2010-195. Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX BX; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Facilitate Annual Membership Billing Conducted by BX Using the FINRA CRD System

January 4, 2010.

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 December 14, 2009, NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (the “Exchange” or “BX”) 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 BX. BX has designated the proposed rule change as one that is concerned solely with the administration of the self-regulatory organization pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(3) under the Act,^[3] 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.

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

BX submits this proposed rule change to facilitate annual membership billing conducted by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) on behalf of BX.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

In its filing with the Commission, BX 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. BX 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

BX is proposing to allow FINRA to deduct an annual $3,000 membership fee from Boston Options Exchange Group, LLC (“BOX”) participants' CRD accounts and promptly refund the charge back to the same participants' accounts. Pursuant to a regulatory services agreement, FINRA is providing BX with certain regulatory services, including the collection of annual membership fees from BX members pursuant to BX Rule 7001(a). BOX participants are not subject to the BX annual membership fee. Due to a limitation with FINRA's systems, FINRA is unable to differentiate between BX members and BOX participants. As a consequence, FINRA must deduct the BX fee from both member and participant accounts. BX is proposing to promptly refund the charge to BOX participants after collection by FINRA. Specifically, after receipt of the lump sum payment from FINRA representing the collection of funds from both member and participant accounts, BX will provide to FINRA the BOX participant funds together with a list of each participant to which FINRA must remit pro-rata payment. BOX has provided its participants with notice of the impending charge and rebate.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,^[4] in general and with Sections 6(b)(5) of the Act,^[5] in particular, in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. The proposed change will facilitate FINRA's operation of the CRD system, while ensuring that BOX participants are not improperly charged a fee.

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

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

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

No written comments were either solicited or received.

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

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act ^[6] and Rule 19b-4(f)(3) thereunder,^[7] the Exchange has designated this proposal as one that is concerned solely with the administration of the self-regulatory organization, which renders the proposed rule change effective upon filing.

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 e-mail to [e-mail]. Please include File No. SR-BX-2009-082 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File No. SR-BX-2009-082. This file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail 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 inspection and copying in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of BX. 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 No. SR-BX-2009-082 and should be submitted on or before February 1, 2010.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.⁸

Florence E. Harmon,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(3).

4.  15 U.S.C. 78f.

5.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

6.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).

7.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(3).

8.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).