[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 169 (Monday, August 31, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53881-53883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-19054]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-89668; File No. SR-LTSE-2020-13]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Long-Term Stock Exchange, Inc.; 
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change 
To Amend Rule 11.410(a)

August 25, 2020.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(the ``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given 
that on August 18, 2020, Long-Term Stock Exchange, Inc. (``LTSE'' or 
the ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(the ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I 
and II below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory 
organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit 
comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    LTSE proposes a rule change to amend Rule 11.410(a) to (i) update 
the Exchange's source of data feeds for purposes of order handling and 
execution, and regulatory compliance, to include data regarding MEMX 
LLC (``MEMX''); and (ii) make ministerial changes to the existing list 
of exchanges

[[Page 53882]]

to address name changes and to re-alphabetize the list.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange's 
website at https://longtermstockexchange.com/, at the principal office 
of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization 
included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the 
proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the 
proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at 
the places specified in Item IV below. The self-regulatory organization 
has prepared summaries, set forth in Sections A, B, and C below, of the 
most significant aspects of such statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on the Purpose of, and the 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change \3\
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    \3\ Unless otherwise defined, capitalized terms are used herein 
as defined in the LTSE Rulebook.
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1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes to amend the Market Data Sources identified 
in LTSE Rule 11.410(a), which sets forth on a market-by-market basis 
the data feeds that the Exchange utilizes as its source for quotes, 
trades and administrative messages. Currently, LTSE utilizes the 
securities information processor (``SIP'') consolidated quotation 
(i.e., CQS/UQDF), trade and administrative (i.e., CTS/UTDF) data feeds 
for data on all national securities exchanges. The Exchange proposes to 
amend the table in Rule 11.410(a) to add a new exchange, MEMX, and 
specify that the Exchange also will utilize the consolidated quotation 
(i.e., CQS/UQDF), trade and administrative (i.e., CTS/UTDF) data feeds 
for MEMX.
    Additionally, the Exchange proposes to update the names of 
exchanges that have been renamed, as well as alphabetize the list of 
exchanges in the table.
    The Exchange proposes that this rule change become operative on or 
before the day that MEMX launches operations as an equities exchange, 
which is currently expected on September 4, 2020.\4\
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    \4\ See https://memx.com/memx-timeline-update-launch-set-for-september-4th/.
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2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,\5\ in general, and 
furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\6\ in 
particular, in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and 
manipulative acts and practices, promote just and equitable principles 
of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged 
in facilitating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to 
and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national 
market system and, in general, to protect investors and the public 
interest.
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    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f.
    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with the Act because including MEMX in the list of market data sources 
the Exchange will use to determine each away trading center's Top of 
Book quotes will facilitate transparency in the Exchange's operations 
and support the Exchange's compliance with the applicable requirements 
of Regulation NMS.
    The Exchange believes its proposal to amend the table in Rule 
11.410(a) to update the data feed source for MEMX will ensure that Rule 
11.410 correctly identifies and publicly states on a market-by-market 
basis all of the specific data feeds that the Exchange utilizes for the 
handling and execution of orders, and for regulatory compliance. The 
proposed rule change also removes impediments to and perfects the 
mechanism of a free and open market and protects investors and the 
public interest by providing additional specificity, clarity, and 
transparency in the Exchange's rules.
    Further, the Exchange believes it is consistent with the Act to 
update the referenced rule to list all the away trading centers in 
alphabetical order, to enhance clarity to market participants.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed 
change is not designed to address any competitive issue, but rather 
would provide the public and market participants with up-to-date 
information about the data feeds the Exchange will use for the handling 
and execution of orders, as well as for regulatory compliance.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

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

    Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (i) 
Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public 
interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) 
become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or 
such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become 
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \7\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6) thereunder.\8\
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    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \8\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) 
requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission 
written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along 
with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at 
least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed 
rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. 
The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.
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    A proposed rule change filed pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6) under the 
Act \9\ normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date 
of its filing. However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) \10\ permits the 
Commission to designate a shorter time if such action is consistent 
with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange 
has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that 
the proposed rule change may become operative immediately. According to 
the Exchange, the proposed rule change does not significantly affect 
the protection of investors or the public interest or impose a 
significant burden on competition because it merely provides 
specificity regarding the Exchange's use of data feeds by identifying 
which data feed would be used for MEMX and enables market participants 
to understand how the Exchange views trade and quote information from 
other national securities exchanges and does not impose any burden on 
Members or market participants. The Commission believes that waiving 
the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of 
investors and the public interest, as doing so will ensure that the 
rule change becomes operative on or before the day that MEMX launches 
operations as an equities exchange, which is currently expected on

[[Page 53883]]

September 4, 2020, which, in turn, will ensure that the Exchange rules 
clearly and accurately reflect the market data sources it utilizes in 
generating quotes, trades and administrative messages. Accordingly, the 
Commission hereby waives the operative delay and designates the 
proposed rule change operative upon filing.\11\
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    \9\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \10\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
    \11\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, 
the Commission also has considered the proposed rule's impact on 
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or 
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission 
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to 
determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or 
disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change is consistent with the Act. 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 email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-LTSE-2020-13 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 SR-LTSE-2020-13. This file 
number should be included on the subject line if email 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 website (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.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 website viewing and printing in 
the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 
20549 on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 
3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection 
and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments 
received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are 
cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying 
information from comment submissions. You should submit only 
information that you wish to make available publicly. All
    submissions should refer to File Number SR-LTSE-2020-13 and should 
be submitted on or before September 21, 2020.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\12\
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    \12\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-19054 Filed 8-28-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P