Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Update the Cboe Data Services, LLC Fee Schedule, 31554-31562 [2023-10471]

Download as PDF 31554 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 95 / Wednesday, May 17, 2023 / Notices IV. Solicitation of Comments Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change, security-based swap submission or advance notice is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 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– OCC–2023–004 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–OCC–2023–004. 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 such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of OCC and on OCC’s website at https://www.theocc.com/CompanyInformation/Documents-and-Archives/ By-Laws-and-Rules48T. Do not include personal identifiable information in submissions; you should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. We may redact in part or withhold entirely from publication submitted material that is obscene or subject to copyright VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:34 May 16, 2023 Jkt 259001 protection. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–OCC–2023–004 and should be submitted on or before June 7, 2023. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.32 Sherry R. Haywood, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2023–10469 Filed 5–16–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–97482; File No. SR–ICC– 2023–005] Self-Regulatory Organizations; ICE Clear Credit LLC; Notice of Designation of Longer Period for Commission Action on Proposed Rule Relating to the Clearance of Additional Credit Default Swap Contracts May 11, 2023. On March 30, 2023, ICE Clear Credit LLC (‘‘ICC’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule change SR–ICC–2023–005 (‘‘Proposed Rule Change’’), pursuant to section 19(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Exchange Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 2 thereunder, to clear additional credit default swap contracts.3 The Proposed Rule Change was published for public comment in the Federal Register on April 18, 2023.4 The Commission has not received comments regarding the proposal described in the Proposed Rule Change. Section 19(b)(2) of the Exchange Act 5 provides that, within 45 days of the publication of notice of the filing of a proposed rule change, or within such longer period up to 90 days as the Commission may designate if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding, or as to which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission 32 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 3 See Notice of Filing infra note 4, 88 FR at 23711. 4 Self-Regulatory Organizations; ICE Clear Credit LLC; Notice of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Clearance of Additional Credit Default Swap Contracts; Exchange Act Release No. 97293 (Apr. 12, 2023), 88 FR 23711 (Apr. 18, 2023) (File No. SR–ICC–2023–005) (‘‘Notice’’). 5 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2). 1 15 PO 00000 Frm 00077 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 shall either approve the proposed rule change, disapprove the proposed rule change, or institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved. The 45th day after publication of the Notice of Filing is June 2, 2023. The Commission is extending this 45-day time period. In order to provide the Commission with sufficient time to consider the Proposed Rule Change, the Commission finds that it is appropriate to designate a longer period within which to take action on the Proposed Rule Change. Accordingly, the Commission, pursuant to section 19(b)(2) of the Exchange Act,6 designates July 17, 2023 as the date by which the Commission shall either approve, disapprove, or institute proceedings to determine whether to disapprove proposed rule change SR–ICC–2023–005. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.7 Sherry R. Haywood, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2023–10467 Filed 5–16–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–97487; File No. SR–CBOE– 2023–022] Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Update the Cboe Data Services, LLC Fee Schedule May 11, 2023. Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2 notice is hereby given that on April 28, 2023, Cboe Exchange, Inc. (‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘Cboe Options’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. 6 Id. 7 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(31). U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 1 15 E:\FR\FM\17MYN1.SGM 17MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 95 / Wednesday, May 17, 2023 / Notices I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change Cboe Exchange, Inc. (the ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘Cboe Options’’) proposes to update the Cboe Data Services, LLC Fee Schedule. The text of the proposed rule change is provided in Exhibit 5. The text of the proposed rule change is also available on the Exchange’s website (https://www.cboe.com/ AboutCBOE/CBOELegalRegulatory Home.aspx), at the Exchange’s Office of the Secretary, 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 fees set forth in the Cboe Data Services, LLC (‘‘CDS’’) Fee Schedule.3 The Exchange proposes to (i) relocate the fees in the CDS Fees Schedule to the Exchange’s Fees Schedule (ii) harmonize various definitions to align with the definitions used by the ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 3 The Exchange initially filed the proposed fee changes on January 3, 2023 (SR–CBOE–2023–001). On March 1, 2023, the Exchange withdrew that filing and replaced it with SR–CBOE–2023–013, which was filed on February 28, 2023. On April 28, 2023, the Exchange withdrew that filing and submitted this filing. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:34 May 16, 2023 Jkt 259001 Exchange’s affiliates, and (iii) modify its fees relating to the distribution of the BBO data feed.4 Relocation of CDS Fees The Exchange first proposes to consolidate the Cboe Data Services, LLC (CDS) Fee Schedule and the Cboe Options Fees Schedule. Historically, the CDS Fee Schedule set forth fees relating to real-time Cboe Options market data products and has been maintained separately from the Cboe Options Fees Schedule. The Exchange proposes to eliminate the CDS Fee Schedule in its entirety and relocate the fees under the CDS Fees Schedule to the Cboe Options Fees Schedule. The Exchange believes this provides a more streamlined fee schedule for Cboe Options fees and allows TPHs to more readily and easily find all fees applicable to Cboe Options. The Exchange also proposes to refer to the ‘‘Exchange’’ in lieu of ‘‘CDS’’ in the revised Fees Schedule to align with terminology used by its affiliated options exchanges Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (‘‘BZX Options’’) and Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc. (‘‘EDGX Options’’). The Exchange notes that no substantive changes are being made with the relocation of the CDS fees and elimination of references to CDS other than those discussed further below. The Exchange lastly notes that each of its affiliated options exchanges also reflect their respective fees for their respective 4 The BBO Data Feed is a real-time data feed that includes the following information: (i) outstanding quotes and standing orders at the best available price level on each side of the market; (ii) executed trades time, size, and price; (iii) totals of customer versus non-customer contracts at the best bid and offer (‘‘BBO’’); (iv) all-or-none contingency orders priced better than or equal to the BBO; (v) expected opening price and expected opening size; (vi) endof-day summaries by product, including open, high, low, and closing price during the trading session; (vi) recap messages any time there is a change in the open, high, low or last sale price of a listed option; (vii) COB information; and (viii) product IDs and codes for all listed options contracts. The quote and last sale data contained in the BBO data feed is identical to the data sent to the Options Price Reporting Authority (‘‘OPRA’’) for redistribution to the public. PO 00000 Frm 00078 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 31555 real-time exchange market data products in the respective exchange’s fees schedule (instead of being maintained separately), including the Exchange’s affiliate Cboe C2 Exchange, Inc., (‘‘C2 Options’’), which relocated its CDS fees schedule into the C2 Options Exchange Fees Schedule in 2018.5 The Exchange also believes the proposed change more accurately reflects the Exchange’s role as it relates to its market data products as CDS is merely an affiliate that is the Cboe contracting entity for all U.S. equities and options market data products, but the data products themselves are made available by the Exchange. Definitions In order to provide consistent rules and terminology amongst the Exchange and its affiliated options exchanges, C2 Options, BZX Options and EDGX Options (collectively, ‘‘Affiliates’’) the Exchange is proposing to amend various definitions and product names to harmonize with such terms used by its affiliates BZX Options and EDGX Options, as well as definitions used in Cboe’s Cboe Global Markets Global Data Agreement and Cboe Global Markets North American Data Policies.6 As such, the proposed rule change deletes a defined term, adds certain defined terms, and makes certain nonsubstantive changes to existing definitions, as further described in the table below. The proposed rule change makes these changes throughout the market data fee language to conform to the proposed defined terms and the Exchange uses the proposed updated terms herein. 5 See BZX Options Exchange Fees Schedule EDGX Options Exchange Fees Schedule and C2 Options Exchange Fees Schedule. See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 83409 (June 12, 20118), 83 FR 28302 (June 18, 2018) (SR–C2– 2018–012). 6 C2 Options will be submitting a similar filing to harmonize its definitions and products names to align with those of BZX Options and EDGX Options as well. E:\FR\FM\17MYN1.SGM 17MYN1 31556 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 95 / Wednesday, May 17, 2023 / Notices Defined term Provision Current CDS location Description of change Customer ..................... A ‘‘Customer’’ is any person, company or other entity that, pursuant to a market data agreement with CDS, is entitled to receive data, either directly from CDS or through an authorized redistributor (i.e., a Customer or an extranet service provider), whether that data is distributed externally or used internally. A third-party vendor of an Approved Third-Party Device, as defined in the CDS Fee Schedule, is not a Customer unless it has a market data agreement in place with CDS. A Floor Broker User, as defined in the CDS Fee Schedule, is not a Customer unless it has a market data agreement in place with CDS. Section I ..................... Distributor .................... A Distributor of an Exchange Market Data product is any entity that receives the Exchange Market Data product directly from the Exchange or indirectly through another entity and then distributes it internally or externally to a third party. N/A ............................. Internal Distributor ....... An Internal Distributor of an Exchange Market Data product is a Distributor that receives the Exchange Market Data product and then distributes that data to one or more Users within the Distributor’s own entity. An External Distributor of an Exchange Market Data product is a Distributor that receives the Exchange Market Data product and then distributes that data to a third party or one or more Users outside the Distributor’s own entity. A User of an Exchange Market Data product is a natural person, a proprietorship, corporation, partnership, or entity, or device (computer or other automated service), that is entitled to receive Exchange data. A ‘‘Non-Professional User’’ is a natural person or qualifying trust that uses Data only for personal purposes and not for any commercial purpose and, for a natural person who works in the United States, is not: (i) registered or qualified in any capacity with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, any state securities agency, any securities exchange or association, or any commodities or futures contract market or association; (ii) engaged as an ‘‘investment adviser’’ as that term is defined in section 201(11) of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 (whether or not registered or qualified under that Act); or (iii) employed by a bank or other organization exempt from registration under federal or state securities laws to perform functions that would require registration or qualification if such functions were performed for an organization not so exempt; or, for a natural person who works outside of the United States, does not perform the same functions as would disqualify such person as a Non-Professional User if he or she worked in the United States. N/A ............................. Deletes defined term to align terms with BZX Options and EDGX Options. The concept of ‘‘Customer’’ is also better captured through the proposed new term ‘‘Distributor’’. Eliminates language that specifies that a person, company, entity, third-party vendor or Floor Broker that does not have a market data agreement in place with CDS is not considered a ‘‘Customer’’ since the Exchange is not proposing to use that term in the Fees Schedule with respect to market data fees and does not believe it’s necessary to clarify this point in the Fees Schedule.7 Neither BZX Options nor EDGX Options refer to market data agreements in their respective Fees Schedules. Codifies definition of ‘‘Distributor’’ in Footnote 49 of the Cboe Options Fees Schedule. An Exchange Market Data Product refers to any Data Product set forth in the Market Data Fees section of the Exchange’s Fees Schedule. Definition is identical to the definition used by BZX Options and EDGX Options and substantially similar to the language in the first sentence of the definition of ‘‘Customer’’ in the CDS Fees Schedule. Codifies definition of ’’ Internal Distributor’’ in Footnote 49 of the Cboe Options Fees Schedule. Definition is identical to the definition used by BZX Options and EDGX Options. Codifies definition of ‘‘External Distributor’’ in Footnote 49 of the Cboe Options Fees Schedule. Definition is identical to the definition used by BZX Options and EDGX Options. External Distributor ...... User ............................. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Non-Professional User VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:34 May 16, 2023 Jkt 259001 PO 00000 Frm 00079 Fmt 4703 N/A ............................. N/A ............................. Codifies definition of ‘‘User’’ in Footnote 49 of the Cboe Options Fees Schedule. Definition is identical to the one used by BZX Options and EDGX Options. Section III ................... Relocates definition to Footnote 49 of the Cboe Options Fees Schedule and updates the rule reference to ‘‘section 201(11)’’ of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 to ‘‘section 202(a)(11)’’. Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\17MYN1.SGM 17MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 95 / Wednesday, May 17, 2023 / Notices Defined term Provision Current CDS location Description of change Professional User ........ A Professional User of an Exchange Market Data product is any User other than a NonProfessional User. Section III ................... Display Only Service ... A ‘‘Display Only Service’’ allows a natural person end-user to view and manipulate data using the Distributor’s computerized service, but not to save, copy, export or transfer the data or any results of the manipulation to any other computer hardware, software or media, except for printing it to paper or other non-magnetic media. A ‘‘Device’’ means any computer, workstation or other item of equipment, fixed or portable, that receives, accesses and/or displays data in visual, audible or other form. An ‘‘Approved Third-Party Device’’ means any computer, workstation or other item of equipment, fixed or portable, that receives, accesses and/or displays data in visual, audible or other form that has been provided by a third-party and that has been approved, by Cboe Options, for use on the Cboe Options trading floor. A ‘‘Floor Broker User’’ is a person or entity registered with Cboe Options as a floor broker pursuant to Cboe Options Rules. Section I ..................... Relocates definition to Footnote 49 of the Cboe Options Fees Schedule and eliminates reference to ‘‘natural person’’ recipient of ‘‘Data’’ to align with the ‘‘Professional User’’ definition used by BZX Options and EDGX Options, as well as Cboe’s market data policies and agreements. Relocates definition to Footnote 49 of the Cboe Options Fees Schedule. Replaces reference to ‘‘Customer’’ with ‘‘Distributor’’. Device .......................... Approved Third-Party Device. Floor Broker User ........ The Exchange also proposes to rename the following market data products and use the proposed names Section I under ‘‘Display Only User Fees’’. Relocates definition to Footnote 49 of the Cboe Options Fees Schedule. Section I under ‘‘Floor Broker User Fees’’. Relocates definition to Footnote 49 of the Cboe Options Fees Schedule. Section I under ‘‘Floor Broker User Fees’’. Relocates definition to Footnote 49 of the Cboe Options Fees Schedule. herein, in order to align with the naming convention used by the Exchange’s affiliates, BZX Options and Current name Cboe Cboe Cboe Cboe Options Options Options Options Top. Depth. Complex Order Book (COB). FLEX Options. The Exchange believes the proposed changes to eliminate, modify and adopt the terms discussed above will add transparency to the Fees Schedule and will protect investors, as the changes provide more clarity within the rule and more harmonized rule language across the Fees Schedules of the Cboe affiliated options exchanges, as well as well as definitions used in Cboe’s Cboe Global Markets Global Data Agreement and Cboe Global Markets North American Data Policies. Further, the Exchange notes that the above-described changes relating to definitions are nonsubstantive changes or provide additional detail in the rule regarding current market participants that purchase or use the Exchange’s market data products. None of these differences impact the manner in which any of the terms and corresponding fees apply, including how the Exchange would have otherwise characterized a Distributor or User (Professional or NonProfessional) as such definitions are more consistent with the definitions already used in the Cboe Global Markets Global Data Agreement and Cboe Global Markets North American Data Policies, to which all firms receiving Cboe Options market data must adhere to. 7 All Distributors of Cboe Options proprietary market data products are subject to Cboe Global Markets North American Data Policies and must still sign the Cboe Global Markets Global Data Agreement. 8 See BZX Options Exchange Fees Schedule, Market Data Fees and EDGX Options Exchange Fees Schedule, Market Data Fees. 9 Under the proposal, a Distributor that wishes to distribute Cboe Options Top internally and VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:34 May 16, 2023 Jkt 259001 EDGX Options, for similar data products.8 Proposed name BBO Data Feed ........................................................................................ Book Depth Data Feed ............................................................................. Complex Order Book (COB) Data Feed .................................................. FLEX Options Data Feed ......................................................................... ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 31557 Cboe Options Top Fee Changes The Exchange next proposes to modify the current monthly Data Fee for Cboe Options Top. Currently, the Exchange assesses a ‘‘Data Fee’’ of PO 00000 Frm 00080 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 $9,000 per month for internal use and external redistribution of the Cboe Options Top Data Feed. A Distributor receiving the Cboe Options Top Data Feed from another entity or directly from the Exchange is assessed the Data Fee by the Exchange and is entitled to use the Data internally and/or distribute it externally. The Exchange now proposes to adopt separate fees for internal and external distribution. Specifically, the Exchange proposes to maintain the current monthly fee of $9,000 for internal distribution but adopt a lower fee of $5,000 per month for external distribution.9 The Exchange next proposes to modify its current User Fees. The Exchange currently charges a ‘‘User externally would be subject to a combined monthly fee of $14,000 (i.e., $9,000 for internal distribution and $5,000 for external distribution). E:\FR\FM\17MYN1.SGM 17MYN1 31558 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 95 / Wednesday, May 17, 2023 / Notices ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Fee’’ of $50 per month per Device or user ID for use of the data in the Cboe Options Top Data Feed by ‘‘Display Only Service’’ users. The current User fee is payable only for ‘‘external’’ Display Only Service users who receive Cboe Options Top and are not employees or natural person independent contractors of the Distributor, the Distributor’s affiliates or an authorized service facilitator.10 Internal Distributors may currently distribute Cboe Options Top Data to an unlimited number of internal Users and Devices within the Distributor at no further cost (aside from the abovementioned monthly Distribution Fee). The Exchange proposes to eliminate the current Cboe Options Top User fee and in its place adopt Professional and NonProfessional User fees for Cboe Options Top that would apply to both Internal and External Distributors for all Professional and Non-Professional Users. The Exchange proposes to charge Cboe Options Top Distributors a monthly fee of $15.50 per Professional User and a monthly fee of $0.30 per Non-Professional User.11 Next, the Exchange proposes to eliminate a fee waiver for Distributors of Cboe Options Top Data. In particular, the CDS Fee Schedule currently provides that the monthly data fee of $9,000 per month for the Cboe Options Depth feed 12 and Cboe Options COB 10 Pursuant to the Cboe Global Markets North American Data Policies, Distributors must report the number of authorized external devices that receive Cboe Options Top data during a calendar month within 15 days after such month in the manner and format specified by the Exchange from time to time to determine applicable fees. In connection with a Distributor’s distribution of the market data product, Distributors are required to report all Professional and Non-Professional Users in accordance with the following: Distributor should count as one User each unique User that the Distributor has entitled to have access to the market data product. However, where a device is dedicated specifically to a single individual, the Distributor should count only the individual and need not count the device. Distributor should identify and report each unique User. If a User uses the same unique method to gain access to the market data product, the Distributor should count that as one User. However, if a unique User uses multiple methods to gain access to the market data product (e.g., a single User has multiple passwords and user identifications), the Distributor should report all of those methods as an individual User. Distributors should report each unique individual person who receives access through multiple devices as one User so long as each device is dedicated specifically to that individual. If a Distributor entitles one or more individuals to use the same device, the Distributor should include only the individuals, and not the device, in the count. 11 Distributors that receive Cboe Options Top Data will be required to count every Professional User and Non-Professional User to which they provide the data feed. 12 The Cboe Options Depth feed is a real-time, low latency data feed that includes all data contained in the Cboe Options Top feed (as VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:34 May 16, 2023 Jkt 259001 feed 13 are waived for Distributors of Cboe Options Top Data. The Exchange proposes to eliminate the fee waivers for Cboe Options Depth and Cboe Options COB for External Distributors of Cboe Options Top (i.e., the monthly $9,000 data fee for Cboe Options Depth will only continue to be waived for Internal Distributors of Cboe Options Top Data and the monthly $3,000 data fee for Cboe Options COB will only continue to be waived for Internal Distributors of Cboe Options Top and/or Distributors (Internal or External) of Cboe Options Depth Feed). The Exchange wishes only to eliminate the availability of the fee waiver for External Distributors of Cboe Options Top for both Cboe Options Depth and Cboe Options COB because such distributors will already be receiving the benefit of the proposed reduced fee for external distribution of Cboe Options Top as compared to Internal Distributors of Cboe Options Top who will continue to be charged the higher fee of $9,000. The Exchange lastly proposes to establish a $300,000 per month Enterprise Fee that will permit a Distributor to purchase a monthly (and optional) Enterprise license to receive the Cboe Options Top Data for distribution to an unlimited number of Professional and Non-Professional Users. The Enterprise Fee is an alternative to Professional and NonProfessional User fees and is assessed in addition to the Distribution Fee, which the Exchange proposes to make clear in the Fee Schedule. The Enterprise Fee may provide an opportunity to reduce fees. For example, if a Distributor has 20,000 Professional Users who each receive Cboe Options Top at $15.50 per month (as proposed), then that Distributor will pay $310,000 per month in Professional User fees. If the Distributor instead were to purchase the proposed Enterprise license, it would alternatively pay a flat fee of $300,000 for an unlimited number of Professional and Non-Professional Users. A Distributor must pay a separate Enterprise Fee for each entity that controls the display of Cboe Options described above) plus outstanding quotes and standing orders for an additional four price levels on each side of the market, with aggregate size (‘‘Book Depth’’). The data in the Cboe Options Depth feed is refreshed periodically during the trading session. 13 The Cboe Options COB feed is a real-time feed that consists of data regarding the Exchange’s Complex Order Book and related complex order information. The Cboe Options COB feed includes ‘‘best bid and offer’’ or ‘‘BBO’’ quotes and identifying information for all Cboe Options-traded complex order strategies, as well as all executed Cboe Options complex order trades (and identifies whether the trade was a customer trade or whether a complex order in the COB is a customer order). PO 00000 Frm 00081 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Top if it wishes for such Users to be covered by the Enterprise Fee rather than by per User fees.14 A Distributor that pays the Enterprise Fee will not have to report its number of such Users on a monthly basis. Rather, every six months, the Distributor must provide the Exchange with a count of the total number of Professional and NonProfessional Users of Cboe Options Top Data.15 The Exchange notes that the purchase of an Enterprise license is voluntary, and a firm may elect to instead use the per User structure and benefit from the proposed per User Fees described above. For example, a firm that does not have a sufficient number of Users to benefit from purchase of the license need not do so. 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ‘‘Act’’) and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to the Exchange and, in particular, the requirements of section 6(b) of the Act.16 Specifically, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the section 6(b)(5) 17 requirements that the rules of an exchange be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. Additionally, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the section 6(b)(5) requirement that the rules of an exchange not be designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. The Exchange also believes this proposal is consistent with section 6(b)(8) of the Act, which requires that the rules of an exchange not impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.18 The 14 For example, if a Distributor (e.g., Refinitiv) that distributes Cboe Options Top to Retail Brokerage Firm A and Retail Brokerage Firm B (which ‘‘entities’’ redistribute BZX Options Top to its respective Users) and wishes to have the Users under each firm covered by an Enterprise license, the Distributor would be subject to two Enterprise Fees. 15 See Cboe Global Markets north American Data Policies. 16 15 U.S.C. 78f(b). 17 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). 