[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 98 (Friday, May 21, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 27897-27898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12812]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

17 CFR Part 232

[Release Nos. 33-7685; 34-41411; 35-27026; 39-2373; IC-23844]
RIN 3235-AG96


Adoption of Updated EDGAR Filer Manual

AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Commission is adopting an updated edition of the EDGAR 
Filer Manual and is providing for its incorporation by reference into 
the Code of Federal Regulations. Beginning June 28, 1999, we will be 
able to accept filings submitted to EDGAR in HyperText Markup Language 
(HTML) in addition to documents submitted in the current American 
Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) format; filers also 
will have the option of accompanying their required filings with 
unofficial copies in Portable Document Format (PDF). Beginning May 24, 
1999, and continuing through June 25, 1999 (the test period), filers 
may submit test filings that include documents in HTML and PDF format; 
filers electing to submit test HTML and/or PDF documents during the 
test period must do so in accordance with the new rule provisions.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The amendment to 17 CFR part 232 (Regulation S-T) will 
be effective on June 28, 1999. The new edition of the EDGAR Filer 
Manual (Release 6.50) will be effective on June 28, 1999. The 
incorporation by reference of the EDGAR Filer Manual is approved by the 
Director of the Federal Register as of June 28, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: In the Office of Information 
Technology, Michael E. Bartell at (202) 942-8800; for questions 
concerning investment company filings, Ruth Armfield Sanders, Senior 
Counsel, Division of Investment Management, at (202) 942-0633; and for 
questions concerning Corporation Finance company filings, Margaret R. 
Black, EDGAR Specialist, at (202) 942-2933.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Today we are adopting an updated EDGAR Filer 
Manual (``Filer Manual''), which describes the technical formatting 
requirements for the preparation and submission of electronic filings 
through the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR) 
system.\1\ Filers must comply with the provisions of the Filer Manual 
in order to assure the timely acceptance and processing of filings made 
in electronic format.\2\ Filers should consult the Filer Manual in 
conjunction with our rules governing mandated electronic filing when 
preparing documents for electronic submission.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The Filer Manual originally was adopted on April 1, 1993, 
and became effective on April 26, 1993. Release No. 33-6986 (Apr. 1, 
1993) [58 FR 18638]. The most recent update to the Filer Manual was 
implemented on June 1, 1998. See Release No. 33-7539 (May 28, 1998) 
[63 FR 29104].
    \2\ See Rule 301 of Regulation S-T (17 CFR 232.301).
    \3\ See Release Nos. 33-6977 (Feb. 23, 1993) [58 FR 14628], IC-
19284 (Feb. 23, 1993) [58 FR 14848], 35-25746 (Feb. 23, 1993) [58 FR 
14999], and 33-6980 (Feb. 23, 1993) [58 FR 15009] for a 
comprehensive treatment of the rules adopted by the Commission 
governing mandated electronic filing. See also Release No. 33-7122 
(Dec. 19, 1994) [59 FR 67752], in which the Commission made the 
EDGAR rules final and applicable to all domestic registrants; 
Release No. 33-7427 (July 1, 1997) [62 FR 36450], adopting the most 
recent minor amendments to the EDGAR rules; Release No. 33-7472 
(Oct. 24, 1997) [62 FR 58647], in which the Commission announced 
that, as of January 1, 1998, it would not accept paper filings 
required to be filed electronically; and Release No. 34-40935 (Jan. 
12, 1999) [64 FR 2843], in which the Commission made mandatory the 
electronic filing of Form 13F.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The purpose of this new version of EDGAR and the Filer Manual 
(Release 6.50) is to modernize EDGAR, making the system easier for 
filers to use and documents more attractive and readable for the users 
of public information.\4\ Beginning June 28, 1999, filers will be able 
to submit most filings to us in HyperText Markup Language (HTML), in 
addition to the currently acceptable text-based American Standard Code 
for Information Interchange (ASCII) format. Filers may also submit 
unofficial copies of filings in Portable Document Format (PDF). Test 
filings using these new features may be made beginning May 24, 1999.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ On March 10, 1999, we issued a release proposing amendments 
and new rules to reflect initial changes to filing requirements 
resulting from EDGAR modernization, as well as certain other changes 
to clarify or update the rules. Rulemaking for EDGAR System, Release 
Nos. 33-7653; 34-41150; IC-23735 (Mar. 10, 1999) [64 FR 12908]. 
These amendments have been adopted (Release No. 33-7684 (May 17, 
1999)).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We are also amending Rule 301 of Regulation S-T to provide for the 
incorporation by reference of the Filer Manual into the Code of Federal 
Regulations, which incorporation by reference was approved by the 
Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 
1 CFR Part 51. The revised Filer Manual and the amendment to Rule 301 
will be effective on June 28, 1999.
    You may obtain paper copies of the updated Filer Manual at the 
following address: Public Reference Room, U.S. Securities and Exchange 
Commission,

