Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami International Securities Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend the Fee Schedule, 327-332 [2020-29134]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 2 / Tuesday, January 5, 2021 / Notices reporting the public dose to demonstrate compliance with part 20 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), ‘‘Standards For Protection Against Radiation’’ and 40 CFR part 190, ‘‘Environmental Radiation Protection Standards for Nuclear Power Operations.’’ Substantial changes are integrated in this revision. This revision provides (1) guidance on acceptable methods for calibration of accident-range radiation monitors and accident-range effluent monitors, (2) updated guidance on reviewing and updating long-term, annual average X/Q and D/Q values used for determining dose to individual members of the public, (3) clarification on reporting requirements for low-level waste shipments from the site that waste classification does not need to be reported, and (4) clarification that drinking water sampling would only be performed under the guidance when the calculated dose from I–131 is greater than 1 mrem/yr. This guide also incorporates the risk-informed principles of the Reactor Oversight Process. A risk-informed, performancebased approach to regulatory decision making combines the ‘‘risk informed’’ and ‘‘performance based’’ elements discussed in the staff requirements memorandum to SECY 98–144, ‘‘Staff Requirements—SECY–98–144—White Paper on Risk-Informed and Performance-Based Regulation,’’ dated February 24, 1999 (ADAMS Accession No. ML003753593). In particular, the guidance in this RG gives licensees the option of deciding on what effluents to monitor based on a risk-significance basis. The staff is also issuing for public comment a draft regulatory analysis (ADAMS Accession No. ML20287A434). The staff develops a regulatory analysis to assess the value of issuing or revising a regulatory guide as well as alternative courses of action. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES III. Backfitting, Forward Fitting and Issue Finality The draft regulatory guide (DG–1377), if finalized, would not constitute backfitting as defined in 10 CFR 50.109, ‘‘Backfitting,’’ and as described in NRC Management Directive (MD) 8.4, ‘‘Management of Backfitting, Forward Fitting, Issue Finality, and Information Requests.’’ It also would not constitute forward fitting as that term is defined and described in MD 8.4; or affect the issue finality of any approval issued under 10 CFR part 52. As explained in DG–1377, applicants and licensees would not be required to comply with the positions set forth in DG–1377. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:36 Jan 04, 2021 Jkt 253001 Dated: December 30, 2020. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Mekonen M. Bayssie, Acting Chief, Regulatory Guidance and Generic Issues Branch, Division of Engineering, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research. [FR Doc. 2020–29154 Filed 1–4–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590–01–P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Licensing Support Network Advisory Review Panel Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Notice of renewal of the charter of the licensing support network advisory review panel. AGENCY: The Licensing Support System Advisory Review Panel was established by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) as a Federal Advisory Committee in 1989. Its purpose was to provide advice on the fundamental issues of design and development of an electronic information management system to be used to store and retrieve documents relating to the licensing of a geologic repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste, and on the operation and maintenance of the system. This electronic information management system was known as the Licensing Support System. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Russell E. Chazell, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555; telephone: 301–415–7469 or at Russell.Chazell@nrc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In November 1998, the Commission approved amendments to title 10 Code of Federal Regulations Part 2 that renamed the Licensing Support System Advisory Review Panel as the Licensing Support Network Advisory Review Panel (LSNARP). The Licensing Support Network (LSN) was shut down in 2011 and the document collection was submitted to the Office of the Secretary. The document collection was made publicly available in the NRC’s Agencywide Documents Access and Management System in August 2016 and contains over 3.69 million documents associated the proposed high-level waste facility at Yucca Mountain. Membership on the Panel will continue to be drawn from those whose interests could be affected by the use of the LSN document collection, including the Department of Energy, the SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 327 NRC, the State of Nevada, the National Congress of American Indians, affected units of local governments in Nevada, the Nevada Nuclear Waste Task Force, and nuclear industry groups. Federal agencies with expertise and experience in electronic information management systems may also participate on the Panel. The NRC has determined that renewal of the charter for the LSNARP until December 30, 2022, is in the public interest in connection with duties imposed on the Commission by law. This action is being taken in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act after consultation with the Committee Management Secretariat, General Services Administration. Dated: December 30, 2020. Russell E. Chazell, Federal Advisory Committee Management Officer, Office of the Secretary. [FR Doc. 2020–29170 Filed 1–4–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–90814; File No. SR–MIAX– 2020–39] Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami International Securities Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend the Fee Schedule December 29, 2020. Pursuant to the provisions of 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 December 21, 2020, Miami International Securities Exchange LLC (‘‘MIAX Options’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) a 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 Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange is filing a proposal to amend the MIAX Options Fee Schedule (the ‘‘Fee Schedule’’) to extend the waiver period for certain nontransaction fees applicable to Market 1 15 2 17 E:\FR\FM\05JAN1.SGM U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). CFR 240.19b–4. 05JAN1 328 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 2 / Tuesday, January 5, 2021 / Notices Makers 3 that trade solely in Proprietary Products 4 until March 31, 2021. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange’s website at https://www.miaxoptions.com/rulefilings, at MIAX’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 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES 1. Purpose The Exchange proposes to amend the Fee Schedule to extend the waiver period for certain non-transaction fees applicable to Market Makers that trade solely in Proprietary Products until March 31, 2021. On October 12, 2018, the Exchange received approval from the Commission to list and trade on the Exchange, options on the SPIKES® Index, a new index that measures expected 30-day volatility of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (commonly known and referred to by its ticker symbol, ‘‘SPY’’).5 The Exchange adopted its initial SPIKES transaction fees on February 15, 2019 and adopted a new section of the Fee Schedule—Section 1)a)xi), SPIKES—for those fees.6 Options on the SPIKES 3 The term ‘‘Market Makers’’ refers to ‘‘Lead Market Makers’’, ‘‘Primary Lead Market Makers’’ and ‘‘Registered Market Makers’’ collectively. See Exchange Rule 100. 4 The term ‘‘Proprietary Product’’ means a class of options that is listed exclusively on the Exchange. See Exchange Rule 100. 5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 84417 (October 12, 2018), 83 FR 52865 (October 18, 2018) (SR–MIAX–2018–14) (Order Granting Approval of a Proposed Rule Change by Miami International Securities Exchange, LLC to List and Trade on the Exchange Options on the SPIKES® Index). 6 See Securities Exchange Release No. 85283 (March 11, 2019), 84 FR 9567 (March 15, 2019) (SR– MIAX–2019–11). The Exchange initially filed the proposal on February 15, 2019 (SR–MIAX–2019– 04). That filing was withdrawn and replaced with SR–MIAX–2019–11. On September 30, 2020, the Exchange filed its proposal to, among other things, reorganize the Fee Schedule to adopt new Section VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:09 Jan 04, 2021 Jkt 253001 Index began trading on the Exchange on February 19, 2019. On May 31, 2019, the Exchange filed a proposal with the Commission to amend the Fee Schedule to waive certain non-transaction fees applicable to Market Makers that trade solely in Proprietary Products (including options on the SPIKES Index) until September 30, 2019.7 In particular, the Exchange adopted waivers for Membership Application fees, monthly Market Maker Trading Permit fees, Application Programming Interface (‘‘API’’) Testing and Certification fees for Members, and monthly MEI Port fees assessed to Market Makers that trade solely in Proprietary Products (including options on SPIKES) until September 30, 2019. On October 1, 2019, the Exchange filed a proposal with the Commission to extend the waiver period for the same non-transaction fees applicable to Market Makers that trade solely in Proprietary Products (including options on SPIKES) until December 31, 2019.8 On December 30, 2019, the Exchange filed a proposal with the Commission to extend the waiver period for the same non-transaction fees applicable to Market Makers that trade solely in Proprietary Products (including options on SPIKES) until June 30, 2020.9 On June 30, 2020, the Exchange filed a proposal with the Commission to extend the waiver period for the same nontransaction fees applicable to Market Makers that trade solely in Proprietary Products (including options on SPIKES) until September 30, 2020.10 On September 30, 2020, the Exchange filed a proposal with the Commission to extend the waiver period for the same non-transaction fees applicable to Market Makers that trade solely in Proprietary Products (including options on SPIKES) until December 31, 2020.11 The Exchange now proposes to extend the waiver period for the same nontransaction fees applicable to Market Makers that trade solely in Proprietary Products (including options on SPIKES) until March 31, 2021. In particular, the Exchange proposes to waive Membership Application fees, monthly Market Maker Trading Permit fees, Member API Testing and Certification fees, and monthly MEI Port fees assessed to Market Makers that trade solely in Proprietary Products (including options on SPIKES) until March 31, 2021. 