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                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.30.3

                  EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AND RETENTION AGREEMENT

          THIS EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AND RETENTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement")
is dated as of October 29, 2002, by and between ITC/\DeltaCom, Inc., a Delaware
corporation with its principal place of business at 1791 O.G. Skinner Drive,
West Point, Georgia, 31833 (the "Company"), and Douglas A. Shumate (the
"Executive"), with a residence at 1173 Magnolia Lake Circle, Lanett, Alabama
36863.

                                    Recitals

      A.  The Executive is currently employed as Chief Financial Officer and as
a Senior Vice President of the Company.

      B.  The Company filed a petition with the United States District Court
for the District of Delaware on June 25, 2002 (the "Filing Date") for
reorganization (the "Reorganization Proceedings") under Chapter 11 of title 11
of the United States Code.

      C.  The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has determined
that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to assure
that the Company will benefit from the continued services of the Executive
following effectiveness of the Company's plan of reorganization (the "Plan of
Reorganization"), which occurred on the date hereof.

      D.  The Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable
distraction of the Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks
created by the Reorganization Proceedings and to encourage the Executive's full
attention and dedication to the Company following effectiveness of the Plan of
Reorganization, and to provide the Executive with compensation and benefits
arrangements which ensure that the compensation and benefits expectations of the
Executive will be satisfied and which are competitive with those of other
corporations.

      E.  In order to accomplish the foregoing objectives, the Board has caused
the Company to enter into this Agreement.

          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and
agreements set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

          1.    Employment Period. The Company hereby agrees to continue the
Executive in its employ, and the Executive hereby agrees to

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remain in the employ of the Company subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, commencing on the date of this Agreement (the "Effective Date") and
ending on the third anniversary of the Effective Date, unless sooner terminated
in accordance with the provisions of Section 4. The three-year period described
in the immediately preceding sentence shall hereinafter be referred to as the
"Initial Term." On the first anniversary of the Effective Date, and on each
subsequent anniversary of the Effective Date (each anniversary of the Effective
Date, a "Renewal Date"), the term of this Agreement shall automatically be
extended for successive one-year periods (each such one-year period, an
"Extension Period") unless either the Company or the Executive provides written
notice to the other party not later than 60 days before the applicable Renewal
Date of the notifying party's intention to terminate this Agreement at the end
of the Initial Term or the current Extension Period, as the case may be. The
Initial Term and any applicable Extension Periods are hereinafter referred to
collectively as the "Employment Period."

         2.   Position and Duties.

              2.1     Position.

              (a)     During the Employment Period and for so long as Larry F.
Williams serves as the Chief Executive Officer or the Chairman of the Board of
Directors of the Company, the Executive's position (including status, offices,
titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties and responsibilities shall
be at least commensurate in all material respects with the most significant of
those held, exercised and assigned at any time during the period commencing on
January 1, 2002 and ending on June 24, 2002 (the "Pre-Filing Period").

              (b)     During the Employment Period commencing with the date on
which Larry F. Williams has ceased service as both the Chief Executive Officer
and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, (i) the Executive's
position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements),
authority, duties and responsibilities shall be at least commensurate in all
material respects with the most significant of those held, exercised and
assigned at any time during the Pre-Filing Period and (ii) to the extent
requested by the Executive, the Executive's services shall be performed at the
location where the Executive was employed immediately preceding the termination
of employment of Larry F. Williams or any office or location less than 35 miles
from such location.

              2.2     Duties. During the Employment Period, and excluding any
periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the
Executive agrees to devote all attention and time during normal

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business hours to the business and affairs of the Company necessary and
appropriate to discharge the responsibilities assigned to the Executive
hereunder and, to the extent necessary and appropriate to discharge such
responsibilities, to use the Executive's reasonable best efforts to perform
faithfully and efficiently such responsibilities. During the Employment Period,
it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to (i) serve on
corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, (ii) deliver lectures,
fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational institutions and (iii)
manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not interfere with
the performance of the Executive's responsibilities as an employee of the
Company in accordance with this Agreement. To the extent that any such
activities have been conducted by the Executive and disclosed to the Board prior
to the date of this Agreement, the continued conduct of such activities, or the
conduct of activities similar in nature and scope thereto, thereafter shall not
be deemed to interfere with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities
to the Company.

