83_FR_22661 83 FR 22567 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; BOX Options Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend the Fee Schedule on the BOX Market LLC (“BOX”) Options Facility To Amend Connectivity Fees and Establish Port Fees

83 FR 22567 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; BOX Options Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend the Fee Schedule on the BOX Market LLC (“BOX”) Options Facility To Amend Connectivity Fees and Establish Port Fees

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 94 (May 15, 2018)

Page Range22567-22569
FR Document2018-10257

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 94 (Tuesday, May 15, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 15, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22567-22569]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-10257]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-83197; File No. SR-BOX-2018-15]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; BOX Options Exchange LLC; Notice 
of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To 
Amend the Fee Schedule on the BOX Market LLC (``BOX'') Options Facility 
To Amend Connectivity Fees and Establish Port Fees

May 9, 2018.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(the ``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given 
that on April 27, 2018, BOX Options Exchange LLC (the ``Exchange'') 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the 
proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which 
Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Exchange filed the 
proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act,\3\ 
and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) thereunder,\4\ which renders the proposal 
effective upon filing with the Commission. The Commission is publishing 
this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from 
interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
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    I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of the 
Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
    The Exchange is filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') a proposed rule change to amend the Fee Schedule on 
the BOX Market LLC (``BOX'') options facility. While changes to the fee 
schedule pursuant to this proposal will be effective upon filing, the 
changes will become operative on May 1, 2018. The text of the proposed 
rule change is available from the principal office of the Exchange, at 
the Commission's Public Reference Room and also on the Exchange's 
internet website at http://boxexchange.com.

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 Exchange proposes to amend Section VI. (Technology Fees) of the 
Fee Schedule to establish Port Fees assessed to BOX Participants 
connecting to BOX systems. The Exchange does not currently charge 
Participants to access the BOX System through ports. The Exchange is 
now proposing to assess fees for these connections.\5\ The Exchange 
notes that these types of fees are commonly assessed within the 
industry. Additionally, the Exchange proposes to amend Section VI.A. 
(Connectivity Fees) to delete the table and applicable language and add 
language that BOX will pass-through any connectivity fees to 
Participants and non-Participants that are assessed to BOX by third-
party external vendors on behalf of a Participant or non-Participant.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 66871 (April 27, 
2012), 77 FR 26323 (May 3, 2012) (In the Matter of the Application 
of BOX Options Exchange LLC for Registration as a National 
Securities Exchange). When BOX applied for registration as a 
national securities exchange in 2012, it filed exhibits which 
detailed the operations of the Exchange. Specifically, Exhibit E of 
BOX's application provided an in-depth description of the means in 
which Participants would gain access to the BOX systems through 
certain connections and ports. These connections have been in place 
since BOX's application approval in 2012. The Exhibit E is available 
at https://www.sec.gov/rules/other/2012/boxapplication.htm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Connectivity Fees
    The Exchange proposes to delete the table and applicable language 
in Section VI.A (Connectivity Fees). Currently, Section VI.A 
(Connectivity Fees) of the Fee Schedule states that market participants 
are required to connect to the BOX network through datacenters owned 
and operated by third-party vendors. The Fee Schedule includes a table 
of connectivity fees associated with two datacenters, NY4 and 65 
Broadway, where market participants can connect to BOX. The Exchange is 
proposing to delete the table and data center specific language from 
the Fee Schedule. The Exchange notes that no other exchanges include 
this detail within their fee schedules and it has received Participant 
feedback that the inclusion of this information is causing

[[Page 22568]]

