May 15, 2014 Time-Delayed and Date-Certain Delivery Mail Michael Ravnitzky

Caveat The views expressed are solely those of the author. They do not represent the opinions of the Postal Regulatory Commission or any of the Commissioners. 2

Delivery of messages or objects at a future time specified by the sender 3

4 Time-Delayed Mail would leverage the ubiquity, skills and resources of the USPS, a trusted national institution

Is there a need? Is there demand? 5

Previous methods  Wills  Sealed Envelopes  Headstones  Family Bibles  Safety Deposit Boxes  Vaults or Safes 6

Other methods  A trusted family friend  Attorney or established law firm  Recorded audiotapes/videotapes  Publication in a book or article  Internet websites  Computer files 7

Not the best solutions  Unreliable  Costly  Burdensome 8

E-Media allow delayed delivery  Most software TimeCave.com LetterMeLater.com Alabi.com FutureMe.org Nudg .com 9

Time-Delayed Mail 10 Provides a way to send Letters, photos and tangible objects Items of personal, sentimental or intrinsic value

11 Could be regarded as a form of high-value forward logistics for individuals and others Shifts the burden of storage and logistics to the postal provider

Types of Time-Delayed Mail  Short-term delayed communications mail  Less than 3 months  Long-term delayed communications mail  More than 3 months  Contingency mail  “If…”, “When…”, “Unless…”, “Which…”  Date-certain advertising mail 12

Components of Time-Delayed Mail  Mail Acceptance  Specification of Delay and Contingency Disposition  Optional Digital Redundancy Element  Time-Based Addressing  Onset Address Verification  Sorting  Storage, Transportation and Retrieval  Post-Retrieval Processing  Reliable Delivery 13

Use of postal infrastructure - 1  National postal network  Keeper of the nation’s address system  Addressing conventions  National Change of Address (NCOA)  Postal redirection database and software (PARS)  Other address update systems (CARS, COARS, PAD)  UAA reduction experience 14

Use of postal infrastructure - 2  Intelligent Mail barcodes and ZIP Codes  Automated sorting and mail handling systems  Procedures for handling accountable mail  Forever postage products  200 federal laws protecting integrity of the mail  The Postal Inspection Service 15

But it could require other elements  Handling and Intake Procedures  Employee Training and Labor resources  Secure storage  New addressing aspects  Envelope markings / visibility  Enhanced postal redirection procedures  Contingency handling  Cost analysis  Pricing structure 16

Risks  Uncorrectable delivery address  Loss or damage  Retrieval failure or delivery failure  Service discontinuance  Lack of institutional continuity  Possible peak congestion problems 17

Date-Certain Advertising Delivery  Importance of delivery timing  Catalogs, sale flyers/inserts, direct marketing  Election Materials  “In home dates”  Read rates, Open rates, Response rates  Fulfillment resources / inventory  Help desk, phone center planning  Mailbox clutter 18

Other Potential Applications  Images extracted from social media  Combining into one transaction multiple mail pieces to be sent at different times  Flexible offsite storage options with automated return  Interactive videogaming, MMORPG, RPG, participative fiction  Birthday cards 19

Conclusions  A new category of postal products would transmit messages and objects through time as well as between locations  Taps the strengths of the existing postal network and would provides a useful service  Would not require technical breakthroughs  Robust address correction minimizes risk  Potential value for advertising communications 20

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May 15, 2014 Time-Delayed and Date-Certain Delivery Mail Michael Ravnitzky