Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq GEMX, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Its Fees for Connectivity and Co-Location Services, 86894-86897 [2024-25321]

Download as PDF 86894 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 211 / Thursday, October 31, 2024 / Notices 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: lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD 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– CboeEDGX–2024–065 on the subject line. Paper Comments • Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549–1090. All submissions should refer to file number SR–CboeEDGX–2024–065. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission’s internet website (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for website viewing and printing in the Commission’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:18 Oct 30, 2024 Jkt 265001 submissions should refer to file number SR–CboeEDGX–2024–065 and should be submitted on or before November 21, 2024. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.17 J. Matthew DeLesDernier, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2024–25337 Filed 10–30–24; 8:45 am] SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–101439; File No. SR– GEMX–2024–38] Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq GEMX, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Its Fees for Connectivity and Co-Location Services October 25, 2024. 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 October 11, 2024, Nasdaq GEMX, LLC (‘‘GEMX’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange proposes to amend the Exchange’s fees for connectivity and colocation services, as described further below. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange’s website at https://listingcenter.nasdaq.com/ rulebook/gemx/rules, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission’s Public Reference Room. II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change In its filing with the Commission, the 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 17 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 1 15 Frm 00111 Fmt 4703 A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 1. Purpose BILLING CODE 8011–01–P PO 00000 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. Sfmt 4703 The purpose of the proposed rule change is to amend the Exchange’s fees relating to connectivity and co-location services.3 Specifically, the Exchange proposes to raise its fees for connectivity and co-location services in General 8 as well as certain fees related to its Testing Facilities in Options 7, Section 6 by 10%, with certain exceptions. General 8, Section 1 includes the Exchange’s fees that relate to connectivity, including fees for cabinets, external telco/inter-cabinet connectivity fees, fees for connectivity to the Exchange, fees for connectivity to third party services, fees for market data connectivity, fees for cabinet power install, and fees for additional charges and services. General 8, Section 2 includes the Exchange’s fees for direct connectivity services, including fees for direct circuit connection to the Exchange, fees for direct circuit connection to third party services, and fees for point of presence connectivity. With the exception of the Exchange’s GPS Antenna fees and the Cabinet Proximity Option Fee for cabinets with power density >10kW,4 the Exchange 3 The Exchange initially filed the proposed pricing change on March 1, 2024 (SR–GEMX–2024– 05). On April 29, 2024, the Exchange withdrew that filing and submitted SR–GEMX–2024–09. On June 27, 2024, the Exchange withdrew SR–GEMX–2024– 09 and submitted SR–GEMX–2024–15. The Exchange withdrew SR–GEMX–2024–15 and replaced it with SR–GEMX–2024–33 on September 10, 2024. The instant filing replaces SR–GEMX– 2024–33. 4 The Exchange proposes to exclude the GPS Antenna fees from the proposed fee increase because, unlike the other fees in General 8, the Exchange recently increased its GPS Antenna fees. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34–99129 (December 11, 2023), 88 FR 87017 (December 15, 2023) (SR–GEMX–2023–17). The Exchange also proposes to exclude the Cabinet Proximity Option Fee for cabinets with power density >10kW from the proposed fee increase because the Exchange recently established such fee. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34–100210 (May 22, 2024), 89 FR 46476 (May 29, 2024) (SR–GEMX– 2024–11). Similarly, the Exchange proposes to exclude from the proposed fee increase those fees that the Exchange recently established for services in its new NY11–4 expansion facility. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34–101262 (October 7, 2024), 89 FR 82649 (October 11, 2024) (SR–GEMX–2024–36). E:\FR\FM\31OCN1.SGM 31OCN1 lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 211 / Thursday, October 31, 2024 / Notices proposes to increase its fees throughout General 8 by 10%. In addition to increasing fees in General 8, the Exchange also proposes to increase certain fees in Options 7, Section 6, which relate to the Testing Facility. Options 7, Section 6(H) provides that subscribers to the Testing Facility located in Carteret, New Jersey shall pay a fee of $1,000 per hand-off, per month for connection to the Testing Facility. The hand-off fee includes either a 1Gb or 10Gb switch port and a cross connect to the Testing Facility. In addition, Options 7, Section 6(H) provides that subscribers shall also pay a one-time installation fee of $1,000 per hand-off. The Exchange proposes to increase these aforementioned fees by 10% to require that subscribers to the Testing Facility shall pay a fee of $1,100 per hand-off, per month for connection to the Testing Facility and a one-time installation fee of $1,100 per hand-off. The proposed increases in fees would enable the Exchange to maintain and improve its market technology and services to remain competitive with its peers. Over the years, customer demand for more sophisticated, higherthroughput, lower-latency, and higherpower connectivity solutions has increased. The Exchange continues to invest in maintaining, improving, and enhancing its connectivity and colocation products, services, and facilities—for the benefit and often at the behest of its customers. Such enhancements include refreshing hardware and expanding Nasdaq’s existing co-location facility to offer customers additional space and power. Nevertheless, and with the exception of fees that were established as part of a new service in 2017 (and have remained unchanged since their adoption), the Exchange has not increased any of the fees included in the proposal since prior to 2017, and many of the fees date back to between 2010 and 2014 (where inflation has been between roughly 15– 17%, as measured using the metric described below). Nevertheless, the Exchange proposes to increase its fees only with respect to inflation that has occurred since 2017. As discussed below, the Exchange proposes to adjust its fees by an industry- and product-specific inflationary measure. It is reasonable and consistent with the Act for the Exchange to recoup its investments, at least in part, by adjusting its fees. Continuing to operate at fees frozen at 2010–2017 levels impacts the Exchange’s ability to enhance its offerings and the interests of market participants and investors. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:18 Oct 30, 2024 Jkt 265001 The fee increases the Exchange proposes are based on an industryspecific Producer Price Index (‘‘PPI’’), which is a tailored measure of inflation.5 As a general matter, the Producer Price Index is a family of indexes that measures the average change over time in selling prices received by domestic producers of goods and services. PPI measures price change from the perspective of the seller. This contrasts with other metrics, such as the Consumer Price Index (‘‘CPI’’), that measure price change from the purchaser’s perspective.6 About 10,000 PPIs for individual products and groups of products are tracked and released each month. 7 PPIs are available for the output of nearly all industries in the goods-producing sectors of the U.S. economy—mining, manufacturing, agriculture, fishing, and forestry—as well as natural gas, electricity, and construction, among others. The PPI program covers approximately 69 percent of the service sector’s output, as measured by revenue reported in the 2017 Economic Census. For purposes of this proposal, the relevant industry-specific PPI is the Data Processing and Related Services PPI (‘‘Data PPI’’), which is an industry net-output PPI that measures the average change in selling prices received by companies that provide data processing services. The Data PPI was introduced in January 2002 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (‘‘BLS’’) as part of an ongoing effort to expand Producer Price Index coverage of the services sector of the U.S. economy and is identified as NAICS—518210 in the North American Industry Classification System.8 According to the BLS ‘‘[t]he primary output of NAICS 518210 is the provision of electronic data processing services. In the broadest sense, computer services companies help their customers efficiently use technology. The processing services market consists of vendors who use their own computer systems—often utilizing proprietary software—to process customers’ transactions and data. Companies that offer processing services collect, organize, and store a customer’s transactions and other data for recordkeeping purposes. Price movements for the NAICS 518210 index are based on changes in the revenue received by companies that provide data processing 5 See https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/ PCU51825182#0. 6 See https://www.bls.gov/ppi/overview.htm. 7 See Id. 8 NAICS appears in table 5 of the PPI Detailed Report and is available at https://data.bls.gov/ timeseries/PCU518210518210. PO 00000 Frm 00112 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 86895 services. Each month, companies provide net transaction prices for a specified service. The transaction is an actual contract selected by probability, where the price-determining characteristics are held constant while the service is repriced. The prices used in index calculation are the actual prices billed for the selected service contract.’’ 9 The Exchange believes the Data PPI is an appropriate measure to be considered in the context of the proposed rule change to modify the fee for its connectivity products because the Exchange uses its ‘‘own computer systems’’ and ‘‘proprietary software,’’ i.e., its own data center and proprietary matching engine software, respectively, to collect, organize, store and report customers’ transactions in U.S. equity securities on the Exchange’s proprietary trading platform. In other words, the Exchange is in the business of data processing and related services. For purposes of this proposed rule change, the Exchange examined the Data PPI value for the period from January 2017 to August 2024. The Data PPI had a starting value of 105.6 in January 2017 and an ending value of 116.022 in August 2024, a 10.422% increase. This indicates that companies who are also in the data storage and processing business have generally increased prices for a specified service covered under NAICS 518210 by an average of 10.422% during this period. Based on that percentage change, the Exchange proposes to make a one-time fee increase of only 10%, which reflects an increase covering roughly the entire period since the last price adjustments to these fees were made. The Exchange further believes the Data PPI is an appropriate measure for purposes of the proposed rule change on the basis that it is a stable metric with limited volatility, unlike other consumer-side inflation metrics. In fact, the Data PPI has not experienced a greater than 2.16% increase for any one calendar year period since Data PPI was introduced into the PPI in January 2002. The average calendar year change from January 2002 to December 2023 was .62%, with a cumulative increase of 15.67% over this 21-year period. The Exchange believes the Data PPI is considerably less volatile than other inflation metrics such as CPI, which has had individual calendar-year increases of more than 6.5%, and a cumulative 9 See https://www.bls.gov/ppi/factsheets/ producer-price-index-for-the-data-processing-andrelated-servicesindustry-naics-518210.htm. E:\FR\FM\31OCN1.SGM 31OCN1 86896 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 211 / Thursday, October 31, 2024 / Notices increase of over 73% over the same period. 