[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 104 (Tuesday, May 31, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32489-32494]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-11533]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-94972; File No. SR-FICC-2022-003]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Fixed Income Clearing Corporation; 
Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule Change To Require Applicants and 
Members To Maintain or Upgrade Their Network or Communications 
Technology

May 24, 2022.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on May 20, 2022, Fixed Income Clearing Corporation (``FICC'') filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the 
proposed rule change as described in Items I, II and III below, which 
Items have been prepared by the clearing agency. The Commission is 
publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change 
from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the 
Proposed Rule Change

    The proposed rule change of FICC consists of modifications to 
FICC's Government Securities Division (``GSD'') Rulebook (``GSD 
Rules''), FICC's Mortgage-Backed Securities Division (``MBSD'') 
Clearing Rules (``MBSD Rules''), and the Electronic

[[Page 32490]]

Pool Notification (``EPN'') Rules of MBSD (``EPN Rules,'' and, together 
with the GSD Rules and the MBSD Rules, the ``Rules'') \3\ to revise 
certain provisions in the Rules relating to the requirement of 
applicants and Members, (collectively, ``Participants'') of FICC, to 
require that each Participant upgrade its network technology, and 
communications technology or protocols to meet standards that FICC 
shall publish from time to time, as described in greater detail below.
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    \3\ Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in the 
Rules, available at http://www.dtcc.com/legal/rules-and-procedures. 
References to ``Members'' in this filing include the Participants of 
GSD and MBSD, including GSD Netting Members, GSD Comparison-Only 
Members, GSD Sponsoring Members, GSD CCIT Members, GSD Funds-Only 
Settling Bank Members, MBSD Clearing Members, MBSD Cash Settling 
Bank Members, and MBSD EPN Users, as such terms are defined in the 
respective Rules.
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II. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis 
for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the clearing agency included 
statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule 
change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule 
change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places 
specified in Item IV below. The clearing agency has prepared summaries, 
set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant 
aspects of such statements.