1)b), Proprietary Products Exchange Fees, and moved the fees and rebates for SPIKES options into new Section 1)b)i). See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 90146 (October 9, 2020), 85 FR 65443 (October 15, 2020) (SR–MIAX–2020–32). 7 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 86109 (June 14, 2019), 84 FR 28860 (June 20, 2019) (SR– MIAX–2019–28). 8 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 87282 (October 10, 2019), 84 FR 55658 (October 17, 2019) (SR–MIAX–2019–43). 9 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 87897 (January 6, 2020), 85 FR 1346 (January 10, 2020) (SR–MIAX–2019–53). 10 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 89289 (July 10, 2020), 85 FR 43279 (July 16, 2020) (SR– MIAX–2020–22). 11 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 90146 (October 9, 2020), 85 FR 65443 (October 15, 2020) (SR–MIAX–2020–32). Trading Permit Fees The Exchange issues Trading Permits that confer the ability to transact on the Exchange. MIAX Trading Permits are issued to Market Makers and EEMs. Members receiving Trading Permits during a particular calendar month are assessed monthly Trading Permit fees as set forth in the Fee Schedule. As it relates to Market Makers, MIAX currently assesses a monthly Trading PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Membership Application Fees The Exchange currently assesses Membership fees for applications of potential Members. The Exchange assesses a one-time Membership Application fee on the earlier of (i) the date the applicant is certified in the membership system, or (ii) once an application for MIAX membership is finally denied. The one-time application fee is based upon the applicant’s status as either a Market Maker or an Electronic Exchange Member (‘‘EEM’’).12 A Market Maker is assessed a one-time Membership Application fee of $3,000. The Exchange proposes that the waiver for the one-time Membership Application fee of $3,000 for Market Makers that trade solely in Proprietary Products (including options on SPIKES) will be extended from December 31, 2020 until March 31, 2021, which the Exchange proposes to state in the Fee Schedule. The purpose of this proposed change is to continue to provide an incentive for potential Market Makers to submit membership applications, which should result in increasing potential liquidity in Proprietary Products, including options on SPIKES. Even though the Exchange is proposing to extend the waiver of this particular fee for Market Makers who will trade solely in Proprietary Products from December 31, 2020 until March 31, 2021, the overall structure of the fee is outlined in the Fee Schedule so that there is general awareness that the Exchange intends to assess such a fee after March 31, 2021. 12 The term ‘‘Electronic Exchange Member’’ or ‘‘EEM’’ means the holder of a Trading Permit who is not a Market Maker. Electronic Exchange Members are deemed ‘‘members’’ under the Exchange Act. See Exchange Rule 100. E:\FR\FM\05JAN1.SGM 05JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 2 / Tuesday, January 5, 2021 / Notices Permit fee in any month the Market Maker is certified in the membership system, is credentialed to use one or more MIAX Express Interface Ports (‘‘MEI Ports’’) 13 in the production environment and is assigned to quote in one or more classes. MIAX assesses its Market Makers the monthly Market Maker Trading Permit fee based on the greatest number of classes listed on MIAX that the MIAX Market Maker was assigned to quote in on any given day within a calendar month and the applicable fee rate is the lesser of either Market Maker (includes RMM, LMM, PLMM) ......... $7,000.00 12,000.00 * 17,000.00 * 22,000.00 the per class basis or percentage of total national average daily volume measurements. A MIAX Market Maker is assessed a monthly Trading Permit Fee according to the following table: Market Maker assignments (the lesser of the applicable measurements below) W Monthly MIAX trading permit fee Type of trading permit 329 Per class % of National average daily volume Up to 10 Classes ...... Up to 40 Classes ....... Up to 100 Classes ..... Over 100 Classes ...... Up to 20% of Classes by volume. Up to 35% of Classes by volume. Up to 50% of Classes by volume. Over 50% of Classes by volume up to all Classes listed on MIAX. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES W Excludes Proprietary Products. * For these Monthly MIAX Trading Permit Fee levels, if the Market Maker’s total monthly executed volume during the relevant month is less than 0.060% of the total monthly executed volume reported by OCC in the market maker account type for MIAX-listed option classes for that month, then the fee will be $15,500 instead of the fee otherwise applicable to such level. MIAX proposes that the waiver for the monthly Trading Permit fee for Market Makers that trade solely in Proprietary Products (including options on SPIKES) will be extended from December 31, 2020 to March 31, 2021, which the Exchange proposes to state in the Fee Schedule. The purpose of this proposed change is to continue to provide an incentive for Market Makers to provide liquidity in Proprietary Products on the Exchange, which should result in increasing potential order flow and volume in Proprietary Products, including options on SPIKES. Even though the Exchange is proposing to extend the waiver of this particular fee for Market Makers trading solely in Proprietary Products from December 31, 2020 until March 31, 2021, the overall structure of the fee is outlined in the Fee Schedule so that there is general awareness by potential Members seeking a Trading Permit on the Exchange that the Exchange intends to assess such a fee after March 31, 2021. The Exchange also proposes that Market Makers who trade Proprietary Products (including options on SPIKES) along with multi-listed classes will continue to not have Proprietary Products (including SPIKES) counted toward those Market Makers’ class assignment count or percentage of total national average daily volume. This exclusion is noted with the symbol ‘‘W’’ following the table that shows the monthly Trading Permit Fees currently assessed for Market Makers in Section 3)b) of the Fee Schedule. The Exchange assesses an API Testing and Certification fee to all Members depending upon the type of Member. An API makes it possible for Members’ software to communicate with MIAX software applications, and is subject to Members testing with, and certification by, MIAX. The Exchange offers four types of interfaces: (i) The Financial Information Exchange Port (‘‘FIX Port’’),14 which enables the FIX Port user (typically an EEM or a Market Maker) to submit simple and complex orders electronically to MIAX; (ii) the MEI Port, which enables Market Makers to submit simple and complex electronic quotes to MIAX; (iii) the Clearing Trade Drop Port (‘‘CTD Port’’),15 which provides real-time trade clearing information to the participants to a trade on MIAX and to the participants’ respective clearing firms; and (iv) the FIX Drop Copy Port (‘‘FXD Port’’),16 which provides a copy of real- time trade execution, correction and cancellation information through a FIX Port to any number of FIX Ports designated by an EEM to receive such messages. API Testing and Certification fees for Market Makers are assessed (i) initially per API for CTD and MEI in the month the Market Maker has been credentialed to use one or more ports in the production environment for the tested API and the Market Maker has been assigned to quote in one or more classes, and (ii) each time a Market Maker initiates a change to its system that requires testing and certification. API Testing and Certification fees will not be assessed in situations where the Exchange initiates a mandatory change to the Exchange’s system that requires testing and certification. The Exchange currently assesses a Market Maker an API Testing and Certification fee of $2,500. The API Testing and Certification fees represent costs incurred by the Exchange as it works with each Member for testing and certifying that the Member’s software systems communicate properly with MIAX’s interfaces. MIAX proposes to extend the waiver of the API Testing and Certification fee for Market Makers that trade solely in 13 Full Service MEI Ports provide Market Makers with the ability to send Market Maker simple and complex quotes, eQuotes, and quote purge messages to the MIAX System. Full Service MEI Ports are also capable of receiving administrative information. Market Makers are limited to two Full Service MEI Ports per matching engine. See Fee Schedule, note 27. 14 A FIX Port is an interface with MIAX systems that enables the Port user (typically an Electronic Exchange Member or a Market Maker) to submit simple and complex orders electronically to MIAX. See Fee Schedule, note 24. 