Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Program

Every Periodicals publisher reports the percentage of advertising in each issue, because it sets the pound price charge.3USPS Verification of Periodicals Advertising Percentage – Alternate Marked Copy Programpage 1“The Postal Service requires publishers qualifying for Periodicals mailing privileges to provide the percentage of advertising and non-advertising content for each issue to determine the pound price charge (DMM 207.2.1.5) of the mailing.”USPS original The publisher enters it on PS Form 3541, the Periodicals postage statement, and backs it with one of four options:3USPS Verification of Periodicals Advertising Percentage – Alternate Marked Copy Programpage 1“The Publisher provides the advertising percentages on Periodicals Postage Statement PS Form 3541 and submits supporting documentation using one of four options outlined below.”USPS original

• a marked copy of each issue, with the advertising percentage carried to two decimal places3USPS Verification of Periodicals Advertising Percentage – Alternate Marked Copy Programpage 1“Publishers supply a marked copy for each issue -- with the calculated percentage of advertising carried out to two decimal places -- so the advertising content can be verified by USPS.”USPS original
• PAGE certification, which removes the need to submit marked copies3USPS Verification of Periodicals Advertising Percentage – Alternate Marked Copy Programpage 1“Mailers are not required to submit marked copies if they are certified by the USPS to use the PAGE Program.”USPS original
• advertising prices paid on the whole copy, which waives nonadvertising prices3USPS Verification of Periodicals Advertising Percentage – Alternate Marked Copy Programpage 1“Instead of marking a copy of each issue to show the advertising portion, the publisher may pay postage at the advertising zoned prices on both portions, advertising and non-advertising, of all issues or editions of a Periodicals publication (except a requester publication).”USPS original
• the Alternate Marked Copy Program, which collects marked copies at the Statement of Ownership review3USPS Verification of Periodicals Advertising Percentage – Alternate Marked Copy Programpage 1“Publishers have the option to submit marked copies for Periodicals mailings at the time of the Statement of Ownership review; eliminating the requirement to provide marked copies with every mailing.”USPS original

USPS designed PAGE with the publishing industry, and taking part is voluntary.2Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 1“The Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) program is a process designed in cooperation with the publishing industry to evaluate Publication and Print Planning (PPP) software and to determine its’ accuracy in calculating virtual percentage of advertising according to Domestic Mail Manual© (DMM) standards. … Participation in the program is voluntary.”USPS original PAGE tests the calculation accuracy of the software as a product.2Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 1“This program will test and certify the calculation accuracy of PPP software on the product level.”USPS original It also tests each user's knowledge of Periodicals mailing standards and Customer Support Rulings.2Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 1“On the user level, the competency and general knowledge of Periodicals mailings as set forth in the DMM and applicable Customer Support Rulings (CSRs) is tested.”USPS original

Product certification is for companies that write their own publication and print planning software.2Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 1“Product certification is available to companies who write their own print production and planning software to facilitate postal calculations of virtual percentage of advertising.”USPS original The software may be a retail product sold to mailers, or proprietary software for internal use only.2Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 1“The software products may be available to mailers for purchase (retail product) or developed for internal use only (proprietary software).”USPS original User certification is for the people who operate a certified product.4Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 2“Upon product certification or purchase of a PAGE-certified product, user certification is available to those who will operate the software.”USPS original

A PAGE-certified software product is publication and print planning software written for one platform or operating system, with one version number.2Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 1“The United States Postal Service (USPS) defines a PAGE-certified software product as a Publication and Print Planning (PPP) software specifically written to operate on a particular platform or operating system and assigned a specific version number.”USPS original PAGE certifies each platform of a developer's product on its own, by platform and version number.2Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 1“Therefore, to maintain the highest quality standards, PAGE will certify a developer’s product by platform and version number.”USPS original

A product is certified first, then the people who use it.4Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 2“Upon product certification or purchase of a PAGE-certified product, user certification is available to those who will operate the software.”USPS original Developers of proprietary software finish product certification before their users can apply.5Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 6“Developers of proprietary software must complete this certification process before users are eligible to apply for certification.”USPS original Tests take place at the NCSC, USPS's National Customer Support Center in Memphis, TN.6Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 5“Developers must send the completed PAGE Order Form, the pre-qualification survey, appropriate fees, and the software to the NCSC located in Memphis, TN to initiate the testing process.”USPS original

