E9-16184. Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to an Extension of the Penny Pilot Program

July 1, 2009.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”) ^[1] , and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,^[2] notice is hereby given that on June 30, 2009, the International Securities Exchange, LLC (the “Exchange” or the “ISE”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been substantially prepared by the self-regulatory organization. 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 ISE is proposing to extend, until October 31, 2009, a pilot program to quote and to trade certain options in pennies. The text of the proposed rule amendment is available at the Exchange and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.^[3]

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 self-regulatory organization 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 self-regulatory organization 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 January 24, 2007, the SEC approved ISE's rule filing, SR-ISE-2006-62, which initiated a pilot program to quote and to trade certain options in penny increments (the “Penny Pilot Program”).^[4] Under the Penny Pilot Program, the minimum price variation for all participating options classes, except for the Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock (“QQQQ”), is $0.01 for all quotations in options series that are quoted at less than $3 per contract and $0.05 for all quotations in options series that are quoted at $3 per contract or greater. The QQQQs are quoted in $0.01 increments for all options series. Through subsequent expansions, the Penny Pilot now consists of 63 underlying securities.^[5] The Penny Pilot Program is scheduled to expire on July 3, 2009.

The Exchange recently submitted a proposal to extend and expand the Penny Pilot Program, which the Commission recently published for comment.^[6] The Commission also recently published for comment two alternative proposals.^[7] In order to give the Commission and market participants time to evaluate the varying proposals, ISE proposes to extend the Penny Pilot Program in its current pilot until October 31, 2009.

As proposed in the Initial Filing, ISE represents that options trading in penny increments will not be eligible for split pricing, as permitted under ISE Rule 716. In the Initial Filing, the Exchange also made references to quote mitigation strategies that are currently in place and proposed to apply them to the Penny Pilot Program. The Exchange proposes to continue applying those quote mitigation strategies during the extension of the Penny Pilot Program, as contemplated by this rule filing. Specifically, as proposed in Rule 804, ISE will continue to utilize a holdback timer that delays quotation updates for up to, but not longer than, one second. The Exchange's monitoring and delisting policies, as proposed in the Initial Filing, shall also continue to apply.

Finally, ISE intends to submit an additional report to the Commission analyzing the Penny Pilot Program for the following time period: May 1, 2009-July 31, 2009.

The Exchange anticipates its report will analyze the impact of penny pricing on market quality and options system capacity. The Exchange will submit the report no later than August 31, 2009.

2. Statutory Basis

The basis under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) for this proposed rule change is found in Section 6(b)(5), in that the proposed rule change is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, remove impediments to and perfect the mechanisms of a free and open market and a national market system and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. In particular, the proposed rule change will allow the Exchange to continue the Penny Pilot Program uninterrupted.

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

The proposed rule change does not 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 not solicited, and does not intend to solicit, comments on this proposed rule change. The Exchange has not received any written comments from members or other interested parties.

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

Because the foregoing proposed rule change: (1) Does not significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (2) does not impose any significant burden on competition; and (3) by its terms does not become operative for 30 days after the date of this filing, 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) ^[8] of the Act and subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.^[9]

A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) ^[10] normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date of filing. However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) ^[11] permits the Commission to designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange requests that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. The Exchange states that waiver of the 30-day operative delay will allow the Penny Pilot Program to continue uninterrupted.

The Commission believes waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest because such waiver will allow the Penny Pilot Program to continue without interruption through October 31, 2009.^[12] Accordingly, the Commission designates the proposed rule change operative upon filing with the Commission.

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-ISE-2009-37 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 Number SR-ISE-2009-37. 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, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549, 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 office 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 No. SR-ISE-2009-37 and should be submitted on or before July 30, 2009.

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

Elizabeth M. Murphy,

Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  The Commission notes that as of July 1, 2009, the proposed rule change is also available on the Exchange's Web site at https://www.ise.com.

4.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 55161 (January 24, 2007), 72 FR 4754 (February 1, 2007) (the “Initial Filing”). The Penny Pilot Program was subsequently extended for an additional two month period, until September 27, 2007. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 56151 (July 26, 2007), 72 FR 42452 (August 2, 2007).

5.  See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 56564 (September 27, 2007), 72 FR 56412 (October 3, 2007) and 57508 (March 17, 2008), 73 FR 15243 (March 21, 2008).

6.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 60146 (June 19, 2009) (SR-ISE-2009-32).

7.  See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 60018 (June 1, 2009), 74 FR 27211 (June 18, 2009) (Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change by the Chicago Board Options Exchange To Expand the Penny Pilot Program); 59944 (May 20, 2009), 74 FR 25294 (May 27, 2009) (Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change by NYSE Arca To Expand the Penny Pilot Program).

8.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

9.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires a self-regulatory organization to provide the Commission with written notice of its 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. The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.

10.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

11.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).

12.  For the purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78(c)(f).

13.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).