15 Clearing Trade Drop (‘‘CTD’’) provides Exchange members with real-time clearing trade updates. The updates include the Member’s clearing trade messages on a low latency, real-time basis. The trade messages are routed to a Member’s connection containing certain information. The information includes, among other things, the following: (i) Trade date and time; (ii) symbol information; (iii) trade price/size information; (iv) Member type (for example, and without limitation, Market Maker, Electronic Exchange Member, Broker-Dealer); (v) Exchange Member Participant Identifier (‘‘MPID’’) for each side of the transaction, including Clearing Member MPID; and (vi) strategy specific information for complex transactions. CTD Port Fees will be assessed in any month the Member is credentialed to use the CTD Port in the production environment. See Fee Schedule, Section 5)d)iii. 16 The FIX Drop Copy Port (‘‘FXD’’) is a messaging interface that will provide a copy of realtime trade execution, trade correction and trade cancellation information for simple and complex orders to FIX Drop Copy Port users who subscribe to the service. FIX Drop Copy Port users are those users who are designated by an EEM to receive the information and the information is restricted for use by the EEM only. FXD Port Fees will be assessed in any month the Member is credentialed to use the FXD Port in the production environment. See Fee Schedule, Section 5)d)iv. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:09 Jan 04, 2021 Jkt 253001 API Testing and Certification Fee PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\05JAN1.SGM 05JAN1 330 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 2 / Tuesday, January 5, 2021 / Notices Proprietary Products (including options on SPIKES) from December 31, 2020 until March 31, 2021, which the Exchange proposes to state in the Fee Schedule. The purpose of this proposed change is to continue to provide an incentive for potential Market Makers to develop software applications to trade in Proprietary Products, including options on SPIKES. Even though the Exchange is proposing to extend the waiver of this particular fee for Market Makers who trade solely in Proprietary Products from December 31, 2020 until March 31, 2021, the overall structure of the fee is outlined in the Fee Schedule so that there is general awareness that the Exchange intends to assess such a fee after March 31, 2021. MEI Port Fees MIAX provides four (4) Port types, including (i) the FIX Port, which enables the FIX Port user (typically an EEM or a Market Maker) to submit simple and complex orders electronically to MIAX; (ii) the MEI Port, which enables Market Makers to submit simple and complex electronic quotes to MIAX; (iii) the CTD Port, which provides real-time trade clearing information to the participants to a trade on MIAX and to the participants’ respective clearing firms; and (iv) the FXD Port, which provides a copy of real-time trade execution, correction and cancellation information through a FIX Port to any number of FIX Ports designated by an EEM to receive such messages. MIAX assesses monthly MEI Port Fees to Market Makers in each month the Member has been credentialed to use the MEI Port in the production environment and has been assigned to quote in at least one class. The amount of the monthly MEI Port Fee is based upon the number of classes in which the Market Maker was assigned to quote on any given day within the calendar month, and upon the class volume percentages set forth in the table below. The class volume percentage is based on the total national average daily volume in classes listed on MIAX in the prior calendar quarter. Newly listed option classes are excluded from the calculation of the monthly MEI Port Fee until the calendar quarter following their listing, at which time the newly listed option classes will be included in both the per class count and the percentage of total national average daily volume. The Exchange assesses MIAX Market Makers the monthly MEI Port Fee based on the greatest number of classes listed on MIAX that the MIAX Market Maker was assigned to quote in on any given day within a calendar month and the applicable fee rate that is the lesser of either the per class basis or percentage of total national average daily volume measurement. MIAX assesses MEI Port Fees on Market Makers according to the following table: Market Maker assignments (the lesser of the applicable measurements below) W Monthly MIAX MEI fees $5,000.00 ...................................... $10,000.00 .................................... $14,000.00 .................................... $17,500.00 * .................................. $20,500.00 * .................................. Per class % of National average daily volume Up to 5 Classes ..................................... Up to 10 Classes ................................... Up to 40 Classes ................................... Up to 100 Classes ................................. Over 100 Classes .................................. Up to 10% of Classes by volume. Up to 20% of Classes by volume. Up to 35% of Classes by volume. Up to 50% of Classes by volume. Over 50% of Classes by volume up to all Classes listed on MIAX. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES W Excludes Proprietary Products. * For these Monthly MIAX MEI Fees levels, if the Market Maker’s total monthly executed volume during the relevant month is less than 0.060% of the total monthly executed volume reported by OCC in the market maker account type for MIAX-listed option classes for that month, then the fee will be $14,500 instead of the fee otherwise applicable to such level. MIAX proposes to extend the waiver of the monthly MEI Port Fee for Market Makers that trade solely in Proprietary Products (including options on SPIKES) from December 31, 2020 until March 31, 2021, which the Exchange proposes to state in the Fee Schedule. The purpose of this proposal is to continue to provide an incentive to Market Makers to connect to MIAX through the MEI Port such that they will be able to trade in MIAX Proprietary Products. Even though the Exchange is proposing to extend the waiver of this particular fee for Market Makers trading solely in Proprietary Products until March 31, 2021, the overall structure of the fee is outlined in the Fee Schedule so that there is general awareness that the Exchange intends to assess such a fee after March 31, 2021. The Exchange notes that for the purposes of this proposed change, other Market Makers who trade MIAX Proprietary Products (including options on SPIKES) along with multi-listed classes will continue to not have Proprietary Products (including SPIKES) VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:09 Jan 04, 2021 Jkt 253001 counted toward those Market Makers’ class assignment count or percentage of total national average daily volume. This exclusion is noted by the symbol ‘‘W’’ following the table that shows the monthly MEI Port Fees currently assessed for Market Makers in Section 5)d)ii) of the Fee Schedule. The proposed extension of the fee waivers are targeted at market participants, particularly market makers, who are not currently members of MIAX, who may be interested in being a Market Maker in Proprietary Products on the Exchange. The Exchange estimates that there are fewer than ten (10) such market participants that could benefit from the extension of these fee waivers. The proposed extension of the fee waivers does not apply differently to different sizes of market participants, however the fee waivers do only apply to Market Makers (and not EEMs). Market Makers, unlike other market participants, take on a number of obligations, including quoting obligations that other market PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 participants do not have. Further, Market Makers have added market making and regulatory requirements, which normally do not apply to other market participants. For example, Market Makers have obligations to maintain continuous markets, engage in a course of dealings reasonably calculated to contribute to the maintenance of a fair and orderly market, and to not make bids or offers or enter into transactions that are inconsistent with a course of dealing. Accordingly, the Exchange believes it is reasonable and not unfairly discriminatory to continue to offer the fee waivers to Market Makers because the Exchange is seeking additional liquidity providers for Proprietary Products, in order to enhance liquidity and spreads in Proprietary Products, which is traditionally provided by Market Makers, as opposed to EEMs. 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes that its proposal to amend its Fee Schedule is E:\FR\FM\05JAN1.SGM 05JAN1 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 2 / Tuesday, January 5, 2021 / Notices consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act 17 in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4) of the Act 18 in particular, in that it is an equitable allocation of reasonable fees and other charges among its members and issuers and other persons using its facilities. The Exchange also believes the proposal furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act in that it is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general to protect investors and the public interest and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers and dealers. The Exchange believes that the proposal to extend the fee waiver period for certain non-transaction fees for Market Makers in Proprietary Products is an equitable allocation of reasonable fees because the proposal continues to waive non-transaction fees for a limited period of time in order to enable the Exchange to improve its overall competitiveness and strengthen its market quality for all market participants in MIAX’s Proprietary Products, including options on SPIKES. The Exchange believe the proposed extension of the fee waivers is fair and equitable and not unreasonably discriminatory because it applies to all market participants not currently registered as Market Makers at the Exchange. Any market participant may choose to satisfy the additional requirements and obligations of being a Market Maker and trade solely in Proprietary Products in order to qualify for the fee waivers. The Exchange believes that the proposed extension of the fee waivers is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory for Market Makers as compared to EEMs because Market Makers, unlike other market participants, take on a number of obligations, including quoting obligations that other market participants do not have. Further, Market Makers have added market making and regulatory requirements, which normally do not apply to other market participants. For example, Market Makers have obligations to maintain continuous markets, engage in a course of dealings reasonably calculated to contribute to the maintenance of a fair and orderly market, and to not make bids or offers or enter into transactions that are inconsistent with a course of dealing. 