Jesse.Tharin@f3.n309.z1.fidonet.org (Jesse Tharin) (06/21/91)
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.
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