Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!think.com!yale.edu!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!309!3!Jesse.Tharin From: Jesse.Tharin@f3.n309.z1.fidonet.org (Jesse Tharin) Newsgroups: misc.handicap Subject: U S P O Free Matter Regulations Message-ID: <16266@handicap.news> Date: 20 Jun 91 20:02:59 GMT Sender: wtm@bunker.isc-br.com Reply-To: Jesse.Tharin@f3.n309.z1.fidonet.org Organization: FidoNet node 1:309/3 - Duke's Doghouse, Sierra Vista AZ Lines: 175 Approved: wtm@bunker.hcap.fidonet.org Index Number: 16266 NOTE: THIS FILE IS 168 LINES LONG BY 76 CHARACTERS WIDE Section 135 of The United States Postal Service Domestic Mail Manual, Issue #36, September 16, 1990. Bold print is represented as all caps. Italics have been changed to plain text. All notes are as included. Indentation has been added. The Domestic Mail Manual ($19.00 per year, four issues), the International Mail Manual ($14.00 per year), and the Domestic mail manual on diskette (price unavailable) are available from The Superintendent of Documents, U S Government Printing Office, Washington DC 20402-9371. 135.1 General 135.2 Definitions 135.21 Blind Or Handicapped 135.22 Competent Authority 135.3 List Of Qualified Individuals 135.31 Postmaster's Record 135.32 Customer Information 135.33 Establishing Eligibility 135.34 Postmaster's Personal Knowledge 135.4 Matter For Blind Or Other Handicapped Persons 135.41 Acceptable Matter 135.42 Conditions 135.5 Matter Sent By Blind Or Other Handicapped Persons 135.51 Acceptable Matter 135.52 Conditions 135.6 Preparation 135.61 Markings 135.62 Special Services 135.621 Insurance 135.622 Other Special Services 135.63 Weight And Size Limits 135.64 Mailability 135.65 Packaging 135.7 Handling 135.8 International Mail SECTION 135: FREE MATTER FOR THE BLIND AND OTHER HANDICAPPED PERSONS 135.1 GENERAL. Matter mailed by or for the use of blind or other handicapped persons may be mailed free of postage provided the sender, the recipient, and the matter being mailed comply with the applicable conditions of this section. 135.2 DEFINITIONS 135.21 BLIND OR HANDICAPPED. For purposes of this section, blind or other handicapped persons are those who cannot read or use conventionally printed material because of a physical impairment and who are certified by a competent authority as unable to read normal reading material. 135.22 COMPETENT AUTHORITY. For purposes of this section, a competent authority includes any licensed medical doctor, opthamologist, optometrist, registered nurse, or professional staff member of a hospital or other institution or agency. 135.3 LIST OF QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS 135.31 POSTMASTER'S RECORD. To assist in determining eligibility to mail matter under the provisions of this section, postmasters must establish and maintain USPS 010.060 (see Privacy Act System of Records, Administrative Support Manual, Appendix) as a record of their customers who are blind or handicapped (as defined in 135.21). The postmaster also may require, and include as part of the record, a statement by a competent authority certifying that the individual is unable to read conventionally printed material. 135.32 CUSTOMER INFORMATION. Customers wishing to know whether they are recorded as a blind or other handicapped person (as defined in 135.21) may submit inquiries to the postmaster, giving their full name and address. 135.33 ESTABLISHING ELIGIBILITY. A customer who wishes to be added to the postmaster's record and establish eligibility for mailing privileges under this section must submit his name and address, and a written statement of certification by a competent authority. 135.34 POSTMASTER'S PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE. When the postmaster has personal knowledge that a particular customer has been certified as blind or handicapped (as defined in 135.21), the postmaster may include that individual in the list required by 135.31, and may extend to that individual mailing priviledges under this section. In such instances, no written statement of certification is required. 135.4 MATTER FOR BLIND OR OTHER HANDICAPPED PERSONS 135.41 ACCEPTABLE MATTER. The following matter may be mailed free of postage, subject to the conditions in 135.42: a. Reading matter and musical scores. b. Sound reproductions. c. paper, records, tapes, and other material for the production of reading matter, musical scores, or sound reproductions. d. reproducers or parts thereof, for sound reproductions. e. Braille writers, typewriters, educational or other materials or devices, or parts thereof, used for writing by, or specifically designed or adapted for use of, a blind person or a person having a physical impairment as described in 135.2. NOTE: Letters prepared in any form by sighted individuals, to be sent to a blind or other handicapped person, or empty shipping materials for use in mailing matter described in 135.41, cannot be sent free under 135.41 and must bear the full applicable postage. 135.42 CONDITIONS. The matter listed in 135.41 must comply with the following conditions: a. The matter must be for the use of a blind or other handicapped person, as described in 135.2; b. Either no charge, rental, subscription, or other fee is required for such matter or if required may not exceed the cost of the item; c. The matter may be opened by the Postal Service for inspection; and d. The matter contains no advertising. 135.5 MATTER SENT BY BLIND OR OTHER HANDICAPPED PERSONS 135.51 ACCEPTABLE MATTER. Only tghe following matter may be mailed free of postage, subject to the conditions in 135.52: a. Letters in raised characters or in sightsaving type (i.e., 14-point or larger), or b. Letters in the form of sound recordings. NOTE: Letters that are handwritten or that are printed or typed in a type size smaller than 14 point, cannot be sent free under 135.51 and must bear the full applicable postage. 135.52 CONDITIONS. The matter listed in 135.51 must comply with the following conditions: a. It must be unsealed, and b. It must be sent by a blind or other physically handicapped person, as defined in 135.2. 135.6 PREPARATION 135.61 MARKINGS. All matter mailed under the provisions of this section must show the words, "Free Matter for the Blind or Handicapped," in the upper right corner of the address side. 135.62 SPECIAL SERVICES 135.621 INSURANCE. All matter mailed under the provisions of this section may be insured (see 913) upon payment of the appropriate insurance fee. 135.622 OTHER SPECIAL SERVICES. No other special services are available for matter mailed free of postage under provisions of this section. If mailers desire such services, they must pay the applicable fees for the special services and the full postage applicable to the class of mail selected. 135.63 WEIGHT AND SIZE LIMITS. Matter mailed under the provisions of this section must meet the minimum size requirements in 127 and may not exceed the maximum dimensions shown in 751. 135.64 MAILABILITY. Matter mailed under the provisions of this section must comply with the prohibitions and conditions in 123 and 124. 135.65 PACKAGING. Matter mailed under the provisions of this section should be packaged and addressed as recommended by 121 and 122. 135.7 HANDLING. Matter mailed free under the provisions of this section is not considered to be part of any particular class of mail and is not protected against postal inspection. For the exclusive purposes of determining appropriate standards and procedures for processing and delivery, and for handling if undeliverable, such matter will be treated as First-Class Mail. 135.8 INTERNATIONAL MAIL. The provisions of this section are applicable to domestic mail only. See International Mail Manual 250 for information concerning free matter for the blind in international mail. -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!309!3!Jesse.Tharin Internet: Jesse.Tharin@f3.n309.z1.fidonet.org