<PAGE>
 
                                                                   EXHIBIT 4.22

================================================================================


                            McLeodUSA Incorporated

                                 $500,000,000

                         8 1/8% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2009


                               ________________

                                   INDENTURE

                         Dated as of February 22, 1999

                               ________________



                   United States Trust Company of New York,

                                    Trustee


================================================================================
<PAGE>
 
                             CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

Reconciliation and tie between the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and
the Indenture, dated as of February 22, 1999

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  Trust
Indenture
   Act                                                          Indenture
 Section                                                         Section
---------                                                       ---------
<S>                                                           <C>
(S)310(a)(1)..............................................            7.10
      (a)(2)..............................................            7.10
      (a)(3)..............................................             N.A.
      (a)(4)..............................................             N.A.
      (a)(5)..............................................             7.10
      (b).................................................       7.08; 7.10
      (c).................................................             N.A.
(S)311(a).................................................             7.11
      (b).................................................             7.11
      (c).................................................             N.A.
(S)312(a).................................................    7.06(a); 7.06(b)
      (b).................................................             7.06(c)
      (c).................................................             7.06(d)
(S)313(a).................................................             7.06(e)
      (b).................................................             N.A.
      (c).................................................    7.06(e); 7.06(f)
      (d).................................................             7.06
(S)314(a).................................................       4.18; 4.19
      (b).................................................             N.A.
      (c)(1)..............................................            10.03
      (c)(2)..............................................            10.03
      (c)(3)..............................................             N.A.
      (d).................................................             N.A.
      (e).................................................            10.04
      (f).................................................             4.19
(S)315(a).................................................             7.01(b)
      (b).................................................             7.05(a)
      (c).................................................             7.01(a)
      (d).................................................             7.01(c)
      (e).................................................             6.10
(S)316(a).................................................             2.10
      (a)(1)(A)...........................................             6.05
      (a)(1)(B)...........................................             6.04
      (a)(2)..............................................             N.A.
      (b).................................................             6.07
      (c).................................................             9.05
(S)317(a)(1)..............................................             N.A.
      (a)(2)..............................................             6.08
      (b).................................................             2.07
(S)318(a).................................................            10.01
</TABLE> 

       Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed
             to be part of the Indenture.

<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
<S>                                                                         <C> 
                       ARTICLE I.  DEFINITIONS AND OTHER 
                       PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

    SECTION 1.01.  Definitions..............................................  1
    SECTION 1.02.  Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act........ 23
    SECTION 1.03.  Rules of Construction.................................... 23
    SECTION 1.04.  Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee................... 24
    SECTION 1.05.  Acts of Holders.......................................... 24
    SECTION 1.06.  Satisfaction and Discharge............................... 25

                            ARTICLE II.  THE NOTES

    SECTION 2.01.  Form and Dating.......................................... 26
    SECTION 2.02.  Form of Face of Note..................................... 27
    SECTION 2.03.  Form of Reverse of Note.................................. 31
    SECTION 2.04.  Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.......... 38
    SECTION 2.06.  Note Registrar and Paying Agent.......................... 39
    SECTION 2.07.  Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust................ ..... 40
    SECTION 2.08.  Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange...... 40
    SECTION 2.09.  Replacement Notes........................................ 46
    SECTION 2.10.  Outstanding Notes........................................ 47
    SECTION 2.11.  Temporary Notes.......................................... 48
    SECTION 2.12.  Cancellation............................................. 48
    SECTION 2.13.  Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved........... 48
    SECTION 2.14.  Authorized Denominations................................. 49
    SECTION 2.15.  Computation of Interest.................................. 49
    SECTION 2.16.  Persons Deemed Owners.................................... 49
    SECTION 2.17.  CUSIP Numbers............................................ 50
    SECTION 2.18.  Holder Lists............................................. 50

                           ARTICLE III.  REDEMPTION

    SECTION 3.01.  Notice to Trustee........................................ 50
    SECTION 3.02.  Selection of Notes to be Redeemed........................ 50
    SECTION 3.03.  Notice of Redemption..................................... 51
    SECTION 3.04.  Effect of Notice of Redemption........................... 52
    SECTION 3.05.  Deposit of Redemption Price.............................. 52
    SECTION 3.06.  Notes Redeemed in Part................................... 52
</TABLE>

                                       i
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
                                              ARTICLE IV.  COVENANTS
    <S>                                                                                                 <C> 
    SECTION 4.01.  Payment of Notes..................................................................   52
    SECTION 4.02.  Maintenance of Office or Agency...................................................   53
    SECTION 4.03.  Money for the Note Payments to be Held in Trust...................................   53
    SECTION 4.04.  Corporate Existence...............................................................   54
    SECTION 4.05.  Maintenance of Property...........................................................   54
    SECTION 4.06.  Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.................................................   54
    SECTION 4.07.  Repurchase at the Option of Holders upon a Change of Control......................   54
    SECTION 4.08.  Limitation on Asset Sales.........................................................   56
    SECTION 4.09.  Limitation on Consolidated Indebtedness...........................................   59
    SECTION 4.10.  Limitation on Indebtedness and Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries.........   62
    SECTION 4.11.  Limitation on Restricted Payments.................................................   64
    SECTION 4.12.  Limitation on Liens...............................................................   67
    SECTION 4.13.  Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions.....................................   69
    SECTION 4.14.  Limitation on Dividends and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries.....   69
    SECTION 4.15.  Limitation on Issuance and Sale of Capital Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries.......   70
    SECTION 4.16.  Transactions with Affiliates......................................................   71
    SECTION 4.17.  Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries..........................................   72
    SECTION 4.18.  Reports...........................................................................   73
    SECTION 4.19.  Compliance Certificate; Notice of Default or Event of Default.....................   73

                                    ARTICLE V.  CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, 
                                      CONVEYANCE, LEASE OR TRANSFER

    SECTION 5.01.  Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets...........................................   74
    SECTION 5.02.  Successor Corporation Substituted.................................................   75

                                    ARTICLE VI.  DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

    SECTION 6.01.  Events of Default.................................................................   75
    SECTION 6.02.  Acceleration......................................................................   78
    SECTION 6.03.  Other Remedies....................................................................   79
    SECTION 6.04.  Waiver of Past Defaults...........................................................   79
    SECTION 6.05.  Control by Majority...............................................................   80
    SECTION 6.06.  Limitation on Suits...............................................................   80
    SECTION 6.07.  Rights of Holders to Receive Payment..............................................   81
    SECTION 6.08.  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim..................................................   81
    SECTION 6.09.  Priorities........................................................................   81
    SECTION 6.10.  Undertaking for Costs.............................................................   82
</TABLE>

                                      ii
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
    <S>                                                                                <C>
    SECTION 6.11.  Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws..................................  82
    SECTION 6.12.  Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of the Notes........  82
    SECTION 6.13.  Restoration of Rights and Remedies................................  83
    SECTION 6.14.  Rights and Remedies Cumulative....................................  83
    SECTION 6.15.  Delay or Omission Not Waiver......................................  83

                                     ARTICLE VII.  TRUSTEE

    SECTION 7.01.  Duties of Trustee.................................................  83
    SECTION 7.02.  Rights of Trustee.................................................  84
    SECTION 7.03.  Individual Rights of Trustee......................................  85
    SECTION 7.04.  Trustee's Disclaimer..............................................  85
    SECTION 7.05.  Notice of Defaults................................................  86
    SECTION 7.06.  Preservation of Information; Reports by Trustee to Holders........  86
    SECTION 7.07.  Compensation and Indemnity........................................  87
    SECTION 7.08.  Replacement of Trustee............................................  88
    SECTION 7.09.  Successor Trustee by Merger.......................................  90
    SECTION 7.10.  Eligibility; Disqualification.....................................  90
    SECTION 7.11.  Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.................  91

                                   ARTICLE VIII.  DEFEASANCE

    SECTION 8.01.  Company's Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant
                    Defeasance.......................................................  91
    SECTION 8.02.  Legal Defeasance and Discharge....................................  91
    SECTION 8.03.  Covenant Defeasance...............................................  92
    SECTION 8.04.  Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance...................  92
    SECTION 8.05.  Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held
                    in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions...............................  94

                                    ARTICLE IX.  AMENDMENTS

    SECTION 9.01.  Without Consent of Holders........................................  95
    SECTION 9.02.  With Consent of Holders...........................................  95
    SECTION 9.03.  Effect of Supplemental Indentures.................................  96
    SECTION 9.04.  Compliance with Trust Indenture Act...............................  96
    SECTION 9.05.  Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers.....................  96
    SECTION 9.06.  Notation on or Exchange of Notes..................................  97
    SECTION 9.07.  Trustee to Execute Supplemental Indentures........................  97

                          ARTICLE X.    MISCELLANEOUS
</TABLE>

                                      iii
 
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
     <S>                                                                    <C>
     SECTION 10.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls........................... 97
     SECTION 10.02. Notices................................................ 98
     SECTION 10.03. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent..... 98
     SECTION 10.04. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.......... 98
     SECTION 10.05. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Note Registrar...... 98
     SECTION 10.06. Payments on Business Days.............................. 99
     SECTION 10.07. Governing Law.......................................... 99
     SECTION 10.08. No Recourse Against Others............................. 99
     SECTION 10.09. Successors............................................. 99
     SECTION 10.10. Counterparts........................................... 99
     SECTION 10.11. Table of Contents; Headings............................ 99
     SECTION 10.12. Severability........................................... 99
     SECTION 10.13. Further Instruments and Acts........................... 99
</TABLE>


     ANNEX A  FORM OF REGULATION S CERTIFICATE
     ANNEX B  FORM OF RESTRICTED SECURITIES CERTIFICATE
     ANNEX C  FORM OF UNRESTRICTED SECURITIES CERTIFICATE

                                      iv
<PAGE>
 
     INDENTURE, dated as of February 22, 1999, between MCLEODUSA INCORPORATED, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), having its principal office at 6400 C
Street, S.W., Cedar Rapids, Iowa  52406, and UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY OF NEW
YORK, a bank and trust company organized under the New York banking law, as
trustee hereunder (the "Trustee"), having its Corporate Trust Office at 114 West
47th Street, New York, New York 10036.

                            RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

     The Company has duly authorized the creation and issue of its 8 1/8% Senior
Notes Due 2009 (the "Notes") of substantially the tenor and amount hereinafter
set forth, and to provide therefor the Company has duly authorized the execution
and delivery of this Indenture.

     All things necessary to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee hereunder and duly issued by the
Company, the valid obligations of the Company, and to make this Indenture a
valid instrument of the Company, in accordance with their respective terms, have
been done.

     NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH, that, for and in consideration
of the premises and the purchase of the Original Notes by the Holders thereof,
it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of
all Holders of the Notes, as follows:

                                  ARTICLE I.

            DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

     SECTION I.1.  Definitions.  For all purposes of this Indenture, except as
                   -----------                                                
otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

          (a) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to
     them in this Article, and include the plural as well as the singular; and

          (b) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the
     meanings assigned to them in accordance with GAAP.

     "Acquired Indebtedness" means, with respect to any specified Person,
      ---------------------                                              
Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person merged
with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person; provided that such
Indebtedness was not incurred in connection with, or in anticipation or
contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into or becoming a
Subsidiary of such specified Person, but excluding Indebtedness which is
<PAGE>
 
extinguished, retired or repaid in connection with such other Person merging
with or into or becoming a Subsidiary of such specified Person.

     "Act" when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning set forth in
      ---                                                                    
Section 1.05 hereof.

