Postal News Reported During September 2002

September 30, 2002 -- The Journal of Commerce has reported that "Danzas Group on Friday said it was developing a new global approach to airfreight. The airforwarder said it had invited about 30 airlines to London Thursday to outline its new collaborative approach for intercontinental airfreight operations. Danzas, the world's largest airforwarder, said it plans to develop a short list of carriers that will receive the bulk of its business. Selected partner carriers will benefit from better planning and enjoy substantial volume growth."

September 30, 2002 -- The Denver Post has reported that "There will be no layoffs when the Postal Service begins to consolidate some of its more than 300 mail-processing plants next year, Postmaster General John E. 'Jack' Potter has said in what could be a major concession to postal unions. As part of a transformation plan announced this year, the agency pledged to reduce the number of mail plants, centers where workers cancel letters and distribute mail to post offices. Potter offered the no-layoffs assurance Friday to members of the Senate Subcommittee on International Security, Proliferation and Federal Services, as its lawmakers probed for details of how the much-anticipated consolidations will affect mail service."

September 30, 2002 -- Business and Finance (Ireland) has reported that "State postal group An Post today announced that chief executive John Hynes is to retire at the end of his current contract in July 2003. Hynes, who has been with An Post since 1990, is one of the longest serving heads of a commercial state enterprise. In a statement today, Hynes said he informed An Post chairman Stephen O'Connor of his decision now so that an orderly process could be initiated to ensure a smooth transition."

September 30, 2002 -- U.TV (U.K.) has reported that "Postal group Consignia today signed a contract with a private firm which it said would save œ150 million over the next seven years."

September 30, 2002 -- In a letter to Postmaster General Jack Potter, U.S. Comptroller General David Walker wrote:

As you know, in 1992 GAO issued a report that, among other things, considered the United States Postal Service's (USPS) accounting for postretirement health benefit costs.1 That report concluded that USPS's use of the pay-as-you-go basis of accounting for the postretirement health benefit costs of employers that participate in multiemployer plans was in accordance with existing private sector generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, GAO recommended disclosure of the full amount of the accrued benefits earned by USPS employees and retirees in notes to its financial statements to provide more complete information for making informed judgments about USPS in dealing with oversight matters, assessing rate change requests, and evaluating USPS's overall financial position and performance. While USPS's current disclosures may meet the minimum requirements under GAAP, the enhanced disclosures GAO recommended, which are not precluded under GAAP, would, in our view, provide additional transparency in USPS's financial statements. USPS disagreed with this recommendation and therefore has not implemented it.

September 30, 2002 -- FedEx Corporation has announced a $1.8 billion, six-year expansion plan for its operating company, FedEx Ground, which will nearly double its daily package volume capacity from 2.5 million to 4.8 million by the end of fiscal year 2009. The multi-phase plan includes the addition of 10 new and 23 expanded central distribution hubs, as well as the expansion or relocation of more than 300 existing facilities.

September 30, 2002 -- The Federal Times has reported that "The Transportation Security Administration is close to approving a plan that would allow the U.S. Postal Service to resume using commercial airplanes for transporting all its cargo, officials said. But the Postal Service appears to be in no rush to return its mail to passenger flights. A Postal Service spokesman said the agency is saving money and getting better service by using FedEx Corp. to ship mail barred from commercial planes after Sept. 11, 2001."

September 30, 2002 -- Have you ever heard of Green Mail before? An interesting concept with lots of postal consequences if it ever catches on.

September 30, 2002 -- USPS News Online has reported that "the Postal Service and the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) have formed a joint task force on transformation."

September 30, 2002 -- According to DM News:

• All is not as rosy at the U.S. Postal Service as it sounds. First, the good news: The USPS will hold off its next rate increase until well into 2004. The bad? Though postal managers have reined in costs, they have two big obstacles. One is the erosion of First-Class mail, the USPS' most profitable mail category. Thanks to e-mail -- especially e-payments -- First-Class volume is declining. The other is the cost behind the postal service's retirement benefit program, which will increase from $8 billion last year to $16 billion by 2010, according to the General Accounting Office.
• International mail services company Deutsche Post Global Mail is to unveil its new online services today that will let customers order shipping materials, schedule pickups and view their order history in a secure, Web-based environment at any time and from any location.

September 29, 2002 -- Bloomberg News has reported that "United Parcel Service Inc. Chief Executive Officer Michael L. Eskew said the world's largest package-delivery company is winning back customers who shifted orders to rivals earlier this year.

September 29, 2002 -- The New York Observer has reported that "City and state officials are close to resolving a year-long dispute that had stalled plans for a new Penn Station in the grand Beaux-Arts post-office building on 33rd Street and Eighth Avenue, according to a source close to the discussions. The resolution of the dispute means that Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan is on the verge of realizing a long-cherished dream the construction of a huge new transit hub in the James A. Farley Post Office building that will connect an array of subway and commuter lines. In the last year, Mr. Moynihan's hopes were being held up by a bureaucratic dispute. The Penn Station Redevelopment Corporation, or PSRC, was fighting with the U.S. Postal Service, which currently owns the building, over the latter's desire to use a large portion of the new structure. But now, according to a source close to the Postal Service, the agency has dramatically scaled back its demand for space in the new structure. The source said that the agency was almost certain to vote to turn over the building to the new agency in one of its next two monthly board meetings."

September 29, 2002 -- According to CQ Monitor, "For Constance A. Morella, R-Md., the gavel of Government Reform Committee would seem to be a prize plum - with its authority over federal employees and offices that are vital to her suburban constituents. But Morella, who would be most senior Republican on the panel next year, says she s not in the running - for now - to replace Dan Burton, R-Ind., either as chairman, if the GOP holds onto its House majority, or as ranking member if the Democrats take over. Burton faces a term limit for his chairmanship at the end of the year. For now, the race to succeed Burton features three candidates: Thomas M. Davis III, Va., chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee; Christopher Cox, Calif., chairman of the Republican Policy Committee; and Christopher Shays, Conn. Some lawmakers believe Cox has the inside track because of his close ties GOP leaders. Davis also is expected to make a strong case for the job in order to better serve his constituents in the Virginia suburbs. If Republicans hold on to their majority, Davis supporters question how he could be denied the gavel."

September 29, 2002 -- The BBC Monitoring Service has reported that "the Polish Post plans to turn into a [State] Treasury-owned holding, the post's director general, Leszek Kwiatek, announced. Kwiatek, in Szczecin for the Polish Post's 9th Congress, said that after the change the post will control a number of companies, which will allow it to strive for new markets. 'We want to commercialize the post but keep it as the property of the Treasury. We are deeply convinced the post should remain a major institution in Poland, with an infrastructure that could be used for various purposes by government and public institutions', Kwiatek told PAP asked about the Polish Post's possible privatization.

September 29, 2002 -- The Associated Press has reported that "the Postal Service is continuing its program of cost-cutting and is searching for new products to offer, Postmaster General John Potter said Friday. Potter said his agency is considering consolidating some of the approximately 300 mail processing centers across the country because improved efficiency and lower mail volume means some are underused."

September 29, 2002 -- According to the Omaha World-Herald, "as postal authorities work to strengthen security of the mail, they face a daunting realization: The process will take years, it will cost at least $1 billion dollars, and until it is finished the nation is probably even more vulnerable than it was last fall, when anthrax-tainted letters killed five people, sickened at least 18 more and caused widespread disruption and fear. Engineers are rushing to devise steps to deter bioterrorist mailings, or to speed detection of any such attacks. They are reconsidering almost every step in the chain that moves 200 billion pieces of mail a year - from the design of the 350,000 street-corner mailboxes to the way postage stamps are printed and sold. Meanwhile, though, the postal system stands revealed as a potent tool for terrorism."

September 29, 2002 -- The Journal of Commerce has reported that:

• United Parcel Service has inaugurated its newly expanded air hub in Louisville. The expansion, which cost over $1 billion, more than doubles the size of the sorting complex to 4 million square feet - the equivalent of more than 80 football fields - and automates the express package sorting process with advanced, customized technology.
• American Airlines Cargo said it is suspending freight operations in eight U.S. and Canadian cities, effective Oct. 31. The freight closings are in Memphis; Moline,Ill; New Orleans; Portland, Ore.; San Diego; Springfield, Mo.; and Calgary and Vancouver in Canada. The decision to close these freight facilities comes as part of American's systemwide initiative to reduce costs, specifically in markets that do not meet cargo profitability thresholds. American's passenger operations in these cities are unaffected by these freight closings. AA Cargo will continue to provide contracted mail transportation for the U.S. Postal Service and Canada Post in these cities. American's next-flight-out service, Priority Parcel Service, also will be available in the six U.S. cities, handled through passenger terminal operations.

September 29, 2002 -- Traffic World has reported that:

• DHL Worldwide Express is building a worldwide customs clearance system with Silicon Valley-based Open Harbor. Called Worldwide Clearance System, the web-based platform will be a standard application that DHL will use around the world, replacing its current variety of declaration applications in various countries.
• Airlines and forwarders at this year's Air Cargo Forum in Hong Kong Sept. 17-20 sparred over the familiar issues of rates, service and communication without even a nod toward the real competitive threat for shipper dollars: the integrated carriers and their growing share of the world's freight market.

September 27, 2002 -- Postmaster General Jack Potter told a Senate postal oversight committee that the Postal Service will keep on keepin' on. It will continue to work on reducing costs. It will focus on services that customers want and need, and it will focus on its core business and leave the nonpostal stuff to others.

September 27, 2002 -- And for the latest on our postal analogy....The Washington Post has reported that "the House Appropriations Committee, voting along party lines, defeated an effort to give Amtrak the $1.2 billion the railroad says it needs next year and pushed through an amendment that threatens many -- perhaps all -- long-distance trains."

September 27, 2002 -- Business Mailers Review has reported that:

• Over the next few months, mailers need to let top postal officials know if they really want to try phased rate increases in the next rate case or if they'd rather push off an increase as far as possible into 2004 perhaps without a phased-rate approach. Chief Financial Officer Richard Strasser said it's his personal opinion that now is the time to do a phased rate increase. With the Postal Service expecting to end fiscal year 2003 with a net income of $600 million, this is the time to "smooth things out" while the USPS has some breathing room.
• Don't look to the newly formed Mailing Industry CEO Council to counter the APWU argument. The council says it is not the role of the council to address the advertisements of the APWU. Rather, it's the work of the Mailing Industry Task Force to maximize the effects of worksharing and to look for opportunities in that regard.
• When the Postal Service unveiled its integrated financial plan for fiscal year 2003, many people were surprised to see that the USPS has planned for a 1.9% total volume growth. They were wondering where in particular that volume growth was expected, and when it was going to show up.
• With the precedent that this negotiated service agreement (NSA) filing will set, the case probably will have as many interveners and all the usual suspects as participate in an omnibus rate case. The question is just how many of the interveners will oppose the filing outright. Many observers expect United Parcel Service to oppose it because UPS has argued in testimony before Congress that the Postal Service should not be allowed to grant NSAs or volume-based discounts. Another critical eye is sure to come from the Postal Rate Commission's Office of Consumer Advocate, case that will ultimately determine if the Postal Service is allowed under current law to offer discounts off the existing rate structure to individual mailers meeting certain requirements.
• Four months after securing its funding, PostalOne!, is making steps toward its ultimate goal of allowing business mailers to fully integrate their mail planning and production processes with those of the Postal Service. Using technology to provide a suite of electronic services, PostalOne! will provide customers a single point of access to many of the business systems the USPS uses in mail processing. It will allow the USPS to collect and exchange data with customers and postal managers. Mailers participating in PostalOne! transmit information to the Postal Service using Mail.dat files, a relational database- like record format containing all the characteristics of a mailing.
• The Postal Inspection Service included a useful Mail Center Security Guide in the packet of information handed out at the National Postal Forum. The 40-page report includes an understanding of anthrax and other potential terrorism threats and how to prevent exposure.