17 15 18 15 U.S.C. 78f(b). U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:09 Jan 04, 2021 Jkt 253001 The Exchange believes it is reasonable and equitable to continue to waive the one-time Membership Application Fee, monthly Trading Permit Fee, API Testing and Certification Fee, and monthly MEI Port Fee for Market Makers that trade solely in Proprietary Products (including options on SPIKES) until March 31, 2021, since the waiver of such fees provides incentives to interested market participants to trade in Proprietary Products. This should result in increasing potential order flow and liquidity in MIAX Proprietary Products, including options on SPIKES. The Exchange believes it is reasonable and equitable to continue to waive the API Testing and Certification fee assessable to Market Makers that trade solely in Proprietary Products (including options on SPIKES) until March 31, 2021, since the waiver of such fees provides incentives to interested Members to develop and test their APIs sooner. Determining system operability with the Exchange’s system will in turn provide MIAX with potential order flow and liquidity providers in Proprietary Products. The Exchange believes it is reasonable, equitable and not unfairly discriminatory that Market Makers who trade in Proprietary Products along with multi-listed classes will continue to not have Proprietary Products counted toward those Market Makers’ class assignment count or percentage of total national average daily volume for monthly Trading Permit Fees and monthly MEI Port Fees in order to incentivize existing Market Makers who currently trade in multi-listed classes to also trade in Proprietary Products, without incurring certain additional fees. The Exchange believes that the proposed extension of the fee waivers constitutes an equitable allocation of reasonable fees and other charges among its members and issuers and other persons using its facilities. The proposed extension of the fee waivers means that all prospective market makers that wish to become Market Maker Members of the Exchange and quote solely in Proprietary Products may do so and have the abovementioned fees waived until March 31, 2021. The proposed extension of the fee waivers will continue to not apply to potential EEMs because the Exchange is seeking to enhance the quality of its markets in Proprietary Products through introducing more competition among Market Makers in Proprietary Products. In order to increase the competition, the Exchange believes that it must continue to waive entry type fees for such Market Makers. EEMs do not provide the PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 331 benefit of enhanced liquidity which is provided by Market Makers, therefore the Exchange believes it is reasonable and not unfairly discriminatory to continue to only offer the proposed fee waivers to Market Makers (and not EEMs). Further, the Exchange believes it is reasonable and not unfairly discriminatory to continue to exclude Proprietary Products from an existing Market Maker’s permit fees and port fees, in order to incentive such Market Makers to quote in Proprietary Products. The amount of a Market Maker’s permit and port fee is determined by the number of classes quoted and volume of the Market Maker. By excluding Proprietary Products from such fees, the Exchange is able to incentivize Market Makers to quote in Proprietary Products. EEMs do not pay permit and port fees based on the classes traded or volume, so the Exchange believes it is reasonable, equitable, and not unfairly discriminatory to only offer the exclusion to Market Makers (and not EEMs). 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 not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. Intra-Market Competition The Exchange believes that the proposal to reorganize certain sections of the Fee Schedule does not impose any burden on intra-market competition that is not necessary or appropriate because this proposal is not competitive in nature, but rather is designed to remedy minor non-substantive issues and provide added clarity to the Fee Schedule in order to avoid potential confusion on the part of market participants. [sic] The Exchange believes that the proposal to extend certain of the nontransaction fee waivers until March 31, 2021 for Market Makers that trade solely in Proprietary Products would increase intra-market competition by incentivizing new potential Market Makers to quote in Proprietary Products, which will enhance the quality of quoting and increase the volume of contracts in Proprietary Products traded on MIAX, including options on SPIKES. To the extent that this purpose is achieved, all the Exchange’s market participants should benefit from the improved market liquidity for the Exchange’s Proprietary Products. Enhanced market quality and increased transaction volume in Proprietary Products that results from the E:\FR\FM\05JAN1.SGM 05JAN1 332 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 2 / Tuesday, January 5, 2021 / Notices anticipated increase in Market Maker activity on the Exchange will benefit all market participants and improve competition on the Exchange. The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on intra-market competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act because the proposed changes for each separate type of market participant (new Market Makers and existing Market Makers) will be assessed equally to all such market participants. While different fees are assessed to different market participants in some circumstances, these different market participants have different obligations and different circumstances as discussed above. For example, Market Makers have quoting obligations that other market participants (such as EEMs) do not have. Inter-Market Competition The Exchange does not believe the proposal to reorganize certain sections of the Fee Schedule will impose any burden on inter-market competition as the proposal does not address any competitive issues and is intended to protect investors by providing further transparency regarding the Exchange’s Fee Schedule. [sic] The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change to extend the fee waiver for certain non-transaction fees will impose any burden on intermarket competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act because the proposed extension of the fee waivers apply only to the Exchange’s Proprietary Products (including options on SPIKES), which are traded exclusively on the Exchange. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES 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 The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act,19 and Rule 19b–4(f)(2) 20 thereunder. 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 19 15 20 17 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii). CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:09 Jan 04, 2021 Jkt 253001 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. Number SR–MIAX–2020–39, and should be submitted on or before January 26, 2021. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.21 J. Matthew DeLesDernier, Assistant Secretary. 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: [FR Doc. 2020–29134 Filed 1–4–21; 8:45 am] 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– MIAX–2020–39 on the subject line. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.; Order Disapproving a Proposed Rule Change Relating to Rule 14.11, Other Securities, To Modify a Continued Listing Criterion for Certain ExchangeTraded Products 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–MIAX–2020–39. 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 December 29, 2020. PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–90819; File No. SR– CboeBZX–2020–036] I. Introduction On April 29, 2020, Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘BZX’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Exchange Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2 a proposed rule change to amend one of the continued listing requirements relating to certain exchange-traded products (‘‘ETPs’’) under BZX Rule 14.11. The proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal Register on May 7, 2020.3 On June 16, 2020, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Exchange Act,4 the Commission designated a longer period within which to approve the proposed rule change, disapprove the proposed rule change, or institute proceedings to determine whether to disapprove the proposed rule change.5 On August 4, 2020, the Commission instituted proceedings to determine whether to approve or disapprove the proposed rule change.6 On October 28, 2020, the Commission designated a longer period 21 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 88795 (May 1, 2020), 85 FR 27254 (‘‘Notice’’). 4 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2). 5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 89076 (June 16, 2020), 85 FR 37488 (June 22, 2020). The Commission designated August 5, 2020 as the date by which the Commission shall approve or disapprove, or institute proceedings to determine whether to disapprove, the proposed rule change. 6 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 89472 (Aug. 4, 2020), 85 FR 48318 (Aug. 20, 2020) (‘‘OIP’’). 1 15 E:\FR\FM\05JAN1.SGM 05JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 5, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 327-332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-29134]


