Exhibit 10.77 


	
  

 
	
 Wave2Wave 

 
	
 Communications, Inc.

 
	
 Stock Incentive Plan

 
	

 


 






	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
 1.

 	
 Purpose. The
 purpose of the Wave2Wave Communications, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan (the
 “Plan”) is to further the interests of Wave2Wave Communications, Inc., a
 Delaware corporation (the “Company”), its Subsidiaries and its shareholders
 by providing incentives in the form of grants of incentive stock options,
 nonqualified stock options, restricted stock and stock bonuses to key
 employees, independent contractors and other persons who contribute
 materially to the success and profitability of the Company. The grants will
 recognize and reward outstanding individual performances and contributions or
 strategic relationships with the Company and will give such persons a
 proprietary interest in the Company, thus enhancing their personal interest
 in the Company’s continued success and progress. This program will also
 assist the Company and its subsidiaries in attracting and retaining key
 persons. 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
 2.

 	
 Definitions. The
 following definitions shall apply to this Plan:

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (a)

 	
  “Affiliate” means
 an entity that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,
 controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the entity
 specified.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (b)

 	
  “Authorized Shares”
 means the total number of shares which the charter or articles of
 incorporation permits the Company to sell.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (c)

 	
  “Award” means,
 individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of a Nonqualified Stock
 Option, an Incentive Stock Option, Restricted Stock or Stock Bonus.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (d)

 	
  “Board” means the
 board of directors of the Company.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (e)

 	
  “Change of Control”
 means:

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  (i)

 	
 the
 attainment of the beneficial ownership of the Company’s outstanding voting
 shares or of securities of the Company that are entitled to vote generally in
 the election of directors of the Company (“Voting Securities”) representing
 30% or more of the combined voting power of all Voting Securities of the
 Company by any person or group (as such terms are defined in the Exchange
 Act), 

 













	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
 other than a
 Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan (or any related trust)
 of the Company or a Subsidiary, or an individual who is a shareholder of the
 Company as of the Effective Date of the Plan;

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  (ii)

 	
 an event in
 which individuals who, as of the Effective Date of the Plan, constitute the
 Board (“Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of
 the members of the Board; provided that any individual who becomes a director
 after the Effective Date whose election or nomination for election by the
 Company’s shareholders was approved by a majority of the members of the
 Incumbent Board (other than an election or nomination of an individual whose
 initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened
 “election contest” relating to the election of the directors of the Company
 (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 under the Exchange Act), “tender
 offer” (as such term is used in Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act) or a
 proposed Merger (as defined below)) shall be deemed to be members of the
 Incumbent Board; or 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  (iii)

 	
 the
 consummation of a merger, reorganization, consolidation or similar
 transaction (any of the foregoing, a “Merger”) of the Company with or into
 another entity or any other corporate reorganization if more than 50% of the
 continuing or surviving entity’s securities outstanding immediately after
 such Merger are owned by persons who were not shareholders of the Company
 immediately prior to such Merger; or

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  (iv)

 	
 the sale,
 transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of
 the Company.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
 A
 transaction shall not constitute a Change of Control if its sole purpose is
 to change the state of the Company’s incorporation or to create a holding
 company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the
 persons who held the Company’s securities before such transaction.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (f)

 	
  “Code” means the
 Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (g)

 	
  “Committee” means
 the Stock Incentive Committee appointed by the Board for the purpose of
 administering the Plan. If the 

 


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 Board does
 not appoint a Stock Incentive Committee, “Committee” means the Board.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (h)

 	
  “Common Stock”
 means the Common Stock, par value $.0001 per share of the Company.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (i)

 	
  “Company” means
 Wave2Wave Communications, Inc. and includes any successor or assignee
 corporation or corporations to which the Company may be merged, changed or
 consolidated; any corporation for whose securities the securities of the
 Company shall be exchanged; and any assignee of or successor to substantially
 all of the assets of the Company. 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (j)

 	
  “Date of Grant”
 means the date or time when the Company completes the corporate action
 constituting an offer of stock for sale to an individual under the terms and
 conditions of a statutory option.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (k)

 	
  “Effective Date”
 means the date as determined in Section 16 herein.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (l)

