95-16920. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Relating to the Exchange's Wireless Data Communications Initiatives  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 11, 1995)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 35766-35771]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-16920]
    
    
    
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    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
    [Release No. 34-35931; File No. SR-NYSE-95-22]
    
    
    Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule 
    Change by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Relating to the Exchange's 
    Wireless Data Communications Initiatives
    
    June 30, 1995.
        Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
    (``Act''), 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1), notice is hereby given that on June 1, 
    1995, the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (``NYSE'' or ``Exchange'') 
    filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'' or 
    ``SEC'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II and III 
    below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory 
    organization. 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 is proposing to introduce onto its trading floor 
    wireless data communications technology that allows a member in a 
    trading crowd or elsewhere on the floor to communicate with others by 
    means of a hand-held wireless device. The Exchange is also proposing to 
    issue an interpretation with respect to NYSE Rule 117 which requires 
    members' orders to be in writing.
    
    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
    
    Purpose
        The Exchange is proposing to introduce wireless data communications 
    in order to expedite, and make more efficient, the process by which 
    members receive and execute orders on the floor of the Exchange. The 
    Exchange also is proposing to issue an interpretation to NYSE Rule 117 
    (Orders of Members To Be in Writing) that would deem a transmission of 
    an order that a member receives by means of an authorized hand-held 
    device to constitute a ``written order.''
    
    a. Interpretation of NYSE Rule 117
    
        The use of the Exchange's proposed wireless data communications 
    technology will affect Exchange Rule 117 which prohibits members on the 
    floor of the Exchange from making a bid, offer or transaction for or on 
    behalf of another member except pursuant to a written order.\1\ The 
    Exchange is proposing an interpretation that will deem a transmission 
    of an order that a member located on the floor of the Exchange receives 
    by means of an authorized hand-held device to constitute a ``written 
    order'' for the purposes of Rule 117 if the member can show that the 
    transmission of the order:
    
        \1\ Rule 117 also provides that if a member to whom an order has 
    been entrusted leaves the trading crowd without actually 
    transferring the written order to another member, the order shall 
    not be represented in the market during his absence. The use of 
    wireless data communications devices does not affect this portion of 
    Rule 117. If a member receives an order by means of a transmission 
    to his wireless device and he leaves a trading crowd without 
    transferring a written version of the order to another member, the 
    order may not be represented in the market in his absence.
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        (i) Provides adequate information relating to the price, size and 
    time of the order, the cancellation of the order, and the like; \2\
    
        \2\ All orders entered from off the floor must be transmitted to 
    a booth terminal before they are retransmitted to a hand-held 
    device.
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        (ii) Satisfies the Exchange's audit trail requirements; and
        (iii) Satisfies all other Exchange reporting and recordkeeping 
    requirements.\3\
    
        \3\ In the case where an order is transmitted electronically 
    from a member's off-floor location to a booth terminal and then the 
    order is retransmitted from the booth terminal to a member's hand-
    held device, a record must be established and maintained which 
    reflects the time the order was received by the booth terminal and 
    the time the order was received by the hand-held device. The record 
    of time of receipt by the booth terminal may be established and 
    maintained by such terminal or by a server which records the time 
    such terminal acknowledges receipt of the order. The booth terminal 
    must display the order (and the time of receipt, on inquiry) and the 
    automated record of the order (including time of receipt) must be 
    supplemented by a paper record of the order at the booth. If the 
    paper record cannot be produced at the booth terminal, it must then 
    be produced by hand. The record of time of receipt by a hand-held 
    device may be established and maintained by such device or by the 
    server or the booth terminal which receives a message 
    acknowledgement from the hand-held device. Regardless of whether the 
    hand-held device records are maintained in such device or in the 
    booth terminal or a server, such records must be capable of being 
    printed at the booth location.
    b. Wireless Communications Plan
    