confusion about the technology fees assessed by BOX.
    Next, the Exchange proposes to add language to Section VI.A. to 
state that BOX will pass-through any connectivity fees to Participants 
and non-Participants that are assessed to BOX by third-party external 
vendors on behalf of a Participant or non-Participant connecting to BOX 
(including cross-connects).\6\ The Exchange notes that the proposed 
change is similar to fees at another options exchange.\7\
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    \6\ The Exchange notes that market participants will continue to 
be assessed fees by and billed directly by the datacenter pursuant 
to their agreement with the datacenter. The Exchange is proposing 
that any other fees assessed to BOX on behalf of a Participant or 
non-Participant will be passed through to the market participants.
    \7\ See Miami International Securities Exchange LLC (``MIAX'') 
Fee Schedule Section 5(c).
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Port Fees
    The Exchange then proposes to establish fees for access and 
services used by Participants via existing connections known as 
``Ports.'' \8\ BOX currently provides three (3) types of ports, 
including: (i) The Financial Information Exchange (``FIX'') Port, which 
allows Participants to electronically send orders in all products 
traded on the Exchange; (ii) the SOLA[supreg] Access Information 
Language (``SAIL'') Port, which allows Market Makers and other 
Participants to submit electronic quotes and orders to the Exchange; 
and (iii) the Drop Copy Port, which provides a real-time feed 
containing trade execution, trade correction, trade cancellation and 
trade allocation for regular and complex orders on the Exchange. The 
Exchange notes that Participants must connect to a minimum of one port 
via FIX or SAIL and that there is no minimum or maximum number of ports 
required for the Drop Copy Port.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ Within the industry, market participant access to an 
Exchange is referred to as ``Ports,'' ``Sessions,'' and 
``Gateways.'' See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81903 (October 
19, 2017), 82 FR 49450 (October 25, 2017)(SR-ISE-2017-91). In their 
filing, ISE refers to these connections as ``sessions.'' See also 
NYSE American LLC (``American'') Fee Schedule, General Note 4. NYSE 
refers to these connections as customer ``gateways'' that provide 
for order entry.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    BOX will assess monthly Port Fees on Participants in each month the 
market participant is credentialed to use a Port in the production 
environment and based upon the number of credentialed Ports that user 
is entitled to use.
    The FIX Port Fees will be the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            BOX monthly
                                                           (per port per
                        FIX ports                           month) port
                                                               fees
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st FIX Port............................................            $500
FIX Ports 2 through 5...................................             250
Additional FIX Ports over 5.............................             150
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange notes that the proposed FIX Port fees are similar to 
fees assessed at options exchanges within the industry.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ See MIAX Fee Schedule. MIAX assesses the 1st FIX Port a fee 
of $550 per month, FIX Ports 2 through 5 $350 per month per port and 
additional FIX Ports over 5 $150 per month per port. See also NYSE 
Arca, Inc. (``Arca'') Fee Schedule. For the Order Entry Port 
(similar to the proposed FIX Port), Arca charges $450 per port per 
month for ports 1 through 40 and assesses $150 per port per month 
for 41 ports and above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The SAIL Port Fees will be the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               SAIL ports                     BOX monthly port fees
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Market Makers..........................  $1000 per month for all Ports.
Other Participants.....................  500 per port per month (1-5
                                          Ports).
                                         $150 per month for each
                                          additional Port.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange also notes that the proposed SAIL Port fees are 
similar to fees assessed at options exchanges in the industry.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ See Nasdaq ISE, LLC (``ISE'') Fee Schedule. ISE assesses a 
Specialized Quote Interface (``SQF'') Port Fee of $1,100 per port 
per month for ISE Market Makers. The Exchange believes that the 
proposed SAIL Port is similar to ISE's SQF Port because both Ports 
allow Market Makers to directly connect to the respective Exchanges' 
systems in order to provide quotes to the market. The Exchange notes 
that BOX's SAIL Port differs from ISE's in that other Participants, 
like Order Flow Providers (``OFP''), have the ability to connect to 
the SAIL Port to enter orders to the BOX system. See also MIAX Fee 
Schedule. MIAX assesses MIAX Express Interface (``MEI'') Port Fees 
on Market Makers. Like ISE, MIAX's MEI Port is designated for Market 
Maker quotes only. As mentioned above, BOX's proposed SAIL Port is 
available to Market Makers and other Participants who wish to enter 
orders through the SAIL Port.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Further, BOX will assess Drop Copy Port Fees of $500 per port per 
month for each month a Participant is credentialed to use a Drop Copy 
Port. The Exchange notes that the proposed Drop Copy Port Fee is 
similar to fees at another options exchange in the industry; \11\ and 
that Participants are not required to connect to a minimum or maximum 
amount of Drop Copy Ports.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ See MIAX Fee Schedule. MIAX assesses a FIX Drop Copy Port 
Fee of $500 per month.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other
    Lastly, the Exchange proposes to make non-substantive changes to 
the Fee Schedule. Specifically, the Exchange proposes to renumber the 
footnotes to reflect the proposed changes discussed above.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with the 
requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act, in general, and Section 
6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5)of the Act,\12\ in particular, in that it provides 
for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other 
charges among BOX Participants and other persons using its facilities 
and does not unfairly discriminate between customers, issuers, brokers 
or dealers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Connectivity Fees
    The Exchange believes that removing the datacenter specific text 
and table from Section VI.A of the Fee Schedule is reasonable, 
equitable and not unfairly discriminatory. As discussed above, market 
participants will continue to be assessed the applicable fees by and 
billed directly by the datacenter pursuant to their agreement with the 
datacenter. The Exchange believes that removing the table of associated 
fees is reasonable, equitable and not unfairly discriminatory as it has 
caused investor confusion with regard to connectivity fees assessed at 
BOX.
    BOX believes it is reasonable, equitable and not unfairly 
discriminatory to pass-through any connectivity fees that are charged 
to BOX by third-party vendors on behalf of the Participant or non-
Participant. BOX believes it is reasonable and equitable to recover 
these costs that were incurred on BOX for the benefit of the 
Participant or non-Participant. The Exchange believes the proposed 
change is reasonable as another exchange in the industry has a similar 
provision in its fee schedule.\13\ Lastly, the Exchange believes that 
the proposed change is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory 
because it applies to all market participants, regardless of account 
type.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ See supra note 7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Port Fees
FIX and SAIL Port Fees
    The Exchange believes it is reasonable, equitable and not unfairly 
discriminatory to assess FIX and SAIL Port Fees on Participants who use 
such services. The FIX Port enables Participants to submit orders 
electronically to the Exchange for processing, while the SAIL Port 
enables Market Makers to submit quotes to the Exchange for processing. 
The SAIL Port also allows other Participants to submit orders 
electronically to the Exchange for

