E9-13254. Proposed Extension of Existing Request; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, Washington, DC 20549-0213.

Extension:

Regulation S-P, OMB Control No. 3235-0537, SEC File No. 270-480.

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) is soliciting comments on the existing collection of information provided for in the following rule: Regulation S-P—Privacy of Consumer Financial Information (17 CFR Part 248) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.) (“Exchange Act”). The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget for extension and approval.

The Commission adopted Regulation S-P (17 CFR Part 248) under the authority set forth in section 504 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (15 U.S.C. 6804), sections 17 and 23 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78q, 78w), sections 31 and 38 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-30(a), 80a-37), and sections 204 and 211 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-4, 80b-11). Regulation S-P implements the requirements of Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (“GLBA”), which include the requirement that at the time of establishing a customer relationship with a consumer and not less than annually during the continuation of such relationship, a financial institution shall provide a clear and conspicuous disclosure to such consumer of such financial institution's policies and practices with respect to disclosing nonpublic personal information to affiliates and nonaffiliated third parties (“privacy notice”). Title V of the GLBA also provides that, unless an exception applies, a financial institution may not disclose nonpublic personal information of a consumer to a nonaffiliated third party unless the financial institution clearly and conspicuously discloses to the consumer that such information may be disclosed to such third party; the consumer is given the opportunity, before the time that such information is initially disclosed, to direct that such information not be disclosed to such third party; and the consumer is given an explanation of how the consumer can exercise that nondisclosure option (“opt out notice”). The privacy notices required by the GLBA are mandatory. The opt out notices are not mandatory for financial institutions that do not share nonpublic personal information with nonaffiliated third parties except as permitted under an exception to the statute's opt out provisions. Regulation S-P implements the statute's privacy notice requirements with respect to broker-dealers, investment companies, and registered investment advisers (“covered entities”). The Act and Regulation S-P also contain consumer reporting requirements. In order for consumers to opt out, they must respond to opt out notices. At any time during their continued relationship, consumers have the right to change or update their opt out status. Most covered entities do not share nonpublic personal information with nonaffiliated third parties and therefore are not required to provide opt out notices to consumers under Regulation S-P. Therefore, few consumers are required to respond to opt out notices under the rule.

Compliance with Regulation S-P is necessary for covered entities to achieve compliance with the consumer financial privacy notice requirements of Title V of the GLBA. The required consumer notices are not submitted to the Commission. Because the notices do not involve a collection of information by the Commission, Regulation S-P does not involve the collection of confidential information. Regulation S-P does not have a record retention requirement per se, although the notices to consumers it requires are subject to the recordkeeping requirements of Rules 17a-3 and 17a-4 (17 CFR 240.17a-3 and 17a-4).

The Commission estimates that approximately 20,065 covered entities (approximately 5,326 registered broker-dealers, 4,571 investment companies, and, out of a total of 11,266 registered investment advisers, 10,168 registered investment advisers that are not also registered broker-dealers) that must prepare or revise their annual and initial privacy notices will spend an average of approximately 12 hours per year complying with Regulation S-P. Thus, the total compliance burden is estimated to be approximately 240,780 burden-hours per year.

Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted in writing within 60 days of this publication.

Comments should be directed to Charles Boucher, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Shirley Martinson, 6432 General Green Way, Alexandria, VA 22312 or send an e-mail to: [e-mail].

Dated: June 1, 2009.

Florence E. Harmon,

Deputy Secretary.