        The Exchange's proposed wireless data communications technology 
    involves the floor-based use of wireless hand-held data communications 
    devices. The Exchange proposes to adopt a four-phase process to 
    integrate new technology into the floor environment. The Exchange's 
    basic operating premise is to allow private vendors to provide wireless 
    data communications services to Exchange members on the floor, but only 
    in a manner that treats members equitably and does not unfairly 
    discriminate among members. The Exchange also proposes to provide its 
    own wireless data communications service on a non-discriminatory basis.
    Phase I
        In Phase I, which the Exchange has already completed, the Exchange 
    supervised and monitored three ``proof-of-concept'' pilot programs on 
    the floor of the Exchange.\4\ Each of the programs tested the viability 
    of the operation and functionality of wireless hand-held data devices 
    on the floor. Members participating in the pilot programs were 
    instructed to use the devices strictly for the purposes of evaluating 
    the devices and to compare results that might have been achieved had 
    the devices been used for actual trading purposes with results from 
    actual trades using traditional paper tickets, telephones and the like.
    
        \4\ One pilot program was conducted by the Exchange and the 
    other two were conducted by member-sponsored, private wireless data 
    communications vendors.
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        The Phase I pilot programs allowed the Exchange to conclude that 
    the technology will function in the Exchange's floor environment and 
    would improve broker efficiency. They also made clear that introducing 
    the technology on the floor on a wide scale (i.e., allowing the 
    technology to be offered to all members) would require the Exchange to 
    install a robust, standardized, Exchange-controlled infrastructure in 
    order to ensure reliable, secure wireless data communications.
    Phase II
        Phase II, which the Exchange proposes to commence upon Commission 
    approval of the proposed rule change, would involve additional, more 
    structured, pilot testing of independent wireless data communications 
    services, including that offered by the Exchange. A prototype of the 
    infrastructure that the Exchange hopes will eventually support all such 
    
    
    [[Page 35768]]
    services will support the Exchange's Phase II pilot program. A 
    description of the primary characteristics of the Phase II pilot 
    programs follows.
        1. Scope of Phase II Pilot Programs. (a) Functions of Pilot 
    Programs. For the purposes of the Phase II pilot programs, the Exchange 
    proposes to permit members to use hand-held data devices for actual 
    trading purposes. That is, a participating member may rely on the 
    information it receives on the floor by means of the device to make 
    trading decisions, without having to rely on such conventional trading 
    tools as paper tickets and telephones.
        (b) Number of Pilot Programs. In order to preserve the ability of 
    the Exchange to satisfy its regulatory oversight responsibilities, the 
    Exchange reserves the right to limit the number of private vendors that 
    it will allow to provide those pilot programs. The Exchange will choose 
    vendors in its sole discretion. In the absence of mitigating 
    circumstances, the Exchange currently contemplates that it will accept 
    vendor Phase II pilot programs on a ``first-come, first-serve'' basis.
        (c) Size of Pilot Programs. Similarly, the Exchange will -initially 
    limit the number of members that may participate in any vendor's Phase 
    II pilot program to 25. That is, at the commencement of Phase II, no 
    vendor may provide its pilot program to more than 25 members. This 
    limitation will facilitate the control, monitoring and evaluation of 
    pilot program operations. Where more than 25 members wish to 
    participate in a vendor's Phase II pilot program, the Exchange will 
    require the vendor to describe its procedures for selecting which 25 
    members it will allow to participate. Those procedures must provide a 
    fair and non-discriminatory environment and must otherwise comply with 
    the Exchange's selection requirements. The Exchange will develop 
    procedures for selecting its own pilot program participants on the same 
    basis.
        If the Exchange determines that circumstances so warrant (based on 
    its actual experience with the Phase II pilot programs), it may permit 
    increases, or require decreases, in the maximum allowable number of 
    pilot programs or the number of participants in any or all Phase II 
    pilot programs.
        2. Exchange Support of Vendor Systems. The Exchange will use 
    reasonable efforts to accommodate the installation of a participating 
    vendor's base stations, battery charging equipment, antennae and other 
    such service facilities. However, the Exchange will do so only at the 
    vendor's expense and only insofar as any such installation does not 
    necessitate any substantial modification to the Exchange's facilities 
    and does not interfere with the Exchange's development and installation 
    of its planned wireless data communications system infrastructure or 
    other aspects of the Exchange's wireless data communications, or other 
    Exchange technology upgrade initiatives.
        The Exchange will have no other obligation to support any aspect of 
    the vendor's communications system. This means, among other things, 
    that the Exchange will have no obligation to install, maintain or 
    support base stations, base antennae, battery charging equipment, user 
    equipment, user training, or any other special facilities, services or 
    features related to the vendor's system.
        3. Exchange Charges. Except as described above in connection with 
    vendor responsibility for installation costs, the Exchange does not 
    currently plan to charge vendors for the privilege of providing a Phase 
    II pilot program. However, the Exchange may impose charges on vendors 
    that provide wireless data communications services during Phase IV. If 
    the Exchange does determine to impose Phase IV charges or any other 
    charges, it would first seek Commission approval of any such charge.
        4. Vendor Requirements. (a) Contract with the Exchange. The 
    Exchange will not permit a vendor to provide a Phase II pilot program 
    until the vendor and the Exchange have entered into the Exchange's 
    Phase II pilot program agreement.\5\ That agreement codifies the terms 
    and conditions that are described in the proposed rule change and 
    pursuant to which the Exchange is willing to allow a vendor to provide 
    its Phase II pilot program.
    
