Document ID: SEC-2010-0724-0001
Agency: sec
Document Type: Notice
Title: Self-Regulatory Organizations; Proposed Rule Changes: Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
Posted Date: 2010-05-17T04:00Z

[Federal Register: May 17, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 94)]
[Notices]
[Page 27606-27608]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17my10-105]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-62064; File No. SR-FINRA-2010-020]

Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of
Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Trade Reporting Facility Limited
Liability Company Agreements

May 10, 2010.
    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 April 27, 2010, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
(``FINRA'') (f/k/a National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(``NASD'')) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC''
or ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II
and III below, which Items have been prepared by FINRA. FINRA has
designated the proposed rule change as being concerned solely with the
administration of the self-regulatory organization under Section
19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(3) thereunder,\4\
which renders the proposal effective upon receipt of this filing by the
Commission. 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.
    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(3).

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[[Page 27607]]

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change

    FINRA is proposing to make technical changes to the Trade Reporting
Facility limited liability company agreements, as they appear in the
FINRA Manual, to reflect that the agreements were amended and restated
following the formation of FINRA through the consolidation of NASD and
the member regulatory functions of NYSE Regulation. The proposed rule
change does not require amendments to any FINRA rules.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on FINRA's Web
site at http://www.finra.org, on the Commission's Web site at http://
www.sec.gov, at the principal office of FINRA 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, FINRA 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. FINRA 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
    The FINRA Trade Reporting Facilities (``TRFs'') are mechanisms for
reporting trades in NMS stocks effected otherwise than on an exchange.
Currently, there are two TRFs in operation: The FINRA/Nasdaq TRF and
the FINRA/NYSE TRF. At the time the TRFs were established, FINRA (then
NASD) entered into limited liability company agreements with the
respective Business Members, Nasdaq Stock Market (now known as Nasdaq
OMX Group) and New York Stock Exchange (the ``TRF LLC Agreements'').
    Following the establishment of the TRFs, FINRA was formed through
the consolidation of NASD and the member regulatory functions of NYSE
Regulation, effective July 30, 2007. FINRA and the TRF Business Members
subsequently executed amended and restated TRF LLC Agreements to
reflect the formation of FINRA and updated the schedules to reflect new
TRF officers and directors.
    FINRA is proposing to make technical changes to the TRF LLC
Agreements, as they appear in the FINRA Manual, to reflect the amended
and restated agreements and updated schedules. The terms and conditions
of the amended and restated TRF LLC Agreements are substantively
identical to those of the original TRF LLC Agreements. In this filing,
FINRA is not proposing to amend any FINRA rules.
    FINRA has filed the proposed rule change for immediate
effectiveness. The effective date and the implementation date will be
the date of filing.
2. Statutory Basis
    FINRA believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the
provisions of Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act,\5\ which requires, among
other things, that FINRA rules must be designed to prevent fraudulent
and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable
principles of trade, and, in general, to protect investors and the
public interest. FINRA believes that the proposed rule change will
enhance the information available to members and the public regarding
FINRA's TRF LLC Agreements.
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    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(b)(6).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    FINRA 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.

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

    Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

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

    The proposed rule change has become effective upon filing pursuant
to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \6\ and paragraph (f)(3) of Rule 19b-
4 thereunder.\7\ At any time within 60 days of the filing of the
proposed rule change, the Commission may summarily abrogate such rule
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
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    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \7\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(3).
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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-FINRA-2010-020 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-FINRA-2010-020. 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 Web site
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 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be
available for inspection and copying at the principal office of FINRA.
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-FINRA-2010-020
and should be submitted on or before June 7, 2010.

[[Page 27608]]

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\8\
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    \8\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-11652 Filed 5-14-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P