E7-14605. Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change and Amendment No. 1 Thereto To Extend Nasdaq's Authority Under Its Cease and Desist Pilot Program

Date: July 24, 2007.

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 June 19, 2007, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been substantially prepared by Nasdaq. Nasdaq has filed the proposal as a “non-controversial” rule change pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[3] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder,^[4] which renders the proposal effective upon filing with the Commission. On July 20, 2007, Nasdaq filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change, as amended, from interested persons.

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

Nasdaq proposes a rule change to extend for a two-year period, to June 23, 2009, Nasdaq's authority under its cease and desist pilot program. At this time, Nasdaq is not proposing any substantive changes to the rules covered by the pilot program. The text of the proposed rule change is available at Nasdaq, the Commission's Public Reference Room, and http://nasdaq.complinet.com.

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

In May 2003, the Commission approved, on a pilot basis, a rule change that gave the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”) the authority to issue temporary cease and desist orders and made explicit NASD's ability to impose permanent cease and desist orders as a remedy in disciplinary cases.^[5] When Nasdaq registered as a national securities exchange, it also adopted a cease and desist program. Because NASD is Nasdaq's regulatory services provider and administers Nasdaq's disciplinary program under contract, Nasdaq generally seeks to maintain comparability between its disciplinary procedure rules and NASD's. NASD recently extended the above mentioned pilot rule through June 23, 2009.^[6] Accordingly, Nasdaq is proposing a comparable extension. Although Nasdaq has not had occasion to use the authority to date, the pilot extension will ensure that the authority remains available for the next two years. The authority under the rule will expire after the additional two-year period unless the pilot program is further extended or adopted on a permanent basis with Commission approval. Nasdaq is also amending Nasdaq Rules 9556 and 9800 to delete erroneous cross-references.

2. Statutory Basis

Nasdaq believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of section 6 of the Act,^[7] in general, and with sections 6(b)(5) and (6) of the Act,^[8] in particular, in that the proposal is 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, and is further designed to provide that Nasdaq members, or persons associated with its members, are appropriately disciplined for violations of any provisions of the Act or Nasdaq rules. The extension of the pilot program is consistent with Nasdaq's obligations under the Act, because cease and desist orders are designed to stop violative conduct that is likely to cause dissipation or conversion of assets or other significant harm to investors.

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

Nasdaq 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

Written comments on the proposed rule change 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 may summarily abrogate 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.

Nasdaq has requested that the Commission waive the 5-day pre-filing notice requirement and the 30-day operative delay of the proposal. Nasdaq represents that such waivers will allow Nasdaq to implement the proposed rule change prior to the time of the expiration of the current pilot. The Commission believes that it is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest to waive the 5-day pre-filing notice requirement and 30-day operative delay and make this proposed rule change immediately effective.^[11] The Commission believes that the waiver will allow Nasdaq to continue, without interruption, the existing operation of the pilot until June 23, 2009.

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-NASDAQ-2007-060 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

• Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F. Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASDAQ-2007-060. 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 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 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-NASDAQ-2007-060 and should be submitted on or before August 20, 2007.

For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.¹²

Florence E. Harmon,

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).

4.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

5.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 47925 (May 23, 2003), 68 FR 33548 (June 4, 2003) (SR-NASD-98-80).

6.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 55819 (May 25, 2007), 72 FR 30895 (June 4, 2007) (SR-NASD-2007-033).

7.  15 U.S.C. 78f.

8.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5) and (6).

9.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

10.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

11.  For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay of this proposal, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).

12.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).