[Federal Register: February 13, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 30)]
[Notices]               
[Page 6766-6767]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13fe02-144]                         

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POSTAL SERVICE

 
Plan for Secure Postage Meter Technology

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Clarification of final plan.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service published the final plan for phases III and 
IV of the Postal Service's Plan for Secure Postage Meter Technology in 
the Federal Register on November 15, 2001 (Vol. 66, No. 221, pages 
57492-57494). This notice clarifies the definition of phase III and IV 
meters in the previous notice and details the requirements for each 
meter manufacturer to notify all customers of the retirement plan for 
any affected meters.

DATES: This clarification pertains to the final plan that was effective 
November 15, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Wilkerson by fax at (703) 292-
4073.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1995, the Postal Service, in cooperation 
with all authorized postage meter manufacturers, began a phaseout of 
all mechanical postage meters because of identified cases of 
indiscernible tampering and misuse. Postal Service revenues were proven 
to be at serious risk. The completion of this effort, which resulted in 
the withdrawal of 776,000 mechanical meters from service, completed 
phase I of the Plan for Secure Postage Meter Technology. Phase II of 
the plan, the retirement of electronic meters that are manually set by 
Postal Service employees, is now being implemented. The plan for phases 
III and IV, describing the retirement of meters with nondigitally 
printed indicia, was published for comment in the Federal Register, 
August 21, 2000 (Vol. 65, No. 163, pages 50723-50724). Comments on the 
proposed plan were due by October 5, 2000. Responses to the comments 
and the final plan were published in the Federal Register on November 
15, 2001. This notice clarifies the definition of the meters affected 
and the requirements for each manufacturer to notify customers of the 
plan.

Clarification of the Final Postal Service Plan for the Retirement 
of Letterpress Postage Meters

(Changes are shown in italicized text.)

    Phases III and IV of the Postal Service proposed Plan for Secure 
Postage Meter Technology affect non-digitally printing meters that are 
remotely reset under the Computerized Meter Resetting System (CMRS). 
The affected meters are those meters that print indicia using older 
letterpress technology rather than digital printing, even if they have 
a digital display. If such a meter has an additional feature that 
automatically disables the meter if it is not reset within a specified 
time period or when certain preprogrammed criteria are met, it is 
called an enhanced meter. Phase III of the proposed plan required that 
the users of nonenhanced CMRS letterpress meters be notified of the 
schedule for the retirement of their meters by December 31, 2001. The 
placement of nonenhanced CMRS letterpress meters

[[Page 6767]]

must cease by December 31, 2002, and these meters must be off the 
market and withdrawn from service by December 31, 2006. Prior to the 
signing of a contract for the new placement of any nonenhanced CMRS 
non-digitally printing meter, the manufacturer placing the meter must 
notify the customer that the meter must be withdrawn from service by 
December 31, 2006. Phase IV of the proposed plan requires that the 
customers of enhanced CMRS letterpress meters must be notified of the 
schedule for the retirement of their meters by June 30, 2003. The 
placement of enhanced CMRS letterpress meters must cease by June 30, 
2004, and these meters must be off the market and withdrawn from 
service by December 31, 2008. Prior to the signing of a contract for 
the new placement of any enhanced CMRS non-digitally printing meter, 
the manufacturer placing the meter must notify the customer that the 
meter must be withdrawn from service by December 31, 2008.

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 02-3411 Filed 2-12-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P