39 C.F.R. § 501.1 Postage evidencing system/infrastructure authorization.
Title 39 - Postal Service
(a) Postage evidencing systems produce evidence of prepayment of U.S. postage by any method other than postage stamps or permit imprint. They include but are not limited to postage meters and PC Postage® systems. The Postal Service considers the infrastructure associated with such systems to be essential to the exercise of its specific powers to prescribe postage and provide evidence of payment of postage under 39 U.S.C. 404(a)(2) and (4). (b) Due to the potential for adverse impact upon Postal Service revenue, the following activities may not be engaged in by any person or concern without prior, written approval of the Postal Service: (1) Producing or distributing any postage evidencing system that generates U.S. postage. (2) Repairing, distributing, refurbishing, remanufacturing, or destroying any component of a postage evidencing system that accounts for or authorizes the printing of U.S. postage. (3) Owning or operating an infrastructure that maintains operating data for the production of U.S. postage, or accounts for U.S. postage purchased for distribution through a postage evidencing system. (4) Owning or operating an infrastructure that maintains operating data that is used to facilitate licensing or registration with the Postal Service of users of a postage evidencing system. (c) Any person or entity seeking authorization to perform any activity described in paragraph (b) of this section must submit a request to the Postal Service in person or in writing. (d) Approval shall be based upon satisfactory evidence of the applicant's integrity and financial responsibility, and commitment to the security of the postage evidencing system, and a determination that disclosure to the applicant of the Postal Service customer, financial, or other data of a commercial nature necessary to perform the function for which approval is sought would be appropriate and consistent with good business practices within the meaning of 39 U.S.C. 410 (c)(2). The Postal Service may condition its approval on the agreement to undertakings by the applicant that would give the Postal Service appropriate assurance of the applicant's ability to meet its obligations under this section, including but not limited to the method and manner of performing certain financial, security, and servicing functions and the need to maintain sufficient financial reserves to guarantee uninterrupted performance of not less than 3 months of operation. (e) Qualification and approval may be based upon conditions agreed to by the Postal Service and the applicant. The applicant is approved in writing to engage in the function(s) for which authorization was sought and approved. (f) The Postal Service functional area charged with administering authorization as described in this part 501 is the Postage Technology Management program office. All submissions cited throughout all sections of 39 CFR part 501 are to be made to this office in person or via U.S. mail to 1735 N. Lynn Street Room 5011, Rosslyn, VA 22209–6370 or via fax to 703–292–4073. Inquiries may be made via telephone to 703–292–3691, and information updates may be found on the U.S. Postal Service Web page at www.usps.com/postagesolutions/flash.htm. [69 FR 60090, Oct. 7, 2004; 69 FR 61085, Oct. 14, 2004, as amended at 69 FR 67508, Nov. 18, 2004]
Title 39: Postal Service
PART 501—AUTHORIZATION TO MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTE POSTAGE METERS
§ 501.1 Postage evidencing system/infrastructure authorization.
