Notice2024-14380
Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the Connectivity Fee Schedule
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 1, 2024
Issuing agencies
Securities and Exchange Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 126 (Monday, July 1, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 126 (Monday, July 1, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54570-54575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-14380]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-100421; File No. SR-NYSE-2024-37]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC;
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To
Amend the Connectivity Fee Schedule
June 25, 2024.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby given
that on June 12, 2024, New York Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE'' or the
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II
below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory
organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit
comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
\3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend the Connectivity Fee Schedule (``Fee
Schedule'') regarding colocation services and fees to provide Users
with wireless connectivity to additional market data feeds. The
proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's website at
<a href="http://www.nyse.com">www.nyse.com</a>, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the
Commission's Public Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization
included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the
proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the
proposed rule change. The text of those statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared
summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most
significant parts of such statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to amend the Fee Schedule regarding
colocation services and fees to provide Users \4\ with wireless
connectivity to additional market data feeds.
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\4\ For purposes of the Exchange's colocation services, a
``User'' means any market participant that requests to receive
colocation services directly from the Exchange. See Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 76008 (September 29, 2015), 80 FR 60190
(October 5, 2015) (SR-NYSE-2015-40). As specified in the Fee
Schedule, a User that incurs colocation fees for a particular
colocation service pursuant thereto would not be subject to
colocation fees for the same colocation service charged by the
Exchange's affiliates NYSE American LLC, NYSE Arca, Inc., NYSE
Chicago, Inc., and NYSE National, Inc. (together, the ``Affiliate
SROs''). Each Affiliate SRO has submitted substantially the same
proposed rule change to propose the changes described herein. See
SR-NYSEAMER-2024-40, SR-NYSEARCA-2024-54, SR-NYSECHX-2024-24, and
SR-NYSENAT-2024-20.
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The Exchange currently provides Users with wireless connections to
nine market data feeds or combinations of feeds from third-party
markets (the ``Existing Third Party Data''), and wired connections to
more than 45 market data feeds or combinations of feeds.\5\
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\5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 99806 (March 20.
2024), 89 FR 21055 (March 26, 2024) (SR-NYSE-2024-15).
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The Exchange proposes to add to the Fee Schedule wireless
connections (``Connectivity'') to four additional market data feeds
(together, the ``Proposed Third Party Data''):
<bullet> MIAX Pearl Equities Depth of Market Feed (``MIAX
DoM''),\6\
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\6\ As described by MIAX PEARL, LCC, ``[t]he [MIAX] DoM feed is
a data feed that contains the displayed price and size of each order
entered on MIAX PEARL Equities, as well as order execution
information, order cancellations, order modifications, order
identification numbers, and administrative messages.'' Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 91073 (February 5, 2021), 86 FR 9096, 9100
(February 11, 2021) (SR-PEARL-2021-02).
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<bullet> Nasdaq BX TotalView-ITCH FPGA,\7\
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\7\ The difference between the Nasdaq BX TotalView feed and the
Nasdaq BX TotalView-ITCH feed, which is part of the Existing Third
Party Data, is the delivery mechanism: the data is the same. As
described by Nasdaq BX, Inc., ``BX TotalView is a real-time market
data product that provides full order depth using a series of order
messages to track the life of customer orders in the BX market, as
well as trade data for BX executions and administrative messages
such as Trading Action messages, Symbol Directory, and Event Control
messages.'' Securities Exchange Act Release No. 98158 (August 17,
2023), 88 FR 57505 (August 23, 2023) (SR-BX-2023-020), at 57506.
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<bullet> Nasdaq PSX TotalView, and
<bullet> Nasdaq PSX TotalView-ITCH FPGA.\8\
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\8\ According to Nasdaq PHLX LLC, ``PSX TotalView is a real-time
market data product that provides full order depth using a series of
order messages to track the life of customer orders in the PSX
market, as well as trade data for PSX executions and administrative
messages such as Trading Action messages, Symbol Directory, and
Event Control messages.'' Securities Exchange Act Release No. 95195
(August 21, 2023), 88 FR 58324 (August 25, 2023) (SR-Phlx-2023-37),
at 58325. The difference between the two PSX TotalView feeds is the
delivery mechanism: the data is the same. Id.
