<PAGE>
 
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.20

THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED 
(THE "1933 ACT"). THE ISSUANCE TO THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE OF THE SHARES OF 
COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THIS NOTE AND IN PAYMENT OF INTEREST ON
THIS NOTE ARE NOT COVERED BY A REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE 1933 ACT. THIS 
NOTE HAS BEEN ACQUIRED, AND SUCH SHARES MUST BE ACQUIRED, FOR INVESTMENT ONLY 
AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF REGISTRATION OF 
THE RESALE THEREOF UNDER THE 1933 ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY 
SATISFACTORY IN FORM, SCOPE AND SUBSTANCE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION 
IS NOT REQUIRED.

                         EQUALNET COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

                  6% SENIOR SECURED CONVERTIBLE NOTE DUE 2001

No. 2                                                           $1,500,000.00
New York, New York
September 4, 1998

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, EQUALNET COMMUNICATIONS CORP., a Texas corporation 
(hereinafter called the "Company"), hereby promises to pay to WILLIS GROUP LLC, 
5005 Woodway, Suite 350, Houston, Texas 77056, or registered assigns (the 
"Holder") or order, the sum of One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars 
($1,500,000.00), on the Maturity Date, and to pay interest on the unpaid 
principal balance hereof at the Applicable Rate from the date hereof, until the 
same becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or upon acceleration or by 
repurchase in accordance with the terms hereof or otherwise. Any amount of 
principal of or interest on this Note which is not paid when due shall bear 
interest at the Default Rate from the due date thereof until the same is paid 
("Default Interest"). Interest shall be payable in arrears on each Interest 
Payment Date, commencing on November 15, 1998, on the principal amount 
outstanding on such date. Interest on this Note shall be computed on the basis 
of a 360-day year of 12 30-day months and actual days elapsed. No interest shall
be payable on an Interest Payment Date on any portion of the principal amount of
this Note which shall have been converted or redeemed prior to such Interest 
Payment Date so long as the Company shall have complied in full with its 
obligations with respect to such conversion or redemption.

     All payments of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Note
shall be made in lawful money of the United States of America, or, at the option
of the Company and subject to the provisions of this Note, interest payable on 
the Interest Payment Dates may be paid in whole or in part in Interest Notes. 
All cash payments shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds 
to such account as the Holder may from time to time designate by written notice 
in accordance with the provisions of this Note. Whenever any amount expressed to
be due by the terms of this Note is due on any day which is not a Business Day, 
the same shall instead be due on the next succeeding day which is a Business 
Day and, in the case of any Interest Payment Date which is not the date on 
which this Note is paid in full, the extension of the due date thereof shall not
be taken into account for purposes of determining the amount of interest due on
such date. Certain capitalized terms used in this Note are defined in 
Article VI.

<PAGE>
 
     The obligations of the Company under this Note shall rank in right of 
payment on a parity with all other unsubordinated obligations of the Company for
indebtedness for borrowed money or the purchase price of property. This Note is 
issued pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement and the Holder of this Note and 
this Note are subject to the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement. The 
obligations of the Company under this Note are secured pursuant to, and the 
Holder of this Note is entitled to the benefits of, the Security Agreement. This
Note is one of the several 6% Senior Secured Convertible Notes due 2001 in the 
original aggregate principal amount of $3,000,000.00 issued by the Company 
pursuant to the Master Purchase Agreement, the Note Purchase Agreement and the 
Other Note Purchase Agreements.

     The following terms shall apply to this Note:

                                   ARTICLE I

                         INTEREST NOTES; NO PREPAYMENT

     1.1 ISSUANCE OF INTEREST NOTES IN LIEU OF CASH INTEREST. (a) If the Company
exercises its option to make a payment of interest on this Note wholly or partly
in Interest Notes (herein sometimes called the "Interest Note Payment Option"), 
the issuance of Interest Notes upon such exercise of the Interest Note Payment 
Option shall have been authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company.

     (b) The Company shall not be permitted to exercise the Interest Note 
Payment Option with respect to any payment of interest on this Note if:

          (i) the number of shares of Common Stock authorized, unissued and
     unreserved for all purposes, or held in the Company's treasury, is
     insufficient to permit the conversion in full of the Interest Notes to be
     so issued.

          (ii) the issuance or delivery of such Interest Note or the public
     resale of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of such
     Interest Note by the Holder would require registration with or approval of
     any governmental authority under any law or regulation, and such
     registration or approval has not been effected or obtained or is not in
     effect or the Registration Statement is unavailable for use by the Holder
     for the resale of such shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that this
     limitation shall not be deemed to be applicable prior to the date which is
     105 days after the Issuance Date, if the Registration Statement is on Form
     S-3, or the date which is 120 days after the Issuance Date, if the
     Registration Statement is on Form S-1, if this limitation otherwise would
     be applicable solely because the Registration Statement shall not yet have
     been declared effective, so long as the Company shall be in compliance in
     all material respects with its obligations under the Registration Rights
     Agreement;

          (iii) the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of such
     Interest Note shall not at the time of issuance have been authorized for
     listing, upon official notice of issuance, on the principal securities
     exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed and traded;

          (iv) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

          (v) any Repurchase Event shall have occurred and the Holder or the
     holder of any Other Note shall have executed repurchase rights by reason
     thereof and the Company shall not have paid the Repurchase Price hereof or
     the repurchase price thereof; or

                                       2

<PAGE>
 
          (vi) the Common Stock is neither (i) listed or admitted for trading on
     a national securities exchange nor (ii) quoted on the Nasdaq or the Nasdaq
     Small Cap.

     (c) If the Interest Note Payment Option is elected, the Company shall issue
and deliver or cause to be delivered to the Holder on or before the due date of 
such interest payment an Interest Note, duly executed on behalf of the Company, 
in the principal amount equal to the total amount of lawful money of the United 
States of America which the Holder would receive if the aggregate amount of 
interest on this Note which is being paid in such Interest Note were being paid 
in such lawful money; provided, however, that if in connection with any such 
election the Company shall have failed to deliver such Interest Note to the 
Holder within three Trading Days after the applicable Interest Payment Date, 
then the Company shall not be entitled to use the Interest Note Payment Option 
in respect of such Interest Payment Date, such cash interest shall be 
immediately due and payable and the Company shall pay the interest for such 
Interest Payment Date in cash with Default Interest, at the rate provided in 
this Note, from such Interest Payment Date until paid.

     (d) If the Company exercises the Interest Note Payment Option with respect 
to a payment of interest on this Note, the Company shall deliver to the Holder, 
on or prior to the date on which such Interest Note is to be received by the 
Holder, a Company Certificate setting forth (i) the total amount of the interest
payment to which the Holder is entitled, (ii) the portion of the interest 
payment being made in an Interest Note and (iii) a brief statement that none of 
the conditions set forth in Section 1.1(b) has occurred and is existing. Each 
Interest Note shall be issued in the name of the Holder or its nominee. In 
addition, on or before the date of issuance of each Interest Note the Company 
shall notify the Transfer Agent of the issuance of such Interest Note, the 
principal amount thereof and the name of the registered holder thereof.

     (e) Each Interest Note, when issued pursuant to and in compliance with this
Section 1.1, shall be, and for all purposes shall be deemed to be, duly 
authorized and a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms, and the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion of such Interest Note, when so issued, shall be, and 
for all purposes shall be deemed to be, validly issued, fully paid and 
nonassessable shares of Common Stock; the issuance and delivery of such Interest
Note and such shares is in all respects authorized; and the issuance of such 
Interest Note will be, and for all purposes shall be deemed to be, in full 
discharge and satisfaction of the Company's obligation to pay the interest on 
this Note to which such Interest Note relates.

     1.2 OPTIONAL REDEMPTION. If (1) the Company shall be in compliance in all 
material respects with its obligations to the Holder and the holders of the 
Other Notes (including, without limitation, its obligations under the 
Transaction Documents), (2) on the date the Company Optional Redemption Notice 
is given and at all times until the Redemption Date, the Registration Statement 
is effective and available for use by the Holder and each holder of Other Notes 
for the resale of shares of Common Stock acquired by the Holder upon conversion 
of this Note or by such other holders upon conversion of the Other Notes and (3)
no Repurchase Event shall have occurred with respect to which, on the date a 
Redemption Notice is to be given or on the Redemption Date, the Holder or any 
holder of Other Notes shall have exercised optional repurchase rights under 
Sections 5.1 and 5.2 (or the comparable provisions of any Interest Note or Other
Note) by reason of such Repurchase Event and the Company shall not have paid the
Repurchase Price to the Holder or the repurchase price has not been paid to such
holder, as the case may be, then the Company shall have the right, exercisable 
by giving a Company Optional Redemption Notice not less than 30 days or more 
than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date the Holders, at any time to redeem all
or from time to time to redeem any part of the outstanding principal amount of 
this Note in accordance with this Section 1.2. The Company Optional Redemption 
Notice shall state that: (1) the Company is exercising its right to redeem this 
Note in accordance with this Section 1.3, (2) the principal

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
amount of this Note to be redeemed, (3) the Redemption Event Redemption Price
and (4) the Redemption Event Redemption Date. If the Company shall redeem less
than all the outstanding principal amount of this Note, such redemption shall be
made as nearly as practical pro rata from the Holder and all holders of Other
Notes. Any Company Optional Redemption Notice under this Section 1.2 shall be
given to the Holder at its address appearing on the records of the Company. On
the Redemption Date (or such later date as the Holder surrenders this Note to
the Company), the Company shall make payment of the applicable Redemption Price
to the Holder in immediately available funds to such account as specified by the
Holder in writing to the Company at least one Business Day prior to the
Redemption Date. The Holder shall be entitled to convert this Note or the
portion hereof to be redeemed in accordance with Article II through the day
prior to the Redemption Date and (2) if the Company shall fail to pay the
Redemption Price of this Note or the portion hereof to be redeemed when due, at
any time after the due date thereof until such date as the Company pays the
Redemption Price of this Note or the portion hereof to be redeemed. This Note or
any portion hereof as to which the Holder exercises the right of conversion
pursuant to Article II or the optional repurchase right pursuant to Sections 5.1
and 5.2 may be redeemed by the Company pursuant to this Section 1.2 on or after
the date of exercise of such conversion right or optional repurchase right, as
the case may be, regardless of whether the Company Optional Redemption Notice
shall have been given prior to, or on or after, the date of exercise of such
conversion right or optional redemption right, as the case may be.

     1.3 Optional Redemption by Company for Optional Redemption Event. (a) If an
Optional Redemption Event occurs the Company shall have the right to redeem at
any one time with respect to such Optional Redemption Event all of the
outstanding principal amount of this Note at the Redemption Event Redemption
Price pursuant to this Section 1.3 on any Redemption Event Redemption Date, so
long as (x) on the date the Redemption Event Redemption Notice is given and at
all times to and including the applicable Redemption Event Redemption Date, no
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and no Repurchase Event has
occurred with respect to which the Holder or the holder of any Other Note has
exercised repurchase rights pursuant to Sections 5.1 and 5.2 (or the comparable
provisions of any Interest Note or Other Note) and the Repurchase Price has not
been paid to the Holder or the repurchase price has not been paid to such
holder, as the case may be, and (y) on the date a Redemption Event Redemption
Notice is given and at all times to and including the applicable Redemption
Event Redemption Date, the Company is in compliance in all material respects
with its obligations to the Holder and the holders of the Other Notes
(including, without limitation, its obligations under the Transaction
Documents). In order to exercise its right of redemption under this Section 1.3,
the Company shall give a Redemption Event Redemption Notice to the Holder not
later than ten days after an Optional Redemption Event occurs and not less than
20 days or more than 30 days prior to the Redemption Event Redemption Date
stating that: (1) the Company is exercising its right to redeem this Note in
accordance with this Section 1.3, (2) the principal amount of this Note to be
redeemed, (3) the Redemption Event Redemption Price and (4) the Redemption Event
Redemption Date. On the applicable Redemption Event Redemption Date (or such
later date as the Holder surrenders this Note to the Company) the Company shall
pay to or upon the order of the Holder by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to such account as shall be specified for such purpose by the Holder at
least one Business Day prior to the Redemption Event Redemption Date an amount
equal to the Redemption Event Redemption Price of this Note.

