Document ID: SEC-2008-0935-0001
Agency: sec
Document Type: Notice
Title: pertain to Municipal Comparison Only Members, Non-Clearing Members, and/or Data Services Only Members. For purposes of clarity, the remaining information within Rule 3 would be reorganized and reordered. 10. Addendum D (``Statement of Policy Envelope Settlement Service)   To more accurately reflect the scope of the information contained within Addendum D, NSCC proposes to rename it ``Statement of
Posted Date: 2008-07-10T04:00Z

[Federal Register: July 10, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 133)]
[Notices]               
[Page 39759-39764]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10jy08-118]                         

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-58100; File No. SR-NSCC-2006-17]

 
Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Securities Clearing 
Corporation; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change as Modified by 
Amendment No. 1 To Reorganize Membership Rules and Procedures

July 3, 2008.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ notice is hereby given that on December 13, 2006, the 
National Securities Clearing Corporation (``NSCC'') filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') and on January 31, 
2008, amended the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and 
III below, which items have been prepared by NSCC. The Commission is 
publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change, 
as amended, from interested parties.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    NSCC is seeking to reorganize its Rules and Procedures (``Rules'') 
related to membership standards and membership requirements to conform 
them to current practice and to harmonize them with similar rules of 
NSCC's affiliate, the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation (``FICC'').\2\
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    \2\ Both NSCC and FICC's Government Securities Division 
(``GSD'') share a number of common participants, and both act as 
central counterparties with respect to certain transactions 
submitted by participants. Harmonization of NSCC and FICC Rules is 
an ongoing process, and additional NSCC and FICC rule filings will 
follow.
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II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, NSCC 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. NSCC has prepared summaries, set forth in sections (A), 
(B), and (C) below, of the most significant aspects of these 
statements.\3\
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    \3\ The Commission has modified the text of the summaries 
prepared by NSCC.
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A Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    Over the years, NSCC has created a variety of membership classes, 
each with different initial and continuing membership requirements. 
These requirements are currently scattered throughout NSCC's Rules. 
With the objective of promoting greater transparency, NSCC proposes to 
reorganize and restructure its Rules related to member types, the 
membership application process, and the ongoing requirements of NSCC 
members in a form that it believes will make them more readily located 
and understood by applicants and members alike.
    To accomplish this, NSCC proposes to revise and restructure Rule 2 
(currently called ``Members'' but would be renamed ``Members and 
Limited Members'') to create a new Rule 2A (to be called ``Initial 
Membership Requirements'') and to create a new Rule 2B (to be called 
``Ongoing Membership Requirements and Monitoring''). Current provisions 
and

[[Page 39760]]

