82_FR_36316 82 FR 36168 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Alter the Exchange's Fee Schedule for the Short Interest Report

82 FR 36168 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Alter the Exchange's Fee Schedule for the Short Interest Report

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 148 (August 3, 2017)

Page Range36168-36172
FR Document2017-16298

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 148 (Thursday, August 3, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 148 (Thursday, August 3, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36168-36172]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16298]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-81256; File No. SR-NASDAQ-2017-077]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; 
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To 
Alter the Exchange's Fee Schedule for the Short Interest Report

July 28, 2017.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on July 25, 2017, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (``Nasdaq'' or 
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``SEC'' or ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in 
Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the 
Exchange.\3\ The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit 
comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ The Commission notes that Nasdaq initially filed this 
proposal as SR-NASDAQ-2017-064 on June 29, 2017. Nasdaq withdrew 
that filing on July 13, 2017 and replaced it with SR-NASDAQ-2017-
071. On July 25, 2017, Nasdaq withdrew that filing and replaced it 
with this filing.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of the 
Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to alter the Exchange's fee schedule for the 
Short Interest Report at Rule 7022.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
Web site at http://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com, at the principal office of 
the Exchange, and

[[Page 36169]]

at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

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 Exchange 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 Exchange 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 purpose of the proposed rule change is to alter the fee 
schedule for the Short Interest Report at Rule 7022. The Exchange 
proposes to replace the current fee structure, which is based on the 
frequency of distribution, with a subscription service based on the 
number of Subscribers receiving that report. Nasdaq proposes these 
changes to: (i) Partially offset increases in Nasdaq's cost of 
producing the report; (ii) more accurately reflect the value of the 
product to purchasers by establishing fees based on the number of 
Subscribers receiving the report rather than frequency of distribution; 
and (iii) provide an incentive to distribute the report widely by 
offering reduced rates to Distributors with a proven record of 
disseminating data widely to professionals and members of the investing 
public.
Short Interest Report
    The Short Interest Report is a summary of short interest positions 
for all Nasdaq-listed issues as reported by the Financial Industry 
Regulatory Authority (FINRA); it is designed to facilitate the 
distribution of short sale data to the media and assist investors and 
traders in developing risk-assessment tools and trading models for 
Nasdaq-listed issues. Reports are available on a semi-monthly basis on 
a secured FTP server.
Current Fee Structure
    Fees for the Short Interest Report are set forth in Subsection C of 
Nasdaq Rule 7022(b), under the title Nasdaq Issues Summary 
Statistics.\4\ Fees are divided into two schedules, depending upon 
whether the report is distributed more or less than once per month. 
Reports distributed once per month, quarter or year are charged as 
follows: $250 for 1-500 Subscribers; $300 for 501-999 Subscribers; $350 
for 1,000-4,999 Subscribers; $400 for 5,000-9,999 Subscribers; and $500 
for over 10,000 Subscribers. Reports distributed more often than once 
per month are charged $1,000 per month for unlimited internal 
distribution and $2,500 per month for unlimited external 
distribution.\5\ In addition, an annual set of aged reports previously 
distributed more often than once a month is available for $3,000 for an 
unlimited number of subscribers.
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    \4\ The Short Interest Report is the only report currently 
distributed under the fee schedule for Nasdaq Summary Statistics set 
forth in Subsection C of Nasdaq Rule 7022(b). See Securities 
Exchange Act Release 73662 at n.3 (November 20, 2014), 79 FR 70600 
(November 26, 2014) (SR-NASDAQ-2014-106); Securities Exchange Act 
Release 72911 (August 25, 2014), 79 FR 51628 (August 29, 2014) (SR-
NASDAQ-2014-086); Securities Exchange Act Release 68636 (January 11, 
2013), 78 FR 3940 (January 17, 2013) (SR-NASDAQ-2013-009).
    \5\ Internal distribution is defined as distribution within the 
recipient firm, while external distribution is defined as 
distribution both inside and outside of the firm.
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Proposed Fee Structure
    The proposed fee structure, set forth in revised Rule 7022(c),\6\ 
establishes a flat fee of $500 per month for unlimited access to the 
Short Interest Report. Separate fees based on the frequency of 
distribution are removed, including fees for reports distributed once 
per month, quarter, or year, and fees for an annual set of aged reports 
previously distributed more often than once a month. Internal 
distribution fees remain the same at $1,000 per month.
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    \6\ The Exchange proposes to move the fee schedule for the 
report from Subsection C of Rule 7022(b) to Rule 7022(c) because the 
proposed fees are designed specifically for the Short Interest 
Report. Subsection C of Nasdaq Rule 7022(b) will be reserved until 
needed for a new report that falls within that category of 
information. In 2013, the Exchange moved the Daily List and 
Fundamental Data information in a similar fashion from Nasdaq Issues 
Summary Statistics into Rule 7022(d), which will be re-designated as 
Rule 7022(e) by this rule change. See Securities Exchange Act 
Release 68636 (January 11, 2013), 78 FR 3940 (January 17, 2013) (SR-
NASDAQ-2013-009).
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    External distribution fees are revised to reflect the number of 
Subscribers with access to the report, as follows: $2,500 for 1-499 
Subscribers; $5,000 for 500-9,999 Subscribers; and $7,500 for 10,000 or 
more Subscribers or on an open Web site.
    Distributors that serve a large number of external Subscribers will 
be offered reduced fees. Firms that purchase an enterprise license for 
Nasdaq Basic under Rule 7047(b)(5), an enterprise license for depth-of-
book data under Rule 7023(c)(3), or that pay $5,000 or more in monthly 
usage fees for Nasdaq Last Sale (NLS) or NLS Plus under Rule 7039 
(excluding distributor fees under Rule 7039(c)), will be eligible for a 
reduced rate of $1,500 per month for distribution to an unlimited 
number of external Subscribers or on an open Web site.\7\ This fee is a 
reduction from the current flat fee of $2,500.\8\
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    \7\ The Exchange offers a reduced rate for the largest 
distributors of a number of its market data products. For example, 
the Exchange establishes a maximum fee of $41,500 per month for NLS 
for Nasdaq and NLS for NYSE/NYSE MKT without regard to usage in Rule 
7039(b). Also, firms that purchase enterprise licenses under Rules 
7023(c)(3) or Rule 7047(b)(5) may pay less for the same service than 
firms that elect not to purchase an enterprise license. As explained 
in the discussion of statutory basis, offering discounts to firms 
that elect to purchase an enterprise license or that otherwise pay 
large amounts in market data fees is an equitable allocation of 
reasonable dues, fees, and other charges.
    \8\ The Exchange also corrects a typographical error in the fee 
schedule by replacing ``4999'' with ``4,999.''
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    These changes are proposed to: (i) Partially offset increases in 
Nasdaq's cost of producing the report; (ii) more accurately reflect the 
value of the product to purchasers by establishing fees based on the 
number of Subscribers receiving the report rather than frequency of 
distribution; and (iii) provide an incentive to distribute the report 
widely by offering reduced rates to Distributors with a proven record 
of disseminating data widely to professionals and members of the 
investing public.
    The impetus for the proposed fee changes arose when FINRA increased 
its annual charges for receipt of short interest data effective January 
1, 2017, resulting in an increase to Nasdaq's cost in producing the 
report. In response, the Exchange reviewed the Short Interest Report 
fee structure, and determined that fees should be based on the number 
of Subscribers receiving it, rather than the frequency of distribution. 
The Exchange proposes these revisions because the number of Subscribers 
is a better measure of the value of the report to both professionals 
and the investing public than the frequency of distribution. The 
Exchange also proposes to adjust the fee structure to encourage wider 
dissemination of the report by reducing fees for firms with a proven 
ability to disseminate information widely. This includes firms with a 
sufficiently large Subscriber base to purchase enterprise licenses for 
Nasdaq Basic and depth-of-book data, or that have demonstrated broad 
dissemination of Exchange data by

