11348 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 37 / Friday, February 23, 2001 / Notices

33See Amendment No. 2, supra note 6.

34See Amendment No. 1, supra note 3.

35See Amendment No. 2, supra note 6.

36See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos.

43938 (February 7, 2001), 66 FR 10539 (February

15, 2001) (File No. SR–Amex–01–03); 42455

(February 24, 2000), 65 FR 11388 (March 2, 2000)

(File No. 10–127) (approving application of ISE for

registration as a national securities exchange); and

43939 (February 7, 2001), 66 FR 10547 (February

15, 2001) (File No. SR–Phlx–01–05).

37 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).

38 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

39 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).

40 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).

proposed a fifteen second time period in

which multiple orders may not be

entered on the behalf of the same

beneficial owner, but it reserved the

right to conclude that multiple orders

entered outside of the fifteen second

time period could still be considered a

single investment decision. The

Exchange wanted to prevent the

splitting of orders by or on behalf of the

same beneficial owner to meet Auto-Ex

eligibility, whether these orders were

entered within or outside the fifteen

second time period.

In response to the commenters’

concerns, however, the Exchange added

an objective safe-harbor provision, PCX

Rule 6.87(d)(2)(B), providing that all

orders entered outside of any fifteen

second time period for the account of

the same beneficial owner will be

deemed to be separate investment

decisions, and therefore will not be

presumed to be a part of a single

investment decision.33 The Commission

believes that this safe-harbor rule for

multiple orders entered after the fifteen

second time period is necessary to

provide Users of Auto-Ex with guidance

and comfort that their entry of orders

after fifteen seconds will not be

presumed a single investment decision.

Furthermore, the Exchange responded

to commenters’ concerns by revising the

proposed rule language to reflect that

the proposal will only apply to multiple

orders to trade the same option issue

that are on the same side of the market

(whether short or long) and multiple

orders to trade the same option series.

The Commission believes that this

provision is appropriate and will allow

Users of Auto-Ex more flexibility in

placing their orders.

The Exchange also made several other

modifications to respond to the

commenters’ concerns. The Exchange

eliminated its proposed provision

relating to the nullification of orders,

which would have allowed PCX floor

officials to execute only the first of

orders equaling or adding up to the

Auto-Ex size requirement and nullifying

any others orders.34 Furthermore, the

Exchange revised its proposed rule text

to clarify that it will preclude Order

Entry Firms from dividing up or

permitting an existing order from being

divided up to make its parts eligible for

entry into Auto-Ex.35 The Commission

believes that, by eliminating the

proposed provision relating to the

nullification of orders and retaining the

prohibition against the splitting of

orders by Order Entry Firms, Users of

Auto-Ex will be provided with greater

assurance that their orders will be

executed. The Commission therefore

finds that these revisions to the proposal

are consistent with the public interest

and the protection of investors.

Finally, the Commission recognizes

that proposed PCX Rule 6.88(c),

prohibiting the use of POETS to perform

a market making function, is consistent

with other rules adopted by other

exchanges to preclude persons from

performing a market making function

unless they are registered as market

makers.36

V. Accelerated Approval of

Amendments No. 2 and 3

The Commission finds good cause for

approving Amendments No. 2 and 3 to

the proposed rule change, except for

those portions relating to the execution

of broker-dealer orders on Auto-Ex,

prior to the thirtieth day after the

amendments are published for comment

in the Federal Register pursuant to

section 19(b)(2) of the Act.37 Both

Amendments No. 2 and 3 alter the

proposed rule language to address many

of the commenters’ concerns.

Specifically, Amendment No. 2 adds a

safe harbor provision for orders entered

more than fifteen seconds apart;

eliminates provisions that would have

permitted the Exchange to nullify

certain orders; incorporates a provision

prohibiting the use of POETS to perform

a market making function; and makes

other minor technical changes.

Amendment No. 3 simply cleans up

minor punctuation and spacing

problems in the proposed rule text.

Because these amendments address the

concerns raised by the commenters, the

Commission believes it is not necessary

to separately solicit comment on these

amendments prior to approving this

proposal. Moreover, the Commission

finds that these changes to the proposed

rule language are necessary to

accomplish the intended goals of the

Exchange’s proposal and therefore

believes that acceleration of

Amendments No. 2 and 3 is appropriate.

VI. Solicitation of Comments

Interested persons are invited to

submit written data, views, and

arguments concerning Amendments No.

2 and 3, including whether the

proposed rule change is consistent with

the Act. Persons making written

submissions should file six copies

thereof with the Secretary, Securities

and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth

Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549–

0609. 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

Room. Copies of such filing will also be

available for inspection and copying at

the principal office of the PCX. All

submissions should refer to File No.

SR–PCX–00–05 and should be

submitted by March 16, 2001.

VII. Conclusion

For the foregoing reasons, the

Commission finds that the proposed

rule change, and Amendments No. 2

and 3 thereto, except for portions

relating to the execution of brokerdealer orders on Auto-Ex, are consistent

with the Act and the rules and

regulations thereunder applicable to a

national securities exchange, and, in

particular, with section 6(b)(5).38

It Is Therefore Ordered, pursuant to

section 19(b)(2) of the Act,39 that the

proposed rule change (SR–PCX–00–05)

is approved, and Amendments No. 2

and 3 thereto are approved on an

accelerated basis, except for portions

relating to the entry of broker-dealer

orders on Auto-Ex.

