CENSUS READY TO START AES INTERNET LINK

   The U.S. Census Bureau says it will unveil its Internet link to the
Automated Export System on Oct. 4.
   The new service, AESDirect, allows shippers of any size to file their
shippers export declarations to AES free of charge. The Internet service
was created by software developer Flagship Customs Services on behalf of
the agency.
   "We expect a lot of companies to use the service," said C. Harvey Monk
Jr., chief of the Census’ Foreign Trade Division. "There should be no more
excuses why an exporter or its forwarder can’t use AES."
   Although the original intent of the Internet service was to target small
exporters and forwarders, AESDirect will help to ease the transition for
some large shippers coming off the agency’s 30-year-old Automated Export
Reporting Program, which will be turned off Dec. 31. AES will become the
only electronic way for the government to process export declarations.
   AESDirect will also serve as a backup to those exporters and forwarders
that experience year-2000 systems problems.
   "Size is not an issue with this system," Monk said. "Filers can submit
export declarations one at a time or in batches of up to 2,000."
   Before a filer can use the Internet service, the company must register
with Census. That can be done by accessing the website:
https://www.AESDirect.gov . Filers can start the registration process on
Monday, Sept. 27.
   "We’ll receive an e-mail message and set up a filer profile in AES,"
Monk said. "It only takes about 24 hours to have the filer ready."