USPS points out that the increase of the 1 oz letter rate (up 1 cent to 45 cents) is the first since May 2009, that the additional ounce rate for letters is unchanged at 20 cents, and that “the overall average price increase across all mailing services is capped at 2.1 percent.” The biggest increases, which aren’t highlighted in the USPS pr on the topic, are to package rates, both within the US and internationally, with the highest increases applied to the lowest weights.

The 1 oz package rate for all countries is increasing 74 percent, from $1.72 to $3.00. The 2 oz rate increases vary from 46 to 59 percent. Since shape-based rates took effect (in May 2007 for US, and May 2008 for other countries), package rates have seen enormous increases. The 1 oz rate within the US has gone up by 73 percent since then; other weights have seen increases ranging from 15 to 50 percent. The increases for packages going outside the US has been even more dramatic: the cost for 1 oz packages has gone up by 154 percent to Canada and Mexico, 114 percent to other countries. Other weights have seen increases ranging from 21 percent to 42 percent at the highest weights, and 72 percent to 122 percent at lower weights.

Here’s a rundown of the changes:

• Within the US, postcards are going up 3 cents to 32 cents. Large envelope (aka flats) rates are increasing by 2 cents at all weights (90 cents for the first ounce, and 20 cents for each additional ounce). Packages will cost $1.95 for the first 3 ounces, then 17 cents for each additional ounce.
• Letters (1 oz) and postcards to Canada and Mexico are increasing by 5 cents to 85 cents. Additional ounces cost 32 cents per ounce to Canada and 59 cents to Mexico. Large envelopes will start at $1.50 for both Canada and Mexico, and packages will start at $3.00. Additional ounces (for either type) cost 15 cents per ounce to Canada and 53 cents to Mexico.
• Letters (1 oz) and postcards to other countries are going up 7 cents to $1.05. Additional ounces cost 87 cents for Groups 3-5 (incl. Europe, Australia, Japan, Russia, China) and 80 cents for Groups 6-9 (Central & South America, New Zealand, Africa). Large envelopes start at $1.75 and packages start at $3.00, with additional ounces costing 78 cents for Groups 3-5 or 74 cents for Groups 6-9. (Oddly enough, the rate changes mean that large envelopes 6 ounces or above will actually be at cheaper-than-current rates for all countries except Mexico.)
• Media mail is going up to $2.47 for 1 lb, plus 42 cents for each additional pound (up to 7 lbs).
• PO box rental costs are also going up, but USPS is now adding a 3 month rental option.

At the end of 2011, USPS announced it might close more than half of its mail processing facilities and more than 3,000 post offices. These closes would likely slow the delivery of first class mail. The USPS is also still considering plans to scale back to a five-day delivery schedule (dropping Saturday delivery). Implementation of either change will likely depend on Congressional action this spring. If Saturday delivery to street addresses is discontinued, delivery to PO boxes would continue on Saturdays, and post offices would still be open, but there would be no scheduled collection of mail from blue collection boxes or retail offices. Express Mail will continue delivery seven days a week, but Priority Mail would only be Monday through Friday.

In other news, we’ve updated the Upcoming Events page! If you know of a zine festival or other event that we don’t have on our list, please drop us a line!

Speaking of stamps, with our excitement about 2011: The Revenge of Print, I decided to make some custom stamps to celebrate! Don’t they look awesome? Would you like to have some? I ordered a few extra sheets, and I’m willing to share them (at cost). PayPal $7.50 for 1/2 sheet (10 stamps) or $15.00 for 1 sheet (20 stamps) to zineworld@gmail.com; be sure to include your mailing address! If there’s a lot of interest, I’ll order some more (which could drop the per-sheet price).

(While you are at PayPal, consider making a donation to Zine World — your donations help us cover extra expenses such as website hosting, PO Box rental, mailing zines to reviewers, and sending zines to prisoners. Every extra dollar helps!)

Also, we’ve updated our list of Recommended Distros & Stores, so you can see what zine-selling outfits our readers recommend and who’s got Zine World for sale. If your favorite distro is absent from the list, we’d love to get a recommendation from you. If you run a distro and you’d like to have it included in the list, send us your distro’s name, website, mailing address, and a one-sentence description. Email comments to wordofmouth@undergroundpress.org. (Interested in selling Zine World in your distro? Visit our distribution page for info.)

