Collapse to view only § 3685. Filing of information relating to periodical publications
- § 3681. Reimbursement
- § 3682. Size and weight limits
- § 3683. Uniform rates for books; films; other materials
- § 3684. Limitations
- § 3685. Filing of information relating to periodical publications
- § 3686. Bonus authority
§ 3681. Reimbursement
No mailer may be reimbursed for any amount paid under any rate or fee which, after such payment, is determined to have been unlawful after proceedings in accordance with the provisions of sections 3662 through 3664 of this title, or is superseded by a lower rate or fee established under subchapter II of this chapter.
(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 764; Pub. L. 109–435, title X, § 1010(a), Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 3261.)
§ 3682. Size and weight limits
The Postal Service may establish size and weight limitations for mail matter in the market-dominant category of mail consistent with regulations the Postal Regulatory Commission may prescribe under section 3622. The Postal Service may establish size and weight limitations for mail matter in the competitive category of mail consistent with its authority under section 3632.
(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 765; Pub. L. 96–70, title I, § 1331(e)(4), Sept. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 482; Pub. L. 97–242, § 1(a), Aug. 24, 1982, 96 Stat. 300; Pub. L. 109–435, title X, § 1010(b), Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 3261.)
§ 3683. Uniform rates for books; films; other materials
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the rates of postage established for mail matter enumerated in former section 4554 of this title shall be uniform for such mail of the same weight, and shall not vary with the distance transported.
(b) The rates of postage under former section 4554(b)(1) of this title shall not be effective except with respect to mailings which—
(1) constitute materials specified in former section 4554(b)(2) of this title; and
(2) are sent between—
(A) an institution, organization, or association listed in subparagraph (A) or (B) of such former section 4554(b)(1) and any other such institution, organization, or association;
(B) an institution, organization, or association referred to in subparagraph (A) and any individual (other than an individual having a financial interest in the sale, promotion, or distribution of the materials involved);
(C) an institution, organization, or association referred to in subparagraph (A) and a qualified nonprofit organization (as defined in former section 4452(d) of this title) that is not such an institution, organization, or association; or
(D) an institution, organization, or association referred to in subparagraph (A) and a publisher, if such institution, organization, or association has placed an order to purchase such materials for delivery to such institution, organization, or association.
(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 765; Pub. L. 94–421, § 12, Sept. 24, 1976, 90 Stat. 1312; Pub. L. 103–123, title VII, § 706(a), Oct. 28, 1993, 107 Stat. 1272.)
§ 3684. Limitations
Except as provided in section 3627 of this title, no provision of this chapter shall be construed to give authority to the Governors to make any change in any provision of this title.
(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 765; Pub. L. 99–410, title II, § 201(b)(4), Aug. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 929; Pub. L. 109–435, title X, § 1010(f), Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 3262.)
§ 3685. Filing of information relating to periodical publications
(a) Each owner of a publication having periodical publication mail privileges shall furnish to the Postal Service at least once a year, and shall publish in such publication once a year, information in such form and detail and at such time as the Postal Service may require with respect to—
(1) the identity of the editor, managing editor, publishers, and owners;
(2) the identity of the corporation and stockholders thereof, if the publication is owned by a corporation;
(3) the identity of known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders;
(4) the extent and nature of the circulation of the publication, including, but not limited to, the number of copies distributed, the methods of distribution, and the extent to which such circulation is paid in whole or in part; and
(5) such other information as the Postal Service may deem necessary to determine whether the publication meets the standards for periodical publication mail privileges.
The Postal Service shall not require the names of persons owning less than 1 percent of the total amount of stocks, bonds, mortgages, or other securities.
(b) Each publication having such mail privileges shall furnish to the Postal Service information in such form and detail, and at such times, as the Postal Service requires to determine whether the publication continues to qualify for such privileges.
(c) The Postal Service shall make appropriate rules and regulations to carry out the purposes of this section, including provision for suspension or revocation of periodical publication mail privileges for failure to furnish the required information.
(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 765.)
§ 3686. Bonus authority
(a)In General.—The Postal Service may establish 1 or more programs to provide bonuses or other rewards to officers and employees of the Postal Service in senior executive or equivalent positions to achieve the objectives of this chapter.
(b)Limitation on Total Compensation.—
(1)In general.—Under any such program, the Postal Service may award a bonus or other reward in excess of the limitation set forth in the last sentence of section 1003(a), if such program has been approved under paragraph (2). Any such award or bonus may not cause the total compensation of such officer or employee to exceed the total annual compensation payable to the Vice President under section 104 of title 3 as of the end of the calendar year in which the bonus or award is paid.
(2)Approval process.—If the Postal Service wishes to have the authority, under any program described in subsection (a), to award bonuses or other rewards in excess of the limitation set forth in the last sentence of section 1003(a)—
(A) the Postal Service shall make an appropriate request to the Board of Governors of the Postal Service in such form and manner as the Board requires; and
(B) the Board of Governors shall approve any such request if the Board certifies, for the annual appraisal period involved, that the performance appraisal system for affected officers and employees of the Postal Service (as designed and applied) makes meaningful distinctions based on relative performance.
(3)Revocation authority.—If the Board of Governors of the Postal Service finds that a performance appraisal system previously approved under paragraph (2)(B) does not (as designed and applied) make meaningful distinctions based on relative performance, the Board may revoke or suspend the authority of the Postal Service to continue a program approved under paragraph (2) until such time as appropriate corrective measures have, in the judgment of the Board, been taken.
(c)Exceptions for Critical Positions.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Board of Governors may allow up to 12 officers or employees of the Postal Service in critical senior executive or equivalent positions to receive total compensation in an amount not to exceed 120 percent of the total annual compensation payable to the Vice President under section 104 of title 3 as of the end of the calendar year in which such payment is received. For each exception made under this subsection, the Board shall provide written notification to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management and the Congress within 30 days after the payment is made setting forth the name of the officer or employee involved, the critical nature of his or her duties and responsibilities, and the basis for determining that such payment is warranted.
(d)Information for Inclusion in Comprehensive Statement.—Included in its comprehensive statement under section 2401(e) for any period shall be—
(1) the name of each person receiving a bonus or other payment during such period which would not have been allowable but for the provisions of subsection (b) or (c);
(2) the amount of the bonus or other payment; and
(3) the amount by which the limitation set forth in the last sentence of section 1003(a) was exceeded as a result of such bonus or other payment.
(e)Regulations.—The Board of Governors may prescribe regulations for the administration of this section.
(Added Pub. L. 109–435, title V, § 506, Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 3236.)