Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE MKT LLC; Order Approving a Proposed Rule Change Amending the NYSE Amex Options Fee Schedule To Provide for Additional Co-location Services and Establish Related Fees, 50734-50736 [2012-20568]
Download as PDF
50734
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 163 / Wednesday, August 22, 2012 / Notices
a User a fee of $950 per order if the User
requests a change to one or more
existing co-location services.9
Expedite Fee
A User may request that the Exchange
expedite the completion of co-location
services purchased or ordered by the
User. The Exchange proposes to charge
Users $4,000 for expedited completion
of co-location services.
Power Not Utilized Cabinet
A User may obtain unused cabinet
space that the User intends to employ in
the future in proximity to the User’s
existing cabinet space. The Exchange
proposes to charge a fee for this cabinet
space, in which the power is not
utilized, of $360 per month.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
III. Discussion and Commission’s
Findings
After careful review, the Commission
finds that the proposed rule change is
consistent with the requirements of the
Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder applicable to a national
securities exchange.10 In particular, the
Commission finds that the proposed
rule change is consistent with Section
6(b)(4) of the Act,11 which requires that
the rules of a national securities
exchange provide for the equitable
allocation of reasonable dues, fees and
other charges among its members and
issuers and other persons using its
facilities, and with Section 6(b)(5) of the
Act,12 which requires, among other
things, that the rules of a national
securities exchange be 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, and
not be designed to permit unfair
discrimination between customers,
issuers, brokers, or dealers.
In offering co-location services, the
Exchange incurs certain costs, including
costs related to the data center facility,
hardware and equipment costs, and
costs related to personnel required for
installation and ongoing support. The
Exchange has represented that the fees
charged are designed to defray expenses
incurred or resources expended by the
Exchange.13 For example, the Exchange
9 If
a User orders two or more services at one time,
the User would be charged a one-time Change Fee
of $950, which would cover the multiple services.
10 In approving this proposed rule change, the
Commission notes that it has considered the
proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition,
and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
11 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
12 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
13 See Notice supra note 3.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:53 Aug 21, 2012
Jkt 226001
proposes to charge the same $500
connection fee for installing either a
single cross connect or a bundled cross
connect because the cost to the
Exchange is generally equivalent. With
regard to the cages offered by the
Exchange, the initial and monthly cost
increases in correlation to the size of the
cage and how many cabinets it needs to
contain because its size represents the
opportunity cost of not using that space
to sell additional cabinets, or for other
Exchange purposes. In a similar vein,
the expedite fee proposed corresponds
to the additional Exchange resources
needed to expedite customer requests,
including the potential need for
overtime compensation for data center
staff. Respecting LCN CSP connections,
the Exchange charges the same initial
fee as for a standard LCN connection
since the connection is physically the
same, but the monthly fee is lower
because LCN CSP connections are
functionally limited in comparison to
the standard LCN connection.14
Additionally, the Exchange represents
that there is no differentiation among
Users regarding the fees charged for a
particular product, service or piece of
equipment. In light of the Exchange’s
representations, the Commission
believes that the co-location fees
proposed are consistent with Section
6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Exchange Act.
The Exchange is offering additional
co-location services as a convenience to
Users. For instance, the cross connects
and LCN CSP connections provide
Users within the data center with
another alternative to transmit data or
provide services, such as order routing
or market data delivery services. The
cages offered to Users can help prevent
the discovery of the hardware employed
by Users for co-location. As noted by the
Exchange, these additional co-location
services are available to all Users on an
equal basis. The Commission believes
that these additional services are also
consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the
Exchange Act, as they are designed to
remove impediments to and perfect the
mechanism of a free and open market
and are not designed to permit unfair
discrimination between customers,
issuers, brokers or dealers.
IV. Conclusion
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to
Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,15 that the
proposed rule change (SR–NYSEMKT–
2012–10) be, and it hereby is, approved.
14 A LCN CSP connection may only be used for
providing services to Subscribing Users and may
not be used for other purposes, such as accessing
the Exchange.
15 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
PO 00000
Frm 00061
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.16
Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012–20567 Filed 8–21–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–67665; File No. SR–
NYSEMKT–2012–11]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
MKT LLC; Order Approving a
Proposed Rule Change Amending the
NYSE Amex Options Fee Schedule To
Provide for Additional Co-location
Services and Establish Related Fees
August 15, 2012.