 	
  “Eligible Person”
 means: (i) any person who performs or has in the past performed services for
 the Company or any Affiliate thereof, whether as a director, officer,
 employee, consultant or other independent contractor; or (ii) any corporation
 or other entity that provides services for the Company or any Affiliate
 thereof and any person who performs services relating to the Company or any
 Affiliate thereof in his or her capacity as an employee or independent
 contractor of such corporation or other entity.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (m)

 	
  “Employee” means
 any person employed on an hourly or salaried basis by the Company or any
 parent or Subsidiary of the Company. 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (n)

 	
 “Employee
 Recipient” means an Employee who receives an Award.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (o)

 	
  “Exchange Act”
 means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (p)

 	
  “Fair Market Value”
 means the fair market value of the Common Stock. If the Common Stock is not
 publicly traded on the date as of which fair market value is being
 determined, the Board shall determine the fair market value of the Shares,
 using such factors as the Board considers relevant, such as the price at
 which recent sales have been made, the book value of the 

 


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 Common
 Stock, and the Company’s current and projected earnings. If the Common Stock
 is publicly traded on the date as of which fair market value is being determined,
 the fair market value is the mean between the high and low sales prices of
 the Common Stock as reported by The NASDAQ Stock Market on that date or, if
 the Common Stock is listed on a stock exchange, the mean between the high and
 low sales prices of the stock on that date, as reported in The Wall Street
 Journal. If trading in the stock or a price quotation does not occur on
 the date as of which fair market value is being determined, the next
 preceding date on which the stock was traded or a price was quoted will
 determine the fair market value.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (q)

 	
  “Incentive Stock Option”
 means a stock option granted pursuant to either this Plan or any other plan
 of the Company that satisfies the requirements of Section 422 of the Code and
 that entitles the Recipient to purchase stock of the Company or in a
 corporation that at the time of grant of the option was a parent or
 Subsidiary of the Company or a predecessor corporation of any such
 corporation.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (r)

 	
  “Nonqualified Stock Option”
 means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan that is not an Incentive
 Stock Option and that entitles the Recipient to purchase stock of the Company
 or in a corporation that at the time of grant of the option was a parent or
 Subsidiary of the Company or a predecessor corporation of any such
 corporation.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (s)

 	
  “Option” means an
 Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option granted pursuant to the
 Plan.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (t)

 	
  “Option Agreement”
 means a written agreement entered into between the Company and a Recipient,
 which sets out the terms and restrictions of an Option Award granted to the
 Recipient.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (u)

 	
  “Option Shareholder”
 shall mean a Recipient who has acquired shares upon exercise of an Option.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (v)

 	
  “Option Shares”
 means Shares that a Recipient receives upon exercise of an Option.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (w)

 	
  “Period of Restriction”
 means the period beginning on the Date of Grant of a Restricted Stock Award
 and ending on the date on which the Restricted Stock Shares subject to such

 


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 Award are released from all restrictions imposed upon such Shares.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (x)

 	
  “Plan” means the
 Wave2Wave Communications, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan as amended from time to
 time.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (y)

 	
  “Recipient” means
 an eligible person who receives an Award.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (z)

 	
  “Restricted Stock”
 means an Award granted to a Recipient pursuant to Section 7 hereof.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (aa)

 	
  “Restricted Stock Agreement”
 means a written agreement entered into between the Company and a Recipient
 which sets out the terms and restrictions of a Restricted Stock Award granted
 to the Recipient.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (bb)

 	
  “Share” means a
 share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 10 of
 the Plan.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (cc)

 	
  “Subsidiary” means
 any corporation that is a “subsidiary corporation” with respect to the Company
 under Section 424(f) of the Code. In the event the Company becomes a
 subsidiary of another company, the provisions of the Plan applicable to
 subsidiaries shall, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, also be
 applicable to any company that is a “parent corporation” with respect to the
 Company under Section 424(e) of the Code.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
 3.

 	
 Administration.
 The Committee will administer this Plan. The Committee has the exclusive
 power to select the Recipients of Awards pursuant to this Plan, to establish the
 terms of the Awards granted to each Recipient, and to make all other
 determinations necessary or advisable under the Plan. The Committee has the
 sole and absolute discretion to determine whether the performance of an
 Eligible Person warrants an Award under this Plan, and to determine the size
 and type of the Award. The Committee has full and exclusive power to construe
 and interpret this Plan, to prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and
 regulations relating to this Plan, and to take all actions necessary or
 advisable for the Plan’s administration. The Committee, in the exercise of
 its powers, may correct any defect or supply any omission, or reconcile any
 inconsistency in the Plan, or in any Agreement, in the manner and to the
 extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to make the Plan fully effective.
 In exercising this power, the Committee may retain counsel at the expense of
 the Company. The Committee shall also have the power to determine the
 duration and purposes of leaves of absence, which may be granted to an
 Employee Recipient without constituting a termination of the

 


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 Employee
 Recipient’s employment for purposes of the Plan. Any determinations made by
 the Committee will be final and binding on all persons. A
 member of the Committee will not be liable for performing any act or making
 any determination in good faith.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
 4.

 	
 Shares Subject to Plan.
 Subject to the provisions of Section 10 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate
 number of Shares that may be subject to Awards under the Plan shall be
 5,000,000 Shares. If an Award should expire or become unexercisable for any
 reason without having been exercised, the unpurchased Shares that were
 subject to such Award shall, unless the Plan has then terminated, be
 available for other Awards under the Plan.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
 5.

 	
 Eligibility. Any
 Eligible Person that the Committee in its sole discretion designates is
 eligible to receive an Award under this Plan, provided, however, that
 Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees. The Committee’s
 grant of an Award to a Recipient in any year does not require the Committee
 to grant an Award such Recipient in any other year. Furthermore, the
 Committee may grant different Awards to different Recipients and has full
 discretion to choose whether to grant Awards to any Eligible Person. The
 Committee may consider such factors as it deems pertinent in selecting
 Recipients and in determining the types and sizes of their Awards, including,
 without limitation, (i) the financial condition of the Company or its Subsidiaries;
 (ii) the expected profits for the current or future years; (iii) the
 contributions of a prospective Recipient to the profitability and success of
 the Company or its Subsidiaries; (iv) the existence and quality of a
 strategic relationship with the Company or its Subsidiaries, and (v) the
 adequacy of the prospective Recipient’s other compensation. Recipients may
 include persons to whom stock, stock options, or other benefits previously
 were granted under this or another plan of the Company or any Subsidiary,
 whether or not the previously granted benefits have been fully exercised or
 vested. A Recipient’s right, if any, to continue to serve the Company and its
 Subsidiaries as an officer, Employee, or otherwise will not be enlarged or
 otherwise affected by his designation as a Recipient under this Plan, and
 such designation will not in any way restrict the right of the Company or any
 Subsidiary, as the case may be, to terminate at any time the employment or
 affiliation of any Recipient.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
 6.

 	
 Options. Each
 Option granted to a Recipient under the Plan shall contain such provisions,
 as the Committee at the Date of Grant shall deem appropriate. Each Option
 granted to a Recipient will satisfy the following requirements:

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (a)

 	
 Written Agreement. Each
 Option granted to a Recipient will be evidenced by an Option Agreement. The
 terms of the Option Agreement need not be identical for different Recipients.
 The

 


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 Option Agreement shall include a description of the substance of each of the
 requirements in this Section 6 with respect to that particular Option.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (b)

 	
 Number of Shares.
 Each Option Agreement shall specify the number of Shares that may be
 purchased by exercise of the Option.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (c)

 	
 Exercise Price.
 Except as provided in Section 6(l), the exercise price of each Share subject
 to an Incentive Stock Option shall equal the exercise price designated by the
 Committee on the Date of Grant, but shall not be less than the Fair Market
 Value of the Share on the Incentive Stock Option’s Date of Grant. The
 exercise price of each Share subject to a Nonqualified Stock Option shall
 equal the exercise price designated by the Committee on the Date of Grant.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (d)

 	
 Duration of Option.
 Except as provided in Section 6(l), an Incentive Stock Option granted to an
 Employee Recipient shall expire on the tenth anniversary of its Date of Grant
 or at such earlier date as is set by the Committee in establishing the terms
 of the Incentive Stock Option at grant. Except as provided in Section 6(l), a
 Nonqualified Stock Option granted to an Employee Recipient shall expire on
 the tenth anniversary of its Date of Grant or at such earlier or later date
 as is set by the Committee in establishing the terms of the Nonqualified
 Stock Option at grant. If a Recipient’s employment or affiliation with the
 Company terminates before the expiration date of an Option granted to the
 Recipient, the Option shall expire on the date stated in the Option
 Agreement. If no date is provided in the Option Agreement, the Option shall
 expire on the earliest of the dates described in subsections (f), (g), (h),
 and (i) of this Section; provided that an Incentive Stock Option shall not
 expire later than the tenth anniversary of its Date of Grant. Furthermore,
 expiration of an Option may be accelerated under subsection (j) of this
 Section.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (e)

 	
 Vesting of Option.
 Each Option Agreement shall specify the vesting schedule applicable to the
 Option. The Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, may accelerate
 the vesting of any Option at any time.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (f)

 	
 Death. In the case
 of the death of a Recipient, an Incentive Stock Option granted to the
 Recipient shall expire on the one-year anniversary of the Recipient’s death,
 or if earlier, the

 


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 Option’s expiration date. During the one-year period
 following the Recipient’s death, the Incentive Stock Option may be exercised to the extent
 it could have been exercised at the time the Recipient died, subject to any
 adjustment under Section 10 herein. In the case of the death of a Recipient,
 a Nonqualified Stock Option granted to the Recipient shall expire on the
 one-year anniversary of the Recipient’s death, or if earlier, the Option’s
 expiration date, unless the Committee sets an earlier or later expiration
 date in establishing the terms of the Nonqualified Stock Option at grant or a
 later expiration date subsequent to the Date of Grant but prior to the
 one-year anniversary of the Recipient’s death. During the period beginning on
 the date of the Recipient’s death and ending on the date the Nonqualified
 Stock Option expires, the Nonqualified Stock Option may be exercised to the
 extent it could have been exercised at the time the Recipient died, subject
 to any adjustment under Section 10 herein.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (g)

 	
 Disability. In the
 case of the total and permanent disability of an Employee Recipient and a
 resulting termination of employment with the Company, an Incentive Stock
 Option granted to the Employee Recipient shall expire on the one-year
 anniversary of the Employee Recipient’s last day of employment, or, if
 earlier, the Option’s expiration date. During the one-year period following
 the Employee Recipient’s termination of employment by reason of disability,
 the Incentive Stock Option may be exercised as to the number of Shares for
 which it could have been exercised at the time the Employee Recipient became
 disabled, subject to any adjustments under Section 10 herein. In the case of
 the total and permanent disability of an Employee Recipient and a resulting
 termination of employment with the Company, a Nonqualified Stock Option
 granted to the Employee Recipient shall expire on the one-year anniversary of
 the Employee Recipient’s last day of employment, or, if earlier, the Option’s
 expiration date, unless the Committee sets an earlier or later expiration
 date in establishing the terms of the Nonqualified Stock Option at grant or a
 later expiration date subsequent to the Date of Grant but prior to the
 one-year anniversary of the Employee Recipient’s last day of employment with
 the Company. During the period beginning on the date of the Employee
 Recipient’s termination of employment by reason of disability and ending on
 the date the Nonqualified Stock Option expires, the Nonqualified Stock Option
 may be exercised as to the number of Shares for which it could have been

 


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 exercised at the time the Recipient became disabled, subject to any
 adjustments under Section 10 herein.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (h)

 	
 Retirement. If the
 Employee Recipient’s employment with the Company terminates by reason of
 normal retirement under the Company’s normal retirement policies, an
 Incentive Stock Option granted to the Employee Recipient will expire 90 days
 after the last day of employment, or, if earlier, on the Option’s expiration
 date. During the 90-day period following the Employee Recipient’s normal
 retirement, the Incentive Stock Option may be exercised as to the number of
 Shares for which it could have been exercised on the retirement date, subject
 to any adjustment under Section 10 herein. If the Employee Recipient’s employment
 with the Company terminates by reason of normal retirement under the
 Company’s normal retirement policies, a Nonqualified Stock Option granted to
 the Employee Recipient will expire 90 days after the last day of employment,
 or, if earlier, on the Option’s expiration date, unless the Committee sets an
 earlier or later expiration date in the terms of the Option Agreement or a
 later expiration date subsequent to the Date of Grant but prior to the end of
 the 90-day period following the Employee Recipient’s normal retirement.
 During the period beginning on the date of the Employee Recipient’s normal
 retirement and ending on the date the Nonqualified Stock Option expires, the
 Nonqualified Stock Option may be exercised as to the number of Shares for which
 it could have been exercised on the retirement date, subject to any
 adjustment under Section 10 herein.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (i)

 	
 Termination of Service or Affiliation.
 If an Employee Recipient ceases employment with the Company for any reason
 other than death, disability, or retirement (as described above) or if a
 Recipient other than an Employee Recipient ceases affiliation with the
 Company for any reason other than death, an Option granted to the Recipient
 shall lapse immediately following the last day that the Recipient is employed
 by or affiliated with the Company. However, the Committee may, in its sole
 discretion, either at grant of the Option or at the time the Recipient
 terminates employment or affiliation, delay the expiration date of the Option
 to a date after termination of employment or affiliation; provided, however,
 that the expiration date of an Incentive Stock Option may not be delayed more
 than 90 days following the termination of an Employee Recipient’s employment
 with the Company. During any such delay of the expiration date, the Option
 may be exercised only

 


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 for the number of Shares for which it could have been
 exercised on such termination date, subject to any adjustment under
 Section 10 herein. Notwithstanding any provisions set forth herein or in the Plan, if
 the Recipient shall (i) commit any act of malfeasance or wrongdoing affecting
 the Company or any parent or subsidiary, (ii) breach any covenant not to
 compete or employment agreement with the Company or any parent or Subsidiary,
 or (iii) engage in conduct that would warrant the Recipient’s discharge for
 cause, any unexercised part of the Option shall lapse immediately upon the
 earlier of the occurrence of such event or the last day the Recipient is
 employed by or affiliated with the Company.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (j)

 	
 Change of Control.
 If a Change of Control occurs, the Board may vote to immediately terminate
 all Options outstanding under the Plan as of the date of the Change of
 Control or may vote to accelerate the expiration of the Options to the tenth
 day after the effective date of the Change of Control. If the Board votes to
 immediately terminate the Options, it shall make a cash payment to the
 Recipient equal to the difference between the Exercise Price and the Fair
 Market Value of the Shares that would have been subject to the terminated
 Option on the date of the Change of Control.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (k)

 	
 Conditions Required for Exercise.
 Options granted to Recipients under the Plan shall be exercisable only to the
 extent they are vested according to the terms of the Option Agreement.
 Furthermore, Options granted to Employees under the Plan shall be exercisable
 only if the issuance of Shares pursuant to the exercise would be in
 compliance with applicable securities laws, as contemplated by Section 9
 of the Plan. Each Agreement shall specify any additional conditions required
 for the exercise of the Option.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
 (l)

 	
 Ten Percent Shareholders.
 An Incentive Stock Option granted to an individual who, on the Date of Grant,
 owns stock possessing more than 10 percent of the total combined voting power
 of all classes of stock of either the Company or any parent or Subsidiary,
 shall be granted at an exercise price of 110 percent of Fair Market Value on
 the Date of Grant and shall be exercisable only during the five-year period
 immediately following the Date of Grant. In calculating stock ownership of
 any person, the attribution rules of Code Section 424(d) will apply.
 Furthermore, in calculating stock ownership, any stock

 


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 that the individual
 may purchase under outstanding options will not be considered.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (m)

 	
 Maximum Option Grants.
 The aggregate Fair Market Value, determined on the Date of Grant, of stock in
 the Company with respect to which any Incentive Stock Options under the Plan
 and all other plans of the Company or its Subsidiaries (within the meaning of
 Section 422(b) of the Code) may become exercisable by any individual for the
 first time in any calendar year shall not exceed $100,000.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (n)

 	
 Method of Exercise.
 An Option granted under this Plan shall be deemed exercised when the person
 entitled to exercise the Option (i) delivers written notice to the President
 of the Company (or his delegate, in his absence) of the decision to exercise,
 (ii) concurrently tenders to the Company full payment for the Shares to be
 purchased pursuant to the exercise, and (iii) complies with such other
 reasonable requirements as the Committee establishes pursuant to Section 9 of
 the Plan. Payment for Shares with respect to which an Option is exercised may
 be made in cash, or by certified check or wholly or partially in the form of
 Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the exercise price. No
 person will have the rights of a shareholder with respect to Shares subject
 to an Option granted under this Plan until a certificate or certificates for
 the Shares have been delivered to him. A partial exercise of an Option will
 not affect the holder’s right to exercise the Option from time to time in
 accordance with this Plan as to the remaining Shares subject to the Option.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (o)