[[Page 36170]]

paying over $5,000 per month in monthly usage fees for NLS or NLS Plus.
    The proposed fees for the Short Interest Report are optional in 
that they apply only to firms that elect to purchase these products. 
The proposed changes do not impact the cost of any other Nasdaq 
product.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act,\9\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Sections 
6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Act,\10\ in particular, in that it provides 
for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges 
among members and issuers and other persons using any facility, and is 
not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, 
issuers, brokers, or dealers. The proposed fee increase reasonably 
reflects the value that members and sponsored customers receive for the 
service, and a reduced rate for large Distributors avoids placing a 
disproportionate financial burden on Distributors that have purchased 
enterprise licenses to control costs or that have already expended 
substantial amounts to distribute certain Nasdaq market data products 
intended for the general investing public.
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    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
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    The Exchange proposes charging the same $500 subscription fee and 
$1,000 internal distribution fee to all Distributors.
    External distribution fees will be based on a tiered fee structure 
that depends on the number of Subscribers, with a reduced rate for 
Distributors that purchase certain enterprise licenses or that pay more 
than a certain amount for NLS or NLS Plus. Firms with between 1 and 499 
Subscribers will continue to pay $2,500, while firms with more 
Subscribers pay either $5,000 or $7,500, depending on the number of 
Subscribers. The tiered structure for external distribution is an 
equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges because 
the higher fees are commensurate with the higher value of the report 
for Distributors with more Subscribers.
    The reduced rate for Distributors that have elected to purchase an 
enterprise license for the distribution of Nasdaq depth-of-book 
products or Nasdaq Basic, or that pay substantial fees for the 
distribution of NLS or NLS Plus, is also an equitable allocation of 
reasonable dues, fees and other charges. Enterprise licenses are a 
frequently-employed method for allowing Distributors to control costs, 
and purchasing such licenses may, from time to time, result in the 
enterprise license purchaser paying less for the same service than a 
Distributor that elected not to purchase such a license. This is an 
equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges because 
Distributors have a choice of whether or not to purchase the enterprise 
license.
    The Exchange also proposes a fee cap on short interest report fees 
for firms that pay over $5,000 per month in monthly usage fees for NLS 
or NLS Plus. This is analogous to the fee cap of $41,500 per month for 
NLS in Rule 7039(b). It is an equitable allocation of reasonable dues, 
fees and other charges because it avoids placing a disproportionate 
financial burden on Distributors that pay a substantial amount for 
distributing data to the general investing public by limiting the total 
amount that such Distributors are required to pay. This fee cap will be 
applied equally to all Distributors that reach the established level of 
fees for NLS or NLS Plus.
    In adopting Regulation NMS,\11\ the Commission granted SROs and 
broker-dealers increased authority and flexibility to offer new and 
unique market data to the public. It was believed that this authority 
would expand the amount of data available to consumers, and also spur 
innovation and competition for the provision of market data. The Short 
Interest Report--which supplies data on short interest positions for 
all Nasdaq-listed issues as reported by the Financial Industry 
Regulatory Authority--is the type of market data product that the 
Commission envisioned when it adopted regulation NMS. The Commission 
concluded that Regulation NMS--deregulating the market in proprietary 
data--would further the Act's goals of facilitating efficiency and 
competition:
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    \11\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808 (June 9, 
2005), 70 FR 37496 (June 29, 2005) (``Regulation NMS Adopting 
Release'').
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    [E]fficiency is promoted when broker-dealers who do not need the 
data beyond the prices, sizes, market center identifications of the 
NBBO and consolidated last sale information are not required to receive 
(and pay for) such data. The Commission also believes that efficiency 
is promoted when broker-dealers may choose to receive (and pay for) 
additional market data based on their own internal analysis of the need 
for such data.\12\
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    \12\ Id.
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    By removing unnecessary regulatory restrictions on the ability of 
exchanges to sell their own data, Regulation NMS advanced the goals of 
the Act and the principles reflected in its legislative history.
    In NetCoalition v. Securities and Exchange Commission \13\ 
(``NetCoalition'') the D.C. Circuit upheld the Commission's use of a 
market-based approach in evaluating the fairness of market data fees 
against a challenge claiming that Congress mandated a cost-based 
approach.\14\ As the court emphasized, the Commission ``intended in 
Regulation NMS that `market forces, rather than regulatory 
requirements' play a role in determining the market data . . . to be 
made available to investors and at what cost.'' \15\ ``No one disputes 
that competition for order flow is `fierce.' . . . As the SEC 
explained, `[i]n the U.S. national market system, buyers and sellers of 
securities, and the broker-dealers that act as their order-routing 
agents, have a wide range of choices of where to route orders for 
execution'; [and] `no exchange can afford to take its market share 
percentages for granted' because `no exchange possesses a monopoly, 
regulatory or otherwise, in the execution of order flow from broker 
dealers' . . . .'' \16\
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    \13\ NetCoalition v. SEC, 615 F.3d 525 (D.C. Cir. 2010).
    \14\ See NetCoalition, at 534-535.
    \15\ Id. at 537.
    \16\ Id. at 539 (quoting Securities Exchange Act Release No. 
59039 (December 2, 2008), 73 FR 74770, 74782-83 (December 9, 2008) 
(SR-NYSEArca-2006-21)).
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    Data products such as the Short Interest Report are a means by 
which exchanges compete to attract order flow. To the extent that 
exchanges are successful in such competition, they earn trading 
revenues and also enhance the value of their data products by 
increasing the amount of data they provide. The need to compete for 
order flow places substantial pressure upon exchanges to keep their 
fees for both executions and data reasonable.\17\
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    \17\ See Sec. Indus. Fin. Mkts. Ass'n (SIFMA), Initial Decision 
Release No. 1015, 2016 SEC LEXIS 2278 (ALJ June 1, 2016) (finding 
the existence of vigorous competition with respect to non-core 
market data).
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    The proposed changes are consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the 
Act. The proposed fees will reflect the value of the product by basing 
fees on the number of Subscribers receiving the report, and the reduced 
fees for certain large Distributors avoids allocating disproportionally 
high charges to Distributors that already expend substantial amounts to 
distribute certain Nasdaq products. The proposed changes would not 
permit unfair discrimination because the Exchange will apply the

[[Page 36171]]

same fee to all similarly-situated Distributors.
    Fees for the Short Interest Report are optional in that they apply 
only to firms that elect to purchase the product, which, like all 
proprietary data products, they may cancel at any time.

