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(b) Application of rates—(1) rate. The single rate is applied to each piece according to its weight,

(2) Bulk rate. (1) The bulk rate is applied to mailings of identical pieces separately addressed to different addressees in quantities of not less than 50 pounds or of not less than 200 pieces. All the pieces in a bulk mailing must be identical as to size, weight, and number of enclosures, but the printed textual matter need not be identical, Postage is computed at pound rates on the entire bulk mailed at one time, except that in no case shall less than the minimum charge per piece be paid. The annual bulk mailing fee must be paid at or before the first mailing each calendar year. (See § 134.4 of this chapter for other conditions governing acceptance of bulk mailings.)

(ii) It is recommended that mailers merge and presort all third-class matter presented for mailing during a day or part of a day when the pieces are identical in size, weight, and number of enclosures and when they are addressed from one list or from more than one list. A variance in the text, the use or nonuse of adhesive address labels, or the use of several lists with different key numbers does not preclude the mailer from merging the mailings and presorting them.

(3) Other third-class rates. The rate for keys and identification items placed loose in the mail under the conditions in § 134.1(c) is applied to each item according to its weight. When there are several items for the same addressee the office of mailing will place them in an envelope or wrapper addressed to the intended recipient and marked to show the amount of postage due. The amount of postage will be computed on each item and not on the bulk weight of the mailing piece.

§ 134.3 Weight and size limitations.

(a) Weight. Each piece may weigh up to but not including 16 ounces.

(b) Size, shape, and ratio. There is no maximum limit of size. The following standards apply to envelopes, cards, and self-mailers having postage paid thereon at the third-class rates:

(1) Pieces less than 3 inches in width (height) or 44 inches in length are nonmailable.

(2) Pieces having shapes other than rectangular are nonmailable.

(3) Pieces having a ratio of width (height) to length of 1 to 1.414 (1 to the square root of 2) are recommended.

(4) Cards having a thickness of less than 0.006 of an inch are nonmailable. § 134.4 Preparation-payment of post

age.

(a) Single-piece mailings. Mailers of third-class mail at other than bulk rates may use any method of paying postage, and may mail any number of pieces at one time, except when permit imprints are used (see § 145.5). See § 134.8(b) for marking required on sealed pieces.

(b) Bulk mailings—(1) Annual fee. A fee of $30 must be paid once each calendar year by or for any person who mails at the bulk third-class rates. Any person who engages a business concern or another individual to mail for him must pay the $30 fee. This fee is separate from the $15 fee that must be paid for a permit to mail under the permit imprint system (§ 145.1). An alphabetical record of customers who have paid the $30 fee must be kept at the weighing section or any other place where bulk mailings are accepted and cleared. The record must show whether the mailer has been authorized to mail as one of the organizations or associations named in § 134.5.

(2) Postage permits required. Postage must be prepaid by (see Part 146):

(i) Meter stamps. See Part 144. (ii) Precanceled stamps or precanceled stamped envelopes. See Part 143.

(iii) Permit imprints (cash). See Part 145.

(3) Markings required. Identifying words as follows must be printed or rubber stamped by the mailer either in or immediately adjacent to permit imprints, meter stamps, or precanceled stamps:

(i) Bulk Rate or the abbreviation Blk. Rt. by mailers other than nonprofit organizations.

(ii) Nonprofit Organization or the abbreviation Nonprofit Org. by authorized nonprofit organizations. (See § 134.5.)

(4) Mailing statement and verification. A designated employee in the weighing section or place in the post office where bulk mailings are accepted verifies the mailer's statement which must be completed and submitted by the mailer with each mailing as follows:

(i) Form 3602, Statement of Mailing Matter with Permit Imprints, for mail with permit imprints (see § 145.5(e)); or

(ii) Form 3602-PC, Bulk Rate Mailing Statement-Third-Class Mail, for mail bearing precanceled stamps or meter stamps.

