FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                   2000-154

        SEC Reaffirms October 23, 2000 Effectiveness Date
                        for Regulation FD

     Washington, DC, October 12, 2000 - The Securities and
Exchange Commission late yesterday issued the following letter in
response to requests to defer the implementation date of
Regulation FD.  The letter reaffirms the original October 23,
2000 effectiveness date and reminds issuers of the Commission
staff's availability to offer interpretive guidance, both before
and after Regulation FD becomes effective.

                          *  *  *  *  *

October 11, 2000

Louis M. Thompson, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer
National Investor Relations Institute
8045 Leesburg Pike, Suite 600
Vienna, Virginia  22182

     Re:  Request for Delay of Effective Date of Regulation FD,
     File No. S7-31-99

Dear Mr. Thompson:

     Thank you for your letter of September 21, 2000 regarding
the Commission's Regulation FD.  In your letter you requested an
extension of the rule's effective date from October 23, 2000 to
December 29, 2000.  Although the effective date will remain as
October 23, 2000, please be assured that the staff is committed
to helping affected parties understand and apply the new rule.
As you note in your letter, Commission staff members have
participated in public conferences to answer questions about
Regulation FD.  In addition, the Division of Corporation
Finance's Office of Chief Counsel has been responding to
telephone inquiries about Regulation FD issues.  The staff has
every intention of continuing to be available for and responsive
to requests for interpretive guidance, both before and after
Regulation FD becomes effective.  Please call the Division's
Office of Chief Counsel at 202-942-2900 with any specific
inquiries you or your members may have.

Sincerely,

Jonathan G. Katz
Secretary

cc:  Stanley Keller, Chair, Committee on Federal Regulation of
Securities, American Bar Association; Stuart J. Kaswell, Senior
Vice President and General Counsel, Securities Industry
Association; Gerald S. Backman, Chair, Committee on Securities
Regulation, New York State Bar Association; William R. Sawyers,
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Del Monte Foods
Company; Rob Jones, General Counsel, Del Webb Corporation,
Gregory C. Yadley, Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP; G. Penn
Holsenbeck, Vice President, Associate General Counsel & Corporate
Secretary, Philip Morris Companies, Inc.

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