E6-5549. Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Establish a Fee for the Brut Workstation

April 7, 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 March 31, 2006, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”), through its subsidiary, The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (“Nasdaq”), 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 Nasdaq. Nasdaq has designated this proposal as one establishing or changing a due, fee, or other charge imposed by the self-regulatory organization under section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) ^[3] of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) thereunder,^[4] which renders the proposal effective upon filing with the Commission. 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 the Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

Nasdaq proposes to establish a fee for use of the Brut Workstation. Nasdaq states that it will implement the proposed rule change on April 3, 2006.

The text of the proposed rule change is below. Proposed new language is in italics.^[5]

* * * * *

7010. System Services

(a) through (e) No change.

(f) Access Services.

(1)-(5) No change.

(6) Brut Workstation

Members using the Brut Workstation to access Brut will be charged a fee of $300 per user per month.

(g) through (w) No Change.

* * * * *

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

In its filing with the Commission, Nasdaq 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. Nasdaq 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

Nasdaq proposes to institute a fee of $300 per user per month for Brut subscribers that access Brut through the Brut Workstation. Nasdaq states that the Brut Workstation is a legacy access product that the Brut ECN has been providing its customers for a number of years. The workstation is owned and operated by Sungard Trading Systems (“Sungard”), the former owner of Brut. Nasdaq states that after it purchased Brut, Nasdaq staff decided to continue to provide the service to Brut ECN customers until Nasdaq and Brut integrated their respective books. Since Brut did not incur fees from Sungard for provisioning the product, users of the workstation were not charged. Nasdaq states that Sungard recently notified Nasdaq that it plans to charge Nasdaq $300 per workstation user per month. Nasdaq would pass along this charge to the current users of the Brut Workstation. Nasdaq represents that it is its intention to sunset the Brut Workstation once Nasdaq and Brut are integrated later this year. Nasdaq states that this filing applies solely to members, as none of the non-member subscribers of Brut currently use the Brut Workstation and Nasdaq is not making the Brut Workstation available to subscribers that do not currently use it.

2. Statutory Basis

Nasdaq believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of section 15A of the Act,^[6] in general, and with section 15A(b)(5) of the Act,^[7] in particular, in that it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among members and issuers and other persons using any facility or system which the NASD operates or controls. The proposed rule change would pass along to subscribers a new charge incurred by Nasdaq in providing the Brut Workstation to Brut subscribers.

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

Nasdaq does not believe that the proposed rule change will result in 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

Nasdaq states that written comments were neither solicited nor received.

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

The foregoing rule change is subject to section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act ^[8] and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4^[9] thereunder because it establishes or changes a due, fee, or other charge imposed by the self-regulatory organization. Accordingly, the proposal is effective upon Commission receipt of the filing. At any time within 60 days of the filing of such 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-NASD-2006-043 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-NASD-2006-043. 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 NASD. 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-NASD-2006-043 and should be submitted on or before May 5, 2006.

For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.^[10]

Nancy M. Morris,

Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).

4.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).

5.  Changes are marked to the rule text that appears in the electronic NASD Manual found at http://www.nasd.com. Prior to the date when The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ LLC”) commences operations, NASDAQ LLC will file a conforming change to the rules of NASDAQ LLC approved in Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53128 (January 13, 2006), 71 FR 3550 (January 23, 2006) (File No. 10-131).

6.  15 U.S.C. 78 o-3.

7.  15 U.S.C. 78 o-3(b)(5).

8.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).

9.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).

10.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).