(c) Preparation by the mailer of pieces in packages and sacks-(1) Package labels. Package labels are used to show the destination of a package when the destination cannot be determined by the arrangement of the pieces in the package or by the sack label. Paper slips may be used as the package label or the top piece or wrapper may be marked or stamped with the package label information required. Label information must be legible.

(2) Maximum weight in a sack. The total weight of pieces placed in one sack must not exceed 70 pounds.

(3) Sack labels furnished by postmaster. When sack labels are furnished by the postmaster, the mailer is not required to place his name on the back of each label.

(4) Unauthorized sack labels. Sacks with unauthorized labels, tags, or markings are not acceptable for dispatch.

(5) Addresses. The address on each piece must include the ZIP Code. Exceptions:

(i) The ZIP Code may be omitted from pieces bearing a simplified address (see § 122.4(a)); pieces presorted and bundled by the mailer to city, rural, or star carrier routes; and pieces presorted to five-digit ZIP Code destinations consisting of either a post office having one ZIP Code or the ZIP Code delivery unit in multi-ZIP Coded post offices.

(ii) The lowest or principal ZIP Code assigned to a post office may be used on pieces addressed to any multi-ZIP Coded post office except those listed in § 125.3 (b) (7). Mailers may obtain the lowest or principal ZIP Code for particular post offices from their postmaster.

(6) Packages and sacks. When there are 10 or more individually addressed pieces to the destinations described in subdivisions (i) through (v) of this subparagraph, they must be securely wrapped or tied together as a package by the mailer (the mailer may package less than 10 pieces in the same manner). Packages must be sacked by the mailer when there are enough for the same destination to fill approximately one-third of a sack:

(i) Five-digit ZIP Code delivery unit packages and sacks. A five-digit ZIP Code delivery unit is a post office having

one ZIP Code or a station or branch of the multi-ZIP Code post offices listed in § 125.3 (b) (7) of this chapter.

(a) Packages. The mailer must prepare packages of pieces addressed to the same five-digit ZIP Code delivery unit. The pieces in the packages must be faced in the same direction. It is recommended that packages be prepared for the fivedigit ZIP Code delivery units of the other multi-ZIP Coded post offices which are not listed in § 125.3(b) (7) of this chapter. (b) Sacks. Sacks containing five-digit ZIP Code delivery unit packages must be labeled in the following manner:

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FR JC COMPANY BOSTON MA

(ii) Mixed city packages and sacks(a) Packages. Pieces remaining for a multi-ZIP Coded post office after the five-digit ZIP Code delivery unit packages required by subdivision (i)(a) of this subparagraph have been prepared must be made up as a Mixed City package. The packages must be labeled "Mixed City." The label may be omitted when the packages are placed in a city sack and the top piece in the package is turned or covered so that the individual address on the piece does not show, thereby indicating that the package is to be opened for distribution.

(b) Sacks. Sacks containing mixed city packages plus any packages for fivedigit ZIP Code delivery units not sacked as provided for by subdivision (i) (b) of this subparagraph must be labeled in the following manner:

PHILADELPHIA PA 191

CIRCS

FR JAY MAILING CO CINCINNATI OH

(iii) Sectional center facility (SCF) packages and sacks—(a) Packages. Pieces remaining for the post offices in a sectional center after the packages required by subdivisions (i) (a) and (ii) (b) of this subparagraph have been prepared must be combined into an SCF package and labeled "Mixed SCF." The label may be omitted when the packages are placed in a SCF sack and the top piece in the package is turned or covered so that the individual address on the piece does not show, thereby indicating that the package is to be opened for distribution.

(b) Sacks. Sacks containing SCF packages, plus any packages for fivedigit ZIP Code delivery units and mixed city packages not sacked as provided for

by subdivision (i) (a) and (ii) (b) of this subparagraph must be labeled in the following manner:

SCF PHILADELPHIA PA 190
CIRCS

FR Q MAILERS BALTO MD

(iv) State packages and sacks—(a) Packages. Pieces remaining for a State after the packages required by subdivisions (i) (a), (ii) (a), and (iii) (a) of this subparagraph have been prepared must be combined in a State package and labeled with the name of the State. The label may be omitted when the packages are placed in a State sack and the top piece in the package is turned or covered so that the individual address on the pieces does not show, thereby indicating that the package is to be opened for distribution.

