U.S. Postal Service: Status of Efforts to Protect Privacy of Address Changes
GGD-99-102
Published: Jul 30, 1999. Publicly Released: Jul 30, 1999.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO updated its previous report on the U.S. Postal Service's National Change of Address (NCOA) program, focusing on: (1) the actions the Service has taken in response to GAO's 1996 report; and (2) whether any additional actions are needed to strengthen the Service's oversight of the program.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| If Congress is concerned about the failure of the Postal Service to implement the recommendation GAO made in its prior report concerning the creation and maintenance of new-movers lists by customers of its licensees, it may wish to amend the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970. An amendment could either: (1) expressly prohibit the use of change-of-address data by licensees and their customers in the creation or maintenance of new-movers lists; or (2) specifically require the Service to have its licensees and their customers acknowledge in writing that they have been informed and understand that change-of-address data may not be used for any purpose not authorized by law, including the creation or maintenance of new-movers lists. |
Closed – Not Implemented
|
No action has been taken on this matter and none is anticipated, so the matter for consideration should be closed. |
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| United States Postal Service | To help ensure that the NCOA program operates in compliance with applicable provisions of federal privacy law and NCOA program requirements, the Postmaster General should ensure that NCOA program officials: (1) conduct the minimum number of annual and on-site audits, as well as reaudits of licensees as required by the licensing agreement and the program procedure guide; and (2) document in the program office files licensee audits performed, the results of those audits, and actions taken. |
Closed – Implemented
According to the Postal Services' 31 U.S.C.720 response to the Committee on Appropriations (letter dated Oct. 26, 1999), action to implement this recommendation has been completed.
|
| United States Postal Service | To help ensure that the NCOA program operates in compliance with applicable provisions of federal privacy law and NCOA program requirements, the Postmaster General should also ensure that NCOA program officials and other appropriate Service officials coordinate actions to identify and correct weaknesses in the process of alerting program officials when mail is sent to seed record addresses so that the process works as intended. |
Closed – Implemented
According to the Postal Services' 31 U.S.C. response (letter dated Oct. 26, 1999), action on this recommendation has been completed.
|
| United States Postal Service | To help ensure that the NCOA program operates in compliance with applicable provisions of federal privacy law and NCOA program requirements, the Postmaster General should also ensure that NCOA program officials and other appropriate Service officials coordinate actions to ensure that licensees that fail successive audits are promptly suspended or terminated, as appropriate, from the program or that the licensing agreement is revised to reflect Service policy regarding when licensees will be suspended or terminated. |
Closed – Implemented
According to the Postal Services' 31 U.S.C. 720 response (letter dated Oct. 26, 1999), action has been completed on this recommendation.
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Data collectionMail delivery problemsMailing listsPostal lawPostal servicePrivacy lawProprietary dataPrivacy rightsAuditsMaintenance