Document ID: SEC-2007-0274-0001
Agency: sec
Document Type: Notice
Title: Self-regulatory organizations; proposed rule changes: Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board
Posted Date: 2007-02-23T05:00Z

[Federal Register: February 23, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 36)]
[Notices]               
[Page 8222-8227]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23fe07-103]                         

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-55302; File No. SR-MSRB-2006-09]

 
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Municipal Securities Rulemaking 
Board; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change and Amendment No. 1 
Thereto Relating to MSRB Rule G-21, on Advertising, and MSRB Rule G-27, 
on Supervision

February 15, 2007.
    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 November 21, 2006, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board 
(``MSRB'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'' 
or ``Commission'') the proposed rule change, and amended such proposed 
rule change on February 12, 2007 (``Amendment No. 1''), as described in 
Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been substantially 
prepared by the MSRB. The Commission is publishing this notice to 
solicit comments on the proposed rule change, as amended, 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. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The MSRB has filed with the SEC a proposed rule change consisting 
of (i) Amendments to Rule G-21, on advertising, and Rule G-27, on 
supervision, and (ii) an interpretation (the ``proposed interpretive 
notice'') on general advertising disclosures, blind advertisements and 
annual reports relating to municipal fund securities. The MSRB proposes 
that the proposed rule change be made effective on April 1, 2007. The 
text of the proposed rule change is available on the MSRB's Web site 
(http://www.msrb.org), at the MSRB's principal office, and at the 

Commission's Public Reference Room.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the MSRB 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 MSRB has prepared summaries, set forth in Sections 
A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    In 2005, the MSRB adopted new section (e) of Rule G-21 that 
established specific standards for advertisements by brokers, dealers 
and municipal securities dealers (``dealers'') of municipal fund 
securities, including interests in 529 college savings plans (``529 
plans'').\3\ This section of the rule was modeled in part on Rule 482 
adopted by the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 
``Securities Act''), and also codified previous MSRB interpretive 
guidance

[[Page 8223]]

