comply with the regulations governing the use of postage meters.

(2) The meter license holder will be notified by the postmaster that the license is to be canceled, and the reasons for cancellation. If no written statement of objections is filed by the license holder within 10 days, the postmaster will cancel the license. If a written statement is filed, the Bureau of Operations, Classification and Special Services Division, will decide whether or not the license shall be continued in effect and will notify the license holder through the postmaster.

[26 F.R. 11563, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 27 F.R. 11767, Nov. 29, 1962; 32 F.R. 2895, Feb. 15, 1967. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

(b) Setting meter. A meter licensee must bring the meter and Meter Record Book to the post office or station or branch where it was first set, for resettings and payments of postage. Postage must be paid at time of setting. Advance deposits for meter settings may not be accepted. The postmaster will issue a Meter Setting Receipt, Form 3603, for the amount of postage paid. If a meter is not reset within a 6-month period, it must be presented with Meter Record Book, showing daily register readings, at the post office, station, or branch where last set, for examination.

(c) Setting meter for use at another post office. The postmaster who serves the place where a mailer is located may, when it will be a convenience to the mailer, set a meter under the following conditions for use in paying postage on mail to be presented at another post office:

(1) The postmaster must obtain through his Regional Director, from the Regional Director in whose Region the post office of mailing is located, a written statement showing that the post office of mailing has adequate facilities for accepting the mail and that it is served by

transportation facilities which will enable the mailings to be effectively and economically handled in the postal transportation patterns.

(2) A meter license must be obtained from the post office where the mailing is to be presented. (See § 143.2 (a).) When the license is received, it must be presented to the local post office with the meter for setting. The license will be returned to the licensee.

(3) A separate meter must be used for each post office. The postmark die must show the name of the post office of mailing.

(4) Payment for each meter setting must be made by certified or bank cashier's check payable to the postmaster at the post office where mailings will be made. The check must be presented to the local post office when the meter is set.

(5) The postmaster setting the postage meter will complete Form 3618 in duplicate. The original of this form with the check and a stamped, selfaddressed envelope furnished by the mailer for return of Form 3603 will be sent in a post office penalty envelope to the postmaster where mailings are to be made. A record of each setting shall be entered on Form 3610 at the office where the mailings are made.

(6) Mail may not be consigned to the post office in bulk by freight, express, or other carrier. It must be presented at a designated receiving point in the post office by the mailer's representative. The postmaster may not act as the mailer's representative and the Department has no responsibility for the articles until they are actually accepted in the mail. See Part 152 of this chapter concerning carriage of letters outside the mail.

(7) Matter sent to other post offices for mailing must be shipped in private containers. The total weight of pieces placed in containers such as cartons, crates, etc., which are to be handled by postal employees must not exceed 80 pounds. Post offices will not furnish mail sacks for this purpose.

(8) When the use of a meter is discontinued, it must be presented to the post office where it was set, for checking out of service. Any postage adjustment will be made by the postmaster where the mailings have been made.

(d) Faulty mechanism. If the printing and recording mechanism is faulty in any way, do not use the meter but take it promptly to the post office, branch, or

station where it is regularly set, for checking out of service.

The

(e) Discontinuance. When a licensee discontinues the use of a postage meter, it must be taken with the Meter Record Book to the post office. If the licensee has not notified the manufacturer of his intention to check out the meter, the postmaster must promptly request the manufacturer to call for the meter. postmaster should also furnish the meter readings at time of check out to the manufacturer's representative to complete his record, since the descending register will have been cleared to zero or the lowest possible setting at that time. Unused postage in the meter may be transferred to another meter used by the licensee and registered at the same post office, or the postmaster may refund the amount in accordance with provisions on the license form. The Meter Record Book is returned to the licensee

and should be kept on file for at least 1 year from date of final entry. Application for refund should be made on Form 3533, Application and Voucher for Refund of Postage and Fees, or on a special form furnished by the meter manufacturer.

(f) Refunds for unused meter stamps. When complete and legible meter stamps cannot be used because of misprints, spoiled envelopes or cards, and the like the licensee may apply to the postmaster for refund of postage up to 90 percent of postage value. (See 147.2 of this chapter.)

[32 F.R. 5687, Apr. 7, 1967]

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(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, certified, insured, or COD; and when printed on separate tapes used on first-class mail. The month and year must be shown on tapes 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 firstclass, 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

meter Licen

matter simultaneously with stamps within space limitations. sees 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. 11767, Nov. 29, 1962; 28 F.R. 4754, May 11, 1963; 32 F.R. 7955, June 2, 1967. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

§ 143.5 Metered reply postage.

(a) Meter stamps may be used to prepay reply postage on letters and post cards 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:

(Meter stamp to be placed here)

(3) Reply or return mail prepaid by meter stamps will be delivered only to the printed address. If the printed address is altered, the mail will be held for postage.

[26 F.R. 11564, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 28 F.R. 5377, May 30, 1963. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

§ 143.6 Mailings.

(a) Preparation. The mailer must bundle, box, or otherwise package mailings of 5 or more letter-type pieces with the addresses facing in one direction. This prevents the pieces from becoming mixed with other mail which has to be

faced, canceled, and postmarked in the post office. Properly prepared metered mail can go direct to the distribution cases in post offices and thereby be expedited in dispatch. Metered mail not properly bundled, boxed, or otherwise packaged as required will be reported by telephone or personal visit to the mailer or his authorized agent. A record of this action will be maintained by the postmaster on Form 1835-Record of Call or Visit. If the mailer or his agent disregards such reports and irregularities are repeated, the mail will be retained by the postmaster and the mailer immediately

notified by telephone so that the mailing can be picked up for proper preparation before acceptance and dispatch. Each class and denomination should be bundled separately. Special delivery and airmail should always be bundled separately or located on the top of a bundle. (See Part 134 of this chapter for mailing of third-class bulk mail. See § 144.5 (f) (2) of this chapter regarding payment of fractional postage in cash when the meter stamp does not fully pay the minimum per piece charge.)

(b) Place of mailing. Metered mail, other than reply mail (see § 143.5), 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, if prepared as required by paragraph (a) of this section, 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.

(c) Wrong date. Metered mail bearing the wrong date of mailing will be run through a canceling machine or otherwise postmarked to show the proper date. Form 3611-Notice of Improperly Prepared Meter Mail, will be used by postmasters to call the irregularity to the attention of the mailer. If the irregularity is repeated, the postmaster will notify the head of the firm or his authorized agent. If a mailer disregards such notices, the postmaster may return the mail with instructions to enclose in new envelopes bearing the correct date in the meter stamp.

[32 F.R. 7955, June 2, 1967]

§ 143.7 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. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

§ 143.8 Manufacture and distribution of postage meters.

cern desiring authorization to manufacture and lease postage meters for use by mailers under § 143.1 (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 application 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 § 143.1(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 manu

facturer, 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 manufacturers. A preliminary working model