weight of one copy from each issue by counting the sheets in the copies filed under the provisions of §125.5(a) of this chapter and multiplying the total by the previously verified weight of one sheet furnished by the publisher on Form 3542. If there is reason at any time to doubt the accuracy of the information reported on Form 3542, sufficient weighings must be made to resolve the doubt. The postmaster will keep a record of the verification, preferably on the back of applicable Form 3542.

(f) Annual verification. (1) Verification of the data furnished on Form 3542 will be made annually at offices where these are no more than 100 publications entered as second class. At other offices verification will be accomplished by cycling over a period not to exceed 5 years as follows:

Records of the verifications on Form 3548, Postmaster and Publisher Joint Review of Data on Form 3542, must be retained, with the applicable Forms 3542.

(2) Postmasters must select a Form 3542 which is on file for each publication and review it with the publisher. The review must include an inspection of the publisher's records such as the print order or invoice showing the total number of copies printed, individual and bulk orders for subscriptions, stubs of receipts issued, sales records and returns for overthe-counter sales, cash book or similar records. Postmasters must determine that:

(i) Copies reported as subscribers' copies, which must not include complimentary or other nonsubscribers' copies, are in substantial agreement with the publisher's mail circulation records.

(ii) Nonsubscribers' copies, other than those mailed at the transient secondclass rate, are declared as samples but do not exceed the amount allowable. See § 132.4(e) (1) (ii).

(iii) Nonsubscribers' copies which exceed the amount allowable as samples are mailed at the transient second-class rate.

(iv) During the previous 12-month period the total copies to paid sub

scribers and to purchasers of single copies constitute at least 65 percent of the total circulated. See § 132.2(b) (7).

(3) Where the verification discloses discrepancies which in the opinion of the postmaster are substantial and which cannot be resolved, the postmaster will submit a memorandum of the facts with a complete report on the reverse of Form 3501 to the Classification Division, Office of Rates and Classification, Finance Department, for advice and instructions before taking further action.

(g) Payment of postage at time of mailing or by advance deposits. Publishers must pay in money before the mailings are dispatched, all postage charged at the second-class rates shown in § 132.1 of this chapter. Exception: The transient rate (§ 132.1(c)) must be paid by adhesive or meter stamps or by permit imprints. (See §§ 145.3 (b) and 145.5 (a) (2) of this chapter.) Postmasters will accept deposits of money to pay for as many mailings as desired and will give the publishers Form 3544, Post Office Receipt for Money, for the deposits.

(h) Record of mailings. Postage on the bulk mailings will be computed on Form 3540. Computation of Special Rate Second-Class Postage or Form 3541, Computation of Regular Second-Class or Controlled Circulation Postage, from the weights obtained on Form 3542. The publisher will be furnished a duplicate of Form 3540 or Form 3541 if he requests one. When postage is computed on the bulk weight of one issue, the mailings and postage will be recorded in Form 3543, Record of Second-Class Postage. When postage is computed at the end of each calendar month on the total weight of all issues mailed during the month, the total mailings and postage for the month will be computed on one Form 3540 or one Form 3541, and only the totals will be recorded in Form 3543.

(i) How to show dates of issue and mailing. When a number of consecutive issues are covered by one Form 3540 or Form 3541 or Form 3542, or by one entry in Form 3543, the dates of issue and the dates of mailing must be indicated by entering the first and last dates in the appropriate spaces and columns.

§ 125.7 Key rate.

(a) Authority to use. Postmasters will use the key rate method of computing pound-rate postage on publications sub

ject to the advertising zone rates when large mailings justify its use.

(b) Statement showing mailings to each zone. The publisher must submit once each calendar year, at 12-month intervals, a statement on Form 3542 showing the number of subscribers' copies of an issue mailed to each zone. During these 12-month intervals, the publisher does not need to complete the lines for zones 1 to 8 on Form 3542. He must enter only total zone mailings on "Total to all zones” line.

(c) New zoné statement. Postmasters will require a new report on Form 3542 showing the mailings to each zone at any time during the 12-month intervals when the volume of mailings to the zones varies or when there is an increase in the total number of copies.

(d) Computation. (1) Compute the key rate on Form 3540 or on Form 3541 once each calendar year at 12-month intervals. using the subscribers' copies shown by zones on Form 3542 furnished in accordance with § 125.7(b) of this chapter. If a new report on Form 3542 is filed at any time during the 12-month intervals showing mailings to each zone, a new key rate must be computed and used.

(2) Enter on the corresponding lines in column B of Form 3540 or Form 3541 the number of copies for each zone shown on Form 3542. Apply the applicable pound rates shown in column F to the number of copies for each zone and enter the postage for each zone in Divide the total postage in item 2, column C, by the total number of copies in item 2, column B, to obtain the key column C of Form 3540 or Form 3541. rate, which should be carried to six decimal places. Apply the key rate only to the total weight of the advertising portion. Apply the regular reading portion rate to the total weight of the reading portion. Computation of the key rate must be verified by an employee or supervisor other than the person who originally computed it. See exhibit § 125.7 (d) (2).

(3) Prepare Form 3540 or Form 3541 for subsequent mailings as shown on exhibits in subdivisions (i) and (ii) of this subparagraph until a new report on Form 3542 showing mailings to each zone is filed under § 125.7 (b) and (c). Where a key rate has been developed and is being used to compute postage for sub

The weight of mailings of controlled circulation publications (see part 133) is obtained in the manner prescribed for obtaining the weight of mailings of second-class publications. Controlled circulation postage is collected and accounted for in the same manner as second-class postage. Each mailing must be prepared and made up for dispatch in the manner prescribed for second-class mail (§§ 125.1 through 125.3).