on advertisements of municipal fund securities. On May 12, 2006, the 
MSRB published interpretive guidance on certain elements of amended 
Rule G-21 as they apply to advertisements of 529 plans.\4\
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    \3\ Municipal fund securities are defined in Rule D-12. 529 
college savings plans are established by states under Section 
529(b)(A)(ii) of the Internal Revenue Code as ``qualified tuition 
programs'' through which individuals make investments for the 
purpose of accumulating savings for qualifying higher education 
costs of beneficiaries. Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code 
also permits the establishment of so-called prepaid tuition plans by 
states and higher education institutions. All references to 529 
plans are intended to encompass only 529 college savings plans 
established under Section 529(b)(A)(ii).
    \4\ See Rule G-21 Interpretive Letter--529 College Savings Plan 
Advertisements, MSRB Interpretation of May 12, 2006, published in 
MSRB Notice 2006-13 (May 15, 2006) (the ``May 2006 
Interpretation''). When approved, the proposed rule change will 
supersede this May 2006 Interpretation.
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    The proposed rule change further harmonizes the MSRB's advertising 
rule with the rules of the SEC and NASD relating to investment company 
advertising. The proposed rule change also provides certain 
clarifications of and exceptions to existing standards that the MSRB 
believes more closely tailor the provisions of the rule to the specific 
characteristics of the municipal fund securities market without 
reducing the investor protections afforded by the rule. Although most 
of the amendments effected by the proposed rule change relate 
specifically to advertisements of municipal fund securities, certain 
provisions would apply to advertisements of all types of municipal 
securities, including bonds and notes.
Provisions of General Applicability
    Definition of Advertisement. The proposed rule change modifies the 
existing definition of ``advertisement'' as set forth in Rule G-
21(a)(i) \5\ to more closely conform it to the terms ``advertisement'' 
and ``sales literature'' under NASD Rule 2210(a)(1) and (2). The 
revised definition is intended to be as inclusive as the terms 
``advertisement'' and ``sales literature'' are used under NASD and SEC 
rules, except as otherwise specifically provided in Rule G-21(a)(i). 
Thus, the reference in the revised definition of ``advertisement'' to 
any electronic or other public media should be read as broadly as in 
the definition of ``advertisement'' under NASD Rule 2210(a)(1), even 
though the definition set forth in Rule G-21(a)(i) does not include the 
list of media that currently or in the future may appear in the NASD 
definition.
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    \5\ The proposed rule change re-designates several existing 
provisions and incorporates new headings for many provisions to 
assist in compliance with the rule. References herein to rule 
provisions refer to such provisions as re-designated in the proposed 
rule change.
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    Definition of Form Letter. The proposed rule change adds a new 
definition of ``form letter'' in Rule G-21(a)(ii) that is consistent 
with Rule 24b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended 
(the ``Investment Company Act''), but clarifies that a form letter 
includes both written letters (including post cards and similar 
mailings) and electronic mail messages.
    Definitions of and Content Standards for Professional and Product 
Advertisements. The proposed rule change provides explicit definitions 
for ``professional advertisement'' and ``product advertisement'' and 
sets forth the applicable content standards for these types of 
advertisements. The amendment to the definition of ``professional 
advertisement'' under Rule G-21(b)(i) does not effect a change in how 
such term has been viewed historically under the rule. The amendment to 
the definition of ``product advertisement'' under Rule G-21(c)(i), 
however, clarifies that it applies to advertisements of specific 
municipal securities or advertisements that discuss specific features 
of municipal securities, rather than to advertisements that may merely 
mention general categories of municipal securities.\6\ The content 
standard for professional advertisements under Rule G-21(b)(ii) is 