     (b) The Company shall not be entitled to give a Redemption Event Redemption
Notice or to redeem any portion of this Note with respect to which the Holder
has given a Conversion Notice. Notwithstanding the giving of a Redemption Event
Redemption Notice, the Holder shall be entitled to convert this Note in
accordance with the terms of this Note by giving a Conversion Notice at any time
prior to the later of (1) the date which is one Business Day prior to the
applicable Redemption Event Redemption Date and (2) the date on which the
Company pays the Redemption Event Redemption Price of this Note to the Holder.
The Redemption Event Redemption Price set forth in an Redemption Event
Redemption Notice shall be adjusted to reflect

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
the reduced outstanding principal amount of this Note and related accrued
interest and Default Interest on the Redemption Event Redemption Date resulting
from any permitted conversions of this Note after the Redemption Event
Redemption Notice is given.

     (c) Any redemption of this Note pursuant to this Section 1.3 shall be made
at the same time as a redemption by the Company of the Interest Notes and the
Other Notes. The Company shall not redeem any of the Interest Notes or the Other
Notes pursuant to the provisions thereof similar to this Section 1.3 or
repurchase or otherwise acquire any of the Interest Notes or the Other Notes
(other than a mandatory redemption pursuant to provisions of the Interest Notes
or the Other Notes comparable to Section 2.4) unless the Company offers
simultaneously to redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire a pro rata portion
(based on outstanding principal amount) of this Note for cash at the same price
as the Interest Note or Interest Notes or the Other Note or Other Notes.

     1.4 No Prepayment. Except as otherwise specifically provided in Section 1.2
and 1.3, this Note may not be prepaid, redeemed or repurchased at the option of
the Company prior to September 4, 2001.

                                  ARTICLE II

                   CONVERSION; CERTAIN MANDATORY REDEMPTION
                            RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS

          2.1 Conversion Right.  Upon the terms and subject to the limitations
contained herein, the Holder shall have the right at any time on or after the
earlier of (x) the SEC Effective Date and (y) the date which is 90 days on and
after the Issuance Date, and in either such case at any time prior to the
payment in full of this Note, to convert at any time all or from time to time
any part of the outstanding and unpaid principal amount of this Note, and
accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount to be converted and Default
Interest on any such interest, into fully paid and nonassessable shares of
Common Stock at the Conversion Price in effect on the date the applicable
Conversion Notice is given in accordance with this Note. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Note, in no event shall the Holder be entitled at any
time to convert any portion of the principal amount of this Note (and accrued
and unpaid interest thereon and Default Interest on any such interest) in excess
of that portion of the principal amount of this Note (and accrued and unpaid
interest thereon and Default Interest on any such interest) upon conversion of
which the sum of (1) the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by
the Holder (including shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by all
Aggregated Persons) (other than shares of Common Stock deemed beneficially owned
by the Holder or any Aggregated Person of the Holder through the ownership of
(x) the unconverted portion of the principal amount of this Note, any Interest
Notes and the Other Notes and accrued and unpaid interest thereon and on any
such interest and (y) the unconverted or unexercised portion of the Warrants or
any instrument which contains limitations similar to those set forth in this
sentence) and (2) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion
of the portion of the principal amount of this Note and accrued and unpaid
interest thereon and Default Interest on any such interest with respect to which
the determination in this sentence is being made, would result in beneficial
ownership by the Holder and all Aggregated Persons of the Holder of more than
4.9% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. For purposes of the immediately
preceding sentence, beneficial ownership shall be determined in accordance with
Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act, and Regulation 13D-G thereunder, except as
otherwise provided in clause (1) of the immediately preceding sentence. For
purposes of the second preceding sentence, the Company shall be entitled to
rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, on any statement or
representation made by the Holder to the Company in connection with a particular
conversion, without any obligation on the part of the Company to make any
inquiry or investigation or to examine its records or the records of any
transfer agent for
 

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
the Common Stock and without any liability of the Company with respect thereto.
The number of shares of Common Stock to be issued upon each conversion of this
Note shall be determined by dividing the sum of (1) that portion of the
principal amount of this Note to be converted plus (2) accrued and unpaid
interest on such principal amount to the date the Conversion Notice for such
conversion is given plus (3) accrued and unpaid Default Interest, if any, on the
amount referred to in the immediately preceding clause (2) to the date such
Conversion Notice is given, by the Conversion Price in effect on the date the
Conversion Notice for such conversion is given.

     2.2 Authorized Shares. The Company covenants that, during the period the
conversion rights exist, the Company will reserve from its authorized, unissued
and otherwise unreserved Common Stock free from preemptive and similar rights
13,043,468 shares (such amount to be subject to equitable adjustment from time
to time on terms reasonably acceptable to the Holder for stock splits, stock
dividends, combinations, capital reorganizations and similar events relating to
the Common Stock occurring on or after the Issuance Date) to provide for the
issuance of Common Stock upon the conversion in full of this Note, the Interest
Notes and the Other Notes, subject to reduction from time to time by the number
of shares of Common Stock issued on conversion of this Note, the Interest Notes
and the Other Notes. The Company shall, from time to time, authorize and reserve
additional shares of Common Stock, free from preemptive and similar rights, to
be issuable pursuant to the terms of this Note as shall be necessary to ensure
that an adequate number of shares of Common Stock are, at all times authorized
and reserved for issuance upon conversion in full of this Note, the all Interest
Notes and the Other Notes. The Company shall notify the Holder promptly, but in
no event more than ten Business Days, after the Company so reserves additional
shares of Common Stock which notice shall set forth the number of additional
shares of Common Stock so reserved. If at any time the number of authorized but
unissued shares of Common Stock not reserved or required to be reserved for any
other purpose shall be insufficient to effect the conversion of this Note, all
Interest Notes and all Other Notes, the Company promptly shall seek, and use its
best efforts to obtain and complete, such corporate action as may, in the
opinion of its counsel, be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued
shares of Common Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such
purpose. The Company represents and warrants that upon issuance, such shares of
Common Stock will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The
Company agrees that its issuance of this Note shall constitute full authority to
its officers and agents who are charged with the duty of executing stock
certificates to execute and issue the necessary certificates for shares of
Common Stock upon the conversion of this Note.

     2.3 Method of Conversion. (a) The right of the Holder to convert this Note
shall be exercised by delivering (which may be made by telephone line facsimile
transmission) to the Transfer Agent at the addresses or telephone line facsimile
transmission number provided in or pursuant to the Transfer Agent Instruction, a
Conversion Notice. On the date the Conversion Notice is delivered, the Company
shall acknowledge the Conversion Notice and forward the Conversion Notice as so
acknowledged to the Transfer Agent. The number of shares of Common Stock to be
issued upon each conversion of this Note shall be the number set forth in the
applicable Conversion Notice, which number shall be conclusive absent manifest
error. The Company shall notify the Holder of any claim by the Company of
manifest error in a Conversion Notice within one Trading Day after the Holder
gives such Conversion Notice and no such claim of error shall limit or delay
performance of the Company's obligation to issue upon such conversion the number
of shares of Common Stock which are not in dispute. A Conversion Notice shall be
deemed for all purposes to be in proper form unless the Company notifies the
Holder by telephone line facsimile transmission within one Trading Day after a
Conversion Notice has been given (which notice from the Company shall specify
all defects in the Conversion Notice) and any Conversion Notice containing any
such defect shall nonetheless be effective on the date given if the Holder
promptly undertakes to correct all such defects. If the Company shall have
notified the Transfer Agent and such holder of any such manifest error, and the
Company and such holder do not agree as to a resolution of such manifest error
on or before the date of such notice by the Company of an error

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
in such Conversion Notice, the Company shall on the date such notice is given
submit the dispute to Ernst & Young LLP or another firm of independent public
accountants of recognized national standing (the "Auditors") for determination
and shall instruct the Auditors to resolve such dispute and to notify the
Company, the Transfer Agent and such holder within one Trading Day after such
dispute is submitted to the Auditors. Immediately after receipt of timely notice
of the Auditors' determination (but in any event within three Trading Days after
the applicable Conversion Notice is given to the Transfer Agent), the Transfer
Agent shall issue to the converting Holder any additional shares of Common Stock
to which such holder is entitled based on the determination of the Auditors. The
Transfer Agent is authorized and directed to rely on the Auditors'
determination. If the Auditors shall fail to notify the Transfer Agent of their
determination within three Trading Days after the applicable Conversion Notice
is given to the Transfer Agent, then the Transfer Agent shall, within three
Trading Days after receipt of the applicable Conversion Notice, issue to the
converting, holder any additional shares of Common Stock to which such Holder is
entitled based on the applicable Conversion Notice. The Company shall pay any
transfer or issuance taxable payable in connection with any conversion of this
Note except that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be
payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of
shares of Common Stock or other securities or property on conversion of this
Note in a name other than that of the Holder, and the Company shall not be
required to issue or deliver any such shares or other securities or property
unless and until the person or persons requesting, the issuance thereof shall
have paid to the Company the amount of any such tax or shall have established to
the satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid. The Holder shall be
responsible for the amount of any withholding tax payable in connection with any
conversion of this Note.

     (b) If the Holder elects to convert this Note in accordance with Section 2.
1 (a), the Holder shall not be required to surrender this Note physically unless
the entire unpaid principal amount of this Note is so converted. The Company
shall maintain records showing the principal amount so converted and the dates
of such conversions or shall use such other method, reasonably satisfactory to
the Holder, so as not to require physical surrender of this Note upon each such
conversion. In the event of any dispute or discrepancy, such records of the
Company shall be controlling and determinative in the absence of manifest error.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any portion of this Note is converted without
physical surrender of this Note to the Company as aforesaid, the Holder may not
transfer this Note unless (1) the Holder first physically surrenders this Note
to the Company, whereupon the Company will forthwith issue and deliver upon the
order of the Holder a new note of like tenor, registered as the Holder (upon
payment by the Holder of any applicable transfer taxes) may request,
representing in the aggregate the remaining unpaid principal amount of this Note
and (2) such transfer is otherwise in compliance with Section 7.7 hereof. The
Company may by notice to the Holder from time to time require the Holder to
surrender this Note in exchange for the issuance by the Company of a new Note in
a principal amount equal to the outstanding principal amount of this Note and
otherwise having terms identical to this Note. Such new Note shall be delivered
by the Company to the Holder within three Trading Days after the Company
receives this Note from the Holder in response to such notice. The Holder and
any assignee, by acceptance of this Note, acknowledge and agree that, by reason
of the provisions of this paragraph, following conversion of a portion of this
Note, the unpaid and unconverted principal amount of this Note represented by
this Note may be less than the amount stated on the face hereof.

     (c) In case of any consolidation or merger of the Company with any other
corporation (other than a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) in which the
Company is not the surviving corporation, or in case of any sale or transfer of
all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or in the case of any
share exchange pursuant to which all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
are converted into other securities or property, the Company shall make
appropriate provision or cause appropriate provision to be made so that the
Holder shall have the right thereafter to convert this Note into the kind of
shares of stock and other securities and

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share
exchange by the persons who were holders of Common Stock immediately prior to
the effective date of such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share
exchange and on a basis which preserves the economic benefits of the conversion
rights of the Holder on a basis as nearly as practical as such rights existed
prior to such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange. If, in
connection with any such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange
each holder of shares of Common Stock is entitled to elect to receive either
securities, cash or other assets upon completion of such transaction, the
Company shall provide or cause to be provided to the Holder the right to elect
the securities, cash or other assets into which this Note shall be convertible
after completion of any such transaction on the same terms and subject to the
same conditions applicable to holders of the Common Stock (including, without
limitation, notice of the right to elect, limitations on the period in which
such election shall be made, and the effect of failing to exercise the
election). The Company shall not effect any such transaction unless the
provisions of this paragraph have been complied with. The above provisions shall
similarly apply to successive consolidations, mergers, sales, transfers or share
exchanges.

          Whenever the Company shall propose to take any of the actions
specified in this Section 2.3(c), the Company shall cause a notice to be mailed
to the Holder at least 20 days prior to the date on which the books of the
Company will close or on which a record will be taken for such action. Such
notice shall specify the action proposed to be taken by the Company and the date
as of which holders of record of the Common Stock shall participate in any such
actions or be entitled to exchange their Common Stock for securities or other
property, as the case may be.

     (d) Upon receipt by the Transfer Agent from the Holder of a Conversion
Notice meeting the requirements for conversion as provided in Section 2.1 (a)
and this Section 2.3, the Company shall issue and deliver or cause to be issued
and delivered to the Holder certificates for the Common Stock issuable upon such
conversion by the close of business on the third Trading Day after the date of
such receipt, and as of the close of business on the date of receipt of such
Conversion Notice the Holder shall be deemed to be the holder of record of the
Common Stock issuable upon such conversion, the outstanding principal amount and
the amount of accrued and unpaid interest and Default Interest on this Note
shall be reduced to reflect such conversion, and all rights with respect to the
portion of this Note being so converted shall forthwith terminate except the
right to receive the Common Stock or other securities, cash or other assets, as
herein provided, on such conversion except as otherwise provided herein. If the
Holder shall have given a Conversion Notice in accordance with the terms of this
Note, the Company's obligation to issue and deliver the certificates for Common
Stock shall be absolute and unconditional, irrespective of any action or
inaction by the Holder to enforce the same, any waiver or consent with respect
to any provision thereof, the recovery of any judgment against any person or any
action to enforce the same, any failure or delay in the enforcement of any other
obligation of the Company to the Holder, or any setoff, counterclaim,
recoupment, limitation or termination, or any breach or alleged breach by the
Holder or any other person of any obligation to the Company or any violation or
alleged violation of law by the Holder or any other person, and irrespective of
any other circumstance which might otherwise limit such obligation of the
Company to the Holder in connection with such conversion. The occurrence of an
event which requires an equitable adjustment of the Market Price as contemplated
by the definition thereof in Section 6.1 shall in no way restrict or delay the
right of the Holder to receive shares of Common Stock upon conversion of this
Note and the Company shall use its best efforts to implement such adjustment on
terms reasonably acceptable to the Holder within two Business Days after such
occurrence. If the Company fails to issue and deliver the certificates for the
Common Stock to the Holder pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 2.3(d)
as and when required to do so, in addition to any other liabilities the Company
may have hereunder and under applicable law (1) the Company shall pay or
reimburse the Holder on demand for all out-of-pocket expenses, including,
without limitation, fees and expenses of legal counsel, incurred by the Holder
as a result of such failure, (2) the Conversion Percentage used to determine the
Conversion Price applicable to such conversion shall

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
be reduced by one percentage point from the Conversion Percentage otherwise used
to calculate the Conversion Price applicable to such conversion or, if such
conversion is based on the Ceiling Price, the ceiling price used to determine
the Conversion Price applicable to such conversion shall be reduced by one
percentage point from the amount that the Conversion Price otherwise would have
been without reduction pursuant hereto, in either case, for each Trading Day
after such third Trading Day until such shares of Common Stock are delivered to
the Holder and (3) the Holder may by notice (which may be given by mail,
courier, personal service or telephone line facsimile transmission) or oral
notice (promptly confirmed in writing) given at any time prior to delivery to
the Holder of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion of this
Note, rescind such conversion, whereupon the Holder shall have the right to
convert this Note thereafter in accordance herewith.

     (e) No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon conversion of
this Note but, in lieu of any fraction of a share of Common Stock which would
otherwise be issuable in respect of the aggregate number of such shares
converted at one time by the same holder, the Company may round the number of
shares of Common Stock issued on such conversion up to the next highest whole
share or may pay lawful money of the United States of America for such
fractional share, based on a value of one share of Common Stock being equal to
the Market Price, as reported by Bloomberg, L.P, of the Common Stock on the date
the applicable Conversion Notice is given to the Company.

     2.4 Limitation on Shares Issuable on Conversion; Mandatory Redemption. (a)
Notwithstanding any other provision herein, unless the Stockholder Approval
shall have been obtained from the stockholders of the Company or waived by
Nasdaq (or other appropriate stock exchange or market), so long as the Common
Stock is listed on the Nasdaq, the Nasdaq SmallCap, the NYSE or the AMEX the
Company shall not be required to issue upon conversion of this Note and the
Interest Notes a number of shares of Common Stock in excess of the Maximum Share
Amount. The Company shall maintain records which show the number of shares of
Common Stock issued by the Company upon conversion from time to time of this
Note and any Interest Notes, which records shall be controlling in the absence
of manifest error. The Company shall maintain records which show the principal
amount of Interest Notes issued by the Company pursuant to Section 1. 1 in
payment of interest on this Note and issued pursuant to any Interest Note in
payment of interest thereon, which records shall be controlling in the absence
of manifest error. Each Interest Note shall be allocated a portion of the
Maximum Share Amount allocated to this Note and the other Interest Notes
outstanding at the time of issuance of such Interest Note, based on the
outstanding principal amounts thereof at the time of such issuance, and the
certificate for such Interest Note shall bear a notation as to the certificate
number of this Note. Upon surrender of this Note for transfer or re-registration
hereof (or, at the option of the Holder, for conversion pursuant to Section 2. 1
(a) of less than all of this Note), the Company shall make a notation on the new
Note issued upon such transfer or re-registration or evidencing such unconverted
portion of this Note, as the case may be, as to the remaining number of shares
of Common Stock from the Maximum Share Amount remaining available for conversion
of the Note evidenced by such new certificate. If this Note is surrendered for
split-up into two or more Notes representing an aggregate principal amount equal
to the principal amount of this Note at the time so surrendered (as reduced by
any contemporaneous conversion of this Note), each Note issued on such split-up
shall bear a notation of the portion of the Maximum Share Amount allocated
thereto determined by pro rata allocation from among the remaining Maximum Share
Amount at the time this Note is so surrendered. If this Note is converted in
full, repaid, repurchased or redeemed, all of the Maximum Share Amount which
remains unissued after such conversion, repayment, repurchase or redemption
shall be re-allocated (1) to all Interest Notes and Other Notes held by the
Holder at the close of business on the Conversion Date for such conversion,
based on the outstanding principal amounts thereof, and (2) if the Holder does
not hold any Interest Notes or Other Notes at the close of business on such
Conversion Date, to the Other Notes, based on the principal amounts thereof
outstanding at the close of business on such Conversion Date. If any

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
Other Note is converted in full, repaid, repurchased or redeemed, all of the
portion of the Maximum Share Amount (as defined in such Other Note) of such
Other Note not re-allocated to Other Notes held by the holder of such Other Note
and which remains unissued after such conversion, repayment, repurchase or
redemption shall be re-allocated to this Note, the Interest Notes and the Other
Notes outstanding at the close of business on the date of such conversion,
repayment, repurchase or redemption of the Other Note so converted, repaid,
repurchased or redeemed pro rata based on the principal amounts outstanding at
the close of business on such date.

     (b) (1) If on or after December 16, 1998 and on or prior to September 4,
2001 a Maximum Share Amount Inconvertibility occurs, then the Company shall
promptly, but in no event later than five Business Days after each such
occurrence, give an Inconvertibility Notice to the Holder (by telephone line
facsimile transmission at such number as the Holder has specified in writing, to
the Company for such purposes or, if the Holder shall not have specified any
such number, by overnight courier at the Holder's address as the same appears on
the records of the Company) and the Holder may at any time after such occurrence
give an Inconvertibility Notice to the Company. If the Company shall have given
or been required to give any Inconvertibility Notice, or if the Holder shall
have given any Inconvertability Notice, then within the applicable Redemption
Election Period the Holder shall have the right by a Redemption Election given
to the Company (which may be contained in the Inconvertability Notice given by
the Holder) to direct the Company to redeem the portion of this Note (which, if
applicable, shall be all of this Note) as shall not, on the Business Day prior
to the applicable Share Limitation Redemption Date be convertible into shares of
Common Stock by reason of the limitations set forth in Section 2.4(a) on the
applicable Share Limitation Redemption Date, at a price equal to the Share
Limitation Redemption Price, payable on the date which is five Business Days
after the Holder gives such Redemption Election. If the Holder directs the
Company to redeem this Note or any portion hereof and, prior to the date the
Company is required to redeem this Note or such portion hereof, the Company
would have been able, within the limitations set forth in Section 2.4(a), to
convert all of this Note (determined without regard to the limitation, if any,
on beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock by the Holder contained in the
second sentence of Section 2. 1) on any ten Trading Days within any period of 15
consecutive Trading Days commencing after the period of 20 consecutive Trading
Days which gave rise to the applicable Inconvertibility Notice from the Company
or the Holder, as the case may be, had the Holder exercised its right to convert
this Note in full on each of such ten Trading Days within such 15 Trading Day
period, then the Company shall not be required to redeem any of this Note by
reason of such Inconvertibility Notice.

     (2) An Inconvertibility Notice or a Redemption Election given b the Holder
shall be deemed for all purposes to be in proper form unless the Company
notifies tie Holder in writing within three Business Days after an
Inconvertibility Notice or a Redemption Election has been given (which notice
shall specify all defects in the Inconvertibility Notice or Redemption
Election), and any Inconvertibility Notice or Redemption Election containing any
such defect shall nonetheless be effective on the date given if the Holder
promptly undertakes to correct all such defects. Whether or not the Holder has
given such undertaking, no such claim of error shall limit or delay performance
of the Company's obligation to redeem the full amount of the portion of this
Note as to which a Redemption Election has been given and which is not in
dispute.

     (c) Notwithstanding the giving of any Inconvertibility Notice by the
Company to the Holder or the giving or the absence of any Inconvertibility
Notice or Redemption Election by the Holder or any redemption of an
inconvertible portion of this Note pursuant to Section 2.4(b), thereafter the
provision of Section 2.4(b) shall continue to be applicable on any occasion
unless the Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained or waived by the
Nasdaq.

     (d) On each Share Limitation Redemption Date, the Company shall make
payment in immediately available funds of the applicable Share Limitation
Redemption Price to or

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
upon the order of the Holder as specified by the Holder in writing to the
Company at least one Business Day prior to such Share Limitation Redemption
Date. If the Company is required to redeem this Note or any portion hereof
pursuant to this Section 2.4, the Company shall make payment to the Holder of an
amount equal to the Share Limitation Redemption Price. Upon redemption of less
than all of this Note, promptly, but in no event later than three Business Days
after surrender of this Note to the Company, the Company shall issue a
replacement Note of like tenor having a principal amount equal to the principal
amount of this Note remaining after such redemption.

                                  ARTICLE III

                               CERTAIN COVENANTS

          So long as the Company shall have any obligation under this Note:

     3.1 Certain Repurchases. (a) The Company shall not itself, and shall not
permit any Subsidiary to redeem, repurchase or otherwise require in any one
transaction or series of related transactions any shares of Common Stock if the
number of shares so repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired in such
transaction or series of related transactions (excluding any Option Share
Surrender) is more than either (x) 5.0% of the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately prior to such transaction or series of related
transactions or (y) 1% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately prior to such transaction or series of related transactions if such
transaction or series of transactions is with any one person or group of
affiliated persons, unless the Company or such Subsidiary offers to purchase for
cash from the Holder at the time of such redemption, repurchase or acquisition
the same percentage of the outstanding principal amount of this Note as the
percentage of the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock to be so
redeemed, repurchased or acquired at a purchase price equal to the greater of
(i) the Premium Price on the date of purchase pursuant to this Section 3.1 (a)
and (ii) the Converted Market Price on the date of purchase pursuant to this
Section 3.1 (a); provided, however, that if in connection with any
determination of the purchase price payable pursuant to this Section 3.1 the
amount specified in clause (y) of the definition of the term Converted Market
Price is greater than 200% of the Ceiling Price on the date as of which such
amount is determined, then for purposes of computing the purchase price payable
pursuant to this Section 3.1 in such instance, the amount otherwise specified in
clause (y) of the definition of the term Converted Market Price shall be reduced
by 20% of the amount by which (A) the amount otherwise specified in clause (y)
of the definition of the term Converted Market Price exceeds (B) the Ceiling
Price on the date as of which such amount is determined.

