02-6261. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Stock Clearing Corporation of Philadelphia; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Extension of Its Pilot Program To Implement Its Existing Fee Schedule for ...

March 11, 2002.

Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”),^[1] notice is hereby given that on January 17, 2002, the Stock Clearing Corporation of Philadelphia (“SCCP”) 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 primarily by SCCP. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested parties.

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

The proposed rule change extends SCCP's pilot program for an additional one year period thereby continuing to implement the existing SCCP fee waivers for SCCP participants for trades executed on the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc. (“Phlx”) for Electronic Communications Networks (“ECNs”).^[2] The current pilot program expired on January 23, 2002.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule

In its filing with the Commission, SCCP included statements concerning the purpose of and statutory basis for the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. SCCP has prepared summaries, set forth in sections (A), (B), and (C) below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.^[3]

(A) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

SCCP previously filed with the Commission a proposed rule change to adopt a fee schedule for ECNs.^[4] Pursuant to that proposed rule change, SCCP waived certain dues, fees, and charges, including trade recording fees, value fees, and treasury transaction charges but not account fees, research fees, computer transmission/tape charges, or miscellaneous charges on its fee schedule.^[5] The fee schedule was to operate as a pilot program for one year. It was intended that after the initial pilot period, the ECN would be eligible for the SCCP fee schedule rates for ECNs only if the ECN achieved certain average daily equity volume on the Phlx.^[6] At this time, SCCP proposes to continue to implement the existing fee schedule for ECNs, as described above, without imposing volume requirements.

This rule change affects ECN trades not related to such ECN acting as a Phlx specialist or floor broker. Thus, an ECN may incur specialist or floor brokerage transaction fees if it acts in that capacity. Currently, no ECN operates from Phlx's equity trading floor as a floor broker or specialist unit. If, however, an ECN did operate from the Phlx equity trading floor, it could be subject to various SCCP fees respecting its non-ECN floor operation.^[7] In addition, an ECN's transactions as a floor broker would be subject to the applicable SCCP fee as would any ECN's specialist trades. Even if the ECN is acting as a floor broker or specialist with respect to some trades, those trades for which it is not acting as a floor broker or specialist, but rather as an ECN, would be subject only to the monthly and not other transaction charges.

The proposed rule change extends SCCP's existing fee schedule for ECNs for an additional one year period in order to have the opportunity to fully review and evaluate the overall structure of the ECN program, including whether to impose volume threshold requirements.

SCCP believes that its current ECN fee schedule provides competitive fees with appropriate incentives thus proving a reasonable method to attract large order flow providers such as ECNs to Phlx and SCCP. Additional order flow should enhance liquidity and improve Phlx's, and therefore SCCP's, competitive position in equity trading and clearing.

SCCP believes that its proposal to extend its current pilot program for one year, thereby continuing to implement the existing SCCP fee waivers described above for ECNs, is consistent with section 17A(b)(3)(D) of the Act ^[8] because it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges. SCCP believes that structuring this fee for ECNs is appropriate, as ECNs are unique in their role as order flow providers to Phlx. Specifically, SCCP points out that ECNs operate a unique electronic agency business similar to a securities exchange as opposed to directly executing orders for their own customers as principal or agent.

(B) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

SCCP does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any inappropriate 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 either solicited or received.

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

Because the foregoing rule change establishes or changes a due, fee, or other charge imposed by SCCP, it has become effective pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act ^[9] and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) thereunder.^[10] At any time within sixty 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. Persons making written submissions should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549-0609. 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 Section, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such filing will also be available for inspection and copying at SCCP. All submissions should refer to the File No. SR-SCCP-2002-02 and should be submitted by April 5, 2002.

For the Commission by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.^[11]

Margaret H. McFarland,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  ECNs shall mean any electronic system that widely disseminates to third parties orders entered therein by an Exchange market maker or over-the-counter (“OTC”) market maker and permits such orders to be executed against in whole or in part except that the term ECN shall not include: any system that crosses multiple orders at one or more specified times at a specified price set by the ECN, algorithm, or by any derivative pricing mechanism and does not allow orders to be crossed or executed against directly by participants outside of such times or any system operated by or on behalf of an OTC market maker or exchange market maker that executes customer orders primarily against the account of such market maker as principal other than riskless principal.

3.  The Commission has modified parts of these statements.

4.  Securities Exchange Act Release No. 45145 (December 10, 2001), 66 FR 65017 (December 17, 2001) (SR-SCCP-2001-01).

5.  Certain provisions of the SCCP fee schedule do not apply to ECNs because they apply to specialists and/or relate to margin financing, such as specialist discount, margin account interest, P&L statement charges and buy-ins.

6.  The average daily equity volume requirements on the Phlx were initially at least 5,000 trades and 5,000,000 shares in the twelfth month after the ECN first became subject to the ECN fee schedule.

7.  For example, an ECN acting as a specialist would be subject to the trade recording fee for specialist trades matching with PACE trades.

8.  15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(D).

9.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).

10.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).

11.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).