(a) Competing consolidator registration—

(1) Initial Form CC—

(i) Filing and effectiveness requirement. No person, other than a national securities exchange or a national securities association:

(A) May receive directly, pursuant to an effective national market system plan, from a national securities exchange or national securities association information with respect to quotations for and transactions in NMS stocks; and

(B) Generate a consolidated market data product for dissemination to any person unless the person files with the Commission an initial Form CC and the initial Form CC has become effective pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)(v) of this section.

(ii) Electronic filing and submission. Any reports to the Commission required under this section shall be filed electronically on Form CC (17 CFR 249.1002), include all information as prescribed in Form CC and the instructions thereto, and contain an electronic signature as defined in §240.19b-4(j) of this chapter.

(iii) Commission review period. The Commission may, by order, as provided in paragraph (a)(1)(v)(B) of this section, declare an initial Form CC filed by a competing consolidator ineffective no later than 90 calendar days from the date of filing with the Commission.

(iv) Withdrawal of initial Form CC due to inaccurate or incomplete disclosures. During the review by the Commission of the initial Form CC, if any information disclosed in the initial Form CC is or becomes inaccurate or incomplete, the competing consolidator shall promptly withdraw the initial Form CC and may refile an initial Form CC pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this section.

(v) Effectiveness; ineffectiveness determination.

(A) An initial Form CC filed by a competing consolidator will become effective, unless declared ineffective, no later than the expiration of the review period provided in paragraph (a)(1)(iii) of this section and publication pursuant to paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section.

(B) The Commission shall, by order, declare an initial Form CC ineffective if it finds, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, and is consistent with the protection of investors. If the Commission declares an initial Form CC ineffective, the competing consolidator shall be prohibited from operating as a competing consolidator. An initial Form CC declared ineffective does not prevent the competing consolidator from subsequently filing a new Form CC.

(2) Form CC amendments. A competing consolidator shall amend a Form CC:

(i) Prior to the implementation of a material change to the pricing, connectivity, or products offered (“material amendment”); and

(ii) No later than 30 calendar days after the end of each calendar year to correct information that has become inaccurate or incomplete for any reason and to provide an Annual Report as required under Form CC (each a “Form CC amendment”).

(3) Notice of cessation. A competing consolidator shall notice its cessation of operations on Form CC at least 90 calendar days prior to the date the competing consolidator will cease to operate as a competing consolidator. The notice of cessation shall cause the Form CC to become ineffective on the date designated by the competing consolidator.

(4) Date of filing. For purposes of filings made pursuant to this section:

(i) The term business day shall have the same meaning as defined in §240.19b-4(b)(2) of this chapter.

(ii) If the conditions of this section and Form CC are otherwise satisfied, all filings submitted electronically on or before 5:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time or Eastern Daylight Saving Time, whichever is currently in effect, on a business day, shall be deemed filed on that business day, and all filings submitted after 5:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time or Eastern Daylight Saving Time, whichever is currently in effect, shall be deemed filed on the next business day.

(b) Public disclosures.

(1) Every Form CC filed pursuant to this section shall constitute a “report” within the meaning of sections 11A, 17(a), 18(a), and 32(a) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78k-1, 78q(a), 78r(a), and 78ff(a)), and any other applicable provisions of the Act.

(2) The Commission will make public via posting on the Commission's website:

(i) Identification of each competing consolidator that has filed an initial Form CC with the Commission and the date of filing;

(ii) Each effective initial Form CC, as amended;

(iii) Each order of ineffective initial Form CC;

(iv) Each Form CC amendment. The Commission will make public the entirety of any Form CC amendment no later than 30 calendar days from the date of filing thereof with the Commission; and

(v) Each notice of cessation.

(c) Posting of hyperlink to the Commission's website. Each competing consolidator shall make public via posting on its website a direct URL hyperlink to the Commission's website that contains the documents enumerated in paragraphs (b)(2)(ii) through (v) of this section.

