Rule 17a-3 requires certain records to
be made by certain exchange members and registered brokers and
dealers. The rule serves to standardize prudent business practices.
Among other things, these records are essential for regulatory
purposes including examinations, investigations, and enforcement
proceedings, which are significant customer protection
safeguards.
The annual record-keeping hour
burden of 2,984,760 hours listed on Item 13 of the Rule 17a-3 OMB
Form 83-I reflects a 563,565 increase over the current OMB
inventory of 2,421,195 hours. This change incorporates both a
decrease in the number of respondents of 1,050, from 6,900 to
5,850, and an increase in the number of customer accounts held by
broker-dealers of 9,242,667, from 102,530,971 to 111,773,638. The
annual reporting and record-keeping cost burden of $31,539,282 each
year as listed on Item 14 of the Rule 17a-3 OMB Form 83-I is
$6,639,282 greater, respectively, than the current OMB inventory of
$24,900,000. This increase reflects the additional costs created by
the 9,242,667 additional customer accounts (111,773,638 customer
accounts reported in Dec., 2006 vs. 102,530,971 customer accounts
reported in Dec., 2003). In addition, the staff increased its cost
estimates to account for inflation. Finally, approximately $80,000
is attributable to a rounding error in the 2004 filing.
$0
No
No
Uncollected
Uncollected
Uncollected
Uncollected
Bonnie Gauch 202
942-0765
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.