(A) Clearing Agency's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis 
for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    FICC is proposing to adopt a requirement that each Participant 
provide documentation demonstrating that the Participant's network 
technology, and communication technology or protocols meet the 
standards that FICC is currently requiring. The determination to 
require changes or upgrades is incorporated into FICC's procedures and 
includes an evaluation of the external threat landscape, threats to 
FICC's technology infrastructure and information assets, industry 
cybersecurity priorities, a review of the root causes of incidents, and 
an evaluation of the current state of the network infrastructure as 
expressed using third party assessments. For existing Participants, a 
new requirement is being proposed to require such Participants to 
upgrade their network technology, and communication technology or 
protocols within the timeframe published by FICC. The proposed changes 
are described in greater detail below.
(i) Background of the Requirement
    Currently, FICC does not require, either as part of its application 
for membership or as an ongoing membership requirement, any level or 
version for network technology, such as a web browser or other 
technology, or any level or version of communications technology or 
protocols, such as email encryption, secure messaging, or file 
transfers, that are being used to connect to or communicate with FICC. 
In the current environment, FICC maintains multiple network and 
communications methods and protocols, some either obsolete or many 
years older than the current standard in order to support Participants 
using these older technologies, which leaves communications between 
FICC and its Participants vulnerable to interception or the 
introduction of unknown entries, and requires FICC to expend additional 
resources, both in personnel and equipment, to maintain older 
communications channels. In addition, Participant's use of older 
technology delays the implementation by FICC to upgrade its internal 
systems, which, by doing so, risks losing connectivity with a number of 
Participants. Given FICC's critical role in the marketplace, this is a 
risk that needs to be addressed.
    FICC believes that it should require current network technology, 
and current communication technology and protocol standards for 
Participants connecting to its network. For example, The National 
Institute of Standards and Technology or NIST \4\ Special Publication 
800-52 revision 2, specifies servers that support government-only 
applications shall be configured to use TLS \5\ 1.2 and should be 
configured to use TLS 1.3 as well. These servers should not be 
configured to use TLS 1.1 and shall not use TLS 1.0, SSL 3.0, or SSL 
2.0.\6\ The internet Engineer Task Force (``IETF'') \7\ formally 
deprecated TLS versions 1.0 and 1.1 in March of 2021, stating, ``These 
versions lack support for current and recommended cryptographic 
algorithms and mechanisms, and various government and industry profiles 
of applications using TLS now mandate avoiding these old TLS versions. 
. . . Removing support for older versions from implementations reduces 
the attack surface, reduces opportunity for misconfiguration, and 
streamlines library and product maintenance.'' \8\ TLS 1.0 (published 
in 1999) does not support many modern, strong cipher (encryption) 
suites and TLS 1.1 (published in 2006) is a security improvement over 
TLS 1.0 but still does not support certain stronger cipher or 
encryption suites.\9\ Another communications technology, File Transfer 
Protocol (``FTP'') is considered an insecure protocol, because it 
transfers user authentication data (username and password) and file 
data as plain-text (not encrypted) over the network. This makes it 
highly vulnerable to sniffing attacks that allow an attacker to collect 
usernames and passwords from the network and inject malware into 
downloads via FTP. Following the guidance from NIST and other standards 
organizations, the proposed change would require the use of TLS 1.2, 
Secure FTP (``SFTP''), along with other modern technology and 
communication standards and protocols to communication with 
Participants.
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    \4\ The National Institute of Standards and Technology 
(``NIST'') is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
    \5\ Transport Layer Security (``TLS''), the successor of the 
now-deprecated Secure Sockets Layer (``SSL''), is a cryptographic 
protocol designed to provide communications security over a computer 
network.
    \6\ A government-only application is an application where the 
intended users are exclusively government employees or contractors 
working on behalf of the government. The full NIST publication is 
available at https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/SpecialPublications/NIST.SP.800-52r2.pdf.
    \7\ The internet Engineering Task Force (``IETF'') is an open 
standards organization, which develops and promotes voluntary 
internet standards, in particular the technical standards that 
comprise the internet protocol suite (TCP/IP).
    \8\ https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/rfc8996/.
    \9\ Id.
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(ii) Proposed Rule Changes
GSD Rules
    FICC is proposing to modify GSD Rules Rule 2A, Section 5, Rule 3, 
Section 2, and Rule 3B, Section 3(c)(ii) and insert a new Rule 3A, 
Section 2(b)(v), which would be changed to add the requirement that 
applicants for Comparison-Only Members, Netting Members, Sponsoring 
Members, and CCIT Members respectively, must confirm their network 
technology, and communications technology and protocols to be at the 
levels specified by FICC, as part of their application. Rule 3, Section 
2, Rule 3A, Section 2(e), and Rule 3B, Section 5(b)(i) would be amended 
to add the requirement that each Participant type maintain or upgrade 
their network technology, or communications technology or protocols on 
the systems that connect to the Corporation to the version being 
required and within the time periods as provided through the Important 
Notice mechanism on the Corporation's website. The GSD Rules Fine 
Schedule

[[Page 32491]]

