Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Fees for Optional Wireless Connectivity for Co-located Clients, 56836-56838 [2014-22542]
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56836
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 184 / Tuesday, September 23, 2014 / Notices
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mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Dated: September 17, 2014.
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–73132; File No. SR–
NASDAQ–2014–092]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of
Proposed Rule Change To Amend
Fees for Optional Wireless
Connectivity for Co-located Clients
September 17, 2014.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on
September 4, 2014, The NASDAQ Stock
Market LLC (‘‘NASDAQ’’ or
‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
change as described in Items I, II, and
III below, which Items have been
prepared by the Exchange. The
Commission is publishing this notice to
solicit comments on the proposed rule
change from interested persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of the Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend fees
assessed clients for wireless
connectivity that enables clients to
receive data from the New York Stock
Exchange (‘‘NYSE’’) and NASDAQ.
Specifically, NASDAQ proposes to
amend fees assessed for wireless
connectivity for co-located clients in
NASDAQ’s Carteret data center to
receive NYSE, and NYSE ARCA multicast market data feeds. It also proposes
to amend fees assessed for remote multicast ITCH (‘‘MITCH’’) Wave Ports for
clients co-located at other third-party
data centers, through which NASDAQ
TotalView ITCH market data will be
distributed after delivery to those data
centers via wireless network. While the
proposed changes to the rules pursuant
to this proposal are effective upon filing,
the Exchange has designated that they
become operative on October 1, 2014.
The text of the proposed rule change is
available at https://
nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com, at the
Exchange’s principal office, 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
Exchange included statements
[FR Doc. 2014–22551 Filed 9–22–14; 8:45 am]
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U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
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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
Exchange 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 of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
NASDAQ is proposing to amend fees
assessed under NASDAQ Rule 7034 for
the delivery of third-party market data
to co-located clients in NASDAQ’s
Carteret data center clients via a
wireless network using millimeter wave
or microwave technology. NASDAQ is
also proposing to amend fees assessed
under NASDAQ Rule 7015 for remote
Multi-cast ITCH Wave Ports for clients
co-located at other third-party data
centers, through which NASDAQ
TotalView ITCH market data will be
distributed after delivery to those data
centers via wireless network.
Changes to NYSE Wireless Connectivity
NASDAQ offers optional wireless
connectivity to clients who had
requested such connectivity for other
markets’ data. NASDAQ uses network
vendors to supply wireless connectivity
from the Carteret, NJ data center to the
data centers of other exchanges.3 The
vendor installs, tests and maintains the
necessary communication equipment
for this wireless network between the
data centers. The wireless connectivity
is an optional alternative to fiber optic
network connectivity, providing lower
latency because the wireless signals
travel a straight, unimpeded line and
because light waves travel faster through
air than through glass (fiber optics).
Because wireless transmission of such
data requires an unimpeded line of sight
between Carteret and the data center of
the market to which it is connecting,
NASDAQ and its vendors incur costs
associated with maintaining hardware
and leasing towers on which its
microwave dishes and the associated
hardware are mounted, which generally
increase as distance between data
centers increase.4
3 NASDAQ OMX acts as re-distributor of these
third-party market data feeds, capturing the data at
the originating data centers and transporting the
data to the Carteret data center.
4 Because direct line of sight between Carteret and
the data centers of other exchanges is not possible,
NASDAQ’s vendors leases as many towers and
associated equipment as needed to ensure an
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 184 / Tuesday, September 23, 2014 / Notices
NASDAQ originally planned to create
wireless connections to a data center in
Newark used by NYSE as a SFTI
Network Point of Presence, which is
approximately 15 miles from
NASDAQ’s Carteret data center. In 2013,
NYSE began to allow wireless vendors
and telco vendors to connect directly to
its data center in Mahwah, NJ,5 which
is approximately 40 miles from Carteret.
