Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 229 / Tuesday, November 30, 2004 / Notices 69661

14 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

15 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

16 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).

17 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii).

18For purposes of accelerating the operative date 

of this proposal, the Commission has considered 

the proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, 

competition, and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f). 9 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).

6(b)(5),14 in particular, in that it is 

designed to promote just and equitable 

principles of trade by ensuring that 

members and member organizations and 

the public have a fair and impartial 

forum for the resolution of their 

disputes.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s 

Statement on Burden on Competition 

The Exchange does not believe that 

the proposed rule change will impose 

any burden on competition that is not 

necessary or appropriate in furtherance 

of the purposes of the Act. 

C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s 

Statement on Comments on the 

Proposed Rule Change Received From 

Members, Participants, or Others 

Written comments on the proposed 

rule change were neither solicited nor 

received. 

III. Date of Effectiveness of the 

Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 

Commission Action 

PCX has designated the proposed rule 

change as one that: (i) Does not 

significantly affect the protection of 

investors or the public interest; (ii) does 

not impose any significant burden on 

competition; and (iii) does not become 

operative for 30 days from the date on 

which it was filed, or such shorter time 

as the Commission may designate. 

Therefore, the foregoing rule change has 

become effective pursuant to section 

19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 15 and Rule 19b–

4(f)(6) thereunder.16 At any time within 

60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 

change, the Commission may summarily 

abrogate the rule change if it appears to 

the Commission that the action is 

necessary or appropriate in the public 

interest, for the protection of investors, 

or would otherwise further the purposes 

of the Act.

Pursuant to Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii) under 

the Act,17 the proposal may not become 

operative for 30 days after the date of its 

filing, or such shorter time as the 

Commission may designate if consistent 

with the protection of investors and the 

public interest, and the self-regulatory 

organization must file notice of intent to 

file the proposed rule change at least 

five business days beforehand. The PCX 

has requested that the Commission 

waive the five-day pre-filing 

requirements and the 30-day operative 

delay so that the proposed rule change 

will become immediately effective upon 

filing.

The Commission believes that 

waiving the 30-day operative date is 

consistent with the protection of 

investors and the public interest. 18

Waiving the pre-filing requirement and 

accelerating the operative date will 

merely extend a pilot program that is 

designed to provide investors with a 

mechanism to resolve disputes with 

broker-dealers. During the period of this 

extension, the Commission and PCX 

will continue to monitor the status of 

the previously discussed litigation. For 

these reasons, the Commission 

designates that the proposed rule 

change has become effective and 

operative immediately.

IV. Solicitation of Comments 

Interested persons are invited to 

submit written data, views, and 

arguments concerning the foregoing, 

including whether the proposed rule 

change is consistent with the Act. 

Comments may be submitted by any of 

the following methods: 

Electronic Comments 

• Use the Commission’s Internet 

comment form (http://www.sec.gov/

rules/sro.shtml); or 

• Send an e-mail to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File 

Number SR–PCX–2004–104 on the 

subject line. 

Paper Comments 

• Send paper comments in triplicate 

to Jonathan G. Katz, Secretary, 

Securities and Exchange Commission, 

450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 

20549–0609. 

All submissions should refer to File 

Number SR–PCX–2004–104. This file 

number should be included on the 

subject line if e-mail is used. To help the 

Commission process and review your 

comments more efficiently, please use 

only one method. The Commission will 

post all comments on the Commission’s 

Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/

rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the 

submission, all subsequent 

amendments, all written statements 

with respect to the proposed rule 

change that are filed with the 

Commission, and all written 

communications relating to the 

proposed rule change between the 

Commission and any person, other than 

those that may be withheld from the 

public in accordance with the 

provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be 

available for inspection and copying in 

the Commission’s Public Reference 

Section, 450 Fifth Street, NW., 

Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such 

filing also will be available for 

inspection and copying at the principal 

office of PCX. All comments received 

will be posted without change; the 

Commission does not edit personal 

identifying information from 

submissions. You should submit only 

information that you wish to make 

available publicly. All submissions 

should refer to File Number SR–PCX–

2004–104 and should be submitted on 

or before December 21, 2004.

For the Commission, by the Division of 

Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated 

authority.9

Margaret H. McFarland, 

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 04–26383 Filed 11–29–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8010–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 4911] 

30-Day Notice of Proposed Information 

Collection: Generic Clearance 

Information Collection for ECA 

Evaluation Program, OMB No. 1405–

XXXX

ACTION: Notice of request for public 

comment and submission to OMB of 

proposed collection of information. 

SUMMARY: The Department of State has 

submitted the following information 

collection request to the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) for 

approval in accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. 

• Title of Information Collection:

Generic Clearance Information 

Collection for ECA Evaluation Program. 

• OMB Control Number: 1405–XXXX. 

• Type of Request: New collection. 

• Originating Office: Bureau of 

Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), 

Office of Policy and Evaluation (ECA/P). 

• Form Number: None. 

• Respondents: Respondents of 

program evaluation and/or program 

monitoring activities under the 

proposed information collection may 

include U.S. and foreign applicants, 

current grantee exchange visitor 

participants (J–1 visa holders) and 

alumni of the Bureau of Educational and 

Cultural Affairs (ECA) exchange 

programs, domestic grantee 

organizations and program 

administrators, foreign partner 

organizations, U.S. and foreign hosts of 

69662 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 229 / Tuesday, November 30, 2004 / Notices 

exchange visitor participants, and other 

similar types of respondents associated 

with ECA exchange programs. 

• Estimated Number of Respondents:

2,617. 

• Estimated Number of Responses:

2,167. 