International postage rates are also increasing:

• To Canada, a 1 oz letter would cost 80 cents; a 3.5 oz letter would cost $1.64. A 1 oz flat would cost $1.08; additional ounces add 26 cents (up to 8 oz). A 1 oz parcel would cost $1.72; additional ounces add 26 cents (up to 8 oz).
• To Mexico, a 1 oz letter would cost 80 cents and a 3.5 oz letter would cost $2.48. A 1 oz flat would cost $1.08; additional ounces add 57 cents (up to 8 oz). A 1 oz parcel would cost $1.72; additional ounces add 57 cents (up to 8 oz).
• The letter rates will have no changes for countries in groups 3-5 and groups 6-9. Flats will start at $1.30; additional ounces add 87 cents for groups 3-5 or 83 cents for groups 6-9 (up to 8 oz). Parcels will start at $1.72; additional ounces add 87 cents for groups 2-5 or 81 cents for groups 6-9 (up to 8 oz).

(Read more about the rate increases…)

It has been nearly two years since the last rate increase for First Class mail. Since shape-based pricing went into effect in 2007, the cost for mailing a 1 oz. letter in the U.S. has only risen by 3 cents, but the cost for mailing other weights and sizes domestically has had increases of 8 to 58 cents per ounce. Zine World will post an updated postal rate guide this spring reflecting these changes.

Though we couldn’t find real confirmation of it anywhere yet, we suspect this means the post office plans to eliminate low denomination stamps, such as 1 cent or 2 cent, as these stamps were most frequently used when first class postage rates increased by people with leftover stamps at the old 1-ounce rate. Such a change could be a way for the USPS to save money. These stamps are currently still available for purchase.

New rates to into effect today for Priority Mail. USPS is also expanding its options for shipping via Priority Mail; the post office now offers a legal-size flat-rate envelope and a padded flat-rate envelope. There are now six different Priority Mail envelopes available, all at the same flat rate of $4.95. We have updated our U.S. Postal Rates sheet to reflect these changes. Also, pricing for PO Boxes at 49 post offices will change to a new pricing schedule, “based on their presence in areas where significant competition exists.” Find out more about current postage prices.

Oh, and we just noticed that we neglected to update our Postal Rate Chart when the Media Mail rate changed back in March (which means the Media Mail rate shown on the back of ZW #29 is incorrect). It’s fixed now, if you want to download it.

We’ve also made some updates to the resources at the end of our Zines 101 handout. If you are teaching a zine workshop, you can feel free to give this handout to participants, no need to ask permission, as long as the credit at the bottom stays intact.

We’ve all been pretty busy recovering from the summer, but we’ve finally had a chance to update our zine event listings. There’s still plenty of great events coming up before the end of the year, plus a couple that have already been announced for 2011.

Get your zine publishing tools ready for 2011: The Revenge of Print — “We are challenging everyone who’s ever made/self-published a zine, a comic or mini-comic before to dust off the ol’ photocopier and make at least one more new issue in 2011. If you are a creator and would like to sign/commit to the challenge, please let us know and we’ll add your name. If you are a bookstore, zine distro, etc. who would like to sponsor this, please let us known.” Current sponsors include Atomic Books and Quimby’s Bookstore. Are you up for the challenge?

• First class letter rate would increase to 46 cents for 1 oz, 64 cents for 2 oz, 82 cents for 3 oz, and $1 for 3.5 oz. (This is an increase of 2 cents for the first ounce and 5 cents for 3.5 oz.)
• Postcards would increase to 30 cents. (This is an increase of 2 cents.)
• Flats (aka large envelope) would increase to 92 cents for 1 oz and 18 cents for each additional ounce. (This is an increase of 4 cents for the first ounce and 16 cents for other weights, or about 5 percent.)
• Parcels (aka package) would increase to 1.71 for 1 – 3 oz and 17 cents for each additional ounce. (This is an increase of 49 cents for the first ounce, 32 cents for 2 oz, 15 cents for all other weights, or about 5 percent.)
• Media mail would increase to $2.54 for 1 pound and 42 cents for each additional pound (a 7 percent increase).

International postage would also increase:

• To Canada, a 1 oz letter would cost 80 cents; 1 3.5 oz letter would cost $1.64. A 1 oz flat would cost $1.08; additional ounces add 26 cents (up to 8 oz). A 1 oz parcel would cost $1.72; additional ounces add 26 cents (up to 8 oz).
• To Mexico, a 1 oz letter would cost 80 cents and a 3.5 oz letter would cost $2.48. A 1 oz flat would cost $1.08; additional ounces add 57 cents (up to 8 oz). A 1 oz parcel would cost $1.72; additional ounces add 57 cents (up to 8 oz).
• The 1 oz letter rate will go up to $1.06 for groups 3-5 and to $1.02 for groups 6-9. The 3.5 oz letter rate would cost $3.70 for groups 3-5 and $3.42 for groups 6-9. Flats will start at $1.30; additional ounces add 88 cents for groups 3-5 or 82 cents for groups 6-9 (up to 8 oz). Parcels will start at $1.72; additional ounces add 87 cents for groups 2-5 or 81 cents for groups 6-9 (up to 8 oz).