18 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8). E:\FR\FM\17MYN1.SGM 17MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 95 / Wednesday, May 17, 2023 / Notices Exchange lastly believes the proposed rule change is consistent with section 6(b)(4) of the Act,19 which requires that Exchange rules provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among its Trading Permit Holders and other persons using its facilities. The Exchange first notes that it operates in a highly competitive environment. Indeed, there are currently 16 registered options exchanges that trade options. Based on publicly available information, no single options exchange has more than 18% of the market share.20 The Exchange believes top-of-book quotation and transaction data is highly competitive as national securities exchanges compete vigorously with each other to provide efficient, reliable, and low-cost data to a wide range of investors and market participants. Indeed, there are several competing products offered by other national securities exchanges today, not counting products offered by the Exchange’s affiliates, and each of the Exchange’s affiliated U.S. options exchanges also offers similar top-ofbook data.21 Each of those exchanges offer top-of-book quotation and last sale information based on their own quotation and trading activity that is substantially similar to the information provided by the Exchange through the Cboe Options Top Feed. Further, the quote and last sale data contained in the Cboe Options Data Feed is identical to the data sent to OPRA for redistribution to the public, including data relating to the Exchange’s proprietary and exclusively listed products.22 Accordingly, Exchange top-of-book data is widely available today from a number of different sources. Moreover, the Cboe Options Top Data Feed is distributed and purchased on a voluntary basis, in that neither the Exchange nor market data distributors are required by any rule or regulation to make this data available. Accordingly, Distributors and Users can discontinue use at any time and for any reason, including due to an assessment of the 19 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4). Cboe Global Markets U.S. Options Market Month-to-Date Volume Summary (April 24, 2023), available at https://markets.cboe.com/us/options/ market_statistics/. 21 See e.g., NYSE Arca Options Proprietary Market Data Fees Schedule, MIAX Options Exchange, Fee Schedule, Section 6 (Market Data Fees), Nasdaq PHLX Options 7 Pricing Schedule, Section 10 (Proprietary Data Feed Fees) and C2 Options Exchange Fees Schedule, Cboe Data Services, LLC Fees. 22 The Exchange notes that it makes available the BBO data and last sale data that is included in the Cboe Options Top Data Feed no earlier than the time at which the Exchange sends that data to OPRA. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 20 See VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:34 May 16, 2023 Jkt 259001 reasonableness of fees charged. As described above, market participants have a wide variety of alternative market data products from which to choose, such as similar proprietary data products offered by other exchanges and consolidated data. Further, the Exchange is not required to make any proprietary data products available or to offer any specific pricing alternatives to any customers. Moreover, persons (including broker-dealers) who subscribe to any exchange proprietary data feed must also have equivalent access to consolidated Options Information 23 from OPRA for the same classes or series of options that are included in the proprietary data feed (including for exclusively listed products), and proprietary data feeds cannot be used to meet that particular requirement.24 As such, all proprietary data feeds are purely optional and only those that deem the product to be of sufficient overall value and usefulness would purchase it. The Commission has repeatedly expressed its preference for competition over regulatory intervention in determining prices, products, and services in the securities markets. Particularly, in Regulation NMS, the Commission highlighted the importance of market forces in determining prices and SRO revenues and, also, recognized that current regulation of the market system ‘‘has been remarkably successful in promoting market competition in its broader forms that are most important to investors and listed companies.’’ 25 Making similar data products available to market participants fosters competition in the marketplace, and constrains the ability of exchanges to charge supracompetitive fees. In the event that a market participant views one exchange’s data product as more or less attractive than a competitor they can and do switch between similar 23 ‘‘Consolidated Options Information’’ means consolidated Last Sale Reports combined with either consolidated Quotation Information or the BBO furnished by OPRA. Access to consolidated Options Information is deemed ‘‘equivalent’’ if both kinds of information are equally accessible on the same terminal or work station. See Limited Liability Company Agreement of Options Price Reporting Authority, LLC (‘‘OPRA Plan’’), Section 5.2(c)(iii). The Exchange notes that this requirement under the OPRA Plan is also reiterated under the Cboe Global Markets Global Data Agreement and Cboe Global Markets North American Data Policies, which subscribers to any exchange proprietary product must sign and are subject to, respectively. Additionally, the Exchange’s Data Order Form (used for requesting the Exchange’s market data products) requires confirmation that the requesting market participant receives data from OPRA. 24 Id. 25 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808 (June 9, 2005), 70 FR 37496, 37499 (June 29, 2005) (‘‘Regulation NMS Adopting Release’’). PO 00000 Frm 00082 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 31559 products. The proposed fees are a result of the competitive environment, as the Exchange seeks to adopt fees to attract purchasers of Cboe Options Top Data. The Exchange believes the proposed External Distribution fee is reasonable as it would represent a decreased fee for any Distributor who is only interested in distributing Cboe Options Top externally. Providing an opportunity for lower cost access to U.S. options market data such as Cboe Options Top benefits a wide range of investors that participate in the national market system and makes it more broadly available, including non-professional retail investors who, by definition, do not receive the data for commercial purposes and therefore would not be receiving the data via internal distribution. The Exchange believes the proposed fees for external distribution of Cboe Options Top will also continue to be allocated fairly and equitably, and are not unfairly discriminatory, as the proposed fee will apply equally to all Distributors that choose to subscribe to Cboe Options Top and distribute that data to external Users. More specifically, as proposed, all External Distributors of Cboe Options Top will be subject to the same external distribution fee, regardless of the type of business that they operate, or the use they plan to make of the data feed. Thus, all External Distributors would have access to Cboe Options Top for purposes of external distribution on the same equitable and non-discriminatory terms. The Exchange believes that it is also fair and equitable, and not unfairly discriminatory to charge different fees for internal and external distribution of the Cboe Options Top. Although the proposed distribution fee charged to External Distributors will be lower than the existing distribution fee charged to Internal Distributors, External Distributors are subject to User fees for both Non-Professional Users and Professional Users, whereas Internal Distributors will only subject to fees for Professional Users (or alternatively the proposed Enterprise Fee). Moreover, Internal Distributors of Cboe Options Top will still have the benefit of receiving Cboe Options Depth and/or Cboe Options COB at no additional cost, whereas the waiver to receive Cboe Options Depth will not be available for External Distributors of Cboe Options Top. The Exchange also notes that Cboe Options Depth and Cboe Options COB are more likely to be distributed internally as such data is used by Professional Users, including employees of Distributors, whereas Cboe Options Top is more likely to be distributed externally as such data is expected to be E:\FR\FM\17MYN1.SGM 17MYN1 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 31560 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 95 / Wednesday, May 17, 2023 / Notices used more frequently by NonProfessional Users who, by definition, do not receive the data for commercial purposes (e.g., retail investors). The Exchange therefore believes that the proposed reduced fee for External Distributors is reasonable because it may encourage more distributors to choose to offer the Cboe Options Top Data Feed, thereby expanding the distribution of this market data for the benefit of investors, and particularly retail investors. The Exchange next notes it is not required to charge a single distribution fee to cover more than one of its available data products, but none-theless has opted to not charge for separate data fees for Cboe Options Depth and Cboe Options COB for Distributors of Cboe Options Top, since such waiver was adopted in January 1, 2015 [sic].26 However, the Exchange no longer wishes to maintain the fee waiver of Cboe Options Depth or Cboe Options COB for External Distributors of Cboe Options Top. The Exchange believes the proposed elimination of the waivers is reasonable, equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because although External Distributors will not receive the benefit of the fee waiver, they will be subject to a lower distribution fee as compared to Internal Distributors of Cboe Options Top who will continue to be charged the higher fee of $9,000. Additionally, the Exchange notes that all Distributors of Cboe Options COB are also Distributors of Cboe Options Depth, and therefore already have (and will continue to have) their monthly distribution fee for Cboe Options COB waived since Distributors of Cboe Options Depth qualify for a waiver of the monthly distribution fee for Cboe Options COB.27 Moreover, the Exchange does not anticipate the impact of the proposed rule change to be significant as most market participants (over 70%) buy either Cboe Options Top or Cboe Options Depth (and not both) and nearly 80% of Distributors of Cboe Options Top and Cboe Options Depth distribute such products internally. Further, Distributors are not required to distribute, and Users are not required to receive, any one particular data product and may choose to receive none, one, or several of the Exchange’s market data products. Only those that deem any product or products to be of sufficient overall value and usefulness would purchase such product(s). The Exchange 26 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 70683 (October 15, 2013), 78 FR 62798 (October 22, 2013) (SR–CBOE–2013–087). 27 See Cboe Data Services, LLC (CDS) Fee Schedule, Section III, Complex Order Book (‘‘COB’’) Data Feed, Data Fee. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:34 May 16, 2023 Jkt 259001 is also not required to maintain a single fee that covers multiple market data products. In fact, other exchanges similarly have adopted separate fees for different data products that historically had otherwise been provided under a single fee.28 The Exchange believes the proposed change is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory as it will apply uniformly to External Distributors. The Exchange believes the proposed changes to adopt new Professional and Non-Professional User fees are reasonable as the User fees continue to be in line with User fees assessed by other exchanges for similar data.29 Moreover, Display Only Service Users will now be subject to lower fees as the Exchange proposes to significantly reduce the monthly User fees from $50 per Device or User ID for Display Only Service User to $15.50 per Professional User or $0.30 per Non-Professional User. Although External Distributors are currently only subject to a User fee for external Users that are Display Only Service Users, the proposed fee for all external Users (which are likely to be Non-Professional Users) is significantly lower (i.e., $0.30 per Non-Professional User) than the current $50 User fee. Moreover, the proposed fee structure of differentiated Professional and NonProfessional fees that are paid by both Internal and External Distributors has long been used by other exchanges, including the Exchange, for their proprietary data products, and by the OPRA plan in order to reduce the price 28 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79556 (December 14, 2016), 81 FR 92935 (December 20, 2016) (SR–NASDAQ–2016–167). 29 See e.g., Nasdaq PHLX Options 7 Pricing Schedule, Section 10 (Proprietary Data Feed Fees), which provides for a fee of $40 per month to professional users and $1.00 per month to nonprofessional users to cover the usage of PHLX Options (TOPO) Data, TOPO Plus Orders, PHLX Orders and PHLX Depth Data feeds. See also NYSE American Options Proprietary Market Data Fees schedule, which provides for a fee of $50 per month to professional users and $1.00 per month to nonprofessional users of American Options Top Data, American Options Deep and American Options Complex products. By comparison, the total Professional User fee for Cboe Options Top and Cboe Options COB is in line with the above Professional User fee at $40.50 per Professional User (i.e., $15.50 per Professional Users of Cboe Options Top, as proposed, and $25 per Professional User of Cboe Options COB). The Exchange’s combined Non-Professional User Fee at $0.30 per Non-Professional User (i.e., $0.30 per NonProfessional User of Cboe Options Top, as proposed, and $0 per Non-Professional User of Cboe Options COB) is lower than PHLX’s and NYSE American’s aforementioned Non-Professional User fees. Cboe Options Depth is not included in the above comparison because there are no User fees based on Professional or Non-Professional classification, but rather a $50 per month, per Device or User ID fee for Display Only Service external users only. Further there are no fees for any internal Users. PO 00000 Frm 00083 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 of data to retail investors and make it more broadly available.30 The Exchange also believes offering Cboe Options Top Data to Non-Professional Users at a rate lower than the rate for Professional Users results in greater equity among data recipients, as Professional Users are categorized as such based on their employment and participation in financial markets, and thus, are compensated to participate in the markets. Although Non-Professional Users too can receive significant financial benefits through their participation in the markets, the Exchange believes it is reasonable to charge more to those Users who are more directly engaged in the markets. The Exchange believes that the proposed fees are equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because they will be charged uniformly to Distributors for their Professional and Non-professional Users. Although Internal Distributors do not currently pay any User fees for Cboe Options Top, the Exchange believes its reasonable, equitable and not unfairly discriminatory to start assessing User fees, as internal and external users will be treated the same. Additionally, other exchanges also assess User fees for internal users of similar data, including the Exchange’s affiliates.31 Moreover, the proposed rates Internal Distributors will be subject to for User fees are in line with User fees assessed by other exchanges for similar data.32 The Exchange believes the proposed monthly User fees for which Internal Distributors of Cboe Options Top will now be subject to are equitably allocated because they would be charged on an equal basis for all internal Users that receive Cboe Options Top. The proposed Enterprise Fee for Cboe Options Top Feed is equitable and reasonable as the proposed fee could result in a fee reduction for Distributors with a large number of Professional and Non-Professional Users. If a Distributor has a smaller number of Professional Users of Cboe Options Top Data, then it 30 See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59544 (March 9, 2009), 74 FR 11162 (March 16, 2009) (SR–NYSE–2008–131) (establishing the $15 Non-Professional User Fee (Per User) for NYSE OpenBook); See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67589 (August 2, 2012), 77 FR 47459 (August 8, 2012) (revising OPRA’s definition of the term ‘‘Nonprofessional’’); and See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 70683 (October 15, 2013), 78 FR 62798 (October 22, 2013) (SR–CBOE–2013– 087) (establishing Professional and NonProfessional User fees for Cboe Options COB Data Feed). 