MTAC Recap – Part 3

Intelligent Mail Update

Day 1 of MTAC last week also included a much anticipated update on the Intelligent Mail^® barcode from USPS^® Senior Vice President of Intelligent Mail and Address Quality Tom Day and Vice President of Business Mail Entry and Payment Technologies Pritha Mehra. Mr. Day stated that there are currently 385 customer approved sites for production of the Full Service Intelligent Mail barcode, and the USPS is currently processing about 600,000 pieces of Full Service IM^® per week. He also reminded MTAC members that May 2011 marks the end of the PLANET Code^® and the retirement of automation rates for POSTNET™ barcodes.

The US Census Bureau was the largest Full Service IM mailing to date, with a total of 500 million Full Service IM enabled pieces mailed. This provided unprecedented visibility for the Census and the USPS.

Ms. Mehra talked about the May 23 and November 7 releases for PostalOne!®. November is the major release, which will enforce Full Service compliance, including charging for non-compliant Full Service ACS™ pieces. The USPS will be tracking compliance with Full Service ACS updating for address corrections returned according to the following classes:

• First-Class Mail – 95 days
• Standard Mail – 95 days
• Periodical Mail – 65 days

The loss of Full Service IM discounts will apply to either the individual piece or all of the pieces within a handling unit if the unit is deemed non-compliant. In the event that an error is determined resulting in loss of discount, the mailer will still have an opportunity to challenge at acceptance and if the BMEU still believes the error exists, the PCSC appeal is still available for the mailer after the mail is accepted. In cases where a loss of discount occurs after acceptance, the USPS may need up to 45 days to notify the mailer before assessing the loss of discount. The Industry is asking for less time and the USPS is looking into what can be done to determine a more expedited approach.

Tomorrow I will cover USPS Executive Director of Flats Sequencing Rosa Fulton’s update on the Flats Sequencing System.