18494 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 70 / Thursday, April 12, 2007 / Notices 

agreements ineffective to protect 

broadcast signals against piracy. 

At the September 2006 WIPO General 

Assembly, the decision was taken to 

convene two special sessions of the 

SCCR to clarify the outstanding issues, 

the first one in January 2007, and the 

second one in June 2007. The special 

sessions of the SCCR should aim to 

agree and finalize, on a signal–based 

approach, the objectives, specific scope 

and object of protection with a view 

toward submitting to the Diplomatic 

Conference a revised basic proposal, 

which will amend the agreed relevant 

parts of the Revised Draft Basic Proposal 

(Document SCCR/15/2). The Diplomatic 

Conference will be convened in 

November 2007 if such agreement is 

achieved. 

WIPO posts various documents from 

its meetings, such as reports, Member 

State submissions, meeting agendas, and 

texts prepared by the Chair of the SCCR. 

On March 9, 2007, in accordance with 

the decisions of the First Special 

Session of the SCCR which took place 

from January 17 to 19, 2007, WIPO 

requested comments from Member 

States on a Draft Non–paper on the 

WIPO Treaty on the Protection of 

Broadcasting Organizations, prepared by 

the Chair of the First Special Session, 

with the assistance of the WIPO 

Secretariat (Document SCCR/S1/WWW/ 

75352 can be found at http:// 

www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/sccr/en/ 

sccrls1/sccrls1lwwwl75352.doc). 

Member State submissions commenting 

on the Draft Non–paper on the WIPO 

Treaty on the Protection of Broadcasting 

Organizations, including comments of 

the United States Government, are 

available at http://www.wipo.int/ 

copyright/en/sccrls1/. A revised Non–

paper, taking into account Member State 

comments on the Draft Non–paper, is 

expected to be made available to 

Member States on May 1, 2007. 

Throughout this process in WIPO, 

many points of view have been 

represented, including those of 

developed and developing countries, 

and many non–governmental 

organizations (NGOs), and numerous 

industry, creator and content owner 

groups. The U.S. Copyright Office and 

USPTO have participated in several 

informal meetings with interested 

parties such as broadcasters, netcasters, 

telecom companies, Internet service 

providers, content industries, creators 

and other NGOs, in order to obtain 

views and information relevant to the 

deliberations in the SCCR on this 

proposed treaty. 

In order to allow further opportunity 

for interested parties to comment, the 

U.S. Copyright Office and USPTO are 

convening this roundtable –– the third 

held on this issue ––to provide another 

forum for such parties to provide their 

views on and additional information 

related to the proposed treaty. In 

particular, the participants should be 

prepared to identify and discuss more 

fully any issues and concerns associated 

with the revised Non–paper to be 

released by WIPO on May 1, 2007. 

Dated: April 9, 2007. 

David O. Carson, 

Associate Register for Policy and 

International Affairs U.S. Copyright Office. 

[FR Doc. E7–6964 Filed 4–11–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 1410–30–S 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE 

COMMISSION 

Proposed Collection; Comment 

Request 

Upon Written Request, Copies Available 

From: Securities and Exchange 

Commission, Office of Filings and 

Information Services, Washington, DC 

20549. 

Extension: 

Form 1, Rules 6a–1 and 6a–2; SEC File No. 

270–0017; OMB Control No. 3235–0017. 

Notice is hereby given that pursuant 

to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 

(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq) the Securities 

and Exchange Commission 

(‘‘Commission’’) is soliciting comments 

on the collection of information 

summarized below. The Commission 

plans to submit this existing collection 

of information to the Office of 

Management and Budget for extension 

and approval. 

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 

(15 U.S.C. 78a et seq) (‘‘Act’’) sets forth 

a regulatory scheme for national 

securities exchanges. Rule 6a–1 (17 CFR 

240.6a–1) under the Act generally 

requires an applicant for initial 

registration as a national securities 

exchange to file an application with the 

Commission on Form 1. An exchange 

that seeks an exemption from 

registration based on limited trading 

volume also must apply for such 

exemption on Form 1. Rule 6a–2 (17 

CFR 240.6a–2) under the Act requires 

registered and exempt exchanges: (1) To 

amend the Form 1 if there are any 

material changes to the information 

provided in the initial Form 1; and (2) 

to submit periodic updates of certain 

information provided in the initial Form 

1, whether such information has 

changed or not. The information 

required pursuant to Rules 6a–1 and 6a–

2 is necessary to enable the Commission 

to maintain accurate files regarding the 

exchange and to exercise its statutory 

oversight functions. Without the 

information submitted pursuant to Rule 

6a–1 on Form 1, the Commission would 

not be able to determine whether the 

respondent met the criteria for 

registration or exemption set forth in 

Sections 6 and 19 of the Act. Without 

the amendments and periodic updates 

of information submitted pursuant to 

Rule 6a–2, the Commission would have 

substantial difficulty determining 

whether a national securities exchange 

or exempt exchange was continuing to 

operate in compliance with the Act. 

