Subject: Short Sales of OTC.BB Securities Author: Charles Alexander at Internet Date: 12/06/1999 8:43 PM As a new investor, with only minimum funds available to begin my investing, I have been very dismayed by the blatant manipulation by the Market Makers in nearly every stock I have purchased to the extent that I have lost more than half of my investing dollars because the MM's have kept the prices depressed, even when 100 or 200 millions shares have been traded with no increase in price. I understand that one takes their chances in the market, especially in the BB market, and have never expected any more than what was fair to all concerned in my decisions to buy a particular stock. If I buy and it goes down, that's one thing. But to buy and have it crash because of the manipulation of MM's, that's dishonest and fraudulent behavior. I encourage you to adopt the proposed rules on short sells and at least give the average investor and honest break in their investment decisions. NOTHING MORE...NOTHING LESS. I would also encourage you to keep in force the UPTICK rules on short sales. This is another source of protection for investors against manipulation by the market. I think it is time for the SEC to clean up the market and make it fair for all. IT IS NOT THAT AT THE PRESENT TIME. IT IS ONE SIDED. Thank you for your concern and consideration, Charles Alexander Individual Investor Houston, Texas