(d) Responsibilities of competing consolidators. Each competing consolidator shall:

(1) Collect from each national securities exchange and national securities association, either directly or indirectly, any information with respect to quotations for and transactions in NMS stocks as provided in §242.603(b) that is necessary to create a consolidated market data product, as defined in §242.600(b)(20).

(2) Calculate and generate a consolidated market data product, as defined in §242.600(b)(20), from the information collected pursuant to paragraph (d)(1) of this section.

(3) Make a consolidated market data product, as defined in §242.600(b)(20), as timestamped as required by paragraph (d)(4) of this section and including the national securities exchange and national securities association data generation timestamp required to be provided by the national securities exchange and national securities association participants by paragraph (e)(2) of this section, available to subscribers on a consolidated basis on terms that are not unreasonably discriminatory.

(4) Timestamp the information collected pursuant to paragraph (d)(1) of this section upon:

(i) Receipt from each national securities exchange and national securities association;

(ii) Receipt of such information at its aggregation mechanism; and

(iii) Dissemination of a consolidated market data product to subscribers.

(5) Within 15 calendar days after the end of each month, publish prominently on its website monthly performance metrics, as defined by the effective national market system plan(s) for NMS stocks, that shall include at least the information in paragraphs (d)(5)(i) through (v) of this section. All information must be publicly posted in downloadable files and must remain free and accessible (without any encumbrances or restrictions) by the general public on the website for a period of not less than three years from the initial date of posting.

(i) Capacity statistics;

(ii) Message rate and total statistics;

(iii) System availability;

(iv) Network delay statistics; and

(v) Latency statistics for the following, with distribution statistics up to the 99.99th percentile:

(A) When a national securities exchange or national securities association sends an inbound message to a competing consolidator network and when the competing consolidator network receives the inbound message;

(B) When the competing consolidator network receives the inbound message and when the competing consolidator network sends the corresponding consolidated message to a subscriber; and

(C) When a national securities exchange or national securities association sends an inbound message to a competing consolidator network and when the competing consolidator network sends the corresponding consolidated message to a subscriber.

(6) Within 15 calendar days after the end of each month, publish prominently on its website the information in paragraphs (d)(6)(i) through (v) of this section. All information must be publicly posted and must remain free and accessible (without any encumbrances or restrictions) by the general public on the website for a period of not less than three years from the initial date of posting.

(i) Data quality issues;

(ii) System issues;

(iii) Any clock synchronization protocol utilized;

(iv) For the clocks used to generate the timestamps described in paragraph (d)(4) of this section, the clock drift averages and peaks, and the number of instances of clock drift greater than 100 microseconds; and

(v) Vendor alerts.

(7) Keep and preserve at least one copy of all documents, including all correspondence, memoranda, papers, books, notices, accounts, and such other records as shall be made or received by it in the course of its business as such and in the conduct of its business. Competing consolidators shall keep all such documents for a period of no less than five years, the first two years in an easily accessible place.

(8) Upon request of any representative of the Commission, promptly furnish to the possession of such representative copies of any documents required to be kept and preserved by it.

(9) Each competing consolidator that is not required to comply with the requirements of §§242.1000 through 242.1007 regarding systems compliance and integrity (Regulation SCI) shall comply with the following:

(i) Definitions. For purposes of this paragraph (d)(9), the following definitions shall apply:

Systems disruption means an event in a competing consolidator's systems involved in the collection and consolidation of consolidated market data, and dissemination of consolidated market data products, that disrupts, or significantly degrades, the normal operation of such systems.

Systems intrusion means any unauthorized entry into a competing consolidator's systems involved in the collection and consolidation of consolidated market data, and dissemination of consolidated market data products.

(ii) Obligations relating to policies and procedures.

(A)

(1) Establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure: That its systems involved in the collection and consolidation of consolidated market data, and dissemination of consolidated market data products have levels of capacity, integrity, resiliency, availability, and security adequate to maintain the competing consolidator's operational capability and promote the maintenance of fair and orderly markets; and the prompt, accurate, and reliable dissemination of consolidated market data products.