10 The Exchange believes the Data PPI, and significant investments into, and enhanced performance of, the Exchange support the reasonableness of the proposed fee increases. 11 These proposed fee increases will be immediately effective upon filing. However, going forward and until December 1, 2024, the Exchange will waive all fees set forth herein to the extent that such fees exceed the levels that would have been charged for the same products and services purchased during that time period, had such fees been calculated at the rates set forth in SR–GEMX–2024–33. This waiver is reasonable, equitable, and not unfairly discriminatory because it will afford all customers in excess of the 30-day prior notice period for fee changes set forth in the Exchange’s service terms. 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,12 in general, and furthers the objectives of Sections 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Act,13 in particular, in that it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among members and issuers and other persons using any facility, and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. This belief is based on two factors. First, the current fees do not properly reflect the quality of the services and products, as fees for the services and products in question have been static in nominal terms, and therefore falling in real terms due to inflation. Second, the Exchange believes that investments made in enhancing the capacity and speed of Exchange systems increase the performance of the services and products. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 The Proposed Rule Change Is Reasonable As noted above, the Exchange has not increased any of the fees included in the proposal since 2017 or earlier. However, 10 See https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/ inflation/consumer-price-index-and-annualpercent-changesfrom-1913-to-2008/. 11 See supra discussion of connectivity product and facility improvements. Additionally, other exchanges have filed for increases in certain fees, based in part on comparisons to inflation. See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 34–100004 (April 22, 2024), 89 FR 32465 (April 26, 2024) (SR– CboeBYX–2024–012); and 34–100398 (June 21, 2024), 89 FR 53676 (June 27, 2024) (SR–BOX–2024– 16)l; Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34– 100994 (September 10, 2024), 89 FR 75612 (September 16, 2024) (SR–NYSEARCA–2024–79). 12 15 U.S.C. 78f(b). 13 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:18 Oct 30, 2024 Jkt 265001 in the years following the last fee increases, the Exchange has made significant investments in upgrades to its connectivity products, services, and facilities, enhancing the quality of its services, as measured by, among other things, increased throughput and increased power and space capacity. In other words, Exchange customers have greatly benefitted, while the Exchange’s ability to recoup its investments has been hampered. Between 2017 and 2024, the inflation rate is 3.64% per year, on average, producing a cumulative inflation rate of 28.43%.14 Using the more targeted inflation number of Data PPI, the cumulative inflation rate was 10.422%. The exchange believes the Data PPI is a reasonable metric to base this fee increase on because it is targeted to producer-side increases in the data processing industry, which based on the definition adopted by BLS would include the Exchange’s market data products. Notwithstanding inflation, as noted above, the Exchange has not increased its fees at all for over seven years for the subject services. The proposed fee changes represent a modest increase from the current fees. The Exchange believes the proposed fee increase is reasonable in light of the Exchange’s continued expenditure in maintaining a robust technology ecosystem. Furthermore, the Exchange continues to invest in maintaining and enhancing its connectivity products—for the benefit and often at the behest of its customers and global investors. Such enhancements include refreshing all aspects of the technology ecosystem including software, hardware, and network while introducing new and innovative products and expanded and modernized facilities.15 The goal of the enhancements discussed above, among other things, is to provide faster, highercapacity, and more modern connectivity products and services. Accordingly, the Exchange continues to expend resources to innovate and modernize technology so that it may benefit its members in offering its connectivity products and services. 14 See https://www.officialdata.org/us/inflation/ 2017?amount=1. 15 See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No.34–101074 (September 18, 2024), 89 FR 77920 (September 24, 2024) (SR–GEMX–2024–34 (Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Expand [the Exchange’s] CoLocation Services). PO 00000 Frm 00113 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The Proposed Fees Are Equitably Allocated and Not Unfairly Discriminatory The Exchange believes that the proposed fee increases are equitably allocated and not unfairly discriminatory because they would apply to all market participants that choose to purchase connectivity products and services from the Exchange. Any participant that chooses to purchase the Exchange’s connectivity products and services would be subject to the same Fee Schedule, regardless of what type of business they operate or the use they plan to make use of the products and services. Additionally, the fee increase would be applied uniformly to market participants without regard to Exchange membership status or the extent of any other business with the Exchange or affiliated