31 See BZX Options Fees Schedule, Market Data Fees and EDGX Options Fees Schedule, Market Data Fees. See also Nasdaq PHLX Options 7 Pricing Schedule, Section 10 (Proprietary Data Feed Fees). 32 See supra note 29. E:\FR\FM\17MYN1.SGM 17MYN1 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 95 / Wednesday, May 17, 2023 / Notices may continue using the per User structure and benefit from the proposed per Cboe Options Top User Fee reductions. By reducing prices for Distributors with a large number of Professional and Non-Professional Users, the Exchange believes that more firms may choose to receive and to distribute Cboe Options Top Data, thereby expanding the distribution of this market data for the benefit of investors. The Exchange further believes that the proposed Enterprise Fee is reasonable because it will simplify reporting for certain recipients that have large numbers of Professional and NonProfessional Users. Firms that pay the proposed Enterprise Fee will not have to report the number of Users on a monthly basis as they currently do, but rather will only have to count Professional and Non-Professional users every six months, which is a significant reduction in administrative burden. Finally, as described above the Enterprise Fee is entirely optional. A firm that does not have a sufficient number of Users to benefit from purchase of the license need not do so. The Exchange lastly believes the proposed changes relating to the defined terms and terminology will provide additional specificity and clarity, while also harmonizing the various definition with that of its affiliates and providing more consistency with definitions used in the Cboe Global Markets Global Data Agreement and Cboe Global Markets North American Data Policies. Doing so would ensure consistent terms amongst the Exchange and its affiliates, as well as the Exchange’s data agreements and policies, thereby reducing the potential for confusion amongst market data subscribers of the Exchange’s and its affiliates’ market data products. Additionally, the proposed new terms are identical to the terms already used by the Exchange’s affiliates BZX Options and EDGX Options. Similarly, the Exchange believes the proposal to relocate the fees in the CDS Fees Schedule to the Cboe Options Fees Schedule will provide for a more streamlined fees schedule and allow TPHs to more readily and easily find all fees applicable to Cboe Option, thereby reducing potential confusion. Further, the Exchange is the only exchange of the Cboe options exchanges that currently maintains a separate fees schedule for its market data product fees. Accordingly, the Exchange believes the proposed changes remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, protect investors and the public interest. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:34 May 16, 2023 Jkt 259001 B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Burden on Competition The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change would result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange operates in a highly competitive environment, and its ability to price top-of-book data is constrained by competition among exchanges that offer similar data products to their customers. For example, Top-of-book data is broadly disseminated by competing U.S. options exchanges. Further, the Exchange’s proposal to eliminate the waiver for the Cboe Options Depth and Cboe Options COB data fees for External Distributors of Cboe Options Top does not modify the existing fee amounts, but simply eliminates waivers to receive such data products free of charge that the Exchange is not required to maintain. Other exchanges are free to adopt a similar waiver if they choose. In this competitive environment potential Distributors are free to choose which competing product to purchase to satisfy their respective needs for market information. Often, the choice comes down to price, as market data participants look to purchase cheaper data products, and quality, as market participants seek to purchase data that represents significant market liquidity. The Exchange believes that the proposed fees do not put any market participants at a relative disadvantage compared to other market participants. As discussed, the proposed fees and eliminated waiver would apply to all similarly situated Distributors of Cboe Options Top on an equal and nondiscriminatory basis. The Exchange believes the reduced fees for External Distributors and not Internal Distributors of Cboe Options Top is appropriate given External Distributors are subject to both the proposed NonProfessional and Professional user fees as compared to Internal Distributors who are only subject to Professional user fee (since non-professional users, by definition, do not receive the data for commercial purposes and therefore would not be receiving the data via internal distribution) s, [sic]. Additionally, Internal Distributors will continue to receive the benefit of a fee waiver for Cboe Options Depth and Cboe Options COB, which are more commonly used products for internal distribution amongst Professional Users. The Exchange believes the differentiated fees for Professional and NonProfessional Users of Cboe options Top is appropriate given Professional Users PO 00000 Frm 00084 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 31561 are categorized as such based on their employment and participation in financial markets, and thus, are compensated to participate in the markets. Non-Professional Users too can receive significant financial benefits through their participation in the markets, however the Exchange believes it is reasonable to charge more to those Users who are more directly engaged in the markets. The Exchange therefore believes that the proposed fee neither favors nor penalizes one or more categories of market participants in a manner that would impose an undue burden on competition. The Exchange believes that the proposed fees do not impose a burden on competition or on other SROs that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. In particular, market participants are not forced to subscribe to Cboe Options Top Data, or any of the Exchange’s data feeds, as described above. As noted, the quote and last sale data contained in the Exchange’s Cboe Options Top feed is identical to the data sent to OPRA for redistribution to the public, including data relating to the Exchange’s proprietary and exclusively listed products. Accordingly, Exchange top-ofbook data is therefore widely available today from a number of different sources. Because market data customers can find suitable substitute feeds, an exchange that overprices its market data products stands a high risk that users may substitute another product. These competitive pressures ensure that no one exchange’s market data fees can impose an undue burden on competition, and the Exchange’s proposed fees do not do so here. C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others The Exchange has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit, comments on this proposed rule change. The Exchange has not received any written comments from members or other interested parties. III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 33 and paragraph (f) of Rule 19b–4 34 thereunder. At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may 33 15 34 17 E:\FR\FM\17MYN1.SGM U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A). CFR 240.19b–4(f). 17MYN1 31562 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 95 / Wednesday, May 17, 2023 / Notices 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 will institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or disapproved. IV. Solicitation of Comments Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 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– CBOE–2023–022 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–CBOE–2023–022. 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. Do not include personal identifiable information in submissions; you should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. We may redact in part or withhold entirely from VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:34 May 16, 2023 Jkt 259001 publication submitted material that is obscene or subject to copyright protection. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–CBOE–2023–022 and should be submitted on or before June 7, 2023. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.35 Sherry R. Haywood, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2023–10471 Filed 5–16–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–97483; File No. SR–MSRB– 2023–01] Self-Regulatory Organizations; Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board; Order Granting Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 1, Consisting of Amendments to MSRB Rule G–40, on Advertising by Municipal Advisors, and MSRB Rule G–8, on Books and Records May 11, 2023. I. Introduction On January 31, 2023, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (‘‘MSRB’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’), pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’ or ‘‘Exchange Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2 a proposed rule change (‘‘original proposed rule change’’) to amend MSRB Rule G–40 (‘‘Rule G–40’’), on advertising by municipal advisors, and MSRB Rule G–8 (‘‘Rule G–8’’), on books and records. The original proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal Register on February 14, 2023.3 The Commission received two comment letters on the original proposed rule change.4 On March 21, 2023, the MSRB granted an extension of time for the 35 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 3 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 96840 (Feb. 8, 2023), 88 FR 9580 (Feb. 14, 2023) (‘‘Notice’’). 4 See Letter to Secretary, Commission, from Leslie M. Norwood, Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (‘‘SIFMA’’), dated March 7, 2023 (‘‘SIFMA Letter’’); Letter to Secretary, Commission, from Susan Gaffney, Executive Director, National Association of Municipal Advisors (‘‘NAMA’’), dated March 7, 2023 (‘‘NAMA Letter I’’). 1 15 PO 00000 Frm 00085 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Commission to act on the filing until May 15, 2023.5 On April 4, 2023, the MSRB responded to the comment letters 6 and filed Amendment No. 1 to the original proposed rule change (‘‘Amendment No. 1’’).7 On April 11, 2023, the Commission published notice of Amendment No. 1 in the Federal Register.8 In response to Amendment No. 1, the Commission received one comment letter.9 On April 28, 2023, the MSRB submitted a response to the comment received on Amendment No. 1.10 This order approves the original proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 1 (as so modified, the ‘‘proposed rule change’’). II. Description of Original Proposed Rule Change The MSRB stated that, consistent with its strategic goal to modernize its rulebook, the original proposed rule change would amend Rule G–40 to allow municipal advisors to use testimonials in certain circumstances.11 The MSRB stated that this change would better align Rule G–40 with, to the extent appropriate, the principles of MSRB Rule G–21 (‘‘Rule G–21’’), on advertising by brokers, dealers or municipal securities, as well as Rule 206(4)–1 12 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (‘‘Advisers Act’’) 13 adopted in 2020 14 by the Commission.15 Specifically, the MSRB indicated the original proposed rule change would consist of amendments to Rule G–40 to: (i) permit municipal advisors to use testimonials in advertisements, subject to certain conditions; (ii) specify additional supervisory obligations with 5 See ‘‘Extension of Time on File No. SR–MSRB– 2023–01 to May 15, 2023,’’ available at https:// msrb.org/sites/default/files/2023-03/MSRB-202301%20eot.pdf. 6 See Letter to Secretary, Commission, from Saliha Olgun, Interim Chief Regulatory Officer, MSRB, dated April 4, 2023 (the ‘‘MSRB Letter I’’). 7 Amendment No. 1 is available at https:// msrb.org/sites/default/files/2023-04/MSRB-202301%20A-1.pdf. 8 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 97255 (Apr. 5, 2023), 88 FR 21729 (Apr. 11, 2023) (‘‘Notice of Amendment No. 1’’). 9 See Letter to Secretary, Commission, from Susan Gaffney, Executive Director, National Association of Municipal Advisors, dated April 26, 2023 (‘‘NAMA Letter II’’). 10 See Letter to Secretary, Commission, from Saliha Olgun, Interim Chief Regulatory Officer, MSRB, dated April 28, 2023 (‘‘MSRB Letter II’’). 11 Notice, 88 FR at 9580. 12 17 CFR 275.206(4)–1. 13 15 U.S.C. 80b–1 et seq. 14 See Investment Advisers Act Release No. 5653 (Dec. 22, 2020), the adopting release for Investment Adviser Marketing (the ‘‘SEC 2020 Adopting Release’’), 86 FR 13024 (Mar. 5 2021). 15 Notice, 88 FR at 9580–81. E:\FR\FM\17MYN1.SGM 17MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 17, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31554-31562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10471]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-97487; File No. SR-CBOE-2023-022]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe Exchange, Inc.; Notice of 
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Update 
the Cboe Data Services, LLC Fee Schedule

