<PAGE>   1
                                                                EXHIBIT 10.33(b)
                                PLEDGE AGREEMENT

        THIS AGREEMENT dated as of ___________, made by ______________ (referred
to herein as "PLEDGOR"), having a mailing address of ___________________, to and
for the benefit of TeleCommunication Systems, Inc., a Maryland corporation
(referred to herein as "PLEDGEE," which term shall also include any subsequent
holder of this Agreement), having a mailing address of 275 West Street,
Annapolis, MD 21401. The parties hereby agree that this Agreement, the Note and
related documents are issued pursuant to section 7(b) of the TeleCommunication
Systems, Inc., Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Incentive Plan.

        Pledgor is (i) the owner of options to purchase __________________
(_________) shares of the Pledgee's Class A Common Stock (the "OPTIONS") granted
to the Pledgor on _________; and

               (ii) the owner of the ____________________ (__________) shares
        (referred to herein as the "PLEDGED SHARES") of the Pledgee's Class A
        Common Stock ("COMMON STOCK") (in its capacity as issuer of the Pledged
        Shares, Pledgee is sometimes referred to herein as the "ISSUER"), and
        more fully described as follows:

        Pledged Shares issued by TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. to Pledgor and
        evidenced by the following certificate(s):

<TABLE>
<S>                        <C>                              <C>
Certificate No.              No. of Shares Owned             Type of Shares
---------------              -------------------             --------------
</TABLE>





        Pledgee has made a loan to Pledgor in the principal amount of
_____________________ and 00/100 Dollars ($_________________) (referred to
herein as the "LOAN").

        To evidence the terms of the Loan, Pledgor has made payable to the order
of Pledgee, and delivered to Pledgee, that certain Employee Loan Promissory Note
dated as of ___________, 2001, in the principal amount of _______________ and
00/100 Dollars ($____________) (referred to herein as the "NOTE," as it may be
amended and extended from time to time, and including any replacement notes or
substitute notes, and any combinations thereof in any denominations, that may be
issued for the Note or to further evidence the Loan from time to time).

        It is a condition of the Loan that the indebtedness evidenced by the
Note and the other obligations of Pledgor to Pledgee under the Note and under
this Agreement are to be secured with this Agreement and the pledge of the
Pledged Shares and the Options to Pledgee.

        Unless otherwise defined in this Agreement (and including any terms
defined above), capitalized terms that are used in this Agreement and defined in
the Note shall have the meanings given to them in the Note.



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<PAGE>   2

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the sum of one
dollar ($1.00) and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which
is acknowledged hereby, and in order to induce Pledgee to make the Loan, Pledgor
hereby agrees with Pledgee as follows:

        SECTION 1. Pledge. Pledgor hereby pledges to Pledgee, and grants to
Pledgee a security interest in, the following property (collectively, referred
to herein as the "PLEDGED COLLATERAL"):

                (i)     the Pledged Shares and the certificates representing the
        Pledged Shares, and all dividends, cash, instruments and other property
        and proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise
        distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of the Pledged
        Shares;

                (ii)    all additional shares of stock of Issuer from time to
        time acquired by Pledgor in any manner, and the certificates
        representing such additional shares, and all dividends, cash,
        instruments and other property and proceeds from time to time received,
        receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any
        or all of such shares;

                (iii)   the Options, including to the extent any Options are
        Pledged Collateral, any shares of Common Stock obtained upon the
        exercise of such Options, and any new, additional, or different
        securities or other property subsequently distributed with respect to
        the shares represented by the Options; and

                (iv)    the proceeds of any sale, exchange or disposition of the
        property and securities described in paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii)
        above.