 	
 Loan from Company to Exercise Option.
 The Committee may, in its discretion and subject to the requirements of
 applicable law, recommend to the Company that it lend the Recipient the funds
 needed by the Recipient to exercise an Option. The Recipient shall make
 application to the Company for the loan, completing the forms and providing
 the information required by the Company. The loan shall be secured by such
 collateral as the Company may require, subject to its underwriting requirements
 and the requirements of applicable law. The Recipient shall execute a
 Promissory Note and any other documents deemed necessary by the Committee.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (p)

 	
 Designation of Beneficiary.
 Each Recipient who is an individual shall designate, on a form provided by
 the Committee, a beneficiary to receive Options awarded hereunder

 


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 in the
 event of his death prior to full exercise of such Options; provided, that if
 no such beneficiary is designated or if the beneficiary so designated does
 not survive the Recipient, the estate of such Recipient
 shall be deemed to be his beneficiary. Such Recipients may, by written notice
 to the Committee, change the beneficiary designated in any outstanding Option
 Agreements.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (q)

 	
 Nontransferability of Option.
 An Option granted under this Section to a Recipient who is an individual is
 not transferable except by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
 During the lifetime of such Recipient, all rights of the Option are
 exercisable only by him or her. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Recipients who
 are not individuals may transfer and/or assign Options to successors in
 interest following a merger, sale, or other similar transaction.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
 7.

 	
 Restricted Stock.
 Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from
 time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock to Recipients in such
 amounts as the Committee shall determined in its sole and absolute
 discretion. Each Restricted Stock Award granted to a Recipient under the Plan
 shall contain such provisions as the Committee at the Date of Grant shall
 deem appropriate. Each Restricted Stock Award granted to a Recipient will
 satisfy the following requirements:

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (a)

 	
 Written Agreement. Each
 Restricted Stock Award granted to a Recipient will be evidenced by a
 Restricted Stock Agreement. The terms of the Restricted Stock Agreement need
 not be identical for different Recipients. The Restricted Stock Agreement
 shall specify the Period of Restriction, or Periods. In addition, the
 Restricted Stock Agreement shall include a description of the substance of
 each of the requirements in this Section with respect to that particular
 Restricted Stock Award.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (b)

 	
 Number of Shares.
 Each Agreement shall specify the number of Restricted Stock Shares awarded to
 the Recipient.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (c)

 	
 Transferability.
 Except as provided in this subsection (c), the Restricted Stock Shares
 granted under this Plan to Recipients who are individuals may not be sold,
 transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until
 the end of the applicable Period of Restriction established by the Committee
 at grant and specified in the Restricted Stock Agreement, or upon earlier
 satisfaction of any other conditions, as specified by the Committee at grant
 and specified in the

 


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 Restricted Stock Agreement. Notwithstanding the
 foregoing, Recipients who are not individuals may transfer and/or assign the
 Restricted Stock Shares to successors in interest following a merger, sale,
 or other similar transaction.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (d)

 	
 Other Restrictions.
 The Committee shall impose such other restrictions on any Restricted Stock
 Shares granted pursuant to this Plan as it may deem advisable including,
 without limitation, vesting restrictions, restrictions based upon the
 achievement of specific Company-wide, Subsidiary, and/or individual
 performance goals, and/or restrictions under applicable federal or state
 securities laws, and may legend the certificate representing Restricted Stock
 to give appropriate notice of such restrictions. The Committee may also
 require that Recipients make cash payments at the time of grant or upon
 lapsing of restrictions. Such cash payments, if imposed, will be in an amount
 not less than the par value of the Restricted Stock Shares.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (e)

 	
 Certificate Legend.
 In addition to any legends placed on certificates pursuant to subsection 7(d)
 above, each certificate representing Restricted Stock Shares granted pursuant
 to this Plan shall bear the following legend:

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
 “The sale or
 other transfer of the Shares of stock represented by this certificate,
 whether voluntary, involuntary, or by operation of law, is subject to certain
 restrictions on transfer as set forth in the Wave2Wave Communications, Inc.
 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, and in a Restricted Stock Agreement
 dated _________. A copy of the Plan and the Restricted Stock Agreement may be
 obtained from the Chief Financial Officer of Wave2Wave Communications, Inc..”