[[Page 22569]]

processing. The Exchange believes that the proposed fees for the FIX 
Port are reasonable as they are within the range of comparable fees at 
other competing options exchanges.\14\ Further, the Exchange believes 
that the FIX Port Fees are equitable and not unfairly discriminatory 
because the fees are assessed to all Participants who wish to enter 
orders to the BOX system via the FIX Port, regardless of account type. 
Further, the Exchange believes that the proposed tiered pricing model 
for these fees is reasonable, equitable and not unfairly discriminatory 
as this model is commonly used within the industry for port fees or the 
equivalent.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ See supra note 9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange believes that the SAIL Port Fees are reasonable 
because they are within the range of comparable fees at other competing 
options exchanges.\15\ Further, the Exchange believes that charging 
different fees for Market Makers and other market participants who wish 
to use the SAIL Port is reasonable, equitable and not unfairly 
discriminatory. BOX believes that charging a flat fee of $1,000 per 
month for all SAIL Ports for Market Makers is reasonable as Market 
Makers are required by the Exchange to connect to sixteen (16) SAIL 
Ports while other Participants have the ability to choose whether to 
connect through the FIX Port, the SAIL Port, or both.\16\ As such, the 
Exchange believes that the proposed SAIL Port Fees are reasonable, 
equitable and not unfairly discriminatory.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ See supra note 10.
    \16\ The Exchange requires Market Makers to connect to 16 Ports 
in order to satisfy their membership requirements on BOX.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Drop Copy Port Fee
    The Exchange believes that the Drop Copy Port Fee is equitable and 
not unfairly discriminatory because the Exchange is uniformly assessing 
the Drop Copy Port Fees on all users that wish to subscribe to it, 
regardless of account type. Further, the Exchange believes that the 
proposed Drop Copy Port Fee is reasonable because it is identical to 
fees charged by another exchange.\17\ Further, the Drop Copy Port Fee 
is reasonable because it is offered as an optional service for those 
users who wish to subscribe to it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ See supra note 11.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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. Unilateral action by BOX in 
establishing fees for services provided to its Participants and others 
using its facilities will not have an impact on competition. As a small 
Exchange in the already highly competitive environment for options 
trading, BOX does not have the market power necessary to set prices for 
services that are unreasonable or unfairly discriminatory in violation 
of the Exchange Act. BOX's proposed fees, as described herein, are 
comparable to and generally lower than fees charged by other options 
exchanges for the same or similar services. Lastly, the Exchange 
believes the proposed change will not impose a burden on intramarket 
competition as the proposed fees are applicable to all Participants who 
connect to BOX.

