04-853. Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Depository Trust Company; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Filing of Service Guides

January 8, 2004.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”),^[1] notice is hereby given that on December 1, 2003, The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which items have been prepared primarily by DTC. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested parties.

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

The proposed rule change updates DTC's Services Guide.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

In its filing with the Commission, DTC 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. DTC has prepared summaries, set forth in sections (A), (B), and (C) below, of the most significant aspects of these statements.^[2]

(A) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

In January 2001, DTC filed File No. SR-DTC-2001-01^[3] with the Commission which constituted a restatement of certain sections of the Participant Operating Procedures (“POP”) and Participant Terminal System (“PTS”) Manual of DTC. Both the POP and the PTS Manual are hardcopy, multi-volume manuals that, among other things, provide participants with procedures and information pertaining to a number of DTC services and describe and document functions and applications of DTC systems.

In that rule filing DTC explained that both POP and the PTS Manual would better serve participants and other authorized users if they were restated together utilizing modern electronic media. As a result, DTC developed Services Guides to replace POP and PTS Manual documentation. DTC has filed Services Guides for the following DTC services: Custody, Deposits, Dividend, Reorganization, Settlement, and Underwriting. In this filing, the Participant Inquiry Notification System (“PINS”) function of the Services Guides is being updated to include the End of Month Confirmation Procedures, which previously were included in DTC's POP and PTS Manual, and the fines that are imposed for failure to confirm the month end position statement in a timely manner. No substantive changes are being made to the procedures of DTC.

The Services Guide update will be implemented upon filing and will be available to participants and other authorized users via CD-ROM and the Internet at DTC's Web site.

DTC believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of Section 17A of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to DTC because it will contribute to the ease of use of DTC's services and PTS. The proposed rule change will be implemented consistently with the safeguarding of securities and funds in DTC's custody or control or for which it is responsible since the proposed rule change enhances the utilization of DTC's existing services.

(B) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

DTC perceives no adverse impact on competition by reason of the proposed rule change.

(C) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others

File No. SR-DTC-2001-01 dealt with the original Services Guides which were developed through discussions with a number of participants. Because this rule filing deals with an update to the existing Services Guides, written comments from participants or others have not been solicited or received on this proposed rule change.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action

The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act ^[4] and Rule 19b-4(f)(4)^[5] promulgated thereunder because the proposal effects a change in an existing service of DTC that (i) does not adversely affect the safeguarding of securities or funds in the custody or control of DTC or for which it is responsible and (ii) does not significantly affect the respective rights or obligations of DTC or persons using the service. At any time within sixty days of the filing of the 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.

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. Persons making written submissions should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549-0609. Comments may also be submitted electronically at the following e-mail address: [e-mail]. All comment letters should refer to File No. SR-DTC-2003-14. 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, comments should be sent in hardcopy or by e-mail but not by both methods. 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, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of DTC and DTC's Web site at www.dtc.org/​impNtc/​mor/​index.html. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-DTC-2003-14 and should be submitted by February 5, 2004.

For the Commission by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.^[6]

J. Lynn Taylor,

Assistant Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  The Commission has modified the text of the summaries prepared by DTC.

3.  Securities Exchange Act Release No. 44719, 66 FR 44656 (August 24, 2001).

4.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).

5.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(4).

6.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).