Because the wireless data feeds are
designed to offer high-speed and low
latency,6 NASDAQ determined to direct
its wireless vendors to connect to the
Mahwah data center instead of the
Newark SFTI Point of Presence. As a
consequence, NASDAQ is proposing to
increase the fees assessed under Rules
7015(d) [sic] and 7034(b) relating to
connectivity to data received wirelessly
to and from Mahwah, which will help
offset greater costs incurred in leasing
towers, and purchasing and maintaining
wireless equipment to cover the
increased distance as well as the higher
costs to house equipment and
connections within the Mahwah data
center.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Wireless Connectivity in Carteret
Under Rule 7034(b), clients are
assessed a $2,500 installation fee (a nonrecurring charge) and a monthly
recurring charge (‘‘MRC’’) that varies
depending upon the feed. The MRC for
the NYSE multi-cast equities data feed,
which includes NYSE ArcaBook
Highspeed and NYSE OpenBook
(Aggregated or Ultra), is $10,000; the
MRC for BATS Multicast PITCH, which
includes BZX and BYX, is $7,500; and
the MRC for Direct Edge Depth of Book
multi-cast feed, which includes EDGA
and EDGX, is $7,500. The rates are
higher for the NYSE feeds because the
two feeds are larger, and take up more
bandwidth than the BATS and Direct
Edge feeds.
Recently, NYSE announced that it is
phasing out its ArcaBook High Speed
data feed,7 leaving the Arca Integrated
data feed, which is a low-latency
alternative to ArcaBook High Speed
data,8 as the primary and popular data
feed for Arca. Arca Integrated data feed
has greater data bandwidth
unbroken line of sight between individual towers,
repeating the signal until it arrives at its
destination.
5 See https://www1.nyse.com/press/
1337855269042.html.
6 Wireless connectivity is an optional alternative
to higher latency fiber optic network connectivity.
7 See https://www.nyxdata.com/nysedata/
default.aspx?tabid=993&id=2338.
8 NYSE describes the Arca Integrated feed as a
real time data feed that provides a ‘‘unified view of
events, in sequence as they appear on the NYSE
Arca matching engine.’’ See https://
www.nyxdata.com/page/1084.
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requirements than the ArcaBook High
Speed data feed and, as a consequence,
NASDAQ can no longer offer both the
NYSE and Arca feeds through a single
wireless connection. Accordingly,
NASDAQ is proposing to offer
separately NYSE Open Book 9 and Arca
Integrated data feeds.
NASDAQ is also proposing to
increase the fee assessed for wireless
connectivity to the NYSE and Arca
feeds. As noted above, NASDAQ
currently assesses a one-time
installation fee of $2,500, and an MRC
of $10,000 for wireless connectivity to
the NYSE and Arca data feeds under
Rule 7034(d) [sic]. NASDAQ is
proposing to assess an installation fee of
$5,000 and a monthly subscription fee
of $12,500. NASDAQ notes that the
proposed new fees are greater than the
fee currently assessed for the Open Book
Ultra and ArcaBook High Speed data
feeds due to the greater bandwidth
requirements and increased costs
associated with connectivity to the
Mahwah data center.
Remote Multi-cast ITCH (MITCH) Wave
Ports
NASDAQ is also proposing to
increase the fees currently assessed for
MITCH Wave Ports for clients
connecting to the NYSE Mahwah data
center. NASDAQ currently assesses an
installation charge for the remote port,
at each of the data center locations, of
$2,500 for installation, and $7,500 as an
MRC.10 Each of the data centers that a
client may subscribe to is approximately
the same distance from the Carteret data
center, including NYSE’s Newark STFI
Point of Presence. As discussed above,
NASDAQ will be providing a direct
connection to NYSE’s data center in
Mahwah, which is significantly farther
from Carteret. NASDAQ incurs higher
costs for housing its equipment at
Mahwah, including higher fees for
power, cabinets and connections.
Moreover and as noted above, the
Exchange and its vendors incur higher
costs in leasing towers and equipment
to connect Carteret to Mahwah. As a
consequence, NASDAQ is proposing to
increase the one-time installation charge
to $5,000, and the MRC to $12,500.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that its
proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)
of the Act 11 in general, and with
9 The Exchange notes that NYSE has renamed its
Ultrabook data feed.