=======================================================================
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-90814; File No. SR-MIAX-2020-39]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami International Securities 
Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a 
Proposed Rule Change To Amend the Fee Schedule

December 29, 2020.
    Pursuant to the provisions of 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 December 21, 2020, Miami International 
Securities Exchange LLC (``MIAX Options'' or ``Exchange'') filed with 
the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') a 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 Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange is filing a proposal to amend the MIAX Options Fee 
Schedule (the ``Fee Schedule'') to extend the waiver period for certain 
non-transaction fees applicable to Market

[[Page 328]]

Makers \3\ that trade solely in Proprietary Products \4\ until March 
31, 2021.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The term ``Market Makers'' refers to ``Lead Market Makers'', 
``Primary Lead Market Makers'' and ``Registered Market Makers'' 
collectively. See Exchange Rule 100.
    \4\ The term ``Proprietary Product'' means a class of options 
that is listed exclusively on the Exchange. See Exchange Rule 100.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
website at https://www.miaxoptions.com/rule-filings, at MIAX'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
    The Exchange proposes to amend the Fee Schedule to extend the 
waiver period for certain non-transaction fees applicable to Market 
Makers that trade solely in Proprietary Products until March 31, 2021.
    On October 12, 2018, the Exchange received approval from the 
Commission to list and trade on the Exchange, options on the 
SPIKES[supreg] Index, a new index that measures expected 30-day 
volatility of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (commonly known and referred 
to by its ticker symbol, ``SPY'').\5\ The Exchange adopted its initial 
SPIKES transaction fees on February 15, 2019 and adopted a new section 
of the Fee Schedule--Section 1)a)xi), SPIKES--for those fees.\6\ 
Options on the SPIKES Index began trading on the Exchange on February 
19, 2019.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 84417 (October 12, 
2018), 83 FR 52865 (October 18, 2018) (SR-MIAX-2018-14) (Order 
Granting Approval of a Proposed Rule Change by Miami International 
Securities Exchange, LLC to List and Trade on the Exchange Options 
on the SPIKES[supreg] Index).
    \6\ See Securities Exchange Release No. 85283 (March 11, 2019), 
84 FR 9567 (March 15, 2019) (SR-MIAX-2019-11). The Exchange 
initially filed the proposal on February 15, 2019 (SR-MIAX-2019-04). 
That filing was withdrawn and replaced with SR-MIAX-2019-11. On 
September 30, 2020, the Exchange filed its proposal to, among other 
things, reorganize the Fee Schedule to adopt new Section 1)b), 
Proprietary Products Exchange Fees, and moved the fees and rebates 
for SPIKES options into new Section 1)b)i). See Securities Exchange 
Act Release No. 90146 (October 9, 2020), 85 FR 65443 (October 15, 
2020) (SR-MIAX-2020-32).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On May 31, 2019, the Exchange filed a proposal with the Commission 
to amend the Fee Schedule to waive certain non-transaction fees 
applicable to Market Makers that trade solely in Proprietary Products 
(including options on the SPIKES Index) until September 30, 2019.\7\ In 
particular, the Exchange adopted waivers for Membership Application 
fees, monthly Market Maker Trading Permit fees, Application Programming 
Interface (``API'') Testing and Certification fees for Members, and 
monthly MEI Port fees assessed to Market Makers that trade solely in 
Proprietary Products (including options on SPIKES) until September 30, 
2019.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 86109 (June 14, 
2019), 84 FR 28860 (June 20, 2019) (SR-MIAX-2019-28).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On October 1, 2019, the Exchange filed a proposal with the 
Commission to extend the waiver period for the same non-transaction 
fees applicable to Market Makers that trade solely in Proprietary 
Products (including options on SPIKES) until December 31, 2019.\8\ On 
December 30, 2019, the Exchange filed a proposal with the Commission to 
extend the waiver period for the same non-transaction fees applicable 
to Market Makers that trade solely in Proprietary Products (including 
options on SPIKES) until June 30, 2020.\9\ On June 30, 2020, the 
Exchange filed a proposal with the Commission to extend the waiver 
period for the same non-transaction fees applicable to Market Makers 
that trade solely in Proprietary Products (including options on SPIKES) 
until September 30, 2020.\10\ On September 30, 2020, the Exchange filed 
a proposal with the Commission to extend the waiver period for the same 
non-transaction fees applicable to Market Makers that trade solely in 
Proprietary Products (including options on SPIKES) until December 31, 
2020.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 87282 (October 10, 
2019), 84 FR 55658 (October 17, 2019) (SR-MIAX-2019-43).
    \9\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 87897 (January 6, 
2020), 85 FR 1346 (January 10, 2020) (SR-MIAX-2019-53).
    \10\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 89289 (July 10, 
2020), 85 FR 43279 (July 16, 2020) (SR-MIAX-2020-22).
    \11\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 90146 (October 9, 
2020), 85 FR 65443 (October 15, 2020) (SR-MIAX-2020-32).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange now proposes to extend the waiver period for the same 
non-transaction fees applicable to Market Makers that trade solely in 
Proprietary Products (including options on SPIKES) until March 31, 
2021. In particular, the Exchange proposes to waive Membership 
Application fees, monthly Market Maker Trading Permit fees, Member API 
Testing and Certification fees, and monthly MEI Port fees assessed to 
Market Makers that trade solely in Proprietary Products (including 
options on SPIKES) until March 31, 2021.
Membership Application Fees
    The Exchange currently assesses Membership fees for applications of 
potential Members. The Exchange assesses a one-time Membership 
Application fee on the earlier of (i) the date the applicant is 
certified in the membership system, or (ii) once an application for 
MIAX membership is finally denied. The one-time application fee is 
based upon the applicant's status as either a Market Maker or an 
Electronic Exchange Member (``EEM'').\12\ A Market Maker is assessed a 
one-time Membership Application fee of $3,000.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ The term ``Electronic Exchange Member'' or ``EEM'' means 
the holder of a Trading Permit who is not a Market Maker. Electronic 
Exchange Members are deemed ``members'' under the Exchange Act. See 
Exchange Rule 100.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange proposes that the waiver for the one-time Membership 
Application fee of $3,000 for Market Makers that trade solely in 
Proprietary Products (including options on SPIKES) will be extended 
from December 31, 2020 until March 31, 2021, which the Exchange 
proposes to state in the Fee Schedule. The purpose of this proposed 
change is to continue to provide an incentive for potential Market 
Makers to submit membership applications, which should result in 
increasing potential liquidity in Proprietary Products, including 
options on SPIKES. Even though the Exchange is proposing to extend the 
waiver of this particular fee for Market Makers who will trade solely 
in Proprietary Products from December 31, 2020 until March 31, 2021, 
the overall structure of the fee is outlined in the Fee Schedule so 
that there is general awareness that the Exchange intends to assess 
such a fee after March 31, 2021.
Trading Permit Fees
    The Exchange issues Trading Permits that confer the ability to 
transact on the Exchange. MIAX Trading Permits are issued to Market 
Makers and EEMs. Members receiving Trading Permits during a particular 
calendar month are assessed monthly Trading Permit fees as set forth in 
the Fee Schedule. As it relates to Market Makers, MIAX currently 
assesses a monthly Trading

