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Postal News Reported During August 2002

August 31, 2002 -- The Japan Times has reported that "a key government panel on Friday formalized an interim report on ways to privatize four road-related public corporations, proposing to freeze a number of pending highway projects and minimize the financial burden on taxpayers. But tough political battles lie ahead as the Diet, where a majority of lawmakers want to maintain the current road construction plan, has the final say over whether the laws will be revised or enacted. The final report will merely serve as the basis for bills to be drawn up during fiscal 2003 that would enable the proposed special firms to be set up by fiscal 2005."

August 31, 2002 -- The Jamaica Observer has reported that "the Postal Corporation of Jamaica is examining the implementation of a franchise programme to increase efficiency and extend its customer reach within the next six months. The idea is to get businesses in communities to offer postal services, including mailbox rentals, Internet kiosks, money transfer, fax and photocopying services."

August 30, 2002 -- According to the Warsaw Business Journal (Poland), "the council of Poczta Polska (PP) has accepted the new strategy proposed by the management. “The council has accepted it and ordered that work start on various projects,” said the source. It seems that this strategy includes PP's commercialization as well as its transformation into a capital group and subsidiaries focusing on four basic activities: postal, logistics, financial, and e-commerce."

August 30, 2002 -- Traffic World has reported that "the International Air Transport Association quietly passed a resolution last month that would change the way cargo is weighed, measured and priced, and it's drawing fire from shippers and forwarders."

August 30, 2002 -- The latest issue of the PostCom Bulletin is available on this site. If you're not getting the PostCom Bulletin on a regulat basis, why not ask how you can have the Bulletin delivered to you every week. You should know what you've been missing.

August 30, 2002 -- In a recent editorial, USA Today said: "Last fall, a jittery nation was shocked anew when a tabloid employee in Florida was diagnosed with anthrax. The tragic episode spurred the U.S. Postal Service into promising a series of steps that would protect the public mail system from future biological attacks. Nearly a year later, the Postal Service says the mail is now safe. Yet that assurance doesn't measure up to the facts. The USPS has failed to fulfill its promise to install equipment that would either detect or destroy lethal agents on all 650 million pieces of mail that pass through the system every day."

At the same time, the U.S. Postal Service has countered this claim by telling the USA Today editors that: "It is not accurate to suggest that the mail is no safer today than before last fall's terrorist attacks. We acted immediately to protect the public and our employees. Unfortunately, there was no readily available technology to detect a bioterror attack in a mail-processing environment. Since the attacks, we have combined several existing technologies into a very reliable and effective detection system. We are on track with the development, production and installation of biodetection equipment and air-filtration systems to protect our employees and our customers. This year we expect to spend some $600 million on decontamination, irradiation, protection and health-risk-reduction strategies. During the next two years, we will spend nearly $1.7 billion more to expand detection and prevention capabilities."

August 30, 2002 -- Bloomberg News has reported that "China Merchants DiChain Group, China's third-biggest tracker of taxis and other vehicles by satellite, is in talks with United Parcel Service Inc. and other companies to sell up to a 10 percent stake as it seeks to quadruple the number of cities it serves."

August 30, 2002 -- Forbes has noted that "for some companies, recession spending is a matter of sticking with plans made in fatter times. United Parcel Service cut its capital budget from $2.4 billion in 2001 to $2 billion this year, but the delivery giant has protected crucial areas such as information technology and acquisitions. In this year and again next, UPS will spend $1 billion on technology; soon, the company will be able to label packages with codes that tell handlers what trucks to load the packages on and where on the trucks the packages should be placed."

August 30, 2002 -- As Bloomberg News has noted, "United Parcel Service Inc. truck drivers approved a labor contract that raises pay 22 percent over six years and creates 20,000 union jobs. 'This is the richest contract in UPS history -- and the workers agree,' Teamsters General President James Hoffa said in a statement. 'This contract will provide economic security for these workers and their families for years to come.'" Imagine what it will do to parcel delivery rates.

August 30, 2002 -- According to SkyNews, "Consignia is still missing targets for the delivery of the UK's mail - and admits it could do a lot better." See also the Telegraph.

August 30, 2002 -- Reuters has reported that "Britain's postal regulator said on Thursday it would allow the mail unit of Business Post Group Plc , UK Mail Ltd, to provide full delivery services to existing customers in the event of postal strikes. The alteration to UK Mail's current licence means that the firm will be able to continue serving its customers in the event of industrial action."

August 30, 2002 -- According to DM News postal commentator Cary Baer, the Bush "Administration is addressing reform."

August 30, 2002 -- The International Group in the NY Metro Area is organizing an "International Day" to be held at the DMA (Direct Marketing Association) headquarters in mid-town Manhattan on Wednesday, October 30, 2002. The purpose of the day (tentatively titled "Global Marketing Summit") will be held from approximately 8 am to 3 pm and will include a continental breakfast and lunch for the anticipated 75 senior executives from within the metropolitan area. The day's mission is to inform and educate these key individuals on the current environment within the International marketplace.

August 30, 2002 -- Eyefortransport.com has reported that "Towne Air Freight has launched an Electronic Delivery of Documents (EDD) to their customers 24 hours a day – 7 days a week. Imaged delivery receipts and/or supporting documents are sent, at the top of each hour, via one of three methods of delivery: 1) FTP connection, 2) email or 3) fax."

August 29, 2002 -- CRM Daily claims that "shipping charges that defy market realities are just not what shoppers should be demanding from an online retail experience. Fair prices, yes. Transparent pricing, certainly. But unsustainable prices? No, if only because sooner or later they will have to rise, and along the way, some once viable online concerns –- more than likely competing concerns -– will have fallen by the wayside."

August 29, 2002 -- SiliconValley.Com has noted that "it's cheap to use and eliminates the hassle of mailing checks, but online bill payment is still struggling for acceptance. Banks are daunted by the setup costs and the challenge of convincing consumers of the value of such systems. ``The spread'' of online bill paying 'has been very slow, falling far short of initial projections,' despite the initial wave of optimism and the clear cost savings and convenience it offers, says a new study from the Federal Reserve Bank Of New York."

August 29, 2002 -- According to the National Center for Policy Analysis, "a recent "Transformation Plan" from the United States Postal Service (USPS) focuses on freeing it from constraints -- to set its own postal rates, for instance, and expand into new product lines in competition with private business -- while retaining its privileged position as a government agency. However, economists suggest that short of privatizing the service (an option it rejects), better cost management, rather than expansion, is the best route to alleviate its financial woes. Some of those management changes would require congressional approval."

August 29, 2002 -- The Independent  (U.K.) has reported that "Deutsche Post has become the first of the big foreign postal operators to attempt to show the loss-making Royal Mail that it can deliver the post more efficiently. The German company yesterday was awarded an interim licence from the regulator Postcomm, pitting against the likes of Hays and Express Dairies' milk floats in the battle to provide an alternative to Royal Mail. The temporary licence, which will last for one year, will allow Deutsche Post to deliver bulk mail sent out by businesses in batches of 4,000 or more items at a time. Initially, it limits the Germany company to handling 40 million letters a year – half the amount carried each day by the Royal Mail, or Consignia as it will still be known until the end of the year." See also Newsday.

August 29, 2002 -- Bloomberg has reported that "Deutsche Post AG, the German postal service that controls DHL International Ltd., may expand in Asia with acquisitions worth at least 100 million euros ($98 million)."

August 29, 2002 -- COMTEX has reported that "the Mexican Postal Service (Sepomex) is working on the design and creation of an address database that will be used to create the domestic Postal Directory. The project is 70% complete and it is expected to be officially released during the next few months."

August 29, 2002 -- The Asahi Shimbun has reported that:

August 29, 2002 -- According to Japan Times, "Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's private advisory panel on postal services agreed Tuesday to propose three options for privatizing the services in its final report to be compiled in early September. The plans were drafted by panel chief Naoki Tanaka, who is an economic commentator."

