2012-27765. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Repeal the Changes Described in SR-FINRA-2011-019

November 8, 2012.

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 November 2, 2012, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by FINRA. FINRA has designated the proposed rule change as constituting a “non-controversial” rule change under paragraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 under the Act,^[3] which renders the proposal effective upon receipt of this filing by the Commission. 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

FINRA is proposing to repeal the changes described in SR-FINRA-2011-019, which proposed to rename FINRA's inter-dealer quotation system.

The text of the proposed rule change is available on FINRA's Web site at http://www.finra.org,, at the principal office of FINRA 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, FINRA 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. FINRA 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 April 25, 2011, FINRA filed a proposed rule change to replace references to “OTC Bulletin Board” and “OTCBB” with “Non-NMS Quotation Service” and “NNQS,” respectively, in the FINRA Rulebook.^[4] As described in the Original Filing, the purpose of renaming FINRA's inter-dealer quotation system was to remove certain impediments to the completion of a transaction whereby FINRA would divest itself of the OTCBB trademark, related domain name, and all informational content from the www.OTCBB.com Web site that was not otherwise required to be retained by FINRA for regulatory purposes (“OTCBB assets”). FINRA no longer is proceeding with the sale of the OTCBB assets as described in SR-FINRA-2011-019, making the renaming changes unnecessary. Therefore, FINRA is filing this proposed rule change to delete the pending references to “Non-NMS Quotation Service” and “NNQS” and retain “OTC Bulletin Board” and “OTCBB.” ^[5] The FINRA Rule 6500 Series will continue to govern the operation of the OTCBB and the functionality of the OTCBB is not proposed to be changed in this filing.

FINRA has filed the proposed rule change for immediate effectiveness. FINRA is proposing that the implementation date of the proposed rule change will be December 3, 2012.

2. Statutory Basis

FINRA believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act,^[6] which requires, among other things, that FINRA rules must be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. Section 15A(b)(11) of the Act ^[7] requires that FINRA rules include provisions governing the form and content of quotations relating to securities sold otherwise than on a national securities exchange which may be distributed or published by any member or person associated with a member, and the persons to whom such quotations may be supplied. In addition, Section 15A(b)(11) of the Act ^[8] requires that such rules be designed to produce fair and informative quotations, to prevent fictitious or misleading quotations, and to promote orderly procedures for collecting, distributing, and publishing quotations.

FINRA believes the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 15A(b)(6) and (11) of the Exchange Act in that it maintains FINRA's continued ability to operate an interdealer quotation system for use by market makers in OTC equity securities under its historical name.

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

FINRA does not believe that the proposed rule change will result in 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

Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

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

FINRA has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act ^[9] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.^[10] Because the proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative prior to 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, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[11] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.^[12]

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.

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 email to [e-mail]. Please include File No. SR-FINRA-2012-048 on the subject line.

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 No. SR-FINRA-2012-048. This file number should be included on the subject line if email 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, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of FINRA. 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 No. SR-FINRA-2012-048 and should be submitted on or before December 6, 2012.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.¹³

Kevin M. O'Neill,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

4.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64397 (May 4, 2011); 76 FR 27123 (May 10, 2011) (Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of File No. SR-FINRA-2011-019) (“SR-FINRA-2011-019” or “Original Filing”).

5.  In the Original Filing, FINRA stated that the implementation date of the proposed rule change would be no later than 270 days following the date of filing, but in no event would be sooner than 120 days following the date of filing of the proposed rule change. On January 20, 2012, FINRA extended the implementation date to no sooner than 120 days following the date of filing, but no later than December 31, 2012. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 66244 (January 26, 2012); 77 FR 5069 (February 1, 2012) (Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of File No. SR-FINRA-2012-003) (Proposed Rule Change to Delay the Implementation Date of SR-FINRA-2011-019).

6.  15 U.S.C. 78 o-3(b)(6).

7.  15 U.S.C. 78 o-3(b)(11).

8.  15 U.S.C. 78 o-3(b)(11).

9.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).

10.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

11.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

12.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires the self-regulatory organization to give the Commission written notice of the self-regulatory organization's intent to file the proposed rule change along with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. FINRA has satisfied this requirement.

13.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).