     (b) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary, directly or
indirectly to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital
stock other than Common Stock other than repurchases or redemptions of the
Company's Series A Preferred Stock or Series D Convertible Preferred Stock which
are required to be made by the Company in accordance with the terms thereof as
in effect on the Issuance Date or as proposed to be amended pursuant to the
Amendment Agreement.

     3.2 Certain Tender Offers. The Company shall not itself, and shall not
permit any Subsidiary to (1) make any Tender Offer for outstanding shares of
Common Stock unless the Company contemporaneously therewith makes an offer, or
(2) enter into an agreement regarding a Tender Offer for outstanding shares of
Common Stock by any person other than the Company or any Subsidiary, unless such
person agrees with the Company to make an offer, in either such case, to the
Holder to purchase the same percentage of the outstanding principal amount of
this Note held by the Holder as the percentage of outstanding shares of Common
Stock offered to be purchased in such Tender Offer, at a price equal to the
greater of (i) the Premium Price on the

 

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
date of purchase pursuant to this Section 3.2 and (ii) the greater of (x) the
Converted Market Price on the date of purchase pursuant to this Section 3.2 and
(y) the greater of (A) the Converted Market Price on the date of the first
public announcement of such Tender Offer and (B) the Converted Market Price on
the date of purchase pursuant to this Section 3.2.

     3.3 Payment of Obligations. The Company will pay and discharge, and will
cause each Subsidiary to pay and discharge when due, all their respective
obligations and liabilities which are material to the Company and the
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, including without limitation, tax liabilities,
except where the same may be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings
and for which appropriate reserves have been made on the books of the Company or
such Subsidiary.

     3.4 Maintenance of Property; Insurance. (a) The Company will keep, and will
cause each Subsidiary to keep, all property useful and necessary in its business
in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

     (b) The Company will maintain, and will cause each Subsidiary to maintain,
with financially sound and responsible insurance companies insurance against
loss or damage by fire or other casualty and such other insurance, including but
not limited to, product liability insurance, in such amounts and covering such
risks as is reasonably adequate for the conduct of their businesses and the
value of their properties in at least such amounts and against such risks as is
reasonably adequate for the conduct of their respective businesses and the value
of their respective properties.

     3.5 Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence. The Company will
continue, and will cause each Subsidiary to continue, to engage in business of
the same general type as conducted by the Company and the Subsidiaries on the
Issuance Date, and will preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect, and
will cause each Subsidiary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect,
their respective corporate existence and their respective rights, privileges and
franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of business.

     3.6 Compliance with Laws. The Company will comply, and will cause each
Subsidiary to comply, in all material respects with all applicable laws,
ordinances, rules, regulations, decisions, orders and requirements of
governmental authorities and courts (including, Without limitation,
environmental laws) except (i) where compliance therewith is contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings or (ii) where non-compliance therewith could
not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business,
condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance, properties or
prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

     3.7 Investment Company Act. The Company will not be or become an open-end
investment trust, unit investment trust or face-amount certificate company that
is or is required to be registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended.

     3.8 Transactions with Affiliates. The Company will not, and will not permit
any Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to pay any funds to or for the account
of, make any investment (whether by acquisition of stock or Indebtedness, by
loan, advance, transfer of property, guarantee or other agreement to pay,
purchase or service, directly or indirectly, any Indebtedness, or otherwise) in,
lease, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any assets, tangible or
intangible, to, or participate in, or effect any transaction in connection with,
any joint enterprise or other joint arrangement with, any Affiliate of the
Company or any Affiliate of any Subsidiary, except, on terms to the Company or
such Subsidiary no less favorable than terms that could be obtained by the
Company or such Subsidiary from a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company
or an Affiliate of any Subsidiary, as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors.

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
     3.9 Compliance. The Company shall (a) use its commercially reasonable best
efforts to obtain knowledge of any failure or default by the Company in the
timely performance of any material obligation to the Holder or the holder of any
Interest Note or Other Note under the terms of this Note or any other
Transaction Document and (b) shall notify the Holder promptly, but in no event
later than three Business Days after the Company first learns of any such
failure or default.

                                  ARTICLE IV

                               EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     If any of the following events of default (each, an "Event of Default")
shall occur:

     4.1 Failure to Pay Principal or Interest. The Company fails (a) to pay the
principal, Redemption Price, Redemption Event Redemption Price or Repurchase
Price hereof or of any Interest Note when due, whether at maturity, on
redemption, upon acceleration or otherwise, as applicable, or (b) to pay any
installment of interest hereon or on any Interest Note is, when due and, in the
case of this clause (b) of this Section 4.1 only, such failure continues for a
period of three Business Days after the due date thereof; or

     4.2 Conversion and the Shares. The Company fails to issue or cause to be
issued shares of Common Stock to the Holder upon exercise by the Holder of the
conversion rights of the Holder in accordance with the terms of this Note or
upon exercise of the Warrants or fails to transfer any certificate for shares of
Common Stock issued to the Holder upon conversion of this Note or any Interest
or upon exercise of the Warrants as and when required by this Note, the Interest
Notes, the Note Purchase Agreement, the Transfer Agent Instruction and the
Warrants; or

     4.3 Breach of Covenant. The Company (a) fails to comply with Section 3.1,
3.2 or 3.9 or (b) fails to comply in any material respect with any provision of
Article III of this Note (other than Section 3.1, 3.2 or 3.9) or breaches any
other material covenant or other material term or condition of this Note (other
than as specifically provided in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3(a)), the Note Purchase
Agreement, the Security Agreement, the Transfer Agent Instruction or the
Warrants, and in the case of this clause (b) of this Section 4.3 only, such
breach continues for a period of 20 days after written notice thereof to the
Company from the Holder; or

     4.4  Breach of Representations and Warranties. Any material representation
or warranty of the Company made herein or in any agreement, statement or
certificate given in writing pursuant hereto or in connection herewith
(including, without limitation, the Note Purchase Agreement, the Security
Agreement, the Transfer Agent Instruction and the Warrants) shall be false or
misleading in any material respect when made; or

     4.5 Certain Voluntary Proceedings The Company or any Subsidiary shall
commence a voluntary case or other proceeding seeking liquidation,
reorganization or other relief with respect to itself or its debts under any
bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or
seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other
similar official of it or any substantial part of its property, or shall consent
to any such relief or to the appointment of or taking possession by any such
official in an involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against it, or
shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail
generally to pay its debts as they become due or shall admit in writing its
inability generally to pay its debts as they become due; or

 

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
     4.6 Certain Involuntary Proceedings. An involuntary case or other
proceeding shall be commenced against the Company or any Subsidiary seeking
liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to it or its debts
under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect
or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or
other similar official of it or any substantial part of its property, and such
involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a
period of 60 consecutive days; or

     4.7 Judgments. Any court of competent jurisdiction shall enter one or more
final judgments against the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective
properties or other assets in an aggregate amount in excess of $100,000, which
is not vacated, bonded, stayed, discharged, satisfied or waived for a period of
30 consecutive days; or

     4.8 Default Under Other Agreements. Except as otherwise agreed in writing
by the Company and the original Holder of this Note (which agreement shall be
binding on any subsequent Holder of this Note or any Interest Note) (a) the
Company or any Subsidiary shall default in any payment with respect to any
indebtedness for borrowed money (other than this Note) which indebtedness has an
outstanding principal amount excess of $100,000 individually or $200,000 in the
aggregate for the Company and the Subsidiaries, beyond the period of grace, if
any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such indebtedness was
created; provided, however, that the events and conditions described in the
preceding clause shall not constitute an Event of Default unless and until the
Company fails to take the action necessary to correct such event or condition
within five Business Days of becoming aware of such event or condition; or (b)
any indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary which has an outstanding
principal amount in excess of $100,000 individually or $200,000 in the aggregate
shall, in accordance with its terms, be declared to be due and payable, or
required to be prepaid other than by a regularly scheduled or required payment
prior to the stated maturity thereof;

     4.9 Delisting of Common Stock. The Common Stock shall cease to be listed on
any of Nasdaq, the NYSE or the AMEX and shall remain unlisted for a period of
three Trading Days; or

     4.10 Failure to Obtain Opinion. The Company fails to deliver an opinion of
its counsel, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP addressed to the Holder as provided in
Section 4(l) of the Note Purchase Agreement within seven (7) Business Days of
the issuance of this Note;

then, (X) upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any Event of
Default specified in Section 4.1 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9 or 4. 10, at the
option of the Holder the Company shall, and upon the occurrence of any Event of
Default specified in Section 4.5 or 4.6, the Company shall, pay to the Holder an
amount equal to the Premium Price on the date of such payment, (Y) all other
amounts payable hereunder shall immediately become due and payable, all without
demand, presentment or notice, all of which hereby are expressly waived,
together with all costs, including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees
and expenses, of collection, and (Z) the Holder shall be entitled to exercise
all other rights and remedies available at law or in equity, including all
rights and remedies under or in connection with the Security Agreement;
provided, however, that if in connection with any Event of Default the Company
shall not at such time be in compliance with its obligations under Section 1.2,
3.1 or 3.2 or shall be obligated, or to cause another Person, to redeem,
repurchase or purchase all or any portion of this Note, then in lieu of payment
of the amount provided in the preceding clause (X) the Company shall pay to the
Holder an amount equal to the amount which would be payable to the Holder upon
redemption, repurchase or purchase of this Note in accordance with Section 1.2,
3.1 or 3.2 as if the Company had exercised its right to redeem or repurchase
this Note (or such Person had become obligated to purchase this Note) pursuant
thereto on the date of such, payment pursuant hereto.

                                       14
<PAGE>
 
                                   ARTICLE V

                      REPURCHASE UPON A REPURCHASE EVENT

     5.1 Repurchase Right Upon Repurchase Event. If a Repurchase Event occurs,
then the Holder shall have the right, at the Holder's option, to require the
Company to repurchase all of this Note, or any portion hereof (in a minimum
principal amount of $100,000 or integral multiples thereof (or such lesser
remaining principal amount of this Note)), on the repurchase date that is five
Business Days after the date of the Holder Notice delivered with respect to such
Repurchase Event. The Holder shall have the right to require the Company to
repurchase all or any such portion of this Note if a Repurchase Event occurs at
any time while any portion of the principal amount of this Note is outstanding
at a price equal to the Repurchase Price.

     5.2 Notices; Method of Exercising Repurchase Rights, Etc. (a) On or before
the fifth Business Day after the occurrence of a Repurchase Event, the Company
shall give to the Holder a Company Notice of the occurrence of the Repurchase
Event and of the repurchase right set forth herein arising as a result thereof.
Such Company Notice shall set forth:

          (i) a statement that a Repurchase Event has occurred, the date of such
     occurrence and the type of Repurchase Event (by reference to the applicable
     clause of the definition of such term);

          (ii) the date by which the repurchase right must be exercised, and

          (iii)  a description of the procedure (set forth in this Section 5.2)
     which the Holder must follow to exercise the repurchase right.

No failure of the Company to give a Company Notice or defect therein shall limit
the Holder's right to exercise the repurchase right or affect the validity of
the proceedings for the repurchase of this Note or portion hereof.

     (b) To exercise the repurchase right, the Holder shall deliver to the
Company on or before the 30th day after a Company Notice (or if no such Company
Notice has been given, within 40 days after the Holder first learns of the
Repurchase Event) (i) a Holder Notice setting forth the name of the Holder and
the principal amount of this Note to be repurchased, and (ii) this Note, duly
endorsed for transfer to the Company of the portion of the principal amount of
this Note to be repurchased. A Holder Notice may be revoked by the Holder at any
time prior to the time the Company pays the applicable Repurchase Price to the
Holder.

     (c) If the Holder shall have given a Holder Notice, on the date which is
five Business Days after the date such Holder Notice is given (or such later
date as the Holder surrenders this Note) the Company shall make payment in
immediately available funds of the applicable Repurchase Price to such account
as specified by the Holder in writing to the Company at least one Business Day
prior to the applicable repurchase date.

