[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 231 (Monday, December 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72873-72877]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28381]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-59003; File No. 4-574]


Program for Allocation of Regulatory Responsibilities Pursuant to 
Rule 17d-2; Notice of Filing of Proposed Plan for the Allocation of 
Regulatory Responsibilities Between the International Securities 
Exchange, LLC and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

November 24, 2008.
    Pursuant to Section 17(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 17d-2 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on November 21, 2008, the International Securities Exchange, LLC 
(``ISE'') and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. 
(``FINRA'') (together with the ISE, the ``Parties'') filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') a plan for the 
allocation of regulatory responsibilities (the ``17d-2 Plan''). The 
Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the 17d-2 
Plan from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78q(d).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.17d-2.
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I. Introduction

    Section 19(g)(1) of the Act,\3\ among other things, requires every 
self-regulatory organization (``SRO'') registered as either a national 
securities exchange or registered national securities association to 
examine for, and enforce compliance by, its members and persons 
associated with its members with the Act, the rules and regulations 
thereunder, and the SRO's own rules, unless the SRO is relieved of this 
responsibility pursuant to Section 17(d) \4\ or Section 19(g)(2) \5\ of 
the Act. Without this relief, the statutory obligation of each 
individual SRO could result in a pattern of multiple examinations of 
broker-dealers that maintain memberships in more than one SRO (``common 
members''). Such regulatory duplication would add unnecessary expenses 
for common members and their SROs.
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    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(g)(1).
    \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78q(d).
    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(g)(2).
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    Section 17(d)(1) of the Act \6\ was intended, in part, to eliminate 
unnecessary multiple examinations and regulatory duplication.\7\ With 
respect to a common member, Section 17(d)(1) authorizes the Commission, 
by rule or order, to relieve an SRO of the responsibility to receive 
regulatory reports, to examine for and enforce compliance with 
applicable statutes, rules, and regulations, or to perform other 
specified regulatory functions.
    To implement Section 17(d)(1), the Commission adopted two rules: 
Rule 17d-1 and Rule 17d-2 under the Act.\8\ Rule 17d-1 authorizes the 
Commission to name a single SRO as the designated examining authority 
(``DEA'') to examine common members for compliance with the financial 
responsibility requirements imposed by the Act, or by Commission or SRO 
rules.\9\ When an SRO has been named as a common member's DEA, all 
other SROs to which the common member

[[Page 72874]]

belongs are relieved of the responsibility to examine the firm for 
compliance with the applicable financial responsibility rules. On its 
face, Rule 17d-1 deals only with an SRO's obligations to enforce member 
compliance with financial responsibility requirements. Rule 17d-1 does 
not relieve an SRO from its obligation to examine a common member for 
compliance with its own rules and provisions of the federal securities 
laws governing matters other than financial responsibility, including 
sales practices and trading activities and practices.
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    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78q(d)(1).
    \7\ See Securities Act Amendments of 1975, Report of the Senate 
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs to Accompany S. 
249, S. Rep. No. 94-75, 94th Cong., 1st Session 32 (1975).
    \8\ 17 CFR 240.17d-1 and 17 CFR 240.17d-2, respectively.
    \9\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 12352 (April 20, 
1976), 41 FR 18808 (May 7, 1976).
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    To address regulatory duplication in these and other areas, the 
Commission adopted Rule 17d-2 under the Act.\10\ Rule 17d-2 permits 
SROs to propose joint plans for the allocation of regulatory 
responsibilities with respect to their common members. Under paragraph 
(c) of Rule 17d-2, the Commission may declare such a plan effective if, 
after providing for notice and comment, it determines that the plan is 
necessary or appropriate in the public interest and for the protection 
of investors, to foster cooperation and coordination among the SROs, to 
remove impediments to, and foster the development of, a national market 
system and a national clearance and settlement system, and is in 
conformity with the factors set forth in Section 17(d) of the Act. 
Commission approval of a plan filed pursuant to Rule 17d-2 relieves an 
SRO of those regulatory responsibilities allocated by the plan to 
another SRO.
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    \10\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 12935 (October 28, 
1976), 41 FR 49091 (November 8, 1976).
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II. Proposed Plan

