection under
this rulemaking. If you submit a described boundaries: Beginning at the the new rules will start on December 31,
comment, please include the docket northeasterly corner in position latitude 2016. This document proposes minor
number for this rulemaking, indicate the 33°58′41.6″ N., longtitude 118°26′50.8″ additional changes to the rules in
specific section of this document to W.; thence southerly to latitude support of our efforts to collect the
which each comment applies, and 33°58′30.2″ N., longtitude 118°26′50.8″ appropriate revenue on mail pieces in a
provide a reason for each suggestion or W.; thence westerly to latitude more automated fashion. If this proposal
recommendation. 33°58′30.2″ N., longtitude 118°26′55.1″ is adopted, the proposed clarifying
We encourage you to submit W.; thence northerly to latitude changes will also be implemented on
comments through the Federal 33°58′41.6″ N., longtitude 118°26′55.1″ December 31, 2016. The revenue
erulemaking Portal at http:// W.; thence easterly to the point of assurance guidelines can be found in 39
www.regulations.gov. If your material origin. All coordinates referenced North CFR 501.16, and on https://
cannot be submitted using http:// American Datum 1983. ribbs.usps.gov in the site index of
www.regulations.gov, contact the person Note to § 110.111: The Marina Del Rey
Automated Package Verification (APV)
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Harbor Master, Los Angeles County documents, named APV Standard
CONTACT section of this document for prescribes local regulations for mooring and Operating Procedure (SOP).
alternate instruction. boating activities in this area. List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 501
We accept anonymous comments. All Dated: February 8, 2016. Administrative practice and
comments received will be posted J. A. Servidio, procedure.
without change to http:// Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Accordingly, for the reasons stated,
www.regulations.gov and will include Eleventh Coast Guard District. the Postal Service proposes to amend 39
any personal information you have [FR Doc. 2016–04336 Filed 2–26–16; 8:45 am] CFR part 501 as follows:
provided. For more about privacy and
BILLING CODE 9110–04–P
the docket, you may review a Privacy PART 501—AUTHORIZATION TO
Act notice regarding the Federal Docket MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTE
Management System in the March 24, POSTAGE EVIDENCING SYSTEMS
2005, issue of the Federal Register (70 POSTAL SERVICE
FR 15086). ■ 1. The authority citation for 39 CFR
39 CFR Part 501 part 501 continues to read as follows:
Documents mentioned in this SNPRM
as being available in the docket, and all Revisions to the Requirements for Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 101,
public comments, will be in our online Authority To Manufacture and 401, 403, 404, 410, 2601, 2605, Inspector
General Act of 1978, as amended (Pub. L. 95–
docket at http://www.regulations.gov Distribute Postage Evidencing
452, as amended); 5 U.S.C. App. 3.
and can be viewed by following that Systems
Web site’s instructions. Additionally, if ■ 2. In § 501.16, revise paragraph (i) to
you go to the online docket and sign up AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM. read as follows:
for email alerts, you will be notified ACTION: Proposed rule.
§ 501.16 PC postage payment
when comments are posted or a final methodology.
SUMMARY: The Postal Service proposes
rule is published.
to revise its rules concerning PC postage * * * * *
We plan to hold a public meeting to payment methodology by adding (i) Revenue Assurance. (1) The
receive oral comments on this SNPRM supplementary information to clarify provider must support business
and will announce the date, time, and the revenue assurance guidelines. practices to assure Postal Service
location in a separate document DATES: Submit comments on or before revenue and accurate payment from
published in the Federal Register. If you March 30, 2016. customers. For purposes of this
signed up for docket email alerts paragraph and the Automated Package
ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written
mentioned in the paragraph above, you Verification (APV) Standard Operating
will receive an email notice when the comments to the Manager, Payment
Procedure (SOP) document available at
public meeting notice is published and Technology, U.S. Postal Service®, 475
https://ribbs.usps.gov, references to
placed in the docket. L’Enfant Plaza SW., Room 3500,
‘‘provider’’ and ‘‘PC Postage Vendor’’
Washington, DC 20260. You may
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 110 shall include postage resellers when
inspect and photocopy all written
such resellers transmit postage revenue
comments at the Payment Technology
Anchorage grounds. to the Postal Service in any manner
office by appointment only between the
other than through a PC Postage
For the reasons discussed in the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday
provider. With respect to such
preamble, the Coast Guard proposes to through Friday by calling 1–202–268–
transactions, the resellers, and not the
amend 33 CFR part 110 as follows: 7613 in advance. Email and faxed
PC Postage providers who provides the
comments are not accepted.
labels, are responsible for complying
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
PART 110—ANCHORAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
REGULATIONS with these regulations. A ‘‘reseller’’ is
Marlo Kay Ivey, Business Systems an entity that obtains postage through a
Analyst, Payment Technology, U.S. provider and is authorized to resell such
■ 1. The authority citation for part 110 Postal Service, (202) 268–7613. postage to its customers pursuant to an
continues to read as follows: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July agreement with the Postal Service.
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 471, 1221 through 17, 2015, the United States Postal (2) Specifically, the provider is
1236, 2071; 33 CFR 1.05–1; Department of Service published a final rule to revise required to pay the Postage Adjustment
Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1. the rules concerning authorization to or to notify the customer and adjust the
■ 2. Revise § 110.111 to read as follows: manufacture and distribute postage balance in the postage evidencing
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 39 / Monday, February 29, 2016 / Proposed Rules 10159
system or otherwise facilitate postage transmitted, as applicable, to the Postal instructions for submitting comments.
corrections to address any postage Service each day. Once submitted, comments cannot be
discrepancies as directed by the Postal (5) Each PC Postage Provider: edited or removed from Regulations.gov.