        SECTION 2.      Security for Obligations. This Agreement secures the
prompt payment and performance of (a) all obligations of Pledgor to Pledgee now
or hereafter existing under the Note, whether for principal, interest, fees,
costs, expenses or otherwise, and (b) all obligations of Pledgor now or
hereafter existing under this Agreement (all such obligations of Pledgor to
Pledgee described in clauses (a) and (b) of this sentence are referred to herein
as the "OBLIGATIONS"). The Issuer shall have the ability to demand additional
Pledged Shares or Options owned by the Pledgor at any time, and such additional
Pledged Shares or Options shall also be deemed Pledged Collateral as defined
herein.

        SECTION 3.      Delivery of Pledged Collateral. All certificates or
instruments representing or evidencing Pledged Collateral shall be delivered to
and held by or on behalf of Pledgee pursuant hereto and shall be in suitable
form for transfer by delivery, or shall be accompanied by duly executed but
undated stock powers or other instruments of transfer or assignment, in blank,
all in form and substance satisfactory to Pledgee. Pledgee shall have the right,
at any time in Pledgee's discretion and without notice to Pledgor, to transfer
to or to register in the name of Pledgee or any of Pledgee's nominees any or all
of the Pledged Collateral, subject only to the revocable rights specified in
Section 6(a). In addition, Pledgee shall have the right at any time to exchange
certificates or instruments representing or evidencing Pledged Collateral for
certificates or instruments of smaller or larger denominations.



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<PAGE>   3

        SECTION 4.      Representations and Warranties.  Pledgor represents and
warrants as follows:

                (a)     Pledgor is the legal and beneficial owner of record of
        the Pledged Collateral free and clear of any lien, security interest,
        option or other charges or encumbrance except for the security interest
        created by this Agreement.

                (b)     Pledge of the Pledged Collateral pursuant to this
        Agreement creates a valid and perfected first priority security interest
        in the Pledged Collateral, securing the payment of the Obligations.

                (c)     Pledgor (i) has good right and legal authority to pledge
        the Pledged Collateral owned by Pledgor in the manner hereby done or
        contemplated and (ii) will defend Pledgor's title or interest thereto or
        therein against any and all attachments, liens, claims, encumbrances,
        security interests or other impediments of any nature, however arising,
        of all persons whomsoever.

        SECTION 5.      Further Assurances. Pledgor agrees that at any time and
from time to time, at the expense of Pledgor, Pledgor will promptly execute and
deliver all further instruments and documents, and take all further action, that
may be necessary or desirable, or that Pledgee may request, in order to perfect
and protect any security interest granted or purported to be granted hereby or
to enable Pledgee to exercise and enforce Pledgee's rights and remedies
hereunder with respect to any Pledged Collateral.

        SECTION 6.      Voting Rights; Dividends; Etc.

                (a)     So long as no Event of Default (as defined herein) or
        event which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both,
        would become an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing:

                (i)     Pledgor shall be entitled to exercise any and all voting
        and other consensual rights pertaining to the Pledged Collateral or any
        part thereof for any purpose not inconsistent with the terms of this
        Agreement, including, but not limited to, the right to exercise any
        Options; provided, however, that Pledgor shall not exercise or refrain
        from exercising any such right if, in Pledgee's judgment, such action
        would have a material adverse effect on the value of the Pledged
        Collateral or any part thereof, and, provided, further, that Pledgor
        shall give Pledgee at least five (5) days written notice of the manner
        in which Pledgor intends to exercise, or the reasons for refraining from
        exercising, any such right.

                (ii)    Pledgor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and
        all dividends paid in respect of Pledged Collateral, provided, however,
        that any and all:

                        (A)     dividends paid or payable other than in cash in
                respect of, and instruments and other property received,
                receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, or in
                exchange for, any Pledged Collateral,



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<PAGE>   4

                        (B)     dividends and other distributions paid or
                payable in cash in respect of any Pledged Collateral in
                connection with a partial or total liquidation or dissolution or
                in connection with a reduction of capital, capital surplus or
                paid-in-surplus, and

                        (C)     cash paid, payable or otherwise distributed in
                respect of principal of, or in redemption of, or in exchange
                for, any Pledged Collateral,

        shall be, and shall forthwith be delivered to Pledgee to hold as,
        Pledged Collateral and shall, if received by Pledgor, be received in
        trust for the benefit of Pledgee, be segregated from the other property
        or funds of Pledgor, and be forthwith delivered to Pledgee as Pledged
        Collateral in the same form as so received (with any necessary
        endorsement).