May 11, 2023.
    Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on April 28, 2023, Cboe Exchange, Inc. (``Exchange'' or ``Cboe 
Options'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, 
and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The 
Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the 
proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.

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[[Page 31555]]

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    Cboe Exchange, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or ``Cboe Options'') proposes 
to update the Cboe Data Services, LLC Fee Schedule. The text of the 
proposed rule change is provided in Exhibit 5.
    The text of the proposed rule change is also available on the 
Exchange's website (https://www.cboe.com/AboutCBOE/CBOELegalRegulatoryHome.aspx), at the Exchange's Office of the 
Secretary, 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 fees set forth in the Cboe Data 
Services, LLC (``CDS'') Fee Schedule.\3\ The Exchange proposes to (i) 
relocate the fees in the CDS Fees Schedule to the Exchange's Fees 
Schedule (ii) harmonize various definitions to align with the 
definitions used by the Exchange's affiliates, and (iii) modify its 
fees relating to the distribution of the BBO data feed.\4\
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    \3\ The Exchange initially filed the proposed fee changes on 
January 3, 2023 (SR-CBOE-2023-001). On March 1, 2023, the Exchange 
withdrew that filing and replaced it with SR-CBOE-2023-013, which 
was filed on February 28, 2023. On April 28, 2023, the Exchange 
withdrew that filing and submitted this filing.
    \4\ The BBO Data Feed is a real-time data feed that includes the 
following information: (i) outstanding quotes and standing orders at 
the best available price level on each side of the market; (ii) 
executed trades time, size, and price; (iii) totals of customer 
versus non-customer contracts at the best bid and offer (``BBO''); 
(iv) all-or-none contingency orders priced better than or equal to 
the BBO; (v) expected opening price and expected opening size; (vi) 
end-of-day summaries by product, including open, high, low, and 
closing price during the trading session; (vi) recap messages any 
time there is a change in the open, high, low or last sale price of 
a listed option; (vii) COB information; and (viii) product IDs and 
codes for all listed options contracts. The quote and last sale data 
contained in the BBO data feed is identical to the data sent to the 
Options Price Reporting Authority (``OPRA'') for redistribution to 
the public.
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Relocation of CDS Fees
    The Exchange first proposes to consolidate the Cboe Data Services, 
LLC (CDS) Fee Schedule and the Cboe Options Fees Schedule. 
Historically, the CDS Fee Schedule set forth fees relating to real-time 
Cboe Options market data products and has been maintained separately 
from the Cboe Options Fees Schedule. The Exchange proposes to eliminate 
the CDS Fee Schedule in its entirety and relocate the fees under the 
CDS Fees Schedule to the Cboe Options Fees Schedule. The Exchange 
believes this provides a more streamlined fee schedule for Cboe Options 
fees and allows TPHs to more readily and easily find all fees 
applicable to Cboe Options. The Exchange also proposes to refer to the 
``Exchange'' in lieu of ``CDS'' in the revised Fees Schedule to align 
with terminology used by its affiliated options exchanges Cboe BZX 
Exchange, Inc. (``BZX Options'') and Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc. (``EDGX 
Options''). The Exchange notes that no substantive changes are being 
made with the relocation of the CDS fees and elimination of references 
to CDS other than those discussed further below. The Exchange lastly 
notes that each of its affiliated options exchanges also reflect their 
respective fees for their respective real-time exchange market data 
products in the respective exchange's fees schedule (instead of being 
maintained separately), including the Exchange's affiliate Cboe C2 
Exchange, Inc., (``C2 Options''), which relocated its CDS fees schedule 
into the C2 Options Exchange Fees Schedule in 2018.\5\ The Exchange 
also believes the proposed change more accurately reflects the 
Exchange's role as it relates to its market data products as CDS is 
merely an affiliate that is the Cboe contracting entity for all U.S. 
equities and options market data products, but the data products 
themselves are made available by the Exchange.
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    \5\ See BZX Options Exchange Fees Schedule EDGX Options Exchange 
Fees Schedule and C2 Options Exchange Fees Schedule. See also 
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 83409 (June 12, 20118), 83 FR 
28302 (June 18, 2018) (SR-C2-2018-012).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Definitions
    In order to provide consistent rules and terminology amongst the 
Exchange and its affiliated options exchanges, C2 Options, BZX Options 
and EDGX Options (collectively, ``Affiliates'') the Exchange is 
proposing to amend various definitions and product names to harmonize 
with such terms used by its affiliates BZX Options and EDGX Options, as 
well as definitions used in Cboe's Cboe Global Markets Global Data 
Agreement and Cboe Global Markets North American Data Policies.\6\ As 
such, the proposed rule change deletes a defined term, adds certain 
defined terms, and makes certain non-substantive changes to existing 
definitions, as further described in the table below. The proposed rule 
change makes these changes throughout the market data fee language to 
conform to the proposed defined terms and the Exchange uses the 
proposed updated terms herein.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ C2 Options will be submitting a similar filing to harmonize 
its definitions and products names to align with those of BZX 
Options and EDGX Options as well.

[[Page 31556]]



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Defined term                      Provision           Current CDS location    Description of change
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Customer..........................  A ``Customer'' is any       Section I............  Deletes defined term to
                                     person, company or other                           align terms with BZX
                                     entity that, pursuant to                           Options and EDGX
                                     a market data agreement                            Options. The concept of
                                     with CDS, is entitled to                           ``Customer'' is also
                                     receive data, either                               better captured through
                                     directly from CDS or                               the proposed new term
                                     through an authorized                              ``Distributor''.
                                     redistributor (i.e., a                             Eliminates language that
                                     Customer or an extranet                            specifies that a person,
                                     service provider),                                 company, entity, third-
                                     whether that data is                               party vendor or Floor
                                     distributed externally or                          Broker that does not
                                     used internally. A third-                          have a market data
                                     party vendor of an                                 agreement in place with
                                     Approved Third-Party                               CDS is not considered a
                                     Device, as defined in the                          ``Customer'' since the
                                     CDS Fee Schedule, is not                           Exchange is not
                                     a Customer unless it has                           proposing to use that
                                     a market data agreement                            term in the Fees
                                     in place with CDS. A                               Schedule with respect to
                                     Floor Broker User, as                              market data fees and
                                     defined in the CDS Fee                             does not believe it's
                                     Schedule, is not a                                 necessary to clarify
                                     Customer unless it has a                           this point in the Fees
                                     market data agreement in                           Schedule.\7\ Neither BZX
                                     place with CDS.                                    Options nor EDGX Options
                                                                                        refer to market data
                                                                                        agreements in their
                                                                                        respective Fees
                                                                                        Schedules.
Distributor.......................  A Distributor of an         N/A..................  Codifies definition of
                                     Exchange Market Data                               ``Distributor'' in
                                     product is any entity                              Footnote 49 of the Cboe
                                     that receives the                                  Options Fees Schedule.
                                     Exchange Market Data                               An Exchange Market Data
                                     product directly from the                          Product refers to any
                                     Exchange or indirectly                             Data Product set forth
                                     through another entity                             in the Market Data Fees
                                     and then distributes it                            section of the
                                     internally or externally                           Exchange's Fees
                                     to a third party.                                  Schedule. Definition is
                                                                                        identical to the
                                                                                        definition used by BZX
                                                                                        Options and EDGX Options
                                                                                        and substantially
                                                                                        similar to the language
                                                                                        in the first sentence of
                                                                                        the definition of
                                                                                        ``Customer'' in the CDS
                                                                                        Fees Schedule.
Internal Distributor..............  An Internal Distributor of  N/A..................  Codifies definition of ''
                                     an Exchange Market Data                            Internal Distributor''
                                     product is a Distributor                           in Footnote 49 of the
                                     that receives the                                  Cboe Options Fees
                                     Exchange Market Data                               Schedule. Definition is
                                     product and then                                   identical to the
                                     distributes that data to                           definition used by BZX
                                     one or more Users within                           Options and EDGX
                                     the Distributor's own                              Options.
                                     entity.
External Distributor..............  An External Distributor of  N/A..................  Codifies definition of
                                     an Exchange Market Data                            ``External Distributor''
                                     product is a Distributor                           in Footnote 49 of the
                                     that receives the                                  Cboe Options Fees
                                     Exchange Market Data                               Schedule. Definition is
                                     product and then                                   identical to the
                                     distributes that data to                           definition used by BZX
                                     a third party or one or                            Options and EDGX
                                     more Users outside the                             Options.
                                     Distributor's own entity.
User..............................  A User of an Exchange       N/A..................  Codifies definition of
                                     Market Data product is a                           ``User'' in Footnote 49
                                     natural person, a                                  of the Cboe Options Fees
                                     proprietorship,                                    Schedule. Definition is
                                     corporation, partnership,                          identical to the one
                                     or entity, or device                               used by BZX Options and
                                     (computer or other                                 EDGX Options.
                                     automated service), that
                                     is entitled to receive
                                     Exchange data.
Non-Professional User.............  A ``Non-Professional        Section III..........  Relocates definition to
                                     User'' is a natural                                Footnote 49 of the Cboe
                                     person or qualifying                               Options Fees Schedule
                                     trust that uses Data only                          and updates the rule
                                     for personal purposes and                          reference to ``section
                                     not for any commercial                             201(11)'' of the
                                     purpose and, for a                                 Investment Advisors Act
                                     natural person who works                           of 1940 to ``section
                                     in the United States, is                           202(a)(11)''.
                                     not: (i) registered or
                                     qualified in any capacity
                                     with the Securities and
                                     Exchange Commission, the
                                     Commodities Futures
                                     Trading Commission, any
                                     state securities agency,
                                     any securities exchange
                                     or association, or any
                                     commodities or futures
                                     contract market or
                                     association; (ii) engaged
                                     as an ``investment
                                     adviser'' as that term is
                                     defined in section
                                     201(11) of the Investment
                                     Advisors Act of 1940
                                     (whether or not
                                     registered or qualified
                                     under that Act); or (iii)
                                     employed by a bank or
                                     other organization exempt
                                     from registration under
                                     federal or state
                                     securities laws to
                                     perform functions that
                                     would require
                                     registration or
                                     qualification if such
                                     functions were performed
                                     for an organization not
                                     so exempt; or, for a
                                     natural person who works
                                     outside of the United
                                     States, does not perform
                                     the same functions as
                                     would disqualify such
                                     person as a Non-
                                     Professional User if he
                                     or she worked in the
                                     United States.

