FYI: Summary of AFCS / Informed Delivery:
In the mid 2000's the USPS started using photography and image scans to more quickly process and sort first class mail and packages.
By 2012 the existing technology was assisting law enforcement by making these images available to various agencies to combat crime and be useful in terrorist investigations.
In 2013 the cat was out of the bag with a brief flurry of reports and articles about how such monitoring was helping combat crime. After the initial reporting virtually nothing appeared in the press and most citizens are not even aware of the law enforcement aspect of the program. Information here should provide you the basic details of this postal/national security issue.
Like the benefits of the space program where there were ‘civilian’ uses for some of the developed technology, the initial use for postal purposes, the later expansion for law enforcement, there is now the Informed Delivery program making the image retention available for use of postal customers.
The Informed Delivery program now provides information which will:
- Tell me when to expect my package for delivery.
- Tell me when there's an alert.
- Tell me when to expect my package for delivery that day.
- Tell me when I have mail or packages to pick up.
- Tell me about any delivery / final handoff activity.
Above: Screen shots of what the notificiation looks like.
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THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE and YOU - ‘Informed Delivery’
For several years the Post Office (USPS) had been recording images, front and back, of all mail in its system using the 'Automated Facer Canceller System' (AFCS).
9 minute video of the AFCS, See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HLMxZDiUDY, Scanning and photographing the mail is a big part of handling it, but once it is scanner/photographed the information remains in the system.
9 minute video of the AFCS, See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HLMxZDiUDY, Scanning and photographing the mail is a big part of handling it, but once it is scanner/photographed the information remains in the system.
AFCS takes an image (or photo) of the outside of all mail and stores it, perhaps forever, only they really know.
When you send off a payment to AmExp and use one of those nice little return address labels that so many charities send you the US Govt knows you are paying your AmExp bill. When you send (or receive) a package or letter from any retail outlet or your grandma, this is captured by the post office.
For myself, I never put my return address on my outgoing mail, it really doesn’t matter as I am probably not on any ICE, FBI, NSA watch list, and they have all my incoming mail info anyway, but this has been going on for years and now and then, since 2013, I write about it to remind folks that ‘Big Govt’ is out there and how they are watching you.
Now this same spy wear is being more publicized as the Post Office has an app that lets you check what is coming to your address via first class mail or incoming packages. So you don’t want to go to the PO to check your post office box? Just sign up using the app and you can find out what is waiting for you at the box. If there is nothing then you can save a trip.
This isn’t done for junk mail or catalogs.
From my own limited look at their application I suppose you could sign up to find out what is en route to your neighbor, best friend, worst enemy etc. I haven’t tried that yet but it would seem to be workable. If you find out, drop me a line and tell me, for all I know you might be using the app to find out what mail I am getting.
Anyway Big Brother is sharing their spy toys with us out in Joe and Jill Sixpack land so the info is at the USPS site and you can take a look. A bit of their info is reproduced below FYI, but you really need to go look for yourself at.
What is Informed Delivery®?
Informed Delivery is a free and optional notification service that gives residential consumers the ability to digitally preview their letter-size mailpieces and manage their packages scheduled to arrive soon. Informed Delivery makes mail more convenient by allowing users to view what is coming to their mailbox whenever, wherever – even while traveling – on a computer, tablet, or mobile device.
To automate the sortation and delivery of mail, the United States Postal Service® (USPS) digitally images the front of letter-size mailpieces that run through automation equipment. USPS is now using those images to provide digital notifications to users in advance of the delivery of physical mail.
Informed Delivery benefits the entire household, ensuring that everyone has visibility into mail and package delivery each day. Informed Delivery allows users to take action before important items reach their mailbox, while offering mailers an unprecedented opportunity to engage users through synchronized direct mail and digital marketing campaigns.
How does Informed Delivery® work? What will I see?
Informed Delivery allows users to interact with their incoming mail* and packages in one convenient, online location. Users receive emails containing grayscale images of the exterior, address side of incoming letter-size mailpieces that are arriving soon. These images are also accessible on the Informed Delivery dashboard at informeddelivery.usps.com. Some mailpieces (e.g., catalogues or magazines) may not be imaged by the automation equipment and will only be shown in your Informed Delivery notification if the mailer conducts a synchronized digital marketing campaign.
For items with USPS Tracking®, users will be able to view the delivery status of packages in Informed Delivery notifications. Users can also provide USPS Delivery Instructions™, manage their notifications, and schedule redelivery from the dashboard. Users can also receive USPS Tracking updates for incoming packages via separate email or text notifications.
The dashboard displays mailpiece images for a seven-day period, while package information displays for 15 days after each package has been delivered. Users can opt-in to receive separate email or text notifications with status updates for incoming packages, too.
*A small number of consumers are only eligible to view package tracking information on their Informed Delivery dashboard and thus are not eligible to receive Informed Delivery emails with mailpiece images.