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As with most other Existing Third Party Data,\9\ the monthly charge
for Connectivity to Proposed Third Party Data would be subject to a 30-
day testing period, during which the monthly charge per connection
would be waived. Consistent with that fact, the Exchange proposes to
amend the Fee Schedule to clarify that this provision is applicable to
Connectivity to the Proposed Third Party Data.
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\9\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 76748 (December 23,
2015), 80 FR 81609 (December 30, 2015) (SR-NYSE-2015-52).
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Users would be offered Connectivity to Proposed Third Party Data
through connections into the colocation center in the Mahwah, New
Jersey data center (``MDC'').\10\
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\10\ Through its Fixed Income and Data Services (``FIDS'')
(previously ICE Data Services) business, Intercontinental Exchange,
Inc. (``ICE'') operates the MDC. The Exchange and the Affiliate SROs
are indirect subsidiaries of ICE. The proposed services would be
provided by FIDS pursuant to an agreement with a non-ICE entity.
FIDS does not own the wireless network that would be used to provide
the services.
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[[Page 54571]]
The Exchange expects that the proposed Connectivity to Proposed
Third Party Data would become operative during 2024. The Exchange will
announce the date or dates that Connectivity to Proposed Third Party
Data will be available through a customer notice.
The Exchange proposes to add the following to the Fee Schedule to
reflect fees for Connectivity to Proposed Third Party Data:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type of service Description Amount of charge
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wireless Connection for Wireless connection $5,000 per
Third Party Data. of MIAX Pearl connection initial
Equities Depth of charge plus monthly
Market Feed (DoM) charge per
data. connection of
$6,000.
Fees are subject to
a 30-day testing
period, during
which the monthly
charge per
connection is
waived.
Wireless Connection for Wireless connection $5,000 per
Third Party Data. of Nasdaq BX connection initial
TotalView-ITCH FPGA charge plus monthly
data. charge per
connection of
$7,500.
Fees are subject to
a 30-day testing
period, during
which the monthly
charge per
connection is
waived.
Wireless Connection for Wireless connection $5,000 per
Third Party Data. of Nasdaq PSX connection initial
TotalView data. charge plus monthly
charge per
connection of
$6,000.
Fees are subject to
a 30-day testing
period, during
which the monthly
charge per
connection is
waived.
Wireless Connection for Wireless connection $5,000 per
Third Party Data. of Nasdaq PSX connection initial
TotalView-ITCH FPGA charge plus monthly
data. charge per
connection of
$7,500.
Fees are subject to
a 30-day testing
period, during
which the monthly
charge per
connection is
waived.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each proposed Connectivity service would include the use of one
wireless connection port, and a User would not pay a separate fee for
the use of such port, provided that if a User already had a port for
Existing Third Party Data other than Toronto Stock Exchange data or CME
Group data (``Single Port Third Party Data''), it would not receive an
additional port for the Proposed Third Party Data, as one would not be
needed.\11\ Rather, the User would be able to connect to Proposed Third
Party Data using the same port that it already had, as a User would
only require one port to connect to the Proposed Third Party Data and
Single Port Third Party Data, irrespective of how many of the wireless
connections it orders.
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\11\ Similarly, if a User connected to Proposed Third Party Data
on a port for which it did not pay a separate fee for its use, it
would not receive a new port if it subsequently connected to Single
Port Third Party Data. Connection to Toronto Stock Exchange data and
CME Group data are excepted because they each require their own
port. See Securities Act Release Nos. 80215 (February 28, 2017), 82
FR 12658 (March 6, 2017) (SR-NYSE-2017-05), and 98962 (November 16,
2023), 88 FR 81485 (November 22, 2023) (SR-NYSE-2023-44).
