U.S. Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Civil Service, Post Office, and General Services
Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1981. Presumed First Edition, First Printing. Wraps. iv, 120, [1] pages. Wraps. Tabular Data. The 1981 Senate hearings regarding the implementation of the nine-digit ZIP code (ZIP+4) were marked by intense debate over automation, costs, and mandatory versus voluntary usage. The hearings, primarily held before the Subcommittee on Civil Service, Post Office, and General Services, aimed to address public and Congressional concerns that the system was premature and overly burdensome. A major focus was ensuring the new, longer code would be voluntary, specifically for residential users, to alleviate public fear of forced compliance. Postmaster General Bolger testified that he supported making it voluntary, except for bulk mailers seeking discounts. Critics in the Senate, such as Senator David Durenberger and Senator Roger Jepsen, argued that the system was not fully tested, might increase costs, and that the public did not want it. The program was designed to cut costs through automated mail sorting using optical character readers (OCRs). In April 1981, Congress considered legislation to block the June 1, 1981 implementation date proposed by the Postal Service, with leaders calling for a cost-benefit analysis. Despite the contention, the Senate moved forward with the program, with the legislative battle continuing through the end of the year, eventually leading to the authorization of the program by late 1981, with full implementation planned for subsequent years. The hearings highlighted the transition from manual to automated mail processing and the friction caused by requiring the public to adopt a more detailed addressing system. More