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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.3

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT") is made as of this __ day
of March, 2002 by and between U.S. RealTel, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("EMPLOYER"), and Perry H. Ruda ("EXECUTIVE").

                                    RECITALS

         WHEREAS, Executive is currently employed on a full-time basis by
Employer as the chief executive officer ("CEO") and chairman ("CHAIRMAN") of
Employer pursuant to that certain employment agreement dated as of January 15,
1997, by and between Employer and Executive, as amended by that certain
Amendment to Employment Agreement dated as of April 20, 1999 (the "EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT");

         WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreement, Employer
elects not to extend Executive's term of employment;

         WHEREAS, Executive desires to be employed by Employer as president of
Employer and Employer desires to employ Executive as president of Employer, in
accordance with the following terms and conditions of this Agreement; and

         WHEREAS, Executive's employment with Employer is contingent upon
Executive's acceptance of the following terms and conditions.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Employer and Executive
hereby agree to the foregoing and as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                               EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

         1.1. Employment. Employer hereby employs Executive as President, and
Executive hereby accepts such employment, upon the terms and conditions of this
Agreement.

         1.2. Term of Employment. The term of Executive's employment under this
Agreement shall be for a period commencing on April 1, 2002 (the "EFFECTIVE
DATE") and ending on the date that is the two-year anniversary of the Effective
Date (the "TERM"), unless terminated sooner pursuant to Section 3.1.

         1.3. Duties. During the Term, Executive shall consult with the
management of Cypress Communications, Inc., a subsidiary of Employer, on an "as
needed" basis, provide shareholder relations and devote such time, attention and
skill as is reasonably necessary to



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perform such duties and responsibilities consistent with the position set forth
in Section 1.1. Executive shall not be precluded from accepting other full-time
employment and pursuing other business activities so long as they do not result
in violation of Executive obligations under Section 4.2 or Section 4.3 of this
Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                  COMPENSATION

         2.1. Base Salary. Employer shall pay Executive an annual base salary
in the amount of Fifty-five Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($55,000.00), payable in
accordance with Employer's standard payroll practices.

         2.2. Bonus Compensation. Employer may, at the option of Employer's
board of directors (the "BOARD"), pay Executive a bonus in cash or otherwise in
an amount determined by the Board.

         2.3. Withholdings and Deductions. All compensation payable to
Executive pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to such withholdings and
deductions by Employer as are required by law.

         2.4. Reimbursement of Expenses. Employer shall reimburse Executive for
all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by Executive while performing his
duties under this Agreement, subject to documentation satisfactory to the
Employer.

         2.5. Benefit Programs. During the Term, Executive shall be eligible to
participate in or receive benefits, including but not limited to, group medical
benefits, normally available to other employees holding positions similar to
that of Executive hereunder, in accordance with established Employer policies as
they may be revised and amended from time to time.

                                   ARTICLE III

                                   TERMINATION

         3.1. Termination of Agreement. Notwithstanding Section 1.2 hereof, the
Term shall terminate immediately upon the occurrence of any of the following
events: (a) death of Executive; (b) election by Employer to terminate Executive
for Cause, as defined in Section 3.2;; or (c) election to terminate by either
Employer or Executive upon the giving of thirty (30) days prior written notice
to the other party.

         3.2. Cause. The term "CAUSE" as used herein means any of the following
acts or omissions:

                           (a) Executive's willful failure to perform his duties
                  under Section 1.3, which failure continues for a period of
                  thirty (30) days after written notice thereof


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                  from Employer to Executive (for purposes of this Section 3.2
                  (a), any act or failure to act by Executive shall not be
                  considered "willful" unless done or omitted to be done by
                  Executive not in good faith or without a reasonable belief
                  that Executive's action or omission was in the best
                  interests of Employer); or

                           (b) Executive's conviction of theft, embezzlement or
                  other act of dishonesty.

