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                                  EXHIBIT 10.17

                             FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE
                           BELDEN WIRE & CABLE COMPANY
                  SUPPLEMENTAL EXCESS DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN


WHEREAS, Belden Wire & Cable Company (hereinafter referred to as the "Company")
established the Belden Wire & Cable Company Supplemental Excess Defined
Contribution Plan (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan") restated as of January
1, 1998, for the benefit of certain employees of the Employer;

WHEREAS, Section 1 of Article IX of the Plan in effect prior to this amendment
provides that the Company may amend the Plan at any time;

WHEREAS, the Company deems it desirable to make certain revisions to the Plan;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is amended hereinafter set forth, effective November
30, 2000.

Article 7, Section 7.01 is hereby amended by the addition of the following 2
paragraphs at the end of the Section:

         "Effective November 30, 2000, the benefits payable to or on behalf of a
          participant as determined under Section 6.1 of Article VI who has not
          yet attained age 55 shall be paid in the form of a lump sum equal to
          the Participant's benefits determined hereunder.

          Effective November 30, 2000, the benefits payable to or on behalf of a
          participant who is at least age 55 at termination of employment, shall
          be payable in a lump sum. Notwithstanding the previous sentence the
          Participant may make a written election, on the appropriate form at
          least thirteen (13) months prior to his termination, to receive his
          benefit in one lump sum payment or annual installments over 2, 5 or 10
          years payable the February 1 following the date of retirement. A
          participant may change his form of payment to a lump sum up until
          thirty (30) days prior to the February 1 scheduled payment date. If a
          Participant wishes to change his election to annual installments or a
          different number of installments the new payment date will be the
          February 1, following thirteen (13) months after the plan
          administrator receives the new election form. "

Article 7, Section 7.02 is hereby amended by the addition of the following
paragraph at the end of the Section:

          "Effective November 30, 2000, the benefits payable to or on behalf of
          a participant who is age 55 at the time his employment terminates,
          shall be paid as soon as administratively feasible. However, if the
          participant elects a form of payment under Section 7.01 which contains
          required payment date(s), the Participant's payment dates will be in
          accordance with the required payment date(s) under the election."

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          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Belden Wire & Cable Company, by its duly
          authorized officer, executes this amendment on this twenty-sixth day
          of March, 2001.


                                       BELDEN WIRE & CABLE COMPANY



                                       By: \s\ Cathy Odom Staples
                                           --------------------------

                                       Its:  Vice President
                                            -------------------------

Attest: \s\ Eivind Kolemainen
        -----------------------------

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