(b) Legibility. Meter stamps must be legible and not overlap. Illegible or overlapping meter stamps will not be counted in determining postage paid. (c) Meter stamps on tape. When meter stamps are printed on tape, only tape approved by the Post Office Department may be used. (d) Position. Meter stamps must be printed or stuck in the upper right corner of the envelope, address label, or tag. (e) Content. Meter stamps must show city, State, meter number, and amount of postage for all classes of mail. When it is necessary to print multidenomination meter stamps on more than one tape, the circle showing the post office must appear on each tape. (f) Date of mailing. Meter stamps must show the date of mailing (month, day, and year) on all first class mail, special delivery, special handling, or airmail; on all mail sent registered, insured, or COD, and when printed on separate tapes used on first class mail. The month and year must be shown on tapes used on second-, third-, and fourth-class mail, but the day may be omitted. When tapes are not used no date may be shown in meter stamps on second-, third-, or fourth-class mail. (g) Hour of mailing. The hour of mailing may be shown only on first class, air, or special delivery mail, and then only when it is mailed in time to be dispatched at the hour shown. (h) Meter slogan and ad plates. Licensees may print restricted advertising matter simultaneously with meter stamps within space limitations. Licensees must obtain the plates for advertising from authorized manufacturers of meters to assure suitable quality and content in accordance with the requirements of the Department. The plates should not be used to print postal endorsements on mail. Slogans must not be objectionable or misleading. [26 F.R. 11563, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 27 F.R. 6977, July 24, 1962, 27 F.R. 11767, Nov. 29, 1962, 28 F.R. 4754, May 11, 1963] Metered reply postage. § 33.5 (a) Metered stamps may be used to prepay reply or return postage under the following conditions: (1) Metered stamps must be printed directly on the envelope or card that bears the printed return address of the license holder in an amount sufficient to prepay in full the first-class or airmail rate. (2) The words "No postage stamp necessary-postage has been prepaid by ." must be printed immediately above the return address in the manner shown below: (b) Place of mailing. Metered mail, other than reply mail (see § 33.5), must be mailed from the post office shown in the meter stamp. To secure the fastest dispatch, metered mail should be deposited at the main post office or a station or branch thereof. Except for bulk mailings of third-class mail, metered mail may be deposited in any street collection box, building receptacle or other place, under the jurisdiction of the post office of meter settings, where mail is accepted. (26 F.R. 11564, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 29 F.R. 564, Jan. 23, 1964] § 33.7 Meter Record Book. Each day of operation of the meter, the licensee must enter in the Meter Record Book, Form 3602-A, the figures appearing in the ascending and descending registers. If at any time the sum of the two figures does not equal the total entered at the last setting, the meter should be taken promptly to the post office, station, or branch where it was set, for examination. [27 F.R. 6997, July 24, 1962] § 33.8 Manufacture and distribution of postage meters. (a) Authorization to manufacture and lease-(1) Qualification. Any concern desiring authorization to manufacture and lease postage meters for use by mailers under § 33.1(d) must qualify as follows: (i) Satisfy the Post Office Department as to its integrity and financial responsibility. (ii) Obtain approval of at least one model postage meter incorporating all the mechanical features and safeguards specified in paragraph (b) of this section. (iii) Have, or establish, and maintain under its supervision and control adequate manufacturing facilities suitable to carry out to the satisfaction of the Post Office Department the provisions of paragraph (d) of this section. Such facilities shall be subject to inspection by representatives of the Bureau of Operations, Post Office Department. (iv) Have, or establish, and maintain adequate facilities for the control, distribution, and maintenance of postage meters and their replacement when necessary. (2) Application. Any person or concern seeking authorization to manufacture postage meters may make applica tion to the Bureau of Operations, Post Office Department in person or in writing. On qualification and approval the applicant will be authorized in writing to manufacture postage meters and to lease them to mailers. The name of the manufacturer will be listed in the Code of Federal Regulations. (See § 33.1 (d) for listings.) (3) Suspension. The Post Office Department may require a manufacturer to suspend production and distribution of any or all of his models of postage meters pending investigation to determine whether his authorization should be revoked and the department will fully advise him of the facts which may warrant such action. The manufacturer will be given an opportunity to demonstrate or achieve compliance with all the lawful requirements within a reasonable, specified time limit. (4) Revocation. Authorization may be revoked if the manufacturer engages in any scheme or enterprise of an unlawful character or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this part. (b) Specifications. Postage meters must incorporate all of the following mechanical features and safeguards: (1) A postage meter may be either the detachable portion containing the printing die and registering mechanism of a mailing machine, or it may be complete in itself. In either case, it must be suitable for the mailer to bring to the Post Office for setting. (2) A postage meter may be capable of printing one denomination of postage and registering the number of such impressions made (single denomination), or it may be capable of printing several denominations and registering either multiples of the smallest unit printed (multi denomination) or the currency value of the impressions made (omni denomination). The printing die or dies, counters, and counter-actuating mechanism must be inseparable in the unit brought to the Post Office for setting. (3) In each postage meter there must be