<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.6


                            INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT


AGREEMENT between Belden Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
(the "Indemnitee").

WHEREAS, it is essential to the Company to retain and attract as directors,
officers and representatives the most capable persons available; and

WHEREAS, Indemnitee is a director, officer or representative of the Company; and

WHEREAS, both the Company and Indemnitee recognize the increased risk of
litigation and other claims being asserted against directors, officers and
representatives of public companies in today's environment; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of the Indemnitee's need for substantial protection
against personal liability in order to enhance Indemnitee's continued service to
the Company in an effective manner, the Company wishes to provide in this
Agreement for the indemnification of and the advancing of expenses to Indemnitee
to the full extent (whether partial or complete) permitted by law and as set
forth in this Agreement, and, to the extent insurance is maintained, for the
continued coverage of Indemnitee under the Company's directors' and officers'
liability insurance policies;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of Indemnitee continuing to
serve the Company directly or, at its request, with another enterprise, and
intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

         1.       Certain Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the
                  following terms shall have the following meanings:


                           (a) Change in Control shall be deemed to have
                  occurred if (i) any "person" (as such term is used in Sections
                  13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
                  amended), other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding
                  securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or a
                  corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders
                  of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their
                  ownership of stock of the Company, is or becomes the
                  "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under said Act),
                  directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
                  representing 20% or more of the total voting power represented
                  by the Company's then outstanding Voting Securities without
                  the prior approval of the Board of Directors, or (ii) during
                  any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the
                  beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of
                  the Company and any new director whose election by the Board
                  of Directors or nomination for election by the Company's
                  stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds
                  (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were
                  directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or
                  nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for
                  any reason to constitute a majority thereof, or (iii) the
                  stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation
                  of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger
                  or consolidation which
<PAGE>

                  would result in the Voting Securities of the Company
                  outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent
                  (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into
                  Voting Securities of the surviving entity) at least 80% of the
                  total voting power represented by the Voting Securities of the
                  Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after
                  such merger or consolidation, or the stockholders of the
                  Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company
                  or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of
                  all or substantially all the Company's assets.

                           (b) Claim shall mean any threatened, pending or
                  completed action, suit or proceeding, or any inquiry or
                  investigation, whether conducted by the Company or any other
                  party, that Indemnitee in good faith believes might lead to
                  the institution of any such action, suit or proceeding,
                  whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or
                  other.

                           (c) Expenses shall mean include all costs, expenses
                  (including attorneys' fees) and obligations paid or incurred
                  in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness
                  in or participating in (including on appeal) or preparing to
                  defend, be a witness in or participate in any Claim relating
                  to any Indemnifiable Event (including all interest,
                  assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection
                  with or in respect of any of the foregoing).

                           (d) Judgments shall mean judgments, fines, penalties
                  and amounts paid in settlement that are paid or payable in
                  connection with any Claim relating to any Indemnifiable Event
                  (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or
                  payable in connection with or in respect of any of the
                  foregoing).

                           (e) Indemnifiable Event shall mean any event or
                  occurrence related to the fact that Indemnitee is or was a
                  director, director nominee, officer or representative of the
                  Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as
                  a director, trustee, officer, employee, agent or
                  representative of another corporation, domestic or foreign,
                  nonprofit or for profit, partnership, joint venture, employee
                  benefit plan, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of
                  anything done or not done by Indemnitee in any such capacity.

                           (f) Reviewing Party shall mean any appropriate person
                  or body consisting of a member or members of the Company's
                  Board of Directors or any other person or body appointed by
                  the Board (including the special, independent counsel referred
                  to in Section 3) who is not a party to the particular Claim
                  for which Indemnitee is seeking indemnification.

                           (g) Voting Securities shall mean any securities of
                  the Company that vote generally in the election of directors.

         2.       Scope of Indemnification.


                           (a) Indemnification for Judgments and Expenses. In
                  the event Indemnitee was, is or becomes a party to or witness
                  or other participant in, or is threatened to be made a party
                  to or witness or other participant in, a Claim by reason of
                  (or arising in part out of) an

                                       2
<PAGE>


         Indemnifiable Event, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the
         fullest extent permitted by law against any and all Expenses and
         Judgments arising from or relating to such Claim. Except as otherwise
         provided in Section 2(b), such indemnification shall be made as soon as
         practicable, but in any event not later than thirty (30) days, after
         written demand therefor is presented to the Company by or on behalf of
         the Indemnitee.