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 Exchange Act \18\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) 
thereunder,\19\ because it establishes or changes a due, or fee.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
    \19\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend the rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that the action is necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or 
would otherwise further 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 rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 
File Number SR-BOX-2018-15 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.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-BOX-2018-15. 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 website (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 website 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 such filing also will be available for inspection 
and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments 
received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are 
cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying 
information from comment submissions. You should submit only 
information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions 
should refer to File Number SR-BOX-2018-15, and should be submitted on 
or before June 5, 2018.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\20\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-10257 Filed 5-14-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 94 / Tuesday, May 15, 2018 / Notices                                                    22567

                                               All submissions should refer to File                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                               places specified in Item IV below. The
                                               Number SR–CboeBZX–2018–031. This                          COMMISSION                                            Exchange has prepared summaries, set
                                               file number should be included on the                                                                           forth in Sections A, B, and C below, of
                                                                                                         [Release No. 34–83197; File No. SR–BOX–
                                               subject line if email is used. To help the                2018–15]
                                                                                                                                                               the most significant aspects of such
                                               Commission process and review your                                                                              statements.
                                               comments more efficiently, please use                     Self-Regulatory Organizations; BOX                    A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                               only one method. The Commission will                      Options Exchange LLC; Notice of                       Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                               post all comments on the Commission’s                     Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of                 Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                               internet website (http://www.sec.gov/                     a Proposed Rule Change To Amend                       Change
                                               rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                           the Fee Schedule on the BOX Market
                                               submission, all subsequent                                LLC (‘‘BOX’’) Options Facility To                     1. Purpose
                                               amendments, all written statements                        Amend Connectivity Fees and
                                                                                                                                                                 The Exchange proposes to amend
                                               with respect to the proposed rule                         Establish Port Fees
                                                                                                                                                               Section VI. (Technology Fees) of the Fee
                                               change that are filed with the                            May 9, 2018.                                          Schedule to establish Port Fees assessed
                                               Commission, and all written                                  Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the                to BOX Participants connecting to BOX
                                               communications relating to the                            Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the                  systems. The Exchange does not
                                               proposed rule change between the                          ‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2                currently charge Participants to access
                                               Commission and any person, other than                     notice is hereby given that on April 27,              the BOX System through ports. The
                                               those that may be withheld from the                       2018, BOX Options Exchange LLC (the                   Exchange is now proposing to assess
                                               public in accordance with the                             ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities               fees for these connections.5 The
                                               provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                       and Exchange Commission                               Exchange notes that these types of fees
                                               available for website viewing and                         (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule                    are commonly assessed within the
                                               printing in the Commission’s Public                       change as described in Items I, II, and               industry. Additionally, the Exchange
                                               Reference Room, 100 F Street NE,                          III below, which Items have been                      proposes to amend Section VI.A.
                                               Washington, DC 20549, on official                         prepared by the Exchange. The                         (Connectivity Fees) to delete the table
                                               business days between the hours of                        Exchange filed the proposed rule change               and applicable language and add
                                               10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                    pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the            language that BOX will pass-through
                                               filing also will be available for                         Act,3 and Rule 19b–4(f)(2) thereunder,4               any connectivity fees to Participants and
                                               inspection and copying at the principal                   which renders the proposal effective                  non-Participants that are assessed to
                                                                                                         upon filing with the Commission. The                  BOX by third-party external vendors on
                                               office of the Exchange. All comments
                                                                                                         Commission is publishing this notice to               behalf of a Participant or non-
                                               received will be posted without change.