two accurate and dependable counting devices, one ascending and registering the total imprinted, the other descending and registering the balance of the last setting remaining unused. The descending register must actuate a locking mechanism preventing further operation of the meter after the register has reduced to an amount less than the largest denomination printable in one operation or to zero. The descending register must be so constructed as to be easily set at the Post Office for any amount of postage or number of impressions within its capacity, prepaid by the mailer. (4) The entire mechanism must be encased in a substantial housing. The descending register must be accessible to the Post Office by means of a door equipped with a suitable lock and with provision for a Post Office seal. The ascending register and all other mechanism must be so shielded as not to be accessible even when the door is open. The readings of both registers must be easily obtainable at any time between operations, either by visibility through closed windows, or by imprint on tape or card, or by a combination of the two methods. The housing must be of such construction that it is impossible to alter the readings of the ascending register except by normal operation, or to gain access to the internal mechanism except for setting the descending register as provided in subparagraph (3) of this paragraph, without mutilation. (5) The printing die must either conform in design to one already in use or be approved by the Bureau of Operations, Post Office Department. It must include the serial number of the meter and identification of the manufacturer, and be SO constructed or shielded that it is not practically possible without proper registration in the ascending and descending register to obtain imprints fraudulently. (6) The meter die must include a postmark to print the name of the city and State from which mail is dispatched and the date of mailing. The postmark must be printed at the left of but adjacent to the denomination stamp and may be either included in an overall design with the demomination stamp or separated from it. Provision must be made so that the date may be either printed or omitted as required by the Post Office Department on the various classes of mail. Provision may be made to print an hour of mailing either within or in a close position outside the postmark. Provision may also be made to print designations such as "Nonprofit Org.", and the like, adjacent to and in the same operation with the meter stamp. The denomination die must not be completely exposed at any time during the process of installing or removing postmark dies, daters, hour type, or special designation slugs or when changing the date. (7) Provision may be made in a meter for a meter slogan or ad plate to print to the left of and adjacent to the postmark. The size and position of a slogan or meter ad must be such that it will not interfere with or obscure the meter stamp or postmark and it must be possible to install the plate easily without exposing the meter stamp die. Plates must be made of suitable, durable material which will not soften or disintegrate while in use. They must be well fitted and so securely fastened to the printing mechanism that they will not become loose or detached or otherwise interfere with proper operation of a meter. (8) The entire mechanism must be of such solid, substantial, and dependable construction as to protect the Post Office Department amply against loss of revenue from fraud, manipulation, misoperation, or breakdown. (c) Testing and approval-(1) Submission of each model. Each model meter proposed for manufacture must be approved by the Bureau of Operations, Post Office Department, after being tested by the National Bureau of Standards or the Post Office Department Laboratory, at the expense of the manufacturer. A preliminary working model may be submitted for tentative approval. No meters of any model may be distributed or used for payment of postage until a complete unit made to production drawings and specifications has been submitted, tested, and approved, except as may be specifically authorized for preliminary field testing. (2) Deposit of specimen meter. One production model of each meter approved must be deposited with the Bureau of Operations, Post Office Department and no changes affecting the basic features or safeguards may be made thereafter without departmental approval. (3) Tests after approval. Additional meters from current manufacture must be submitted to the National Bureau of Standards or the Post Office Department Laboratory, for test, at the expense of the manufacturer, as may be requested by the Bureau of Operations, Post Office Department. (d) Safeguards-(1) Materials and workmanship. All meters must closely adhere to the quality in materials and workmanship of the approved production model and must be manufactured with suitable jigs, dies, tools, etc., to assure proper maintenance and interchangeability of parts. (2) Breakdown tests. At reasonably frequent intervals the manufacturer must take meters at random from production and subject them to breakdown tests to make certain that quality and performance standards are maintained. (3) Protection of printing dies and keys. During the process of fabricating parts and assembling postage meters, the manufacturer must exercise due care to prevent loss or theft of keys or of serially numbered postage printing dies or component parts, such as denomination printing dies, which might be used in some manner to defraud the Government of postal revenues. All serially numbered printing dies produced should be accounted for by assembly into meters or by evidence of mutilation or destruction. Postage printing dies removed from meters and not suitable for reassembly must also be mutilated beyond the possibility of use, or be completely destroyed. (4) Destruction of meter stamps. All meter stamps printed in the process of testing dies or meters must be collected and destroyed daily. (5) Inspection of new and rebuilt meters. All new and rebuilt meters must be carefully inspected before leaving the manufacturer's meter service station. (6) Keys and setting equipment. The meter manufacturer must furnish keys and other essential equipment for setting his meters to all post offices under whose jurisdiction his meters are licensed for use. These items