Each product is examined for accurate calculations and for compliance with DMM mailing standards and Customer Support Rulings.5Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 6“Each product attempting certification is examined for its accuracy of calculations and compliance with current DMM mailing standards and Customer Support Rulings (CSR’s).”USPS original A product that is 100% accurate and compliant is certified.5Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 6“If the product presented is 100% accurate and in compliance with current DMM mailing standards, certification is awarded.”USPS original The evaluation inspects how the software counts each of these:5Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 6“The evaluation includes inspection of advertising percentage calculations including: Public Service Announcements publishers own advertising white space neutral space inserts (tip-ins, tip-ons, onserts, outserts, etc.) advertising on polybags, wrappers, bellybands, etc. advertising in supplements reader service cards questionnaires”USPS original

• public service announcements
• the publisher's own advertising
• white space
• neutral space
• inserts such as tip-ins, tip-ons, onserts and outserts
• advertising on polybags, wrappers and bellybands
• advertising in supplements
• reader service cards
• questionnaires

USPS chooses the test scenarios from factors that include these:4Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 2“The USPS selects testing scenarios based upon, but not limited to these key factors: Recent Customer Support Rulings released Significant errors are being detected by business mail entry units (BMEU’s) New Periodicals regulations DMM changes affecting Periodicals classification”USPS original

• new Customer Support Rulings
• significant errors that business mail entry units detect
• new Periodicals regulations
• DMM changes that affect Periodicals classification

A user passes with 100% on the marked copy, 100% on its electronic layout, and 90% on the examination.7Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 7“Minimum scores to successfully complete this phase of certification are: 1) Manually marked copy 100% 2) Electronic Layout of marked copy 100% 3) User Examination 90%”USPS original The layout shows the advertising percent and weight, the publication name, the issue date, total advertising in square inches and total pages.7Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 7“The advertising percent and weight must also be placed on the hardcopy electronic layout along with the publication name, issue/cycle date of the publication, total advertising in square inches, and total number of pages.”USPS original The NCSC checks the layout, the marked copy and the documentation for correct advertising calculations.7Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 7“The NCSC will analyze the electronic copy, the manually marked copies, and the documentation for proper calculations of percentage of advertising.”USPS original

The examination has two levels, and each is open book.7Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 7“There are two levels of examination. … Each examination is “open book.””USPS original The Executive Level examination has 25 questions on the characteristics, types, design and eligibility of Periodicals, bound and unbound.7Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 7“Executive Level examination – 25 questions – Topics cover characteristics, types, design, and eligibility of Periodicals class mail for bound and unbound publications.”USPS original Each company needs at least two people to complete it.7Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 7“User certification requires a minimum of two individuals from the company to complete the Executive Level examination.”USPS original

The Associate Level examination has 20 questions, for entry-level staff in roles such as marketing, sales and data entry.7Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 7“Associate level examination – 20 questions – Designed for the entry-level user whose general functions in the publishing industry may include marketing, sales, data entry, etc.”USPS original It covers advertising, nonadvertising and editorial content.7Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 7“This exam covers basic knowledge of advertising, non-advertising, and editorial content.”USPS original Other users of the certified software may take it.7Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 7“Additional users of PAGE-certified software may take the Associate Level examination.”USPS original

Every PAGE product certification applies to specific versions of the software.8Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 3“All PAGE product certifications apply to specific versions of publication and print planning software products.”USPS original A version number has four parts.8Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 3“The components of the version number are as follows:”USPS original

A product that passes grading without corrections is certified under its original number.8Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 3“If a grading review of the submitted product is completed without the need for any corrections or changes, the original number of the publication and print planning software product submitted will be certified.”USPS original A product that needs corrections gets a new version number from the developer once they are complete.8Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 3“After grading, if any corrections or changes to the publication and print planning software logic are required before certification is granted for any of the test categories, a new version number will be specified by the developer for the ppp software product after all corrections/modifications are successfully completed.”USPS original When the manufacturer number shows a database release date, USPS recommends a 2-byte year, a decimal, then a 2-byte month.9Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 4“Note: If the manufacturer number is used to indicate database release dates, the USPS recommends using a 2-byte number to indicate the year followed by a decimal and another 2-byte number to indicate the month of the database.”USPS original