The respondents to the collection of 

information are entities that seek 

registration as a national securities 

exchange or that seek exemption from 

registration based on limited trading 

volume. After the initial filing of Form 

1, both registered and exempt exchanges 

are subject to ongoing informational 

requirements. 

Initial filings on Form 1 by new 

exchanges are made on a one-time basis. 

The Commission estimates that it will 

receive approximately three initial Form 

1 filings per year and that each 

respondent would incur an average 

burden of 47 hours to file an initial 

Form 1 at an average cost per response 

of approximately $4517. Therefore, the 

Commission estimates that the annual 

burden for all respondents to file the 

initial Form 1 would be 141 hours (one 

response/respondent × three 

respondents × 47 hours/response) and 

$13,551 (one response/respondent × 

three respondents × $4517/response). 

There currently are ten entities 

registered as national securities 

exchanges and two exempt exchanges. 

The Commission estimates that each 

registered or exempt exchange files one 

amendment or periodic update to Form 

1 per year, incurring an average burden 

of 25 hours to comply with Rule 6a–2. 

The Commission estimates that the 

annual burden for all respondents to file 

amendments and periodic updates to 

the Form 1 pursuant to Rule 6a–2 is 300 

hours (12 respondents × 25 hours/ 

response × one response/respondent per 

year) and $27,960 (12 respondents × 

$2330/response × one response/ 

respondent per year). 

Written comments are invited on: (a) 

Whether the proposed collection of 

information is necessary for the proper 

performance of the functions of the 

agency, including whether the 

information shall have practical utility; 

(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate 

of the burden of the proposed collection 

of information; (c) ways to enhance the 

quality, utility, and clarity of the 

information to be collected; and (d) 

ways to minimize the burden of the 


rmajette on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 70 / Thursday, April 12, 2007 / Notices 18495 

1All existing entities that currently intend to rely 

on the order are named as applicants. Any entity 

that relies on the order in the future will do so only 

in accordance with the terms and conditions of the 

application. If the name of any Sub-Advised Fund 

contains the name of a Sub-Adviser (as defined 

below), the name of the Manager that serves as the 

primary adviser to the Sub-Advised Fund will 

precede the name of the Sub-Adviser. 

collection of information on 

respondents, including through the use 

of automated collection techniques or 

other forms of information technology. 

Consideration will be given to 

comments and suggestions submitted in 

writing within 60 days of this 

publication. 

Comments should be directed to: R. 

Corey Booth, Director/Chief Information 

Officer, Securities and Exchange 

Commission, C/O Shirley Martinson, 

6432 General Green Way, Alexandria, 

Virginia 22312 or send an e-mail to: 

PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov. Comments must 

be submitted to OMB within 60 days of 

this notice. 

Dated: April 5, 2007. 

Florence E. Harmon, 

Deputy Secretary. 

[FR Doc. E7–6892 Filed 4–11–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8010–01–P 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE 

COMMISSION 

Proposed Collection; Comment 

Request 

Upon Written Request, Copies 

Available From: Securities and 

Exchange Commission, Office of Filings 

and Information Services, Washington, 

DC 20549. 

Extension: Form 10–D; OMB Control 

No. 3235–0604; SEC File No. 270–544. 

Notice is hereby given that pursuant 

to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 

(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) the Securities 

and Exchange Commission 

(‘‘Commission’’) is soliciting comments 

on this collection of information 

summarized below. The Commission 

plans to submit this existing collection 

of information to the Office of 

Management and Budget for approval. 

Form 10–D (17 CFR 249.312) is used 

by asset-backed issuers to file periodic 

distribution reports pursuant to Section 

13 or 15(d) under the Securities 

Exchange Act 1934 (‘‘Exchange Act’’) 

(15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.) within 15 days 

after each required distribution date. 