entities. The Exchange also believes that the proposal represents an equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges because Exchange fees have fallen in real terms during the relevant period. Finally, the Exchange believes that the proposed fee changes are not unfairly discriminatory because the fees would be assessed uniformly across all market participants, in the same manner they are today, that voluntarily purchase the Exchange’s connectivity products and services, which would remain available for purchase by all market participants. These proposed fee increases will be immediately effective upon filing. However, going forward and until December 1, 2024, the Exchange will waive all fees set forth herein to the extent that such fees exceed the levels that would have been charged for the same products and services purchased during that time period, had such fees been calculated at the rates set forth in SR–GEMX–2024–33. This waiver is reasonable, equitable, and not unfairly discriminatory because it will afford all customers in excess of the 30-day prior notice period for fee changes set forth in the Exchange’s service terms. B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Burden on Competition The Exchange does not believe that the proposed fees will impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. Intramarket Competition The Exchange believes that the proposed fees do not put any market participants at a relative disadvantage compared to other market participants. As noted above, the fee schedule would continue to apply to all purchasers of E:\FR\FM\31OCN1.SGM 31OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 211 / Thursday, October 31, 2024 / Notices the Exchange’s connectivity products and services in the same manner as it does today albeit at inflation-adjusted rates for certain fees, and customers may choose whether to purchase these products and services at all. The Exchange also believes that the level of the proposed fees neither favor nor penalize one or more categories of market participants in a manner that would impose an undue burden on competition. Likewise, the proposed fee waiver described above will apply to all purchasers of the Exchange’s connectivity products and services in the same manner and therefore will not burden competition among them. Intermarket 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 determining the proposed fees, the Exchange utilized an objective and stable metric with limited volatility. Utilizing Data PPI over a specified period of time is a reasonable means of recouping the Exchange’s investment in maintaining and enhancing its connectivity products, services, and facilities. The Exchange believes utilizing Data PPI, a tailored measure of inflation, to increase certain fees for connectivity products and services to recoup the Exchange’s investment in maintaining and enhancing such products, services, and its facilities would not impose a burden on competition. C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others No written comments were either solicited or received. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act.16 At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is: (i) necessary or appropriate in the public interest; (ii) for the protection of investors; or (iii) otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings 16 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:18 Oct 30, 2024 to determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved. IV. Solicitation of Comments Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: Electronic Comments • Use the Commission’s internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml); or • Send an email to rule-comments@ sec.gov. Please include file number SR– GEMX–2024–38 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–GEMX–2024–38. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission’s internet website (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for website viewing and printing in the Commission’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of 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–GEMX–2024–38 and should be submitted on or before November 21, 2024. 17 17 Jkt 265001 PO 00000 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). Frm 00114 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 86897 For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.17 J. Matthew DeLesDernier, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2024–25321 Filed 10–30–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–101432; File No. SR– NYSEARCA–2024–86] Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the NYSE Arca Equities Fees and Charges Regarding the Gross FOCUS Fee Charged to ETP Holders October 25, 2024. 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 October 10, 2024, NYSE Arca, Inc. (‘‘NYSE Arca’’ or the ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange proposes to amend the NYSE Arca Equities Fees and Charges (‘‘Fee Schedule’’) regarding the gross FOCUS fee charged to ETP Holders (‘‘Gross FOCUS Fee’’), effective October 10, 2024.3 The proposed rule change is available on the Exchange’s website at www.nyse.com, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission’s Public Reference Room. II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of those statements may be examined at 1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). CFR 240.19b–4. 3 The Exchange previously filed to amend the Fee Schedule on October 1, 2024 (SR–NYSEARCA– 2024–83) and withdrew such filing on October 10, 2024. 2 17 E:\FR\FM\31OCN1.SGM 31OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 211 (Thursday, October 31, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86894-86897]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25321]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-101439; File No. SR-GEMX-2024-38]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq GEMX, LLC; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Its Fees 
for Connectivity and Co-Location Services

October 25, 2024.
