Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 55028-55029 [2021-21589]

Download as PDF 55028 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 190 / Tuesday, October 5, 2021 / Notices 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. [FR Doc. 2021–21746 Filed 10–4–21; 8:45 am] IV. Solicitation of Comments BILLING CODE 8011–01–P 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– FINRA–2021–025 on the subject line. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 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–FINRA–2021–025. 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 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of FINRA. 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–FINRA– 2021–025 and should be submitted on or before October 26, 2021. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:56 Oct 04, 2021 Jkt 256001 For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.27 J. Matthew DeLesDernier, Assistant Secretary. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [SEC File No. 270–263, OMB Control No. 3235–0275] Proposed Collection; Comment Request Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549–2736 Extension: Rule 17Ad–13 Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (‘‘PRA’’) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) is soliciting comments on the existing collection of information provided for in Rule 17Ad–13 (17 CFR 240.17Ad–13), under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.). The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget (‘‘OMB’’) for extension and approval. Rule 17Ad–13 requires certain registered transfer agents to file annually with the Commission and the transfer agent’s appropriate regulatory authority a report prepared by an independent accountant on the basis of a study and evaluation of the transfer agent’s system of internal accounting controls for the transfer of record ownership and the safeguarding of related securities and funds. If the independent accountant’s report specifies any material inadequacy in a transfer agent’s system, the rule requires the transfer agent to notify the Commission and its appropriate regulatory agency in writing, within sixty calendar days after the transfer agent receives the independent accountant’s report, of any corrective action taken or proposed to be taken by the transfer agent. In addition, Rule 17Ad–13 requires that transfer agents maintain the independent accountant’s report and any other documents required by the rule for at least three years, the first year in an easily accessible place. These recordkeeping requirements assist the Commission and 27 17 PO 00000 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). Frm 00113 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 other regulatory agencies with monitoring transfer agents and ensuring compliance with the rule. Small transfer agents and transfer agents that service only their own companies’ securities are exempt from Rule 17Ad–13. Approximately 100 professional independent transfer agents must file with the Commission one report prepared by an independent accountant pursuant to Rule 17Ad–13 each year. Commission staff estimates that, on average, the annual internal time burden for each transfer agent to submit the independent accountant’s report to the Commission is minimal or zero. The time required for an independent accountant to conduct the study and evaluation of a transfer agent’s system of internal accounting controls and complete the report varies depending on the size and nature of the transfer agent’s operations. Commission staff estimates that, on average, each Rule 17Ad–13 report can be completed by the independent accountant in 120 hours. In light of Commission staff’s review of previously filed Rule 17Ad–13 reports and Commission staff’s conversations with transfer agents and accountants, Commission staff estimates that 120 hours are needed to perform the study and prepare the report on an annual basis. Commission staff estimates that the average hourly rate of an independent accountant is $260, resulting in an annual external cost burden of $31,200 for each of the approximately 100 professional independent transfer agents. The aggregate total annual external cost for the 100 respondents is approximately $3,120,000. Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have any practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission’s estimates of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted in writing within 60 days of this publication. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information under the PRA unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. E:\FR\FM\05OCN1.SGM 05OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 190 / Tuesday, October 5, 2021 / Notices Please direct your written comments to: David Bottom, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Cynthia Roscoe, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549, or send an email to: PRA_ Mailbox@sec.gov. Dated: September 29, 2021. J. Matthew DeLesDernier, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2021–21589 Filed 10–4–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [SEC File No. 270–776, OMB Control No. 3235–0730] Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549–2736 lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Extension: Form N–PORT Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a request for extension of the previously approved collection of information discussed below. The title for the collection of information is ‘‘Form N–PORT under the Investment Company Act of 1940.’’ Form N–PORT requires funds to report portfolio holdings information in a structured, XML format. The form is filed electronically using the Commission’s electronic filing system (Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval or ‘‘EDGAR’’). The purpose of Form N–PORT is to satisfy the filing and disclosure requirements of Section 30(b) of the Investment Company Act, and of Rule 30b1–9 thereunder. We estimate that 11980 entities will be required to submit reports on Form N–PORT. We estimate that 35% of funds will file reports on Form N–PORT in house and the remaining 65% of funds will retain the services of a third party to prepare and file reports on Form N–PORT on the fund’s behalf. The estimated annual hourly burden associated with Form N–PORT 1,839,903 hours for an average of 153.6 hours per entity. The total annual internal time cost associated with Form N–PORT is $654,658,288. The total annual external cost associated with Form N–PORT is $113,858,133. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:56 Oct 04, 2021 Jkt 256001 The requirements of this collection of information are mandatory. Responses will not be kept confidential. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. The public may view background documentation for this information collection at the following website: www.reginfo.gov. Find this particular information collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or by using the search function. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to (i) www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ PRAMain and (ii) David Bottom, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Cynthia Roscoe, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549, or by sending an email to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov. Dated: September 29, 2021. J. Matthew DeLesDernier, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2021–21588 Filed 10–4–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release Nos. 33–10993; 34–93204; 39– 2541; IC–34392; File No. S7–12–21] Potential Technical Changes to EDGAR Filer Access and Filer Account Management Processes Securities and Exchange Commission. ACTION: Request for comment. AGENCY: The Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) is requesting comment on potential technical changes related to how entities and individuals access the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system (‘‘EDGAR’’) to make submissions, and how these entities and individuals (‘‘filers’’) manage the permissions of individuals who may file on EDGAR on their behalf. Individuals who seek to file on EDGAR on behalf of a filer would be directed to a third-party service provider to create individual user account credentials and to enable multifactor authentication. Each filer would designate a ‘‘filer administrator’’—analogous to the current filer contact person who receives the filer’s EDGAR access codes—to manage the permissions of SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00114 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 55029 the filer’s individual users through a new filer management tool on EDGAR. DATES: Comments should be received on or before the later of: December 1, 2021, or November 4, 2021. ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: Electronic Comments • Use the Commission’s internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/submitcomments.htm); or • Send an email to rule-comments@ sec.gov. Please include File Number S7– 12–21 on the subject line. Paper Comments • Send paper comments to Vanessa A. Countryman, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549. All submissions should refer to File Number S7–12–21. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review comments more efficiently, please use only one method of submission. The Commission will post all submitted comments on our website (https:// www.sec.gov). Typically, comments are also 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 a.m. and 3 p.m. Operating conditions may limit access to the Commission’s Public Reference Room. All comments received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are cautioned that the Commission does not redact or edit personal identifying information from comment submissions. Please submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosemary Filou, Deputy Director and Chief Counsel; Daniel Chang, Senior Special Counsel; EDGAR Business Office, at 202–551–3900, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission is seeking public comment on potential technical changes to the EDGAR access process that include the addition of individual user account credentials as well as a tool on EDGAR through which filers would manage their EDGAR accounts. During the comment period, the Commission will open an EDGAR ‘‘Beta’’ environment where pre-enrolled EDGAR filers may preview and test many of the potential access changes. The Commission plans to provide more information regarding E:\FR\FM\05OCN1.SGM 05OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 5, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55028-55029]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21589]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[SEC File No. 270-263, OMB Control No. 3235-0275]


