07-4092. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request: Part 41, Relating to Security Futures Products

AGENCY:

Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the CFTC is planning to submit the following proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Part 41, Relating to Security Futures Products; OMB Control Number 3038-0059. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, the CFTC is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before October 22, 2007.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be mailed to David Van Wagner, Chief Counsel, Division of Market Oversight, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, 1155 21st Street, NW., Washington, DC 20581.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

David Van Wagner [phone]; Fax: [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are businesses and other for-profit institutions.

Title: Part 41, Relating to Security Futures Products.

Abstract: Section 4d(c) of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA), 7 U.S.C. 6d(c), requires the CFTC to consult with the SEC and issue such rules, regulations, or orders as are necessary to avoid duplicative or conflicting regulations applicable to firms that are fully registered with the SEC as brokers or dealers (broker-dealers) and the CFTC as futures commission merchants (FCMs) involving provisions of the CEA that pertain to the treatment of customer funds. The CFTC, jointly with the SEC, issued regulations requiring such dually-registered firms to make choices as to how its customers' transactions in security futures products (SFP) will be treated, either as securities transactions held in a securities account or as futures transactions held in a futures account. How an account is treated is important in the unlikely event of the insolvency of the firm. Securities accounts receive insurance protection under provisions of the Securities Investor Protection Act. By contrast, futures accounts are subject to the protections provided by the segregations requirements of the CEA.

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. The OMB control numbers for the CFTC's regulations were published on December 30, 1981. See 46 FR 63035 (Dec. 30, 1981). The OMB control number for the CFTC's rules relating to security futures products was published on August 23, 2001. See 66 FR 44490 (Aug. 23, 2001).

The Commission would like to solicit comments to:

• Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information will have a practical use;
• Evaluate the accuracy of the Commission's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
• Enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
• Minimize the burden of collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology; e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

Burden Statement: The respondent burden for this collection is estimated to average .59 hours per response. These estimates include the time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and maintaining information and disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.

Respondents/Affected Entities: 144.

Estimated number of responses: 2,739.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,620.48 hours.

Frequency of collection: On occasion.

Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, disclose or provide information to or for a federal agency. This includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of colleting, validating, and verifying information, processing and maintaining information and disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.

Dated: August 15, 2007.

David A. Stawick,

Secretary of the Commission.