[[Page 31557]]

 
Professional User.................  A Professional User of an   Section III..........  Relocates definition to
                                     Exchange Market Data                               Footnote 49 of the Cboe
                                     product is any User other                          Options Fees Schedule
                                     than a Non-Professional                            and eliminates reference
                                     User.                                              to ``natural person''
                                                                                        recipient of ``Data'' to
                                                                                        align with the
                                                                                        ``Professional User''
                                                                                        definition used by BZX
                                                                                        Options and EDGX
                                                                                        Options, as well as
                                                                                        Cboe's market data
                                                                                        policies and agreements.
Display Only Service..............  A ``Display Only Service''  Section I............  Relocates definition to
                                     allows a natural person                            Footnote 49 of the Cboe
                                     end-user to view and                               Options Fees Schedule.
                                     manipulate data using the                          Replaces reference to
                                     Distributor's                                      ``Customer'' with
                                     computerized service, but                          ``Distributor''.
                                     not to save, copy, export
                                     or transfer the data or
                                     any results of the
                                     manipulation to any other
                                     computer hardware,
                                     software or media, except
                                     for printing it to paper
                                     or other non-magnetic
                                     media.
Device............................  A ``Device'' means any      Section I under        Relocates definition to
                                     computer, workstation or    ``Display Only User    Footnote 49 of the Cboe
                                     other item of equipment,    Fees''.                Options Fees Schedule.
                                     fixed or portable, that
                                     receives, accesses and/or
                                     displays data in visual,
                                     audible or other form.
Approved Third-Party Device.......  An ``Approved Third-Party   Section I under        Relocates definition to
                                     Device'' means any          ``Floor Broker User    Footnote 49 of the Cboe
                                     computer, workstation or    Fees''.                Options Fees Schedule.
                                     other item of equipment,
                                     fixed or portable, that
                                     receives, accesses and/or
                                     displays data in visual,
                                     audible or other form
                                     that has been provided by
                                     a third-party and that
                                     has been approved, by
                                     Cboe Options, for use on
                                     the Cboe Options trading
                                     floor.
Floor Broker User.................  A ``Floor Broker User'' is  Section I under        Relocates definition to
                                     a person or entity          ``Floor Broker User    Footnote 49 of the Cboe
                                     registered with Cboe        Fees''.                Options Fees Schedule.
                                     Options as a floor broker
                                     pursuant to Cboe Options
                                     Rules.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange also proposes to rename the following market data 
products and use the proposed names herein, in order to align with the 
naming convention used by the Exchange's affiliates, BZX Options and 
EDGX Options, for similar data products.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ All Distributors of Cboe Options proprietary market data 
products are subject to Cboe Global Markets North American Data 
Policies and must still sign the Cboe Global Markets Global Data 
Agreement.
    \8\ See BZX Options Exchange Fees Schedule, Market Data Fees and 
EDGX Options Exchange Fees Schedule, Market Data Fees.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Current name                        Proposed name
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BBO Data Feed..........................  Cboe Options Top.
Book Depth Data Feed...................  Cboe Options Depth.
Complex Order Book (COB) Data Feed.....  Cboe Options Complex Order Book
                                          (COB).
FLEX Options Data Feed.................  Cboe Options FLEX Options.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange believes the proposed changes to eliminate, modify and 
adopt the terms discussed above will add transparency to the Fees 
Schedule and will protect investors, as the changes provide more 
clarity within the rule and more harmonized rule language across the 
Fees Schedules of the Cboe affiliated options exchanges, as well as 
well as definitions used in Cboe's Cboe Global Markets Global Data 
Agreement and Cboe Global Markets North American Data Policies. 
Further, the Exchange notes that the above-described changes relating 
to definitions are non-substantive changes or provide additional detail 
in the rule regarding current market participants that purchase or use 
the Exchange's market data products. None of these differences impact 
the manner in which any of the terms and corresponding fees apply, 
including how the Exchange would have otherwise characterized a 
Distributor or User (Professional or Non-Professional) as such 
definitions are more consistent with the definitions already used in 
the Cboe Global Markets Global Data Agreement and Cboe Global Markets 
North American Data Policies, to which all firms receiving Cboe Options 
market data must adhere to.
Cboe Options Top Fee Changes
    The Exchange next proposes to modify the current monthly Data Fee 
for Cboe Options Top. Currently, the Exchange assesses a ``Data Fee'' 
of $9,000 per month for internal use and external redistribution of the 
Cboe Options Top Data Feed. A Distributor receiving the Cboe Options 
Top Data Feed from another entity or directly from the Exchange is 
assessed the Data Fee by the Exchange and is entitled to use the Data 
internally and/or distribute it externally. The Exchange now proposes 
to adopt separate fees for internal and external distribution. 
Specifically, the Exchange proposes to maintain the current monthly fee 
of $9,000 for internal distribution but adopt a lower fee of $5,000 per 
month for external distribution.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ Under the proposal, a Distributor that wishes to distribute 
Cboe Options Top internally and externally would be subject to a 
combined monthly fee of $14,000 (i.e., $9,000 for internal 
distribution and $5,000 for external distribution).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange next proposes to modify its current User Fees. The 
Exchange currently charges a ``User

[[Page 31558]]

Fee'' of $50 per month per Device or user ID for use of the data in the 
Cboe Options Top Data Feed by ``Display Only Service'' users. The 
current User fee is payable only for ``external'' Display Only Service 
users who receive Cboe Options Top and are not employees or natural 
person independent contractors of the Distributor, the Distributor's 
affiliates or an authorized service facilitator.\10\ Internal 
Distributors may currently distribute Cboe Options Top Data to an 
unlimited number of internal Users and Devices within the Distributor 
at no further cost (aside from the above-mentioned monthly Distribution 
Fee). The Exchange proposes to eliminate the current Cboe Options Top 
User fee and in its place adopt Professional and Non-Professional User 
fees for Cboe Options Top that would apply to both Internal and 
External Distributors for all Professional and Non-Professional Users. 
The Exchange proposes to charge Cboe Options Top Distributors a monthly 
fee of $15.50 per Professional User and a monthly fee of $0.30 per Non-
Professional User.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ Pursuant to the Cboe Global Markets North American Data 
Policies, Distributors must report the number of authorized external 
devices that receive Cboe Options Top data during a calendar month 
within 15 days after such month in the manner and format specified 
by the Exchange from time to time to determine applicable fees. In 
connection with a Distributor's distribution of the market data 
product, Distributors are required to report all Professional and 
Non-Professional Users in accordance with the following: Distributor 
should count as one User each unique User that the Distributor has 
entitled to have access to the market data product. However, where a 
device is dedicated specifically to a single individual, the 
Distributor should count only the individual and need not count the 
device. Distributor should identify and report each unique User. If 
a User uses the same unique method to gain access to the market data 
product, the Distributor should count that as one User. However, if 
a unique User uses multiple methods to gain access to the market 
data product (e.g., a single User has multiple passwords and user 
identifications), the Distributor should report all of those methods 
as an individual User. Distributors should report each unique 
individual person who receives access through multiple devices as 
one User so long as each device is dedicated specifically to that 
individual. If a Distributor entitles one or more individuals to use 
the same device, the Distributor should include only the 
individuals, and not the device, in the count.
    \11\ Distributors that receive Cboe Options Top Data will be 
required to count every Professional User and Non-Professional User 
to which they provide the data feed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Next, the Exchange proposes to eliminate a fee waiver for 
Distributors of Cboe Options Top Data. In particular, the CDS Fee 
Schedule currently provides that the monthly data fee of $9,000 per 
month for the Cboe Options Depth feed \12\ and Cboe Options COB feed 
\13\ are waived for Distributors of Cboe Options Top Data. The Exchange 
proposes to eliminate the fee waivers for Cboe Options Depth and Cboe 
Options COB for External Distributors of Cboe Options Top (i.e., the 
monthly $9,000 data fee for Cboe Options Depth will only continue to be 
waived for Internal Distributors of Cboe Options Top Data and the 
monthly $3,000 data fee for Cboe Options COB will only continue to be 
waived for Internal Distributors of Cboe Options Top and/or 
Distributors (Internal or External) of Cboe Options Depth Feed). The 
Exchange wishes only to eliminate the availability of the fee waiver 
for External Distributors of Cboe Options Top for both Cboe Options 
Depth and Cboe Options COB because such distributors will already be 
receiving the benefit of the proposed reduced fee for external 
distribution of Cboe Options Top as compared to Internal Distributors 
of Cboe Options Top who will continue to be charged the higher fee of 
$9,000.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ The Cboe Options Depth feed is a real-time, low latency 
data feed that includes all data contained in the Cboe Options Top 
feed (as described above) plus outstanding quotes and standing 
orders for an additional four price levels on each side of the 
market, with aggregate size (``Book Depth''). The data in the Cboe 
Options Depth feed is refreshed periodically during the trading 
session.
    \13\ The Cboe Options COB feed is a real-time feed that consists 
of data regarding the Exchange's Complex Order Book and related 
complex order information. The Cboe Options COB feed includes ``best 
bid and offer'' or ``BBO'' quotes and identifying information for 
all Cboe Options-traded complex order strategies, as well as all 
executed Cboe Options complex order trades (and identifies whether 
the trade was a customer trade or whether a complex order in the COB 
is a customer order).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange lastly proposes to establish a $300,000 per month 
Enterprise Fee that will permit a Distributor to purchase a monthly 
(and optional) Enterprise license to receive the Cboe Options Top Data 
for distribution to an unlimited number of Professional and Non-
Professional Users. The Enterprise Fee is an alternative to 
Professional and Non-Professional User fees and is assessed in addition 
to the Distribution Fee, which the Exchange proposes to make clear in 
the Fee Schedule. The Enterprise Fee may provide an opportunity to 
reduce fees. For example, if a Distributor has 20,000 Professional 
Users who each receive Cboe Options Top at $15.50 per month (as 
proposed), then that Distributor will pay $310,000 per month in 
Professional User fees. If the Distributor instead were to purchase the 
proposed Enterprise license, it would alternatively pay a flat fee of 
$300,000 for an unlimited number of Professional and Non-Professional 
Users. A Distributor must pay a separate Enterprise Fee for each entity 
that controls the display of Cboe Options Top if it wishes for such 
Users to be covered by the Enterprise Fee rather than by per User 
fees.\14\ A Distributor that pays the Enterprise Fee will not have to 
report its number of such Users on a monthly basis. Rather, every six 
months, the Distributor must provide the Exchange with a count of the 
total number of Professional and Non-Professional Users of Cboe Options 
Top Data.\15\ The Exchange notes that the purchase of an Enterprise 
license is voluntary, and a firm may elect to instead use the per User 
structure and benefit from the proposed per User Fees described above. 
For example, a firm that does not have a sufficient number of Users to 
benefit from purchase of the license need not do so.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ For example, if a Distributor (e.g., Refinitiv) that 
distributes Cboe Options Top to Retail Brokerage Firm A and Retail 
Brokerage Firm B (which ``entities'' redistribute BZX Options Top to 
its respective Users) and wishes to have the Users under each firm 
covered by an Enterprise license, the Distributor would be subject 
to two Enterprise Fees.
    \15\ See Cboe Global Markets north American Data Policies.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act'') and the rules and 
regulations thereunder applicable to the Exchange and, in particular, 
the requirements of section 6(b) of the Act.\16\ Specifically, the 
Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the 
section 6(b)(5) \17\ requirements that the rules of an exchange be 
designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to 
promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation 
and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, 
settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating 
transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the 
mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, 
in general, to protect investors and the public interest. Additionally, 
the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the 
section 6(b)(5) requirement that the rules of an exchange not be 
designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, 
brokers, or dealers. The Exchange also believes this proposal is 
consistent with section 6(b)(8) of the Act, which requires that the 
rules of an exchange not impose any burden on competition that is not 
necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.\18\ 
The