     5.3 Other. (a) If the Company fails to repurchase on the applicable
repurchase date this Note (or portion hereof) as to which the repurchase right
has been properly exercised pursuant to this Article V, then the Repurchase
Price for the portion (which, if applicable, may be all) of this Note which is
required to have been so repurchased shall bear interest to the extent not
prohibited by applicable law from the applicable repurchase date until paid at
the Default Rate.

     (b) If a portion of this Note is to be repurchased, upon surrender of this
Note to the Company in accordance with the terms of this Article V, the Company
shall execute and deliver

 

                                       15
<PAGE>
 
to the Holder without service charge, a new Note or Notes, having the same date
hereof and containing identical terms and conditions, in such denomination or
denominations as requested by the Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to,
and in exchange for, the unrepurchased portion of the principal amount of the
Note so surrendered.

     (c) A Holder Notice given by the Holder shall be deemed for all purposes to
be in proper form unless the Company notifies the Holder within three Business
Days after such Holder Notice has been given (which notice shall specify all
defects in the Holder Notice), and any Holder Notice containing any such defect
shall nonetheless be effective on the date given if the Holder promptly
undertakes to correct all such defects. No such claim of defect shall limit or
delay performance of the Company's obligation to repurchase any portion of this
Note, the repurchase of which is not in dispute.

                                  ARTICLE VI

                                  DEFINITIONS

     6.1 Certain Defined Terms. (a) All the agreements or instruments herein
defined shall mean such agreements or instruments as the same may from time to
time be supplemented or amended or the terms thereof waived or modified to the
extent permitted by, and in accordance with, the terms thereof and of this Note.

          (b) The following terms shall have the following meanings (such
meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the
terms defined):

     "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that
directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is
controlled by or under common control with the subject Person. For purposes of
the term "Affiliate", the term "control" (including the terms "controlling",
"controlled by" and "under common control with") means the possession, direct or
indirect, of the power to direct or to cause the direction of the management and
policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of securities, by contract
or otherwise.

     "Aggregated Person" means any person whose beneficial ownership of shares
of Common Stock would be aggregated with the Holder's beneficial ownership of
shares of Common Stock for purposes of Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act and
Regulation 13D-G thereunder.

     "Amendment Agreement" means the Amendment Agreement, dated as of July 31,
1998, by and between the Company and MCM Partners, relating to amendment of the
rights and preferences of the Series A Preferred Stock.

     "AMEX" means the American Stock Exchange, Inc.

     "Applicable Rate" means six percent per annum.

     "Average Market Price" for any date means the arithmetic average of the
Market Price on each of the five Trading Days, whether or not consecutive,
during the applicable Measurement Period having the lowest Market Prices.

     "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on
which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law
or executive order to remain closed.

     "Ceiling Price" means $.9006 (subject to equitable adjustments from time to
time on

                                       16
<PAGE>
 
terms reasonably acceptable to the Majority Holders for stock splits, stock
dividends, combinations, recapitalizations, reclassifications and similar events
occurring or with respect to which "ex-" trading commences on or after the
Issuance Date); provided, however, that, notwithstanding any other provision
hereof, the Ceiling Price applicable to a particular conversion shall be subject
to reduction as provided in Section 2.3(d); provided further, however, that if a
Registration Event occurs, then, in addition to any other right or remedy of the
Holder, thereafter the Ceiling Price shall be permanently reduced on each
Computation Date by an amount equal to two percent of the amount that the
Ceiling Price otherwise would have been without any reduction pursuant to this
proviso (pro rated in the case of any Computation Date which is less than 30
days after a Registration Event occurs or less than 30 days after another
Computation Date).

     "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock, $.01 par value, or any shares
of capital stock into which such stock shall be changed or reclassified after
the Issuance Date.

     "Company" shall have the meaning provided in the first paragraph of this
Note.

     "Company Certificate" means a certificate of the Company signed by an
Officer.

     "Company Notice" means a notice from the Company to the Holder setting
forth the information provided in Section 5.2. 

     "Company Optional Redemption Notice" means a notice from the Company to the
Holder setting forth the information required by Section 1.2.
 
     "Computation Date" means, a Registration Event occurs, any of (1) the date
which is 30 days after such Registration Event occurs, if any Registration Event
is continuing on such date, (2) each date which is 30 days after a Computation
Date, if any Registration Event is continuing on such date, and (3) the date on
which all Registration Events cease to continue.

     "Conversion Date" means the date on which a Conversion Notice is actually
received by the Transfer Agent, whether by mail, courier, personal service,
telephone line facsimile transmission or other means.

     "Conversion Notice" means a Notice of Conversion of 6% Senior Convertible
Note due 2001 substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, given by
the Holder.

     "Conversion Percentage" means 85%; provided, however, that, notwithstanding
any other provision hereof, if a Registration Event occurs, then such percentage
stated above shall be permanently reduced by two percentage points on each
Computation Date (pro rated in the case of any Computation Date which is less
than 30 days after a Registration Event occurs or less than 30 days after
another Computation Date).

     "Conversion Price" means the lesser of:

     (1) the product of (a) the Average Market Price for such date times (b) the
applicable Conversion Percentage; and

     (2)  the Ceiling Price;

provided, however, that the Conversion Price applicable to a particular
conversion shall be subject to reduction as provided in Section 2.3(d).

     "Converted Market Price" means, for this Note or any portion hereof as of
any date of determination, an amount equal to the product obtained by
multiplying (x) the number of shares

                                       17
<PAGE>
 
of Common Stock which would, at the time of such determination, be issuable on
conversion in accordance with Article II of this Note or such portion hereof and
any accrued and unpaid interest hereon and any accrued and unpaid Default
Interest hereon if a Conversion Notice were given by the Holder on the date of
such determination (determined without regard to any limitation on conversion
based on beneficial ownership contained in Section 2.1 times (y) the arithmetic
average of the Market Price of the Common Stock for the five consecutive Trading
Days ending on the Trading Day prior to the date of such determination.

     "Default Interest" shall have the meaning provided in the first paragraph
of this Note.

     "Default Rate" means 14 percent per annum (or such lesser rate equal to the
highest rate permitted by applicable law).

     "Event of Default" shall have the meaning provided in Article IV.

     "Generally Accepted Accounting Principles" for any Person means the
generally accepted accounting principles and practices applied by such Person
from time to time in the preparation of its audited financial statements.

     "Holder" shall have the meaning provided in the first paragraph of
this Note.

     "Holder Notice" means a Holder Notice ie form attached hereto as
Exhibit E.

     "Inconvertibility Notice" means a notice from the Company to the Holder in
the form set forth in Exhibit B or a notice from the Holder to the Company in
the form set forth in Exhibit C.

     "Indebtedness" as used in reference to any Person means all indebtedness of
such person for borrowed money, the deferred purchase price of property, goods
and services and obligations under leases which are required to be capitalized
in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and shall include
all such indebtedness guaranteed in any manner by such person or in effect
guaranteed by such person through a contingent agreement to purchase and all
indebtedness for the payment or purchase of which such person has contingently
agreed to advance or supply funds and all indebtedness secured by mortgage or
other lien upon property owned by such person, although such person has not
assumed or become liable for the payment of such indebtedness, and, for all
purposes hereof, such indebtedness shall be treated as though it has been
assumed by such person.

     "Interest Note" means any 6% Senior Convertible Note due 2001 of like tenor
with this Note which is issued by the Company in payment of interest on this
Note or any Interest Note in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof.

     "Interest Note Payment Option" shall have the meaning provided in
Section 1.1(a).

     "Interest Payment Dates" shall mean each February 15, May 15, August 15 and
November 15 and the Maturity Date.

     "Issuance Date" means the date this Note was issued to the original Holder
of this Note.

     "Majority Holders" means at any time the holders of this Note, Interest
Notes and the Other Notes which hold Notes, Interest Notes and Other Notes
which, based on the outstanding principal amounts thereof, represent a majority
of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of this Note, the Interest Notes
and the Other Notes.

                                       18
<PAGE>
 
     "Market Price" of the Common Stock on any date means the lowest sale price
(regular way) for one share of Common Stock on such date on the first applicable
among the following: (a) the national securities exchange on which the shares of
Common Stock are listed which constitutes the principal securities market for
the Common Stock, (b) the Nasdaq, if the Nasdaq constitutes the principal market
for the Common Stock on such date, or (c) the Nasdaq SmallCap, if the Nasdaq
SmallCap constitutes the principal securities market for the Common Stock on
such date, in any such case as reported by Bloomberg, L.P.; provided, however,
that if during, any Measurement Period or other period during which the Market
Price is being determined:

          (i) The Company shall declare or pay a dividend or make a
     distribution to all holders of the outstanding Common Stock in shares of
     Common Stock or fix any record date for any such action, then the Market
     Price for each day in such Measurement Period or such other period which
     day is prior to the earlier of (1) the date fixed for the determination of
     stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or other distribution and
     (2) the date on which ex-dividend trading in the Common Stock with respect
     to such dividend or distribution begins shall be reduced by multiplying the
     Market Price (determined without regard to this proviso) for each such day
     in such Measurement Period or such other period by a fraction, the
     numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock
     outstanding at the close of business on the earlier of (1) the record date
     fixed for such determination and (2) the date on which ex-dividend trading
     in the Common Stock with respect to such dividend or distribution begins
     and the denominator of which shall be the sum of such number of shares and
     the total number of shares constituting such dividend or other
     distribution;

          (ii)  Company shall issue rights or warrants to all holders of its
     outstanding shares of Common Stock, or fix a record date for such issuance,
     which rights or warrants entitles such holders (for a period expiring
     within forty-five (45) days after the date fixed for the determination of
     stockholders entitled to receive such rights or warrants) to subscribe for
     or purchase shares of Common Stock at a price per share less than the
     Market Price (determined without regard to this proviso) for any day in
     such Measurement Period or such other period which day is prior to the end
     of such 45-day period, then the Market Price for each such day shall be
     reduced so that the same shall equal the price determined by multiplying
     the Market Price (determined without regard to this proviso) by a fraction,
     the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock
     outstanding at the close of business on the record date fixed for the
     determination of stockholders entitled to receive such rights or warrants
     plus the number of shares which the aggregate offering price of the total
     number of shares so offered would purchase at such Market Price, and the
     denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock
     outstanding on the close of business on such record date plus the total
     number of additional shares of Common Stock so offered for subscription or
     purchase. In determining whether any rights or warrants entitle the holders
     to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at less than the Market
     Price (determined without regard to this proviso), and in determining the
     aggregate offering price of such shares of Common Stock, there shall be
     taken into account any consideration received for such rights or warrants,
     the value of such consideration, if other than cash, to be determined in
     good faith by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Corporation;

          (iii) The outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be subdivided into
     a greater number of shares of Common Stock or a record date for any such
     subdivision shall be fixed, then the Market Price of the Common Stock for
     each day in such Measurement Period or such other period which day is prior
     to the earlier of (1) the day upon which such subdivision becomes effective
     and (2) the date on which ex-dividend trading in the

                                       19
<PAGE>
 
     Common Stock with respect to such subdivision begins shall be
     proportionately reduced, and conversely, in case the outstanding shares of
     Common Stock shall be combined into a smaller number of shares of Common
     Stock, the Market Price each trade (regular way) on for each day in such
     Measurement Period or such other period which day is prior to the earlier
     of (1) the date on which such combination becomes effective and (2) the
     date on which trading in the Common Stock on a basis which gives effect to
     such combination begins, shall be proportionately increased;

          (iv) The Company shall, by dividend or otherwise, distribute to all
     holders of its Common Stock shares of any class of capital stock of the
     Company (other than any dividends or distributions to which clause (i) of
     this proviso applies) or evidences of its indebtedness, cash or other
     assets (including securities, but excluding any rights or warrants referred
     to in clause (ii) of this proviso and dividends and distributions paid
     exclusively in cash and excluding any capital stock, evidences of
     indebtedness, cash or assets distributed upon a merger or consolidation)
     (the foregoing hereinafter in this clause (iv) of this proviso called the
     "Securities"), or fix a record date for any such distribution, then, in
     each such case, the Market Price for each day in such Measurement Period or
     such other period which day is prior to the earlier of (1) the record date
     for such distribution and (2) the date on which ex-dividend trading in the
     Common Stock with respect to such distribution begins shall be reduced so
     that the same shall be equal to the price determined by multiplying the
     Market Price (determined without regard to this proviso) by a fraction, the
     numerator of which shall be the Market Price (determined without regard to
     this proviso) for such date less the fair market value (as determined in
     good faith by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company) on such
     date of the portion of the Securities so distributed or to be distributed
     applicable to one share of Common Stock and the denominator of which shall
     be the Market Price (determined without regard to this proviso) for such
     date; provided, however, that in the event the then fair market value (as
     so determined) of the portion of the Securities so distributed applicable
     to one share of Common Stock is equal to or greater than the Market Price
     (determined without regard to this clause (iv) of this proviso) for any
     such Trading Day, in lieu of the foregoing adjustment, adequate provision
     shall be made so that the Holder shall have the right to receive upon
     conversion of this Note the amount of Securities the Holder would have
     received had the holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock converted
     the shares of Series C Preferred Stock immediately prior to the record date
     for such distribution. If the Board of Directors of the Corporation
     determines the fair market value of any distribution for purposes of this
     clause (iv) by reference to the actual or when issued trading market for
     any securities comprising all or part of such distribution, it must in
     doing so consider the prices in such market on the same day for which an
     adjustment in the Market Price is being determined.

