[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 104 (Friday, May 29, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 32434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11593]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange 
Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 
20549-2736

Extension:
    Rule 17a-5, SEC File No. 270-155, OMB Control No. 3235-0123

    Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) (``PRA''), the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (``Commission'') is soliciting comments on the existing 
collection of information provided for in Rule 17a-5 (17 CFR 240.17a-
5), 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 (``OMB'') for extension and 
approval.
    Rule 17a-5 is the basic financial reporting rule for brokers and 
dealers.\1\ The rule requires the filing of Form X-17A-5, the Financial 
and Operational Combined Uniform Single Report (``FOCUS Report''), 
which was the result of years of study and comments by representatives 
of the securities industry through advisory committees and through the 
normal rule proposal methods. The FOCUS Report was designed to 
eliminate the overlapping regulatory reports required by various self-
regulatory organizations and the Commission and to reduce reporting 
burdens as much as possible. The rule also requires the filing of an 
annual audited report of financial statements.
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    \1\ Rule 17a-5(c) requires a broker or dealer to furnish certain 
of its financial information to customers and is subject to a 
separate PRA filing (OMB Control Number 3235-0199).
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    The FOCUS Report consists of: (1) Part I, which is a monthly report 
that must be filed by brokers or dealers that clear transactions or 
carry customer securities; (2) one of three alternative quarterly 
reports: Part II, which must be filed by brokers or dealers that clear 
transactions or carry customer securities; Part IIA, which must be 
filed by brokers or dealers that do not clear transactions or carry 
customer securities; and Part IIB, which must be filed by specialized 
broker-dealers registered with the Commission as OTC derivatives 
dealers; \2\ (3) supplemental schedules, which must be filed annually; 
and (4) a facing page, which must be filed with the annual audited 
report of financial statements. Under the rule, a broker or dealer that 
computes certain of its capital charges in accordance with Appendix E 
to Exchange Act Rule 15c3-1 must file additional monthly, quarterly, 
and annual reports with the Commission.
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    \2\ Part IIB of Form X-17A-5 must be filed by OTC derivatives 
dealers under Exchange Act Rule 17a-12 and is subject to a separate 
PRA filing (OMB control number 3235-0498).
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    The Commission estimates that the total hour burden under Rule 17a-
5 is approximately 328,746 hours per year when annualized, and the 
total cost burden under Rule 17a-5 is approximately $35,287,127 per 
year.
    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 
estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
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.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information under the PRA unless it 
displays a currently valid OMB control number.
    Please direct your written comments to: David Bottom, Director/
Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o 
Cynthia Roscoe, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549, or send an email 
to [email protected].

    Dated: May 26, 2020.
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-11593 Filed 5-28-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P