The information provided by Form 10–

D is mandatory and all information is 

made available to the public upon 

request. Form 10–D takes approximately 

30 hours per response to prepare and is 

filed by 9,500 respondents. We estimate 

that 75% of the 30 hours per response 

(22.5 hours) is prepared by the company 

for a total annual reporting burden of 

213,750 hours (22.5 hours per response 

x 9,500 responses). 

Written comments are invited on: (a) 

Whether this proposed collection of 

information is necessary for the proper 

performance of the functions of the 

agency, including whether the 

information will have practical utility; 

(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate 

of the burden imposed by the collection 

of information; (c) ways to enhance the 

quality, utility, and clarity of the 

information collected; and (d) ways to 

minimize the burden of the collection of 

information on respondents, including 

through the use of automated collection 

techniques or other forms of information 

technology. Consideration will be given 

to comments and suggestions submitted 

in writing within 60 days of this 

publication. 

Please direct your written comments 

to R. Corey Booth, Director/Chief 

Information Officer, Securities and 

Exchange Commission, C/O Shirley 

Martinson, 6432 General Green Way, 

Alexandria, VA 22312; or send an email to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov. 

Dated: April 4, 2007. 

Florence E. Harmon, 

Deputy Secretary. 

[FR Doc. E7–6894 Filed 4–11–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8010–01–P 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE 

COMMISSION 

[Investment Company Act Release No. 

27777; 812–13249] 

Forward Funds, et al.; Notice of 

Application 

April 5, 2007. 

AGENCY: Securities and Exchange 

Commission (‘‘Commission’’). 

ACTION: Notice of an application under 

section 6(c) of the Investment Company 

Act of 1940 (‘‘Act’’) for an exemption 

from section 15(a) of the Act and rule 

18f–2 under the Act. 

SUMMARY OF APPLICATION: Applicants 

request an order that would permit them 

to enter into and materially amend 

subadvisory agreements without 

shareholder approval. 

APPLICANTS: Forward Funds (the 

‘‘Trust’’) and Forward Management, LLC 

(‘‘Forward Management’’). 

FILING DATES: The application was filed 

on December 20, 2005, and amended on 

April 2, 2007. 

HEARING OR NOTIFICATION OF HEARING: An 

order granting the application will be 

issued unless the Commission orders a 

hearing. Interested persons may request 

a hearing by writing to the 

Commission’s Secretary and serving 

applicants with a copy of the request, 

personally or by mail. Hearing requests 

should be received by the Commission 

by 5:30 p.m. on April 30, 2007, and 

should be accompanied by proof of 

service on applicants, in the form of an 

affidavit or, for lawyers, a certificate of 

service. Hearing requests should state 

the nature of the writer’s interest, the 

reason for the request, and the issues 

contested. Persons who wish to be 

notified of a hearing may request 

notification by writing to the 

Commission’s Secretary. 

ADDRESSES: Secretary, U.S. Securities 

and Exchange Commission, 100 F St., 

NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090; 

Applicants, 433 California Street, 11th 

Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104, Attn.: 

Mary Curran, Esq. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Marilyn Mann, Senior Counsel, at (202) 

551–6813, or Nadya B. Roytblat, 

Assistant Director, at (202) 551–6821 

(Division of Investment Management, 

Office of Investment Company 

Regulation). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

following is a summary of the 

application. The complete application 

may be obtained for a fee at the 

Commission’s Public Reference Desk, 

100 F St., NE., Washington, DC 20549–

0102 (telephone (202) 551–5850). 

Applicants’ Representations 

1. The Trust is organized as a 

Delaware statutory trust and is 

registered under the Act as an open-end 

management investment company. The 

Trust has fourteen operating series (the 

‘‘Funds’’). Applicants request that the 

order apply to: (a) The Funds; and (b) 

any future series of the Trust and any 

other registered open-end management 

investment companies or series thereof 

that (1) use the ‘‘manager-of-managers’’

arrangement described in the 

application, (2) comply with the terms 

and conditions of the application, and 

(3) are advised by a Manager (as defined 

below) (the investment companies and 

series thereof, as well as the Funds, the 

‘‘Sub-Advised Funds’’).1

2. Forward Management is registered 

as an investment adviser under the 

Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the 

‘‘Advisers Act’’) and serves as 

investment adviser to the Funds 

pursuant to an investment advisory 

agreement (‘‘Advisory Agreement’’) with 

the Trust, on behalf of the Funds. The 

Advisory Agreement has been approved 

by the Trust’s board of trustees 

(‘‘Board’’), including a majority of the 


rmajette on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES