April 30, 2006 -- The Telegraph has reported that "The seven non-executive directors of the Royal Mail have issued a dramatic ultimatum to Gordon Brown, the chancellor: approve a £1.5bn cash injection for the business or they will resign en masse in just two and a half months' time. They are backing Allan Leighton, the chairman of Royal Mail, who is proposing a rights issue in which additional shares would be sold to the Government, which already owns the company. Of the money raised, £1bn will be injected into the Royal Mail's pension scheme and £500m spent on automating the sorting of letters."

April 29, 2006 -- The Financial Post has reported that "The federal Minister responsible for Canada Post, Lawrence Cannon, says he will decide within days about the status of the country's international mail delivery sector. The Crown corporation has won court rulings that essentially gives it monopoly power over the $100-million sector and, as a result, could push private-sector providers out of business."

April 29, 2006 -- According to Les Echos, "The French financial press revealed yesterday that La Poste, the French postal services group, must make savings of 400m euros next year and more than 500m euros in 2008 in order to pay its 70bn-euro staff pensions bill. The extra funds are to come from a deductible employee contribution. The press report also revealed that La Poste will begin paying a dividend to the French state in 2008. The payment will amount to 15 per cent of its 2007 net profit, then 20 per cent of its profits for the following year. By 2010, the dividend payment will equal a quarter of the group's net profit."

April 29, 2006 -- The Associated Press has reported that "As UPS continues to expand internationally, the company is concerned about transportation infrastructure around the world and in the United States, a top executive at the world's largest shipping carrier said Thursday. UPS has been able to increase its global operations through its use of technology, and it believes it will continue to see strong profit margins internationally. "If we have a secret weapon in our strategy playbook, it's technology," he said."

April 29, 2006 -- The Dallas Morning News has reported that "A 20-year fight with the U.S. Postal Service ended Wednesday for Dallas executive William Moore when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that he cannot continue a retaliation lawsuit against five postal investigators. In a 5-2 decision, the court ruled that Mr. Moore hadn't shown that his 1986 indictment on bribery conspiracy charges lacked probable cause, even though a trial judge threw out the case in 1989 for lack of evidence."

April 29, 2006 -- Sify has reported that "The friendly neighbourhood postmen could be doing more than just delivering letters. In a unique alliance, the private cellular operators have struck a deal with the Department of Post to leverage its nationwide network to promote mobile services, especially in the rural areas."

April 29, 2006 -- As WBRZ has noted, "The U.S. Postal Service embargo on the delivery of magazines, newspapers and advertising mail to New Orleans-area mail customers will end Monday, eight months and two days after Hurricane Katrina struck, Postmaster General John Potter said Friday." See also the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

April 29, 2006 -- The Mainichi Daily News has reported that "A firm that is preparing for Japan Post's privatization on Friday outlined the privatized corporation's organizational structure and business plans. According to the blueprint drafted by the preparatory company, called Japan Post Corp., postal savings and insurance business companies that will be established at the start of the 10-year privatization process in October 2007 would not launch new lines of businesses initially. Japan Post Corp. is set to work out a final version of the organizational structure and business plans based on the draft and submit it to the government by the end of July."

April 29, 2006 -- The Guernsey Press and Star has reported that "A PUBLIC campaign to save parish post offices seems to have worked. The Office of Utility Regulation has announced that it will recommend that all current ones stay open. But the public could be forced to pay more and deliveries could be cut from six to five days a week. Collections would stay at six."

April 29, 2006 -- The Sioux City Journal has reported that "The effort to retain mail processing and distribution duties in Sioux City is going straight to the top next week when a local delegation meets with U.S. Postmaster General John Potter. After the April 20 meeting in which regional postal officials spoke on a feasibility study before 400 Siouxlanders, the disgruntled congressional delegation of U.S. Sens. Tom Harkin and Charles Grassley and Congressman Steve King sought a meeting with Potter. That has been scheduled for Thursday afternoon in the House of Representatives."

April 29, 2006 -- Learning the hard way....From the blog of Washington Post columnist John Kelly:

Clifton, Va.: Regarding one of your columns this week...

I agree that receiving a bunch of mail that I did not ask for is somewhat annoying. However, it is, in the scheme of things, a minor annoyance. Also, I think you need to consider that this unsolicited mail is subsidizing the mail that you send and actually want to receive. The postal service makes a lot of money off the "junk" mail; without this income, the price of first-class mail would be substantially more. While this might not be a problem for some people, it could be a problem for others, especially when the costs of other daily necessities (gas) are ever increasing.

Just my 39 cents (one of the lowest rates for first-class mail anywhere in the world!).

-DISCLOSURE- My father was a USPS executive for his entire career so I can't claim to be completely unbiased when it comes to the postal service!

John Kelly: My column on "junk" mail prompted a firestorm of criticism. Remember that my initial complaint was that the Post Office wanted me to call it "advertising mail," and I recoiled at the Orwellian overtones of that. Well you woulda thought I'd criticized Mom and apple pie. Some people accused me being a shill for the newpaper-industrial complex, a known competitor of direct-mail marketers. Others pointed out, as you did, that what is now called "standard" mail (after having been called "third-class" mail and "bulk" mail) is what keeps first-class mail (relatively) cheap.

But debate rages on these issues. Other readers said the Postal Service should charge MORE for standard mail: That would help reduce junk mail and bring more money in. I didn't know I was stepping into such a maelstrom.

April 29, 2006 -- The latest issue of the PostCom Bulletin is available online. In this issue:

• The American Postal Workers Union this week filed a complaint in federal court seeking a preliminary injunction against the Postal Service to require the USPS to temporarily cease implementing its network realignment effort.
• Chairman of the House Government Reform Committee Tom Davis wants the Postal Service to delay its next rate case. In a letter, Davis tells Board of Governors Chairman James Miller it would be ‘prudent' to delay the filing until postal reform issues are addressed.
• After reconsideration of the Bank One negotiated service agreement, the Postal Rate Commission's recommended decision makes no changes to the year-old deal, and continues to hold that a stop-loss cap is necessary.
• The USPS plans to begin the process of restoring Standard Mail and Periodicals delivery to the New Orleans area about May 1. Deliveries have been embargoed since the hurricanes devastated the area last fall. USPS Customer Service VP Susan Plonkey told IDEAlliance attendees this week that people in New Orleans "have told us that one of the things they miss most, and which will help them feel they are getting back to normal, is the delivery of Standard and Periodicals mail."
• Printers at the IDEAlliance conference this week raised concerns about the minimum height of the 4-state barcode, which is taller than the current minimum height of the POSTNET/PLANET barcode. Although the difference is a fraction of an inch, it's enough to cause printers reluctance "to jump on the 4-state bandwagon," said Brian Euclide of Perry Judd's Inc.
• The Postal Service wants its new Business Service Network structure to provide mailers with "service partners," Susan Plonkey, USPS vice president of customer service, earlier this week told attendees of the IDEAlliance conference. "We want our BSN managers to be solution providers," she said, "not order-takers." Plonkey said the USPS also did not feel its BSN structure lent itself to resolving systemic service issues. The new structure will include a National Service Improvement Team at USPS headquarters to work on systemic issues , as well issues relative to specific industry segments.
• Bad addresses don't just cost the USPS in additional processing costs, they cost mailers as well. That was just one of the messages from a panel of address quality experts earlier this week at the IDEAlliance conference. Panel moderator Chris Lien of Business Objects told attendees that bad address quality resulting in undeliverable-as-addressed mail results in billions of pieces of lost mail and billions of dollars in costs for both the USPS and industry.
• The USPS will include a DPV component to CASS/MASS certification, effective August 1, 2007, that could cause mailers to lose automation and presort postage discounts.
• In this perspective, postal commentator Gene Del Polito revisits the lack of modern day mail service standards and service performance measurements for most postal products.
• Direct mail consultant Cary Baer serves up his impressions of speakers, sessions and issues at this month's National Postal Forum.
• Peter Miller, executive director of the Mail & Jobs Coalition, penned this letter to The Washington Post in response to a recent column published in that newspaper.
• Federal Register: Classification changes for Express Mail Second Day service. 40th IDEAlliance conference draws attendees. Confirm scan data quality issues. FedEx, UPS boost fuel surcharges. DHL to establish global disaster response network. National Postal Museum to launch research website.
• New Jersey jail switches to email for prisoners.
• Postal union executive rejects Royal Mail pay offer. Iran Post to go private. Bahrain Post named best in Persian Gulf. Are Cayman postal customers always right?

Who handles the distribution of the PostCom Bulletin?
 Why, it's NETGRAM, of course. Read more about it.

April 29, 2006 -- The latest copy of the National Association of Postmasters of the U.S. electronic governmental affairs newsletter is available on the NAPUS web site.

April 29, 2006 -- – Quad/Graphics announces the appointment of J. Joel Quadracci to President & CEO of Quad/Graphics, effective July 1, 2006, in anticipation of the yearend retirement of current Chairman & CEO Thomas A. Quadracci.

April 29, 2006 -- According to the latest Postal Service DMM Advisory: "Effective May 1, 2006, the Postal Service will open a registration process so mailers can begin entering Periodicals and Standard Mail letters into the embargoed ZIP Codes in New Orleans. Mailers must cleanse their address lists before mailing to the embargoed ZIP Codes. For detailed information on the Mail Restoration Program, please contact the National Customer Support Center at 800-238-3150, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. CST. The restoration includes the following embargoed ZIP Codes: 70032, 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092, 70631, 70632, 70643, and all ZIP Codes in 701. Mailers must deliver drop shipments for SCF New Orleans 700 to 1844 Commercial Drive, Port Allen LA 70767-6105. Use Nass Code "707PA" to schedule an appointment in FAST."

April 28, 2006 -- Direct has reported that "More than six billion credit card offers were mailed to U.S. consumers in 2005, up 16% from 2004, according to Mail Monitor, the direct mail offer tracking service from Synovate. American Express was the primary factor in this increase as the company increased its direct mail credit card solicitation volume by 56% over 2004, but still received responses rates well below the industry's 2005 average of 0.3%, according to Synovate. This was more than two times the increase of any of the other top five credit card mailers."

April 28, 2006 -- According to KTHV-TV, "The Humane Society wants the postal service to stop allowing two cockfighting magazines to be sent through the mail. The magazines are mailed from western Arkansas. "The Feathered Warrior" is mailed from De Queen and "The Gamecock" is mailed from Hartford. The Humane Society said Thursday that the magazines should be barred under the Animal Welfare Act."

April 28, 2006 -- The Waterloo Record has reported that "About 25 postal workers angry about shift changes at the Trillium Drive sorting plant in Kitchener staged an impromptu walkout yesterday. John Wastell, president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers Local 560, said the picket action was initiated by workers inside the plant."

April 28, 2006 -- From CanadaNews Wire:Monday May 1st, Canadian Union of Postal Workers President Deborah Bourque will hand deliver thousands of signed letters to her Canada Post counterpart, Moya Greene, calling on the Corporation to disclose its plans for public postal services."

April 28, 2006 -- Dow Jones has reported that "a court in Nuremberg, Germany, recently decided that TNT may continue to use the word "post" in Germany. The court ruled against Deutsche Post and dismissed its claim against TNT Post."

April 28, 2006 -- DMNews has reported that "Business mailers are becoming less interested in working with the U.S. Postal Service on negotiated service agreements because a recent landmark case is taking too long to be completed, a USPS official said last week. "The length of time that is being consumed by the Bookspan case is having a direct effect on other customers' willingness or ability to engage in NSA discussions," said Mike Plunkett, USPS manager of pricing strategy. "We've had a number of Standard Mail customer discussions stall, and I believe strongly that some of those will never revive."

April 28, 2006 -- According to the Economic Times, "Even as the department of posts is trying to take shelter of a constitutional amendment to ward-off competition and stay afloat, its foreign counterparts in countries such as Japan, United States, UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand, are multi-billion dollar corporations that give a run for their money to private players such as Fedex, UPS and TNT in their markets."

April 28, 2006 -- CTV has reported that "Lou Laforet still can't believe the successful service he runs is being put out of business in Canada -- by a Crown corporation. "It's outrageous when you sit there and you look a customer in the eye that you have had for over twenty years and they tell you they can't continue to use your service anymore," said Laforet. He heads up the Canadian operation of Spring Global Mail -- a joint venture between several international postal companies. It ships bulk mail exclusively to destinations outside of Canada -- more quickly and economically than Canada Post -- according to Laforet."

April 28, 2006 -- WBRZ-TV has reported that "The U.S. Postal Service on Friday will officially re-open its New Orleans plant, the primary mail-processing facility for mail to and from Louisiana."

April 28, 2006 -- Ha'aretz has noted that "When the Postal Authority became a government corporation in March 2005, the CEO, Avi Hochman, declared a "labeling revamp," which would include a "facelift" for the familiar deer of the Shamir brothers, whose inspiration came from Jacob's blessing to his sons in Genesis. Surely no other animal in history underwent such abuse at the hands of its captors."

April 28, 2006 -- The agenda for the May 17-18 meeting of the Mailers Technical Advisory Committee has been posted on this site.

April 28, 2006 -- The Postal Rate Commission's advisory staff will present a briefing on a Model for Designing Block Rates on Friday, May 5, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. in the Commission's hearing room. The briefing will discuss a model for designing declining block rates which might be employed in volume-driven Negotiated Service Agreements. The model does not require the Negotiated Service Agreement to include counterbalancing cost savings features. A question-and-answer session will follow the briefing. The meeting is open to the public.

April 27, 2006 -- From the PR Newswire: "According to a recent report by the National Association of Realtors, "home sales should generally level out," but "remain at historically high levels." This means that address changes filed with the United States Postal Service will also remain at historically high levels. Last year, in fact, there were 45 million address changes, according to Postal Service officials, up from 44 million the previous year."

April 27, 2006 -- AuctionBytes has reported that "eBay drop-off store franchise company QuikDrop International has signed an agreement with Universal Express to offer its proprietary hardware and software eBay kiosk technology to thousands of Postal Nation locations throughout the United States."

April 27, 2006 -- The most recent report of the Universal Postal Union's Direct Mail Advisory Board had been posted on this site.

April 27, 2006 -- UPS has announced enhancements to a variety of Web-based technology tools to simplify the complexities of global trade.

April 28, 2006 -- The HeraldTribune has reported that "A tax break for businesses that mail advertising fliers, as long as they're neatly packed in an envelope, is moving toward approval by state lawmakers. One of the bill's primary supporters is Valpak, one of the largest direct-mail advertisers."

April 27, 2006 -- Suddeutsche Zeitung has reported that "DHL, the express and logistics subsidiary of German postal service operator Deutsche Post, is to open a new development centre near Bonn, which will begin operating in autumn 2006. The site will operate under the name 'DHL Innovation Center'."

April 27, 2006 -- WebIndia123 has noted that "After selling insurance products recharge coupons for mobile companies, the Indian Postal Department is now selling tea packets through 20 of its postal outlets. Postal department sources told UNI here that the department has signed an MOU with United Nilgiris Tea Estates Company to sell their Chamaraj Tea and Korakundah Organic Tea. Ten varieties of teas, including organic, dip tea, herbal teas like sugar balace tea and cold tea will be sold through these outlets. The sale of tea has been arranged in the head post offices of Dharmapuri, Erode, Hosur, Namakkal, Salem, Tirupur, Mettupalayam, Thirupathur and all the postal outlets in Coimbatore, including the central post office."

April 27, 2006 -- According to the Sioux City Journal, "House Majority Leader John Boehner declined an invitation Wednesday to intervene on Sioux City's behalf in its dispute with the U.S. Postal Service. "I've got my hands full," Boehner told local officials in Washington. The Ohio Republican motioned to 5th District Rep. Steve King, seated next to him at the podium, and said, "I'm sure he'll take care of you," Boehner said. "You've also got two U.S. senators." Boehner's remarks followed a request for help from City Councilman Jim Rixner, who related the city's frustrations with the Postal Service consolidation study. Local leaders fear the agency will close the Sioux City mail processing center and move the work and some 50 jobs to Sioux Falls. Member of Iowa's congressional delegationhave requested a meeting with U.S. Postmaster General John Potter. The lawmakers have been critical of the Postal Service for its refusal to release an Area Mail Processing study, and for failing to consider local public input."

April 27, 2006 -- RTE News has reported that "The Commission for Communications Regulation has confirmed that consultants hired to examine the possible introduction of postcodes have withdrawn from the project. The National Postcode Project Board was set up to examine the need for the introduction of postcodes ahead of the planned liberalisation of the postal market in 2009."

April 27, 2006 -- ChannelNewsAsia has reported that "SingPost has posted a 12 percent jump in full-year net profit to S$123 million. This was achieved on the back of record revenues of over S$400 million. For the fourth quarter alone, the postal services company chalked up a 16 percent rise in income to S$31 million. SingPost says it is positive on its growth prospects over the next 12 months, despite the decline in mail volumes. It has been diversifying its business to prepare for the potential deregulation when its exclusive licence for basic mail services expires next March. It has done this by rolling out more financial services and leveraging its distribution network to offer higher value products and services to its customers."