September 27, 2002 -- CEP News (Courier-Express-Postal) has reported that:

• The British post is taking up an aggressive price stance in its approach to the express market. The new product 'Royal Mail Special Delivery Collection on Demand' enables business customers to have documents and parcels up to 10 kilos collected from anywhere in Britain and delivered by 12 noon the following day. Charges for this service start at 15 euros, which makes it up to five times cheaper than competitors' offers.
• Last week Deutsche Post AG announced a fundamental change in its expansion strategy. CEO Mr Klaus Zumwinkel said in an interview with the 'Financial Times' (20.9) that future expansion would take place in the form of co-operation and joint ventures as well as smaller acquisitions. In the past Deutsche Post had almost exclusively aimed for managerial control or complete takeover of the companies concerned.
• The Austrian ™sterreichische Post AG is extending its CEP activities to South South- East Europe. So far, the expansion has gone unnoticed by the public. Company spokesman Mr Michael Homola confirmed this week in an interview with the CEP News that the post has set up Yellogistics, a company that has provided domestic, nationwide parcel services in Slovenia since May. Also in May ™sterreichische Post bought two Slovakian firms: Slovak Parcel Service sro is the country's second biggest parcel service and nationwide partner of United Parcel Service, while In time sro is a forwarding and distribution company. The Slovakian firm has nothing to do with its German namesake, the franchise organisation Intime Direkt-Kuriere.
• The British Target Express will in future co co-operate in the same same-day field with the coach operator National Express. In an official statement National Express is described as the ideal partner for a cost-effective same-day service with its network linking up to 1,200 cities, towns and villages with each other on a daily basis.
• Deutsche Post AG is currently testing a new service, by which parcels are collected from private households, too. Customers can now book their collection orders directly on the post's website with its virtual post office at www.deutschepost.de/efiliale.
• Mr Matthias Finger is the first lecturer to be appointed to the chair financed by Schweizerische Post at the "Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne". The Swiss post hopes to gain access to up-to-date scientific information in the fields of management, network organisations and politics from sponsoring the "Management of Infrastructural Enterprises" chair. Furthermore, it would give the post the opportunity to develop and test new concepts, which would not be feasible within the company.

September 27, 2002 -- DM News has reported that:

• The U.S. Postal Service is entering a death spiral of declining revenue, rising expenses and rapidly escalating rates, attendees of the New England Mail Order Association Fall 2002 Conference were told yesterday. Jim O'Brien, director of distribution & postal affairs at Time Inc., New York, delivered the sobering thought at the postal reform session.
• The U.S. Postal Service filed a proposal with the Postal Rate Commission yesterday that would offer small-circulation periodicals an opportunity to receive work-sharing discounts common with larger, mass-circulation periodical mailers. "We listened to customers and took advantage of what we can do under the existing laws by increasing the size of presorted flats bundles," said John E. Potter, USPS Postmaster General. Small-circulation periodicals are usually mailed in sacks as opposed to the pallets used by large-circulation mailers. Sacks are generally less expensive for the smaller mailers than palletization, but the USPS prefers palletization. The filing says that the USPS will offer discounts to publishers, printers, and consolidators who combine different publications or print runs on pallets, so that Periodicals mail can be moved from sacks to pallets.
• Chris Bradley, president of Cuddledown Inc., Portland, ME, and founder of the Maine Postal Reform Committee that was created in February, pulled no punches regarding the U.S. Postal Service yesterday at the New England Mail Order Association Fall 2002 Conference. Bradley also had strong words for United Parcel Service, which he said wants postal rates to rise to maintain its margins and profitability.

September 27, 2002 -- The Washington Post has reported that "under orders from the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Postal Service will conduct a third test of the cleaning procedure to be used at the Brentwood postal facility before fumigation can begin."

September 27, 2002 -- Direct Newsline has reported that "direct marketers interested in postal reform need to create their own legislative advocates if they want to see changes happen. That was the message Chris Bradley, president and CEO of Cuddledown Inc. gave attendees at the New England Mail Order Association fall conference yesterday in Portsmouth, NH."

September 27, 2002 -- The Ninth Circuit has recently ruled that the Postal Service can be sued under the federal antitrust laws as long as the activity complained of was not taken at the command of Congress (recognizing that Congress has conferred a legal monopoly on the Postal Service over mail delivery in and from the United States). The case is FLAMINGO INDUSTRIES (USA) LTD. v. UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, No. 01-15963 (August 23, 2002). It can be found on the Ninth Circuit's website.

September 26, 2002 -- According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, "United Parcel Service is facing tougher competition from FedEx in an unlikely place: on the ground. UPS has its origins in the trucking business, and FedEx was launched as an overnight air carrier. But UPS invaded FedEx's sky when it launched its own airline in the late '80s. Since then, UPS air shipments have grown steadily. Now, FedEx is gaining traction on the ground with an expansive trucking fleet. As UPS and FedEx have filled out their services, they've become the transportation industry's version of Coke and Pepsi."

September 26, 2002 -- Bloomberg has reported that "United Parcel Service Inc.'s annual sales in China doubled to about $200 million in the year after the world's largest package-delivery company began its own flights to Beijing and Shanghai. The company started the flights to those cities in April 2001 and plans to increase the number of representative offices in China to at least 20 by the end of next year from five now."

September 26, 2002 -- China Daily has reported that "world express delivery companies are racing to see who can dominate Chinese market. FedEx Express (FedEx), the world's largest express transportation company, on Monday announced that it will offer its money-back guarantee to customers throughout China. It will be the first and only international express carrier to offer a money-back guarantee in the China market. Under the terms of the guarantee, if a shipment arrives later than FedEx's promised delivery time, the company will provide a full refund. This latest move comes at a time of quick expansion by FedEx's major global competitor, United Parcel Service (UPS), in China."

September 26, 2002 -- Reuters has reported that "United Parcel Service Inc. says it wants more freedom to connect Hong Kong with its Asian hub in the Philippines and its European hub in Cologne."

September 26, 2002 -- As Hoovers has noted, "the transportation and logistics industry was hard hit after the attacks of Sept. 11. Once the unprecedented travel bans were removed, security got tighter, and then came the anthrax scare. Challenging doesn't begin to describe the new world that transportation and logistics companies and their employees faced. Not unexpectedly, they turned to IT."

September 26, 2002 -- The Journal of Commerce has reported that "DHL Worldwide Express has signed a contract with Open Harbor Inc., a software company specializing in cross-border trade management, for Web-based customs clearance automation. The contract, which Open Harbor described as "multi-year, multi-million dollar" will eventually cover the whole of DHL's operations, a volume of 25 million packages annually. Open Harbor said it would take around two years to ramp up to that level."

September 26, 2002 -- Air Cargo World has reported that "in the 85 years since the first freighter aircraft were built- before passengers, there was cargo - there has been nothing comparable to 2001. The dramatic effects of the year's events on the development of the world's fleet of all-cargo airplanes will reverberate well into the 20-year period covered this year's Boeing World Air Cargo Forecast.

September 26, 2002 -- MoneyGram Payment Systems, Inc., a leading provider of consumer electronic money transfers, has been selected as the electronic money transfer service provider for Canada Post. MoneyGram and Canada Post will be launching the first phase of this program in 70 corporate post office locations in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver beginning September 16. The electronic money transfer service will be rolled out to more than 1,000 Canada Post locations from coast to coast in the spring of 2003. The electronic money transfer service is new to Canada Post. The new service will enable Canada Post to penetrate a market that has been growing at a double-digit rate annually. New and existing customers will be able to take advantage of MoneyGram's extensive network around the world at an affordable price. This also will represent the largest chain of electronic transfer services by any provider within Canada.

September 26, 2002 -- Siebel Systems, Inc., a provider of multichannel eBusiness applications software, has announced that La Poste Group has chosen to implement Siebel 7. La Poste Group is implementing Siebel Sales 7, which embeds best practices that help selling organizations grow revenues predictably and profitably by providing the means to focus on the right deals at the right time, and Siebel Analytics 7, the complete next-generation business and customer analytics solution. Together, these Siebel eBusiness Applications enable La Poste Group to create a 360-degree understanding of the business customers that comprise 90 percent of its mail business. It will also enable La Poste Group to cross- and up-sell additional added value mail solutions, increase revenues, and improve business customer satisfaction and loyalty.

September 26, 2002 -- El Nacional has reported that "Jose Ferrarotto, president of the mail service company Ipostel, stressed the Venezuelan mail service is behind other countries, and modernization is expected with the new postal bill passed by the Congress. The draft bill secures private companies rendering postal services and also the liberating of the market."

September 25, 2002 -- Fedex has announced that:

• FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corporation, has increased its capacity for heavyweight shipments between Asia and Europe with an aircraft upgrade to an MD-11. In addition to increasing the company's capacity by 100,000 pounds, this change enables FedEx to offer later cut-off times for shipments to Western Europe, and earlier flight arrivals at CDG by four hours. The earlier flight arrival provides more extensive connectivity to various European destinations for Asian shippers.
• Federal Express Canada Ltd. (a subsidiary of FedEx Corporation has officially opened its new state-of-the-art Canadian hub facility in a gala "art-of-movement" ceremony that included 300 industry and government leaders. Former Prime Minister of Canada Brian Mulroney provided a keynote address that emphasized the importance of the trade relationship between Canada and the U.S.

September 25, 2002 -- DM News has reported that:

• The U.S. Postal Service is going to make some unpopular decisions -- including consolidating postal facilities -- next year as it continues to cut costs, the vice chairman of the Board of Governors told a group of nonprofit mailers yesterday at the Fall 2002 National Postal Forum here. "The policy," said David Fineman, "is that we are going to downsize, we are going to stay with our core business, we are going to try to run this place in a profitable kind of manner, like a business." Postal insiders said they are hearing that the USPS may announce closings and employee cuts immediately after the November elections. Meanwhile, 100 workers from a Boston postal union protested yesterday morning in front of the Hynes Convention Center, where the Forum was being held.
• The U.S. Postal Service said yesterday that it will expand and standardize Parcel Select Destination Delivery Unit acceptance hours nationwide by adding "early-bird" hours. The move is expected to make it easier for parcel consolidators to conduct business through the nation's mail system.

September 25, 2002 -- Editor & Publisher has noted that "Detroit Newspapers were getting crushed in the direct-mail arena when it sat down in the late 1990s with a longtime competitor, Advo Inc. It had to be a humbling moment for senior business executives at the joint-operating-agreement (JOA) agency and their bosses at Gannett Co. Inc., which oversees its advertising. Advo has long been one of the newspaper industry's biggest rivals, with 500 million pieces delivered each week. The Motor City is highly competitive for direct mail, but efforts by The Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press to start a total-market-coverage product (TMC) had stalled twice, leaving them with no car in the race."

September 25, 2002 -- And now, for something completely different. The Washington Post has reported that:

• Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee have drafted a bill that would leave Amtrak with $500 million less than it says it needs next fiscal year and could require the shutdown of six long-distance routes, according to a copy of the legislation circulating among committee members.
• Air line chief executives yesterday implored lawmakers to help with terrorism-related security and insurance costs, which they said were sinking the industry, and key House members said they were drafting a bill to help the carriers.

September 25, 2002 -- A proposed refund programme, which the British Government is calling the "reinvention of the urban postal counter network", is aimed at restoring the network to sustainability by reducing its size, but keeping to the pledge that 95% of urban residents should live within a mile of a post office. The project still needs to be approved by the UK Parliament.

September 25, 2002 -- Reuters has reported that "China said on Wednesday it has barred foreign express delivery companies from carrying personal letters and most government, Communist Party or military documents in a brewing industry dispute. Firms such as Federal Express , United Parcel Service , DHL and TNT International Express called the new rules a disappointing development in a months-long spat over the role of foreign giants building an increasing presence in China. Industry sources said the rules protected the state-run China Post's monopoly and kept foreign competition on a tight leash."

September 25, 2002 -- People's Daily Online has reported that "China Post announced the new service here Wednesday, which integrates Internet technology with traditional mail service, making it faster for connected people to send messages to those who are not. The national postal service will offer clients a pre-paid card, with which they can send mail, similar to sending e-mail via special-use mail software they buy and install on their computers. A machine in a post office near their addressee will automatically receive, print and seal the letter before mailing it to the receiver. Officials with China Post noted that so far only Australia and Indonesia have offered this service, while the United States and Japan are planning to launch it."

September 25, 2002 -- According to ComputerWorld, "the U.S. Postal Service is changing the way business mailers interact with the agency with a new electronic suite of services to automate and streamline many of the existing manual and hard-copy documentation processes used to send bulk mail, according to Larry Goodman, manager of PostalOne, the Postal Service's business customer support system."

