Today's PB contains several DMM revisions of interest.
Not-Flat Machinable Pieces
The timeframe for the Not Flat-Machinable (NFM) category of Standard Mail is extended beyond the original May 2010 expiration date. When the NFM classification for mailpieces was created in 2007, NFMs were intended to be a temporary category. The NFM classification applies to mailpieces with specific physical characteristics that make them nonmachinable on all but a small segment of USPS automated sorting equipment.
In February of 2009, the USPS announced the NFM classification would expire in May 2010, and at that time these pieces would be mailable only as parcels. Due to the USPS decision to not change prices for these categories of mail in 2010, the expiration date for NFMs has been extended to the day before the next applicable price change implementation date in 2011.
Along with NFMs, the exception for certain automation flats that did not meet flexibility standards to be mailed at automation flats prices if they demonstrated machinable-compatibility via PCSC analysis and testing will expire also in 2011 the day before the first price change. This exception was originally set to expire in May 2010 as well.
If you would like a preview of the postage implications, you can run a current Standard NFM job using either the Machinable or Irregular Parcel processing category, and the appropriate Presort Scheme. The dimensions of the NFM piece should fall within the limits of a Standard Parcel.
New Optional Designs for Letter-Sized Booklets
Effective 5 April 2010 DMM 201.3.15.4 (and new 201.3.15.6 - 201.3.15.8) will be updated to provide new design options for letter-size booklets. DMM 201.3.11g (and new 201.3.11h) will cover the gluing standards which apply to letter-sized booklets.
The other items are related to Express and Priority Mail Open and Distribute, and additional deposit options for items bearing a customs declaration when mailed to APO, FPO, DPO destinations.