[[Page 329]]

Permit fee in any month the Market Maker is certified in the membership 
system, is credentialed to use one or more MIAX Express Interface Ports 
(``MEI Ports'') \13\ in the production environment and is assigned to 
quote in one or more classes. MIAX assesses its Market Makers the 
monthly Market Maker Trading Permit fee based on the greatest number of 
classes listed on MIAX that the MIAX Market Maker was assigned to quote 
in on any given day within a calendar month and the applicable fee rate 
is the lesser of either the per class basis or percentage of total 
national average daily volume measurements. A MIAX Market Maker is 
assessed a monthly Trading Permit Fee according to the following table:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ Full Service MEI Ports provide Market Makers with the 
ability to send Market Maker simple and complex quotes, eQuotes, and 
quote purge messages to the MIAX System. Full Service MEI Ports are 
also capable of receiving administrative information. Market Makers 
are limited to two Full Service MEI Ports per matching engine. See 
Fee Schedule, note 27.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Market Maker assignments (the lesser of the applicable
                                       Monthly MIAX                   measurements below) [Omega]
       Type of trading permit             trading    -----------------------------------------------------------
                                        permit fee                                         % of National average
                                                                   Per class                   daily volume
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Market Maker (includes RMM, LMM,           $7,000.00  Up to 10 Classes..................  Up to 20% of Classes
 PLMM).                                    12,000.00  Up to 40 Classes..................   by volume.
                                                                                          Up to 35% of Classes
                                                                                           by volume.
                                         * 17,000.00  Up to 100 Classes.................  Up to 50% of Classes
                                                                                           by volume.
                                         * 22,000.00  Over 100 Classes..................  Over 50% of Classes by
                                                                                           volume up to all
                                                                                           Classes listed on
                                                                                           MIAX.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Omega] Excludes Proprietary Products.
* For these Monthly MIAX Trading Permit Fee levels, if the Market Maker's total monthly executed volume during
  the relevant month is less than 0.060% of the total monthly executed volume reported by OCC in the market
  maker account type for MIAX-listed option classes for that month, then the fee will be $15,500 instead of the
  fee otherwise applicable to such level.

    MIAX proposes that the waiver for the monthly Trading Permit fee 
for Market Makers that trade solely in Proprietary Products (including 
options on SPIKES) will be extended from December 31, 2020 to March 31, 
2021, which the Exchange proposes to state in the Fee Schedule. The 
purpose of this proposed change is to continue to provide an incentive 
for Market Makers to provide liquidity in Proprietary Products on the 
Exchange, which should result in increasing potential order flow and 
volume in Proprietary Products, including options on SPIKES. Even 
though the Exchange is proposing to extend the waiver of this 
particular fee for Market Makers trading solely in Proprietary Products 
from December 31, 2020 until March 31, 2021, the overall structure of 
the fee is outlined in the Fee Schedule so that there is general 
awareness by potential Members seeking a Trading Permit on the Exchange 
that the Exchange intends to assess such a fee after March 31, 2021.
    The Exchange also proposes that Market Makers who trade Proprietary 
Products (including options on SPIKES) along with multi-listed classes 
will continue to not have Proprietary Products (including SPIKES) 
counted toward those Market Makers' class assignment count or 
percentage of total national average daily volume. This exclusion is 
noted with the symbol ``[Omega]'' following the table that shows the 
monthly Trading Permit Fees currently assessed for Market Makers in 
Section 3)b) of the Fee Schedule.
API Testing and Certification Fee
    The Exchange assesses an API Testing and Certification fee to all 
Members depending upon the type of Member. An API makes it possible for 
Members' software to communicate with MIAX software applications, and 
is subject to Members testing with, and certification by, MIAX. The 
Exchange offers four types of interfaces: (i) The Financial Information 
Exchange Port (``FIX Port''),\14\ which enables the FIX Port user 
(typically an EEM or a Market Maker) to submit simple and complex 
orders electronically to MIAX; (ii) the MEI Port, which enables Market 
Makers to submit simple and complex electronic quotes to MIAX; (iii) 
the Clearing Trade Drop Port (``CTD Port''),\15\ which provides real-
time trade clearing information to the participants to a trade on MIAX 
and to the participants' respective clearing firms; and (iv) the FIX 
Drop Copy Port (``FXD Port''),\16\ which provides a copy of real-time 
trade execution, correction and cancellation information through a FIX 
Port to any number of FIX Ports designated by an EEM to receive such 
messages.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ A FIX Port is an interface with MIAX systems that enables 
the Port user (typically an Electronic Exchange Member or a Market 
Maker) to submit simple and complex orders electronically to MIAX. 
See Fee Schedule, note 24.
    \15\ Clearing Trade Drop (``CTD'') provides Exchange members 
with real-time clearing trade updates. The updates include the 
Member's clearing trade messages on a low latency, real-time basis. 
The trade messages are routed to a Member's connection containing 
certain information. The information includes, among other things, 
the following: (i) Trade date and time; (ii) symbol information; 
(iii) trade price/size information; (iv) Member type (for example, 
and without limitation, Market Maker, Electronic Exchange Member, 
Broker-Dealer); (v) Exchange Member Participant Identifier 
(``MPID'') for each side of the transaction, including Clearing 
Member MPID; and (vi) strategy specific information for complex 
transactions. CTD Port Fees will be assessed in any month the Member 
is credentialed to use the CTD Port in the production environment. 
See Fee Schedule, Section 5)d)iii.
    \16\ The FIX Drop Copy Port (``FXD'') is a messaging interface 
that will provide a copy of real-time trade execution, trade 
correction and trade cancellation information for simple and complex 
orders to FIX Drop Copy Port users who subscribe to the service. FIX 
Drop Copy Port users are those users who are designated by an EEM to 
receive the information and the information is restricted for use by 
the EEM only. FXD Port Fees will be assessed in any month the Member 
is credentialed to use the FXD Port in the production environment. 
See Fee Schedule, Section 5)d)iv.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    API Testing and Certification fees for Market Makers are assessed 
(i) initially per API for CTD and MEI in the month the Market Maker has 
been credentialed to use one or more ports in the production 
environment for the tested API and the Market Maker has been assigned 
to quote in one or more classes, and (ii) each time a Market Maker 
initiates a change to its system that requires testing and 
certification. API Testing and Certification fees will not be assessed 
in situations where the Exchange initiates a mandatory change to the 
Exchange's system that requires testing and certification. The Exchange 
currently assesses a Market Maker an API Testing and Certification fee 
of $2,500. The API Testing and Certification fees represent costs 
incurred by the Exchange as it works with each Member for testing and 
certifying that the Member's software systems communicate properly with 
MIAX's interfaces.
    MIAX proposes to extend the waiver of the API Testing and 
Certification fee for Market Makers that trade solely in