     "Affiliate" means, as to any Person, any other Person which directly or
      ---------                                                             
indirectly controls, or is under common control with, or is controlled by, such
Person; provided that each Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to be an
Affiliate of the Company and of each other Subsidiary of the Company; provided,
further, that neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall
be deemed to be Affiliates of each other.  For purposes of this definition,
"control" (including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlling," "under
common control with" and "controlled by"), as used with respect to any Person,
shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or
cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether
through the ownership of Voting Stock, by agreement or otherwise.

     "Affiliate Transaction" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.16 hereof.
      ---------------------                                                   

     "Agent Member" means any member of, or participant in, the Depositary.
      ------------                                                         

     "Applicable Procedures" means, with respect to any transfer or transaction
      ---------------------                                                    
involving a Global Security or beneficial interest therein, the rules and
procedures of the Depositary for such Note, Euroclear and Cedel, in each case to
the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.

     "Asset Sale" by any Person means any transfer, conveyance, sale, lease or
      ----------                                                              
other disposition by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
(including a consolidation or merger or other sale of any such Restricted
Subsidiary with, into or to another Person in a transaction in which such
Restricted Subsidiary ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the specified
Person, but excluding a disposition by a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person to
such Person or a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary of such Person or by such
Person to a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary of such Person) of (i) shares of
Capital Stock or other ownership interests of a Restricted Subsidiary of such
Person (other than as permitted by the provisions of Section 4.10 hereof), (ii)
substantially all of the assets of such Person or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries representing a division or line of business (other than as part of
a Permitted Investment) or (iii) other assets or rights of such Person or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries outside of the ordinary course of business and, in
each case, that is not governed by Article V hereof; provided that "Asset Sale"
shall not include (i) sales or other dispositions of inventory, receivables and
other current assets in the ordinary course of business, (ii) simultaneous
exchanges by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Telecommunications
Assets for other Telecommunications Assets in the ordinary course of business;
provided that the applicable Telecommunications Assets received by the Company
or such Restricted 
<PAGE>
 
Subsidiary have at least substantially equal Fair Market Value to the Company or
such Restricted Subsidiary (as determined by the Board of Directors whose good
faith determination shall be conclusive and evidenced by a Board Resolution),
and (iii) sales or other dispositions of assets with a Fair Market Value (as
certified in an Officers' Certificate) not in excess of $1 million.

     "Asset Sale Offer" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.08(c) hereof.
      ----------------                                                      

     "Asset Sale Payment Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.08(d)(ii)
      -----------------------                                                  
hereof.

     "Asset Sale Purchase Price" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.08(c)
      -------------------------                                              
hereof.

     "Attributable Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Sale and Leaseback
      -------------------------                                               
Transaction of any Person, as at the time of determination, the greater of (i)
the capitalized amount in respect of such transaction that would appear on the
balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP and (ii) the present value
(discounted at a rate consistent with accounting guidelines, as determined in
good faith by the responsible accounting officer of such Person) of the payments
during the remaining term of the lease (including any period for which such
lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended) or
until the earliest date on which the lessee may terminate such lease without
penalty or upon payment of a penalty (in which case the rental payments shall
include such penalty).

     "Average Life" means, as of any date, with respect to any debt security or
      ------------                                                             
Disqualified Stock, the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the
products of (x) the number of years from such date to the dates of each
scheduled principal payment or redemption payment (including any sinking fund or
mandatory redemption payment requirements) of such debt security or Disqualified
Stock multiplied in each case by (y) the amount of such principal or redemption
payment, by (ii) the sum of all such principal or redemption payments.

     "Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Company or any
      ------------------                                                    
committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of the Board of Directors.

     "Board Resolution" means a duly adopted resolution of the Board of
      ----------------                                                 
Directors in full force and effect at the time of determination.

     "Business Day" means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
      ------------                                                            
that is not a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are
authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.

     "Capital Lease Obligation" of any Person means the obligation to pay rent
      ------------------------                                                
or other payment amounts under a lease of (or other Indebtedness arrangement
conveying the right to use) real or personal property of such Person which is
required to be classified and accounted 

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
for as a capital lease or a liability on the face of a balance sheet of such
Person prepared in accordance with GAAP, and the stated maturity thereof shall
be the date of the last payment of rent or any amount due under such lease prior
to the first date upon which such lease may be terminated by the lessee without
payment of a penalty.

     "Capital Stock" in any Person means any and all shares, interests,
      -------------                                                    
participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated)
in such Person and any rights (other than Indebtedness convertible into an
equity interest), warrants or options to subscribe for or acquire an equity
interest in such Person.

     "Cash Proceeds" means, with respect to any Asset Sale or issuance or sale
      -------------                                                           
of Capital Stock by any Person, the aggregate consideration received in respect
of such sale or issuance by such Person in the form of cash and Eligible Cash
Equivalents.

     "Cedel" means Cedel Bank, S.A. (or any successor securities clearing
      -----                                                              
agency).

     "Change of Control shall be deemed to occur if (i) the sale, conveyance,
      -----------------                                                      
transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to
any "Person" or "group" (within the meaning of Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of
the Exchange Act or any successor provision to either of the foregoing,
including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of
securities within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(i) under the Exchange Act), other
than any Permitted Holder or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, shall
have occurred; or (ii) any "Person" or "group" (within the meaning of Sections
13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision to either
of the foregoing, including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring,
holding or disposing of securities within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(i) under
the Exchange Act), other than any Permitted Holder, becomes the "beneficial
owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of more than 35 percent
of the total voting power of all classes of the Voting Stock of the Company
(including any warrants, options or rights to acquire such Voting Stock),
calculated on a fully diluted basis, and such voting power percentage is greater
than or equal to the total voting power percentage then beneficially owned by
the Permitted Holders in the aggregate; or (iii) during any period of two
consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted
the Board of Directors (together with any directors whose election or
appointment by the Board of Directors or whose nomination for election by the
stockholders of the Company was approved by a vote of a majority of the
directors then still in office who were either directors at the beginning of
such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so
approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of
Directors then in office.

     "Change of Control Offer" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.07(a)
      -----------------------                                              
hereof.

     "Change of Control Payment Date" has the meaning set forth in Section
      ------------------------------                                      
4.07(b)(ii) hereof.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
     "Change of Control Purchase Price" has the meaning set forth in Section
      --------------------------------                                      
4.07(a) hereof.

     "clearing agency" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(23) of the
      ---------------                                                      
Exchange Act.

     "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
      ----                                                      

     "Commission" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, as
      ----------                                                                
from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any
time after the execution of this Indenture such commission is not existing and
performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, the body
performing such duties at such time.

     "Common Stock" means Capital Stock other than Preferred Stock.
      ------------                                                 

     "Company" means the party named as such in the preamble to this Indenture
      -------                                                                 
until a successor replaces it pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and,
thereafter, means such successor.

     "Company Order" means a written order signed in the name of the Company by
      -------------                                                            
(i) its Chairman of the Board, President, a Vice Chairman or a Vice President,
and (ii) its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary.

     "Consolidated Capital Ratio" of any Person as of any date means the ratio
      --------------------------                                              
of (i) the aggregate consolidated principal amount of Indebtedness of such
Person then outstanding to (ii) the aggregate consolidated paid-in capital of
such Person as of such date.

     "Consolidated Cash Flow Available for Fixed Charges" for any period means
      --------------------------------------------------                      
the Consolidated Net Income of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for
such period increased by the sum of (i) Consolidated Interest Expense of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, plus (ii) Consolidated
Income Tax Expense of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such
period, plus (iii) the consolidated depreciation and amortization expense
included in the income statement of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
for such period, plus (iv) any non-cash expense related to the issuance to
employees of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of options
to purchase Capital Stock of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, plus (v)
any charge related to any premium or penalty paid in connection with redeeming
or retiring any Indebtedness prior to its stated maturity; and plus (vi) any
non-cash expense related to a purchase accounting adjustment not requiring an
accrual or reserve and separately disclosed in the Company's Consolidated Income
Statement, and decreased by the amount of any non-cash item that increases such
Consolidated Net Income, all as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance
with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded therefrom the Consolidated Cash

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
Flow Available for Fixed Charges (if positive) of any Restricted Subsidiary of
the Company (calculated separately for such Restricted Subsidiary in the same
manner as provided above for the Company) that is subject to a restriction which
prevents the payment of dividends or the making of distributions to the Company
or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the extent of such
restriction.

     "Consolidated Income Tax Expense" for any period means the aggregate
      -------------------------------                                    
amounts of the provisions for income taxes of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance
with GAAP.

     "Consolidated Interest Expense" means for any period the interest expense
      -----------------------------                                           
included in a consolidated income statement (excluding interest income) of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period in accordance with GAAP,
including without limitation or duplication (or, to the extent not so included,
with the addition of), (i) the amortization of Indebtedness discount; (ii) any
payments or fees with respect to letters of credit, bankers' acceptances or
similar facilities; (iii) fees with respect to interest rate swap or similar
agreements or foreign currency hedge, exchange or similar agreements; (iv)
Preferred Stock dividends of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other
than dividends paid in shares of Preferred Stock that is not Disqualified Stock)
declared and paid or payable; (v) accrued Disqualified Stock dividends of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not declared or paid; (vi)
interest on Indebtedness guaranteed by the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries; and (vii) the portion of any Capital Lease Obligation paid during
such period that is allocable to interest expense in accordance with GAAP.

     "Consolidated Net Income" of any Person means, for any period, the
      -----------------------                                          
aggregate net income (or net loss) of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis determined in accordance
with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded therefrom, without duplication
(i) all items classified as extraordinary, (ii) any net income (or net loss) of
any Person other than such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, except to the
extent of the amount of dividends or other distributions actually paid to such
Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries by such other Person during such period,
(iii) the net income of any Person acquired by such Person or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries in a pooling-of-interests transaction for any period
prior to the date of the related acquisition, (iv) any gain or loss, net of
taxes, realized on the termination of any employee pension benefit plan, (v) net
gains (or net losses) in respect of Asset Sales by such Person or its Restricted
Subsidiaries, (vi) the net income (or net loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary of
such Person to the extent that the payment of dividends or other distributions
to such Person is restricted by the terms of its charter or any agreement,
instrument, contract, judgment, order, decree, statute, rule, governmental
regulation or otherwise, except for any dividends or distributions actually paid
by such Restricted Subsidiary to such Person, (vii) with regard to a non-wholly
owned Restricted Subsidiary, any aggregate net income (or loss) in excess of
such Person's or such Restricted 

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
Subsidiary's pro rata share of such non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary's net
income (or loss) and (viii) the cumulative effect of changes in accounting
principles.

     "Consolidated Net Worth" of any Person means, at any date of determination,
      ----------------------                                                    
the consolidated stockholders' equity or partners' capital (excluding
Disqualified Stock) of such Person and its subsidiaries, as determined in
accordance with GAAP.

     "Consolidated Tangible Assets" of any Person means the total amount of
      ----------------------------                                         
assets (less applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) which
under GAAP would be included on a consolidated balance sheet of such Person and
its Subsidiaries after deducting therefrom all goodwill, trade names,
trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and other like
intangibles, which in each case under GAAP would be included on such
consolidated balance sheet.

     "Corporate Trust Office" means the principal office of the Trustee in the
      ----------------------                                                  
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York which at any particular
time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which at
the date hereof is located at 114 West 47th Street, New York, New York 10036.

     "Covenant Defeasance" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.03 hereof.
      -------------------                                                   

     "Default" means any event, act or condition, the occurrence of which is, or
      -------                                                                   
after notice or the passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

     "Default Amount" means an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the
      --------------                                                            
originally issued principal amount of the Notes.

