# 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 611; OMB Control No. 3238-0600; SEC File No. 270-540.
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”) is soliciting comments on the collection of information summarized below. The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget for extension and approval.
• (Rule 611 (17 CFR 242.611)—Order Protection Rule
On June 9, 2005, effective August 29, 2005 ( *see* 70 FR 37496, June 29, 2005), the Commission adopted Rule 611 of Regulation NMS under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a *et seq.* ) to require any national securities exchange, national securities association, alternative trading system, exchange market maker, over-the-counter market maker and any other broker-dealer that executes orders internally by trading as principal or crossing orders as agent, to establish, maintain, and enforce policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent the execution of a transaction in its market at a price that is inferior to a bid or offer displayed in another market at the time of execution (a “trade-though”), absent an applicable exception and, if relying on an exception, that are reasonably designed to assure compliance with the terms of the exception. Without this collection of information, respondents would not have a means to enforce compliance with the Commission's intention to prevent trade-throughs pursuant to the rule.
There are approximately 788 respondents [^1] per year that will require an aggregate total of 36,540 hours to comply with this rule. [^2] It is anticipated that each respondent will continue to expend approximately 60 hours annually: Two hours per month of internal legal time and three hours per month of internal compliance time to ensure that its written policies and procedures are up-to-date and remain in compliance with Rule 611. The estimated cost for an in-house attorney is $295 per hour and the estimated cost for an assistant compliance director in the securities industry is $301 per hour. Therefore the estimated total cost of compliance for the annual hour burden is as follows: [(2 legal hours × 12 months × $295) × 788] + [(3 compliance hours × 12 months × $301) × 788] = $14,117,808. [^3] There are no longer start-up costs associated with Rule 611.
[^1] This estimate includes nine national securities exchanges and one national securities association that trade NMS stocks. The estimate also includes the approximately 731 firms that were registered equity market makers or specialists at year-end 2006, as well as automated trading systems that operate trading systems that trade NMS stocks.
[^2] The one-time hour burden associated with developing the required policies and procedures is no longer applicable.
[^3] The total cost of compliance for the annual hour burden has been revised to reflect updated estimated cost figures for an in-house attorney and an assistant compliance director. These figures are from SIFMA's *Management & Professional Earnings in the Securities Industry 2007,* adjusted by the SEC staff for an 1800 hour work year and multiplied by 5.35 to account for bonuses, firm size, employee benefits and overhead. *See* Securities Exchange Act Release No. 50870 (Dec. 16, 2004), 69 FR 77424 (Dec. 27, 2004) at notes 427, 428 and accompanying text.
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.
Comments should be directed to: R. Corey Booth, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, C/O Shirley Martinson, 6432 General Green Way, Alexandria, Virginia 22312 or send an e-mail to: *[email protected]* . Comments must be submitted within 60 days of this notice.
Dated: January 23, 2008.
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.