April 27, 2006 -- Construction and Maintenance has reported that "DHL, the world's leading parcel and express delivery service, has awarded a contract to the Postal Automation Division of the Siemens Industrial Solutions and Services Group for the supply of 140 ParcelDepots. These units are to be set up throughout Germany as part of the DHL Packstation project. By using the free Packstation services, DHL customers will have the option of picking up and dropping off parcels at any time day or night without having to wait in line at service counters during normal business hours. This contract for more units follows a successful test program involving 10 Siemens ParcelDepots in Leipzig."

April 27, 2006 -- Continuity Central has reported that "BOWE BELL + HOWELL, a US-based provider of document processing and postal solutions, has announced the expansion into the business continuity market and the opening of a facility in Bethlehem, Pa., dedicated to providing print and mail business continuity services."

April 27, 2006 -- Cayman Net News has reported that "The Cayman Islands Post Office is encouraging its customers to "Help us wake up and smell the coffee" during a week-long survey."

April 27, 2006 -- The Prague Daily Monitor has reported that "The European Commission has launched an inspection at Ceska posta to learn whether the company is abusing its dominant position, Ceska posta spokesman Ladislav Vancura told CTK today. The check concerns so-called direct mail, or deliveries of advertisements to addresses, including the delivery of magazines to subscribers."

April 27, 2006 -- The New York Sun has reported that "The United Nations is facing accusations that it illegally sold off its historic stamp collection for rock-bottom prices. The United Nations' own investigating arm, the Office of Internal Oversight Services, is close to finishing a report into the sale of more than a ton of stamps and stamp-making material belonging to the U.N. Postal Administration in Geneva in 2003."

April 27, 2006 -- The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that "The cost of processing cargo imported by air or post is set to rise by 33 per cent next month."

April 27, 2006 -- According to Khaleej Times, Gujarat's 950-odd courier companies have protested the federal government's move to restrict under-300-gram packages only to postal department, saying the step will snatch the bread out of the mouth of thousands of youths. The all-Gujarat courier association president Ram Mokaria told this correspondent today that as much as 95 per cent of the private courier business related to document envelopes which weighed not even 100 grams." See also The Hindu.

April 27, 2006 -- According to the http://www.chitralnews.com/LN238.htmChitral News, "Even calling it snail mail would be over rating it. The state of postal service in Chitral can be well judged from the fact that parcels booked in November last year are arriving now at the chitral post office."

April 27, 2006 -- Transport Intelligence has reported that "World Courier has announced that it has expanded its company-owned network to 50 countries worldwide. The express carrier now has company offices in 137 locations and corporate representation in over 600 cities around the globe."

April 26, 2006 -- Congress Daily has reported that "House Government Reform Chairman Davis is asking the U.S. Postal Service to hold off on its next rate increase until issues surrounding postal overhaul legislation are smoothed out. In a letter this month to Postal Service Board of Governors' Chairman James Miller, Davis wrote that "It would be prudent to delay filing for the next rate increase" until overhaul legislation awaiting conference "is closer to resolution."

April 26, 2006 -- The U.S. Department of State has issued an updated rule on Extraterritorial Offices of Exchange (ETOEs).

April 26, 2006 -- 24dash.com has reported that "The Post Office relaunched the postal order today, 125 years after the product was first introduced. The new-style postal order has been redesigned to make it more convenient and quicker for consumers to use. The product now looks more like a cheque, with each one containing an individual barcode, and customers can have the exact value they want printed on a single postal order up to £250." See also The Guardian.

April 26, 2006 –Distribution Postal Company has announced their certification as a participant in the U.S. Small Business Administration's 8a development programme.

April 26, 2006 -- Check out the report on the timeliness of international mail service as reported by the International Post Corporation.

April 26, 2006 -- The APWU has filed a complaint in U.S. District Court charging that the Postal Service violated the Postal Reorganization Act in implementing its "network realignment" plan, known as Evolutionary Network Development (END). The complaint seeks a judgment that management violated the 1970 law, as well as an injunction against future violations. The court filing alleges that the Postal Service violated Section 3661 of the Postal Reorganization Act, which requires the USPS to seek an advisory opinion from the Postal Rate Commission (PRC) "within a reasonable time prior to the effective date" of a proposal that would change the nature of postal services on a "nationwide or substantially nationwide basis." (A copy of the APWU filing has been posted on this site.)

April 26, 2006 -- As The Advocate has asked: "What was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Bruce Nolop of Stamford-based Pitney Bowes Inc. doing at middle school? Serving as an auxiliary teacher of sorts. Nolop yesterday taught business history to a group of 19 eighth-graders at Dolan Middle School in Stamford. This six-week program, JA Business and Economics, was fostered by the Pitney Bowes Literacy and Education Fund, which awarded $1 million to Junior Achievement to develop a curriculum. Nolop led the middle-schoolers through the development of business communications in parallel with the growth of America, highlighting the Pony Express, the telegraph and the postal service."

April 26, 2006 -- In his latest column, DM News postal commentator Cary Baer wrote: "I attended the U.S. Postal Service's annual Postal Forum earlier this month. Though specific attendance figures were unavailable, turnout appeared substantial for the event, held in Orlando, FL. It also seemed that the exhibit hall was similarly full of vendors, but that's a subjective judgment. There did appear to be a subtle difference in the kind of vendors in the hall, however. My observation was that in the past, software suppliers were the plurality. This year, there seemed to be more hardware suppliers exhibiting. I'm not sure about the significance of that observation, but it was interesting."

April 26, 2006 -- The Gulf Daily News has reported that "BAHRAIN Post has been named best in the Gulf for quality of service and distribution. It won the top position in a survey conducted by the International Postal Federation."

April 26, 2006 -- Directions Magazine has reported that "The 2006 Editions of Germany, Austria and Switzerland contain all postal and administrative units as well as many topographical map levels such as streets, railway lines, city areas and elevation levels. Furthermore, the new editions contain special branch-specific maps including Nielsen areas, geographical barriers and statutory health insurance regions as well as data on population and surface areas."

April 26, 2006 -- CEP News (Courier-Express-Postal), published by the MRU Consultancy, has reported that:

The last financial year ended with a profit again for Poste Italiane.Traditional postal services noted the smallest growth figure (+2.9% compared to the insurance segment's +31.3% and +4.5% for financial services). Mr Sarmi confirmed plans to expand the post's range of financial services and said that Poste Italiane was currently considering applying for a banking licence.
It seems likely that Schweizerische Post will gain the coveted banking licence. A spokesperson for the relevant government department confirmed that the Swiss parliament would "shortly discuss all open matters concerning the future of the post."
Austria's Osterreichische Post is not planning a participation in the post savings bank, which is for sale - at least not in the short term.
The French regulatory authority Arcep has carried out a survey of expectations among the post's customers. The comprehensive survey clearly shows that the most intensive postal services users are to be found among households with Internet access (44% of the interviewees).
Britain is facing a drawn-out conflict over VAT in connection with access to Royal Mail's network. VAT exemption was abolished for those mail services which feed consignments into the British postal system through a decision by the Ministry of Finance, which took effect at the beginning of the year. TNT has now decided to take legal action against the decision.
TNT Express has reorganised in-night operations as part of the strategic reorientation announced last December. The entire division will in future be controlled by the German TNT Express business unit.
DHL intends to co-operate with airfreight express specialists Transmile Group in Asia. Last Friday the company confirmed that the Malaysian company would operate routes between southern India and Hong Kong.
The Indian government's proposal for a new postal act, which was presented last Thursday, has met with severe criticism from leading representatives of the courier and express industry.
GLS Danmark is putting more emphasis on parcel shops and now challenges Post Danmark.
Poland's Masterlink Express will in future operate under the DPD logo. A DPD franchisee for many years, Masterlink was taken over by GeoPost in 2004.

The MRU, founded in 1992, is the only consultancy in Europe, which has specialised in the market of courier-, express- and parcel services. For large-scale shippers and CEP-services in particular, the MRU provides interdisciplinary advice for all major questions of the market, as there are for example market entry, product design, organisation, and EDP.To learn more about the stories reported above, contact CEP News.

April 26, 2006 -- According to SocialistWorker Online, Royal Mail's bosses have added pay to the issues that are causing confrontation with postal workers. For several weeks management have insisted that knowledge of the size of this year's pay offer should be restricted to union leaders. But now the "secret" is out and, as everyone knew, it is a 2.9 percent rise. The increase would apply to basic pensionable pay flowing through to weekday overtime rates only. It would not apply to other overtime payments or to other allowances. In reality this means it is worth much less than 2.9 percent."

April 26, 2006 -- The Asahi Shimbun has reported that "The government and ruling coalition drafted a proposal Monday to bring the pension programs of corporate employees and civil servants in line."

April 26, 2006 -- The Dayton Business Journal has reported that "United Parcel Service Inc. gave the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce $25,000 Monday afternoon to help the region track down a re-use for the soon-to-be-vacant heavy freight hub at Dayton International Airport. UPS donated the money just two months before it plans to abandon the sprawling complex when it moves its Dayton freight operation to Louisville, Ky., by the end of June. The move will cost the city about 1,400 jobs, as well as about $1 million in income tax and $5.5 million in airport revenue annually."

April 25, 2006 -- According to postal commentator Gene Del Polito, mail service performance measurement doesn't need to be an exercise in rocket science.

April 25, 2006 -- As the Washington Post put it: "Oink, oink. Here comes another spending bill. The Senate will consider this week a $106.5 billion supplemental appropriations package, ostensibly to cover emergency war and hurricane-recovery costs. But this being an election year, senators couldn't help themselves. They added about $10 billion in unrelated items, otherwise known as pork." We hear a lot about a possible Presidential veto over a postal reform bill that isn't "budget neutral," so where's the veto when it comes to this?

April 25, 2006 -- According to Forbes, UPS CEO Michael Eskew was paid $1.25 million in compensation in 2005. Now THAT's incentive-based compensation!

April 25, 2006 -- AMEInfo has reported that "Representatives from the postal managements of GCC countries held an extraordinary meeting to discuss issues of common interest, including the creation of a GCC-wide speed post and a postal transport company."

April 25, 2006 -- From the Federal Register: "The Board of Governors of the U.S. Postal Service will be meeting at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 2, 2006 (closed session) and 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 3, 2006 at U.S. Postal Service Headquarters, 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., in the Benjamin Franklin Room, Washington, DC."

April 25, 2006 -- According to The Northwestern, " Oshkosh's United States Postal Service processing and distribution center is one of more than 50 such centers around the country undergoing a study to determine if it should be closed and consolidated with other regional operations, postal officials said. It is the only center the Postal Service is considering closing in the Lakeland District, which consists of two-thirds of Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula, said JoAnne Blackburn, of the Postal Service Public Affairs Office in Milwaukee."

April 25, 2006 -- Air Cargo World has reported that "With fuel costs again moving higher, FedEx Express said it was raising its fuel surcharge on air package shipments to 13.5 percent for May 1-June 4, up from 12 percent now. It also said it was pushing its ground surcharge to 3.75 percent from the current 3.5 percent, in a notice posted to its Web site. That hike in the air surcharge is a reverse of the action FedEx took for April, when it cut the fuel fee from 12.5 percent. At that time it also held its ground fee steady. Rival UPS has kept its surcharge for jet fuel costs on package service at 12.5 percent since October, and said that would again be its fuel fee for air package service as of May 1. But UPS said it was raising the ground surcharge to 3.75 percent from 3.5 percent, as diesel costs rise."

April 25, 2006 -- Di-ve has reported that "The Union Haddiema Maghqudin has ordered industrial actions at Maltapost, directing the workers within the Hubs not to deliver parcels. The union has ordered the actions in view of the fact that the postal operators within the Hubs were assigned the work related to the parcels without any prior consultation with the union's management."

April 25, 2006 -- The Financial Times has reported that "DHL, Federal Express and other global courier companies will take legal action against India's postal authority if it pushes ahead with an amendment to a law that they fear could shut down some courier businesses." See also India Daily.

April 25, 2006 -- The Financial Express has reported that "The Department of Post (DoP) is in the midst of entering into a tie up with Anil Dhirubai Ambani Group (ADAG) owned Reliance Infocomm to track status of speed post by the Reliance Infocomm subscribers. To begin with, the DoP will launch the service for Reliance mobile subscribers in Maharashtra. The Reliance Infocomm has over 15 million registered subscribers across the country."

April 24, 2006 -- Mail & Jobs Coalition executive director Peter Miller has told the Washington Post, in response to a hatchet job  direct mail by one of its staff writers, that "John Kelly has every right to dislike direct mail ("You Say Tomato, I Say Junk," April 24), just as growing numbers of ex-subscribers have every right to have left the Post. However, if Mr. Kelly is going to condemn advertising mail, then why not start with the direct mail operations used by the Washington Post Company?"

April 24, 2006 -- The Smithsonian's National Postal Museum has announced the upcoming launch of AragoTM, an innovative new Web site that will allow visitors to access the museum's extensive collections of stamps and postal history objects from anywhere in the world. The site, www.arago.si.edu, will go live on May 27.

April 24, 2006 -- The Islamic Republic News Agency has reported that "In line with new policies of the government, Iran Post Company is to be ceded to the private sector, according to Persian daily `Iran'. The company's Director-General Mohammad-Hassan Mohebbian, addressing the 18th session of the postal company's directors, said that all post-related affairs of the country would be ceded to the private sector."

April 24, 2006 -- According to UniPostal, "The Communication Workers Union (UK) have received a final offer on the Royal Mail 2006 pay review. The CWU Postal Executive have rejected the final offer by Royal Mail and the CWU have written to Adam Crozier seeking further discussions aimed at improving their offer."

April 24, 2006 -- John Kelly told his Washington Post readers that "George Orwell would have loved the letter I received recently from Azeezaly S. Jaffer , the U.S. Postal Service's vice president of public affairs and communications."

April 24, 2006 -- Transport Intelligence has reported that:

DHL has announced that it will be partnering with the United Nations in establishing a global network of Disaster Response Teams. Increasing collaboration between the logistics sector and non-governmental organisations will increase the level of efficiency in supplying regions worst hit by natural disasters.
UK postal operator Royal Mail has launched one of the biggest mail operations it has undertaken for a private company when it begins delivering 3.77 million documents and ballot papers to Standard Life members and policy-holders throughout the UK.

April 24, 2006 -- The Columbus Telegram has reported that "Pending federal legislation should deliver the level playing field the U.S. Postal Service is seeking."

April 24, 2006 -- The DM Bulletin has reported that "The Royal Mail Group is putting £8m of PR business up for grabs. The firm is trying to fend off fresh competition in the business post market and is defending its radical shake-up of post office services."

April 24, 2006 -- From the Federal Register: "This order announces a mail classification docket (Docket No. MC2006-4) to consider and clarify domestic mail classification schedule language pertaining to Express Mail Second Day service. The proposed change, if adopted, will help clarify delivery guarantees."

April 24, 2006 -- The Financial Express has reported that "The government claims to have detected illegal routing of international mails as local ones by courier companies to avoid payment of terminal dues. Communications ministry officials, however, refused to quantify the loss to the exchequer due to this.Officials said as per the system laid down by Universal Postal Union (UPU), developed countries pay terminal dues to developing countries for mails originating from the former. To avoid paying this, courier companies turn the international mails to domestic ones and inject them into the postal system."

April 23, 2006 -- The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) says unions are among the main groups leading the fight – and winning victories globally –against privatization demands imposed by international financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.

April 23, 2006 -- A proposal to merge the mail distribution center in Twin Falls with the one in Boise faces opposition from the Idaho Congressional delegation. In a letter to the United States Postal Service (USPS), the delegation expressed concern over the economic impact of the proposal, timely mail delivery and service availability for the people who rely on the Twin Falls Center.

April 23, 2006 -- As The Tide put it: "When last did you visit the post office?" Pose this question to any one and you get such reactions as "Post office! I can't remember". "Post office! What do they do there?" As if the outburst of surprise and exclamation is not bad enough, ask the next question "When last did you write a letter" and you elicit responses that suggest you have broached a subject that lie only in the recesses of the consciousness of most people. For most people, letter writing is an art they had consigned to the dunghill of history."

April 23, 2006 -- According to Computerworld, "New Zealand Post may be about to dump the position of CIO and restructure the ICT role so it becomes part of its postal services unit rather than being a stand-alone entity."

April 23, 2006 -- Air Cargo World has reported that "Kitty Hawk, the Dallas company that operates domestic air freighters and recently launched an airport-to-airport trucking service, said it formed a new subsidiary dubbed Kitty Hawk Ground to manage that less-than-truckload business."

April 23, 2006 -- SmartMoney.com has reported that "UPS Inc.'s strong results, particularly in small-package delivery, has put it in a good position to make acquisitions, Chief Financial Officer Scott Davis said Thursday during the Atlanta carrier's first-quarter earnings conference call."

April 23, 2006 -- The Sioux City Journal has reported that "Members of Iowa's congressional delegation are responding to a town hall meeting that drew hundreds of Sioux City-area residents with complaints about a U.S. Postal Service feasibility study by demanding a meeting U.S. Postmaster General John Potter. ‘‘Because our previous meetings have failed to produce the cooperation we believe the people of Siouxland deserve, we respectfully request a direct meeting with you,'' wrote U.S. Sens. Tom Harkin, Chuck Grassley and U.S. Rep. Steve King, in a letter to Potter."

