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                                                                    Exhibit 10.1


January 28, 1998



Mr. Bruce Bond
90 Narrows Road
Bedford Hills, NY 10507



Dear Bruce:


On behalf of the Board of Directors of PictureTel Corporation (the "Company"),
I am very pleased to offer you an opportunity to immediately join our Company as
the President and Chief Executive Officer. After a transition period covering
the time between the date you commence your duties as President and Chief
Executive Officer to the date of the Annual Meeting of the Company's
shareholders, the Board of Directors will vote to have you assume the additional
responsibilities as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

The cash compensation in the offered position will contain two elements: an
annual base salary and an annual bonus opportunity under PictureTel's Management
Incentive Plan. The base salary for the position will be paid at the bi-weekly
rate of $19,230.77 (this the equivalent of $500,000. annually based on 26 pay
periods in the year). The offered base salary will be the minimum paid while
employed with the Company. As President and Chief Executive Officer, a full
performance and compensation review is done by the Compensation Committee of the
Board during the quarter immediately following the close of the fiscal year.

The payment of a bonus under the Management Incentive Plan is predicated on the
Company's achievement of the annual revenue and profitability objectives
established at the start of the fiscal year and your performance in meeting your
Individual Goals for the year. The bonus opportunity will be 0% - 100% of base
salary for full performance in meeting the objectives for the year. The bonus,
if any, is determined and paid in the first quarter following the close of the
fiscal year.

The Company will enter into a separate agreement ("Promissory Note") to grant
you a personal loan in an amount of $750,000 to retire your loan obligations
with your current employer ("Principal"). Such loan shall have a four (4) year
term and shall be granted at an interest rate equal to the Prime Rate as quoted
in the Wall Street Journal on the date the Promissory Note is executed. The
Promissory Note shall provide for the forgiveness of the Principal in equal
parts over the term of the loan on each anniversary date of the Promissory Note
provided you are employed on such date. Such forgiveness shall be grossed-up to
cover the taxes arising from the forgiveness but the taxes arising from the
imputed interest will be your responsibility.



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In addition, we will recommend to the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors that you be granted an option to purchase 1,500,000 shares of the
Common Stock of the Company ("Option"). The Option will vest over a four year
period, with the first twenty-five (25) percent of the aggregate number of
shares vesting one (1) year following the date the option grant is approved and
six and one quarter (6.25) percent of the aggregate number of shares vesting
each quarter thereafter. The purchase price of the Option will be determined by
the Compensation Committee on the day your option grant is approved and will be
no less than the closing price as quoted on the National Market System of NASDAQ
on that date. Vesting shall be conditional on your continued full-time
employment with the company. All other conditions applicable to the Option shall
be set forth in a Stock Option Agreement representing the Option and such Stock
Option Agreement shall be delivered immediately following the day the Option is
approved.

The Company will provide you with full relocation assistance from Bedford Hills,
New York to the Andover, Massachusetts area. Such assistance will include the
utilization of a third party directed purchase bid on your current residence.
The Company will reimburse you for reasonable and actual duplicate expenses
incurred in maintaining dual residences until the third party transaction is
concluded . It will also include, but not be limited to, such things as the
packing and shipment of your household goods, the real estate commissions on
your current property, the closing costs associated with the purchase of a new
residence, and one month's base salary to cover miscellaneous expenses incurred
during your relocation. As appropriate, taxable expenses will be grossed - up.
In the event that you voluntarily terminate your employment within eighteen (18)
months of hire, the relocation expenses paid up to the termination date shall be
subject to repayment to the Company pro-rata for your service with the company.

In the event that you are involuntarily terminated by the Company for any reason
other than for Cause, you would be entitled to receive a continuation of your
then current base salary for a period of twenty-four (24) months. For purposes
of this letter, Cause shall be defined as and be limited to conviction of a
felony or willful misconduct or gross negligence in the performance of duties
which result in material harm to PictureTel.

Further, the Company will enter into a separate Change in Control Agreement
("CIC Agreement") which will provide you with certain benefits in the event of a
termination due to a change in control. The CIC Agreement will include certain
triggering events and provide, but not be limited to, severance equal to the sum
of (i) your then current base salary, plus (ii) the highest bonus paid in the
three years preceding the triggering events, paid over a thirty-six (36) month
period. The full acceleration of all unvested stock options in the event of a
change in control is specifically covered in PictureTel's Equity Incentive Plan
and will not be included in the CIC Agreement. The CIC Agreement will be
executed concurrently with your acceptance of our employment offer.

As an employee of the Company you will be entitled to participate in our medical
insurance benefit programs. We offer two options: (1) a competitive medical and
dental plan through Allmerica Health Insurance, or (2) membership in the Harvard
- Pilgrim Community Health Plan, a Health Maintenance Organization. You will be
responsible for a portion of the premium cost, with payment arranged through
payroll deductions. A Section 125 reimbursement plan to help with daycare and
non-reimbursed medical expenses is available at your election, also through
payroll deductions.

In addition, the Company provides long-term disability, accidental death and
dismemberment, and life insurance coverage (life benefit equal to two (2) times
your annual salary). The premiums for the disability and life insurance are paid
one hundred (100) percent by the Company. Finally, we offer a 401(k) Retirement
Plan and a Tuition Reimbursement Program. You will be entitled to paid holiday
and sick days in accordance with Company Policy. As a senior executive of the
Company, you shall be eligible for vacation consistent with business and
personal needs.


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This offer is contingent on your providing proof of eligibility for employment.
On your first day of employment, please bring with you either: (a) a valid U.S.
Passport, or (b) a birth certificate and a driver's license, or (c) an original
Social Security card and a driver's license.

Please indicate your acceptance of this offer and your anticipated start date by
completing and signing the enclosed copy of this letter, the PictureTel
Application for Employment, and the Proprietary Information Agreement. The
Company's Indemnification Agreement will be executed upon your arrival at
PictureTel. Please return all signed documents to Larry Bornstein as soon as
practical.

If you have any questions regarding this offer, please do not hesitate to call
Larry or me. We look forward to your joining and being an important member of
our team.



Sincerely,


Norman Gaut
Chairman of the Board


ACCEPTED: _____________________________   Date: ________________
SS#: ________________   Anticipated Start Date: ________________