September 25, 2002 -- The Business Times (Singapore) has reported that "in a first for Asia, FedEx Express and Singapore Post have reached a deal to offer drop off services at local post offices islandwide. In Hong Kong, FedEx offers drop boxes at service stations, and in the US, these exterior drop boxes are available at post offices, but both require an existing account with the company. Now in Singapore, anyone can use the express service over the post office counter without an account, and earn a discount, because it eliminates the need for a courier pick up

September 25, 2002 -- According to the Oakridger , "the Washington, D.C., office of U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp is still experiencing major delays in the delivery of postal mail due to the need to irradiate all mail that is sent to the U.S. Congress. A press release from Wamp's office says some letters have been lost during the past year and that mail that is months old is still being delivered to his Washington office." Wamp asked his constituents to use alternative methods, such as e-mail or fax to communicate with him.

September 25, 2002 -- The Derbyshire Telegraph (U.K.) has reported that "another major overseas postal operator has been given a licence to deliver mail in this country in competition with Consignia, it has been announced. TPG Post, a subsidiary of Dutch postal giant TPG, has won a licence to deliver mail from businesses to households."

September 25, 2002 -- The Courier-Mail (Australia) has reported that "thousands of Brisbane residents may have mail delivery interrupted today after more than 40 postal workers walked off the job in Brisbane last night. The snap strike action was taken after a protracted dispute over reducing the numbers of workers who handle mail bags at the Northgate mail centre. Talks were to resume between union officials and Australia Post management.

September 25, 2002 -- See the home page of the Pitney Bowes postal news web site at http://www.postinsight.pb.com/. You'll find the following featured:

• "Reform of the Post of the Russian Federation" is a presentation by Igor Syrtsov, Director General, Russian Post
• "Mailing Industry CEO Council" is a National Postal Forum presentation by Michael J. Critelli, Chairman and CEO, Pitney Bowes Inc., and David M. Sable, Chairman and CEO, Wunderman, New York.
• The Mailing Industry Task Force Progress Report was introduced at the Fall National Postal Forum, Boston.

September 24, 2002 -- In a move to make it easier for parcel consolidators to conduct business through the nation's mail system, the Postal Service today announced it will expand and standardize Parcel Select Destination Delivery Unit (DDU) acceptance hours nationwide by adding "early-bird" hours.

September 24, 2002 -- Business Line (India) has reported that "the Keralites residing in the UAE who have sent parcels through the India Parcel Express postal service arrangement between Emirates Post and India Post have reacted strongly to reports that 28 containers of parcel mailed from the UAE to Kerala are likely to be auctioned by shipping agents."

September 24, 2002 -- The BBC has reported that "workers at a Royal Mail depot near Bristol are taking unofficial strike action in protest at plans to sell off part of the company. The workers are employed by Cashco, the arm of the Royal Mail which delivers cash and high value items."

September 24, 2002 -- The United States Postal Service (USPS) has announced that Har te-Hanks, Inc. is receiving two honors this year for mail-related innovations: a Special Achievement Award for the company's help in developing a new USPS service, Confirm and Entry Information service; and an Idea Forum Award for the development of a method for streamlining postal paperwork in conjunction with small mailings, and for educating other mailers about this innovation.

September 24, 2002 -- According to the publisher of the Milwaukee Business Journal, "the U.S. Postal Service is a valuable 'partner.'"

September 24, 2002 -- Reuters has reported that "New Zealand Post's international arm is carrying out a two-week business evaluation report of Jordan Post. Four staff from Transend Worldwide and New Zealand Post are in Jordan at the moment. The contract with Jordan's Ministry of Information and Communication Technology is part of a strategy to improve Jordan Post's competitive positioning. Transend has been asked to provide an analysis of the current state of the business and make recommendations for improvements."

September 24, 2002 -- According to the Boston Herald, "a year after the anthrax-by-mail crisis, the U.S. Postal Service has abandoned its plans of installing expensive electron-beam devices in many mail sorting facilities to zap harmful bacteria. The agency says it has since shifted its goal toward finding hand-held devices that would allow postal carriers to detect harmful materials, much the way a Geiger counter detects radiation.

September 24, 2002 -- The Was hington Post has reported that "Lockheed Martin of Bethesda is slated to be awarded a $300 million contract by the U.S. Postal Service today to update the sorting technology at 74 of the Postal Service's largest distribution centers, including ones at Washington Dulles International Airport, in the District's Maryland suburbs and in Baltimore, company and agency officials said. Under the contract, Lockheed will provide systems that sort packages, automatically reading addresses and collecting information on their size, weight, origin and destination. It's similar to the systems already in place for letters, but adapted for large packages."

September 24, 2002 -- DM News has reported that international postal rates will not increase in 2003, though they are scheduled to rise the following year, according to Robert E. Michelson, manager of international marketing at the U.S. Postal Service. Michelso also told mailers that its international parcel service delivery problems are being ironed out.

September 24, 2002 -- The Montreal Gazette has reported that "Canada Post has purchased a 50-per-cent interest in Montreal-based Intelcom, one of the largest rush couriers in the city. The deal has competitors seeing red. Stories have been flying around Montreal and Toronto about Canada Post pressuring some of its big suppliers, like law firms and advertising companies, to drop their current couriers and use Intelcom. And Intelcom is said to be trying to buy up other couriers, with the financial muscle of Canada Post behind it. Scores of same-day delivery companies in Montreal, which pay taxes, say they're appalled at this abuse of government power. Many worry they won't be able to compete with the deep pockets and long reach of Canada Post."

September 24, 2002 -- According to the Associated Press, "Pitney Bowes Inc. Chairman and CEO Michael J. Critelli said that he and other members of a newly-created Mailing Industry CEO Council hope to raise the profile of what they estimate is a $900 billion industry. The group will impress on lawmakers the importance of the mailing industry to business, and the importance of the U.S. Postal Service to the mailing industry." See also Eye fortransport.com

September 24, 2002 -- ADVO, Inc. has announced that the United States Postal Service (USPS) has honored its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gary Mulloy with its most prestigious honor - the Partnership for Progress Award. Mulloy accepted the award, while crediting ADVO's 4,000 employees, during a ceremony at the National Postal Forum in Boston. The award recognizes individuals and corporations dedicated to building a closer relationship between the postal service and its customers.

September 24, 2002 -- Suddeutsche Zeitung has reported that "Deutsche Post, the German postal service operator, has acquired a majority stake in Spanish package delivery company Guipuzcoana Euro Express, increasing its current investment from 49 per cent to 51 per cent. Deutsche Post said this was confirmation of its plans to make its presence felt on the European market." See also the International Transport Journal.

September 24, 2002 -- Dow Jones has reported that "China's postal monopoly has started to back down from its long-running effort to elbow foreign companies out of the country's lucrative express-delivery market, but those firms say the dispute isn't over yet. Nonetheless, the softening in the State Postal Bureau's position could be a step toward the resolution of a row that has become one of the most glaring examples of efforts by some parts of China's government to evade its market-opening commitments to the World Trade Organization."

September 24, 2002 -- The Journal of Commerce has reported that "a senior Customs Service official today told supply-chain executives that freight shipments are most likely the next target for a terrorist attack against the United States."

September 24, 2002 -- ACI Worldwide, a international provider of enterprise e-payment solutions, today announced that First National Bank (FNB), a multi-state multi-bank holding company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, with more than $12 billion in assets, has licensed ACI's e-Courier(TM) software to launch an electronic document delivery channel for consumers and businesses. FNB will initially use e-Courier to send personalized alerts and notifications to customers via e-mail -- the electronic delivery channel consumers overwhelmingly prefer. FNB plans to add checking, savings, merchant and credit card statements to this new channel in a multiphase project.

September 24, 2002 -- According to icWales, "managers in the [British] postal service are seeking a "substantial" pay rise to take their salaries as well as measures to tackle increasing levels of stress. The trade union representing 15,000 managers in Consignia says it wants the present basic wage rates of between £16,000 and £20,000 increased over the next few years."

September 23, 2002 -- The remarks made by Postmaster General John Potter at the National Postal Forum in Boston have been posted on this site. The PMG said that there will be no new postal rate increases until well into the year 2004.

September 23, 2002 -- The U.S. Postal Service and the Mailing Industry Task Force (MITF) have highlighted achievements made in the past year in a progress report issued at the National Postal Forum. John Nolan, Deputy Postmaster General, and Michael Critelli, Chairman and CEO of Pitney Bowes, co-chairmen of the Task Force, gave a joint presentation to Forum attendees that included a recap of recommendations made in an October 2001 MITF report, Seizing Opportunity, and the actions that had been taken on those recommendations.

September 23, 2002 -- The U.S. Postal Service has released its "Customer's Guide To Mailing."

September 23, 2002 -- The Anchorage Daily News has reported that "New mail-hauling rules should withstand legal challenges from two airlines, according to U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska. Evergreen International and Alaska Central Express have each filed lawsuits in U.S. District Court claiming the new rules signed into law Aug. 2 by President Bush unfairly limit competition and are unconstitutional. Stevens in 1970 secured bypass mail, a system unique to Alaska whereby shipments of at least 1,000 pounds are stamped airmail but are never touched by postal workers and are delivered at lower parcel post rates."

September 23, 2002 -- This story from The Wall Street Journal helps put the story reported below in Traffic World in context.

September 23, 2002 -- NDTV (India) has reported that "within months of the spectacular launch of a joint express postal service between India and the UAE, the two countries are caught in a bitter wrangle over delivery delays, with UAE blaming India for holding up 28 containers with 11,000 parcels at Kochi port since April 6. As angry expatriates and their relatives, who sent the parcels, thronged the offices of UAE post, the department issued a press release yesterday blaming the 'India post' of "non-cooperation even to hold talks" and "inaction" when it took up the issue with the Indian postal department. The parcels were sent under the India Parcel Express Scheme jointly launched by the postal departments of the two countries with much fanfare after the visit to UAE by an India Post delegation, led by Director General B N Som in December 2001."

September 22, 2002 -- Gulf News (UAE) has reported that the "Emirates Post has been holding talks with India postal authorities over the pile-up of parcels sent from the UAE under the India Parcel Express service at the Kochi port during the past few months."

September 22, 2002 -- According to the Tampa Tribune, "the United States is more likely to have a natural outbreak of illness, such as the flu epidemic in 1918 or polio 50 years ago, than another biological attack in the near term, said Steve Kornguth, director of biological and chemical defense at the University of Texas Institute for Advanced Technology. But that doesn't mean terrorists won't try again with anthrax or smallpox or some other biological agent.""

September 22, 2002 -- Air Force Link has reported that "nearly all of the military mail arriving from overseas is now being checked by U.S. Customs agents because of recent increases in contraband. The Air Force's chief of postal policy said all packages coming from overseas locations are subject to inspections by customs agents, but recent discoveries have necessitated a closer look."

September 22, 2002 -- According to Traffic World:

• The airline industry is hurting in many ways but, for the cargo divisions of the passenger airlines, nothing is a bigger pain than the huge drop in U.S. mail revenue. Domestic mail for cargo divisions has been in a rapid free fall for a year now and is getting worse.
• LTL carriers need to duplicate success of UPS, FedEx in charging for accessorials.
• Amtrak's Mail and Express business may have a shorter name by the end of the year. Amtrak is in the midst of an "exhaustive study" of its express program that the company says will determine whether or not to keep, or possibly modify, the "express" portion of the business.
• The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York is allowing 22 class action suits over the issue of excess value insurance to proceed against United Parcel Service. The suits arose from UPS's attempt to divert revenue from its excess value insurance charges to its offshore subsidiary insurance company in Bermuda illegally for the purpose of evading U.S. taxes on this income.

September 21, 2002 -- The Financial Times has reported that "critics of Deutsche Post, Europe's largest postal operator, tend to chuckle at its new name, Deutsche Post World Net. They argue the former state company does not have the gusto to become a global player in mail, express and logistics services. Now, Deutsche Post is determined to prove them wrong. Next month, it will announce a far-reaching strategy to grow its mail distribution outside Germany, mimicking in part the activities of its biggest rival TPG, the Dutch postal operator."

September 21, 2002 -- The Guardian has reported that "Consignia, the loss-making Royal Mail group, ran headlong into protests from unions yesterday after announcing plans to hand over its cash handling and distribution business to Securicor in a move that will affect 3,000 workers. The sell-off is the latest in a series of outsourcing proposals designed to help cut costs at the troubled state-owned postal services group. If the deal goes through, Securicor will provide the group with cash transportation and cash management services under a 10-year contract that could be worth up to 1bn Euros in turnover."

September 20, 2002 -- Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung has reported that "DPD Deutsche Paket Dienst GmbH & Co KG, Germany's second-largest parcel delivery service provider, plans to pass on the cost of new road tolls for HGVs to customers next year. As a partial solution to the problem, the company is considering the option of transferring up to 35 per cent of its delivery volume to the railways."