August 29, 2002 -- See the PostInsight home page at http://www.postinsight.pb.com/ for copies of the presentations by Börge Österholm, Executive Vice President, Sweden Post, Stockholm; Dirk Palder, Vice President, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, Köln, Germany; a collection of speeches and presentations from the UPU Postal Regulation and Universal Service Workshop, July 24-26, 2002, Nairobi, Kenya, and presentations from the World Mail & Express, Foro Postal Madrid, Spring National Postal Forum, IEA European Postal, UPU GATS Seminar, UK Mail Summit, Mail Express Americas, Oracle Postal Forum, PostEurop Plenary, and Post-Expo conferences can be accessed via the Home Page. Click on the "Presentations" button on the left menu bar and select the name of the conference.

August 29, 2002 -- Insiderstreet.com, Inc. (soon to be renamed Neosphere Systems Development and Research), the Northern Virginia-based e-business services and biometrics security company, has announced the September 16 unveiling of DigiPostal(TM), the multilingual software system for confidential Internet document processing/delivery and immediate on-line signature verification and authentication, as an online demo on its Web site ( www.neosphere.com).

August 29, 2002 -- As the Federal Times has noted, "Steve LeNoir, postmaster in Horatio, S.C., was elected president of the National League of Postmasters at their national convention in Norfolk, Va. LeNoir, who was executive vice president, replaces Joseph Cinadr, who served as president for four years. The league presidency is limited to two two-year terms. The league represents about 27,000 members."

August 29, 2002 -- Now you can lookup addresses, ZIP Codes, cities and area ... www.melissadata.com.

August 28, 2002 -- CargoWeb News has reported that "Deutsche Post World Net will in future take over the domestic and international dispatch of light material and urgent documents for the German Federal Armed Forces. This was confirmed by the Forces and Deutsche Post in a recently signed global agreement. Following the end of the tending process Deutsche Post was awarded the contract ahead of its competitors. By outsourcing light shipments throughout the world, the Forces expect to achieve considerable savings potential."

August 28, 2002 -- CEP News (Courier- Express- and Postal-Market News) has reported that: 

Check out the latest issue of CEP News for the details on this and other news items affecting the courier, express, and postal market around the world. PostCom is most grateful for CEP's willingness to share this information.

August 28, 2002 -- The Daily Yomiuri (Japan) has reported that "Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's private advisory panel tasked with examining ways to reform the three postal services has compiled a memorandum on central issues to be incorporated in its final report. The memorandum contains three proposals on the future shape of the postal corporation, including full privatization of the three postal services. The privatization of postal services, which Koizumi stresses is integral to his much-touted structural reforms, finally has started moving forward. However, the so-called postal tribe, a group of lawmakers lobbying on behalf of those working in the postal services, is expected to fight the privatization plan tooth and nail. Rough going can be expected until the privatization is realized."

August 28, 2002 -- Good heavens! Brown boats? The Journal of Commerce has reported that "United Parcel Service said it has launched a new ocean service for shippers that manufacture goods in China and Brazil and import them into the United States. UPS said the service, UPS Trade Direct Ocean, can cut transit time by as much as 20 days by bypassing multiple distribution centers and using UPS distribution centers overseas and in the U.S."

August 28, 2002 -- Here's an interesting side note, Truckline Express has reported that "the national average price for a gallon of diesel fuel shot up 3.7 cents last week to $1.37, a move reminiscent of last year. Seasonal factors typical of the fourth quarter will likely increase prices."

August 28, 2002 -- Quad/Graphics has introduced QuadColor (www.quadcolor.com), an online resource for consistent, high-quality RGB to CMYK conversions and alterations of digital images. This online service, designed for publishers, catalogers, ad agencies, image stock houses, photo studios and businesses of any size, offers one-day-or-less turnaround, radically reducing the workflow process of converting digital images to a print-ready format.

August 27, 2002 -- According to postal commentator Gene Del Polito writing for Direct magazine, "if experience has taught us anything, it has been that there is no Lone Ranger on the horizon with some magical silver bullet that will put to rest the postal challenges that threaten us."

August 27, 2002 -- The Anchorage Daily News has reported that "an air cargo company based in Anchorage is suing the federal government over new mail-hauling rules in Alaska, saying they are unconstitutional and unfairly limit competition. Alaska Central Express Inc. says the government, the U.S. Postal Service and four larger airlines have conspired to drive the company out of business, costing about 100 jobs."

August 27, 2002 -- Siemens Dematic Postal Automation L.P., a provider of mail sorting and recognition technology, has announced that Mail Sort and Delivery Point Services, two of its longtime mail presort subsidiaries, have changed their names to Siemens Dematic Mail Services. Siemens Dematic Mail Services is the third largest automated mail presort service provider in the United States.

August 27, 2002 --Pilot Air Freight now offers four different levels of service for Pilot Home Delivery(TM), its nationwide home delivery business. Pilot Home Delivery provides timely delivery direct to the consumer's home, through its 65 U.S. locations and nationwide transportation network, for retailers and manufacturers who frequently ship large consumer items--such as electronics, home furnishings and exercise equipment to their customers. 

August 27, 2002 -- European sources have reported that "the Polish post office (Poczta Polska) has been ordered by the anti-monopoly watchdog to pay a ZL50,000 fine in relation to excessive additional charges paid for particular elements of its corporate parcel services. The ruling relates to PP's practice of allowing companies to send parcels and letters on "credit" instead of with actual stamps - settling accounts usually on a monthly basis. By charging up to 20 percent of the original price for each package/letter, PP, says the antimonopoly office, was abusing its dominant position on the Polish market"

August 27, 2002 -- According to DM News, "though the pundits have yet to say how good (or bad) the holiday season will be, list brokers have already indicated that the number of orders is consistent with 2001 but that order sizes are smaller. Panelists gave DM News a preview of what’s on their minds. Meanwhile, the U.S. Postal Service is preparing for its usual bump in business, but officials aren’t cheery these days."

August 27, 2002 -- FirstGov has reported that "the nation's Chief Postal Inspector joined forces today with actress Betty White to warn senior citizens, their families, and their caregivers that older Americans are increasingly becoming the targets of con artists. "Fraud complaints are on the rise, and more people aged 60 and over are becoming victims," said Chief Postal Inspector Lee Heath. Postmaster General John E. Potter, Federal Trade Commission Chairman Timothy J. Muris, and representatives of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police joined the Postal Inspection Service at a national news conference in Washington, DC, today to kick off National Fraud Against Senior Citizens Awareness Week."

August 27, 2002 -- The Edge Daily (Malaysia) has reported that "Business mail is good business for Pos Malaysia & Services Holdings Bhd.
Analysts have come to the same conclusion. An analyst with a large foreign research outfit likens the stage which Pos Malaysia is at currently to the United States Postal Service (USPS) in the 1980s."

August 27, 2002 -- Comtex has reported that "the United States Postal Service (USPS) has awarded a contract to Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) to conduct independent verification and validation (IV&V) of major automated postal equipment. SAIC and its partner, AC Technologies, Inc. of Fairfax, Va., will focus on upgrading retail and delivery equipment for weighing, rating, and tracking the mail in both staffed and self-service environments."

August 26, 2002 -- The Financial Times has reported that "government criticism of the electricity market is the clearest sign yet of a growing rift between ministers and the regulators asked to promote competition. Bodies such as Ofgem, the energy watchdog, were set up to liberalise markets in the interests of consumers. But these narrowly-defined powers are under attack from politicians worried about other issues. From electricity, to railways and the post office, the independent regulators are proving a little too independent."

August 26, 2002 -- According to Dow Jones, "Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Monday he has picked Masaharu Ikuta, chairman of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., as the first head of a new public corporation to be established next April to run the nation's postal services, Kyodo News reported."

August 26, 2002 -- According to Nihon Keizai Shimbun, "there are advantages and disadvantages to both maintaining and abolishing the postal savings and insurance services after privatizing the postal services."

August 25, 2002 -- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reported that "a handful of pack-and-ship stores around the country could play a major role in determining United Parcel Service's unfolding retail strategy. Ever since UPS bought Mail Boxes Etc. and its 4,000 franchises in April 2001, UPS executives have studied ways ways to increase UPS small-package shipments and services among Mail Boxes customers. Now, UPS, with headquarters in Sandy Springs, is beginning a series of tests exploring three options: renaming outlets "UPS Stores," co-branding UPS and Mail Boxes, or leaving the stores unchanged. One common element in each experimental store, however, will be dramatically lower prices."

