Face —The side of a mailpiece with the delivery address. Also, to arrange mail in a uniform orientation; that is, with the delivery address facing forward and the postage area positioned in the upper right corner.

 

Facing Identification Mark (FIM) —A series of five or six vertical bars used by automated postal equipment to identify, orient, and separate reply mail and mail produced by PC postage systems and some postage meters.

 

Facing Slip —A paper label attached to the top of a bundle that shows where the mail is to be distributed, the class and type of mail, and the country or military Post Office. Also see optional endorsement line.

 

FASTforward —A USPS-licensed automated system that updates addresses by matching names and addresses with current change-of-address orders on file. A piece updated with FASTforward can be delivered directly to the new address rather than forwarded from the old address.

 

Federal Register —A daily weekday publication distributed by the Office of the Federal Register in which certain U.S. government documents must be published. The USPS publishes proposed and final mail preparation changes in the Federal Register for public comment and notice. A listing of Postal Service Federal Register Notices is available at Postal Explorer at pe.usps.com.

 

First-Class Mail (FCM) —A class of mail that includes all matter wholly or partly in writing or typewriting, all actual and personal correspondence, all bills and statements of account, and all matter sealed or otherwise closed against inspection. Priority Mail is a subclass of First-Class Mail. Any mailable matter may be sent as First-Class Mail.

 

Flat —The general term for flat-size mail, so called because the large mail is sorted without bending it so that the mail remains flat.

 

Flat-Size Mail —A flexible rectangular mailpiece that exceeds one of the dimensions for letter-size mail (11-1/2 inches long, 6-1/8 inches high, 1/4 inch thick) but that does not exceed the maximum dimension for the mail processing category (15 inches long, 12 inches high, 3/4 inch thick). Dimensions are different for Periodicals automation flat-size mail. Flat-size mail may be unwrapped, sleeved, wrapped, or enveloped.

 

Fleet Post Office (FPO) —A branch of a designated USPS civilian Post Office, which falls under the jurisdiction of the postmaster of either New York City or San Francisco, that serves Coast Guard, Navy, or Marine Corps personnel. Also see military Post Office.

 

FLTS —An abbreviation used on mail container labels that identifies the contents as flat-size.

 

Forward —To redirect mail to the intended recipient’s new delivery address in cases where PS Form 3575, Change of Address Order, or other written or personal notice has been filed with the local Post Office. Also see Address Change Service (ACS), address correction service, and ancillary service.

 

Franked Mail —Official mail sent without postage prepayment by members and members-elect of Congress, the Vice President, and other authorized individuals. Mail must relate to the mailer’s official business, activities, and duties. The mailpiece bears a written signature, printed facsimile signature, or other required marking instead of a postage stamp. Compare with penalty mail.

 

Full Flat Tray —A tray that is sufficiently filled with flats to allow or require preparation to the corresponding presort destination. A full flat tray contains at least enough pieces so that a single stack of mail lying flat on the bottom of the tray reaches to the bottom of the handholds. Additional pieces must be added when possible to physically fill the tray.

 

Full Letter Tray —A full tray is filled between 85% and 100% with faced, upright pieces. Each tray must be physically filled to capacity before the filling of the next tray. Also see less-than-full tray and overflow tray.

 

Full Sack —A sack filled with the minimum number of pieces needed to qualify for the class and price claimed.