[[Page 27898]]

450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549-0102. Electronic format 
copies will be available on the EDGAR electronic bulletin board and 
posted to the SEC's Web Site. The SEC's Web Site address for the Manual 
is http://www.sec.gov/asec/ofis/filerman.htm. You may also obtain 
copies from Disclosure Incorporated, the paper and microfiche 
contractor for the Commission, at (800) 638-8241.
    Since the Filer Manual relates solely to agency procedure or 
practice, publication for notice and comment is not required under the 
Administrative Procedure Act.\5\ It follows that the requirements of 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act \6\ do not apply.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ 5 U.S.C. 601-612.
    \6\ 5 U.S.C. 553(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Statutory Basis

    We are adopting the amendment to Regulation S-T under Sections 6, 
7, 8, 10, and 19(a) of the Securities Act,\7\ Sections 3, 12, 13, 14, 
15, 23, and 35A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,\8\ Section 20 
of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935,\9\ Section 319 of 
the Trust Indenture Act of 1939,\10\ and Sections 8, 30, 31, and 38 of 
the Investment Company Act.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 77f, 77g, 77h, 77j and 77s(a).
    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78c, 78l, 78m, 78n, 78o, 78w and 78ll.
    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 79t.
    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 77sss.
    \11\ 15 U.S.C. 80a-8, 80a-29, 80a-30 and 80a-37.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

List of Subjects in 17 CFR Part 232

    Incorporation by reference, Investment companies, Registration 
requirements, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Securities.

Text of the Amendment

    In accordance with the foregoing, Title 17, Chapter II of the Code 
of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:

PART 232--REGULATION S-T--GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR 
ELECTRONIC FILINGS

    1. The authority citation for part 232 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 77f, 77g, 77h, 77j, 77s(a), 77sss(a), 
78c(b), 78l, 78m, 78n, 78o(d), 78w(a), 78ll(d), 79t(a), 80a-8, 80a-
29, 80a-30 and 80a-37.

    2. Section 232.301 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 232.301  EDGAR Filer Manual.

    Electronic filings must be prepared in the manner prescribed by the 
EDGAR Filer Manual, promulgated by the Commission, which sets out the 
technical formatting requirements for electronic submissions. The June 
1999 edition of the EDGAR Filer Manual: Guide for Electronic Filing 
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Release 6.50) is 
incorporated into the Code of Federal Regulations by reference, which 
action was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR Part 51. You must comply with 
these requirements in order for documents to be timely received and 
accepted. You can obtain paper copies of the EDGAR Filer Manual from 
the following address: Public Reference Room, U.S. Securities and 
Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 
or by calling Disclosure Incorporated at (800) 638-8241. Electronic 
format copies are available through the EDGAR electronic bulletin board 
and posted to the SEC's Web Site. The SEC's Web Site address for the 
Manual is http://www.sec.gov/asec/ofis/filerman.htm. Information on 
becoming an EDGAR E-mail/electronic bulletin board subscriber is 
available by contacting CompuServe Inc. at (800) 576-4247.

    Dated: May 17, 1999.

    By the Commission.
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-12812 Filed 5-20-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-U