April 23, 2006 -- Sify has reported that "Courier companies said on Sunday that most of them would be wiped out with government proposing to give exclusive rights of carrying letters weighing up to 300 grams to Department of Post, says industry leader. Echoing similar views, DHL Express country manager Chris Callen said, "government's proposal to restrict courier companies from carrying letters up to 300 grams is nothing but short sightedness..If the Draft Postal Amendtment Bill was passed in the current form lots of courier companies will lose business." See also Zee News and Economic Times.

April 23, 2006 -- Daily News & Analysis has reported that "The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) here has developed a low-cost, hi-tech 'mail sorter' that could improve the Indian Postal Department's mail delivery system. The gadget developed by students of the mechanical engineering department of the IIT Delhi can sort mails according to its size and put them in order." See also NewKerala.com.

April 23, 2006 -- The Daily Times has reported that "Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday sacked Post Office Director General (DG) Brigadier (r) Agha Masoodul Hassan on corruption charges and appointed additional DG Ziaur Rehman Zamir in his place. Sources in the Communication Ministry said an investigation committee headed by Shahid Jamil, the state minister for communications, had found Hassan guilty on eight charges of corruption. The allegations include establishment of an illegal telephone exchange in the Post Office college, opening of joint accounts, buying fake shares and illegal recruitment in the Post Office."

April 22, 2006 -- The latest issue of the PostCom Bulletin is available online.

• The Postal Rate Commission recently issued a response to a complaint about First-Class Mail service standards. In its report, the PRC said the Postal Service's nationwide changes to two- and three-day city pairs in 2000-2001 did not result in an inadequate First-Class service to the nation, but the USPS did not seek input from patrons on the changes. The commission did not call for or invite a new hearing on the, but it did issue a number of recommendations.
• Four key members of Congress have expressed concerns about the Postal Service's handling of its network consolidation plan amid complaints and criticism from local officials, communities, and unions.
• Effective April 30, 2006, the Postal Service will begin to assess additional postage for bundles that do not meet its address visibility and/or bundle integrity requirements.
• Postal commentator Gene Del Polito examines the future of postal reform and some actions that could escalate the cost of mail service in the U.S. in the near future.
• In this perspective, PostCom President Gene Del Polito and VP Kate Muth lament the Postal Rate Commission's serious delay in ruling on the proposed negotiated service agreement between Bookspan and the U.S. Postal Service.
• New accounting rule could hasten postal reform, large rate increases. USPS Governors likely to approve rate case at May meeting. Postal Service places five consolidation studies ‘on hold.' USPS VP Lopez to retire. Postal Service initiates greeting card service. SEC plans to allow emailing of annual reports. UPU issues digital postmark regulations. PRC proposes changes to Express Mail delivery guarantee. High fuel prices, driver shortage send shipping costs soaring.
• Universal Postal Union celebrates five years of QSF achievements. Deutsche Post stabilizes post office numbers, turns attention to customer service. Netherlands won't advance postal market opening. Zumwinkel calls for 30-plus percent growth in China. WH Smith distribution unit on the market. One-third of Greek postal company to be floated. Fortis, An Post in joint venture. Deutsche Bahn will drop Bax Global name. Paired Polish postal privatization planned.

Who handles the distribution of the PostCom Bulletin?
 Why, it's NETGRAM, of course. Read more about it.

April 22, 2006 -- According to This French Life, "IF the Royal Mail's postal redirection service is anything to go by then France is the most popular place for people to head to when buying a home abroad. The postal service claims more than 13,000 people asked for their post to be redirected to a French address last year. Just under 10,000 people used the service for addresses in the US, with Spain the third most popular destination with 8,400 requests."

April 22, 2006 -- The BBC has reported that "in Jersey are being told to ignore phone messages claiming to be about deliveries from couriers DHL. The company says the messages are being left with households and businesses to phone back, and they then unknowingly call a premium rate number. DHL leaves cards if a courier cannot deliver an item, and it only advises people to call a local number. The firm said its deliveries were not affected. Anyone who receives this or a similar message should contact the police."

April 22, 2006 -- According to the Hindustan Times, "India's inefficient postal service, India Post, is in dire need of change. The postal amendments bill, based on recommendations made by KPMG, aims to set into place a level-playing field to streamline the industry. The setting up of a regulatory body that will oversee operations of both the Department of Posts (DoP) and private players seems fair enough, although courier companies argue that the industry has self-regulation and has done well enough without government intervention. The introduction of a Universal Service Obligation Fund to finance rural telephony in remote areas of rural India has met with resistance from private players. But it is the third formulation that faces maximum dissent from private players."

April 22, 2006 -- The Scotsman has reported that "BUSINESS owners in central Edinburgh are to meet postal chiefs over a series of late mail deliveries they claim are hampering their companies. The Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce has arranged a meeting between representatives of the postal service and its members, many of whom have been receiving mail up to 1.5 hours late for more than a fortnight."

April 22, 2006 -- Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung has reported that "Deutsche Post, the German postal service provider, is reported in a survey on ideas management to have saved 270m euros last year by following advice gleaned from employees, representing savings of almost 1,500 euros per employee."

April 22, 2006 -- The Daily Yomiuri has reported that "A private study panel of Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Heizo Takenaka has entered the final phase of discussions on having the collection and delivery network of Japan Post opened to private companies."

April 22, 2006 -- The Business Standard has reported that "IndiaPost will set the timeline for new postal changes." See also the Economic Times and the Hindu Business Line.

April 22, 2006 -- The Postal Rate Commission has refused to recommend any addiitonal changes to the negotiated service agreement between the Postal Service and BankOne.

April 22, 2006 -- Air Cargo World has reported that:

• UPS is taking steps to stem its forwarding loss.
• UPS Air Cargo told freight forwarders it will raise the fuel surcharge for their shipments on April 24, ending several months in which UPS held that fee steady while jet fuel prices moved higher.

April 21, 2006 -- TMCNet has reported that "Qudox, an on-demand, online international addressing service is to be introduced in May 2006 by Global Address, a data quality company. The service, which is the first of three from Qudox, will enable Qudox address quality to be integrated in order that postal addresses from anywhere in the world can be captured and validated. Qudox can be paid for as a 'pay as you go' service, with no contract requirement, and will reportedly integrated easily with existing technology."

April 21, 2006 -- According to CNN Money, "When the DVD first came out, Netflix founder and CEO Reed Hastings had a key insight: The plastic disc's light weight and small size would make it cheap and easy to send through the mail, letting him create a cross between Blockbuster and Amazon.co. By taking advantage of the U.S. Postal Service, it could send rental DVDs to customers through the mail - and accept returns the same way. But the mailer had to last long enough for reuse as a return envelope." Trouble is...it doesn't.

April 21, 2006 -- The latest copy of the National Association of Postmasters of the U.S. electronic governmental affairs newsletter is available on the NAPUS web site.

April 21, 2006 -- Business Mailers Review has reported that:

• Total unit costs increased for nearly every class of mail in fiscal year 2005, with the only exceptions in Standard Mail, data from the Postal Service's draft Cost and Revenue Analysis (CRA) indicate.
• Mail processing costs per piece rose steeply in several areas in FY 2005, including In-County Periodicals, First Class Presort Cards and Zone Rate Parcels. But the largest jump – 43.4 % – was in Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail.
• The Universal Postal Union's Postal Operations Council established rules and regulations for use of the digital postmark at its 2006 session, which concluded April 7 in Berne, Switzerland, following a 2004 UPU decision to recognize the digital postmark as a new optional postal service.
• A proposal requiring private and public entities to include outstanding pension costs in their annual financial statements could have a dramatic impact on the Postal Service's financial outlook, an outcome that some mailers fear could lead to dramatically higher rates unless postal reform legislation is enacted to allow money now held in escrow to be used to help cover this obligation.
• The Postal Rate Commission (PRC) is proposing a classification change to clarify Express Mail second day delivery service, a guaranteed service, because the Postal Service cannot meet that deadline in some cases where Sunday and holiday delivery are not available.
• With the Postal Service in the throws of realigning its network in a way that is expected to change service as backdrop, the Postal Rate Commission (PRC) issued a report last week that emphasizes the need to get the mailing community involved in proposed changes.
• Lockheed Martin's recently announced contract to provide its address recognition technology to the French postal system as part of La Poste's $175 million investment in improved mail processing is just the latest in a string of major efforts by the company to expand on the technology installed for USPS to improve delivery in the international postal community.
• The Postal Service is fighting another effort by big business to skip the mailbox. The problem: the Securities and Exchange Commission, the federal agency that regulates publicly held corporations, is poised to approve a new rule that would allow the companies to stop sending annual reports to shareholders by mail. Instead the SEC proposal would allow annual reports and their accompanying proxy statements to be sent by email. About 11 million shareholders are already receiving these statements electronically.
• The Postal Service has failed to quash a stamp collector's complaint over the high price of Disney stationary it has been selling. In an April 13 order, the Postal Rate Commission rejected a Postal Service motion to dismiss the complaint filed in June 2004. An attorney who has frequently sparred with USPS, Douglas Carlson charged the lettersheets were exorbitantly priced and violated federal laws governing postal services.

Business Mailer's Review is an award-winning, independent biweekly newsletter covering issues of importance to the business mailer. It is regularly cited as among the best sources of postal information. For subscription information, check the BMR web site.

April 21, 2006 -- La Stampa has reported that "The CEO of Italian post office Poste Italiane, Massimo Sarmi, has revealed that his organisation is considering applying for a banking licence. It could do so in July, when it presents its latest strategic plan, but Mr Sarmi stressed that the company did not currently possess the skills required to operate as a bank."

April 21, 2006 -- According to Reuters, "Package delivery company United Parcel Service Inc. said on Thursday that first-quarter earnings rose 10 percent, boosted by growth in global small package services.

April 21, 2006 -- The Aberdeen American News has reported that "No public meeting is scheduled in conjunction with the upcoming audit of services provided by the U.S. Postal Service in Aberdeen. The audit will be conducted by the postal service, and is scheduled for next week. To increase efficiency, the postal service is considering moving more Aberdeen functions to the Dakota Central Processing and Distribution Center in Huron. South Dakota's congressional delegation requested the audit to give people a chance to see the impacts of the possible change."

April 21, 2006 -- Senator Tom Harkin, in a press release issued by his office, said "I commend the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) for holding a town hall meeting today with the Siouxland Community – this meeting is long overdue. It is critical that USPS hears from residents and provides real answers about how its proposed consolidation plan will truly impact their community. Postal officials should not just look at this meeting as checking a box in the process, but as an opportunity to finally come clean with area residents, businesses and government officials. I encourage USPS to release the full Area Mail Processing (AMP) Study, not just a hollow summary. USPS needs to be up front with all its stakeholders in the community."

April 21, 2006 -- The Sioux City Journal has provided a summary of local officials' meeting with postal officials regarding postal facility consolidation.

April 21, 2006 -- KFOX-TV has reported that "KFOX was first to tell you about postal problems in Las Cruces, then in El Paso. For months, no local officials would comment. While officials wouldn't talk with us, El Paso resident, Mario Martinez did. Martinez says the post office has yet to find two of his packages, or to do anything about the situation. Now, over a month later, Martinez said he is still having problems with getting his mail on time. Meanwhile, he said that with major shipping, he is looking at other mailing options to help him out because he can't get anywhere with the post office."

April 21, 2006 -- AL.com has reported that "U.S. Postal Service officials in Alabama are backing off telling developers and builders they must begin using cluster mailboxes in all new subdivisions instead of putting a mailbox at each home. Resistance to the requirement has been building. The Greater Birmingham Association of Homebuilders and the Homebuilders Association of Alabama have expressed opposition. Officials in Alabaster, Shelby County's largest city, recently asked City Attorney Greg Morris to look into what the city could do to fight the requirement."

April 21, 2006 -- The National Mail Handlers Union, in conjunction with several other organizations, has contacted key members of Congress to urge them to ensure that single-piece parcels are considered in market-dominant category as far as postal reform is concerned. This is an opinion that also is supported by PostCom.

April 21, 2006 -- The Himalayan Times has reported that "While the international service of the General Post Office at Sundhara is partially operational, the domestic postal service has come almost to a halt due to the ongoing general strike called by the seven-party alliance."

April 21, 2006 -- Thanhnien News has reported that "Police in Vietnam are investigating allegations that top postal officials in a southern province colluded with an equipment supplier to embezzle over US$119,000."

April 21, 2006 -- According to KCAU-TV, "Postal officials held a meeting at the Sioux City Convention Center Thursday to talk about the possible move of the Mail Processing Center to Sioux Falls in an effort to save money. Some people say their main frustration is nothing new came out of the meeting."

April 21, 2006 -- Transport Intelligence has reported that "UPS has released its results for the first quarter showing strong growth in its parcels operations, impacted by slower than expected integration of Menlo Worldwide Forwarding into its Logistics operation. At the presentation, UPS management stated that a major acquisition could be on the cards, fuelling speculation that it could be in the running for TNT."

April 21, 2006 -- The Asahi Shimbun has reported that "The Fair Trade Commission took shots at Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's vaunted postal privatization project, saying the plan in its current form will give the behemoth Japan Post an unfair advantage over private-sector rivals."

April 21, 2006 -- Close to 280 projects financed throughout the world, and a stable source of funding for the developing and least advanced countries: these are the positive results of the first five years of the Quality of Service Fund (QSF), announced this morning by Edouard Dayan, Director General of the Universal Postal Union, at a press conference held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. "While the United Nations are discussing best practices to finance development aid, the UPU Quality of Service Fund proves its worth today, as a stable, regular source of funding for our member countries," said Dayan. A unique tool for financing postal development, with a clear link to the UPU's mission, the QSF funded 279 projects between April 2001 and March 2006 to improve postal services in developing and least advanced countries. Funding for these projects amounted to 39.6 million USD. A further 47 million USD is still available for new projects.

April 21, 2006 -- As CIO Insight has noted, "there is a dirty little secret about online advertising that many large and small companies have discovered—and that Google, Yahoo! Inc., Microsoft Corp. and any number of other online advertising outfits would prefer to keep under the radar: Response rates can still be disappointingly low."

April 21, 2006 -- As WTOP Radio has noted, "You may soon be feeling the burn of rising gas prices at the post office. Stamp prices increased from 37 to 39 cents at the beginning of the year, in order to pay for retiree health benefits. Now, the U.S. Postal Service is considering hiking the price again because of climbing fuel prices."

April 21, 2006 -- The RFIDJournal has reported that "To help track its roll cages, Post Danmark plans to extend a semi-active RFID system already used to monitor its international mail operations."

April 20, 2006 -- The Hindu Business Line has reported that "In a bid to regulate the largely unorganised Rs 3,500-crore courier industry, the Government has proposed to bring in a slew of measures, including imposing a one-time registration fee ranging between Rs 25,000 and Rs 10 lakh on private courier companies and setting up an independent postal regulator and a dispute settlement tribunal. The draft Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill 2006 also proposes to ask courier companies with revenues of over Rs 25 lakh to contribute 10 per cent of their annual revenues towards the Universal Services Obligation (USO) fund which will be used to offer subsidised postal services in economically unviable areas."

April 20, 2006 -- Traffic World has reported that "UPS said its freight forwarding business lost customers in the past two quarters, but Chief Financial Officer Scott Davis said the unit "has been winning new business recently." UPS reported a 10.5 percent gain in overall net income for the first quarter driven by strong package volume worldwide, but said operating profit in its supply chain and freight division fell by $34 million even though revenue rose. That segment reflected weakness for the Menlo Worldwide Forwarding unit that UPS acquired at the end of 2004, Davis said, while the UPS Freight trucking operations (formerly Overnite) had "solid results."

April 20, 2006 -- According to Dow Jones, "Dutch express and postal company TNT N.V. Thursday repeated its financial targets for this year, which include revenue growth at the Express division of 10%. TNT also expects the Express' operating margin to lie within the range 9.0% to 9.5%, said Chief Executive Peter Bakker, speaking at the company's annual shareholders meeting. The mail division is expected to show a small increase in revenue in 2006 and a profit margin of 18%."

April 20, 2006 -- From Business Wire: "BÖWE BELL + HOWELL, a leading provider of document processing and postal solutions, is pleased to introduce the WayMarkTM weight verification and management system that will allow mailers to easily submit mailings to the U.S. Postal Service without the use of a postage meter."

April 20, 2006 -- The Board of Governors of the U.S. Postal Service will meet in Washington, DC, at Postal Service Headquarters, 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW, on May 2-3, 2006. The Governors are expected to authorize the filing of the R2006 rate case during this meeting.

April 20, 2006 -- UPS has reported earnings per diluted share of $0.89, up 14.1% over the prior year. Results were driven by a 9% increase in global small package volume or 1.24 million packages per day, outpacing worldwide market growth.

April 20, 2006 -- The Communication Workers Union has told its members that "The Union received an offer last night on the Royal Mail 2006 pay review. This was the first open offer and was also described as the final offer. The offer consisted of a 2.9% increase in basic pensionable pay flowing through to weekday overtime rates only. The increase would not apply to other overtime or to allowances. The offer also includes a form of words that set out parameters for further negotiations. These negotiations cover the bigger issues regarding the future of Royal Mail."