    On August 22, 2008, ISE Holdings, Inc., the parent of ISE, agreed 
to acquire an equity interest in Direct Edge Holdings LLC (``Direct 
Edge'') by contributing cash and the ISE's equities trading facility, 
ISE Stock Exchange, LLC (``ISE Stock''). After such transaction, (1) 
Direct Edge, though a subsidiary, will own and operate ISE Stock as a 
facility \11\ of ISE and (2) ISE Holdings will have a 31.54% equity 
interest in Direct Edge, which wholly owns and operates an Electronic 
Access Member of the ISE, Direct Edge ECN LLC (``DE ECN''). DE ECN 
currently routes, and will continue to route, orders into ISE Stock. 
Recognizing that the Commission has previously expressed concern 
regarding (1) the potential for conflicts of interest in instances 
where an exchange is affiliated with one of its members, and (2) the 
potential for informational advantages that could place an affiliated 
member of an exchange at a competitive advantage vis-[agrave]-vis the 
other non-affiliated members, the ISE submitted a proposed rule change 
to amend ISE Rule 312 to permit the proposed affiliation subject to 
several conditions and limitations, including that a condition that the 
Exchange shall enter into a plan with a non-affiliated self-regulatory 
organization to regulate and oversee the activities of DE ECN, pursuant 
to Rule 17d-2 under the Act.\12\
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    \11\ See Section 3(a)(2) of the Act (defining ``facility''). 15 
USC 78c(a)(2).
    \12\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58918 (November 7, 
2008), 73 FR 67909 (November 17, 2008).
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    On November 21, 2008, the Parties submitted the 17d-2 Plan for 
review by the Commission. The text of the 17d-2 Plan, which is separate 
from the agreement made pursuant to Rule 17d-2 of the Act between FINRA 
and ISE entered into on December 20, 2006, delineates regulatory 
responsibilities between the Parties, including responsibility for ISE 
rules, with respect to DE ECN, which is a common member. Included in 
the 17d-2 Plan is an attachment (``ISE Certification of Common Rules,'' 
referred to herein as the ``Certification'') that lists every ISE rule 
and the federal securities laws and rules and regulations thereunder 
for which, under the 17d-2 Plan, the FINRA would bear responsibility 
for overseeing and enforcing with respect to DE ECN. In particular, 
under the 17d-2 Plan, FINRA would assume examination and enforcement 
responsibility relating to compliance by DE ECN and persons associated 
therewith, with the rules of ISE that are substantially similar to the 
rules of FINRA (``Common Rules''), as well as any provisions of the 
federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder 
delineated in the Certification.\13\ Under the 17d-2 Plan, ISE would 
retain full responsibility for surveillance, examination, 
investigation, and enforcement with respect to trading activities or 
practices involving ISE's own marketplace; registration pursuant to its 
unique rules (i.e., non-common rules); its duties as a Designated 
Examining Authority pursuant to Rule 17d-1 under the Act; and any rules 
that are not substantially similar to the rules of FINRA, except for 
ISE rules for any ISE member that operates as a facility,\14\ acts as 
an inbound router for the ISE, and is a member of the ISE and FINRA 
(``Inbound Router Member'').\15\ For purposes of the proposed 17d-2 
Plan, DE ECN would qualify as the sole Inbound Router Member. 
Accordingly, FINRA would be allocated regulatory responsibility for DE 
ECN.
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    \13\ See paragraph 2 of the 17d-2 plan. The Commission notes 
that there are currently no federal securities law rules listed on 
the Certification.
    \14\ See Section 3(a)(2) of the Act (defining ``facility''). 15 
USC 78c(a)(2).
    \15\ Apparent violations of such ISE rules by any Inbound Router 
Member will be processed by, and enforcement proceedings will be 
conducted by, the FINRA. See paragraphs 2(d) and 5 of the 17d-2 
Plan. As of the date of this Agreement, Direct Edge ECN LLC is the 
only Inbound Router Member.
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    The text of the 17d-2 Plan is as follows:
Agreement Between Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. and 
International Securities Exchange LLC Pursuant to Rule 17d-2 Under the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
    This Agreement, by and between the Financial Industry Regulatory 
Authority, Inc. (``FINRA'') and the International Securities Exchange 
LLC (``ISE''), is made this 21st day of November, 2008 (the 
``Agreement''), pursuant to Section 17(d) of the Securities Exchange 
Act of 1934 (the ``Exchange Act'') and Rule 17d-2 thereunder which 
permits agreements between self-regulatory organizations to allocate 
regulatory responsibility to eliminate regulatory duplication. FINRA 
and ISE may be referred to individually as a ``party'' and together as 
the ``parties.''
    Whereas, ISE desires to eliminate conflicts of interest that would 
exist if ISE were to regulate Direct Edge ECN LLC (``DE ECN''), an 
affiliate and member of ISE, which operates two order delivery 
electronic communication networks (``ECNs'') that route inbound orders 
to ISE.
    Whereas, ISE and FINRA desire to reduce duplication in the 
examination of their Dual Members (as defined herein); and
    Whereas, FINRA and ISE desire to execute an agreement covering such 
subjects pursuant to the provisions of Rule 17d-2 under the Exchange 
Act and to file such agreement with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (the ``SEC'' or ``Commission'') for its approval.
    Now, therefore, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained 
hereinafter, FINRA and ISE hereby agree as follows:
    1. Definitions. Unless otherwise defined in this Agreement or the 
context otherwise requires, the terms used in this Agreement shall have 
the same meaning as they have under the Exchange Act and the rules and 
regulations thereunder. As used in this Agreement, the following terms 
shall have the following meanings:

[[Page 72875]]

    (a) ``ISE Rules'' or ``FINRA Rules'' shall mean the rules of the 
ISE or FINRA, respectively, as the rules of an exchange or association 
are defined in Exchange Act Section 3(a)(27).
    (b) ``Common Rules'' shall mean the ISE Rules that are 
substantially similar to the applicable FINRA Rules in that examination 
for compliance with such rules would not require FINRA to develop one 
or more new examination standards, modules, procedures, or criteria in 
order to analyze the application of the rule, or a Dual Member's 
activity, conduct, or output in relation to such rule; provided, 
however, Common Rules shall not include the application of the SEC, ISE 
or FINRA rules as they pertain to violations of insider trading 
activities, which is covered by a separate 17d-2 Agreement by and among 
the American Stock Exchange, LLC, BATS Exchange, Inc., Boston Stock 
Exchange, Inc., CBOE Stock Exchange, LLC, Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc., 
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., International Securities 
Exchange, LLC, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, National Stock Exchange, 
Inc., New York Stock Exchange, LLC, NYSE Arca Inc., NYSE Regulation, 
Inc., and Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc. approved by the Commission 
on October 17, 2008.
    (c) ``Dual Members'' shall mean those ISE members that are also 
members of FINRA and the associated persons therewith, but for purposes 
of this Agreement is limited to DE ECN and its associated persons.
    (d) ``Effective Date'' shall have the meaning set forth in 
paragraph 13.
    (e) ``Enforcement Responsibilities'' shall mean the conduct of 
appropriate proceedings, in accordance with the FINRA Code of Procedure 
(the Rule 9000 Series) and other applicable FINRA procedural rules, to 
determine whether violations of pertinent laws, rules or regulations 
have occurred, and if such violations are deemed to have occurred, the 
imposition of appropriate sanctions as specified under the FINRA's Code 
of Procedure and sanctions guidelines.
    (f) ``Regulatory Responsibilities'' shall mean the examination 
responsibilities and Enforcement Responsibilities relating to 
compliance by the Dual Members with the Common Rules and the provisions 
of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and other 
applicable laws, rules and regulations, each as set forth on Exhibit 1 
attached hereto.
    2. Regulatory and Enforcement Responsibilities. FINRA shall assume 
Regulatory Responsibilities and Enforcement Responsibilities for DE 
ECN, which is a Dual Member. Attached as Exhibit 1 to this Agreement 
and made part hereof, ISE furnished FINRA with a current list of Common 
Rules and certified to FINRA that such rules are substantially similar 
to the corresponding FINRA rule (the ``Certification''). FINRA hereby 
agrees that the rules listed in the Certification are Common Rules as 
defined in this Agreement. Each year following the Effective Date of 
this Agreement, or more frequently if required by changes in either the 
rules of ISE or FINRA, ISE shall submit an updated list of Common Rules 
to FINRA for review which shall add ISE Rules not included in the 
current list of Common Rules that qualify as Common Rules as defined in 
this Agreement; delete ISE Rules included in the current list of Common 
Rules that no longer qualify as Common Rules as defined in this 
Agreement; and confirm that the remaining rules on the current list of 
Common Rules continue to be ISE Rules that qualify as Common Rules as 
defined in this Agreement. Within 30 days of receipt of such updated 
list, FINRA shall confirm in writing whether the rules listed in any 
updated list are Common Rules as defined in this Agreement.
    Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, it is explicitly 
