Gene A. Del Polito, Ph.D.PresidentAssociation for Postal Commercehttp://postcom.orggenedp@postcom.org

The Genesis andEvolution of PostCom

ATCMUTCMAAMMA

PostCom

PostCom:

Represent the interestsof those who use

and those who supportothers in the use

of mail forBusiness Communication

and Commerce

Some of whatwe do....and what

we've done

PostCom helped organizethe first Industry-USPSBrainstorming sessionon issues pertaining to

Advertising Mail

In a 1986 brief provided to the Postal Rate Commisson,

PostCom proposed the use of unrelated business income

as a test for distinguishing between regular rate and nonprofit rate mail.

PostCom initiated the callthat culminated in the creation

of the Automation and Bar CodeWorkgroup and the development

of address-block barcodingon automation-compatible mail.

In a 1988 article in Direct Marketing magazine, PostCom initiated the call for

mail classification reform to update the Postal Service's

mail classification system to reflect more perfectly

the costs of mail processing and distribution and the savings

generated by mailer worksharing.

In a letter to Postmaster General Anthony M. Frank, PostCom issued the first industry call

for postal choice and greater efficiency through the introduction of competition in the provision

of mail services.

Through its work with Presidential (Reagan Administration)

and Vice Presidential (Bush Administration)

commissions and Washington-based think-tanks

(Cato Institute, Brookings Institution, Heritage Foundation),

PostCom began the campaign for comprehensive postal legislative reform.

PostCom helped spearhead the drive for the 1994 Postal Service-

proposed less-than-inflation,

across-the-board postal rate increase.

PostCom helped spearheadthe convocation of joint industryand USPS initiatives such as the Competitive ServicesTask Force

PostCom was involved extensively in the Postal Service's redraft of the mail classification system,

which culminated in the reform of First, Second, and Third Class Mail.

PostCom initiated and spearheaded the call for an increase in the

maximum weight for automated letters from 2.5 to 3.5 ounces,

which added demonstrably greater value and savings associated with

advertising and promotions using automation-compatible letter-size

mail.

PostCom helped coordinateUSPS-Industry efforts

to clarify rules governingthe use of inserts and premiums

with Bound Printed Matterand Nonprofit Rate Mail

PostCom initiated and spearheadedthe call for an increase in the

maximum weight for Bound Printed Matter

from ten to 15 pounds.

PostCom initiated and spearheaded the drive for creation of a new

Bulk Small Parcel Return Servicewith Shipper-Paid Forwarding

to provide mailers a more cost-efficient means for using mail

as an order fulfillment vehicle.

PostCom helped coordinateUSPS-Industry efforts

to clarify rules governingFirst vs. Standard Mail

PostCom initiated the first-ever public informational campaign

to improve the public's and lawmakers' appreciation of the value

and utility of advertising mail.

PostCom convened thefirst-ever Postal Summiton Flat-Mail Processing

and Automation

PostCom held the First-EverIndustry CEO conference

("Hail to the Chiefs") on

postal legislative reform

PostCom helped spearheadthe creation of the Universal

Postal UnionConsultative Committee,An International Forum

within the UPUfor postal users

PostCom serves asVice-Chairman of the

UPU Direct Mail Advisory Board

PostCom serves ason the National Postal Museum

Advisory Board

Through its news and information services

PostCom BulletinPostCom Web site

(http://postcom.org), and other publications,

PostCom keeps its members informed on all postal news and developments that can affect their ability to use mail

productively and cost-efficiently as a business transactional medium.

Questions?Questions?

Gene Del PolitoAssociation for Postal Commerce

+1 703 524 0096genedp@postcom.org

http://postcom.org