§ 125.13 Dispatching second-class matter in bundles outside of mail sacks. (a) Bundling restrictions. To promote efficient processing of bundled mail through post office facilities, publishers will be required to observe the following procedures if they wish to bundle their publications:

(1) Mailers will be required to presort publications for post offices, stations and branches, using 3- and 5-digit ZIP Code separations as required by existing regulations on the makeup of second-class mail.

(2) Bundles may be developed on the same basis as sacks, and individual separations within a bundle must be appropriately wrapped or tied to maintain the identity of the separation.

(3) The weight of the bundle should not exceed 40 pounds and the minimum number of copies in a bundle should be no less than it takes to fill one third of a sack. Lesser quantities are to be included in residue sacks using ZIP Code or states separations.

(4) All bundles must be appropriately labeled on top to show destination and contents as is currently done with sacks. Similarly, each separation within a bundle must be identified.

(5) Bundles must be securely bound to withstand handling without breakage or damage in transit, and in such a manner as to prevent injury to postal personnel or damage to mechanized sorting sys

tems. If wire is used, it must have rounded edges and flat ends. Binding material is to be applied once around the girth and once around the length.

(b) Initiating request. Publishers who wish to dispatch their mailings in bundles outside of mail sacks must submit application to the postmaster at the office where it is to be entered. The following information must be furnished with the application:

(1) Name of publication and frequency of mailing.

(2) Identity of post offices to which direct or combination load shipments will be made (additional entry or exceptional dispatch offices).

(3) Approximate quantity of publications and number of bundles.

(4) Whether the mailer proposes to use pallets in the shipments.

(5) Mode of transportation to be used. Postmasters will forward applications to their Regional Postmasters General for review and approval.

(c) Authorization. Subsequent to the review of the operational feasibility of accepting mailings in bundles outside of mail sacks the postmaster, at the office where it is to be entered, will be informed by the Regional Director whether an application has been approved or disapproved. Notice of the decision will be sent to the publisher by the postmaster with any special instructions or comments deemed necessary.

[36 F.R. 5605, Mar. 25, 1971]

items mailable under the special rules in Part 124, parcels addressed to overseas military post offices must be packed in boxes or containers of metal, wood, or good quality fiberboard (at least 275 pounds test stock). Parcels containing mailable (nontoxic and nonflammable) gases, liquids, oils, paint, and substances which easily liquefy, must have sufficient absorbent material around the containers to take up contents in case of breakage. (c) Addressing. See § 122.8 of this chapter.

(d) Weight and size. See § 135.3 of this chapter for parcels sent by surface mail and § 136.3 of this chapter for parcels sent by air, if there is no exception to the size and weight limitations listed in § 126.2.

(e) Airlift mail. (1) First-class letter mail, including postal and post cards, and sound recorded communications having the character of personal correspondence are given airlift service on a space avail. able basis between overseas military post offices outside the 48 contiguous States, and between those military post offices and the point of embarkation or debarkation of such mail within the 50 States. See 131.5(b) of this chapter for these same articles mailed by certain servicemen. When postage is paid on sound recordings, they must be marked by the mailer on the address side "Sound Recorded Personal Correspondence" to assure airlift service. Those mailed free under section 131.5(b) must be marked only as required by that section.

(2) Parcels of any class paid at surface postage rates not exceeding the weight and size limits in (e) (2) (i) and (ii) of this section are airlifted to, from or between overseas military post offices outside the 48 contiguous States. These parcels must be marked with the large letters SAM (space available mail) on the address side, preferably below the postage and above the name of the addressee. Postal employees will place these letters on all such parcels at the time of acceptance.

(i) When mailed from the 48 contiguous States, the weight and size limits are not more than 15 pounds in weight and not more than 60 inches in length and girth combined.

(ii) When mailed from an APO or FPO outside the 48 contiguous States, the weight and size limits are not more

than 70 pounds in weight and not more than 100 inches in length and girth combined.

(3) Any parcel, other than a parcel mailed airmail or as air parcel post, not exceeding 30 pounds in weight or 60 inches in length and girth combined which is mailed at or addressed to any overseas military post office outside the 48 contiguous States will be transported by air on a space available basis, upon payment of a fee of $1 in addition to the regular surface rate of postage. These parcels must be marked with the large letters PAL (parcel air lift) on the address side, preferably below the postage and above the name of the addressee. Postal employees will place these letters on all such parcels at the time of acceptance.

(4) Second class publications published once each week or more frequently and featuring principally current news of interest to members of the Armed Forces and the general public, which are mailed at or addressed to any Armed Forces post office outside the 48 contiguous States, will be given the airlift service provided in paragraph (e) (2) or this section.

(f) General prohibitions. (1) The following items are nonmailable to, from, and between overseas military post offices:

(i) Matches of all kinds, lighter fluid, or lighters containing fluid.

(ii) Magnetic material shipped by air having sufficient magnetic field to cause a compass deviation at 15 feet or more. Magnetic material causing a compass deviation at less than 15 feet shall have the required magnetic equipment caution label affixed. This does not apply to magnetic material sent by surface equipment. (iii) Radioactive matter, except that authorized in § 124.2(e).

(iv) Explosives and ammunition.

(2) In conformance with Defense Department request, jewelry and watches having a value in excess of $10 may be accepted for mailing to overseas military post offices only when sent by registered mail, provided there is no specific prohibition against sending such items to the military post office of destination. (See § 126.2.)

(3) Firearms not specifically prohibited by Footnote F of § 126.2 are subject to the provisions of §§ 124.5 and 124.8 of this chapter. Sender must present an export license from Office of Munitions Control, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520. See Publication 42, "International Mail."

[35 FR 19421, Dec. 23, 1970, as amended at 38 FR 18373, July 10, 1973; 38 FR 18655, July 13, 1973]