understood that the term ``Regulatory Responsibilities'' does not 
include, and ISE shall retain full responsibility for (unless otherwise 
addressed by separate agreement or rule) (collectively, the ``Retained 
Responsibilities'') the following:
    (a) Surveillance, examination, investigation and enforcement with 
respect to trading activities or practices involving ISE's own 
marketplace, including without limitation ISE's rules relating to the 
rights and obligations of market makers;
    (b) Registration pursuant to its applicable rules of associated 
persons (i.e., registration rules that are not Common Rules);
    (c) Discharge of its duties and obligations as a Designated 
Examining Authority pursuant to Rule 17d-1 under the Exchange Act; and
    (d) Any ISE Rules that are not Common Rules, except for ISE Rules 
for any ISE member that operates as a facility (as defined in Section 
3(a)(2) of the Exchange Act), acts as an inbound router for the ISE and 
is a member of the ISE and FINRA (``Inbound Router Member'') as 
provided in paragraph 5. As of the date of this Agreement, Direct Edge 
ECN LLC is the only Inbound Router Member.
    3. No Charge. There shall be no charge to ISE by FINRA for 
performing the Regulatory Responsibilities and Enforcement 
Responsibilities under this Agreement except as hereinafter provided. 
FINRA shall provide ISE with ninety (90) days advance written notice in 
the event FINRA decides to impose any charges to ISE for performing the 
Regulatory Responsibilities under this Agreement. If FINRA determines 
to impose a charge, ISE shall have the right at the time of the 
imposition of such charge to terminate this Agreement; provided, 
however, that FINRA's Regulatory Responsibilities under this Agreement 
shall continue until the Commission approves the termination of this 
Agreement.
    4. Reassignment of Regulatory Responsibilities. Notwithstanding any 
provision hereof, this Agreement shall be subject to any statute, or 
any rule or order of the Commission, or industry agreement, 
restructuring the regulatory framework of the securities industry or 
reassigning Regulatory Responsibilities between self-regulatory 
organizations. To the extent such action is inconsistent with this 
Agreement, such action shall supersede the provisions hereof to the 
extent necessary for them to be properly effectuated and the provisions 
hereof in that respect shall be null and void.
    5. Notification of Violations.
    (a) In the event that FINRA becomes aware of apparent violations of 
any ISE Rules, which are not listed as Common Rules, discovered 
pursuant to the performance of the Regulatory Responsibilities assumed 
hereunder, FINRA shall notify ISE of those apparent violations for such 
response as ISE deems appropriate. With respect to apparent violations 
of any ISE Rules by any Inbound Router Members, FINRA shall not make 
referrals to ISE pursuant to this paragraph 5. Such apparent violations 
shall be processed by, and enforcement proceedings in respect thereto 
will be conducted by, FINRA as provided in this Agreement.
    (b) In the event that ISE becomes aware of apparent violations of 
any Common Rules, discovered pursuant to the performance of the 
Retained Responsibilities, ISE shall notify FINRA of those apparent 
violations and such matters shall be handled by FINRA as provided in 
this Agreement.
    (c) Apparent violations of Common Rules, FINRA Rules, federal 
securities laws, and rules and regulations thereunder, shall be 
processed by, and enforcement proceedings in respect thereto shall be 
conducted by FINRA as provided hereinbefore; provided, however, that in 
the event a Dual Member is the subject of an investigation relating to 
a transaction on ISE, ISE may in its discretion assume

