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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26


                             EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
        
         This Agreement is made as of the 16th of October, 1995, the "Effective
Date," by and between ANTEC Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and Robert J. Stanzione, an individual residing at 29 Colts Glen
Lane, Basking Ridge, New Jersey (the "Employee").

         WHEREAS, the Company wants to employ the Employee and the Employee
wants to be employed by the Company;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the 
respective covenants and agreements of the parties herein contained, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
        
         1.   Employment and Term. The Company hereby agrees to employ the
Employee in an executive capacity, and the Employee hereby agrees to serve the
Company in such capacity, subject to the terms and conditions hereof for the
period commencing on the Effective Date and continuing until terminated as
provided in Section 4 (the "Termination Date"). The Employee is engaged on a
full time basis by the Company to perform services of an executive nature within
the Employee's abilities.
        
        2.   Compensation.  The Company shall pay the Employee for the 
performance of his duties under this Agreement during the term of his employment
(a) base compensation ("Base Compensation"), which as of the effective date of
this Agreement shall be at the rate of $300,000 per year, plus (b) a bonus 
("Bonus") for each fiscal year after 1995 in an amount determined by the Board
of Directors using such criteria as it deems fair and equitable allowing up to
150% of planned Bonus for performance above target goals.  The amount of the
planned Bonus shall be 75% of Base Compensation.  The Employee's Base
Compensation shall be subject to annual or periodic review, in accordance with
the Company's customary practice for its other executives and increased in the
sole discretion of the Company.  Once Base Compensation has been increased, it
shall not thereafter be decreased.  The Employee's Base Compensation under this
Section shall be payable semi-monthly, and the Bonus shall be payable as soon
after the end of each fiscal year as it can be determined, but in any event
within ninety (90) days thereafter.  If the employment of Employee is terminated
at other than year-end, the Bonus will be pro rated to reflect the period during
the year Employee was employed.  The Bonus for 1995 shall be 75% of the Base
Compensation paid the Employee for 1995.
        
          3.  (a)  Additional  Benefits.  The Employee shall be entitled to 
participate in and receive benefits under any defined benefit retirement plan,
related excess benefit plan, health plan, disability plan and life insurance
plan or other similar employee benefit plan or arrangement (collectively,
"Benefit Plans") made available by the Company from time to



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time to its executives.  The Company agrees that it will not substantially 
reduce the aggregate amount it is currently incurring to provide Benefit Plans
to Employee.  The Employee shall be entitled to such other benefits, including
vacation, fringe benefits and expense reimbursement as are currently in effect
for executives as the same may be from time to time be amended.
        
              (b)  Additional Pension.  Upon the achievement of both 5 years of
service and the substantial performance of his obligations under this Agreement,
the Employee will be provided a supplemental pension equal to (i) the amount of
pension he would have had under the Company's defined benefit retirement plan
and related excess benefit plan if period of the Employee's service under those
plans were tripled, less (ii) the amount of pension to which the Employee is
entitled under the Company's defined benefit retirement plan and related excess
benefit plan.
        
              (c)  Long Term Incentives.  In addition to the long term 
incentives granted the Employee on the Effective Date, the Employee, beginning
in 1997, will be eligible for such long term incentive awards as shall be 
periodically granted to other executives of the Company.
        
          4.  Termination.  (a) This Agreement may be terminated by the Company
by written notice to the Employee only by adoption by the Board of Directors of
a resolution approved by directors constituting a majority of all of the
directors then holding office. The termination will not be effective until the
later of three years after the Effective Date or one year after written notice
of termination is given the Employee unless the termination is for "Good Cause."
"Good Cause" shall mean (i) the Employee's conviction of any embezzlement or any
felony involving fraud or breach of trust relating to the performance of
Employee's duties for the Company, (ii) the Employee's willful engagement in
gross misconduct in the performance of his duties, (iii) Employee's death or
(iv) permanent disability which materially impairs Employee's performance of his
duties.
        
              (b)  The Employee may terminate this Agreement by giving the 
Company written notice of termination.  The termination will not be effective
until the later of three years after the Effective Date or one year after
written notice of termination is given the Company  unless the termination is
for "Good Reason."  "Good Reason" shall exist if (i) the Company continues in
material breach of this Agreement for more than 30 days after being notified in
writing by Employer of such breach provided Employee has given such notice to
the Company within 30 days of first becoming aware of the facts constituting
such breach, (ii) the Company gives Employee a notice of termination without
"Good Cause" as specified above provided Employee terminates this Agreement
within 30 days of receiving such notice, or (iii) a "Change of Control" occurs,
and the Employee's employment hereunder is terminated by the Company other than
for "Good Cause" or by the Employee for any reason.  A "Change of Control" shall
mean any person (as such term is used in section 13(d) and 14(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") is or becomes
the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13(d)-3 under the Exchange Act), (i)
of

        
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securities of the Company representing the higher of (x) more than 25% of the 
combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding voting securities, 
excluding Anixter International Inc. ("Anixter") or any successor or 
"affiliates" as defined pursuant to the Exchange Act or (y) more than such 
voting securities beneficially owned by Anixter and its successors and
affiliates, or (ii) if Anixter and its successors and affiliates beneficially
own more than 25% of such securities of the Company, of securities of Anixter 
representing the higher of (x) more than 25% of the combined voting power of
Anixter's then outstanding voting securities (excluding Samuel Zell, B. Ann
Lurie, Sheli Rosenberg and their affiliates) or (y) more than such voting
securities held by Samuel Zell, B. Ann Lurie, Sheli Rosenberg and their
affiliates.
        
