Expansion of Global Priority Mail

POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 20

Expansion of Global Priority Mail

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Postal Service is expanding Global Priority Mail service

by increasing the number of acceptance points, countries (annotated in

bold in the text) and adding weight variable rates for items up to four

pounds.

DATES: The interim regulations take effect March 25, 1996. Comments

must be received on or before May 28, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be mailed or delivered to the

Manager, Commercial Products, International Business Unit, US Postal

Service, Room 370-IBU, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20260-

4261. Copies of all written comments will be available for public

inspection and photocopying between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through

Friday, at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay Thabet, (202) 268-2269.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 17, 1995, the Postal Service

published in the Federal Register (60 FR 14370) interim regulations

implementing WORLDPOST Priority Letter and requested comments. A final

rule adopting the interim rules as final was filed at the Office of the

Federal Register March 25, 1996. In the final rule the name of the

service was changed to Global Priority Mail service and additional

acceptance points were added.

Global Priority Mail is an expedited airmail service providing fast

reliable, and economical delivery of all items mailable as letters.

Although a Global Priority Mail item will travel in the normal airmail

stream between the United States and the destination country, the item

will receive priority

[[Page 14026]]

handling in the United States and, typically, in the destination

country. In the United States, after the item is deposited, the Postal

Service will transport it in a dedicated stream to the appropriate

gateway for dispatch. Upon arrival in the destination country, the item

will also receive priority handling. Service is available only in

certain ZIP Code areas in the United States and only to certain

countries.

The Postal Service is now expanding the number of acceptance points

to make the service more widely available. The new acceptance points

are set forth below. The Postal Service is also adding weight variable

rates. With the new rates, customers may use their own packaging for

items weighing up to 4 pounds. Each variable weight item must bear a

Global Priority Mail sticker provided by the Postal Service. These

changes will make Global Priority Mail available to more customers and

should make the service more useful, by making it easier to mail items

other than documents or letters.

Although 39 U.S.C. 407 does not require advance notice and

opportunity for submission of comments, and 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 invites interested persons to submit written

data, views, or comments concerning the interim rule.

The Postal Service adopts the following interim amendments to the

International Mail Manual, which is incorporated by reference in the

Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 20.1.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20

International postal service, Foreign relations.

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. Chapter 2 of the International Mail Manual is amended by

revising part 226 to read as follows:

2 CONDITIONS FOR MAILING

* * * * *

226 Global Priority Mail

226.1 General

226.11 Definition

Global Priority Mail is an expedited airmail letter service

providing fast, reliable, and economical delivery of all items mailable

as letters or merchandise up to 4 pounds. Global Priority Mail items

receive priority handling in the United States and in destination

countries. Service is available only to destination countries

identified in 226.2, from post offices identified in 226.3.

226.12 Permissible Items

All items sent as letter class mail (see 221.1) are accepted in

Global Priority Mail provided the contents are mailable and fit

securely in the envelope. Global Priority Mail items may contain

dutiable merchandise unless the country of destination specifically

prohibits dutiable merchandise in letters (see 224.51). Any item that

is prohibited in international mail is prohibited in Global Priority

Mail. Refer to the ``Country Conditions of Mailing'' in the individual

country listings for individual country prohibitions.

226.13 Packaging

Items must fit comfortably within the flat-rate envelope without

distorting or bursting the container. No excessive use of tape to keep

the envelopes from bursting, only one piece of tape may be used to

secure the flap.

226.2 Availability

Global Priority Mail is available to the following additional

countries:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Western Europe Pacific Rim North America

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Austria......................... Australia......... Canada.

Belgium......................... Hong Kong.........

Denmark......................... Japan.............

Finland......................... Korea, Republic of

France.......................... New Zealand.......

Germany......................... Philippines.......

Iceland......................... Singapore.........

Ireland......................... Taiwan............

Luxembourg...................... Thailand..........