[[Page 72876]]

concurrent jurisdiction and responsibility.
    (d) Each party agrees to make available promptly all files, records 
and witnesses necessary to assist the other in its investigation or 
proceedings.
    6. Continued Assistance.
    (a) FINRA shall make available to ISE all information obtained by 
FINRA in the performance by it of the Regulatory Responsibilities 
hereunder in respect to the Inbound Router Members subject to this 
Agreement. In particular, and not in limitation of the foregoing, FINRA 
shall furnish ISE any information it obtains about Inbound Router 
Members which reflects adversely on their financial condition. ISE 
shall make available to FINRA any information coming to its attention 
that reflects adversely on the financial condition of Inbound Router 
Members or indicates possible violations of applicable laws, rules or 
regulations by such firms.
    (b) The parties agree that documents or information shared shall be 
held in confidence, and used only for the purposes of carrying out 
their respective regulatory obligations. Neither party shall assert 
regulatory or other privileges as against the other with respect to 
documents or information that is required to be shared pursuant to this 
Agreement.
    (c) The sharing of documents or information between the parties 
pursuant to this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver as against 
third parties of regulatory or other privileges relating to the 
discovery of documents or information.
    7. Statutory Disqualifications. When FINRA becomes aware of a 
statutory disqualification as defined in the Exchange Act with respect 
to an Inbound Router Member, FINRA shall determine pursuant to Sections 
15A(g) and/or Section 6(c) of the Exchange Act the acceptability or 
continued applicability of the person to whom such disqualification 
applies and keep ISE advised of its actions in this regard for such 
subsequent proceedings as ISE may initiate.
    8. Branch Office Information. FINRA shall also be responsible for 
processing and, if required, acting upon all requests for the opening, 
address changes, and terminations of branch offices by Inbound Router 
Members and any other applications required of Inbound Router Members 
with respect to the Common Rules as they may be amended from time to 
time. Upon request, FINRA shall advise ISE of the opening, address 
change and termination of branch and main offices of Inbound Router 
Members and the names of such branch office managers.
    9. Customer Complaints. ISE shall forward to FINRA copies of all 
customer complaints involving Inbound Router Members received by ISE 
relating to FINRA's Regulatory Responsibilities under this Agreement. 
It shall be FINRA's responsibility to review and take appropriate 
action in respect to such complaints.
    10. Advertising. FINRA shall assume responsibility to review the 
advertising of Inbound Router Members subject to the Agreement, 
provided that such material is filed with FINRA in accordance with 
FINRA's filing procedures and is accompanied with any applicable filing 
fees set forth in FINRA Rules. Such review shall be made in accordance 
with then applicable FINRA Rules and interpretations. The advertising 
of Inbound Router Members shall be subject only to compliance with 
appropriate FINRA Rules and interpretations.
    11. No Restrictions on Regulatory Action. Nothing contained in this 
Agreement shall restrict or in any way encumber the right of either 
party to conduct its own independent or concurrent investigation, 
examination or enforcement proceeding of or against Inbound Router 
Members, as either party, in its sole discretion, shall deem 
appropriate or necessary.
    12. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of 
(a) the date on which DE ECN ceases operations as a facility of ISE, or 
(b) the date on which the Commission approves termination of this 
Agreement after one (1) year's written notice by ISE or FINRA to the 
other party or such shorter period as may be agreed to by the parties, 
except as provided in paragraph 3.
    13. Effective Date. This Agreement shall be effective upon approval 
of the Commission.
    14. Arbitration. In the event of a dispute between the parties as 
to the operation of this Agreement, ISE and FINRA hereby agree that any 
such dispute shall be settled by arbitration in Washington, DC in 
accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then 
in effect, or such other procedures as the parties may mutually agree 
upon. Judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be 
entered in any court having jurisdiction. Each party acknowledges that 
the timely and complete performance of its obligations pursuant to this 
Agreement is critical to the business and operations of the other 
party. In the event of a dispute between the parties, the parties shall 
continue to perform their respective obligations under this Agreement 
in good faith during the resolution of such dispute unless and until 
this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its provisions. Nothing 
in this Section 14 shall interfere with a party's right to terminate 
this Agreement as set forth herein.
    15. Separate Agreement. This Agreement is wholly separate from the 
Agreement made pursuant to Rule 17d-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 between Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. and the 
International Securities Exchange LLC entered into on December 20, 
2006, and as may be amended from time to time.
    16. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended in writing duly 
approved by each party. All such amendments must be filed with and 
approved by the Commission before they become effective.
    17. Limitation of Liability. Neither FINRA nor ISE nor any of their 
respective directors, governors, officers or employees shall be liable 
to the other party to this Agreement for any liability, loss or damage 
resulting from or claimed to have resulted from any delays, 
inaccuracies, errors or omissions with respect to the provision of 
Regulatory Responsibilities as provided hereby or for the failure to 
provide any such responsibility, except with respect to such liability, 
loss or damages as shall have been suffered by one or the other of 
FINRA or ISE and caused by the willful misconduct of the other party or 
their respective directors, governors, officers or employees. No 
warranties, express or implied, are made by FINRA or ISE with respect 
to any of the responsibilities to be performed by each of them 
hereunder.
    18. Relief from Responsibility. Pursuant to Sections 17(d)(1)(A) 
and 19(g) of the Exchange Act and Rule 17d-2 thereunder, FINRA and ISE 
join in requesting the Commission, upon its approval of this Agreement 
or any part thereof, to relieve ISE of any and all responsibilities 
with respect to matters allocated to FINRA pursuant to this Agreement; 
provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be effective until the 
Effective Date.
    19. Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is 
invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such 
jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or 
unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the 
remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or affecting the 
validity or enforceability of any of the terms or provisions of this 
Agreement in any other jurisdiction.

