2011-20578. Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Adopt the Content Outline for the Proprietary Traders Examination (Series 56)

August 8, 2011.

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 August 1, 2011, the International Securities Exchange, LLC (the “Exchange” or the “ISE”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which items have been prepared by the self-regulatory organization. The Exchange filed the proposal as a “non-controversial” proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[3] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.^[4] 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

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 19(b)(1) of the Act,^[5] the Exchange is filing with the Commission the content outline for the Proprietary Traders Qualification Examination (“Series 56”) program. ISE is not proposing any textual changes to the Rules of ISE.

The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Internet Web site at http://www.ise.com,, at the principal office of the Exchange, 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, 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

1. Purpose

Pursuant to Rule 15b7-1,^[6] promulgated under the Exchange Act,^[7] “No registered broker or dealer shall effect any transaction in * * * any security unless any natural person associated with such broker or dealer who effects or is involved in effecting such transaction is registered or approved in accordance with the standards of training, experience, competence, and other qualification standards * * * established by the rules of any national securities exchange * * * ” ISE Rule 313 sets forth the requirements for registration and qualification of associated persons. Specifically, ISE Rule 313 provides that individual associated persons that are “engaged or to be engaged in the securities business of a Member shall be registered with the Exchange in the category of registration appropriate to the function to be performed as prescribed by the Exchange.” ^[8] Further, Rule 313 requires, among other things, that an individual associated person submit an application for registration and pass the appropriate qualification examination, as prescribed by the Exchange, before the registration can become effective.

In accordance with .06 of the Supplementary Material to Rule 313, those individuals shall be considered to be “engaged in the securities business of a Member” and subject to the registration requirements if (i) The individual associated person conducts proprietary trading, acts as a market-maker, effects transactions on behalf of a broker-dealer account, supervises or monitors proprietary trading, market-making or brokerage activities on behalf of the broker-dealer, supervises or conducts training for those engaged in proprietary trading, market-making or brokerage activities on behalf of a broker-dealer account; or (ii) the individual associated person engages in the management of one or more activities identified in (i) above as an officer, partner or director.^[9]

The Series 56 examination tests a candidate's knowledge of proprietary trading generally and the industry rules applicable to trading of equity securities and listed options contracts. The Series 56 examination covers, among other things, recordkeeping and recording requirements, types and characteristics of securities and investments, trading practices and display execution and trading systems. While the examination is primarily dedicated to topics related to proprietary trading, the Series 56 examination also covers a few general concepts relating to customers.^[10]

The Series 56 examination program is shared by ISE and the following Self-Regulatory Organizations (“SROs”): Boston Options Exchange; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc. (“CBOE”); C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated; Chicago Stock Exchange, Incorporated; NASDAQ OMX, BX; NASDAQ OMX, PHLX; NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; National Stock Exchange, Incorporated; New York Stock Exchange, LLC; NYSE AMEX, Incorporated; and NYSE ARCA, Incorporated.

Upon request by the SROs referenced above, FINRA staff convened a committee of industry representatives, ISE staff and staff from the other SROs referenced above, to develop the criteria for the Series 56 examination program. As a result, ISE is proposing to set forth the content of the examination. The qualification examination consists of 100 multiple choice questions. Candidates will have 150 minutes to complete the exam. The content outline describes the following topical sections comprising the examination: Personnel, Business Conduct and Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements, 9 questions; Markets, Market Participants, Exchanges, and SROs, 8 questions; Types and Characteristics of Securities and Investments, 20 questions; Trading Practices and Prohibited Acts, 50 questions; and Display, Execution and Trading Systems, 13 questions. Representatives from the applicable SROs shall meet on a periodic basis to evaluate and, as necessary, update, the Series 56 examination program.

CBOE filed a similar filing with the Commission regarding the Series 56 examination program ^[11] and ISE understands that the other applicable SROs will also file similar filings with the Commission. ISE proposes to implement the Series 56 examination program when this filing becomes effective.^[12] The Exchange will announce all relevant dates with respect to the Series 56 examination program through a Regulatory Information Circular.

2. Basis

The proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,^[13] in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(1) ^[14] of the Act in particular, in that it is designed to enforce compliance by Exchange members and persons associated with its members with the rules of the Exchange. The Exchange also believes the proposed rule change furthers the objectives of Section 6(c)(3) ^[15] of the Act, which authorizes ISE to prescribe standards of training, experience and competence for persons associated with ISE members, in that this filing comprises the content outline and relevant specifications for the Series 56 examination program. ISE believes the Series 56 examination program establishes the appropriate qualifications for an individual associated person that is required to register as a Proprietary Trader under Exchange Rule 313, including, but not limited to, Market-Makers, proprietary traders and individuals effecting transactions on behalf of other broker-dealers. The Series 56 addresses industry topics that establish the foundation for the regulatory and procedural knowledge necessary for individuals required to register as a Proprietary Trader.

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.

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

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[16] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) ^[17] thereunder, the Exchange has designated this proposal as one that effects a change that: (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 after the date of the filing, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. Rule 19b-4(f)(6) ^[18] requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission written notice of its intent to file 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.

Under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) of the Act,^[19] a proposal does not become operative for 30 days after the date of its filing, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Commission is waiving the 30-day operative period for this filing so that it may become effective and operative upon filing.^[20] The Commission believes waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest as the waiver will allow the Exchange to adopt the content outline, and provide notice of having done so to associated persons of its members, near the same time as other exchanges. The Commission, therefore, designates the proposed rule change to be operative upon filing with the Commission.

At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend 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 No. SR-ISE-2011-36 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-2011-36. 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 Commissions 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 Web site viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the ISE. 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-2011-36 and should be submitted by September 2, 2011.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[21]

Elizabeth M. Murphy,

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.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

6.  17 CFR 240.15b7-1.

7.  15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.

8.  Under ISE's rules, anyone functioning as a principal must register as such with the Exchange. The new examination will serve as a prerequisite to the Series 24 and the Series 9/10 examinations for principals who are engaged solely in proprietary trading. (Generally, all principals must qualify as representatives before qualifying as principals.) See Securities and [sic] Exchange Act Release No. 63843 (February 4, 2011), 76 FR 7884 (SR-ISE-2010-115).

9.  In accordance with Rule 313, an individual associated person that is engaged in the supervision or monitoring of proprietary trading, market-making or brokerage activities and/or that is engaged in the supervision or training of those engaged in proprietary trading, market-making or brokerage activities with respect to those activities will be subject to heightened qualification requirements, as prescribed by the Exchange.

10.  The Commission notes that proprietary trading firms do not have customers.

11.  See Securities and Exchange Commission [sic] Release No. 64699 (June 17, 2011), 76 FR 36945 (June 23, 2011) (SR-CBOE-2011-056).

12.  The Series 56 examination became available in WebCRD for ISE members on June 20, 2011.

13.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

14.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1).

15.  15 U.S.C. 78f(c)(3).

16.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

17.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

18.  Id.

19.  Id.

20.  For purposes only of waiving the operative delay of this proposal, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f). See also 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(59).

21.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).