2010-5067. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Options Regulatory Fee

March 3, 2010.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”),^[1] notice is hereby given that on February 23, 2010, Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (“CBOE” or the “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. 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

Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (“CBOE” or “Exchange”) proposes to amend the Options Regulatory Fee to eliminate the minimum one-cent charge per trade. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site (http://www.cboe.org/​legal), at the Exchange's 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, CBOE 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. CBOE 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 charges an Options Regulatory Fee (“ORF”) of $.004 per contract to each member for all options transactions executed or cleared by the member that are cleared by The Options Clearing Corporation (“OCC”) in the customer range, excluding Linkage orders, regardless of the exchange on which the transaction occurs. The ORF is collected indirectly from members through their clearing firms by OCC on behalf of the Exchange. There is a minimum one-cent charge per trade.^[2]

The Exchange proposes to eliminate the minimum one-cent charge per trade. The Exchange does not calculate the ORF on a trade-by-trade basis.^[3] The Exchange calculates the ORF by multiplying the aggregate number of contracts executed by each clearing firm every month by the ORF rate and then rounding to the nearest $.01 using pure rounding (i.e., any digit 5 and above is rounded up). Because the Exchange does not calculate the ORF on a trade-by-trade basis, the Exchange proposes to remove the minimum one-cent charge per trade from its fees schedule.

2. Statutory Basis

By clarifying how the Exchange calculates the ORF, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with section 6(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) ^[4] , in general, and furthers the objectives of section 6(b)(4) ^[5] of the Act in particular, in that it is designed to provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among its members and other persons using its facilities.

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

CBOE does not believe that the proposed rule change will 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

No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the proposed rule change.

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

The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[6] and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4 ^[7] thereunder. 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-CBOE-2010-020 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CBOE-2010-020. 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 Web site viewing and printing 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 available publicly. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-CBOE-2010-020 and should be submitted on or before March 31, 2010.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[8]

Florence E. Harmon,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  The ORF was established in October 2008 as a replacement of Registered Representative fees. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58817 (October 20, 2008), 73 FR 63744 (October 27, 2008). The ORF was to be effective January 1, 2009. In December 2008 and January 2009, the Exchange filed proposed rule changes waiving the ORF for January and February, to allow additional time for the Exchange, OCC and firms to put in place appropriate procedures to implement the fee. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59182 (December 30, 2008), 74 FR 730 (January 7, 2009), and Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59355 (February 3, 2009), 74 FR 6677 (February 10, 2009). The ORF was amended three additional times in 2009. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59427 (February 20, 2009), 74 FR 9013 (February 27, 2009); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 60093 (June 10, 2009), 74 FR 28749 (June 17, 2009); and Securities Exchange Act Release No. 60513 (August 17, 2009), 74 FR 42719 (August 24, 2009).

3.  See CBOE Regulatory Circular RG09-30.

4.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

5.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).

6.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

7.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).

8.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).