would be updated to provide that any Participant who fails to perform 
the upgrade to their network technology, or communications technology 
or protocols and in the required timeframe would be subject to a 
monetary fine, as specified in the Rules.
    Also, FICC is proposing to re-number Rule 3A, Section 2(e) through 
Section 2(h) to Section 2(f) through Section 2(i) due to the insertion 
of a new Section 2(e); Rule 3B, Section 3(c)(ii) to Section 3(c)(iii) 
due to the insertion of a new Section 3(c)(ii); and Rule 3B, Section 
5(i) and Section 5(ii) to Section 5(ii) and Section 5(iii) due to the 
insertion of a new Section 5(i).
MBSD Rules
    To implement the proposed changes described herein, FICC would 
revise Rule 2A, Section 2(a) which would be changed to add the 
requirement that applicants for Clearing Members must confirm their 
network technology, and communications technology and protocols to be 
at the levels specified by FICC, as part of their application. Rule 3, 
Section 2 would be amended to add the requirement that each Clearing 
Member to maintain or upgrade their network technology, or 
communications technology or protocols on the systems that connect to 
the Corporation to the version being required and within the time 
periods as provided through the Important Notice mechanism on the 
Corporation's website. In addition, Rule 3, Section 2 would also be 
updated to provide that any Participant who fails to perform the 
upgrade to their network technology, or communications technology or 
protocols and in the required timeframe would be subject to a monetary 
fine, as specified in the Rules. Rule 3A, Section (d)(i)(2) would be 
amended to add the requirement that each Cash Settling Bank Member to 
maintain or upgrade their network technology, or communications 
technology or protocols on the systems that connect to the Corporation 
to the version being required and within the time periods as provided 
through the Important Notice mechanism on the Corporation's website. 
The Schedule of Charges for both the Broker Account Group and the 
Dealer Account Group would be updated to provide that a Clearing Member 
or Cash Settling Bank Member who fails to perform the upgrade to their 
network technology, or communications technology or protocols and in 
the required timeframe would be subject to a monetary fine, as 
specified in the Rules.
    Also, FICC is proposing to re-number Rule 3A, Section (d)(i)(2) to 
Section (d)(i)(3) due to the insertion of a new Section (d)(i)(2).
EPN Rules
    FICC is proposing to revise EPN Rules Article III, Rule 1, Section 
2(b) which would be changed to add the requirement that applicants for 
EPN Users must confirm their network technology, and communications 
technology and protocols to be at the levels specified by FICC, as part 
of their application. Article III, Rule 1, Section 3(f) would be 
amended to add the requirement that each EPN User to maintain or 
upgrade their network technology, or communications technology or 
protocols on the systems that connect to the Corporation to the version 
being required and within the time periods as provided through the 
Important Notice mechanism on the Corporation's website.
    Also, FICC is proposing to re-number Article III Rule 1, Section 
2(b) to Section 2(c) due to the insertion of a new Section 2(b) and 
Article III, Rule 1, Section 3(f) would be re-numbered to Section 3(g) 
due to the insertion of a new Section 3(f).
    In addition, Article V, Rule 3, would be amended to add the 
requirement that a Participant who fails to perform the upgrade to 
their network technology, or communications technology or protocols and 
in the required timeframe may be subject to a monetary fine, as 
specified in the Rules.
(iii) Implementation Timeframe and Notification Requirements
    In order to provide Participants adequate time to complete a 
required network technology, or communications technology or protocol 
upgrade, the time for a Participant to complete a required upgrade 
shall be set forth in the form of a notice posted on FICC's website 
with the timeline determined for the due date of any upgrade. FICC 
maintains a security policy and control standards that include a review 
of industry, vendor and U.S. Government best practice guidelines and 
timelines for security reviews which are used to determine whether an 
upgrade may be required. Due dates for an upgrade shall be published on 
the website based on FICC's reasonable estimates of the complexity or 
potential cost of an upgrade, an estimate of potential licensing fees, 
an estimate of the resources that may be needed to support an upgrade, 
or the urgency to remediate published vulnerabilities.
    Applicants for membership shall be required to test connectivity to 
FICC using the current network technology or communications technology 
or protocols with their application for membership upon the effective 
date of the proposal.
2. Statutory Basis
    FICC believes that the proposal is consistent with the requirements 
of the Act \10\ and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to 
a registered clearing agency. In particular, FICC believes that the 
proposed rule changes is consistent with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the 
Act,\11\ and Rules 17Ad-22(e)(17)(i) and (ii), (21), and (23),\12\ 
promulgated under the Act as discussed below.
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    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.
    \11\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
    \12\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(17), (e)(21), (e)(23).
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Section 17A(b)(3)(F)
    Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act \13\ requires, in part, that the 
Rules be designed to promote the prompt and accurate clearance and 
settlement of securities transactions, to assure the safeguarding of 
securities and funds which are in the custody or control of FICC or for 
which it is responsible and to remove impediments to and perfect the 
mechanism of a national system for the prompt and accurate clearance 
and settlement of securities transactions.
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    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
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    FICC believes that the proposed rule change requiring Participants 
to meet FICC's standards for network technology, or communications 
technology or protocols is consistent with this provision of the Act. 
By conditioning an entity's application to FICC on its use of FICC's 
current network technology and communications technology or protocols, 
FICC should be better enabled to reduce the cyber risks of 
electronically connecting to entities by reducing the risks of 
communication interception. Accordingly, the proposed requirement would 
allow FICC to reduce both FICC's and its Participants exposure to 
interception or the introduction of malware while communicating between 
the entities. Intercepting communications or the introduction of 
malware or altered data could potentially compromise FICC's ability to 
promptly and accurately settle securities transactions and safeguard 
securities funds. The proposal is designed to mitigate those risks and 
thereby promote the prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of 
securities transactions, to assure the safeguarding of securities and 
funds which are in the custody or control of FICC or for which it is 
responsible and to remove impediments to and perfect

