# Self-Regulatory Organizations; Boston Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change and Amendment No. 1 Thereto Requiring Its Member To Provide Electronic Mail Addresses to the Exchange
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”), [^1] and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, [^2] notice is hereby given that on October 28, 2005, the Boston Stock Exchange, Inc. (“BSE” or “Exchange”) 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 Exchange. On November 23, 2005, the BSE filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change. [^3] The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change, as amended, from interested persons.
[^1] 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
[^2] 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
[^3] In Amendment No. 1, BSE made clarifying changes to its statement of purpose for the proposed rule change.
**I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change**
The BSE proposes to amend its rules to require members and member organizations to provide e-mail addresses to the Exchange for use in transmitting notices and other communications. Below is the text of the proposed rule change. Proposed new language is in italics.
**Rules of the Boston Stock Exchange**
**Chapter XXV—Registration of Member-Corporations**
SEC. 1. A member of the Exchange may register a corporation as a member-corporation of the Exchange, upon application by the member and the corporation, subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a)—(n) No change.
**Designation of Electronic Mail Addresses**
* (o) Every member and member organization shall designate one or more electronic mail addresses for the purpose of receiving Exchange notices and communications and shall promptly update those electronic mail addresses when those addresses change or are no longer valid. An authorized representative of the Exchange may elect to transmit notices or other communications to members and member organizations electronically; provided, however, that nothing in this rule shall be construed to supersede or modify either the method for service of process or other materials in any disciplinary proceeding or any other provisions of Exchange rules setting out a specific method for the receipt of information from the Exchange. *
**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 IV 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**
The Exchange proposes to modify its rules to require each member and member organization to provide the Exchange with an electronic mail address that the Exchange may use to distribute notices and communications. In addition, each member and member organization would be required to promptly update those electronic mail addresses when those addresses change or are no longer valid. The Exchange represents that the proposal is designed to allow the Exchange to take advantage of technology to communicate with members in a more efficient and cost-effective manner, for routine communications as well as in appropriate emergency situations. Among other things, the Exchange anticipates that it would be able to provide members with electronic copies of the Regulatory Circulars, which today are circulated to Exchange Members in hard copies.
Importantly, the Exchange's proposed rule change specifically notes that it does not supersede or modify any rule that sets out a different method of service required as part of a disciplinary proceeding, [^4] or any other provisions of the Exchange rules setting out a specific method for the receipt of information from the Exchange. The Exchange represents that those materials would continue to be provided by the more conventional means set out in the rules.
[^4]*See* Chapter XXX of BSE rules (“Disciplining of Members-Denial of Membership”).
**2. Statutory Basis**
The Exchange believes the proposal, as amended, is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act [^5] , in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act, [^6] in particular, because it would promote just and equitable principles of trade, serve to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and to protect investors and the public interest by allowing the Exchange to take advantage of available technology to communicate with its members in a more efficient and cost-effective manner.
[^5] 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
[^6] 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
**B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition**
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change, as amended, will impose any burden on competition.
**C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others**
No written comments were solicited or received by the Exchange on this proposal.
**III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action**
Within 35 days of the date of publication of this notice in the *Federal Register* or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding, or (ii) as to which the Exchange consents, the Commission will:
(A) By order approve the proposed rule change, as amended, or
(B) Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change, as amended, should be disapproved.
**IV. Solicitation of Comments**
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change, as amended, 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 *[email protected].* Please include File Number SR-BSE-2005-48 on the subject line.
**Paper Comments**
• Send paper comments in triplicate to Jonathan G. Katz, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-9303.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-BSE-2005-48. 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 Room. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. 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-BSE-2005-48 and should be submitted on or before January 3, 2006.
For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority. [^7]
[^7] 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
Jonathan G. Katz,
Secretary.