August 25, 2002 -- And this from the World Socialist web site concerning "correspondence on the privatisation of Britain’s postal service."

August 25, 2002 -- According to the Federal Times, "the backgrounds of two recent additions to the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors suggest the Bush administration is looking to subject the agency’s business operations to closer scrutiny."

August 25, 2002 -- According to The Hindu (India), "the Centre would soon amend postal rules and introduce guidelines for thousands of courier companies which are affecting the postal services in the country, Deputy Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Sanjay Paswan said. The proposed amendment of postal rules would seek to stop the existing practice of carrying and delivering letters by the courier companies in the name of documents."

August 24, 2002 -- Introducing Postgates - "the future of mail forwarding to anywhere in Russia or the world…Air mail can take weeks and express mail services are extremely expensive, your letter can be delivered within a matter of days using Postgates. Corresponding has never been easier, faster, or more cost-effective."

August 24, 2002 -- The U.S. Postal Service has published in the Federal Register a "proposal that would amend some of the standards and identification procedures for Standard Mail and Periodicals letter-size and flat-size mail using the simplified address format as provided in Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) A040.4.0. This proposal would improve the processing and distribution of such mail and would also clarify and expand the standards for identifying this mail that does not bear a specific delivery address. Comments must be received on or before September 23, 2002."

August 24, 2002 -- According to the Jacksonville Daily News, "the Jacksonville post office is trimming 15 positions in a nationwide cutback by the U.S. Postal Service. Bill Brown, spokesman for Postal Service’s Eastern District, said the employees are part of a union and wouldn’t lose their jobs, but would be reassigned to other duties. Some, he said, would retire and not be replaced. The reason for the cutback is simple, Brown said. 'Mail volume is down about 10 percent nationwide,' he said. 'We are reassigning and reworking mail flow and mail volume to accommodate what our needs are.'"

August 24, 2002 -- The New York Daily News has reported that "snail mail doesn't begin to describe how bad postal service is in at least one Bronx zip code, people there charge. This snail is not just slow - it's out of shape, disoriented and sometimes cranky. In response to a barrage of similar complaints about late mail, no mail and rude postal employees, Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Bronx, Queens) has called for an investigation of mail service in the 10461 zip code Pat McGovern, a spokeswoman for the New York district of the Postal Service, said the study is underway."

August 24, 2002 -- The Polish News Bulletin has reported that "TPSA (a division of the Polish post office) has announced a one-month delay in the winding up of its post office-administrated telegraph service, which will now cease operation at the end of September. Plans are afoot to provide a similar service using emails between post offices."

August 24, 2002 -- According to Expansion (Spain), "to the list of prestigious clients that have signed up for the so-called hybrid mail service offered by the Spanish post office, Correos y Telegrafos, have been added leading Spanish bank BBVA and power group Union Fenosa. The service, operated by the company's subsidiary of the same name, Correo Hibrido, integrates a conventional postal service with an electronic mail system."

August 24, 2002 -- The Chinese news agency, Xinhua, has reported that "the China Post said Friday it will use in some postal bureaus the "Postagebyphone.com system" provided by Pitney Bowes Inc. a US mailing equipment provider. The system can enable postal offices to manage postage through telephone or the Internet and largely increases the efficiency of postal work, said a China Post manager."

August 24, 2002 -- And now for the latest in the continuing saga of Amtrak, the federal corporation whose fiscal problems most closely resemble those of the U.S. Postal Service....The New York Times has reported that "Amtrak's problem-plagued summer has reignited debate over the railroad, leading critics of the rail system to say it will enhance their efforts to hold down spending on Amtrak unless significant changes are made in how it operates. But Congressional allies of Amtrak say the railroad's troubles underscore the integral role it plays in travel, particularly in the Northeast, and could create a political opening for them to win new money and for Congress to move aggressively to improve Amtrak."

August 23, 2002 -- Traffic World has reported that:

August 23, 2002 -- According to Ananova, the U.K. postal system is being affected by worker walk-outs.

August 23, 2002 -- The UK Government has approved in principle a request from the Irish Government to make it easier for Irish citizens living in the UK to get access to passport facilities. Irish citizens will be able to get application forms for Irish passports from participating Post Office branches in major towns and cities in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. They will also be able to send their applications back to the issuing offices in Dublin or London via these post office branches.

August 23, 2002 -- American Career Services, Inc. (ACS), a Mobile, Alabama-based corporation, and Douglas Holcomb, its president, have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they made false and deceptive claims in connection with the Internet marketing and sale of postal employment materials.

August 23, 2002 -- According to Experian, credit card issuers, major banks, retailers, and other credit grantors can improve the profitability of the pre-approved credit offers extended to prospects via email by implementing a convenient new, one-stop solution from Experian. Email Prescreen(SM) significantly reduces the cost and time required generating new accounts while simultaneously increasing response rates -- all without incurring any incremental increases in underwriting risk. With Email Prescreen, contact costs, including production of a mailer and postage, as well as the time involved in the process are reduced to a fraction of that incurred when offers of credit are extended via regular mail. Automatic tracking of responses allows up-to-the-minute availability of activity reports via a password-protected, remote access Web response portal, with the majority of responses coming within 48 to 72 hours post-launch. Additionally, there are no mail-file-to-response-file match back problems typically associated with a U.S. Postal Service mail campaign.

August 22, 2002 -- GovExec.Com has reported that "left for dead in the House, legislation to reform the Postal Service will soon resurface in the Senate. Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., said Wednesday he plans to introduce postal reform legislation early next year. Speaking at the National Association of Letter Carriers annual conference in Philadelphia, Carper said he hopes to build a strong bipartisan coalition and move quickly on a bill."

August 22, 2002 -- Dow Jones has reported that "a test was successful in cleaning up anthrax at the city's main sorting plant, closed since the fall because of contamination from letters sent to two senators, the Postal Service said Thursday. 'This proves that the procedure we designed for decontaminating the building works,' said Thomas Day, the agency's vice president for engineering." See also the Washington Post.

August 22, 2002 -- According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, "Frederick W. Smith, the chairman, president and chief executive of Memphis-based FedEx Corp., did not receive a raise in his base salary, despite what seems like one in the company's fiscal 2002 proxy statement. For the fiscal year ended May 31, Smith earned a base salary of $1.150 million, compared to with $1.143 million the year before, according to the proxy. FedEx spokesman Shirlee Clark said the difference reflects when Smith's fiscal 2001 raise went into effect. The fiscal 2002 figure reflects the full year of that pay increase, she said. Smith's annual bonus, however, increased to $1.317 million from $940,827 in the prior year." In other Fedex news, "the overnight air express delivery carrier has reinstated the program for domestic employees traveling on company business within the United States. It's expected to save FedEx millions of dollars by eliminating the purchase of commercial airline tickets. However, no decision has been made on whether to again allow jumpseating for personal travel,"

August 22, 2002 -- According to the Irish Times, the result of all the disagreement between the Irish postal service, An Post, and its sub-post office managers means "a reduction in the level of service for the citizen is being planned."

August 22, 2002 -- According to ClickZ, "most people understand that advertising is necessary to support the sites they like to visit. The issue is not pop-ups. It's getting them under control."

August 22, 2002 -- DM News has reported that "the U.S. Postal Service will close its San Francisco Mail Recovery Center on Sept. 13, shifting the work to remaining centers in Atlanta and St. Paul, MN." If you've been following the news here, you should, by now, have noticed a pattern evidencing a real effort by the Postal Service to consolidate operations in various areas around the country, all done nice and quietly without fanfare. It's "the Potter style."

August 22, 2002 -- Primezone Media has reported that Swedish postal service, Posten, has reported that: (1) operating earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2002 were Skr 570 m (-253). The earnings improvement is attributable to the reversal of provisions previously made for future losses in the cashier network of Skr 916 m; (2) the rollout of the new service network is proceeding according to plan. 55 of Posten's 91 local areas have implemented the new service network; (3) the Swedish Parliament has increased subsidies for cashier service to Skr 400 m. The EU Commission found the government subsidies in compliance with EU regulations, facilitating the reversal of Skr 916 m in provisions; (4) and the alliance with La Poste/DPD is proceeding according to plan. La Poste has become a 50% partner in Posten's Polish subsidiary, Masterlink, which, in turn, has acquired the franchise rights to DPD (Direct Parcel Distribution) in Poland for the coming 15 years. Posten has also acquired the franchise rights to DPD in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for the coming five years.