     "Defaulted Interest" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.13 hereof.
      ------------------                                                   

     "Defeasance" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.02 hereof.
      ----------                                                   

     "Depositary" means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole
      ----------                                                              
or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, The Depository Trust
Company for so long as it shall be a clearing agency registered under the
Exchange Act, or such successor as the Company shall designate from time to time
in an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee.

     "Disqualified Stock" means any Capital Stock which, by its terms (or by the
      ------------------                                                        
terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is
exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, or otherwise, matures or is
mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or
is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, or is exchangeable for
Indebtedness at any time, in whole or in part, on or prior to the Stated
Maturity of the Notes.

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
     "Eligible Cash Equivalents" means (i) securities issued or directly and
      -------------------------                                             
fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency or
instrumentality thereof, provided that the full faith and credit of the United
                         --------                                             
States of America is pledged in support thereof; (ii) time deposits and
certificates of deposit of any commercial bank organized in the United States
having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 with a maturity date not
more than one year from the date of acquisition; (iii) repurchase obligations
with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types
described in clause (i) above entered into with any bank meeting the
qualifications specified in clause (ii) above; (iv) direct obligations issued by
any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any
such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing, or subject to tender
at the option of the holder thereof within 270 calendar days after the date of
acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having a rating of A or
better from Standard & Poor's or A-2 or better from Moody's; (v) commercial
paper issued by the parent corporation of any commercial bank organized in the
United States having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 and
commercial paper issued by others having one of the two highest ratings
obtainable from either Standard & Poor's or Moody's and in each case maturing
within 270 calendar days after the date of acquisition; (vi) overnight bank
deposits and bankers' acceptances at any commercial bank organized in the United
States having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000; (vii) deposits
available for withdrawal on demand with a commercial bank organized in the
United States having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000; and (viii)
investments in money market funds substantially all of whose assets comprise
securities of the types described in clauses (i) through (vi).

     "Euroclear" means the Euroclear Clearance System (or any successor
      ---------                                                        
securities clearing agency).

     "Event of Default" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01 hereof.
      ----------------                                                   

     "Excess Proceeds" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.08(b) hereof.
      ---------------                                                      

     "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
      ------------                                                            
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

     "Exchange Note" means any Note issued in exchange for an Original Note or
      -------------                                                           
Original Notes pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer or otherwise registered
under the Securities Act and any Note with respect to which the next preceding
Predecessor Note of such Note was an Exchange Note.

     "Exchange Offer Registration Statement" has the meaning set forth in the
      -------------------------------------                                  
form of the Notes contained in Section 2.02 hereof.

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
     "Existing Indebtedness" means Indebtedness outstanding on the date of this
      ---------------------                                                    
Indenture (other than under any Senior Credit Facility).

     "Fair Market Value" means, with respect to any asset or Property, the sale
      -----------------                                                        
value that would be obtained in an arm's-length transaction between an informed
and willing seller under no compulsion to sell and an informed and willing buyer
under no compulsion to buy, as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors.

     "GAAP" means United States generally accepted accounting principles,
      ----                                                               
consistently applied, as set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the
Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting
Standards Board, or in such other statements by such other entity as may be
approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession of the United
States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of
determination; provided that, except as otherwise specifically provided herein,
               --------                                                        
all calculations made for purposes of determining compliance with Article IV or
Section 5.01 hereof shall utilize GAAP as in effect on the Issue Date.

     "Global Security" or "Global Securities" means the Note or Notes that
      ---------------      -----------------                              
evidences all or part of the Notes and bears the legend set forth in Section
2.02 hereof.

     "Guarantee" means any direct or indirect obligation, contingent or
      ---------                                                        
otherwise, of a Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of
guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person in any manner.  The terms
"Guaranteed," "Guaranteeing" and "Guarantor" shall have correlative meanings.

     "Holder" means (i) in the case of any certificated Note, the Person in
      ------                                                               
whose name such certificated Note is registered in the Note Register and (ii) in
the case of any Global Security, the Depositary.

     "Incur" means, with respect to any Indebtedness or other obligation of any
      -----                                                                    
Person, to create, issue, incur (by conversion, exchange or otherwise), assume,
Guarantee or otherwise become liable in respect of such Indebtedness or other
obligation including by acquisition of Subsidiaries or the recording, as
required pursuant to GAAP or otherwise, of any such Indebtedness or other
obligation on the balance sheet of such Person (and "Incurrence," "Incurred,"
"Incurrable" and "Incurring" shall have meanings correlative to the foregoing);
provided that a change in GAAP that results in an obligation of such Person that
exists at such time becoming Indebtedness shall not be deemed an Incurrence of
such Indebtedness and that neither the accrual of interest nor the accretion of
original issue discount shall be deemed an Incurrence of Indebtedness.
Indebtedness otherwise incurred by a Person before it becomes a Subsidiary of
the Company (whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
be deemed to have been incurred at the time at which such Person becomes a
Subsidiary of the Company.

     "Indebtedness" means, at any time (without duplication), with respect to
      ------------                                                           
any Person, whether recourse as to all or a portion of the assets of such
Person, and whether or not contingent, (i) any obligation of such Person for
money borrowed, (ii) any obligation of such Person evidenced by bonds,
debentures, notes, Guarantees or other similar instruments, including, without
limitation, any such obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of
Property, assets or businesses, excluding trade accounts payable made in the
ordinary course of business, (iii) any reimbursement obligation of such Person
with respect to letters of credit, bankers' acceptances or similar facilities
issued for the account of such Person, (iv) any obligation of such Person issued
or assumed as the deferred purchase price of Property or services (but excluding
trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of
business, which in either case are not more than 60 days overdue or which are
being contested in good faith), (v) any Capital Lease Obligation of such Person,
(vi) the maximum fixed redemption or repurchase price of Disqualified Stock of
such Person and, to the extent held by Persons other than such Person or its
Restricted Subsidiaries, the maximum fixed redemption or repurchase price of
Disqualified Stock of such Person's Restricted Subsidiaries, at the time of
determination, (vii) every obligation under Interest Rate and Currency
Protection Agreements of such Person, (viii) any Attributable Indebtedness with
respect to any Sale and Leaseback Transaction to which such Person is a party
and (ix) any obligation of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (viii) of
this definition of another Person and all dividends and distributions of another
Person the payment of which, in either case, such Person has Guaranteed or is
responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, as obligor, Guarantor or
otherwise. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the maximum fixed repurchase
price of any Disqualified Stock that does not have a fixed repurchase price
shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock as
if such Disqualified Stock were repurchased on any date on which Indebtedness
shall be required to be determined pursuant to this Indenture; provided that, if
such Disqualified Stock is not then permitted to be repurchased, the repurchase
price shall be the book value of such Disqualified Stock.  The amount of
Indebtedness of any Person at any date shall be the outstanding balance at such
date of all unconditional obligations as described above and, with respect to
contingent obligations, the maximum liability upon the occurrence of the
contingency giving rise to the obligation; provided that the amount outstanding
at any time of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount (including,
without limitation, the Senior Discount Notes) is the face amount of such
Indebtedness less the remaining unamortized portion of the original issue
discount of such Indebtedness at such time as determined in conformity with
GAAP.

     "Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from
      ---------                                                                
time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental
hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for
all purposes of this instrument and 

                                      10
<PAGE>
 
any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that
are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument, and any such supplemental
indenture, respectively.

     "Interest Payment Date" means the Stated Maturity of an installment of
      ---------------------                                                
interest on the Notes.

     "Interest Rate or Currency Protection Agreement" of any Person means any
      ----------------------------------------------                         
forward contract, futures contract, swap, option, future option or other
financial agreement or arrangement (including, without limitation, caps, floors,
collars and similar agreements) relating to, or the value of which is dependent
upon, interest rates or currency exchange rates or indices.

     "Investment" in any Person means any direct, indirect or contingent (i)
      ----------                                                            
advance or loan to, Guarantee of any Indebtedness of, extension of credit or
capital contribution to such Person, (ii) the acquisition of any shares of
Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities of such Person, or
(iii) the acquisition, by purchase or otherwise, of all or substantially all of
the business, assets or stock or other evidence of beneficial ownership of such
Person; provided that Investments shall exclude commercially reasonable
        --------                                                       
extensions of trade credit.  The amount of any Investment shall be the original
cost of such Investment, plus the cost of all additions thereto and minus the
                         ----                                       -----    
amount of any portion of such Investment repaid to such Person in cash as a
repayment of principal or a return of capital, as the case may be, but without
any other adjustments for increases or decreases in value, or write-ups, write-
downs or write-offs with respect to such Investment.  In determining the amount
of any Investment involving a transfer of any Property other than cash, such
Property or asset shall be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such
transfer.

     "Issue Date" means the date on which the Notes are first authenticated and
      ----------                                                               
delivered under this Indenture.

     "Lien" means, with respect to any Property or other asset, any mortgage or
      ----                                                                     
deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, security
interest, lien (statutory or other), charge, easement, encumbrance, preference,
priority or other security or similar agreement or preferential arrangement of
any kind or nature whatsoever on or with respect to such Property or other asset
(including, without limitation, any conditional sale or title retention
agreement having substantially the same economic effect as any of the
foregoing).

     "Maturity" means, when used with respect to a Note, the date on which the
      --------                                                                
principal of such Note becomes due and payable as provided therein or in this
Indenture, whether on the date specified in such Note as the fixed date on which
the principal of such Note is due and payable, on a Change of Control Payment
Date or an Asset Sale Payment Date, or by declaration of acceleration, call for
redemption or otherwise.

                                      11
<PAGE>
 
     "Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc., or, if Moody's Investors
      -------                                                                 
Service, Inc. shall cease rating the specified debt securities and such ratings
business with respect thereto shall have been transferred to a successor Person,
such successor Person; provided that if Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ceases
rating the specified debt securities and its ratings business with respect
thereto shall not have been transferred to any successor Person or such
successor Person is Standard & Poor's, then "Moody's" shall mean any other
nationally recognized rating agency (other than Standard & Poor's) that rates
the specified debt securities and that shall have been designated by the Company
in an Officers' Certificate.

     "NASD" means the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
      ----                                                            

     "Net Cash Proceeds" means, with respect to the sale of any Property or
      -----------------                                                    
assets by any Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, Cash Proceeds
received net of (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of such Person or such
Restricted Subsidiary incurred in connection with such sale, including, without
limitation, all legal, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other
fees and expenses incurred (but excluding any finder's fee or broker's fee
payable to any Affiliate of such Person) and all federal, state, foreign and
local taxes arising in connection with such sale that are paid or required to be
accrued as a liability under GAAP by such Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(ii) all payments made or required to be made by such Person or its Restricted
Subsidiaries on any Indebtedness which is secured by such Properties or other
assets in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon or with respect to such
Properties or other assets or which must, by the terms of such Lien, or in order
to obtain a necessary consent to such transaction or by applicable law, be
repaid in connection with such sale; (iii) all contractually required
distributions and other payments made to minority interest holders (but
excluding distributions and payments to Affiliates of such Person) in Restricted
Subsidiaries of such Person as a result of such transaction; and (iv)
appropriate amounts to be provided by such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary
thereof, as the case may be, as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any
liabilities associated with such assets and retained by such Person or any
Restricted Subsidiary thereof, as the case may be, after such transaction,
including, without limitation, liabilities under any indemnification obligations
and severance and other employee termination costs associated with such
transaction, in each case as determined by the Board of Directors of such
Person, in its reasonable good faith judgment evidenced by a resolution of the
Board of Directors filed with the Trustee; provided that, in the event that any
                                           --------                            
consideration for a transaction (which would otherwise constitute Net Cash
Proceeds) is required to be held in escrow pending determination of whether a
purchase price adjustment will be made, such consideration (or any portion
thereof) shall become Net Cash Proceeds only at such time as it is released to
such Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries from escrow; and provided, further,
                                                            --------  ------- 
that any non-cash consideration received in connection with any transaction,
which is subsequently converted to cash, shall be deemed to be Net Cash Proceeds
at such time, and shall thereafter be applied in accordance with the applicable
provisions of this Indenture.