    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 October 11, 2024, Nasdaq GEMX, LLC (``GEMX'' or ``Exchange'') filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the 
proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which 
Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing 
this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from 
interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    The Exchange proposes to amend the Exchange's fees for connectivity 
and co-location services, as described further below.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
website at https://listingcenter.nasdaq.com/rulebook/gemx/rules, at the 
principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public 
Reference Room.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the 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 purpose of the proposed rule change is to amend the Exchange's 
fees relating to connectivity and co-location services.\3\ 
Specifically, the Exchange proposes to raise its fees for connectivity 
and co-location services in General 8 as well as certain fees related 
to its Testing Facilities in Options 7, Section 6 by 10%, with certain 
exceptions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The Exchange initially filed the proposed pricing change on 
March 1, 2024 (SR-GEMX-2024-05). On April 29, 2024, the Exchange 
withdrew that filing and submitted SR-GEMX-2024-09. On June 27, 
2024, the Exchange withdrew SR-GEMX-2024-09 and submitted SR-GEMX-
2024-15. The Exchange withdrew SR-GEMX-2024-15 and replaced it with 
SR-GEMX-2024-33 on September 10, 2024. The instant filing replaces 
SR-GEMX-2024-33.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    General 8, Section 1 includes the Exchange's fees that relate to 
connectivity, including fees for cabinets, external telco/inter-cabinet 
connectivity fees, fees for connectivity to the Exchange, fees for 
connectivity to third party services, fees for market data 
connectivity, fees for cabinet power install, and fees for additional 
charges and services. General 8, Section 2 includes the Exchange's fees 
for direct connectivity services, including fees for direct circuit 
connection to the Exchange, fees for direct circuit connection to third 
party services, and fees for point of presence connectivity. With the 
exception of the Exchange's GPS Antenna fees and the Cabinet Proximity 
Option Fee for cabinets with power density >10kW,\4\ the Exchange

[[Page 86895]]

proposes to increase its fees throughout General 8 by 10%.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ The Exchange proposes to exclude the GPS Antenna fees from 
the proposed fee increase because, unlike the other fees in General 
8, the Exchange recently increased its GPS Antenna fees. See 
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-99129 (December 11, 2023), 88 
FR 87017 (December 15, 2023) (SR-GEMX-2023-17). The Exchange also 
proposes to exclude the Cabinet Proximity Option Fee for cabinets 
with power density >10kW from the proposed fee increase because the 
Exchange recently established such fee. See Securities Exchange Act 
Release No. 34-100210 (May 22, 2024), 89 FR 46476 (May 29, 2024) 
(SR-GEMX-2024-11). Similarly, the Exchange proposes to exclude from 
the proposed fee increase those fees that the Exchange recently 
established for services in its new NY11-4 expansion facility. See 
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-101262 (October 7, 2024), 89 
FR 82649 (October 11, 2024) (SR-GEMX-2024-36).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition to increasing fees in General 8, the Exchange also 
proposes to increase certain fees in Options 7, Section 6, which relate 
to the Testing Facility. Options 7, Section 6(H) provides that 
subscribers to the Testing Facility located in Carteret, New Jersey 
shall pay a fee of $1,000 per hand-off, per month for connection to the 
Testing Facility. The hand-off fee includes either a 1Gb or 10Gb switch 
port and a cross connect to the Testing Facility. In addition, Options 
7, Section 6(H) provides that subscribers shall also pay a one-time 
installation fee of $1,000 per hand-off. The Exchange proposes to 
increase these aforementioned fees by 10% to require that subscribers 
to the Testing Facility shall pay a fee of $1,100 per hand-off, per 
month for connection to the Testing Facility and a one-time 
installation fee of $1,100 per hand-off.