                                                                                                         solicit comments on the proposed rule                 Participant.
                                               Persons submitting comments are
                                               cautioned that we do not redact or edit                   change from interested persons.                       Connectivity Fees
                                                                                                            I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                               personal identifying information from
                                                                                                         Statement of the Terms of the Substance                 The Exchange proposes to delete the
                                               comment submissions. You should                           of the Proposed Rule Change                           table and applicable language in Section
                                               submit only information that you wish                        The Exchange is filing with the                    VI.A (Connectivity Fees). Currently,
                                               to make available publicly. All                           Securities and Exchange Commission                    Section VI.A (Connectivity Fees) of the
                                               submissions should refer to File                          (‘‘Commission’’) a proposed rule change               Fee Schedule states that market
                                               Number SR–CboeBZX–2018–031, and                           to amend the Fee Schedule on the BOX                  participants are required to connect to
                                               should be submitted on or before June                     Market LLC (‘‘BOX’’) options facility.                the BOX network through datacenters
                                               5, 2018.                                                  While changes to the fee schedule                     owned and operated by third-party
                                                 For the Commission, by the Division of                  pursuant to this proposal will be                     vendors. The Fee Schedule includes a
                                               Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated                effective upon filing, the changes will               table of connectivity fees associated
                                               authority.13                                              become operative on May 1, 2018. The                  with two datacenters, NY4 and 65
                                               Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                                                                                         text of the proposed rule change is                   Broadway, where market participants
                                                                                                         available from the principal office of the            can connect to BOX. The Exchange is
                                               Assistant Secretary.
                                                                                                         Exchange, at the Commission’s Public                  proposing to delete the table and data
                                               [FR Doc. 2018–10260 Filed 5–14–18; 8:45 am]               Reference Room and also on the                        center specific language from the Fee
                                               BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                    Exchange’s internet website at http://                Schedule. The Exchange notes that no
                                                                                                         boxexchange.com.                                      other exchanges include this detail
                                                                                                         II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                    within their fee schedules and it has
                                                                                                         Statement of the Purpose of, and                      received Participant feedback that the
                                                                                                         Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                inclusion of this information is causing
                                                                                                         Change
                                                                                                                                                                  5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 66871
                                                                                                            In its filing with the Commission, the             (April 27, 2012), 77 FR 26323 (May 3, 2012) (In the
                                                                                                         Exchange included statements                          Matter of the Application of BOX Options Exchange
                                                                                                         concerning the purpose of and basis for               LLC for Registration as a National Securities
                                                                                                                                                               Exchange). When BOX applied for registration as a
                                                                                                         the proposed rule change and discussed                national securities exchange in 2012, it filed
                                                                                                         any comments it received on the
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                                                               exhibits which detailed the operations of the
                                                                                                         proposed rule change. The text of these               Exchange. Specifically, Exhibit E of BOX’s
                                                                                                         statements may be examined at the                     application provided an in-depth description of the
                                                                                                                                                               means in which Participants would gain access to
                                                                                                          1 15
                                                                                                                                                               the BOX systems through certain connections and
                                                                                                               U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                               ports. These connections have been in place since
                                                                                                          2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                  BOX’s application approval in 2012. The Exhibit E
                                                                                                          3 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
                                                                                                                                                               is available at https://www.sec.gov/rules/other/
                                                 13 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                             4 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).                            2012/boxapplication.htm.