August 22, 2002 -- According to Dow Jones, "three more postal facilities in New Jersey are testing for anthrax, just days after officials said they had no plans to conduct tests at the sites. Samples were to be collected at post offices in Hamilton, West Windsor and South River on Wednesday to see if anthrax found in a Princeton mailbox last week was spread through the mail stream. Similar testing was done during the weekend in Eatontown and Edison."

August 22, 2002 -- The Anchorage Daily News has reported that "Alaska Central Express Inc., which has been in a long dispute over whether it can carry some mail on its cargo planes, said it has issued more than 40 layoff notices to workers after the Postal Service this week told the airline it no longer will be allowed to carry bypass mail. Bypass mail typically involves bulky packages that bypass post offices when mailed and it is a common way to mail goods to the Bush (the Alaskan version of 'outback.')"

August 21, 2002 -- The Washington Times has reported that "Direct mailers — including catalog retailers — have been reassessing the way they do business as the weak economy and increased postal rates continue to take a bite out of their mailing budgets."

August 21, 2002 -- According to AFX Europe, "TPG NV has said that it will reduce the statutory monopoly on letters from 100 grams to 50 grams in 2004, or two years ahead of the 2006 date as fixed by the European Union, one of the proposals for the opening up of the Dutch postal market. TPG added that as soon as Germany and the UK open up their markets, probably in 2007, the Netherlands will fully open its market. This will ensure the Netherlands 'leading position' in the opening up of European mail markets, 'without losing sight of the rest of Europe,' the company said. TPG said that competitors should develop services on their own, putting up their own public post boxes, and using TPG post offices as service outlets 'on commercial terms and conditions.'" See also the report by Dow Jones.

August 21, 2002 -- Japan Today has reported that Japanese "Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has agreed to appoint someone from the private sector to head a new public corporation to be established next April to run the nation's postal services, posts and telecommunications."

August 21, 2002 -- According to NACHA-The Electronic Payments Association, "the number of checks processed by the Federal Reserve System decreased in 2001 for the second consecutive year, according to the Federal Reserve System's annual report to Congress.  The report is additional evidence that check use in the United States is now declining.  The Federal Reserve's August 14, 2002 revision to its recent retail payments system research concluded that check use peaked sometime in the mid-1990s and has since been declining."

August 21, 2002 -- As Eyefortransport.com has noted, "UPS acquired MBE in April 2001 with the goal of making the UPS portfolio of services more readily available to small businesses and consumers at a competitive price through retail channels. Since that time, UPS has significantly enhanced the technology infrastructure that supports all MBE centers and began testing new retail pricing at MBE locations in San Antonio and Phoenix last fall. Next month, UPS and MBE will expand the market research to four additional markets, including Harrisburg, Pa.; Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C.; St. Louis, and Seattle. Participating MBE locations will continue to offer multiple shipping services from a variety of carriers, but will provide the option of lower prices for UPS services. The centers also will be branded to reflect their franchisor's position as a UPS subsidiary."

August 21, 2002 -- By simply sharing their business success stories, when entering the Postal Service's "Real People. Real Success" contest, small business owners across the country will get the chance to have their business featured in more than 20,000 post offices nationwide. Also, they have the opportunity for additional prizes including exceptional business computer equipment packages from IBM and gift cards worth up to $10,000 provided by OPEN: The Small Business Network from American Express.

August 21, 2002 -- The BBC Monitoring Service has reported that "the first postal parcels from Croatia entered Yugoslavia on Tuesday [20 August] directly via the border crossing of Batrovci near Sid, the Serbian Post stated. As of today, ordinary and certified letters will be exchanged directly between the two countries and no longer via Austria and Slovenia. The establishment of direct postal service between the two countries has opened the road route for the exchange of postal parcels between Slovenia and Yugoslavia."

August 21, 2002 -- The New York Times has noted that "as much as e-tailers crow about how great their medium is for selling things, the companies lack the one thing many shoppers require: a human touch. While traditional retailers can reach out to confused or interested customers, Web merchants can only watch as visitors become bogged down on merchandise pages or in the checkout process before clicking away. Advertisement E-commerce companies are now starting to reverse that pattern, by monitoring their customers' surfing patterns, and engaging them in an online chat when the time is right. Many sites have for years offered online chat for customers who click on the customer service or help button, but this trend, while in its infancy, promises to turn chat into something that adds revenue, instead of costs, to the company."

August 20, 2002 -- According to the New York Times, "just a month ago, the newspaper industry was somewhat optimistic about the near future after a mildly encouraging ad-page performance in the second quarter. But now it is having second thoughts. The first wave of July results from the newspaper chains shows that national and help-wanted advertising is still sluggish, ensuring that the industry's 18-month decline is not over."

August 20, 2002 -- The St. Louis Business Journal has reported that "the Korte Co. has received a $28 million contract to design and renovate the U.S. Postal Services' processing and distribution center in Teterboro, N.J. Construction of the 332,000 square-foot facility will begin this month and is expected to be complete by next August."

August 20, 2002 -- Asia Pulse has reported that "China's postal trade chalked up 24.7 billion yuan (US$3 billion) in business income in the first six months of 2002, 8.5 per cent more than the same period last year, said the State Bureau of Postal Service. The figure accounts for 48.5 per cent of the annual income target set by the Bureau earlier this year."

August 20, 2002 -- The Evening Standard (U.K.) has reported that "hundreds of postal workers are voting on whether to take industrial action in a dispute over pay. The Communication Workers Union says it expects the workers in east London to support action, which could start in the middle of next month. The union says many workers will lose special inner London payments when they move to a new mail centre later this year. But postal group Consignia insists no one will lose out financially."

August 20, 2002 -- Ananova (U.K.) has reported that "postal deliveries in the Irish Republic are being delayed for the second day in succession. The delays are due to industrial action by members of the Irish Postmasters' Union. Almost 600 postmasters and postmistresses are refusing to sort mail."

August 20, 2002 -- Business Plus (U.K.) has reported that "the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (ISME) has expressed concern at the dispute between the Irish Postmaster's Union and An Post, which has resulted in delays in postal services to many small rural businesses The organisation has also called for an extension of special delivery services to small businesses."

August 20, 2002 -- All Africa Global Media has reported that "the Mozambican post office has increased its international mail charges by between 5.3 and 6.4 per cent."

August 20, 2002 -- The IDEAlliance has created the standard for electronically communicating mail information in the form of Mail.dat. This standard is the bridge to many exciting new frontiers in mail preparation, acceptance, dynamic drop shipping, and postage payment. But with over 300 fields across 19 record types, it can be difficult to truly understand what this file specification is all about. You are invited to join Dan Minnick, Experian's vice president of postal and industry services, for a free Web Event on Monday, August 26 at 2:00 p.m. Central Time. You'll learn what Mail.dat is, the information it provides, and how to use it as a bridge to new opportunities. Check the FirstLogic web site  for more details or to register.

August 20, 2002 -- USA Today has reported that "In the rush to toughen airport security after terrorists turned commercial airplanes into weapons, the nation's air cargo operations have been slighted, a pilots' union chief says. Robert Miller, president of the Independent Pilots Association, which represents UPS pilots, complains that stricter federal safety standards are being applied disproportionately to the passenger airline industry.

August 20, 2002 -- Transend Worldwide Ltd, New Zealand Post's international subsidiary, has announced a number of senior appointments as part of its company restructure. 

August 20, 2002 -- According to Dow Jones, "FedEx Corp. , which saw its net income rise during its most recent fiscal year despite a slump in air deliveries, increased the salaries and bonuses of four of its top five executives, with Frederick W. Smith, the company's chairman and chief executive, receiving an 18% jump. Mr. Smith's salary rose to $1.15 million in the fiscal year ended May 31 from $1.14 million a year earlier." Jack Potter, however, the chief executive officer of the U.S. Postal Service (the source of some of Fedex's largesse), is entitled to earn not a penny more than the $167,000 that's allotted to him under current federal law.

