The Postal Service is adding new restrictions for free Post Office Box Service that would eliminate almost everyone’s eligibility.  #3 is why most recipients in rural areas don’t have carrier delivery to start with, eg. unimproved or poorly maintained roadways, unsafe conditions, or other conditions that preclude extension of carrier delivery.  “Other conditions” would encompass nearly everyone not excluded elsewhere.

Don Cheney
Auburn WA

SUMMARY: The Postal Service is revising the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 508.4.6 to clarify eligibility, to simplify the standards, and to facilitate uniform administration for Group E (free) Post Office (PO) Box service.

DMM 508.4.6.3 Additional Standards for Free PO Box Service

b. Eligibility for Group E PO Boxes does not extend to:

1. Individual tenants, contractors, employees, or other individuals receiving or eligible to receive singlepoint delivery to a location such as a hotel, college, military installation, campground, or transient trailer park.

2. Locations served, or eligible to be served, by centralized delivery or grouped receptacles such as cluster box units, apartment style receptacles, mailrooms, or clusters of roadside receptacles.

3. Locations where town ordinances, private roads, gated communities, unimproved or poorly maintained roadways, unsafe conditions, or other conditions preclude extension of carrier delivery.

http://frwebgate2.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/TEXTgate.cgi?WAISdocID=rluufN/0/1/0&WAISaction=retrieve