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. Indeed, the Exchange believes 
that the Short Interest Report enhances competition by creating a fee 
structure that reflects the value of the report to both Distributors 
and Subscribers and encourages the dissemination of the report to 
professionals and the investing public.
    The market for data products is extremely competitive and firms may 
freely choose alternative venues and data vendors based on the 
aggregate fees assessed, the data offered, and the value provided. 
Numerous exchanges compete with each other for listings, trades, and 
market data itself, providing virtually limitless opportunities for 
entrepreneurs who wish to produce and distribute their own market data. 
Transaction execution and proprietary data products are complementary 
in that market data is both an input and a byproduct of the execution 
service. In fact, market data and trade execution are a paradigmatic 
example of joint products with joint costs. The decision whether and on 
which platform to post an order will depend on the attributes of the 
platform where the order can be posted, including the execution fees, 
data quality and price, and distribution of its data products. Without 
trade executions, exchange data products cannot exist. Moreover, data 
products are valuable to many end users only insofar as they provide 
information that end users expect will assist them or their customers 
in making trading decisions.
    The costs of producing market data include not only the costs of 
the data distribution infrastructure, but also the costs of designing, 
maintaining, and operating the exchange's transaction execution 
platform and the cost of regulating the exchange to ensure its fair 
operation and maintain investor confidence. The total return that a 
trading platform earns reflects the revenues it receives from both 
products and the joint costs it incurs. Moreover, the operation of the 
exchange is characterized by high fixed costs and low marginal costs. 
This cost structure is common in content distribution industries such 
as software, where developing new software typically requires a large 
initial investment (and continuing large investments to upgrade the 
software), but once the software is developed, the incremental cost of 
providing that software to an additional user is typically small, or 
even zero (e.g., if the software can be downloaded over the internet 
after being purchased).\18\ It is costly to build and maintain a 
trading platform, but the incremental cost of trading each additional 
share on an existing platform, or distributing an additional instance 
of data, is very low. Market information and executions are each 
produced jointly (in the sense that the activities of trading and 
placing orders are the source of the information that is distributed) 
and are each subject to significant scale economies.
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    \18\ See William J. Baumol and Daniel G. Swanson, ``The New 
Economy and Ubiquitous Competitive Price Discrimination: Identifying 
Defensible Criteria of Market Power,'' Antitrust Law Journal, Vol. 
70, No. 3 (2003).
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    Competition among trading platforms can be expected to constrain 
the aggregate return each platform earns from the sale of its joint 
products. The level of competition and contestability in the market is 
evident in the numerous alternative venues that compete for order flow, 
including SRO markets, as well as internalizing BDs and various forms 
of alternative trading systems (``ATSs''), including dark pools and 
electronic communication networks (``ECNs''). Each SRO market competes 
to produce transaction reports via trade executions, and two FINRA-
regulated TRFs compete to attract internalized transaction reports. It 
is common for BDs to further and exploit this competition by sending 
their order flow and transaction reports to multiple markets, rather 
than providing them all to a single market. Competitive markets for 
order flow, executions, and transaction reports provide pricing 
discipline for the inputs of proprietary data products. The large 
number of SROs, TRFs, BDs, and ATSs that currently produce proprietary 
data or are currently capable of producing it provides further pricing 
discipline for proprietary data products. Each SRO, TRF, ATS, and BD is 
currently permitted to produce proprietary data products, and many 
currently do or have announced plans to do so, including Nasdaq, NYSE, 
NYSE MKT, NYSE Arca, and the BATS exchanges.
    In this competitive environment, an ``excessive'' price for one 
product will have to be reflected in lower prices for other products 
sold by the Exchange, or otherwise the Exchange may experience a loss 
in sales that may adversely affect its profitability.
    In this instance, the proposed rule change enhances competition by 
creating a fee structure that reflects the value of the report to both 
Distributors and Subscribers and encourages the dissemination of the 
report to professionals and the investing public. If the Short Interest 
Report were to become unattractive to members and sponsored firms, 
those firms would opt not to purchase the product, and it is likely 
that the Exchange will lose market share as a result. As such, the 
Exchange does not believe that the proposed changes will impair 
competition in the financial markets.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    No written comments were either solicited or received.

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

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act.\19\
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    \19\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is: (i) 
Necessary or appropriate in the public interest; (ii) for the 
protection of investors; or (iii) otherwise in furtherance of the 
purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the 
Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether the 
proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of 
the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-NASDAQ-2017-077 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

[[Page 36172]]

    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASDAQ-2017-077. 
This file number should be included on the subject line if email is 
used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more 
efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all 
comments on the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). 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 Web site 
viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F 
Street NE., Washington, DC 20549 on official business days between the 
hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be 
available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the 
Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change; the 
Commission does not edit personal identifying information from 
submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make 
available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-
NASDAQ-2017-077, and should be submitted on or before August 24, 2017.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\20\
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    \20\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-16298 Filed 8-2-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                  36168                              Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 148 / Thursday, August 3, 2017 / Notices

