E9-15739. Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Linkage Fees

June 25, 2009.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”) ^[1] and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,^[2] notice is hereby given that, on June 23, 2009, International Securities Exchange, LLC (“ISE” or the “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II 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 ISE is proposing to extend through July 31, 2010 the current pilot program regarding transaction fees charged for trades executed through the intermarket options linkage (“Linkage”). The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange.

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 those statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant parts of such statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose

The purpose of this proposed rule change is to extend for one year the pilot program establishing ISE fees for Principal Orders (“P Orders”) and Principal Acting as Agent Orders (“P/A Orders”) sent through Linkage and executed on the ISE. The fees currently are effective for a pilot period scheduled to expire on July 31, 2009.^[3] This filing would extend the pilot program for another year, through July 31, 2010.

The ISE fees affected by this filing are: The Linkage P Order fee of $0.27 per contract; the Linkage P/A Order fee of $0.18 per contract and a surcharge fee of between $0.02 and $0.16 per contract for trading certain licensed products (collectively “linkage fees”).^[4] These are the same fees that all ISE Members pay for non-customer transactions executed on the Exchange.^[5] The ISE does not charge for the execution of Satisfaction Orders sent through Linkage and is not proposing to charge for such orders.

The Exchange believes it is appropriate to charge fees for P Orders and P/A Orders executed through Linkage. Notably, while market makers on competing exchanges always can match a better price on the ISE, they never are obligated to send orders to the ISE through Linkage. However, if such market makers do seek the ISE's liquidity, whether through conventional orders or through the use of P Orders or P/A Orders, we believe it is appropriate to charge our Members the same fees levied on other non-customer orders. We appreciate that there has been limited experience with Linkage and that the Commission is continuing to study Linkage in general and the effect of fees on Linkage trading. Thus, this filing would extend the status quo with Linkage fees for an additional year. The Exchange is making no substantive changes to the way the pilot is currently operating, other than to extend the date of operation through July 31, 2010.

2. Statutory Basis

The basis under the Exchange Act for this proposed rule change is the requirement under Section 6(b)(4) that an exchange have an equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among its members and other persons using its facilities. As discussed above, the ISE believes that this proposed rule change will equitably allocate fees by having all non-customer users of ISE transaction services pay the same fees. If the ISE were not to charge Linkage fees, the Exchange's fee would not be equitable, in that ISE Members would be subsidizing the trading of their competitors, all of whom access the same trading services.

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

The proposed rule change does not impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. Moreover, failing to adopt the proposed rule change would impose a burden on competition by requiring ISE Members to subsidize the trading of their competitors.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

The Exchange has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit, comments on this proposed rule change. The Exchange has not received any unsolicited written comments from members or other interested parties.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action

Because the foregoing proposed rule change: (i) Does not significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) does not impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) by its terms, does not become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[6] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.^[7]

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.

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-ISE-2009-36 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-ISE-2009-36. 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 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 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-ISE-2009-36 and should be submitted on or before July 27, 2009.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[8]

Elizabeth M. Murphy,

Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58143 (July 11, 2008), 73 FR 41388 (July 18, 2008) (Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Linkage Fees).

4.  Pursuant to other pilot programs, certain linkage fees may not apply during the Linkage pilot program.

5.  The ISE charges these fees only to its Members, generally firms who clear P Orders and P/A Orders for market makers on the other linked exchanges.

6.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

7.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires the self-regulatory organization to submit to the Commission written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.

8.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).