unchanged, as is the baseline standard for product advertisements under 
Rule G-21(c)(ii).\7\
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    \6\ The definition of ``product advertisement'' in the proposed 
rule change codifies interpretive guidance provided in the May 2006 
Interpretation.
    \7\ However, the additional specific content standards under 
section (e) of Rule G-21 for municipal fund securities product 
advertisements are modified by the proposed rule change, as 
described below.
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    General Content Standard for Advertisements. Rule G-21(a)(iii) 
establishes a general content standard for advertisements that are 
neither professional advertisements nor product advertisements.\8\ This 
standard is the same as the existing baseline content standard for 
product advertisements. The MSRB emphasizes that all advertisements, 
regardless of category, are subject to the MSRB's basic fair dealing 
rule, Rule G-17, which requires each dealer, in the conduct of its 
municipal securities activities, to deal fairly with all persons, and 
prohibits the dealer from engaging in any deceptive, dishonest or 
unfair practice. The proposed rule change does not alter these fair 
dealing principles, which continue to apply to all advertisements.
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    \8\ The May 2006 Interpretation effectively recognized that the 
professional and product advertisement content standards under 
existing Rule G-21 may not apply to certain advertisements that do 
not fit neatly into either category.
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Generic and Blind Advertisements for Municipal Fund Securities

    Generic Advertisements. The proposed rule change establishes under 
Rule G-21(e)(i)(B)(1) provisions relating to generic advertising of 
municipal fund securities. A generic advertisement of municipal fund 
securities that meets the requirements of Rule G-21(e)(i)(B)(1) would 
not need to include the general disclosures required under Rule G-
21(e)(i)(A).\9\
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    \9\ Rule G-21(e)(i)(B)(1) is modeled in part on Securities Act 
Rule 135a relating to generic investment company advertising. 
However, the proposed rule change modifies or omits certain basic 
features of Rule 135a to adapt the concept of generic advertising to 
the specific characteristics of the municipal fund securities 
market.
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    Blind Advertisements. The proposed rule change provides for more 
limited disclosures for certain blind advertisements under Rule G-
21(e)(i)(B)(2). Under this provision, advertisements that promote an 
issuer and its public purpose without promoting specific municipal fund 
securities or identifying a dealer or its affiliates would be permitted 
to limit basic disclosures in the same manner as generic 
advertisements.\10\ A blind advertisement may contain contact 
information for the issuer or its agent to obtain an official statement 
or other information, provided that if the dealer or its affiliate acts 
as such agent, no orders may be accepted through such contact unless 
such order is initiated by the customer. The proposed interpretive 
notice emphasizes that a blind advertisement may not identify the 
dealer or its affiliate and provides guidance to dealers acting as the 
issuer's agent in responding to customer inquiries and accepting 
customer orders made through the contact information included in a 
blind advertisement. The guidance provided with regard to whether an 
order may have been initiated by the customer applies solely to this 
provision of Rule G-21 and is not intended to be determinative as to 
whether the dealer has recommended the transaction to the customer for 
purposes of Rule G-19, on suitability of recommendations and 
transactions, since, depending on the facts and circumstances, the 
customer may have initiated the order based on a recommendation from 
the dealer.
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    \10\ This provision effectively codifies, with minor 
modifications, interpretive guidance provided in the May 2006 
Interpretation.
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    In addition, advertisements qualifying as blind advertisements 
under Rule G-21(e)(i)(B)(2) are excepted from the requirement in Rule 
G-21(e)(iv) to include the dealer's capacity since the dealer is not 
identified in the advertisements.

