Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Extend the Pilot Regarding the Use of Multiple MPIDs on the Trade Reporting Facilities and the Alternative Display Facility

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”) and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, notice is hereby given that, on December 29, 2008, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) (f/k/a National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”)) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by FINRA. FINRA has designated the proposed rule change as constituting a “non-controversial” rule change under paragraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 under the Act, which renders the proposal effective upon receipt of this filing by the Commission. 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

FINRA is proposing to extend through January 29, 2010, the current rules regarding the use of multiple Market Participant Symbols (“MPIDs”) in FINRA Rules 6160 (with respect to Trade Reporting Facilities (“TRFs”)) and 6170 (with respect to the Alternative Display Facility (“ADF”)).

The text of the proposed rule change is available at FINRA's Web site at http://www.finra.org , at the principal offices of FINRA 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, FINRA 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. FINRA 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 Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose

(a) FINRA Rule 6160

Rule 6160 (Multiple MPIDs for Trade Reporting Facility Participants) provides that any Trade Reporting Facility Participant that wishes to use more than one MPID for purposes of reporting trades to a TRF must submit a written request to, and obtain approval from, FINRA Operations for such additional MPIDs. In addition, Supplementary Material to the rule states that FINRA considers the issuance of, and trade reporting with, multiple MPIDs to be a privilege and not a right. A Trade Reporting Facility Participant must identify the purpose(s) and system(s) for which the multiple MPIDs will be used. If FINRA determines that the use of multiple MPIDs is detrimental to the marketplace, or that a Trade Reporting Facility Participant is using one or more additional MPIDs improperly or for other than the purpose(s) identified by the Participant, FINRA staff retains full discretion to limit or withdraw its grant of the additional MPID(s) to such Trade Reporting Facility Participant for purposes of reporting trades to a TRF. FINRA believes that Rule 6160 is necessary to consolidate the process of issuing, and tracking the use of, multiple MPIDs used to report trades to TRFs.

The Commission initially approved Rule 6160 (formerly NASD Rule 5140 and IM-5140) on a pilot basis on November 6, 2006. By its terms, the pilot period expired on January 26, 2007. In 2007 and 2008, the pilot period was extended for additional one-year periods until January 25, 2008 and January 30, 2009, respectively. FINRA believes that an additional one-year extension until January 29, 2010, is necessary to provide additional time to analyze the use of multiple MPIDs on the TRFs. FINRA is not proposing any other changes to the pilot as this time.

(b) FINRA Rule 6170

Rule 6170 (Primary and Additional MPIDs for Alternative Display Facility Participants) provides that a Registered Reporting ADF ECN may request additional MPIDs for displaying quotes and orders and reporting trades through the ADF trade reporting facility, TRACS, for any ADF-Eligible Security. Registered Reporting ADF ECNs that are permitted the use of additional MPIDs for displaying quotes and orders are subject to the same rules applicable to the member's first quotation (i.e., ECNs that display one or more additional quotes/orders are required to comply with all rules applicable to ECNs in their display of quotes/orders). Registered Reporting ADF ECNs also are prohibited from using an additional MPID to accomplish indirectly what they are prohibited from doing directly through their Primary MPID. In addition, FINRA staff retains full discretion to determine whether a bona fide regulatory and/or business need exists for being granted an additional MPID privilege and to limit or withdraw the additional MPID display privilege at any time. The procedures for requesting, and the restrictions surrounding the use of, multiple MPIDs are set forth in Supplementary Material to the rule.

Rule 6170 (formerly NASD Rule 4613A(b) and IM-4613A-1) was adopted on a pilot basis on August 11, 2006. By its terms, the initial pilot period expired on January 26, 2007. In 2007 and 2008, the pilot period was extended for additional one-year periods until January 25, 2008 and January 30, 2009, respectively. FINRA believes that an additional one-year extension until January 29, 2010, is necessary to provide additional time to analyze the use of multiple MPIDs on the ADF. FINRA is not proposing any other changes to the pilot as this time.

FINRA has filed the proposed rule change for immediate effectiveness. The implementation date of the proposed rule change will be January 30, 2009.

2. Statutory Basis

FINRA believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act, which requires, among other things, that FINRA rules must be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. FINRA believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with these requirements because it will provide a process by which ECNs (in the case of the ADF) and Trade Reporting Facility Participants (in the case of TRFs) can request, and FINRA can properly allocate, the use of additional MPIDs for displaying quotes and orders through the ADF or reporting trades to a TRF.

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

FINRA does not believe that the proposed rule change will result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

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

Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

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

Because the foregoing 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 for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.

At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission may summarily abrogate 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.

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 ( http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml ); or
• Send an e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-FINRA-2008-68 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-FINRA-2008-68. This file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail 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 Web site ( http://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 inspection and copying 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 will also be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the self-regulatory organization. All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-FINRA-2008-68 and should be submitted on or before January 29, 2009.