rule text will be moved from existing rules and addenda and will be 
relocated within these newly structured rules. Certain provisions will 
be modified where necessary and, where possible, harmonized with 
analogous provisions of GSD's rules. Additionally, NSCC proposes to add 
certain descriptive text to its Rules with regard to the current 
membership application process and with regard to the voluntary 
membership retirement process (i.e., NSCC text which codifies the 
current process of evaluating applicants and the current process by 
which an existing member may voluntarily retire from participation in 
NSCC's services).
1. Membership Types--Members and Limited Members
    NSCC's Rule 2 (currently titled ``Members'') provides that an 
applicant may apply to become a member that uses all of NSCC's services 
or a member that uses certain limited services.
    In restructuring and revising Rule 2, NSCC seeks to clearly, 
concisely, and in one location, set forth each membership type 
differentiating between members that may generally, unless otherwise 
limited by NSCC, access all services made available by NSCC, (often 
referred to as ``full service Members'') and those member types that 
may utilize NSCC's systems and services only on a limited basis 
(``Limited Members''). Limited Members would include the following: 
Fund Members, Insurance Carrier/Retirement Services Members, Municipal 
Comparison Only Members, Mutual Fund/Insurance Services Members, Data 
Services Only Members, Non-Clearing Members (which would be renamed 
``Commission Billing Members''), Settling Bank Only Members, and Third 
Party Administrator Members. This change is intended to be cosmetic 
only, and other than logically grouping member types, would not alter 
in any way each member's existing rights and obligations.
    Additionally, NSCC would add text to Rule 2 making it clear that no 
full service Member or Limited Member may submit or confirm any 
transaction, charge, request, instruction, or transmission through 
NSCC's services, or otherwise utilize NSCC's services, in contravention 
of any law, rule, regulation, or statute.
2. Consolidation of Membership Standards and Requirements Within the 
Rules
    The membership qualifications, financial standards, and operational 
requirements for each member type are currently set forth in separate 
rules and addenda, which are spread throughout NSCC's Rules.\4\
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    \4\ ``Members'' qualifications, standards, and requirements are 
located in Rule 2 and in Addendum B. ``Mutual Fund/Insurance 
Services Members,'' also defined to be ``Members,'' qualifications, 
standards, and requirements are located in Rule 2 and in Addendum B. 
``Fund Members'' qualifications, standards, and requirements are 
located in Rule 51 and Addendum I. ``Insurance Carrier/Retirement 
Services Members'' qualifications, standards, and requirements are 
located in Rule 56 and in Addendum Q. ``Third Party Administrator 
Members'' qualifications, standards, and requirements are located in 
Rule 60 and in Addendum R. ``Data Services Only Members'' 
qualifications, standards, and requirements are located in Rule 31. 
``Municipal Comparison Only Members'' qualifications, standards, and 
requirements are located in Rule 3, Section 2. ``Non-Clearing 
Members'' qualifications, standards, and requirements are located in 
Rule 3, Section 2. ``Settling Bank Only Members'' qualifications, 
standards, and requirements are located in Rule 54.
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    To consolidate this information, NSCC proposes to create two new 
rules which would contain the content moved from membership Rules 3, 
31, 51, 54, 56, and 60. Proposed Rule 2A (to be called ``Initial 
Membership Requirements'') would provide information regarding initial 
membership eligibility requirements for all member types and would 
address the membership application and evaluation process. Proposed 
