[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 16018]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6655]



[[Page 16018]]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: U.S. Securities and 
Exchange Commission, Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, 
Washington, DC 20549-0213.
Extension:
    Rule 17a-22; SEC File No. 270-202; OMB Control No. 3235-0196.

    Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (``Commission'') is soliciting comments on the collection of 
information provided for in the following rule: Rule 17a-22 (17 C.F.R. 
240.17a-22) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et 
seq.). The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of 
information to the Office of Management and Budget for extension and 
approval.
    Rule 17a-22 requires all registered clearing agencies to file with 
the Commission three copies of all materials they issue or make 
generally available to their participants or other entities with whom 
they have a significant relationship. The filings with the Commission 
must be made within ten days after the materials are issued or made 
generally available. When the Commission is not the clearing agency's 
appropriate regulatory agency, the clearing agency must file one copy 
of the material with its appropriate regulatory agency.
    The Commission is responsible for overseeing clearing agencies and 
uses the information filed pursuant to Rule 17a-22 to determine whether 
a clearing agency is implementing procedural or policy changes. The 
information filed aides the Commission in determining whether such 
changes are consistent with the purposes of Section 17A of the Exchange 
Act. Also, the Commission uses the information to determine whether a 
clearing agency has changed its rules without reporting the actual or 
prospective change to the Commission as required under Section 19(b) of 
the Exchange Act.
    The respondents to Rule 17a-22 are registered clearing agencies. 
The frequency of filings made by clearing agencies pursuant to Rule 
17a-22 varies but on average there are approximately 200 filings per 
year per active clearing agency. There are four active registered 
clearing agencies. The Commission staff estimates that each response 
requires approximately .25 hour (fifteen minutes), which represents the 
time it takes for a staff person at the clearing agency to properly 
identify a document subject to the rule, print and makes copies, and 
mail that document to the Commission. Thus, the total annual burden for 
all active clearing agencies is 200 hours (4 clearing agencies 
multiplied by 200 filings per clearing agency multiplied by .25 hours) 
and a total of 50 hours (800 responses multiplied by .25 hours, divided 
by 4 active clearing agencies) per year are expended by each respondent 
to comply with the rule.
    Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Commission, including whether the information 
shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's 
estimates of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. 
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted in 
writing within 60 days of this publication.
    The Commission may not conduct or sponsor a collection of 
information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No 
person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a 
collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a 
valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.
    Please direct your written comments to: Thomas Bayer, Chief 
Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Remi 
Pavlik-Simon, 6432 General Green Way, Alexandria, VA 22312 or send an 
e-mail to: [email protected].

     Dated: March 16, 2011.
Cathy H. Ahn,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-6655 Filed 3-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P