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Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, Washington, DC 20549-0213.

Extension: Regulation S-AM; SEC File No. 270-548; OMB Control No. 3235-0609.

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) is soliciting comments on the collection of information provided for in Regulation S-AM (17 CFR part 248, subpart B), under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-159, Section 214, 117 Stat. 1952 (2003)) (“FACT Act”), the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.), the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-1 et seq.), and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-1 et seq.). The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget for extension and approval.

Regulation S-AM implements the requirements of Section 214 of the FACT Act as applied to brokers, dealers, and investment companies, as well as investment advisers and transfer agents that are registered with the Commission (collectively, “Covered Persons”). As directed by Section 214 of the FACT Act, before a receiving affiliate may make marketing solicitations based on the communication of certain consumer financial information from a Covered Person, the Covered Person must provide a notice to each affected individual informing the individual of his or her right to prohibit such marketing. The regulation potentially applies to all of the approximately 21,466 Covered Persons registered with the Commission, although only approximately 12,021 of them have one or more corporate affiliates, and the regulation would require only approximately 2,147 of them to provide consumers with notice and an opt-out opportunity.

The Commission staff estimates that there are approximately 12,021 Covered Persons having one or more affiliates, and that they would require an average one-time burden of 1 hour to review affiliate marketing practices, for a total of 12,021 hours, at a total staff cost of approximately $2,524,410. The staff also estimates that approximately 2,147 Covered Persons would be required to provide notice and opt-out opportunities to consumers, and would incur an average first-year burden of 18 hours in doing so, for a total estimated first-year burden of 38,646 hours, at a total staff cost of approximately $10,279,836. With regard to continuing notice burdens, the staff estimates that each of the approximately 2,147 Covered Persons required to provide notice and opt-out opportunities to consumers would incur a burden of approximately 4 hours per year to create and deliver notices to new consumers and record any opt outs that are received on an ongoing basis, for a total of 8,588 hours, at a total staff cost of approximately $489,516 per year.

Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's estimates of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information on respondents; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted in writing within 60 days of this publication.

Comments should be submitted in writing to: Charles Boucher, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Shirley Martinson, 6432 General Green Way, Alexandria, VA 22312, or by e-mail to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov.

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