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To receive a market data feed in the Proposed Third Party Data, the
User would enter into an agreement with a third party for permission to
receive the data, if required. The User would pay this third party any
fees for the data content. If a User were to purchase more than one
wireless connection to Proposed Third Party Data, it would pay more
than one non-recurring initial charge.
Application and Impact of the Proposed Changes
The proposed changes would not apply differently to distinct types
or sizes of market participants. Rather, they would apply to all Users
equally. As is currently the case, the purchase of any colocation
service is completely voluntary and the Fee Schedule is applied
uniformly to all Users.
The Connectivity to Proposed Third Party Data was requested by
Users, but the Exchange believes that it would obtain less than a
handful of new customers due to the proposed change.
Competitive Environment
The Exchange operates in a highly competitive market in which other
vendors offer colocation services as a means to facilitate the trading
and other market activities of those market participants who believe
that colocation enhances the efficiency of their operations. The
Commission has repeatedly expressed its preference for competition over
regulatory intervention in determining prices, products, and services
in the securities markets. Specifically, 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.'' \12\
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\12\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808 (June 9,
2005), 70 FR 37496, 37499 (June 29, 2005).
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As explained below in this filing, the Exchange's proposed
Connectivity to Proposed Third Party Data would compete with the
wireless connections provided by at least two third parties. Third-
party vendors are not at any competitive disadvantage created by the
Exchange.
The proposed change is not otherwise intended to address any other
issues relating to colocation services or related fees, and the
Exchange is not aware of any problems that Users would have in
complying with the proposed change.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with Section 6(b) of the Act,\13\ in general, and furthers the
objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\14\ in particular, because it
is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices,
to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster
cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating,
clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and
facilitating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and
perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market
system, and, in general, to protect investors and the
[[Page 54572]]
public interest and because it is not designed to permit unfair
discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. The
Exchange further believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with Section 6(b)(4) of the Act,\15\ because it provides for the
equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among
its members and issuers and other persons using its facilities and does
not unfairly discriminate between customers, issuers, brokers, or
dealers.
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\13\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\14\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
\15\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
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The Proposed Change Is Reasonable
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is reasonable.
In considering the reasonableness of proposed services and fees, the
Commission's market-based test considers ``whether the exchange was
subject to significant competitive forces in setting the terms of its
proposal . . . , including the level of any fees.'' \16\ If the
Exchange meets that burden, ``the Commission will find that its
proposal is consistent with the Act unless `there is a substantial
countervailing basis to find that the terms' of the proposal violate
the Act or the rules thereunder.'' \17\ Here, the Exchange is subject
to significant competitive forces in setting the terms on which it
offers its proposal, in particular because substantially similar
substitutes are available, and the Exchange has not placed the third
party vendors at a competitive disadvantage created by the Exchange.
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\16\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 90209 (October 15,
2020), 85 FR 67044, 67049 (October 21, 2020) (Order Granting
Accelerated Approval to Establish a Wireless Fee Schedule Setting
Forth Available Wireless Bandwidth Connections and Wireless Market
Data Connections) (SR-NYSE-2020-05, SR-NYSEAMER-2020-05, SR-
NYSEARCA-2020-08, SR-NYSECHX-2020-02, SR-NYSENAT-2020-03, SR-NYSE-
2020-11, SR-NYSEAMER-2020-10, SR-NYSEArca-2020-15, SR-NYSECHX-2020-
05, SR-NYSENAT-2020-08) (``Wireless Approval Order''), citing
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59039 (December 2, 2008), 73 FR
74770, 74781 (December 9, 2008) (``2008 ArcaBook Approval Order'').
See NetCoalition v. SEC, 615 F.3d 525 (D.C. Cir. 2010).
\17\ See Wireless Approval Order, supra note 16, at 67049,
citing 2008 ArcaBook Approval Order, supra note 16, at 74781.
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Substantially Similar Substitutes Are Available
The Exchange's proposed Connectivity to Proposed Third Party Data
would compete with other methods by which both the Exchange and various
third parties already provide, or could provide, Users with
connectivity to the Proposed Third Party Data.
