Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE American LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Provide Users With Access to Two Additional Third Party Systems and Connectivity to One Additional Third Party Data Feed, 5494-5499 [2018-02400]

Download as PDF 5494 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 7, 2018 / Notices single trading day and a GTD Time in Force, which commonly means ‘‘Good Til Date’’, but that would have to expire no later than the end of the trading day on which it was entered. As such, the proposed rule change would foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in securities and would remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system. (B) Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Burden on Competition The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed change is a minor update to an existing Time in Force, GTD, given the update to the Exchange’s technology that will allow orders to persist for more than one trading day. The Exchange does not believe that the proposed changes will have any direct impact on competition. Thus, the Exchange does not believe that the proposal creates any significant impact on competition. (C) Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others The Exchange has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit, comments on this proposed rule change. The Exchange has not received any written comments from members or other interested parties. III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action Because the foregoing 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 for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act 10 and subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b–4 thereunder.11 A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b–4(f)(6) 12 normally does not sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES 10 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii). CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b– 4(f)(6)(iii) requires the Exchange to give the Commission written notice of the Exchange’s intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The Exchange has satisfied this requirement. 12 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). 11 17 VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:17 Feb 06, 2018 Jkt 244001 become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the filing. However, Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii) 13 permits the Commission to designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the Exchange may, as soon as possible, implement the proposed rule change. The Exchange notes that the proposal will promote consistency between the GTC and GTD Times in Force offered by the Exchange. The Commission believes that waiver of the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. Accordingly, the Commission hereby waives the operative delay and designates the proposed rule change as operative upon filing.14 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: (i) Necessary or appropriate in the public interest; (ii) for the protection of investors; or (iii) 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– CboeEDGX–2018–003 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-CboeEDGX–2018–003. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the 13 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii). purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has also considered the proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f). 14 For PO 00000 Frm 00095 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission’s internet website (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 website 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 the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–CboeEDGX–2018–003 and should be submitted on or before February 28, 2018. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.15 Eduardo A. Aleman, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2018–02397 Filed 2–6–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–82618; File No. SR– NYSEAMER–2018–02] Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE American LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Provide Users With Access to Two Additional Third Party Systems and Connectivity to One Additional Third Party Data Feed February 1, 2018. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3 notice is hereby given that on January 15 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). U.S.C.78s(b)(1). 2 15 U.S.C. 78a. 3 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 1 15 E:\FR\FM\07FEN1.SGM 07FEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 7, 2018 / Notices 19, 2018, NYSE American LLC (‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE American’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II 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. I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange proposes to provide Users with access to two additional third party systems and connectivity to one additional third party data feed. In addition, the Exchange proposes to change its NYSE American Equities Price List (‘‘Price List’’) and the NYSE American Options Fee Schedule (‘‘Fee Schedule’’) related to these co-location services, and to update its Price List and Fee Schedule to eliminate obsolete text. The proposed rule change is available on the Exchange’s website 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 sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES 1. Purpose The Exchange proposes to amend the co-location 4 services offered by the Exchange to provide Users 5 with access 4 The Exchange initially filed rule changes relating to its co-location services with the Commission in 2010. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 62961 (September 21, 2010), 75 FR 59299 (September 27, 2010) (SR–NYSEAmex–2010– 80) (the ‘‘Original Co-location Filing’’). The Exchange operates a data center in Mahwah, New Jersey (the ‘‘data center’’) from which it provides co-location services to Users. 5 For purposes of the Exchange’s co-location services, a ‘‘User’’ means any market participant that requests to receive co-location services directly from the Exchange. See Securities Exchange Act VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:17 Feb 06, 2018 Jkt 244001 to two additional third party systems and connectivity to one additional third party data feed. In addition the Exchange proposes to make the corresponding changes to the Exchange’s Price List and Fee Schedule related to these co-location services, and to update its Price List and Fee Schedule to eliminate obsolete text. As set forth in the Price List and Fee Schedule, the Exchange charges fees for connectivity to the execution systems of third party markets and other content service providers (‘‘Third Party Systems’’), and data feeds from third party markets and other content service providers (‘‘Third Party Data Feeds’’).6 The lists of Third Party Systems and Third Party Data Feeds are set forth in the Price List and Fee Schedule. The Exchange now proposes to make the following changes: • Add two content service providers to the list of Third Party Systems: Miami International Securities Exchange and MIAX PEARL (together, the ‘‘Additional Third Party Systems’’ or ‘‘ATPS’’); and • add one feed to the list of Third Party Data Feeds: Miami International Securities Exchange/MIAX PEARL (the ‘‘Additional Third Party Data Feed’’ or ‘‘ATPD’’). The Exchange would provide access to the Additional Third Party Systems (‘‘Access’’) and connectivity to the Additional Third Party Data Feed (‘‘Connectivity’’) as conveniences to Users. Use of Access or Connectivity would be completely voluntary. The Exchange is not aware of any impediment to third parties offering Access or Connectivity. The Exchange does not have visibility into whether third parties currently offer, or intend to offer, Users access to the Additional Third Party Systems and connectivity to the Additional Third Party Data Feed, as such third parties are not required to make that information public. However, if one or more third parties presently offer, or in the future opt to offer, such Access and Connectivity to Users, a User may utilize the Secure Financial Transaction Infrastructure (‘‘SFTI’’) network, a third Release No. 76009 (September 29, 2015), 80 FR 60213 (October 5, 2015) (SR–NYSEMKT–2015–67). As specified in the Price List and Fee Schedule, a User that incurs co-location fees for a particular colocation service pursuant thereto would not be subject to co-location fees for the same co-location service charged by the Exchange’s affiliates New York Stock Exchange LLC (‘‘NYSE LLC’’) and NYSE Arca, Inc. (‘‘NYSE Arca’’ and, together with NYSE LLC, the ‘‘Affiliate SROs’’). See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 70176 (August 13, 2013), 78 FR 50471 (August 19, 2013) (SR–NYSEMKT–2013–67). 