[[Page 72877]]

    20. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more 
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and such 
counterparts together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

Exhibit 1

ISE Certification of Common Rules

    ISE hereby certifies that the requirements contained in the rules 
listed below for ISE are identical to, or substantially similar to, the 
comparable FINRA (NASD) Rules identified.

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              ISE Rule(s)                      FINRA (NASD) Rule(s)
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408. Prevention of the Misuse of         NASD Rule 3010(a)(2)
 Material, Nonpublic Information.         Supervision *.
409. Disciplinary Action...............  NASD Rule 3070(a)(1) and
                                          (a)(10) Reporting
                                          Requirements.
604. Continuing Education for            NASD Rule 1120 Continuing
 Registered Persons.                      Education Requirements.
622. Transfer of Accounts..............  NASD Rule 11870 Customer
                                          Account Transfer Contracts.
624. Brokers' Blanket Bonds............  NASD Rule 3020 Fidelity Bonds.
626. Telephone Solicitation............  NASD Rule 2212 Telemarketing.
1400. Maintenance, Retention, and        NASD Rule 3110(a) Books and
 Furnishing of Books, Records and Other   Records--Requirements *.
 Information.
2114. Doing Business with the Public     NASD Rules 2310 Recommendations
 \1\.                                     to Customers (Suitability);
                                          2320 Best Execution and
                                          Interpositioning; 2330
                                          Customers' Securities or
                                          Funds; 2340 Customer Account
                                          Statements; 2341 Margin
                                          Disclosure Statement; 2350
                                          Broker/Dealer Conduct on the
                                          Premises of Financial
                                          Institutions; 2360 Approval
                                          Procedures for Day-Trading
                                          Accounts; 2361 Day-Trading
                                          Risk Disclosure Statement;
                                          2370 Borrowing From or Lending
                                          to Customers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ In connection with the approval of ISE Rule 2114, the Commission
  noted that since the ISE is requiring Equity EAMs that do business
  with the public to become members of FINRA, those ISE members are
  required to comply with FINRA (NASD) rules that govern the practice of
  members when doing business with the public. The Commission noted
  that, among other things, these members would be obligated to comply
  with these listed FINRA (NASD) Rules. See Exchange Act Release No.
  54401 (September 1, 2006), 71 FR 53483 (September 11, 2006) (Order
  Granting Accelerated Approval of SR-ISE-2006-53).
* FINRA shall not have any Regulatory Responsibilities under this
  Agreement for these rules as they pertain to violations of insider
  trading activities, which is covered by a separate 17d-2 Agreement by
  and among the American Stock Exchange, LLC, BATS Exchange, Inc. Boston
  Stock Exchange, Inc., CBOE Stock Exchange, LLC, Chicago Stock
  Exchange, Inc., Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.,
  International Securities Exchange, LLC, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC,
  National Stock Exchange, Inc., New York Stock Exchange, LLC, NYSE Arca
  Inc., NYSE Regulation, Inc., and Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc. as
  approved by the Commission on October 17, 2008.

* * * * *

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

    Pursuant to Section 17(d)(1) of the Act \16\ and Rule 17d-2 
thereunder,\17\ on or after December 22, 2008, the Commission may, by 
written notice, declare the plan submitted by ISE and FINRA, File No. 
4-574, to be effective if the Commission finds that the plan is 
necessary or appropriate in the public interest and for the protection 
of investors, to foster cooperation and coordination among self-
regulatory organizations, or to remove impediments to and foster the 
development of the national market system and a national system for the 
clearance and settlement of securities transactions and in conformity 
with the factors set forth in Section 17(d) of the Act.
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    \16\ 15 U.S.C. 78q(d)(1).
    \17\ 17 CFR 240.17d-2.
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IV. Solicitation of Comments

    In order to assist the Commission in determining whether to approve 
the 17d-2 Plan and to relieve ISE of the responsibilities which would 
be assigned to FINRA, interested persons are invited to submit written 
data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing. 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 [email protected]. Please include 
File Number 4-574 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number 4-574. 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/other.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 the filing also will be available for inspection and 
copying at the principal office of the ISE and 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 Number 4-574 and should be submitted 
on or before December 22, 2008.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\18\
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    \18\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(34).
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Florence E. Harmon,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-28381 Filed 11-28-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P