               (b) Indemnification and Advance Payment of Expenses. Any and all
         Expenses and any and all expenses referred to in Section 2(c) shall be
         paid by the Company promptly as they are incurred by Indemnitee (any
         such payment of expenses by the Company is hereinafter referred to as
         an "Expense Advance"). Indemnitee shall be obligated, and hereby
         agrees, to repay the amount of Expenses so paid only to the extent that
         it is proved by clear and convincing evidence in a court of competent
         jurisdiction that his action or failure to act involved an act or
         omission undertaken with deliberate intent to cause injury to the
         Company or violate the law or undertaken with reckless disregard for
         the best interests of the Company. Indemnitee hereby further agrees to
         cooperate reasonably with the Company concerning any Claim.

               (c) Indemnification for Additional Expenses. The Company shall
         indemnify Indemnitee against any and all expenses (including attorneys'
         fees) that are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any claim
         asserted against or action brought by Indemnitee for (i)
         indemnification of Expenses or Judgments or advance payment of Expenses
         by the Company under this Agreement or under any other agreement, the
         Company's articles, statute or rule of law now or hereafter in effect
         relating to Claims for Indemnifiable Events and (ii) recovery under any
         directors' and officers' liability insurance policy or policies
         maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately
         is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advance expense
         payment or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

               (d) Partial Indemnity. If Indemnitee is entitled under any
         provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some
         or a portion of the Judgments and Expenses arising from or relating to
         a Claim but not, however, for all of the total amount thereof, the
         Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof
         to which Indemnitee is entitled.

               (e) Indemnification of Successful Defense Expenses.
         Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent
         that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in
         defense of any or all Claims relating in whole or in part to an
         Indemnifiable Event or in defense of any issue or matter therein,
         including dismissal without prejudice, Indemnitee shall be indemnified
         against all Expenses incurred in connection therewith.



                                       3
<PAGE>



3.       Reviewing Party Determinations.

                (a) General Rules. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2,
         the obligations of the Company under Section 2(a) shall be subject to
         the condition that the Reviewing Party shall not have determined (in a
         written opinion, in any case in which the special, independent counsel
         referred to in Section 4 hereof is involved) that Indemnitee would not
         be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law; provided, however,
         that if Indemnitee has commenced legal proceedings in a court of
         competent jurisdiction to secure a determination that Indemnitee should
         be indemnified under applicable law, any determination made by the
         Reviewing Party that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be
         indemnified under applicable law shall not be binding until a final
         judicial determination is made with respect thereto (as to which all
         rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) and any such
         determination by the Reviewing Party shall be modified, to the extent
         necessary, to conform to such final judicial determination.

               (b) Selection of Reviewing Party. If there has not been a Change
         in Control, the Reviewing Party shall be selected by the Board of
         Directors. If there has been such a Change in Control, the Reviewing
         Party shall be the special, independent counsel referred to in Section
         4 hereof.

               (c) Judicial Review. If there has been no determination by the
         Reviewing Party or if the Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee
         substantially would not be permitted to be indemnified in whole or in
         part under applicable law, Indemnitee shall have the right to commence
         litigation in any court in the State of Delaware having subject matter
         jurisdiction thereof and in which venue is proper seeking an initial
         determination by the court or challenging any such determination by the
         Reviewing Party or any aspect thereof, and the Company hereby consents
         to service of process and to appear in any such proceeding. Any
         determination by the Reviewing Party otherwise shall be conclusive and
         binding on the Company and Indemnitee.

               (d) Burden of Proof. In connection with any determination by the
         Reviewing Party pursuant to Section 3(a), or by a court of competent
         jurisdiction pursuant to Section 3(c) or otherwise, as to whether
         Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified hereunder, the burden of proof
         shall be on the Company to establish by clear and convincing evidence
         that Indemnitee is not so entitled.

4.       Change in Control. The Company agrees that if there is a Change in
         Control of the Company then with respect to all matters thereafter
         arising concerning the rights of Indemnitee to indemnity payments under
         this Agreement or under any other agreement, the Company's Certificate
         of Incorporation, statute or rule of law now or hereafter in effect
         relating to Claims for Indemnifiable Events, the Company shall seek
         legal advice only from special, independent counsel selected by
         Indemnitee and approved by the Company (which approval shall not be
         unreasonably withheld), and who has not otherwise performed services
         for the Company or


                                       4
<PAGE>

         Indemnitee within the last five years (other than in connection with
         such matters); provided, however, a majority of the Company's Board of
         Directors, which majority were directors immediately prior to such
         Change in Control, may waive this requirement. The Company agrees to
         pay the reasonable fees of the special, independent counsel referred to
         above and to indemnify fully such counsel against any and all expenses
         (including attorneys' fees), claims, liabilities and damages arising
         out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

5.       No Presumption. For purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any
         claim, action, suit or proceeding, by judgment, order, settlement
         (whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea
         of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption
         that Indemnitee did not meet any particular standard of conduct or have
         any particular belief or that a court has determined that
         indemnification is not permitted by applicable law.