6 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 80309 (March 24, 2017), 82 FR 15725 (March 30, 2017) (SR–NYSEMKT–2016–63). PO 00000 Frm 00096 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 5495 party telecommunication network, third party wireless network, a cross connect, or a combination thereof to access such services and products through a connection to an access center outside the data center (which could be a SFTI access center, a third-party access center, or both), another User, or a third party vendor. The proposed rule change would become operative when the Additional Third Party Systems and the Additional Third Party Data Feed become available, which is expected to be no later than March 31, 2018. The Exchange will announce the dates that each Product is available through customer notices disseminated to all Users simultaneously. Connectivity to Additional Third Party Systems The Exchange proposes to revise the Price List and Fee Schedule to provide that Users may obtain connectivity to the two Additional Third Party Systems for a fee. As with the current Third Party Systems, Users would connect to the Additional Third Party Systems over the internet protocol (‘‘IP’’) network, a local area network available in the data center.7 As with the current Third Party Systems, in order to obtain access to an Additional Third Party System, the User would enter into an agreement with the relevant third party content service provider, pursuant to which the third party content service provider would charge the User for access to the Additional Third Party System. The Exchange would then establish a unicast connection between the User and the relevant third party content service provider over the IP network.8 The Exchange would charge the User for the connectivity to the Additional Third Party System. A User would only receive, and only be charged for, access to Additional Third Party Systems for which it enters into agreements with the third party content service provider. The Exchange has no ownership interest in the Additional Third Party Systems. Establishing a User’s access to an Additional Third Party System would not give the Exchange any right 7 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 74220 (February 6, 2015), 80 FR 7894 (February 12, 2015) (SR–NYSEMKT–2015–08) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness of proposed rule change to include IP network connections). 8 Information flows over existing network connections in two formats: ‘‘unicast’’ format, which is a format that allows one-to-one communication, similar to a phone line, in which information is sent to and from the Exchange; and ‘‘multicast’’ format, which is a format in which information is sent one-way from the Exchange to multiple recipients at once, like a radio broadcast. E:\FR\FM\07FEN1.SGM 07FEN1 5496 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 7, 2018 / Notices to use the Additional Third Party Systems. Connectivity to an Additional Third Party System would not provide access or order entry to the Exchange’s execution system, and a User’s connection to an Additional Third Party System would not be through the Exchange’s execution system. As with the existing connections to Third Party Systems, the Exchange proposes to charge a monthly recurring fee for connectivity to an Additional Third Party System. Specifically, when a User requests access to an Additional Third Party System, it would identify the applicable content service provider and what bandwidth connection it required. The Exchange proposes to modify its Price List and Fee Schedule to add the Additional Third Party Systems to its existing list of Third Party Systems. The additional items would be as follows: THIRD PARTY SYSTEMS Miami International MIAX PEARL. Securities Exchange The Exchange does not propose to change the monthly recurring fee the Exchange charges Users for unicast connectivity to each Third Party System, including the Additional Third Party Systems. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Connectivity to Additional Third Party Data Feed The Exchange proposes to revise the Price List and Fee Schedule to provide that Users may obtain connectivity to the Additional Third Party Data Feed for a fee. The Exchange would receive the Additional Third Party Data Feed from the content service provider, at its data center. It would then provide connectivity to that data to Users for a fee. Users would connect to the Additional Third Party Data Feed over the IP network.9 In order to connect to the Additional Third Party Data Feed, a User would enter into a contract with the content service provider, pursuant to which the content service provider would charge the User for the Third Party Data Feed. The Exchange would receive the Third Party Data Feed over its fiber optic network and, after the content service provider and User entered into the contract and the Exchange received authorization from the content service provider, the Exchange would retransmit the data to the User over the User’s port. The Exchange would charge 9 See supra note 7, at 7894 (‘‘The IP network also provides Users with access to away market data products’’). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:17 Feb 06, 2018 Jkt 244001 the User for the connectivity to the Additional Third Party Data Feed. A User would only receive, and would only be charged for, connectivity to the Additional Third Party Data Feed for which it entered into contracts. The Exchange has no affiliation with the seller of the Additional Third Party Data Feed. It would have no right to use the Additional Third Party Data Feed other than as a redistributor of the data. The Additional Third Party Data Feed would not provide access or order entry to the Exchange’s execution system. The Additional Third Party Data Feed would not provide access or order entry to the execution systems of the third parties generating the feed. The Exchange would receive the Additional Third Party Data Feed via arms-length agreements and it would have no inherent advantage over any other distributor of such data. As it does with the existing Third Party Data Feeds, the Exchange proposes to charge a monthly recurring fee for connectivity to the Additional Third Party Data Feed. Depending on its needs and bandwidth, a User may opt to receive all or some of the feeds or services included in the Additional Third Party Data Feed. The Exchange proposes to add the connectivity fees for the Additional Third Party Data to its existing list in the Price List and Fee Schedule. The additional item would be as follows: Compressed Derivatives is expected to be offered in place of Euronext no later than September 30, 2017, as such change has occurred, and remove Euronext as a Third Party Data Feed. This proposed change would have no impact on pricing. General As is the case with all Exchange colocation arrangements, (i) neither a User nor any of the User’s customers would be permitted to submit orders directly to the Exchange unless such User or customer is a member organization, a Sponsored Participant or an agent thereof (e.g., a service bureau providing order entry services); (ii) use of the colocation services proposed herein would be completely voluntary and available to all Users on a non-discriminatory basis; 11 and (iii) a User would only incur one charge for the particular colocation service described herein, regardless of whether the User connects only to the Exchange or to the Exchange and one or both the Affiliate SROs.12 The proposed change is not otherwise intended to address any other issues relating to co-location services and/or related fees, and the Exchange is not aware of any problems that Users would have in complying with the proposed change. 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes that the proposed fee change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,13 in general, and Monthly furthers the objectives of Sections recurring 6(b)(5) of the Act,14 in particular, connectivity Third party data feed because it is designed to prevent fee per third party data fraudulent and manipulative acts and feed practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation Miami International Securiand coordination with persons engaged ties Exchange/MIAX PEARL .............................. $2,000 in regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in Elimination of Obsolete Rule Language securities, to remove impediments to, The Exchange proposes to delete and perfect the mechanisms of, a free obsolete text from both the lists of Third Party Data Feeds and Third Party 11 As is currently the case, Users that receive coSystems, in both the Price List and Fee location services from the Exchange will not receive any means of access to the Exchange’s trading and Schedule. More specifically, the execution systems that is separate from, or superior Exchange proposes to make the to, that of other Users. In this regard, all orders sent following changes: 10 to the Exchange enter the Exchange’s trading and • From both lists, remove the asterisk execution systems through the same order gateway, regardless of whether the sender is co-located in the and note stating that the asterisked data center or not. In addition, co-located Users do service is expected to be available no not receive any market data or data service product later than September 30, 2017, as the that is not available to all Users, although Users that relevant services are currently available; receive co-location services normally would expect reduced latencies in sending orders to, and and receiving market data from, the Exchange. • from the list of Third Party Data 12 See SR–NYSEMKT–2013–67, supra note 5 at Feeds, remove the asterisks and note 50471. The Affiliate SROs have also submitted stating that the Euronext Optiq substantially the same proposed rule change to 10 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81015 (June 23, 2017), 82 FR 29610 (June 29, 2017) (SR– NYSEMKT–2017–32). PO 00000 Frm 00097 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 propose the changes described herein. See SR– NYSE–2018–05 and SR–NYSEArca–2018–06. 