                (iii)   Pledgee shall execute and deliver (or cause to be
        executed and delivered) to Pledgor all such proxies and other
        instruments as Pledgor may reasonably request for the purpose of
        enabling Pledgor to exercise the voting and other rights which Pledgor
        is entitled to exercise pursuant to paragraph (i) above and to receive
        the dividends or interest payments which Pledgor is authorized to
        receive and retain pursuant to paragraph (ii) above.

                (b)     Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an
Event of Default or an event which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of
time, or both, would become an Event of Default:

                (i)     All rights of Pledgor to exercise the voting and other
        consensual rights which Pledgor would otherwise be entitled to exercise
        pursuant to Section 6(a)(i) and to receive the dividend payments which
        Pledgor would otherwise be authorized to receive and retain pursuant to
        Section 6(a)(ii) shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become
        vested in Pledgee who shall thereupon have the sole right to exercise
        such voting and other consensual rights and to receive and hold as
        Pledged Collateral such dividend payments.

                (ii)    All dividend payments which are received by Pledgor
        contrary to the provisions of paragraph (i) of this Section 6(b) or
        contrary to any other agreement with Pledgee shall be received in trust
        for the benefit of Pledgee, shall be segregated from other funds of
        Pledgor and shall be forthwith paid over to Pledgee as Pledged
        Collateral in the same form as so received (with any necessary
        endorsement).

        As used in this Agreement the term "EVENT OF DEFAULT" means the
occurrence of any of the following events:

                (a)     If Pledgor shall fail to make a payment of principal or
        interest under the Note when due, and such failure shall continue more
        than ten (10) days after Pledgee gives Pledgor written notice thereof;
        or



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<PAGE>   5

                (b)     If Pledgor shall fail to make any other payment, or fail
        to perform any other obligation of Pledgor, under the Note or this
        Agreement, other than obligations within the scope of the immediately
        preceding clause (a), and such failure shall continue more than ten (10)
        days after Pledgee gives Pledgor written notice thereof; or

                (c)     If Pledgor's employment with Pledgee shall terminate
        (voluntarily or involuntarily) for any reason; or

                (d)     If there shall be filed by or against Pledgor any
        petition under the United States Bankruptcy Code or any similar federal
        or state statute; or

                (e)     Commencement of any proceeding under any federal or
        state statute or rule providing for the relief of debtors, composition
        of creditors, arrangement, reorganization, receivership, liquidation or
        any similar event by or against Pledgor; or

                (f)     The breach of any representation or warranty contained
        in this Agreement.

        SECTION 7.      Transfers and Other Liens; Additional Shares.

                (a)     Pledgor agrees that Pledgor will not (i) sell or
otherwise dispose of, or grant any option with respect to, any of the Pledged
Collateral, or (ii) create or permit to exist any lien, security interest, or
other charge or encumbrance upon or with respect to any of the Pledged
Collateral, except for the security interest under this Agreement.

                (b)     Pledgor agrees that if the Issuer shall issue any stock
or other securities to Pledgor or in respect of, in addition to, or in
substitution for, the Pledged Collateral, Pledgor will pledge hereunder, and
deliver to Pledgee, immediately upon Pledgor's acquisition (directly or
indirectly) thereof, any and all such stock or other securities of Issuer.

