# 61 FR 21404: Addition of Commercial Espionage to Mail Cover Regulations > Federal · Regulations · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_96-11768 ## Section - **Citation:** 61 FR 21404 - **Heading:** Addition of Commercial Espionage to Mail Cover Regulations - **Jurisdiction:** Federal - **Kind:** Regulations - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Federal Register / Vol. 61 / 61 FR 21404 ## Text POSTAL SERVICE 39 CFR Part 233 Addition of Commercial Espionage to Mail Cover Regulations AGENCY: Postal Service. ACTION: Proposed rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This proposed rule will amend the United States Postal Service's mail cover regulations to add commercial espionage by foreign sources as a criminal activity for which national security mail covers may be authorized. This change is effected by expanding the definition of ``protection of the national security'' found at 39 CFR 233.3(c)(9) to include commercial espionage. DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 10, 1996. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be mailed or delivered to Counsel, Postal Inspection Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3411, Washington, DC 20260-2181. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Henry J. Bauman, Counsel, Postal Inspection Service, (202) 268-4415. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Postal Service regulations on mail covers are published in Title 39 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at Sec. 233. Paragraph (c)(9) of Sec. 233.3 currently defines ``protection of the national security'' as ``actual or potential threats to the security of the United States of America by a foreign power or its agents.'' This definition will be expanded to include commercial espionage. Commercial espionage by foreign sources has become an increasing threat to the economic well-being and ability of the United States to compete in the international market ``protection of the national security'' as ``actual or potential threats to the security of the United States of America by a foreign power or its agents.'' This definition will be expanded to include commercial espionage. Commercial espionage by foreign sources has become an increasing threat to the economic well-being and ability of the United States to compete in the international market. For the purposes of this proposed revision, ``commercial espionage'' is defined as either ``economic espionage'' or ``industrial espionage.'' According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) white paper, FBI Strategy to Address the Problem of Economic Espionage and Industrial Espionage (Washington, DC: FBI Headquarters, undated), ``economic espionage'' is ``government- directed, sponsored, or coordinated intelligence activity, which may or may not constitute violation of the law, conducted for the purpose of enhancing that country's or another country's economic competitiveness by the use of the information by the foreign government or by providing it to a foreign business entity thereby giving that entity a competitive advantage in the marketplace.'' ``Industrial espionage'' is defined by the FBI as ``individual or private business entity sponsorship or coordination of intelligence activity conducted for the purpose of enhancing a private business and its competitive advantage in the marketplace, which is a violation of law.'' Revising the Postal Service's national security mail cover regulations to include commercial espionage will enhance the ability of law enforcement to protect national security. List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 233 Administrative practice and procedures, Banks and banking, Credit, Crime, Law Enforcement, Postal Service, Privacy, Seizure and forfeiture. Accordingly, 39 CFR 233 is proposed to be amended as set forth below. PART 233--INSPECTION SERVICE/INSPECTOR GENERAL AUTHORITY 1. The authority citation for part 233 continues to read as follows: tional security. List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 233 Administrative practice and procedures, Banks and banking, Credit, Crime, Law Enforcement, Postal Service, Privacy, Seizure and forfeiture. Accordingly, 39 CFR 233 is proposed to be amended as set forth below. PART 233--INSPECTION SERVICE/INSPECTOR GENERAL AUTHORITY 1. The authority citation for part 233 continues to read as follows: Authority: 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 402, 403, 404, 406, 410, 411, 3005(e)(1); 12 U.S.C. 3401-3422; 18 U.S.C. 981, 1956, 1957, 2254, 3061; 21 U.S.C. 881; Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended (Pub. L. No. 95-452, as amended), 5 U.S.C. App.3. 2. Paragraph (c)(9) of Sec. 233.3 is revised to read as follows: Sec. 233.3 Mail covers. * * * * * (c) * * * (9) Protection of the national security means to protect the United States from any of the following actual or potential threats to its security by a foreign power or its agents: (i) An attack or other grave, hostile act; (ii) Sabotage, or international terrorism; or (iii) Clandestine intelligence activities, including commercial espionage. * * * * * Stanley F. Mires, Chief Counsel, Legislative. [FR Doc. 96-11768 Filed 5-9-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7710-12-P ## Nearby sections - [61 FR 28 Distribution of Marketable Securities by a Partnership](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_95-31457.md) - [61 FR 33 St. Marys Falls Canal and Locks, Michigan; Use, Administration, and Navigation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_95-31543.md) - [61 FR 92 Telephone Regulations and Inmate Financial Responsibility](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_95-31498.md) - [61 FR 295 Public Workshop on the Regulation of Radioactive Devices](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_96-108.md) - [61 FR 402 Sale and Issue of Marketable Book-Entry Treasury Bills, Notes, and Bonds](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_96-134.md) - [61 FR 705 Promoting Wholesale Competition Through Open Access Nondiscriminatory Transmission Services by Public Utilities; Recovery of Stranded Costs by Public Utilities and Transmitting Utilities; Notice of Technical Conference and Potential Broadcast of Technical Conference Concerning Independent System Operators and Reform of Power Pools Under the Federal Power Act](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_96-340.md) - [61 FR 1260 1-g Stall Speed as the Basis for Compliance With Part 25 of the Federal Aviation Regulations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_96-415.md) - [61 FR 1306 Airworthiness Directives; Transport Category Airplanes](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_96-493.md) - [61 FR 1545 Procedures For The Issuance, Denial, And Revocation Of Certificates Of Label Approval, Certificates Of Exemption From Label Approval, And Distinctive Liquor Bottle Approvals (93F-029P)](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_96-575.md) - [61 FR 1546 Indiana Regulatory Program](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_96-646.md) - [61 FR 1546 Appropriateness of Requested Single Location Bargaining Units in Representation Cases](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_96-741.md) - [61 FR 1551 Indiana Regulatory Program](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_96-648.md) - [61 FR 1857 Measurex Corp.; Denial of Petition for Rulemaking](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_96-965.md) - [61 FR 1870 Proposed Revision of Class E Airspace; Belen, NM](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_96-1004.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_96-11768. 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