Rule 2B (to be called ``Ongoing Membership Requirements and 
Monitoring'') would contain provisions regarding the continuing 
requirements of members. For ease of reference, NSCC also proposes to 
relocate and consolidate the detailed membership qualifications, 
financial standards, and operational requirements for all membership 
types into Addendum B (to be renamed ``Qualifications and Standards of 
Financial Responsibility, Operational Capability and Business 
History''). The content NSCC is seeking to reorganize into Addendum B 
is currently spread throughout Addenda B, I, Q, and R.
    Accordingly, NSCC would delete current membership related Rules 3 
(specifically, Sections 2, 5, and 6), 31, 51, 54, 56, and 60. In 
addition, NSCC would delete Addenda I, Q, and R.
3. Use of the Terms ``Members'' and ``Settling Members'' Throughout the 
Rules
    Currently, an applicant that agrees to limit its use of NSCC's 
services to those specified by NSCC (i.e., Mutual Fund Services and/or 
Insurance and Retirement Services) is called a ``Mutual Fund/Insurance 
Services Member.'' Thus when the term ``Member'' is used within NSCC's 
Rules, it may apply to a full service Member (which may generally use 
all NSCC services), a Mutual Fund/Insurance Services Member (which may 
only utilize the Mutual Fund and Insurance and Retirement Processing 
Services), or to both, depending upon the context. Additionally, NSCC's 
Rules make reference to ``Settling Members,'' which may apply to a full 
service Member, a Mutual Fund/Insurance Services Member, a Non-Clearing 
Member, or all three member types. It is only in further understanding 
the Rules or in the context of a term's use that one may determine to 
which member type a Rule may apply.\5\ Accordingly, NSCC proposes to 
modify all references to ``Settling Member'' and to ``Member'' within 
each NSCC Rule to clearly indicate to which member type a rule is 
applicable. Definitions associated with these terms (contained in Rule 
1) would be modified and the term ``Settling Member'' would be deleted 
from NSCC's Rules.
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    \5\ For example, as a Mutual Fund/Insurance Services Member may 
not participate in the Continuous Net Settlement Service (``CNS''), 
any reference to ``Members'' within Rule 11 (``CNS'') would not 
apply to Mutual Fund/Insurance Services Members. Any reference to 
``Settling Member'' within Rule 17 (``Fine Payments'') would apply 
to all full service Members, Mutual Fund/Insurance Services Members, 
and Non-Clearing Members (which NSCC proposes to rename ``Commission 
Billing Members'').
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4. Rule 15 (``Financial Responsibility and Operational Capability'')
    Rule 15 contains, among other things, the continuing requirements 
of members with regard to reports to be timely filed on an ongoing 
basis (e.g., annual audited financial statements, Financial and 
Operational Combined Uniform Single (``FOCUS'') Reports, etc.) and 
notifications that members are required to timely make to NSCC 
regarding any failure to maintain their membership qualifications and 
standards, including notifications of certain material changes in 
business, ownership, or control. NSCC proposes to move these ongoing 
reporting requirements into proposed Rule 2B. Rule 15 would then be 
renamed ``Assurances of Financial Responsibility and Operational 
Capability.''
    In Section 2.A. (``Reports and Information'') of proposed Rule 2B, 
NSCC seeks to add text clarifying that unless specifically set forth 
within the Rule, the time periods established for remitting reports and 
data to NSCC are set forth in the form of notices posted on NSCC's Web 
site and that each member is required to retrieve all notices from 
NSCC's Web site daily.
    In Section 2.B. (``Notification of Changes in Condition'') of 
proposed Rule 2B, NSCC seeks to change the

