04-17010. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule Change by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. To Establish a Fee for Company Profile Reports of OTCBB Issuers

July 19, 2004.

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 July 1, 2004, 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. 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 add a fee for the Company Profile Report to the fee schedule for OTC Bulletin Board (“OTCBB”) historical trading activity reports. Nasdaq will implement the proposed fee as soon as practicable after Commission approval.

The text of the proposed rule change is available from the principal office of Nasdaq 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, 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

The proposed rule change seeks to modify the fee schedule for the OTCBB historical trading activity reports to add a fee of $26 for a Company Profile Report for OTCBB issuers. The Company Profile Reports are research reports produced, maintained, and owned by a third-party vendor.^[3] The proposal seeks to provide OTCBB.com users with the convenience of ordering third-party research reports for OTCBB issuers directly from the OTCBB.com website. Nasdaq believes that this will enable OTCBB.com users to obtain relevant information about OTCBB issuers without having to search the Internet or visit multiple Web sites.

2. Statutory Basis

Nasdaq believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 15A of the Act ^[4] in general and with Section 15A(b)(5) of the Act ^[5] in particular, in that the proposed fee would provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable charges among the persons ordering a Company Profile Report from OTCBB.com.

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

Nasdaq does not believe that the proposed rule change would 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

Within 35 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register or within such longer 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 Nasdaq consents, the Commission will:

(A) By order approve such 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, 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-2004-102 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

• Send paper comments in triplicate to Jonathan G. Katz, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549-0609.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASD-2004-102. 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 Section, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Nasdaq. 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-2004-102 and should be submitted on or before August 17, 2004.

For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.^[6]

Margaret H. McFarland,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  The current third-party vendor for the Company Profile Reports is Knobias, LLC (“Knobias”). Knobias receives much of its historical trading data from Tradeline, Inc. (“Tradeline”). Tradeline subscribes to a number of Nasdaq data feed services. Telephone conversation among Eric Lai, Office of General Counsel, Nasdaq; Tim Fox, Attorney, Division of Market Regulation (“Division”), Commission; and Ross Hurwitz, Summer Honors Intern, Division, Commission on July 14, 2004.

4.  15 U.S.C. 78o-3.

5.  15 U.S.C. 78o-3(b)(5).

6.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).