2011-11859. Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change by NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC To Modify Fees for Non Co-Location Services  

  • Start Preamble May 9, 2011.

    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 April 28, 2011, NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC (“Phlx” or “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III, below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.

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

    The Exchange proposes to modify fees for non co-location services. While changes to the Fee Schedule pursuant to this proposal are effective upon filing, the Exchange has designated these changes to be operative on May 1, 2011.

    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at http://nasdaqomxphlx.cchwallstreet.com/​,, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

    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 Exchange 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 Exchange 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

    The Exchange is amending the Phlx Fee Schedule, Section VI entitled “Direct Connectivity to Phlx” to establish pricing for customers who are not co-located in the Exchange's data center, but require shared cabinet space and power for optional routers, switches, or modems to support their direct circuit connections. The Exchange proposes to assess customers who are not co-located in the Exchange's data center monthly fees for space based on a height unit of approximately two inches high, commonly call a “U” space and a maximum power of 125 Watts per U space.

    Currently, non co-located customers are assessed fees for direct circuit connection to the Exchange, as well as installation of an optional on-site cable router.[3] However, there is no charge to non co-located customers for the space and utility cost to maintain the optional router. As more and more non co-located customers seek to utilize the optional router, the Exchange must utilize more space and utilities to accommodate the influx. It has become a necessity for the Exchange to offset the space and utility cost to maintain the optional router in the same manner as has been established for co-located customers. Additionally, the optional router may include other networks devices (e.g., switches or modems) to operate the customer's business.

    While co-located customers are assessed the same per U fee, the co-located customers are assessed in increments of a 4U Block at $600 per month. The Exchange seeks to establish and make transparent the fees imposed for space and utility costs to non co-located customers.

    2. Statutory Basis

    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,[4] in general, and with Section 6(b)(4) of Start Printed Page 28252the Act,[5] in particular, in that it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among members and issuers and other persons using any facility or system which the Exchange operates or controls. The Exchange believes the proposed fees are reasonable and equitable for the reasons below.

    The Exchange operates in a highly competitive market in which exchanges offer non co-location services as a means to facilitate the trading activities of those customers who believe that the non co-location services enhance the efficiency of their trading. Accordingly, fees charged for non co-location services are constrained by the fees charged to co-located customers, as well as fees charged by other exchanges, taking into consideration the different costs associated with the two service types. It should be noted, however, that the costs associated with a co-located customer are primarily fixed costs that include the costs of renting or owning data center space and retaining a staff of technical personnel. Accordingly, the Exchange establishes a range of non co-location fees with the goal of covering these same fixed costs and covering less significant marginal costs, such as the cost of electricity.

    The Exchange proposes the same fee for non co-located customers and co-located customers because the space and utility cost are comparable. If a particular exchange charges excessive fees for non co-location services that are comparable to co-location services, affected members will opt to terminate their non co-location arrangements with that exchange, and pursue range of alternative trading strategies not dependent upon the Exchange's non co-location service. Accordingly, the exchange charging excessive fees would stand to lose not only non co-location revenues and any other revenues associated with the non co-located customer's operations. Moreover, all of the Exchange's fees for space and utility costs services are equitably allocated and non-discriminatory in that all non co-location customers are offered the same space and utility service as the co-located customers, and, there is no differentiation among customers with regard to the fees charged for such costs.

    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 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

    No written comments were either solicited or received.

    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)(ii) of the Act.[6] At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend 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. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.

    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

    Paper Comments

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

    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Phlx-2011-60. 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 Web site viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal offices of the Exchange. 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-Phlx-2011-60, and should be submitted on or before June 6, 2011.

    Start Signature

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.[7]

    Cathy H. Ahn,

    Deputy Secretary.

    End Signature End Preamble

    Footnotes

    3.  See NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC Fee Schedule, Section VI, Access Service, Cancellation, Membership, Regulatory and Other Fees, Direct Connectivity to Nasdaq, Release No. 62639 (August 4, 2010), 75 FR 48391 (August 10, 2010) (SR-PHLX-2010-89).

    Back to Citation

    [FR Doc. 2011-11859 Filed 5-13-11; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 8011-01-P

Document Information

Comments Received:
0 Comments
Published:
05/16/2011
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
2011-11859
Pages:
28251-28252 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 34-64441, File No. SR-Phlx-2011-60
EOCitation:
of 2011-05-09
PDF File:
2011-11859.pdf