E6-18944. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to PACE Equity Transaction Charge and NMS Linkage

November 2, 2006.

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 September 26, 2006, the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc. (“Phlx” or “Exchange”) 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 substantially prepared by the Phlx. The Exchange submitted the proposed rule change under Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[3] and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) thereunder,^[4] which renders the proposal effective upon filing with 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

The Exchange proposes to amend the Equity Transaction Charge (“Charge”) on the Phlx Fee Schedule to extend the application of the Charge to an order, after being delivered to the Exchange by the PACE system,^[5] that is executed by the specialist by way of an outbound NMS Linkage order, when such outbound NMS Linkage order reflects the PACE order's clearing information.^[6] The Charge will not apply where a PACE order was executed against an inbound NMS Linkage order. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at http://www.phlx.com, at the Exchange's Office of the Secretary 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 Phlx 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 purpose of the proposed rule change is to treat PACE trades that interact with NMS Linkage orders the same as Intermarket Trading System (“ITS”) commitments with respect to the Exchange's Charge.^[7] The NMS Linkage Plan is the successor Plan to the ITS Plan. While there are some operational differences between the two Plans, both Plans facilitate intermarket linkage among market centers trading certain listed securities and the Exchange believes the NMS Linkage Plan is used in a similar manner as the ITS Plan by its members and member organizations. Therefore, the Exchange proposes to apply the Charge to PACE trades that interact with NMS Linkage orders in the identical manner as PACE trades that interact with ITS commitments. This is accomplished by adding the words “or NMS Linkage order” to footnote 1 in the Summary of Equity Charges section of the Exchange's Fee Schedule.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that its proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,^[8] in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4) of the Act,^[9] in particular, regarding the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among exchange members and other persons using exchange facilities.

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 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

The Exchange has neither solicited nor received comments on the proposed rule change.

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

The proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act ^[10] and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder,^[11] because it establishes or changes a due, fee, or other charge imposed by the Phlx. At any time within 60 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. 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 e-mail to [e-mail]. Please include File Number SR-Phlx-2006-62 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Phlx-2006-62. 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 inspection and copying in the Commission's Public Reference Room. 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-2006-62 and should be submitted on or before November 30, 2006.

For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.¹²

Nancy M. Morris,

Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

4.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).

5.  PACE is the Exchange's automated order routing, delivery, execution and reporting system for equities. See Phlx Rule 229.

6.  Since October 1, 2006, the effective date of the “Plan for the Purpose of Creating and Operating an Intermarket Communications Linkage Pursuant to Section 11A(a)(3)(B) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934” (“NMS Linkage Plan”), connectivity between markets is provided pursuant to the Linkage Plan. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54551 (September 29, 2006), 71 FR 59148 (October 6, 2006) (approving the NMS Linkage Plan).

7.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 47245 (January 24, 2003), 68 FR 5069 (January 31, 2003) (adopting the current fee treatment of PACE trades that interact with ITS commitments).

8.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

9.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).

10.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(a)(ii).

11.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).

12.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).