I. Introduction
On June 13, 2012, NYSE MKT LLC
(‘‘NYSE MKT’’ or the ‘‘Exchange’’) filed
with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant
to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule
19b–4 thereunder,2 a proposed rule
change to amend the NYSE Amex
Options Fee Schedule to provide for
additional co-location services and
establish related fees. The proposed rule
change was published for comment in
the Federal Register on July 2, 2012.3
The Commission received no comments
on the proposal. This order approves the
proposed rule change.
II. Description of the Proposed Rule
Change
The Exchange provides co-location
services to Users from a data center in
Mahwah, New Jersey.4 The Exchange’s
co-location services allow Users to rent
space in the data center so that they may
locate their electronic servers in close
physical proximity to the Exchange’s
trading and execution system.5 The
Exchange proposes to make multiple
changes to provide for additional co16 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67260
(June 26, 2012), 77 FR 39288 (‘‘Notice’’).
4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63274
(November 8, 2010), 75 FR 69722 (November 15,
2010) (SR–NYSEAmex–2010–101).
5 For purposes of its co-location services, the term
‘‘User’’ includes (i) ‘‘ATP Holders,’’ as that term is
defined in Rule 900.2NY(5); (ii) Sponsored
Participants, as that term is defined in Rule
900.2NY(77); and (iii) non-ATP Holder brokerdealers and vendors that request to receive colocation services directly from the Exchange. See
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 65975
(December 15, 2011), 76 FR 79233 (December 21,
2011) (SR–NYSEAmex–2011–82).
1 15
E:\FR\FM\22AUN1.SGM
22AUN1
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 163 / Wednesday, August 22, 2012 / Notices
location services and establish related
fees.
Cabinet Cross Connects
Currently the Exchange allows Users
with more than one cabinet within the
data center to purchase one or more
fiber cross connects between its
cabinets. The Exchange proposes that
each User be permitted to purchase
cross connects between its own
cabinets, as is currently permitted, as
well as between its cabinet(s) and the
cabinets of separate Users within the
data center.6 A cross connect between
Users could be requested in order to
receive technical support, order routing
and/or market data delivery services
from another User. In addition, the
Exchange proposes to bundle cross
connects such that a single sheath can
hold either one cross connect or several
cross connects in multiples of six (e.g.,
six, twelve, eighteen or twenty-four
cross connects). The Exchange proposes
to charge a $500 initial fee for either
single or bundled cross connects and a
monthly charge contingent upon the
number of cross connects established.7
10 Gb LCN Connections
Users are currently able to purchase
access to the Exchange’s Liquidity
Center Network (‘‘LCN’’), a local area
network available in the data center, in
either one or ten gigabit (‘‘Gb’’)
capacities, for which Users incur an
initial and monthly fee per connection.
The Exchange proposes that a User that
purchases five 10 Gb LCN connections
would only be charged the initial fee for
a sixth 10 Gb LCN connection and
would not be charged the monthly fee
that would otherwise be applicable.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
LCN CSP Connections
A User may act as a content service
provider (a ‘‘CSP User’’) and deliver
services to another User in the data
center (a ‘‘Subscribing User’’), such as
order routing or market data delivery
services. The services can be provided
either via direct cross connect between
the CSP User and Subscribing Users; or
in addition, CSP Users can send data to,
and communicate with, all their
properly authorized Subscribing Users
at once, via a dedicated LCN Connection
6 The Exchange notes that only the User
requesting the cross connect would be charged the
related initial and monthly fees; the counterparty
User would simply be required to give permission
for the cross connection.
7 The Exchange proposes to charge $500 monthly
to furnish and install one cross connect between
cabinets. For a bundle of six cross connects, the
monthly charge would be $1,500; 12 cross connects
would be $2,500 per month; 18 cross connects
would be $3,200 per month; and 24 cross connects
would be $3,900 per month.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:53 Aug 21, 2012
Jkt 226001
(an ‘‘LCN CSP’’ connection). The
Exchange proposes an initial connection
fee for CSP Users establishing a LCN
CSP connection as well as a monthly
charge depending on whether the
connection is a 1 or 10 Gb circuit. The
Subscribing User receives the services
via its standard LCN connection and is
charged an initial and monthly fee that
reflects the benefit of receiving services
in this manner.8
Cages
A User may purchase a cage to house
its cabinets within the data center. The
Exchange charges fees for cages based
on the size of the cage, which
corresponds to the number of cabinets
housed therein. The Exchange is
proposing the following fees for cages:
• For 1–14 cabinets, a $5,000 initial
charge plus $2,700 monthly charge;
• For 15–28 cabinets, a $10,000 initial
charge plus $4,100 monthly charge; and
• For 29 cabinets or more, a $15,000
initial charge plus $5,500 monthly
charge.