What happened to My USPS®? Is Informed Delivery® related to it?
My USPS and Informed Delivery have merged into one feature, and are now both accessed via the integrated Informed Delivery dashboard for your convenience. Informed Delivery better reflects the United States Postal Service's® (USPS) goal of providing visibility into important delivery information for both mail and packages.
What does Informed Delivery® cost consumers?
The feature is provided at no additional cost for all Informed Delivery users.
Mail Features:
Will I see images of all of my mailpieces?
At this time, images are provided for letter-size mailpieces that are processed through automation equipment. Some mailpieces (e.g., catalogues or magazines) may not be imaged by the automation equipment and will only be shown in your Informed Delivery notification if the mailer conducts a synchronized digital marketing campaign.
How often are Informed Delivery® emails sent?
An email will be generated each day your household receives letter-size mail that is processed through the United States Postal Service® automation equipment. If no mail is processed through automation that day, you will not receive an Informed Delivery notification. A small number of consumers are only eligible to view package tracking information on their Informed Delivery dashboard and thus are not eligible to receive Informed Delivery emails with mailpiece images. Notifications are not sent on days when there is no mail to be delivered, or on Sundays, or federal holidays.
How do I receive notifications?
Notifications are sent to your email inbox using the email address in your personal usps.com® account profile. You may also designate a separate email from the one listed in your usps.com account if you would like in the "Settings" section of the dashboard. If you receive over 10 pieces of mail, you will see 10 mailpieces in the email and will be provided a link to see the remainder of your household's mailpieces on the dashboard at informeddelivery.usps.com.
What will I actually see in the notifications?
Informed Delivery® notifications include a grayscale image of the exterior, address side of the mailpiece, which generally includes the sender address. The inside contents of the mailpiece are not imaged, and the notifications do not include any information about the contents. A small number of consumers are only eligible to view package tracking information on their Informed Delivery dashboard and thus are not eligible to receive Informed Delivery emails with mailpiece images. Participating mailers can supplement the image of their letter-size mailpiece with a clickable (interactive) color Ride-along Image placed below the grayscale image in the email and dashboard. Mailers can also provide a Representative Image to replace the grayscale image. See the "Package Features" section for additional information.
At what time of the day can I expect to receive my Informed Delivery® emails?
A notification will typically be emailed before 9:00 AM local time, Monday through Saturday, on days that mail is being processed on United States Postal Service® automation equipment for delivery to your address. No mail is processed on Sundays or federal holidays, so you should not expect notifications on those days.
Package Features -
Will I see images of my packages like I do for my letter-size mail?
No. Package information will be presented as status updates, not images. You can track the status of incoming packages from your Informed Delivery® emails or on your dashboard, as well as opting-in to receive email or text notifications.
What package information is available in Informed Delivery®?
On days when both mail and packages are scheduled to arrive, users will see the following delivery status information at the bottom of their Informed Delivery email and on their dashboard:
Tracking number
Shipping customer name
Estimated arrival date
The following data is also available for a package in the Informed Delivery dashboard:
Shipping customer name
Estimated arrival date
The following data is also available for a package in the Informed Delivery dashboard:
Last scan event
Date and time of last scan event
Package nickname (if added by user)
Scan category
Item details – such as:
Secondary date text and date (if applicable)
Expected delivery window (if applicable)
Mail class and extra services
Sender
Sender location
Additional historical status updates that include the date, time, city, and ZIP Code™ location of a tracking event can be accessed via the packages scan history.
Date and time of last scan event
Package nickname (if added by user)
Scan category
Item details – such as:
Secondary date text and date (if applicable)
Expected delivery window (if applicable)
Mail class and extra services
Sender
Sender location
Additional historical status updates that include the date, time, city, and ZIP Code™ location of a tracking event can be accessed via the packages scan history.
How do I view package details?
You can view the delivery status of packages at the bottom of your Informed Delivery® email. Alternatively, on the Informed Delivery dashboard, you can select "Packages" to see a list of your incoming and delivered packages. Then select the arrow on the right side of the package entry to expand the field and see the scan history, leave delivery instructions, or schedule redelivery. A small number of consumers are only eligible to view package tracking information on their Informed Delivery dashboard and thus are not eligible to receive Informed Delivery emails with mailpiece images.
What packages can I track?
Most USPS® domestic packages tied to the address associated with your usps.com® account will be automatically available on your Informed Delivery® emails and dashboard.
You can also manually enter USPS Tracking® numbers to add packages to your dashboard. You can also opt-in to receive tracking updates via email or text message to your mobile device.
You can also manually enter USPS Tracking® numbers to add packages to your dashboard. You can also opt-in to receive tracking updates via email or text message to your mobile device.
How many packages will be shown in Informed Delivery® emails and on the dashboard?
All tracking numbers for domestic packages scheduled to arrive at the address tied to your usps.com® account will be displayed in your Informed Delivery emails and on the dashboard.