        \5\ A copy of the Exchange's Phase II pilot program agreement is 
    included in the Exchange's Form 19b-4 which may be examined at the 
    places specified in Item IV below.
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        (b) Contracts with Participating Members. The Exchange will not 
    permit a vendor to provide its Phase II pilot program to a particular 
    member until the vendor and the member have entered into an agreement 
    which (i) extends to the Exchange third-party beneficiary status and 
    the right to enforce the agreement, (ii) codifies the Exchange's 
    required provisions regarding the terms and conditions pertaining to 
    members' receipt of a wireless data communications service that the 
    proposed rule change describes (``Service Agreement Terms'') \6\ and 
    (iii) specifies the parties' obligations as to the following matters:
    
        \6\ The Exchange's Service Agreement Terms are set forth in 
    Attachment B  to Exhibit A in the Exchange's Form 19b-4 which may be 
    examined at the places specified in Item IV below.
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        (A) The degree of responsibility and liability, if any, that the 
    vendor agrees to assume in the event that data is lost or delayed 
    through the system or losses otherwise occur as a result of the 
    member's use of the system;
        (B) the amount of training that the vendor will provide;
        (C) the maintenance and system support that the vendor will 
    provide;
        (D) any technological limitations or other restrictions on the 
    member's participation (e.g., restrictions on where the member may use 
    the device or the types of orders or other messages that the member may 
    receive or transmit by means of the device);
        (E) the availability of equipment and spare parts; and
        (F) any charges that the vendor may impose for the use of its 
    system.
        In addition, a vendor's agreements with members receiving its 
    service must be non-discriminatory. That is, the vendor must agree to 
    offer its system to members pursuant to fair and unbiased terms and 
    conditions that do not unfairly discriminate against any Exchange 
    member. The Exchange will require each vendor to submit each such 
    agreement or any form of agreement to the Exchange for the Exchange's 
    prior approval so as to allow the Exchange to monitor that it comports 
    with the Exchange's Service Agreement Terms and does not give one or 
    more of the vendor's subscribing members an unfair competitive 
    advantage over other of the vendor's subscribing members.
        (c) Use of Radio Frequencies. (i) Pre-Infrastructure Frequencies. 
    During Phase II, the Exchange will test a prototype of its proposed 
    wireless data communications infrastructure and will design and, 
    perhaps during Phase II, install and test the infrastructure itself. 
    The Exchange plans to use the 2.4 Ghz ``unlicensed'' radio band for 
    both the prototype and the actual infrastructure.
        Because the Exchange cannot yet assess whether, or the extent to 
    which, vendor pilot programs will interfere with the infrastructure or 
    with other Exchange uses of radio frequencies, the Exchange reserves 
    the right to require a vendor to refrain from using a particular 
    frequency if the Exchange determines that the use would interfere with 
    any of the Exchange's wireless systems. In particular, the Exchange 
    plans to preclude Phase II pilot program vendors from using the 2.4 Ghz 
    radio band for part or all of the Phase II period.
    