[[Page 330]]

Proprietary Products (including options on SPIKES) from December 31, 
2020 until March 31, 2021, which the Exchange proposes to state in the 
Fee Schedule. The purpose of this proposed change is to continue to 
provide an incentive for potential Market Makers to develop software 
applications to trade in Proprietary Products, including options on 
SPIKES. Even though the Exchange is proposing to extend the waiver of 
this particular fee for Market Makers who trade solely in Proprietary 
Products from December 31, 2020 until March 31, 2021, the overall 
structure of the fee is outlined in the Fee Schedule so that there is 
general awareness that the Exchange intends to assess such a fee after 
March 31, 2021.
MEI Port Fees
    MIAX provides four (4) Port types, including (i) the FIX Port, 
which enables the FIX Port user (typically an EEM or a Market Maker) to 
submit simple and complex orders electronically to MIAX; (ii) the MEI 
Port, which enables Market Makers to submit simple and complex 
electronic quotes to MIAX; (iii) the CTD Port, which provides real-time 
trade clearing information to the participants to a trade on MIAX and 
to the participants' respective clearing firms; and (iv) the FXD Port, 
which provides a copy of real-time trade execution, correction and 
cancellation information through a FIX Port to any number of FIX Ports 
designated by an EEM to receive such messages.
    MIAX assesses monthly MEI Port Fees to Market Makers in each month 
the Member has been credentialed to use the MEI Port in the production 
environment and has been assigned to quote in at least one class. The 
amount of the monthly MEI Port Fee is based upon the number of classes 
in which the Market Maker was assigned to quote on any given day within 
the calendar month, and upon the class volume percentages set forth in 
the table below. The class volume percentage is based on the total 
national average daily volume in classes listed on MIAX in the prior 
calendar quarter. Newly listed option classes are excluded from the 
calculation of the monthly MEI Port Fee until the calendar quarter 
following their listing, at which time the newly listed option classes 
will be included in both the per class count and the percentage of 
total national average daily volume. The Exchange assesses MIAX Market 
Makers the monthly MEI Port Fee based on the greatest number of classes 
listed on MIAX that the MIAX Market Maker was assigned to quote in on 
any given day within a calendar month and the applicable fee rate that 
is the lesser of either the per class basis or percentage of total 
national average daily volume measurement. MIAX assesses MEI Port Fees 
on Market Makers according to the following table:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Market Maker assignments (the lesser of
                                   the applicable measurements below)
                                                 [Omega]
     Monthly MIAX MEI fees     -----------------------------------------
                                                        % of National
                                    Per class       average daily volume
------------------------------------------------------------------------
$5,000.00.....................  Up to 5 Classes..  Up to 10% of Classes
                                                    by volume.
$10,000.00....................  Up to 10 Classes.  Up to 20% of Classes
                                                    by volume.
$14,000.00....................  Up to 40 Classes.  Up to 35% of Classes
                                                    by volume.
$17,500.00 *..................  Up to 100 Classes  Up to 50% of Classes
                                                    by volume.
$20,500.00 *..................  Over 100 Classes.  Over 50% of Classes
                                                    by volume up to all
                                                    Classes listed on
                                                    MIAX.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Omega] Excludes Proprietary Products.
* For these Monthly MIAX MEI Fees levels, if the Market Maker's total
  monthly executed volume during the relevant month is less than 0.060%
  of the total monthly executed volume reported by OCC in the market
  maker account type for MIAX-listed option classes for that month, then
  the fee will be $14,500 instead of the fee otherwise applicable to
  such level.

    MIAX proposes to extend the waiver of the monthly MEI Port Fee for 
Market Makers that trade solely in Proprietary Products (including 
options on SPIKES) from December 31, 2020 until March 31, 2021, which 
the Exchange proposes to state in the Fee Schedule. The purpose of this 
proposal is to continue to provide an incentive to Market Makers to 
connect to MIAX through the MEI Port such that they will be able to 
trade in MIAX Proprietary Products. Even though the Exchange is 
proposing to extend the waiver of this particular fee for Market Makers 
trading solely in Proprietary Products until March 31, 2021, the 
overall structure of the fee is outlined in the Fee Schedule so that 
there is general awareness that the Exchange intends to assess such a 
fee after March 31, 2021.
    The Exchange notes that for the purposes of this proposed change, 
other Market Makers who trade MIAX Proprietary Products (including 
options on SPIKES) along with multi-listed classes will continue to not 
have Proprietary Products (including SPIKES) counted toward those 
Market Makers' class assignment count or percentage of total national 
average daily volume. This exclusion is noted by the symbol ``[Omega]'' 
following the table that shows the monthly MEI Port Fees currently 
assessed for Market Makers in Section 5)d)ii) of the Fee Schedule.
    The proposed extension of the fee waivers are targeted at market 
participants, particularly market makers, who are not currently members 
of MIAX, who may be interested in being a Market Maker in Proprietary 
Products on the Exchange. The Exchange estimates that there are fewer 
than ten (10) such market participants that could benefit from the 
extension of these fee waivers. The proposed extension of the fee 
waivers does not apply differently to different sizes of market 
participants, however the fee waivers do only apply to Market Makers 
(and not EEMs).
    Market Makers, unlike other market participants, take on a number 
of obligations, including quoting obligations that other market 
participants do not have. Further, Market Makers have added market 
making and regulatory requirements, which normally do not apply to 
other market participants. For example, Market Makers have obligations 
to maintain continuous markets, engage in a course of dealings 
reasonably calculated to contribute to the maintenance of a fair and 
orderly market, and to not make bids or offers or enter into 
transactions that are inconsistent with a course of dealing. 
Accordingly, the Exchange believes it is reasonable and not unfairly 
discriminatory to continue to offer the fee waivers to Market Makers 
because the Exchange is seeking additional liquidity providers for 
Proprietary Products, in order to enhance liquidity and spreads in 
Proprietary Products, which is traditionally provided by Market Makers, 
as opposed to EEMs.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal to amend its Fee Schedule 
is