must be protected and shall not be furnished to persons not authorized by the Post Office Department to have them. (e) Distribution-(1) Facilities. Authorized manufacturers must maintain adequate facilities for the distribution, control and maintenance of postage meters. All such facilities are subject to inspection by representatives of the Bureau of Operations, Post Office Department. (2) Controls. Each authorized manufacturer is required to: (i) Retain title permanently to all meters of his manufacture except such as may be purchased by the Post Office Department for use in post offices. (ii) Lease his meters only to mailers to whom meter licenses have been issued by the post office. (iii) Supply only those meter slogan or ad plates that meet the requirements of the Department for suitable quality and content. (iv) Deliver meters to post offices or postal stations only-never to mailers until set and sealed at a post office. (v) Take reasonable precautions in the transportation and storage of his meters to prevent their reaching the hands of unauthorized individuals. (vi) Report the loss or theft of any of his meters, or the recovery of any lost or stolen meters, immediately to the local postmaster, the local police, and the Regional Director for the region in which the meter is licensed for use. (vii) Report to the appropriate Regional Controller office of the Post Office Department each time a meter is presented at a post office for initial setting or to be checked out of service-the report to include the name and address of the mailer, the post office or postal station through which it was handled, and the readings of both registers at the time the meter left or was returned to the manufacturer's possession. (viii) Maintain at his headquarters a complete record by serial number of all meters manufactured, showing all movements of each from the time it is produced until it is scrapped, and the reading of the ascending register each time it is checked into or out of service through a post office. These records must be subject to inspection at any time during business hours by officials of the Post Office Department. These records may be destroyed three years after the meter is scrapped. (ix) Cancel his lease agreement with any mailer whose meter license is canceled by the Department and remove his meter promptly. (x) Maintain a permanent record by serial number of all meter keys issued to postmasters as well as those sections of the manufacturer's establishment in which their use is essential, preferably in the form of signed receipt cards. Report the loss or theft of any of his meter setting keys, or the recovery of lost or stolen keys, to the Regional Director. (xi) Examine each meter withdrawn from service for failure to record its operations correctly and accurately, and report to the Post Office Department the mechanical condition or fault which caused the failure. The (2) Inspection of meters in use. manufacturer must have all of his meters in service with mailers inspected at least twice annually at approximate sixmonth intervals. Inspections must be sufficiently thorough to determine that each meter is clean and in proper operating condition, is recording its operations correctly and accurately, and that neither the post office seal nor any seal placed by the manufacturer to prevent access to the mechanism has been removed or tampered with. Any irregularities found in the operation of a meter at any time or any improper usage of a meter must be reported immediately to the mailer's postmaster, and appropriate steps must be taken to have the meter discontinued. (3) Repair of internal mechanism. Repair or reconditioning of meters involving access to internal mechanisms must be performed only within a factory or suitable meter repair department under the direct control and supervision of the manufacturer. Meters must be checked out of service through the post office or setting before they are opened or any internal repairs undertaken. (g) Notice of proposed changes in regulations. So far as may be consistent with the public interest, before any changes are made in the regulations of this part, the Post Office Department will give notice of any proposed changes sufficiently far in advance of the proposed effective date to enable persons who manufacture, or who may be interested in manufacturing, postage meters, a reasonable opportunity to be heard and to adjust their operations to accord with the proposed changes if they are adopted. [26 F.R. 11564, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 28 F.R. 10489, Sept. 28, 1963, 29 F.R. 564, Jan. 23, 1964] (a) Application. A permit to use permit imprints and pay postage in cash at the time of mailing may be obtained by submitting Form 3601, "Application to Mail Without Affixing Postage Stamps", with a fee of $15, to the post office where mailings will be made. The postmaster will give the applicant a receipt for the fee on Form 3544, "Post Office Receipt for Money". No other fee for use of permit imprints has to be paid so long as the permit is active. However, the applicant must also pay an annual bulk mailing fee if he mails third-class matter at bulk rates. See § 24.4(b)(1) of this chapter. (b) Revocation. The permit may be revoked if used in operating any unlawful scheme or enterprise, for nonuse during any consecutive 12 months, or for any noncompliance with the regulations governing use of permit imprints. The method of revoking permit is described in § 33.2(b) of this chapter. [27 F.R. 6977, July 24, 1962, 28 F.R. 1473, Feb. 15, 1963] § 34.2 Preparation of permit imprints. Permit imprints may be made by printing press, handstamp, lithography, mimeograph, multigraph, addressograph, or similar device. They may not be typewritten or hand drawn. The style of imprint must conform with those illustrated in § 34.4. No other style may be used. The imprint must be legible and must be of a color that contrasts sufficiently with the paper to make the imprint readable. The entire imprint must be placed in the upper right corner of the address side of each piece, parallel with the length of the piece. [28 F.R. 1473, Feb. 15, 1963] Content of permit imprints. (a) For first-class mail. City and State; date (hour may be included with date if mailing is made in time to be dispatched at that hour); the words "First-Class Mail" and "Paid" with the |