Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change and Amendment No. 1 Thereto by the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc., Relating to a DPM and Market Maker Transaction Fee

Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, notice is hereby given that on March 29, 2004, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc. (“CBOE”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II and III below, which Items have been prepared by the CBOE. On April 15, 2004, the CBOE filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.

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

The CBOE proposes to make a change to its Fee Schedule to establish a $.40 per contract license fee on all Designated Primary Market Maker (“DPM”) and Market Maker transactions in the Russell 2000 (RUT) option class. The text of the proposed rule change, as amended, may be examined at the places specified in Item IV, below.

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 CBOE 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 CBOE 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 CBOE proposes to establish a $.40 per contract license fee on all DPM and Market Maker transactions in the RUT option class. In January, 2003, the CBOE amended its Fee Schedule to require DPMs to pay period license fees in their appointed option classes. This provision was initially applied to the RUT option class. The CBOE also established a separate $.16 per contract fee upon all DPM contracts traded in the RUT. The $.16 per contract fee was eliminated later in 2003.

Recently, the RUT DPM agreed to trade RUT via the CBOE's Hybrid Trading System. In light of RUT's move to Hybrid Trading, the CBOE proposes to recoup the periodic RUT license fee with a $.40 per contract license fee on RUT transactions by the DPM as well as by the other Market Makers in RUT. The RUT DPM will remain responsible for making up any shortfall between the proceeds the CBOE receives from the new $.40 per contract license transaction fee and the CBOE's RUT license fee obligations to the Russell company. The CBOE believes that this proposal will maintain an equitable allocation of the RUT license fee obligation in RUT's new Hybrid Trading environment, while maintaining the DPM's obligation, in recognition of its special status as the RUT DPM, to ensure satisfaction of the overall license fee obligation.

2. Statutory Basis

The CBOE believes that the proposal is consistent with section 6(b) of the Act, in general, and section 6(b)(4) of the Act, in particular, in that it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among its members.

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

The CBOE does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose 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 on the proposed rule change were neither solicited nor received.

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

The foregoing rule change, as amended, has become effective pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder because it changes a fee imposed by the CBOE. At any time within 60 days of the filing of such 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.

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-CBOE-2004-19 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

• Send paper comments in triplicate to Jonathan G. Katz, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549-0609.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CBOE-2004-19. 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, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the CBOE. 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-CBOE-2004-19 and should be submitted on or before May 21, 2004.