    [[Page 35769]]
    
        To ensure an absence of interference with Exchange systems, the 
    Exchange will require vendors to receive advance Exchange approval of 
    any radio frequency that a vendor may wish to use for the purposes of 
    its Phase II pilot program.
        In addition, the Exchange reserves the right to notify a vendor of 
    any interference with Exchange systems that the vendor's wireless 
    transmissions may be causing. The vendor would then have to cease to 
    use the interfering frequency immediately or would have to otherwise 
    resolve the interference problem to the Exchange's satisfaction.
        The Exchange will not allow a vendor to use infrared technology.
        (ii) Post-Infrastructure Frequencies. The Exchange, after 
    consultation with its system integrator, will determine when the 
    Exchange's proposed wireless data communications infrastructure is 
    ready for pre-production pilot testing and/or full production 
    implementation. The Exchange will then direct the orderly migration of 
    the wireless data communications services to the infrastructure. 
    Pursuant to a time schedule that the Exchange will establish, the 
    Exchange will then require each vendor that wishes to continue to 
    provide a wireless data communications system on the floor to conform 
    its system to, and cause its system to interface with, the 
    infrastructure. The vendors would bear all expenses of migrating from 
    its Phase II radio frequency to the radio frequency that the Exchange's 
    infrastructure will support, and of adopting the communications 
    specifications and protocols that the infrastructure will require.
        (d) Permissible Communications. A vendor's Phase II pilot program 
    must restrict wireless data communications to communications between a 
    hand-held device used by a member on the floor and a terminal in a 
    floor booth location. The Exchange will prohibit all floor-based 
    wireless data communications between any other points.
        However, a pilot program participant may effect communications 
    between a floor booth terminal and a member's off-floor system in the 
    same ``wired'' manner as it can today, subject to applicable rules and 
    policies. In addition, the pilot program participant's booth terminal 
    may interface with the Exchange's Common Message Switch (``CMS'') in 
    order to allow the member to enter orders into the Exchange's SuperDOT 
    System complex. That interface would not differ from today's booth/CMS 
    interfaces and would be subject to existing CMS interface standards.
        (e) Fair Treatment of Participating Members. Because wireless data 
    communications systems may imbue users with real or perceived 
    competitive advantages, each vendor must demonstrate to the Exchange 
    that it is willing and able to offer any member who wishes to use that 
    vendor's system the opportunity to participate in the vendor's pilot 
    program, subject to (i) the capacity constraints of the vendor's 
    system, (ii) reasonable lead-time that the vendor may need to bring new 
    users on-line and (iii) the above-mentioned limit of 25 participants 
    per pilot program. The Exchange will require each vendor to provide its 
    pilot program to participating members on fair, unbiased, non-
    discriminatory terms, including the provision of adequate support for 
    all such participating members. Creating a level playing field requires 
    each vendor, among other things, to offer its service in a reasonable 
    manner that does not give the vendor (if it is also a member), or a 
    member that is a sponsor or affiliate of the vendor, an unfair 
    advantage over other of the vendor's competing members.
        The Exchange will prohibit a vendor from commencing to provide its 
    pilot program to any member that primarily trades \7\ in one stock 
    unless and until (i) the vendor is prepared to provide its service to 
    all members who primarily trade in the same stock and who desire to 
    participate in the pilot program or (ii) the Exchange otherwise 
    permits.
    
        \7\ The Exchange deems a member to ``primarily trade in one 
    stock'' if more than 50 percent of either his trades or share volume 
    occur in that stock. The Exchange will base determinations of 
    percentages of trades and share volumes on, among other things, the 
    Exchange's audit trail data.
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        In addition, the Exchange will require each vendor to refrain from 
    falsely representing that it is the sole vendor of wireless data 
    communications services on the floor and to assure that each member 
    that expresses an interest in participating in its Phase II pilot 
    program is aware that the Exchange will require the vendor's service to 
    move to the wireless data communications infrastructure that the 
    Exchange plans to develop and install.
        (f) Description of System. As a condition precedent to the 
    Exchange's approval of a vendor's pilot program, the Exchange will 
    require each vendor to provide the Exchange with a detailed description 
    of the capabilities and limitations of the vendor's system and its 
    functionality. That description must be approved by the Exchange and 
    must satisfy the description requirements set forth in the Exchange's 
    proposed ``Agreement for Wireless Data Communications Service,'' \8\ 
    including a description of such things as:
    