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                                               22568                              Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 94 / Tuesday, May 15, 2018 / Notices

                                               confusion about the technology fees                                                              BOX monthly        footnotes to reflect the proposed
                                               assessed by BOX.                                                       FIX ports                 (per port per      changes discussed above.
                                                                                                                                                 month) port
                                                 Next, the Exchange proposes to add                                                                 fees2. Statutory Basis
                                               language to Section VI.A. to state that                                                                     The Exchange believes that the
                                               BOX will pass-through any connectivity                      1st FIX Port .......................... $500
                                                                                                           FIX Ports 2 through 5 ...........        250
                                                                                                                                                        proposal is consistent with the
                                               fees to Participants and non-Participants
                                               that are assessed to BOX by third-party                     Additional FIX Ports over 5 ..           150 requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act,
                                                                                                                                                        in general, and Section 6(b)(4) and
                                               external vendors on behalf of a
                                                                                                              The Exchange notes that the proposed 6(b)(5)of the Act, in particular, in that
                                                                                                                                                                          12
                                               Participant or non-Participant                              FIX Port fees are similar to fees assessed   it provides for the equitable allocation
                                               connecting to BOX (including cross-                         at options exchanges within the              of reasonable dues, fees, and other
                                               connects).6 The Exchange notes that the                     industry.9                                   charges among BOX Participants and
                                               proposed change is similar to fees at                          The SAIL Port Fees will be the            other persons using its facilities and
                                               another options exchange.7                                  following:                                   does not unfairly discriminate between
                                                                                                                                                        customers, issuers, brokers or dealers.
                                               Port Fees
                                                                                                             SAIL ports           BOX monthly port fees            Connectivity Fees
                                                  The Exchange then proposes to                                                                                       The Exchange believes that removing
                                                                                                           Market Makers       $1000 per month for all
                                               establish fees for access and services                                            Ports.                            the datacenter specific text and table
                                               used by Participants via existing                           Other Partici-      500 per port per month (1–5         from Section VI.A of the Fee Schedule
                                               connections known as ‘‘Ports.’’ 8 BOX                         pants.              Ports).                           is reasonable, equitable and not unfairly
                                               currently provides three (3) types of                                           $150 per month for each ad-         discriminatory. As discussed above,
                                               ports, including: (i) The Financial                                               ditional Port.                    market participants will continue to be
                                               Information Exchange (‘‘FIX’’) Port,                                                                                assessed the applicable fees by and
                                               which allows Participants to                                  The Exchange also notes that the                      billed directly by the datacenter
                                               electronically send orders in all                           proposed SAIL Port fees are similar to                  pursuant to their agreement with the
                                               products traded on the Exchange; (ii)                       fees assessed at options exchanges in                   datacenter. The Exchange believes that
                                                                                                           the industry.10
                                               the SOLA® Access Information                                                                                        removing the table of associated fees is
                                                                                                             Further, BOX will assess Drop Copy
                                               Language (‘‘SAIL’’) Port, which allows                                                                              reasonable, equitable and not unfairly
                                                                                                           Port Fees of $500 per port per month for
                                               Market Makers and other Participants to                                                                             discriminatory as it has caused investor
                                                                                                           each month a Participant is credentialed                confusion with regard to connectivity
                                               submit electronic quotes and orders to                      to use a Drop Copy Port. The Exchange
                                               the Exchange; and (iii) the Drop Copy                                                                               fees assessed at BOX.
                                                                                                           notes that the proposed Drop Copy Port                     BOX believes it is reasonable,
                                               Port, which provides a real-time feed                       Fee is similar to fees at another options
                                               containing trade execution, trade                                                                                   equitable and not unfairly
                                                                                                           exchange in the industry; 11 and that                   discriminatory to pass-through any
                                               correction, trade cancellation and trade                    Participants are not required to connect                connectivity fees that are charged to
