Move Update Proposals Questioned

Heath responded to the Postal Service’s request for comments on a new proposal that would require Periodicals and Standard A mailers to update mailing lists every 90 days for new addresses. The requirement previously applied only to first-class mail.

However, USPS also wants to eliminate hard-copy notices that it now sends to publishers when a subscriber has moved. It wants newspapers to capture the new addresses before mailing by using USPS computerized database products. The Postal Service complains that handling undeliverable copies is expensive and that the hard copy notification service—now 70 cents per notice—does not pay for itself.

Heath argued that some small newspapers do not have the computer personnel or software to use the postal products.

"While NNA will happily assist its more sophisticated computer system users in ‘taking their game to the next level’, we strongly encourage USPS not to eliminate manual hard copy address notification," Heath told the Postal Service.

"As distasteful as the hard copy option may be (to the Postal Service), the Postal Service’s universal service mission requires it to consider the capabilities and needs of its smallest customers, and not eliminate relatively unsophisticated users from the mails."

NNA expressed concern that some newspapers would be unable to comply with the new rules, and that revenue deficiencies—the back postage payments assessed upon mailers that do not properly qualify for their mail classes or discounts—would be assessed. Recent years have shown an increase in the Postal Service’s assessments against newspapers.

The Postal Service said it carried 5.7 billion undeliverable pieces in 2001 and that the cost of handling far exceeds the revenue.   It has suggested that an electronic notification system from its national Address Change Service could be used by publishers without computer matching software for a cost of 20 cents a piece.

The changes are expected to be implemented toward the end of 2003.

Ownership Filing Deadline is October 1

Here is the timetable for publication of the form, depending on frequency of publication:

• Publications issued more frequently that weekly should publish no later than October 10. This applies to dailies, semi- and tri-weeklies.

• Publications issued weekly, or less frequently, but no more than monthly, publish by October 31. This applies to weeklies.

• All other publications should publish in the first issue after October 1. This applies to infrequent publications such as quarterlies, bi-monthlies, etc.

All periodical-class authorized publications must publish such a statement. A reproduction of the Form 3526 submitted to the Postal Service may be used for publication.