2023-16992. Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extension: Rule 17a-10

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549–2736.

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (“PRA”) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) is soliciting comments on the existing collection of information provided for in Rule 17a–10 (17 CFR 240.17a–10), under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.) (“Exchange Act”). The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) for extension and approval.

The primary purpose of Rule 17a–10 is to obtain the economic and statistical data necessary for an ongoing analysis of the securities industry. Paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 17a–10 generally requires broker-dealers that are exempted from the requirement to file monthly and quarterly reports pursuant to paragraph (a) of Exchange Act Rule 17a–5 (17 CFR 240.17a–5) to file with the Commission the Facing Page, a Statement of Income (Loss), and balance sheet from Part IIA of Form X–17A–5 ^[1] (17 CFR 249.617), and Schedule I of Form X–17A–5 not later than 17 business days after the end of each calendar year.

Paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 17a–10 requires a broker-dealer subject to Rule 17a–5(a) to submit Schedule I of Form X–17A–5 with its Form X–17A–5 for the calendar quarter ending December 31 of each year.

Paragraph (b) of Rule 17a–10 provides that the provisions of paragraph (a) do not apply to members of national securities exchanges or registered national securities associations that maintain records containing the information required by Form X–17A–5 and which transmit to the Commission copies of the records pursuant to a plan which has been declared effective by the Commission.

The Commission staff estimates that the current hour burden under Rule 17a–10 is approximately 44,892 hours per year and the current cost burden is $0.

Written comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's estimates of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted by October 10, 2023.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Please direct your written comments to: David Bottom, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o John Pezzullo, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549, or send an email to: [e-mail].

Dated: August 3, 2023.

Sherry R. Haywood,

Assistant Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  Form X–17A–5 is the Financial and Operational Combined Uniform Single Report (“FOCUS Report”), which is used by broker-dealers to provide certain required information to the Commission.