10 Clients opting to pay for the remote MITCH
Wave Ports will continue to be fee liable for the
applicable market data fees as described in
NASDAQ Rules 7019, 7023, and 7026.
11 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
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56837
Sections 6(b)(4) and (b)(5) of the Act,12
in particular, in that it provides for the
equitable allocation of reasonable dues,
fees and other charges among members
and issuers and other persons using any
facility or system which the Exchange
operates or controls, and 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.
The Exchange operates in a highly
competitive market in which exchanges
offer co-location services as a means to
facilitate the trading activities of those
members who believe that co-location
enhances the efficiency of their trading.
Accordingly, fees charged for colocation services are constrained by the
active competition for the order flow of
such members. If a particular exchange
charges excessive fees for co-location
services, affected members will opt to
terminate their co-location arrangements
with that exchange, and adopt a
possible range of alternative strategies,
including co-locating with a different
exchange, placing their servers in a
physically proximate location outside
the exchange’s data center, or pursuing
trading strategies not dependent upon
co-location. Accordingly, the exchange
charging excessive fees would stand to
lose not only co-location revenues but
also revenues associated with the
execution of orders routed to it by
affected members.
Moreover, the Exchange believes the
proposed increased fees are reasonable
because they are based on the
Exchange’s increased costs incurred in
connecting to Mahwah. As discussed,
the greater distance between Carteret
and Mahwah results in greater costs
incurred by the Exchange and its
vendors, and the Exchange is assessed
higher charges for housing its
equipment at Mahwah as compared to
Newark. The proposed fees allow the
Exchange to recoup these costs and
make a profit, while providing clients
the ability to reduce latency in the
transmission of data by connecting
directly to NYSE’s data center
wirelessly.
The Exchange believes the proposed
increased fees are equitably allocated in
that all clients that voluntarily select
connect to, and receive data from, NYSE
through these services are charged the
same amount for the same services.
Although the proposed fees are higher
than the fees charged for connectivity to
other exchanges’ data centers, they are
reflective of the increased costs
12 15
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U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
23SEN1
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 184 / Tuesday, September 23, 2014 / Notices
associated with connecting to the
Mahwah data center. Accordingly, the
increased fees are allocated equitably on
those that receive the benefit of the
connectivity.
The Exchange’s proposal is also
consistent with the requirement of
Section 6(b)(5) of the Act that Exchange
rules be designed to promote just and
equitable principles of trade to prevent
fraudulent and manipulative acts and
practices, to promote just and equitable
principles of trade, to foster cooperation
and coordination with persons engaged
in regulating, clearing, settling,
processing information with respect to,
and 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; and
are not designed to permit unfair
discrimination between clients, issuers,
brokers, or dealers. The proposal is
consistent with these requirements
because it provides an optional
connectivity, which promotes lowlatency transfer of data to market
participants. As is true of all co-location
services, all co-located clients have the
option to select this voluntary
connectivity option, and there is no
differentiation among clients with
regard to the fees charged for the
wireless connectivity to, and wirelesslyreceived data from Mahwah.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
NASDAQ 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, as amended.
To the contrary, this proposal will
promote competition for distribution of
market data by offering an optional
direct connection to the NYSE data
center, which will improve the latency
of the connection currently available
through NYSE’s STFI Point of Presence
in Newark. As discussed above, the
Exchange believes that fees for colocation services, including those
proposed for microwave connectivity,
are constrained by the robust
competition for order flow among
exchanges and non-exchange markets,
because co-location exists to advance
that competition. Further, excessive fees
for co-location services, including for
wireless technology, would serve to
impair an exchange’s ability to compete
for order flow rather than burdening
competition.
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17:55 Sep 22, 2014
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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
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of
the Act,13 the Exchange has designated
this proposal as establishing or changing
a due, fee, or other charge imposed by
the self-regulatory organization on any
person, whether or not the person is a
member of the self-regulatory
organization, which renders the
proposed rule change effective upon
filing.