        \8\ A copy of the Exchange's proposed ``Agreement for Wireless 
    Data Communications Service'' is set forth in Attachment A to 
    Exhibit A in the Exchange's Form 19b-4 which may be examined at the 
    places specified in Item IV below.
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        (i) The number of members that the system can support (and if the 
    number of users needs to be ``scaled'', a description of the time frame 
    required for each upgrade to the system's capacity);
        (ii) Technical specifications (e.g., the radio frequency, the 
    transmission method (such as frequency hopping spread spectrum), system 
    protocols and hardware descriptions, etc.);
        (iii) Operating plans (e.g., the manner for charging devices, for 
    distributing them to members each day and for collecting them at day's 
    end);
        (iv) The functionality of the vendor's hand-held device;
        (v) The manner for assuring compliance with all rules and 
    regulatory requirements of the Exchange, the Commission and the Federal 
    Communications Commission; and
        (vi) Such other technical information, records and other items as 
    the Exchange may require to determine whether the vendor's proposed 
    pilot program will interfere with the Exchange's proposed 
    infrastructure or the pilot programs of the Exchange or of any other 
    vendor or to determine whether the vendor is complying with its 
    agreement with the Exchange.
        The Exchange will further require each vendor to provide advance 
    notice of any changes to the technical specifications of its system, to 
    update its description as necessary to keep the description current and 
    to cause its pilot program to perform in compliance with its 
    description at all times. The Exchange may prohibit a vendor from 
    effecting a proposed modification to its pilot program if the Exchange 
    determines that the modification would interfere with other aspects of 
    Phase II or other operations of the Exchange.
        In addition, if the Exchange determines that equipment or software 
    that a vendor uses for the purposes of its service interferes, or is 
    otherwise inconsistent, with other aspects of the wireless data 
    communications technology on the floor or other Exchange systems, the 
    Exchange may require the vendor to change the equipment or software or 
    to modify the manner in which it provides its service.
        (g) Reporting and Cooperation. The Exchange will require vendors to 
    submit to the Exchange whatever documentation and/or periodic reports 
    that the Exchange may require to assure 
    