August 20, 2002 -- The Associated Press has reported that National Association of Letter Carriers President Vincent Sombrotto has announced his retirement at the union's annual national convention.

August 20, 2002 -- The Washington Post has reported that "the economy as a whole may be on uncertain footing, but online sales of consumer goods totaled $6 billion last month, up 26 percent from the same month last year, according to Reston-based ComScore Networks Inc., an Internet research firm."

August 20, 2002 -- The BBC has reported that "a scheme for milkmen and women to deliver mail in Liverpool is "worrying and unnecessary", a union has warned."

August 20, 2002 -- According to PrimeZone Media, "many of Sweden's local governments have given the thumbs-up to Posten's electronic infrastructure -- ePostboxen. Residents will now have the choice of receiving bills and bulk mailings from municipalities either electronically or by regular postal mail."

August 20, 2002 -- The Cape Times (S.A.) has reported that "toilet paper rationing in the workplace is the latest curious directive from the Australian postal service. Union leader Jim Metcher said a New South Wales manager on a cost-cutting drive shot off a "one sheet is enough" directive to sorting office staff. Metcher said the penny-pinching effort was 'absolutely potty.'The embarrassing disclosure comes just weeks after the state-owned company was obliged by an industrial tribunal to take back a 177kg employee it had told to stay home because he was too fat to work."

August 20, 2002 -- The Scotsman (U.K.) has reported that "Express Dairies said that it hoped to increase doorstep milk deliveries on the back of its new postal service. The UK’s second largest supplier of milk and cream has won its first contract to deliver mail from businesses to homes, under the terms of a recently awarded licence from postal regulator Postcomm."

August 20, 2002 -- El Pais (Spain) has reported that "Correos y Telegrafos, the Spanish post office, plans to merge its urgent parcels subsidiary Chronoexpres with Servipack, recently acquired by Spanish bank Santander Central Hispano. The post office, plans to conclude the operation before the end of the year and create Spain's third largest express parcels company."

August 20, 2002 -- The Anchorage Daily News has reported that "in a nationwide cost-cutting effort, the U.S. Postal Service is cutting back on hours post offices will be open, including those in Alaska."

August 20, 2002 -- TransportNews.com has reported that "UPS has announced the appointment of Stuart Mathis as the next president of its Mail Boxes Etc. (MBE) subsidiary. Mathis replaces Jim Amos, who retires on Sept. 30. Mathis's promotion comes as UPS prepares to launch an extensive marketing test of how lower retail prices and different branding can expand the use of MBE centers by small businesses and consumers. UPS acquired MBE last year."

August 19, 2002 -- According to the Postal Service's communications chief, sponsoring Armstrong's bicycle team is a good bargain. The USPS does it, he said, because "the Postal Service needs to advertise its products just as our competitors do. We don't have a monopoly on the delivery of messages and parcels. Since we are not taxpayer supported, we have to generate new revenues as any enterprise does -- by advertising. No one in the business would deny that we have received exceptional bang-for-the-buck by sponsoring one of the world's most recognized athletes."

August 18, 2002 -- The Irish Times has reported that "delays in postal deliveries to rural areas are expected on Monday when sub-post office owners begin industrial action. Members of the Irish Postmasters' Union (IPU) say they will not accept mail deliveries from central locations until 8 a.m. in pursuit of their claim for a pay increase. They will also not be opening their premises until 8 a.m., about two hours later than normal." See also The Scotsman.

August 18, 2002 -- The Independent (U.K.) has reported that the "union representing Consignia staff is to ballot members on plans to stage the first national postal strike for 30 years, over a dispute surrounding the £1bn part-privatisation of the company's facilities department. The Communications Workers Union (CWU) has set 27 August as the date for the vote that could result in 180,000 postal staff staging a series of one-day walkouts."

August 17, 2002 -- The St. Petersburg (FL) Times has reported that "days after a U.S. Postal Service decision to eliminate bulk mailing from the Dade City office, postal officials say they'll offer a compromise to local business and government leaders."

August 17, 2002 -- The Irish Times has reported that "talks aimed at averting industrial action by Irish rural postal workers next Monday broke down last night with no plans for further negotiations. If the action goes ahead postal deliveries could be delayed from next week."

August 17, 2002 -- Reuters has reported that "Two U.S. Postal Service facilities in New Jersey will undergo testing for the presence of anthrax on Sunday following this week's discovery of the bacteria on a mailbox in Princeton. The testing, described by the Postal Service as purely precautionary, will be conducted at two regional distribution centers.

August 16, 2002 -- DM News has reported that:

August 16, 2002 -- Beginning today, ACT! users can create and send any document as a mailed personal letter or postcard from within ACT! just as easily as they now send e-mail. Developed through a strategic partnership between ACT! and PostNexus, this time- and cost-saving new feature, called pMail for ACT!, enables users to electronically send single mailed documents, as well as execute mail-merged, personalized direct mail campaigns. The pMail for ACT! plug-in can be downloaded for free from www.actaddons.com or from www.postnexus.com/act.

August 16, 2002 -- The Polish News Bulletin has reported that the "Servisco parcel service has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Post (DP), which has bought the remaining 40 percent stake in the leading company on the Polish market."

August 16, 2002 -- The BBC has reported that "Fear of technology and tradition are preventing Britain's MPs from using e-mail to keep in touch with constituents. A survey has found that only 10% of politicians conduct a quarter or more of their correspondence via e-mail. The vast majority still prefer to use post and many respond to electronic messages with a written letter.

August 15, 2002 -- AllAfricaNews has reported that "the Liberian Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications has announced the resumption of mail delivery into the country. The resumption follows negotiation with international airlines, mainly the Ghana Airways. For more than a month now, mails have not been coming and leaving the country, owing to a ban placed on the deliveries of international mails to and from Liberia by international airlines, mainly the Dutch Airlines, KLM and Ghana Airways, in demand of arrears owed them by the Liberian government."

August 15, 2002 -- Roll Call has reported that "Capitol officials are attributing a decline in the number of staffers complaining of mail-related illnesses primarily to lower levels of irradiation applied to mail during treatment."

August 15, 2002 -- The Asia Intelligence Wire has reported that "the board of the Congolese Post, Telecommunications and Giro Banking Authority (ONPT-CNE) has announced the dissolution of the outfit following an extraordinary meeting held in Brazzaville last Friday. According State radio, the decision was taken pending the creation of the Congolese Telecommunications Company (SOTELCO) and the Congolese Post Office and Savings Fund (SOPECO) as separate entities."

August 15, 2002 -- The Tampa Tribune has reported that "People who use the Dade City post office to send out bulk mailings - everything from advertising fliers to bills to government or church mailings - soon will have to send their mail from Zephyrhills. Starting Sept. 5, all of Dade City's bulk mailings will be handled through the Zephyrhills post office, as the Dade City post office no longer will accept bulk mail. 'The U.S. Postal Service is doing these kinds of things all across the country to cut costs,' he said Tuesday. 'We're doing what corporations are doing all across the country. Post offices are trying to centralize as a cost-saving measure.'"

August 15, 2002 -- As one writer for the New Haven Register has asked: "Why listen to me when it comes to how poorly the Postal Service operates or why it wastes millions of dollars sponsoring bicycle teams or lavishing benefits on management? Why not listen to the people who work for the Postal Service?"

August 15, 2002 -- Traffic World has reported that "despite lower expectations, e-commerce will hit $3.9 trillion in 2004, says AMR Research."

August 14, 2002 -- Dow Jones has reported that:

August 14, 2002 -- The Japan Times has reported that "the[Japanese]  Postal Services Agency is poised to strengthen its ties with warehousing companies in a bid to revamp its money-losing parcel delivery operations. By offering a comprehensive distribution service ranging from storage and inventory management to delivery, the agency hopes to cut costs and increase the efficiency of its parcel delivery business."

August 14, 2002 -- The Asia Intelligence Wire has reported that "DHL Japan Ltd., under the wing of Deutsche Post AG, plans to change the name of its international mail service to"Deutsche Post Global Mail"from"World Mail"possibly in October. The moves seem to be an attempt to increase the brand recognition of Deutsche Post in Japan ahead of the country's planned end to restrictions on private firms offering postal services in April 2003."