[[Page 39761]]

reporting requirements of certain member types with respect to 
providing NSCC with written notice of events that would effect a change 
in control of the member or that could have a material impact on the 
member's business and/or financial condition. Historically, this 
provision applied to full service Members (i.e., those Members for 
which certain activity is guaranteed at a fixed point in the clearance 
and settlement process) as well as Mutual Fund/Insurance Services 
Members, Fund Members, and Insurance Carrier/Retirement Services 
Members (i.e., those member types whose activity is limited to use of 
non-guaranteed services). NSCC has determined that this notification 
provision should apply solely to full service Members.
    Additionally, NSCC seeks to delete the current requirement that a 
Non-Clearing Member (to be renamed ``Commission Billing Member'') 
provide NSCC with written and oral notice if it is no longer in 
compliance with any of the relevant qualifications and standards for 
membership. Non-Clearing Members participate in NSCC solely for the 
purpose of paying and receiving broker commissions and file 
transmissions related to the service are sent to NSCC directly from 
either the New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange. As 
there are no NSCC financial or operational requirements applicable to 
this member type and the participation of the member is coordinated 
between NSCC and the member's Exchange, the current requirement is not 
necessary.
5. Rule 1 (``Definitions and Descriptions'')
    NSCC proposes the following with respect to terms defined within 
Rule 1:
Board of Directors
    The current definition would be modified to make clear that the 
term ``Board of Directors'' means the Board of Directors of NSCC, or a 
committee thereof, acting on delegated authority.
Commission Billing Member
    NSCC proposes to rename Non-Clearing Members ``Commission Billing 
Members'' to better reflect the nature of their participation in NSCC's 
services. Non-Clearing Members utilize NSCC's Commission Settlement 
Service solely for the payment and collection of commissions.
Limited Member
    The proposed term ``Limited Member'' would mean a Person whose use 
of NSCC's services is limited to those services specified by NSCC.
Person
    The proposed term ``Person'' would mean a partnership, corporation, 
limited liability corporation, or other organization, entity, or 
individual.
Registered Broker-Dealer
    The term ``Registered Broker-Dealer'' (currently defined in Rule 2 
as ``a broker or dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934, as amended'') would be moved to Rule 1.
Settling Member
    The term ``Settling Member'' would be deleted from NSCC's Rules. 
Each member type encompassed by this term would be specifically named 
within NSCC's Rules.
    Other conforming technical changes to Rule 1 are being proposed to 
accommodate the restructuring of the Rules.
6. Rule 2A (``Initial Membership Requirements'') Applicant Operational 
Testing Requirements
    Under NSCC's Rules, certain applicants as determined by NSCC must 
demonstrate that they will be able to satisfactorily communicate with 
NSCC. These applicants conduct system/operational tests with NSCC. NSCC 
proposes to add new text to its rules (Rule 2A, Section 1.C. 
(``Application Documents'')) to make clear NSCC's current requirement 
with regard to applicant testing.
Member's Agreement
    NSCC's Rules currently provide that members sign and deliver to 
NSCC a member's agreement. The applicable provisions of each type of 
member's agreement have historically been set forth in the Rule that 
applies to that member type (e.g., a Fund Member's agreement provisions 
are contained in Rule 51, a full service Member's provisions are 
contained in Rule 2, a Third Party Administrator Member's provisions 
are contained in Rule 60). Regardless of member type, each member 
agreement has certain standard provisions that generally apply to all 
members (e.g., the only services the member may use are those that are 
permitted by NSCC, that the member will abide by NSCC's Rules and be 
bound by all provisions of the Rules, etc.) and certain other 
provisions that are unique to particular member types (e.g., Fund 
Members have a unique provision with regard to NSCC's inspection of 
their books and records).
    NSCC proposes Rule 2A, Section 1.E. (``Membership and Other 
Agreements'') that would contain the main member agreement provisions 
for all member types, as well as address the requirements with regard 
to any other agreements.
Third Party Administrator (``TPA'') ACH Agreements
    NSCC's Rules currently state that TPA Members (non-settling 
members) must provide NSCC with an agreement for preauthorized payments 
(an ``ACH'' agreement) so that NSCC may collect monthly charges 
pursuant to Rule 26 (``Bills Rendered''). To accommodate payment 
methods other than ACH (i.e., ``e-payment'' using a credit card or bank 
account), NSCC proposes to replace the specific TPA ACH requirement 
within its Rules with more generic text.
7. Rule 2B (``Ongoing Membership Requirements and Monitoring'') Reports 
and Information
Annual Audited Financial Statements
    NSCC's Rules currently state that a member whose membership is 
contingent upon a guarantee of a third party must provide a copy of the 
annual audited financial statements of the guarantor. If such 
statements for the member or its guarantor are not available, NSCC may 
accept at its sole discretion consolidated financial statements 
prepared at the level of the parent of the member or guarantor. NSCC is 
modifying this text to make clear that it may accept consolidated 
financial statements or financial information prepared at the level of 
the parent of such entity.\6\
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    \6\ NSCC also seeks to correct a typographical error in Rule 2B, 
Section 2.A.(a) in that ``each'' guarantor should read ``such'' 
guarantor.
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Call Reports
    NSCC is proposing Rule 2B, Section 2.A.(c) with regard to Call 
Reports filed with NSCC by members that are banks or trust companies. 
To the extent that such information is not contained within the Call 
Report or the member is a bank or trust company that is not required to 
file a Call Report, such member would be required to provide NSCC with 
information containing each of its capital levels and ratios.
Supplemental and Quarterly Financial Statements Filed With The National 
Association of Insurance Commissioners (``NAIC'')
    NSCC proposes to delete the current Rule 15 requirement that 
Insurance Companies provide NSCC with copies of their supplemental and 
quarterly financial statements filed with the NAIC or the Insurance 
Company's regulatory authority. Currently, NSCC receives annual audited 
financial statements and