September 20, 2002 -- Die Welt has reported that "Euro Express, a subsidiary of Deutsche Post, the German postal service provider, has gained an order from Philips, the Dutch electronics group, for European distribution of packages and goods."

September 20, 2002 -- Financial Times Deutschland has reported that "Deutsche Post, the German postal service operator, is believed to be planning to invest heavily in its European letter delivery business between now and 2007. The plan is to involve itself in co-operation agreements and joint ventures, as well as small-scale takeovers. At present, it is negotiating with the Danish postal service, as the country's government has made the decision to sell a 25 per cent stake in the business to a foreign investor."

September 20, 2002 -- The BBC has reported that "the security firm Securicor is close to winning a 10-year contract worth up to £1bn to deliver cash to the UK's 17,500 post offices. The postal firm Consignia - which is seeking to outsource parts of its business to help cut costs - said Securicor had been chosen as its preferred supplier of cash services. About 3,000 workers are currently employed by Consignia in its cash-handling operations, and a number of these will be transferred to Securicor if the deal goes ahead."

September 20, 2002 -- DM News has reported that "The U.S. Postal Service filed a case with the Postal Rate Commission yesterday seeking a three-year test of a negotiated service agreement between the USPS and Capital One Services Inc. Negotiated service agreements are special service and rate arrangements negotiated between the USPS and a mailer or group of mailers. Proponents say NSAs could provide variable pricing that would encourage greater volume and reward the postal service's major customers with discounts and premium services. The NSA with Capital One includes discounts for Capital One First-Class Mail volume above an annual threshold of 1.225 billion pieces and undeliverable mail data provided to Capital One electronically." A copy of the Postal Service's NSA filing can be found on the Postal Rate Commission web site.

September 20, 2002 -- Sources have told PostCom that the Postal Service most likely will not file its next request for a postal rate increase until April 2003. There's also a chance that the filing may be even a little later. Great news!

September 20, 2002 -- Robert McLean, executive director of the Mailers Council, has provided the following to PostCom on USPS' Government Relations and Public Policy group personnel changes: (1)Deborah Kendall, on a detail to OMB for the past 90 days, will not return to her job as manager, Public Policy and Strategic Development. She has been reassigned to the office of the chief privacy officer. (2) Judy de Torok, formerly manager of Public Relations and acting in Kendall's position for the past 90 days, assumes that position permanently. (3) Gerry McKiernan, liaison for Government Relations to customer organizations, becomes the new manager of Public Relations. (4) Irene Lericos, acting manager of Public Relations, returns to her position as manager, Field Communications

September 20, 2002 -- Trellix Corp., a private-label ASP that provides Web site building tools, continues to rack up customers. The Concord, Mass.-based service provider already counts Interland , Terra Lycos and Domain Direct among its customers. But it may have landed its most prestigious deal to date with yesterday's announcement that TMP Directional Marketing, a division of online recruitment leader TMP Worldwide Inc. , parent company of Monster.com, will offer the Trellix suite of Web site publishing and promotion services.

September 20, 2002 -- Here's your postal analogy for the day from the Associated Press: "Amtrak is considering cutting more personnel, ending freight service and requiring states to fully subsidize money-losing routes within two years or risk losing them."

`September 19, 2002 -- Senior executives from leading U.S. companies have joined together to form the Mailing Industry CEO Council, a non-profit organization that will focus on unifying the mailing industry and promoting the critical role that mail plays in business and commerce.

September 19, 2002 -- The U.S. Postal Service has filed its request for Postal Rate Commission approval for its first-ever negotiated service agreement. More information will be reported as available.

September 19, 2002 -- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reported that "A handful of managers at the U.S. Postal Service's processing center in Duluth are under internal investigation for alleged credit card misuse. Postal officials said some employees at the North Metro Processing and Distribution Center on Boggs Road used their government-issued credit cards to pay for personal expenses, instead of authorized business expenses."

September 19, 2002 -- FedEx Corp. reported a 45 percent increase in first-quarter profits Thursday, largely due to growth in the company's ground delivery business. See also the report by the Journal of Commerce.

September 19, 2002 -- According to Dow Jones, "after FedEx Corp. (FDX) posted a 45% increase in its fiscal first-quarter earnings, its chairman, president and chief executive said Thursday the company continues to witness signs of a modest economic rebound, particularly overseas. 'We continue to see evidence of a modest economic recovery, particularly in the international arena,' Frederick Smith told analysts during a conference call."

September 19, 2002 -- The United States Postal Service, in partnership with the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC), the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) and the Coalition for Clean Air, will join together today to roll out the nation's largest fleet of electric vehicles.

September 19, 2002 -- Dow Jones has noted that "while China's leadership clearly wants the country to meet its market-opening commitments to the World Trade Organization, parts of the bureaucracy are nonetheless hindering progress, U.S. business groups say. In comments submitted to the office of the U.S. Trade Representative, several American business lobby groups said China's government bureaucracy is failing to enforce many of its own rules, and in some cases is even taking new measures that run counter to the country's WTO commitments. U. S. groups showed particular concern about the actions of China Post, the government postal monopoly that is trying to broaden its monopoly on the delivery of letters in ways that violate foreign firms' existing business licenses and China's commitments to further open the sector."

September 19, 2002 -- CEP News (Courier- Express- and Postal-Market News) has reported that "last week Deutsche Post published the new postage rates, which have been approved by the German Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Post and will become effective from 1 January 2003. Standard letters become 1.8% cheaper, while the price for compact letters drops by 10.7%, for large letters by 5.9%, maxi letters by 2.2% and postcards become 12% cheaper. Letters with foreign destinations become cheaper, too.

September 19, 2002 -- AllAfrica.com has reported that "member states of the Pan-African Postal Union (PAPU) should bargain for favourable terms under the new regime for the establishment of postal terminal dues. The rapid changes taking place in the communication industry as a result of globalisation, deregulation, liberalisation, privatisation and technical innovations, called for a re-think of postal operations on the continent."

September 19, 2002 -- The Journal of Commerce has reported that "FedEx Corp. had signed operational agreements with two Indian companies as part of new major service initiatives in the sub-continent. FedEx signed an operations agreement with Prakash Airfreight Pvt. Ltd. which will provide pick-up and delivery services. An agreement with Jeena & Co. will provide nationwide customs brokerage. FedEx previously had an operational agreement with Blue Dart Express Ltd., which opted out for a new deal with DHL Worldwide Express beginning Oct. 1.

September 19, 2002 -- ChannelNewsAsia has reported that "Singapore Telecom will decide soon on whether to divest its profitable postal services."

September 19, 2002 -- Corporate Express has announced plans to roll out automated order fulfillment systems featuring voice picking technology in 22 distribution centers by the end of 2002. Siemens Dematic will integrate the order fulfillment systems and utilize Vocollect's Talkman(R) automated voice-directed picking technology. The plan calls for two sites to be installed every three weeks until all 22 are completed, according to Tim Beauchamp, senior vice president of distribution at Corporate Express. Ten sites have already been installed with the Siemens Dematic/Talkman integrated solution.

September 19, 2002 -- MailCode, a subsidiary of Pitney Bowes Inc., has announced tht it has received a U.S. patent relating to the Spell-It(TM) technology found in its Voice Sort(TM) mail sorting product. Voice Sort is a software solution used nationwide in large corporate mail centers to eliminate the time consuming task of memorizing employee names or manual address look-up. Using advanced voice recognition, Voice Sort software automatically provides mail piece recipient location information from a database in response to the spoken commands of the operator. The operator then uses this information to quickly and accurately sort the mail piece.

September 19, 2002 -- DMA Interactive has noted that "if you market by direct mail, you're facing considerable competition in U.S. mailboxes. On top of that, the great response rates of the 70s, 80s and early 90s may be gone forever. And with printing and postage going up, the all-important response rate continues to decline as many of us compete for the same disposable dollar. Sure, it has something to do with today's economy. But, when the market was booming just a few years back, response rates were on the decline. That certainly doesn't mean you can't do well in the U.S. But it does mean you may want to look beyond what you're doing today to grow revenue and improve profitability."

September 18, 2002 -- Asia Pulse has reported that "Korea Post has begun a one-day or less guaranteed parcel delivery service to Hong Kongat 24 post offices in Seoul. The special postal service insures parcels are delivered within a day and if parcels are not delivered within the fixed time Korea Post refunds postal charges for the service. This is the third official operation of such a service after Japan and Singapore."

September 18, 2002 -- MoneyGram Payment Systems, Inc. has been selected as the electronic money transfer service provider for Canada Post Corporation. MoneyGram and Canada Post launched the first phase of this program in 70 corporate post office locations in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver beginning September 16. The electronic money transfer service will be rolled out to more than 1,000 Canada Post locations from coast to coast in the spring of 2003.

September 18, 2002 -- AFX (Europe) has reported that "the ministries of finance and traffic have initiated a research group to report by year-end on the sale of a 25 pct stake in national postal services PostDanmark during 2003. The aim is to have the shares sold no later than autumn, 2003."

September 18, 2002 -- According to postal watcher, Alan Robinson, "even before the Postal Service announces its network restructuring, nascent indications of a restructuring are now evident." [Editor's Note: This is article has been "corrected" by the author.]

September 18, 2002 -- FedEx Ground, a subsidiary of FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX), today announces the opening of 50 new FedEx Home Delivery terminals, expanding coverage for the industry's only dedicated residential delivery service to virtually the entire U.S. population. These new openings mark the completion of FedEx Ground's accelerated expansion plan to meet customer demand for a residential shipping alternative and demonstrate the company's commitment to long-term growth. Just a little more business the U.S. Postal Service can kiss goodbye.

September 18, 2002 -- Business News Americas has reported that "Brazil's federal postal system ECT plans to launch an online mall dedicated to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in October. To date the virtual mall has signed up 15 stores and has payment agreements in place with TecBan, Banco do Brasil, Caixa Economica Federal, Itau and Bradesco. In addition, it has formed partnerships with 750 Internet companies, 15 of which account for 95% of B2C postal deliveries, and the US$18mn initiative is expected to become a new revenue maker for the postal service."

September 18, 2002 -- General Defense Systems, Inc. has submitted a proposed vehicle inspection system to the United States Post Office for review as a complementary effort to its current program for hazardous materials detection, including anthrax. The potential market size for this initiative is in excess of $2 billion dollars for the mail carrier security system. The General Defense Systems (GDS) Mail Carrier Security System focuses on preventing hazardous materials from entering the postal facility and notifies postal workers in the field of potential exposure. The GDS system complements the current efforts for anthrax detection and prevents hazardous materials from entering postal facilities, an initiative that may help to prevent costly facility closings.

September 18, 2002 -- According to the Dalla s Business Journal, "KRLD Radio is partnering with the United States Postal Service to alert North Texas postal employees and customers in the event of unusual or potentially dangerous situations which may affect them. The agreement also calls for KRLD, at 1080 AM, to alert employees and listeners throughout North Texas of inclement weather that affects postal service."

September 18, 2002 -- Dow Jones has reported that "directors of France's national postal service La Poste (F.PST) Tuesday named Jean-Paul Bailly as chairman. Bailly's nomination must now be ratified by the French government. Bailly, currently chairman of Paris' municipal transport system, will replace Martin Vial, who had been head of La Poste since December 2000."

September 18, 2002 -- The Journal of Commerce has reported that:

• DHL Worldwide Express plans to open an 18,000-square-meter distribution center near Tokyo in October.
• United Parcel Service has introduced SonicAir, a proactive shipment update service for same-day shippers. Customers can now receive updated shipment information, sent to a wireless devices, pager, phone, fax or e-mail address, without having to request it, or access the same information from UPS's Web site. The service offers shipment status, exceptions and proof of delivery based on the customer's request. See also the report by Computerworld.

September 18, 2002 -- According to the A tlanta Business Journal, "UPS is one of a growing number of companies seeking ways to track trends and demographics in employee absences, according to human resources consultants and service providers. Controlling the costs of absence was among the top three absence-program priorities for 71 percent of 476 companies queried in the Employers' Time-Off and Disability Programs 2001 Survey Report conducted by Marsh Inc. and Mercer Human Resource Consulting."