          For purposes of this clause (iv) and clauses (i) and (ii) of this
     proviso, any dividend or distribution to which this clause (iv) is
     applicable that also includes shares of Common Stock, or rights or warrants
     to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock to which clause (i) or
     (ii) of this proviso applies (or both), shall be deemed instead to be (1) a
     dividend or distribution of the evidences of indebtedness, assets, shares
     of capital stock, rights or warrants other than such shares of Common Stock
     or rights or warrants to which clause (i) or (ii) of this proviso applies
     (and any Market Price reduction required by this clause (iv) with respect
     to such dividend or distribution shall then be made) immediately followed
     by (2) a dividend or distribution of such shares of Common Stock or such
     rights or warrants (and any further Market Price reduction required by
     clauses (i) and (ii) of this proviso with respect to such dividend or
     distribution shall then be made), except that any shares of Common Stock
     included in such dividend or distribution shall not be deemed "outstanding
     at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination" within
     the meaning of clause (i) of this proviso;

                                       20
<PAGE>
 
          (v) The Company or any Subsidiary shall (x) by dividend or otherwise,
     distribute to all holders of its Common Stock cash in (or fix any record
     date for any such distribution), or (y) repurchase or reacquire shares of
     its Common Stock (other than an Option Share Surrender) for, in either
     case, an aggregate amount that, combined with (1) the aggregate amount of
     any other such distributions to all holders of its Common Stock made
     exclusively in cash after the Issuance Date and within the 12 months
     preceding the date of payment of such distribution, and in respect of which
     no adjustment pursuant to this clause (v) has been made, (2) the aggregate
     amount of any cash plus the fair market value (as determined in good faith
     by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company) of consideration
     paid in respect of any repurchase or other reacquisition by the Company or
     any Subsidiary of any shares of Common Stock (other than an Option Share
     Surrender) made after the Issuance Date and within the 12 months preceding
     the date of payment of such distribution or making of such repurchase or
     reacquisition, as the case may be, and in respect of which no adjustment
     pursuant to this clause (v) has been made, and (3) the aggregate of any
     cash plus the fair market value (as determined in good faith by a
     resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company) of consideration
     payable in respect of any Tender Offer by the Company or any Subsidiary for
     all or any portion of the Common Stock concluded within the 12 months
     preceding the date of payment of such distribution or completion of such
     repurchase or reacquisition, as the case may be, and in respect of which no
     adjustment pursuant to clause (vi) of this proviso has been made (such
     aggregate amount combined with the amounts in clauses (1), (2) and (3)
     above being the "Combined Amount"), exceeds 10% of the product of the Price
     (determined without regard to this proviso) for any day in such Measurement
     Period or such other period which day is prior to the earlier of (A) the
     record date with respect to such distribution and (B) the date on which ex-
     dividend trading in the Common Stock with respect to such distribution
     begins or the date of such repurchase or reacquisition, as the case may be,
     times the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such date, then,
     and in each such case, the Market Price for each such day shall be reduced
     so that the same shall equal the price determined by multiplying the Market
     Price (determined without regard to this proviso) for such day by a
     fraction (i) the numerator of which shall be equal to the Market Price
     (determined without regard to this proviso) for such day less an amount
     equal to the quotient of (x) the excess of such Combined Amount over such
     10% and (y) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such day
     and (ii) the denominator of which shall be equal to the Market Price
     (determined without regard to this proviso) for such day; provided,
     however, that in the event the portion of the cash so distributed or paid
     for the repurchase or reacquisition of shares (determined per share based
     on the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding) applicable to one
     share of Common Stock is equal to or greater than the Market Price
     (determined without regard to this clause (v) of this proviso) of the
     Common Stock for any such day, then in lieu of the foregoing adjustment
     with respect to such day, adequate provision shall be made so that the
     Holder shall have the right to receive upon conversion of this Note the
     amount of cash the Holders would have received had the Holder converted
     this Note immediately prior to the record date for such distribution or the
     payment date of such repurchase, as applicable; or

       (vi) A Tender Offer made by the Company or any Subsidiary for all or any
     portion of the Common Stock shall expire and such Tender Offer (as amended
     upon the expiration thereof) shall require the payment to stockholders
     (based on the acceptance (up to any maximum specified in the terms of the
     Tender Offer) of Purchased Shares (as defined herein)) of an aggregate
     consideration having a fair market value (as determined in good faith by
     resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company) that combined together
     with (1) the aggregate of the cash plus the fair market value (as
     determined in good faith by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the
     Company), as of the expiration of such Tender Offer, of consideration
     payable in respect of any other Tender Offers, by the Company or

                                       21
<PAGE>
 
     any Subsidiary for all or any portion of the Common Stock expiring within
     the 12 months preceding the expiration of such Tender Offer and in respect
     of which no adjustment pursuant to this clause (vi) has been made, (2) the
     aggregate amount of any cash plus the fair market value (as determined in
     good faith by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company) of
     consideration paid in respect of any repurchase or other reacquisition by
     the Company or any Subsidiary of any shares of Common Stock (other than an
     Option Share Surrender) made after the Issuance Date and within the 12
     months preceding the expiration of such Tender Offer and in respect of
     which no adjustment pursuant to clause (v) of this proviso has been made,
     and (3) the aggregate amount of any distributions to all holders of Common
     Stock made exclusively in cash within 12 months preceding the expiration of
     such Tender Offer and in respect of which no adjustment pursuant to clause
     (v) of this proviso has been made, exceeds 10% of the product of the
     Market Price (determined without regard to this proviso) for any day in
     such period times the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such
     day, then, and in each such case, the Market Price for such day shall be
     reduced so that the same shall equal the price determined by multiplying
     the Market Price (determined without regard to this proviso) for such day
     by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of
     Common Stock outstanding on such day multiplied by the Market Price
     (determined without regard to this proviso) for such day and the
     denominator of which shall be the sum of (x) the fair market value
     (determined as aforesaid) of the aggregate consideration payable to
     stockholders based on the acceptance (up to any maximum specified in the
     terms of the Tender Offer) of all shares validly tendered and not withdrawn
     as of the last time tenders could have been made pursuant to such Tender
     Offer (the "Expiration Time") (the shares deemed accepted, up to any such
     maximum, being referred to as the "Purchased Shares") and (y) the product
     of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding (less any Purchased
     Shares) on such day times the Market Price (determined without regard to
     this proviso) of the Common Stock on the Trading Day exit succeeding the
     Expiration Time. If the application of this clause (vi) to any Tender Offer
     would result in an increase in the Market Price (determined without regard
     to this proviso) for any trade, no adjustment shall be made for such Tender
     Offer under this clause (vi) for such day.

     "Master Purchase Agreement" means the Master Purchase Agreement, dated as
of July 31, 1998, by and between the Company Genesee Fund Limited-Portfolio B, a
British Virgin Islands corporation, Willis Group, LLC, a Texas limited liability
company and Advantage Fund Limited, a British Virgin Islands corporation.

     "Maturity Date" means September 4, 2001.

     "Maximum Share Amount" means 142,620 shares, less from time to time the
number of shares issued upon exercise of the Warrants, or such greater number as
permitted by the rules of Nasdaq (such amount to be subject to equitable
adjustment from time to time on terms reasonably acceptable to the Majority
Holders for stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, capital reorganizations
and similar events relating to the Common Stock occurring after the Issuance
Date) of Common Stock; provided, however, that if for purposes of Rule 4460(i)
of the Nasdaq (or any successor or replacement provision of any stock exchange
or stock market on which the Common Stock is listed or traded) the (x) issuance
of the Warrants and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Warrants or (y) the issuance of shares of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock
and the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon conversion thereof or (z) the
issuance of the common stock purchase warrants issued in connection with the
issuance of the Series D Convertible Preferred Stock and the issuance of shares
of Common Stock upon exercise thereof is not required to be integrated with the
issuance of this Note and the Other Notes and the issuance of shares of Common
Stock upon conversion thereof, then in each such case the "Maximum Share Amount"
shall mean such greater number as equals the maximum number of shares of Common
Stock as are permitted by the rules of the Nasdaq or such exchange or market

                                       22
<PAGE>
 
(determined by pro rata allocation of any increase thereof among the Note and
the Other Notes based on the original principal amounts thereof) (such amount to
be subject to equitable adjustment in terms reasonably acceptable to the
Majority Holders from time to time for stock splits, stock dividends,
combinations, capital reorganizations and similar events relating to the Common
Stock occurring after the Issuance Date).

     "Maximum Share Amount Inconvertibility" means the occurrence within any
period of ten consecutive Trading Days of five or more Trading Days on which all
or any portion of this Note is inconvertible due to the restrictions in Section
2.4.

     "Measurement Period" means with respect to any date the period of 25
consecutive Trading Days ending on the Trading Day prior to such date.

     "Nasdaq" means the Nasdaq National Market.

     "Nasdaq SmallCap" means the Nasdaq SmallCap Market.

     "1933 Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

     "1934 Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

     "Note" means this instrument as originally executed, or if later amended or
supplemented in accordance with its terms, then as so amended or supplemented.

     "Note Purchase Agreement" shall mean the Note Purchase Agreement or Note
Purchase and Exchange Agreement, as the case may be, dated as of July 31, 1998,
by and between the Company and the original Holder of this Note.

     "NYSE" shall mean the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

     "Officer" means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President or the Chief Financial Officer of the Company.

     "Optional Redemption Event" means that on each Trading Day in any period of
20 consecutive Trading Days commencing on or after the date which is 730 days
after the Issuance Date, the Market Price of the Common Stock shall have been
not less than 200% of the Ceiling Price in effect on such Trading Day.

     "Option Share Surrender" means the surrender of shares of Common Stock to
the Company in payment of the exercise price or tax obligations incurred in
connection with the exercise of a stock option granted by the Company to any of
its employees, directors or consultants.

     "Other Notes" means the several 6% Senior Convertible Notes due 2001 issued
by the Company pursuant to the Other Note Purchase Agreements and any other
promissory notes of like tenor issued by the Company in payment of interest
thereon or on any Other Note so issued.

     "Other Note Purchase Agreements" means the several Note Purchase and
Exchange Agreements or the Note Purchase Agreement, as the case may be, dated as
of the date of the Note Purchase Agreement, by and between the Company and the
several buyers named therein.

     "Permitted Transferee" means any person who is an "accredited investor" as
defined in Regulation D under the 1933 Act.

                                       23
<PAGE>
 
     "Person" means any natural person, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, trust, incorporated organization, unincorporated association
or similar entity or any government, governmental agency or political
subdivision.

     "Premium Percentage" means 115%.

     "Premium Price" means, for this Note or any portion hereof as of any date
of determination, the product obtained by multiplying (a) the sum of (1) the
outstanding principal amount of this Note or such portion hereof plus (2) an
amount equal to the accrued but unpaid interest on this Note or such portion
hereof to the date of determination, plus (3) an amount equal to the accrued and
unpaid Default Interest on this Note or such portion hereof to the date of
determination times (b) the Premium Percentage.