August 14, 2002 -- The Federal Times has reported that "a presidential commission may be the last opportunity the U.S. Postal Service has to win significant reforms needed to respond to rising costs and increased competition that have left it in financial disarray."

August 14, 2002 -- As the Minneapolis Star-Tribune has noted, "the Republicans who booked Vice President Dick Cheney for a fundraiser Monday at the Minneapolis Hilton probably didn't mean to wave a red flag in front of the American Postal Workers Union. But they did. "Hey hey, ho ho, Bush and Cheney got to go," hundreds of postal workers from around the nation chanted as they spent their lunch hour in a virtual conga line around the block across the street from the Hilton. "Cheney King of Corporate Greed," "GOP = Gas and Oil Party," and "No More Enrons," their hastily scrawled protest signs read. The postal workers are in town all week, almost 4,000 strong, for their union's national convention. " Hey, with postal reform finding its way to the administration's agenda..."good move, APWU."

August 13, 2002 -- ePaynews.com has reported that "Deutsche Bank is to facilitate international money transfers for China Post, the state postal bureau of the PRC, from Q3, 2002, when China Post will use the Eurogiro network to link to SWIFT's global network. Under the deal, Deutsche Bank, the only global bank in the Eurogiro network, will process China Post's outgoing and incoming dollar and euro payments, while acting as a conduit to SWIFT for postal agencies. China Post uses Western Union for point-to-point cash remittance services, but plans to use Deutsche's service to extend its network while achieving greater efficiencies and faster payment cycles."

August 13, 2002 -- Aftenposten (Norway) has reported that Norway's postal service, facing deregulation and new competition, is holding talks with several of the largest postal services in Europe. The aim is to build a new alliance. Postal systems all over Europe are scrambling to find ways of meeting new competition brought on by deregulation and the entry of new private players. It won't be long before other agencies can issue postal stamps, set postal rates or provide other services that long have been the sole domain of government postal services."

August 13, 2002 -- GovExec.com has reported that the Postal Service was praised for safety measures after anthrax attacks by the Trenton (NJ) president of the American Postal Workers Union.

August 13, 2002 -- The Associated Press has reported that "Joe O'Gorman, chairman, president and chief executive of DHL Airways died of a heart attack on Aug. 10. He was 59.   O'Gorman was recruited in March 2001 to lead the newly-restructured DHL Airways after it was separated from DHL Worldwide Express, the new U.S. freight-forwarding arm of the Brussels-based express operator. During his brief tenure he established a headquarters in Chicago and recruited a new management team for the airline which operates a network of all-cargo aircraft for DHL Worldwide Express as well as other cargo customers. Prior to joining DHL, O'Gorman held senior management positions at several airlines. During his thirty-five year career, he served as the senior operations executive at both United Airlines and US Airways, and was chairman and chief executive for Air Cal, Frontier Airlines, Aloha Airlines and Reno Air." See also the Journal of Commerce.

August 13, 2002 -- The Independent (U.K.) has reported that "Consignia is facing the threat of financial penalties running into millions of pounds after breaching its licence and admitting that Royal Mail is losing half a million letters a week. The postal regulator Postcomm criticised Consignia yesterday and disclosed that it could have fined the company £8m for failing to achieve its performance targets last year. But the regulator decided that this would be counter-productive in view of the £1.5m Consignia is losing each day. Instead, Postcomm now intends to introduce a scheme whereby Consignia will pay compensation to customers rather than fines to the Government for failing to meet its targets. The details of the scheme will be announced in the next month alongside proposed price controls on Consignia." See also the Daily Telegraph and the Financial Times.

August 12, 2002 -- The Evening Standard (U.K.) has reported that "The chaotic state of London's postal service is exposed today in a survey that shows more than one in five first-class letters arrive late. The Royal Mail has fallen more than 10 per cent below its own targets for delivery of first-class post. Its performance makes a mockery of the postal service's recent demand to charge small businesses and households £14 a week if they wish to receive their post before 9am. The survey shows those who pay the premium to receive urgent post first thing in the morning will not receive 20 per cent of their mail for a further 24 hours."

August 12, 2002 -- Canada's National Post has reported that "the governments of the United States and Mexico have lined up behind Canada in an attempt to throw out a $230-million suit brought by United Parcel Service over what it says are unfair business practices by Canada Post Corp. The three governments argue in filings before a NAFTA tribunal that UPS's claim does not come under the scope of the trade agreement's controversial Chapter 11, which allows firms to sue any of the three countries if they feel they have been hurt by government actions."

August 12, 2002 -- DM News has reported that "the Cosmetique Beauty Club is making its first major foray online with an e-commerce promotion driven by an advertisement and designated Web address printed on the back of ATM receipts dispensed by select bank machines nationwide. This marks the first of many promotions planned under a yearlong $2 million spend on e-commerce and online marketing. It is also an obvious effort to switch to a quicker, more cost-effective medium than direct mail."

August 11, 2002 -- AFX Asia has reported that "Deutsche Post AG plans to start an international mail service in Japan this autumn ahead of the privatization of the country's postal operations. Deutsche Post will begin handling direct mail, such as pamphlets and catalogues from Japanese companies mainly in the cities of Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. It will use the parcel-collection network of affiliate DHL International Ltd for the service." See also the report by Dow Jones and Forbes.

August 10, 2002 -- The Washington Post has reported that "Justice Department officials have decided to scale back the controversial Operation TIPS program before it even begins, saying yesterday that they no longer plan to ask thousands of mail carriers, utility workers and others with access to private homes to report suspected terrorist activity."

Get this and all the rest of e-Postal News from around the world by subscribing to e-Postal News. e-Postal News is published weekly by G2 Computer Intelligence Inc.; 323 Glen Cove Avenue; Sea Cliff, NY 11579, USA; Tel.: 516 759-7025 Fax: 516 759-7028. www.g2news.com Annual Subscription: $595

August 10, 2002 -- Cambridge News (U.K.) has reported that "Post Office owner Consignia has been instructed to fork out around £1,000 in compensation to unhappy customers in Cambridge. Postal service watchdog Postwatch, which was created in April last year, has instructed the firm to pay out the money following the publication of its first annual report. The majority of complaints, which were received between April last year and May this year, were concerned with lost post and delayed mail." See also The Scotsman.

August 10, 2002 -- Expansion (Spain) has reported that "Correos, the Spanish post office, has created a network of call shops for immigrants. A company spokesperson says that the group's main activity will continue to be to provide a postal service, but it also aims to diversify into areas such as banking services, courier services and call shops."

August 10, 2002 -- The Pakistan Frontier Post has reported that "the Pakistani government has decided to introduce internet money order service through Pakistan Post Office to check, encounter Hundi (Hawala) facilitating overseas Pakistanis by swift transaction of their valued earnings to the families in Pakistan. Pakistan Post Office, Western Union, which has already been undertaking postal services in 150 countries of the world, since long, has entered into an agreement to start joint venture. Internet money order service would be introduced in major cities and main post offices of the country."

August 9, 2002 -- Asia Pulse has reported that "the long-awaited split of the post and telecommunication services will be carried out in 61 provinces and cities nationwide on Aug. 15, according to the Postal Information Centre. This is the first step in preparation for the establishment of the post corporation and the telecommunications corporation, and the forming of a State conglomerate of post companies and telecommunications companies. The postal sector, with a staff accounting for 49 per cent of the country's post and telecommunications service, has revenues representing only 5-7 per cent of the service's turnover. Consequently, the telecommunications sector has to compensate for the losses in the postal sector, and the international services follow suit for the domestic services. In this situation, both the postal and the telecommunications sectors cannot expand and improve their services."

