06-8244. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Boston Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Extend the Effective Date of the Previously Approved Rule Relating to Information Contained in a Directed ...

September 19, 2006.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) ^[1] and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,^[2] notice is hereby given that on September 11, 2006, the Boston Stock Exchange, Inc. (“BSE” 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 Exchange filed the proposal as a “non-controversial” proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) 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 from interested persons.

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

The BSE proposes to extend the effective date of the Exchange's Directed Order process on the Boston Options Exchange (“BOX”) from September 30, 2006 to January 31, 2007.

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 BSE 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 BSE 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

On March 20, 2006, the BSE proposed an amendment to its rules governing its Directed Order process on the BOX.^[5] The rules were amended to clearly state that the BOX Trading Host identifies to an Executing Participant (“EP”) the identity of the firm entering a Directed Order. The amended rule was to be effective until June 30, 2006, while the Commission considered a corresponding Exchange proposal ^[6] to amend its rules to permit EPs to choose the firms from whom they will accept Directed Orders, while providing complete anonymity of the firm entering a Directed Order.

On June 30, 2006, the Exchange proposed extending the effective date of the rule governing its Directed Order process on the BOX from June 30, 2006 to September 30, 2006 ^[7] while the Commission continued to consider the corresponding Exchange proposal to amend its rules to permit EPs to choose the firms from whom they would accept Directed Orders, while providing complete anonymity of the firm entering a Directed Order.

The Exchange now proposes another extension of the effective date of the amended rule governing its Directed Order process on BOX from September 30, 2006 to January 31, 2007. In the event the Commission reaches a decision with respect to the corresponding Exchange proposal to amend its rules before January 31, 2007, the amended rule governing the Exchange's Directed Order process on the BOX will cease to be effective at the time of that decision.

This filing proposes to extend the effective date of the approved amended rule governing the Exchange's Directed Order process on the BOX from September 30, 2006 to January 31, 2007.^[8]

2. Statutory Basis

The amended rule is designed to clarify the information contained in a Directed Order. This proposed rule filing seeks to extend the amended rule's effectiveness from September 30, 2006 to January 31, 2007. This extension will afford the Commission the necessary time to consider the Exchange's corresponding proposal to amend its rule to permit EPs to choose the firms from whom they will accept Directed Orders while providing complete anonymity of the firm entering a Directed Order. Accordingly, the Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act,^[9] in general, and Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,^[10] in particular, in that it is designed to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating transaction in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism for a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.

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

The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 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. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action

Because the foregoing rule does not (i) significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) 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, provided that the Exchange has given the Commission written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule change or such shorter time as designated by the Commission, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[11] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.^[12]

At any time within 60 days of the filing of such 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.

Under Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) of the Act,^[13] the 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 Exchange has requested that the Commission waive the five day pre-filing requirement and the 30-day operative delay, which would make the rule change effective and operative upon filing. The Commission, consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, has determined to waive the five day pre-filing requirement and the 30-day operative delay because such waiver would continue to conform the BOX rules with BOX's current practice and clarify that Directed Orders on BOX are not anonymous.^[14] Accordingly, the Commission designates the proposed rule change effective and operative upon filing with the Commission.

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-BSE-2006-38 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-BSE-2006-38. 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 Section, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the BSE. 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-BSE-2006-38 and should be submitted on or before October 17, 2006.

For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.^[15]

Nancy M. Morris,

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)(iii).

4.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

5.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53516 (Mar. 20, 2006), 71 FR 15232 (Mar. 27, 2006) (Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of SR-BSE-2006-14).

6.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53357 (Feb. 23, 2006), 71 FR 10730 (March 2, 2006) (Notice of Filing of SR-BSE-2005-52).

7.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54082 (June 30, 2006), 71 FR 38913 (July 10, 2006) (Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of SR-BSE-2006-29).

8.  In the event that the issue of anonymity in the Directed Order process is not resolved by January 31, 2007, the Exchange intends to submit another filing under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) extending this rule and system process.

9.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

10.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

11.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

12.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

13.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).

14.  For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative period for this proposal, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).

15.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).