              3.  Compensation.

                  3.1   Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the Company
shall pay the Executive a minimum base salary per annum equal to the Executive's
annual base salary in effect for fiscal 2002 immediately before the Filing Date
(the "Base Salary"), which shall be payable in accordance with the Company's
payroll procedure in effect or as hereinafter amended from time to time, but not
less frequently than monthly. During the Employment Period, the Base Salary
shall be reviewed at least annually and, except as expressly provided in Section
4.5, shall not be decreased. Any increase in the Base Salary shall not serve to
limit or reduce any other obligation to the Executive under this Agreement. The
Base Salary shall not be reduced after any such increase, and the term "Base
Salary" as used in this Agreement shall refer to the Base Salary as so
increased.

                  3.2   Annual Bonus. In addition to the Base Salary, the
Executive shall be provided, for each fiscal year ending during the Employment
Period, a bonus opportunity in cash and stock-based incentives at least equal to
the Executive's maximum bonus opportunity in effect for fiscal 2002 immediately
before the Filing Date (the "Annual Bonus"). Unless the Executive shall elect to
defer the receipt of such Annual Bonus, each such Annual Bonus shall be paid no
later than the end of the third month of the fiscal year next following the
fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus is awarded, or on such other basis as the
Company and the Executive may agree.

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                  3.3   Benefits.

                  (a)   Savings and Retirement Plans. During the Employment
Period, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all savings and
retirement plans, practices, policies and programs applicable generally to other
peer executives of the Company and its subsidiaries, but in no event shall such
plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with savings
opportunities and retirement benefit opportunities, in each case, less
favorable, in the aggregate, than the most favorable of those provided by the
Company and its subsidiaries for the Executive under such plans, practices,
policies and programs as in effect at any time during the Pre-Filing Period or,
if more favorable to the Executive, those provided generally at any time after
the Filing Date to other peer executives of the Company and its subsidiaries.

                  (b)   Welfare Benefit Plans. During the Employment Period, the
Executive and/or the Executive's family, as the case may be, shall be eligible
to participate in and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans,
practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its subsidiaries
(including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability,
employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans
and programs) to the extent applicable generally to other peer executives of the
Company and its subsidiaries, but in no event shall such plans, practices,
policies and programs provide the Executive with benefits which are less
favorable, in the aggregate, than the most favorable of such plans, practices,
policies and programs in effect for the Executive at any time during the
Pre-Filing Period or, if more favorable to the Executive, those provided
generally at any time after the Filing Date to other peer executives of the
Company and its subsidiaries.

                  (c)   Expenses. During the Employment Period, the Executive
shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses
incurred by the Executive in accordance with the policies, practices and
procedures of the Company.

                  (d)   Fringe Benefits. During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits, including, without limitation,
tax and financial planning services, payment of club dues, expenses of
attendance by the Executive and his spouse at industry conferences, use of an
automobile, and payment of related expenses, in accordance with the most
favorable plans, practices, programs and policies of the Company and its
subsidiaries in effect for the Executive at any time during the Pre-Filing
Period or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any
time after the Filing Date with respect to other peer executives of the Company
and its subsidiaries.

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                  (e)   Vacation. During the Employment Period, the Executive
shall be entitled to vacation in accordance with the Company's policy in effect
from time to time. The Executive shall have the right to accrue and carry
forward unused vacation.

              4.  Termination of Employment.

                  4.1   Termination Upon Death or Disability. The Executive's
employment shall terminate automatically upon the Executive's death during the
Employment Period. If by virtue of ill health or other disability, the Executive
is unable during the Employment Period to perform substantially and continuously
the duties assigned to him for a period in excess of six consecutive months or
six non-consecutive months out of any consecutive twelve-month period
("Disability"), the Company shall have the right, on not less than 30 days
notice, to terminate the employment of the Executive upon notice in writing to
the Executive, provided that, within 30 days after his receipt of such notice,
the Executive shall not have resumed full-time performance of the Executive's
duties.