[[Page 31559]]

Exchange lastly believes the proposed rule change is consistent with 
section 6(b)(4) of the Act,\19\ which requires that Exchange rules 
provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and 
other charges among its Trading Permit Holders and other persons using 
its facilities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \17\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
    \18\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
    \19\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange first notes that it operates in a highly competitive 
environment. Indeed, there are currently 16 registered options 
exchanges that trade options. Based on publicly available information, 
no single options exchange has more than 18% of the market share.\20\ 
The Exchange believes top-of-book quotation and transaction data is 
highly competitive as national securities exchanges compete vigorously 
with each other to provide efficient, reliable, and low-cost data to a 
wide range of investors and market participants. Indeed, there are 
several competing products offered by other national securities 
exchanges today, not counting products offered by the Exchange's 
affiliates, and each of the Exchange's affiliated U.S. options 
exchanges also offers similar top-of-book data.\21\ Each of those 
exchanges offer top-of-book quotation and last sale information based 
on their own quotation and trading activity that is substantially 
similar to the information provided by the Exchange through the Cboe 
Options Top Feed. Further, the quote and last sale data contained in 
the Cboe Options Data Feed is identical to the data sent to OPRA for 
redistribution to the public, including data relating to the Exchange's 
proprietary and exclusively listed products.\22\ Accordingly, Exchange 
top-of-book data is widely available today from a number of different 
sources.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ See Cboe Global Markets U.S. Options Market Month-to-Date 
Volume Summary (April 24, 2023), available at https://markets.cboe.com/us/options/market_statistics/.
    \21\ See e.g., NYSE Arca Options Proprietary Market Data Fees 
Schedule, MIAX Options Exchange, Fee Schedule, Section 6 (Market 
Data Fees), Nasdaq PHLX Options 7 Pricing Schedule, Section 10 
(Proprietary Data Feed Fees) and C2 Options Exchange Fees Schedule, 
Cboe Data Services, LLC Fees.
    \22\ The Exchange notes that it makes available the BBO data and 
last sale data that is included in the Cboe Options Top Data Feed no 
earlier than the time at which the Exchange sends that data to OPRA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Moreover, the Cboe Options Top Data Feed is distributed and 
purchased on a voluntary basis, in that neither the Exchange nor market 
data distributors are required by any rule or regulation to make this 
data available. Accordingly, Distributors and Users can discontinue use 
at any time and for any reason, including due to an assessment of the 
reasonableness of fees charged. As described above, market participants 
have a wide variety of alternative market data products from which to 
choose, such as similar proprietary data products offered by other 
exchanges and consolidated data. Further, the Exchange is not required 
to make any proprietary data products available or to offer any 
specific pricing alternatives to any customers. Moreover, persons 
(including broker-dealers) who subscribe to any exchange proprietary 
data feed must also have equivalent access to consolidated Options 
Information \23\ from OPRA for the same classes or series of options 
that are included in the proprietary data feed (including for 
exclusively listed products), and proprietary data feeds cannot be used 
to meet that particular requirement.\24\ As such, all proprietary data 
feeds are purely optional and only those that deem the product to be of 
sufficient overall value and usefulness would purchase it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ ``Consolidated Options Information'' means consolidated 
Last Sale Reports combined with either consolidated Quotation 
Information or the BBO furnished by OPRA. Access to consolidated 
Options Information is deemed ``equivalent'' if both kinds of 
information are equally accessible on the same terminal or work 
station. See Limited Liability Company Agreement of Options Price 
Reporting Authority, LLC (``OPRA Plan''), Section 5.2(c)(iii). The 
Exchange notes that this requirement under the OPRA Plan is also 
reiterated under the Cboe Global Markets Global Data Agreement and 
Cboe Global Markets North American Data Policies, which subscribers 
to any exchange proprietary product must sign and are subject to, 
respectively. Additionally, the Exchange's Data Order Form (used for 
requesting the Exchange's market data products) requires 
confirmation that the requesting market participant receives data 
from OPRA.
    \24\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission has repeatedly expressed its preference for 
competition over regulatory intervention in determining prices, 
products, and services in the securities markets. Particularly, in 
Regulation NMS, the Commission highlighted the importance of market 
forces in determining prices and SRO revenues and, also, recognized 
that current regulation of the market system ``has been remarkably 
successful in promoting market competition in its broader forms that 
are most important to investors and listed companies.'' \25\ Making 
similar data products available to market participants fosters 
competition in the marketplace, and constrains the ability of exchanges 
to charge supracompetitive fees. In the event that a market participant 
views one exchange's data product as more or less attractive than a 
competitor they can and do switch between similar products. The 
proposed fees are a result of the competitive environment, as the 
Exchange seeks to adopt fees to attract purchasers of Cboe Options Top 
Data.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808 (June 9, 
2005), 70 FR 37496, 37499 (June 29, 2005) (``Regulation NMS Adopting 
Release'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange believes the proposed External Distribution fee is 
reasonable as it would represent a decreased fee for any Distributor 
who is only interested in distributing Cboe Options Top externally. 
Providing an opportunity for lower cost access to U.S. options market 
data such as Cboe Options Top benefits a wide range of investors that 
participate in the national market system and makes it more broadly 
available, including non-professional retail investors who, by 
definition, do not receive the data for commercial purposes and 
therefore would not be receiving the data via internal distribution. 
The Exchange believes the proposed fees for external distribution of 
Cboe Options Top will also continue to be allocated fairly and 
equitably, and are not unfairly discriminatory, as the proposed fee 
will apply equally to all Distributors that choose to subscribe to Cboe 
Options Top and distribute that data to external Users. More 
specifically, as proposed, all External Distributors of Cboe Options 
Top will be subject to the same external distribution fee, regardless 
of the type of business that they operate, or the use they plan to make 
of the data feed. Thus, all External Distributors would have access to 
Cboe Options Top for purposes of external distribution on the same 
equitable and non-discriminatory terms.
    The Exchange believes that it is also fair and equitable, and not 
unfairly discriminatory to charge different fees for internal and 
external distribution of the Cboe Options Top. Although the proposed 
distribution fee charged to External Distributors will be lower than 
the existing distribution fee charged to Internal Distributors, 
External Distributors are subject to User fees for both Non-
Professional Users and Professional Users, whereas Internal 
Distributors will only subject to fees for Professional Users (or 
alternatively the proposed Enterprise Fee). Moreover, Internal 
Distributors of Cboe Options Top will still have the benefit of 
receiving Cboe Options Depth and/or Cboe Options COB at no additional 
cost, whereas the waiver to receive Cboe Options Depth will not be 
available for External Distributors of Cboe Options Top. The Exchange 
also notes that Cboe Options Depth and Cboe Options COB are more likely 
to be distributed internally as such data is used by Professional 
Users, including employees of Distributors, whereas Cboe Options Top is 
more likely to be distributed externally as such data is expected to be

[[Page 31560]]

