Tag: Mail Services

USPS Board of Governors approves request of USD 117.7 for 2009

Posted by | Dec 12, 2007 | |

The US Postal Service’s Board of Governors approved an appropriation request of USD 117.7 million for fiscal year 2009 yesterday.

Every year, the board makes an appropriation request to Congress. For the fiscal year 2008, the board requested USD 153.4 million. At this time, the House has recommended USD 88.9 million of that amount and the Senate has recommended USD 117.9 million.

For the fiscal year 2009, the board’s request included a reimbursement of USD 69.8 million for services such as free mail for the blind and overseas voting. The USPS is required to provide these services without charge. In fiscal year 2008, the USPS requested a reimbursement of USD 83.5 million in this category.

The request also included USD 29 million for the latest annual installment from the Revenue Forgone Reform Act of 1993. In accordance with this act, the USPS is entitled to be reimbursed for lost revenue as a result of certain services it was required to provide in fiscal years 1991 through 1993. This amount also covers shortfalls in reimbursement related to the cost of processing and delivering certain types of nonprofit mail from 1994 through 1998.

The appropriation request also included reconciliation adjustments for fiscal years 2006 and 2007 of USD 16.1 million and USD 2.8 million, respectively. These amounts are based upon final audited mail volumes. By law, the USPS is authorized to request partial reimbursement for costs related to providing universal service. However, since fiscal year 1993, the USPS has not requested funds for this purpose.

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Technology developed by Mysore PTC to be launched on January 1, 2008

Posted by | Dec 12, 2007 | |

Mysore is likely to emerge as a “technology hub” for postal services in South Asia. With the Postal Training Centre (PTC) here already in the forefront of developing innovative technologies for the improvement of postal administration in 22 postal circles across the country, India Post is strongly vying for bringing the proposed South Asian Postal Technology Centre to Mysore.

India Post has sent a formal request to the Bern-based Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the Asia Pacific Postal Centre in Bangkok for considering Mysore as the venue for establishing the premier centre to train officers from South Asian countries in developing state-of-the-art technology in postal matters.

As a first step, India Post, which functions under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Government of India, is establishing the National Postal Technology Centre on the premises of PTC in Mysore. The centre, which will be one of its kind, will be developed as a “centre of excellence” to impart specialised training to the personnel of postal circles in developing technologies such as developing software and custom-made computers to suit postal services.

The Mysore PTC has been training postal employees from several African countries and Thailand. Significantly, the postal departments in countries such as Nepal, the Maldives and Bhutan are using the software developed by the PTC to improve their postal administration.

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MP Kitty Ussher Uses GCMT to Announce FSA to Regulate Payment Services Directive

Posted by | Dec 12, 2007 | |

“In the UK, according to our best estimates, around GBP 2.3bn worth of remittances are made each year. The money transfer sector is growing rapidly. Already we have almost 4000 money transfer business operating out of almost 30,000 premises. A transparent and robust system for overseas money transfers is crucial and we need the market to work as effectively as possible.”

With this statement, Economic Secretary and City Minister Kitty Ussher opened the third Global Consumer Money Transfer conference in London.

She went on to announce to the industry that the Financial Services Authority will regulate the Payment Services Directive (PSD) in the UK, clearing the uncertainty that has surrounded this issue. “We think that the FSA is the best choice; they are the best people to do it.”

“It’s a whole new system of regulation under the Payment Services Directive that we think will make our sector stronger while preventing abuse. Everything to do with the Directive, with the exception of the money laundering issue will be done by the FSA.”
While the FSA will be the UK regulator for the PSD, the HM Revenue and Customs will retain its supervisory role over businesses. Ms Ussher said, “HMRC are experienced anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing supervisors. By retaining supervision of money service businesses HMRC will provide continuity for the sector and be able to utilise their supervisory powers under the Money Laundering Regulations 2007. I believe this will provide the most effective approach.”

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USPS Automated Postal Centers save time (U.S.)

Posted by | Dec 12, 2007 | |

Mail packages and conduct other postal business regardless of Post Office hours using self-service kiosks located in thousands of Post Office lobbies across the country. Just as an ATM is a virtual stand-alone bank, Automated Postal Centers are virtual, stand-alone Post Offices.

APCs are as easy to use as an ATM, but without the fees. APCs accept major credit and debit cards and generate a receipt for payment. All APCs also conduct business in Spanish.

With time always short and schedules overbooked, APCs allow customers the extra convenience of being open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. APCs are located in well lit and secure Post Office lobbies, transactions are private and safe.

A touch screen guides customers through their transactions by providing a series of prompts for each purchase or sale. A retail associate can help answer questions during Post Office hours.

Every APC has a scale to weigh the package. Use the SmartMat on the left side of the station to measure packages. Weight and size help determine the proper amount of postage. Customers also input the destination and how quickly the package should arrive to calculate postage.

APCs allow customers to print shipping labels for the services and pay using a credit or debit card. With the address label and postage secured on the package, it can be placed inside the parcel slot next to the APC. Packages up to 12 inches high by 13 inches deep and 20 inches wide can be accepted.

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