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
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 (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@
sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
NASDAQ–2014–092 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–NASDAQ–2014–092. 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 (https://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–
NASDAQ–2014–092, and should be
submitted on or before October 14,
2014.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.14
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014–22542 Filed 9–22–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–73126; File No. SR–Phlx–
2014–60]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of
Proposed Rule Change To Amend the
Exchange’s Pricing Schedule Under
Section VIII With Respect To Execution
and Routing of Orders in Securities
Priced at $1 or More Per Share
September 17, 2014.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on
September 5, 2014, NASDAQ OMX
PHLX LLC (‘‘Phlx’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed
with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’)
the proposed rule change as described
in Items I, II, and III, below, which Items
have been prepared by the Exchange.
The Commission is publishing this
14 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
1 15
13 15
PO 00000
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 184 (Tuesday, September 23, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56836-56838]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-22542]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-73132; File No. SR-NASDAQ-2014-092]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC;
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To
Amend Fees for Optional Wireless Connectivity for Co-located Clients
September 17, 2014.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that
on September 4, 2014, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (``NASDAQ'' or
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II,
and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. 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\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of the
Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend fees assessed clients for wireless
connectivity that enables clients to receive data from the New York
Stock Exchange (``NYSE'') and NASDAQ. Specifically, NASDAQ proposes to
amend fees assessed for wireless connectivity for co-located clients in
NASDAQ's Carteret data center to receive NYSE, and NYSE ARCA multi-cast
market data feeds. It also proposes to amend fees assessed for remote
multi-cast ITCH (``MITCH'') Wave Ports for clients co-located at other
third-party data centers, through which NASDAQ TotalView ITCH market
data will be distributed after delivery to those data centers via
wireless network. While the proposed changes to the rules pursuant to
this proposal are effective upon filing, the Exchange has designated
that they become operative on October 1, 2014. The text of the proposed
rule change is available at https://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com, at the
Exchange's principal office, 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 Exchange 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 Exchange 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 of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
NASDAQ is proposing to amend fees assessed under NASDAQ Rule 7034
for the delivery of third-party market data to co-located clients in
NASDAQ's Carteret data center clients via a wireless network using
millimeter wave or microwave technology. NASDAQ is also proposing to
amend fees assessed under NASDAQ Rule 7015 for remote Multi-cast ITCH
Wave Ports for clients co-located at other third-party data centers,
through which NASDAQ TotalView ITCH market data will be distributed
after delivery to those data centers via wireless network.
Changes to NYSE Wireless Connectivity
NASDAQ offers optional wireless connectivity to clients who had
requested such connectivity for other markets' data. NASDAQ uses
network vendors to supply wireless connectivity from the Carteret, NJ
data center to the data centers of other exchanges.\3\ The vendor
installs, tests and maintains the necessary communication equipment for
this wireless network between the data centers. The wireless
connectivity is an optional alternative to fiber optic network
connectivity, providing lower latency because the wireless signals
travel a straight, unimpeded line and because light waves travel faster
through air than through glass (fiber optics). Because wireless
transmission of such data requires an unimpeded line of sight between
Carteret and the data center of the market to which it is connecting,
NASDAQ and its vendors incur costs associated with maintaining hardware
and leasing towers on which its microwave dishes and the associated
hardware are mounted, which generally increase as distance between data
centers increase.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ NASDAQ OMX acts as re-distributor of these third-party
market data feeds, capturing the data at the originating data
centers and transporting the data to the Carteret data center.