Netherlands, The................ Vietnam...........

Norway.

Portugal.

Spain.

Sweden.

Switzerland.

United Kingdom.*

------------------------------------------------------------------------

* Includes all points in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland,

Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man.

226.3 Mailing Locations

226.31 Acceptance Offices and Pickup Service Locations

Global Priority Mail service is available only through the

designated post offices and the additional post offices listed in

226.32. Pickup Service is available for an additional fee. (See

226.83.)

226.32 Service Areas

Service is available only from the metropolitan areas as defined by

the ZIP Code ranges shown below. If Global Priority Mail is presented

at a non-participating retail unit, advise the customer that the item

cannot be accepted as Global Priority Mail. Refer customer to the

nearest Global Priority Mail retail acceptance unit. Within these

service areas, prepaid items may be given to carriers, deposited in

Express Mail collection boxes, or mailed at post offices, stations, and

branches.

Global Priority Mail Acceptance Cities and Three-Digit ZIP Codes

ALABAMA

Anniston: 362

Birmingham: 352

Huntsville: 356, 357, 358

Mobile: 366

Montgomery: 361, 368

ARIZONA

Phoenix: 850, 852, 853

Tucson: 857

ARKANSAS

Little Rock: 722

West Memphis: 723

CALIFORNIA

Industry: 917, 918

Inglewood: 902, 903, 904, 905

Long Beach: 906, 907, 908

Los Angeles: 900, 901

North Bay: 949

Oakland: 945, 946, 947, 948,

Pasadena: 910, 911, 912

Salinas: 939

San Diego: 919, 920, 921

San Francisco: 940, 941, 943, 944

San Jose: 950, 951

Santa Ana: 926, 927, 928

Van Nuys: 913, 914, 915, 916

COLORADO

Brighton: 806

Colorado Springs: 808, 809

Denver: 800, 801, 802, 803

Longmont: 805

Pueblo: 810

CONNECTICUT

Hartford: 060, 061, 062

New Haven: 063, 064, 065, 066

Stamford: 068, 069

Waterbury: 067

DELAWARE

Wilmington: 197, 198, 199

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (Washington, DC)

Washington: 200, 202, 203, 204, 205

FLORIDA

Daytona Beach: 321

Fort Myers: 339

Ft. Lauderdale: 333

Gainesville: 326, 344

Jacksonville: 320, 322

Lakeland: 338

Manasota: 342

Miami: 331, 332

Mid-Florida: 327

[[Page 14027]]