At least two telecoms provide wireless connectivity in the MDC. A
User could use such connectivity to connect to the Proposed Third Party
Data. The Exchange believes that these wireless connections are at a
same or similar speed as the Exchange's proposed Connectivity, and at a
similar price.\18\
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\18\ Because the telecoms are not regulated entities, they are
not obligated to make its latency figures or fees publicly available
or the same for all entities.
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Accordingly, the wireless connections would compete with the
Exchange's proposed Connectivity and would exert significant
competitive forces on the Exchange in setting the terms of its
proposal, including the level of the Exchange's proposed fees.\19\ If
the Exchange were to set its proposed fees too high, Users could
respond by instead selecting the telecoms' substantially similar
wireless connectivity.\20\
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\19\ See 2008 ArcaBook Approval Order, supra note 16, at 74789
and n.295 (recognizing that products need not be identical to be
substitutable).
\20\ In addition, the Exchange believes that at least three
third-party market participants, as well as FIDS, offer fiber
connections to the Proposed Third Party Data in colocation. See
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82620 (February 1, 2018), 83 FR
5488 (February 7, 2018) (SR-NYSE-2018-05).
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Third Party Competitors Are Not at a Competitive Disadvantage Created
by the Exchange
The Exchange does not believe that FIDS would have any competitive
advantage over either the existing third-party telecom connections or
any future providers of wireless connectivity to Proposed Third Party
Data. The Exchange's proposed service for connectivity to Proposed
Third Party Data does not have any special access to or advantage
within the MDC. More specifically, the Exchange's proposed wireless
connection would lead to the data center pole, from which a fiber
connection would lead into the MDC. The data center pole is on the
grounds of the MDC, but pursuant to Exchange rule, the distance from
such pole to the patch panel where fiber connections for wireless
services connect to the network row in the space used for co-location
in the MDC (the ``Patch Panel Point'') is normalized.\21\
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\21\ See NYSE Rule 3.13, NYSE American Rule 3.13E, NYSE Arca
Rule 3.13, NYSE Chicago Rule 3.13, and NYSE National Rule 3.13 (Data
Center Pole Restrictions--Connectivity to Co-Location Space)
(placing restrictions on use of the data center pole designed to
address any advantage that the wireless connections have by virtue
of a data center pole).
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Exchange rules also require that the distance from the Patch Panel
Point to each User cabinet in colocation be the same.\22\ Further, all
distances in the MDC are normalized. Every provider of wireless
connectivity to Users, including FIDS, is connected to the Patch Panel
Point, and the length of the fiber path from the Patch Panel Point to
each User cabinet in colocation is the same.
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\22\ See id.
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Nor does the Exchange have a competitive advantage over any third-
party competitors offering wireless connectivity to the Proposed Third
Party Data by virtue of the fact that it owns and operates the MDC's
meet-me-rooms. Users purchasing wireless connectivity to the Proposed
Third Party Data--like Users of any other colocation service--would
require a circuit connecting out of the MDC, and in most cases, such
circuits are provided by third-party telecommunications service
providers that have installed their equipment in the MDC's two meet-me-
rooms (``Telecoms'').\23\ Currently, 16 Telecoms operate in the meet-
me-rooms and provide a variety of circuit choices. It is in the
Exchange's best interest to set the fees that Telecoms pay to operate
in the meet-me-rooms at a reasonable level \24\ so that market
participants, including Telecoms, will maximize their use of the MDC.
By setting the meet-me-room fees at a reasonable level, the Exchange
encourages Telecoms to participate in the meet-me-rooms and to sell
circuits to Users for connecting into and out of the MDC. These
Telecoms then compete with each other by pricing such circuits at
competitive rates. These competitive rates for circuits help draw in
more Users and Hosted Customers to the MDC, which directly benefits the
Exchange by increasing the customer base to whom the Exchange can sell
its colocation services, which include cabinets, power, ports, and
connectivity to many third-party data feeds, and because having more
Users and Hosted Customers leads, in many cases, to greater
participation on the Exchange. In this way, by setting the meet-me-room
fees at a level attractive to telecommunications firms, the Exchange
spurs demand for all of the services it sells at the MDC, while setting
the meet-me-room fees too high would negatively affect the Exchange's
ability to sell its services at the MDC.\25\ Accordingly, there are
real constraints on the meet-
[[Page 54573]]
me-room fees the Exchange charges, such that the Exchange does not have
an advantage in terms of costs when compared to third parties that
enter the MDC through the meet-me-rooms to provide services to compete
with the Exchange's services.
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\23\ Note that in the case of wireless connectivity, a User in
colocation still requires a fiber circuit to transport data. If a
Telecom is used, the data is transmitted wirelessly to the relevant
pole, and then from the pole to the meet-me-room using a fiber
circuit.
\24\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 97998 (July 26,
2023), 88 FR 50238 (August 1, 2023) (SR-NYSE-2023-27) (``MMR
Notice'').
\25\ See id. at 50241. Importantly, the Exchange is prevented
from making any alteration to its meet-me-room services or fees
without filing a proposal for such changes with the Commission.
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If anything, the Exchange would be subject to a competitive
disadvantage vis-[agrave]-vis third-party competitors offering wireless
connectivity to the Proposed Third Party Data. Third-party competitors
are not subject to the Commission's filing requirements, and therefore
can freely change their services and pricing in response to competitive
forces. In contrast, the Exchange's service and pricing would be
standardized as set out in this filing, and the Exchange would be
unable to respond to pricing pressure from its competitors without
seeking a formal fee change in a filing before the Commission.
In sum, because the Exchange is subject to significant competitive
forces in setting the terms on which it offers its proposal, in
particular because a substantially similar substitute is available, and
the Exchange has not placed third-party vendors at a competitive
disadvantage created by the Exchange, the proposed fees for the
Exchange's Connectivity to Proposed Third Party Data are
reasonable.\26\ If the Exchange were to set its prices for Connectivity
to Proposed Third Party Data at a level that Users found to be too
high, Users could easily choose to connect to Proposed Third Party Data
in colocation at the MDC through the competing wireless connections, as
detailed above.
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\26\ See Wireless Approval Order, supra note 16.
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Additional Considerations
The Exchange believes that it is reasonable to add text to the Fee
Schedule indicating that the monthly charge for the proposed
Connectivity is subject to a 30-day testing period, during which the
monthly charge per connection would be waived. The change would clarify
that the terms on which the Connectivity to Proposed Third Party Data
is offered are the same as those of most connections to Existing Third
Party Data.
The Exchange believes it is reasonable that if a User already had a
port for Single Port Third Party Data, it would not receive an
additional port for the Proposed Third Party Data. In such a case, no
additional port would be needed, as the User would be able to connect
to Proposed Third Party Data using the port it already had. Similarly,
the Exchange believes it is reasonable that if a User connected to
Proposed Third Party Data on a port for which it did not pay a separate
fee for its use, it would not receive a new port if it subsequently
connected to Single Port Third Party Data. This is because a User would
only require one port to connect to Proposed Third Party Data and
Single Port Third Party Data, irrespective of how many of the wireless
connections it orders.
The Proposed Change Is an Equitable Allocation of Fees and Credits
The Exchange believes that its proposal equitably allocates its
fees among Users. Without this proposed rule change, Users would have
fewer options for connectivity to Proposed Third Party Data. The
proposed change would provide Users with an additional choice with
respect to the form and optimal latency of the connectivity they use to
receive Proposed Third Party Data, allowing a User to select the
connectivity that better suits its needs, helping it tailor its
colocation operations to the requirements of its business operations.
Users that do not opt to utilize the Exchange's proposed wireless
Connectivity would still be able to connect to Proposed Third Party
Data wirelessly using third party wireless connections.
The Exchange believes that the proposed change is equitable because
it will result in fees being charged only to Users that voluntarily
select to receive the corresponding services and because those services
will be available to all Users. Furthermore, the Exchange believes that
the services and fees proposed herein are equitably allocated because,
in addition to the services being completely voluntary, they are
available to all Users on an equal basis (i.e., the same products and
services are available to all Users). All Users that voluntarily select
the Exchange's proposed Connectivity to Proposed Third Party Data would
be charged the same amount for the same services.
The Exchange believes it is equitable that if a User already had a
port for Single Port Third Party Data, it would not receive an
additional port for the Proposed Third Party Data. Similarly, the
Exchange believes it is equitable that if a User connected to Proposed
Third Party Data on a port for which it did not pay a separate fee for
its use, it would not receive a new port if it subsequently connected
to Single Port Third Party Data. This is because a User would only
require one port to connect to Proposed Third Party Data and Single
Port Third Party Data, irrespective of how many of the wireless
connections it orders.
The Proposed Change Is Not Unfairly Discriminatory
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is not unfairly
discriminatory, for the following reasons.
Without this proposed rule change, Users would have fewer options
for Connectivity to Proposed Third Party Data. The proposed change
would provide Users with an additional choice with respect to the form
and optimal latency of the connectivity they use to receive Proposed
Third Party Data, allowing a User to select the connectivity that
better suits its needs, helping it tailor its colocation operations to
the requirements of its business operations. Users that do not opt to
utilize the Exchange's proposed wireless Connectivity would still be
able to connect to Proposed Third Party Data wirelessly using third
party wireless connections.
The Exchange believes that the proposed change is not unfairly
discriminatory because it will result in fees being charged only to
Users that voluntarily select to receive the corresponding services and
because those services will be available to all Users. Furthermore, the
Exchange believes that the services and fees proposed herein are not
unfairly discriminatory because, in addition to the services being
completely voluntary, they are available to all Users on an equal basis
(i.e., the same products and services are available to all Users). All
Users that voluntarily select the Exchange's proposed Connectivity to
Proposed Third Party Data would be charged the same amount for the same
services.
The Exchange believes it is not unfairly discriminatory that if a
User already had a port for Single Port Third Party Data, it would not
receive an additional port for the Proposed Third Party Data.
Similarly, the Exchange believes that it is not unfairly discriminatory
that if a User connected to Proposed Third Party Data on a port for
which it did not pay a separate fee for its use, it would not receive a
new port if it subsequently connected to Single Port Third Party Data.
This is because a User would only require one port to connect to
Proposed Third Party Data and Single Port Third Party Data,
irrespective of how many of the wireless connections it orders.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange believes that the proposal will not impose any burden
on competition that is not necessary or
[[Page 54574]]
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of Section 6(b)(8) of the
Act.\27\
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\27\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
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The proposed change would not affect competition among national
securities exchanges or among members of the Exchange, but rather
between FIDS and its commercial competitors. The proposed wireless
Connectivity would provide Users with an alternative means of
connectivity to Proposed Third Party Data. The proposed change would
provide Users with an additional choice with respect to the form and
optimal latency of the connectivity they use to receive Proposed Third
Party Data, allowing a User to select the connectivity that better
suits its needs, helping it tailor its colocation operations to the
requirements of its business operations.
Users that do not opt to utilize the Exchange's proposed wireless
Connectivity would still be able to connect to Proposed Third Party
Data wirelessly using third party wireless connections.
The Exchange does not believe that FIDS would have any competitive
advantage over either the existing third-party telecom connections or
any future providers of wireless connectivity to Proposed Third Party
Data. The proposed Connectivity to Proposed Third Party Data does not
have any special access to or advantage within the MDC. More
specifically, the Exchange's proposed wireless connection would lead to
the data center pole, from which a fiber connection would lead into the
MDC. The data center pole is on the grounds of the MDC, but pursuant to
Exchange rule, the distance from such pole to the Patch Panel Point is
normalized.\28\ Exchange rules also require that the distance from the
Patch Panel Point to each User cabinet in colocation be the same.\29\
Further, all distances in the MDC are normalized. Every provider of
wireless connectivity to Users, including FIDS, is connected to the
Patch Panel Point, and the length of the fiber path from the Patch
Panel Point to each User cabinet in colocation is the same.
