[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 174 (Tuesday, September 9, 2014)] [Notices] [Pages 53488-53490] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2014-21389] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34-72971; File No. SR-NYSEARCA-2014-92] Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Amending the NYSE Arca Options Fee Schedule and, Through Its Wholly Owned Subsidiary NYSE Arca Equities, Inc. Amending the NYSE Arca Equities Schedule of Fees and Charges for Exchange Services, To Establish a Billing Practice With Respect to Billing Disputes September 3, 2014. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1)\1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act'')\2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby given that, on August 28, 2014, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or ``NYSE Arca'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ 15 U.S.C.78s(b)(1). \2\ 15 U.S. C. 78a. \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange proposes to amend the NYSE Arca Options Fee Schedule (``Options Fee Schedule'') and, through its wholly owned subsidiary NYSE Arca Equities, Inc. (``NYSE Arca Equities''), to amend the NYSE Arca Equities Schedule of Fees and Charges for Exchange Services (``Equities Fee Schedule'' and, together with the Options Fee Schedule, ``Fee Schedules''), to establish a billing practice with respect to billing disputes. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at www.nyse.com, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room. II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of 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 those statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant parts of such statements. A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 1. Purpose The Exchange proposes to amend the Fee Schedules to establish a billing practice to prevent members \4\ from contesting their bills long after they have been sent an invoice. In accordance with the proposed rule change, members must submit all disputes no later than sixty calendar days after receipt of an Exchange invoice. After sixty calendar days, all fees assessed by the Exchange will be considered final. The Exchange provides members with both daily and monthly fee reports and thus believes members should be aware of any potential billing errors within sixty calendar days of receiving an invoice. Requiring that members dispute an invoice within this time period will encourage them to review their invoices promptly so that any disputed charges can be addressed in a timely manner while the information and data underlying those charges (e.g., applicable fees and order information) is still easily and readily available. This practice will avoid issues that may arise when members do not dispute an invoice in a timely manner, and will conserve Exchange resources that would have to be expended to resolve untimely billing disputes. The Exchange notes that this type of provision is common among many other exchanges.\5\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \4\ For the purposes of this filing, for NYSE Arca Equities, the term ``members'' refers to ``ETP Holders'' as defined in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 1.1(n), and for NYSE Arca, the term ``members'' refers to ``OTP Holders'' and ``OTP Firms'' as defined in NYSE Arca Rules 1.1(q) and 1.1(r). \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 72410 (June 17, 2014), 79 FR 35605 (June 23, 2014) (SR-MIAX-2014-27); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 71286 [sic] (January 14, 2014), 79 FR 3442 (January 21, 2014) (SR-ISE-2014-02); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 62661 (August 6, 2010), 75 FR 49544 (August 13, 2010) (SR-Phlx- 2010-110). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Exchange also proposes to state that all billing disputes must be submitted to the Exchange in writing,\6\ and must be accompanied by supporting documentation. The Exchange believes that this requirement, which is also similar to requirements of other [[Page 53489]] exchanges,\7\ will further streamline the billing dispute process. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \6\ The Exchange invoice specifies contact information for billing inquiries. \7\ See supra note 5. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- In addition, in order for members to be fully aware of this rule regarding fee disputes, the Exchange proposes to include it on the Fee Schedules and at the bottom of each invoice regarding the handling of billing disputes. 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,\8\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Sections 6(b)(4) and (5) of the Act,\9\ in particular, because it is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \8\ 15 U.S. C. 78f(b). \9\ 15 U.S. C. 78f(b)(4) and (5). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Exchange believes the requirement to submit all billing disputes in writing, and with supporting documentation, within sixty calendar days from receipt of the invoice, is reasonable in the public interest because the Exchange provides ample tools to properly and swiftly monitor and account for various charges incurred in a given month. Also, the proposal is equitable because it applies equally to all members. The proposed provision regarding fee disputes in the Fee Schedules promotes the protection of investors and the public interest by providing a clear and concise mechanism in Exchange Rules for members to dispute fees and for the Exchange to review such disputes in a timely manner. In addition, the proposed 60-day limitation is fair and equitable because it will be implemented prospectively on all members, only applying to invoices issued after the proposed rule change becomes operative. Moreover, the proposed billing dispute language, which will lower the Exchange's administrative burden, is substantially similar to billing dispute language adopted by other exchanges.\10\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \10\ See supra note 4. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act,\11\ the Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on intermarket or intramarket competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. As stated above, the proposed rule change, which applies equally to all members, is intended to reduce the Exchange's administrative burden, and is substantially similar to rules adopted by other exchanges. Because the Exchange does not propose any substantive changes regarding fees applicable to members, the proposal does not impose any burden on competition. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \11\ 15 U.S. C. 78f(b)(8). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the proposed rule change. III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \12\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\13\ Because the 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 prior to 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b- 4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \12\ 15 U.S. C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii). \13\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \14\ normally does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),\15\ the Commission may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \14\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). \15\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- At any time within 60 days of the filing of such 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 under Section 19(b)(2)(B) \16\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or disapproved. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \16\ 15 U.S. C. 78s(b)(2)(B). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 CommentsUse 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-NYSEARCA-2014-92 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-NYSEARCA-2014-92. 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 Web site (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 Web site 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 such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal offices of the Exchange. 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 SR-NYSEARCA-2014- 92, and should be submitted on or before September 30, 2014. [[Page 53490]] For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.\17\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \17\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kevin M. O' Neill, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2014-21389 Filed 9-8-14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011-01-P