                  4.2   Termination by the Company for Cause. At any time during
the Employment Period after the occurrence of an event constituting Cause (as
defined below in this Section 4.2), the Company may terminate the Executive's
employment hereunder in accordance with the procedures described below in this
Section 4.2. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean:

                  (i)   the willful and continued failure of the Executive to
          perform substantially the Executive's duties with the Company or one
          of its subsidiaries (other than any such failure resulting from
          incapacity due to physical or mental illness), after a written demand
          for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by the Board
          which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes
          that the Executive has not substantially performed the Executive's
          duties;

                  (ii)  conviction of the Executive of, or a plea by the
          Executive of nolo contendere to, a felony or to any criminal violation
          involving dishonesty, fraud or breach of trust; or

                  (iii) willful misconduct by the Executive which is injurious
          to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

For purposes of this Section 4.2, no act or failure to act, on the part of the
Executive, shall be considered "willful" unless it is done, or omitted to be
done, by the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief that the
Executive's

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action or omission was in the best interests of the Company. Any act, or failure
to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the
Board or upon the instructions of the Chief Executive Officer or based upon the
advice of counsel for the Company shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or
omitted to be done, by the Executive in good faith and in the best interests of
the Company. The cessation of employment of the Executive shall not be deemed to
be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to the Executive a
copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than
two-thirds of the entire membership of the Board (not including the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company) at a meeting of the Board called and held for
such purpose (after reasonable notice of such purpose is provided to the
Executive and the Executive is given an opportunity, together with counsel, to
be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the
Board, the Executive has engaged in the conduct described in subparagraph (i)
(ii) or (iii) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. If the
Executive is a member of the Board, the Executive shall recuse himself or
herself from the deliberations and vote of the Board with respect to such
matter.

                  4.3   Other Termination by the Company. Notwithstanding
anything contained herein to the contrary (including, without limitation, the
provisions of Section 1), the Company may terminate the Executive's employment
for any reason, or for no reason, at any time during the Employment Period upon
written notice of termination. In the event of such termination, the Company
shall notify the Executive of the date of termination, which date may be at any
time up to and including six months following the date of written notice of
termination. The Executive shall continue to perform his duties hereunder
through the date of termination determined by the Company.

                  4.4   Other Termination by the Executive. Notwithstanding
anything contained herein to the contrary (including, without limitation, the
provisions of Section 1), the Executive may terminate the Executive's employment
hereunder for any reason, or for no reason, at any time during the Employment
Period upon written notice given not less than 90 days prior to the date of
termination of employment.

                  4.5   Termination for Good Reason. At any time during the
Employment Period, the Executive's employment may be terminated by the Executive
for, and within 60 days following the occurrence of an event that constitutes,
Good Reason (as defined below in this Section 4.5). For purposes of this
Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean any of the following:

                  (i)   the assignment to the Executive of any duties
      inconsistent in any material respect with the Executive's position

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     (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority,
     duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 2, or any other
     action by the Company which results in a material diminution in such
     position, authority, duties or responsibilities; provided, however, that if
     the Board determines in good faith that some such material inconsistency or
     diminution in position, authority, duties or responsibilities of the
     Executive is in the best interest of the Company, the Executive agrees to
     negotiate in good faith with the Company the terms of any related
     modification of the Executive's duties or other action by the Company;

                    (ii)    any failure by the Company to comply with any of
     the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section
     3), other than (I) an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not
     occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after
     receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive or (II) a failure in
     connection with action by the Company that reduces the then-current
     compensation or employee benefits of the Company's senior management
     generally in connection with a financial restructuring or other
     Company-wide plan to materially reduce the costs of operations of the
     Company and its subsidiaries or materially improve the financial condition
     of the Company and its subsidiaries; provided that the Executive's Base
     Salary and Annual Bonus may not be reduced by more than 10% in the
     aggregate during the Employment Period; or

                    (iii)   any purported termination by the Company of the
     Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this
     Agreement.