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (f)

 	
 Removal of Restrictions.
 Except as otherwise provided in this Section 7, Restricted Stock Shares shall
 become freely transferable by the Recipient after the last day of the Period
 of Restriction. Once the Restricted Stock Shares are released from the
 restrictions, the Recipient shall be entitled to have the legend required by
 subsection (e) above removed from his Share certificate.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (g)

 	
 Voting Rights.
 During the Period of Restriction, Recipients holding Restricted Stock Shares
 may exercise full voting rights with respect to such Shares.

 


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  (h)

 	
 Dividends and Other Distributions.
 During the Period of Restriction, Recipients holding Restricted Stock Shares
 shall be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with
 respect to such Shares while they are so held. If any such dividends or
 distributions are paid in Shares, such Shares shall be subject
 to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the
 Restricted Stock Shares with respect to which they were paid.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (i)

 	
 Death. In the case
 of the death of a Recipient, the restrictions on the Recipient’s Restricted
 Stock Shares shall expire on the date of such Recipient’s death.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (j)

 	
 Disability. In the
 case of the total and permanent disability of an Employee Recipient and a
 resulting termination of employment with the Company, the restrictions on the
 Employee Recipient’s Restricted Stock Shares shall expire on such Recipient’s
 last day of employment.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (k)

 	
 Retirement. If an
 Employee Recipient’s employment terminates by reason of normal retirement
 under the Company’s normal retirement policies, the restrictions on the
 Employee Recipient’s Restricted Stock Shares shall expire on such Recipient’s
 last day of employment.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (l)

 	
 Termination of Service or Affiliation.
 If an Employee Recipient ceases employment for any reason other than death,
 disability, or retirement (as described above) or if a Recipient other than
 an Employee Recipient ceases affiliation with the Company for any reason
 other than death, all nonvested Restricted Stock Shares held by the Recipient
 shall be forfeited immediately and returned to the Company; provided,
 however, that the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall have
 the right to provide for expiration of the restrictions on Restricted Stock
 Shares following termination of employment or affiliation, upon such terms
 and provisions as it deems proper.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (m)

 	
 Change of Control.
 If a Change of Control occurs, the Board may vote to remove immediately all
 restrictions on Restricted Stock Shares as of the date of the Change of
 Control.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (n)

 	
 Designation of Beneficiary.
 Each Recipient who is an individual shall designate, in the Restricted Stock
 Agreement he executes, a beneficiary to receive Restricted Stock Shares
 awarded hereunder in the event of his death prior to removal of

 


14









	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
 all
 restrictions on such Shares; provided, that if no such beneficiary is
 designated or if the beneficiary so designated does not survive such
 Recipient, the estate of such Recipient shall be deemed to be his
 beneficiary. Such Recipients may, by written notice to the Committee,
 change the beneficiary designated in any outstanding Restricted Stock
 Agreements.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
 8.

 	
 Stock Bonuses.
 Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from
 time to time, may grant Shares of Stock to Recipients in such amounts as the
 Committee shall determined in its sole and absolute discretion. Each Stock
 Bonus granted to a Recipient will satisfy the following requirements:

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (a)

 	
 Written Agreement. Each
 Stock Bonus granted to a Recipient will be evidenced by a Stock Agreement.
 The terms of the Stock Agreement need not be identical for different
 Recipients. The Stock Agreement shall include a description of the substance
 of each of the requirements in this Section with respect to that particular
 Stock Bonus.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  (b)

 	
 Number of Shares.
 Each Agreement shall specify the number of Shares awarded to the Recipient.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
 9.

 	
 Taxes; Compliance with Law; Approval of
 Regulatory Bodies; Legends. The Company shall have
 the right to withhold from payments otherwise due and owing to the Recipient
 (or his beneficiary) or to require the Recipient (or his beneficiary) to
 remit to the Company in cash upon demand an amount sufficient to satisfy any
 federal (including FICA and FUTA amounts), state, and/or local withholding
 tax requirements at the time the Recipient (or his beneficiary) recognizes
 income for federal, state, and/or local tax purposes with respect to any
 Award under this Plan.