September 18, 2002 -- The BBC Monitoring Service has reported that "controversial legislation aimed at regulating the interception and monitoring of electronic and postal communications was approved in the South African National Assembly. Among other things, the bill allows the state and law enforcement agencies to intercept and monitor the electronic and postal communications - including calls made on cell phones - of ordinary South Africans. Prior judicial sanction is required for all interception or monitoring, but the bill allows exceptions to be made for emergency situations, or where a life is in danger."

September 17, 2002 -- Hoovers Online has reported that "the Independent Pilots Association (IPA), the bargaining unit for the 2,500 pilots who fly for UPS, will enter into negotiations with the company on October 15th. In hopes of ratifying a contract before the current terms expire, both the pilots and UPS management have agreed to begin negotiating 15 months ahead of schedule. The pilots, led by IPA President, Captain Bob Miller, say their aim is to negotiate a fair and equitable contract, competitive within the industry and on par with those being negotiated with other UPS employee groups earlier this year. Given the difficulties UPS has faced in the past with regard to negotiations with other employee groups, the pilots are hopeful that by starting ahead of schedule all issues can be resolved amicably before the amendable period expires.

September 17, 2002 -- Customers who use the TTPost Billpay service to pay their bills , now have a chance to have their TSTT (Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago) bills paid for an entire year. This reward is being offered by the Trinidad and Tobago Postal Corporation (TTPost) to customers who pay their TSTT bills at TTPost between Wednesday August 21, 2002 and November 08, 2002. For every bill paid, the customer is automatically given the chance to have $5000.00 in credit applied to his/her telephone - with one winner from Trinidad and one from Tobago being chosen on November 11, 2002 through electronic means. For more information, contact Renatta Mohammed.

September 17, 2002 -- On September 5-6 2002, Moscow hosted the International Conference on Mail-Order Trade. The Conference was aimed at cooperation between mail-order companies, enterprises interested in making effective sales using postal technologies, postal services and courier delivery companies, direct marketing agencies interested in Russian market. More than 150 delegates representing about 20 countries and 40 Russian regions attended the conference. The conference favored the establishment of stable relations between the participants, Russian and foreign catalogue companies. In this connection a number of negotiations and meetings took place both between Russian and foreign representatives. At the conference meeting it was announced about the restructuring of the Russian Post and institution of a single enterprise "Russian Post" that would unite all the Russian Regional postal offices. For additional information please contact: Irina Mekhanik: tel. + 7 095 114-4657, e-mail: IrinaVM@ipom.ru; Julia Ledeneva: tel. + 7 095 114-4657, e-mail: JuliaVL@ipom.ru

September 17, 2002 -- The SouthEastern Mailers Associations inc, a non-profit trade association, has just released a Mailing Services Pricing Study. The study covers a wide viarity of pricing, from importing a list to paper work and delivery to the USPS. The study will give those companies in the mailing business valuable information regarding the industry. This is the first time a study about Mailing Services Pricing has been done in the US. For information contact SEMAi at 770-512-7980.

September 17, 2002 -- SouthEastern Mailers Association inc will be holding the first Regional Mailing Services Conference and Trade Show Oct 13th and 14th at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta GA. Visit www.semai.org for registration information. Call SEMAi 770-512-7980

September 17, 2002 -- WHTR (Indianapolis) has reported that "more and more people are using the mailbox, but there should be only two, the customer and letter carrier....Monday the postal service announced a get tough approach to mailbox security." See also the report by WRTV

September 17, 2002 -- DM News has reported that "the U.S. Postal Service may begin charging penalties in November to First-Class mailers who do not comply with the agency's Move Update rules.

September 17, 2002 -- Business Line (India) has reported that "employees of the [Indian] postal department are planning a sustained protest against the Government's move to amend the Indian Post Office Act, 1898. The proposed amendment is apparently intended to throw the postal sector open to private operators

September 17, 2002 -- According to the Journal of Commerce, "a report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce assessing China's progress in opening its economy since joining the World Trade Organization last December said the China Postal Service's attempt to regulate foreign express carriers violates its obligations under its accession to the WTO."

September 16, 2002 -- According to postal watcher, Alan Robinson, "even before the Postal Service announces its network restructuring, nascent indications of a restructuring are now evident."

September 16, 2002 -- The St. Petersburg Times (Russia) has reported that "DHL officials revealed their development plans for the Northwest Region of Russia at a press conference Thursday, as well as major plans for investment. 'During 2001, we doubled the volume of our turnover in the Northwest Region, in comparison with 2000, while sales volume in the parcel category showed a 64-percent increase during the first six months of 2002, compared to the same period in 2001,' said Axel Gietz, corporate-affairs director of DHL Worldwide Express said at the press conference. Also speaking at the conference, Alexander Danilov, country manager for DHL Russia, said that 'By the end of 2002, we are planning to introduce a number of new client services, including Time Definite Delivery and Deutsche Post Global mail.'"

September 16, 2002 -- Read the Federal Times' take on the Postal Service's most recent financial news.

September 15, 2002 -- Auctionbytes.com has reported that "Stamps.com announced that customer acceptance of its printable postage service called NetStamps continues to be strong. In the first 6 weeks following launch, the company sold over 330 thousand NetStamps label sheets."

September 14, 2002 -- The Financial Times has reported that British "stamp prices should rise by a penny from next spring, the postal regulator is expected to announce next week. Postcomm is likely to suggest that alongside the increase, which would net Royal Mail 170m pounds a year, the company should face tougher performance targets and a compensation scheme for customers."

September 14, 2002 -- The Malta Star has reported that "yet another hiccup at Maltapost following the partial privatisation and takeover of management by New Zealand's Transend, with the expatriate occupying the second most senior management post tendering his resignation. Pat Burke's resignation comes only a few months after Bob McGregor was dismissed from the post of CEO with Maltapost Maltapost's general manager (postal services), Pat Burke, has tendered his resignation. The Maltapost board of directors is believed to have accepted Mr Burke's resignation. Maltapost said that Mr Burke relinquished his post for personal reasons. The post of general manager (postal services) is one of two top management posts for which Transend is directly responsible. The persons who are chosen to fill in these posts are handpicked by the New Zealand company. Pat Burke's resignation comes only a few months after Bob McGregor was dismissed from the post of CEO with Maltapost."

September 14, 2002 -- All Africa Global Media has reported that "the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) has for the second time in about two weeks successfully conducted raids and arrests of those conducting illegal courier business within the Lagos metropolis. Those affected by the action were Delta Line Courier, Transworld Courier, Akinskevin Express and KTA Freight/Courier."

September 14, 2002 -- The Journal of Commerce has reported that:

• United Parcel Service will raise its fuel surcharge from the current rate of 0.75 percent to 1 percent, effective Oct. 7. The surcharge applies to both ground and air shipments, and is based on an August jump in the national average of highway diesel fuel prices reported by the U.S. Department of Energy.United Parcel Service will raise its fuel surcharge from the current rate of 0.75 percent to 1 percent, effective Oct. 7. The surcharge applies to both ground and air shipments, and is based on an August jump in the national average of highway diesel fuel prices reported by the U.S. Department of Energy.
• Blue Dart, India's biggest domestic express company, has shifted its international partnership from FedEx Corp. to DHL Worldwide Express. Blue Dart and DHL have entered into a five-year sales alliance effective Oct.1, both companies announced here.

September 14, 2002 -- Hoovers Online has reported a change for Mailboxes, Etc. "Same service, but a different name and lower prices -- that's the message franchise owners hope to get across next week when the region's 31 Mail Boxes Etc. stores begin to change their names to UPS Service Centers."

September 14, 2002 -- Blue Dart, India's biggest domestic express company, has shifted its international partnership from FedEx Corp. to DHL Worldwide Express. Blue Dart and DHL have entered into a five-year sales alliance effective Oct.1, both companies announced here.

September 13, 2002 -- CargoWeb News has reported that "Airborne Express will increase its existing fuel surcharge from 2.9 per cent to 3.5 per cent for all air express shipments moving through its transportation network, effective October 7, 2002. 'This surcharge applies to all domestic, Canadian, and International Express shipments. Airborne will also increase the existing fuel surcharge for its Ground Delivery Service and airborne@home shipments from 1.0 per cent to 1.2 per cent on the same date.

September 13, 2002 -- DM News has reported that "the U.S. Postal Service's ride-along program has generated $15 million in revenue since is inception in February of 2000, said Vito Fortuna, a sales specialist with the agency's New York metro area direct marketing team, at a 'Power Breakfast' sponsored by the team here yesterday. The purpose of the breakfast was to present mail-based marketing strategies to publishers and direct marketers in the New York area."

September 13, 2002 -- Be sure to check out the Eyefortransport.com interview with DHL Chairman and CEO Uwe R. Doerken.

September 13, 2002 -- The Pasadena Star has reported that "union officials are again rallying to fight a proposal by the Postal Service to move outgoing mail services from the Mack Robinson Postal Facility, a plan that would, among other things, eliminate the Pasadena postmark. During the last six months of 2001, the local union picketed three times to protest the plan. The Postal Service put the consolidation plans on hold, reevaluated them, and is now proceeding again, said Terri Bouffiou, Postal Service spokeswoman. Pickets will be at the facility again today to publicize the situation."

September 13, 2002 -- Expatica .com has reported that "For the first time in post-war German history, postal rates for standard mail are to be reduced after a decision taken Thursday by the Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Posts in Bonn. The agency approved postal company Deutsche Post's proposals for an average 4.7 percent cut in rates starting 1 January 2003. Under the new scheme, a standard letter of up to 20g would be reduced by one cent to 55 euro cents. Postcard stamps will be 6 cents cheaper at 45 cents."

September 12, 2002 -- The Newtown Bee has reported that "the US Postal Service has decided to pull the sorting machines out of the Newtown office just a few years after they were first installed. Postal officials now say that all Newtown mail will be sorted at the regional facility in Wallingford. 'We're taking them out," announced USPS spokesperson George Maffett. "Operationally, it's more efficient to do it in Wallingford thanks to the improved readability of our software.' In addition, he said, the decrease in the volume of mail is allowing the postal service to process the mail at a more centralized site." In case you haven't noticed it, this is part of the Postal Service's nationwide belt-tightening.

September 12, 2002 -- According to NZ Zoom Australia Business News "NZ Post reckons its service is among the best in the world, with 96.1% of mail delivered on time. Elmar Toime says that rate compares with La Poste in France (77%), the Royal Mail (86.6%), Ireland's An Post (87%), the US Postal Service (94%) and Finland Post (94.7%). Australia Post comes closest at 95.5% in Toime's example selection. NZ Post has a target of 95% for on time delivery. Standard post should get across town by the next working day and within three days between urban centres; FastPost should be in urban centres throughout the country by the next day." See also Scoop New Zealand.

September 12, 2002 -- John Kuiper, formerly the chief operating office of UPS Mail Innovations (Washington, DC), has been named general manager of a new joint venture between Deutsche Post and Van Gend & Loos Euro Express which will provide a competitive mail service to TPG's.

September 12, 2002 -- According to Dow Jones, "the commercial printing business in the U.S. will probably remain 'pretty flat' in 2003 after bottoming out during 2002, R R Donnelley & Sons Co. (DNY) Chief Executive Officer William L. Davis said Thursday. Looking forward to 2003, Davis said: 'I'm suggesting to our people - pretty flat first half - and I don't have any sense or visibility beyond that.'"

September 12, 2002 -- DM News has reported that "though the U.S. Postal Service and others are intrigued by a time-sensitive business reply envelope invented by Bob Fredman, everyone concedes that many kinks remain to be worked out before the idea becomes reality. His concept, called Urgent Reply Mail, is basically a business reply mail envelope with an expiration date. Businesses would send the URM envelope along with bills to customers, who would have to mail their payment by a predetermined date to take advantage of prepaid postage. After that date, the customer would have to put a stamp on the envelope."

September 12, 2002 -- MaltaMedia has reported that "Maltapost has recently introduced new letter sorting procedures at its postal branch in Naxxar. Using the 9000 sort cases system, which was developed in New Zealand, the sorting procedures at the Naxxar delivery branch have significantly improved and become more efficient, resulting in less inside sorting time for the postal operators."

September 12, 2002 -- The Associated Press has reported that"a federal judge has ruled that [USPS letter carrier] Roger Merle cannot walk a mail route if he wants to run for office. Merle is the Green Party candidate for Congress from the 2nd District, but letter carriers are among the millions of federal employees barred by the Hatch Act from seeking a partisan office."

September 12, 2002 -- U-TV (Ireland) has reported that "Ireland's state-backed An Post postal company is to create 200 jobs as part of a 97 million mail automation programme."

