This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.
If someone needs to send a subpoena to a witness, there are two ways to make it official. First, any person who has the legal authority to serve court papers can deliver it. Second, the witness can simply sign the subpoena to confirm they received it, which counts as proper service too.
To actually deliver the subpoena, the person serving it must hand over a copy directly to the witness, or at least try to hand it over. Just mailing it or leaving it somewhere without making a real attempt to give it to the person directly does not count. The goal is to make sure the witness actually gets notice, or at least has a fair chance to receive it in person.