(b) Sacks. Sacks containing State packages plus any packages for five-digit ZIP code delivery units, mixed city packages, and SCF packages not sacked as provided for by subdivisions (i) (b), (ii) (b), and (iii) (b) of this subparagraph must be labeled in the following manner: KANSAS CITY MO DIS 640 MISSOURI CIRCS

FR STAR SAN FRANCISCO CA

(v) Mixed States packages and sacks— (a) Packages. All pieces remaining after the packages required by subdivisions (i) (a), (ii) (a), (iii) (a), and (iv) (a) of this subparagraph, have been prepared must be combined in a Mixed States package and labeled "Mixed States."

(b) Sacks. Sacks containing Mixed States packages must be labeled in the following manner:

CHICAGO IL DIS 600
MIXED STATES CIRCS
FR RECORD CHICAGO IL

(d) Merchandise samples. When an article given away for the purpose of advertising an article of merchandise which it represents, in whole or in part, is mailed at bulk third-class rates for general distribution on city delivery routes in a mailing piece which exceeds 5 inches in width (height) or one-fourth inch in thickness or which has nonuniformity in thickness, the mailer must comply with the following preparation requirements:

(1) Address cards. (i) The address where the sample is to be delivered may not be placed on the sample, but must be placed on a separate address card which will be delivered with the sample. (ii) The recipient's address, the

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mailer's return address, and the wording. "This card was prepared for use in delivering the accompanying postage paid sample," must be placed on the address card. The brand name, color coding, or other identifying symbols must also be placed on the address card to clearly associate it with the accompanying sample.

(iii) Any advertising or other printed addition on the card will require payment of separate third-class postage for the card.

(iv) The address card shall measure approximately (plus or minus 14′′) 34" by 7% and be of a thickness not less than 0.006 of an inch.

(v) The address cards must be presorted, counted, and packaged by 5-digit ZIP Code delivery area. Each package of address cards shall bear a labeling showing:

(a) The post office of delivery

(b) The 5-digit ZIP Code delivery area (c) The brand name of the merchandise sample

(d) The number of cards in the package

(e) Instructions to open and distribute with matching samples.

(2) Samples. The samples must be placed in outer cartons, labeled follows:

as

(i) The post office of delivery (ii) The 5-digit ZIP Code delivery area (iii) The brand name of the merchandise sample

(iv) The number of samples in the outer carton

(v) Instructions to open and distribute with matching cards.

(3) Postage. (i) The postage must be prepaid by one of the methods prescribed by 134.4(b) (2) and must be printed on or affixed to the sample container.

(ii) No postage will be shown on the address card except when advertising or other printed addition is placed thereon and separate postage is required.

(4) Mailing periods. Avoid mailing during the following peak mailing periods:

(i) The last week of November and throughout the month of December.

(ii) From the first to the fifth and from the twenty-sixth to the end of each month.

(e) Special services. The registry, insurance, special delivery, special handling, certified, and COD services may not be used for third-class matter mailed at bulk rates.

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(b) Organizations granted income tax exemption. When an organization submits proof that it has been granted income tax exemption under title 26, United States Code, section 501 (c) (3), as a religious, educational, scientific, or philanthropic (charitable) organization, or under section 501(c) (8), as a fraternal organization, it will be considered as qualifying for the special third-class rate unless the available evidence discloses some disqualification.

(c) Examples of organizations or associations that may not qualify. The following and similar organizations do not come within the prescribed categories even though they may be organized on a nonprofit basis: Automobile clubs; business leagues; chambers of commerce; citizens' and civic improvement associations; individuals; municipal, county, or State governmental bodies; mutual insurance associations; political organizations; service clubs such as Civitan, Kiwanis, Lions, Optimist, and Rotary; social and hobby clubs; associations of rural electric cooperatives; and trade associations.