                                               allocation for regular and complex                          to a minimum or maximum amount of                       BOX by third-party vendors on behalf of
                                               orders on the Exchange. The Exchange                        Drop Copy Ports.                                        the Participant or non-Participant. BOX
                                               notes that Participants must connect to                                                                             believes it is reasonable and equitable to
                                                                                                           Other
                                               a minimum of one port via FIX or SAIL                                                                               recover these costs that were incurred
                                               and that there is no minimum or                               Lastly, the Exchange proposes to                      on BOX for the benefit of the Participant
                                               maximum number of ports required for                        make non-substantive changes to the                     or non-Participant. The Exchange
                                               the Drop Copy Port.                                         Fee Schedule. Specifically, the                         believes the proposed change is
                                                                                                           Exchange proposes to renumber the                       reasonable as another exchange in the
                                                  BOX will assess monthly Port Fees on
                                               Participants in each month the market                          9 See MIAX Fee Schedule. MIAX assesses the 1st
                                                                                                                                                                   industry has a similar provision in its
                                               participant is credentialed to use a Port                   FIX Port a fee of $550 per month, FIX Ports 2
                                                                                                                                                                   fee schedule.13 Lastly, the Exchange
                                               in the production environment and                           through 5 $350 per month per port and additional        believes that the proposed change is
                                               based upon the number of credentialed                       FIX Ports over 5 $150 per month per port. See also      equitable and not unfairly
                                                                                                           NYSE Arca, Inc. (‘‘Arca’’) Fee Schedule. For the        discriminatory because it applies to all
                                               Ports that user is entitled to use.                         Order Entry Port (similar to the proposed FIX Port),
                                                                                                           Arca charges $450 per port per month for ports 1
                                                                                                                                                                   market participants, regardless of
                                                  The FIX Port Fees will be the                                                                                    account type.
                                                                                                           through 40 and assesses $150 per port per month
                                               following:                                                  for 41 ports and above.
                                                                                                              10 See Nasdaq ISE, LLC (‘‘ISE’’) Fee Schedule. ISE
                                                                                                                                                                   Port Fees
                                                 6 The Exchange notes that market participants             assesses a Specialized Quote Interface (‘‘SQF’’) Port   FIX and SAIL Port Fees
                                               will continue to be assessed fees by and billed             Fee of $1,100 per port per month for ISE Market
                                               directly by the datacenter pursuant to their                Makers. The Exchange believes that the proposed           The Exchange believes it is
                                               agreement with the datacenter. The Exchange is              SAIL Port is similar to ISE’s SQF Port because both     reasonable, equitable and not unfairly
                                               proposing that any other fees assessed to BOX on            Ports allow Market Makers to directly connect to        discriminatory to assess FIX and SAIL
                                               behalf of a Participant or non-Participant will be          the respective Exchanges’ systems in order to
                                                                                                           provide quotes to the market. The Exchange notes        Port Fees on Participants who use such
                                               passed through to the market participants.                                                                          services. The FIX Port enables
                                                 7 See Miami International Securities Exchange
                                                                                                           that BOX’s SAIL Port differs from ISE’s in that other
                                               LLC (‘‘MIAX’’) Fee Schedule Section 5(c).
                                                                                                           Participants, like Order Flow Providers (‘‘OFP’’),      Participants to submit orders
                                                                                                           have the ability to connect to the SAIL Port to enter   electronically to the Exchange for
                                                 8 Within the industry, market participant access
                                                                                                           orders to the BOX system. See also MIAX Fee
                                                                                                                                                                   processing, while the SAIL Port enables
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                                               to an Exchange is referred to as ‘‘Ports,’’ ‘‘Sessions,’’   Schedule. MIAX assesses MIAX Express Interface
                                               and ‘‘Gateways.’’ See Securities Exchange Act               (‘‘MEI’’) Port Fees on Market Makers. Like ISE,         Market Makers to submit quotes to the
                                               Release No. 81903 (October 19, 2017), 82 FR 49450           MIAX’s MEI Port is designated for Market Maker          Exchange for processing. The SAIL Port
                                               (October 25, 2017)(SR–ISE–2017–91). In their filing,        quotes only. As mentioned above, BOX’s proposed         also allows other Participants to submit
                                               ISE refers to these connections as ‘‘sessions.’’ See        SAIL Port is available to Market Makers and other
                                               also NYSE American LLC (‘‘American’’) Fee                   Participants who wish to enter orders through the       orders electronically to the Exchange for
                                               Schedule, General Note 4. NYSE refers to these              SAIL Port.
                                                                                                                                                                    12 15   U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
                                               connections as customer ‘‘gateways’’ that provide              11 See MIAX Fee Schedule. MIAX assesses a FIX

