Group 1 NewsCast Vol.8 Issue 04

A better understanding of Group 1’s Product Update notification system will enable you to access the latest updates for your products more quickly and efficiently. Customer Communications generally divides update notifications into Product Updates and Pending Product Updates. When we are working on a Product Update and anticipate its availability to be further away than five business days, we post a Pending Product Update to the Group 1 Support Site.

A Pending Product Update is a notification that provides specific details about a Product Update, usually accompanied by a listing of the Change Requests that it will include. Pending Product Updates are intended to keep you informed of the status of upcoming updates - each includes an anticipated availability date - and allow you to plan accordingly. It is important to note that, while non-Pending Product Update notifications are generally distributed to customers via email, Pending Product Update notifications are only made available online.

Accessing Pending Product Updates online is fast and easy. Simply log on to the Group 1 Support Site at http://www.g1.com/support. Click on the "My Products" link and select one of your products. If there are any Pending Product Updates for that product, they will be listed under the Product Update heading.

Group 1 University is providing a FREE webinar, "Introduction to MailStream Plus,� for Mailer's Choice customers. The webinar can be taken via eLearning; the dates are listed below:

Intro to MailStream Plus for Mailer's Choice Customers - Mainframe

September 1, 2005
October 18, 2005
November 21, 2005

Intro to MailStream Plus for Mailer's Choice Customers - Unix

September 6, 2005
October 21, 2005
November 23, 2005

Intro to MailStream Plus for Mailer's Choice Customers - Windows

September 2, 2005
October 17, 2005
November 22, 2005

The time for all webinar dates is the same: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM EST. To register for the webinar, please visit the Group 1 University Web site, http://www.g1.com/education.

While the attention of today’s mailers is focused on the most imminent rate case, the USPS is planning several changes to mail preparation and presort rules that may have a significant impact on tomorrow’s mailing. The impetus for this set of regulatory adjustments is the modernization of the USPS’ mail processing equipment and procedures.

Group 1 is currently working to ensure that you and your mail are prepared to meet these new requirements. The following are a few of the highlights, grouped by the year in which their implementation is expected, that directly affect presorting. This listing is intended to keep you informed of the new rules and regulations that will be implemented gradually over the next three years; however, please note that the specific timeframes for some them are still tentative.

2006

Preparation changes to reduce the number of Periodicals sacks:
- New pallet minimums and palletization rules.*
- Ability to enter some bundled mail outside of containers.*
- Elimination of sacks with fewer than 24 pieces and creation of new sack sortation levels to hold these pieces.*
New initiatives to reduce Undeliverable As Addressed (UAA) mail:
- Rejection of pieces of mail with missing address lines.**
- Enforcement of existing Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) regulation that prevents the discounting of addresses that are not successfully CASS coded. CASS results will directly affect presort.
- Possible extension of the requirement to use NCOA^LINK or Address Change Service (ACS) to send Standard Mail.
Permits of bundles less than one-inch thick to be strapped together in “Multi-Carrier RT bundles” in order to reduce bundle breakage.**
Separation of mixed ADC (MxADC) Periodicals flats into two sets of bundles and containers to take advantage of the First-Class transportation network when possible. This change also allows Periodicals bundles that can use First-Class transportation to be placed in Flat Trays or tubs.*

2007

Cost-based pricing is expected to be introduced in the rate case following the one currently in the works. Thus, this rule would not take effect until sometime in 2007.
Transportation Network Realignment – The current three-tier entry point structure will be replaced with a two-tier system that will be more geared toward processing category and preparation. This will have a significant impact on drop ship mailers and transportation companies. Changes to entry discounts are also expected, though these details are still unknown.

2008

Support for Flats Sequencing System (FSS) is expected by September 2008. FSS equipment packages flat mail by delivery point and should eliminate Carrier Route discounts for flats.

* Rules already published either in Postal Bulletin or Federal Register
** Rules expected to be published by end of 2005

Back issues of Newscast are being archived. Click previous issues to go the Newscast homepage to review any prior issues.

Below are some links that may be of interest to our customers:

Group 1's Web Page - http://www.g1.com. The Group 1 Software Web site provides customers with valuable information concerning different areas of the company. From this Web site, you can access education information, recent press releases, support, and much more useful information.

USPS® Web Site Business Section - http://www.usps.com/smallbiz

The USPS® Web Site - http://www.usps.com. This Web site allows customers to check out the latest information regarding postage rates and fees, news and events in the postal community, locations of local post offices, and provides various other links. There is also a place where postal service customers can track the status of a package or access other online mailing forms.

Canada Post - http://www.canadapost.ca/splash.asp. This is the direct link to the Canada Post Web site. Follow this link to view a quick and free course in Canadian NDG sorting (http://www.canadapost.ca/business/ndg/default-e.asp).

USPS® Rapid Information Bulletin Board System - http://ribbs.usps.gov. This is the National Customer Support Center for the United States Postal Service. It provides you mail-service updates, current weather conditions, and other interesting facts pertaining to the Postal Service.

Postal Rate Commission - http://www.prc.gov. The Postal Rate Commission Web site provides information about the organization, its function and procedures, along with postal rates and fees. It also provides a location where you can voice your opinion to the Consumer Advocate.

Nonprofit Mailers - http://www.nonprofitmailers.org. The Alliance is the primary representative of nonprofit mailers before the Postal Rate Commission, at the United States Postal Service's (USPS®) Headquarters, and on Capitol Hill.

Postcom - http://www.postcom.org. Postcom is the Association for Postal Commerce. Its Web site provides you with up-to-date information regarding what is going on in the "postal world." It includes links to other helpful sites, as well as a place to contact your US Senators or Representatives.

We welcome comments and suggestions regarding NewsCast. Please send them to cc@g1.com. Please be sure to include "NEWSCAST" in your subject line. Please look for your next issue to arrive in your email box on or near September 16, 2005.

NewsCast - Volume 8, Issue 4
Date: August 31, 2005
Editor: Becki Dustin (cc@g1.com) Asst. Editor: Erica Fenstermacher
Phone: 1-800-367-6950

CASS, CASS Certified, DPV™, eLOT, FASTforward, NCOA^Link, Postal Service, Post Office, RDI™, United States Post Office, USPS®, United States Postal Service, ZIP Code™, and ZIP+4 are registered trademarks of United States Postal Service (USPS®). This list is not exhaustive of the trademarks belonging to the Postal Service.

Group 1 Software is a non-exclusive licensee of USPS® for NCOA/Link processing.

Prices for Group 1's products, options and services are not established, controlled or approved by USPS® or United States Government. When utilizing RDI™ data to determine parcel-shipping costs, the business decision on which parcel delivery company to use is not made by the USPS® or United States Government.