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\28\ See supra note 21.
\29\ See id.
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Adding text to the Fee Schedule indicating that the monthly charge
for Connectivity to the Proposed Third Party Data is subject to a 30-
day testing period, during which the monthly charge per connection
would be waived, is not designed to address any competitive issues, but
rather to enhance the clarity and transparency of the Fee Schedule and
alleviate possible customer confusion that may arise. Nor does the
Exchange have a competitive advantage over any third-party competitors
offering wireless connectivity to the Proposed Third Party Data by
virtue of the fact that it owns and operates the MDC's meet-me-rooms.
Users purchasing wireless connectivity to the Proposed Third Party
Data--like Users of any other colocation service--would require a
circuit connecting out of the MDC, and in most cases, such circuits are
provided by third-party Telecoms.\30\ Currently, 16 Telecoms operate in
the meet-me-rooms and provide a variety of circuit choices. It is in
the Exchange's best interest to set the fees that Telecoms pay to
operate in the meet-me-rooms at a reasonable level \31\ so that market
participants, including Telecoms, will maximize their use of the MDC.
By setting the meet-me-room fees at a reasonable level, the Exchange
encourages Telecoms to participate in the meet-me-rooms and to sell
circuits to Users for connecting into and out of the MDC. These
Telecoms then compete with each other by pricing such circuits at
competitive rates. These competitive rates for circuits help draw in
more Users and Hosted Customers to the MDC, which directly benefits the
Exchange by increasing the customer base to whom the Exchange can sell
its colocation services, which include cabinets, power, ports, and
connectivity to many third-party data feeds, and because having more
Users and Hosted Customers leads, in many cases, to greater
participation on the Exchange. In this way, by setting the meet-me-room
fees at a level attractive to telecommunications firms, the Exchange
spurs demand for all of the services it sells at the MDC, while setting
the meet-me-room fees too high would negatively affect the Exchange's
ability to sell its services at the MDC.\32\ Accordingly, there are
real constraints on the meet-me-room fees the Exchange charges, such
that the Exchange does not have an advantage in terms of costs when
compared to third parties that enter the MDC through the meet-me-rooms
to provide services to compete with the Exchange's services.
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\30\ See supra note 23.
\31\ See MMR Notice, supra note 24.
\32\ See id. at 50241.
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If anything, the Exchange would be subject to a competitive
disadvantage vis-[agrave]-vis third-party competitors offering wireless
connectivity to the Proposed Third Party Data. Third-party competitors
are not subject to the Commission's filing requirements, and therefore
can freely change their services and pricing in response to competitive
forces. In contrast, the Exchange's service and pricing would be
standardized as set out in this filing, and the Exchange would be
unable to respond to pricing pressure from its competitors without
seeking a formal fee change in a filing before the Commission.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the
proposed rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \33\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\34\
Because the proposed rule change does not: (i) significantly affect the
protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any
significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative prior to
30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as
the Commission may designate, if consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.\35\
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\33\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
\34\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
\35\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)
requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission
written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change at
least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed
rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission.
The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.
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At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings under
Section 19(b)(2)(B) \36\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
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\36\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
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[[Page 54575]]
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
<bullet> Use the Commission's internet comment form (<a href="https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml">https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</a>); or
<bullet> Send an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b6c4c3dad39bd5d9dbdbd3d8c2c5f6c5d3d598d1d9c0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2755524b420a44484a4a424953546754424409404851">[email protected]</span></a>. Please include
file number SR-NYSE-2024-37 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
<bullet> 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-NYSE-2024-37. 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 (<a href="https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml">https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</a>). 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-NYSE-2024-37 and should be
submitted on or before July 22, 2024.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\37\
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\37\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Vanessa A. Countryman,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-14380 Filed 6-28-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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