[Rt4-whois] Accuracy in the WHOIS

[Susan Kawaguchi]

Hello All,

I have been giving accuracy in the WHOIS record much thought in the last two days and came across interesting information in the NSI registration agreement .  NSI utilizes the Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS) and the National Change of Address program to update the mailing address information for their clients.   I have not thoroughly reviewed other large registrars registration agreement but others may be using these accuracy validation mechanisms too.

I have included links to additional information on each of these services further down but the Wikipedia page I have copied below (if it is accurate) illustrates CASS.

Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS) enables the United States Postal Service<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Postal_Service> to evaluate the accuracy<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accuracy> of software<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software> that corrects and matches street addresses<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_address>. CASS certification<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certification> is offered to all mailers, service bureaus<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_bureau>, and software vendors<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vendor> that would like the USPS<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USPS> to evaluate<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evaluate> the quality<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality> of their address-matching software and improve the accuracy<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accuracy> of their ZIP<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZIP_Code>+4, carrier route<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Carrier_route&action=edit&redlink=1>, and five-digit coding.

For software vendors and service bureaus, CASS Certification must be renewed annually with the USPS to meet current CASS Certification cycle requirements.

CASS Certified products are listed in USPS literature and on its web site. CASS software will correct and standardize addresses. It will also add missing address information, such as ZIP codes, cities, and states<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_%28US%29>, to ensure the address is complete. Starting with 2007 Cycle L, CASS software will also perform delivery point<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delivery_point> validation<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_validation> to verify whether or not an address is a deliverable address and check against the USPS Locatable Address Conversion System<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locatable_Address_Conversion_System> to update addresses that have been renamed or renumbered.

A correct address saves the Postal Service time, money and manpower by reducing the volume of 1) non-deliverable mail; 2) unsorted mail; 3) mail that is deliverable, but requires extra effort to determine the proper location to deliver it to.[1]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coding_Accuracy_Support_System#cite_note-0> Mailers who use CASS software to check the addresses of their mailing may be able to qualify for discounted<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discounts_and_allowances> postage rates from the USPS.

An example of what CASS software will correct in an address:

The input of:

1 MICROWSOFT
REDMUND WA

Produces the output of:

MICROSOFT
1 MICROSOFT WAY
REDMOND WA 98052-8300

Here the street and city name misspellings have been corrected; street suffix, ZIP code and ZIP+4 add-on have been added; and, in this case, the address was determined to be the location of a business.

In addition to an updated address, CASS software can also return descriptive information about the address. The information falls into two categories:

  1.  If the address was successfully processed, or if not then why,
  2.  Information on how to deliver the mailing.

It is also interesting that in reading the information about CASS a similar process has been adopted in the UK, Germany and Canada.

PCI is used by major credit card companies to verify data - we may learn something useful for WHOIS accuracy from this.

https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/

Sample of language from NSI registrar terms of service.

ACCURATE INFORMATION. You agree to: (1) provide certain true, current, complete and accurate information about you as required by the application process; and (2) maintain and update according to our modification procedures the information you provided to us when purchasing our services as needed to keep it current, complete and accurate. We rely on this information to send you important information and notices regarding your account and our services. You agree that Network Solutions (itself or through its third party service providers) is authorized, but not obligated, to use Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS) certified software and/or the National Change of Address program (and/or such other systems or programs as may be recognized by the United States Postal Service or other international postal authority for updating and/or standardizing address information) to change any address information associated with your account (e.g., registrant address, billing contact address, etc.), and you agree that Network Solutions may use and rely upon any such changed address information for all purposes in connection with your account (including the sending of invoices and other important account information) as though such changes had been made directly by you.



