Rules & Resources
Business Publication Support Center

Regularly Scheduled Special Edition Circulation - Formerly Non-Continuous Qualified Circulation (updated September 13, 2005)

Effective March 7, 2005, copies previously classified on ABC reports as Non-Continuous Qualified Circulation will now be classified as "Regularly Scheduled Special Edition Circulation." This refers to circulation served to qualified recipients who receive featured edition circulation on a frequency different from the regular frequency of the publication.

The qualification elements remain unchanged. To qualify as "Regularly Scheduled Special Edition Circulation" the circulation must possess the following characteristics:

  • Must meet qualification standards for Non-Paid Direct Request for Non-Paid Circulation Other than Direct Request
  • For publications with a regular frequency of monthly or less must serve the recipient every issue carrying the featured editorial, for at least six months
    • For publications with a regular frequency of more than monthly must serve the recipient every issue carrying the featured editorial, for at least three months
  • Paragraph 1(b) of the Publisher's Statements and Audit Reports shall note the frequency of the featured editorial and average copies served for that frequency
  • Paragraph 2 of the Publisher's Statements and Audit Reports shall include a count, by issue, of the additions and removals from the lists of recipients
  • Paragraphs 3(a), 3(b), 3(c) and 4 shall include an analysis of this circulation for the analyzed issue
Effective July 18, 2005, business publications are permitted to establish a separate basic price for the frequency of "Regularly Scheduled Special Edition Circulation."

Also effective July 18, 2005, separate analyses for "Regularly Scheduled Special Edition Circulation" will be required for Subscription Sales (Paragraphs 5-8), Post Expire Copies, and Renewals, if applicable.

See also Rules:



Posted 9/14/05