1 MTAC WORKGROUP #111 MTAC GENERAL SESSION PRESENTATION MAY 15, 2007 Presented By Cher Rupp-Ruggeri Steve Colella

2 Workgroup Issue Statement Identify gaps, define solutions, highlight benefits, and improve education and communications to promote PostalOne! usage by Mail Service Providers, such as but not limited to lettershops, presort bureaus, fulfillment companies, and consolidators.

3 Meetings  October 31, 2006 First Meeting  January 5, 2007 Telecom  January 19, 2007 Telecom  February 2, 2007 Telecom  February 20, 2007 Meeting  May 11, 2007 Telecom

4 Barriers Identified 1. Postage Statements without USPS ‘Round Stamp’ – Completed 2. Must show status (Final or Preliminary) -- Addressed 3. Encoded to prevent fraud – Completed 4. Courtesy Pallets -- Addressed 5. Spoilage -- Addressed 6. Electronic Submission Application Process – Completed

5 Postage Statements w/o Round Stamp 1. Postage Statements without USPS ‘Round Stamp This is a technology adoption/adaptation issue...similar to people transitioning to online banking. Many wanted their hard copy canceled chekcs even though they could view them online. Customers are adapting. We have a growing number of mail owners and mail preparers using electronic statements. Audit bureaus have concurred with online access to validate Postage Statement data. ** 52 Standard Mail mail preparers ** 9 First-Class Mail mail preparers ** 4 Periodicals mail preparers ** 4828 Postage Statement Wizard Customers

6 Postage Statements Must Show Status – “Preliminary” or “Final” 2.Electronic postage statements must indicate status...either Preliminary or Final We will modify the postage statement to display “Preliminary” or “Final” Status in PostalOne! Release 14.0.

7 Encoded to Prevent Fraud 3. Postage statements must be encoded to prevent fraud. Audit Bureaus are currently using postage statements from PostalOne!. Mail owners should be encouraged to gain access to PostalOne! and review their transactions at their leisure. An online view of the statement the USPS processes ensures that no information has been manipulated since receipt and processing of the statement.

8 Courtesy Pallets 4.Mail preparers want to be able to prepare and track all pallets bearing as little as 200 pieces or 50 pounds of mail. New rules that went into effect on Monday, May 14, 2007 reduce pallet minimums to 100 pounds or one tier of mail. ** USPS discussing changing pallet minimums.

9 Spoilage 5.Currently spoilage has to be accounted for down to the piece in a particular bundle. A change is proposed for PostalOne! Release 14.0 (scheduled for late 2007/early 2008) will use the Mail.dat ® Postage Adjustment Record (PAR) for spoilage count. Spoilage postage will be deducted from the lowest discounted rate. ** Still under discussion

10 Application Process 6.Application process for Web Services and Mail.dat is cumbersome. Additional training has been provided to the PostalOne! Help Desk. Additional staff is being hired. We have trained and communicated the processes to our field employees.

11 Application Process  USPS has also developed “The of Electronic Postage Documentation” for both internal and external users.  The external user version is located at:

12 What the USPS asked for from the group...  Software vendor capability matrix -- subgroup has been created to work on this with NCSC  Best Practices for letter shops – group doesn’t have enough experience yet to create Best Practices document  Software certification process – software vendor capability matrix subgroup will work with NCSC

13 Inquiry Questions Dialog Discussion Dialog Investigate Interview Questions? Ask Query Ask Inquiry Probe Inquiry Examination Interrogation Discussion Query