E6-14697. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

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

Extension:

Rule 20a-1; SEC File No. 270-132; OMB Control No. 3235-0158.

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520) the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) a request for extension of the previously approved collection of information discussed below. The title of the collection of information is “Rule 20a-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, Solicitation of Proxies, Consents and Authorizations.”

Rule 20a-1 (17 CFR 270.20a-1) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-1 et seq.) requires that the solicitation of a proxy, consent, or authorization with respect to a security issued by a registered investment company (“fund”) be in compliance with Regulation 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-1 et seq.), Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101), and all other rules and regulations adopted under section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78n(a)). It also requires a fund's investment adviser, or a prospective adviser, to transmit to the person making a proxy solicitation the information necessary to enable that person to comply with the rules and regulations applicable to the solicitation.

Regulation 14A and Schedule 14A establish the disclosure requirements applicable to the solicitation of proxies, consents and authorizations. In particular, Item 22 of Schedule 14A contains extensive disclosure requirements for fund proxy statements. Among other things, it requires the disclosure of information about fund fee or expense increases, the election of directors, the approval of an investment advisory contract and the approval of a distribution plan.

The Commission requires the dissemination of this information to assist investors in understanding their fund investments and the choices they may be asked to make regarding fund operations. The Commission does not use the information in proxies directly, but reviews proxy statement filings for compliance with applicable rules.

It is estimated that funds file approximately 1,565 proxy solicitations annually with the Commission. That figure includes multiple filings by some funds. The total annual reporting and recordkeeping burden of the collection of information is estimated to be approximately 166,203 hours (1,565 responses × 106.2 hours per response).

Rule 20a-1 does not involve any recordkeeping requirements. Providing the information required by the rule is mandatory and information provided under the rule will not be kept confidential.

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 control number.

General comments regarding the above information should be directed to the following persons: (i) Desk Officer for the Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10102, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503, or via e-mail to: [e-mail]; and (ii) R. Corey Booth, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Shirley Martinson, 6432 General Green Way, Alexandria, VA 22312, or via e-mail to: [e-mail]. Comments must be submitted to OMB within 30 days of this notice.

Dated: August 30, 2006.

Nancy M. Morris,

Secretary.