                                                  necessary and appropriate in                               III. Date of Effectiveness of the                         inspection and copying at the principal
                                                  furtherance of the purposes of the Act,                    Proposed Rule Change, and Timing for                      office of FICC and on DTCC’s Web site
                                                  as permitted by Section 17A(b)(3)(I) of                    Commission Action                                         (http://dtcc.com/legal/sec-rule-
                                                  the Act.24                                                    The foregoing rule change has become                   filings.aspx). All comments received
                                                                                                             effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)                 will be posted without change; the
                                                     Specifically, FICC believes that the
                                                                                                             of the Act 25 and paragraph (f) of Rule                   Commission does not edit personal
                                                  proposed (1) changes to the Processing
                                                                                                             19b–4 thereunder.26 At any time within                    identifying information from
                                                  Fees and (2) new fee for Stipulated                                                                                  submissions. You should submit only
                                                  Trades are necessary because the fees                      60 days of the filing of the proposed rule
                                                                                                             change, the Commission summarily may                      information that you wish to make
                                                  would provide FICC with the ability to                                                                               available publicly. All submissions
                                                  achieve and maintain its operating                         temporarily suspend such rule change if
                                                                                                             it appears to the Commission that such                    should refer to File Number SR–FICC–
                                                  margin. FICC believes that the proposed                                                                              2017–018 and should be submitted on
                                                                                                             action is necessary or appropriate in the
                                                  fee increases and the new fee for                                                                                    or before August 24, 2017.
                                                                                                             public interest, for the protection of
                                                  Stipulated Trades are appropriate                          investors, or otherwise in furtherance of                   For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                  because the fees would provide FICC                        the purposes of the Act.                                  Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                  with the ability to recover the cost of                                                                              authority.27
                                                  providing the services described in Rule                   IV. Solicitation of Comments                              Brent J. Fields,
                                                  Filing 2017–012. As discussed above, in                      Interested persons are invited to                       Secretary.
                                                  connection with Rule Filing 2017–012,                      submit written data, views and                            [FR Doc. 2017–16297 Filed 8–2–17; 8:45 am]
                                                  MBSD’s processing cost will not change;                    arguments concerning the foregoing,                       BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                  however, MBSD’s operational cost will                      including whether the proposed rule
                                                  increase because of MBSD’s new                             change is consistent with the Act.
                                                  allocation department. As a result, these                  Comments may be submitted by any of                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                  proposed fee changes would offset the                      the following methods:                                    COMMISSION
                                                  loss of revenue attributed to the                          Electronic Comments                                       [Release No. 34–81256; File No. SR–
                                                  decrease in transaction volumes
                                                                                                               • Use the Commission’s Internet                         NASDAQ–2017–077]
                                                  processed through the Pool Netting                         comment form (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                  System and the EPN Service due to the                                                                                Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
                                                                                                             rules/sro.shtml); or
                                                  introduction of the DNA process and the                      • Send an email to rule-comments@                       NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of
                                                  removal of the Notification of                             sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                   Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of
                                                  Settlement process.                                        FICC–2017–018 on the subject line.                        Proposed Rule Change To Alter the
                                                                                                                                                                       Exchange’s Fee Schedule for the Short
                                                     FICC believes that the proposed                         Paper Comments                                            Interest Report
                                                  changes to increase the Trade Input
                                                  Non-Compliance fee for Brokers and                            • Send paper comments in triplicate                    July 28, 2017.
                                                                                                             to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                        Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
                                                  Dealers will not impact competition
                                                                                                             Commission, 100 F Street NE.,                             Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                                  because Clearing Members could avoid
                                                                                                             Washington, DC 20549.
                                                  these fees by submitting their                                                                                       (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
                                                                                                             All submissions should refer to File                      notice is hereby given that on July 25,
                                                  transactions on a timely basis in
                                                                                                             Number SR–FICC–2017–018. This file                        2017, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
                                                  accordance with the MBSD Rules.                            number should be included on the                          (‘‘Nasdaq’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the
                                                     FICC believes that the proposed                         subject line if email is used. To help the                Securities and Exchange Commission
                                                  change to eliminate the Option Account                     Commission process and review your                        (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed
                                                  fees for Brokers and the Notification of                   comments more efficiently, please use                     rule change as described in Items I, II,
                                                  Settlement fees will not impact                            only one method. The Commission will                      and III below, which Items have been
                                                  competition because these fees are                         post all comments on the Commission’s                     prepared by the Exchange.3 The
                                                  associated with processes that will be                     Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                    Commission is publishing this notice to
                                                  eliminated pursuant to Rule Filing                         rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                           solicit comments on the proposed rule
                                                  2017–012.                                                  submission, all subsequent                                change from interested persons.
                                                                                                             amendments, all written statements
                                                     FICC believes that the proposed new                     with respect to the proposed rule                         I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                  fee for the DNA process will not impact                    change that are filed with the                            Statement of the Terms of the Substance
                                                  competition because the DNA process is                     Commission, and all written                               of the Proposed Rule Change
                                                  voluntary and Clearing Members could                       communications relating to the                               The Exchange proposes to alter the
                                                  elect not to submit their transactions                     proposed rule change between the                          Exchange’s fee schedule for the Short
                                                  through the DNA process.                                   Commission and any person, other than                     Interest Report at Rule 7022.
                                                  (C) Clearing Agency’s Statement on                         those that may be withheld from the                          The text of the proposed rule change
                                                  Comments on the Proposed Rule                              public in accordance with the                             is available on the Exchange’s Web site
                                                                                                             provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                       at http://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com, at
                                                  Change Received From Members,
                                                                                                             available for Web site viewing and                        the principal office of the Exchange, and
                                                  Participants, or Others
                                                                                                             printing in the Commission’s Public
                                                                                                             Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
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                                                    Written comments relating to the                                                                                     27 17  CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
                                                  proposed rule change have not been                         Washington, DC 20549 on official                            1 15  U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                  solicited or received. FICC will notify                    business days between the hours of                           2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
                                                                                                                                                                          3 The Commission notes that Nasdaq initially
                                                  the Commission of any written                              10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the
                                                                                                                                                                       filed this proposal as SR–NASDAQ–2017–064 on
                                                  comments received by FICC.                                 filing also will be available for                         June 29, 2017. Nasdaq withdrew that filing on July
                                                                                                                                                                       13, 2017 and replaced it with SR–NASDAQ–2017–
                                                                                                               25 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).                            071. On July 25, 2017, Nasdaq withdrew that filing
                                                    24 15   U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(I).                             26 17   CFR 240.19b–4(f).                               and replaced it with this filing.



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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 148 / Thursday, August 3, 2017 / Notices                                                      36169