Performance Data for Municipal Fund Securities

    Disclosure of Fees and Expenses in Advertisements and 
Correspondence. The proposed rule change includes provisions 
substantially similar to

[[Page 8224]]

recently approved NASD Rule 2210(d)(3) relating to investment company 
advertisements, sales literature and correspondence containing 
performance data, which becomes effective on April 1, 2007.\11\ Rule G-
21(e)(i)(A)(3)(b) and (c) will retain the existing requirement that 
advertisements containing performance data for municipal fund 
securities disclose the maximum amount of the sales load or other 
nonrecurring fee.\12\ Such advertisement will be further required to 
disclose the total annual operating expense ratio, except for municipal 
fund securities held out as having the characteristics of a money 
market fund.\13\ Print advertisements will be required under Rule G-
21(e)(i)(A)(4)(a)(iii) to include text box disclosure of this 
information, which may be combined with comparative performance and fee 
data and disclosures provided for under section (e) of the rule. New 
Rule G-21(e)(vii) will provide that any correspondence with the public 
that includes performance data for municipal fund securities must 
comply with the performance data requirements of Rule G-21(e) as if 
such correspondence were a product advertisement under that section of 
the rule.\14\ The proposed rule change adds language in Rule G-
27(d)(ii), on supervision, with respect to supervisory procedures 
relating to the review of correspondence for compliance with this new 
requirement.\15\
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    \11\ See Exchange Act Release No. 54103 (July 5, 2006), 71 FR 
39379 (July 12, 2006). See also NASD Notice to Members 06-48 
(September 2006).
    \12\ As required under NASD Rule 2210(d)(3)(A)(ii)(a), such 
maximum sales load (whether as a maximum sales charge or maximum 
deferred sales charge) must be current as of the date such 
advertisement is submitted for publication or is otherwise 
disseminated.
    \13\ Under Rule G-21(e)(ii)(C), the total annual operating 
expense ratio must be calculated as of the most recent practicable 
date considering the type of municipal fund securities and the media 
through which such information will be conveyed. Additional language 
included in Rule G-21(e)(i)(A)(3)(c) and (e)(ii)(A) recognizes that 
municipal fund securities are not subject to the registration 
requirements of the Securities Act and is designed to ensure that 
information on fees and expenses is determined in a manner 
consistent with the registered investment company market, to the 
extent possible.
    \14\ Although the other provisions of Rule G-21 would not apply 
to correspondence covered by Rule G-21(e)(vii), the basic fair 
dealing requirements of Rule G-17 described above would still apply.
    \15\ The language added to Rule G-27(d)(ii) makes clear that a 
dealer's supervisory procedures must provide for review of 
correspondence for compliance with the performance data 
requirements, but only to the extent that such requirements are 
applicable given the nature of the dealer's municipal securities 
activities. Thus, dealers that do not market municipal fund 
securities generally would not be required to provide for review of 
correspondence for compliance with Rule G-21(e)(vii).
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    Disclosures Relating to Tax-Adjusted Performance Data. The proposed 
rule change amends Rule G-21(e)(ii)(E) to delete subparagraph (2). The 
deleted provision currently requires that, in connection with the 
calculation of any tax-equivalent yield or after-tax return that 
appears in an advertisement for municipal fund securities, if the then-
effective federal income tax treatment upon which such yield or return 
was based is subject to lapse or other adverse change without extension 
or change of federal law, the advertisement must disclose this fact and 
that such yield or return would be lower if the then-effective federal 
income tax treatment is not extended or otherwise changed. This 
deletion reflects the repeal of the sunset provision for many of the 
federal tax benefits enjoyed by 529 plans, as described below.
General Disclosure Requirements for Municipal Fund Securities
    Substance of Disclosure. The proposed rule change makes several 
modifications to rule language in Rule G-21(e)(i)(A)(1) and (2) 
relating to disclosures designed to communicate basic information 
concerning investments in municipal fund securities. The modified 
provisions and the proposed interpretive notice clarify that these 
disclosures are not legends requiring the inclusion of specific 
language but instead require that such information be effectively 
conveyed. Thus, these disclosure requirements may be complied with if 
the substance of such information is effectively conveyed, regardless 
of the specific language used in the advertisement.\16\ In general, the 
context in which the information is provided is an important factor in 
determining whether the information is effectively conveyed.
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    \16\ Compare Rule G-21(e)(i)(A)(3)(a), where a legend is 
explicitly required.
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    The MSRB understands that these advertising disclosures have 
presented considerable challenges in the context of broadcast 
advertisements, such as traditional television or radio commercials 
with 30-second run-times or public service announcements that may have 
considerably shorter run-times.\17\ The proposed interpretive notice 
provides guidance on the use of abbreviated forms of the required 
disclosures in time-limited broadcast advertisements.
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    \17\ These disclosures can be lengthier for many 529 plan 
advertisements than for investment company advertisements as a 
result of the home state tax benefit disclosures generally required 
under Rule G-21(e)(i)(A)(2)(b) as described below, which are not 
required in connection with investment company advertisements.
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    Home State Tax Benefits. Rule G-21(e)(i)(A)(2)(b) requires 529 plan 
product advertisements to include disclosure to the effect that 
investors should consider, before investing, whether their home states 
offer state tax or other benefits only available for investments in the 
home state 529 plan. The proposed rule change permits dealers to omit 
such disclosures in advertisements (such as form letters, post cards, 
e-mails and other written or electronic mailings) concerning a state's 
529 plan that are sent to, or are otherwise distributed through means 
that are reasonably likely to result in the advertisements being 
received by, only residents of such state. The MSRB views such omission 
as most suitable with respect to advertisements that are delivered 
directly to intended recipients, and not well suited with respect to 
broadcast advertisements where the dealer would bear the burden of 
establishing that such broadcast is reasonably likely to result in the 
message being received only by in-state residents.
    Communications With Existing Customers. The proposed rule change 
adds new Rule G-21(e)(i)(B)(3), which permits dealers to distribute 
form letters relating to municipal fund securities that omit some or 
all of the disclosures required under Rule G-21(e)(i)(A)(1) and (2) to 
existing customers who have previously invested in municipal fund 
securities. Form letters sent solely to existing customers about the 
same or related municipal fund securities that such customers already 
own may omit all of the standard disclosures under such subparagraphs 
(1) and (2) since that information will have previously been provided 
to such customers. If the form letters relate to municipal fund 
securities other than, or unrelated to, the one the customer already 
invests in, then the disclosures under subparagraph (2) are required. 
Furthermore, if the form letter identifies a source for obtaining an 
official statement and the dealer underwrites the municipal fund 
securities advertised in the form letter, the dealer is required to 
disclose that it is the underwriter.
Tax-Related Disclosures for Municipal Fund Securities
    Rule G-21(e)(v) requires a product advertisement for municipal fund 
securities that discusses tax benefits to disclose that such benefits 
may be conditioned on meeting certain requirements. If the nature of 
specific benefits is described, the factors that may materially limit 
their availability