Orlando: 328, 329, 347

South Florida: 330

St. Petersburg: 337

Tallahassee: 323

Tampa: 335, 336, 346

West Palm Beach: 334, 349

GEORGIA

Albany: 317

Athens: 306

Atlanta: 303, 311

Augusta: 298, 308, 309

Columbus: 318, 319

Macon: 310, 312

North Metro: 300, 301, 302, 305

Savannah: 299, 313, 314

Swainsboro: 304

Valdosta: 316

Waycross: 315

INDIANA

Bloomington: 474

Columbus: 472

Evansville: 424, 476, 477

Fort Wayne: 467, 468

Gary: 463, 464

Indianapolis: 460, 461, 462

Kokomo: 469

Lafayette: 479

Muncie: 473

South Bend: 465, 466

Terre Haute: 478

Washington: 475

ILLINOIS

Bloomington: 617

Carbondale: 629

Carol Stream: 601, 603

Centralia: 628

Chicago: 606, 607, 608

Effingham: 624

Champaign: 618, 619

Fox Valley: 605

Galesburg: 614

Kankakee: 609

La Salle: 613

Palatine: 600, 602

Peoria: 615, 616

Quincy: 623, 634, 635

Rockford: 610, 611

Rock Island: 612

Springfield: 625, 626, 627

South Suburban: 604

IOWA

Burlington: 526

Cedar Rapids: 522, 523, 524

Davenport: 527, 528

Des Moines: 500, 501, 502, 503, 509

Dubuque: 520

Mason City: 504

Ottumwa: 525

Sioux City: 510, 511

Waterloo: 506, 507

KANSAS

Fort Scott: 667

Kansas City: 660, 661, 662

Hays: 676

Salina: 674

Topeka: 664, 665, 666, 668

Wichita: 672

KENTUCKY

Ashland: 411, 412

Bowling Green: 421, 422

Campton: 413, 414

Elizabeth: 427

Evansville: 424, 476

Louisville: 400, 401, 402, 471

Lexington: 403, 404, 405, 406

Owensboro: 423

Pikeville: 415, 416

LOUISIANA

Baton Rouge: 707, 708

New Orleans: 700, 701

Hammond: 704

Thibodaux: 703

MAINE

Bangor: 044, 046, 047

Portland: 040, 041, 042, 043, 045, 048, 049

MARYLAND

Baltimore: 210, 211, 212, 214, 219

Cumberland: 215, 267

Easton: 216

Frederick: 217

Salisbury: 218

Southern: 206, 207

Suburban: 208, 209

MASSACHUSETTS

Boston: 021, 022

Brockton: 020, 023, 024

Buzzard Bay: 025, 026

Middlesex-Essex: 018, 019

Pittsfield: 012

Springfield: 013, 010, 011

Worchester: 014, 015, 016, 017

MICHIGAN

Detroit: 481, 482

Flint: 484, 485

Gaylord: 497

Grand Rapids: 493, 494, 495

Jackson: 492

Kalamazoo: 490, 491

Lansing: 488, 489

Royal Oak: 480, 483

Saginaw: 486, 487

Traverse City: 496

MINNESOTA

Detroit Lakes: 565

Duluth: 558

Mankato: 560

Minneapolis: 553, 554f

Rochester: 559

Saint Cloud: 563

St. Paul: 550, 551, 540

Thief River Falls: 567

Willmar: 562

Windom: 561

MISSISSIPPI

Grenada: 389

Gulf Port: 395

Hattiesburg: 394

Jackson: 392

McComb: 396

MISSOURI

Cape Girardeau: 636, 637, 638, 639

Chillicothe: 646

East St. Louis: 622

Harrisonville: 647

Kansas City: 640, 641

Mid-Missouri: 650, 651, 652, 653

Saint Joseph: 644, 645

Springfield: 648, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658

St. Louis: 620, 630, 631, 633

MONTANA

Billings: 591

NEBRASKA

Lincoln: 683, 684, 685

Norfolk: 686, 687

Omaha: 515, 516, 680, 681

NEVADA

Las Vegas: 891

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Manchester: 030, 031, 032, 033, 034

