From: Carl Erikson [eriksonc@cs.unc.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2003 11:32 PM
To: rule-comments@sec.gov
Subject: Re: BOX - SR-BSE-2002-15

This e-mail is in regards to the proposed BOX exchange.  As an individual 
investor, I am tired of the SEC making and enforcing rules that eliminate 
competition from the markets.  Some recent examples are the SEC's "pattern 
day-trader" rule and the rule to disallow the Island ECN from displaying 
QQQ, SPY, and DIA quotes.  These examples have hurt me personally as an 
individual investor and the SEC has not been doing a good job of its stated 
goal:

"
The primary mission of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is 
to protect investors and maintain the integrity of the securities markets.
"

Out of all the exchanges, the options exchanges currently have the most 
restrictions in place to prevent individual investors from competing on an 
even playing field.  All of these restrictions do not "protect investors" 
nor do they "maintain the integrity of the securities markets."  In fact, 
most of these restrictions are contrived rules to make sure the options 
market makers have an unfair advantage.

As an individual investor, I am asking the SEC the approve the BOX (Boston 
Options Exchange) promptly as it will finally make options trading a fair 
and level playing field.  Currently I do not trade options for the sole 
reason that I will not support exchanges that do not promote competitive 
and transparent trading.  With the introduction of BOX, I will consider 
trading options.

The SEC should remain true to their stated goal and approve the BOX promptly.

Thanks for your time,
Carl Erikson