[[Page 8225]]

must be named. The proposed rule change modifies this subsection to 
clarify that generalized statements regarding tax benefits require only 
a generalized statement that certain conditions may apply and that, 
where specific benefits are described, only those substantive factors 
that may materially affect the ability to realize such benefits must be 
listed, rather than explained in full. For example, a statement that 
529 plans are federally tax-advantaged, or that investors may qualify 
for federal tax benefits by investing in a 529 plan, without 
identifying the specific benefits, would be viewed as generalized 
statements. In such cases, a statement that certain conditions may 
apply, or that refers customers to the official statement for more 
information, would be sufficient. Furthermore, the inclusion of the 
required home state tax disclosure under Rule G-21(e)(i)(A)(2)(b) does 
not, by itself, require the disclosure of conditions for receiving such 
state tax benefits.
Required Annual Reports Excluded From Definition of Advertisement
    The proposed interpretive notice provides guidance to the effect 
that, in circumstances where a dealer may be required by state law or 
rules and regulations to prepare or distribute an annual financial 
report or other similar information regarding a municipal fund 
securities program, such report or information will not be treated as 
an advertisement so long as the dealer provides such report or 
information solely in the manner required by such state law or rules 
and regulations.
Effective Dates
    The MSRB proposes that the proposed rule change be made effective 
on April 1, 2007 to coincide with the effective date of NASD Rule 
2210(d)(3).
2. Statutory Basis
    The MSRB believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with 
Section 15B(b)(2)(C) of the Act,\18\ which provides that the MSRB's 
rules shall:
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    \18\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-4(b)(2)(C).

be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and 
practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to 
foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in 
regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect 
to, and facilitating transactions in municipal securities, to remove 
impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market 
in municipal securities, and, in general, to protect investors and 
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the public interest.

The MSRB believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the 
Act because it will further investor protection by raising the 
standards for advertisements of municipal fund securities and by making 
information provided in such advertisements comparable for different 
municipal fund securities investments and between municipal fund 
securities and registered mutual funds.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The MSRB does not believe that the proposed rule change will result 
in any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Act since it would apply equally to 
all dealers.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    On August 11, 2006, the MSRB published for comment draft amendments 
to Rules G-21 and G-27 relating to advertisements of 529 plans (the 
``Notice'').\19\ The draft amendments, as published in the Notice, 
would: (1) Modify the definition of ``advertisement'' to more closely 
align it with the usage of the terms ``advertisement'' and ``sales 
literature'' under SEC and NASD rules; (2) adopt a definition of ``form 
letter'' consistent with the definition used by the SEC under the 
Investment Company Act; (3) establish an explicit baseline standard for 
advertisements and more clearly define ``professional advertisement'' 
and ``product advertisement''; (4) adopt provisions for generic 
advertisements of municipal fund securities; (5) adopt provisions 
requiring advertisements and correspondence containing performance data 
to also include disclosure of fees and expenses that are substantially 
the same as under recently approved amendments to NASD Rule 2210(d)(3); 
(6) clarify and simplify the general disclosure requirements with 
respect to certain broadcast advertisements, promotional materials and 
form letters relating to municipal fund securities; and (7) clarify and 
simplify the nature of disclosures required in advertisements of 
municipal fund securities in connection with tax matters and tax-
adjusted performance data.
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    \19\ See MSRB Notice 2006-26 (August 11, 2006).
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    The MSRB received comments from three commentators.\20\ After 
reviewing the comments, the MSRB has determined to file this proposed 
rule change. The proposed rule change is substantially similar to the 
draft amendments, with certain modifications discussed below. The 
principal comments and the MSRB's responses are also discussed below.
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    \20\ Letters from: Jacqueline T. Williams, Chair, College 
Savings Plan Network (``CSPN''), to Ernesto A. Lanza, MSRB, dated 
September 22, 2006; Dorothy M. Donohue, Associate Counsel, 
Investment Company Institute (``ICI''), to Mr. Lanza, dated 
September 22, 2006; and Michael Udoff, Vice President, Associate 
General Counsel and Secretary, and Elizabeth Varley, Vice President 
and Director, Retirement Policy, Securities Industry Association 
(``SIA''), to Mr. Lanza, dated September 22, 2006.
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Additional Disclosures Relating to Home State Tax Benefits
    Rule G-21 currently requires 529 plan advertisements to state that 
investors should consider whether their home states offer state tax or 
other benefits only available for investments in the home state 529 
plan. For advertisements (such as form letters, post cards, e-mails and 
other written or electronic mailings) concerning a state's 529 plan 
that are sent solely to residents of that state, the draft amendment 
modified this provision to permit dealers to omit such disclosure since 
it is not relevant to such recipients.
    CSPN requested that language in this provision referencing 
advertisements published or disseminated by ``the issuer or any of the 
issuer's agents'' be deleted since the MSRB has no authority to 
regulate issuers. The MSRB notes that this provision was not intended 
to regulate the actions of issuers, but rather to limit the ability of 
a dealer to use this exception if its advertisement is further 
disseminated by other parties, including the issuer or its agents. 
However, to avoid ambiguity, the MSRB has modified Rule G-
21(e)(i)(A)(2)(b) to replace this language with language that instead 
refers to advertisements made available by dealers to the issuer or any 
of the issuer's agents with the expectation or understanding that such 
other parties will otherwise publish or disseminate such 
advertisements.
Generic Advertisements
    The draft amendments included a generic advertising provision that 
would allow dealers to omit many required disclosures from 
advertisements that contain only general information about municipal 
fund securities and that do not name a municipal fund security or a 
specific investment option or portfolio of an issuer of municipal fund 
securities. CSPN, ICI and SIA requested that language in the draft 
amendments stating that a generic advertisement may