     "Redemption Date" means the date of a redemption of this Note or a portion
hereof pursuant to Section 1.2, determined in accordance herewith.

     "Redemption Election" means (1) a notice by the Holder to the Company
substantially in the form set forth in EXHIBIT D or (2) a notice by the Holder
to  the Company included in the form of Inconvertibility Notice set forth in
EXHIBIT C.

     "Redemption Election Period" means, with respect to a particular
inconvertibility of this Note pursuant to Section 2.4, the period of ten
Business Days after the later of (x) the date an Inconvertibility Notice with
respect to such inconvertibility is given or (y) the date such Inconvertibility
Notice was required to have been given by the Company.

     "Redemption Event Redemption Date" means any Business Day during the period
commencing on the date which is 730 days after the Issuance Date and ending on
September 4, 2001.

     "Redemption Event Redemption Notice" means a Redemption Event Redemption
Notice setting forth the information required by Section 1.3(a).

     "Redemption Event Redemption Price" means an amount in cash equal to the
sum of (1) the outstanding principal amount of this Note on the Redemption Event
Redemption Date plus (2) accrued and unpaid interest on such principal amount to
the Redemption Event Redemption Date plus (3) accrued and unpaid Default
Interest, if any, on the amount referred to in the immediately preceding clause
(2) at the rate provided in this Note to the Redemption Event Redemption Date.

     "Redemption Price" means the greater of:

          (1) the Premium Price on the applicable Redemption Date; and

          (2) the Converted Market Price on the applicable Redemption Date;
     provided, however, that if in connection with any determination of the
     Redemption Price the amount specified in clause (y) of the definition of
     the term Converted Market Price is greater than 200% of the Ceiling Price
     on the date as of which such amount is determined, then for purposes of
     computing the Redemption Price in such instance, the amount otherwise
     specified in clause (y) of the definition of the term Converted Market
     Price shall be reduced by 20% of the amount by which (A) the amount
     otherwise specified in clause (y) of the definition of the term Converted
     Market Price exceeds (B) the Ceiling Price on the date as of which such
     amount is determined.

     "Registration Event" shall mean (1) the Registration Statement is not
effective

                                       24
<PAGE>
 
within 105 days after the Issuance Date, if the Registration Statement is on
Form S-3, or 120 days after the Issuance Date, if the Registration Statement is
on Form S-1, (2) the Company fails to file the Registration Statement with the
SEC within 60 days after the Issuance Date, (3) the Company fails to submit a
request for acceleration of the effective date of the Registration Statement in
accordance with Section 3(a) of the Registration Rights Agreement, (4) the
Registration Statement shall cease to be available for use by the Holder for any
reason (including, without limitation, by reason of an SEC stop order, a
material misstatement or omission in the Registration Statement or the
information contained in the Registration Statement having become outdated);
provided, however, that no Registration Event pursuant to this clause (4) shall
be deemed to occur prior to the SEC Effective Date, (5) the Common Stock is not
listed for trading on any of the NYSE, the AMEX, the Nasdaq or the Nasdaq
SmallCap, or (6) the Holder having become unable to convert this Note in
accordance with Article II for any reason (other than by reason of the 4.9%
limitation on beneficial ownership set forth therein or a redemption or
repurchase thereof).

     "Registration Rights Agreements" means the several Registration Rights
Agreements entered into between the Company and the original Holder and the
original holders of the Other Notes, as amended or modified from time to time in
accordance with their respective terms.

     "Registration Statement" means the Registration Statement required to be
filed by the Company with the SEC pursuant to Section 2(a) of the Registration
Rights Agreements.

     "Repurchase Event" means the occurrence on or before September 4, 2001 of
any one or more of the following events:

          (1) For any period of five consecutive Trading Days following the date
     hereof there shall be no reported sale price of the Common Stock on the
     Nasdaq, the Nasdaq SmallCap, the NYSE or the AMEX;

          (2) The Common Stock is not listed for trading on any of the Nasdaq,
     the Nasdaq SmallCap, the NYSE or the AMEX;

          (3) The inability for 45 or more days (whether or not consecutive) of
     the Holder or the holder of any Other Note to sell shares of Common Stock
     issued or issuable on conversion of this Note, any Interest Note or any
     Other Note pursuant to the Registration Statement for any reason on each of
     such 45 days;

          (4) The Company shall (A) default in the timely performance of the
     obligation to issue shares of Common Stock upon conversion of this Note,
     any Interest Note or any Other Note as and when required by hereby or
     thereby or the timely performance of its obligations under Section 3.9 or
     (B) the Company shall fail or default in the timely performance of any
     material obligation (other than as specifically set forth elsewhere in this
     definition) to the Holder or the holder of any Other Note under the terms
     of this Note, any Interest Note, any Other Note or any of the other
     Transaction Documents, as such instruments may be amended from time to
     time, and in the case of this clause (B) only, such failure or default
     shall continue for ten Business Days after notice thereof from the Holder
     to the Company;

          (5) Any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another
     entity (other than a merger or consolidation of a Subsidiary into the
     Company or a wholly-owned Subsidiary) where the stockholders of the Company
     immediately prior to such transaction do not collectively own at least 51%
     of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving corporation of such
     consolidation or merger immediately following such transaction or the
     common stock of such surviving corporation is not listed for trading on the
     NYSE, the

                                       25
<PAGE>
 
     AMEX, the Nasdaq or the Nasdaq SmallCap, or any sale or other transfer of
     all or substantially all of the assets of the Company;

          (6) The taking of any action, including any amendment to the Company's
     Articles of Incorporation, without the consent of the Majority Holders
     which materially and adversely affects the rights of the Holder or any
     holder of Other Notes;

          (7) The Stockholder Approval shall not have been obtained on or before
     the date which is 120 days after the Issuance Date; or

          (8) The occurrence of any Event of Default specified in Article IV of
          this Note.

     "Repurchase Price" means with respect to any repurchase pursuant to
Sections 5.1 and 5.2 an amount in cash equal to the Premium Price on the
applicable repurchase date.

     "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

     "SEC Effective Date" means the date on which the Registration Statement is
first declared effective by the SEC.

     "Security Agreement" means the Security Agreement, dated as of September 4,
1998, by and between the Company and the original Holder of this Note.

     "Series A Preferred Stock" means the Company's Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value.

     "Share Limitation Redemption Date" shall mean each date on which the
Company is required to redeem this Note or any portion hereof as provided in
Section 2.4(b).

     "Share Limitation Redemption Price" means an amount in cash equal to the
Premium Price on the applicable Share Limitation Redemption Date.

     "Stockholder Approval" means the approval by a majority of the votes cast
by the holders of shares of Common Stock (in person or by proxy) at a meeting of
the stockholders of the Company (duly convened at which a quorum was present),
or a written consent of holders of shares of Common Stock entitled to such
number of votes given without a meeting, of the issuance by the Company of 20%
or more of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company for less than the greater
of the book or market value of such Common Stock on conversion of this Note and
the Other Notes, as and to the extent required under Rule 4460(i) of Nasdaq as
in effect at such time (or any successor or replacement provision thereof).

     "Subsidiary" means any corporation or other entity of which a majority of
the capital stock or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to
elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar
functions are at the time directly or indirectly owned by the Company.

     "Tender Offer" means a tender offer or exchange offer.

     "Trading Day" means a day on whichever of (x) the national securities
exchange, (y) Nasdaq or (z) the Nasdaq SmallCap which at the time constitutes
the principal securities market for the Common Stock is open for general trading
of securities.

     "Transaction Documents" means this Note, the Interest Notes, the Other
Notes, the Note Purchase Agreement, the Other Note Purchase Agreements, the
Security Agreement, the

                                       26
<PAGE>
 
Transfer Agent Instruction from the Company to the Transfer Agent for the
benefit of, among others, the Holder of this Note and the Holders of the Other
Notes, as contemplated by the Note Purchase Agreement.

     "Transfer Agent" means American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, its
successor or such other person who shall be serving as transfer agent and
registrar for the Common Stock and who shall have been authorized by the Company
to act as conversion agent for this Note in accordance with the Transfer Agent
Instruction and the name, address and telephone number of whom shall have been
given to the Holder by notice from the Company.

     "Transfer Agent Instruction" means the Transfer Agent Instruction from the
Company to the Transfer Agent for the benefit of, among others, the Holder of
this Note and the holders of the Other Notes, as contemplated by the Note
Purchase Agreement.

     "Warrants" means the Common Stock Purchase Warrants of the Company issued
to the original Holder of this Note pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement and
to the original holders of the Other Notes pursuant to the Other Note Purchase
Agreements.


                                 ARTICLE  VII

                                 MISCELLANEOUS


     7.1 Failure or Indulgency Not Waiver. No failure or delay on the part of
the Holder in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder shall
operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any
such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of
any other right, power or privileges. All rights and remedies existing hereunder
are cumulative to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies otherwise
available.

     7.2 Notices. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, any notice
herein required or permitted to be given shall be in writing and may be
personally served, sent by telephone line facsimile transmission or delivered by
courier or sent by United States mail and shall be deemed to have been given
upon receipt if personally served, sent by telephone line facsimile transmission
or sent by courier or three (3) days after being deposited in the United States
mail, certified, with postage pre-paid and properly addressed, if sent by mail.
For the purposes hereof, the address of the Holder shall be as shown on the
records of the Company (telephone line facsimile transmission number 011-599-
932-2008, with a copy to Genesee International, Inc., 10500 N.E. 8th Street,
Suite 1920, Bellevue, Washington 98004-4332 (telephone line facsimile number
(425) 462-4645); and the address of the Company shall be 1250 Wood Branch Park
Drive, Houston, Texas 77079, Attention: Chief Executive Officer (telephone line
facsimile transmission number (281) 529-4650). The Holder or the Company may
change its address for service by service of written notice to the other as
herein provided.

     7.3 Amendment, Waivers, Etc. (a) Neither this Note, any Interest Note or
any Other Note nor the Security Agreement nor any terms hereof or thereof may be
changed, waived, discharged or terminated unless such change, waiver, discharge
or termination is in writing signed by the Majority Holders, provided that no
such change, waiver, discharge or termination shall, without the consent of the
Holder and the holders of the Other Notes affected thereby (i) extend the
scheduled final maturity of this Note, any Interest Note or any Other Note, or
reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest (other than as a
result of waiving the applicability of any post-default increase in interest
rates) hereon or thereon or reduce the principal amount hereof or thereof or the
Redemption Price, the Redemption Event Redemption Price, the Share Limitation
Redemption Price or the Repurchase Price, (ii) release the collateral or reduce
the

                                       27
<PAGE>
 
amount of collateral required to be deposited or maintained by the Company
pursuant to the Security Agreement except as expressly provided in the Security
Agreement, (iii) amend, modify or waive any provision of this Section 7.3, (iv)
reduce any percentage specified in, or otherwise modify, the definition of
Majority Holders or (v) except as provided in this Note, change the method of
calculating the Conversion Price in a manner adverse to the Holder.

     (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Note or the Note Purchase
Agreement, in addition to the requirements of Section 7.3(a), any amendment of
(x) the second or third sentence of Section 2.1, (y) the definition of the term
Aggregated Person or (z) this Section 7.3(b) shall require approval by the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock, present in person or represented by proxy at a duly convened
meeting of stockholders of the Company, and entitled to vote or the consent
thereto in writing by holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock, and the stockholders of the Company are hereby expressly made third party
beneficiaries of this Section 7.3(b).

     7.4 Assignability. This Note shall be binding upon the Company and its
successors, and shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Holder and
its successors and permitted assigns. The Company may not assign its rights or
obligations under this Note.

     7.5 Certain Expenses The Company shall pay on demand all expenses incurred
by the Holder, including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses, as a
consequence of, or in connection with (x) any amendment, modification, waiver or
consent relating to this Note, (y) any default or breach of any of the Company's
obligations set forth in the Transaction Documents and (z) the enforcement or
restructuring of any right of, including the collection of any payments due, the
Holder under the Transaction Documents, including any action or proceeding
relating to such enforcement or any order, injunction or other process seeking
to restrain the Company from paying any amount due the Holder.

