FINRA filed for immediate effectiveness to extend the pilot period regarding use of multiple MPIDs on FINRA facilities through 1/25/13.   The pilot was to have expired on 1/27/12.  The extension impacts 3 FINRA rules that currently govern MPID use:

• Rule 6160, Multiple MPIDs for Trade Reporting Facility Participants.
• Rule 6170, Primary and Additional MPIDs for Alternative Display Facility. Participants.
• Rule 6480, Multiple MPIDs for Quoting and Trading in OTC Equity Securities.

FINRA believes that there continue to be legitimate business reasons for members to maintain multiple MPIDs for use on FINRA facilities.  Consequently, FINRA is proposing to extend the pilot period for each of the three rules until January 25, 2013. FINRA, however, is not proposing any other changes to the rules at this time, though it intends to file a proposed rule change within the next year that amends the rules governing multiple MPIDs, including a proposed rule change to make the rules permanent.   [FINRA Rule Filing 11-74, 12/21/11]