[[Page 331]]

consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act \17\ in general, and furthers 
the objectives of Section 6(b)(4) of the Act \18\ in particular, in 
that it is an equitable allocation of reasonable fees and other charges 
among its members and issuers and other persons using its facilities. 
The Exchange also believes the proposal furthers the objectives of 
Section 6(b)(5) of the Act in that it is designed to promote just and 
equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to and perfect the 
mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, 
in general to protect investors and the public interest and is not 
designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, 
brokers and dealers.
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    \17\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \18\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
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    The Exchange believes that the proposal to extend the fee waiver 
period for certain non-transaction fees for Market Makers in 
Proprietary Products is an equitable allocation of reasonable fees 
because the proposal continues to waive non-transaction fees for a 
limited period of time in order to enable the Exchange to improve its 
overall competitiveness and strengthen its market quality for all 
market participants in MIAX's Proprietary Products, including options 
on SPIKES. The Exchange believe the proposed extension of the fee 
waivers is fair and equitable and not unreasonably discriminatory 
because it applies to all market participants not currently registered 
as Market Makers at the Exchange. Any market participant may choose to 
satisfy the additional requirements and obligations of being a Market 
Maker and trade solely in Proprietary Products in order to qualify for 
the fee waivers.
    The Exchange believes that the proposed extension of the fee 
waivers is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory for Market Makers 
as compared to EEMs because Market Makers, unlike other market 
participants, take on a number of obligations, including quoting 
obligations that other market participants do not have. Further, Market 
Makers have added market making and regulatory requirements, which 
normally do not apply to other market participants. For example, Market 
Makers have obligations to maintain continuous markets, engage in a 
course of dealings reasonably calculated to contribute to the 
maintenance of a fair and orderly market, and to not make bids or 
offers or enter into transactions that are inconsistent with a course 
of dealing.
    The Exchange believes it is reasonable and equitable to continue to 
waive the one-time Membership Application Fee, monthly Trading Permit 
Fee, API Testing and Certification Fee, and monthly MEI Port Fee for 
Market Makers that trade solely in Proprietary Products (including 
options on SPIKES) until March 31, 2021, since the waiver of such fees 
provides incentives to interested market participants to trade in 
Proprietary Products. This should result in increasing potential order 
flow and liquidity in MIAX Proprietary Products, including options on 
SPIKES.
    The Exchange believes it is reasonable and equitable to continue to 
waive the API Testing and Certification fee assessable to Market Makers 
that trade solely in Proprietary Products (including options on SPIKES) 
until March 31, 2021, since the waiver of such fees provides incentives 
to interested Members to develop and test their APIs sooner. 
Determining system operability with the Exchange's system will in turn 
provide MIAX with potential order flow and liquidity providers in 
Proprietary Products.
    The Exchange believes it is reasonable, equitable and not unfairly 
discriminatory that Market Makers who trade in Proprietary Products 
along with multi-listed classes will continue to not have Proprietary 
Products counted toward those Market Makers' class assignment count or 
percentage of total national average daily volume for monthly Trading 
Permit Fees and monthly MEI Port Fees in order to incentivize existing 
Market Makers who currently trade in multi-listed classes to also trade 
in Proprietary Products, without incurring certain additional fees.
    The Exchange believes that the proposed extension of the fee 
waivers constitutes an equitable allocation of reasonable fees and 
other charges among its members and issuers and other persons using its 
facilities. The proposed extension of the fee waivers means that all 
prospective market makers that wish to become Market Maker Members of 
the Exchange and quote solely in Proprietary Products may do so and 
have the above-mentioned fees waived until March 31, 2021. The proposed 
extension of the fee waivers will continue to not apply to potential 
EEMs because the Exchange is seeking to enhance the quality of its 
markets in Proprietary Products through introducing more competition 
among Market Makers in Proprietary Products. In order to increase the 
competition, the Exchange believes that it must continue to waive entry 
type fees for such Market Makers. EEMs do not provide the benefit of 
enhanced liquidity which is provided by Market Makers, therefore the 
Exchange believes it is reasonable and not unfairly discriminatory to 
continue to only offer the proposed fee waivers to Market Makers (and 
not EEMs). Further, the Exchange believes it is reasonable and not 
unfairly discriminatory to continue to exclude Proprietary Products 
from an existing Market Maker's permit fees and port fees, in order to 
incentive such Market Makers to quote in Proprietary Products. The 
amount of a Market Maker's permit and port fee is determined by the 
number of classes quoted and volume of the Market Maker. By excluding 
Proprietary Products from such fees, the Exchange is able to 
incentivize Market Makers to quote in Proprietary Products. EEMs do not 
pay permit and port fees based on the classes traded or volume, so the 
Exchange believes it is reasonable, equitable, and not unfairly 
discriminatory to only offer the exclusion to Market Makers (and not 
EEMs).

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 not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
Intra-Market Competition
    The Exchange believes that the proposal to reorganize certain 
sections of the Fee Schedule does not impose any burden on intra-market 
competition that is not necessary or appropriate because this proposal 
is not competitive in nature, but rather is designed to remedy minor 
non-substantive issues and provide added clarity to the Fee Schedule in 
order to avoid potential confusion on the part of market participants. 
[sic]
    The Exchange believes that the proposal to extend certain of the 
non-transaction fee waivers until March 31, 2021 for Market Makers that 
trade solely in Proprietary Products would increase intra-market 
competition by incentivizing new potential Market Makers to quote in 
Proprietary Products, which will enhance the quality of quoting and 
increase the volume of contracts in Proprietary Products traded on 
MIAX, including options on SPIKES. To the extent that this purpose is 
achieved, all the Exchange's market participants should benefit from 
the improved market liquidity for the Exchange's Proprietary Products. 
Enhanced market quality and increased transaction volume in Proprietary 
Products that results from the

[[Page 332]]

anticipated increase in Market Maker activity on the Exchange will 
benefit all market participants and improve competition on the 
Exchange.
    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
impose any burden on intra-market competition that is not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act because the 
proposed changes for each separate type of market participant (new 
Market Makers and existing Market Makers) will be assessed equally to 
all such market participants. While different fees are assessed to 
different market participants in some circumstances, these different 
market participants have different obligations and different 
circumstances as discussed above. For example, Market Makers have 
quoting obligations that other market participants (such as EEMs) do 
not have.
Inter-Market Competition
    The Exchange does not believe the proposal to reorganize certain 
sections of the Fee Schedule will impose any burden on inter-market 
competition as the proposal does not address any competitive issues and 
is intended to protect investors by providing further transparency 
regarding the Exchange's Fee Schedule. [sic]
    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change to 
extend the fee waiver for certain non-transaction fees will impose any 
burden on inter-market competition that is not necessary or appropriate 
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act because the proposed 
extension of the fee waivers apply only to the Exchange's Proprietary 
Products (including options on SPIKES), which are traded exclusively on 
the Exchange.

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

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act,\19\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) \20\ thereunder. 
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.
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    \19\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
    \20\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
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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-MIAX-2020-39 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-MIAX-2020-39. 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-MIAX-2020-39, and should be submitted on 
or before January 26, 2021.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\21\
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    \21\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-29134 Filed 1-4-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


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