April 20, 2006 -- Dow Jones has reported that "Dutch postal and logistics company TNT N.V. said Thursday that it cut the estimate of its tax liabilities to between EUR100 million and EUR250 million, down from an original estimate of a range of EUR150 million and EUR550 million."

April 20, 2006 -- SEEurope.net has reported that "The government decided to dismiss the chairman of the Croatian Posts' management board, Milan Skoblar, appointing Andrej Sardelic as his replacement. According to local media reports, the move stemmed from delays in delivering pensions before the Easter holidays. The finance ministry issued a statement Tuesday, saying funds for pensions and other social benefits were made available for delivery by 13 April."

April 20, 2006 -- Rediff has published some FAQs on Indian postal reform.

April 20, 2006 -- CEP News (Courier-Express-Postal), published by the MRU Consultancy, has reported that:

Last Thursday the Dutch government decided against an early opening of the country's postal market. In an interview with Dow Jones news agency (14.04), a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Trade and Industry confirmed the government decision to let the new postal act take effect from 1 January 2008. Originally, the Dutch market would have been completely open to competition from 1 April 2007 according to a draft bill which the committee concerned had presented to the government at the end of March.
Privatisation of Poczta Polska is to take place in two steps, according to the state information centre CIR.
The Austrian district Kleinwalsertal is fightling the loss of its German post codes. Kleinwalsertal uses both Austrian and German post codes and stamps, a special status which Osterreichische Post intends to abolish by 2007.
In Italy, Mail Boxes Etc. (MBE) achieved a 17% increase in turnover (135m euros) during 2005.
Deutsche Post aims for an annual growth "between 30 and 35%" in China.

The MRU, founded in 1992, is the only consultancy in Europe, which has specialised in the market of courier-, express- and parcel services. For large-scale shippers and CEP-services in particular, the MRU provides interdisciplinary advice for all major questions of the market, as there are for example market entry, product design, organisation, and EDP.To learn more about the stories reported above, contact CEP News.

April 20, 2006 -- USPS NewsLink has reported that "USPS Southwest Area Vice President George Lopez will retire after 42 years of government service. Vice President of Delivery and Retail Ellis Burgoyne will serve as Acting Vice President, Area Operations Southwest Area, effective May 1. Lopez will take on one additional assignment before he leaves: returning to Afghanistan and Iraq to work with the Military Postal Service Agency to help improve postal operations for members of the Armed Forces on duty there."

April 20, 2006 -- The Economic Times has reported that "With campaigning for the assembly elections in Tamil Nadu heating up, the postal department is trying to cash in on the poll fever to market its product ‘direct post'. It has already approached candidates of leading political parties who have evinced keen interest in utilising the service. The Salem (East) postal division is planning to send more than 60,000 articles, which would contain the candidate's election promises and the campaign plank of the party through ‘direct post'. The department has approached the former minister ‘Veerapandi' S Arumugam of the DMK, who has promised business."

April 20, 2006 -- The Malaysia Star has reported that "Three Chinese postal agencies have injected 507 million yuan (US$63mil) of capital into Huahong Securities, an official paper reported yesterday, the latest move aimed at shoring up the country's ailing brokerages."

April 20, 2006 -- According to the Central Kentucky News-Journal, "The Postal Service has an online product that allows consumers and businesses to create customized greeting cards that can also be used in combination with a gift card. NetPost, found at www.usps.com/netpost, offers online services that combine the speed of the Internet with the effectiveness of traditional mail. NetPost allows you to select or design a mail piece and enter addresses or upload an address list. Your mail piece is then printed, prepared and mailed in as few as one or two days."

April 20, 2006 -- According to NewKerala.com, "With private courier companies eating into the revenues of postal department, the government today sought to give India Posts exclusive rights to carry and deliver letters weighing up to 300 grams."

April 20, 2006 -- According to Domain-B, "The Department of Posts through its 700 Head Post Offices will sell membership scratch cards and registration forms of marriage portal BharatMatrimony.com Pvt Ltd,. Launching the new offering on April 19, 2006 Bharat Matrimony CEO J Murugavel said, "Our tie- up with the Department of Posts will not only strengthen our retail network but will also add to our credibility."

April 20, 2006 -- The Sioux City Journal has reported that "A U.S. Postal Service official said area residents won't see delivery delays if a proposal to consolidate Sioux City's mail processing center with Sioux Falls facility is approved. Doug Morrow, Hawkeye District manager for the USPS in Des Moines, said an Area Mail Processing study conducted on the Sioux City Mail Processing and Distribution Center examined if consolidation would aid delivery -- and the study showed that it would. "We are all about service and we wouldn't do anything that would hurt that service," Morrow said."

April 20, 2006 -- The EMA Foundation for Paper Based Communication has just released a document by entitled First Class Mail and the United States Postal Service. It offers an analysis of current directions with regard to First-Class mail and some ideas about new products and services.

April 19, 2006 -- AFX has reported that "The Greek state intends to privatize a 25 to 30 pct stake in the Postal Savings Bank on the Athens Stock Exchange in the second half of May, according to several unsourced Greek press reports."

April 19, 2006 -- In its latest paper, the Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation has said that "The Postal Service has a national conference and management training center on an 83 acre site in the leafy Washington suburb of Potomac, Maryland. Several years ago, the Service opened the facility to the general public for a number of hospitality-industry related activities including hotel stays, business meetings, special events like weddings and banquets, food, and drink. Although the facility has a postal theme with large pictures of stamps on walls, a permanent exhibit from the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum, and specialty cocktails named after Pony Express riders and mail drops, its hospitality industry services really have nothing to do with the government-owned enterprise's core purpose of delivering non-urgent mail throughout the country."

April 19, 2006 -- The Sioux City Journal has reported that "Iowa congressional staffers still can't talk about the U.S. Postal Service's study on whether to maintain all the operations at its Sioux City Processing and Distribution facility, but they've finally seen it. Staff members of Northwest Iowa's congressional delegation were fully briefed Monday on the process and the results of the U.S. Postal Service study on whether to keep open the mail processing facility in Sioux City. The briefing was on the condition officials would let the post office release the study in a town hall meeting Thursday in Sioux City. The USPS will start the meeting with a presentation, then have a question-and-answer period. That summary, obtained Tuesday by the Journal, if implemented, proposes to do the following: [Check out the story....]"

April 19, 2006 -- According to NJ.com, "It is time for the Postal Service to look upon Hudson County as more than a suburb of New York and Newark. A financial center that is second only to Wall Street and an expanding population that will make Jersey City the biggest city in New Jersey should be enough to dictate an upgrade in services."

April 19, 2006 -- Les Echos has reported that "La Poste, the French post office, announced yesterday that Philippe Lazare has replaced Christian Kozar as general manager of its mass-market and territorial development division."

April 19, 2006 -- The Financial Times has reported that "Austria's post office yesterday forecast huge growth potential in eastern Europe as state-owned incumbents are sold and markets opened to new services."

April 19, 2006 -- According to Namnews, "Deutsche Post, Europe's biggest postal service provider, yesterday appeared to rule out suggestions it is considering a bid for the newspaper distribution arm of WH Smith."

April 19, 2006 -- The Kilkenny Advertiser has reported that "Labour's Kilkenny based general election candidate, Councillor Michael O'Brien, has urged An Post to award the long delayed cost of living increases to An Post workers and pensioners. Cllr O'Brien said that last December when the dispute between An Post staff and management was resolved at the Labour Court it was expected that An Post staff and pensioners would quickly receive the increases agreed under Sustaining Progress. Postal workers and pensioners had been denied these cost of living increases for nearly three years, even though all other public sector employees had received them."

April 19, 2006 -- Transport Intelligence has reported that "Deutsche Post World Net (DPWN) has provided a further update into its development strategy in China. In an interview published in a national German newspaper, DPWN's CEO, Klaus Zumwinkel, has stated that he would be willing to undertake acquisitions in the Chinese market in order to maintain its number one position in the international express market."

April 19, 2006 -- The DM Bulletin has reported that "Postal customer body Postwatch says that despite the recent price increase in the cost of a first-class stamp, there is a silver lining for consumers who stand to win more in compensation. The price of a first class stamp rose from 30 to 32p on April 3, giving Royal Mail an inflation-busting 6.7% rise. However, as the postal operator directly links the maximum amount it is prepared to offer in compensation for loss or damage to 100 times the value of a first class stamp, the 2p rise has resulted in the maximum compensation rate going up by £2 to £32."

April 19, 2006 -- The Association for Postal Commerce welcomes its newest member:

U.S. Web represented by Charles Lauricella, Vice President.

April 19, 2006 -- According PostCom President Gene Del Polito and PostCom Vice President Kate Muth in a postal commentary to be published in the PostCom Bulletin, "The Postal Rate Commission now has before it two baseline negotiated service agreements (NSA). This historic moment would seem a major achievement for a small regulatory agency that only three years ago approved the first-ever specialized agreement between the Postal Service and an individual mailer. The PRC has worked hard over the past thirty years to regulate one of the largest organizations in this country, the ubiquitous Postal Service.   However, any triumph is muted by the fact that one of the cases before the PRC, the NSA between the Postal Service and Bookspan, has been awaiting a recommended decision for almost five months. While a few months might not be an unreasonable time to await a decision in a baseline case, five months certainly is. We are reaching a point where justice delayed is justice denied."

April 19, 2006 -- The Manilla Bulletin has reported that "The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has approved the P5.7-billion build-lease-transfer (BLT) modernization project for the Philippine Postal Corp. (Philpost)."

April 19, 2006 -- Makfax has reported that "The Macedonian Government will announce on Thursday if Holland's ING will pursue or give up the planned take-over of Postal Bank, a day after the talks scheduled for Wednesday in the ING headquarter in Amsterdam."

April 18, 2006 -- In his latest perspective, postal commentator Gene Del Polito walks you through the postal reform, financial accounting rule, and rate consequences bramblebush.

April 18, 2006 -- According to DM News journalist Melissa Campanelli, "While the U.S Postal Service has had its a fair share of bad publicity in its time (sometimes for good reason), a short editorial (subscription required) in the Wall Street Journal last week criticizing the agency for taking too long to complete its recovery efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit went a bit too far."

April 18, 2006 -- According to Kiplinger, "Not one, but two, postal rate hikes are in the works."

April 18, 2006 -- The Aberdeen News has reported that "The U.S. Postal Service has announced that it will conduct an audit of services offered by its Aberdeen processing and distribution center. South Dakota's congressional delegation requested the audit. According to a release, it would give people a chance to see what impact moving some Aberdeen postal services to the Dakota Central Processing and Distribution Center in Huron would have, if such a decision is made."

April 18, 2006 -- From the PR Newswire: "As postal rates continue to rise, magazine publishers are increasingly turning to the Web to grow their circulation base and drive better ROI for their acquisition efforts. However, the Internet has often proved a challenge for publishers employing 'bill me' soft offers due to the inability to consistently reach online consumers who will pay for their subscriptions on the backend."

April 18, 2006 -- NamNews has reported that "The newspaper distribution arm of WH Smith could face a takeover bid from Germany's Deutsche Post after the retailer's chief executive, Kate Swann, announced plans to demerge the business and float it on the stock market. WH Smith considered selling its news distribution arm in 2001, when it came close to selling it to a private equity buyer. Deutsche Post, Europe's largest postal service provider, considered a bid at that time and City analysts believe it could quickly renew its interest in the business."

April 18, 2006 -- dBusiness News Hartford has reported that "ADVO, Inc. has announced today the joint distribution agreement with The Los Angeles Times and MediaNews Group will result in savings in the low double-digit millions annually."

April 18, 2006 -- From the Federal Register:

• The Postal Rate Commission has announced its decision to institute a formal proceeding (Docket No. C2004-3) to consider issues raised in a complaint concerning stamped stationery. Conducting this proceeding will allow the Commission to determine whether the complaint raises any genuine issues of material fact and to make related determinations." Fine....Now how about issuing a decision on the Bookspan NSA case? What the blazes is the problem here? This is getting a bit embarrassing.
• The Postal Service is proposing new standards for mailing sharps and other regulated medical waste containers. Our proposal includes changes to the packaging, the package testing, and the process for authorizing and suspending authorization.

April 18, 2006 -- Transport Intelligence has reported that:

Mail operator TNT has commented that it has noted the Dutch government's decision to fully liberalise the postal market in the Netherlands in 2008, on the condition that there would be a level playing field at that time and that a solution had been found for the present VAT issue in the British and German postal markets.
TNT's plans for the purchase of China's Hoau Logistics group are moving ahead.

April 18, 2006 -- The Postal Rate Commission has issued a report on a complaint regarding First-Class Mail Standards Service.

April 17, 2006 -- From Business Wire: "BOWE BELL + HOWELL, a leading provider of document processing and postal solutions, announces the expansion of its service offerings and the opening of a facility dedicated to supporting business continuity services in Bethlehem, Pa."

April 17, 2006 -- Logistics Management has reported that "Japan Post, a Postal Services provider, will open its first overseas branch in Beijing, according to Japanese news source, Mainichi Daily News."

April 17, 2006 -- Reuters has reported that "After a billion-dollar shopping spree Deutsche Post has no plans to make any large acquisitions in the next two years. However, the executive said he was always looking for attractive deals. He cited as examples smaller acquisitions in the mail business outside Germany, or deals in Asia, the company's focus for growth."

April 17, 2006 -- The Times of Zambia has reported that "IN a bid to save itself from being declared ‘a closed shop' by its customers due to technological advancements the Zambia Postal Service Corporation (Zampost) has embarked on fresh initiatives aimed at introducing Hybrid mail service which is also known as e-Post."

April 16, 2006 -- AFX has reported that "Japan Post plans to triple the number of post offices that sell investment trusts by the time it is privatized in Oct 2007."

April 16, 2006 -- The latest National Association of Postal Supervisors Legislative Update is available on this site.

April 16, 2006 -- The Hindustan Times has reported that "Post Master General (PMG) Ashutosh Tripathi who joined the department here in June 2005 is making sincere efforts to improve the services of the Postal Department in order to provide better services to the customers."

April 15, 2006 -- The latest issue of the PostCom Bulletin is available online.

• Mailers told the Postal Service recently about the importance of communicating changes to the postal network from the realignment plan and changes stemming from automation upgrades. Mailers and postal officials at the Periodicals Symposium, held at the recent National Postal Forum, agreed that communication is the key to a successful transition to a more flexible processing and transportation system.
• The Postal Service will start assessing additional postage for bundles of Periodicals, Standard Mail and Package Services beginning April 30, 2006.
• In this perspective, postal commentator and self-proclaimed ‘postal nut' Gene Del Polito urges the U.S. Postal Service to begin quantifying mail service quality for Periodicals, Standard Mail, Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail, and First-Class Mail carrying a meter imprint or printed indicia.
• In this letter to the editor of the Wall Street Journal, USPS Vice President Azeezaly Jaffer takes exception to claims about the Postal Service's poor performance in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
• NAA study finds newspapers spend $1 billion on services from USPS. Stamps.com wins USPS award. Big Apple seeks official delivery service provider. American domestic air cargo slides. Morrison named CFO of IWCO Direct.
• ComScore study shows continued growth in U.S. online banking, bill payment.
• E.U. warns three countries about VAT treatment of mail. TNT to cut jobs to prepare for competitive European market. Deutsche Post, Yamato hook up for Japanese joint venture. Poste Italiane hit with antitrust fine. Russian postal service to lose $35 million in 2006.

Who handles the distribution of the PostCom Bulletin?
 Why, it's NETGRAM, of course. Read more about it.

April 15, 2006 -- According to TAPPI.org, "FedEx Kinko's, Dallas, Texas, an operating company of FedEx Corp., announced a nationwide upgrade to a new brighter version of its standard white recycled paper at FedEx Kinko's Office and Print Centers. The upgraded paper, with an increased brightness rating from 84 to 92, displays noticeably sharper text and images and will produce higher quality prints for customers. The new paper is available to customers at no additional cost and will be used in most production equipment and self-service areas at all FedEx Kinko's retail centers. "This move to offer brighter recycled paper is another step in FedEx Kinko's continued commitment to providing customers with quality products and services and promoting sustainability by supporting the use of post-consumer recycled-content paper," said Jon Cannon, senior vice president, U.S. Operations."

April 15, 2006 -- According to the Toronto Star, "Mail delivery is one of the few conveniences of living in the country, but it has come to an end for many rural residents in York Region. Delivery was stopped after some unionized Canada Post mail carriers complained their routes were too dangerous."

April 14, 2006 -- According to BrandWeek, "Express delivery and logistics company DHL has expanded its sponsorship alliance with Major League Baseball and Major League Baseball Advanced Media. DHL is in the second season of a three-year marketing partnership as the "official express delivery and logistics provider" of MLB and MLB Advanced Media. Marketing this season will feature former St. Louis Cardinal Bruce Sutter, who will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., in August, to support its "DHL Presents the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Month Award," which recognizes the most outstanding relief pitcher each month of the regular season. The company will also continue the "DHL Presents the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Year Award," which honors the most outstanding relief pitcher for the 2006 season as a whole."

