[American Stock Exchange letterhead]

Re: Request to Testify at Public Hearings on Release No. 34-49408;
File No. S7-10-04 (Hearings on Proposed Regulation NMS)

Dear Mr. Katz:

The American Stock Exchange ("Amex") respectfully requests the opportunity to testify at the public hearings on proposed Regulation NMS scheduled by the Securities and Exchange Commission for April 21, 2004, in New York. In light of the significance to the Amex of the Commission's proposed structural changes to the national market system, at the hearings we anticipate that our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Salvatore F. Sodano, would provide the Amex's views on the issues raised by the proposals presented in Regulation NMS.

Please contact me if the Commission or its staff has any questions regarding the above request.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Ryan, Jr.
Executive Vice President and
General Counsel