E6-3543. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change and Amendment No. 1 Thereto Relating to Specialist Participant Fees and Credits

March 6, 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 February 27, 2006, the Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc. (“CHX” 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 the CHX. On March 2, 2006, CHX filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change.^[3] The CHX has designated this proposal as one changing a fee imposed by the CHX under Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act,^[4] and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) thereunder,^[5] which renders the proposal effective upon filing with the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change, as amended, from interested parties.

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

The CHX proposes to amend its Participant Fee Schedule to confirm that, effectively immediately, specialist fixed fees would not be assessed to a specialist firm with respect to securities that are temporarily assigned. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site (http://www.chx.com/​rules/​proposed_​rules.htm) and at the Commission's Public Reference Room. Below is the text of the proposed rule change, as amended. Proposed new language is italicized.

FEES AND ASSESSMENTS

* * * * *

E. Specialist Fixed Fees

* * * * *

These fixed fees shall not be assessed to a firm with respect to securities that are temporarily assigned.

* * * * *

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 CHX included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the proposed rule change, as amended, and discussed any comments it received regarding the proposal, as amended. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The CHX 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

Under the Exchange's rules, the Committee on Specialist Assignment and Evaluation (“CSAE”) is responsible for appointing participant firms to act as specialists on the Exchange.^[6] From time to time, the CSAE may make a temporary assignment of one or more securities to a specialist firm.^[7] Temporary assignments may be made, for example, when one specialist firm has requested and been granted the opportunity to deregister in one or more of its securities before the formal posting and assignment process has been completed.^[8] Through this filing, the Exchange proposes to confirm that, when a firm has been appointed to act as specialist in a security on a temporary basis, the firm will not be charged the specialist fixed fees otherwise associated with the trading of that security. The Exchange believes that this fee waiver creates an appropriate (and limited) incentive for a firm to agree to act as specialist on a temporary basis.^[9]

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change, as amended, is consistent with Section 6(b)(4) of the Act ^[10] in that it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among CHX's members and creates an appropriate (and limited) incentive for a firm to agree to act as specialist on a temporary basis.

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

The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change, as amended, will impose any burden on competition.

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 proposed rule change, as amended, has been designated as a fee change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[11] and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,^[12] because it establishes or changes a due, fee or other charge imposed by the Exchange. Accordingly, the proposal will take effect upon filing with the Commission. At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, as amended, 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.^[13]

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-CHX-2006-07 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CHX-2006-07. 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 the CHX. 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-CHX-2006-07 and should be submitted on or before April 4, 2006.

For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.¹⁴

Nancy M. Morris,

Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  In Amendment No. 1, the Exchange revised the proposed rule text to clarify its meaning. The effective date of the original proposed rule change is February 27, 2006, and the effective date of Amendment No. 1 is March 2, 2006. For purposes of calculating the 60-day period within which the Commission may summarily abrogate the proposed rule change under Section 19(b)(3)(C) of the Act, the Commission considers the period to commence on March 2, 2006, the date on which the CHX filed Amendment No. 1. See 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(C).

4.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).

5.  5 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).

6.  See Article IV, Rule 6.

7.  See Article XXX, Rule 1.

8.  The Exchange represents that when a security is to be assigned or reassigned, the Exchange notifies specialist firms of the assignment opportunity and invites applications for the security. See Article XXX, Rule 1, Interpretation and Policy .01, Section II. The Exchange further represents that if more than one firm seeks the assignment, the CSAE holds meetings with the firms to review their demonstrated ability, experience, financial responsibility and other factors that are relevant to the CSAE's assignment decision. See Article XXX, Rule 1, Interpretation and Policy .01, Section II and Section III. The Exchange represents that depending upon the number of firms applying for a security and the availability of committee members and specialist firm representatives, this process could take several weeks to complete. An interim temporary assignment allows a security to continue to be traded by a specialist firm, while the process is completed.

9.  The Exchange also is filing, pursuant to Section 19b(2) of the Act, a proposal to make this fee change retroactive to January 1, 2006. See SR-CHX-2006-08.

10.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).

11.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

12.  12 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).

13.  See supra note 3.

14.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).