[[Page 32492]]

the mechanism of a national system for the prompt and accurate 
clearance and settlement of securities transactions. Providing a clear 
and consistent standard at the current level of network and 
communication security and technology would allow Participants to 
better understand their obligations with respect to such technology and 
communication requirements and providing a uniform obligation for 
Participants with respect to such requirements. As such, FICC believes 
the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the 
Act.\14\
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    \14\ Id.
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17Ad 22(e)(21)(iv)
    In addition, the proposed rule change is designed to be consistent 
with Rule 17Ad 22(e)(21)(iv) promulgated under the Act. Rule 17Ad-
22(e)(21)(iv) requires FICC to, inter alia, establish, implement, 
maintain and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably 
designed to be efficient and effective in meeting the requirements of 
its Participants and the markets it serves with regard to the use of 
network technology and communication technologies or protocols. The 
proposed rule change would enhance FICC's security through the use of 
current network technology, or communication technology or protocols, 
and would allow FICC to reduce its and its Participants' exposure to 
interception or the introduction of malware while communicating between 
the entities. This would eliminate the current use of multiple 
generations of network technology and communications technology and 
protocols, including ones that NIST no longer permits for use on 
government systems due to their insecurity. The proposed rule would 
require, after appropriate notice to Participants, future network 
technology and communication or protocol upgrades as technology and 
threats evolve to maintain secure connectivity.
    Therefore, by reviewing and updating the efficiency and 
effectiveness of Participants' use of network technology and 
communication technology or protocols and procedures, FICC believes the 
proposed change is consistent with the requirements of Rule 17Ad-
22(e)(21)(iv), promulgated under the Act.
Rule 17Ad-22(e)(17)(i)
    FICC believes the proposed change is designed to reduce the 
following risks: (1) The risk of the communications between FICC and 
its Participants being intercepted or introducing malware or other 
unknown harmful elements into FICC's network that could cause harm to 
FICC; (2) the risk that a cyberattack or other unknown harmful elements 
could be introduced from a Participant that could cause harm to other 
Participants.\15\
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    \15\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(17).
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    In addition, the proposed rule change is designed to be consistent 
with Rule 17Ad-22(e)(17)(i) promulgated under the Act,\16\ which 
requires FICC to establish, implement, maintain and enforce written 
policies and procedures reasonably designed to manage the covered 
clearing agency's operational risks by identifying plausible sources of 
operational risk, both internal and external, and mitigating their 
impact through the use of appropriate systems, policies, procedures, 
and controls.
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    \16\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(17)(i).
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    The use of old, obsolete, or insecure network technology or 
communications technologies or protocols, including communications 
between FICC and its Participants that are unencrypted, allowing for 
potential interception or making the communication highly vulnerable to 
sniffing attacks that allow an attacker to collect usernames and 
passwords from the network and inject malware, are examples of 
plausible sources of operational risks that FICC seeks to reduce. By 
requiring all Participants, after appropriate notice, to upgrade their 
network technology or communications technology or protocols to current 
standards, FICC seeks to enhance the security of its systems and the 