    The proposed increases in fees would enable the Exchange to 
maintain and improve its market technology and services to remain 
competitive with its peers. Over the years, customer demand for more 
sophisticated, higher-throughput, lower-latency, and higher-power 
connectivity solutions has increased. The Exchange continues to invest 
in maintaining, improving, and enhancing its connectivity and co-
location products, services, and facilities--for the benefit and often 
at the behest of its customers. Such enhancements include refreshing 
hardware and expanding Nasdaq's existing co-location facility to offer 
customers additional space and power. Nevertheless, and with the 
exception of fees that were established as part of a new service in 
2017 (and have remained unchanged since their adoption), the Exchange 
has not increased any of the fees included in the proposal since prior 
to 2017, and many of the fees date back to between 2010 and 2014 (where 
inflation has been between roughly 15-17%, as measured using the metric 
described below). Nevertheless, the Exchange proposes to increase its 
fees only with respect to inflation that has occurred since 2017.
    As discussed below, the Exchange proposes to adjust its fees by an 
industry- and product-specific inflationary measure. It is reasonable 
and consistent with the Act for the Exchange to recoup its investments, 
at least in part, by adjusting its fees. Continuing to operate at fees 
frozen at 2010-2017 levels impacts the Exchange's ability to enhance 
its offerings and the interests of market participants and investors.
    The fee increases the Exchange proposes are based on an industry-
specific Producer Price Index (``PPI''), which is a tailored measure of 
inflation.\5\ As a general matter, the Producer Price Index is a family 
of indexes that measures the average change over time in selling prices 
received by domestic producers of goods and services. PPI measures 
price change from the perspective of the seller. This contrasts with 
other metrics, such as the Consumer Price Index (``CPI''), that measure 
price change from the purchaser's perspective.\6\ About 10,000 PPIs for 
individual products and groups of products are tracked and released 
each month.\7\ PPIs are available for the output of nearly all 
industries in the goods-producing sectors of the U.S. economy--mining, 
manufacturing, agriculture, fishing, and forestry--as well as natural 
gas, electricity, and construction, among others. The PPI program 
covers approximately 69 percent of the service sector's output, as 
measured by revenue reported in the 2017 Economic Census.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ See https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PCU51825182#0.
    \6\ See https://www.bls.gov/ppi/overview.htm.
    \7\ See Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For purposes of this proposal, the relevant industry-specific PPI 
is the Data Processing and Related Services PPI (``Data PPI''), which 
is an industry net-output PPI that measures the average change in 
selling prices received by companies that provide data processing 
services.
    The Data PPI was introduced in January 2002 by the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics (``BLS'') as part of an ongoing effort to expand Producer 
Price Index coverage of the services sector of the U.S. economy and is 
identified as NAICS--518210 in the North American Industry 
Classification System.\8\ According to the BLS ``[t]he primary output 
of NAICS 518210 is the provision of electronic data processing 
services. In the broadest sense, computer services companies help their 
customers efficiently use technology. The processing services market 
consists of vendors who use their own computer systems--often utilizing 
proprietary software--to process customers' transactions and data. 
Companies that offer processing services collect, organize, and store a 
customer's transactions and other data for record-keeping purposes. 
Price movements for the NAICS 518210 index are based on changes in the 
revenue received by companies that provide data processing services. 
Each month, companies provide net transaction prices for a specified 
service. The transaction is an actual contract selected by probability, 
where the price-determining characteristics are held constant while the 
service is repriced. The prices used in index calculation are the 
actual prices billed for the selected service contract.'' \9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ NAICS appears in table 5 of the PPI Detailed Report and is 
available at https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/PCU518210518210.
    \9\ See https://www.bls.gov/ppi/factsheets/producer-price-index-for-the-data-processing-and-related-servicesindustry-naics-518210.htm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange believes the Data PPI is an appropriate measure to be 
considered in the context of the proposed rule change to modify the fee 
for its connectivity products because the Exchange uses its ``own 
computer systems'' and ``proprietary software,'' i.e., its own data 
center and proprietary matching engine software, respectively, to 
collect, organize, store and report customers' transactions in U.S. 
equity securities on the Exchange's proprietary trading platform. In 
other words, the Exchange is in the business of data processing and 
related services.
