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 19b-7 and Form 19b-7; OMB Control No. 3235-0553; SEC File No. 270-495.

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”) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) a request for approval of extension of the existing collection of information provided for in Rule 19b-7 (17 CFR 240.19b-7) and Form 19b-7—Filings with respect to proposed rule changes submitted pursuant to Section 19b(7) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.) (“Exchange Act”).

The Exchange Act provides a framework for self-regulation under which various entities involved in the securities business, including national securities exchanges and national securities associations (collectively, self-regulatory organizations or “SROs”), have primary responsibility for regulating their members or participants. The role of the Commission in this framework is primarily one of oversight: the Exchange Act charges the Commission with supervising the SROs and assuring that each complies with and advances the policies of the Exchange Act.

The Exchange Act was amended by the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000 (“CFMA”). Prior to the CFMA, federal law did not allow the trading of futures on individual stocks or on narrow-based stock indexes (collectively, “security futures products”). The CFMA removed this restriction and provides that trading in security futures products would be regulated jointly by the Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”).

The Exchange Act requires all SROs to submit to the SEC any proposals to amend, add, or delete any of their rules. Certain entities (Security Futures Product Exchanges) would be national securities exchanges only because they trade security futures products. Similarly, certain entities (Limited Purpose National Securities Associations) would be national securities associations only because their members trade security futures products. The Exchange Act, as amended by the CFMA, established a procedure for Security Futures Product Exchanges and Limited Purpose National Securities Associations to provide notice of proposed rule changes relating to certain matters. Rule 19b-7 and Form 19b-7 implemented this procedure. Effective April 28, 2008, the SEC amended Rule 19b-7 and Form 19b-7 to require that Form 19b-7 be submitted electronically.

The collection of information is designed to provide the Commission with the information necessary to determine, as required by the Act, whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act and the rules thereunder. The information is used to determine if the proposed rule change should remain in affect or abrogated.

The respondents to the collection of information are SROs. Five respondents file an average total of 12 responses per year. Each response takes approximately 13.25 hours to complete, which corresponds to an estimated annual response burden of 159 (12 responses × 13.25 hours) hours. The average cost per response is $4,465.50 (13.25 hours multiplied by a weighted average hourly rate of $337.02).

Compliance with Rule 19b-7 is mandatory. Information received in response to Rule 19b-7 shall not be kept confidential; the information collected is public information.

Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's estimates of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 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 written comments to: Thomas Bayer, Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, C/O Remi Pavlik-Simon, 6432 General Green Way, Alexandria, Virginia 22312 or send an e-mail to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov.