[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 28, 2010)] [Notices] [Pages 59752-59753] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2010-24226] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34-62966; File No. SR-CTA-2010-02] Consolidated Tape Association; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of the Fifteenth Charges Amendment to the Second Restatement of the Consolidated Tape Association Plan September 21, 2010. Pursuant to Section 11A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act''),\1\ and Rule 608 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that on September 21, 2010, the Consolidated Tape Association (``CTA'') Plan and participants (``Participants'') \3\ filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') a proposal to amend the Second Restatement of the CTA Plan (the ``CTA Plan'').\4\ The proposal represents the fifteenth charges amendment to the CTA Plan (``Fifteenth Charges Amendment''), and reflects changes unanimously adopted by the Participants. The Fifteenth Charges Amendment seeks to reduce the maximum amount that any entity is required to pay for any calendar month's charge for broadcast, cable or satellite television distribution of a Network A ticker. Pursuant to Rule 608(b)(3) under Regulation NMS, the Participants designate the amendment as establishing or changing a fee or other charge collected on their behalf in connection with access to, or use of, the facilities contemplated by the Plans. As a result, the amendment becomes effective upon filing with the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments from interested persons on the proposed amendment. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78k-1. \2\ 17 CFR 242.608. \3\ Each participant executed the proposed amendment. The Participants are: BATS Exchange, Inc.; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc.; Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.; Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; International Securities Exchange, LLC; NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc.; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; National Stock Exchange, Inc.; New York Stock Exchange LLC; NYSE Amex LLC; and NYSE Arca, Inc. \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 10787 (May 10, 1974), 39 FR 17799 (declaring the CTA Plan effective). The CTA Plan, pursuant to which markets collect and disseminate last sale price information for non-NASDAQ listed securities, is a ``transaction reporting plan'' under Rule 601 under the Act, 17 CFR 242.601, and a ``national market system plan'' under Rule 608 under the Act, 17 CFR 242.608. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Rule 608(a) A. Description and Purpose of the Amendment The CTA Plan currently imposes a monthly charge of $2.00 for every 1000 households reached on broadcast, cable and satellite television distribution of a Network A ticker (the ``Broadcast Charge''). A minimum monthly vendor payment of $2,000 applies. CTA permits prorating for those who broadcast the data for less than the entire business day, based upon the number of minutes that the vendor displays the real-time ticker, divided by the number of minutes the primary market is open for trading (currently 390 minutes). In 2007, the Participants introduced a cap (the ``Television Ticker Maximum'') on the Broadcast Charge each calendar month. For months falling in calendar year 2007, the ``Television Ticker Maximum'' was $150,000. For each subsequent calendar year, the monthly Television Ticker Maximum increases by the ``Annual Increase Amount.'' The ``Annual Increase Amount'' is an amount equal to the percentage increase in the annual composite share volume for the preceding calendar year, subject to a maximum annual increase of five percent. For 2008, the ``Annual Increase Amount'' raised the ``Television Ticker Maximum'' to $157,500. For 2008, the ``Annual Increase Amount'' raised the ``Television Ticker Maximum'' to $164,000. The ``Annual Increase Amount'' is the same adjustment factor that the Network A rate schedule has long applied to the monthly broker-dealer enterprise fee. In light of the Network A Participants' experience with the Network A ticker, the Participants have determined to reduce the Television Ticker Maximum. In the amendment, the Participants propose to re-set the Television Ticker Maximum to $125,000 for calendar months falling in 2010. For calendar months falling in subsequent calendar years, the Participants would impose the Annual Increase Amount to the Television Ticker Maximum. For example, for calendar months falling in 2011, the Participants would increase 2010's $125,000 monthly Television Ticker Maximum by the Annual Increase Amount. The text of the proposed amendment is available on the CTA's Web site (http://www.nysedata.com/cta), at the principal office of the CTA, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room. B. Additional Information Required by Rule 608(a) 1. Governing or Constituent Documents Not applicable. 2. Implementation of the Amendment The reduction in the monthly Television Ticker Maximum currently affects only one vendor. The Participants have notified that vendor. The Participants propose to implement the change retroactively so that it applies to all calendar months of 2010. 3. Development and Implementation Phases See Item I(B)(2) above. 4. Analysis of Impact on Competition The amendment will impose no burden on competition. 5. Written Understanding or Agreements Relating to Interpretation of, or Participation in, Plan The Participants have no written understandings or agreements relating to interpretation of the CTA Plan as a result of the amendment. 6. Approval by Sponsors in Accordance With Plan Under Section IV(b) of the CTA Plan, each CTA Plan Participant must execute a written amendment to the CTA Plan before the amendment can become effective. The amendment is so executed. 7. Description of Operation of Facility Contemplated by the Proposed Amendment Not applicable. 8. Terms and Conditions of Access Not applicable. 9. Method of Determination and Imposition, and Amount of, Fees and Charges The Participants believe that the proposed reduction in the cap on [[Page 59753]] Broadcast Charges is fair and reasonable and provides for an equitable allocation of dues, fees, and other charges among vendors, data recipients and other persons using CTA Network A facilities. 10. Method of Frequency of Processor Evaluation Not applicable. 11. Dispute Resolution Not applicable. II. Rule 601(a) A. Equity Securities for Which Transaction Reports Shall Be Required by the Plan Not applicable. B. Reporting Requirements Not applicable. C. Manner of Collecting, Processing, Sequencing, Making Available and Disseminating Last Sale Information Not applicable. D. Manner of Consolidation Not applicable. E. Standards and Methods Ensuring Promptness, Accuracy and Completeness of Transaction Reports Not applicable. F. Rules and Procedures Addressed to Fraudulent or Manipulative Dissemination Not applicable. G. Terms of Access to Transaction Reports The Network A Participants and the vendor that the proposed amendment would affect have already entered into the Network A Participants' standard form of agreement. No new terms of access will apply, other than the reduction to the cap on the Broadcast Charge. 8. Identification of Marketplace of Execution Not applicable. III. Solicitation of Comments Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed Fifteenth Charges Amendment to the CTA Plan is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: Electronic CommentsUse the Commission's Internet comment form ( http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or Send an e-mail to [email protected]. Please include File Number SR-CTA-2010-02 on the subject line. Paper Comments Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CTA-2010-02. 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 Fifteenth Charges Amendment to the CTA Plan that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the Fifteenth Charges Amendment to the CTA Plan 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 Web site viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the Fifteenth Charges Amendment to the CTA Plan also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the CTA. 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-CTA- 2010-02 and should be submitted on or before October 19, 2010. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.\5\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \5\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(27). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florence E. Harmon, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2010-24226 Filed 9-27-10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8010-01-P