Costs would also increase for other categories, including standard mail, periodicals, and library mail. A spreadsheet listing all of the proposed changes can be downloaded from the USPS website.

USPS is again pushing people to buy “Forever stamps” now and will introduce a new version of the stamp this fall. Forever stamps can be purchased at the current 1 oz. letter rate and remain valid for 1 oz. letter usage, regardless of future price increases.

USPS faces an estimated $7 billion budget shortfall next year. The Postal Regulatory Commission has until October to approve or reject the increase. It has been almost two years since the last price increase for first class postage.

For those of you who like to geek out on postage, here’s a quick rundown of the changes:

• Letter rate is going up by 2cents per ounce.
• Large envelope (aka flats) rate is going up by 5cents per ounce.
• Package (aka parcel) rate is going up by 5cents per ounce.
• Media mail is increasing by 15cents for the first pound and 4cents for each additional pound.
• For international mail, there’s been an increase both in the base rate and in the additional ounce price. For example, the 1 oz. letter rate to Canada is increasing by 3cents; the price for each additional ounce is changing from 24cents to 25cents. The 1 oz. large envelope rate to Canada is increasing by 5cents; the price for each additional ounce is changing from 24cents to 26cents. This means, for a 6 oz. large envelope, you’ll be paying 15cents more on Monday than you did last week.

If you need a refresher about shape-based pricing (ex: the difference between a letter and a large envelope), or how to use media mail, check out our Zinester’s Guide to U.S. Mail.

Oh, and by the way, USPS ended its second quarter with a $1.9 billion loss. It has faced net losses from operations in 10 of the last 11 fiscal quarters; this loss is attributed to a decline in mail volume. Read more, or news coverage

rates within U.S.
postcard = 28c (1c increase)
1 oz letter rate, first class = 44c (2c increase)
1 oz large envelope, first class = 88c (5c increase)
1 oz parcel, first class = 1.22 (5c increase)
Additional ounces, first class = 17c per ounce (no change)

1 lb media mail = 2.38 (15c increase)
Additional pounds = 39c per pound (4c increase)

rates outside U.S.
1 oz letter, to Canada = 75c (3c increase)
Additional ounces letter, Canada = 25c
1 oz large envelope, Canada = 1.03
Additional ounces large envelope, Canada = 26c

1 oz letter, to Mexico = 79c (7c increase)
Additional ounces, Mexico = 55c
1 oz large envelope, Mexico = 1.03
Additional ounces, Mexico = 56c

1 oz letter, to other countries = 98c (4c increase)
additional ounces, other countries = 78c or 84c (depending on location)
1 oz large envelop, other countries = 1.24
Additional ounces, other countries = 79c or 84c (depending on location)

The USPS is still sticking by its Forever Stamp — buy these stamps now for 42 cents, and you can still use them for a one ounce letter (with no additional postage required) after the price changes.

More details about the price changes here. We’ll post an updated Postal Rate chart in late April.

A US District Court has ruled that school officials in Burlington, Conn., did not violate a student’s free speech rights by disciplining her for an Internet posting she made off-campus. The case deals with critical comments the student made about school administrators on her blog regarding a school event. In his ruling, the judge noted that circumstances have changed since the prior rulings that set boundaries for schools regulating off-campus speech, saying that, because of the Internet and email, “off-campus speech can become on-campus speech with the click of a mouse.” He also noted that since the Supreme Court has not yet decided whether online speech can be punished on-campus, whether written at the school or not, school administrators face ambiguity about what First Amendment protections do and don’t cover.  Read more and more…

By the way, the USPS has posted the notice that will be running in the Federal Register regarding “mail classification changes, modifications to mailpiece characteristics, and changes in classification terminology” that will take effect in May 2009 and 2010. (See the notice as a text file or as a pdf.) Revisions include nonmachinable characteristics and flexibility requirements for flats (aka, large envelope). Most of the changes will apply to commercial mail… I think. Public comment is invited regarding the proposed changes; see the link for details.