September 12, 2002 -- Bernama.com has reported that "Malaysia and Syria will cooperate in the field of information and communications technology (ICT) through promoting integral industry links between the public and private sectors of the two countries. Among the scope of cooperation are human resource development, research and development, postal services modernisation and development, e-government as well as telecommunications tariffs and regulation."

September 12, 2002 -- Scoop Business (NZ) has reported that "Transend Worldwide Ltd, New Zealand Post's international postal consultancy subsidiary, has recently signed contracts for work in four Pacific nations. Acting Managing Director John Allen said the contracts in Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji confirmed the potential to export knowledge, services and equipment developed by New Zealand Post."

September 12, 2002 -- The Asahi Shimbun has reported that the Japanese Supreme Court has ruled the postal law was unconstitutional in setting limits on seeking damages when registered mail is mistakenly delivered."

September 12, 2002 -- The Journal of Commerce has reported that:

• Air France Cargo said it has added 81 U.S. destinations to the 12 cities already covered under its express service from Europe. The carrier was able to add the new cities on the back of its cargo alliance with Delta Air Logistics.
• The United States has rejected British proposals for a limited liberalization of trans-Atlantic air services that would have improved traffic rights for U.S. cargo and express carriers. Washington's move also damps the hopes of several U.S. passenger airlines, including Delta, Continental, US Airways and Northwest, of launching trans-Atlantic services to London Heathrow, the world's busiest international airport.

September 12, 2002 -- The Milwaukee Business Journal has reported that "the package shipping services division of Greyhound Lines Inc., Dallas, is expanding its shipping services by adding services from United Parcel Services of America Inc. at its bus stations in Milwaukee and 31 other cities."

September 12, 2002 -- Four operating companies of FedEx Corporation have been recognized for their dedication to exceptional service, reliability and on-time performance in the 2002 Quest for Quality survey. FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight and FedEx Supply Chain Services were chosen as among the best providers in their respective categories by readers of Logistics Management & Distribution Report.

September 12, 2002 -- The Valdosta Times (GA) has reported that a "UPS driver has shunned any role as a federal spy.

September 12, 2002 -- Business First (Louisville, KY) has reported that "officials with the Independent Pilots Association, the Louisville-based bargaining unit for pilots working for United Parcel Service Inc. (NYSE: UPS), are calling for tighter security measures on cargo aircraft and airfields."

September 12, 2002 -- Business Times (Malaysia) has reported that "POS Malaysia & Services Holdings Bhd hopes to set up between four and six postal outlets at Petronas petrol stations by the end of the year. Pos Malaysia, which signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Petronas Dagangan Bhd yesterday, said it has also agreed to explore the possibility of opening up to 30 such co-location outlets a year."

September 12, 2002 -- According to VoicesNews.com, "some mailboxes fit into the historic district of town. Others do not and, according to the Historic District Commission ,the recently installed FedEx box in front of the local Post Office is one of the latter."

September 11, 2002 -- Reuters has reported that "United Parcel Service Inc, the world's No. 1 package carrier, said on Tuesday it had reached a five-year contract deal with unionized mechanics and other workers at its in-house airline. The tentative contract calls for 'industry-leading wages', runs to Nov. 1, 2006, and is retroactive to August."

September 11, 2002 -- According to the Blytheville Courier News, "a two-week mail-sorting operation which has been staged in Blytheville (AR) for the past several years may not be coming back. The United States Postal Service, which contracts with Kitty Hawk Inc. to stage the local mail-sorting operations, have cited financial problems being experienced by the Postal Service as the reason for the change. In addition to closing the operation at the Arkansas Aeroplex in Blytheville, the Postal Service will also shut down a similar operation in Ontario, Calif. All Christmas mail sorting will take place at the Postal Service's permanent hub in Indianapolis.

September 11, 2002 -- The East African Standard has reported that "the Postal Corporation of Kenya ( PCK) plans to increase service charges by over 30 per cent. The corporation has applied for the Communication Commission of Kenya's (CCK) approval to revise tariffs on postage of letters, aerogrammes and postcards. According to the latest edition of the Kenya Gazette, if approved, the the cost of posting letters will go up from Sh 19 to Sh 25, a 31.5 per cent."

September 11, 2002 -- The Independent (U.K.) has reported that "The price of first and second class post is to rise by 1p from next April but after that it will be frozen for three years, the postal regulator Postcomm is set to announce. Postcomm is also preparing to unveil new performance targets for Consignia which will require it to compensate customers if it fails to deliver 91.5 per cent of first class letters the next day in any part of the country. The overall national target for first class letter delivery is also being increased to 93 per cent. The price changes, due to be unveiled later this week, will increase the cost of a first class stamp to 28p and a second class stamp to 20p and will be worth £170m to Consignia in a full year.

September 11, 2002 -- According to Newsday, "the four major package delivery companies - UPS, Federal Express, Airborne Express and DHL - paid nearly $7.3 million in parking tickets in New York City from June 2001 to this past July, according to city records."

September 10, 2002 --The U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) has reported that "USPS has not adequately tested the HEPA air filtration system to confirm that it will meet its intended purpose of trapping anthrax spores and its secondary purpose of cleaning the mail processing equipment. USPS’s testing has not shown conclusively (1) the HEPA air filtration system’s ability to trap released hazards and other contaminants, and (2) what level of hazards or contaminants could be released into the mail processing environment as a result of the air filtration system’s design. We recognize the challenge that USPS faces in trying to protect its workers from airborne biohazards while trying to maintain its operations and control costs. However, without adequate testing USPS has no assurance that investing in air filtration equipment will provide adequate risk reduction to its employees. Furthermore, USPS has not verified through testing that the air filtration system will not interfere with the air sampling and detection equipment."

September 10, 2002 -- Les Echos (France) has reported that "Jean-Paul Bailly, the chairman of the Paris public transport authority (RATP), is expected to be appointed chairman of the French post office (La Poste) tomorrow. The outgoing La Poste chairman is Martin Vial."

September 10, 2002 -- With 750 billion US$ being invested in the global postal business each year, POST-EXPO 2002 in Cologne, Germany, offers representatives from the postal and related industries the opportunity to view the latest generation technology available on the market. POST-EXPO 2002 also features a World Postal Business Forum, a Technology Forum and eight Technology Workshops. It will all be taking place under one roof at the Köln Messe from 8 to 10 October 2002.

September 10, 2002 -- The International Mailers Action Group will be providing an update on the latest postal happenings from around the world on Sunday, September 22, 2002 at the National Postal Forum in Boston. For further information, contact IMAG's executive director, Richard Miller.

September 10, 2002 -- According to the Asahi (Japan) news service, "the report from Koizumi's advisers includes three different privatization proposals. The first would involve a special postal services corporation partly owned by the government. The second would privatize all postal services, from mail delivery to postal savings and insurance. The third plan would privatize mail delivery and eliminate postal savings and insurance altogether.

September 10, 2002 -- The New York Times has reported that "as postal authorities scramble to strengthen security of the mail, they face a daunting realization: the process will take years, it will cost at least a billion dollars and until it is finished the nation is probably even more vulnerable than it was last fall, when anthrax-tainted letters killed five people, sickened at least 17 more and caused widespread disruption and fear. Engineers are rushing to devise steps to deter bioterrorist mailings, or to speed detection of any such attacks. They are reconsidering almost every step in the chain that moves 200 billion pieces of mail a year — from the design of the 350,000 street-corner mailboxes to the way postage stamps are printed and sold. Meanwhile, though, the postal system stands revealed as a potent tool for terrorism."

September 10, 2002 -- The Australian has reported that "after rebuking staff for being too fat and using too much toilet paper, Australia Post is giving them a $300 bonus. About 32,700 posties, mail sorters and counter staff will receive the extra cash for achieving delivery targets. An audit by KPMG found that 96 per cent of standard mail reached its destination on time or early."

September 10, 2002 -- Business First has reported that "Sept. 11 was an eye opener for workers at United Parcel Service Inc.'s international air hub, logistics facility and ancillary operations in Louisville. The three-day shutdown of the nation's air system following the terrorist attacks pushed the cargo-shipping company to implement a contingency plan using UPS's extensive ground transportation network."

September 10, 2002 -- According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, "new regulations proposed by the federal Department of Transportation to protect shipments of hazardous materials from becoming weapons for terrorists could cost United Parcel Service Inc. and its customers millions of dollars and disrupt service."

September 10, 2002 -- According to Traffic World, "now there are just four survivors from the Top 50 carriers from 1980, the year trucking was deregulated. Shippers are bracing for higher trucking rates."

September 10, 2002 -- The Journal of Commerce has reported that:

• DHL Airways Inc., in a filing with the U.S. Department of Transportation, reiterated its position that it continues to satisfy the statutory requirements for U.S. citizenship applicable to airlines. DHL Airways's largest shareholder is William A. Robinson, a private investor. Robinson, a U.S. citizen, controls 75 percent of the voting stock and appoints three-quarters of the airline's board of directors, each of whom must be citizens of the U.S.
• DHL Worldwide Express has announced that it was expanding its global service parts logistics network in the United States and Canada with the opening of an Express Logistics Center (ELC) in San Francisco, CA.

September 10, 2002 -- Die Welt (Germany) has reported that "Deutsche Post, Germany's postal services operator, has adjusted both its turnover and profit forecast downwards. Management now expects turnover of nearly 40bn euros and operating profits of between 2.2bn euros and 2.3bn euros for 2002."

September 9, 2002 -- The Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Japan) has reported that as part "of the process leading up to the privatization of the [Japanese] postal services, the streamlining of the services now seems inevitable, including job cuts and closing down post offices. In order for the postal corporation to become a stock company and then go public, it must increase the efficiency of its business, and this means cuts in labor costs are essential. Discussions about privatization are now shifting to wage and job cuts in the postal delivery business, in which profitability is shrinking due to competition with private-sector couriers. Also requiring urgency is revamping the network of some 25,000 post offices nationwide. Calls for shutting down post offices -- particularly in rural areas -- are growing because only 5,000 post offices or so are necessary for mail collection and delivery. Even some Posts Ministry officials are complaining that there are too many post offices in sparsely populated areas.

September 9, 2002 -- According to Le Monde (France), "the French government has said that Martin Vial has been dismissed from his position as chairman of French post office La Poste because the group did not report good results, and not because he is a socialist. La Poste's postal and financial services divisions must be revamped in preparation for its privatisation. Competition in postal services will gradually increase and will affect 33 per cent of La Poste's activities in 2003, 50 per cent in 2006 and 100 per cent by 2009. The group's market share will be reduced and income will drop as La Poste will be forced to reduce its tariffs to remain competitive."

September 9, 2002 -- The Moscow Times has reported that "Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov has signed a decree creating state-owned postal service Russian Post (Pochta Rossii), the government press service said in a statement Friday. The ruling set Russian Post under control of the Communications Ministry. Earlier this year, the government approved a reform program for the postal service placing all postal organizations under state control in the form of a company, which would subsequently be turned into a state-owned joint-stock company. The reform is aimed at increasing the efficiency, speed and quality of the postal service in Russia. According to the program, the postal service's restructuring will take up to four years."

September 9, 2002 -- The Federal Times has reported that stagnant mail volumes could mean a postal rate increase sometime in 2004.

September 9, 2002 -- Les Echos (France) has reported that the "French national postal service La Poste is to launch Tem'Poste, a service for major businesses which guarantees them delivery times for their industrial post. The new service, which is a first in Europe, includes penalties for La Poste if it fails to fulfil its promises. The guaranteed delivery times range from two to seven days, depending on the items delivered. La Poste will pay its clients fines ranging from 30 per cent to 100 per cent of the delivery charge if mailed goods are late. Industrial post represents about 3bn euros in turnover a year."

September 8, 2002 -- Catalog Age has reported that "despite all the encouraging news, USPS chief financial officer/executive vice president Dick Strasser tells CATALOG AGE that catalogers shouldn_t count on any kind of delay in the next postal rate increase. Earlier this year, Postmaster General Jack Potter promised there would be no postage increase before 2004. But Strasser says the agency hasn_t "made any commitment further than that." In fact, Strasser downplays the $600 million projected surplus, which is less than 1% of the USPS_s $70 billion operation. "One might term it virtual breakeven, in fact," he says, "as opposed to significant net income." By law, the USPS is supposed to break even. "I_d hope the Postal Service could be bold enough that given assumptions on the economy and mail volume, they may actually be able to hold off filing for a rate increase to some later date," counters Association for Postal Commerce president Gene Del Polito. "Things can certainly change, " Strasser says. "The biggest question is the behavior of volume in the mailing industry. Are we going to see a rebound? If the trend in electronic bill payments accelerates, that_s a concern of ours. We_ll have to see as 2003 unfolds."