                                      12
<PAGE>
 
     "Note Register" and "Note Registrar" have the respective meanings specified
      -------------       --------------                                        
in Section 2.06 hereof.

     "Notes" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of the Company and more
      -----                                                                   
particularly means any of the Notes authenticated and delivered under this
Indenture, including the Original Notes and the Registered Notes, as the context
may require.

     "Officer" means the Chairman of the Board of Directors, a Vice Chairman of
      -------                                                                  
the Board of Directors, the President, the Chief Executive Officer, a Vice
President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer, the
Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary.

     "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by (i) the Chairman of
      ---------------------                                                   
the Board of Directors, a Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, the
President, the Chief Executive Officer or a Vice President, and (ii) the Chief
Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer, the Treasurer, an Assistant
Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the
Trustee, which certificate shall comply with the provisions of Section 10.04
hereof; provided that any Officers' Certificate delivered pursuant to the first
paragraph of Section 4.19 hereof shall be signed by the Chief Executive Officer,
the Chief Financial Officer or the Chief Accounting Officer.

     "Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion from legal counsel (who may be
      ------------------                                                        
counsel to the Company or the Trustee) who is acceptable to the Trustee, which
opinion shall comply with the provisions of Section 10.04 hereof.

     "Original Notes" means all Notes other than Exchange Notes.
      --------------                                            

     "Other Notes" means the Notes sold by the Purchasers in the initial
      -----------                                                       
offering contemplated by the Purchase Agreement in reliance on an exemption from
the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A and
Regulation S.

     "Paying Agent" means any Person authorized by the Company to make payments
      ------------                                                             
of principal, premium or interest with respect to the Notes on behalf of the
Company.

     "Permitted Holders" means IES Industries Inc. and MidAmerican Energy
      -----------------                                                  
Holdings Company and their respective successors and assigns, and Clark E. and
Mary E. McLeod and foundations and trusts controlled by them or either of them,
and Affiliates (other than the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries) of each
of the foregoing.

     "Permitted Interest Rate or Currency Protection Agreement" of any Person
      --------------------------------------------------------               
means any Interest Rate or Currency Protection Agreement entered into with one
or more financial institutions in the ordinary course of business that is
designed to protect such Person against 

                                      13
<PAGE>
 
fluctuations in interest rates or currency exchange rates with respect to
Indebtedness Incurred and which shall have a notional amount no greater than the
payments due with respect to the Indebtedness being hedged thereby and not for
purposes of speculation.

     "Permitted Investments" means:
      ---------------------        

          (i)    Eligible Cash Equivalents;

          (ii)   Investments in Property used in the ordinary course of
     business;

          (iii)  Investments in any Person as a result of which such Person
     becomes a Restricted Subsidiary in compliance with Section 4.17 hereof;

          (iv)   Investments pursuant to agreements or obligations of the
     Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, in effect on the Issue Date, to make
     such Investments;

          (v)    Investments in prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held
     for collection and lease, utility and workers' compensation, performance
     and other similar deposits;

          (vi)   Permitted Interest Rate or Currency Protection Agreements with
     respect to any floating rate Indebtedness that is permitted under Section
     4.09 or Section 4.10 hereof to be outstanding;

          (vii)  bonds, notes, debentures or other debt securities received as a
     result of Asset Sales permitted under Section 4.08 hereof;

          (viii) Investments in existence at the Issue Date;

          (ix)   commission, payroll, travel and similar advances to employees
     in the ordinary course of business to cover matters that are expected at
     the time of such advances ultimately to be treated as expenses in
     accordance with GAAP;

          (x)    stock, obligations or securities received in satisfaction of
     judgments; and

          (xi)   Investments made pursuant to any deferred-compensation plan,
     including any Investments made through a trust (including a grantor trust)
     established in connection with any such plan, for the benefit of employees
     of the Company or of any Restricted Subsidiary.

     "Permitted Liens" means (i) Liens for taxes, assessments, governmental
      ---------------                                                      
charges or claims which are not yet delinquent or which are being contested in
good faith by appropriate 

                                      14
<PAGE>
 
proceedings, if a reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be
required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor; (ii) other Liens
incidental to the conduct of the Company's and its Restricted Subsidiaries'
business or the ownership of its property and assets not securing any
Indebtedness, and which do not in the aggregate materially detract from the
value of the Company's and its Restricted Subsidiaries' property or assets when
taken as a whole, or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of its
business; (iii) Liens with respect to assets of a Restricted Subsidiary granted
by such Restricted Subsidiary to the Company to secure Indebtedness owing to the
Company; (iv) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in
connection with workers' compensation and unemployment insurance, statutory
Liens of landlords, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen, repairmen
and other types of statutory obligations; (v) deposits made to secure the
performance of tenders, bids, leases, and other obligations of like nature
incurred in the ordinary course of business (exclusive of obligations for the
payment of borrowed money); (vi) zoning restrictions, servitudes, easements,
rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar charges or encumbrances incurred
in the ordinary course of business which, in the aggregate, do not materially
detract from the value of the property subject thereto or interfere with the
ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(vii) Liens arising out of judgments or awards against the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary with respect to which the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary is prosecuting an appeal or proceeding for review and the Company or
such Restricted Subsidiary is maintaining adequate reserves in accordance with
GAAP; (viii) any interest or title of a lessor in the property subject to any
lease other than a Capital Lease; (ix) Liens (including extensions and renewals
thereof) upon real or personal property acquired after the Issue Date; provided
that (a) such Lien is created solely for the purpose of securing Indebtedness
Incurred, in accordance with Section 4.09 hereof, (1) to finance the cost
(including the cost of improvement or construction) of the item of property or
assets subject thereto and such Lien is created prior to, at the time of or
within six months after the later of the acquisition, the completion of
construction or the commencement of full operation of such property or (2) to
refinance any Indebtedness previously so secured, (b) the principal amount of
the Indebtedness secured by such Lien does not exceed 100% of such cost and (c)
any such Lien shall not extend to or cover any property or assets other than
such item of property or assets and any improvements on such item; (x) leases or
subleases granted to others that do not materially interfere with the ordinary
course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; (xi) Liens
encumbering property or assets under construction arising from progress or
partial payments by a customer of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries
relating to such property or assets; (xii) Liens arising from filing
precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statements regarding leases;
(xiii) Liens on property of, or on shares of stock or Indebtedness of, any
corporation existing at the time such corporation becomes, or becomes a part of,
any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such Liens do not extend to or cover
any property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than
the property or assets acquired; (xiv) Liens in favor of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary; (xv) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with
respect to letters of credit that encumber documents and other property relating
to such letters 

                                      15
<PAGE>
 
of credit and the products and proceeds thereof; (xvi) Liens in favor of customs
and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs
duties in connection with the importation of goods; (xvii) Liens encumbering
customary initial deposits and margin deposits, and other Liens that are either
within the general parameters customary in the industry and incurred in the
ordinary course of business, in each case, securing Indebtedness under Permitted
Interest Rate Agreements and Currency Agreements; and (xviii) Liens arising out
of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for
the sale of goods entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business in accordance with the past
practices of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries prior to the Issue
Date.

     "Person" means any individual, corporation, limited liability company,
      ------                                                               
partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated
organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

     "Predecessor Note" of any particular Note means every previous Note
      ----------------                                                  
evidencing all or a portion of the same Indebtedness as that evidenced by such
particular Note; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Note
authenticated and delivered under Section 2.09 hereof in exchange for or in lieu
of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be deemed to evidence the
same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note.

     "Preferred Stock" of any Person means Capital Stock of such Person of any
      ---------------                                                         
class or classes (however designated) that ranks prior, as to the payment of
dividends or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of such Person, to shares of Capital
Stock of any other class of such Person.

     "pro forma" means, with respect to any calculation made or required to be
      ---------                                                               
made pursuant to the terms hereof, a calculation in accordance with Article 11
of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act (to the extent
applicable), as interpreted in good faith by the Board of Directors, or
otherwise, a calculation made in good faith by the Board of Directors, as the
case may be.

     "Property" means, with respect to any Person, any interest of such Person
      --------                                                                
in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible
or intangible, excluding Capital Stock in any other Person.

     "Purchase Agreement" means the Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 11,
      ------------------                                                        
1999 between the Company and the Purchasers, as such agreement may be amended
from time to time.

     "Purchase Money Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of the Company (including
      ---------------------------                                              
Acquired Indebtedness and Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings and
purchase 

                                      16
<PAGE>
 
money obligations) incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the
cost of construction, acquisition, development or improvement by the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary of any Telecommunications Assets of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary and including any related notes, Guarantees, collateral
documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, as the
same may be amended, supplemented, modified or restated from time to time.

     "Purchasers" means Salomon Smith Barney Inc., Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc. and
      ----------                                                                
Chase Securities Inc.

     "Qualified Receivable Facility" means Indebtedness of the Company or any
      -----------------------------                                          
Subsidiary Incurred from time to time pursuant to either (x) credit facilities
secured by Receivables or (y) receivable purchase facilities, and including any
related notes, Guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements
executed in connection therewith, as the same may be amended, supplemented,
modified or restated from time to time.

     "Qualified Receivable Subsidiary" means a Restricted Subsidiary formed
      -------------------------------                                      
solely for the purpose of obtaining a Qualified Receivable Facility and
substantially all of the Property of which is Receivables.

     "Qualified Stock" of any Person means a class of Capital Stock other than
      ---------------                                                         
Disqualified Stock.

     "Receivables" means receivables, chattel paper, instruments, documents or
      -----------                                                             
intangibles evidencing or relating to the right to payment of money and proceeds
and products thereof in each case generated in the ordinary course of business.

     "Redemption Date" means, when used with respect to any Note or part thereof
      ---------------                                                           
to be redeemed hereunder, the date fixed for redemption of such Notes pursuant
to the terms of the Notes and this Indenture.

     "Redemption Price" means, when used with respect to any Note or part
      ----------------                                                   
thereof to be redeemed hereunder, the price fixed for redemption of such Note
pursuant to the terms of the Notes and this Indenture, plus accrued and unpaid
interest thereon, if any, to the Redemption Date.

     "Registered Exchange Offer" has the meaning set forth in the form of the
      -------------------------                                              
Notes contained in Section 2.02 hereof.

     "Registered Notes" means the Exchange Notes and all other Notes sold or
      ----------------                                                      
otherwise disposed of pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act, together with their respective Successor Notes.

                                      17
<PAGE>
 
     "Regular Record Date" means, for the interest payable on any Interest
      -------------------                                                 
Payment Date, the date specified in Section 2.13 hereof.

     "Regulation S" means Regulation S under the Securities Act (or any
      ------------                                                     
successor provision), as it may be amended from time to time.

     "Regulation S Certificate" means a certificate substantially in the form
      ------------------------                                               
set forth in Annex A hereof.