        SECTION 8.      Pledgee Appointed Attorney-in-Fact. Pledgor hereby
appoints Pledgee, and any officer or agent of Pledgee, with full power of
substitution, Pledgor's attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place and
stead of Pledgor and in the name of Pledgor or otherwise, from time to time in
Pledgee's discretion to take any action and to execute any instrument which
Pledgee may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this
Agreement, which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an interest.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Pledgee shall have the right,
with full power of substitution either in Pledgee's name or in the name of
Pledgor, to ask for, demand, sue for, collect, receipt and give acquittance for
any and all moneys due or to become due under and by virtue of any Pledged
Collateral, to endorse checks, drafts, orders and other instruments for the
payment of money payable to Pledgor representing any interest or dividend, or
other distribution payable in respect of the Pledged Collateral or any part
thereof or on account thereof and to give full discharge for the same, to
settle, compromise, prosecute or defend any action, claim or proceedings with
respect thereto, and to sell, assign, endorse, pledge, transfer and make any
agreement respecting, or otherwise deal with, the same.



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<PAGE>   6

        SECTION 9.      Continuing Security Interest; Transfer of Notes; Return
of Collateral. This Agreement shall create a continuing security interest in the
Pledged Collateral and shall (i) remain in full force and effect until payment
in full of the Obligations, (ii) be binding upon Pledgor and their respective
personal representatives, successors and assigns, and (iii) inure, together with
the rights and remedies of Pledgee hereunder, to the benefit of Pledgee and
Pledgee's successors, transferees and assigns. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing clause (iii) Pledgee may assign or otherwise transfer any Note
held by Pledgee to any other person or entity, and such other person or entity
shall thereupon become vested with all the benefits in respect thereof granted
to Pledgee herein or otherwise. Upon the payment in full of the Obligations,
Pledgor shall be entitled to the return, upon Pledgor's request and at Pledgor's
expense, of such of the Pledged Collateral as shall not have been sold or
otherwise applied pursuant to the terms hereof. If any of the Pledged Collateral
is owned by more than one person, then this Agreement shall be executed by all
such parties and the Pledgee may deliver such Pledged Collateral to any one or
more of such persons, whose receipt shall be binding on all such persons.

        SECTION 10.     Reasonable Care. Pledgee shall be deemed to have
exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of the Pledged
Collateral in Pledgee's possession if the Pledged Collateral is accorded
treatment substantially equal to that which Pledgee accords Pledgee's own
property, it being understood that Pledgee shall not have responsibility for (i)
ascertaining or taking action with respect to calls, conversions, exchanges,
maturities, tenders or other matters relative to any Pledged Collateral, whether
or not Pledgee has or is deemed to have knowledge of such matters, or (ii)
taking any necessary steps to preserve rights against any parties with respect
to any Pledged Collateral. No action taken by Pledgee or omitted to be taken
with respect to the Pledged Collateral or any part thereof shall give rise to
any defense, counterclaim or offset in favor of Pledgor or to any claim or
action against Pledgee in the absence of the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of Pledgee.

        SECTION 11.     Remedies upon Default. If an Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, Pledgee may sell the Pledged Collateral, or any part
thereof, at public or private sale or at any broker's board or on any securities
exchange, for cash, upon credit or for future delivery as Pledgee shall deem
appropriate. Pledgee shall be authorized at any such sale (if Pledgee deems it
advisable to do so) to restrict the prospective bidders or purchasers to persons
who will represent and agree that they are purchasing the Pledged Collateral for
their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or sale
thereof, and upon consummation of any such sale Pledgee shall have the right to
assign, transfer and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers thereof the Pledged
Collateral so sold. Each such purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property
sold absolutely, free from any claim or right on the part of Pledgor, and
Pledgor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by law) all rights of redemption,
stay and appraisal which Pledgor now has or may at any time in the future have
under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted.

