E8-25239. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Boston Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Its Minor Rule Plan

October 17, 2008.

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 October 10, 2008, the Boston Stock Exchange, Inc. (“BSE” or “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the BSE. The Exchange has designated the proposed rule change as a “non-controversial” rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[3] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 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.

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

The Boston Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) proposes to update the Boston Options Exchange Group LLC (“BOX”) rules to increase and strengthen sanctions imposed pursuant to the Minor Rule Violation Plan in connection with any Options Participant or non-Options Participant customer in accordance with BOX Rules Chapter III, Section 7. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at http://nasdaqtrader.com/​Trader.aspx?​id=​Boston_​Stock_​Exchange, at the Office of the Secretary, 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, 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 purpose of the proposed rule change is to update the BOX rules to clarify and strengthen sanctions imposed for violations of BOX Rules Chapter III, Section 7 pursuant to the Minor Rule Violation Plan, as found in BOX Rules, Chapter X. The amendment will impose a flat fine amount for a violation, rather than a fine levied per contract. In addition, the proposed amendment will eliminate the current distinction between Customer accounts and Options Participant accounts. The Exchange believes these changes will serve as an effective deterrent to violative conduct.

The Exchange and certain other self-regulatory organizations (“SRO's”), as members of the Intermarket Surveillance Group (the “ISG”), executed and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 29, 2007, a final version of the Agreement pursuant to Section 17(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended) (the “Agreement”).^[5] The members of the ISG intend to enter into an amendment to the 17d-2 Agreement in the near future concerning the surveillance and sanction of Position Limit violations. In anticipation, the SRO's have agreed that their respective rules concerning position limits concerning options contracts are common rules and should be consistent with one another. The Exchange's proposed amendment to its Minor Rule violation Plan will result in further consistency of sanctions among the signatories to the 17d-2 Agreement and the forthcoming amendment concerning Position Limit violations.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,^[6] in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,^[7] in particular, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, 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. Specifically, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change will promote consistency in minor rule violations and respective SRO reporting obligations set forth pursuant to Rule 19d-1(c)(2) under the Act ^[8] , which governs minor rule plans.

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

The Exchange 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

The Exchange has neither solicited, nor received comments on the proposed rule change.

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

The proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[9] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder ^[10] because the foregoing proposed rule change: (1) Does not significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (2) does not impose any significant burden on competition; and (3) by its terms, does not become operative for 30 days after the date of filing, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest.^[11]

The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay and designate the proposed rule change as operative upon filing. The Commission hereby grants the Exchange's request and believes that doing so is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest.^[12] The Exchange's proposed rule change is based on a similar proposal that was previously approved by the Commission^[13] and does not raise any novel or significant issues. Therefore, the Commission designates the proposed rule change operative upon filing.

At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission may summarily abrogate 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.

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-BSE-2008-44 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-BSE-2008-44. 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 the Exchange. 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 publicly available. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-BSE-2008-44 and should be submitted on or before November 13, 2008.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[14]

J. Lynn Taylor,

Assistant Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

4.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

5.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 56941 (April 11, 2008), 73 FR 75 (April 17, 2008).

6.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

7.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

8.  17 CFR 240.19d-1(c)(2).

9.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

10.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

11.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires the self-regulatory organization to give the Commission 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. BSE has satisfied this requirement.

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

13.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58119 (July 8, 2008), 73 FR 40646 (July 15, 2008) (SR-CBOE-2008-53). See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58289 (August 1, 2008), 73 FR 46667 (August 11, 2008) (SR-ISE-2008-62).

14.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).