E6-12522. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change To Extend the Linkage Fee Pilot Program

July 27, 2006.

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 July 17, 2006, the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc. (“Phlx” or “Exchange”) 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 Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons and is approving the proposal on an accelerated basis for a pilot period through July 31, 2007.

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

The Phlx proposes to extend, for a one-year period, a pilot relating to transaction fees applicable to the execution of Principal Acting as Agent Orders (“P/A Orders”) ^[3] and Principal Orders (“P Orders”) ^[4] sent to the Exchange via the Intermarket Option Linkage (“Linkage”) under the Plan for the Purpose of Creating and Operating an Intermarket Option Linkage (the “Plan”).^[5] The Exchange proposes to extend the pilot through July 31, 2007. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Phlx's Web site at (http://www.phlx.com), at the Exchange's Office of the Secretary, 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 Exchange 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 III below. The Exchange 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 purpose of the proposed rule change is to extend the current pilot program for one year, through July 31, 2007. The Exchange currently charges $0.25 per option contract for P Orders sent to the Exchange via Linkage under the Plan. The Exchange currently charges $0.15 per option contract for P/A Orders.

By extending the current pilot program, the Exchange should remain competitive with other exchanges that charge fees for P and P/A Orders.^[6] Consistent with current practice, the Exchange will charge the clearing member organization of the sender of P and P/A Orders. Also, the Exchange will not charge for the execution of Satisfaction Orders sent through Linkage.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,^[7] in general, and Section 6(b)(4) of the Act,^[8] in particular, in that the proposed rule change provides 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 believes that 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 neither solicited nor received comments on the proposed rule change.

III. 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-Phlx-2006-44 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Phlx-2006-44. 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. Copies of the 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-Phlx-2006-44 and should be submitted on or before August 24, 2006.

IV. Commission's Findings and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of the Proposed Rule Change

After careful consideration, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities exchange,^[9] and, in particular, the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act ^[10] and the rules and regulations thereunder. The Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(4) of the Act,^[11] which requires that the rules of the Exchange provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among its members and other persons using its facilities. The Commission believes that the extension of the Linkage fee pilot until July 31, 2007 will give the Exchange and the Commission further opportunity to evaluate whether such fees are appropriate.

The Commission finds good cause, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,^[12] for approving the proposed rule change prior to the thirtieth day after publication of notice thereof in the Federal Register. The Commission believes that granting accelerated approval of the proposed rule change will preserve the Exchange's existing pilot program for Linkage fees without interruption as the Exchange and the Commission further considers the appropriateness of Linkage fees.

V. Conclusion

It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,^[13] that the proposed rule change (SR-Phlx-2006-44) is hereby approved on an accelerated basis for a pilot period to expire on July 31, 2007.

For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.^[14]

Jill M. Peterson,

Assistant Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  A P/A Order is an order for the principal account of a specialist reflecting the terms of a related unexecuted Public Customer order for which the specialist is acting as agent. See Phlx Rule 1083(k)(i).

4.  A P Order is an order for the principal account of an Eligible Market Maker and is not a P/A Order. See Phlx Rule 1083(k)(ii).

5.  See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 44482 (June 27, 2001), 66 FR 35470 (July 5, 2001) (Amendment to Plan to Conform to the Requirements of Securities Exchange Act Rule 11Ac1-7); 43573 (November 16, 2000), 65 FR 70851 (November 28, 2000) (Notice of Phlx Joining the Plan); and 43086 (July 28, 2000), 65 FR 48023 (August 4, 2000) (Approval of the Plan).

6.  See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 52168 (July 29, 2005), 70 FR 45454 (August 5, 2005) (SR-ISE-2005-32); 52147 (July 28, 2005), 70 FR 44706 (August 3, 2005) (SR-BSE-2005-25); 52151 (July 28, 2005), 70 FR 44713 (August 3, 2005) (SR-PCX-2005-86); 52073 (July 20, 2005), 70 FR 43474 (July 27, 2005) (SR-CBOE-2005-54). See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54064 (June 28, 2006), 71 FR 38438 (July 6, 2006) (SR-CBOE-2006-59).

7.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

8.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).

9.  In approving this proposal, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).

10.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

11.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).

12.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).

13.  Id.

14.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).