13 15 U.S.C. 78f(b). 14 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). E:\FR\FM\07FEN1.SGM 07FEN1 sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 7, 2018 / Notices and open market and a national market system and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest and because it is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. The Exchange believes that the proposed changes would remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanisms of, a free and open market and a national market system and, in general, protect investors and the public interest because, by offering additional services, the Exchange would give each User additional options for addressing its access and connectivity needs, responding to User demand for access and connectivity options. Providing additional services would help each User tailor its data center operations to the requirements of its business operations by allowing it to select the form and latency of access and connectivity that best suits its needs. The Exchange would provide Access and Connectivity as conveniences to Users. Use of Access or Connectivity would be completely voluntary. The Exchange is not aware of any impediment to third parties offering Access or Connectivity. The Exchange does not have visibility into whether third parties currently offer, or intend to offer, Users access to the Additional Third Party Systems and connectivity to the Additional Third Party Data Feed. However, if one or more third parties presently offer, or in the future opt to offer, such Access and Connectivity to Users, a User may utilize the SFTI network, a third party telecommunication network, third party wireless network, a cross connect, or a combination thereof to access such services and products through a connection to an access center outside the data center (which could be a SFTI access center, a third-party access center, or both), another User, or a third party vendor. The Exchange believes that the proposed changes would remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanisms of, a free and open market and a national market system and, in general, protect investors and the public interest because, by offering access to the Additional Third Party Systems and connectivity to the Additional Third Party Data Feed to Users when available, the Exchange would give Users additional options for connectivity and access to new services as soon as they are available, responding to User demand for access and connectivity options. The Exchange also believes that the proposed fee change is consistent with VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:17 Feb 06, 2018 Jkt 244001 Section 6(b)(4) of the Act,15 in particular, because it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among its members, issuers and other persons using its facilities and does not unfairly discriminate between customers, issuers, brokers or dealers. The Exchange believes that the proposed fee changes are consistent with Section 6(b)(4) of the Act for multiple reasons. The Exchange operates in a highly competitive market in which exchanges offer co-location services as a means to facilitate the trading and other market activities of those market participants who believe that co-location enhances the efficiency of their operations. Accordingly, fees charged for co-location services are constrained by the active competition for the order flow of, and other business from, such market participants. If a particular exchange charges excessive fees for co-location services, affected market participants will opt to terminate their co-location arrangements with that exchange, and adopt a possible range of alternative strategies, including placing their servers in a physically proximate location outside the exchange’s data center (which could be a competing exchange), or pursuing strategies less dependent upon the lower exchange-toparticipant latency associated with colocation. Accordingly, the exchange charging excessive fees would stand to lose not only co-location revenues but also the liquidity of the formerly colocated trading firms, which could have additional follow-on effects on the market share and revenue of the affected exchange. The Exchange believes that the additional services and fees proposed herein would be equitably allocated and not unfairly discriminatory because, in addition to the services being completely voluntary, they would be available to all Users on an equal basis (i.e., the same products and services would be available to all Users). All Users that voluntarily selected to receive Access or Connectivity would be charged the same amount for the same services. Users that opted to use Access or Connectivity would not receive access or connectivity that is not available to all Users, as all market participants that contracted with the relevant market or content provider would receive access or connectivity. The Exchange believes that the proposed charges would be reasonable, equitably allocated and not unfairly discriminatory because the Exchange would offer the Access and Connectivity 15 15 PO 00000 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4). Frm 00098 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 5497 as conveniences to Users, but in order to do so must provide, maintain and operate the data center facility hardware and technology infrastructure. The Exchange must handle the installation, administration, monitoring, support and maintenance of such services, including by responding to any production issues. Since the inception of co-location, the Exchange has made numerous improvements to the network hardware and technology infrastructure and has established additional administrative controls. The Exchange has expanded the network infrastructure to keep pace with the increased number of services available to Users, including resilient and redundant feeds. In addition, in order to provide Access and Connectivity, the Exchange would maintain multiple connections to each ATPD and ATPS, allowing the Exchange to provide resilient and redundant connections; adapt to any changes made by the relevant third party; and cover any applicable fees charged by the relevant third party, such as port fees. In addition, Users would not be required to use any of their bandwidth for Access and Connectivity unless they wish to do so. The Exchange believes the proposed fees for Access and Connectivity would be reasonable because they would allow the Exchange to defray or cover the costs associated with offering Users access to Additional Third Party Systems and connectivity to Additional Third Party Data Feed while providing Users the convenience of receiving such Access and Connectivity within colocation, helping them tailor their data center operations to the requirements of their business operations. The Exchange also believes that the proposal to delete obsolete text from the list of Third Party Data Feeds and the list of Third Party Systems would remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanisms of, a free and open market and a national market system and, in general, protect investors and the public interest because the proposed fee changes would remove obsolete text from the Price List and Fee Schedule, reducing the complexity and any potential ambiguity and providing clarification concerning the availability and the costs of products and services available to Users. Further, the Exchange believes that that the proposed modifications and updates to its Price List and Fee Schedule would be consistent with the public interest and the protection of investors because the public and investors would not be harmed and, in fact, would benefit from this updating and clarification. E:\FR\FM\07FEN1.SGM 07FEN1 5498 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 7, 2018 / Notices For the reasons above, the proposed changes would not unfairly discriminate between or among market participants that are otherwise capable of satisfying any applicable co-location fees, requirements, terms and conditions established from time to time by the Exchange. For these reasons, the Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with the Act. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Burden on Competition In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act,16 the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change will not impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act because all of the proposed services are completely voluntary. The Exchange believes that providing Users with additional options for connectivity and access to new services would not impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act because such proposed Access and Connectivity would satisfy User demand for access and connectivity options. The Exchange would provide Access and Connectivity as conveniences equally to all Users. The Exchange does not have visibility into whether third parties currently offer, or intend to offer, Users access to the Additional Third Party Systems and connectivity to the Additional Third Party Data Feed, as such third parties are not required to make that information public. However, if one or more third parties presently offer, or in the future opt to offer, such Access and Connectivity to Users, a User may utilize the SFTI network, a third party telecommunication network, third party wireless network, a cross connect, or a combination thereof to access such services and products through a connection to an access center outside the data center (which could be a SFTI access center, a third-party access center, or both), another User, or a third party vendor. Users that opt to use the proposed Access or Connectivity would not receive access or connectivity that is not available to all Users, as all market participants that contract with the content provider may receive access or connectivity. In this way, the proposed changes would enhance competition by helping Users tailor their Access and Connectivity to the needs of their business operations by allowing them to select the form and latency of access 16 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:17 Feb 06, 2018 and connectivity that best suits their needs. The proposed deletion of obsolete text from the list of Third Party Data Feeds and the list of Third Party Systems would update the information and increase the clarity of the Price List and Fee Schedule concerning the availability and cost of products and services available to Users. Accordingly, the proposed change would not impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act, as the public and investors would benefit from this updating and clarification. The Exchange operates in a highly competitive market in which exchanges offer co-location services as a means to facilitate the trading and other market activities of those market participants who believe that co-location enhances the efficiency of their operations. Accordingly, fees charged for colocation services are constrained by the active competition for the order flow of, and other business from, such market participants. If a particular exchange charges excessive fees for co-location services, affected market participants will opt to terminate their co-location arrangements with that exchange, and adopt a possible range of alternative strategies, including placing their servers in a physically proximate location outside the exchange’s data center (which could be a competing exchange), or pursuing strategies less dependent upon the lower exchange-toparticipant latency associated with colocation. Accordingly, the exchange charging excessive fees would stand to lose not only co-location revenues but also the liquidity of the formerly colocated trading firms, which could have additional follow-on effects on the market share and revenue of the affected exchange. For the reasons described above, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change reflects this competitive environment. 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 17 and Rule 17 15 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii). Frm 00099 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 19b–4(f)(6) thereunder.18 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.19 A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b–4(f)(6) 20 normally does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii),21 the Commission may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange requests that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. The Exchange represents that the proposed rule changes present no new or novel issues. According to the Exchange, waiver of the operative delay would allow Users to access the Additional Third Party Systems and the Additional Third Party Data Feeds without delay, which would assist Users in tailoring their data center operations to the requirements of their business operations. The Exchange also represents that the proposed changes to the Price List would provide Users with more complete information regarding their Access and Connectivity options. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. Accordingly, the Commission waives the 30-day operative delay and designates the proposed rule change operative upon filing.22 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 18 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b– 4(f)(6) requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The Exchange has satisfied this requirement. 20 17 CFR 240.19b–(f)(6). 21 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii). 22 For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has considered the proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f). 19 17 E:\FR\FM\07FEN1.SGM 07FEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 7, 2018 / Notices 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) 23 of the Act to determine whether the proposed rule change 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: sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES 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– NYSEAMER–2018–02 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–NYSEAMER–2018–02. 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 website (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 website 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 the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit 23 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:17 Feb 06, 2018 Jkt 244001 personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–NYSEAMER–2018–02 and should be submitted on or before February 28, 2018. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.24 Eduardo A. Aleman, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2018–02400 Filed 2–6–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–82613; File No. SR–NYSE– 2017–36] Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Designation of a Longer Period for Commission Action on Proceedings To Determine Whether To Approve or Disapprove a Proposed Rule Change To Adopt New Equity Trading Rules for Trading UTP Securities on Pillar, Including Orders and Modifiers, Order Ranking and Display, and Order Execution and Routing February 1, 2018. On July 28, 2017, New York Stock Exchange LLC (‘‘NYSE’’ or ‘‘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 adopt new equity trading rules to allow the Exchange to trade securities that are listed on a national securities exchange other than NYSE (‘‘UTP Securities’’) 3 pursuant to unlisted trading privileges for the first time on Pillar, the Exchange’s new trading technology platform. The proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal Register on August 9, 2017.4 On September 18, 2017, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,5 the Commission designated November 7, 2017, as the date within which to approve the proposed rule change, disapprove the proposed rule change, or institute proceedings to determine 24 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). 1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 3 See NYSE Rule 1.1(ii) for a definition of UTP Security. 4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81310 (Aug. 3, 2017), 82 FR 37257 (Aug. 9, 2017). 5 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2). PO 00000 Frm 00100 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 5499 whether to disapprove the proposed rule change.6 On November 7, 2017, the Commission instituted proceedings under Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act 7 to determine whether to approve or disapprove the proposed rule change.8 The Commission has received no comments on the proposed rule change. Section 19(b)(2) of the Act 9 provides that, after initiating disapproval proceedings, the Commission shall issue an order approving or disapproving the proposed rule change not later than 180 days after the date of publication of notice of filing of the proposed rule change. The Commission may extend the period for issuing an order approving or disapproving the proposed rule change by not more than 60 days if the Commission determines that a longer period is appropriate and publishes the reasons for such determination. As noted earlier, the proposed rule change was published for notice and comment in the Federal Register on August 9, 2017. February 5, 2018, is 180 days from that date, and April 6, 2018, is 240 days from that date. The Commission finds it appropriate to designate a longer period within which to issue an order approving or disapproving the proposed rule change so that it has sufficient time to consider this proposed rule change. Accordingly, the Commission, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,10 designates April 6, 2018 as the date by which the Commission should either approve or disapprove the proposed rule change (File Number SR–NYSE–2017–36). For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.11 Eduardo A. Aleman, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2018–02395 Filed 2–6–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P 6 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81641 (Sept. 18, 2017), 82 FR 44483 (Sept. 22, 2017). 7 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B). 8 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82028 (Nov. 7, 2017), 82 FR 52757 (Nov. 14, 2017). 9 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2). 10 Id. 11 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(57). E:\FR\FM\07FEN1.SGM 07FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 7, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5494-5499]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02400]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-82618; File No. SR-NYSEAMER-2018-02]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE American LLC; Notice of 
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Provide 
Users With Access to Two Additional Third Party Systems and 
Connectivity to One Additional Third Party Data Feed