     "Regulation S Global Security" has the meaning specified in Section 2.01
      ----------------------------                                           
hereof.

     "Regulation S Legend" means a legend substantially in the form of the
      -------------------                                                 
legend required in the form of Note set forth in Section 2.02 hereof to be
placed upon each Regulation S Note.

     "Regulation S Notes" means all Notes required pursuant to Section 2.08(c)
      ------------------                                                      
hereof to bear a Regulation S Legend.  Such term includes the Regulation S
Global Security.

     "Restricted Global Security" has the meaning specified in Section 2.01
      --------------------------                                           
hereof.

     "Restricted Notes" means all Notes required pursuant to Section 2.08(c)
      ----------------                                                      
hereof to bear any Restricted Notes Legend.  Such term includes the Restricted
Global Security.

     "Restricted Notes Certificate" means a certificate substantially in the
      ----------------------------                                          
form set forth in Annex B hereof.

     "Restricted Notes Legend" means, collectively, the legends substantially in
      -----------------------                                                   
the forms of the legends required in the form of Note set forth in Section 2.02
hereof to be placed upon each Restricted Note.

     "Restricted Payment" means (i) a dividend or other distribution declared or
      ------------------                                                        
paid on the Capital Stock of the Company or to the Company's stockholders (in
their capacity as such), or declared or paid to any Person other than the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company on the Capital Stock of any
Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, other than dividends, distributions or
payments made solely in Qualified Stock of the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary, (ii) a payment made by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries (other than to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) to
purchase, redeem, acquire or retire any Capital Stock of the Company or of a
Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) a payment made by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a payment made solely in Qualified Stock of
the Company) to redeem, repurchase, defease (including an in-substance or legal
defeasance) or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including pursuant to
mandatory repurchase covenants), prior to any scheduled maturity, scheduled
sinking fund or mandatory 

                                      19
<PAGE>
 
redemption payment, Indebtedness of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary
which is subordinate (whether pursuant to its terms or by operation of law) in
right of payment to the Notes and which was scheduled to mature on or after the
maturity of the Notes or (iv) an Investment in any Person, including an
Unrestricted Subsidiary or the designation of a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted
Subsidiary, other than (a) a Permitted Investment, (b) an Investment by the
Company in a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or (c) an
Investment by a Restricted Subsidiary in the Company or a Wholly-Owned
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

     "Restricted Period" means the period of 41 consecutive days beginning on
      -----------------                                                      
and including the later of (i) the day on which Notes are first offered to
persons other than distributors (as defined in Regulation S) in reliance on
Regulation S and (ii) the original issuance date of the Notes.

     "Restricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Company that has not
      ---------------------                                                  
been designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 4.17 hereof.

     "Rule 144" means Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor
      --------                                                           
provision), as it may be amended from time to time.

     "Rule 144A" means Rule 144A under the Securities Act (including any
      ---------                                                         
successor regulation thereto), as it may be amended from time to time.
     "Rule 144A Notes" means the Notes purchased by the Purchasers from the
      ---------------                                                      
Company pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, other than the Other Notes and the
Regulation S Notes.

     "Sale and Leaseback Transaction" means, with respect to any Person, any
      ------------------------------                                        
direct or indirect arrangement pursuant to which Property is sold or transferred
by such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person and is thereafter
leased back from the purchaser or transferee thereof by such Person or one of
its Restricted Subsidiaries.

     "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
      --------------                                                       
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

     "Securities Act Legend" means a Restricted Note Legend or a Regulation S
      ---------------------                                                  
Legend.

     "Senior Credit Facility" means Indebtedness of the Company and its
      ----------------------                                           
Subsidiaries Incurred from time to time pursuant to one or more credit
agreements or similar facilities made available from time to time to the Company
and its Subsidiaries, whether or not secured, and including any related notes,
Guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in
connection therewith, as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified or
restated from time to time.

                                      19
<PAGE>
 
     "Senior Discount Notes" means the Company's 10 1/2% Senior Discount Notes
      ---------------------                                                   
due March 1, 2007.

     "Shelf Registration Statement" has the meaning set forth in the form of the
      ----------------------------                                              
Notes contained in Section 2.02 hereof.

     "Special Interest" has the meaning set forth in the form of Note contained
      ----------------                                                         
in Section 2.02 hereof.  Unless the context otherwise requires, references
herein to "interest" on the Notes shall include Special Interest.

     "Special Record Date" means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section
      -------------------                                                       
2.13 hereof for the payment of Defaulted Interest.

     "Standard & Poor's" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, a division of
      -----------------                                                      
McGraw Hill Corporation, or, if Standard & Poor's Ratings Group shall cease
rating the specified debt securities and such ratings business with respect
thereto shall have been transferred to a successor Person, such successor
Person; provided that if Standard & Poor's Ratings Group ceases rating the
specified debt securities and its ratings business with respect thereto shall
not have been transferred to any successor Person or such successor Person is
Moody's, then "Standard & Poor's" shall mean any other nationally recognized
rating agency (other than Moody's) that rates the specified debt securities and
that shall have been designated by the Company in an Officers' Certificate.

     "Stated Maturity" means, with respect to any security, the date specified
      ---------------                                                         
in such security as the fixed date on which the payment of principal of such
security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption
provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such
security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any
contingency unless such contingency has occurred), and, when used with respect
to any installment of interest on such security, the fixed date on which such
installment of interest is due and payable.

     "Step-Up" has the meaning set forth in the form of the Note contained in
      -------                                                                
Section 2.02 hereof.

     "Strategic Equity Investment" means an equity investment made by a
      ---------------------------                                      
Strategic Investor in the Company in an aggregate amount of not less than $25
million.

     "Strategic Investor" means a Person (other than the Permitted Holders)
      ------------------                                                   
engaged in one or more Telecommunications Businesses that has, or 80% or more of
the Voting Stock of which is owned by a Person that has, an equity market
capitalization at the time of its initial Investment in the Company in excess of
$2.0 billion.

                                      20
<PAGE>
 
     "Subordinated Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of the Company as to which
      -------------------------                                               
the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest and other payment
obligations in respect of such Indebtedness shall be subordinate to the prior
payment in full of the Notes to at least the following extent: (i) no payments
of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on or otherwise due in respect
of such Indebtedness may be permitted for so long as any default in the payment
of principal (or premium, if any) or interest on the Notes exists; (ii) in the
event that any other default that with the passing of time or the giving of
notice, or both, would constitute an event of default exists with respect to the
Notes, upon notice by 25% or more in principal amount of the Notes to the
Trustee, the Trustee shall give notice to the Company and the holders of such
Indebtedness (or trustees or agents therefor) of a payment blockage, and
thereafter no payments of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on or
otherwise due in respect of such Indebtedness may be made for a period of 179
days from the date of such notice; and (iii) such Indebtedness may not (x)
provide for payments of principal of such Indebtedness at the stated maturity
thereof or by way of a sinking fund applicable thereto or by way of any
mandatory redemption, defeasance, retirement or repurchase thereof by the
Company (including any redemption, retirement or repurchase which is contingent
upon events or circumstances, but excluding any retirement required by virtue of
acceleration of such Indebtedness upon an event of default thereunder), in each
case prior to the final Stated Maturity of the Notes or (y) permit redemption or
other retirement (including pursuant to an offer to purchase made by the
Company) of such other Indebtedness at the option of the holder thereof prior to
the final Stated Maturity of the Notes, other than a redemption or other
retirement at the option of the holder of such Indebtedness (including pursuant
to an offer to purchase made by the Company) which is conditioned upon a change
of control of the Company pursuant to provisions substantially similar to those
contained in Section 4.07 hereof (and which shall provide that such Indebtedness
will not be repurchased pursuant to such provisions prior to the Company's
repurchase of the Notes required to be repurchased by the Company pursuant to
Section 4.07 hereof).

     "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation more
      ----------                                                             
than 50 percent of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock of which is owned,
directly or indirectly, by such Person, or by one of more other Subsidiaries of
such Person, or by such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries of such
Person, (ii) any general partnership, limited liability company, joint venture
or similar entity, more than 50 percent of the outstanding partnership,
membership or similar interests of which are owned, directly or indirectly, by
such Person, or by one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person, or by such
Person and one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person and (iii) any limited
partnership of which such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a general
partner.

     "Successor Note" of any particular Note means every Note issued after, and
      --------------                                                           
evidencing all or a portion of the same Indebtedness as that evidenced by, such
particular Note; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Note
authenticated and delivered under Section 2.09 hereof 

                                      21
<PAGE>
 
in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall
be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen
Note.

     "Surviving Entity" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(a) hereof.
      ----------------                                                      

     "Telecommunications Assets" means all assets, rights (contractual or
      -------------------------                                          
otherwise) and properties, whether tangible or intangible, used or intended for
use in connection with a Telecommunications Business.

     "Telecommunications Business" means the business of (i) transmitting, or
      ---------------------------                                            
providing services relating to the transmission of, voice, video or data through
owned or leased wireline or wireless transmission facilities, (ii) creating,
developing, constructing, installing, repairing, maintaining or marketing
communications-related systems, network equipment and facilities, software and
other products, (iii) creating, developing, producing or marketing audiotext or
videotext, (iv) publishing or distributing telephone (including Internet)
directories, whether in paper, electronic, audio or video format, (v) marketing
(including direct marketing and telemarketing), or (vi) evaluating,
participating in or pursuing any other business that is primarily related to
those identified in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) above
(in the case of clauses (iii), (iv) and (v), however, in a manner consistent
with the Company's manner of business on the Issue Date), and shall, in any
event, include all businesses in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
are engaged on the Issue Date; provided that the determination of what
constitutes a Telecommunications Business shall be made in good faith by the
Board of Directors.

     "Temporary Notes" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11 hereof.
      ---------------                                                   

     "Trading Day" means, with respect to a security traded on a securities
      -----------                                                          
exchange, automated quotation system or market, a day on which such exchange,
system or market is open for a full day of trading.

     "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C.
      -------------------                                                  
(S)(S)77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture except as
required by Section 9.04 hereof; provided that in the event the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939 is amended after such date, "Trust Indenture Act" means, to the
extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as so
amended.

     "Trust Officer" means any officer assigned to the Corporate Trust Division
      -------------                                                            
(or any successor thereto), including any Vice President, Assistant Vice
President, Trust Officer, any Assistant Secretary, any trust officer or any
other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those
performed by any of the above designated officers and having direct
responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

                                      22
<PAGE>
 
     "Trustee" means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor
      -------                                                                   
replaces it in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and, thereafter,
means such successor.

     "Unrestricted Notes Certificate" means a certificate substantially in the
      ------------------------------                                          
form set forth in Annex C hereof.

     "Unrestricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Company that the
      -----------------------                                              
Company has classified as an "Unrestricted Subsidiary" and that has not been
reclassified as a Restricted Subsidiary, pursuant to Section 4.17 hereof.

     "U.S. Government Obligations" means (x) securities that are (i) direct
      ---------------------------                                          
obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which the full
faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or (ii) obligations
of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or
instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is
unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United
States of America, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the
option of the issuer thereof, and (y) depository receipts issued by a bank (as
defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to
any U.S. Government Obligation which is specified in clause (x) above and held
by such Bank for the account of the holder of such depository receipt, or with
respect to any specific payment of principal or interest on any U.S. Government
Obligation which is so specified and held, provided that (except as required by
law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount
payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the
custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment
of principal or interest of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such
depository receipt.

     "Voting Stock" means, with respect to any Person, securities of any class
      ------------                                                            
or classes of Capital Stock in such Person entitling the holders thereof
(whether at all times or at the times that such class of Capital Stock has
voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) to vote in the
election of members of the board of directors or comparable body of such Person.