Change Fee
A User may arrange for the Exchange
to reconfigure, modify, or otherwise
change a co-location service that the
Exchange has already established for the
User. The Exchange proposes to charge
a User a fee of $950 per order if the User
requests a change to one or more
existing co-location services.9
Expedite Fee
A User may request that the Exchange
expedite the completion of co-location
services purchased or ordered by the
User. The Exchange proposes to charge
Users $4,000 for expedited completion
of co-location services.
Power Not Utilized Cabinet
A User may obtain unused cabinet
space that the User intends to employ in
the future in proximity to the User’s
existing cabinet space. The Exchange
proposes to charge a fee for this cabinet
space, in which the power is not
utilized, of $360 per month.
III. Discussion and Commission’s
Findings
After careful review, the Commission
finds that the proposed rule change is
consistent with the requirements of the
8 For a CSP User, a 1Gb Circuit for a LCN CSP
connection has a $6,000 connection charge plus a
$500 monthly fee. A 10Gb Circuit for a LCN CSP
connection has a $10,000 initial connection charge
plus a $5,000 monthly fee. A CSP Subscriber has
an initial charge of $950 plus a $300 monthly fee
per LCN CSP.
9 If a User orders two or more services at one time,
the User would be charged a one-time Change Fee
of $950, which would cover the multiple services.
PO 00000
Frm 00062
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
50735
Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder applicable to a national
securities exchange.10 In particular, the
Commission finds that the proposed
rule change is consistent with Section
6(b)(4) of the Act,11 which requires that
the rules of a national securities
exchange provide for the equitable
allocation of reasonable dues, fees and
other charges among its members and
issuers and other persons using its
facilities, and with Section 6(b)(5) of the
Act,12 which requires, among other
things, that the rules of a national
securities exchange be 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, and
not be designed to permit unfair
discrimination between customers,
issuers, brokers, or dealers.
In offering co-location services, the
Exchange incurs certain costs, including
costs related to the data center facility,
hardware and equipment costs, and
costs related to personnel required for
installation and ongoing support. The
Exchange has represented that the fees
charged are designed to defray expenses
incurred or resources expended by the
Exchange.13 For example, the Exchange
proposes to charge the same $500
connection fee for installing either a
single cross connect or a bundled cross
connect because the cost to the
Exchange is generally equivalent. With
regard to the cages offered by the
Exchange, the initial and monthly cost
increases in correlation to the size of the
cage and how many cabinets it needs to
contain because its size represents the
opportunity cost of not using that space
to sell additional cabinets, or for other
Exchange purposes. In a similar vein,
the expedite fee proposed corresponds
to the additional Exchange resources
needed to expedite customer requests,
including the potential need for
overtime compensation for data center
staff. Respecting LCN CSP connections,
the Exchange charges the same initial
fee as for a standard LCN connection
since the connection is physically the
same, but the monthly fee is lower
because LCN CSP connections are
functionally limited in comparison to
10 In approving this proposed rule change, the
Commission notes that it has considered the
proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition,
and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
11 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
12 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
13 See Notice supra note 3.
E:\FR\FM\22AUN1.SGM
22AUN1
50736
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 163 / Wednesday, August 22, 2012 / Notices
the standard LCN connection.14
Additionally, the Exchange represents
that there is no differentiation among
Users regarding the fees charged for a
particular product, service or piece of
equipment. In light of the Exchange’s
representations, the Commission
believes that the co-location fees
proposed are consistent with Section
6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Exchange Act.
The Exchange is offering additional
co-location services as a convenience to
Users. For instance, the cross connects
and LCN CSP connections provide
Users within the data center with
another alternative to transmit data or
provide services, such as order routing
or market data delivery services. The
cages offered to Users can help prevent
the discovery of the hardware employed
by Users for co-location. As noted by the
Exchange, these additional co-location
services are available to all Users on an
equal basis. The Commission believes
that these additional services are also
consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the
Exchange Act, as they are designed to
remove impediments to and perfect the
mechanism of a free and open market
and are not designed to permit unfair
discrimination between customers,
issuers, brokers or dealers.