• Average Hours Per Response: 45 

minutes. 

• Total Estimated Burden: 1,962. 

• Frequency: Information may be 

collected annually, on occasion, and per 

evaluation project. 

• Obligation to Respond: Voluntary.

DATES: Comments may be submitted to 

the Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) for up to 30 days from November 

30, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments and questions 

should be directed to Alex Hunt, the 

State Department Desk Officer in Office 

of Information and Regulatory Affairs at 

the Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB), who may be reached on 202–

395–7860. You may submit comments 

by any of the following methods: 

• E-mail: ahunt@omb.eop.gov. You 

must include the DS form number (if 

applicable), information collection title, 

and OMB control number in the subject 

line of your message. 

• Hand Delivery or Courier: OIRA 

State Department Desk Officer, Office of 

Management and Budget, 725 17th 

Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503. 

• Fax: 202–395–6974.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Copies of the proposed information 

collection and supporting documents 

may be obtained from Tamara L. Martin, 

U.S. Department of State, Bureau of 

Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office 

of Policy and Evaluation (ECA/P), 301 

4th Street, SW., Room 336 (SA–44), 

Washington, DC 20547, who may be 

reached on (202) 205–1975, or via email at MartinTL1@state.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are 

soliciting public comments to permit 

the Department to: 

• Evaluate whether the proposed 

information collection is necessary for 

the proper performance of our 

functions. 

• Evaluate the accuracy of our 

estimate of the burden of the proposed 

collection, including the validity of the 

methodology and assumptions used. 

• Enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected. 

• Minimize the reporting burden on 

those who are to respond, including the 

use of automated collection techniques 

or other forms of technology. 

Abstract of proposed collection: The 

information collection will facilitate the 

Bureau of Educational and Cultural 

Affairs’ (ECA) ability to regularly collect 

critical and timely feedback data from a 

defined universe of respondents 

(customer base). The evaluation and 

performance measurement data 

obtained through the information 

collection will allow ECA to better 

assess and improve ECA’s exchange 

programs, learn more about the results 

and effectiveness of ECA programs, and 

comply with reporting requirements 

established by Congress and the Office 

of Management and Budget. ECA’s 

exchange programs are critical to the 

Department of State’s foreign policy 

mission and public diplomacy strategy 

as they are designed to help promote a 

balanced and accurate view of the 

United States and build partnerships 

around the world. 

Methodology: Data collected through 

the information collection will be 

derived from customer/respondent 

paper, electronic and on-line surveys, 

personal interviews and/or focus 

groups. The customer/respondent base 

includes applicants, participants, 

alumni, program administrators, hosts 

and grantee organizations involved in 

ECA exchange programs.

Dated: November 8, 2004. 

Cathy Chikes, 

Executive Director, Bureau of Educational 

and Cultural Affairs, Department of State.

[FR Doc. 04–26408 Filed 11–29–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4710–05–P

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4912] 

60-Day Notice of Proposed Information 

Collection: Evaluation of DOSSponsored Educational and Cultural 

Exchange Programs, OMB No. 1405–

0118

ACTION: Notice of request for public 

comments. 

SUMMARY: The Department of State is 

seeking Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) approval for the 

information collection described below. 

The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 

days for public comment in the Federal 

Register preceding submission to OMB. 

We are conducting this process in 

accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995. 

• Title of Information Collection:

Evaluation of DOS-sponsored 

Educational and Cultural Exchange 

Programs. 

• OMB Control Number: 1405–0118. 

• Type of Request: Revision of a 

Currently Approved Collection. 

• Originating Office: Bureau of 

Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), 

Office of Policy and Evaluation (ECA/P). 

• Form Number: SV–2001–0013-A. 

• Respondents: U.S. and foreign 

applicants, current grantee exchange 

visitor participants (J–1 visa holders) 

and alumni of the Bureau of Educational 

and Cultural Affairs (ECA) exchange 

programs, domestic grantee 

organizations and program 

administrators, foreign partner 

organizations, domestic and foreign 

hosts of exchange visitor participants, 

and other similar types of respondents 

associated with ECA exchange 

programs. 

• Estimated Number of Respondents:

6,000. 

• Estimated Number of Responses:

6,000. 

• Average Hours Per Response: 30 

minutes. 

• Total Estimated Burden: 3,000 

hours. 

• Frequency: Information may be 

collected annually, on occasion, and per 

evaluation project. 

• Obligation to Respond: Voluntary.

DATES: The Department will accept 

comments from the public up to 60 days 

from November 30, 2004.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

by either of the following methods: 

• E-mail: MartinTL1@state.gov. You 

must include the DS form number (if 

applicable), information collection title, 

and OMB control number in the subject 

line of your message. 

• Mail (paper, disk, or CD–ROM 

submissions): Tamara L. Martin, U.S. 

Department of State, Bureau of 

Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office 

of Policy and Evaluation (ECA/P), 301 

4th Street SW., Room 336 (SA–44), 

Washington, DC 20547.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Direct requests for additional 

information regarding the collection 

listed in this notice, including requests 

for copies of the proposed information 

collection and supporting documents, to 

Tamara L. Martin, U.S. Department of 

State, Bureau of Educational and 

Cultural Affairs, Office of Policy and 

Evaluation (ECA/P), 301 4th Street SW., 

Room 336 (SA–44), Washington, DC 

20547, who may be reached on (202) 

205–1975.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are 

soliciting public comments to permit 

the Department to: 

• Evaluate whether the proposed 

information collection is necessary for 

the proper performance of our 

functions. 

• Evaluate the accuracy of our 

estimate of the burden of the proposed