     "Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary" of any Person means a Subsidiary of
      ----------------------------------                                     
such Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests
(other than director's qualifying shares) of which shall at the time be owned by
such Person or by one or more other Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary of such
Person or by such Person and one or more other Wholly-Owned Restricted
Subsidiary of such Person.

     SECTION I.2.  Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
                   ------------------------------------------------- 

                                      23
<PAGE>
 
     Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the Trust Indenture Act,
the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.
The following Trust Indenture Act terms incorporated by reference in this
Indenture have the following meanings:

     "indenture securities" means the Notes.

     "indenture security holder" means a Holder.

     "indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture.

     "indenture trustee" or "institutional trustee" means the Trustee.

     "obligor" on the indenture securities means the Company or other obligor on
the Notes, if any.

     All other Trust Indenture Act terms used or incorporated by reference in
this Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by Trust
Indenture Act reference to another statute or defined by Commission rule have
the meanings assigned to them therein.

     SECTION I.3.  Rules of Construction.   Unless the context otherwise
                   ---------------------                                
requires:

          (a) the words "herein," "hereof" and "hereunder," and other words of
     similar import, refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any
     particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

          (b) "or" is not exclusive;

          (c) "including" means including without limitation;

          (d) the principal amount of any noninterest bearing or other discount
     security, at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be
     shown on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in
     accordance with GAAP;

          (e) when used with respect to the Notes, the term "principal amount"
     shall mean the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance
     sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP; and

          (f) unless otherwise expressly provided herein, the principal amount
     of any Preferred Stock shall be the greater of (i) the maximum liquidation
     value of such Preferred Stock or (ii) the maximum mandatory redemption or
     mandatory repurchase price with respect to such Preferred Stock.

                                      24
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION I.4.  Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.  In any case where
                   --------------------------------------                    
several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of,
any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by,
or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified
or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an
opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to
other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such
matters in one or several documents.

     Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based,
insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or
representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of
reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations
with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are
erroneous.  Any such certificate or Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as
it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or
representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the
information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the
Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should
know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such
matters are erroneous.  Where any Person is required to make, give or execute
two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions
or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be
consolidated and form one instrument.

     SECTION I.5.  Acts of Holders.  (a)  Any request, demand, authorization,
                   ---------------                                           
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to
be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more
instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or
by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly
provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments
are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the
Company.  Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and
evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Holders
signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such
instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any
purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) conclusive in
favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this
Section.

     (b)  The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such
instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such
execution or by an acknowledgment of a notary public or other officer authorized
by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing
such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such
execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than such signer's
individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute
sufficient proof of the signer's authority. The fact and date of the execution
of any such instrument or writing, or

                                      25
<PAGE>
 
the authority of the person executing the same, may also be proved in any other 
manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

     SECTION 1.06.  Satisfaction and Discharge.  This Indenture shall cease to
                    --------------------------                                
be of further effect (except as to the rights of Holders under Sections 2.09,
2.11, 4.02, 4.03 and 4.04 hereof) and the Trustee, on receipt of a Company Order
requesting such action, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when (a) either (i) all
outstanding Notes have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or (ii)
all such Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (A)
have become due and payable, (B) will become due and payable at their Stated
Maturity within one year or (C) are to be called for redemption within one year
under irrevocable arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of
notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the
Company, and the Company, in the case of (A), (B) or (C) above, has irrevocably
deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for
the purpose an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on
such Notes, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of such
deposit (in the case of Notes which have become due and payable) or to the
Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be, together with
irrevocable instructions from the Company in form and substance satisfactory to
the Trustee directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof;
(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder
by the Company; and (c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this
Indenture have been complied with.  Notwithstanding the satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture pursuant to this Section 1.06, the obligations of
the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof, and, if money shall have
been deposited with the Trustee in trust for the Holders pursuant to this
Section 1.06, the obligations of the Trustee under this Section 1.06 and Section
4.03 hereof shall survive.

     All money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to this Section 1.06 shall be
held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes
and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent,
to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and
interest for the payment of which such money has been deposited with the
Trustee.  If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S.
Government Obligations in accordance with this Section 1.06 by reason of any
legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or
governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such
application, the Company's obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall
be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this
Section 1.06 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to
apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this
Section 1.06; provided that, if the Company has made any payment of interest on
or principal of any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the
Company shall be subrogated 

                                      26

<PAGE>
 
to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the cash
or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

                                  ARTICLE II.

                                   THE NOTES

     SECTION II.1.  Form and Dating.  (a)  The Notes and the certificate of
                    ---------------                                        
authentication of the Trustee thereon shall be substantially in the form
contained in this Article II, with such appropriate insertions, substitutions
and other variations as are required or permitted under this Indenture.  Upon
issuance, any such Note shall be duly executed by the Company and authenticated
by the Trustee as hereinafter provided.

     (b)  The Notes may have such letters, numbers or other marks of
identification and such legends and endorsements, stamped, printed, lithographed
or engraved thereon, (i) as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, (ii) as may be required to
comply with this Indenture, any law or any rule of any securities exchange on
which the Notes may be listed and (iii) as may be necessary to conform to
customary usage.  Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication by the
Trustee.

     (c)  Upon their original issuance, Rule 144A Notes shall be issued in the
form of one or more Global Securities registered in the name of the Depositary
or its nominee and deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary,
for credit by the Depositary to the respective accounts of beneficial owners of
the Notes represented thereby (or such other accounts as they may direct).  Such
Global Securities, together with their Successor Notes which are Global
Securities other than the Regulation S Global Security, are collectively herein
called the "Restricted Global Security".  Upon their original issuance,
Regulation S Notes shall be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities
registered in the name of the Depositary, or its nominee and deposited with the
Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, for credit to the respective accounts
of the beneficial owners of the Notes represented thereby (or such other
accounts as they may direct), provided that upon such deposit all such Notes
shall be credited to or through accounts maintained at the Depositary by or on
behalf of Euroclear or Cedel.  Such Global Securities, together with their
Successor Notes which are Global Securities other than the Restricted Global
Security, are collectively herein called the "Regulation S Global Security".

     Upon their original issuance, Other Notes shall not be issued in the form
of a Global  Note or in any other form intended to facilitate book-entry trading
in beneficial interests in such Notes.

     SECTION II.2.  Form of Face of Note.
                    -------------------- 

                                      27
<PAGE>
 
     [If a Global Security, then insert -- THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN
THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE
NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF.  THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE EXCHANGEABLE IN
WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A NOTE REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN WHOLE OR
IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY
OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE
INDENTURE.]

     [If a Global Security to be held by the Depository, then insert -- UNLESS
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY
TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("DTC"), TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR
REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS
REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO
SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY
TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON
IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST
HEREIN.]

     [If Restricted Notes, then insert -- THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT").  THE HOLDER
HEREOF, BY PURCHASING THIS SECURITY, AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY AND
THE INITIAL PURCHASERS OF THIS SECURITY THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE RESOLD,
PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED (X) PRIOR TO THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE
ISSUANCE HEREOF (OR A PREDECESSOR SECURITY HERETO) OR (Y) BY ANY HOLDER THAT WAS
AN AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY AT ANY TIME DURING THE THREE MONTHS PRECEDING THE
DATE OF SUCH TRANSFER, IN EITHER CASE OTHER THAN (1) TO THE COMPANY, (2) SO LONG
AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT ("RULE 144A"), TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS
A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A PURCHASING FOR
ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM
NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE RESALE, PLEDGE OR OTHER TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN
RELIANCE ON RULE 144A (AS INDICATED BY THE BOX CHECKED BY THE TRANSFEROR ON THE
CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER ON THE REVERSE OF THIS SECURITY), (3) IN AN OFFSHORE
TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER 

                                      28
<PAGE>
 
THE SECURITIES ACT (AS INDICATED BY THE BOX CHECKED BY THE TRANSFEROR ON THE
CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER ON THE REVERSE OF THIS SECURITY), AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER
IS BEING EFFECTED BY CERTAIN TRANSFERORS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED
BELOW) PRIOR TO APRIL 3, 1999, A CERTIFICATE WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE
COMPANY OR THE TRUSTEE IS DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEREE TO THE COMPANY AND THE
TRUSTEE, (4) TO AN INSTITUTION THAT IS AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" AS DEFINED IN
RULE 501(A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (AS INDICATED BY THE
BOX CHECKED BY THE TRANSFEROR ON THE CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER ON THE REVERSE OF
THIS SECURITY) THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT
FOR DISTRIBUTION, AND A CERTIFICATE IN THE FORM ATTACHED TO THIS SECURITY IS
DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEREE TO THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE (PROVIDED THAT
CERTAIN HOLDERS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE MAY NOT TRANSFER THIS SECURITY
PURSUANT TO THIS CLAUSE (4) ON OR PRIOR TO APRIL 3, 1999) OR (5) PURSUANT TO AN
EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH CASE IN
ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED
STATES. AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR HOLDING THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT
IT WILL FURNISH TO THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER
INFORMATION AS THEY MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT ANY TRANSFER BY IT OF
THIS SECURITY COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. THE HOLDER HEREOF, BY
PURCHASING THIS SECURITY, REPRESENTS AND AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY
AND THE INITIAL PURCHASERS THAT IT IS (1) A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN
THE MEANING OF RULE 144A OR (2) AN INSTITUTION THAT IS AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR"
AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND THAT
IT IS HOLDING THIS SECURITY FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR
(3) A NON-U.S. PERSON OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF (OR AN
ACCOUNT SATISFYING THE REQUIREMENTS OF PARAGRAPH (O)(2) OF RULE 902 UNDER)
REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.]

                   8 1/8% SENIOR NOTES DUE FEBRUARY 15, 2009

[IF RESTRICTED GLOBAL SECURITY - CUSIP NO. 582266AM4]
[IF ANY REGULATION S NOTE - CUSIP NO. U58159AE1]
[IF REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY - ISIN NO. USU58159AE15]
[IF OTHER NOTE - CUSIP NO. ___________]

No. R-_____                                                  $__________________

                                      29
<PAGE>
 
     McLeodUSA Incorporated, a corporation duly organized and existing under the
laws of Delaware (herein called the "Company", which term includes any successor
Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby
promises to pay to _____________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of
________________ Dollars [if this Note is a Global Security, then insert: (which
principal amount may from time to time be increased or decreased to such other
principal amounts (which, taken together with the principal amounts of all other
outstanding Notes, shall not exceed FIVE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($500,000,000)
in the aggregate at any time) by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee
hereinafter referred to in accordance with the Indenture)] on February 15, 2009,
and to pay interest thereon from the Issue Date, semi-annually in arrears on
February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing August 15, 1999 at the rate
of 8.125% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for
payment [If Original Notes, then insert:  provided, however, that if (i) the
Company has not filed a registration statement (the "Exchange Offer Registration
Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"),
registering a security substantially identical to this Note (except that such
Note will not contain terms with respect to the Special Interest payments
described below or transfer restrictions) pursuant to an exchange offer (the
"Registered Exchange Offer") (or, in lieu thereof, a registration statement
registering this Note for resale (a "Shelf Registration Statement")) by April
23, 1999, or (ii) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating to the
Registered Exchange Offer has not become or been declared effective by July 22,
1999, or (iii) neither the Registered Exchange Offer has been consummated nor
the Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective prior to August 21,
1999, or (iv) either the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or, if
applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement is filed and declared effective
(except as specifically permitted therein) but shall thereafter cease to be
effective without being succeeded promptly by an additional registration
statement filed and declared effective, in each case (i) through (iv) upon the
terms and conditions set forth in the Registration Agreement (each such event
referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a "Registration Default"), then
interest will accrue (in addition to any stated interest on the Notes) (the
"Step-Up") at a rate of 0.5% per annum, during the 90-day period from and
including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but
excluding the date on which all Registration Defaults have been cured and shall
increase by 0.25% per annum at the end of each subsequent 90-day period, but in
no event shall such rate exceed 2.00% per annum, in the aggregate regardless of
the number of Registration Defaults.  Interest accruing as a result of the Step-
Up is referred to herein as "Special Interest."  Accrued Special Interest, if
any, shall be paid semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year; and
the amount of accrued Special Interest shall be determined on the basis of the
number of days actually elapsed.  Any accrued and unpaid interest (including
Special Interest) on this Note upon the issuance of an Exchange Note (as defined
in the Indenture) in exchange for this Note shall cease to be payable to the
Holder hereof but such accrued and unpaid interest (including Special Interest)
shall be payable on the next Interest Payment Date for such Exchange Note to the
Holder thereof on the related Regular Record Date.]  The interest so 

                                      30
<PAGE>
 
payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date
will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this
Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business
on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be February 1 or
August 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately
preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid
or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such
Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Note
(or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on a
Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by
the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Notes not more than 15
calendar days and not less than 10 calendar days prior to such Special Record
Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with
the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed,
and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully
provided in said Indenture.