April 14, 2006 -- The Irish Independent has reported that "AN Post could be offering a wide range of banking products early next year as its proposed joint-venture with Belgium's Fortis moves ahead."

April 14, 2006 -- The Arkansas News Bureau has reported that "The chief executive of the world's largest delivery service told an audience of business people and top college students Wednesday that global competition will be the dominate business issue for the United States over the next decade. Michael Eskew, chairman and CEO of United Parcel Service Inc., was the keynote speaker at the annual Donald W. Reynolds Governor's Cup luncheon. Eskew said while such advances as the Internet and wireless technology have transformed the way businesses operate around the world, more significant changes are on the horizon."

April 14, 2006 -- According to Law.com, "Atlanta's federal appeals court is wrestling with a border dispute that has nothing to do with immigration or international boundaries. A three-judge panel last week heard arguments over a greeting-card maker's claims that it has trademarked the perforated border around postage stamps -- and that the U.S. Postal Service has violated the company's rights. At issue are not the stamps themselves, which the Postal Service has copyrighted, but greeting cards showing pictures of stamps that the company, International Stamp Art Inc., and the Postal Service each sell. Since its founding in 1985, the South Carolina-based company has entered into multiple licensing agreements with the Postal Service for the right to use the stamp artwork on its products."

April 14, 2006 -- The Sioux City Journal has reported that "U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin has been working with U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley and Congressman Steve King to push U.S. Postal Service officials to make the process of studying processing operations more transparent. In a March 28 meeting in Grassley's office, the three legislators and a few Sioux City people heard what they considered good news, an offering of the USPS that relevant data on the Sioux City processing center feasibility study would be made public and that a community meeting with details unveiled would be held. That meeting has been set for April 20, but Harkin said the USPS study information he got was insufficient."

April 14, 2006 -- As the Times Record-Herald has noted, "A team of students from SUNY New Paltz has a chance to create a new public relations campaign for the U.S. Postal Service. The team of four seniors made it into the semi-final round of the selection contest. The team is one of six college teams picked from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The SUNY New Paltz team comprises Robert Jameson of Lindenhurst, Jae Verner of Ithaca, John-Paul Cannucciari of Skaneateles and Alex Shilin of Fresh Meadows. They will attend the final round in New York City on May 15, where the winning team will be determined. The contest is sponsored by the Postal Service to find ways to promote its online products to young adults."

April 14, 2006 -- Oh great....Now there's a web site encouraging readers to mail their Members of Congress bricks to protest the lack of border security. Shouldn't the Inspection Service be on this one?

April 14, 2006 -- Congress Daily has reported that "A proposal requiring all private and public entities to include pension costs in their annual financial reports "heightens the urgency to get postal reform done," according to a source close to the legislation lodged in a House-Senate conference. Under the proposed FASB rule, the Postal Service would report a projected $60 billion for retiree health benefits."

April 14, 2006 -- The Kuwait News Agency has reported that "The Arab Postal Committee will hold its 13th meeting between April 17 and 19 in the Arab League headquarters in Cairo. A League statement said Thursday that heads of Arab postal departments and institutes and experts of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) will participate in the meeting. The meeting is expected to discuss a number of topics concerned with the role of the postal service in world communications, such as establishing an Arab electronic payment network that will be linked with the international network of the UPU to substitute the paper-based money transfer system."

April 14, 2006 -- In a message to the members of the Communication Workers Union, Deputy General Secretary David Ward said little progress has been made in talks with Royal Mail.

April 14, 2006 -- Dow Jones has reported that "The Dutch cabinet Thursday delayed the implementation of a new postal regime which will effectively end the postal monopoly of TNT NV. The government has decided that the law will now go into effect January 1, 2008. The law was originally planned to go into effect April 2007."

April 13, 2006 -- In a letter to the editor of the Wall Street Journal, Postal Service public affairs and communications vice president Azeezaly Jaffer wrote: "Our employees in New Orleans, and throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and surrounding states have been giving it their all since the first days after Hurricane Katrina and in the long, hard months of recovery since then. Many of them lost their homes and everything they owned and saw their families relocated. But they were out there, taking care of business. They were handing out Social Security checks and medicines at makeshift Post Offices in Louisiana and Mississippi within days of the storm. They made sure FEMA emergency assistance checks got delivered — quickly. And they set up mail delivery at emergency shelters in Houston, Dallas and throughout the nation. Somehow, The Wall Street Journal left this out and patted other delivery companies on the back because they were able to restore some service "three weeks after Katrina hit." Frankly, that's an insult."

April 13, 2006 -- According to the Business Standard, "The Department of Posts (DoP) will soon float a draft amendment Bill to overhaul the Indian Postal Act of 1898. According to officials, the draft, which contains a number of amendments, would be hosted on the DoP website next week and comments of both industry associations and private players would be sought before it is finalised and sent for the Cabinet's approval. The draft is expected to generate some heat as it is likely to recommend that a regulator be set up to monitor the operations of both the DoP and private players in the postal sector."

April 13, 2006 -- The Hamden Journal has reported that "Four students from Quinnipiac University have made it to the semi-final rounds of the first-ever college-targeted postal service challenge, the "P.R Professional Experience Contest." The contest seeks to determine which college in the tri-state area could devise the best public relations campaign for the United States Postal Service, according to Debra Hawkins, manager of public affairs and communication for the Northeast area."

April 13, 2006 -- The U.S. Postal Service has announced: Combining Package Services Mail. We revised 705.7.0 to let mailers combine different subclasses of Package Services machinable parcels for destination BMC entry and, where applicable, at destination BMC rates. Previously mailers could commingle these pieces only when combined with Standard Mail machinable parcels. We made related revisions in 705.6.0. Labeling Lists. We revised labeling lists to reflect changes in mail processing operations. Check the Summary of Changes for a complete listing of updates. You will find revisions listed by effective date and also by chapter, with clickable links to revised sections.

April 13, 2006 -- Window Book, Inc., a producer and distributor of postal mailing and shipping software, has announced that its mailing product DAT-MAIL™ has been upgraded to comply with the latest Mail.dat 05-2 specification.

April 13, 2006 -- From PR Newswire: "The United States Mint has awarded its national advertising contract to Campbell-Ewald following a recent competitive agency review. Campbell-Ewald will immediately begin developing an integrated advertising campaign focused on coin-collecting products such as 50 State Quarters(R) Proof Sets and American Eagle Silver, Gold and Platinum Proof Coins. The agency's contract is for one year with two additional option years. Campbell-Ewald recently opened its Washington, D.C., office and, in addition to its advertising contract with the United States Mint, is the agency of record for the Federal Citizen Information Center, U.S. Navy, U.S. Postal Service and U.S. Postal Inspection Service."

April 13, 2006 -- According to the Washington Post, "Pending changes in the way corporations are required to account for the costs of their pension plans would have wiped out more than $220 billion in shareholder equity at the nation's largest companies and reduced the "net worth" of some them, including General Motors Corp., to less than zero had they been in effect last December. The rules, promulgated recently by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, a private group that sets the standards for financial statements by public companies, are designed to provide more clarity about a company's true assets and liabilities. The goal is to make "basic financial statements more complete, useful, and transparent." Don't kid yourself. These rules will have ENORMOUS consequences for the Postal Service and all postal ratepayers. Bottom line? PRAY for postal reform.

April 13, 2006 -- And in a related story in today's Wall Street Journal: "U.S. employers long have provided health-care and pension benefits. The practice became common during World War II, when wage controls encouraged employers to pay in other ways. It continued because tax breaks encouraged compensation that escapes the taxes that nibble at cash wages. That system is cracking. Struggling steelmakers, airlines and auto-parts companies have wriggled out of pension promises, turning them over to a government agency that doesn't have enough assets to meet future obligations. Many employers are scaling back retiree health-insurance benefits, nearly all are shifting costs to workers, and an increasing number are opting out of health insurance altogether. Ultimately, there are three options, all with problems. One is to make it cheaper for employers to offer benefits or force them to do so. Another is to make workers fend for themselves. The third is to have government pick up more of the tab." The Postal Service is sitting on a $64 billion retiree health liability right now that is not fully reflected on its balance sheets.

April 13, 2006 -- According to the Wall Street Journal, "A week ago Monday the Times-Picayune reported that the U.S. Postal Service's New Orleans processing and distribution center would reopen the following day -- more than seven months after Katrina hit. The paper called it "a move postal officials say will all but eliminate maddening post-Katrina delivery times of a week or longer for letters mailed just across town." Not that things are completely back to normal. New Orleanians still don't receive magazines, "although that is expected within weeks." Postal Service competitors fared better. In Katrina's aftermath we've heard a lot about government "incompetence," mostly from people who have a bone to pick with the Bush Administration. But it seems likely that the private delivery companies would have outshone the Postal Service regardless of who was in the White House. Some things the private sector simply does better."

April 13, 2006 -- The Times of India has reported that "As the elections draw closer, the postal department officials here are viewing the campaigns as an excellent commercial opportunity to market their product — direct post. Under this scheme, introduced in 2004, the postal department collects and delivers unaddressed articles weighing at least 20 grams."

April 13, 2006 -- Zee News has reported that "In a bold initiative, the Centre has allowed the Department of Posts (DoP) to invest about Rs 10,000 crore from its life insurance schemes in the stock markets for better returns." See also Hindustan Times

April 13, 2006 -- The Korea Times has reported that "A 40-year-old man, identified by the surname Choi, did not receive the documents he was supposed to receive by post from his credit card company at the end of last year. He asked the company about it, and found the company had delivered the documents to the wrong address. Choi visited the house and found his documents, in a torn envelope, were in a box for undeliverable mail. Another 43-year-old man, identified as Kim, has received a series of cell phone text messages about insurance and loans since moving in January. The country is seeing more and more cases where personal information, including resident registration numbers, bank account numbers and phone numbers, are leaked when mail containing such information is returned due to wrong addresses."

April 13, 2006 -- The Irish Examiner has reported that "Post offices around the country could be providing banking services by the end of the summer, it emerged today. An Post revealed the deal had moved a step closer after it signed the first stage of an agreement with Belgian/Dutch-based international financial services company, Fortis. The firms have agreed a memo of understanding with management hopeful it will be completed over the next four months." See also RTE.

April 13, 2006 -- According to Transport Intelligence, "The European Court of Justice has ruled that the ‘Golden Share' which the Dutch government holds in TNT is illegal. The move is seen as significant in the European Commission's wider efforts to prevent protectionism of key national companies by individual European states. Although a response to the ruling is yet to be forthcoming from either the Dutch government or TNT, the ruling could eventually open the door for an acquisition of the Express, Mail and Logistics group. The on-going disposal of its Logistics division is likely to make the company more attractive to potential buyers such as UPS and FedEx, which would both benefit from its European and Asian express networks. Although neither of these companies is likely to be interested in its Mail operations, there are plenty of other potential bidders who would be."

April 13, 2006 -- Kyodo news service has reported that "A government panel on privatization of Japan Post approved Wednesday the postal entity's plan to invest in an air cargo joint venture to be set up by All Nippon Airways Co., Nippon Express Co. and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd."

April 13, 2006 -- Asia Pacific Mail and Express Conference 2006 - 3 to 5 Oct Singapore Grand Hyatt, http://www.terrapinn.com/2006/mailexp is the world's mail, express and logistics conference where ideas, intelligence and relationships make a difference. With emerging markets like India, China, Japan and Korea plus the dynamic progress in the postal privatisations in the region, the mail, express and logistics industry will gather at this inaugural three-day Asia Pacific event to address strategic issues via case studies, talk-show style panel discussions, roundtables and workshops.Some of the confirmed participating organisations at this Conference are Asian-Pacific Postal Union Bureau, Belgian Post, Pos Malaysia, TNT, Pitney Bowes International, Swiss Post International, Aramex International etc. The event is also supported by Asian Mailing Association, Australian Direct Marketing Association, Direct Marketing Association of Singapore and Thai Direct Marketers Association. To harness operational efficiency, mail operators and courier services look to the latest technology and solutions for lower operating costs. It is therefore an excellent sales platform to showcase your services, forge long-term relationships and cement business deals.Limited number of speaking opportunities for sponsors available, so call us today to secure your first-mover advantage! Call Anna Lee +65 6322 2712 or email anna.lee@terrapinn.com for more information."

April 13, 2006 -- Inquiring minds want to know: What in blazes has ever happened to the Postal Rate Commission's recommended decision on the Bookspan NSA? You know...the first not having to do with a financial services institution.

April 13, 2006 -- ConsumerAffairs.com has asked: "Does it seem absurd that the Internal Revenue Service has the capacity to scan and electronically process millions of tax returns it receives via postal mail but claims it doesn't have the capacity to receive the same returns electronically, via the Internet? Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), who heads the Senate Finance Committee, thinks so. And so does Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), the ranking Democrat on the committee. They want the agency to give some thought to accepting electronic returns directly from taxpayers."

April 12, 2006 -- The Trinidad News has reported that "TTPOST managing director, Colin Lucas is convinced that one of his many tasks is to help facilitate a planning process and join with his colleagues to 'fine tune' and chart the best way towards a successful future for his organisation."

April 12, 2006 -- The BBC has reported that "Jersey Post is set to become a private company by July."

April 12, 2006 -- From Business Wire: "Valpak®, North America's direct mail leader, has renewed its promotional support of the National Association of Letter Carriers' (NALC) annual fight against hunger."

April 12, 2006 -- Mainichi Daily News has reported that "A Japanese government panel discussing how to promote Japan Post''s privatization on Wednesday gave its go-ahead to the public postal service firm''s entry into the international cargo market. In a report submitted to Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Heizo Takenaka, the panel proposed allowing Japan Post to invest in ANA & JP Express Co. Japan Post is set to invest in the company after obtaining formal approval from the minister. ANA & JP Express is an air cargo company set up by All Nippon Airways <9202> in February based on an international cargo business tie-up agreement signed by ANA and Japan Post last October. The new firm is expected to start operations in August."

April 12, 2006 -- The Financial Times has reported that:

Private sector post operators yesterday welcomed the European Commission's launch of legal proceedings against the government for exempting Royal Mail's postal services from value added tax.
The sprawling savings arm of China's monopoly postal service has begun making loans for the first time, a move intended to help it prepare for its transformation into the country's fifth-largest bank.

April 12, 2006 -- The Polish News Bulletin has reported that "the council of ministers acquainted itself with the details of the plan to transform the Poczta Polska post office from a public service company into a joint-stock state-owned company, put forward by the transport and construction minister."

April 12, 2006 -- Kyodo news service has reported that "Japan Post plans to gradually phase out after-hour over-the-counter services at 3,600 post offices beginning in September as part of cost-cutting efforts."

April 12, 2006 -- The Shanghai Daily has reported that "UNITED Parcel Service Inc will open its first China retail store in Shanghai this summer as the US express delivery giant expands client coverage in the face of growing competition."

April 12, 2006 -- The Scotsman has reported that "BUSINESSES in Edinburgh's commercial centre are to meet postal chiefs after suffering a series of late mail deliveries."

April 12, 2006 -- Associated Baptist Press has noted that "As one of 70 million baby boomers, Greg Vaughn says he's not alone when it comes to the hurt he felt when his dad died. And the worst part was the absence of any written document of his father's love for his son. Vaughn didn't have any cards or notes from his dad -- not even a signature. Vaughn said, he felt cheated and hurt at the silence his father left behind. Now, Vaughn and thousands like him have that lasting memento. Vaughn is teaching fathers to write letters to their loved ones."

April 12, 2006 -- From Pressebox: "As part of a wider project that will deliver economies of scale through reorganization of the sorting and delivery processes into fewer, larger sorting centers, Post Danmark is also actively responding to market demands to eliminate loss and increase security during transport, as well as to remove inefficiencies in the supply chain and improve workflow."

April 12, 2006 -- From the American Postal Workers Union: "Echoing union criticisms of the USPS network consolidation plan, four key members of Congress expressed "concerns about the way the USPS is carrying out" the program, in a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The March 27 letter to U.S. Comptroller General David M. Walker was signed by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joe Lieberman (D-CT), and Representatives Tom Davis (R-VA) and Henry Waxman (D-CA). "While we recognize the USPS may need to consolidate its facilities…," the letter said, "... we are not convinced that USPS is following the recommendations made" in GAO's 2005 report on consolidation. The 2005 study concluded that the USPS "strategy for realigning its mail-processing infrastructure lacks clarity, criteria, and accountability." The legislators' letter noted that, "The GAO report recommended that the Service establish criteria, inform stakeholders as decisions are made, and evaluate and measure the outcomes of realigning these plants, including the costs and savings that result."