[[Page 8226]]

not refer by name ``to any specific municipal fund security'' be 
deleted, arguing that it creates ambiguities as to whether a reference 
in an advertisement to a 529 plan's general program name would 
disqualify such advertisement from being considered a generic 
advertisement.\21\
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    \21\ CSPN observed that this ambiguity arises from the fact that 
some no-action letters issued by SEC staff with respect to 529 plans 
refer to various interests relating to such 529 plans, other than 
the individual shares purchased by customers, as municipal 
securities.
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    The MSRB believes that the deletion requested by the commentators 
would be appropriate and consistent with the intended operation of this 
provision. Thus, as this provision has been modified in the proposed 
rule change, an advertisement that mentions the 529 plan's general 
program name could be considered a generic advertisement if all other 
relevant conditions have been met. However, mention of specific 
investment options or portfolios would disqualify the advertisement 
from being treated as a generic advertisement.
Blind Advertisements
    The draft amendments provided that a blind advertisement that 
promotes an issuer and its public purpose without promoting specific 
municipal fund securities or identifying a dealer or its affiliates 
also would qualify as a generic advertisement. Among other things, a 
blind advertisement may include contact information for the issuer or 
an agent of the issuer to obtain an official statement or other 
information, provided that if such issuer's agent is a dealer or dealer 
affiliate, no orders for 529 plans may be accepted through such source. 
The provision for blind advertisements was designed to address the 
unique characteristics of the 529 plan market, where regulated dealers 
and issuers not subject to MSRB regulation often undertake public-
private partnerships in marketing 529 plans, raising issues that do not 
arise in the registered investment company market.
    CSPN and ICI requested clarification that the use in an 
advertisement of a phone number or Web site that includes the name of a 
dealer acting as the issuer's agent would not preclude such 
advertisement from being treated as a blind advertisement. The intent 
of this provision is that a blind advertisement cannot, on its face, 
identify a dealer or its affiliates. Therefore, although contact 
information may be included in the advertisement that directs a 
potential customer to a dealer or its affiliate acting as agent of the 
issuer, the face of the advertisement may not identify such dealer or 
affiliate. The proposed interpretive notice provides guidance on 
information that may be included in a blind advertisement.
    CSPN and ICI also requested modifications to the language providing 
that, if the source for more information identified in the 
advertisement is the dealer or a dealer affiliate, no orders may be 
accepted through that source. The commentators were concerned that a 
reference to a Web site for more information would preclude such Web 
site from allowing investments in the 529 plan. CSPN stated that 
``[e]very web site on which an individual can purchase interests in a 
Section 529 Plan requires the investor to acknowledge reading or 
receiving the Official Statement before investing. It is not clear what 
would be gained by requiring the potential investor to get information 
from one web site and then make the purchase on another web site.'' ICI 
suggested alternative language to the effect that ``no initial orders 
for municipal fund securities shall be accepted through such source, 
unless before placing such an order an investor is required to 
acknowledge that he or she received the official statement for such 
securities.''
    The MSRB understands the concern expressed in connection with Web-
based sources but believe that ICI's suggested language is not the 
appropriate approach to addressing this issue, particularly since Rule 
G-17, on fair practice, already requires dealers to provide all 
material facts about the transaction known by the dealer, as well as 
material facts about the security that are reasonably accessible to the 
market, to the customer on or prior to the time of trade.\22\ Given 
that the provision for blind advertisements seeks to ensure that such 
advertisements are informational in nature and not primarily designed 
to promote sales by the dealer, the MSRB believes that a distinct 
barrier between providing information and seeking orders should be 
maintained. However, the MSRB does not believe that such barrier should 
create an arbitrary disincentive for those potential customers who 
themselves seek to initiate an order.
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    \22\ See Rule G-17 Interpretation--Interpretive Notice Regarding 
Rule G-17, on Disclosure of Material Facts, March 20, 2002, 
reprinted in MSRB Rule Book.
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    Thus, the proposed rule change modifies the language of Rule G-
21(e)(i)(B)(2)(b) to allow the acceptance of orders if initiated by the 
customer. The proposed interpretive notice provides guidance on 
ensuring that only customer-initiated orders are accepted through a 
source identified in a blind advertisement.
Tax-Adjusted Performance Data
    Rule G-21 currently provides that, in calculating tax-equivalent 
yield or after-tax return for a 529 plan advertisement, the 
advertisement must effectively disclose that such yield or return would 
be lower if the sunset provision for many of the federal tax benefits 
enjoyed by 529 plans, previously scheduled to occur on January 1, 2011, 
were not repealed. In view of the recent enactment of the Pension 
Protection Act of 2006 (Pub. L. 109-280), which repealed this sunset 
provision, the Notice sought comment on whether this provision should 
be deleted. CSPN, ICI and SIA agreed that this provision should be 
deleted. Thus, the proposed rule change deletes this provision in Rule 
G-21(e)(ii)(E).
Required Annual Reports Excluded From Definition of Advertisement
    CSPN stated that the broad definition of advertisement in Rule G-21 
could be construed to include annual financial reports undertaken by 
many dealers acting as 529 plan program managers. CSPN stated that such 
annual reports are not solicitations of new business and suggested that 
audited annual reports produced for or in conjunction with issuers be 
explicitly exempted from treatment as an advertisement.
    The MSRB notes that NASD has issued several interpretive letters in 
which NASD addresses the applicability of its advertising rule, Rule 
2210, to certain performance information and hypothetical illustrations 
required by state laws to be provided by dealers in connection with 
retirement investments and variable annuity contracts.\23\ In each 
case, NASD concluded that the provision by dealers of the information 
required by state law would not be treated as an advertisement or sales 
literature for purposes of Rule 2210 so long as the information was 
provided solely in the manner required by law. NASD further stated that 
any additional use of such information beyond what is required by law 
would be subject to the NASD advertising rule. In addition, NASD stated 
in one of the interpretive letters that the use of such information