                                                  at the Commission’s Public Reference                    Summary Statistics.4 Fees are divided                   under Rule 7047(b)(5), an enterprise
                                                  Room.                                                   into two schedules, depending upon                      license for depth-of-book data under
                                                                                                          whether the report is distributed more                  Rule 7023(c)(3), or that pay $5,000 or
                                                  II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                      or less than once per month. Reports                    more in monthly usage fees for Nasdaq
                                                  Statement of the Purpose of, and                        distributed once per month, quarter or                  Last Sale (NLS) or NLS Plus under Rule
                                                  Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                  year are charged as follows: $250 for 1–                7039 (excluding distributor fees under
                                                  Change                                                  500 Subscribers; $300 for 501–999                       Rule 7039(c)), will be eligible for a
                                                    In its filing with the Commission, the                Subscribers; $350 for 1,000–4,999                       reduced rate of $1,500 per month for
                                                  Exchange included statements                            Subscribers; $400 for 5,000–9,999                       distribution to an unlimited number of
                                                                                                          Subscribers; and $500 for over 10,000                   external Subscribers or on an open Web
                                                  concerning the purpose of and basis for
                                                                                                          Subscribers. Reports distributed more                   site.7 This fee is a reduction from the
                                                  the proposed rule change and discussed
                                                                                                          often than once per month are charged                   current flat fee of $2,500.8
                                                  any comments it received on the                                                                                    These changes are proposed to: (i)
                                                  proposed rule change. The text of these                 $1,000 per month for unlimited internal
                                                                                                          distribution and $2,500 per month for                   Partially offset increases in Nasdaq’s
                                                  statements may be examined at the                                                                               cost of producing the report; (ii) more
                                                  places specified in Item IV below. The                  unlimited external distribution.5 In
                                                                                                          addition, an annual set of aged reports                 accurately reflect the value of the
                                                  Exchange has prepared summaries, set                                                                            product to purchasers by establishing
                                                  forth in sections A, B, and C below, of                 previously distributed more often than
                                                                                                          once a month is available for $3,000 for                fees based on the number of Subscribers
                                                  the most significant aspects of such                                                                            receiving the report rather than
                                                  statements.                                             an unlimited number of subscribers.
                                                                                                                                                                  frequency of distribution; and (iii)
                                                                                                          Proposed Fee Structure                                  provide an incentive to distribute the
                                                  A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                  Statement of the Purpose of, and                           The proposed fee structure, set forth                report widely by offering reduced rates
                                                  Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                  in revised Rule 7022(c),6 establishes a                 to Distributors with a proven record of
                                                  Change                                                  flat fee of $500 per month for unlimited                disseminating data widely to
                                                                                                          access to the Short Interest Report.                    professionals and members of the
                                                  1. Purpose                                              Separate fees based on the frequency of                 investing public.
                                                                                                          distribution are removed, including fees                   The impetus for the proposed fee
                                                     The purpose of the proposed rule                                                                             changes arose when FINRA increased its
                                                                                                          for reports distributed once per month,
                                                  change is to alter the fee schedule for                 quarter, or year, and fees for an annual                annual charges for receipt of short
                                                  the Short Interest Report at Rule 7022.                 set of aged reports previously                          interest data effective January 1, 2017,
                                                  The Exchange proposes to replace the                    distributed more often than once a                      resulting in an increase to Nasdaq’s cost
                                                  current fee structure, which is based on                month. Internal distribution fees remain                in producing the report. In response, the
                                                  the frequency of distribution, with a                   the same at $1,000 per month.                           Exchange reviewed the Short Interest
                                                  subscription service based on the                          External distribution fees are revised               Report fee structure, and determined
                                                  number of Subscribers receiving that                    to reflect the number of Subscribers                    that fees should be based on the number
                                                  report. Nasdaq proposes these changes                   with access to the report, as follows:                  of Subscribers receiving it, rather than
                                                  to: (i) Partially offset increases in                   $2,500 for 1–499 Subscribers; $5,000 for                the frequency of distribution. The
                                                  Nasdaq’s cost of producing the report;                  500–9,999 Subscribers; and $7,500 for                   Exchange proposes these revisions
                                                  (ii) more accurately reflect the value of               10,000 or more Subscribers or on an                     because the number of Subscribers is a
                                                  the product to purchasers by                            open Web site.                                          better measure of the value of the report
                                                  establishing fees based on the number of                   Distributors that serve a large number               to both professionals and the investing
                                                  Subscribers receiving the report rather                 of external Subscribers will be offered                 public than the frequency of
                                                  than frequency of distribution; and (iii)               reduced fees. Firms that purchase an                    distribution. The Exchange also
                                                  provide an incentive to distribute the                  enterprise license for Nasdaq Basic                     proposes to adjust the fee structure to
                                                  report widely by offering reduced rates                                                                         encourage wider dissemination of the
                                                  to Distributors with a proven record of                    4 The Short Interest Report is the only report       report by reducing fees for firms with a
                                                  disseminating data widely to                            currently distributed under the fee schedule for        proven ability to disseminate
                                                  professionals and members of the                        Nasdaq Summary Statistics set forth in Subsection
                                                                                                          C of Nasdaq Rule 7022(b). See Securities Exchange
                                                                                                                                                                  information widely. This includes firms
                                                  investing public.                                       Act Release 73662 at n.3 (November 20, 2014), 79        with a sufficiently large Subscriber base
                                                  Short Interest Report                                   FR 70600 (November 26, 2014) (SR–NASDAQ–                to purchase enterprise licenses for
                                                                                                          2014–106); Securities Exchange Act Release 72911        Nasdaq Basic and depth-of-book data, or
                                                                                                          (August 25, 2014), 79 FR 51628 (August 29, 2014)
                                                     The Short Interest Report is a                       (SR–NASDAQ–2014–086); Securities Exchange Act
                                                                                                                                                                  that have demonstrated broad
                                                  summary of short interest positions for                 Release 68636 (January 11, 2013), 78 FR 3940            dissemination of Exchange data by
                                                  all Nasdaq-listed issues as reported by                 (January 17, 2013) (SR–NASDAQ–2013–009).
                                                                                                             5 Internal distribution is defined as distribution      7 The Exchange offers a reduced rate for the
                                                  the Financial Industry Regulatory
                                                                                                          within the recipient firm, while external               largest distributors of a number of its market data
                                                  Authority (FINRA); it is designed to                    distribution is defined as distribution both inside     products. For example, the Exchange establishes a
                                                  facilitate the distribution of short sale               and outside of the firm.                                maximum fee of $41,500 per month for NLS for
                                                  data to the media and assist investors                     6 The Exchange proposes to move the fee              Nasdaq and NLS for NYSE/NYSE MKT without
                                                  and traders in developing risk-                         schedule for the report from Subsection C of Rule       regard to usage in Rule 7039(b). Also, firms that
                                                                                                          7022(b) to Rule 7022(c) because the proposed fees       purchase enterprise licenses under Rules 7023(c)(3)
                                                  assessment tools and trading models for                                                                         or Rule 7047(b)(5) may pay less for the same service
                                                                                                          are designed specifically for the Short Interest
                                                  Nasdaq-listed issues. Reports are                       Report. Subsection C of Nasdaq Rule 7022(b) will        than firms that elect not to purchase an enterprise
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                                                  available on a semi-monthly basis on a                  be reserved until needed for a new report that falls    license. As explained in the discussion of statutory
                                                  secured FTP server.                                     within that category of information. In 2013, the       basis, offering discounts to firms that elect to
                                                                                                          Exchange moved the Daily List and Fundamental           purchase an enterprise license or that otherwise pay
                                                  Current Fee Structure                                   Data information in a similar fashion from Nasdaq       large amounts in market data fees is an equitable
                                                                                                          Issues Summary Statistics into Rule 7022(d), which      allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other
                                                    Fees for the Short Interest Report are                will be re-designated as Rule 7022(e) by this rule      charges.
                                                                                                          change. See Securities Exchange Act Release 68636          8 The Exchange also corrects a typographical error
                                                  set forth in Subsection C of Nasdaq Rule                (January 11, 2013), 78 FR 3940 (January 17, 2013)       in the fee schedule by replacing ‘‘4999’’ with
                                                  7022(b), under the title Nasdaq Issues                  (SR–NASDAQ–2013–009).                                   ‘‘4,999.’’