(2) Such policies and procedures shall be deemed to be reasonably designed if they are consistent with current industry standards, which shall be comprised of information technology practices that are widely available to information technology professionals in the financial sector and issued by an authoritative body that is a U.S. governmental entity or agency, association of U.S. governmental entities or agencies, or widely recognized organization. Compliance with such current industry standards, however, shall not be the exclusive means to comply with the requirements of this paragraph (d)(9)(ii)(A);

(B) Periodically review the effectiveness of the policies and procedures required by paragraph (d)(9)(ii)(A) of this section, and take prompt action to remedy deficiencies in such policies and procedures; and

(C) Establish, maintain, and enforce reasonably designed written policies and procedures that include the criteria for identifying responsible personnel, the designation and documentation of responsible personnel, and escalation procedures to quickly inform responsible personnel of potential systems disruptions and systems intrusions; and periodically review the effectiveness of the policies and procedures, and take prompt action to remedy deficiencies.

(iii) Systems disruptions or systems intrusions.

(A) Upon responsible personnel having a reasonable basis to conclude that a systems disruption or systems intrusion has occurred, begin to take appropriate corrective action which shall include, at a minimum, mitigating potential harm to investors and market integrity resulting from the event and devoting adequate resources to remedy the event as soon as reasonably practicable.

(B) Promptly upon responsible personnel having a reasonable basis to conclude that a systems disruption (other than a system disruption that has had, or the competing consolidator reasonably estimates would have, no or a de minimis impact on the competing consolidator's operations or on market participants) has occurred, publicly disseminate information relating to the event (including the system(s) affected and a summary description); when known, promptly publicly disseminate additional information relating to the event (including a detailed description, an assessment of those potentially affected, a description of the progress of corrective action and when the event has been or is expected to be resolved); and until resolved, provide regular updates with respect to such information.

(C) Concurrent with public dissemination of information relating to a systems disruption pursuant to paragraph (d)(9)(iii)(B) of this section, or promptly upon responsible personnel having a reasonable basis to conclude that a systems intrusion (other than a system intrusion that has had, or the competing consolidator reasonably estimates would have, no or a de minimis impact on the competing consolidator's operations or on market participants) has occurred, provide the Commission notification and, until resolved, updates of such event. Notifications required pursuant to this paragraph (d)(9)(iii)(C) shall include information relating to the event (including the system(s) affected and a summary description); when known, additional information relating to the event (including a detailed description, an assessment of those potentially affected, a description of the progress of corrective action and when the event has been or is expected to be resolved); and until resolved, regular updates with respect to such information. Notifications relating to systems disruptions and systems intrusions pursuant to this paragraph (d)(9)(iii)(C) shall be submitted to the Commission on Form CC.

(iv) Coordinated testing. Participate in the industry- or sector-wide coordinated testing of business recovery and disaster recovery plans required of SCI entities pursuant to §242.1004(c).

(e) Amendment of the effective national market system plan(s) for NMS stocks. The participants to the effective national market system plan(s) for NMS stocks shall file with the Commission, pursuant to §242.608, an amendment that includes the following provisions within 150 calendar days from June 8, 2021:

(1) Conforming the effective national market system plan(s) for NMS stocks to reflect provision of information with respect to quotations for and transactions in NMS stocks that is necessary to generate consolidated market data by the national securities exchange and national securities association participants to competing consolidators and self-aggregators;

(2) The application of timestamps by the national securities exchange and national securities association participants on all information with respect to quotations for and transactions in NMS stocks that is necessary to generate consolidated market data, including the time that such information was generated as applicable by the national securities exchange or national securities association and the time the national securities exchange or national securities association made such information available to competing consolidators and self-aggregators;

(3) Assessments of competing consolidator performance, including speed, reliability, and cost of data provision and the provision of an annual report of such assessment to the Commission, and the Commission will make the annual report publicly available on the Commission's website;

(4) The development, maintenance, and publication of a list that identifies the primary listing exchange for each NMS stock; and

(5) The calculation and publication on a monthly basis of consolidated market data gross revenues for NMS stocks as specified by:

(i) Listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE);

(ii) Listed on Nasdaq; and

(iii) Listed on exchanges other than NYSE or Nasdaq.

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