Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change by the Pacific Exchange, Inc. Relating to Use of Telephones on the Options Trading Floor

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 September 1,2000, the Pacific Exchange, Inc. (“PCX” or “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. 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 PCX proposes to amend and codify its policy governing the use of member-owned or Exchange-owned telephones on the trading floor with respect to communications at option trading posts. The text of the proposed rule change is available at the PCX and at the Commission.

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 Exchange 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 III below. The Exchange 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

According to the PCX, the purpose of the proposed rule change is to expand the existing PCX policy governing the use of telephones at option trading posts to allow the receipt of orders over outside telephone lines at option trading posts. The proposed rule would generally allow for the receipt of orders directly at the post over outside telephone lines only when the order(s) is placed during outgoing telephone calls. Registered Exchange Market Makers, however, may transmit orders directly to the trading post.

Under the proposed rule change, the use of telephones at the option posts must comply with the requirements and conditions set forth in proposed Rule 6.2(h)(3). This proposed rule would provide that: (A) only those quotations that have been publicly disseminated pursuant to PCX Rule 6.73 may be provided over telephones at the post; (B) orders transmitted by registered Exchange Market Makers may be entered directly to the trading posts; all other orders may be entered directly to the trading posts only during outgoing telephone calls that are initiated at the option posts; and (C) the Exchange may provide for the taping of any telephone line into the trading posts or may require Members to provide for the tape recording of a dedicated line at the posts at any time. Members and their clerks using the telephone consent to the Exchange tape recording any telephone or line. In addition, in proposed Rule 6.2(h)(5)(A), the PCX proposes to remove the current prohibition against Floor Brokers' use of cellular or cordless phones to make calls to persons located off the trading floor. Under the proposed revision, Floor Brokers will have the same ability to use cellular and cordless phones that PCX Market Makers and Lead Market Makers now have, except that Floor Brokers can accept orders only in outgoing calls initiated at the option post.

The Exchange believes that this proposed expansion of the Exchange's telephone policy at option posts is consistent with the recommendation of the Options Floor Trading Committee (OFTC), which oversees trading at the option posts. According to PCX, easing the current policy would enable the Exchange to provide more efficient access to its trading crowds and customers, increase the speed of the transmittal of orders and the execution of trades, and satisfy customers in an increasingly competitive environment.

The Exchange intends to police compliance with the conditions applicable to the use of telephones at the option trading posts through oversight by and review of complaints from Exchange members at the trading post, as well as observations of Floor Officials and Exchange staff. Further, the Exchange represents that any individual member or associated person receiving orders over outside telephone lines must be properly qualified under Exchange rules.

The Exchange further indicates that the OFTC will be responsible for implementing this policy in conformity with Exchange rules and the Act. The OFTC will approve access, approve the phone technology, and decide any other issues relating to this policy.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act in that it is designed to improve communications to and from the Exchange's trading floor in a manner that promotes just and equitable principles of trade, prevents fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, and maintains fair and orderly markets.

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

The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any inappropriate burden on competition.

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. 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. Persons making written submissions should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549-0609. 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 at the Commission's Public Reference Room. Copies of such filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-PCX-00-33 and should be submitted by February 12, 2000.

IV. Commission's Findings and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change

The Commission has reviewed the PCX's proposed rule change and finds, for the reasons set forth below, that the proposal is consistent with the requirements of Section 6 of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities exchange. Specifically, the Commission believes the proposal is consistent with Sections 6(b)(5) and 6(b)(8) of the Act. Section 6(b)(5) requires, among other things, that the rules of an exchange be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to facilitate transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanisms of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. Section 6(b)(5) also requires that those rules not be designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. Section 6(b)(8) of the Act requires that the rules of an exchange not impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

The Commission finds that the proposed rule, which would expand the PCX's policy regarding the use of telephones on its options trading floor by permitting the receipt of off-floor orders over outside telephone lines directly at the equity trading posts during outgoing telephone calls, is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act in that it is designed to improve communication to and from the Exchange's trading floor in a manner that is consistent with Section 6(b)(5)'s objectives of promotion of just and equitable principles of trade, prevention of fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, and maintenance of fair and orderly markets. The Commission believes that it is reasonable for PCX to permit PCX Market Makers to send orders to the trading floor via incoming calls, a policy which allows these market makers to transmit their orders more efficiently at those times when they are required to be off the floor. In the Commission's view, it is also reasonable for the Exchange to now allow orders from any other source to go directly to the post as long as those orders are placed in outgoing calls only.

The Commission further finds that the proposed rule change modifies the PCX's communication system in a way that provides for equitable access to the Exchange floor among members, broker-dealers, non-broker-dealers, and public customers alike. Accordingly, the Commission finds that the proposal is consistent with the requirement of Section 6(b)(8) that the proposed rule change not impose a burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the Act's purpose.

The Exchange has indicated that it intends to police compliance with the conditions applicable to the use of telephones at the equity trading posts through complaints from Exchange members at the post, as well as observations of Floor Officials and Exchange staff. The Exchange has further indicated that the OFTC will be responsible for implementing this policy in conformity with Exchange Rules and the Act, including approving access and the phone technology, and will decide any other issues relating to this policy. The Commission finds that these proposed means of surveillance are consistent with prevention of fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, as required by Section 6(b)(5).

For these reasons, the Commission finds good cause for approving the proposed rule change (SR-PCX-00-33) prior to the thirtieth day after the date of publication of notice thereof in the Federal Register. The Commission notes that PCX's proposal is virtually identical to a proposed rule change by CBOE (SR-CBOE-00-04) that was recently approved by the Commission.

The Commission believes that proper surveillance is an essential component of any policy governing telephone access to an exchange's trading floor. Especially important in this case is ensuring that the PCX's surveillance efforts prevent individuals who are not properly qualified to take public orders for securities (i.e., non-Series 7 registered Exchange employees) from interacting with the public. The Commission finds that the safeguards proposed above by the PCX are consistent with the prevention of fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, as required under Section 6(b)(5).

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act, that the proposed rule change (SR-PCX-00-33) is hereby approved on an accelerated basis.