communications between it and its Participants.
    Because the proposed change would help identify and manage such 
operational risks, FICC believes that it is consistent with the 
requirements of Rule 17Ad-22(e)(17)(i), promulgated under the Act.\17\
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    \17\ Id.
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Rule 17Ad 22(e)(17)(ii)
    In addition, the proposed rule change is designed to be consistent 
with Rule 17Ad-22(e)(17)(ii) promulgated under the Act, which requires 
FICC to establish, implement, maintain and enforce written policies and 
procedures reasonably designed ensure that systems have a high degree 
of security, resiliency, operational reliability, and adequate, 
scalable capacity.\18\
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    \18\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(17)(ii).
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    The use of unencrypted network technology and communications 
technology or protocols can allow a third party to intercept messages, 
insert malware, or change the message content, often without the 
knowledge of either the sender or recipient of the messages or files. 
Requiring Participants to upgrade their network technology and 
communications technology or protocols to more modern and secure 
methods, may eliminate many of the earlier threats.
    Therefore, by requiring Participants to upgrade their network 
technology or communications technology or protocols, FICC believes 
that the proposed change is consistent with the requirements of Rule 
17Ad-22(e)(17)(ii), promulgated under the Act.\19\
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    \19\ Id.
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Rule 17Ad-22(e)(22)
    In addition, the proposed rule change is designed to be consistent 
with Rule 17Ad-22(e)(22) promulgated under the Act, which requires FICC 
to use, or at a minimum accommodate, relevant internationally accepted 
communication procedures and standards in order to facilitate efficient 
payment, clearing, and settlement.\20\
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    \20\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(22).
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    The requirement to use industry approved communications technology 
or protocols, including those that NIST specifies as acceptable for use 
in government systems is a cornerstone of the changes being proposed by 
FICC. The use of older, obsolete, or insecure network technology or 
communications technology or protocols, including those specified to 
not be used by the IETF \21\ represents a risk to efficient payment, 
clearing and settlement.
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    \21\ https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/rfc8996/.
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    Therefore, by requiring Participants to upgrade their network 
technology or communications technology or protocols, FICC believes 
that the proposed change is consistent with the requirements of Rule 
17Ad-22(e)(22), promulgated under the Act.\22\
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    \22\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(22).
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Rule 17Ad-22(e)(23)
    The proposed rule change is also designed to be consistent with 
Rule 17Ad 22(e)(23)(i), (ii) and (iv) promulgated under the Act, which 
requires FICC to publicly disclose all relevant rules and material 
procedures, provide sufficient information to enable Participants to 
identify and evaluate the risks, fees, potential monetary fines, and 
other material costs they incur by participating in the covered 
clearing agency, and to provide a comprehensive public disclosure that 
describes FICC's material rules, policies, and procedures regarding 
FICC's legal, governance, risk management and operating framework.\23\
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    \23\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-23(e)(i), (ii), and (iv).
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    Network technology, or communications technology or