April 12, 2006 -- CEP News (Courier-Express-Postal), published by the MRU Consultancy, has reported that:

A majority of Osterreichische Post employees are in favour of floating the company. The result of a strike ballot carried out last weekend means that one of the major obstacles to a partial privatisation of the post has been overcome.
"We intend to penetrate the world's biggest postal markets, which is why we went to the USA and why we're now going to Japan, the second biggest postal market." Deutsche Post board member Hans-Dieter Petram thus explained his company's strategy in an interview with the German daily "Die Welt."
Before the end of April a decision must be reached concerning which international investment bank should be awarded the consultancy contract for the privatisation of Romania's post.
The Russian government appears to be considering partial privatisation of the country's post in a bid to raise billions to be put towards modernising its outdated postal infrastructure.
At a press conference held last Thursday in Bozen, South Tyrol, the association of regional tradesmen (LVH) complained about poor service performance from Poste Italiane. The post was not offering the efficient and speedy service required by business and citizens.
The EU Commission is accusing the Irish government of unlawfully awarding An Post a contract worth around 50m euros per annum. Before the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, the Commission argued that awarding a contract without putting it out to public tender was an infringement of the EU directive.
Italy's cartel office has issued a 1.6m euros fine against Poste Italiane. The cartel office believes the post has abused its market dominating position in the field of hybrid services, thus obstructing competition.
Luxembourg's P&T has invested 33m euros in the future of its mail business. The money goes towards the construction of a new sorting and delivery centre in Bettemburg.
April 12, 2006 -- In an interview with the German "Borsen-Zeitung" (11.04), Deutsche Post's CFO Edgar Ernst announced that his company would break even in the USA in 2009. The Americas would make a positive contribution to the group result in 2009, said Mr Ernst.
La Poste has reshuffled the top management of French parcel service Exapaq only weeks after taking over the company.

The MRU, founded in 1992, is the only consultancy in Europe, which has specialised in the market of courier-, express- and parcel services. For large-scale shippers and CEP-services in particular, the MRU provides interdisciplinary advice for all major questions of the market, as there are for example market entry, product design, organisation, and EDP.To learn more about the stories reported above, contact CEP News.

April 12, 2006 -- Transport Intelligence has reported that "TNT Express has launched a new air route between its European air hub in Liège, Belgium, and Brno airport in the Czech Republic. Brno is the second largest city in the Czech Republic."

April 11, 2006 -- According to SocialistWorkerOnline, "Postal workers are angry that Royal Mail has been holding back from even tabling a pay offer, while at the same time pressing the government to start the privatisation process. The CWU union is now starting a consultative ballot for its Royal Mail members to give their own views on privatisation, pay, pensions and a number of other issues."

April 11, 2006 -- Postal commentator Gene Del Polito has noted that "there have been a flurry of stories about decrements in the quality of postal services. Mailers say they clearly see mail service problems. Postal Service officials say they see nothing of the sort, and declare that mail service has never been better. This means that either mailers are seeing something that doesn't exist, or the Postal Service has gone blind. The truth probably lies somewhere in between."

April 11, 2006 -- From PR Newswire: "Informatica has announced that the mail division of Deutsche Post AG, Europe's largest postal service provider, has selected Informatica PowerCenter Advanced Edition as the basis for a large-scale enterprise data integration initiative. By integrating and gaining visibility into data from more than 100 transport, mail and data centres across Germany, PowerCenter Advanced Edition will help Deutsche Post to reduce operational costs, engage in more effective planning and scheduling, and increase customer satisfaction through more efficient mail operations."

April 11, 2006 -- Noticias.info has reported that "TNT N.V. today announces the nature and scale of a planned reorganisation of TPG Post's letter sorting centres. The reorganisation is part of the Cost Flexibility Master Plan the company announced in 2001 to strengthen its efficiency and competitiveness."

April 11, 2006 -- As the Washington Post has noted, "For most shareholders, the arrival of the annual meeting and voting season is announced with a shrink-wrapped package in the mail. That may change if publicly traded corporations decide to ditch all that paper and go electronic, as a proposed rule from the Securities and Exchange Commission would allow. SEC Chairman Christopher Cox has stated his support for using the Internet to view documents, vote shares and be able to compare information among companies."

April 11, 2006 -- Borsen-Zeitung has reported that "Deutsche Post regards itself as undervalued."

April 11, 2006 -- Handelsblatt has reported that "The German authorities are coming under pressure from the EU Commission to impose VAT on the services of Deutsche Post, the country's postal service operator and former state monopolist. Until now, most of the company's services are free of VAT, but Brussels regards the situation as being of disadvantage to competitors on the market, such as the Luxembourg-based service provider PIN Group and the Dutch group TNT, both of which are subject to VAT."

April 11, 2006 -- From Business Wire: "MoneyGram, a leading provider of global money transfer service, announced today that the United Kingdom Post Office Ltd has renewed a multi-year agreement with the company. The Post Office is a major agent for MoneyGram in the United Kingdom, with the MoneyGram money transfer service available in 2,700 Post Office locations throughout the country."

April 11, 2006 -- National Association of Letter Carriers President William Young has told his members that "I will soon celebrate my 41st year in the USPS and I find the situation we face today sadly familiar. I have seen the cycle repeat over and over. First, the Postal Service runs into some financial difficulties (recessions in the mid-1970s or early 80s) or unexpected budget hits (in the early 1990s) and must transform itself through austerity. It has some initial success, but then goes too far, slashing staff too much and damaging service. Then comes the predictable backlash, with unhappy customers, a lot of bad media and some angry congressmen, which prompts the Postal Service to start hiring again."

April 11, 2006 -- From the Carolina Newswire: "BÖWE BELL + HOWELL, the world's leading provider of document processing and postal solutions, has announced the appointment of Roger Spitzig to president of the growing Software Business Solutions (SBS) division. Mike McIntee has been appointed to vice president of business development."

April 11, 2006 -- As The Times has noted, "THE European Commission began moves towards possible legal action against Britain yesterday, accusing it of giving Royal Mail unfair tax advantages over its rivals."

April 11, 2006 -- Arab News has reported that "President of the Saudi Postal Corporation Mohammed Saleh Benton has announced that the country's postal operations would be turned into a joint stock company under the name of Saudi Postal Services Corp."

April 11, 2006 -- From Business Wire: "Newgistics, Inc., the leader in returns management solutions for direct retailers, today announced a list of seven useful tips for eliminating unnecessary stress and costs associated with prom preparations."

April 11, 2006 -- Expatica has reported that "The Belgian post office has been awarded a contract valued at EUR 18 million with the Publications Office of the European Union, it was announced on Monday. In effect, Belgian Post International will dispatch, as from 15 June 2007, all of the EU's publications that weigh more than 50g, such as the union's Official Journal. The Post said the contract is based on an annual value of around EUR 9 million over two years, with one possible extension."

April 10, 2006 -- If you haven't done so in a while, be sure to check out the redesigned PostInsight web site.

April 10, 2006 -- PostCom is pleased to announce that Leroy Winn (Postal Equipment, Inc.) and Paula Schurr (Kable News Company, Inc.) are the two winners of the iPod Nanos that were offered at a drawing held for those who visited the PostCom table at the National Postal Forum. Congratulations!

April 10, 2006 -- According to the Sun Herald, the residents of Punta Gorda, Florida want home delivery restored.

April 10, 2006 -- Folio has reported that "Rumors are circulating that the next postal rate increase will be higher than what postal officials have previously suggested. Rather than an increase in the mid-single digits, some sources are saying the increase could be in the double digits. The Postal Service could base its rate request on projected costs for the 2008 fiscal year, beginning October 2007. "It is not surprising that the Postal Service would want to get its rates as high as it can, in case postal reform, with its CPI-based price cap, actually passes," says David Straus, Washington counsel for American Business Media. "Clearly, the Postal Service will want the base as high as possible if it is to be limited to strict percentage increases thereafter."

April 10, 2006 -- From the PR Newswire: "comScore Networks, the industry leader in the measurement and analysis of consumer behavior and attitudes, today released an analysis of the state of online banking in the U.S. comScore found that the number of online banking customers grew to nearly 40 million during Q4 2005, a 27-percent increase over the previous year. Usage of online bill payment services has grown 36 percent during the same period."

April 10, 2006 -- From Europa: "The European Commission has sent formal requests for information to the United Kingdom, Germany and Sweden on the VAT application of postal services. The United Kingdom and Germany exempt from VAT all or most postal services supplied by their former postal monopolies, while Sweden does not exempt postal services. Current VAT legislation is not yet adapted to the postal market that was liberalised by Directive 97/67/EC. The Commission, awaiting the revision of the current legislation according to its proposals , has to ensure a proper application of the VAT postal exemption in order to avoid distortions of competition between former monopolies and market entrants. The requests take the form of letters of formal notice, the first stage of the infringement procedure laid down in Article 226 of the EC Treaty. The Member States involved are invited to reply within two months."

April 10, 2006 -- International Freighting Weekly has reported that "DHL-Sinotrans, which operates the largest air express network in China, has launched an Express Pallet service for shipments from 50kg to 150kg. The palletised packaging design not only ensures a safe and economical solution for customers, but also streamlines the export process, the conpany claims."

April 10, 2006 -- Transport Network News has reported that "Two international trade union organisations are today launching a campaign to ensure that TNT workers do not suffer when the company - the world's fourth largest express parcels carrier - sells its logistics business."

April 10, 2006 -- According to Expansion, "Jose Damian Santiago, the chairman of Spanish postal services provider Correos, and the general manager of leading German bank Deutsche Bank in Spain, Antonio Rodriguez-Pina, signed an agreement to launch a new brand in the Spanish market, Bancorreos. Bancorreos will offer banking products designed for clients of Correos."

April 10, 2006 -- La Stampa has reported that "Poste Italiane, the Italian postal service, has been fined 1.6m euros by the country's antitrust regulator for abusing its dominant market position. Antitrust claimed that Poste Italiane was blocking competition in the deregulated hybrid electronic postal services sector, which includes the mass distribution of bills and bank statements. It did concede, however, that Poste Italiane was not entirely to blame, as it was simply taking advantage of a 1999 law that made it much easier for it to dominate the market."

April 10, 2006 -- According to Financial Times Deutschland, "Deutsche Post, the German postal service operator, says that it is not planning to reduce the number of branches it operates in Germany any further. The company currently manages around 12,000 post offices, having reduced the total figure by about 1,000 by the end of last year. The number of letter-boxes has also been reduced from 140,000 to 108,000, and is now to remain stable."

April 10, 2006 -- Dow Jones has reported that:

The European Union warned three countries Monday to stop taxing postal services, saying such services should be tax free to encourage start-ups to compete with incumbent, often state-owned monopolies. The European Commission has sent formal requests for information to the U.K., Germany and Sweden, which is the first stage of its legal procedure. E.U. rules stipulate that postal services should be exempt from value-added tax. In the U.K and Germany, former postal monopolies are nearly entirely exempt from VAT charges, whereas other private postal operators are not. In the case of Sweden, all postal operators are charged VAT.
Dutch postal and express company TNT NV has said it plans to cut between 1,000 to 1,100 jobs in the next three years at the mail unit amid increased competition ahead of a fully liberalized European postal market.

April 10, 2006 -- According to the Boston Globe, "The Postal Service is launching a nationwide push to install videophone devices and services that will make it easier for its 4,000 deaf employees to communicate with their colleagues."

April 10, 2006 -- Business World has reported that "DX Ireland, the private, business-to-business postal company, today launched its new public sector product, Gov DX. The company said the new service would save taxpayers' money by offering an inter-departmental and inter-agency postal collection service as well as early morning, next day delivery."

April 10, 2006 -- The El Paso Times has reported that "U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, has asked the postmaster general to address delays in El Paso's standard-class mail delivery service after several employees came forward in March to say that a backlog for processing bulk-rate parcels had reached up to 12 days. Local postal service officials at the conference characterized the delays as minimal, but Reyes intends to meet with other postal service employees in El Paso for further feedback. Postal service officials could not be reached for comment about the meeting with Reyes or to describe the current state of mail delivery service in El Paso."

April 10, 2006 -- 680News has reported that "After years of walking down their driveways, people in the rural areas of York Region are now facing a six-kilometer drive to get their mail. It's all because a few mail carriers at a Newmarket postal station said driving country roads was getting too dangerous.They complained to Labour Canada that they couldn't pull their cars far enough off the road to be safe from passing traffic while sliding mail into post-mounted boxes. The government agreed it was too dangerous. Now, Canada Post has stopped rural delivery for nearly 12-hundred customers on three routes delivered out of Newmarket and another in Kettleby and King, west of Aurora."

April 8, 2006 -- Logistics Management has reported that "Citing increased operating costs of operations, Con-Way Transportation Services raised its rates for regional less-than-truckload (LTL) network services by 5.5 percent this week."

April 8, 2006 -- Traffic World has reported that "The shipper battle to contain if not reduce the total cost of transportation has rarely been waged as fiercely or on as many fronts as it is today. Experts say that is because despite two decades of efficiency-adding technology tools and supply chain management strategies, the cost to ship goods is rising and facing new pressures to rise still more."

April 8, 2006 -- The Sioux City Journal has reported that "People across the country pay the same amount of money to mail letters and packages. So citizens in rural America shouldn't get slower service than residents of Boston or New York City. That was the message of Jim Price, president of the American Postal Workers Union Local 186, on Friday when local, regional and national union members picketed in front of Sioux City's downtown post office. Now Sioux City's distribution center offers the same speed of service to Siouxlanders as is available to residents of big cities, Price said. But he said that will change if the U.S. Postal Service moves Siouxland's mail processing about 90 miles away to Sioux Falls. Price has said the U.S. Postal Service's plan is to eliminate 250 of the 450 plants nationwide."

April 8, 2006 -- Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) has announced that the United States Postal Service (USPS) will hold a meeting on the proposed consolidation of the Siouxland Mail Processing Operations. The meeting will take place Thursday, April 20th at 10 AM at the Sioux City Convention and Conference Center on 801 Fourth Street. The meeting will be open to concerned residents and attended by Sioux City Chamber and government officials, Harkin staff and representatives of the USPS. "This meeting is long overdue and it's critical the Postal Service hears from Siouxland residents how its proposed consolidation plan will impact their community," said Harkin. "Major issues such as the costs the USPS plan will impose on local businesses and possible delays in mail service need to be apparent to all involved before moving the mail processing facility."

April 8, 2006 -- The New Haven Register has reported that "Hundreds of U.S. Postal Service supervisors from around the country, including several from Connecticut, gathered on Capitol Hill this week as Congress prepares to finalize legislation that will overhaul the agency for the first time since 1970. The central goal of separate House and Senate bills is modernizing the agency so it remains solvent in the new age of e-mail and the Internet, while competing against private vendors like UPS and FedEx."

April 8, 2006 -- The Telegraph has reported that "The department of post is seeking an amendment to the Indian Post Office Act, as it has been hit by the twin blow from the private express and courier services companies as well as the government. The private courier firms ate into its age-old monopoly in mail delivery services and the government withdrew the 10 per cent bonus from its popular monthly income scheme."

April 8, 2006 -- The Associated Press has reported that "A mailman who hoarded thousands of letters and parcels at his home was jailed for four months on Friday. Christopher Meek, 19, admitted hoarding 13,819 postal items, saying he had taken them home because his mailbag was too heavy for him to carry. He was arrested in December after the Royal Mail received complaints from people who had not received Christmas gifts sent through the mail, prosecutors told Sunderland Magistrates' Court in northern England."

April 8, 2006 -- According to The Oregonian, "A request to carry extra mail apparently threw letter carrier Grant Gallaher into such an unexpected rage that he went home, grabbed a .357-caliber Magnum revolver and returned to the post office, a union official said Friday. At the post office, authorities say, he ran over and shot supervisor Lori Hayes-Kotter in the parking lot and went inside looking for the postmaster, but didn't find him. Gallaher had been on a new mail route for about three weeks when postal supervisors in Baker City began a week of work evaluations, said Paul Price, spokesman for the National Letter Carriers Association in Vancouver."

April 8, 2006 -- Die Welt has reported that "Deutsche Post, the German postal service operator, has founded a joint venture in Japan with Yamato, Japan's largest private postal company. The new company, which will operate under the name Yamato Dialog & Media, will be involved only in direct marketing by post initially, as the Japanese state-owned postal operator still has a monopoly on the market for the delivery of letters."

April 8, 2006 -- Peter Moore Software announced the availability of version 5.2 of their popular Mail.dat Excel macro. The macro, which comes in the form of an Excel spreadsheet, allows the user to import the most commonly used Mail.dat files into an Excel spreadsheet, formats numeric fields, and provides column headings. The new release supports Mail.dat 98-1, 00-1, 02-1, 02-2, 05-1, and the new version, 05-2. In addition, it supports the prototype structures embodied in 05-X.

April 7, 2006 -- Air Cargo World has reported that "Domestic cargo traffic on United States airlines slipped 0.5 percent in February, the third straight monthly decline in the weak market for air carriers. Falling postal traffic led the slide, dropping 17.8 percent from the same month a year ago, according to the Air Transport Association, the 11th consecutive month in which mail has fallen by double digits."

April 7, 2006 --The latest copy of the National Association of Postmasters of the U.S. electronic governmental affairs newsletter is available on the NAPUS web site.