6.       Nonexclusivity. The rights of the Indemnitee hereunder shall be in
         addition to any other rights Indemnitee may now or hereafter have to
         indemnification by the Company. More specifically, the Parties intend
         that Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification to the maximum
         extent permitted by any or all of the following:

               (a) The fullest benefits provided by the Company's Certificate of
         Incorporation and By-Laws or their equivalent of the Company in effect
         at the time the Indemnifiable Event occurs or at the time Expenses are
         incurred by Indemnitee;

               (b) The fullest benefits allowable under Delaware law in effect
         at the date hereof or as the same may be amended to the extent that
         such benefits are increased thereby;

               (c) The fullest benefits allowable under the law of the
         jurisdiction under which the Company exists at the time the
         Indemnifiable Event occurs or at the time Expenses are incurred by the
         Indemnitee; and

               (d) Such other benefits as are or may be otherwise available to
         Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement, any other agreement or
         otherwise.

         The parties intend that combination of two or more of the benefits
         referred to in (a) through (d) shall be available to Indemnitee to the
         extent that the document or law providing for such benefits does not
         require that the benefits provided therein be exclusive of other
         benefits. The Company hereby undertakes to use its best efforts to
         assist Indemnitee, in all proper and legal ways, to obtain all such
         benefits to which Indemnitee is entitled.

7.       Liability Insurance. The rights of the Indemnitee hereunder shall also
         be in addition to any other rights Indemnitee may now or hereafter have
         under policies of insurance maintained by the Company or otherwise. To
         the extent the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies
         providing directors' and officers' liability insurance, Indemnitee
         shall be covered by



                                       5
<PAGE>

         such policy or policies, in accordance with its or their terms, to the
         maximum extent of the coverage available for any Company director,
         officer or representative.

         The Company shall maintain such insurance coverage for so long as
         Indemnitee's services are covered hereunder, provided and to the extent
         that such insurance is available on a basis acceptable to the Company.
         In the event that such insurance becomes unavailable in the amount of
         the present policy limits or in the present scope of coverage at
         premium costs and on other terms acceptable to the Company, then the
         Company may forego maintenance of all or a portion of such insurance
         coverage. However, in the event of any reduction in (or cancellation
         of) such insurance coverage (whether voluntary or involuntary), the
         Company shall, and hereby agrees to, stand as a self-insurer with
         respect to the coverage, or portion thereof, not retained, and shall
         indemnify the Indemnitee against any loss arising out of the reduction
         in or cancellation of such insurance coverage.

8.       Period of Limitations. No legal action shall be brought and no cause of
         action shall be asserted by or on behalf of the Company or any
         affiliate of the Company against Indemnitee, Indemnitee's spouse,
         heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives after the
         expiration of two years from the date of accrual of such cause of
         action, and any claim or cause of action of the Company or its
         affiliate shall be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by
         the timely filing of legal action within such two-year period;
         provided, however, that if any shorter period of limitations is
         otherwise applicable to any such cause of action such shorter period
         shall govern.

9.       Amendments. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement
         shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties
         hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be
         deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions thereof
         (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing
         waiver.

10.      Subrogation. In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company
         shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights
         of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and
         shall do everything that may be necessary to secure such rights,
         including the execution of such documents necessary to enable the
         Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.

11.      No Duplication of Payments. The Company shall not be liable under this
         Agreement to make any payment in connection with any claim made against
         Indemnitee to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise actually received
         payment (under any insurance policy, article or otherwise) of the
         amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder.

12.      Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
         benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their
         respective successors, assigns, including any direct or indirect
         successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or
         substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company,
         spouses, heirs, and personal and legal representatives. This Agreement
         shall continue in effect regardless of whether Indemnitee



                                       6

<PAGE>

         continues to serve as a director, officer or representative of the
         Company of or any other enterprise at the Company's request.

13.      Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable in
         the event that any of the provisions hereof (including any provision
         within a single section, paragraph or sentence) are held by a court of
         competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable,
         and the remaining provisions shall remain enforceable to the fullest
         extent permitted by law.

14.      Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and
         enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware
         applicable to contracts made and to be performed in such state without
         giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws.

Executed and effective as of this 15th day of May, 2002.

                                    BELDEN INC.




                                    By     /s/ Robert W. Matz
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                    Name:   Robert W. Matz
                                    Title:  Vice President of Operations and
                                            President of Belden Communications
                                            Division
                                    Date:

                                    INDEMNITEE:



                                    By:     /s/ C. Baker Cunningham
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                    Name:   C. Baker Cunningham
                                    Title:  Chairman of the Board, President,
                                            Chief Executive Officer and Director
                                    Date:





                                       7