[[Page 32493]]

protocols that are being updated would be posted on the FICC website 
and Participants may subscribe to receive updates to such information 
as it occurs. This allows current or prospective Participants the 
ability to understand the risks and potential costs they may incur as a 
Participant, including the potential costs to upgrade its network 
technology or communications technology or protocols to the standards 
published by FICC.
    Therefore, by providing Participants with public and readily 
available access to the required network technology, or communications 
technology or protocols, FICC believes that the proposed change is 
consistent with the requirements of Rule 17Ad-22(e)(23)(i)(ii) and 
(iv), promulgated under the Act.\24\
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    \24\ Id.
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(B) Clearing Agency's Statement on Burden on Competition

    FICC does not believe the proposed change to require Participants 
to have, or to upgrade their network technology or communications 
technology or protocols would have any impact, or impose any burden on 
competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes 
of the Act.\25\ Although the addition of the requirement to upgrade to 
current network technology or communications technology or protocols 
would be adding obligations on Participants with respect to how they 
communicate with FICC, such obligations would be reasonable because the 
requirements to protect client and customer data would allow FICC to 
reduce both its and its Participants' exposure to interception or the 
introduction of malware while communicating between the entities.
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    \25\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(I).
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    FICC believes that the proposed change described herein is 
necessary in furtherance of the purposes of Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the 
Act,\26\ and Rules 17Ad-22(e)(17), (e)(21), (e)(22), and (e)(23).\27\ 
The proposed changes to require Participants to upgrade their network 
technology, and communications technology or protocols, will (i) allow 
FICC to protect it and its Participants and would promote the prompt 
and accurate clearance and settlement of securities consistent with the 
requirements of Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act,\28\ (ii) identify 
potential operational risks from the use of obsolete and insecure 
network technology and communications technology or protocols 
consistent with Rule 17Ad 22(e)(17)(i),\29\ (iii) through the 
requirement of the use of current network technology and communications 
technology or protocols, ensure that systems have a high degree of 
security, resiliency, operational reliability, and adequate, scalable 
capacity, consistent with Rule 17Ad 22(e)(17)(ii),\30\ and (iv) through 
the use of requiring relevant internationally accepted communication 
procedures and standards, facilitate efficient payment, clearing, and 
settlement, consistent with Rules 17Ad-22(e)(22).\31\
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    \26\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
    \27\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(1), (e)(17), (e)(21), (e)(22) and 
(e)(23).
    \28\ Id.
    \29\ 17Ad 22(e)(17)(i).
    \30\ 17Ad 22(e)(17)(ii).
    \31\ Id.
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    FICC believes that the proposed change described herein is 
appropriate in furtherance of the Act because the NIST standards and 
frameworks provides a common language and systematic methodology for 
managing cybersecurity risk. The IETF, initially supported by the U.S. 
Government,\32\ develops the internet and other technical standards 
used in communications between devices, and together, these are two of 
the leading providers of standards used by organizations to protect 
data and interoperability. FICC maintains policies to review current 
risks and standards, incorporating input from industry, vendors, and 
the U.S. Government to determine best practice guidelines and timelines 
for security reviews.
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    \32\ https://www.internetsociety.org/internet/history-of-the-internet/ietf-internet-society/.
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    Therefore, FICC does not believe that the proposed change would 
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate 
in furtherance of the Act.\33\
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    \33\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(I).
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(C) Clearing Agency's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change 
Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    FICC has not received or solicited any written comments relating to 
this proposal. If any written comments are received, they will be 
publicly filed as an Exhibit 2 to this filing, as required by Form 19b-
4 and the General Instructions thereto.
    Persons submitting comments are cautioned that, according to 
Section IV (Solicitation of Comments) of the Exhibit 1A in the General 
Instructions to Form 19b-4, the SEC does not edit personal identifying 
information from comment submissions. Commenters should submit only 
information that they wish to make available publicly, including their 
name, email address, and any other identifying information.
    All prospective commenters should follow the SEC's instructions on 
how to submit comments, available at https://www.sec.gov/regulatory-actions/how-to-submit-comments. General questions regarding the rule 
filing process or logistical questions regarding this filing should be 
directed to the Main Office of the SEC's Division of Trading and 
Markets at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#295d5b484d40474e48474d44485b424c5d5a695a4c4a074e465f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="abdfd9cacfc2c5cccac5cfc6cad9c0cedfd8ebd8cec885ccc4dd">[email protected]</span></a> or 202-551-5777.
    FICC reserves the right not to respond to any comments received.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change, and Timing for 
Commission Action

    Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register or within such longer period up to 90 days (i) as the 
Commission may designate if it finds such longer period to be 
appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to 
which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:
    (A) By order approve or disapprove such proposed rule change, or
    (B) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule 
change should be disapproved.

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

    <bullet> Use the Commission's internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
    <bullet> Send an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a0d2d5ccc58dc3cfcdcdc5ced4d3e0d3c5c38ec7cfd6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="88fafde4eda5ebe7e5e5ede6fcfbc8fbedeba6efe7fe">[email protected]</span></a>. Please include 
File Number SR-FICC-2022-003 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

    <bullet> Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-FICC-2022-003. This file 
number should be included on the subject line if email 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 website (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). 
Copies of the

[[Page 32494]]

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 website viewing and printing in the 
Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 
20549 on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 
3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection 
and copying at the principal office of FICC and on DTCC's website 
(http://dtcc.com/legal/sec-rule-filings.aspx). All comments received 
will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are 
cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying 
information from comment submissions. You should submit only 
information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions 
should refer to File Number SR-FICC-2022-003 and should be submitted on 
or before June 21, 2022.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\34\
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    \34\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-11533 Filed 5-27-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


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