Service no later than 60 days after initial (i) Is responsible for ensuring that The EPA may publish any comment
notification by the Postal Service, customers are informed, understand and received to its public docket. Do not
subject to the applicable notification agree that they may be charged for submit electronically any information
periods and dispute mechanisms deficient payment before they complete you consider to be Confidential
available to customers for these their initial transactions; Business Information (CBI) or other
corrections. Postage Adjustment is (ii) Shall comply with applicable laws information whose disclosure is
defined as a difference between the and ensure that its systems, software, restricted by statute. Multimedia
postage paid for a service offered by the interfaces, communications and other submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be
Postal Service and the current properties that are used to sell or market accompanied by a written comment.
published/negotiated rate indicating the postal products accurately describe such The written comment is considered the
postage due to the Postal Service for the products; official comment and should include
weight, packaging, dimensions and zone (iii) Shall cover any costs that the discussion of all points you wish to
of the mail piece as applicable. The Postal Service may incur as a result of make. The EPA will generally not
Postal Service will supply the provider any act or omission of such provider or consider comments or comment
with the necessary detail to justify the its employees, contractors or contents located outside of the primary
correction and amount of the postage representatives in connection with its submission (i.e., on the Web, cloud, or
correction to be used in the adjustment role as a PC Postage provider; and other file sharing system). For
process. The provider must pay the (iv) In performing its obligations additional submission methods, the full
postage adjustment or supply customers hereunder, shall comply with the APV EPA public comment policy,
with visibility into identified postage SOP and all agreed to interface information about CBI or multimedia
correction, facilitate a payment documentation (as updated from time to submissions, and general guidance on
adjustment from the customer in the time). making effective comments, please visit
amount equivalent to the identified Stanley F. Mires, http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/
postage discrepancies to the extent commenting-epa-dockets.
Attorney, Federal Compliance.
possible, and enable customers to
submit electronic disputes of such [FR Doc. 2016–04237 Filed 2–26–16; 8:45 am] FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
postage discrepancies to the Postal BILLING CODE P Mazeeda Khan, Air Programs Branch,
Service. Further if the Customer does Environmental Protection Agency, 290
not have funds sufficient to cover the Broadway, 25th Floor, New York, New
amount of the discrepancies or the ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION York 10007–1866, (212) 637–3715, or by
postage discrepancies have not been AGENCY email at khan.mazeeda@epa.gov.
resolved, the provider may be required SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
to temporarily suspend or permanently 40 CFR Part 52
shut down the customer’s ability to Table of Contents
[EPA–R02–OAR–2016–0061, FRL–9943–03–
print PC Postage as described in Region 2] I. What action is the EPA proposing?
Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 604.4. II. What is the background information for
(3) If the provider incorrectly Disapproval of Air Quality this proposal?
programmed postage rates, delayed Implementation Plans; Puerto Rico; III. What is included in Puerto Rico’s
programming postage rate changes or Attainment Demonstration for the proposed SIP submittal?
IV. What is the EPA’s analysis of Puerto
otherwise provided systems or software, Arecibo Lead Nonattainment Area
Rico’s attainment plan submittal?
which caused customers to pay a. Modeling Approach
incorrect postage amounts, within two AGENCY: Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA). b. Modeling Results
calendar weeks of the provider being V. What are the consequences of a
made aware of such error, the provider ACTION: Proposed rule.
disapproved SIP?
shall correct the error and, in the event SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection a. What are the Act’s provisions for
that the amount of collected revenue is sanctions?
Agency (EPA) is proposing to b. What federal implementation plan
less than the amount of revenue that
disapprove a State Implementation Plan, provisions apply if a State fails to submit
should have been collected absent the
submitted by the Commonwealth of an approvable plan?
error, (i) pay the Postal Service for the
Puerto Rico to the EPA on January 30, c. What are the ramifications regarding
postage deficiency and (ii) provide the
2015, for the purpose of providing for conformity?
Postal Service with a detailed VI. What are the EPA’s conclusions?
attainment of the 2008 Lead National
breakdown of how the error affected the VII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
Ambient Air Quality Standards in the
provider’s collection of revenue. a. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory
Arecibo 2008 Lead nonattainment area.
(4) Except as may otherwise expressly Planning and Review
While the SIP includes all of the
be agreed to by contract, the provider is b. Paperwork Reduction Act
required elements for the Arecibo Area,
responsible for ensuring that: c. Regulatory Flexibility Act
(i) All customers pay (and the Postal the EPA proposes disapproval because d. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Service receives) the current published the dispersion modeling analysis does e. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
prices that are available to mailers who not demonstrate attainment of the lead f. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and
purchase postage through an approved standard. Coordination With Indian Tribal
DATES: Comments must be received on Governments
PC Postage provider; and g. Executive Order 13045: Protection of
(ii) Payments to the Postal Service (or or before March 30, 2016.
Children From Environmental Health
the log files necessary for the Postal ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, and Safety Risks
Service to collect payments directly identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R02– h. Executive Order 13211: Actions That
from customers) are complete and OAR–2016–0061 at http:// Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
accurate and are initiated or www.regulations.gov. Follow the online Distribution, or Use
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Document Created: 2016-02-27 02:04:47
Document Modified: 2016-02-27 02:04:47
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Proposed Rules | |
| Action | Proposed rule. | |
| Dates | Submit comments on or before March 30, 2016. | |
| Contact | Marlo Kay Ivey, Business Systems Analyst, Payment Technology, U.S. Postal Service, (202) 268-7613. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 10158 |
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