August 9, 2002 -- Other postal news from around the world:

August 9, 2002 -- The Washington Post has reported that "Congress is becoming more adept at stemming the tide of e-mail bound for Capitol Hill, using technology to filter junk messages and facilitate alternative online communications with constituents. Many congressional offices have turned off their direct e-mail addresses and are encouraging visitors to send messages through special forms on their official Web sites. By verifying a visitor's ZIP code and other identifying data, the Web forms can screen all e-mail from non-constituents. "

August 9, 2002 -- Reuters has reported that "governments worried about being sidelined as globalisation accelerates will have less room to manoeuvre if European regulators carry out a threat to take away one of their key weapons to block cross-border corporate takeovers. States have abandoned ownership of airline, telecom, energy and water companies to investors to raise cash, boost efficiency and cut the public payroll, but have shielded many prized assets with so-called “golden shares” — essentially trump cards with special voting rights to fend off hostile bidders." That includes the "golden shares" held with many "deregulated" European posts.

August 9, 2002 -- Ananova (U.K.) has reported that "Consignia says it's too early to dismiss charging for early postal deliveries - despite only one person signing up for the service." See also the report by the BBC.

August 9, 2002 -- Africa Global Media has reported that "the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has concluded arrangements with two private firms to establish cybercafes in all the major post offices in the country."

August 8, 2002 -- The Washington Post has reported that:

August 8, 2002 -- According to the Federal Times, "though the U.S. Postal Service said it would consider participating in the Justice Department’s Operation TIPS counterterrorism program, it appears unlikely that the nation’s 800,000 postal workers will ever take part."

August 8, 2002 -- The Financial Times has reported that:

August 8, 2002 -- The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has reported that "Australia Post has been accused of discriminating against left-handed postal workers."

August 8, 2002 -- News.com has reported that "Lands' End is sizing up its customers' desire for online custom-fitting. The apparel retailer recently launched a project that allows consumers to order via the Internet pants made to their measurements. And the company is giving the online tailoring effort a big push through its offline properties. The August edition of the company's catalog devotes the front and back covers to the online feature, which also gets a multipage inside spread." Man, wait'll broadband is more widely deployed....Whoosh! For a number of catalogs, it'll be "goodbye mail."

August 8, 2002 -- Handelsblatt has reported that "German postal services and logistics giant Deutsche Post AG is continuing its rapid expansion in Europe. A spokeswoman confirmed that the company expects to be granted a license before the end of this month, allowing it to enter the letter-delivery market in Britain."

August 8, 2002 -- And more on the Postal Service's sponsorship of a bicycle team from the Times Record News (Wichita Falls, TX).

Auugust 8, 2002 -- The Guardian (U.K.) has reported that "China had an express postal delivery service more than 2,000 years ago, archaeologists in Beijing now believe." Betcha they had penalties for late delivery.

August 8, 2002 -- According to Computing (U.K.), "Consignia, formerly known as the Post Office, has deployed a content management system from Documentum to deliver content to a fully transactional web site covering products and services from the Royal Mail, Parcelforce and the Post Office. Consignia is replacing basic web publishing applications that have been supporting its web sites."

August 8, 2002 -- Transport News has reported that "thirty-one FedEx Freight truck drivers from 21 states have earned the honor of competing at the American Trucking Associations' (ATA) 2002 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) in Milwaukee on Aug. 13-17. Collectively, the FedEx Freight team of professionals has 378 years of accident-free driving. FedEx Freight is the market leader in regional LTL (less-than-truckload) freight services and a subsidiary of FedEx Corp."

August 8, 2002 -- The Journal of Commerce has reported that "DHL Worldwide Express is in talks with the Hong Kong Airport Authority to open an express terminal at Chek Lap Kok airport, the world's largest international air freight hub. The move would enable DHL and Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. to proceed with their agreement for Cathay's all-freight unit, AHK Air Hong Kong Ltd., to operate cargo flights within Asia on behalf of the courier. DHL Worldwide, an arm of San Francisco-based DHL Corp., was the only air-freight company to submit a tender for the terminal franchise."

August 8, 2002 -- According to Eyefortransport.com, "Fortigo Inc., logistics cost management (LCM) software experts will be the first third-party vendor to be certified to provide brand-new web-based shipping and tracking for Airborne Express."

August 8, 2002 -- The Malta Independent has reported that "Maltapost’s plans for the future were discussed in meetings between the company’s new chief executive, Robert Lake, and representatives of the two main unions."

August 8, 2002 -- According to the Texarkana Gazette, "neither snow, nor rain, nor 100-degree heat can keep these couriers from the completion of their appointed rounds. But if the U.S. Postal Service is understaffed, delays in deliveries are inevitable."

August 8, 2002 -- The Southlake Times writer has claimed that "a couple of occurrences in the world of sports during the past week or two have me wondering about the financial responsibility of a couple of entities that are pleading poverty.

August 8, 2002 -- The St. Louis Business Journal has reported that "Build-A-Bear Workshop and the U.S. Postal Service will introduce the new teddy bear stamps to St. Louis on Aug. 16. The stamps commemorate the 100th anniversary of the teddy bear. In addition, Build-A-Bear Workshop will provide commemorative stationery and the new teddy bear stamps to children who want to write and mail letters to their friends to celebrate National Friendship Week."

August 8, 2002 -- The Associated Press has reported that "the Federal Communications Commission has issued a record fine of nearly $5.4 million against a company for sending unsolicited faxes to businesses and consumers. The fine against Aliso Viejo, Calif.-based Fax.com is the largest ever by the commission for violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. The law protects against unsolicited faxes, telemarketing calls and prerecorded messages, among other things."

August 7, 2002 -- According to postal commentator Gene Del Polito, "they've got to be celebrating at Fedex headquarters in Memphis these days. Heaven knows they've got good reasons for doing so. In fact, the boys in purple may have figured out the riddle of having  your cake and eating it too. At least in this regard, Big Purple has trumped Big Brown."

August 7, 2002 -- CEP News (Courier- Express- and Postal-Market News) has reported that: 

Check out the latest issue of CEP News for the details on this and other news items affecting the courier, express, and postal market around the world. PostCom is most grateful for CEP's willingness to share this information.

August 7, 2002 -- The President of the United States has signed the recess appointment of Al Casey to be a Member of the U. S. Postal Service Board of Governors. President Bush announced the intention to nominate Mr. Casey on March 1, 2002, and his nomination was sent to the Senate on March 4, 2002. Also appointed was Tony Hammond to be a Member of the Postal Rate Commission. President Bush announced the intention to nominate Mr. Hammond on November 30, 2001, and his nomination was sent to the Senate on April 11, 2002.

August 7, 2002 -- According to one PostalMag.com commentator, "The Postal Service is fighting a battle it cannot win. An army of letter carriers, clad in polyester, trudge door to door each day delivering the nation's mail. Their speed? About 2.5 miles per hour! Meanwhile, inside the homes and businesses of America, E-mail and other electronic communications zip along the nation's information superhighway literally at the speed of light - 186,282 miles per second. It gives a whole new meaning to the term ZIP."

August 7, 2002 -- Bloomberg News has reported that "the money-losing U.S. Postal Service has shed enough jobs in the past 10 months to avoid borrowing as much money from the federal treasury as projected to pay for pensions and health care. Mail volume declines that began with the recession in 2001 continue to worry postal officials. For the first three quarters of its fiscal year beginning in October, standard advertising mail volume fell 6 percent and first- class mail volume declined 1.7 percent, the agency said. That came as the number of U.S. households rose about 1 percent in the year ended July 1, according to U.S. Census Bureau projections."

August 7, 2002 -- As GovExec.Com has noted, "the Postal Service Board of Governors Tuesday added its voice to a growing chorus of agency watchers and lawmakers calling for a presidential commission to oversee reform at the Postal Service. 'The governors support all efforts for appropriate reform, including a commission of distinguished citizens to review all aspects of the postal system and recommend changes that ensure affordable, universal service is maintained into the future,' said Postal Service Board of Governors Chairman Robert Rider at the group’s monthly meeting in Washington, D.C. It’s the first time the board of governors has publicly endorsed the idea of a commission." See Chairman Rider's complete statement on the USPS web site.

August 7, 2002 -- During its monthly Board of Governors meeting the Postal Service announced key elements of strategies in its Transformation Plan to secure mail service to every American at affordable rates well into the future. These initiatives include the availability of market-based pricing for its letter- and flat-mail tracking service, and an alliance with a private sector firm to develop and manage the electronic postmark.