         5.         Obligations of the Company Upon Termination.

                    5.1   Termination Without Cause or With Good Reason. If (i)
the Company shall terminate the Executive's employment other than pursuant to
Section 4.1 (upon death or Disability) or Section 4.2 (for Cause) or (ii) the
Executive shall terminate employment for Good Reason:

                          (i)   the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump
sum in cash within 30 days after the date of termination the aggregate of the
following amounts:

                                (A)  the sum of (1) the  Executive's annual Base
         Salary through the date of termination to the extent not theretofore
         paid, (2) the product of (x) the higher of (I) the highest Annual Bonus
         (annualized in the case of any partial year) paid to

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               the Executive with respect to any of the three fiscal years
               preceding the fiscal year in which the date of termination occurs
               (excluding therefrom the value of stock-based incentives) and
               (II) the Executive's annual target bonus opportunity in cash in
               effect for fiscal 2002 immediately before the Filing Date (such
               higher amount of (I) and (II) being referred to as the "Highest
               Annual Bonus"), and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the
               number of days in the current fiscal year through the date of
               termination, and the denominator of which is 365 and (3) any
               compensation previously deferred by the Executive (together with
               any accrued interest or earnings thereon) and any accrued
               vacation pay, in each case to the extent not theretofore paid
               (the sum of the amounts described in clauses (1), (2) and (3) are
               hereinafter referred to as the "Accrued Obligations"); and

                          (B)   if the date of termination occurs during the
               period in which Larry F. Williams serves as either the Chief
               Executive Officer or the Chairman of the Board of Directors of
               the Company, the amount equal to the product of (1) one and (2)
               the sum of (x) the Executive's annual Base Salary as in effect at
               the date of termination and (y) the Highest Annual Bonus; or

                          (C)   if the date of termination occurs after Larry F.
                Williams has ceased service as both the Chief Executive Officer
               and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, the
               amount equal to the product of (1) two and (2) the sum of (x) the
               Executive's annual Base Salary as in effect at the date of
               termination and (y) the Highest Annual Bonus;

                    (ii)  for three years after the Executive's date of
         termination, or such longer period as may be provided by the terms of
         the appropriate plan, program, practice or policy, the Company shall
         continue medical, prescription, dental and life insurance benefits to
         the Executive and/or the Executive's family at least equal to those
         which would have been provided to them in accordance with the plans,
         programs, practices and policies described in Section 3.3(b) (but
         excluding disability benefits) if the Executive's employment had not
         been terminated or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect
         generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives
         of the Company and its affiliates and their families, provided,
         however, that if the Executive becomes reemployed with another employer
         and is eligible to receive medical or other welfare benefits under
         another employer provided plan, the medical and other welfare benefits
         described herein shall be secondary to those provided under such other
         plan during such applicable period of eligibility. If the participation
         by

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         the Executive or the Executive's family in any such plan, program,
         practice or policy is not permissible or practicable, the Company shall
         arrange to provide the Executive or the Executive's family with
         substantially similar benefits, or, where the provision of such
         substantially similar benefits is not permissible or practicable, with
         a lump sum cash payment of equal value in lieu thereof. For purposes of
         determining eligibility (but not the time of commencement of benefits)
         of the Executive for retiree benefits pursuant to such plans,
         practices, programs and policies, the Executive shall be considered to
         have remained employed until three years after the date of termination
         and to have retired on the last day of such period;

                            (iii)   to the extent not theretofore paid or
         provided, the Company shall timely pay or provide to the Executive any
         other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided or which the
         Executive is eligible to receive under any plan, program, policy or
         practice or contract or agreement of the Company and its subsidiaries
         (such other amounts and benefits are hereinafter referred to as the
         "Other Benefits"); and