IV. Conclusion
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to
Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,15 that the
proposed rule change (SR–NYSEMKT–
2012–11) be, and it hereby is, approved.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.16
Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012–20568 Filed 8–21–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–67673; File No. SR–NSCC–
2012–06]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
National Securities Clearing
Corporation; Notice of Filing of
Proposed Rule Change To Enhance
the Default Pricing Methodology Used
by NSCC’s Automated Customer
Account Transfer Service
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission,
NSCC included statements concerning
the purpose and basis for the proposed
rule change and discussed any
comments it received on the proposed
rule change. The text of these statements
and comments may be examined at the
places specified in Item IV below. NSCC
has prepared summaries, set forth in
sections A, B, and C below, of the most
significant aspects of these statements.3
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Background
ACATS enables NSCC Members to
effect automated transfers of customer
accounts among themselves.4 Pursuant
to Rule 50, an NSCC Member to whom
a customer’s full account will be
transferred (‘‘Receiving Member’’) will
initiate the transfer by submitting to
NSCC a transfer initiation request,
which contains the customer detail
information that the NSCC Member in
possession of the account (‘‘Delivering
Member’’) requires in order to transfer
14 A LCN CSP connection may only be used for
providing services to Subscribing Users and may
not be used for other purposes, such as accessing
the Exchange.
15 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
16 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
Jkt 226001
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
3 The Commission has modified the text of the
summaries provided by NSCC.
4 ACATS complements Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority (‘‘FINRA’’) Rule 11870
regarding Customer Account Transfers, which
requires FINRA members to use automated clearing
agency customer account transfer services, and to
effect customer account transfers within specified
time frames.
2 17
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
16:53 Aug 21, 2012
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The proposed rule change involves
Rule 50 of NSCC’s Rules and
Procedures. NSCC proposes to amend
this rule to eliminate the use of a default
pricing matrix to assign values to certain
items transferred through NSCC’s
Automated Customer Account Transfer
Service (‘‘ACATS’’).
1 15
August 15, 2012.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
(‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that, on August
7, 2012, the National Securities Clearing
Corporation (‘‘NSCC’’) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
change described in Items I, II and III
below, which Items have been prepared
primarily by NSCC. The Commission is
publishing this Notice to solicit
comments on the proposed rule change
from interested persons.
PO 00000
Frm 00063
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
the account. Delivering Members that
have neither rejected the account
transfer request nor sought corrections
to the request within the allotted time
must submit to NSCC certain detailed
customer account asset data.
For items transferred through ACATS
that are not eligible to be processed
through NSCC’s Continuous Net
Settlement (‘‘CNS’’) system 5 (and for
CNS-eligible items that are designated to
be delivered ex-CNS), NSCC will
produce ACATS Receive and Deliver
Instructions. These ACATS transfers
then settle either outside of NSCC or
through a separate service at NSCC.6 In
order to incentivize the timely
completion of ACATS transfers, at the
start of the day on ACATS settlement
date, the Delivering Member’s NSCC
money settlement account will include
a debit, or an incentive charge
(‘‘Incentive Charge’’), equal to the
aggregate market value of the items the
Delivering Member is transferring
through ACATS; the Receiving
Member’s NSCC money settlement
account includes a credit in the same
amount.7 Once delivery of an item is
complete, the Incentive Charge
associated with that item is effectively
offset when the Receiving Member pays
the Delivering Member for the
transferred items. This Incentive Charge
is intended to encourage the Delivering
Member to make delivery of the item in
a timely manner.8
Each item transferred through ACATS
must be assigned a market value in
order to calculate the Incentive Charge.
CNS-eligible items being transferred
through ACATS are assigned a market
5 CNS is an ongoing accounting system that nets
today’s Settling Trades with yesterday’s Closing
Positions, producing net short or long positions per
security issue for each Member. NSCC is always
contraside for all positions. The positions are then
passed against the Member’s Designated Depository
positions and available securities are allocated by
book entry. This allocation of securities is
accomplished through an evening cycle followed by
a day cycle. Positions that remain open after the
evening cycle may be changed as a result of trades
accepted for settlement that day. To allocate
deliveries in both the night and day cycles, CNS
uses an algorithm based on priority groups in
descending order, age of position within a priority
group, and random numbers within age groups.
6 For example, non-CNS ACATS may settle at (i)
The Depository Trust Company (‘‘DTC’’), for DTCeligible items; (ii) NSCC’s automated ACATS-Fund/
SERV interface, for eligible mutual fund assets; (iii)
NSCC’s ACATS–IPS interface, for eligible annuities;
and (iv) the Options Clearing Corporation, where
transfers in customer-options positions take place,
for options.