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange 
Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 
20549-2736

Extension:
    Rule 17Ad-13

    Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (``PRA'') (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (``Commission'') is soliciting comments on the existing 
collection of information provided for in Rule 17Ad-13 (17 CFR 
240.17Ad-13), under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a 
et seq.). The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of 
information to the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') for 
extension and approval.
    Rule 17Ad-13 requires certain registered transfer agents to file 
annually with the Commission and the transfer agent's appropriate 
regulatory authority a report prepared by an independent accountant on 
the basis of a study and evaluation of the transfer agent's system of 
internal accounting controls for the transfer of record ownership and 
the safeguarding of related securities and funds. If the independent 
accountant's report specifies any material inadequacy in a transfer 
agent's system, the rule requires the transfer agent to notify the 
Commission and its appropriate regulatory agency in writing, within 
sixty calendar days after the transfer agent receives the independent 
accountant's report, of any corrective action taken or proposed to be 
taken by the transfer agent. In addition, Rule 17Ad-13 requires that 
transfer agents maintain the independent accountant's report and any 
other documents required by the rule for at least three years, the 
first year in an easily accessible place. These recordkeeping 
requirements assist the Commission and other regulatory agencies with 
monitoring transfer agents and ensuring compliance with the rule. Small 
transfer agents and transfer agents that service only their own 
companies' securities are exempt from Rule 17Ad-13.
    Approximately 100 professional independent transfer agents must 
file with the Commission one report prepared by an independent 
accountant pursuant to Rule 17Ad-13 each year. Commission staff 
estimates that, on average, the annual internal time burden for each 
transfer agent to submit the independent accountant's report to the 
Commission is minimal or zero. The time required for an independent 
accountant to conduct the study and evaluation of a transfer agent's 
system of internal accounting controls and complete the report varies 
depending on the size and nature of the transfer agent's operations. 
Commission staff estimates that, on average, each Rule 17Ad-13 report 
can be completed by the independent accountant in 120 hours. In light 
of Commission staff's review of previously filed Rule 17Ad-13 reports 
and Commission staff's conversations with transfer agents and 
accountants, Commission staff estimates that 120 hours are needed to 
perform the study and prepare the report on an annual basis. Commission 
staff estimates that the average hourly rate of an independent 
accountant is $260, resulting in an annual external cost burden of 
$31,200 for each of the approximately 100 professional independent 
transfer agents. The aggregate total annual external cost for the 100 
respondents is approximately $3,120,000.
    Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Commission, including whether the information 
shall have any practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's 
estimates of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. 
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted in 
writing within 60 days of this publication.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information under the PRA unless it 
displays a currently valid OMB control number.

[[Page 55029]]

    Please direct your written comments to: David Bottom, Director/
Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o 
Cynthia Roscoe, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549, or send an email 
to: [email protected].

    Dated: September 29, 2021.
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-21589 Filed 10-4-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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