    [[Page 35770]]
    that the vendor's Phase II pilot program is operating in compliance 
    with existing regulatory requirements and is not interfering with other 
    pilot programs or production operations of the Exchange. The Exchange 
    will also require vendors to supply the Exchange with such data 
    relating to its pilot program as the Exchange may reasonably request so 
    as to enable the Exchange to evaluate the features of the vendor's 
    pilot program and to develop the Exchange's infrastructure in a way 
    that provides adequate support of private systems.
        In addition, each vendor must agree to cooperate with the Exchange 
    as necessary to assist the Exchange in its dealings with the 
    Commission. That may mean providing information concerning such matters 
    as complaints received, system and device failures, the perceived 
    strengths and weaknesses of the system, the number of pilot program 
    participants, the number of pilot program transmissions and such other 
    information as the Commission may require.
        (h) Compliance with Regulatory Requirements. The Exchange will 
    require each vendor to acknowledge, and to assure that each of its 
    pilot program participants acknowledges, that (i) it understands that 
    the Exchange has submitted to the Commission, and the Commission has 
    approved, the terms and conditions governing the Phase II pilot 
    programs and (ii) it is familiar with those terms and conditions. The 
    Exchange will require each vendor to agree to comply, and to cause each 
    of its pilot program participants to agree to comply, with those terms 
    and conditions.
        In addition, the Exchange will hold each vendor responsible for 
    assuring that its pilot program complies with all Exchange rules and 
    with any rules and regulations of the Commission or the Federal 
    Communications Commission. This includes compliance with Exchange Rule 
    117 (Orders of Members to Be in Writing), which require certain orders 
    to be in writing, and Commission Rule 17a-3, which imposes record-
    keeping requirements.
        The Exchange will also require each vendor to agree to comply with, 
    and to assure that its participating members will comply with, such 
    other limitations and restrictions as the Exchange may determine to be 
    necessary to assure the integrity of other aspects of the Phase II 
    pilot programs, the Exchange's development of the infrastructure or 
    other Exchange systems.
        (i) Exculpation of the Exchange. The Exchange will require each 
    vendor to agree that the Exchange assumes no liability or 
    responsibility for any inaccuracies, delays, omissions, security 
    breaches or other failures that may result from any use of the vendor's 
    wireless data communications system. Furthermore, the Exchange will 
    require any vendor to agree, and to cause each of its participating 
    members or member organizations to agree, to indemnify and defend the 
    Exchange against, and hold the Exchange harmless from, any losses or 
    claims arising from any use of the vendor's system.
        (j) Termination of Service. (i) By the Exchange. The Exchange 
    reserves the right to withdraw its permission for a vendor to provide a 
    Phase II pilot program, either in its entirety or as to any particular 
    member or function. The Exchange will base any determination to 
    withdraw its permission on feedback that the Exchange receives from the 
    program's participants or other members, or other evidence that the 
    Exchange may collect. In making any such determination, the Exchange 
    will examine the merits of the vendor's particular pilot program. In 
    addition, the Exchange will examine whether one or more Phase II pilot 
    programs, whether alone or in combination, is disrupting the fair, 
    orderly and efficient conduct of business, including any interference 
    with the Exchange's systems and any reduction in the ability of program 
    participants (A) to communicate orders, reports and related information 
    in a timely and accurate manner and (B) to provide their customers with 
    an opportunity to receive best-price executions.
        (ii) By the Vendor. The Exchange will allow a vendor to terminate 
    its provision of the service to a participating member only (A) for 
    ``cause'', upon 10 days written notice to the Exchange and the member 
    (unless the Exchange agrees that circumstances warrant a shorter 
    termination period or immediate termination), which notice must explain 
    the ``cause'' in detail, or (B) because the vendor no longer wishes to 
    provide its service on the floor of the Exchange to any and all 
    members, upon 60 days written notice to the Exchange and each of the 
    vendor's participating members.
        (iii) By a Participating Member. The Exchange will require each 
    vendor to allow any member participating in the vendor's Phase II pilot 
    program to cease its participation immediately upon notice to the 
    vendor.
        (iv) Removal of Equipment. Insofar as a vendor ceases to provide a 
    Phase II pilot program, either in its entirety or as to any particular 
    member, whether because the Exchange determines to withdraw its 
    permission as to that vendor or member or as to all vendors or because 
    the vendor determines to cease providing its service, then the Exchange 
    will require the affected vendor to remove, and to assure that each of 
    its participating members removes, from the floor all affected pilot 
    program equipment.
        5. Participating Member Requirements. The Exchange will require 
    each member that wishes to participate in a vendor's Phase II pilot 
    program to agree to comply with Exchange-prescribed terms and 
    conditions. The Exchange will not contract directly with those 
    participating members, but, instead, will require each vendor to 
    contract with each of the vendor's participating members for the 
    benefit of the Exchange, as described above. The Exchange will require 
    vendors to include in those contracts the following member 
    acknowledgements:
        (a) That the Exchange has no responsibility or liability with 
    respect to the vendor's system;
        (b) That the member will indemnify and defend the Exchange and hold 
    the Exchange harmless for claims or losses evolving from the member's 
    use of the system;
        (c) That the Exchange can direct the vendor to terminate its 
    service, or to terminate the vendor's provision of the service to the 
    member, if the Exchange deems the circumstances to warrant that action; 
    and
        (d) That the member's use of the vendor's system shall be subject 
    to all applicable rules, regulations and other requirements of the 
    Exchange, the Commission and the Federal Communications Commission.
    Phase III
        In Phase III, the Exchange will conduct on the floor a 
    preproduction pilot test of its wireless data communications system 
    infrastructure. The Exchange will design that infrastructure to use the 
    2.4 Ghz radio frequency band and to support all hand-held device 
    wireless data communications services of the Exchange and vendors. The 
    Exchange will select an integrator to assist in the design, 
    installation, testing and maintenance of the infrastructure.\9\
    