February 1, 2018.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby given 
that on January

[[Page 5495]]

19, 2018, NYSE American LLC (``Exchange'' or ``NYSE American'') filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the 
proposed rule change as described in Items I and II 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 provide Users with access to two 
additional third party systems and connectivity to one additional third 
party data feed. In addition, the Exchange proposes to change its NYSE 
American Equities Price List (``Price List'') and the NYSE American 
Options Fee Schedule (``Fee Schedule'') related to these co-location 
services, and to update its Price List and Fee Schedule to eliminate 
obsolete text. The proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
website 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 co-location \4\ services offered 
by the Exchange to provide Users \5\ with access to two additional 
third party systems and connectivity to one additional third party data 
feed. In addition the Exchange proposes to make the corresponding 
changes to the Exchange's Price List and Fee Schedule related to these 
co-location services, and to update its Price List and Fee Schedule to 
eliminate obsolete text.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ The Exchange initially filed rule changes relating to its 
co-location services with the Commission in 2010. See Securities 
Exchange Act Release No. 62961 (September 21, 2010), 75 FR 59299 
(September 27, 2010) (SR-NYSEAmex-2010-80) (the ``Original Co-
location Filing''). The Exchange operates a data center in Mahwah, 
New Jersey (the ``data center'') from which it provides co-location 
services to Users.
    \5\ For purposes of the Exchange's co-location services, a 
``User'' means any market participant that requests to receive co-
location services directly from the Exchange. See Securities 
Exchange Act Release No. 76009 (September 29, 2015), 80 FR 60213 
(October 5, 2015) (SR-NYSEMKT-2015-67). As specified in the Price 
List and Fee Schedule, a User that incurs co-location fees for a 
particular co-location service pursuant thereto would not be subject 
to co-location fees for the same co-location service charged by the 
Exchange's affiliates New York Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE LLC'') and 
NYSE Arca, Inc. (``NYSE Arca'' and, together with NYSE LLC, the 
``Affiliate SROs''). See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 70176 
(August 13, 2013), 78 FR 50471 (August 19, 2013) (SR-NYSEMKT-2013-
67).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As set forth in the Price List and Fee Schedule, the Exchange 
charges fees for connectivity to the execution systems of third party 
markets and other content service providers (``Third Party Systems''), 
and data feeds from third party markets and other content service 
providers (``Third Party Data Feeds'').\6\ The lists of Third Party 
Systems and Third Party Data Feeds are set forth in the Price List and 
Fee Schedule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 80309 (March 24, 
2017), 82 FR 15725 (March 30, 2017) (SR-NYSEMKT-2016-63).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange now proposes to make the following changes:
     Add two content service providers to the list of Third 
Party Systems: Miami International Securities Exchange and MIAX PEARL 
(together, the ``Additional Third Party Systems'' or ``ATPS''); and
     add one feed to the list of Third Party Data Feeds: Miami 
International Securities Exchange/MIAX PEARL (the ``Additional Third 
Party Data Feed'' or ``ATPD'').
    The Exchange would provide access to the Additional Third Party 
Systems (``Access'') and connectivity to the Additional Third Party 
Data Feed (``Connectivity'') as conveniences to Users. Use of Access or 
Connectivity would be completely voluntary. The Exchange is not aware 
of any impediment to third parties offering Access or Connectivity.
    The Exchange does not have visibility into whether third parties 
currently offer, or intend to offer, Users access to the Additional 
Third Party Systems and connectivity to the Additional Third Party Data 
Feed, as such third parties are not required to make that information 
public. However, if one or more third parties presently offer, or in 
the future opt to offer, such Access and Connectivity to Users, a User 
may utilize the Secure Financial Transaction Infrastructure (``SFTI'') 
network, a third party telecommunication network, third party wireless 
network, a cross connect, or a combination thereof to access such 
services and products through a connection to an access center outside 
the data center (which could be a SFTI access center, a third-party 
access center, or both), another User, or a third party vendor.
    The proposed rule change would become operative when the Additional 
Third Party Systems and the Additional Third Party Data Feed become 
available, which is expected to be no later than March 31, 2018. The 
Exchange will announce the dates that each Product is available through 
customer notices disseminated to all Users simultaneously.
Connectivity to Additional Third Party Systems
    The Exchange proposes to revise the Price List and Fee Schedule to 
provide that Users may obtain connectivity to the two Additional Third 
Party Systems for a fee. As with the current Third Party Systems, Users 
would connect to the Additional Third Party Systems over the internet 
protocol (``IP'') network, a local area network available in the data 
center.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 74220 (February 6, 
2015), 80 FR 7894 (February 12, 2015) (SR-NYSEMKT-2015-08) (notice 
of filing and immediate effectiveness of proposed rule change to 
include IP network connections).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As with the current Third Party Systems, in order to obtain access 
to an Additional Third Party System, the User would enter into an 
agreement with the relevant third party content service provider, 
pursuant to which the third party content service provider would charge 
the User for access to the Additional Third Party System. The Exchange 
would then establish a unicast connection between the User and the 
relevant third party content service provider over the IP network.\8\ 
The Exchange would charge the User for the connectivity to the 
Additional Third Party System. A User would only receive, and only be 
charged for, access to Additional Third Party Systems for which it 
enters into agreements with the third party content service provider.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ Information flows over existing network connections in two 
formats: ``unicast'' format, which is a format that allows one-to-
one communication, similar to a phone line, in which information is 
sent to and from the Exchange; and ``multicast'' format, which is a 
format in which information is sent one-way from the Exchange to 
multiple recipients at once, like a radio broadcast.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange has no ownership interest in the Additional Third 
Party Systems. Establishing a User's access to an Additional Third 
Party System would not give the Exchange any right

