Exhibit 4.6


Exhibit 4.6


AMENDMENT TO

SHAREHOLDERS’
AGREEMENT


     THIS
AMENDMENT TO SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) by and
among NUVOX, INC. (formerly known as Gabriel Communications, Inc.), a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”), and the shareholders of the Company who
have executed this Amendment, is made as of August __, 2001. 


Background


     a.  
The Company and certain shareholders of the Company have entered into a
Shareholders Agreement dated as of August 14, 1998, as amended by Agreement
dated as of November 18, 1998 and amended by Agreement dated as of December 13,
1999 (the “Shareholders Agreement”) providing for certain rights and
obligations of such shareholders. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein
shall have the meanings given them in the Shareholders Agreement. 


     b.  
The parties desire to amend the Shareholders Agreement in certain respects.


Agreement


     On the basis of the foregoing, the parties agree as follows:


     1.  Amendments to Agreement.  The Shareholders' Agreement is hereby amended as follows:


          (a)  Section 1 of the Shareholders Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:


	 
	

         "For purposes of this Agreement the term "Shares" shall mean (i) all shares of the Common Stock of the
         Corporation (now owned or hereafter acquired) by the Employee Shareholders (as hereinafter defined),
         (ii) all shares of Series E-6 Convertible Preferred Stock, Series E-8 Convertible
         Preferred Stock, Series E-9 Convertible Preferred Stock, Series E-10 Convertible Preferred Stock,
         Series E-11 Convertible Preferred Stock, Series E-12 Convertible Preferred Stock and Series E-13 Convertible Preferred Stock, each with a par value of $.01 per share, of the Corporation
         (collectively the "Series E Preferred Stock") (now owned or hereafter acquired) by the Employee
         Shareholders, (iii) all shares of the Common Stock of the Corporation held by The Goldman Sachs Group,
         L.P. and Brooks Investments, L.P. on the date hereof and listed on Exhibit A hereto and (iv) all shares
         of the Series F Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Corporation (now owned or
         hereafter acquired) by the Employee Shareholders."





          (b)  Section 2 thereof is deleted and replaced with the words "[Intentionally omitted]"



          (c)  The first sentence of Section 3.2 thereof is amended to replace the words "to the Corporation and the
other Shareholder(s) of the proposed terms" with the words "to the Corporation, the other Shareholder(s) and the holders of the Corporation's Preferred Stock (in each case, to the extent the same are accredited investors) of
the proposed terms"


          (d)  Section 3.6 thereof is deleted and replaced with the words ""[Intentionally omitted]"



          (e)  Section 5 thereof is deleted and replaced with the words "[Intentionally omitted]"


1



          (f)  Section 6.6 thereof is amended to read in its entirety as follows:


	 
	

              "Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 3, 4 or 6.2, if the Corporation and the other
              Shareholders do not elect to exercise any option under Section 3 or 4 in full, the holders of
              shares of the Corporation's Preferred Stock may elect to purchase any portion of such unpurchased
              shares in the same manner and upon the same terms as provided in Section 3 within ten (10) days
              after the expiration of the option period granted to the other Shareholders."





          (g)  Section 7.1 thereof is deleted and replaced with the words "[Intentionally omitted]"




          (h)  Section 7.2 thereof is deleted and replaced with the words "[Intentionally omitted]"



          (i)  Section 7.5 thereof is deleted and replaced with the words "[Intentionally omitted]"



          (j)  Section 8.1 therof is amended to read in its entirety as follows:  


	 
	

"The purchase price for Shares purchased pursuant to Section 4 shall be paid in cash at
             closing.  The purchase price for shares purchased pursuant to Section 3 shall be on such terms as set
             forth in the notice provided therein."






          (k)  Section 8.2 thereof is deleted and replaced with the words "[Intentionally omitted]"


          (l)  Section 8.3 thereof is deleted and replaced with the words "[Intentionally omitted]"


          (m)  Section 8.4 thereof is deleted and replaced with the words "[Intentionally omitted]"


          (n)  Section 8.5 thereof is deleted and replaced with the words "[Intentionally omitted]"


          (o)  Section 9.1 thereof is amended to read in it entirety as follows:


	 
	

             "In the case of a purchase of Shares under Sections 3 or 4, the closing of the sale and purchase shall take place ten (10) days after the delivery to the selling Shareholders of written notice by the last of the purchasing party or parties to deliver such notice of its, his or their exercise of the option or options to purchase said Shareholder's Shares."






          (p)  Section 13.2 thereof is deleted and replaced with the words "[Intentionally omitted]"


     2.  Effectiveness of Amendment.

        This
Amendment shall become effective when executed by the Company and when the
Company shall have received counterparts of this Amendment signed by
Shareholders owning at least 80% of the total number of the Corporation’s
Shares in accordance with Section 16.5 of the Shareholders Agreement. 


     3.  Affirmation of Agreement.

        Except
as amended hereby, the Shareholders Agreement shall remain in effect in
accordance with its terms. 


2



        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment as of the
date indicated above. 


	 	NUVOX, INC.





		By:	 

David L. Solomon, Chief Executive Officer




[Signatures of stockholders]


3