\4\ Because direct line of sight between Carteret and the data
centers of other exchanges is not possible, NASDAQ's vendors leases
as many towers and associated equipment as needed to ensure an
unbroken line of sight between individual towers, repeating the
signal until it arrives at its destination.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 56837]]
NASDAQ originally planned to create wireless connections to a data
center in Newark used by NYSE as a SFTI Network Point of Presence,
which is approximately 15 miles from NASDAQ's Carteret data center. In
2013, NYSE began to allow wireless vendors and telco vendors to connect
directly to its data center in Mahwah, NJ,\5\ which is approximately 40
miles from Carteret. Because the wireless data feeds are designed to
offer high-speed and low latency,\6\ NASDAQ determined to direct its
wireless vendors to connect to the Mahwah data center instead of the
Newark SFTI Point of Presence. As a consequence, NASDAQ is proposing to
increase the fees assessed under Rules 7015(d) [sic] and 7034(b)
relating to connectivity to data received wirelessly to and from
Mahwah, which will help offset greater costs incurred in leasing
towers, and purchasing and maintaining wireless equipment to cover the
increased distance as well as the higher costs to house equipment and
connections within the Mahwah data center.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ See https://www1.nyse.com/press/1337855269042.html.
\6\ Wireless connectivity is an optional alternative to higher
latency fiber optic network connectivity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wireless Connectivity in Carteret
Under Rule 7034(b), clients are assessed a $2,500 installation fee
(a non-recurring charge) and a monthly recurring charge (``MRC'') that
varies depending upon the feed. The MRC for the NYSE multi-cast
equities data feed, which includes NYSE ArcaBook Highspeed and NYSE
OpenBook (Aggregated or Ultra), is $10,000; the MRC for BATS Multicast
PITCH, which includes BZX and BYX, is $7,500; and the MRC for Direct
Edge Depth of Book multi-cast feed, which includes EDGA and EDGX, is
$7,500. The rates are higher for the NYSE feeds because the two feeds
are larger, and take up more bandwidth than the BATS and Direct Edge
feeds.
Recently, NYSE announced that it is phasing out its ArcaBook High
Speed data feed,\7\ leaving the Arca Integrated data feed, which is a
low-latency alternative to ArcaBook High Speed data,\8\ as the primary
and popular data feed for Arca. Arca Integrated data feed has greater
data bandwidth requirements than the ArcaBook High Speed data feed and,
as a consequence, NASDAQ can no longer offer both the NYSE and Arca
feeds through a single wireless connection. Accordingly, NASDAQ is
proposing to offer separately NYSE Open Book \9\ and Arca Integrated
data feeds.
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\7\ See https://www.nyxdata.com/nysedata/default.aspx?tabid=993&id=2338.
\8\ NYSE describes the Arca Integrated feed as a real time data
feed that provides a ``unified view of events, in sequence as they
appear on the NYSE Arca matching engine.'' See https://www.nyxdata.com/page/1084.
\9\ The Exchange notes that NYSE has renamed its Ultrabook data
feed.
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NASDAQ is also proposing to increase the fee assessed for wireless
connectivity to the NYSE and Arca feeds. As noted above, NASDAQ
currently assesses a one-time installation fee of $2,500, and an MRC of
$10,000 for wireless connectivity to the NYSE and Arca data feeds under
Rule 7034(d) [sic]. NASDAQ is proposing to assess an installation fee
of $5,000 and a monthly subscription fee of $12,500. NASDAQ notes that
the proposed new fees are greater than the fee currently assessed for
the Open Book Ultra and ArcaBook High Speed data feeds due to the
greater bandwidth requirements and increased costs associated with
connectivity to the Mahwah data center.
Remote Multi-cast ITCH (MITCH) Wave Ports
NASDAQ is also proposing to increase the fees currently assessed
for MITCH Wave Ports for clients connecting to the NYSE Mahwah data
center. NASDAQ currently assesses an installation charge for the remote
port, at each of the data center locations, of $2,500 for installation,
and $7,500 as an MRC.\10\ Each of the data centers that a client may
subscribe to is approximately the same distance from the Carteret data
center, including NYSE's Newark STFI Point of Presence. As discussed
above, NASDAQ will be providing a direct connection to NYSE's data
center in Mahwah, which is significantly farther from Carteret. NASDAQ
incurs higher costs for housing its equipment at Mahwah, including
higher fees for power, cabinets and connections. Moreover and as noted
above, the Exchange and its vendors incur higher costs in leasing
towers and equipment to connect Carteret to Mahwah. As a consequence,
NASDAQ is proposing to increase the one-time installation charge to
$5,000, and the MRC to $12,500.