     The principal of this Note shall accrue interest at the rate of 8.125% per
annum, and in the case of a default in payment of principal and premium, if any,
upon acceleration or redemption, in which case interest shall be payable
pursuant to the preceding paragraph on such overdue principal (and premium, if
any), such interest shall be payable on demand and, if not so paid on demand,
such interest shall itself bear interest at the rate of 9.125% per annum (to the
extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), and
shall accrue from the date of such demand for payment to the date payment of
such interest has been made or duly provided for, and such interest on unpaid
interest shall also be payable on demand.

     Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Note
will be made at the corporate trust office of the Trustee and at the office or
agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan,
The City of New York, New York, and at any other office or agency maintained by
the Company for such purpose, in such coin or currency of the United States of
America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and
private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of
interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled
thereto as such address shall appear in the Note Register.

     Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth
on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the
same effect as if set forth at this place.

                                      31
<PAGE>
 
     Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the
Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Note shall
not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for
any purpose.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed.

Dated:



                              MCLEODUSA INCORPORATED



                              By____________________________

Attest:


______________________________


SECTION II.3.  Form of Reverse of Note.
               ----------------------- 

     This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Notes of the Company
designated as its 8 1/2% Senior Notes due February 15, 2009 (the "Notes") issued
under an Indenture, dated as of February 22, 1999 (herein called the
"Indenture"), between the Company and United States Trust Company of New York,
as trustee (herein called the "Trustee", which term includes any successor
trustee under the Indenture).  The Notes are limited in aggregate principal
amount to $500,000,000.  Reference is hereby made to the Indenture and all
indentures supplemental thereto for a statement of the respective rights,
limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the
Trustee and the Holders of the Notes and of the terms upon which the Notes are,
and are to be, authenticated and delivered.

     The Notes are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 nor more than 60
days' notice by mail to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at such Holder's
address appearing in the Note Register, in amounts of $1,000 or an integral
multiple of $1,000, at any time on or after February 15, 2004 and prior to
maturity, as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the
following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount)
plus accrued interest to but excluding the Redemption Date (subject to the right
of 

                                      32
<PAGE>
 
Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on an
Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Redemption Date), if redeemed
during the 12-month period beginning February 15 of each of the years indicated
below:



                       Redemption                     
               Year       Price          
               ----    ----------        
                                         
               2004     104.063%         
                                         
               2005     102.708%         
                                         
               2006     101.354%         
                                         
               2007     100.000%          

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount,
together in the case of any such redemption with accrued interest to but
excluding the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity
is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such
Notes, or one or more Predecessor Notes, of record at the close of business on
the relevant Regular Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as
provided in the Indenture.

     The Notes are further subject to redemption prior to February 15, 2002 only
in the event that the Company receives net proceeds from any sale of its Common
Stock in a Strategic Equity Investment on or before February 15, 2002, in which
case the Company may, at its option, use all or a portion of any such net
proceeds to redeem Notes in a principal amount of up to an aggregate amount
equal to 33 1/3% of the original principal amount of the Notes, provided,
however, that Notes in an amount equal to at least 66 2/3% of the original
principal amount of the Notes remain outstanding after such redemption.  Such
redemption must occur on a Redemption Date within 90 days of any such sale and
upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice by mail to each Holder of
Notes to be redeemed at such Holder's address appearing in the Note Register, in
amounts of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 at a Redemption Price equal
to 108.125% of the principal amount of the Notes so redeemed, plus accrued and
unpaid interest thereon (if any) to but excluding the Redemption Date.

     The Notes do not have the benefit of any sinking fund obligations.

     The Indenture provides that, subject to certain conditions, if (i) a Change
of Control (as defined in the Indenture) occurs or (ii) certain Excess Proceeds
are available to the Company 

                                      33
<PAGE>
 
as a result of any Asset Sale, the Company shall be required to make a Change of
Control Offer or an Asset Sale Offer, as the case may be, for all or a specified
portion of the Notes.

     [If not a Global Security insert -- In the event of redemption or purchase
pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer of this Note in part only, a new Note or Notes
of like tenor for the unredeemed or unpurchased portion hereof will be issued in
the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

     [If a Global Security insert -- In the event of a deposit or withdrawal of
an interest in this Note (including upon an exchange, transfer, redemption or
repurchase of this Note in part only) effected in accordance with the Applicable
Procedures, the Note Registrar, upon receipt of notice of such event from the
Depositary's custodian for this Note, shall make an adjustment on its records to
reflect an increase or decrease of the outstanding principal amount of this Note
resulting from such deposit or withdrawal, as the case may be.]

     If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the principal of all
the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect
provided in the Indenture.

     The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of (i) the
entire indebtedness of this Note, or (ii) certain restrictive covenants and
Events of Default with respect to this Note, in each case upon compliance with
certain conditions set forth therein.

     Unless the context otherwise requires, the Original Notes (as defined in
the Indenture) and the Exchange Notes (as defined in the Indenture) shall
constitute one series for all purposes under the Indenture, including without
limitation, amendments, waivers, redemptions, Change of Control Offers and Asset
Sale Offers.

     The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Notes under the Indenture at any
time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding.
The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified
percentages in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding,
on behalf of the Holders of all the Notes, to waive compliance by the Company
with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the
Indenture and their consequences.  Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of
this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future
Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer
hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such
consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

     No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of
the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to 

                                      34
<PAGE>
 
pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Note at the
times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

     As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set
forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the Note Register, upon
surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of
the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, duly
endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Company and the Note Registrar duly executed by, the Holder
hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new
Notes, of authorized denominations and like tenor and for the same aggregate
principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

     The Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons in
denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.  As provided in the
Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Notes are
exchangeable for a like tenor and aggregate principal amount of Notes of a
different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the
same.

     No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or
exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

     Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the
Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the
Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all
purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the
Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

     Interest on this Note shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months; provided, however, that Special Interest shall be computed
on the basis of a 365- or 366-day year, as the case may be, and the number of
days actually elapsed.

     THE INDENTURE AND THE NOTES, INCLUDING THIS NOTE, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO
AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE.

     All terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture shall have
the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.


                            CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

                                      35
<PAGE>
 
     The transferor hereof (the "Transferor") hereby certifies in connection
with the transfer of this Note as follows:

                              (Please check one)

     [_]  The Transferor has requested that this Note be transferred to a person
(the "Transferee") who will take delivery in the form of a Regulation S Note. In
connection with such transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that, unless such
transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under
the Securities Act, it is being effected in accordance with Rule 904 or Rule 144
under the Securities Act and with all applicable securities laws of the states
of the United States and other jurisdictions. Accordingly, the Transferor hereby
further certifies as follows:

          (1)  Rule 904 Transfers.  If the transfer is being effected in
               ------------------                                       
     accordance with Rule 904:

               (A)  the Transferor is not a distributor of the Notes, an
          affiliate of the Company or any such distributor or a person acting on
          behalf of any of the foregoing;

               (B)  the offer of this Note was not made to a person in the
          United States;

               (C)  either:

                    (i)  at the time the buy order was originated, the
               Transferee was outside the United States or the Transferor and
               any person acting on its behalf reasonably believed that the
               Transferee was outside the United States, or

                    (ii) the transaction is being executed in, on or through
               the facilities of the Eurobond market, as regulated by the
               Association of International Bond Dealers, or another designated
               offshore securities market and neither the Owner nor any person
               acting on its behalf knows that the transaction has been
               prearranged with a buyer in the United States;

               (D)  no directed selling efforts have been made in the United
          States by or on behalf of the Transferor or any affiliate thereof;

                                      36
<PAGE>
 
               (E)  if the Transferor is a dealer in securities or has received
          a selling concession, fee or other remuneration in respect of this
          Note, and the transfer is to occur during the Restricted Period, then
          the requirements of Rule 904(c)(1) have been satisfied; and

               (F)  the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the
          registration requirements of the Securities Act.
          (2) Rule 144 Transfers.  If the transfer is being effected pursuant to
              ------------------                                                
     Rule 144:

               (A)  the transfer is occurring after a holding period of at least
          one year (computed in accordance with paragraph (d) of Rule 144) has
          elapsed since this Note was last acquired from the Company or from an
          affiliate of the Company, whichever is later, and is being effected in
          accordance with the applicable amount, manner of sale and notice
          requirements of Rule 144; or

               (B)  the transfer is occurring after a holding period of at least
          two years has elapsed since this Note was last acquired from the
          Company or from an affiliate of the Company, whichever is later, and
          the Transferor is not, and during the preceding three months has not
          been, an affiliate of the Company.

     [_]  The Transferor has requested that this Note be transferred to the
Transferee who will take delivery in the form of a Restricted Note.  In
connection with such transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that, unless such
transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under
the Securities Act, it is being effected in accordance with Rule 144A, Rule 144
or to an Institutional Accredited Investor under Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7)
under the Securities Act and in compliance with all applicable securities laws
of the states of the United States and other jurisdictions.  Accordingly, the
Transferor hereby further certifies as follows:

          (1)  Rule 144A Transfers.  If the transfer is being effected in
               -------------------                                       
     accordance with Rule 144A:

               (A)  this Note is being transferred to a person that the
          Transferor and any person acting on its behalf reasonably believe is a
          "qualified institutional buyer" within the meaning of Rule 144A,
          acquiring for its own account or for the account of a qualified
          institutional buyer; and

               (B)  the Transferor and any person acting on its behalf have
          taken reasonable steps to ensure that the Transferee is aware that the
          Transferor may be relying on Rule 144A in connection with the
          transfer; and

                                      37
<PAGE>
 
          (2)  Rule 144 Transfers.  If the transfer is being effected pursuant
               ------------------                                             
     to Rule 144:

               (A)  the transfer is occurring after a holding period of at least
          one year (computed in accordance with paragraph (d) of Rule 144) has
          elapsed since this Note was last acquired from the Company or from an
          affiliate of the Company, whichever is later, and is being effected in
          accordance with the applicable amount, manner of sale and notice
          requirements of Rule 144; or

               (B)  the transfer is occurring after a holding period of at least
          two years has elapsed since this Note was last acquired from the
          Company or from an affiliate of the Company, whichever is later, and
          the Transferor is not, and during the preceding three months has not
          been, an affiliate of the Company.