[[Page 39762]]

annual regulatory reports from these members in order to monitor 
adherence to membership requirements. The proposed change would conform 
the Rules to current practice.
Securities Exchange Act Rule 15c3-1 Notification
    NSCC is proposing to add Rule 2B, Section 2.A.(g) to its Rules, 
which would require that a member that has provided to the Commission 
notice pursuant to paragraph (e) of Securities Exchange Act Rule 15c3-1 
(``Notice Provisions Relating to Limitations on the Withdrawal of 
Equity Capital'') shall notify NSCC and provide NSCC with a copy of 
such notice by close of business on the day such notice is provided to 
the Commission.
Operational Testing
    NSCC requires that certain ``top tier'' members participate in 
periodic connectivity testing with NSCC for business recovery purposes. 
NSCC now proposes to add Rule 2B, Section 3 (``Operational Testing'') 
to its Rules to specifically set forth NSCC's operational testing 
requirements.
Ongoing Monitoring--Surveillance Status
    Currently, the provision relating to NSCC's ongoing monitoring of 
full service Members (NSCC's ``credit risk matrix'') appears in 
Addendum B. NSCC proposes to move this provision into new Rule 2B. 
Additionally, NSCC would replace the term ``Settling Member'' with 
``Member'' as the credit risk matrix only applies to full service 
``Members.''
Voluntary Retirement
    NSCC proposes to add Rule 2B, Section 5 (``Voluntary Retirement'') 
to its Rules, which is the current process by which an active 
participant may voluntarily retire its NSCC membership.
8. Addendum B (``Qualifications and Standards of Financial 
Responsibility, Operational Capability and Business History'')
Immediate Placement on Surveillance by NSCC
    Currently, NSCC's Rules provide that applicants to become a Member, 
Mutual Fund/Insurance Services Member, Fund Member, or Insurance 
Carrier/Retirement Services Member may not be known to be subject to 
any other action or condition the existence of which would require it 
to be placed on surveillance by NSCC. In addition, the financial 
requirements for certain members (full service Members and Mutual Fund/
Insurance Services Members) state that the member must have a capital 
ratio or percentage that would not require the applicant to be placed 
on immediate surveillance by NSCC. All applicants must meet their 
minimum financial requirements, as applicable to their member type. 
NSCC now seeks to delete these provisions.
    When the NSCC membership standards were developed, the NSCC credit 
risk matrix was not in place. As a result of the implementation of the 
credit risk matrix, it is possible that once an applicant is approved 
for membership, it may be placed directly on NSCC's Watch List (i.e., 
surveillance status). As sufficient discretion to deny membership based 
on financial, operational, or character issues exists in other sections 
of NSCC's rules, elimination of these provisions will not diminish 
NSCC's authority under its Rules to deny an applicant membership.
Fund Member Applicants Subject to Securities Exchange Act Rule 17a-11 
Reporting
    NSCC proposes to delete Addendum I (``Standards of Financial 
Responsibility and Operational Capability for Fund Members''), which 
includes a requirement that a broker-dealer Fund Member applicant not 
be subject to reporting under Securities Exchange Act Rule 17a-11 
(``Notification Provisions for Broker and Dealers''). As a Fund Member, 
