Staff Comment Letters are sent by the SEC as part of a process that is initiated by the staff’s selection of certain filings for review.  The SEC staff may provide the filers with comments, if the staff believes the filing could be improved or enhanced. The letters set forth staff positions on a particular filing only; they do not constitute an official expression of the Commission's views. In addition, these letters are limited to the specific facts of the filing to which they apply, and do not apply to other filings.  Staff review of a filing may involve several rounds of comments from the staff and a similar number of responses from the filer. Upon resolution of all issues relating to a filing review, the staff advises the filer that its review is complete.

Until recently, the SEC only released comment letters and responses to these comment letters in response to a Freedom of Information Act request after the staff review was complete.  A recent change in the SEC’s policy has made a portion of these letters public (all letters issued after August, 2004).

You can find SEC Staff Comment Letters on lexis.com at: 

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