

[Federal Register: February 11, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 28)]
[Notices]               
[Page 7767-7768]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11fe08-98]                         

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 
Proposed Extension of Existing 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-13; OMB Control No. 3235-0035; SEC File No. 270-27.

    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-13 (17 CFR 
240.17a-13) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78 et 
seq.). The Commission plans to submit a request for approval of 
extension of the existing collection of information to the Office of 
Management and Budget.
    Rule 17a-13(b) (17 CFR 17a-13(b)) generally requires that at least 
once each calendar quarter, all registered brokers and dealers 
physically examine and count all securities held and account for all 
other securities not in their possession, but subject to the broker-
dealer's control or direction. Any discrepancies between the broker-
dealer's securities count and the firm's records must be noted and, 
within seven days, the unaccounted for difference must be recorded in 
the firm's records. Rule 17a-13(c) (17 CFR 17a-13(c)) provides that 
under specified conditions, the securities counts, examination, and 
verification of the broker-dealer's entire list of securities may be 
conducted on a cyclical basis rather than on a certain date. Although 
Rule 17a-13 does not require filing a report with the Commission, 
discrepancies between a broker-dealer's records and the securities 
counts may be required to be reported, for example, as a loss on Form 
X-17a-5 (17 CFR 248.617), which must be filed with the Commission under 
Rule 17a-5 (17 CFR 17a-5). Rule 17a-13 exempts broker-dealers that 
limit their business to the sale and redemption of securities of 
registered investment companies and interests or participation in an 
insurance company separate account and those who solicit accounts for 
federally insured savings and loan associations, provided that such 
persons promptly transmit all funds and securities and hold no customer 
funds and securities. The Rule also does not apply to certain broker-
dealers required to register only because they effect transactions in 
securities futures products.
    The information obtained from Rule 17a-13 is used as an inventory 
control device to monitor a broker-dealer's ability to account for all 
securities held, in transfer, in transit, pledged, loaned, borrowed, 
deposited, or otherwise subject to the firm's control or direction. 
Discrepancies between the securities counts and the broker-dealer's 
records alert the Commission and the Self Regulatory Organizations 
(``SROs'') to those firms having problems in their back offices.
    Currently, there are approximately 5,700 broker-dealers registered 
with the Commission. However, given the variability in their 
businesses, it is difficult to quantify how many hours per year each 
broker-dealer spends complying with the Rule. As noted, the Rule 
requires a respondent to account for all securities in its possession. 
Many respondents hold few, if any, securities; while others hold large 
quantities. Therefore, the time burden of complying with the Rule will 
depend on respondent-specific factors, including size, number of 
customers, and proprietary trading activity. The staff estimates that 
the average time spent per respondent on the rule is 100 hours per 
year. This estimate takes into account the fact that more than half the 
5,700 respondents--according to financial reports filed with the 
Commission--may spend little or no time in complying with the rule, 
given that they do not do a public securities business or do not hold 
inventories of securities. For these reasons, the staff estimates that 
the total compliance burden per year is 570,000 hours (5,700 
respondents x 100 hours/respondent).
    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 has 
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

[[Page 7768]]

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.
    Comments should be directed to: R. Corey Booth, Director/Chief 
Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Shirley 
Martinson, 6432 General Green Way, Alexandria, Virginia 22312; or 
comments may be sent by e-mail to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov. Comments must 
be submitted within 60 days of this notice.

    Dated: February 4, 2008.
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-2443 Filed 2-8-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