                                               for order entry.                                            Drop Copy Port Fee of $500 per month.                    13 See   supra note 7.



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                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 94 / Tuesday, May 15, 2018 / Notices                                                   22569

                                               processing. The Exchange believes that                  services provided to its Participants and             Paper Comments
                                               the proposed fees for the FIX Port are                  others using its facilities will not have                • Send paper comments in triplicate
                                               reasonable as they are within the range                 an impact on competition. As a small                  to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
                                               of comparable fees at other competing                   Exchange in the already highly                        Commission, 100 F Street NE,
                                               options exchanges.14 Further, the                       competitive environment for options                   Washington, DC 20549–1090.
                                               Exchange believes that the FIX Port Fees                trading, BOX does not have the market                 All submissions should refer to File
                                               are equitable and not unfairly                          power necessary to set prices for                     Number SR–BOX–2018–15. This file
                                               discriminatory because the fees are                     services that are unreasonable or                     number should be included on the
                                               assessed to all Participants who wish to                unfairly discriminatory in violation of               subject line if email is used. To help the
                                               enter orders to the BOX system via the                  the Exchange Act. BOX’s proposed fees,                Commission process and review your
                                               FIX Port, regardless of account type.                   as described herein, are comparable to                comments more efficiently, please use
                                               Further, the Exchange believes that the                 and generally lower than fees charged
                                               proposed tiered pricing model for these                                                                       only one method. The Commission will
                                                                                                       by other options exchanges for the same               post all comments on the Commission’s
                                               fees is reasonable, equitable and not                   or similar services. Lastly, the Exchange
                                               unfairly discriminatory as this model is                                                                      internet website (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                                                                       believes the proposed change will not                 rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
                                               commonly used within the industry for                   impose a burden on intramarket
                                               port fees or the equivalent.                                                                                  submission, all subsequent
                                                                                                       competition as the proposed fees are                  amendments, all written statements
                                                  The Exchange believes that the SAIL                  applicable to all Participants who
                                               Port Fees are reasonable because they                                                                         with respect to the proposed rule
                                                                                                       connect to BOX.                                       change that are filed with the
                                               are within the range of comparable fees
                                               at other competing options exchanges.15                 C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                     Commission, and all written
                                               Further, the Exchange believes that                     Statement on Comments on the                          communications relating to the
                                               charging different fees for Market                      Proposed Rule Change Received From                    proposed rule change between the
                                               Makers and other market participants                    Members, Participants, or Others                      Commission and any person, other than
                                               who wish to use the SAIL Port is                          No written comments were either                     those that may be withheld from the
                                               reasonable, equitable and not unfairly                  solicited or received.                                public in accordance with the
                                               discriminatory. BOX believes that                                                                             provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                               charging a flat fee of $1,000 per month                 III. Date of Effectiveness of the                     available for website viewing and
                                               for all SAIL Ports for Market Makers is                 Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                   printing in the Commission’s Public
                                               reasonable as Market Makers are                         Commission Action                                     Reference Room, 100 F Street NE,
                                               required by the Exchange to connect to                     The foregoing rule change has become               Washington, DC 20549 on official
                                               sixteen (16) SAIL Ports while other                     effective pursuant to Section                         business days between the hours of
                                               Participants have the ability to choose                 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Exchange Act 18                10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such
                                               whether to connect through the FIX                      and Rule 19b–4(f)(2) thereunder,19                    filing also will be available for
                                               Port, the SAIL Port, or both.16 As such,                because it establishes or changes a due,              inspection and copying at the principal
                                               the Exchange believes that the proposed                 or fee.                                               office of the Exchange. All comments
                                               SAIL Port Fees are reasonable, equitable                   At any time within 60 days of the                  received will be posted without change.
                                               and not unfairly discriminatory.                        filing of the proposed rule change, the               Persons submitting comments are
                                                                                                       Commission summarily may                              cautioned that we do not redact or edit
                                               Drop Copy Port Fee                                                                                            personal identifying information from
                                                                                                       temporarily suspend the rule change if
                                                 The Exchange believes that the Drop                   it appears to the Commission that the                 comment submissions. You should
                                               Copy Port Fee is equitable and not                      action is necessary or appropriate in the             submit only information that you wish
                                               unfairly discriminatory because the                     public interest, for the protection of                to make available publicly. All
                                               Exchange is uniformly assessing the                     investors, or would otherwise further                 submissions should refer to File
                                               Drop Copy Port Fees on all users that                   the purposes of the Act. If the                       Number SR–BOX–2018–15, and should
                                               wish to subscribe to it, regardless of                  Commission takes such action, the                     be submitted on or before June 5, 2018.
                                               account type. Further, the Exchange                     Commission shall institute proceedings                  For the Commission, by the Division of
                                               believes that the proposed Drop Copy                    to determine whether the proposed rule                Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                               Port Fee is reasonable because it is                    should be approved or disapproved.                    authority.20
                                               identical to fees charged by another                                                                          Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                               exchange.17 Further, the Drop Copy Port                 IV. Solicitation of Comments
                                                                                                                                                             Assistant Secretary.
                                               Fee is reasonable because it is offered as                Interested persons are invited to                   [FR Doc. 2018–10257 Filed 5–14–18; 8:45 am]
                                               an optional service for those users who                 submit written data, views, and                       BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                               wish to subscribe to it.                                arguments concerning the foregoing,
                                               B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       including whether the proposed rule
                                               Statement on Burden on Competition                      change is consistent with the Act.                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                                                                       Comments may be submitted by any of                   COMMISSION
                                                 The Exchange does not believe that
                                                                                                       the following methods:
                                               the proposed rule change will impose                                                                          Proposed Collection; Comment
                                               any burden on competition not                           Electronic Comments                                   Request
                                               necessary or appropriate in furtherance                   • Use the Commission’s internet
                                               of the purposes of the Act. Unilateral                  comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                     Upon Written Request, Copies Available
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                                               action by BOX in establishing fees for                  rules/sro.shtml); or                                   From: U.S. Securities and Exchange
                                                                                                         • Send an email to rule-comments@                    Commission, Office of FOIA Services,
                                                 14 See supra note 9.
                                                                                                       sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                100 F Street NE, Washington, DC
                                                 15 See supra note 10.
                                                                                                       BOX–2018–15 on the subject line.                       20549–2736.
                                                 16 The Exchange requires Market Makers to

                                               connect to 16 Ports in order to satisfy their                                                                 Extension:
                                               membership requirements on BOX.                          18 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
                                                 17 See supra note 11.                                  19 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).                             20 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).



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Document Created: 2018-05-15 00:33:32
Document Modified: 2018-05-15 00:33:32
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 Citation83 FR 22567 

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