Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change by the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated Relating to the Extension of an Access Fee for Non-Customer RAES Orders

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, notice is hereby given that on November 20, 2002, the Chicago Board Options Exchange (“CBOE” 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 CBOE. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

The CBOE proposes to make a change to its Fee Schedule to extend the applicability of an access fee for non-customer RAES orders. Below is the text of the proposed rule change. Proposed new text is italicized, and proposed deleted text is bracketed.

FEE SCHEDULE

NOVEMBER 1, 2002

4. RAES (RETAIL AUTOMATIC EXECUTION SYSTEM) (1)(4): Per Contract

Assessed to Non-Customer Transactions (all RAES transactions with origin codes other than “C”)[In MNX, NDQ, QQQ and XEO] * * * $.30

(1) Per contract side, including FLEX options. Transaction and Trade Match Fees are applicable to the CBOEdirect system.

(4) Transaction, trade match and RAES fees are charged to the CBOE executing firm on the input record.

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 CBOE 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 CBOE 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 CBOE is proposing to extend a $.30 per contract Access Fee to all non-customer transactions (defined as all transactions with origin codes other than “C”) in option classes that are executed by means of the CBOE's Retail Automatic Execution System (“RAES”). Under this proposal, all non-customer RAES transactions would be uniformly assessed this fee. The CBOE also notes that this fee would only be charged to Exchange member firms, through the customary monthly billing that occurs shortly after the close of each trading month. The fee would not be charged to non-members of the Exchange.

This proposal is related to the fact that the CBOE has begun to permit certain broker-dealer orders to be executed on RAES for equity option classes. Having thus extended the benefits of rapid, automatic execution to such non-customer orders, the Exchange seeks to impose this fee to help allocate to such orders a fair share of the related costs of running the RAES and related Exchange systems. The CBOE notes in this regard that most index customer orders are already assessed a RAES fee of $.25 per contract. In addition, as noted earlier, the CBOE has already adopted the Access Fee for non-customer RAES transactions in the QQQ, NDX, MNX, and XEO option classes.

Under this proposal, the Access Fee would continue to apply to non-customer RAES options transactions in QQQ, NDX, MNX, and XEO and would be extended to non-customer RAES transactions in equity options, as well as other option classes when non-customer orders in those classes become eligible for execution via RAES.

The CBOE believes that this fee would help better equalize RAES fees between customer and non-customer RAES orders. The CBOE also notes that this proposal, like SR-CBOE-2002-42, is modeled on a filing by the Pacific Exchange, Inc., which adopted a $.45 per contract surcharge fee for all broker-dealer orders executed via its automatic execution system.

2. Statutory Basis

The CBOE believes the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4) in particular, in that it is designed to provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other changes among CBOE members. 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

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 with respect to the proposed rule change.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action

The proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder because it establishes or changes a due, fee, or other charge imposed by the Exchange. At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission may summarily abrogate such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

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. Persons making written submissions should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549-0609. 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 such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the CBOE. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-CBOE-2002-68 and should be submitted by January 17, 2003.