[[Page 5496]]

to use the Additional Third Party Systems. Connectivity to an 
Additional Third Party System would not provide access or order entry 
to the Exchange's execution system, and a User's connection to an 
Additional Third Party System would not be through the Exchange's 
execution system.
    As with the existing connections to Third Party Systems, the 
Exchange proposes to charge a monthly recurring fee for connectivity to 
an Additional Third Party System. Specifically, when a User requests 
access to an Additional Third Party System, it would identify the 
applicable content service provider and what bandwidth connection it 
required.
    The Exchange proposes to modify its Price List and Fee Schedule to 
add the Additional Third Party Systems to its existing list of Third 
Party Systems. The additional items would be as follows:

                           Third Party Systems
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Miami International Securities Exchange MIAX PEARL.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange does not propose to change the monthly recurring fee 
the Exchange charges Users for unicast connectivity to each Third Party 
System, including the Additional Third Party Systems.
Connectivity to Additional Third Party Data Feed
    The Exchange proposes to revise the Price List and Fee Schedule to 
provide that Users may obtain connectivity to the Additional Third 
Party Data Feed for a fee. The Exchange would receive the Additional 
Third Party Data Feed from the content service provider, at its data 
center. It would then provide connectivity to that data to Users for a 
fee. Users would connect to the Additional Third Party Data Feed over 
the IP network.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ See supra note 7, at 7894 (``The IP network also provides 
Users with access to away market data products'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In order to connect to the Additional Third Party Data Feed, a User 
would enter into a contract with the content service provider, pursuant 
to which the content service provider would charge the User for the 
Third Party Data Feed. The Exchange would receive the Third Party Data 
Feed over its fiber optic network and, after the content service 
provider and User entered into the contract and the Exchange received 
authorization from the content service provider, the Exchange would re-
transmit the data to the User over the User's port. The Exchange would 
charge the User for the connectivity to the Additional Third Party Data 
Feed. A User would only receive, and would only be charged for, 
connectivity to the Additional Third Party Data Feed for which it 
entered into contracts.
    The Exchange has no affiliation with the seller of the Additional 
Third Party Data Feed. It would have no right to use the Additional 
Third Party Data Feed other than as a redistributor of the data. The 
Additional Third Party Data Feed would not provide access or order 
entry to the Exchange's execution system. The Additional Third Party 
Data Feed would not provide access or order entry to the execution 
systems of the third parties generating the feed. The Exchange would 
receive the Additional Third Party Data Feed via arms-length agreements 
and it would have no inherent advantage over any other distributor of 
such data.
    As it does with the existing Third Party Data Feeds, the Exchange 
proposes to charge a monthly recurring fee for connectivity to the 
Additional Third Party Data Feed. Depending on its needs and bandwidth, 
a User may opt to receive all or some of the feeds or services included 
in the Additional Third Party Data Feed.
    The Exchange proposes to add the connectivity fees for the 
Additional Third Party Data to its existing list in the Price List and 
Fee Schedule. The additional item would be as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Monthly
                                                             recurring
                                                           connectivity
                  Third party data feed                    fee per third
                                                            party data
                                                               feed
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Miami International Securities Exchange/MIAX PEARL......          $2,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Elimination of Obsolete Rule Language
    The Exchange proposes to delete obsolete text from both the lists 
of Third Party Data Feeds and Third Party Systems, in both the Price 
List and Fee Schedule. More specifically, the Exchange proposes to make 
the following changes: \10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81015 (June 23, 
2017), 82 FR 29610 (June 29, 2017) (SR-NYSEMKT-2017-32).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     From both lists, remove the asterisk and note stating that 
the asterisked service is expected to be available no later than 
September 30, 2017, as the relevant services are currently available; 
and
     from the list of Third Party Data Feeds, remove the 
asterisks and note stating that the Euronext Optiq Compressed 
Derivatives is expected to be offered in place of Euronext no later 
than September 30, 2017, as such change has occurred, and remove 
Euronext as a Third Party Data Feed.
    This proposed change would have no impact on pricing.
General
    As is the case with all Exchange co-location arrangements, (i) 
neither a User nor any of the User's customers would be permitted to 
submit orders directly to the Exchange unless such User or customer is 
a member organization, a Sponsored Participant or an agent thereof 
(e.g., a service bureau providing order entry services); (ii) use of 
the co-location services proposed herein would be completely voluntary 
and available to all Users on a non-discriminatory basis; \11\ and 
(iii) a User would only incur one charge for the particular co-location 
service described herein, regardless of whether the User connects only 
to the Exchange or to the Exchange and one or both the Affiliate 
SROs.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ As is currently the case, Users that receive co-location 
services from the Exchange will not receive any means of access to 
the Exchange's trading and execution systems that is separate from, 
or superior to, that of other Users. In this regard, all orders sent 
to the Exchange enter the Exchange's trading and execution systems 
through the same order gateway, regardless of whether the sender is 
co-located in the data center or not. In addition, co-located Users 
do not receive any market data or data service product that is not 
available to all Users, although Users that receive co-location 
services normally would expect reduced latencies in sending orders 
to, and receiving market data from, the Exchange.
    \12\ See SR-NYSEMKT-2013-67, supra note 5 at 50471. The 
Affiliate SROs have also submitted substantially the same proposed 
rule change to propose the changes described herein. See SR-NYSE-
2018-05 and SR-NYSEArca-2018-06.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The proposed change is not otherwise intended to address any other 
issues relating to co-location services and/or related fees, and the 
Exchange is not aware of any problems that Users would have in 
complying with the proposed change.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed fee change is consistent 
with Section 6(b) of the Act,\13\ in general, and furthers the 
objectives of Sections 6(b)(5) of the Act,\14\ in particular, because 
it is designed 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 mechanisms of, a free

