The Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') is amending Rule 17Ad-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Exchange Act'') to require certain non-bank transfer agents to file with the Commission a report prepared by an independent public accountant regarding the non-bank transfer agent's process for preparing for the Year 2000. The report will provide valuable information on the existence and sufficiency of a non-bank transfer agent's process for addressing Year 2000 Problems, will provide an independent verification of the accuracy of the information contained in the non-bank transfer agent's second Form TA-Y2K, will aid the Commission in obtaining a more complete understanding of the industry's overall Year 2000 preparations, and will identify institution-specific and industry wide problems. The independent public accountant's report will be available to the public.