                            (iv)    all stock options, stock appreciation
         rights, awards of restricted stock and restricted stock units, and
         other equity-based awards (each, an "Award") granted to the Executive
         and then outstanding under stock option, stock incentive, deferred
         compensation and other equity-based plans, programs, contracts or
         arrangements of the Company and its subsidiaries shall vest and, become
         exercisable, and all restrictions and conditions applicable to such
         awards shall be deemed to have lapsed or been fully satisfied.
         Additionally, the Executive shall be granted a term of either one year
         within which to exercise any such right if such termination occurs
         while Larry F. Williams is serving as the Chief Executive Officer or as
         the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company or a term of two
         years within which to exercise such right if such termination occurs
         thereafter.

                     5.2    Termination Upon Death. If the Executive's
employment is terminated by reason of the Executive's death during the
Employment Period, as provided in Section 4.1, this Agreement shall terminate
without further obligations to the Executive's legal representatives under this
Agreement, other than for payment of the Accrued Obligations and the timely
payment or provision of the Other Benefits. The Accrued Obligations shall be
paid to the Executive's estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in
cash within 30 days after the date of termination. With respect to the provision
of the Other Benefits, the term "Other Benefits" as used in this Section 5.2
shall include, without limitation, and the Executive's

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estate and/or beneficiaries shall be entitled to receive, benefits at least
equal to the most favorable benefits provided by the Company and its
subsidiaries to the estates and beneficiaries of peer executives of the Company
and its subsidiaries under such plans, programs, practices and policies relating
to death benefits, if any, as in effect with respect to other peer executives
and their beneficiaries at any time during the Pre-Filing Period or, if more
favorable to the Executive's estate and/or the Executive's beneficiaries, as in
effect on the date of the Executive's death with respect to other peer
executives of the Company and its subsidiaries and their beneficiaries.

                5.3   Termination Upon Disability. If the Executive's employment
is terminated by reason of the Executive's Disability during the Employment
Period, as provided in Section 4.1, this Agreement shall terminate without
further obligations to the Executive, other than for payment of the Accrued
Obligations and the timely payment or provision of the Other Benefits. The
Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within
30 days after the date of termination. With respect to the provision of Other
Benefits, the term "Other Benefits" as used in this Section 5.3 shall include,
and the Executive shall be entitled after the occurrence of any condition
constituting a Disability to receive, disability and other benefits at least
equal to the most favorable of those benefits generally provided by the Company
and its subsidiaries to disabled executives and/or their families in accordance
with such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to disability, if
any, as in effect generally with respect to other peer executives and their
families at any time during the Pre-Filing Period or, if more favorable to the
Executive and/or the Executive's family, as in effect at any time thereafter
generally with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its
subsidiaries and their families.

                5.4   Termination for Cause. If the Executive's employment shall
be terminated for Cause during the Employment Period, as provided in Section
4.2, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the
Executive, other than the obligation to pay to the Executive (i) his Base Salary
through the date of termination, (ii) the amount of any compensation previously
deferred by the Executive and (iii) the Other Benefits, in each case to the
extent theretofore unpaid.

                5.5   Termination Other Than for Good Reason. If the Executive
voluntarily terminates employment during the Employment Period (other than for
Good Reason), as provided in Section 4.4, this Agreement shall terminate without
further obligations to the Executive, other than the obligation to pay to the
Executive (i) his Base Salary through the date of termination, (ii) the amount
of any compensation previously deferred by the Executive and (iii) the Other
Benefits, in each case to the extent theretofore

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unpaid. The foregoing amounts shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in
cash within 30 days after the date of termination.

                5.6   Other Plans, Agreements or Arrangements.  The severance
pay and severance benefits provided for in this Section 5 shall not duplicate,
and shall be offset by, any other severance pay or severance benefits to which
the Executive may be entitled under any plan, agreement or arrangement of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries and, to the extent permitted by applicable
law, shall be offset by any severance benefits to which the Executive may be
entitled under applicable law.