(d) Application—(1) Filing. Application on Form 3624, Application to Mail at Special Bulk Third-Class Rates for Qualified Nonprofit Organizations or Associations, must be filed by the organization or association at the post office where mailings will be deposited.

(2) Approval or Denial. The application Form 3624 together with any supporting papers will be sent to the postal services center. (Pending a decision, bulk mailings subject to the minimum per piece charge may be handled in accordance with § 134.5 (e).) The postmaster at the postal services center will approve or deny the application. The application Form 3624 and any supporting papers

will be returned with the decision to the postmaster where the application was filed for notification of the applicant.

(3) Appeal. The decision of the postmaster at the postal services center may be appealed by the applicant, in writing to the postmaster where the application was filed. The postmaster will forward the appeal to the postal services center. If, after a review of the file, the postmaster at the postal services center is still of the opinion that the organization does not qualify, he shall furnish a statement of the reasons for his denial action to the Finance and Administration Department, Office of Mail Classification. The complete file, including the original application and all supporting papers, should be submitted. The papers will be returned to the postmaster at the postal services center with notification of decision on the appeal.

(e) Temporary mailings. Until final action is taken on the application, postage paid on the mailings may be at the special rates, provided the mailer deposits with the postmaster an amount sufficient to cover the additional postage at the higher rates. (See § 134.1 (b) (1) and (2).) This deposit will be returned to the mailer if the application is approved. If the application is denied, the deposit will not be returned. The deposit will be converted into postage-due stamps which will be canceled and given to the mailer if no appeal is made. If appeal is made, action concerning the deposit will be deferred.

(f) Revocation. The approval may be revoked if the authorization was given to an organization or association which was not qualified or which becomes unqualified. The postmaster who approved the application will notify the organization of the pending cancellation of the authorization and of the reasons for the cancellation. The organization will be allowed 10 days within which to file a written statement appealing the pending cancellation. If no appeal is filed, the postmaster will cancel the authorization If an appeal is filed, decision on the continuance of the authorization will be made by the Finance and Administration Department, Office of Mail Classification. Notice of the decision will be given the organization through the postmaster. § 134.6 Permissible additions.

The additions authorized for fourthclass mail in § 135.5 (b) are permissible

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(a) Books and catalogs mailed at bulk rates provided by § 134.1 (b) (1). Only the following specifically named items may be enclosed loose provided they relate exclusively to the book or catalog they accompany:

(1) Single reply envelope or reply post card, or both.

(2) Single order form.

(3) Printed circular. Circulars fastened securely along the entire bound edge by means of paste, stitches, or staples are not loose enclosures.

(4) If no circular is enclosed, a printed price list listing only articles featured in the catalog and showing only the same prices and discounts as the catalog.

(5) An invoice. (See § 135.5(b) (2) of this chapter.)

(6) Samples of merchandise attached to pages.

(b) All other third-class matter. The following are permissible enclosures:

(1) An invoice (see § 135.5(b) (2) of this chapter).

age is considered consent by the mailer to postal inspection of the contents.

(b) Marking. All sealed pieces mailed at the single piece third-class postage rate provided for by § 134.1(a) must be legibly marked, preferably below the postage and above the name of the addressee, with the two words "Third Class." The marking may be included as a part of a permit imprint, and it may be printed adjacent to the meter stamp by a postage meter, but it may not be printed by a meter slogan or ad plate. The marking will not be considered adequate if it is included as a part of a decorative design or advertisement. Only the markings required by § 134.4(b) (3) need be carried on sealed pieces mailed at the bulk third-class postage rates provided for by § 134.1(b).

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Enclosures and additions.

Enclosures with items mailed at catalog, special fourth-class and library rate.

Sealing.

Place of mailing.

AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 135 issued under 5 U.S.C. 301, 39 U.S.C. 501, 505. SOURCE: The provisions of this Part 135 appear at 35 F.R. 19435, Dec. 23, 1970, unless otherwise noted.

§ 135.1

Rates.

(a) Fourth-class (parcel post) zone rates (effective Nov. 14, 1970).

Zones

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