E6-17994. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule Change and Amendment No. 1 Thereto Relating to Minor Rule Violations in Connection With Trade Reporting

October 20, 2006.

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 4, 2006, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc. (“CBOE” or “Exchange”) 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 CBOE. On October 17, 2006, the Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change.^[3] The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change, as amended, from interested persons.

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

The Exchange proposes to amend CBOE Rule 17.50—Imposition of Fines for Minor Rule Violations, particularly the provisions of CBOE Rule 17.50(g)(4) for Failure to Submit Trade Information on Time and Failure to Submit Trade Information to the Price Reporter.

The text of the proposed rule change is available on CBOE's Web site at http://www.cboe.com, at CBOE's principal office, 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, as amended, and discussed any comments it received on the proposal. 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 Exchange represents that the purpose of this proposal is to increase and strengthen the sanctions imposed pursuant to its Minor Rule Violation Plan in connection with the failure to submit timely trade information. Additionally, the Exchange also proposes to amend the surveillance “look-back” period for the aforementioned conduct from a rolling 18-month period to a rolling 24-month period. CBOE Rule 6.51 provides, in relevant part, that a participant in each transaction to be designated by the Exchange must report or ensure the transaction is reported to the Exchange within 90 seconds of the execution in a form and manner prescribed by the Exchange so that the trade information may be disseminated. Transactions not reported within 90 seconds after execution in accordance with CBOE Rule 6.51(a)(i) are designated as late. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change, by increasing fine levels and lengthening the rolling surveillance period to a 24-month period, would serve as an effective deterrent to such violative conduct.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change would strengthen its ability to carry out its oversight responsibilities as a self-regulatory organization and reinforce its surveillance and enforcement functions. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change, as amended, is consistent with section 6(b) of the Act,^[4] in general, and furthers the objectives of section 6(b)(5) of the Act,^[5] in particular, in that it would promote just and equitable principles of trade, facilitate transactions in securities, remove impediments to and perfect the mechanisms of a free and open market and a national market system, and protect investors and the public interest.

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

The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change would impose 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 neither solicited nor received comments on the proposed rule change.

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

Within 35 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the Exchange consents, the Commission will:

(A) By order approve such proposed rule change, or

(B) Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be 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, as amended, 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-CBOE-2006-81 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CBOE-2006-81. 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. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of CBOE. 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-CBOE-2006-81 and should be submitted on or before November 17, 2006.

For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.^[6]

Nancy M. Morris,

Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  In Amendment No. 1, CBOE replaced the statutory basis section of the original proposal.

4.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

5.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(6).

6.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).