an applicant must meet NSCC's minimum financial requirements for 
membership (and, as stated above, NSCC retains sufficient discretion to 
deny membership based on financial, operational, or character issues in 
other sections of NSCC's Rules). Thus, NSCC has determined that this 
requirement is duplicative and that its elimination will not diminish 
NSCC's authority under its Rules to deny an applicant membership if it 
does not meet the applicable financial standards.
Financial Responsibility--Entities That Qualify for Membership Under 
the Category of ``Other'' Entity Types
    In certain instances in NSCC's membership Rules, an applicant that 
does not qualify for membership under one of the specifically defined 
qualification criteria established for its membership type, may apply 
for membership if it has demonstrated to NSCC that its business and 
capabilities are such that it could reasonably expect material benefit 
from direct access to NSCC's services. NSCC's financial requirements 
for such an applicant require that it meet financial stability 
standards as are applied to the industry in which the applicant is 
associated. As industry standards are not always well-defined and as 
there may not be consensus among market participants as to what such 
standards should be, NSCC is proposing to modify the financial 
requirements for ``other'' applicants by requiring that such applicants 
be required to satisfy such minimum standards of financial 
responsibility deemed appropriate by NSCC.
Business History
    NSCC's Rules currently provide that Insurance Carrier/Retirement 
Services applicants and Third Party Administrator applicants (both non-
guaranteed service members) must have an established business history 
of a minimum of three years or personnel with sufficient operational 
background and experience to ensure the ability of the applicant to 
conduct such a business. The business history requirement for full 
service Members, as well as Mutual Fund/Insurance Services Members and 
Fund Members (both non-guaranteed service members) is six months, or 
the member must have personnel with sufficient operational background 
and experience to ensure the ability of the applicant to conduct such a 
business.
    NSCC has determined that the business history requirement of 
Insurance Carrier/Retirement Services and Third Party Administrator 
applicants need not be any more stringent that those applied to Fund 
Members and Mutual Fund/Insurance Services Members. Therefore, NSCC 
proposes to change the three year requirement to six months.
Fund Members That Are Insurance Companies
    Under NSCC's Rules, an Insurance Company may apply to become a Fund 
Member, however, the financial requirements for Insurance Companies is 
not specifically set forth in Addendum I. Addendum I states that all 
``other'' applicants shall be required to meet financial stability and 
operational capability standards as are applicable to the industry in 
which the applicant is associated. Historically, NSCC looked to its 
Insurance Carrier/Retirement Services Member financial standards set 
forth in Rule 57. NSCC proposes to clearly state Insurance Company 
financial standards under its Fund Member financial requirements in 
Addendum B, Section 3.
9. Rule 3 (``Lists To Be Maintained'')
    In consolidating NSCC's membership standards, NSCC proposes to move 
to Rule 2 the portions of Rule 3 (specifically, Sections 2, 5, and 6) 
that