        \9\ The Exchange plans to have the integrator define 
    requirements, analyze technology and design the infrastructure 
    during Phase II.
        During Phase III, the Exchange plans to allow its wireless data 
    communications service to interface with the Exchange's Broker Booth 
    Support System.
        As the Exchange gains confidence in the capacity and reliability of 
    the 
    
    [[Page 35771]]
    infrastructure, the Exchange may invite, or even require, vendors to 
    test their systems on the infrastructure and/or to migrate to it. The 
    timing of such invitations or requirements will depend on the timing 
    and success of the testing of the infrastructure.
        The Exchange will continue to limit the size of each vendor's 
    wireless data communications system during Phase III.
    Phase IV
        One Phase IV commences, the Exchange will have installed and tested 
    the infrastructure, which would then be fully operational and will have 
    moved its own wireless data communications system to the 
    infrastructure. At that point, the Exchange will have commenced the 
    production roll-out of the wireless data communications infrastructure 
    and will have directed all vendors to migrate their systems to the 
    infrastructure.
        During Phase IV, the Exchange will permit all authorized vendors to 
    offer their wireless data communications services (and the Exchange 
    will offer its own system) to such number of members as their 
    respective systems can accommodate. At that point, the Exchange 
    anticipates that floor-based wireless data communications technology 
    will be available to all members.
    Terms and Conditions Applicable to Vendors and Members During Phase III 
    and Phase IV
        As in respect to Phase II, the Exchange reserves the right to limit 
    the number of vendors that may provide wireless data communications 
    systems on the floor during Phase III and Phase IV, based on the 
    ability of the Exchange to maintain its regulatory oversight 
    responsibilities in a satisfactory manner. In addition, as the Exchange 
    gains experience with the use of wireless data communications 
    technology on its floor, it may determine that additional restrictions, 
    such as in respect of permissible transmissions or hardware, are 
    warranted.
        The Exchange anticipates that it will impose the same contract 
    structure on vendors and members during Phase III and Phase IV as it 
    will impose in Phase II. The continued use of Phase II contracts in the 
    later phases will assure that vendors and members remain subject to 
    regulatory, reporting and other applicable requirements in an 
    uninterrupted manner.
    Statutory Basis
        The basis under the Act for the proposed rule change is the 
    requirement under Section 6(b)(5) that an exchange have rules that are 
    designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster 
    cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, 
    processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions 
    in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a 
    free and open market and a national market system, to protect investors 
    and the public interest, and that are not designed to permit unfair 
    discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers or dealers. In 
    addition, the proposed rule change is based on the requirement under 
    Section 6(b)(4) that an exchange have rules that provide for the 
    equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among 
    its members and other persons using its facilities.
    
    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 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
    
        The Exchange has neither solicited nor received written comments on 
    the proposed rule change.
    
    III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
    Commission Action
    
        Within 35 days of the publication of this notice in the Federal 
    Register or within such other period (i) as the Commission may 
    designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to 
    be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to 
    which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:
        (A) By order approve the proposed rule change, or
        (B) Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule 
    change should be disapproved.
    
    IV. Solicitation of Comments
    
        Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and 
    arguments concerning the foregoing. Persons making written submissions 
    should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and 
    Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. 
    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 at the 
    Commission's Public Reference Section, 450 Fifth Street N.W., 
    Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of such filing will also be available 
    for inspection and copying at the principal office of the NYSE. All 
    submissions should refer to File No. SR-NYSE-95-22 and should be 
    submitted by August 1, 1995.
    
        For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
    pursuant to delegated authority.
    Jonathan G. Katz,
    Secretary.
    [FR Doc. 95-16920 Filed 7-10-95; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 8010-01-M
    
    

Document Information

Published:
07/11/1995
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
95-16920
Pages:
35766-35771 (6 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 34-35931, File No. SR-NYSE-95-22
PDF File:
95-16920.pdf