    For purposes of this proposed rule change, the Exchange examined 
the Data PPI value for the period from January 2017 to August 2024. The 
Data PPI had a starting value of 105.6 in January 2017 and an ending 
value of 116.022 in August 2024, a 10.422% increase. This indicates 
that companies who are also in the data storage and processing business 
have generally increased prices for a specified service covered under 
NAICS 518210 by an average of 10.422% during this period. Based on that 
percentage change, the Exchange proposes to make a one-time fee 
increase of only 10%, which reflects an increase covering roughly the 
entire period since the last price adjustments to these fees were made.
    The Exchange further believes the Data PPI is an appropriate 
measure for purposes of the proposed rule change on the basis that it 
is a stable metric with limited volatility, unlike other consumer-side 
inflation metrics. In fact, the Data PPI has not experienced a greater 
than 2.16% increase for any one calendar year period since Data PPI was 
introduced into the PPI in January 2002. The average calendar year 
change from January 2002 to December 2023 was .62%, with a cumulative 
increase of 15.67% over this 21-year period. The Exchange believes the 
Data PPI is considerably less volatile than other inflation metrics 
such as CPI, which has had individual calendar-year increases of more 
than 6.5%, and a cumulative

[[Page 86896]]

increase of over 73% over the same period.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ See https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/inflation/consumer-price-index-and-annual-percent-changesfrom-1913-to-2008/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange believes the Data PPI, and significant investments 
into, and enhanced performance of, the Exchange support the 
reasonableness of the proposed fee increases.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ See supra discussion of connectivity product and facility 
improvements. Additionally, other exchanges have filed for increases 
in certain fees, based in part on comparisons to inflation. See, 
e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 34-100004 (April 22, 
2024), 89 FR 32465 (April 26, 2024) (SR-CboeBYX-2024-012); and 34-
100398 (June 21, 2024), 89 FR 53676 (June 27, 2024) (SR-BOX-2024-
16)l; Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-100994 (September 10, 
2024), 89 FR 75612 (September 16, 2024) (SR-NYSEARCA-2024-79).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    These proposed fee increases will be immediately effective upon 
filing. However, going forward and until December 1, 2024, the Exchange 
will waive all fees set forth herein to the extent that such fees 
exceed the levels that would have been charged for the same products 
and services purchased during that time period, had such fees been 
calculated at the rates set forth in SR-GEMX-2024-33. This waiver is 
reasonable, equitable, and not unfairly discriminatory because it will 
afford all customers in excess of the 30-day prior notice period for 
fee changes set forth in the Exchange's service terms.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act,\12\ in general, and furthers the objectives of 
Sections 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Act,\13\ in particular, in that it 
provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and 
other charges among members and issuers and other persons using any 
facility, and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between 
customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This belief is based on two factors. First, the current fees do not 
properly reflect the quality of the services and products, as fees for 
the services and products in question have been static in nominal 
terms, and therefore falling in real terms due to inflation. Second, 
the Exchange believes that investments made in enhancing the capacity 
and speed of Exchange systems increase the performance of the services 
and products.