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\10\ Clients opting to pay for the remote MITCH Wave Ports will
continue to be fee liable for the applicable market data fees as
described in NASDAQ Rules 7019, 7023, and 7026.
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2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section
6(b) of the Act \11\ in general, and with Sections 6(b)(4) and (b)(5)
of the Act,\12\ in particular, in that it provides for the equitable
allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among members and
issuers and other persons using any facility or system which the
Exchange operates or controls, and 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.
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\11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
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The Exchange operates in a highly competitive market in which
exchanges offer co-location services as a means to facilitate the
trading activities of those members who believe that co-location
enhances the efficiency of their trading. Accordingly, fees charged for
co-location services are constrained by the active competition for the
order flow of such members. If a particular exchange charges excessive
fees for co-location services, affected members will opt to terminate
their co-location arrangements with that exchange, and adopt a possible
range of alternative strategies, including co-locating with a different
exchange, placing their servers in a physically proximate location
outside the exchange's data center, or pursuing trading strategies not
dependent upon co-location. Accordingly, the exchange charging
excessive fees would stand to lose not only co-location revenues but
also revenues associated with the execution of orders routed to it by
affected members.
Moreover, the Exchange believes the proposed increased fees are
reasonable because they are based on the Exchange's increased costs
incurred in connecting to Mahwah. As discussed, the greater distance
between Carteret and Mahwah results in greater costs incurred by the
Exchange and its vendors, and the Exchange is assessed higher charges
for housing its equipment at Mahwah as compared to Newark. The proposed
fees allow the Exchange to recoup these costs and make a profit, while
providing clients the ability to reduce latency in the transmission of
data by connecting directly to NYSE's data center wirelessly.
The Exchange believes the proposed increased fees are equitably
allocated in that all clients that voluntarily select connect to, and
receive data from, NYSE through these services are charged the same
amount for the same services. Although the proposed fees are higher
than the fees charged for connectivity to other exchanges' data
centers, they are reflective of the increased costs
[[Page 56838]]
associated with connecting to the Mahwah data center. Accordingly, the
increased fees are allocated equitably on those that receive the
benefit of the connectivity.
The Exchange's proposal is also consistent with the requirement of
Section 6(b)(5) of the Act that Exchange rules be designed to promote
just and equitable principles of trade to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable
principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with
persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing
information with respect to, and 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; and are not designed to
permit unfair discrimination between clients, issuers, brokers, or
dealers. The proposal is consistent with these requirements because it
provides an optional connectivity, which promotes low-latency transfer
of data to market participants. As is true of all co-location services,
all co-located clients have the option to select this voluntary
connectivity option, and there is no differentiation among clients with
regard to the fees charged for the wireless connectivity to, and
wirelessly-received data from Mahwah.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
NASDAQ 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, as amended. To the contrary,
this proposal will promote competition for distribution of market data
by offering an optional direct connection to the NYSE data center,
which will improve the latency of the connection currently available
through NYSE's STFI Point of Presence in Newark. As discussed above,
the Exchange believes that fees for co-location services, including
those proposed for microwave connectivity, are constrained by the
robust competition for order flow among exchanges and non-exchange
markets, because co-location exists to advance that competition.
Further, excessive fees for co-location services, including for
wireless technology, would serve to impair an exchange's ability to
compete for order flow rather than burdening competition.
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
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act,\13\ the Exchange
has designated this proposal as establishing or changing a due, fee, or
other charge imposed by the self-regulatory organization on any person,
whether or not the person is a member of the self-regulatory
organization, which renders the proposed rule change effective upon
filing.
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\13\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
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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 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 (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include
File Number SR-NASDAQ-2014-092 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-NASDAQ-2014-092. 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 (https://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-NASDAQ-2014-
092, and should be submitted on or before October 14, 2014.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\14\
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\14\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-22542 Filed 9-22-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P