7 Incentive Charges are not calculated for the
transfer of options or annuities.
8 It also allows the Receiving Member to record
the customer position on its books, regardless
whether the item is actually delivered on settlement
date. This process supports the requirements of
FINRA Rule 11870.
E:\FR\FM\22AUN1.SGM
22AUN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 22, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50734-50736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20568]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-67665; File No. SR-NYSEMKT-2012-11]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE MKT LLC; Order Approving a
Proposed Rule Change Amending the NYSE Amex Options Fee Schedule To
Provide for Additional Co-location Services and Establish Related Fees
August 15, 2012.
I. Introduction
On June 13, 2012, NYSE MKT LLC (``NYSE MKT'' or the ``Exchange'')
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission''),
pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ a proposed rule change to
amend the NYSE Amex Options Fee Schedule to provide for additional co-
location services and establish related fees. The proposed rule change
was published for comment in the Federal Register on July 2, 2012.\3\
The Commission received no comments on the proposal. This order
approves the proposed rule change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
\3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67260 (June 26,
2012), 77 FR 39288 (``Notice'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. Description of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange provides co-location services to Users from a data
center in Mahwah, New Jersey.\4\ The Exchange's co-location services
allow Users to rent space in the data center so that they may locate
their electronic servers in close physical proximity to the Exchange's
trading and execution system.\5\ The Exchange proposes to make multiple
changes to provide for additional co-
[[Page 50735]]
location services and establish related fees.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63274 (November 8,
2010), 75 FR 69722 (November 15, 2010) (SR-NYSEAmex-2010-101).
\5\ For purposes of its co-location services, the term ``User''
includes (i) ``ATP Holders,'' as that term is defined in Rule
900.2NY(5); (ii) Sponsored Participants, as that term is defined in
Rule 900.2NY(77); and (iii) non-ATP Holder broker-dealers and
vendors that request to receive co-location services directly from
the Exchange. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 65975
(December 15, 2011), 76 FR 79233 (December 21, 2011) (SR-NYSEAmex-
2011-82).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cabinet Cross Connects
Currently the Exchange allows Users with more than one cabinet
within the data center to purchase one or more fiber cross connects
between its cabinets. The Exchange proposes that each User be permitted
to purchase cross connects between its own cabinets, as is currently
permitted, as well as between its cabinet(s) and the cabinets of
separate Users within the data center.\6\ A cross connect between Users
could be requested in order to receive technical support, order routing
and/or market data delivery services from another User. In addition,
the Exchange proposes to bundle cross connects such that a single
sheath can hold either one cross connect or several cross connects in
multiples of six (e.g., six, twelve, eighteen or twenty-four cross
connects). The Exchange proposes to charge a $500 initial fee for
either single or bundled cross connects and a monthly charge contingent
upon the number of cross connects established.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ The Exchange notes that only the User requesting the cross
connect would be charged the related initial and monthly fees; the
counterparty User would simply be required to give permission for
the cross connection.
\7\ The Exchange proposes to charge $500 monthly to furnish and
install one cross connect between cabinets. For a bundle of six
cross connects, the monthly charge would be $1,500; 12 cross
connects would be $2,500 per month; 18 cross connects would be
$3,200 per month; and 24 cross connects would be $3,900 per month.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 Gb LCN Connections
Users are currently able to purchase access to the Exchange's
Liquidity Center Network (``LCN''), a local area network available in
the data center, in either one or ten gigabit (``Gb'') capacities, for
which Users incur an initial and monthly fee per connection. The
Exchange proposes that a User that purchases five 10 Gb LCN connections
would only be charged the initial fee for a sixth 10 Gb LCN connection
and would not be charged the monthly fee that would otherwise be
applicable.