[[Page 5497]]

and open market and a national market system and, in general, to 
protect investors and the public interest and because it is not 
designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, 
brokers, or dealers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \14\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange believes that the proposed changes would remove 
impediments to, and perfect the mechanisms of, a free and open market 
and a national market system and, in general, protect investors and the 
public interest because, by offering additional services, the Exchange 
would give each User additional options for addressing its access and 
connectivity needs, responding to User demand for access and 
connectivity options. Providing additional services would help each 
User tailor its data center operations to the requirements of its 
business operations by allowing it to select the form and latency of 
access and connectivity that best suits its needs.
    The Exchange would provide Access and Connectivity as conveniences 
to Users. Use of Access or Connectivity would be completely voluntary. 
The Exchange is not aware of any impediment to third parties offering 
Access or Connectivity. The Exchange does not have visibility into 
whether third parties currently offer, or intend to offer, Users access 
to the Additional Third Party Systems and connectivity to the 
Additional Third Party Data Feed. However, if one or more third parties 
presently offer, or in the future opt to offer, such Access and 
Connectivity to Users, a User may utilize the SFTI network, a third 
party telecommunication network, third party wireless network, a cross 
connect, or a combination thereof to access such services and products 
through a connection to an access center outside the data center (which 
could be a SFTI access center, a third-party access center, or both), 
another User, or a third party vendor.
    The Exchange believes that the proposed changes would remove 
impediments to, and perfect the mechanisms of, a free and open market 
and a national market system and, in general, protect investors and the 
public interest because, by offering access to the Additional Third 
Party Systems and connectivity to the Additional Third Party Data Feed 
to Users when available, the Exchange would give Users additional 
options for connectivity and access to new services as soon as they are 
available, responding to User demand for access and connectivity 
options.
    The Exchange also believes that the proposed fee change is 
consistent with Section 6(b)(4) of the Act,\15\ in particular, because 
it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and 
other charges among its members, issuers and other persons using its 
facilities and does not unfairly discriminate between customers, 
issuers, brokers or dealers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange believes that the proposed fee changes are consistent 
with Section 6(b)(4) of the Act for multiple reasons. The Exchange 
operates in a highly competitive market in which exchanges offer co-
location services as a means to facilitate the trading and other market 
activities of those market participants who believe that co-location 
enhances the efficiency of their operations. Accordingly, fees charged 
for co-location services are constrained by the active competition for 
the order flow of, and other business from, such market participants. 
If a particular exchange charges excessive fees for co-location 
services, affected market participants will opt to terminate their co-
location arrangements with that exchange, and adopt a possible range of 
alternative strategies, including placing their servers in a physically 
proximate location outside the exchange's data center (which could be a 
competing exchange), or pursuing strategies less dependent upon the 
lower exchange-to-participant latency associated with co-location. 
Accordingly, the exchange charging excessive fees would stand to lose 
not only co-location revenues but also the liquidity of the formerly 
co-located trading firms, which could have additional follow-on effects 
on the market share and revenue of the affected exchange.
    The Exchange believes that the additional services and fees 
proposed herein would be equitably allocated and not unfairly 
discriminatory because, in addition to the services being completely 
voluntary, they would be available to all Users on an equal basis 
(i.e., the same products and services would be available to all Users). 
All Users that voluntarily selected to receive Access or Connectivity 
would be charged the same amount for the same services. Users that 
opted to use Access or Connectivity would not receive access or 
connectivity that is not available to all Users, as all market 
participants that contracted with the relevant market or content 
provider would receive access or connectivity.
    The Exchange believes that the proposed charges would be 
reasonable, equitably allocated and not unfairly discriminatory because 
the Exchange would offer the Access and Connectivity as conveniences to 
Users, but in order to do so must provide, maintain and operate the 
data center facility hardware and technology infrastructure. The 
Exchange must handle the installation, administration, monitoring, 
support and maintenance of such services, including by responding to 
any production issues. Since the inception of co-location, the Exchange 
has made numerous improvements to the network hardware and technology 
infrastructure and has established additional administrative controls. 
The Exchange has expanded the network infrastructure to keep pace with 
the increased number of services available to Users, including 
resilient and redundant feeds. In addition, in order to provide Access 
and Connectivity, the Exchange would maintain multiple connections to 
each ATPD and ATPS, allowing the Exchange to provide resilient and 
redundant connections; adapt to any changes made by the relevant third 
party; and cover any applicable fees charged by the relevant third 
party, such as port fees. In addition, Users would not be required to 
use any of their bandwidth for Access and Connectivity unless they wish 
to do so.
    The Exchange believes the proposed fees for Access and Connectivity 
would be reasonable because they would allow the Exchange to defray or 
cover the costs associated with offering Users access to Additional 
Third Party Systems and connectivity to Additional Third Party Data 
Feed while providing Users the convenience of receiving such Access and 
Connectivity within co-location, helping them tailor their data center 
operations to the requirements of their business operations.
    The Exchange also believes that the proposal to delete obsolete 
text from the list of Third Party Data Feeds and the list of Third 
Party Systems would remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanisms 
of, a free and open market and a national market system and, in 
general, protect investors and the public interest because the proposed 
fee changes would remove obsolete text from the Price List and Fee 
Schedule, reducing the complexity and any potential ambiguity and 
providing clarification concerning the availability and the costs of 
products and services available to Users. Further, the Exchange 
believes that that the proposed modifications and updates to its Price 
List and Fee Schedule would be consistent with the public interest and 
the protection of investors because the public and investors would not 
be harmed and, in fact, would benefit from this updating and 
clarification.

