[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 67 (Friday, April 7, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 20930]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07390]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[SEC File No. 270-017, OMB Control No. 3235-0018]


Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extension: Rule 15b6-1 and 
Form BDW

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

    Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (``PRA'') (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (``Commission'') is soliciting comments on the existing 
collection of information provided for in Rule 15b6-1 (17 CFR 240.15b6-
1), 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.
    Registered broker-dealers use Form BDW (17 CFR 249.501a) to 
withdraw from registration with the Commission, the self-regulatory 
organizations, and the states. On average, the Commission estimates 
that it would take a broker-dealer approximately one hour to complete 
and file a Form BDW to withdraw from Commission registration as 
required by Rule 15b6-1. The Commission estimates that approximately 
411 broker-dealers withdraw from Commission registration annually \1\ 
and, therefore, file a Form BDW via the internet with the Central 
Registration Depository, a computer system operated by the Financial 
Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. that maintains information 
regarding registered broker-dealers and their registered personnel. The 
411 broker-dealers that withdraw from registration by filing Form BDW 
would incur an aggregate annual reporting burden of approximately 411 
hours.\2\
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    \1\ This estimate is based on Form BDW data collected over the 
past three years for fully registered broker-dealers. This estimate 
is based on the numbers of forms filed; therefore, the number may 
include multiple forms per broker-dealer if the broker-dealer's 
initial filing was incomplete. In fiscal year (from 10/1 through 9/
30) 2020, 499 broker-dealers withdrew from registration. In fiscal 
year 2021, 417 broker-dealers withdrew from registration. In fiscal 
year 2022, 318 broker-dealers withdrew from registration. (499 + 417 
+ 318)/3 = 411 (rounded down from 411.33).
    \2\ (411 x 1 hour) = 411 hours.
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    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 
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 by 
June 6, 2023.
    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 John 
Pezzullo, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549, or send an email to: 
[email protected].

    Dated: April 4, 2023.
Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-07390 Filed 4-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P