This week's BEAR Notification Letters showed up in half-page-sized envelopes which had transparent windows taking up almost the whole front. No complaints, there, really. The postage franking had to be on the back of the envelope, since the paper frame around the window on the front was too narrow to accommodate the postage meter's stamp. But that's no skin off my nose.
Meanwhile, 486 Notification Letters showed up in big 9"x12" envelopes, with largish transparent windows. The flat mailing is nicer for us, since we don't have to unfold the letters, avoiding my folding complaints of the past. But an envelope that's over 6.125" tall costs an extra $0.49 to mail (maybe more if you count the extra weight from the larger envelope).
The large windows make it easier to see color of the paper, which is good, but I've been begging for USAC to bring back colored envelopes since they did away with them in 2006. Of course, BEAR notifications have always been white, so colored envelopes are out of the question.
You know what I'm thinking? If applicants have to retain documents for 10 years, shouldn't they're be a 10-color cycle? And how about pastel colors for C1, and neon versions of the same color for C2?
For those who are curious, here is the cycle of colors:
| Year (old style) |
FY | Dates for Recurring Services |
Color |
| Year 1 | FY 1998 | 1/1/98 - 6/30/99 | White |
| Year 2 | FY 1999 | 7/1/99 - 6/30/00 | White |
| Year 3 | FY 2000 | 7/1/00 - 6/30/01 | Yellow |
| Year 4 | FY 2001 | 7/1/01 - 6/30/02 | Pink |
| Year 5 | FY 2002 | 7/1/02 - 6/30/03 | Blue |
| Year 6 | FY 2003 | 7/1/03 - 6/30/04 | Yellow |
| Year 7 | FY 2004 | 7/1/04 - 6/30/05 | Pink |
| Year 8 | FY 2005 | 7/1/05 - 6/30/06 | Blue |
| Year 9 | FY 2006 | 7/1/06 - 6/30/07 | Yellow |
| Year 10 | FY 2007 | 7/1/07 - 6/30/08 | Pink |
| Year 11 | FY 2008 | 7/1/08 - 6/30/08 | Blue |
| Year 12 | FY 2009 | 7/1/09 - 6/30/10 | Yellow |
| Year 13 | FY 2010 | 7/1/10 - 6/30/11 | Pink |
| Year 14 | FY 2011 | 7/1/11 - 6/30/12 | Blue |
| Year 15 | FY 2012 | 7/1/12 - 6/30/13 | Yellow |
| Year 16 | FY 2013 | 7/1/13 - 6/30/14 | Pink |
| Year 17 | FY 2014 | 7/1/14 - 6/30/15 | Blue |
| Year 18 | FY 2015 | 7/1/15 - 6/30/16 | Yellow |
| Year 19 | FY 2016 | 7/1/16 - 6/30/17 | Pink |
Will we ever see pink notifications again? USAC's EPC goal is to do away with paper. Will electronic RNL and RAL messages for FY 2016 have pink backgrounds? I'm betting no. I was happy to be getting rid of paper, but suddenly, I'm feeling nostalgic.
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