Investor Assistance Specialists at headquarters and in our regional and district offices handled a total of 76,221 complaints, questions, and other investor contacts during fiscal year 2005.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Investor complaints provide an important source of information about possible securities laws violations and can assist the SEC in its law enforcement and regulatory functions.

Investors who believe that possible securities laws violations have occurred should advise the SEC so that it may take appropriate regulatory action.

However, the SEC is not a collection agency.

It does not advise investors whether particular transactions about which they may have complained violate the federal securities laws, nor does it seek recovery on behalf of investors through court action or otherwise.

These laws do provide important remedies to investors, and investors should consider seeking the advice of an attorney as to any recourse available to them if they believe they have been defrauded.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Anyone may seek information from or file a complaint with the SEC.

Beneficiary Eligibility

The SEC's actions are designed to protect not only those who seek its help directly, but also all other similarly situated investors and the general public. Moreover, the SEC's public files contain financial and other information about several thousand companies, broker-dealers, investment companies, investment advisers, transfer agents, and banks. Members of the public may examine such material at the SEC's headquarters office in Washington, DC, or they may order copies of the material by contacting the SEC at: Public Reference Branch, Mail Stop 1-2, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549. Telephone: (202) 942-8090. Fax: (202) 628-9001. Email: publicinfo@sec.gov. The SEC also maintains a web site on the internet at www.sec.gov where the public can read or download public files on public companies whose securities are registered with the SEC, educational information, and investor alerts. Also, investors who believe they have been defrauded, or believe that another party has violated the federal securities laws are urged to present their complaint and/or information to the SEC for use in its enforcement and regulatory activities. SEC public actions do not necessarily result in any monetary benefits to investors. However, aggrieved investors may find the information the SEC discloses in its actions helpful in any private action they may bring to recover their losses.

Credentials/Documentation

Not applicable.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

None.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

Contact the Office of Investor Education and Assistance in Washington, DC, or any regional office Investor Assistance Specialist.

Award Procedures

Not applicable.

Deadlines

None.

Authorization

Securities Act of 1933, Public Law 73-22, 15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.; Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Public Law 73-291, 15 U.S.C. 78a to 78jj, as amended, Public Laws 92-29 and 94-29; Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, Public Law 74-333, 15 U.S.C. 79 to 79z-6; Trust Indenture Act of 1939, Public Law 76-253, 15 U.S.C. 77aaa to 77bbbb; Investment Company Act of 1940, Public Law 76-768, 15 U.S.C. 80a-1 to 80a-52; Investment Advisers Act of 1940, 15 U.S.C. 80b-1 to 80b-21; National Bankruptcy Act, Chapter X, Public Law 75-696, 11 U.S.C. 501-676; Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970, Public Law 91-598, 15 U.S.C. 78aaa, as amended, Public Law 95-283.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Not applicable.

Appeals

Not applicable.

Renewals

Not applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Not applicable.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Not applicable.

Audits

Not applicable.

Records

Not applicable.

Financial Information

Account Identification

50-0100-0-1-376.

Obigations

(Salaries and expenses) FY 07 $875,456,000; FY 08 est $906,000,000; and FY 09 est 913,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Not applicable.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

The SEC publishes and distributes free brochures that describe in plain English how the securities industry works, how to invest wisely and avoid fraud, and where to turn for help. Our print (hard-copy) brochures include "Ask Questions," "Invest Wisely: An Introduction to Mutual Funds," "Variable Annuities: What You Should Know," "Certificates of Deposit: Tips for Investors," "Microcap Stock: A Guide for Investors," "Internet Fraud," and "Get the Facts on Saving and Investing." All of these publications and many others also are available for free on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov/investor/pubs.shtml. To order a hard-copy brochure, investors should call our toll-free publications line at (1-800) 732-0330, or send a written request to the SEC's Publications Unit, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Regional Offices: Joseph Connolly, Steven Sanchez, and Donna Smith, 3World Financial Center,Romm 4300,New York,NY 10281, (212) 336-1100; Doreen K. Mosaphir, Suite 1800, 801 Brickell Avenue, Miami, FL 33131, (305) 982-6300; Pailine Zelkin, Suite 900, 175 West Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604, (312) 353-7390; Rhonda Erickson and Lucille V. Casias, Suite 4800, 1801 California Street, Suite 1500, Denver, CO 80202-2648, (303) 844-1000; and Joanne Morris, S. Junai Lewis, and Joanne Morris, 11th Floor, 5670 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036-3648, (213) 965-3998. District Offices: Celia Moore, 33 Arch Street, 23rd Floor, Boston,MA 02110-1424,(617) 573-8900; Michale Novakovic and Nancy Carrieri, The Mellon Independence Center, 701 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106-1532, (215) 597-3100; Vellamaray Graham, Suite 1000, 3475 Lenox Road, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30326-1232, (404) 842-7600; Barbara Ray, Suite 800, 801 Cherry Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102, (817) 978-6465; 15 W. South Temple Street, Suite 1800, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, (801) 524-5796; and Cheryl M. Lawson and Susan Lee, Suite 2600, 44 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA 94104, (415) 705-2500.

Headquarters Office

Office of Investor Education and Assistance, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549-0213. Telephone: (202) 551-6551; Facsimile: (202) 772-9295. The public may submit questions and complaints electronically using our online question and complaint forms at http://www.sec.gov/complaint.shtml.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not applicable.