               Pledgee shall give Pledgor at least ten (10) days written notice
(which Pledgor agrees is reasonable notice within the meaning of Section
9-504(3) of the Uniform Commercial Code) of Pledgee's intention to make any sale
of the Pledged Collateral owned by Pledgor. Such



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<PAGE>   7

notice, in the case of a public sale, shall state the time and place for such
sale and, in the case of a sale at a broker's board or on a securities exchange,
shall state the board or exchange at which such sale is to be made and the day
on which the Pledged Collateral, or portion thereof, will first be offered for
sale at such board or exchange. Any such public sale shall be held at such time
or times within ordinary business hours and at such place or places as Pledgee
may fix and state in the notice of such sale. At any such sale, the Pledged
Collateral, or portion thereof, to be sold may be sold in one lot as an entirety
or in separate parcels, as Pledgee may (in Pledgee's sole and absolute
discretion) determine. Pledgee shall not be obligated to make any sale of any
Pledged Collateral if Pledgee shall determine not to do so, regardless of the
fact that notice of sale of such Pledged Collateral shall have been given.
Pledgee may, without notice or publication, adjourn any public or private sale
or cause the same to be adjourned from time to time by announcement at the time
and place fixed for sale, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at
the time and place to which the same was so adjourned. In case any sale of all
or any part of the Pledged Collateral is made on credit or for future delivery,
the Pledged Collateral so sold may be retained by Pledgee until the sale price
is paid by the purchaser or purchasers thereof, but Pledgee shall not incur any
liability in case any such purchaser or purchasers shall fail to take up and pay
for the Pledged Collateral so sold and, in case of any such failure, such
Pledged Collateral may be sold again upon notice to Pledgor as set forth in the
first sentence of this paragraph. At any public sale made pursuant to this
Section, Pledgee may bid for or purchase, free (to the extent permitted by law)
from any right of redemption, stay or appraisal on the part of Pledgor (all said
rights being also hereby waived and released to the extent permitted by law),
the Pledged Collateral or any part thereof offered for sale and may make payment
on account thereof by using any claim then due and payable to Pledgee from
Pledgor as a credit against the purchase price, and Pledgee may, upon compliance
with the terms of sale, hold, retain and dispose of such property without
further accountability to Pledgor therefor. For purposes hereof, a written
agreement to purchase the Pledged Collateral or any portion thereof shall be
treated as a sale thereof; Pledgee shall be free to carry out such sale pursuant
to such agreement, and Pledgor shall not be entitled to the return of the
Pledged Collateral or any portion thereof subject thereto, notwithstanding the
fact that after Pledgee shall have entered into such an agreement all Events of
Default shall have been remedied and the Obligations paid in full. As an
alternative to exercising the power of sale herein conferred upon Pledgee,
Pledgee may proceed by a suit or suits at law or in equity to foreclose this
Agreement and to sell the Pledged Collateral or any portion thereof pursuant to
a judgment or decree of a court or courts having competent jurisdiction or
pursuant to a proceeding by a court-appointed receiver.

               To the extent permitted by applicable law, Pledgee shall have
absolute discretion as to the time of application of any such proceeds, moneys
or balances in accordance with this Agreement. Upon any sale of the Pledged
Collateral by Pledgee (including, without limitation, a sale pursuant to a power
of sale granted by statute or under a judicial proceeding), the receipt of
Pledgee or of the officer making the sale shall be a sufficient discharge to the
purchaser or purchasers of the Pledged Collateral being sold, and such purchaser
or purchasers shall not be obligated to see to the application of any part of
the purchase money paid over to Pledgee or such officer or be answerable in any
way for the misapplication thereof.



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<PAGE>   8

        SECTION 12.     Expenses. If Pledgor shall default in payment of the
Note, or under this Agreement, and Pledgee refers the Note to an attorney who is
not a salaried employee of Pledgee for collection, Pledgee may charge and
collect from Pledgor reasonable attorneys fees and all court costs and other
collection costs actually incurred by Pledgee relating to Pledgor's default.