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                                                  36170                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 148 / Thursday, August 3, 2017 / Notices

                                                  paying over $5,000 per month in                            control costs, and purchasing such                    to sell their own data, Regulation NMS
                                                  monthly usage fees for NLS or NLS Plus.                    licenses may, from time to time, result               advanced the goals of the Act and the
                                                    The proposed fees for the Short                          in the enterprise license purchaser                   principles reflected in its legislative
                                                  Interest Report are optional in that they                  paying less for the same service than a               history.
                                                  apply only to firms that elect to                          Distributor that elected not to purchase                 In NetCoalition v. Securities and
                                                  purchase these products. The proposed                      such a license. This is an equitable                  Exchange Commission 13
                                                  changes do not impact the cost of any                      allocation of reasonable dues, fees and               (‘‘NetCoalition’’) the D.C. Circuit upheld
                                                  other Nasdaq product.                                      other charges because Distributors have               the Commission’s use of a market-based
                                                                                                             a choice of whether or not to purchase                approach in evaluating the fairness of
                                                  2. Statutory Basis
                                                                                                             the enterprise license.                               market data fees against a challenge
                                                     The Exchange believes that its                             The Exchange also proposes a fee cap               claiming that Congress mandated a cost-
                                                  proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)                   on short interest report fees for firms               based approach.14 As the court
                                                  of the Act,9 in general, and furthers the                  that pay over $5,000 per month in                     emphasized, the Commission ‘‘intended
                                                  objectives of Sections 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5)                 monthly usage fees for NLS or NLS Plus.               in Regulation NMS that ‘market forces,
                                                  of the Act,10 in particular, in that it                    This is analogous to the fee cap of                   rather than regulatory requirements’
                                                  provides for the equitable allocation of                   $41,500 per month for NLS in Rule                     play a role in determining the market
                                                  reasonable dues, fees and other charges                    7039(b). It is an equitable allocation of             data . . . to be made available to
                                                  among members and issuers and other                        reasonable dues, fees and other charges               investors and at what cost.’’ 15 ‘‘No one
                                                  persons using any facility, and is not                     because it avoids placing a                           disputes that competition for order flow
                                                  designed to permit unfair                                  disproportionate financial burden on                  is ‘fierce.’ . . . As the SEC explained,
                                                  discrimination between customers,                          Distributors that pay a substantial                   ‘[i]n the U.S. national market system,
                                                  issuers, brokers, or dealers. The                          amount for distributing data to the                   buyers and sellers of securities, and the
                                                  proposed fee increase reasonably                           general investing public by limiting the              broker-dealers that act as their order-
                                                  reflects the value that members and                        total amount that such Distributors are               routing agents, have a wide range of
                                                  sponsored customers receive for the                        required to pay. This fee cap will be                 choices of where to route orders for
                                                  service, and a reduced rate for large                      applied equally to all Distributors that              execution’; [and] ‘no exchange can
                                                  Distributors avoids placing a                              reach the established level of fees for               afford to take its market share
                                                  disproportionate financial burden on                       NLS or NLS Plus.                                      percentages for granted’ because ‘no
                                                  Distributors that have purchased                              In adopting Regulation NMS,11 the                  exchange possesses a monopoly,
                                                  enterprise licenses to control costs or                    Commission granted SROs and broker-                   regulatory or otherwise, in the
                                                  that have already expended substantial                     dealers increased authority and                       execution of order flow from broker
                                                  amounts to distribute certain Nasdaq                       flexibility to offer new and unique                   dealers’ . . . .’’ 16
                                                  market data products intended for the                      market data to the public. It was                        Data products such as the Short
                                                  general investing public.                                  believed that this authority would                    Interest Report are a means by which
                                                     The Exchange proposes charging the                      expand the amount of data available to                exchanges compete to attract order flow.
                                                  same $500 subscription fee and $1,000                      consumers, and also spur innovation                   To the extent that exchanges are
                                                  internal distribution fee to all                           and competition for the provision of                  successful in such competition, they
                                                  Distributors.                                              market data. The Short Interest Report—               earn trading revenues and also enhance
                                                     External distribution fees will be                      which supplies data on short interest                 the value of their data products by
                                                  based on a tiered fee structure that                       positions for all Nasdaq-listed issues as             increasing the amount of data they
                                                  depends on the number of Subscribers,                      reported by the Financial Industry                    provide. The need to compete for order
                                                  with a reduced rate for Distributors that                  Regulatory Authority—is the type of                   flow places substantial pressure upon
                                                  purchase certain enterprise licenses or                    market data product that the                          exchanges to keep their fees for both
                                                  that pay more than a certain amount for                    Commission envisioned when it                         executions and data reasonable.17
                                                  NLS or NLS Plus. Firms with between                                                                                 The proposed changes are consistent
                                                                                                             adopted regulation NMS. The
                                                  1 and 499 Subscribers will continue to                                                                           with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act. The
                                                                                                             Commission concluded that Regulation
                                                  pay $2,500, while firms with more                                                                                proposed fees will reflect the value of
                                                                                                             NMS—deregulating the market in
                                                  Subscribers pay either $5,000 or $7,500,                                                                         the product by basing fees on the
                                                                                                             proprietary data—would further the                    number of Subscribers receiving the
                                                  depending on the number of                                 Act’s goals of facilitating efficiency and
                                                  Subscribers. The tiered structure for                                                                            report, and the reduced fees for certain
                                                                                                             competition:                                          large Distributors avoids allocating
                                                  external distribution is an equitable                         [E]fficiency is promoted when broker-
                                                  allocation of reasonable dues, fees and                                                                          disproportionally high charges to
                                                                                                             dealers who do not need the data
                                                  other charges because the higher fees are                                                                        Distributors that already expend
                                                                                                             beyond the prices, sizes, market center
                                                  commensurate with the higher value of                                                                            substantial amounts to distribute certain
                                                                                                             identifications of the NBBO and                       Nasdaq products. The proposed changes
                                                  the report for Distributors with more                      consolidated last sale information are
                                                  Subscribers.                                                                                                     would not permit unfair discrimination
                                                                                                             not required to receive (and pay for)                 because the Exchange will apply the
                                                     The reduced rate for Distributors that
                                                                                                             such data. The Commission also
                                                  have elected to purchase an enterprise
                                                                                                             believes that efficiency is promoted                    13 NetCoalition v. SEC, 615 F.3d 525 (D.C. Cir.
                                                  license for the distribution of Nasdaq
                                                                                                             when broker-dealers may choose to                     2010).
                                                  depth-of-book products or Nasdaq Basic,
                                                                                                             receive (and pay for) additional market                 14 See NetCoalition, at 534–535.
                                                  or that pay substantial fees for the
                                                                                                             data based on their own internal                        15 Id. at 537.
                                                  distribution of NLS or NLS Plus, is also
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                                                                                                             analysis of the need for such data.12                   16 Id. at 539 (quoting Securities Exchange Act
                                                  an equitable allocation of reasonable                         By removing unnecessary regulatory                 Release No. 59039 (December 2, 2008), 73 FR
                                                  dues, fees and other charges. Enterprise                   restrictions on the ability of exchanges
                                                                                                                                                                   74770, 74782–83 (December 9, 2008) (SR–
                                                  licenses are a frequently-employed                                                                               NYSEArca–2006–21)).
                                                                                                                                                                     17 See Sec. Indus. Fin. Mkts. Ass’n (SIFMA),
                                                  method for allowing Distributors to                           11 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808
                                                                                                                                                                   Initial Decision Release No. 1015, 2016 SEC LEXIS
                                                                                                             (June 9, 2005), 70 FR 37496 (June 29, 2005)           2278 (ALJ June 1, 2016) (finding the existence of
                                                    9 15   U.S.C. 78f(b).                                    (‘‘Regulation NMS Adopting Release’’).                vigorous competition with respect to non-core
                                                    10 15   U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).                           12 Id.                                             market data).



