MTAC Workgroup 129 Eliminating Obstacles to Mail Growth August 13, 2009

Issue Statement Facilitate mail volume growth by identifying regulations or requirements that add no postal and/or customer value, hence hindering mail growth, and proposing modifications or elimination of those barriers as practical.

Desired Results 1.Allow for greater flexibility in such things as mailpiece shape, graphics, postage payment and permit formats. 2.Allow marketers more creative options for producing direct mail pieces that stand out in the mailbox, increase response rates and can be processed efficiently. 3.Reduce the barriers to entry and costs of preparing mailings by simplifying or eliminating obsolete or restrictive make up and entry rules that add no postal or customer value. 4.Consider new rate categories for mailers who may value creative flexibility and ease of preparation over the lowest postage prices. 5.Remove barriers that may discourage the use of mail as an advertising channel for new business.

Progress  Workgroup formed March 24, 2009  72 workgroup members  Bi-weekly conference calls  2 Face-to-face meetings  Target completion November 30, 2009  91 ideas/issues generated  32 ideas/issues clarified and ranked “HIGH IMPACT” through consensus

Progress  Potential recommendations:  Discount/rebate when providing courtesy reply  Over ounce weight allotment for enclosing remittance envelope  DMM attachment standards - Dry-release cards  Secured destruction/recycling process for FCM  High Impact issues grouped into “related areas” for further review of feasibility, such as: -DMM organization/suggestions -Return address/Mailpiece Identification -Mailpiece design and layout -operational issues -Courtesy reply standards  18 member Permit Task Group formed

Next Steps  Complete review of feasibility of ideas/issues  Incorporate task group findings  Finalize list of recommendations  Submit to MTAC Leadership Team

Workgroup Leaders Gregory A. Hall Manager, USPS Pricing and Classification Service Center United States Postal Service 90 Church Street, Suite 3100 New York, NY / Wanda Senne National Director Postal Development World Marketing, Inc S Cobb Ind. Blvd., Smyrna, Georgia

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