03-791. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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

Extension:

Rule 15g-6, Sec File No. 270-349, OMB Control No. 3235-0395

Rule 17a-8, Sec File No. 270-53, OMB Control No. 3235-0092

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) is soliciting comments on the collections of information summarized below. The Commission plans to submit these existing collections of information to the Office of Management and Budget for extension and approval.

• Rule 15g-6—Account statements for penny stock customers.

Rule 15g-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”) requires brokers and dealers that sell penny stocks to their customers to provide monthly account statements containing information with regard to the penny stocks held in customer accounts. The information is required to be provided to customers of broker-dealers that effect penny stock transactions in order to provide those customers with information that is not now publicly available. Without this information, investors would be less able to protect themselves from fraud and to make informed investment decisions.

The staff estimates that there are approximately 270 broker-dealers that are subject to the rule. The staff estimates that the firms affected by the rule will, at any one time, have approximately 150 new customers with whom they have effected transactions in penny stocks, each of whom would receive a maximum of 12 account statements per year, for a total of 1,800 account statements annually for each firm (150 customers × 12 account statements/customer). The staff estimates that a broker-dealer would expend approximately three minutes in processing the information required for each account statement. Accordingly, the estimated average annual burden would equal 90 hours (1,800 account statements × 3 minutes/account statement × 1 hour/60 minutes), and the estimated average total burden would equal 24,300 hours (90 hours × 270).

• Rule 17a-8—Financial Recordkeeping and Reporting of Currency and Foreign Transactions.

Rule 17a-8 under the Act requires brokers and dealers to make and keep certain reports and records concerning their currency and monetary instrument transactions. The requirements allow the Commission to ensure that brokers and dealers are in compliance with the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970 (“Bank Secrecy Act”) and with the Department of the Treasury regulations under that Act.

The reports and records required under this rule initially are required under Department of the Treasury regulations, and additional burden hours and costs are not imposed by this rule.

Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted in writing within 60 days of this publication.

Please direct your written comments to Kenneth A. Fogash, Acting Associate Executive Director/CIO, Office of Information Technology, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549.

Dated: January 8, 2003.

Margaret H. McFarland,

Deputy Secretary.