used more frequently by Non-Professional Users who, by definition, do 
not receive the data for commercial purposes (e.g., retail investors). 
The Exchange therefore believes that the proposed reduced fee for 
External Distributors is reasonable because it may encourage more 
distributors to choose to offer the Cboe Options Top Data Feed, thereby 
expanding the distribution of this market data for the benefit of 
investors, and particularly retail investors.
    The Exchange next notes it is not required to charge a single 
distribution fee to cover more than one of its available data products, 
but none-the-less has opted to not charge for separate data fees for 
Cboe Options Depth and Cboe Options COB for Distributors of Cboe 
Options Top, since such waiver was adopted in January 1, 2015 
[sic].\26\ However, the Exchange no longer wishes to maintain the fee 
waiver of Cboe Options Depth or Cboe Options COB for External 
Distributors of Cboe Options Top. The Exchange believes the proposed 
elimination of the waivers is reasonable, equitable and not unfairly 
discriminatory because although External Distributors will not receive 
the benefit of the fee waiver, they will be subject to a lower 
distribution fee as compared to Internal Distributors of Cboe Options 
Top who will continue to be charged the higher fee of $9,000. 
Additionally, the Exchange notes that all Distributors of Cboe Options 
COB are also Distributors of Cboe Options Depth, and therefore already 
have (and will continue to have) their monthly distribution fee for 
Cboe Options COB waived since Distributors of Cboe Options Depth 
qualify for a waiver of the monthly distribution fee for Cboe Options 
COB.\27\ Moreover, the Exchange does not anticipate the impact of the 
proposed rule change to be significant as most market participants 
(over 70%) buy either Cboe Options Top or Cboe Options Depth (and not 
both) and nearly 80% of Distributors of Cboe Options Top and Cboe 
Options Depth distribute such products internally. Further, 
Distributors are not required to distribute, and Users are not required 
to receive, any one particular data product and may choose to receive 
none, one, or several of the Exchange's market data products. Only 
those that deem any product or products to be of sufficient overall 
value and usefulness would purchase such product(s). The Exchange is 
also not required to maintain a single fee that covers multiple market 
data products. In fact, other exchanges similarly have adopted separate 
fees for different data products that historically had otherwise been 
provided under a single fee.\28\ The Exchange believes the proposed 
change is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory as it will apply 
uniformly to External Distributors.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 70683 (October 15, 
2013), 78 FR 62798 (October 22, 2013) (SR-CBOE-2013-087).
    \27\ See Cboe Data Services, LLC (CDS) Fee Schedule, Section 
III, Complex Order Book (``COB'') Data Feed, Data Fee.
    \28\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79556 (December 14, 
2016), 81 FR 92935 (December 20, 2016) (SR-NASDAQ-2016-167).
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    The Exchange believes the proposed changes to adopt new 
Professional and Non-Professional User fees are reasonable as the User 
fees continue to be in line with User fees assessed by other exchanges 
for similar data.\29\ Moreover, Display Only Service Users will now be 
subject to lower fees as the Exchange proposes to significantly reduce 
the monthly User fees from $50 per Device or User ID for Display Only 
Service User to $15.50 per Professional User or $0.30 per Non-
Professional User. Although External Distributors are currently only 
subject to a User fee for external Users that are Display Only Service 
Users, the proposed fee for all external Users (which are likely to be 
Non-Professional Users) is significantly lower (i.e., $0.30 per Non-
Professional User) than the current $50 User fee. Moreover, the 
proposed fee structure of differentiated Professional and Non-
Professional fees that are paid by both Internal and External 
Distributors has long been used by other exchanges, including the 
Exchange, for their proprietary data products, and by the OPRA plan in 
order to reduce the price of data to retail investors and make it more 
broadly available.\30\ The Exchange also believes offering Cboe Options 
Top Data to Non-Professional Users at a rate lower than the rate for 
Professional Users results in greater equity among data recipients, as 
Professional Users are categorized as such based on their employment 
and participation in financial markets, and thus, are compensated to 
participate in the markets. Although Non-Professional Users too can 
receive significant financial benefits through their participation in 
the markets, the Exchange believes it is reasonable to charge more to 
those Users who are more directly engaged in the markets. The Exchange 
believes that the proposed fees are equitable and not unfairly 
discriminatory because they will be charged uniformly to Distributors 
for their Professional and Non-professional Users.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ See e.g., Nasdaq PHLX Options 7 Pricing Schedule, Section 
10 (Proprietary Data Feed Fees), which provides for a fee of $40 per 
month to professional users and $1.00 per month to non-professional 
users to cover the usage of PHLX Options (TOPO) Data, TOPO Plus 
Orders, PHLX Orders and PHLX Depth Data feeds. See also NYSE 
American Options Proprietary Market Data Fees schedule, which 
provides for a fee of $50 per month to professional users and $1.00 
per month to non-professional users of American Options Top Data, 
American Options Deep and American Options Complex products. By 
comparison, the total Professional User fee for Cboe Options Top and 
Cboe Options COB is in line with the above Professional User fee at 
$40.50 per Professional User (i.e., $15.50 per Professional Users of 
Cboe Options Top, as proposed, and $25 per Professional User of Cboe 
Options COB). The Exchange's combined Non-Professional User Fee at 
$0.30 per Non-Professional User (i.e., $0.30 per Non-Professional 
User of Cboe Options Top, as proposed, and $0 per Non-Professional 
User of Cboe Options COB) is lower than PHLX's and NYSE American's 
aforementioned Non-Professional User fees. Cboe Options Depth is not 
included in the above comparison because there are no User fees 
based on Professional or Non-Professional classification, but rather 
a $50 per month, per Device or User ID fee for Display Only Service 
external users only. Further there are no fees for any internal 
Users.
    \30\ See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59544 (March 
9, 2009), 74 FR 11162 (March 16, 2009) (SR-NYSE-2008-131) 
(establishing the $15 Non-Professional User Fee (Per User) for NYSE 
OpenBook); See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67589 
(August 2, 2012), 77 FR 47459 (August 8, 2012) (revising OPRA's 
definition of the term ``Nonprofessional''); and See Securities 
Exchange Act Release No. 70683 (October 15, 2013), 78 FR 62798 
(October 22, 2013) (SR-CBOE-2013-087) (establishing Professional and 
Non-Professional User fees for Cboe Options COB Data Feed).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Although Internal Distributors do not currently pay any User fees 
for Cboe Options Top, the Exchange believes its reasonable, equitable 
and not unfairly discriminatory to start assessing User fees, as 
internal and external users will be treated the same. Additionally, 
other exchanges also assess User fees for internal users of similar 
data, including the Exchange's affiliates.\31\ Moreover, the proposed 
rates Internal Distributors will be subject to for User fees are in 
line with User fees assessed by other exchanges for similar data.\32\ 
The Exchange believes the proposed monthly User fees for which Internal 
Distributors of Cboe Options Top will now be subject to are equitably 
allocated because they would be charged on an equal basis for all 
internal Users that receive Cboe Options Top.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ See BZX Options Fees Schedule, Market Data Fees and EDGX 
Options Fees Schedule, Market Data Fees. See also Nasdaq PHLX 
Options 7 Pricing Schedule, Section 10 (Proprietary Data Feed Fees).
    \32\ See supra note 29.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The proposed Enterprise Fee for Cboe Options Top Feed is equitable 
and reasonable as the proposed fee could result in a fee reduction for 
Distributors with a large number of Professional and Non-Professional 
Users. If a Distributor has a smaller number of Professional Users of 
Cboe Options Top Data, then it

[[Page 31561]]

may continue using the per User structure and benefit from the proposed 
per Cboe Options Top User Fee reductions. By reducing prices for 
Distributors with a large number of Professional and Non-Professional 
Users, the Exchange believes that more firms may choose to receive and 
to distribute Cboe Options Top Data, thereby expanding the distribution 
of this market data for the benefit of investors.
    The Exchange further believes that the proposed Enterprise Fee is 
reasonable because it will simplify reporting for certain recipients 
that have large numbers of Professional and Non-Professional Users. 
Firms that pay the proposed Enterprise Fee will not have to report the 
number of Users on a monthly basis as they currently do, but rather 
will only have to count Professional and Non-Professional users every 
six months, which is a significant reduction in administrative burden. 
Finally, as described above the Enterprise Fee is entirely optional. A 
firm that does not have a sufficient number of Users to benefit from 
purchase of the license need not do so.
    The Exchange lastly believes the proposed changes relating to the 
defined terms and terminology will provide additional specificity and 
clarity, while also harmonizing the various definition with that of its 
affiliates and providing more consistency with definitions used in the 
Cboe Global Markets Global Data Agreement and Cboe Global Markets North 
American Data Policies. Doing so would ensure consistent terms amongst 
the Exchange and its affiliates, as well as the Exchange's data 
agreements and policies, thereby reducing the potential for confusion 
amongst market data subscribers of the Exchange's and its affiliates' 
market data products. Additionally, the proposed new terms are 
identical to the terms already used by the Exchange's affiliates BZX 
Options and EDGX Options. Similarly, the Exchange believes the proposal 
to relocate the fees in the CDS Fees Schedule to the Cboe Options Fees 
Schedule will provide for a more streamlined fees schedule and allow 
TPHs to more readily and easily find all fees applicable to Cboe 
Option, thereby reducing potential confusion. Further, the Exchange is 
the only exchange of the Cboe options exchanges that currently 
maintains a separate fees schedule for its market data product fees. 
Accordingly, the Exchange believes the proposed changes remove 
impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and 
a national market system, and, in general, protect investors and the 
public interest.

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

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change would 
result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange 
operates in a highly competitive environment, and its ability to price 
top-of-book data is constrained by competition among exchanges that 
offer similar data products to their customers. For example, Top-of-
book data is broadly disseminated by competing U.S. options exchanges. 
Further, the Exchange's proposal to eliminate the waiver for the Cboe 
Options Depth and Cboe Options COB data fees for External Distributors 
of Cboe Options Top does not modify the existing fee amounts, but 
simply eliminates waivers to receive such data products free of charge 
that the Exchange is not required to maintain. Other exchanges are free 
to adopt a similar waiver if they choose. In this competitive 
environment potential Distributors are free to choose which competing 
product to purchase to satisfy their respective needs for market 
information. Often, the choice comes down to price, as market data 
participants look to purchase cheaper data products, and quality, as 
market participants seek to purchase data that represents significant 
market liquidity.
    The Exchange believes that the proposed fees do not put any market 
participants at a relative disadvantage compared to other market 
participants. As discussed, the proposed fees and eliminated waiver 
would apply to all similarly situated Distributors of Cboe Options Top 
on an equal and non-discriminatory basis. The Exchange believes the 
reduced fees for External Distributors and not Internal Distributors of 
Cboe Options Top is appropriate given External Distributors are subject 
to both the proposed Non-Professional and Professional user fees as 
compared to Internal Distributors who are only subject to Professional 
user fee (since non-professional users, by definition, do not receive 
the data for commercial purposes and therefore would not be receiving 
the data via internal distribution) s, [sic]. Additionally, Internal 
Distributors will continue to receive the benefit of a fee waiver for 
Cboe Options Depth and Cboe Options COB, which are more commonly used 
products for internal distribution amongst Professional Users. The 
Exchange believes the differentiated fees for Professional and Non-
Professional Users of Cboe options Top is appropriate given 
Professional Users are categorized as such based on their employment 
and participation in financial markets, and thus, are compensated to 
participate in the markets. Non-Professional Users too can receive 
significant financial benefits through their participation in the 
markets, however the Exchange believes it is reasonable to charge more 
to those Users who are more directly engaged in the markets. The 
Exchange therefore believes that the proposed fee neither favors nor 
penalizes one or more categories of market participants in a manner 
that would impose an undue burden on competition.
    The Exchange believes that the proposed fees do not impose a burden 
on competition or on other SROs that is not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Act. In particular, market 
participants are not forced to subscribe to Cboe Options Top Data, or 
any of the Exchange's data feeds, as described above. As noted, the 
quote and last sale data contained in the Exchange's Cboe Options Top 
feed is identical to the data sent to OPRA for redistribution to the 
public, including data relating to the Exchange's proprietary and 
exclusively listed products. Accordingly, Exchange top-of-book data is 
therefore widely available today from a number of different sources.
    Because market data customers can find suitable substitute feeds, 
an exchange that overprices its market data products stands a high risk 
that users may substitute another product. These competitive pressures 
ensure that no one exchange's market data fees can impose an undue 
burden on competition, and the Exchange's proposed fees do not do so 
here.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    The Exchange has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit, 
comments on this proposed rule change. The Exchange has not received 
any written comments from members or other interested parties.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to section 
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \33\ and paragraph (f) of Rule 19b-4 \34\ 
thereunder. At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed 
rule change, the Commission summarily may

[[Page 31562]]

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 will institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed 
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \33\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \34\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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-CBOE-2023-022 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-CBOE-2023-022. 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. Do not include 
personal identifiable information in submissions; you should submit 
only information that you wish to make available publicly. We may 
redact in part or withhold entirely from publication submitted material 
that is obscene or subject to copyright protection. All submissions 
should refer to File Number SR-CBOE-2023-022 and should be submitted on 
or before June 7, 2023.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\35\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-10471 Filed 5-16-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


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