September 8, 2002 -- Direct magazine has reported that "the Postal Rate Commission has ordered a status report on Post E.C.S., an experimental document service for direct marketers from the U.S. Postal Service. The order came as the PRC reopened its suspended proceedings on a challenge to the service. The PRC called for the report in an order signed by Commissioner Dana Covington who had been presiding over the hearings on a challenge to the service by Atlanta-based United Parcel Service and the Coalition Against Unfair USPS Competition. While the order calls for the USPS report on Post E.C.S. to be delivered by Sept. 19, it also gives challengers UPS and the Coalition an extra week, until Sept. 26, to comment on it."

September 8, 2002 -- The remarks delivered by Postmaster General Jack Potter to the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors at its September meeting have been posted on this site.

September 8, 2002 -- Peoples Daily (China) has reported that "China Post has updated its tracking and checking system for the Express Mail Service (EMS) and integrated the system into its nationwide computer network"

September 7, 2002 -- The Associated Press has reported that "thanks to an aggressive campaign of cost-cutting, including a major cut in staff, the Postal Service is finishing the fiscal year in better financial condition than anticipated. Postmaster General John E. Potter said Friday the agency expects to finish the fiscal year this month with a 1.2 billion loss. The post office had expected to lose $1.35 billion for the year, and at times after the terrorist attacks and anthrax-by-mail contamination loss estimates threatened to reach several billion dollars. In addition to the improvement this year, continued cost-cutting and the rate increase that took effect this summer are expected to push the post office into the black in 2003 with a profit of $600 million, he said. Potter repeated his promise that postal rates won't go up again until at least 2004." See also the Washington Post.

September 7, 2002 -- The Wall Street Journal has reported that "DHL Airways Inc., in a filing with the U.S. Department of Transportation, reiterated its position that it continues to satisfy the statutory requirements for U.S. citizenship applicable to airlines."

September 7, 2002 -- According to the National Post (Canada), "privatization -- the sale or transfer of public assets to the private sector -- used to be praised as sound policy by many Canadian politicians. Today, most of them just heap scorn on it."

September 7, 2002 -- The West Australian has reported that "the price of ordinary stamps is set to rise next year - for the first time in a decade - after the increase passed muster with Australia's consumer watchdog yesterday. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has approved conditional moves by Australia Post to lift its price from 45¢ to 50¢, to take effect in January. But it torpedoed other proposed price rises relating to bulk mail, big letters and local delivery services."

September 7, 2002 -- According to the Journal of Commerce:

• First-half sales for the Danzas Group totaled 4.4 billion ($4.32 billion), off 5.8 percent from a year ago, while earnings before interest, taxes and amortization (Ebita) gained 8.1 percent to $78 million. The Group said it increased its worldwide market share in air freight exports to 6.2 percent in 2001, up from 6 percent the previous year. The Basel-based logistics subsidiary of Deutsche Post World Net said that it remained the regional leader in Europe with a market share of 10.3 percent and North America, 8.2 percent. Danzas said it topped the South America market with a 7.1 percent share and remained third in Asia/Oceania at 4 percent. Danzas based its rankings on data from the International Air Transport Association and by Cargo Network Services. See also the report by Eyefortransport.com.
• Less-than-truckload carrier Con-Way Transportation Services, Inc. has launched Con-Way Deferred, a new service that lets shippers trade transcontinental speed for lower rates.

September 7, 2002 -- The Irish Times has reported that:

• Members of the Irish Postmasters' Union have accepted proposals to allow AIB customers lodge and withdraw their money at post offices nationwide.
• The popularity of the State's postal service has decreased significantly in the past five years, with 40 per cent of businesses and individuals sending less mail than in 1997 preferring to use telephone, the internet and e-mail instead.

September 7, 2002 -- The Japan Times has reported that "an advisory panel to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Friday compiled a final report featuring three plans for the future privatization of the nation's postal services. The report, virtually unchanged from a final draft released Aug. 27, was submitted to Koizumi at the Prime Minister's Official Residence later in the day. The prime minister has declared postal services reform the centerpiece of his structural reform drive."

September 7, 2002 -- Le Monde (France) has reported that "the French government has said that Martin Vial has been dismissed from his position as chairman of French post office La Poste because the group did not report good results, and not because he is a socialist. La Poste's postal and financial services divisions must be revamped in preparation for its privatisation. Competition in postal services will gradually increase and will affect 33 per cent of La Poste's activities in 2003, 50 per cent in 2006 and 100 per cent by 2009. The group's market share will be reduced and income will drop as La Poste will be forced to reduce its tariffs to remain competitive."

September 7, 2002 -- The BBC Monitoring Service has reported that the Russian "Federal Postal Service is teaming up with private partners to provide readers in the far reaches of Russia with the latest editions of Moscow newspapers. Internet provider RTComm.ru, a spin-off of No 1 long-distance fixed-line operator Rostelekom, and leading system integrator Information Business Systems (IBS) are launching the pilot project, called Elektronnaya Gazeta (E-Newspaper). The project involves installing terminals in the regions to receive an electronic version of the Moscow newspapers, which can be printed out later."

September 6, 2002 -- Here is a summary of the news from the September meeting of the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors:

• The Governors of the Postal Service approved today the filing with the Postal Rate Commission of two targeted pricing initiatives that are designed to encourage greater efficiencies and to take advantage of the Postal Service's existing pricing flexibility. The two initiatives will be filed with the Postal Rate Commission as experiments. The first is a new classification for Periodicals. The other supports a negotiated service agreement (NSA) between the Postal Service and Capital One Services, Inc., its fourth largest customer and the largest single producer of First-Class Mail.
• Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President Richard Strasser presented the Postal Service's integrated financial plan for fiscal year 2003 at today's meeting of the Board of Governors, covering operating, capital investment and financing plans. The plan calls for a net income of $600 million for the year and the first reduction in outstanding debt since 1997.
• Despite a continuing weak economy and reduced mail volumes, sweeping organizational changes that focus on the core business of delivering the mail - and the dedication of postal employees nationwide - have achieved extraordinary service improvements and cost savings that are expected to trim this year's expected net loss of $1.2 billion, well below earlier projections that ranged as high as $4.5 billion. Postmaster General John E. Potter said measures taken to minimize the loss included reducing the number of career employees by 23,000 this year through attrition, and that 77 million work hours will be cut compared to last year. In addition, realignment of field management structures, aggressive balancing of work hours against appropriate workloads, and postponing a number of program expenditures have combined to reduce costs by more than $2.5 billion this fiscal year.

September 6, 2002 -- CEP News (Courier- Express- and Postal-Market News) has reported that:

• The Norwegian national post Posten Norge reports stagnant turnover figures and a drop in earnings for the first half of 2002.
• The operative profit shown by the Swedish post for the first half of 2002 (CEP News 35/02) was only achieved through the adjustment of provisions. When taking into account this factor the post has suffered another operative loss of 37.8m euros, which is even 36% higher than in the previous year.
• During the first half of 2002 the Austrian post experienced a 2% drop in turnover. The post says the decline in turnover is a result of the negative general economic trend_ with repercussions mainly on the letter market. The courier-express-parcel segment had suffered chiefly through the decline in mail-order business.
• The Swiss Schweizerische Post has acquired a British CEP service provider. Mailroom Management Service (MMS) was taken over by the post's subsidiary Mail Source with effect from 2 September 2002.
• The Danish post is investing 31m euros in further letter-sorting automation. This is the amount received by the electronics group NEC in return for nine machines for the sorting of large letters.
• At the weekend a group of ten German courier services founded the UNO Projekt association in Berlin with the aim of promoting their plans for an independent nightline and overnight network system

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.

September 6, 2002 -- According to one writer for the Financial Times (U.K.), labor dispute "arbitration is not an elixir that can cure bad employee relations. Its impact is only likely to be positive if its limitations are respected, and the full complextity of dispute resolution borne in mind."

September 6, 2002 -- China Daily has reported that "at a time when the Internet is biting into postal operators' profits, Chinese postal companies are jumping on the technology bandwagon. They hope that web services can breathe new life into the traditional postal service, providing a fresh source of revenue. Providers of web solutions have been licking their lips at the prospect of creating a web system for the mail service."

September 6, 2002 -- The BBC Monitoring Service has reported that:

• Russia's Federal Postal Service requires upgrades worth 1bn dollars annually within the next three years.The most urgent requirement is upgrading the service's 17,000 vehicles. In order to boost profitability, the service is expected to centralize purchasing management and develop express post services, parcel trade, logistics and financial services countrywide.
• Russia's Communications and IT Ministry expects to increase the number of public-access Internet outlets at Russian post offices to 15,000 by the end of 2003. Currently, 2,200 Internet outlets are available in post offices across Russia. The Federal Postal Service invested R42m in setting up Internet outlets last year. This year, the project is expected to require at least R12-15m. There are about 40,000 post offices in Russia.

September 6, 2002 -- Here is a summary of the news from the September meeting of the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors:

• The Governors of the Postal Service approved today the filing with the Postal Rate Commission of two targeted pricing initiatives that are designed to encourage greater efficiencies and to take advantage of the Postal Service's existing pricing flexibility. The two initiatives will be filed with the Postal Rate Commission as experiments. The first is a new classification for Periodicals. The other supports a negotiated service agreement (NSA) between the Postal Service and Capital One Services, Inc., its fourth largest customer and the largest single producer of First-Class Mail.
• Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President Richard Strasser presented the Postal Service's integrated financial plan for fiscal year 2003 at today's meeting of the Board of Governors, covering operating, capital investment and financing plans. The plan calls for a net income of $600 million for the year and the first reduction in outstanding debt since 1997.
• Despite a continuing weak economy and reduced mail volumes, sweeping organizational changes that focus on the core business of delivering the mail - and the dedication of postal employees nationwide - have achieved extraordinary service improvements and cost savings that are expected to trim this year's expected net loss of $1.2 billion, well below earlier projections that ranged as high as $4.5 billion. Postmaster General John E. Potter said measures taken to minimize the loss included reducing the number of career employees by 23,000 this year through attrition, and that 77 million work hours will be cut compared to last year. In addition, realignment of field management structures, aggressive balancing of work hours against appropriate workloads, and postponing a number of program expenditures have combined to reduce costs by more than $2.5 billion this fiscal year.

September 6, 2002 -- CEP News (Courier- Express- and Postal-Market News) has reported that: 

• The Norwegian national post Posten Norge reports stagnant turnover figures and a drop in earnings for the first half of 2002.
• The operative profit shown by the Swedish post for the first half of 2002 (CEP News 35/02) was only achieved through the adjustment of provisions. When taking into account this factor the post has suffered another operative loss of 37.8m euros, which is even 36% higher than in the previous year.
• During the first half of 2002 the Austrian post experienced a 2% drop in turnover. The post says the decline in turnover is a result of _the negative general economic trend_ with repercussions mainly on the letter market. The courier-express-parcel segment had suffered chiefly through the decline in mail-order business.
• The Swiss Schweizerische Post has acquired a British CEP service provider. Mailroom Management Service (MMS) was taken over by the post_s subsidiary Mail Source with effect from 2 September 2002.
• The Danish post is investing 31m euros in further letter-sorting automation. This is the amount received by the electronics group NEC in return for nine machines for the sorting of large letters.
• At the weekend a group of ten German courier services founded the UNO Projekt association in Berlin with the aim of promoting their plans for an independent nightline and overnight network system

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.

September 6, 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.

September 6, 2002 -- According to one writer for the Financial Times (U.K.), labor dispute "arbitration is not an elixir that can cure bad employee relations. Its impact is only likely to be positive if its limitations are respected, and the full complextity of dispute resolution borne in mind."

September 5, 2002 -- The San Francisco Chronicle has reported that "in retrospect, CNF Inc. made a wise decision almost seven years ago when it spun off its long-haul, unionized trucking company.According to analysts and published reports, the Palo Alto company might spin off Con-Way Transportation, its regional, nonunion trucking operation. That would leave CNF with two major businesses: Menlo Logistics and Emery air freight."

September 5, 2002 -- Business Line (India) has reported that "the proposed Communications Commission should be the regulator to license the corporatised postal services and couriers, monitor the performance of the licensees, set tariffs and protect consumer interest."