April 7, 2006 -- The latest issue of the PostCom Bulletin is available online. In this issue:

• Postmaster General Jack Potter earlier this week told National Postal Forum attendees that despite the Postal Service's great progress in its cost cutting initiatives, increases in other economic cost drivers likely will cause the USPS to file a new rate case soon. The Postal Service could file a rate case as early as this month for a rate increase to take effect in 2007.
• Postmaster General Jack Potter told mailers at this week's National Postal Forum that while the USPS has a good base to build upon, there are "a whole new set of complexities," ahead. Topping his list were reduction of Undeliverable-As-Addressed (UAA) mail, and working together to modernize the Postal Service's transportation and processing networks.
• The Postal Service's newest request for a baseline negotiated service agreement seeks volume discounts for a financial institution, but it does not base the requested discounts on the cost-saving element from address hygiene that previous First Class NSAs have included. Washington Mutual Bank would receive declining block rates for volumes above certain thresholds for First-Class Mail solicitations.
• The 4-state barcode was a hot topic at the recent National Postal Forum in Orlando, FL. The Postal Service announced its intention of offering services around the information-dense barcode on Sept. 1.
• Time Inc. Vice President, Distribution & Postal Affairs, (and PostCom Board Chairman) Jim O'Brien responds to a commentary by Clint Burelson, president of a local chapter of the APWU.
• Former New Mexico State Representative and Republican Minority Whip Earlene Roberts wrote to Sen. Susan Collins opposing the confirmation of Bush nominee Mickey Barnett to serve on the USPS Board of Governors.
• Former PostCom Chair Bill David honored at Forum. USPS spotlight on address quality at NPF. Sable to succeed Critelli as task force chairman. Flats sequencing equipment may force standard label placement. DPV coming for 2007 CASS cycle.
• Royal Mail stamp prices up. Royal Mail, CWU making progress on pay standards. Posten makes offer for Stralfors. Deutsche Post sells Marken unit.

Hey! You've not been getting the weekly PostCom Bulletin--the best postal newsletter anywhere...bar none?  Send us by email your name, company, company title, postal and email address. Get a chance to see what you've been missing.
 

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April 7, 2006 -- The latest issue of PostCom's PostOps Update has been posted on this site. In this issue:

• USPS to introduce 4-state barcode services Sept 1.
• Why use the 4-state barcode?
• One Code CONFIRM service using the 4-state barcode.
• How to get started using the 4-state barcode.
• 4-state barcode location?
• One Code ACS Service available Sept 1.
• USPS developing better yard management tools.
• How about MERLIN and the 4-state barcode?
• No 4-state barcode on business reply mail yet.
• Address quality: the big picture.
• Another USPS eMIR blitz later this month.
• USPS treats symposium attendees to address quality services.
• Upcoming postal rule changes.

April 7, 2006 -- Business Mailers Review has reported that:

• Beginning Sept. 1 the much-touted 4-state barcode, a critical step toward the Postal Service's goal of tracking every mailpiece throughout the entire system using a single code, will be available for most letter mail, with availability for flats expected later in the fall or early in 2007. The 31-digit barcode is being promoted by the Postal Service for its ability to cut down on USPS processing costs, reduce the amount of space on the envelope needed for barcoding, give mailers improved tracking and analytical capability and eventually expand the universe of services USPS can offer.
• The big news on the next rate case coming out of the National Postal Forum last week in Orlando, FL, is the emphasis on setting rates based on the shape of the mailpiece in addition to the traditional weight-based pricing. Some speculate that this approach fits hand-in-glove with the network realignment strategy in which facilities and transportation networks are being redesigned in a way that mail will be more closely grouped according to shape of mail for processing.
• Postmaster General Jack Potter, who said the rate case could be filed with the Postal Rate Commis- sion (PRC) later this month, urged the industry to consider the true impact of the proposed rate case on individual businesses. "Don't rush to judg- ment" he admonished the industry. He also said the rate case will attempt to offer opportunities for business mailers to lower the impact of the rate increase through more worksharing offerings.
• Potter called on the industry to help fulfill the mission of the 2006-2010 Transformation Plan by working to reduce the volume of undeliverable as addressed mail and by cooper- ating in USPS efforts to streamline the process- ing and transportation networks.
• With the 4-state barcode and the impending rate case the leading stories at the Postal Forum last week, more than a few business mailers were pointing out that this next rate case presents the opportune time for the Postal Service to consider offering some sort of extra incentive in the way of deeper worksharing discounts for mailers who go the extra mile in address hygiene.
• "We're all working together" to achieve a postal reform bill that is good for the Postal Service and the public, James Miller, chairman of the Postal Board of Governors, told the National Postal Forum last week in Orlando, FL. Miller emphasized the concern expressed by a number of postal officials about the importance of having freedom and flexibility to respond to a competitive marketplace, to streamline and consolidate facilities and to act as an ordinary business enterprise.
• Look for a Federal Register notice within the next few months announcing a new approach to handling temporary changes of address.
• An unprecedented shortage of pallets for the late winter, early spring time period led Paul Vogel, postal vice president for network operations management, to begin a $30 million, three- phase purchase of pallets. In a letter to members of the Mailers Technical Advisory Committee, Vogel said that normally at this time of year equipment is returned to the warehouse and inventory is conducted.
• The Postal Service is seeking Postal Rate Commission (PRC) approval of a new negotiated service agreement (NSA) that does not require a cap on the mail volume that could benefit from the specialized rate, but instead guarantees specified mail volume.
• USPS has unveiled its Evolutionary Network Development (END) plans to streamline its process- ing and transportation networks to reflect demo- graphic changes as well as changes in the mail business that have driven more mail volume to the destination facility for delivery. Meanwhile, the Postal Service has asked the Postal Rate Commission (PRC) for an advisory opinion concerning the END plan, but it isn't clear what the scope of that advice should be.
• First there were stamps depicting atomic spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, accused war criminal Slobodan Milosevic and unabomber Ted Kaczynski. Now, there are "anti-war" stamps. It is just what some postal officials feared. Just last month the Postal Service announced its intention to expand the customized postage testing concept for another two years and said it would allow commercial images. But the agency warned that it does not want the stamps "to become a public forum for dissemination, debate or discussion of public issues."
• Charles Bravo, USPS senior vice president for intelligent mail and address quality, told attendees at the National Postal Forum last week in Orlando, FL, that the Postal Service is pleased with the progress of its electronic offering for change of address.
• The Postal Service is looking at other ways to grow the mailstream as part of its change of address process in conjunction with its partner in this effort, Pitney Bowes- owned Imagitas Inc.
• Creative packaging and co-branding opportunities should be considered for priority shippers who are interested in distinguishing their products and strengthening their own brands.
• And there's more...much more....So why not get a subscription of your own?

Business Mailer's Review is an award-winning, independent biweekly newsletter covering issues of importance to the business mailer. It is regularly cited as among the best sources of postal information. For subscription information, check the BMR web site.

April 7, 2006 -- Credit Management has reported that "Experian ®, the global information solutions company, has become the first organisation in the UK to install the Royal Mail's new Redirect Check service across its range of authentication and fraud prevention solutions, including Detect, one of the UK's most widely used online fraud prevention solutions."

April 7, 2006 -- The Irish Independent has reported that "An Post rejects regulator's findings on late mail delivery."

April 7, 2006 -- As the Wall Street Journal has noted, "Growth in preprint advertisements, which are printed in advance of the actual publication date, expanded dramatically over the past five years for major newspaper companies, but began fading in late 2005 and dipped to negative in early 2006."

April 7, 2006 -- The BBC has reported that "Post Office customers are being urged to put any complaints in writing about the new franchise office in Dumfries."

April 7, 2006 -- American Postal Workers Union President William Burrus has told his members that "The APWU has been notified that five Area Mail Processing (AMP) feasibility studies "have been placed on hold" indefinitely. An April 3 letter [PDF] to APWU President William Burrus indicated that the facilities involved are two in Illinois (Carbondale and Centralia), two in New Mexico (Las Cruces and Alamogordo), and one in Arkansas (Batesville). "While conducting the study," the USPS letter said, "the Postal Service determined that there are other factors associated with these studies or the community that need to be addressed before we can proceed with the study."

April 7, 2006 -- The Herald has reported that "POSTAL services provider Zimpost (Private) Limited has increased tariffs for local, regional and international postage stamps with effect from April 1 2006."

April 7, 2006 -- The latest issue of the Consumer Postal Council's International Postal Update has been posted on this site.

April 7, 2006 -- IWCO Direct has announced that Joseph F. Morrison has been appointed chief financial officer, effective immediately. In his new role, Morrison will provide the leadership, financial management and vision to maintain proper financial controls, administrative systems and reporting procedures to support the organization's growth.

April 7, 2006 -- According to Time Inc. Vice President, Distribution & Postal Affairs (and PostCom Board Chairman) Jim O'Brien, "The commentary by Clint Burelson of the APWU (Postcom Bulletin: March 24) regarding the Postal Service's network consolidation plans inaccurately states Time Warner's positions and ignores a number of the basic facts surrounding the issue. Mr. Burelson's article fails to mention the fundamental facts regarding the declining volumes and rising costs that are driving change within the Postal Service."

April 6, 2006 -- The Postal Service's most recent DMM Advisory has been posted on this site.

April 6, 2006 -- The Argonaut has reported that "The U.S. Postal Service recognized Stamps.com of Santa Monica with the "Industry Star Award" for the company's commitment to a successful partnership with the Postal Service."

April 6, 2006 -- Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung has reported that "TNT, the Dutch postal service company, has acquired CBS City Briefservice, the private German mail delivery service operating in and around Monchengladbach. The German company provides local deliveries to 129,000 homes and businesses, including public institutions."

April 6, 2006 -- Stuff.co.nz has reported that "New Zealand Post plans to lay off about 80 head-office workers in Wellington and Auckland as it strives to cut costs in its struggling postal business."

April 6, 2006 -- Reuters has reported that "The European Union's top court and EU regulators took new steps on Thursday against "golden shares" invoked by the Dutch and Italian governments that give them special voting rights in companies. In Luxembourg, an adviser to the European Court of Justice said the Dutch government's special voting rights in freight and postal services firm TNT violated EU rules.

April 6, 2006 -- Citing UPS's alternative fuel program and fuel conservation initiatives, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has honored the company with its distinguished Clean Air Excellence Award. The annual award recognizes organizations that improve air quality through innovative environmental programs.

April 6, 2006 -- Hoovers has noted that "United Parcel Service Inc (UPS) and Hong Kong Disneyland announced their tie-ups Monday, making the courier the official express delivery sponsor of Hong Kong Disneyland."

April 6, 2006 -- According to Marketing magazine, "DHL is a wildly successful brand - on the surface, at least: it is the biggest express carrier in both Europe and Asia, with a 40% share in each market. In the US, however, it has a paltry 7% market share. The delivery market there is dominated by UPS and FedEx, which enjoy a combined 78% market share."

April 6, 2006 -- The Azeri-Press Information Agency has reported that "The Ministry of Communication and Information Technologies (MCIT) joined the Western Union international system to provide accelerated postal order. The Minister of Communication and Information Technologies Ali Abbasov informing APA about it said that "citizens already are able to make out an accelerated money order to any country of the world".

April 6, 2006 -- According to Business Week, "When the government opens Japan's postal system to private entities, more than 200 trillion yen of personal savings will be ripe for picking."

April 6, 2006 -- From PR Web: "ePOSTIT's freepostit.com service today announced that their free email to postal address delivery service for India continues to grow by leaps and bounds by the huge global demand generated by the Indian community living out of India."

April 6, 2006 -- RIA Novosti has reported that "Russia's Finance Minister Thursday suggested that the country's state-owned postal monopoly should be corporatized. First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev welcomed the idea, saying: "Obviously, the mail [network] is an infrastructure and monopolistic area, and in desperate need of investment." But Medvedev called for extreme caution in making the shift, given the vital social role of postal services in communities throughout Russia."

April 6, 2006 -- According to The Monitor, a postal "rural address revamp could be to blame for postal headaches."

April 6, 2006 -- PC World has asked whether new technology means "Goodbye to Postal Meters?"

April 6, 2006 -- The Nigerian Tribune has reported that "The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) management has said that the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) in the country is not a threat whatsoever to the operations of NIPOST."

April 5, 2006 -- According to ANSA, "An Italian woman turned up for a heart check-up last Friday to find out she was exactly ten years late because of a postal delay."

April 5, 2006 -- Adweek has reported that "The City of New York, which has cut marketing deals with Snapple, the History Channel and others, plans to send out requests for proposals next week for an official ground delivery services provider. The winner, which will likely be drawn from one of the three global package delivery firms—FedEx, UPS and DHL—will be known as the "Official Express and Ground Delivery Services Provider for the City of New York."

April 5, 2006 -- According to the Manila Times, "AT long last, the Philippine Postal Corp., or Philpost, received a much-needed shot in the arm with the approval by President Arroyo of a P5.7-billion modernized postal system at no cost and no risk to the agency."

April 5, 2006 -- CEP News (Courier-Express-Postal), published by the MRU Consultancy, has reported that:

Schweizerische Post will continue its current policy of axing more than 1,000 jobs annually. In an interview with the weekly "SonntagsZeitung" (02.04), CEO Ulrich Gygi confirmed the course of action and said: "Streamlining the mail sorting process alone will create around 2,400 redundancies until 2009."
Anton Wais, CEO of the Austrian post, was confident that his company would stand up to competition and confirmed the post's plans for expansion in Eastern Europe.
The hybrid mail service launched in Germany last year is set to expand.
The Latvian post has suffered a definite decline in service quality as a result of low wages and job cuts.
The Australian government has set up an independent complaints office for Australia Post customers.
Deutsche Post AG has not been successful in its attempt to secure the upost.com domain before the arbitration tribunal of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), a United Nations body based in Geneva. Mr Gorman, founder and former CEO of mail.com, argued that Deutsche Post's brands - with one exception - were all registered later than the domain.
Austria's Minister of Finance Grasser has ordered the state-owned holding company OIAG to ensure that future increases in capital for Osterreichische Post AG do not allow the government's share to drop below 51%.
Royal Mail's European parcel network General Logistics Systems reports a 13% increase in turnover to 1.5bn euros for the last financial year (ended on 31 March).
The Scandinavian Jetpak Group (2005 turnover: 52m euros) has acquired a majority of Norway's Borg-Trans.
British CEP service provider Business Post announced the extension of its service agreement with FedEx.
Fastway Couriers intend to achieve nationwide coverage in Germany by the end of next year. Founded in New Zealand in 1983, Fastway currently only covers around one third of the German market.

The MRU, founded in 1992, is the only consultancy in Europe, which has specialised in the market of courier-, express- and parcel services. For large-scale shippers and CEP-services in particular, the MRU provides interdisciplinary advice for all major questions of the market, as there are for example market entry, product design, organisation, and EDP.To learn more about the stories reported above, contact CEP News.

April 5, 2006 -- The Gazette has reported that "The Garrett Park Citizens Association met with post office representatives last week to discuss concerns among some residents that the town post office is starting to lose its unique character."

April 5, 2006 -- According to the GJSentinel, "Glade Park residents might be more inclined to accept the changes being forced upon them by the U.S. Postal Service if officials with that agency were more forthcoming about the reasons for ending the agency's mail contract with the Glade Park Store."

April 5, 2006 -- Air Cargo World has reported that:

• FedEx said it will ask its shareholders to remove all requirements for supermajority voting, to allow some measures to pass with a simple majority of outstanding shares that now must receive 80-percent approval. But a supermajority vote would have to approve the switch in the first place, FedEx said, in order to have some key issues decided by a simple majority of shares in the future.
• Rates for DHL Express in Asia Pacific will increase by an average of 4 percent effective May 1. Citing major infrastructure investments in the region, DHL said it will recoup only a percentage of the extra operating costs through an increase that will apply to all express shipments billed in Asia Pacific.

April 5, 2006 -- The Irish Times has reported that "The European Commission yesterday accused Ireland of illegally giving a contract worth 50 million a year to An Post. The contract, which provides for the payment of social welfare benefits to about 1.1 million people, is one of the main sources of revenue for the Irish postal service."

April 5, 2006 -- Handelsblatt has reported that "Deutsche Post, the German national postal services provider, is planning to slash postage on small parcels for private customers in Germany. Sources close to the company report that postage will be reduced by 10 per cent, from 4.30 euros to around 3.90 euros. This new lower price matches that offered by Hermes, Deutsche Post's main rival in the market. Hermes has succeeded in taking market share off the former monopolist with low-cost offers to private customers."

April 5, 2006 -- According to the Asahi Shimbun, "The government's watchdog postal privatization committee is now in the process of monitoring the lengthy process of turning postal services into private businesses."

April 5, 2006 -- The PostalNews Blog has reported that:

• In a letter to Senator Susan Collins, former New Mexico GOP whip Earlene Roberts says that BOG nominee Mickey Barnett has "engaged in ‘Jack Abramoff' style politics here in New Mexico". Roberts went on to suggest that "Mr. Barnett's questionable political activities… make him unfit and unqualified for public service".
• Ron Godbey, Retired Member New Mexico House of Representatives has written a letter to the American Postal Workers Union and the National Association of Letter Carriers telling them "why postal workers should oppose Mickey Barnett."

April 5, 2006 -- According to DMNews, "Repositionable notes, PostalOne, Customized MarketMail, Confirm, Delivery Point Validation, custom publications and traditional direct mail were just some of the U.S. Postal Service products and services featured in the general session yesterday at the 2006 National Postal Forum."

