On Wed, 27 Apr 1994, Mike McNally wrote:
Most (all?) private PO box places won't give out a box without a "real" US mail address and some form of ID. Is this due to legal requirements (direct or indirect)? If so, can we not look forward to such restrictions being placed on those who supply electronic PO boxes?
It is not a legal requirement. It is an administrative requirement of the USPS. They threaten to withhold delivery of mail addressed to people at mail receiving services for whom there is no form on file. In practice they don't enforce this requirement and as long as a mail receiving service files "enough" forms, all mail is delivered. Even without a cooperating mail receiving service, it is trivial to open a box using "employment ID" printed up in Word for Windows. They don't check closely. DCF Privacy 101: Since anyone in the land of the free and the home of the brave can start a business or a school without permission, anyone can issue his own "employment ID" or "school ID." Kids - try this at home.