[[Page 5498]]

    For the reasons above, the proposed changes would not unfairly 
discriminate between or among market participants that are otherwise 
capable of satisfying any applicable co-location fees, requirements, 
terms and conditions established from time to time by the Exchange.
    For these reasons, the Exchange believes that the proposal is 
consistent with the Act.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act,\16\ the Exchange 
believes that the proposed rule change will not impose any burden on 
competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the 
purposes of the Act because all of the proposed services are completely 
voluntary.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange believes that providing Users with additional options 
for connectivity and access to new services would not impose any burden 
on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of 
the purposes of the Act because such proposed Access and Connectivity 
would satisfy User demand for access and connectivity options. The 
Exchange would provide Access and Connectivity as conveniences equally 
to all Users. The Exchange does not have visibility into whether third 
parties currently offer, or intend to offer, Users access to the 
Additional Third Party Systems and connectivity to the Additional Third 
Party Data Feed, as such third parties are not required to make that 
information public. However, if one or more third parties presently 
offer, or in the future opt to offer, such Access and Connectivity to 
Users, a User may utilize the SFTI network, a third party 
telecommunication network, third party wireless network, a cross 
connect, or a combination thereof to access such services and products 
through a connection to an access center outside the data center (which 
could be a SFTI access center, a third-party access center, or both), 
another User, or a third party vendor. Users that opt to use the 
proposed Access or Connectivity would not receive access or 
connectivity that is not available to all Users, as all market 
participants that contract with the content provider may receive access 
or connectivity. In this way, the proposed changes would enhance 
competition by helping Users tailor their Access and Connectivity to 
the needs of their business operations by allowing them to select the 
form and latency of access and connectivity that best suits their 
needs.
    The proposed deletion of obsolete text from the list of Third Party 
Data Feeds and the list of Third Party Systems would update the 
information and increase the clarity of the Price List and Fee Schedule 
concerning the availability and cost of products and services available 
to Users. Accordingly, the proposed change would not impose any burden 
on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of 
the purposes of the Act, as the public and investors would benefit from 
this updating and clarification.
    The Exchange operates in a highly competitive market in which 
exchanges offer co-location services as a means to facilitate the 
trading and other market activities of those market participants who 
believe that co-location enhances the efficiency of their operations. 
Accordingly, fees charged for co-location services are constrained by 
the active competition for the order flow of, and other business from, 
such market participants. If a particular exchange charges excessive 
fees for co-location services, affected market participants will opt to 
terminate their co-location arrangements with that exchange, and adopt 
a possible range of alternative strategies, including placing their 
servers in a physically proximate location outside the exchange's data 
center (which could be a competing exchange), or pursuing strategies 
less dependent upon the lower exchange-to-participant latency 
associated with co-location. Accordingly, the exchange charging 
excessive fees would stand to lose not only co-location revenues but 
also the liquidity of the formerly co-located trading firms, which 
could have additional follow-on effects on the market share and revenue 
of the affected exchange. For the reasons described above, the Exchange 
believes that the proposed rule change reflects this competitive 
environment.

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 \17\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\18\ 
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.\19\
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    \17\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
    \18\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \19\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 
requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission 
written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change at 
least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed 
rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. 
The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \20\ normally 
does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the 
filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),\21\ the Commission 
may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the 
protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange requests 
that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay so that the 
proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. The Exchange 
represents that the proposed rule changes present no new or novel 
issues. According to the Exchange, waiver of the operative delay would 
allow Users to access the Additional Third Party Systems and the 
Additional Third Party Data Feeds without delay, which would assist 
Users in tailoring their data center operations to the requirements of 
their business operations. The Exchange also represents that the 
proposed changes to the Price List would provide Users with more 
complete information regarding their Access and Connectivity options. 
The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is 
consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. 
Accordingly, the Commission waives the 30-day operative delay and 
designates the proposed rule change operative upon filing.\22\
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    \20\ 17 CFR 240.19b-(f)(6).
    \21\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
    \22\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, 
the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on 
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).
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    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

[[Page 5499]]

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) \23\ of the Act to 
determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or 
disapproved.
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    \23\ 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 Comments

     Use the Commission's internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-NYSEAMER-2018-02 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-NYSEAMER-2018-02. 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 website (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 website 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 the filing also will be available for inspection 
and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments 
received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are 
cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying 
information from comment submissions. You should submit only 
information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions 
should refer to File Number SR-NYSEAMER-2018-02 and should be submitted 
on or before February 28, 2018.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\24\
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    \24\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-02400 Filed 2-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


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