E6-18950. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

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

Rule 17a-5; SEC File No. 270-155; OMB Control No. 3235-0123.

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”) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a request for extension of the previously approved collection of information discussed below.

Rule 17a-5 (17 CFR 240.17a-5) is the basic financial reporting rule for brokers and dealers.^[1] The Rule requires the filing of the Financial and Operational Combined Uniform Single Report (“FOCUS Report”) on Form X-17A-5 (17 CFR 240.15c3-1e), which was the result of years of study and comments by representatives of the securities industry through advisory committees and through the normal rule proposal methods. The FOCUS Report was designed to eliminate the overlapping regulatory reports required by various self-regulatory organizations and the Commission and to reduce reporting burdens as much as possible. The Rule also requires the filing of an annual audited report of financial statements.

The FOCUS Report consists of: (1) Part I, which is a monthly report that must be filed by brokers or dealers that clear transactions or carry customer securities; (2) one of three alternative quarterly reports: Part II, which must be filed by brokers or dealers that clear transactions or carry customer securities; Part IIA, which must be filed by brokers or dealers that do not clear transactions or carry customer securities; and Part IIB, which must be filed by specialized broker-dealers registered with the Commission as OTC derivatives dealers; ^[2] (3) supplemental schedules, which must be filed annually; and (4) a facing page, which must be filed with the annual audited report of financial statements. Under the Rule, a broker or dealer that computes certain of its capital charges in accordance with Appendix E to Exchange Act Rule 15c3-1 (17 CFR 240.15c3-1e) must file additional monthly, quarterly, and annual reports with the Commission.

The variation in the size and complexity of brokers and dealers subject to Rule 17a-5 and the differences in the FOCUS Report forms that must be filed under the Rule make it difficult to calculate the cost of compliance. However, we estimate, on average, that each report will require approximately 12 hours. At year-end 2005, the Commission estimates that there were approximately 6,200 brokers or dealers, and that of those firms there were approximately 600 brokers or dealers that clear transactions or carry customer securities. In addition, approximately 400 firms filed annual reports. The Commission therefore estimates that approximately 600 firms filed monthly reports, approximately 5,600 firms filed quarterly reports, and approximately 400 firms filed annual reports. In addition, approximately 6,200 firms filed annual audited reports. As a result, there were approximately 36,200 total annual responses ((600 × 12) + (5,600 × 4) + 400 + 6,200 = 36,200). This results in an estimated annual burden of 434,400 hours (36,200 annual responses × 12 hours = 434,400).

In addition, we estimate that approximately 11 brokers or dealers will elect to use Appendix E to Rule 15c3-1 to compute certain of their capital charges (as of June 2006, five brokers or dealers have elected to use Appendix E). We estimate that the average amount of time necessary to prepare and file the additional monthly reports that must be filed by these firms is about 4 hours per month, or approximately 48 hours per year; the average amount of time necessary to prepare and file the additional quarterly reports is about 8 hours per quarter, or approximately 32 hours per year; and the average amount of time necessary to prepare and file the additional supplemental reports with the annual audit required is approximately 40 hours per year. Consequently, we estimate that the total additional annual burden for these 11 brokers or dealers is approximately 1,320 hours ((48 + 32 + 40) × 11 = 1,320).

The Commission therefore estimates that the total annual burden under Rule 17a-5 is approximately 435,700 hours (434,400 + 1,320 = 435,720, rounded to 435,700).

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

Comments regarding the estimated burden hours should be directed to: (i) The Desk Officer for the Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10102, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503 or by e-mail to [e-mail]; and (ii) R. Corey Booth, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Shirley Martinson, 6432 General Green Way, Alexandria, VA 22312, or by e-mail to [e-mail]. Comments must be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget within 30 days of this notice.

November 3, 2006.

Nancy M. Morris,

Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  Rule 17a-5(c) requires a broker or dealer to furnish certain of its financial information to customers and is subject to a separate PRA filing (OMB Control Number 3235-0199).

2.  Part IIB of Form X-17A-5 must be filed by OTC derivatives dealers under Exchange Act Rule 17a-12 and is subject to a separate PRA filing (OMB Control Number 3235-0498).