LCN CSP Connections
A User may act as a content service provider (a ``CSP User'') and
deliver services to another User in the data center (a ``Subscribing
User''), such as order routing or market data delivery services. The
services can be provided either via direct cross connect between the
CSP User and Subscribing Users; or in addition, CSP Users can send data
to, and communicate with, all their properly authorized Subscribing
Users at once, via a dedicated LCN Connection (an ``LCN CSP''
connection). The Exchange proposes an initial connection fee for CSP
Users establishing a LCN CSP connection as well as a monthly charge
depending on whether the connection is a 1 or 10 Gb circuit. The
Subscribing User receives the services via its standard LCN connection
and is charged an initial and monthly fee that reflects the benefit of
receiving services in this manner.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ For a CSP User, a 1Gb Circuit for a LCN CSP connection has a
$6,000 connection charge plus a $500 monthly fee. A 10Gb Circuit for
a LCN CSP connection has a $10,000 initial connection charge plus a
$5,000 monthly fee. A CSP Subscriber has an initial charge of $950
plus a $300 monthly fee per LCN CSP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cages
A User may purchase a cage to house its cabinets within the data
center. The Exchange charges fees for cages based on the size of the
cage, which corresponds to the number of cabinets housed therein. The
Exchange is proposing the following fees for cages:
For 1-14 cabinets, a $5,000 initial charge plus $2,700
monthly charge;
For 15-28 cabinets, a $10,000 initial charge plus $4,100
monthly charge; and
For 29 cabinets or more, a $15,000 initial charge plus
$5,500 monthly charge.
Change Fee
A User may arrange for the Exchange to reconfigure, modify, or
otherwise change a co-location service that the Exchange has already
established for the User. The Exchange proposes to charge a User a fee
of $950 per order if the User requests a change to one or more existing
co-location services.\9\
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\9\ If a User orders two or more services at one time, the User
would be charged a one-time Change Fee of $950, which would cover
the multiple services.
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Expedite Fee
A User may request that the Exchange expedite the completion of co-
location services purchased or ordered by the User. The Exchange
proposes to charge Users $4,000 for expedited completion of co-location
services.
Power Not Utilized Cabinet
A User may obtain unused cabinet space that the User intends to
employ in the future in proximity to the User's existing cabinet space.
The Exchange proposes to charge a fee for this cabinet space, in which
the power is not utilized, of $360 per month.
III. Discussion and Commission's Findings
After careful review, the Commission finds that the proposed rule
change is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities
exchange.\10\ In particular, the Commission finds that the proposed
rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(4) of the Act,\11\ which
requires that the rules of a national securities exchange provide for
the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges
among its members and issuers and other persons using its facilities,
and with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\12\ which requires, among other
things, that the rules of a national securities exchange be 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, and not be designed to permit unfair discrimination between
customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
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\10\ In approving this proposed rule change, the Commission
notes that it has considered the proposed rule's impact on
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C.
78c(f).
\11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
\12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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In offering co-location services, the Exchange incurs certain
costs, including costs related to the data center facility, hardware
and equipment costs, and costs related to personnel required for
installation and ongoing support. The Exchange has represented that the
fees charged are designed to defray expenses incurred or resources
expended by the Exchange.\13\ For example, the Exchange proposes to
charge the same $500 connection fee for installing either a single
cross connect or a bundled cross connect because the cost to the
Exchange is generally equivalent. With regard to the cages offered by
the Exchange, the initial and monthly cost increases in correlation to
the size of the cage and how many cabinets it needs to contain because
its size represents the opportunity cost of not using that space to
sell additional cabinets, or for other Exchange purposes. In a similar
vein, the expedite fee proposed corresponds to the additional Exchange
resources needed to expedite customer requests, including the potential
need for overtime compensation for data center staff. Respecting LCN
CSP connections, the Exchange charges the same initial fee as for a
standard LCN connection since the connection is physically the same,
but the monthly fee is lower because LCN CSP connections are
functionally limited in comparison to
[[Page 50736]]
the standard LCN connection.\14\ Additionally, the Exchange represents
that there is no differentiation among Users regarding the fees charged
for a particular product, service or piece of equipment. In light of
the Exchange's representations, the Commission believes that the co-
location fees proposed are consistent with Section 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5)
of the Exchange Act.
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\13\ See Notice supra note 3.
\14\ A LCN CSP connection may only be used for providing
services to Subscribing Users and may not be used for other
purposes, such as accessing the Exchange.
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The Exchange is offering additional co-location services as a
convenience to Users. For instance, the cross connects and LCN CSP
connections provide Users within the data center with another
alternative to transmit data or provide services, such as order routing
or market data delivery services. The cages offered to Users can help
prevent the discovery of the hardware employed by Users for co-
location. As noted by the Exchange, these additional co-location
services are available to all Users on an equal basis. The Commission
believes that these additional services are also consistent with
Section 6(b)(5) of the Exchange Act, as they are designed to remove
impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and
are not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers,
issuers, brokers or dealers.
IV. Conclusion
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the
Act,\15\ that the proposed rule change (SR-NYSEMKT-2012-11) be, and it
hereby is, approved.
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\15\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\16\
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\16\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-20568 Filed 8-21-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P