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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 148 / Thursday, August 3, 2017 / Notices                                               36171

                                                  same fee to all similarly-situated                      industries such as software, where                      a loss in sales that may adversely affect
                                                  Distributors.                                           developing new software typically                       its profitability.
                                                    Fees for the Short Interest Report are                requires a large initial investment (and                   In this instance, the proposed rule
                                                  optional in that they apply only to firms               continuing large investments to upgrade                 change enhances competition by
                                                  that elect to purchase the product,                     the software), but once the software is                 creating a fee structure that reflects the
                                                  which, like all proprietary data                        developed, the incremental cost of                      value of the report to both Distributors
                                                  products, they may cancel at any time.                  providing that software to an additional                and Subscribers and encourages the
                                                                                                          user is typically small, or even zero                   dissemination of the report to
                                                  B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                                                                          (e.g., if the software can be downloaded                professionals and the investing public.
                                                  Statement on Burden on Competition
                                                                                                          over the internet after being                           If the Short Interest Report were to
                                                     The Exchange does not believe that                   purchased).18 It is costly to build and                 become unattractive to members and
                                                  the proposed rule change will impose                    maintain a trading platform, but the                    sponsored firms, those firms would opt
                                                  any burden on competition not                           incremental cost of trading each                        not to purchase the product, and it is
                                                  necessary or appropriate in furtherance                 additional share on an existing platform,               likely that the Exchange will lose
                                                  of the purposes of the Act. Indeed, the                 or distributing an additional instance of               market share as a result. As such, the
                                                  Exchange believes that the Short Interest               data, is very low. Market information                   Exchange does not believe that the
                                                  Report enhances competition by                          and executions are each produced                        proposed changes will impair
                                                  creating a fee structure that reflects the              jointly (in the sense that the activities of            competition in the financial markets.
                                                  value of the report to both Distributors                trading and placing orders are the
                                                  and Subscribers and encourages the                                                                              C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                                                                          source of the information that is                       Statement on Comments on the
                                                  dissemination of the report to                          distributed) and are each subject to
                                                  professionals and the investing public.                                                                         Proposed Rule Change Received From
                                                                                                          significant scale economies.                            Members, Participants, or Others
                                                     The market for data products is                         Competition among trading platforms
                                                  extremely competitive and firms may                     can be expected to constrain the                          No written comments were either
                                                  freely choose alternative venues and                    aggregate return each platform earns                    solicited or received.
                                                  data vendors based on the aggregate fees                from the sale of its joint products. The
                                                  assessed, the data offered, and the value                                                                       III. Date of Effectiveness of the
                                                                                                          level of competition and contestability                 Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
                                                  provided. Numerous exchanges compete                    in the market is evident in the
                                                  with each other for listings, trades, and                                                                       Commission Action
                                                                                                          numerous alternative venues that
                                                  market data itself, providing virtually                 compete for order flow, including SRO                      The foregoing rule change has become
                                                  limitless opportunities for entrepreneurs               markets, as well as internalizing BDs                   effective pursuant to Section
                                                  who wish to produce and distribute                      and various forms of alternative trading                19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act.19
                                                  their own market data. Transaction                      systems (‘‘ATSs’’), including dark pools                   At any time within 60 days of the
                                                  execution and proprietary data products                 and electronic communication networks                   filing of the proposed rule change, the
                                                  are complementary in that market data                   (‘‘ECNs’’). Each SRO market competes to                 Commission summarily may
                                                  is both an input and a byproduct of the                 produce transaction reports via trade                   temporarily suspend such rule change if
                                                  execution service. In fact, market data                 executions, and two FINRA-regulated                     it appears to the Commission that such
                                                  and trade execution are a paradigmatic                  TRFs compete to attract internalized                    action is: (i) Necessary or appropriate in
                                                  example of joint products with joint                    transaction reports. It is common for                   the public interest; (ii) for the protection
                                                  costs. The decision whether and on                      BDs to further and exploit this                         of investors; or (iii) otherwise in
                                                  which platform to post an order will                    competition by sending their order flow                 furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
                                                  depend on the attributes of the platform                and transaction reports to multiple                     If the Commission takes such action, the
                                                  where the order can be posted,                          markets, rather than providing them all                 Commission shall institute proceedings
                                                  including the execution fees, data                      to a single market. Competitive markets                 to determine whether the proposed rule
                                                  quality and price, and distribution of its              for order flow, executions, and                         should be approved or disapproved.
                                                  data products. Without trade                            transaction reports provide pricing                     IV. Solicitation of Comments
                                                  executions, exchange data products                      discipline for the inputs of proprietary
                                                  cannot exist. Moreover, data products                                                                             Interested persons are invited to
                                                                                                          data products. The large number of                      submit written data, views, and
                                                  are valuable to many end users only                     SROs, TRFs, BDs, and ATSs that
                                                  insofar as they provide information that                                                                        arguments concerning the foregoing,
                                                                                                          currently produce proprietary data or                   including whether the proposed rule
                                                  end users expect will assist them or                    are currently capable of producing it
                                                  their customers in making trading                                                                               change is consistent with the Act.
                                                                                                          provides further pricing discipline for                 Comments may be submitted by any of
                                                  decisions.                                              proprietary data products. Each SRO,
                                                     The costs of producing market data                                                                           the following methods:
                                                                                                          TRF, ATS, and BD is currently
                                                  include not only the costs of the data                  permitted to produce proprietary data                   Electronic Comments
                                                  distribution infrastructure, but also the               products, and many currently do or                        • Use the Commission’s Internet
                                                  costs of designing, maintaining, and                    have announced plans to do so,                          comment form (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                  operating the exchange’s transaction                    including Nasdaq, NYSE, NYSE MKT,                       rules/sro.shtml); or
                                                  execution platform and the cost of                      NYSE Arca, and the BATS exchanges.                        • Send an email to rule-comments@
                                                  regulating the exchange to ensure its fair                 In this competitive environment, an                  sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
                                                  operation and maintain investor                         ‘‘excessive’’ price for one product will                NASDAQ–2017–077 on the subject line.
                                                  confidence. The total return that a                     have to be reflected in lower prices for
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                                                  trading platform earns reflects the                     other products sold by the Exchange, or                 Paper Comments
                                                  revenues it receives from both products                 otherwise the Exchange may experience                     • Send paper comments in triplicate
                                                  and the joint costs it incurs. Moreover,                                                                        to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
                                                  the operation of the exchange is                           18 See William J. Baumol and Daniel G. Swanson,
                                                                                                                                                                  Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
                                                  characterized by high fixed costs and                   ‘‘The New Economy and Ubiquitous Competitive
                                                                                                          Price Discrimination: Identifying Defensible Criteria
                                                                                                                                                                  Washington, DC 20549–1090.
                                                  low marginal costs. This cost structure                 of Market Power,’’ Antitrust Law Journal, Vol. 70,
                                                  is common in content distribution                       No. 3 (2003).                                            19 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).