Portsmouth: 038, 039

NEW JERSEY

Hackensack: 076

Kilmer: 088, 089

Monmouth: 077

Newark: 070, 071, 072, 073

Paterson: 074, 075

South Jersey: 080, 081, 082, 083, 084

Trenton: 085, 086, 087

West Jersey: 078, 079

NEW MEXICO

Albuquerque: 871

NEW YORK

Albany: 120, 121, 122, 123

Binghamton: 137, 138, 139

Bronx: 104

Brooklyn: 112

Buffalo: 140, 141, 142, 143

Elmira: 148, 149

Glen Falls: 128

Jamestown: 147

Long Island: 111

Mid-Hudson: 124, 125, 126, 127

Mid Island: 119

New York: 100, 101, 102

Plattsburgh: 129

Queens: 110, 113, 114, 116

Rochester: 144, 145, 146

Rockland: 109

Staten Island: 103

Syracuse: 130, 131, 132

Utica: 133, 134, 135

Watertown: 136

Westchester: 105, 106, 107, 108

Western Nassau: 115

NORTH CAROLINA

Asheville: 287, 288, 289

Charlotte: 280, 281, 282, 297

Greensboro: 270, 271, 272, 273, 274

Hickory: 286

Raleigh: 275, 276, 277

NORTH DAKOTA

Bismarck: 585

Dickinson: 586

Devils Lake: 583

Fargo: 580, 581

Grand Forks: 582

Jamestown: 584

Minot: 587

Williston: 588

OHIO

Akron: 442, 443

Athens: 457

Canton: 446, 447

Chillicothe: 456

Cincinnati: 410, 450, 451, 452, 470

Cleveland: 440, 441

Columbus: 430, 431, 432, 433

Dayton: 453, 454, 455

Lima: 458

Mansfield: 448, 449

Steubenville: 439

Toledo: 434, 435, 436

[[Page 14028]]

Youngstown: 444, 445

Zanesville: 337-338

OKLAHOMA

Ardmore: 734

Clinton: 736

Durant: 747

Enid: 737

Lawton: 735

McAlester: 745

Muskogee: 744

Oklahoma City: 730, 731

Ponca City: 746

Poteau: 749

Shawnee: 748

Tulsa: 740, 741, 743

Woodard: 738

OREGON

Portland: 972

PENNSYLVANIA

Altoona: 166, 168

Bradford: 167

Dubois: 158

Erie: 164, 165

Greensburg: 156

Harrisburg: 170, 171, 172, 178

Johnstown: 155, 157, 159

Lancaster: 173, 174, 175, 176

Lehigh Valley: 180, 181, 183

New Castle: 160, 161, 162

Oil City: 163

Philadelphia: 190, 191

Pittsburgh: 150, 151, 152, 153, 154

Reading: 179, 195, 196

Scranton: 184, 185, 188

Southeastern: 189, 193, 194

Wilkes-Barre: 182, 186, 187

PUERTO RICO/VIRGIN ISLANDS

San Juan: 006, 007, 008, 009

RHODE ISLAND

Providence: 027, 028, 029

SOUTH CAROLINA

Charleston: 294

Columbia: 290, 291, 292

Florence: 295

Greenville: 293, 296

SOUTH DAKOTA

Aberdeen: 574

Dakota Central: 572, 573

Mobridge: 576

Pierre: 575

Rapid City: 577

Sioux Falls: 570, 571

TENNESSEE

Chattanooga: 307, 373, 374

Columbia: 384

Cookeville: 385

Jackson: 383

Johnson City: 376

Knoxville: 377, 378, 379

McKenzie: 382

Memphis: 380, 381, 386

Nashville: 370, 371, 372

TEXAS

Abilene: 768, 795, 796

Amarillo: 791

Austin: 786, 787, 789

Beaumont: 776, 777

Bryan: 778

Corpus Christi: 784

Dallas: 751, 752, 753

El Paso: 799

Fort Worth: 760, 761, 762, 764

Greenville: 754

Houston: 770, 772

Longview: 756

Lubbock: 794

Lufkin: 759

North Houston: 773, 774, 775

North Texas: 750

Palestine: 758

San Angelo:769

San Antonio: 780, 781, 782, 788

Texarkana: 755

Tyler: 757

Waco: 765, 766, 767

Wichita Falls: 763

UTAH

Provo: 845, 846, 847

Salt Lake City: 840, 841, 843, 844

VERMONT

Burlington: 054, 056

White River Junction: 035, 036, 037, 050,

051, 052, 053, 057, 058, 059

VIRGINIA

Charlottesville: 228, 229, 244

Culpeper: 227

Farmville: 239

Northern Virginia: 201, 220, 221, 222, 223

Norfolk: 233, 234, 235, 236, 237

Richmond: 224, 225, 230, 231, 232, 238

Winchester: 226

WASHINGTON

Everett: 982

Olympia: 985

Seattle: 980, 981

Tacoma: 983, 984

Wenatchee: 988

Yakima: 989

WEST VIRGINIA

Charleston: 250, 251, 252, 253

Huntington: 255, 256, 257

Martinsburg: 254

Wheeling: 260

WISCONSIN

Eau Claire: 547

Green Bay: 543

La Crosse: 546

Madison: 537

Milwaukee: 530, 531, 532

Oshkosh: 549

Racine: 534

Spooner: 548

WYOMING

Cheyenne: 820

226.4 Postage

226.41 Flat Rate Envelopes Postage

Each Global Priority Mail flat rate envelope is charged at a flat

rate. The rate is based on the geographic rate zone regardless of its

actual weight. Postage is required for each piece.

