The Kingdom Ministry March 2000 volume 43 #3
"Those associated with a congregation, should send all new and renewal subscriptions for the Watchtower and Awake!, including their personal subscriptions, through the congregation."
Guess this is so SOMEONE can be HELD ACCOUNTABLE HUH? notice is says "associated"..not publisher....
THe next item on the announcements is this.
"THe Society does not fill individual publishers requests for literature. The Presiding overseer should arrange for an announcement to be made
each month(this is italicizied..the each month)
before the congregation's monthly request for literature is sent to the Society so that all who are interested in obtaining personal items may advise the brothers handling the literaure. Please keep in mind which items are special request items."
hmmmdoesnt sound free to me