Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq PHLX LLC; Notice of Designation of a Longer Period for Commission Action on a Proposed Rule Change To Modify Phlx Options 8, Section 26, “Trading Halts, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery”

On January 7, 2021, Nasdaq PHLX LLC (“Phlx” or “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”), and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, a proposed rule change to modify Phlx Options 8, Section 26 (Trading Halts, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery) to make available an audio and video communication program to serve as a “virtual trading crowd” in the event the physical trading floor becomes unavailable, the back-up trading floor becomes inoperable or the Exchange otherwise determines not to operate its back-up trading floor. The proposed rule change was published in the Federal Register on January 14, 2021.

Section 19(b)(2) of the Act provides that, within 45 days of the publication of notice of the filing of a proposed rule change, or within such longer period up to 90 days as the Commission may designate if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding, or as to which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission shall either approve the proposed rule change, disapprove the proposed rule change, or institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved. The 45th day after publication of the notice for this proposed rule change is February 28, 2021. The Commission is extending this 45-day time period.

The Commission finds that it is appropriate to designate a longer period within which to take action on the proposal so that it has sufficient time to consider the proposed rule change. Accordingly, the Commission, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act, designates April 14, 2021, as the date by which the Commission shall either approve or disapprove, or institute proceedings to determine whether to disapprove, the proposed rule change (File No. SR-Phlx-2021-03).