April 5, 2006 -- The Los Angeles Times has reported that "The largest mail-order movie-rental service sued the world's largest video-rental chain Tuesday saying, in essence, that when it comes to no late fees, imitation isn't flattering. Netflix Inc. accused Blockbuster Inc. of patent infringement, alleging that its online site Blockbuster.com illegally copied Netflix's method of allowing customers to order videos over the Internet. Sending out 7 million movies a month, the company is one of the U.S. Postal Service's highest volume customers."

April 5, 2006 -- The Beaumont Enterprise has reported that "A local postal clerks' union Tuesday picketed the U.S. Postal Service station on Walden Road in a bid to stop potential job transfers if a local operation is sent to Houston. The local operation is called cancellation, and it deals with postmarking letters mailed in Beaumont with that circular stamp that says "Beaumont Texas." The postal service recently began studying whether it should consolidate the Beaumont traffic, which totals as many as 150,000 letters mailed in Beaumont daily, with cancellation operations in Houston, where there is extra capacity."

April 5, 2006 -- According to the Shanghaiist, "The Shanghai Post Museum differs from your average local post office in one major way -- people are actually nice to you. The security guards are even smiley and chatty -- they seem to be really proud of the place."

April 5, 2006 -- Stabroek News has reported that "The stand-off between the postal workers union and management of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) is no closer to being resolved and a sit-in by workers across Guyana continued yesterday and impacted on a range of services."

April 4, 2006 -- From the PR Newswire: "Pitney Bowes Inc. has announced that its Management Services subsidiary has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the stock of Ibis Consulting, Inc. for approximately $67 million. Ibis is a leading provider of electronic discovery (eDiscovery) services to law firms and corporate clients."

April 4, 2006 -- Government Computer News has reported that "The Postal Service is expecting its bar codes to do more with less. Charlie Bravo, senior vice president of Intelligent Mail address quality at USPS, said the new, four-state bar codes will do more than simply track mail—they will let customers choose more services and help increase revenue both at USPS and in the private sector. They're called four-state codes because they use four types of bar-code lines instead of the two currently used. The bar code is the latest offering under Intelligent Mail—a program initiated in late 2001 that USPS expects, eventually, to let customers track every piece of mail from pickup to delivery."

April 4, 2006 -- You can find a copy of the USPS Inspector General's Management Advisory on Cost Reduction Programs (Report Number MS-MA-06-001) at the IG's web site.

April 4, 2006 -- The latest issue of the Domestic Mail Classification Schedule is available on the Postal Rate Commission web site.

April 4, 2006 -- The Daily Sentinel has reported that "Glade Park residents were on edge Monday night as they came to grips with Friday's sudden mail-service changes and weighed their options. Officials with the United States Postal Service hosted a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd at the Glade Park Community Center, where many more stood than sat, some yelling from outside through open windows to be heard."

April 4, 2006 -- According to Transport Intelligence, "DHL, has announced significant enhancements to its range of domestic Next Day Air products though a major expansion of its service coverage across the U.S. DHL's portfolio of Next Day Air products includes DHL Next Day 10:30 AM, DHL Next Day 12:00 PM, and DHL Next Day 3:00 PM, as well as DHL Same Day service for time-critical shipments. DHL has now enhanced its service coverage for its next day products, upgrading around 300 ZIP Codes to its 10:30 AM product, 179 ZIP Codes to its Next Day 12:00 PM product, and 231 ZIP Codes to its Saturday Delivery service. When added to DHL's existing coverage, this represents a service upgrade to an additional 8 million ZIP Code combinations."

April 4, 2006 -- Posted on this site is the most recent report from the Universal Postal Union's Direct Mail Advisory Board.

April 4, 2006 -- DMNews has reported that:

Address quality, always a major topic for business mailers and the U.S. Postal Service, dominated the discussion yesterday at the 2006 National Postal Forum.
• The U.S. Postal Service cannot continue to absorb high fuel costs, Postmaster General John E. Potter said yesterday, and the agency plans to file its next rate case as soon as this month. Also, smaller, annual increases could begin in 2009, he said.

April 4, 2006 -- Congratulations to former PostCom board chairman William David, who was honored by PMG Jack Potter at the National Postal Forum with the Postmaster General's Lifetime Achievement Award for his many years of service to the postal community and the nation.

April 4, 2006 -- Strategiy has reported that "Emirates Marketing & Promotions (EMP), the marketing arm of Emirates Post has recently honoured employees who achieved record sales of Postcard Millionaire at a ceremony attended by Mr. Abdullah Al Daboos, Director General of Emirates Post and Chairman of EMP, and Mr. Ahmad Tahlak, CEO of EMP."

April 4, 2006 -- According to the Dayton News, "Adding details to an earlier announcement, United Parcel Service Inc. has told its 1,250 Dayton air freight hub workers their jobs will go away in the month of June, a spokesman said Friday. Timing of the Atlanta-based shipper's plans to close the hub at Dayton International Airport hinged on expansion of its main air hub in Louisville, Ky., and construction of five regional hubs at airports across the country."

April 4, 2006 -- According to the blog published by Joe Monahan, "He's controversial and he's tenacious. ABQ GOP lawyer-lobbyist Mickey Barnett, ousted by fellow R's from his national committeemen post in 04', has found some friends in the White House and has been nominated by President Bush as a governor of the U.S. Postal Service. His friends will be rooting him on, and his enemies promise to hold his feet to the fire when he goes before the U.S. Senate for confirmation hearings. Insider R's report that former GOP state legislators Earlene Roberts and Ron Godbey are prepared to testify, or submit written testimony opposing Barnett's' nomination to the 11 member board. Roberts was defeated in 04' by fellow R Keith Gardner who was backed by the Barnett group. ABQ's Godbey easily defeated several Barnett backed foes in GOP primaries before leaving the Legislature and moving to Texas."

April 4, 2006 -- GovExec.com has noted that "Mass mailers are watching closely as the U.S. Postal Service considers its first operational rate increase in nearly five years. It could potentially be the last rate increase before Congress imposes a rate cap as part of a postal overhaul bill now awaiting action in conference committee. The Senate version of that bill includes a provision limiting the amount by which the Postal Service can increase its rates, a first for the agency."

April 4, 2006 -- The Standard has reported that "AUSTRALIA Post will be invited to explain its new rural addressing schemedue to be implemented in Moyne Shire. The council's invitation follows months of confusion regarding the postal addressing changes, which aim to give Victorian rural residential properties a unique and unambiguous address as for urban properties."

April 3, 2006 -- Postcomm has issued a new licence to Deutsche Post Global Mail (UK) Limited. The licence takes into account the requirements of the new licensing framework that came into force on 1 January 2006. More information on licensing is available at the postal licences and operators section of Postcomm's website.

April 3, 2006 -- The U.K.'s postal regulator, Postcomm, has published its latest business plan, which sets out the corporate strategy for 2006-2009, and a detailed forward work plan for 2006-2007. The plan describes Postcomm's mandate and goals, and sets out priorities for the year. Postcomm Business Plan 2006-2009.

April 3, 2006 -- PopCultureShock has reported that "GameFly(TM) (www.gamefly.com), the leading video game rental service, today accepted a Best in Class Innovation Award from the United States Postal Service at the National Postal Forum, the nation's premier mailing industry trade show, in Orlando, Florida. The award honors GameFly's FastReturn(TM) service, which improves the delivery times of its rental games by as much as three days and is free to GameFly members. The service was developed in partnership with the USPS utilizing their Confirm(R) service and launched in October 2005."

April 3, 2006 -- The Scotsman has reported that "THE Royal Mail has offered a book of stamps as compensation to a businessman forced to lay-off staff because of missing mail. Tom Peters, owner of the Musselburgh-based Ceramic Tile Company, claimed the missing mail meant he lost hundreds of thousands of pounds in business over six months."

April 3, 2006 -- The Guernsey Press has reported that "The Office of Utility Regulation has today published a draft decision approving a request from Guernsey Post to raise its bulk mail fees. If confirmed, increases of 30-70%, varying according to product and provider, would come into effect on 1 July."

April 3, 2006 -- The Associated Press has reported that "For the first time since Hurricane Katrina, the Postal Service began processing mail Monday in New Orleans, a move officials say should eliminate delivery times of a week or more for cross-town mail."

April 3, 2006 -- The Postal Service is reviewing the way we process and transport mail. Listen to the presentation by William Galligan, Senior Vice President of Operations for the U.S. Postal Service.

April 3, 2006 -- Cayman Net News has reported that "The Cayman Islands Post Office has won another international award for the standard of its operations, and this time the Post Office has struck gold. On 24 March 2006 – at a special presentation ceremony in Sweden – Cayman officially received the University of Postal Unions Gold Certificate 2005 Award."

April 3, 2006 -- From the U.S. Postal Service: "The forecast for the Postal Service and the mailing industry is very good. That's the message Postmaster General Jack Potter delivered to more than 6,500 mailers and advertisers at the National Postal Forum in Orlando, FL, today. It's a forecast based on a transformed Postal Service that will see a growth in Direct Mail as well as advances in technology that will track Postal Service performance and reduce costs. Potter discussed increased mail volume, high levels of customer satisfaction, elimination of $11 billion in debt and productivity increases six years in a row." See also the other release posted on the USPS web site.

April 3, 2006 -- From the PR Newswire:

• I.D. Systems, Inc. has received orders from the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to deploy the company's Wireless Asset Net(TM) powered industrial vehicle management system at 16 additional USPS facilities.
• Group 1 Software, Inc., a Pitney Bowes Company has announced the enhancement of 4-State barcodes in their end-to-end mailstream solutions for large-volume mailers. The address quality enhancements comply with the latest U.S. Postal Service(R) (USPS(R)) OneCode(TM) initiatives and will help mailers raise address quality, maximize postal discounts and improve mail deliverability through the USPS' Intelligent Mail(R) program.
• Group 1 Software, Inc. a Pitney Bowes Company has announced the general availability of the latest release of CODE-1 Plus 3.0 and FINALIST 7.8 CASS(TM) certified address correction solutions. All products help enable organizations to cleanse and standardize addresses and assign 11-digit barcodes to mail pieces in compliance with the USPS(R).
• Seven years after internet postage was introduced, many small- and home-based business owners in the U.S. are still standing in line at the Post Office to buy stamps, rather than going online. With businesses looking for every way to increase productivity, DYMO(R) has created the most compelling reason for businesses to print postage from their computers.

April 3, 2006 -- According to UPS chief pilot Ed Faith as quoted in the Norman Transcript, "UPS is evolving out of being a package carrier, although express small packages are still 75 percent of our business. Most capacity on UPS planes is still taken up by the U.S. Postal Service, he said, but "due to customer demand, we're in cargo." He defined cargo as large, one-piece palletized shipments. Freight, while larger than parcel shipments, is in smaller units than cargo, he said."

April 3, 2006 -- DMNews has reported that:

• Major mailers outlined their preferred postal reform language for provisions on which the Senate and House bills differ in a position paper issued last week by the Mailers Council. The Mailers Council, a coalition of corporations, nonprofit groups and mailing associations, accounts for 70 percent of the nation's mail volume. Members support many provisions identical to both bills. The Senate passed S. 662 on Feb. 9, and a similar bill passed the House of Representatives last summer. A conference committee will try to resolve the differences between the bills, though House conferees have yet to be chosen, as of press time.
• The U.S. Postal Service is expected to announce a rollout schedule for its next generation barcode technology used to sort and track mail this week at the 2006 National Postal Forum. Insiders here said the rollout will most likely begin in June.
• Postal Software provider Window Book Inc. announced last week that mailing products' have been updated to comply with the U.S. Postal Service's Facility Access and Shipment Tracking system. Additionally, Window Book is seeking volunteers to beta test its FAST interface with USPS.
• The upcoming rate case and postal reform were just a few of the subjects on the minds of attendees at the 2006 National Postal Forum, which opened yesterday. Several people on the trade show floor speculated that the USPS would file the rate case with the Postal Rate Commission on April 16, the day after Easter.

April 3, 2006 -- From PR Web: "Rapp Collins Worldwide has brought National Change of Address (NCOA) processing in-house in a move that will provide quicker turnaround and a less expensive alternative to processing which was historically outsourced."

April 3, 2006 -- The Houston Business Journal has noted, that "A Houston printer with a major fulfillment operation is capitalizing on opportunities introduced by the U.S. Postal Service for businesses that want their mailings to stand out.

April 3, 2006 -- The Federal Association of German Postal Service Providers (BvDP) will be holding its second European special conference on the postal market in Central Europe on April 27th and 28th, 2006 in the Czech capital Prague.

April 3, 2006 -- Xinhuanet has reported that "China and Laos have agreed on direct postal service and transferring mail from a third country to each other, according to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed on Friday. Southwest China's Yunnan Province will be the main mail route between China and Southeast and South Asia when the China-Laos direct postal service is materialized."

April 3, 2006 -- The Evening Standard has reported that "The price of a first class stamp will rise by two pence to 32p from Monday." See also the BBC.

April 3, 2006 -- Scoop.co.nz has reported that "New Zealand Post Group and DHL Express Provide Combined Solution to Air New Zealand New Zealand Post and DHL Express today signed a three-year deal with Air New Zealand to provide all domestic and international postal and courier services for the Air New Zealand group. The selection of New Zealand Post and DHL Express as the prime vendors follows a competitive request for proposal process during 2005. This is the first joint solution between New Zealand Post and DHL Express since the formation of the Express Couriers Limited joint venture last year."

April 2, 2006 -- By all accounts of those present, Postal Rate Commission-nominee Mark Acton performed extremely well at his senatorial confirmation hearing. Senate approval of his nomination to the Commission is expected in short order. During his confirmation hearing, Acton expressed a preference for the "hard" inflation-based cap approved by the Senate rather than the language approved by the House.

April 2, 2006 -- According to the Argus Leader, Economic development leaders say they've targeted the next big industry for Sioux Falls in the mail-order pharmaceutical business. The city already has two such companies. Another might be considering a move to Sioux Falls on one condition - the state loosens restrictions on how many pharmacy technicians can work under one pharmacist. If the plan is successful, it could create more jobs for pharmacists graduating from South Dakota State University and others seeking pharmacy technician and call-center jobs, said Dan Scott, president of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation." Sioux Falls has been embroiled in some controversy over Postal Service plant consolidation plans.

April 2, 2006 -- As the Houston Chronicle has noted, "Across Latin America, a growing number of people say the privatization of public services, a movement that swept the region in the 1980s and 1990s, has failed. Protests have erupted because of the issue in several countries, and some governments are beginning to reverse these policies."

April 2, 2006 -- From PR Web: "Portland, Oregon based Document Command, Inc. has announced that its Remote Control Mail™ service - which allows users to manage their postal mail like they do their email, from any computer in the world, any hour of the day - has now gone live at www.RemoteControlMail.com. Users of the service are able to redirect their postal mail to Document Command, and can then go online to view scanned images of envelopes in their now-virtual postal mailbox. With a click of a mouse users can then selectively choose which mail pieces to have opened, scanned and presented electronically, which to shred or recycle, and which to transfer to another user or have forward-shipped to another location such as home, field office or hotel."

April 2, 2006 -- The Helena Independent Record has reported that "U.S. Sen. Max Baucus renewed his criticism of a U.S. Postal Service study, which could shift mail processing to Great Falls and possibly delay in-town mail. In a letter to USPS vice president William Galligan, Baucus said the study has proceeded without the input of local communities, business people and other affected parties. The senator said staff had received unsatisfactory and unacceptable answers to their questions. Baucus said adequate public notice to communities potentially affected by a decision must be made available for input. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, has proposed such measures in a postal service reform bill."

April 2, 2006 -- The Jamaica Observer has reported that "Persons sending mail within and to Jamaica will be required to address their letters differently by the end of the year, if a new postal system promised from last year comes into force. The new system, which uses numbers and letters and is similar to the codes used in the United States and the United Kingdom, is supposed to allow for the easier sorting of mail bound for Jamaica from overseas. It was to be introduced to the capital in July last year but was put on hold as the public had difficulty understanding the system."

April 1, 2006 -- The Belfast Telegraph has reported that "Royal Mail and union officials have called in a third party to review industrial relations within the company in a move aimed at preventing unofficial strikes. Lord Sawyer will carry out the review to try and improve relations between workers and managers in Belfast."

April 1, 2006 -- WJBD Radio has reported that "The US Postal Service has placed a study of the possible consolidation of the Centralia mail processing center into the St. Louis distribution center on-hold indefinitely. Postal Service Spokesperson Mike Stancil says the Area Mail Processing study has been shelved until major changes are completed at the St. Louis facility. He says the St. Louis plant is undergoing technological and staff changes, and after those are completed, the study may be revisited."

April 1, 2006 -- From the Canada NewsWire: "The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has signed an agreement with Canada Post that protects the individual rights of postal workers in Quebec City while maintaining the union's campaign to keep the mail processing plant open. There is even a clause in the preamble of the agreement committing that the union will continue to fight the closure. The union's national president says members think the shut-down is bad for them and for service to the community."

April 1, 2006 -- The latest copy of the National Association of Postmasters of the U.S. electronic governmental affairs newsletter is available on the NAPUS web site.