         3.3. Effect of Termination for Cause. In the event Executive is
terminated for Cause, this Agreement shall immediately terminate and Employer
shall owe Executive no further amounts under this Agreement or for any other
reason except to pay through the date of termination of this Agreement all
accrued compensation, benefits and expense reimbursement due to Executive. Any
discharge of Executive for Cause shall be communicated by a Notice of
Termination given in accordance with Section 5.1 of this Agreement. For purposes
of this Section 3.3, a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice which (i)
indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii)
sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a
basis for termination of Executive's employment under the provision so
indicated, and (iii) if the date of termination is to be other than the date of
receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date.

         3.4. Effect of Termination upon Death. In the event of the death of
Executive, this Agreement will immediately terminate and Employer will owe
Executive, or Executive's estate, no further amounts under this Agreement except
to pay through the date of termination of this Agreement all accrued
compensation, benefits and expense reimbursement due to Executive.

         3.5. Effect of Termination by Employer other than for Cause or upon
Death. In the event Executive is terminated by Employer during the Term other
than for Cause or death, Employer shall pay Executive, (i) in a lump sum and
concurrent with the delivery of the Notice of Termination, the balance of the
Base Salary outstanding for the remaining period of the Term and (ii) pay for
Executive's COBRA insurance though the remaining period of the Term; provided,
however, that Executive shall not be entitled to receive any compensation
pursuant to this Section 3.5 if Executive breaches Section 4.2 or Section 4.3 of
this Agreement and must, upon written demand by Employer, return to Employer all
consideration that Executive has already received from Employer under this
Agreement.

         3.7. Effect of Termination by Executive. In the event Executive
terminates this Agreement at any time, Employer shall owe Executive no further
amounts under this Agreement or for any other reason except to pay through the
date of such termination all accrued compensation, benefits and expense
reimbursement due to Executive.

         3.8. Property of Employer. Upon termination of his employment with
Employer for any reason, Executive shall surrender to a designated Employer
representative any and all material regarding Employer and its business
including, but not limited to, records, data, memorandum, manuals, reports,
documents, contracts, sales literature, price lists, lists of Employer's vendors
and customers, computer equipment such as laptops, computer programs,


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methods of designing such programs, software, plans, drawings, proposals,
designs, product information, confidential purchasing and market research
information, (including all copies thereof) that he has in his possession,
custody or control relating to the business of Employer, its affiliates or its
customers; provided however, Executive is not required to return to Employer any
materials regarding Employer, which are used by Executive in his capacity as a
director of Employer. Executive acknowledges that all such materials are and
shall remain the property of Employer solely and that Executive has no right,
title or other interest in or to such materials.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                    COVENANTS

         4.1 Released Parties. As used in this Agreement, "RELEASED PARTIES"
means Employer and any of its affiliated businesses, partners, and joint
ventures, and its/their predecessors, successors, heirs and assigns, and
its/their past, present and future directors, shareholders, officers, members,
agents, attorneys, employees, representatives, trustees, administrators,
fiduciaries and insurers, jointly and severally, in their individual, fiduciary
and corporate capacities.

         4.2 Covenant Not to Sue. Executive, on behalf of Executive and
Executive's agents, representatives, attorneys, assigns, heirs, executors, and
administrators, and the Released Parties, mutually agree, never to bring (or
cause to be brought) any claim against one another regarding any act or failure
to act that occurred up to and including the date hereof, including but not
limited to any claim relating to Executive's previous employment as CEO and
Chairman of Employer or separation of employment from Employer as CEO and
Chairman. If any such claim has been brought before the execution of this
Agreement, the appropriate parties to this Agreement must and will take all
steps necessary to cause that claim to be withdrawn and dismissed with
prejudice. This Section 4.2 shall not prohibit Executive from seeking any and
all legal remedies available to him to enforce the terms of this Agreement or
that certain Settlement Agreement between Executive and Employer dated as of the
date hereof.

         4.3 No Encouragement of Claims. Executive will not encourage any person
to file a lawsuit, claim, or complaint against any of the Released Parties.
Executive will not assist any person who has filed a lawsuit, claim, or
complaint against any of the Released Parties unless Executive is required to
render such assistance pursuant to a lawful subpoena or other legal obligation.

