00-22418. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Filing and Information Services, Washington, DC 20549

Extension: Rule 10b-10; SEC File No. 270-389; OMB Control No. 3235-0444

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) is soliciting comments on the collection of information summarized below. The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget for extension and approval.

• Rule 10b-10 Confirmation of Transactions

Rule 10b-10 requires broker-dealers to convey basic trade information to customers regarding their securities transactions. This information includes: The date and time of the transaction, the identity and number of shares bought or sold, and the trading capacity of the broker-dealer. Depending on the trading capacity of the broker-dealer, the Rule requires the disclosure of commissions as well as mark-up and mark-down information. For transactions in debt securities, the Rule requires the disclosure of redemption and yield information. The Rule potentially applies to all of the approximately 5,300 firms registered with the Commission that effect transactions on behalf of customers.

The confirmations required by Rule 10b-10 are generally processed through automated systems. It takes approximately 1 minute to generate and send a confirmation. It is estimated that broker-dealers spend 56 million hours per year complying with Rule 10b-10.

The Commission staff estimates the costs of producing and sending a confirmation to be approximately 89 cents. The amount of confirmations sent and the cost of sending each conformation varies from firm to firm. Smaller firms generally send fewer confirmations than larger firms because they effect fewer transactions.

Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden of the proposed collection information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be 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 in writing within 60 days of this publication.

Please direct your written comments to Michael E. Bartell, Associate Executive Director, Office of Information Technology, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549.

Dated: August 22, 2000.

Margaret H. McFarland,

Deputy Secretary.