2021-22904. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-2736

Extension:

Rule 304 of Regulation ATS and Form ATS

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (“PRA”) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. ), the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) is soliciting comments on the existing collection of information provided for in Rule 304 of Regulation ATS (17 CFR 242.304) and Form ATS-N under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq. ) (“Exchange Act”). The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) for extension and approval.

Regulation ATS provides a regulatory structure for alternative trading systems. Rule 304 of Regulation ATS provides conditions for NMS Stock ATSs seeking to rely on the exemption from the definition of “exchange” provided by Rule 3a1-1(a) of the Exchange Act, including to file a Form ATS-N, and for that Form ATS-N to become effective. Form ATS-N requires NMS Stock ATSs to provide information about their manner of operations, the broker-dealer operator, and the ATS-related activities of the broker-dealer operator and its affiliates to comply with the conditions provided under Rule 304. Form ATS-N promotes more efficient and effective market operations by providing more transparency to market participants about the operations of NMS Stock ATSs and the potential conflicts of interest of the controlling broker-dealer operator and its affiliates, and helps brokers meet their best execution obligations to their customers. Operational transparency rules, including Form ATS-N, are designed to increase competition among trading centers in regard to order routing and execution quality.

The Commission staff estimates that entities subject to the requirements of Rule 304 and Form ATS-N will spend a total of approximately 2,042 hours a year to comply with the Rule.

Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's estimates of the burden of the proposed 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.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information under the PRA unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Please direct your written comments to: David Bottom, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Cynthia Roscoe, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549, or send an email to: [e-mail].

Dated: October 15, 2021.

J. Matthew DeLesDernier,

Assistant Secretary.