[Federal Register: September 22, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 184)]
[Notices]
[Page 55526-55527]
[DOCID:fr22se06-156]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange
Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, Washington, DC
20549.

Extension:
    Rule 605 of Regulation NMS, SEC File No. 270-488, OMB Control
No. 3235-0542. Rule 606 of Regulation NMS, SEC File No. 270-489, OMB
Control No. 3235-0541.

    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'') intends to submit to the Office of
Management and Budget (``OMB'') a request for extension of the
previously approved collection of information discussed below.
    Rule 605 of Regulation NMS (``Rule 605'') (17 CFR 242.605),\1\ f/k/
a Rule 11Ac1-5 (17 CFR.240.11Ac1-5), requires market centers to make
available to the public monthly order execution reports in electronic
form. The Commission believes that many market centers retain most, if
not all, the underlying raw data necessary to generate these reports in
electronic format. Once the necessary data is collected, market centers
could either program their systems to generate the statistics and
reports, or transfer the data to a service provider (such as an
independent company in the business of preparing such reports or a
self-regulatory organization (``SRO'')) that would generate the
statistics and reports.
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    \1\ Regulation NMS, adopted by the Commission in June 2005,
redesignated the national market system rules previously adopted
under Section 11A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Exchange
Act''). Rule 11Ac1-5 under the Exchange Act was redesignated Rule
605 of Regulation NMS, and Rule 11Ac1-6 under the Exchange Act was
redesignated Rule 606 of Regulation NMS. No substantive amendments
were made to Rule 605 and Rule 606 of Regulation NMS. See Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 51808 (June 9, 2005), 70 FR 37496 (June 29,
2005).
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    The collection of information obligations of Rule 605 apply to all
market centers that receive covered orders in national market system
securities. The Commission estimates that approximately 302 market
centers are subject to the collection of information obligations of
Rule 605. Each of these respondents is required to respond to the
collection of information on a monthly basis.
    The Commission staff estimates that, on average, Rule 605 causes
respondents

to spend 6 hours per month in additional time to collect the data
necessary to generate the reports, or 72 hours per year. With an
estimated 302 market centers subject to Rule 605, the total data
collection cost to comply with the monthly reporting requirement is
estimated to be 21,744 hours per year.
    Rule 606 of Regulation NMS (``Rule 606'') (17 CFR 242.606), f/k/a
Rule 11Ac1-6 (17 CFR 240.11Ac1-6), requires broker-dealers to prepare
and disseminate quarterly order routing reports. Much of the
information needed to generate these reports already should be
collected by broker-dealers in connection with their periodic
evaluations of their order routing practices. Broker-dealers must
conduct such evaluations to fulfill the duty of best execution that
they owe their customers.
    The collection of information obligations of Rule 606 applies to
broker-dealers that route non-directed customer orders in covered
securities. The Commission estimates that out of the currently 3120
broker-dealers that are subject to the collection of information
obligations of Rule 606, clearing brokers bear a substantial portion of
the burden of complying with the reporting and recordkeeping
requirements of Rule 606 on behalf of small to mid-sized introducing
firms. There currently are approximately 567 clearing brokers. In
addition, there are approximately 1479 introducing brokers that receive
funds or securities from their customers. Because at least some of
these firms also may have greater involvement in determining where
customer orders are routed for execution, they have been included,
along with clearing brokers, in estimating the total burden of Rule
606.
    The Commission staff estimates that each firm significantly
involved in order routing practices incurs an average burden of 40
hours to prepare and disseminate a quarterly report required by Rule
606, or a burden of 160 hours per year. With an estimated 2046 broker-
dealers significantly involved in order routing practices, the total
burden per year to comply with the quarterly reporting requirement in
Rule 606 is estimated to be 327,360 hours.
    Rule 606 requires broker-dealers to respond to individual customer
requests for information on orders handled by the broker-dealer for
that customer. Clearing brokers generally bear the burden of responding
to these requests. The Commission staff estimates that an average
clearing broker incurs an annual burden of 400 hours (2000 responses x
0.2 hours/response) to prepare, disseminate, and retain responses to
customers required by Rule 606. With an estimated 567 clearing brokers
subject to Rule 606, the total burden per year to comply with the
customer response requirement in Rule 606 is estimated to be 226,800
hours.
    Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of the agency, including whether the information will
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of
the burden of the collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the information 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.
    Please direct your written comments 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_ADDRESS>Comments must be submitted
within 60 days of this notice.

    Dated: September 14, 2006.
Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 06-8000 Filed 9-21-06; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010-01-P


[Federal Register: May 31, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 104)]
[Notices]
[Page 30365]
[DOCID:fr31my07-58]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. RP07-339-000]

Texas Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice Concerning Omission of Reply
Comments

May 23, 2007.
    On May 18, 2007, Texas Gas Transmission, LLC (Texas Gas) filed a
motion to omit the filing of reply comments following the technical
conference held on April 17, 2007, in this proceeding, and to shorten
the period for filing answers to its motion (May 18 Motion). In its May
18 Motion, Texas Gas stated it contacted each of the parties who filed
initial comments, as well as the other parties who either commented on
Texas Gas's initial proposal or who participated in the technical
conference and subsequent conference call. Texas Gas was authorized to
state that none of these parties oppose omitting the reply comments
stage of this proceeding, or the Commission approving Texas Gas's
proposed tariff sheets, as they were amended and clarified following
the technical conference. On May 18, 2007, the Commission issued a
notice shortening the period for filing answers to Texas Gas's filing.
No comments were filed in response to the May 18 Motion.
    In light of the foregoing, notice is hereby given that as requested
by Texas Gas in its May 18 Motion, reply comments need not be filed to
the initial comments following the technical conference.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E7-10424 Filed 5-30-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P