                5.7   Reduction or Elimination of Parachute Payments.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or of any other agreement,
contract or understanding heretofore or hereafter entered into by the Executive
and the Company, except an agreement, contract or understanding hereafter
entered into that expressly modifies or excludes application of this Section 5.7
(collectively, the "Other Agreements"), and notwithstanding any formal or
informal plan or other arrangement for the direct or indirect provision of
compensation to the Executive (including groups or classes of participants or
beneficiaries of which the Executive is a member), whether or not such
compensation is deferred, is in cash, or is in the form of a benefit to or for
the Executive (a "Benefit Arrangement"), if the Executive is a "disqualified
individual," as defined in Section 280G(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the "Code"), any right to receive any payment or other benefit under
this Agreement shall not become exercisable or vested (i) to the extent that
such right to exercise, vesting, payment or benefit, taking into account all
other rights, payments or benefits to or for the Executive under this Agreement,
all Other Agreements and all Benefit Arrangements, would cause any payment or
benefit to the Executive under this Agreement to be considered a "parachute
payment" within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code as then in effect
(a "Parachute Payment") and (ii) if, as a result of receiving a Parachute
Payment, the aggregate after-tax amounts received by the Executive from the
Company under this Agreement, all Other Agreements and all Benefit Arrangements
would be less than the maximum after-tax amount that could be received by the
Executive without causing any such payment or benefit to be considered a
Parachute Payment. In the event that the receipt of any such right to exercise,
vesting, payment or benefit under this Agreement, in conjunction with all other
rights, payments or benefits to or for the Executive under any Other Agreement
or any Benefit Arrangement would cause the Executive to be considered to have
received a Parachute Payment under this Agreement that would have the effect of
decreasing the after-tax amount received by the Executive as described in clause
(ii) of the preceding sentence, the Executive shall have the right, in the
Executive's sole discretion, to designate those rights, payments or benefits
under this Agreement, any Other Agreements and any

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Benefit Arrangements that should be reduced or eliminated so as to avoid having
the payment or benefit to the Executive under this Agreement be deemed to be a
Parachute Payment.

         6.  Non-Exclusivity of Rights. Subject to Section 5.6, nothing in this
Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive's continuing or future
participation in any plan, program, policy or practice provided by the Company
or any of its subsidiaries and for which the Executive may qualify, nor shall
anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as the Executive may have
under any contract or agreement with the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled
to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of, or any contract or
agreement with, the Company or any of its subsidiaries at or subsequent to the
date of termination of employment shall be payable in accordance with such plan,
policy, practice or program or contract or agreement, except as expressly
modified by this Agreement.

         7.  Full Settlement. The Company's obligation to make the payments
provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations
hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment,
defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against the
Executive or others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other
employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable
to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement, and such amounts
shall not be reduced whether or not the Executive obtains other employment. The
Company shall pay as incurred, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all legal
fees and expenses which the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any
contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, the Executive or
others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision
of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof (including as a result
of any contest by the Executive concerning the amount of any payment pursuant to
this Agreement), plus in each case interest on any delayed payment at the
applicable federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Code.

         8.  Execution of Release. As a condition to the Company's obligation to
pay any form of severance to the Executive upon the termination of the
Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive shall, at the time of
such termination, execute and deliver to the Company (and shall fail to revoke
within such time periods as may be established by law) a full and unconditional
release in favor of the Company and its affiliates of all obligations other than
those set forth in this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Company.

         9.  Other Provisions.

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               9.1    Severability. If it is determined that any of the
provisions of this Agreement are invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of the
provisions of this Agreement shall not thereby be affected and shall be given
full effect, without regard to the invalid portions.

               9.2    Notices. Any notice or other communication required or
permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally, sent
by facsimile transmission or sent by certified, registered or express mail,
postage prepaid, as follows:

                      (i)  If to the Company, to:

                      ITC/\DeltaCom, Inc.
                      1791 O.G. Skinner Drive
                      West Point, Georgia  31833
                      Attn: Corporate Counsel
                      Telecopy no.: (256) 382-3936

                      (ii) If to the Executive, to the address of the Executive
                           first above written and to such facsimile
                           transmission number as the Executive shall designate
                           in writing to the Company.

