2011-668. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Extend a TRACE Pilot Program

January 7, 2011.

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 January 5, 2011, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by FINRA. FINRA has designated the proposed rule change as constituting a “non-controversial” rule change under paragraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 under the Act,^[3] which renders the proposal effective upon receipt of this filing by 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 Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

FINRA is proposing to extend the pilot program in FINRA Rule 6730(e)(4) to July 8, 2011. The pilot program does not require reporting to Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (“TRACE”) transactions in TRACE-Eligible Securities that are executed on a facility of the NYSE in accordance with NYSE Rules 1400, 1401 and 86 and reported to NYSE in accordance with NYSE's applicable trade reporting rules and disseminated publicly by NYSE.

The text of the proposed rule change is available on FINRA's Web site at http://www.finra.org,, at the principal office of FINRA, and 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, FINRA 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. FINRA 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

FINRA proposes to amend FINRA Rule 6730(e)(4) to extend the pilot program, which is scheduled to expire on January 7, 2011, to July 8, 2011.^[4] The pilot program does not require reporting to TRACE transactions in TRACE-Eligible Securities that are executed on a facility of NYSE in accordance with NYSE Rules 1400, 1401 and 86 and reported to NYSE in accordance with NYSE's applicable trade reporting rules and disseminated publicly by NYSE, provided that a data sharing agreement between FINRA and NYSE related to transactions covered by the Rule remains in effect.

FINRA is proposing to extend the pilot program until July 8, 2011 to continue to exempt transactions in TRACE-Eligible Securities on an NYSE facility (and as to which all the other conditions of the exemption are met) from the TRACE reporting requirements. FINRA believes that the extension will provide additional time to analyze the impact of the exemption. Without the extension, members would be subject to both FINRA's and NYSE's trade reporting requirements with respect to these securities.

The proposed rule change would not expand or otherwise change the pilot. FINRA notes that the success of the pilot program remains dependent on FINRA's ability to effectively continue to conduct surveillance on corporate debt trading in the over-the-counter market. In this regard, FINRA Rule 6730(e)(4) would continue to require that the exemption be predicated on the data agreement between FINRA and NYSE to share data related to the transactions covered by the Rule remaining in effect. However, FINRA supports a regulatory construct that, in the future, consolidates all last sale transaction information to provide better price transparency and a more efficient means to engage in market surveillance of TRACE-Eligible Securities transactions. The extension proposed herein will allow the pilot program to continue to operate without interruption while FINRA and the NYSE further assess the effect of the exemption and issues regarding the consolidation of market data, market surveillance and price transparency.

FINRA has filed the proposed rule change for immediate effectiveness and has requested that the SEC waive the requirement that the proposed rule change not become operative for 30 days after the date of the filing, such that the pilot can continue to operate without interruption.

2. Statutory Basis

FINRA believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act,^[5] which requires, among other things, that FINRA rules must be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. FINRA believes that the extension of the exemptive provision protects investors and the public because transactions will be reported, transparency will be maintained for these transactions, and NYSE's agreement to share data with FINRA allows FINRA, at this time, to conduct surveillance in the corporate debt securities market.

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

FINRA does not believe that the proposed rule change will result in any burden on competition that is 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

Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

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

The Exchange represented that the proposed rule change qualifies for immediate effectiveness pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Exchange Act ^[6] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder ^[7] because it: (i) Does not significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) does not impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) by its terms, does not become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest.^[8]

The Exchange has requested that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay, so that the proposed rule change may become operative upon filing. The Commission hereby grants the Exchange's request.^[9] The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest by allowing the continuation of the pilot program without interruption while permitting FINRA and NYSE to further assess the effects of the current exemption issues regarding the consolidation of market data, market surveillance, and price transparency.

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 necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or 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 e-mail to [e-mail]. Please include File Number SR-FINRA-2011-002 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 Number SR-FINRA-2011-002. 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 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 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of FINRA. 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-FINRA-2011-002 and should be submitted on or before February 4, 2011.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[10]

Elizabeth M. Murphy,

Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

4.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54768 (November 16, 2006), 71 FR 67673 (November 22, 2006) (Order Approving Proposed Rule Change; File No. SR-NASD-2006-110) (pilot program in FINRA Rule 6730(e)(4), subject to the execution of a data sharing agreement addressing relevant transactions, became effective on January 9, 2007); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59216 (January 8, 2009), 74 FR 2147 (January 14, 2009) (Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change; File No. SR-FINRA-2008-065) (pilot program extended to January 7, 2011).

5.  15 U.S.C. 78 o-3(b)(6).

6.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

7.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

8.  In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires a self-regulatory organization to submit to the Commission written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The Commission has waived the five-day pre-filing period in this case.

9.  For the purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).

10.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).