[[Page 39763]]

pertain to Municipal Comparison Only Members, Non-Clearing Members, 
and/or Data Services Only Members. For purposes of clarity, the 
remaining information within Rule 3 would be reorganized and reordered.
10. Addendum D (``Statement of Policy Envelope Settlement Service'')
    To more accurately reflect the scope of the information contained 
within Addendum D, NSCC proposes to rename it ``Statement of Policy 
Envelope Settlement Service, Mutual Fund Services, Insurance and 
Retirement Processing Service and Other Services Offered by the 
Corporation.''
11. Rule 38 (``Captions'')
    Mirroring FICC's Rules, NSCC proposes to add language to Rule 38 to 
make clear that NSCC's Rules are governed by New York substantive law. 
This language currently exists in NSCC's membership agreements only. 
Rule 38 would be renamed ``Governing Law and Captions.''
12. Technical Corrections
    In 2006, NSCC submitted for immediate effectiveness proposed rule 
change SR-NSCC-2006-07 which made clarifying and technical changes to 
NSCC's Rules related to funds which are eligible for processing on 
Fund/Serv.\7\ At that time, the membership qualifications contained 
within Section 1.(viii) of Rule 31 (``Data Services Only Member'') 
should have been modified to reflect the definitional change made 
within Rule 1 with respect to ``TPA.'' Accordingly, NSCC is correcting 
the text within its rules to eliminate the reference to ``defined 
contribution plans as defined in Section 414(i) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986, as amended,'' and refer instead, to ``a retirement or 
other benefit plan.''
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    \7\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54366 (August 25, 2006), 
71 FR 52199.
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    In 2006, NSCC submitted for immediate effectiveness proposed rule 
change SR-NSCC-2006-14 which, among other things, deleted references to 
the Product Repository service as NSCC had determined not to offer the 
service.\8\ At that time, any references within NSCC to ``Repository 
Data'' should have been deleted. Accordingly, NSCC is seeking to delete 
such references.
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    \8\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54921 (December 12, 
2006), 71 FR 76415.
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    In 2005, the Commission approved NSCC proposed rule change SR-NSCC-
2005-01 which clarified that the operational capability that is 
ordinarily focused upon by NSCC during the application process is the 
ability of an applicant to appropriately communicate with NSCC, that 
is, the ability to input to NSCC and to receive output from NSCC on a 
timely and accurate basis.\9\ The rule change removed certain 
provisions that might be interpreted to impose upon NSCC an obligation 
to make determinations with respect to particular aspects of 
operational capability. Instead, NSCC relies upon the requirement that 
the applicant in fact be able to satisfactorily communicate with NSCC 
as generally stated in the operational capability requirements 
currently set forth for members in NSCC's Rules. At the time of the 
filing, the provision within Rule 60 with respect to approval of TPA 
Member applicants based upon an alternative operational standard should 
have been deleted. Accordingly, NSCC now seeks to delete this provision 
from its Rules. NSCC would continue to retain the right to examine any 
aspect of an applicant's or member's business pursuant to the 
provisions of Rule 15.
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    \9\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51600 (April 22, 2005), 
70 FR 22167.
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    In 2005, the Commission approved NSCC proposed rule change SR-NSCC-
2005-14 which added Rule 64 (``DTCC Shareholders Agreement'') requiring 
that full service Members of NSCC purchase shares of the common stock 
of the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (``DTCC''), NSCC's 
parent corporation, and that certain Limited Member types could 
voluntarily purchase such shares.\10\ Section 5 of Rule 64 made 
incorrect references to ``Members'' and should have referenced all 
member types specified in Section 2 (``Members'') and Section 3 (``Fund 
Members, Insurance Carrier/Retirement Services Members, Municipal 
Comparison Only Members, and Mutual Fund/Insurance Services Members'') 
of Rule 64. Accordingly, NSCC now seeks to correct such references.
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    \10\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 52922 (December 7, 
2005), 70 FR 74070.
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    In 2004, the Commission approved NSCC proposed rule change SR-NSCC-
2003-05 which modified NSCC's Rules to provide that notices to members 
posted by NSCC via electronic format (i.e., posted on NSCC's Web site) 
meet NSCC's notification obligations.\11\ At that time, Section 7 of 
Rule 45 (``Notices'') was added to NSCC's Rules with an incorrect 
reference to Section 3. NSCC is seeking to remove this incorrect 
reference.
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    \11\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 50085 (July 26, 2004), 
69 FR 45872.
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    NSCC believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the 
requirements of Section 17A of the Act \12\ and the rules and 
regulations thereunder applicable to NSCC because it should assure the 
safeguarding of securities and funds in NSCC's custody or control or 
for which it is responsible by assisting NSCC applicants and members in 
understanding, and thereby complying with, NSCC's membership standards 
and requirements thereby protecting NSCC and its members from undue 
risk.
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    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    NSCC does not believe that the proposed rule change will have any 
impact or impose any burden on competition.

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

    Written comments relating to the proposed rule change have not been 
solicited and none have been received. NSCC will notify the Commission 
of any written comments it receives.

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

    Within thirty-five 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 ninety 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, as amended, 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-NSCC-2006-17 on the subject line.

[[Page 39764]]

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NSCC-2006-17. 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 Section, 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 NSCC and on NSCC's 
Web site at http://www.dtcc.com/downloads/legal/rule_filings/2006/
nscc/2006-17.pdf. 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-
NSCC-2006-17 and should be submitted on or before July 31, 2008.

    For the Commission by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\13\
Florence E. Harmon,
Acting Secretary.
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    \13\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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[FR Doc. E8-15707 Filed 7-9-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010-01-P