- Commodity Markets Council: This association addresses industry issues focusing on agriculture, energy, finance, infrastructure and transportation. Our discussion, with Gregg Doud, President of the CMC, was around issues which our associations have in common such as AT registration, and the effect the coming election on the make-up of the Commission and direction of regulation.
- CFTC Commissioner Bowen’s Staff: We discussed possible amendments to Reg AT such as minimum volume and direct market access. (A subsequent meeting of the Commission on Nov. 4, incorporated much of this discussion in the amended proposal.) The staff is also interested in what effect the shrinking numbers of FCMs is having/might have on the NIBA community.
- CFTC Commissioner Giancarlo and Staff: We discussed shrinking FCM registrations, and other issues, but focused primarily on the aspect of Reg AT which would allow CFTC access to source code of algo traders without subpoena. (At the Nov. 4 meeting, the Commissioners voted two (Massad, Bowen) to one (Giancarlo) to include a minimum volume threshold and a requirement for Commission approval before requesting source code, but no subpoena in the proposed regulation now listed in the Federal Register.)
- CFTC Office of Customer Education and Outreach: This division of the CFTC is responsible for the Commission’s customer education initiatives. We met with Dan Rutherford, Director & Meredith Regine, Customer Outreach Specialist, to review print and web materials currently used/proposed by the Commission.
- Attorney Mark Ruddy, Ruddy Law Office: Mark is a longtime supporter of the NIBA, ocated in DC. He is a frequent speaker at NIBA events, a 25th Anniversary Member and will be involved in NIBA 2017 events.
- Attorney Jim Browne: Jim is the trademark-focused attorney NIBA has relied upon since our founding to register and upkeep our registration. He is a DC-area native, former FBI agent and has helped NIBA navigate DC for many years.