USPS recommends certifying each product that uses a certified product as its engine.9Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 4“If you use your PAGE-certified product as the publication and print planning software engine for other Periodicals products within your product line, we recommend that you pursue certification for each individual product.”USPS original A developer may instead tell the NCSC about the shared engine in writing, and every product is certified once the original passes.9Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 4“However, you may choose to inform the NCSC of this product inter-relationship in writing on company letterhead. Certification will be granted to all products after successful completion of testing of the original product.”USPS original

A PAGE certification cycle generally lasts two years, for users and developers alike.8Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 3“The cycle period for PAGE certification generally lasts for two years for a user and a developer.”USPS original Its dates are tentative, and USPS may start a new cycle after significant DMM or Periodicals rule changes or new Customer Support Rulings.8Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 3“However, dates in the cycle are tentative. The USPS reserves the right to begin a new cycle at any time it deems factors causing significant changes to the dynamics of Periodicals mailing. Significant changes made to the DMM or Periodicals regulations Changes made to or release of new Customer Support Rulings”USPS original Developers and publishers are notified when that happens.8Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 3“Developers and publishers will be notified when changes occur.”USPS original

Testing is continuous, so a developer can start at any time.8Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 3“PAGE certification testing is continuous. Developers may begin the certification process at any time.”USPS original A developer's certification lasts two years, with notice 60 days before it expires.8Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 3“Developer software is certified for two years, and they will be notified 60 days prior to expiration of their certification.”USPS original A user's certification lasts two years, but software or rule changes can require recertification sooner.7Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 7“User certifications are valid for two years after the initial certification. Recertification may be required before the two-year period ends if changes are made to the software or Periodicals mail rules.”USPS original A product or user recertified during a cycle stays certified through the end of that cycle.8Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 3“Recertified products and/or users are certified through the end of the current PAGE cycle.”USPS original

PAGE certification does not guarantee that USPS accepts a publisher's per-copy weights and advertising percentages.3USPS Verification of Periodicals Advertising Percentage – Alternate Marked Copy Programpage 1“Certification of PAGE software is available only to those companies that develop or write PPP software and does not guarantee acceptance of the publisher’s per-copy weights and advertising percentages prepared with PAGE-certified software.”USPS original The NCSC may run random tests on any certified product during the certification cycle.9Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 4“The NCSC reserves the right to conduct random tests on any certified product during the certification cycle.”USPS original

A developer whose documentation is incomplete or incorrect must resubmit it with the NCSC's corrections.6Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 5“If any documentation is incomplete or incorrect, the developer must resubmit with the corrections indicated by the NCSC.”USPS original When errors prevent certification, the developer receives an evaluation report that names each violation and its DMM reference.5Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 6“If any errors preventing certification are detected, an evaluation report identifying the specific violations and their appropriate DMM references will be provided to the developer.”USPS original The developer then fixes the software and supplies a new copy for analysis.5Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 6“After the proper change/adjustments are made to the software, the developer is responsible for supplying a new copy of the software for analysis.”USPS original

A user who fails any part of the test packet may request another exam, paying the fee for each exam taken.7Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 7“If any part of the test packet is not passed, the user may request another exam and pay the appropriate fee for each exam taken.”USPS original

USPS field staff or mailers sometimes find calculation errors after a certified product reaches customers.6Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 5“Occasionally, advertising percentage calculation errors are detected and reported by USPS field personnel or mailers after a PAGE-certified product has been distributed to customers.”USPS original PAGE then follows a set protocol to resolve the problem.6Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 5“If this situation occurs, the following protocol is followed to resolve the problem:”USPS original

PAGE may revoke or suspend certification when the developer misses the agreed time frame.6Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 5“If the time frame is exceeded, PAGE certification may be revoked or suspended.”USPS original

The PAGE program takes questions at 800-238-3150 and page.ncsc@usps.gov.1PostalPro: Periodicals Accuracy Grading and Evaluation (PAGE) Program“For more information about the PAGE program, contact us at 800-238-3150 or page.ncsc@usps.gov.”USPS original Test output goes by mail to BMA Certification – PAGE at the NCSC, 225 N. Humphreys Blvd Ste 501, Memphis, TN 38188-1001.6Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Technical Guidepage 5“All test output must be mailed to: BMA Certification – PAGE National Customer Support Center United States Postal Service 225 N. Humphreys Blvd Ste 501 Memphis, TN 38188-1001”USPS original