 
	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
           Awards
 can be granted, and Shares can be delivered under this Plan, only in
 compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations and the
 rules of all stock exchanges on which the Company’s stock is listed at any
 time. An Option is exercisable only if either (a) a registration statement
 pertaining to the Shares to be issued upon exercise of the Option has been
 filed with and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission
 and remains effective on the date of exercise, or (b) an exemption from the
 registration requirements of applicable securities laws is available. This
 Plan does not require the Company, however, to file such a registration
 statement or to assure the availability of such exemptions. Any certificate
 issued to evidence Shares issued under the Plan may bear such legends and
 statements, and shall be subject to such transfer restrictions, as the

 


15









	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
 Committee deems advisable to assure compliance with federal and state laws
 and regulations and with the requirements of this Section. No Option may be
 exercised, and Shares may not be issued under this Plan, until the Company
 has obtained the consent or approval of every regulatory body, federal or state,
 having jurisdiction over such matters as the Committee deems advisable.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
           Each
 person who acquires the right to exercise an Option or to ownership of Shares
 by bequest or inheritance may be required by the Committee to furnish
 reasonable evidence of ownership of the Option as a condition to his exercise
 of the Option. In addition, the Committee may require such consents and
 releases of taxing authorities as the Committee deems advisable.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
           With
 respect to persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, transactions
 under this Plan are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule
 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time,
 or its successor under the Exchange Act. To the extent any provision of the
 Plan or action by the Plan administrators fails to so comply, it shall be
 deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by
 the Plan administrators.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
 10.

 	
 Adjustment Upon Change of Shares.
 If a reorganization, merger, consolidation, reclassification,
 recapitalization, combination or exchange of shares, stock split, stock
 dividend, rights offering, or other expansion or contraction of the Common
 Stock of the Company occurs, the number and class of Shares for which Awards
 are authorized to be granted under this Plan, the number and class of Shares
 then subject to Awards previously granted to Employees under this Plan, and
 the price per Share payable upon exercise of each Award outstanding under
 this Plan shall be equitably adjusted by the Committee to reflect such
 changes. To the extent deemed equitable and appropriate by the Board, subject
 to any required action by shareholders, in any merger, consolidation,
 reorganization, liquidation or dissolution, any Award granted under the Plan
 shall pertain to the securities and other property to which a holder of the
 number of Shares of stock covered by the Award would have been entitled to
 receive in connection with such event.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
 11.

 	
 Liability of the Company.
 The Company, its parent and any Subsidiary that is in existence or hereafter
 comes into existence shall not be liable to any person for any tax
 consequences incurred by a Recipient or other person with respect to an
 Award.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
 12.

 	
 Amendment and Termination of Plan.
 The Board may alter, amend, or terminate this Plan from time to time without
 approval of the shareholders of

 


16









	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
 the Company. The Board may, however,
 condition any amendment on the approval of the shareholders of the Company if
 such approval is necessary or advisable with respect to tax, securities or
 other applicable laws to which the Company, the Plan, Recipients or Eligible
 Persons are subject. Any amendment,
 whether with or without the approval of shareholders of the Company, that
 alters the terms or provisions of an Award granted before the amendment
 (unless the alteration is expressly permitted under this Plan) will be
 effective only with the consent of the Recipient to whom the Award was
 granted or the holder currently entitled to exercise it. Nothing under this
 Plan shall limit the right of the Company to create another plan providing
 Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Restricted Stock grants,
 or Stock Bonus grants.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
 13.

 	
 Expenses of Plan.
 The Company shall bear the expenses of administering the Plan.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
 14.

 	
 Duration of Plan.
 Awards may be granted under this Plan only during the 10 years immediately
 following the original effective date of this Plan.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
 15.

 	
 Applicable Law.
 The validity, interpretation, and enforcement of this Plan are governed in
 all respects by the laws of California and the United States of America.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
 16.

 	
 Effective Date.
 The effective date of this Plan shall be the earlier of (i) the date on which
 the Board adopts the Plan or (ii) the date on which the Shareholders approve
 the Plan.

 



Adopted by the
Board of Directors on September 15, 2000.


Approved by
the Shareholders on September 15, 2000.


17