                                    ARTICLE V

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         5.1. Notices. All notices and other communications required or
permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and, if mailed by prepaid
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, shall be deemed to have
been received on the date shown on the receipt. Notices may also be given by
recognized overnight courier services and shall be deemed to have been received
as of the regularly scheduled time for delivery established by such courier
service. In addition, notices hereunder may be delivered by hand in which event
the notice shall be deemed effective



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when delivered. All notices and other communications under this Agreement shall
be given to the Parties hereto at the following addresses:

         If to Executive at the address then on file with Employer.

         If to Employer:

                  U.S. RealTel, Inc.
                  15 Piedmont Center
                  Suite 100
                  Atlanta, Georgia 30305
                  Attention: Ross J. Mangano

         with a copy to:

                  Ungaretti & Harris
                  3500 Three First National Plaza
                  Chicago, IL 60602
                  Attention:  Gary I. Levenstein

or to such other address or addresses as may hereafter be specified by notice
given by any of the above to the others.

         5.2. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and permitted
assigns. In the case of Employer, the successors and permitted assigns hereunder
shall include without limitation any affiliate of Employer as well as the
successors in interest to such affiliate (whether by merger, liquidation
(including successive mergers or liquidations) or otherwise). This Agreement or
any right or interest hereunder is one of personal service and may not be
assigned by Executive, but shall be binding upon Executive's executor,
administrators, heirs and legal representatives. Nothing in this Agreement,
expressed or implied, is intended or shall be construed to confer upon any
person other than the parties and successors and assigns permitted by this
Section 5.2 any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

         5.3. Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement contains the entire
agreement and understanding between Executive and Employer concerning the
matters described herein and supercedes all prior agreements, discussions,
negotiations, understandings and proposals of the parties. The terms of this
Agreement cannot be changed except in a subsequent document signed by Executive
and an authorized representative of Employer. This Agreement binds and is for
the benefit of Executive and Employer as well as his/its respective heirs,
personal representatives, permitted successors and assigns

         5.4. Interpretation. Article titles and section headings contained
herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be
a part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.



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         5.5. Expenses. If any action at law or in equity is necessary to
enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be
entitled to reasonable attorney's fees, costs and expenses.

         5.6. Waivers. Any term or provision of this Agreement may be waived, or
the time for its performance may be extended, by the party or parties entitled
to the benefit thereof. Any such waiver shall be validly and sufficiently
authorized for the purposes of this Agreement if, as to any party, an authorized
representative of such party authorizes it in writing. The failure of any party
hereto to enforce at any time any provision of this Agreement shall not be
construed to be a waiver of such provision, nor in any way to affect the
validity of this Agreement or any part hereof or the right of any party
thereafter to enforce each and every such provision. No waiver of any breach of
this Agreement shall be held to constitute a waiver of any other or subsequent
breach.

         5.7. Partial Invalidity. Wherever possible, each provision hereof shall
be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law,
but in case any one or more of the provisions contained herein shall, for any
reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such
provision shall be ineffective to the extent, but only to the extent, of such
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without invalidating the remainder of
such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision or provisions or any other
provisions hereof, unless such a construction would be unreasonable. If any
provision is held invalid or unenforceable with respect to particular
circumstances, it nevertheless shall remain in full force and effect in all
other circumstances.

         5.8. Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one
or more counterparts, each of which shall be considered an original instrument,
but all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement.

         5.9. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, construed and
enforced in accordance with, and all questions concerning the construction,
validity, interpretation and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by,
the laws of Illinois without giving effect to that State's principles regarding
conflict of laws. The parties agree that venue will lie solely with the federal
or state courts located in Cook County, Illinois and submit to the jurisdiction
of federal or state courts located in Cook County, Illinois..

                           [signature pages attached]



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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of the day and year first above written.

                                                     EMPLOYER:

                                                     U.S. REALTEL, INC.,
                                                     A Delaware corporation

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<S>                                                 <C>
                                                     By:
                                                        -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Name:
                                                          ---------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Its:
                                                         ----------------------------------------------------------


                                                     EXECUTIVE:


                                                     --------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     PERRY H. RUDA

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