Network Solutions' Disclosure of Certain Information. Subject to the requirements of our privacy statement, in order for us to comply the current rules and policies for the domain name system, you hereby grant to Network Solutions the right to disclose to third parties through an interactive publicly accessible registration database (such as WHOIS) the following mandatory information that you are required to provide when registering or reserving a domain name: (i) the domain name(s) registered by you; (ii) your name and postal address; (iii) the name(s), postal address(es), email address(es), voice telephone number and where available the fax number(s) of the technical, administrative and billing contacts for your domain name(s); (iv) the Internet protocol numbers of the primary nameserver and secondary nameserver(s) for such domain name(s); (v) the corresponding names of those nameservers; (vi) the original creation date of the registration; and (vii) the expiration date of the registration. If you are an individual who wishes to opt out of having your information displayed in the WHOIS database, you must choose the Private Registration service that is described in Schedule D to this Agreement. You consent to allow us to transmit this registration data to an ICANN approved or designated escrow agent who stores this information pursuant to ICANN requirements. You also grant to Network Solutions the right to make this information available in bulk form to third parties who agree not to use it to (a) allow, enable or otherwise support the transmission of mass unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations via telephone, facsimile, or email (spam) or (b) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes that apply to our systems to register domain names.



CASS

http://ribbs.usps.gov/cassmass/documents/tech_guides/CASS%20Cert%20Req%20MAILERS%20Guide.pdf


NCOALink(r) Systems
A comprehensive program that aids mailers in identifying address changes before mail enters the mail stream.
Over 40 million Americans change their address annually, which creates formidable obstacles in maintaining a high-quality mailing list. The NCOALink product makes change-of-address information available to mailers to help reduce undeliverable mailpieces before mail enters the mailstream.
The NCOALink process consists of computer software purchased, leased, or developed by the licensee to access the NCOALink data. The Postal Service certifies the process and licenses the NCOALink product to private sector companies for commercial mail list processing or internal mail list management. Updated, computerized change-of-address information is provided on a regular basis to the NCOALink licensees by the Postal Service. The NCOALink process improves mail deliverability by providing mailers with current, standardized, delivery point coded addresses for individual, family, and business moves.
Input address information must first be standardized to conform to USPS(r) requirements, including the ZIP + 4(r) code. An attempt is made to match each name and address against the NCOALink product. Address change information is derived from the PS Form 3575, Change-of-Address Order, filed by relocating postal customers. If a match is made with the name and old address information in the NCOALink file, then the NCOALink licensee is permitted to provide the current move information (new address or undeliverable status) to update the mailing list.
The full NCOALink Product contains approximately 160 million records or 48 months of permanent address changes and is available to Full Service Provider Licensees. The limited NCOALink product contains approximately 60 million records or 18 months of permanent address changes and is available to Limited Service Provider and End User Licensees.
NCOALink helps reduce undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) mail by correcting input addresses prior to mailing. Since 1986, Move Update predecessors such as ACSTM Service, National Change of Address (NCOA), and the FASTforward(r) system have saved mailers millions of dollars that otherwise would have been wasted in  materials and postage. NCOALink continues this trend and, like its predecessors, provides the following benefits to mailers...

  *   Reduces undeliverable mail by providing the most current address information for matches made to the NCOALink file.
  *   Prevents re-mailings after address corrections are received because the address correction is applied prior to the mailing.
  *   Reduces mailer costs by reducing the number of undeliverable mailpieces by using most current address information.
  *   Provides the opportunity for faster product/service marketing through accurate mail delivery.
In addition to change-of-address information, NCOALink also utilizes Return Codes to provide explanation of match and non-match status. Return Codes, which indicate that a match was obtained, are accompanied by a new address or undeliverable status. Return Codes, which indicate a match was not obtained, provide the reason a match could not be made to the NCOALink file. The analysis of Return Codes can help the mailer determine the deliverability of specific address records.
For more information on NCOALink and the licenses available, visit the NCOALink page on RIBBS(r)<http://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=ncoalink>.
For a list of Licensed Vendors, visit the NCOALink Vendors page on RIBBS<https://ribbs.usps.gov/ncoalink/documents/tech_guides/CERTIFIED_LICENSEES/> or contact the National Customer Support Center at 800-589-5766.
Links
Vendors and Licensees<https://ribbs.usps.gov/ncoalink/documents/tech_guides/CERTIFIED_LICENSEES/>
RIBBS<http://ribbs.usps.gov/>




Susan Kawaguchi
Domain Name Manager

Facebook Inc.
1601 California Avenue
Palo Alto, CA

Phone - 650 485-6064
Cell - 650 387 3904

Please note my email address has changed to skawaguchi at fb.com
NOTICE: This email (including any attachments) may contain information that is private, confidential, or protected by attorney-client or other privilege.  Unless you are the intended recipient, you may not use, copy, or retransmit the email or its contents.


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