2011-10897. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Extension of Implementation Date for Expansion of the Order Audit Trail System ...

April 29, 2011.

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 April 26, 2011, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by FINRA. FINRA has designated the proposed rule change as constituting a “non-controversial” rule change under paragraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 under the Act,^[3] which renders the proposal effective upon receipt of this filing by the Commission.

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

FINRA is proposing to establish October 3, 2011, as the implementation date of the amendments to FINRA Rules 7410 and 7470 that the Commission approved on November 12, 2010.^[4]

The text of the proposed rule change is available on FINRA's Web site at http://www.finra.org,, at the principal office of FINRA 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, FINRA 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. FINRA 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

FINRA is filing the proposed rule change to establish October 3, 2011, as the implementation date for the amendments to the OATS rules expanding the OATS recording and reporting requirements to all NMS stocks.

On November 12, 2010, the SEC approved SR-FINRA-2010-044, which amended FINRA Rules 7410 and 7470 to expand the OATS recording and reporting requirements to include all NMS stocks.^[5] On January 11, 2011, FINRA published Regulatory Notice 11-03 announcing that the Commission approved the amendments and that FINRA was publishing a new version of the OATS Reporting Technical Specifications. Pursuant to the SEC's approval of SR-FINRA-2010-044 and the timing set forth in Regulatory Notice 11-03, the amendments to the OATS Rules are currently scheduled to begin to be phased in on July 11, 2011, six months after the publication of Regulatory Notice 11-03 and the revised OATS Reporting Technical Specifications.

Since the publication of the Notice and the OATS Reporting Technical Specifications, many firms and industry groups have requested that the implementation date for the new recording and reporting requirements be delayed to allow firms sufficient time to make necessary systems updates and changes. In addition, firms have noted that the time needed to make the necessary changes was increased because firms are also changing and updating their systems to comply with the SEC's new rule on risk management controls for broker-dealers with market access, Rule 15c3-5 under the Act,^[6] which has a compliance date of July 14, 2011.^[7] As a result of these discussions, FINRA is seeking to delay the implementation of the new OATS recording and reporting requirements for NMS stocks until October 3, 2011, to give firms sufficient time to make necessary changes to their systems to enable them to comply with the expanded OATS recording and reporting requirements. Consequently, FINRA will begin to phase-in the new recording and reporting requirements beginning on October 3, 2011.

FINRA has filed the proposed rule change for immediate effectiveness.

2. Statutory Basis

FINRA believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act,^[8] which requires, among other things, that FINRA rules must be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. FINRA believes that extending the implementation date of the extension of the OATS Rules to all NMS stocks will ensure that firms have sufficient time to make the necessary changes to their systems to be able to comply with the new OATS recording and reporting requirements when they become effective.

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

FINRA 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

Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

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

Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[9] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.^[10]

At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend 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-FINRA-2011-021 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-FINRA-2011-021. 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 FINRA. 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 publicly available. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-FINRA-2011-021 and should be submitted on or before May 25, 2011.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[11]

Cathy H. Ahn,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

4.  See Securities Exchange Act Rel. No. 63311 (November 12, 2010), 75 FR 70757 (November 18, 2010) (SR-FINRA-2010-044).

5.  See Securities Exchange Act Rel. No. 63311 (November 12, 2010), 75 FR 70757 (November 18, 2010) (SR-FINRA-2010-044).

6.  17 CFR 240.15c3-5.

7.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63241 (November 3, 2010), 75 FR 69792 (November 15, 2010).

8.  15 U.S.C. 78 o-3(b)(6).

9.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

10.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

11.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).