Either party may by notice in accordance with this Section 9.2 to the other
party designate another address or person for receipt by such person of notices
and communications hereunder. Notice and communications shall be effective when
actually received by the addressee.

               9.3    Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire
agreement between the parties (including all affiliates of the Company) with
respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements,
written or oral, with respect thereto.

               9.4    Waivers and Amendments. This Agreement may be amended,
superseded, canceled, renewed or extended, and the terms hereof may be waived,
only by a written instrument signed by the parties or, in the case of a waiver,
by the party waiving compliance. No delay on the part of either party in
exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder (including, without
limitation, the right of the Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason)
shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any waiver on the part of either
party of such right, power or privilege or any single or partial exercise of any
such right, power or privilege preclude any other further exercise thereof or
the exercise of any other such right, power or privilege.

                                       13

<PAGE>

               9.5    Governing Law. This agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to
agreements made to be performed entirely within the State of Delaware, without
giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law thereunder.

               9.6    Jurisdiction. The Company and the Executive each
irrevocably (i) consent and submit to the jurisdiction of any Delaware state
court or federal court located in the State of Delaware with respect to any
suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement; (ii) waive, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which such party may now or
hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding
brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding
brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum; (iii) waive
the right to object that any such court does not have jurisdiction over such
party; (iv) consent to the service of process in any such suit, action or
proceeding by the mailing of copies of such process to such party by certified
mail, return receipt requested, at such party's address indicated in this
Agreement or at such other address of which the other party shall have received
notice; and (v) agree not to bring any action relating to this Agreement in any
court other than a Delaware state court or federal court located in the State of
Delaware. Nothing in this Section 9.6 shall affect the right of either party to
serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

               9.7    Assignment. This Agreement, and the Executive's rights and
obligations hereunder, may not be assigned by the Executive other than by will
or the laws of descent and distribution.

               9.8    Tax Withholding. The Company may withhold from any amounts
payable under this Agreement such federal, state, local or foreign taxes as
shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

               9.9    Binding Effect; Successors. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective
successors, permitted assigns, heirs, executors and legal representatives. If
any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or
otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the
Company and its subsidiaries may be deemed not to have assumed this Agreement by
operation of law, the Company shall require such successor to
assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to
the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such
succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, the term "Company" shall
mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business
and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by
operation of law, or otherwise.

                                       14

<PAGE>

               9.10   Counterparts; Delivery by Facsimile. This Agreement may
be executed by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when
so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which counterparts
together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Each counterpart may
consist of two copies hereof, each signed by one of the parties hereto. The
transmission of an executed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile
transmission shall constitute due and sufficient delivery thereof for all
purposes.

               9.11   Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for reference
only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

                            [signature page follows]

                                       15

<PAGE>

               IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has heretofore set the
Executive's hand and, pursuant to the authorization of its Board of Directors,
the Company has caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf,
all as of the day and year first above written.

                                             ITC/\DELTACOM, INC.


                                              By    /s/Larry F. Williams
                                                ------------------------------
                                             It's Chief Executive Officer

                                             EXECUTIVE

                                                    /s/Douglas A. Shumate
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Douglas A. Shumate


                          Acknowledgement and Agreement

         ITC/\DeltaCom Communications, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Company, hereby acknowledges that prior to the date hereof it has made payment
to the Executive of compensation and benefits in connection with the Executive's
employment by the Company and hereby agrees that, to the extent not made by the
Company, it shall make all payments of compensation and benefits to the
Executive provided in this Agreement from and after the date hereof.

                                              ITC/\DELTACOM
                                               COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                              By    /s/Larry F. Williams
                                                -------------------------------
                                             It's Chief Executive Officer

                                       16