Exhibit 226.41

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Small Large

Destination envelope envelope

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Western Europe *.................................... $3.75 $6.95

Canada *............................................ 3.75 6.95

Pacific Rim *....................................... 4.95 8.95

------------------------------------------------------------------------

* See 226.2 for listing.

226.42 Variable Weight Option Postage--Single Piece Rates

Global Priority Mail variable weight rates are calculated in half

(or fraction thereof) increments based on the weight of each piece the

destination geographic rate zone up to four pounds. (See Exhibit

226.42.)

Exhibit 226.42.--Variable Weight Rate Sticker Postage

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Western Pacific

Weight level (lbs.) Europe Rim Canada

------------------------------------------------------------------------

0.5....................................... $7.00 $8.00 $5.95

1.0....................................... 10.50 12.50 10.00

1.5....................................... 12.50 16.95 13.50

2.0....................................... 15.00 21.00 16.50

2.5....................................... 17.50 23.95 18.00

3.0....................................... 19.95 27.25 19.50

3.5....................................... 22.00 31.50 21.00

4.0....................................... 24.75 34.50 22.50

------------------------------------------------------------------------

226.43 Global Priority Mail Sticker--Volume Rates

226.431 Minimum Quantity Requirement

The mailer must have a minimum of 5 or more pieces to one or more

Global Priority Mail countries. The minimum does not apply to each

geographic zone rate.

226.432 Mailing Statement

Postage for volume rate mail and permit imprint must be computed on

Form 3653, Global Priority Mail Statement of Mailings.

Exhibit 226.43.--Variable Weight Sticker Option--Volume Rates

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Western Pacific

Weight level Europe Rim Canada

------------------------------------------------------------------------

0.5....................................... $5.95 $6.95 $5.00

1.0....................................... 8.50 10.00 7.50

1.5....................................... 10.00 13.50 10.00

2.0....................................... 12.00 16.95 12.50

2.5....................................... 14.00 19.25 13.50

3.0....................................... 16.95 21.95 14.50

3.5....................................... 19.95 25.50 15.50

4.0....................................... 22.50 27.75 16.50

------------------------------------------------------------------------

226.5 Payment Methods

226.51 Postage Payment Methods

Nonidentical weight piece mailings must have the applicable postage

affixed by adhesive stamps, meter stamps or if

[[Page 14029]]

presented at a post office, postal validation imprinter (PVI labels).

Identical weight piece mailings may be paid by meter stamps, adhesive

stamps, PVI labels or permit imprint subject to certain standards. To

use permit imprint, the mailing must consist of 200 or more pieces and

be of identical weight. The 200 pieces criteria for permit imprint

applies to both volume rate and flat rate mail. Mailers may use permit

imprint with nonidentical weight items only if authorized by the USPS

under a Manifest Mailing System (MMS), in Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)

P710.

226.52 Postal Marking Related to Volume Rate Postage

When pieces are paid at the volume rate and paid by stamps or meter

impression, each piece must be legibly marked with the words ``Volume

Rate Global Priority Mail.'' If stamps are used the endorsement must

appear on the address side of each piece and must be applied by a

printing press, hand stamp or other similar printing device. If meter

impression is used the endorsement must be in the ad plate or the slug

area. If part of the slug, the abbreviation GPM Vol. Rate may be used.