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                                                  36172                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 148 / Thursday, August 3, 2017 / Notices

                                                     All submissions should refer to File                   SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                 concerning the purpose of and basis for
                                                  Number SR–NASDAQ–2017–077. This                           COMMISSION                                              the proposed rule change and discussed
                                                  file number should be included on the                                                                             any comments it received on the
                                                                                                            [Release No. 34–81252; File No. SR–MIAX–
                                                  subject line if email is used. To help the                                                                        proposed rule change. The text of these
                                                                                                            2017–36]
                                                  Commission process and review your                                                                                statements may be examined at the
                                                  comments more efficiently, please use                     Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami                    places specified in Item IV below. The
                                                  only one method. The Commission will                      International Securities Exchange LLC;                  Exchange has prepared summaries, set
                                                  post all comments on the Commission’s                     Notice of Filing and Immediate                          forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
                                                  Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                    Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule                        the most significant aspects of such
                                                                                                            Change To Adopt a New Type of MIAX                      statements.
                                                  rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
                                                  submission, all subsequent                                Express Interface Port Known as a                       A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                  amendments, all written statements                        Purge Port, To Amend MIAX Options                       Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                  with respect to the proposed rule                         Rule 519C, Mass Cancellation of                         Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                  change that are filed with the                            Trading Interest, To Adopt a New                        Change
                                                  Commission, and all written                               Purge Message, and To Amend Its Fee
                                                                                                            Schedule To Adopt Fees for Purge                        1. Purpose
                                                  communications relating to the
                                                                                                            Ports                                                      The Exchange proposes to offer
                                                  proposed rule change between the
                                                                                                                                                                    Market Makers 3 that connect to the
                                                  Commission and any person, other than                     July 28, 2017.                                          Exchange using the MIAX Express
                                                  those that may be withheld from the                          Pursuant to the provisions of Section                Interface (‘‘MEI’’) 4 a new type of
                                                  public in accordance with the                             19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act                 connection port, named Purge Ports, to
                                                  provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                       of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4                      be used as dedicated ports for sending
                                                  available for Web site viewing and                        thereunder,2 notice is hereby given that                purge messages to the Exchange. The
                                                  printing in the Commission’s Public                       on July 24, 2017, Miami International                   Exchange also proposes to amend its
                                                  Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                         Securities Exchange, LLC (‘‘MIAX                        Fee Schedule to identify and adopt fees
                                                  Washington, DC 20549 on official                          Options’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the               for Purge Ports. Finally, the Exchange
                                                  business days between the hours of                        Securities and Exchange Commission                      proposes to amend Exchange Rule 519C,
                                                  10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                    (‘‘Commission’’) a proposed rule change                 Mass Cancellation of Trading Interest, to
                                                  filing also will be available for                         as described in Items I and II below,                   adopt new rule text to reflect the
                                                  inspection and copying at the principal                   which Items have been prepared by the                   proposed Purge Port functionality, as
                                                  office of the Exchange. All comments                      Exchange. The Commission is                             well as to make clarifying changes to
                                                  received will be posted without change;                   publishing this notice to solicit                       existing rule text to more accurately
                                                  the Commission does not edit personal                     comments on the proposed rule change                    describe current functionality, and to
                                                                                                            from interested persons.                                reorganize the rule for ease of reference.
                                                  identifying information from
                                                  submissions. You should submit only                       I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                          Market Makers connect to the
                                                                                                            Statement of the Terms of Substance of                  Exchange’s System 5 via their assigned
                                                  information that you wish to make
                                                                                                            the Proposed Rule Change                                MEI ports. Currently, the Exchange
                                                  available publicly. All submissions
                                                                                                                                                                    offers Market Makers two different types
                                                  should refer to File Number SR–                              The Exchange is filing a proposal to                 of MEI port connections. The first is a
                                                  NASDAQ–2017–077, and should be                            amend Rule 519C, Mass Cancellation of                   Full Service Port 6 which supports all
                                                  submitted on or before August 24, 2017.                   Trading Interest, to adopt new rule text                message types, and the other is a
                                                    For the Commission, by the Division of                  to reflect the proposed Purge Port                      Limited Service Port 7 which provides
                                                  Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated                functionality, as well as to make                       slightly less functionality. The Exchange
                                                  authority.20                                              clarifying changes to existing rule text to             limits Market Makers to two (2) Full
                                                  Brent J. Fields,
                                                                                                            more accurately describe current
                                                                                                            functionality, and to reorganize the rule                  3 The term ‘‘Market Makers’’ refers to ‘‘Lead
                                                  Secretary.                                                for ease of reference. The Exchange is                  Market Makers’’, ‘‘Primary Lead Market Makers’’
                                                  [FR Doc. 2017–16298 Filed 8–2–17; 8:45 am]                also proposing to amend its Fee                         and ‘‘Registered Market Makers’’ collectively. See
                                                                                                                                                                    Exchange Rule 100.
                                                  BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                    Schedule to adopt fees for Purge Ports.                    4 MIAX Express Interface is a connection to MIAX
                                                                                                               The text of the proposed changes to                  systems that enables Market Makers to submit
                                                                                                            Exchange Rule 519C is attached as                       simple and complex electronic quotes to MIAX. See
                                                                                                            Exhibit 5A. The proposed changes to the                 MIAX Options Fee Schedule, Section 5)d)ii),
                                                                                                                                                                    footnote 26.
                                                                                                            Fee Schedule are attached as Exhibit 5B.                   5 The term ‘‘System’’ means the automated
                                                                                                            The text of the proposed rule change is                 trading system used by the Exchange for the trading
                                                                                                            available on the Exchange’s Web site at                 of securities. See Exchange Rule 100.
                                                                                                            http://www.miaxoptions.com/rule-                           6 Full Service MEI Ports provide Market Makers

                                                                                                            filings, at MIAX’s principal office, and                with the ability to send Market Maker simple and
                                                                                                                                                                    complex quotes, eQuotes, and quote purge messages
                                                                                                            at the Commission’s Public Reference                    to the MIAX System. Full Service MEI Ports are also
                                                                                                            Room.                                                   capable of receiving administrative information.
                                                                                                                                                                    Market Makers are limited to two Full Service MEI
                                                                                                            II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                      Ports per matching engine. See MIAX Options Fee
                                                                                                            Statement of the Purpose of, and                        Schedule, Section 5)d)ii), footnote 27.
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                                                                       7 Limited Service MEI Ports provide Market
                                                                                                            Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                                                                                                                                    Makers with the ability to send simple and complex
                                                                                                            Change                                                  eQuotes and quote purge messages only, but not
                                                                                                               In its filing with the Commission, the               Market Maker Quotes, to the MIAX System. Limited
                                                                                                            Exchange included statements                            Service MEI Ports are also capable of receiving
                                                                                                                                                                    administrative information. Market Makers initially
                                                                                                                                                                    receive two Limited Service MEI Ports per matching
                                                                                                              1 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                              engine. See MIAX Options Exchange Fee Schedule,
                                                    20 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                              2 17   CFR 240.19b–4.                                 Section 5)d)ii), footnote 28.



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Document Created: 2017-08-03 07:24:59
Document Modified: 2017-08-03 07:24:59
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
FR Citation82 FR 36168 

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