              (c)  If the Employee terminates this Agreement and simultaneously
therewith his employment by the Company for Good Reason, all of the Employee's 
shares of restricted stock will vest and all his stock options outstanding and
unexercised at the Termination Date shall become immediately and fully 
exercisable as of the Termination Date and the Company for a period of one year
from such termination or through three years after the Effective Date  whichever
is later (the "Severance Period") shall continue to provide to the Employee (a)
his Base Compensation, at the rate most recently  determined  (b) a Bonus for
each fiscal year (and a pro rata amount for each partial year) in an amount
equal to the most recent Bonus (annualized if for a partial year) paid or
payable to the Employee prior to the Termination Date, and (c) the Benefit Plans
as provided by Section 3 (subject in the case of long-term disability to the
availability of such coverage under the Company's insurance policy).
        
              (d)  The parties agree that the payments and benefits provided
for in subsection (c) of this Section shall be deemed to constitute liquidated
damages for the Company's breach or constructive breach of this Agreement and
payment for the non-competition provisions of this Agreement, and the Company
agrees that (i) Employee shall not be required to mitigate  his damages by
seeking other employment or otherwise, and (ii) the Company's payments and
other obligations under this Agreement shall not be reduced in any way by reason
of any compensation received by Employee from sources other than the Company
after the Termination Date, except as otherwise expressly provided herein.
        
              (e)  If the Employee should be offered a position with an 
affiliate of the Company (as defined under the Exchange Act) and chose to accept
that position, this Agreement shall terminate and the parties shall have no
further obligations to one another under this Agreement except as otherwise
agreed by the Employee and the Company in connection with such transfer.
        
         5.    Non-Competition Covenant.  The Employee agrees that throughout 
his employment hereunder and during the Severance Period he will not directly or
indirectly, alone or as a member of partnership, association of joint venture or
as an employee, officer, director or stockholder of any corporation or in any 
other capacity:


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              (a)  engage in any activity which is competitive with the business
of the Company in the United States or in any foreign country in which the 
Company is carrying on such business, provided that the foregoing provision 
shall not be deemed to prohibit the Employee from purchasing for investment any
securities or interest in any publicly-owned organization which is competitive
with the business of the Company so long as his investment in any such
organization does not exceed one percent of its total equity; or
        
              (b)  solicit in connection with any activity which is competitive
with the Company, any customers or suppliers which he solicited on behalf of the
Company or on behalf of the business of the Company.
        
         6.   Entire Agreement.  The terms and provisions of this Agreement
constitute the entire agreement between the parties and supersede any previous
oral or written communications, representations or agreements with respect to 
the subject matter hereof.

         7.   Notice.  Any Notices given hereunder shall be in writing and shall
be given by personal delivery or by certified or registered mail, return receipt
requested, addressed to:

              If to the Company:                    If to the Employee:
              ANTEC Corporation                     the address shown at
              2850 West Golf Road                   the beginning of this
              Rolling Meadows, IL 60008             Agreement
              Attn: Larry Margolis
              
or such other address as shall be furnished in writing by one party to the
other.
        
         8.   Severability.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any 
particular provision of this Agreement shall not affect the other provisions
hereof, and this Agreement shall be construed in all respects as if the invalid
or unenforceable provision had been omitted.
        
          9.  Company Assignment.  The Company's obligations hereunder shall be
binding legal obligations of any successor to all or substantially all of the
Company's business by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise. The Company
may not sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets or
merge or consolidate with any other entity without making adequate provision for
its obligations hereunder. The Employee may not assign this Agreement during his
life, and upon his death, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of his heirs, legatees and the legal representative of each.
        
         10.  Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted
pursuant to the laws of Illinois.



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         11.  Amendment.  This Agreement may be amended only by a written
document signed by both parties.

         12.  Taxes.  Company shall pay to Employee the amount of any exercise 
taxes imposed on Employee under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code as 
currently written by reason of payments or benefits received by Employee under
the other provisions of this Agreement.  Employee and Company will minimize the
impact of any future changes in the tax laws (other than changes in rates) by
reforming this Agreement if it is possible to do so in a manner which is 
economically equivalent to the current provisions of this Agreement.
        
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Employment Agreement
effective as of the Day and year first above written.

         ANTEC Corporation                      Employee

         By

         /s/ Lawrence A. Margolis               /s/ Robert J. Stanzione
         ------------------------               ------------------------

         Its

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