[[Page 8227]]

by the dealer remained subject to all other NASD rules and the federal 
securities laws, including the anti-fraud provisions.
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    \23\ See letter dated November 29, 2004, to Therese Squillacote, 
Chief Compliance Officer, ING Financial Advisers, LLC, from Philip 
A. Shaikun, Assistant General Counsel, NASD; letter dated September 
30, 2002, to Sally Krawczyk, Esq., Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan, 
LLP, from Mr. Shaikun; and letter dated February 5, 1999, to W. 
Thomas Conner, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, National 
Association of Variable Annuities, from Robert J. Smith, Office of 
General Counsel, NASD Regulation, Inc.
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    The MSRB believes that the approach NASD has taken with respect to 
investment companies is appropriate as well with respect to 529 plans 
and other municipal fund securities programs and has provided guidance 
to this effect in the proposed interpretive notice.

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

    Within 35 days of the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register or within such longer period (i) As the Commission may 
designate up to 90 days of such date 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 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

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml.
); or     Send an e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 

File Number SR-MSRB-2006-09 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, Station Place, 100 F 
Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-MSRB-2006-09. 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 Room. Copies of such 
filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the MSRB's 
offices. 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-
MSRB-2006-09 and should be submitted on or before March 16, 2007.
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    \24\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\24\
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-3091 Filed 2-22-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010-01-P