August 7, 2002 -- Postal Rate Commissioner Ruth Goldway has been nominated for another six-year term as a member of the Postal Rate Commission. If confirmed, her term would run November 22, 2008.

August 7, 2002 -- The Asahi Shimbun (Japan) has reported that "a key report on the privatization of the state-run postal services seems set to disappoint Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Koizumi, a big proponent of privatization, had hoped for strong backing from the report, which is due out as early as the end of this month. Instead, Naoki Tanaka, who chairs the advisory panel looking into the issue, said the report will only set a range of options for privatizing mail delivery and postal savings and life insurance services. 'Our role is to offer a vision for privatization, and at the same time present the pros and cons (of each proposal),' Tanaka told a news conference that followed the panel's meeting on Monday. The panel is understood to be deeply divided over how to privatize the services after a new postal public corporation goes into operation next April." Consider this Japan's version of a postal transformation plan.

August 7, 2002 -- According to the Associated Press, "a special fund-raising postage stamp for breast cancer research has brought in $27.2 million, and a second special stamp to raise money for the families of Sept. 11 victims is also selling well. The stamps, called a semipostals, sell for more than the normal cost of a first-class stamp, with the extra money used for designated charities."

August 7, 2002 -- Dow Jones has reported that "New Zealand Post, a state-owned postal operator, has announced the appointment of Lesley Pope as chief executive of its e-mail marketing company, MessageMedia NZ Ltd."

August 7, 2002 -- According to Hoovers Online, a "United Parcel Service of America subsidiary has entered the loan market."

August 7, 2002 -- The Oneida Dispatch has reported that "the residence of Debra Fulmer and her son was the target of police action Friday afternoon. According to Mark Nemier, resident agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Agency in Syracuse, the Fulmers were taken into custody largely based on evidence collected by the United States Postal Service. The Fulmers had received a mailed package of approximately 50 pounds of marijuana from a residence in California." Hmmm. That stuff'll get you high. Must've gone by air."

August 6, 2002 -- According to the Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation (IRET), the main problem facing the U.S. Postal Service is that it's paying its workers too much. "A cautious estimate," it said, "based on the many economic studies reviewed here is that the 'postal wage premium' is at least 20%, and more likely is 30% or more. When fringe benefits are added to cash wages, the 'postal pay premium' may be in excess of 40%."

August 6, 2002 -- DM News postal commentator Cary Baer said that "when it comes to postal issues, I’ve never been a fan of United Parcel Service. During rate case proceedings it does all it can to increase postage rates for parcels. This raises product shipment rates for some of its best customers. It’s certainly true that UPS was a strong lobbying force against the postal reform legislation recently defeated in the House Government Reform Committee. But the reason the bill failed to get out of committee, in my opinion, was a lack of mailing industry support, and justifiably so. It would have done little to solve the serious problems facing the U.S. Postal Service."

August 6, 2002 -- CNET has reported that "the Canadian Booksellers Association, along with Indigo Books & Music, has filed an application for judicial review with the Canadian Federal Court, asking the court to declare that Amazon is subject to the Investment Canada Act and the government’s book policy. The company has been working with Canadian companies to get around rules that prohibit foreign companies from establishing a physical presence in Canada on their own and that require them to operate businesses jointly with Canadian companies. Amazon has partnered with a division of Canada Post, the Canadian equivalent to the U.S. Postal Service, to handle much of the distribution for the new site."

August 6, 2002 -- The Dallas Morning News has reported that "Experian, a global information solutions company, has launched ePIN+(SM), a sophisticated Web-enabled data analysis solution that helps collections organizations reduce expenses and improve operations by tracking the location of payments and statements in the postal system."

August 6, 2002 -- AuthentiDate, a subsidiary of AuthentiDate Holding Corp., and a provider of Trusted Content Authentication services, has signed a strategic alliance agreement with the United States Postal Service to be the provider of the USPS Electronic Postmark(R) (EPM) service.

August 6, 2002 -- The U.S. Postal Service took exception with an earlier piece that ran in the Wash ington Post concerning its EVA program. The USPS said that Postal Watch executive director "Rick Merritt resorted to verbal sleight of hand and Enron-style deceptions in characterizing the U.S. Postal Service's pay-for-performance program [letters, July 31]. The economic value-added formulas were not based on net income -- the Postal Service is not allowed to make a profit, so pay can't be tied to income. While an adjustment was made, the Postal Service also changed the formula to ensure that any income spike after a rate increase would not artificially boost the pay program."

August 6, 2002 -- According to The Guardian (U.K.), "TPG, the Dutch postal group, yesterday underlined the danger it poses to Consignia by unveiling strong second-quarter profits and promising to launch a full offensive on the UK market from next April. The company, which scrapped merger talks with Consignia this year, said it had no interest in reviving those contacts and was fully focused on head-to-head competition when liberalisation allowed it."

August 6, 2002 -- The Asahi Shimbun (Japan) has reported that "a potentially profitable regulatory change has landed on the doorstep of parcel delivery companies. And Yamato Transport Co. is wasting no time in getting the wrapping off its new business plans. The nation's largest private parcel delivery service and some of its rivals plan to expand their home delivery of unsolicited direct mail, magazines and catalogs. These moves are a response to the government's recent decision to relax regulations governing the sort of mail the private sector is permitted to handle.

August 6, 2002 -- The Yomiuri Shimbun (Japan) has reported that "Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's private advisory panel on the privatization of the postal services has released a memorandum suggesting three possible forms of the envisioned postal public corporation. Meeting at the Cabinet Office, panel chief Naoki Tanaka, an economic commentator, proposed the following three forms for the privatized corporation: (1) a special company in which the government holds a substantial shareholding; (2) a private company that will receive favorable tax treatment from the government; (3) a fully privatized company. In the memo, Tanaka said he hoped to spark debate among the public about the privatization by presenting various proposals concerning the nature of the new corporation."

August 6, 2002 -- According to the Financial Times, Dutch postal group "TPG's diversification out of its core postal business is producing patchy results. Logistics disappointed but express parcels had a strong first half. The challenge for a former postal monopoly attempting to build a more diversified business is to use sensibly the money the mail man brings. The second quarter saw two acquisitions and four joint ventures. But one of each was in the postal field, demonstrating that TPG still sees opportunities there." See also the report by Lloyd's List.

August 5, 2002 -- A large majority of Americans favor continuing federal subsidies to Amtrak, and a substantial percentage would increase federal funding so the ailing passenger railroad can increase service, according to a Wash ington Post poll. And how would the public feel about subsidizing the Postal Service?

August 5, 2002 -- According to a report by Dow Jones, "with discussions about the privatization of the three postal operations deadlocked because of stiff opposition from lawmakers, the advisory panel spearheading the debate is unlikely to come up with a final report backing a single privatization plan. The panel resumed discussions Monday with the aim of presenting a final recommendation as early as this month. But it already sees a rough road ahead as lawmakers with vested interests in the postal operations have shown no signs of giving in."

August 5, 2002 -- You might want to take a look at the New York Times piece on "downloading magazine replicas." We've used the version by Zinio. It worked like a charm....and no postage too.

August 5, 2002 -- And these various pieces from the Asia Intelligence Wire:

August 5, 2002 -- As Business Week has noted, "in many European countries, going to the post office can be a multitask errand. Mail your letters and do your banking, all in one quick stop. That's because in Germany, France, Britain, and the Netherlands, among other countries, the postal service doubles as a private bank. And it's no small-time operation: France's La Poste counts some 28 million customers, making it the country's second-biggest bank behind another government-run bank, Caisse d'Epargne."

August 5, 2002 -- As DM News has noted, "an uncertain economy and the recent postal rate increase are key factors in what is expected to be a slow fall mailing season."

August 5, 2002 -- Oh dear....The Economist has reported that the American economy may take another dip into recession before any recovery gets off the ground.

August 5, 2002 -- Air Cargo World has reported that "Citibank, which is working on a large-scale electronic payment system for air freight shipping out of the United States, made a major inroad in the industry by signing Cargolux to use its business-to-business "e-billing" software. The Luxembourg-based freighter operator says it will use the Citibank system in its relations with forwarder Danzas, linking a global carrier and global forwarder in an electronic application that includes bill presentmen