Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

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

Extension:

Rule 303; SEC File No. 270-450; OMB Control No. 3235-0505.

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”) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a request for extension of the previously approved collection of information discussed below.

Regulation ATS provides a regulatory structure that directly addresses issues related to alternative trading systems' role in the marketplace. Regulation ATS allows alternative trading systems to choose between two regulatory structures. Alternative trading systems have the choice between registering as broker-dealers and complying with Regulation ATS or registering as national securities exchanges. Regulation ATS provides the regulatory framework for those alternative trading systems that choose to be regulated as broker-dealers. Rule 303 of Regulation ATS describes the record preservation requirements for alternative trading systems that are not national securities exchanges.

Alternative trading systems that register as broker-dealers, comply with Regulation ATS and meet certain volume thresholds are required to preserve all records made pursuant to Rule 302, which includes information relating to subscribers, trading summaries and order information. Such alternative trading systems are also required to preserve records of any notices communicated to subscribers, a copy of the system's standards for granting access to trading and any documents generated in the course of complying with the capacity, integrity and security requirements for automated systems under Rule 301(b)(6) of Regulation ATS. Rule 303 also describes how such records must be kept and how long they must be preserved.

The information contained in the records required to be preserved by the Rule will be used by examiners and other representatives of the Commission, state securities regulatory authorities, and the SROs to ensure that alternative trading systems are in compliance with Regulation ATS as well as other rules and regulations of the Commission and the SROs. Without the data required by the proposed Rule, the Commission would be severely limited in its ability to comply with its statutory obligations, provide for the protection of investors and promote the maintenance of fair and orderly markets.

Respondents consist of alternative trading systems that choose to register as broker-dealers and comply with the requirements of Regulation ATS. The Commission estimates that there are currently approximately 50 respondents.

An estimated 50 respondents will spend approximately 200 hours per year (50 respondents at 4 burden hours/respondent) to comply with the record preservation requirements of Rule 303. At an average cost per burden hour of $86.54, the resultant total related cost of compliance for these respondents is $17,308.00 per year (200 burden hours multiplied by $86.54/hour).

Compliance with Rule 303 is mandatory. The information required by the Rule 303 is available only to the examination of the Commission staff, state securities authorities and the SROs. Subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 522 (“FOIA”), and the Commission's rules thereunder (17 CFR 200.80(b)(4)(iii)), the Commission does not generally publish or make available information contained in any reports, summaries, analyses, letters, or memoranda arising out of, in anticipation of, or in connection with an examination or inspection of the books and records of any person or any other investigation.

Regulation ATS requires alternative trading systems to preserve any records, for at least three years, made in the process of complying with the systems capacity, integrity and security requirements.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number.

Written comments regarding the above information should be directed to the following persons: (a) the Desk Officer for the SEC, by sending an email to: David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov; and (b) R. Corey Booth, Director/Chief Information Officer, Office of Information Technology, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549. Comments must be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget within 30 days of this notice.