See DMM P030.4.14 for specification of size requirements.

226.53 Permit Imprint Content and Format

All permit imprints on Global Priority Mail must show city and

state, ``Global Priority Mail,'' U.S. Postage Paid, and permit number.

They may show the mailing date, amount of postage paid or the number of

ounces for each postage.

226.54 Meter Stamps Content

At a minimum, a meter stamp must show the month, day and year in

the postmark, city and state designation of the licensing post office,

the number, and the amount of postage. See DMM P030.4.6.

226.6 Preparation Requirements

226.61 Addressing

All items must bear the complete delivery address of the addressee

and the full name (no abbreviations) of the destination country. See

122.

226.62 Marking

Global Priority Mail items must be mailed in special envelopes (EP-

15A, EP-15B) or with the Global Priority Mail sticker (DEC-10) provided

by the Postal Service. (These supplies may be obtained by calling 800-

222-1811.) Unmarked pieces are subject to the applicable LC/AO airmail

regular rates and treatment. Pieces paid at the Global Priority Mail

sticker rate must be affixed to the address side of the package.

226.63 Customs

A green customs label must be affixed if the package is 1 pound or

more, regardless of its contents. Only documents and correspondence

under 1 pound do not require a customs form.

226.7 Size and Weight Limits

226.71 Size Limits

226.72 Flat-Rate Envelope Sizes

a. Small Size: 6 x 10 inches.

b. Large Size: 9\1/2\ x 12\1/2\ inches.

226.73 Package Sizes for Variable Weight Option

a. Minimum length and height: 5\1/2\ x 3\1/2\ inches.

b. Minimum depth (thickness): .007 inches.

c. Maximum length: 24 inches.

d. Maximum length, height, depth (thickness) combined: 36 inches.

226.74 Rolls

a. Minimum length: 4 inches.

b. Minimum length plus twice the diameter combined: 6\3/4\ inches.

c. Maximum length: 36 inches.

d. Maximum length plus twice the diameter combined: 42 inches.

226.75 Weight Limits

Items sent as Global Priority Mail in envelopes and the variable

weight option must not exceed 4 pounds.

226.76 Special Services

Mailers may obtain certificates of mailing (see 310). No other

special services such as registry, insurance, restricted delivery,

return receipt, or recorded delivery are available.

226.8 Mailer Preparation

226.81 Mailer Requirement

Global Priority Mail claimed at the volume rate must be separated

by geographic rate zone (Western Europe, Pacific Rim, and Canada) when

presented to the business mail entry unit unless otherwise authorized

by the USPS. All pieces in a permit imprint mailing and metered mail

must be facing the same direction.

226.82 Deposit Of Mail

Global Priority Mail pieces paid by permit imprint and pieces

claimed at the Global Priority Mail volume rates must be deposited at a

business mail acceptance unit as authorized by the postmaster in the

designated Global Priority Mail sites for weighing. Flat rate envelopes

with postage affixed may be deposited in any Express Mail Street

collection or other such place where Express Mail is accepted. Metered

mail must be deposited in locations under the jurisdiction of the

licensing post office except as permitted under DMM P030.

226.83 Pickup Service

On call and scheduled pickup service are available for Global

Priority Mail from the designated Global Priority Mail acceptance

cities. There is a charge of $4.95 for each pickup stop, regardless of

the number of pieces picked up. (See DMM D010 for standards of pickup

service.) Pickup is not available for Global Priority Mail pieces if

paid by permit imprint or claimed at the volume rate.

* * * * *

A transmittal letter making the changes in the pages of the

International Mail Manual will be published and transmitted

automatically to subscribers. Notice of issuance of the transmittal

letter will be published in the Federal Register as provided by 39 CFR

20.3.

Stanley F. Mires,

Chief Counsel, Legislative.

[FR Doc. 96-7587 Filed 3-26-96; 10:30 am]

BILLING CODE 7710-12-P