September 5, 2002 -- The Korea Times has reported that "the nation's Post Office will be required to share the burden of public fund losses with banks and other financial institutions over the next 25 years. Announcing a draft bill on the payment of unrecoverable public funds yesterday, the Ministry of Finance and Economy said the Post Office will be forced to pay about 45 billion won yearly until 2027 under the burden-sharing plan. The annual burden is equivalent to about 0.1 percent of the Post Office's customer deposits and insurance assets, which are currently estimated at 47 trillion won."

September 4, 2002 -- According to the Wall Street Journal,:

• In the past year, the U.S. Postal Service has eliminated more than 1,600 mail-delivery routes in cities across the country, assigning stops along those routes to other letter carriers. Routes eliminated over the past year represent only about 1% of the country's 166,000 city delivery routes, which handle about 60% of the Postal Service's daily load of 687 million pieces. The cuts come despite the addition of 464,000 city addresses in the past year. The result is that the typical carrier is now making 504 delivery stops a day, up 2% from two years ago.
• The race to get consumers to pay bills electronically is clicking into high gear. Why is electronic bill payment becoming a mantra for so many businesses? Some of course hope to save on postage and other administrative costs. But it also reflects how badly companies want to hang onto customers right now. They know that once a customer has gone through all the trouble of setting up electronic bill payment, he or she is less likely to switch loyalties

September 4, 2002 -- USAToday has reported that "Dr. Steven J. Hatfill, who says the federal government has ruined his life by linking him to the anthrax investigation, was fired Tuesday from his job as a researcher at Louisiana State University."

September 4, 2002 -- According to postal guru Alan Robinson, President of CEO of Direct Communications Group, his review of the latest of the Postal Service's accounting period reports suggests:

The Postal Service has done a remarkable job of managing cash this year and could end up increasing borrowing to less than $1 billion and possibly even less than ½ a billion dollars. This compares to an increase in borrowing of $2 BILLION between 2000 and 2001. The decline in the amount of the borrowing increase came from two factors: 1) the USPS cut capital spending by $1.1 billion and 2) the USPS cut supplies and services contracts by at least 500 million. In all likelihood, the cut in spending this year may eliminate the need for raising the debt ceiling. It looks like a worst case scenario keeps the USPS under the $15 billion cap until 2005 or 2006. I would expect that the USPS to borrow almost $2 billion in 2003 to cover restructuring costs from the network reconfiguration. This would leave them with less than $1 billion for 2004. These figures suggest that the capital spending freeze, except for capital spending relating to restructuring will likely last through at least 2004.

September 4, 2002 -- The Associated Press has reported that "The collapse of Consolidated Freightways gives other struggling trucking companies an opportunity to gain market share and raise prices at a time of soft demand. Shares of several large rivals made double-digit percentage gains as investors bet they would pick up much of the business left behind by Vancouver, Wash.-based Consolidated, which abruptly shut down Tuesday."

September 4, 2002 -- According to KATU-TV, "analysts say the abrupt closure of Consolidated Freightways may cause short-term turbulence for some of its largest customers -- including Home Depot, the US Postal Service and General Electric. Consolidated, controlled about 15 percent of the domestic long-haul trucking market before it announced yesterday that it will shut down its US operations -- laying off more than 15,000 workers."

September 4, 2002 -- The Voice of America has reported that "consumer confidence in Italy dropped to the lowest level in August in almost three years in another sign that economic growth in Europe is stalling. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi last week froze prices for electricity, gas and postal services until the end of November, as the government studies price controls for next year." What a great idea...postal price controls....

September 4, 2002 -- La Tribune (France) has reported that "La Poste, the French national postal services group, has launched a new service, Tem'Post, which guarantees delivery times for large companies, promising to repay between 30 per cent and 100 per cent of delivery charges in the event of delays. The service will involve the delivery of more than 8 billion objects a year and about 3bn euros in annual turnover, amounting to 30 per cent of the courier delivery market in France. La Poste is eager to retain the 3-4,000 business clients concerned, which will be increasingly important as the European courtier market is deregulated from the end of 2003."

September 4, 2002 -- The Miami News-Record has reported that the "Miami Post Office has joined offices statewide in a 'Teddy Bears for Tots' campaign designed to provide child advocacy centers throughout the state with a comforting tool."

September 4, 2002 -- The BBC has reported that"

• India's postal service, the world's largest, has been opened up to private sector advertising to raise money for modernisation. The government will allow advertisers to push their products on letterboxes, postcards and on workers' uniforms for the first time.
• Director-Gener al of the World Postal Union [WPU] Thomas I. Levy is on an official visit to Mongolia at the invitation of Infrastructure Minister B. Jigjid. During his visit, a document of the Mongolian International project agreed between the Ministry of Infrastructure and the WPU is to be signed.

September 3, 2002 -- According to postal commentator Gene Del Polito in an article prepared for Direct magazine, the Postal Service's Simple Formulas advertising campaign seems right on target.

September 3, 2002 -- In its latest issue, Business Mailers Review has reported that:

• Senior postal managers will be meeting on September 4 with the Association of Priority Mail Users to consider concerns about service, consistency, and cost of the USPS' Priority Mail Service.
• The Postal Service's Network Integration and Alignment (NIA) project is nearing the completion of its first step. NIA is intended to provide the USPS with data that can be used to redefine and realign its operational network.
• Now that the Postal Service is charging for its Confirm service, some mailers are complaining that Planet Code scan rates on flats are too low. The USPS has acknowledged that flats scan rates are averaging 50-60%. Some mailer printers are not recommending the Confirm service for flats to their customers.

Business Mailers Review (BMR) is one of the more authoritative postal news sources in the nation. It is considered must reading by many within the highest ranks of the business mailing community--including the Postal Service, the Postal Rate Commission, and many on Capitol Hill. For information on how to subscribe to BMR, contact Sedgwick Publishing Co by calling +1 301 528 0011.

September 3, 2002 -- The Wall Street Journal has reported that "air-cargo volume grew last month by its largest percentage in almost two years, showing that at least some businesses that use planes to replenish their inventories and move finished goods are gaining momentum despite the stop-and-start economic recovery."

September 3, 2002 -- Mail Boxes Etc. (MBE) is implementing a nationwide Pack, Ship & Earn Extra Credit promotion designed to financially benefit local schools. When a customer uses MBE to pack and ship an item, MBE will donate a portion of the proceeds to the customer's choice of participating schools. The donations can be used by recipient schools for a variety of educational needs, such as purchasing computer equipment and/or educational software, going on class field trips, and improving the educational environment of classrooms.

September 3, 2002 -- The Federal Times has reported that "as the General Accounting Office begins an investigation into whether health agencies and the U.S. Postal Service mishandled their response to the anthrax attacks, an American Postal Workers Union local in Connecticut said it will sue the Postal Service for endangering workers."

September 3, 2002 -- According to the Portland Press Herald, "the longest-running American experiment in the partial privatization of government services has just entered its fourth decade, and the outcome has not been good....Certain public functions - mail delivery is one - simply cannot be carried out in a business framework; they are by their very nature nonprofit governmental activities. The mistake of the privatizers (and partial privatizers) is to think that everything can operate on a money-making basis. In truth, the postal system can't do so and retain its intrinsic character, and neither can other critically needed public enterprises, such as rail transportation."

September 3, 2002 -- According to DM News, "the U.S. Postal Service is promoting its direct mail services, Priority Mail and Global Delivery services to minority-owned small businesses through a series of direct mail campaigns. The efforts are aimed at small and mid-sized businesses owned by Hispanics, blacks and Asian-Americans. The USPS said it sees these markets as a growing and untapped sector amid declining mail volumes."

September 3, 2002 -- The Financial Times has reported that "the hard work of Americanophile Klaus Zumwinkel in shaking the dust off Deutsche Post, Germany's former state-owned postal group, has been rewarded at last - though not in the way he might have planned. The Verein Deutsche Sprache, the association that safeguards the German language, has elected Zumwinkel 'speech meddler of the year' for 2002 and called him the master of mixing German with English into 'Denglish'."

September 3, 2002 -- The Associated Press has reported that "For 138 years, India's colonial-era postal network - the largest in the world - has worked like a rusty clock, with dingy offices, low-paid mail carriers and a creaky infrastructure. Now, the government hopes that some creative marketing and wireless technology will get the mail where it needs to be and on time. On Monday, India's postal service was thrown open for the first time to advertisements, giving private companies the chance to have their message splashed across mailboxes and postcards, even on mail carriers' uniforms."

September 3, 2002 -- The Russia Journal has reported that "As matters stand now, the post should remain state-owned, the head of the Post Department of Russia_s Communications Ministry, Evgeny Birger, told the Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspaper. He disagrees with the position of the Communications Ministry. In its concept for the restructuring of Russia_s postal system, the Ministry pointed to the necessity of uniting all postal organizations into the Federal State Unitary Enterprise (FGUP), to be privatized in the future."

September 3, 2002 -- The Anchorage Daily News has reported that "Evergreen International Inc. is the second airline suing the federal government over new mail-hauling rules in Alaska."

September 3, 2002 -- According to the Financial Times, "the Postal Services Commission's decision to grant Express Dairies an interim licence to deliver business mail to UK households could transform milkmen into postmen and offer a new route to market for the direct marketing industry. But have DM bosses got the bottle to turn this opportunity into a cash cow?"

September 3, 2002 -- Le Figaro and AFX (France) have reported that "the recently-elected rightwing French government plans to replace La Poste chairman Martin Vial before the expiration of his 5-year mandate in 2005, ostensibly because of his role in implementing the 35-hour workweek at the agency, according to the French weekly Le Journal du Dimanche. 'It seems that it is not Vial's closeness to the Left that poses a problem for the government, but his management of the move to the 35-hour week. The reduced working time apparently cost 400 mln eur in 2001,' the report said, without citing sources.Mr Vial was appointed in December 2000 and was expected to remain in office for five years. Jean-Paul Bailly, chairman of RATP, is the favourite to replace Mr Vial."

September 3, 2002 -- Bloomberg has reported that "Consolidated Freightways Corp., the third-biggest U.S. trucker, said it's shutting down operations and plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, resulting in the loss of about 15,500 jobs. More than 80 percent of those workers will be fired immediately, and the remainder will be 'phased out.'"

September 2, 2002 -- In a letter to the Washington Post, U.S. Postal Service communications chief Azeez Jaffer chastised the paper for its incomplete report on the status of U.S. - European parcel delivery through the Postal Service's European partner, GLS.

September 2, 2002 -- The Atlanta Business Chronicle has reported that " the nation's two largest package carriers are trying to keep the world's largest package carrier out of the country."

September 1, 2002 -- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reported that "private contractors hired to decontaminate postal facilities last fall cleaned up more than just anthrax: They billed the government for at least $50 million in unexplained cost overruns and $40 million for mail-irradiation machines that have yet to be used, federal auditors found. One company got $600,000 for work it never did, while another $1 million went into preparing decontamination facilities that never were used. The findings by the Postal Service's inspector general come as postal officials ask Congress for nearly $700 million in emergency funding to help cover costs incurred during the anthrax attacks."

September 1, 2002 -- As the Richmond Times-Dispatch has reported "The U.S. Postal Service is looking for small businesses with the write stuff. By sharing stories when entering the agency's "Real People, Real Success" contest, small businesses nationwide will get the chance to win prizes, including the opportunity to appear in an upcoming Postal Service advertising campaign that features real-life small-business owners. Business owners can enter the contest via www.usps.com/realsuccess by writing 125 words or fewer on how Postal Service products have helped their business. The contest, which will feature one grand-prize winner, five first-place winners and 15 second-place winners, will end Oct. 18."

September 1, 2002 -- EuropeMediaNet has reported that "From November this year, French companies can send registered emails using services of the French postal company La Poste. Consumers will be offered the service during the first half of 2003. Initially, the new service will be a combination of paper mail and electronic features. The client sends his letter in electronic form to La Poste, which converts it to a paper version and delivers it as such to the recipient. Also the confirmation that the item was received is done via paper mail. The added value of the service is therefore that the client can send registered mail from home. A second, entirely electronic, form will also be launched during 2003. Both forms will then be offered in parallel. The fully electronic version will include features similar to traditional registered mail such as electronic stamps and signatures."

September 1, 2002 -- According to the Strait Times, at least when it comes to the Singapore post office, "You've got mail... and wallets and prata in the post."