The Proposed Rule Change Is Reasonable
    As noted above, the Exchange has not increased any of the fees 
included in the proposal since 2017 or earlier. However, in the years 
following the last fee increases, the Exchange has made significant 
investments in upgrades to its connectivity products, services, and 
facilities, enhancing the quality of its services, as measured by, 
among other things, increased throughput and increased power and space 
capacity. In other words, Exchange customers have greatly benefitted, 
while the Exchange's ability to recoup its investments has been 
hampered. Between 2017 and 2024, the inflation rate is 3.64% per year, 
on average, producing a cumulative inflation rate of 28.43%.\14\ Using 
the more targeted inflation number of Data PPI, the cumulative 
inflation rate was 10.422%. The exchange believes the Data PPI is a 
reasonable metric to base this fee increase on because it is targeted 
to producer-side increases in the data processing industry, which based 
on the definition adopted by BLS would include the Exchange's market 
data products.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ See https://www.officialdata.org/us/inflation/2017?amount=1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Notwithstanding inflation, as noted above, the Exchange has not 
increased its fees at all for over seven years for the subject 
services. The proposed fee changes represent a modest increase from the 
current fees. The Exchange believes the proposed fee increase is 
reasonable in light of the Exchange's continued expenditure in 
maintaining a robust technology ecosystem. Furthermore, the Exchange 
continues to invest in maintaining and enhancing its connectivity 
products--for the benefit and often at the behest of its customers and 
global investors. Such enhancements include refreshing all aspects of 
the technology ecosystem including software, hardware, and network 
while introducing new and innovative products and expanded and 
modernized facilities.\15\ The goal of the enhancements discussed 
above, among other things, is to provide faster, higher-capacity, and 
more modern connectivity products and services. Accordingly, the 
Exchange continues to expend resources to innovate and modernize 
technology so that it may benefit its members in offering its 
connectivity products and services.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No.34-101074 
(September 18, 2024), 89 FR 77920 (September 24, 2024) (SR-GEMX-
2024-34 (Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed 
Rule Change To Expand [the Exchange's] Co-Location Services).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Proposed Fees Are Equitably Allocated and Not Unfairly 
Discriminatory
    The Exchange believes that the proposed fee increases are equitably 
allocated and not unfairly discriminatory because they would apply to 
all market participants that choose to purchase connectivity products 
and services from the Exchange. Any participant that chooses to 
purchase the Exchange's connectivity products and services would be 
subject to the same Fee Schedule, regardless of what type of business 
they operate or the use they plan to make use of the products and 
services. Additionally, the fee increase would be applied uniformly to 
market participants without regard to Exchange membership status or the 
extent of any other business with the Exchange or affiliated entities. 
The Exchange also believes that the proposal represents an equitable 
allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges because Exchange 
fees have fallen in real terms during the relevant period. Finally, the 
Exchange believes that the proposed fee changes are not unfairly 
discriminatory because the fees would be assessed uniformly across all 
market participants, in the same manner they are today, that 
voluntarily purchase the Exchange's connectivity products and services, 
which would remain available for purchase by all market participants.
    These proposed fee increases will be immediately effective upon 
filing. However, going forward and until December 1, 2024, the Exchange 
will waive all fees set forth herein to the extent that such fees 
exceed the levels that would have been charged for the same products 
and services purchased during that time period, had such fees been 
calculated at the rates set forth in SR-GEMX-2024-33. This waiver is 
reasonable, equitable, and not unfairly discriminatory because it will 
afford all customers in excess of the 30-day prior notice period for 
fee changes set forth in the Exchange's service terms.

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

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed fees will impose 
any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
Intramarket Competition
    The Exchange believes that the proposed fees do not put any market 
participants at a relative disadvantage compared to other market 
participants. As noted above, the fee schedule would continue to apply 
to all purchasers of

[[Page 86897]]

the Exchange's connectivity products and services in the same manner as 
it does today albeit at inflation-adjusted rates for certain fees, and 
customers may choose whether to purchase these products and services at 
all. The Exchange also believes that the level of the proposed fees 
neither favor nor penalize one or more categories of market 
participants in a manner that would impose an undue burden on 
competition. Likewise, the proposed fee waiver described above will 
apply to all purchasers of the Exchange's connectivity products and 
services in the same manner and therefore will not burden competition 
among them.
Intermarket 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 determining the proposed fees, the Exchange utilized an objective 
and stable metric with limited volatility. Utilizing Data PPI over a 
specified period of time is a reasonable means of recouping the 
Exchange's investment in maintaining and enhancing its connectivity 
products, services, and facilities. The Exchange believes utilizing 
Data PPI, a tailored measure of inflation, to increase certain fees for 
connectivity products and services to recoup the Exchange's investment 
in maintaining and enhancing such products, services, and its 
facilities would not impose a burden on competition.

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

    No written comments were either solicited or received.

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

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act.\16\ At any time within 60 days of the 
filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may 
temporarily suspend such rule change if it appears to the Commission 
that such action is: (i) necessary or appropriate in the public 
interest; (ii) for the protection of investors; or (iii) otherwise in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such 
action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether 
the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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-GEMX-2024-38 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-GEMX-2024-38. This file 
number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help 
the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's internet website (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all 
written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are 
filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to 
the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other 
than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the 
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for website viewing and 
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10 
a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of 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-GEMX-2024-38 and should be 
submitted on or before November 21, 2024.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\17\
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-25321 Filed 10-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.