     7.6 Governing Law; Execution Issuance and Delivery. This Note shall be
governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the
principles of conflict of laws. This Note has been signed, issued and delivered
in the State of New York and it is the intention of the Company and the Holder
that this Note shall be construed accordingly for all purposes.

     7.7 Transfer of Note. This Note has not been and is not being registered
under the provisions of the 1933 Act or any state securities laws and this Note
may not be transferred unless (1) the transferee is a Permitted Transferee and
(2) the Holder shall have delivered to the Company an opinion of counsel,
reasonably satisfactory in form, scope and substance to the Company, to the
effect that this Note may be sold or transferred without registration under the
1933 Act. Prior to any such transfer, such transferee shall have represented in
writing to the Company that such transferee has requested and received from the
Company all information relating to the business, properties, operations,
condition (financial or other), results of operations or prospects of the
Company and the Subsidiaries deemed relevant by such transferee; that such
transferee has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company
concerning the foregoing and has had the opportunity to obtain and review the
Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein, each as amended or
supplemented to the date of transfer to such transferee, and the reports and
other information concerning the Company which at the time of such transfer have
been filed by the Company with the SEC pursuant to the 1934 Act and which are
incorporated by reference in such prospectus as of the date of such transfer. If
such transfer is intended to assign the rights and obligations under (x)
Sections 4, 5 and 9 of the Note Purchase Agreement, such transfer shall
otherwise be made in compliance with Section 9(h) of the Note Purchase Agreement
and (y) the Registration Rights Agreement to which the Holder is entitled to the
benefits such transfer shall otherwise be made in compliance with Section 9 of
such Registration Rights Agreement.
 

                                       28
<PAGE>
 
     7.8 Enforceable Obligation. The Company represents and warrants that at the
time of the original issuance of this Note it received the full purchase price
payable pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement in an amount at least equal to
the original principal amount of this Note, and that this Note is an enforceable
obligation of the Company which is not subject to any offset, reduction,
counterclaim or disallowance of any sort.

     7.9 Certain Amounts. Whenever pursuant to this Note the Company is required
to pay an amount in excess of the outstanding principal amount (or the portion
thereof required to be paid at that time) plus accrued and unpaid interest plus
Default Interest on such interest, the Company and the Holder agree that the
actual damages to the Holder from the receipt of cash payment on this Note may
be difficult to determine and the amount to be so paid by the Company represents
stipulated damages and not a penalty and is intended to compensate the Holder in
part for loss of the opportunity to convert this Note and to earn a return from
the sale of shares of Common Stock acquired upon conversion of this Note at a
price in excess of the price paid for such shares pursuant to this Note. The
Company and the Holder hereby agree that such amount of stipulated damages is
not plainly disproportionate to the possible loss to the Holder from the receipt
of a cash payment without the opportunity to convert this Note into shares of
Common Stock.
 
     7.10 Replacement of Notes.  Upon receipt by the Company of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to it of the ownership of and the loss, theft,
destruction or mutilation of this Note and (a) in the case of loss, theft or
destruction of indemnity from the Holder reasonably satisfactory in form to the
company (and without requirement to post any bond or other security) or (b) in
the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Note, the
Company will execute and deliver to the Holder a new Note of like tenor without
charge to the Holder.

          [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                       29
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed in its
name by its duly authorized officer on the day and in the year first above
written.

                                 EQUALNET COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

                                 By: /s/ Mitchell H. Bodiar
                                    --------------------------------------
                                    Name: Mitchell H. Bodiar
                                    Title: President and CEO

                                       30
<PAGE>
 
                                                           Exhibit A
                                                           ---------

                              NOTICE OF CONVERSION
                 OF 6% SENIOR SECURED CONVERTIBLE NOTE DUE 2001
                        OF EQUALNET COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

To:  American Stock Transfer & Trust Company,
       as Transfer Agent
     6201 Fifteen Avenue
     Third Floor
     Brooklyn, New York 11219

     Attention: Mr. Barry Rosenthal

     Facsimile No.: (718) 259-1144


     (1) Pursuant to the terms of the 6% Senior Secured Convertible Note due
2001 (the "Note"), the undersigned hereby elects to convert $________ of the
Note, equal to the sum of $ __________ principal amount of the Note, $__________
of accrued and unpaid interest on such principal amount of $ ___________ of
Default Interest on such interest into shares of Common Stock of Equalnet
Communications Corp., a Texas corporation (the "Company"), at a Conversion Price
equal to $ _________ Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined
herein have the respective meanings provided in the Note.

     (2) The number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of
the Note to which this Notice relates is ________________.

     (3) If the conversion of the Note by this Notice is based on the Market
Prices during a Measurement Period, set forth below or on a schedule which
accompanies this Notice are the Market Prices during the Measurement Period
applicable to this Notice and an indication of the five Market Prices used to
determine the Conversion Price set forth above.

                 Date                      Trading Price

          1. ________________, ______      $____________
          2. ________________, ______      $____________
          3. ________________, ______      $____________
          4. ________________, ______      $____________
          5. ________________, ______      $____________
          6. ________________, ______      $____________
          7. ________________, ______      $____________
          8. ________________, ______      $____________
          9. ________________, ______      $____________
         10. ________________, ______      $____________


                                 A-1
 
<PAGE>

          11. ________________, ______      $____________ 
          12. ________________, ______      $____________
          13. ________________, ______      $____________
          14. ________________, ______      $____________
          15. ________________, ______      $____________
          16. ________________, ______      $____________
          17. ________________, ______      $____________
          18. ________________, ______      $____________
          19. ________________, ______      $____________
          20. ________________, ______      $____________
          21. ________________, ______      $____________
          22. ________________, ______      $____________
          23. ________________, ______      $____________
          24. ________________, ______      $____________
          25. ________________, ______      $____________

          (4) Please issue a certificate or certificates for ______ shares of
Common Stock in the name(s) specified immediately below or, if additional space
is necessary, on an attachment hereto:


          ___________________________       _________________________ 
          Name                              Name

          ___________________________       _________________________ 
          Address                           Address

          ___________________________       _________________________ 
          SS or Tax ID Number               SS or Tax ID Number

          Delivery Instructions 
          for Common Stock:                 _________________________

                                            _________________________

                                            _________________________ 

                                            _________________________ 

                                      A-2
<PAGE>
 
     (5) The Holder hereby represents to the Company that the exercise of
conversion rights contained herein does not violate the provisions of Section 
2.1 (a) of the Note relating to beneficial ownership in excess of 4.9% of the
Common Stock.

     (6) If this Notice is given on or prior to the date which is two years
after the Issuance Date and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion
of the Note have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act"), the undersigned represents and warrants that (i) the shares
of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of the Note to which this Notice
relates are being, acquired for the account of the undersigned for investment,
and not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, the distribution
thereof and (ii) the undersigned is an "accredited investor" as defined in
Regulation D under the 1933 Act. The undersigned further agrees that (A) such
shares shall not be sold or transferred unless either (i) they first shall have
been registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws or (ii)
the Company shall have been furnished with an opinion of legal counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Company to the effect that such sale or transfer
is exempt from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act and (B) until such
shares are registered under the 1933 Act, the Company may place a legend on the
certificate(s) for the shares to that effect and place a stop-transfer
restriction in its records relating to the shares.

                                    NAME: ___________________________________

Date __________________________           ___________________________________
                                             Signature of Registered Holder
                                             (Must be signed exactly as name 
                                                  appears in the Note.)

                                      A-3
<PAGE>
 
                                                           Exhibit B
                                                           ---------

                        COMPANY INCONVERTIBILITY NOTICE
        (Section 2.4(b) of 6% Senior Secured Convertible Note due 2001)

TO: ____________________________
          (Name of Holder)

     (1) Pursuant to the terms of the 6% Senior Secured Convertible Note due
2001 (the "Note"), Equalnet Communications Corp., a Texas corporation (the
"Company"), hereby notifies the above-named Holder:

          (a) On __________________ (fill in date) five Inconvertibility Days
     had occurred in a period of ten Trading Days and on such date $____________
     (fill in amount) of principal of the Note and the related interest, if any,
     became inconvertible by reason of the occurrence of five Inconvertibility
     Days within a period of ten consecutive Trading Days.

          (b) The five Inconvertibility Days cove by this Notice and the
     applicable Conversion Price on each such day are as follows:

     _______________________,   _________     $_________

     _______________________,   _________     $_________

     _______________________,   _________     $_________

     _______________________,   _________     $_________

     _______________________,   _________     $_________


     (2) Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein have the
respective meanings provided in the Note.

Date ___________________________     EQUALNET COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

                                     By __________________________



                                      B-1
<PAGE>
 
                                                           Exhibit C
                                                           ---------

                         HOLDER INCONVERTIBILITY NOTICE
        (Section 2.4(b) of 6% Senior Secured Convertible Note due 2001)

TO:  EQUALNET COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

     (1) Pursuant to the terms of the 6% Senior Secured Convertible Note due
2001 (the "Note"), the undersigned (the "Holder"), hereby notifies Equalnet
Communications Corp., a Texas corporation (the "Company"):

          (a) On ________________ (fill in date) five Inconvertibility Days had
     occurred in a period of ten Trading Days and on such date $_____________
     (fill in amount) of principal of the Note and the related interest, if any,
     became inconvertible by reason of the occurrence of five Trading Days on
     which all or a portion of this Note was inconvertible within a period of
     ten consecutive Trading Days.

          (b) The five Trading Days on which all or a portion of this Note was
     inconvertible and which are covered by this Notice and the applicable
     Conversion Price on each such day are as follows:

     _______________________,   _________     $_________

     _______________________,   _________     $_________

     _______________________,   _________     $_________

     _______________________,   _________     $_________

     _______________________,   _________     $_________

     (2) If the following date and amounts are completed in this Notice, the
Holder hereby directs the Company to redeem the principal amount set forth below
(and the related interest) in accordance with Section 7(a) of the Certificate of
Designations set forth below:

          (a) Principal amount of Note to be redeemed: _____________________
(fill in)

          (b) On ___________ (fill in Redemption Date), the Company shall
pay the Holder the Share Limitation Redemption Price of the portion (which, if
applicable, may be all) of the Note to be redeemed.

     (3) Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein have the
respective meanings provided in the Note.

Date ___________________________   NAME OF HOLDER:

                                   ____________________________________

                                   By:_________________________________
                                      Title:

                                     C-1
<PAGE>
 
                                                           Exhibit D
                                                           ---------

                           HOLDER REDEMPTION ELECTION
                          (Section 2.4(b) of 6% Senior
                       Secured Convertible Note due 2001)

TO:  EQUALNET COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

     (1) Pursuant to the terms of the 6% Senior Secured Convertible Note due
2001 (the "Note"), the undersigned (the "Holder") hereby notifies Equalnet
Communications Corp., a Texas corporation (the "Company"), that the Holder is
exercising its right to require the Company to redeem a portion (which, if
applicable, may be all) of the Note as set forth below in accordance with
Section 2.4(b) of the Note. On ___________ (fill in Redemption Date), the
Company shall pay the Holder the Share Limitation Redemption Price for
redemption of $_____________ principal amount of the Note and the related
interest.

     (2) Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein have the
respective meanings provided in the Note.

Date ________________________    NAME OF HOLDER:

                                 _______________________________________

                                 By ____________________________________

                                      D-1
<PAGE>
 
                                                           Exhibit E
                                                           ---------

                                 HOLDER NOTICE
        (Section 5.2(b) of 6% Senior Secured Convertible Note due 2001)

TO:  EQUALNET COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

     (1)Pursuant to the terms of the 6% Senior Secured Convertible Note due
2001 (the "Note"), the undersigned Holder hereby elects to exercise its right to
require repurchase by the Company pursuant to Sections 5.2(a) and 5.2(b) of
$_____________ of the Note, equal to the sum of $____________ principal amount
of the Note, $_____________ of accrued and unpaid interest on such principal
amount and $_____________ of Default Interest on such interest at the
Repurchase Price provided in the Note.

     (2) Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein have the
respective meanings provided in the Note.

Date:__________________________    NAME OF HOLDER:

                                   ___________________________________

                                   By ________________________________
                                        Signature of Registered Holder
                                        (Must be signed exactly as name 
                                             appears in the Note.)

                                      E-1