For the Commission, by the Division of

Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated

authority.40

Margaret H. McFarland,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 01–4497 Filed 2–22–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Office of Inspector General

[Public Notice 3580]

Notice of Information Collection Under

Emergency

REVIEW: Overseas Absentee Ballot

Questionnaire.

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 37 / Friday, February 23, 2001 / Notices 11349

AGENCY: Department of State.

SUMMARY: The Department of State has

submitted the following information

collection request to the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) for

review and approval in accordance with

the emergency review procedures of the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

Type of Request: Emergency Review.

Originating Office: Office of Inspector

General (OIG).

Title of Information Collection:

Overseas Absentee Ballot Questionnaire.

Frequency: One Time Collection.

Form Number: None.

Respondents: U.S. Citizens Abroad.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

720.

Average Hours Per Response: 15

minutes.

Total Estimated Burden: 180 hours.

The proposed information collection

is published to obtain comments from

the public and affected agencies.

Emergency review and approval of this

collection has been requested from OMB

by February 16, 2001. If granted, the

emergency approval is only valid for

180 days. Comments should be directed

to the State Department Desk Officer,

Office of Information and Regulatory

Affairs, Office of Management and

Budget (OMB), Washington, DC 20530,

(202) 395–5871.

For Additional Information

Public comments, or requests for

additional information, regarding the

collection listed in this notice should be

directed to (Linda Topping, Office of

Inspector General, (202) 647–9450, U.S.

Department of State, Washington, DC

20520.

Dated: February 15, 2001.

Anne Sigmund,

Acting Inspector General, Department of

State.

[FR Doc. 01–4522 Filed 2–22–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710–42–U

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3579]

Bureau of African Affairs; AF/PD

Professional Internship Program

Introduction

The United States Department of State

announces an open competition for an

assistance award. Nongovernmental

organizations may apply to design and

manage a multi-faceted program that

consists of the following: (1) Azikiwe

Professional Fellowships; and, (2) the

COMESA (Common Market of East and

Southern Africa) Professional Internship

Program.

I. Azikiwe Professional Fellows

The Azikiwe Professional Fellowship

Program seeks to establish linkages

between young Nigerians and their

American counterparts in various

sectors. The program is divided into two

groups: the ‘‘Digital Divide Internships’’

and ‘‘Gatekeepers for the Free Flow of

Information.’’

• Digital Divide Internships will

consist of six five-week internships for

leaders who will play key roles in

bringing Internet connectivity to

Nigerian government offices and

universities. They would spend one

week of orientation at a university

before going on to month-long

internships at university departments or

local and state government offices.

• Gatekeepers for the Free Flow of

Information will consist of six five-week

internships for library professionals

involved in overall management and

policy-making in key governmental and

private libraries and journalists

interested in enhancing their

professional skills. The program would

demonstrate the crucial role of

international technology in modern

libraries, train the fellows in the use of

the Internet and creation of web pages,

and demonstrate the best ways to

integrate these technologies into

Nigerian libraries. Journalistic Interns

would focus on improving professional

skills (freedom of press, speech),

responsible reporting, and

constitutional issues. In both cases,

Interns would have a two-week

orientation program in Washington (at

DoS, Library of Congress, Congressional

Research Service, media and

newspapers, newspaper libraries,

universities and communication

organizations, etc.). Following the

Washington program, the Interns would

be placed for three-weeks in an

institution with similar interests to their

home organization or media or

newspapers.

Both sets of professional fellows

would be required to develop a plan of

short, medium, and long-term goals for

their respective institutions before

returning home.

II. COMESA Professional Internship

Program

The COMESA program will consist of

approximately 10–12 internships lasting

from 8–12 weeks with corporations,

universities, or trade organizations

(particularly those involved in NAFTA,

CBI, or WTO issues). The program will

stress the development of strong

management, administrative, finance,

negotiation, and organizational skills

among select members of the COMESA

Secretariat. In addition, the Interns will

develop strategies and techniques

focused on learning and developing

management skills appropriate for a

sub-regional organization. The Program

will seek to assist the COMESA

Secretariat in enhancing its capacity to

handle its burgeoning role as a regional

organization focused on economic and

trade issues. The AF/PD Professional

Internship Program seeks to enhance the

professional skills and abilities of the

participants by developing the Interns’

organizational, Internet, and managerial

skills. All Interns will be allotted two

days in Washington, DC at the end of

their internship to discuss and review

the program with AF/PD staff and

colleagues. An additional multiplier

effect of the program will be to develop

future linkages between American and

African universities and institutions.

A cooperative agreement will be

subject to the availability of funds.

The contract agency will be expected

to work closely with AF/PD and Public

Affairs Sections of U.S. Embassies in

Africa in selecting participants, and in

developing and implementing this

program.

Authority

22 U.S.C.–2452(a)(2).

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants include all

nongovernmental institutions, private

organizations, and commercial entities.

Availability of Funds

The funding level for this Cooperative

Agreement shall be no higher than

$374,500. The funding is available for

one calendar year which begins at the

time the Cooperative Agreement is

signed.

Continuing awards within the project

period will be made on the basis of

satisfactory progress and the availability

of funds.

Purpose

Primary objectives for the AF/PD

Intern Program are to develop

professional skills of a variety of

individuals in the areas of Internet

connectivity, library science,

journalism, business and trade

development, and the management and

administration of selected sub-regional

organizations. Moreover, the program is

designed to enhance linkages between

American institutions, business, media,

entrepreneurs, and universities, with

African counterparts working in specific

professions.