2011-13994. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change by NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. To Amend the Fee Schedule of BOX

June 2, 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 May 31, 2011, NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (the “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II, below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory organization. The Exchange filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act,^[3] 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 Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

The Exchange proposes to amend the Fee Schedule of the Boston Options Exchange Group, LLC (“BOX”).^[5] While changes to the BOX Fee Schedule pursuant to this proposal will be effective upon filing, the changes will become operative on June 1, 2011. The text of the proposed rule change is available from the principal office of the Exchange, at the Commission's Public Reference Room, and also on the Exchange's Internet Web site at http://nasdaqomxbx.cchwallstreet.com/​NASDAQOMXBX/​Filings.

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 self-regulatory organization 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. The self-regulatory organization 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 proposes an amendment to the BOX Fee Schedule to increase the number of contracts per month of Eligible Orders that BOX will route to Away Exchanges before assessing a $0.50 per contract fee. BOX currently exempts outbound Eligible Orders routed to Away Exchanges, up to a maximum of 4,000 contracts per month, from the fees and credits of Section 7 of the BOX Fee Schedule, as these transactions are deemed to neither `add' nor `take' liquidity from the BOX Book.^[6] Additionally, Section 8 of the BOX Fee Schedule currently imposes a fee of $0.50 per contract for all Eligible Orders routed to Away Exchanges in excess of 4,000 contracts per month for an individual BOX Options Participant.^[7] The Exchange proposes to raise this maximum for the exemption in Section 7 and the fee assessment in Section 8 to 10,000 contracts per month, per Options Participant.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act,^[8] in general, and Section 6(b)(4) of the Act,^[9] in particular, in that it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among BOX Participants and other persons using its facilities.

The Exchange believes that it is equitable to permit BOX Participants to have orders routed to away exchanges without being assessed a fee, up to a maximum of 10,000 contracts per month. Each BOX Participant will then be assessed a $0.50 per contract fee for orders routed to away exchanges beyond 10,000 contracts per month. The Exchange believes that increasing this maximum will attract additional order flow to BOX to the benefit of all market participants. The Exchange believes that it is an equitable allocation of the fees because the order routing fee structure applies to all BOX Participants.

Further, the Exchange believes the proposed change and its resulting order routing fees are fair and reasonable and must be competitive with similar fees in place on other exchanges. BOX operates within a highly competitive market in which market participants can readily direct order flow to any of eight other competing venues if they deem fee levels at a particular venue to be excessive. The change to allow BOX Participants to have more orders routed away at no cost is intended to attract order flow to BOX and provide BOX Participants additional flexibility in their execution decisions. The Exchange believes all market participants can benefit from greater liquidity on BOX and that it is appropriate to provide a fee structure intended to attract additional order flow. In particular, the proposed change will allow BOX to remain competitive with other exchanges, allow BOX to assess the appropriate fees with respect to orders routed to away exchanges, and to apply such fees in a manner which is equitable among all BOX Participants. The Exchange believes that this competitive marketplace impacts the fees present on BOX today and influences this proposal.

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

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

The Exchange has neither solicited nor received comments on 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)(ii) of the Act ^[10] and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) thereunder,^[11] because it establishes or changes a due, fee, or other charge applicable only to a member.

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-BX-2011-031 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-BX-2011-031. 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, NW., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Commission's Web site at http://www.sec.gov. 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 Number SR-BX-2011-031 and should be submitted on or before June 28, 2011.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[12]

Cathy H. Ahn,

Deputy 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.  The BOX Fee Schedule can be found on the BOX Web site at http://bostonoptions.com/​pdf/​BOX_​Fee _​Schedule.pdf.

6.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 60504 (August 14, 2009), 74 FR 42724 (August 24, 2009) (SR-BX-2009-047).

7.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 60610 (September 1, 2009), 74 FR 46285 (September 8, 2009) (SR-BX-2009-058). The proposed change will have no effect on the billing of orders of non-BOX Options Participants.

8.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

9.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).

10.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).

11.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).

12.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).