        SECTION 13.     Security Interest Absolute.  All rights of Pledgee and
the security interests hereunder, and all obligations of Pledgor hereunder,
shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of:

                (i)     any lack of validity or enforceability of the Note or
        any other documents relating to the Pledged Collateral;

                (ii)    any change in the time, manner or place of payment of,
        or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other
        amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from the Note or
        any other documents relating to the Loan or the Pledged Collateral;

                (iii)   any exchange, release or non-perfection of any other
        collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to
        departure from any guaranty, for all or any of the Obligations; or

                (iv)    any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute
        a defense available to, or a discharge of, Pledgor in respect of the
        Obligations or this Agreement.

        SECTION 14.     Notices. Any notice required or permitted by or in
connection with this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be made by
telecopy, or by hand delivery, or by overnight delivery service, or by certified
mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the parties at the
appropriate address set forth on the first page of this Agreement or to such
other address as may be hereafter specified by written notice by the parties to
each other. Notice shall be considered given as of the earlier of the date of
actual receipt, or the date of the telecopy or hand delivery, or one (1)
calendar day after delivery to an overnight delivery service, or three (3)
calendar days after the date of mailing, independent of the date of actual
delivery or whether delivery is ever in fact made, as the case may be, provided
the giver of notice can establish that notice was given as provided herein.
Notwithstanding the aforesaid procedures, any notice or demand upon Pledgor, in
fact received by Pledgor, shall be sufficient notice or demand.

        SECTION 15.     Amendments; Severability. No amendment or waiver of any
provision of this Agreement nor consent to any departure by Pledgor from any
provision of this Agreement, shall in any event be effective unless the same
shall be in writing and signed by Pledgee, and then such waiver or consent shall
be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for
which given. If any provision of this Agreement is or shall at any time be
invalid and unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, (i) the other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect in such jurisdiction and shall be liberally construed in
favor of Pledgee in order to carry out the intentions of the parties hereto as
nearly as may be possible; and (ii) the invalidity or unenforceability of any


                                     - 8 -
<PAGE>   9

provision of this Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

        SECTION 16.     Maryland Law; Jurisdiction; Venue. This Agreement shall
be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland (excluding Maryland conflicts
of laws rules). Pledgor hereby irrevocably consents to the non-exclusive
personal jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Maryland and, if a basis for
federal jurisdiction exists, the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the United States
District Court for the District of Maryland. Pledgor agrees that venue shall be
proper in any circuit court of the State of Maryland selected by Pledgee or, if
a basis for federal jurisdiction exists, in any Division of the United States
District Court for the District of Maryland. Pledgor waives any right to object
to the maintenance of any suit or claim in any of the state or federal courts of
the State of Maryland on the basis of improper venue or of inconvenience of
forum. Any suit or claim brought by Pledgor against Pledgee that is based, in
whole or in part, directly or indirectly, on this Agreement or any matters
relating to this Agreement, shall be brought in a court only in the State of
Maryland. Pledgor shall not file any counterclaim against Pledgee in any suit or
claim brought by Pledgee against Pledgor in a jurisdiction outside of the State
of Maryland unless under the rules of the court in which Pledgee brought such
suit or claim the counterclaim is mandatory, and not permissive, and would be
considered waived unless filed as a counterclaim in the claim or suit instituted
by Pledgee against Pledgor. Pledgor agrees that any forum outside the State of
Maryland is an inconvenient forum and that a suit brought by Pledgor against
Pledgee in any court outside the State of Maryland should be dismissed or
transferred to a court located in the State of Maryland.


                                     - 9 -
<PAGE>   10


        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Pledgor has caused this Agreement to be duly
executed, under seal, and delivered as of the date first above written.

WITNESS:
                                                                          (SEAL)
-----------------------------       --------------------------------------------
                                    Pledgor,



State of _____________, County of ______________, to wit:

        On this the _______ day of _____________, 2001, before me, the
undersigned officer, personally appeared ________________________________, known
to me (or satisfactorily proven) to be the person whose name is subscribed to
the within instrument, and acknowledged that he executed the same for the
purposes therein contained.

        In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and official seal.


                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Notary Public
My commission expires:
                      --------------


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