[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 208 (Thursday, October 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58036-58037]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-28105]


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COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION


Notice of Establishment of the Technology Advisory Committee

SUMMARY: The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has determined to 
establish the ``Technology Advisory Committee'' As required by Section 
9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act 5 U.S.C. app. 2, 
Sec. 9(a)(2) and 41 CFR 101-6.1007, the Commission has consulted with 
the Committee Management Secretariat of the General Services 
Administration. The Commission certifies that the creation of this 
advisory committee is necessary and is in the public interest in 
connection with the performance of duties imposed on the Commission by 
the Commodity Exchange Act, 7 U.S.C. 1 et seq., as amended. This notice 
is published pursuant to Section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. app. 2, Sec. 9(a)(2) and 41 CFR 101-6.1015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Fox, Legal Counsel to 
Commissioner James E. Newsome, at 202-418-5052, or Marcia K. Blase, 
Committee Management Officer, at 202-418-5138. Written comments should 
be

[[Page 58037]]

submitted to Jean A. Webb, Secretary, Commodity Futures Trading 
Commission, Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street, NW, Washington, 
DC 20581.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sophisticated communication technology has 
expanded access to markets and market users. The rise of electronic 
screen-based trading is changing the face of the financial services 
industry and along with it, the regulatory concerns of the Commission, 
of other regulators and of the United States Congress. As electronic 
trading platforms become more prevalent and in some markets, directly 
compete with or displace traditional open-outcry trading pits, it is 
imperative that the Commission keep informed of the ever evolving 
technological environment, the impact of technology on our markets, 
market professionals and other market participants, and to consider 
regulatory reform as appropriate.
    The Technology Advisory Committee's charter directs the committee 
to assist the Commission in: (1) Reviewing emerging technologists 
utilized by financial services and commodity markets and their 
participants, (2) identifying technology providers for the financial 
services and commodity markets, (3) analyzing the impact of emerging 
technologies on financial services and commodity markets, as well as on 
market professionals and market users, particularly in the areas of 
system capacities and readiness, order flow practices, and clearing and 
payment activities, (4) reviewing the Commodity Exchange Act and the 
regulations promulgated thereunder to assess their applicability to 
electronic issues and to ensure the Commission's ability to exercise 
appropriate fraud and manipulation authority, and (5) examining ways 
that the Commission may respond to the increasing use of technology in 
financial services and commodity markets through appropriate 
legislative proposals and/or regulatory reform.
    The Commission anticipates that the Technology Advisory Committee 
will provide a valuable forum for information exchange and advice on 
these matters. The reports, recommendations and general advice from the 
committee will enable the Commission to assess more effectively the 
need for possible statutory, regulatory, policy or programmatic 
initiatives to address the challenges posed by a technology driven 
marketplace. The committee's membership will include representatives of 
those markets, firms and market users most directly involved in and 
affected by the technological evolution of the industry and will be 
balanced in terms of points of view represented. Toward that end, the 
Commission is considering for membership a broad cross-section of 
persons representing technology providers, exchanges, regulatory 
organizations, financial intermediaries, end-users, traders and 
academics.
    The Commission has found that advice on such specialized matters is 
best obtained through the advisory committee framework rather than 
through other more costly, less flexible and less efficient means of 
assembling persons from all sectors of the financial services industry. 
The Commission has also found that the Technology Advisory Committee 
will not duplicate the functions of the Commission, another existing 
advisory committee, or other means such as public hearings. The 
Commission has concluded, therefore, that the creation of the 
Technology Advisory Committee is essential to the accomplishment of its 
mission and is in the public interest.
    Fifteen days after publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, a copy of the charter of the Technology Advisory Committee 
will be filed with the Chairman of the Commission, the Senate Committee 
on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and the House Committee on 
Agriculture. A copy of the charter will be furnished to the Library of 
Congress and the Committee Management Secretariat and will be posted on 
the Commission's website at http://www.cftc.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 20, 1999, by the 
Commission.
Jean W. Webb,
Secretary of the Commission.
[FR Doc. 99-28105 Filed 10-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6351-01-M