Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals

Federal Register: November 5, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 215)

Notices

Page 65891-65892

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr05no08-98

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: U.S. Securities and

Exchange Commission, Office of Investor Education and Advocacy,

Washington, DC 20549-0213.

Extension:

Rule 15c2-7; OMB Control No. 3235-0479; SEC File No. 270-420.

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) the Securities and Exchange Commission

(``Commission'') is soliciting comments on the collection of information summarized below. The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of information to the Office of Management and

Budget for extension and approval.

Rule 15c2-7 (17 CFR 240.15c2-7) places disclosure requirements on broker-dealers who have correspondent relationships, or agreements identified in the rule, with other broker-dealers. Whenever any such broker-dealer enters a quotation for a security through an inter-dealer quotation system, Rule 15c2-7 requires the broker-dealer to disclose these relationships and agreements in the manner required by the rule.

The inter-dealer quotation system must also be able to make these disclosures public in association with the quotation the broker-dealer is making.

When rule 15c2-7 was adopted in 1964, the information it requires was necessary for execution of the Commission's mandate under the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to prevent fraudulent, manipulative and deceptive acts by broker-dealers. In the absence of the information collection required under Rule 15c2-7, investors and broker-dealers would have been unable to accurately determine the market depth of, and demand for, securities in an inter-dealer quotation system.

There are approximately 5,808 broker-dealers registered with the

Commission. Any of these broker-dealers could be potential respondents for Rule 15c2-7, so the Commission is using that figure to represent the number of respondents. Rule 15c2-7 applies only to quotations entered into an inter-dealer quotation system, such as the OTC Bulletin

Board (``OTCBB''), or Pink Sheets, operated by Pink OTC Markets, Inc.

According to representatives of both Pink Sheets and the OTCBB, neither entity has recently received, or anticipates receiving any

Page 65892

Rule 15c2-7 notices. However, because such notices could be made, the

Commission estimates that one filing is made annually pursuant to Rule 15c2-7.

Based on prior industry reports, the Commission estimates that the average time required to enter a disclosure pursuant to the rule is .75 minutes, or 45 seconds. The Commission sees no reason to change this estimate. We estimate that impacted respondents spend a total of .0125 hours per year to comply with the requirements of Rule 15c2-7 (1 notice

(x) 45 seconds/notice). The Commission estimates that a typical employee of a broker-dealer charged to ensure compliance with

Commission regulations receives annual compensation of $128,960. This compensation is the equivalent of $62.00 per hour ($128,960 divided by 2,080 payroll hours per year). Thus, the Commission estimates that the annual cost burden for compliance with Rule 15c2-7 is $0.78 ($62.00/ hour multiplied by 0.0125 hours).

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a current and valid control number. Written comments are invited regarding: (a)

Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of collecting information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted in writing within 60 days of this publication.

Please direct your comments to Lewis W. Welker, Acting Director/

Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o

Shirley Martinson, 6432 General Green Way, Alexandria, VA 22312 or send an e-mail to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov.

Florence E. Harmon,

Acting Secretary.

FR Doc. E8-26389 Filed 11-4-08; 8:45 am

BILLING CODE 8011-01-P