          (3)  Institutional Accredited Investor Transfers.  If the transfer is
               -------------------------------------------                     
     being effected to an Institutional Accredited Investor as defined under
     Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7), this Note is being transferred to such an
     Institutional Accredited Investor as therein so defined who is purchasing
     for investment purposes and not for distribution.


                      OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE


     If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to
Section 4.07 or 4.08 of the Indenture, check the box:

                                      [_]

     If you want to elect to have only a part of this Note purchased by the
Company pursuant to Section 4.07 or 4.08 of the Indenture, state the amount:
$_________________

Dated:____________________       Your Signature:______________________
                                 (Sign exactly as name appears
                                 on the other side of this Note)


Signature Guarantee:____________________________________________________________

          Notice:  Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor
          institution" meeting the requirements of the Note Registrar which
          requirements will include membership or participation in STAMP or such
          other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the
          Trustee in addition to, or in substitution for STAMP, all in
          accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

                                      38
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION II.4.  Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.
                    ----------------------------------------------- 

     This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

Date:

                              _______________________,
                                         as Trustee

                                    By____________________
                                      Authorized Signatory

     SECTION II.5.   Execution and Authentication.  The aggregate principal
                     ----------------------------                          
amount of Notes outstanding at any time shall not exceed $500,000,000.  The
Notes shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer,
its President or any Executive Vice President and shall be attested by the
Company's Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries, in each case by manual
or facsimile signature.

     The Notes shall be authenticated by manual signature of an authorized
officer of the Trustee and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so
authenticated.

     In case any officer of the Company whose signature shall have been placed
upon any of the Notes shall cease to be such officer of the Company before
authentication of such Notes by the Trustee and the issuance and delivery
thereof, such Notes may, nevertheless, be authenticated by the Trustee and
issued and delivered with the same force and effect as though such Person had
not ceased to be such officer of the Company.

     Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate
and deliver Notes only upon receipt by the Trustee of an Officers' Certificate
complying with Section 10.04 hereof with respect to satisfaction of all
conditions precedent contained in this Indenture to authentication and delivery
of such Notes.

     Upon compliance by the Company with the provisions of the previous
paragraph, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company Order requesting such
action, authenticate Notes for original issuance in an aggregate principal
amount not to exceed $500,000,000.  Such Company Order shall specify the amount
of Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the Notes are to be
authenticated and shall further provide instructions concerning registration,
amounts for each Holder and delivery.

     A Note shall not be valid or entitled to any benefit under this Indenture
or obligatory for any purpose unless executed by the Company and authenticated
by the manual signature of 

                                      39
<PAGE>
 
the Trustee as provided herein. The signature of an authorized officer of the
Trustee shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Note has
been authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

     The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to
the Company to authenticate the Notes.  Unless limited by the terms of such
appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee
may do so.   Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee
includes authentication by such agent.   Any authenticating agent of the Trustee
shall have the same rights hereunder as any Registrar or Paying Agent.  The
Trustee shall not be liable for any failure to act of the authenticating agent
in performing any duty either required herein or authorized herein to be
performed by such person in accordance with the Indenture.

     SECTION II.6.   Note Registrar and Paying Agent.  The Company shall
                     -------------------------------                    
maintain, pursuant to Section 4.02 hereof, an office or agency where the Notes
may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange.  The Company
shall cause to be kept at such office a register (the register maintained in
such office being herein sometimes referred to as the "Note Register") in which,
subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall
provide for the registration of Notes and of transfers of Notes entitled to be
registered or transferred as provided herein.  The Trustee, at its Corporate
Trust Office, is initially appointed "Note Registrar" for the purpose of
registering Notes and transfers of Notes as herein provided.  The Company may,
upon written notice to the Trustee, change the designation of the Trustee as
Note Registrar and appoint another Person to act as Note Registrar for purposes
of this Indenture.  If any Person other than the Trustee acts as Note Registrar,
the Trustee shall have the right at any time, upon reasonable notice, to inspect
or examine the Note Register and to make such inquiries of the Note Registrar as
the Trustee shall in its discretion deem necessary or desirable in performing
its duties hereunder.

     The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any
Person designated by the Company as Note Registrar or Paying Agent that is not a
party to this Indenture, which agreement shall incorporate the provisions of the
Trust Indenture Act and shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that
relate to such Note Registrar or Paying Agent.  Prior to the designation of any
such Person, the Company shall, by written notice (which notice shall include
the name and address of such Person), inform the Trustee of such designation.
If the Company fails to maintain a Note Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee
shall act as such.

     Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note at an office or
agency of the Company designated for such purpose, the Company shall execute,
and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated
transferee or transferees, one or more new Initial Notes or Exchange Notes, as
the case may be, of any authorized denomination or denominations, of like tenor
and aggregate principal amount, all as requested by the transferor.

                                      40
<PAGE>
 
     Every Note presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for
exchange shall (if so required by the Company, the Trustee or the Note
Registrar) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a duly executed instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, the Trustee and the Note
Registrar, by the Holder thereof or such Holder's attorney duly authorized in
writing.

     SECTION II.7.   Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.  On or prior to 10:00
                     -----------------------------------                       
a.m. on each due date of the principal, premium, or any payment of interest with
respect to any Note, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent a sum
sufficient to pay such principal, premium or interest when so becoming due.

     The Company shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to
agree in writing that such Paying Agent, shall hold in trust for the benefit of
Holders or the Trustee all money held by such Paying Agent for the payment of
principal, premium, or interest with respect to the Notes, shall notify the
Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment and at any time
during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the
Trustee, shall forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such
Paying Agent.

     The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by
it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by such Paying Agent.
Upon complying with this Section 2.07, the Paying Agent shall have no further
liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.

     SECTION II.8.   Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.
                     --------------------------------------------------- 

     (a)  At the option of the Holder, and subject to the other provisions of
this Section 2.08, Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized
denominations and of a like tenor and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender
of the Notes to be exchanged at such office or agency.  Whenever any Notes are
so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver, the Notes which the Holder making the exchange is
entitled to receive.

     All Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes
shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and
(subject to the provisions in the Original Notes regarding the payment of
Special Interest) entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the
Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

     Every Note presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for
exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed,
or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to
the Company and the Note Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or his
attorney duly authorized in writing.

                                      41
<PAGE>
 
     No service charge shall be made to the Holder for any registration of
transfer or exchange of Notes, but the Company may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, other than
exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.06 or 9.06 hereof or in accordance with
any offer pursuant to Section 4.07 or 4.08 hereof not involving any transfer.

     Any holder of a Global Security shall, by acceptance of such Global
Security, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Security
may be effected through a book entry system maintained by the holder of such
Global Security (or its agent) and the ownership of a beneficial interest in the
Note shall be reflected in a book entry.

     The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or
exchange any Note during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days
before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of Notes selected for
redemption under Section 3.03 and ending at the close of business on the day of
such mailing, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Note so
selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of
any Note being redeemed in part.

     (b)  Certain Transfers and Exchanges.  Notwithstanding any other provision
          -------------------------------                                      
of this Indenture or the Notes, transfers and exchanges of Notes and beneficial
interests in a Global Security of the kinds specified in this Section 2.08(b)
shall be made only in accordance with this Section 2.08(b).

          (i) Restricted Global Security to Regulation S Global Security.  If
              ----------------------------------------------------------     
     the owner of a beneficial interest in the Restricted Global Security wishes
     at any time to transfer such interest to a Person who wishes to acquire the
     same in the form of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global
     Security, such transfer may be effected only in accordance with the
     provisions of this Clause (b)(i) and Clause (b)(vii) below and subject to
     the Applicable Procedures.  Upon receipt by the Trustee, as Note Registrar,
     of (A) an order given by the Depositary or its authorized representative
     directing that a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Security in
     a specified principal amount be credited to a specified Agent Member's
     account and that a beneficial interest in the Restricted Global Security in
     an equal principal amount be debited from another specified Agent Member's
     account and (B) a Regulation S Certificate, satisfactory to the Trustee and
     duly executed by the owner of such beneficial interest in the Restricted
     Global Security or his attorney duly authorized in writing, then the
     Trustee, as Note Registrar but subject to Clause (b)(vii) below, shall
     reduce the principal amount of the Restricted Global Security and increase
     the principal amount of the Regulation S Global Security by such specified
     principal amount as provided in Section 2.08(d)(3) hereof.

                                      42
<PAGE>
 
          (ii)  Regulation S Global Security to Restricted Global Security.  If
                ----------------------------------------------------------     
     the owner of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Security
     wishes at any time to transfer such interest to a Person who wishes to
     acquire the same in the form of a beneficial interest in the Restricted
     Global Security, such transfer may be effected only in accordance with this
     Clause (b)(ii) and subject to the Applicable Procedures.  Upon receipt by
     the Trustee, as Note Registrar, of (A) an order given by the Depositary or
     its authorized representative directing that a beneficial interest in the
     Restricted Global Security in a specified principal amount be credited to a
     specified Agent Member's account and that a beneficial interest in the
     Regulation S Global Security in an equal principal amount be debited from
     another specified Agent Member's account and (B) if such transfer is to
     occur during the Restricted Period, a Restricted Notes Certificate,
     satisfactory to the Trustee and duly executed by the owner of such
     beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Security or his attorney
     duly authorized in writing, then the Trustee, as Note Registrar, shall
     reduce the principal amount of the Regulation S Global Security and
     increase the principal amount of the Restricted Global Security by such
     specified principal amount as provided in Section 2.08(d)(3) hereof.

          (iii) Restricted Non-Global Security to Restricted Global Security or
                -------------------------------------------- ------------------
     Regulation S Global Security.  Subject to Section 2.08(d)(2) hereof, if the
     ----------------------------                                               
     Holder of a Restricted Note (other than a Global Security) wishes at any
     time to transfer all or any portion of such Restricted Note to a Person who
     wishes to take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the
     Restricted Global Security or the Regulation S Global Security, such
     transfer may be effected only in accordance with the provisions of this
     Clause (b)(iii) and Clause (b)(vii) below and subject to the Applicable
     Procedures.  Upon receipt by the Trustee, as Note Registrar, of (A) such
     Restricted Note as provided in Section 2.08(a) hereof and instructions
     satisfactory to the Trustee directing that a beneficial interest in the
     Restricted Global Security or Regulation S Global Security in a specified
     principal amount not greater than the principal amount of such Note be
     credited to a specified Agent Member's account and (B) a Restricted Notes
     Certificate (or the completion of the Certificate of Transfer on the Note),
     if the specified account is to be credited with a beneficial interest in
     the Restricted Global Security, or a Regulation S Certificate (or the
     completion of the Certificate of Transfer on the Note), if the specified
     account is to be credited with a beneficial interest in the Regulation S
     Global Security, in either case satisfactory to the Trustee and duly
     executed by such Holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing, then
     the Trustee, as Note Registrar but subject to Clause (b)(vii) below, shall
     cancel such Restricted Note (and issue a new Restricted Note in respect of
     any untransferred portion thereof) as provided in Section 2.08(a) hereof
     and increase the principal amount of the Restricted Global Security or the
     Regulation S Global Security , as the case may be, by the specified
     principal amount as provided in Section 2.08(d)(3).

                                      43
<PAGE>
 
          (iv) Regulation S Non-Global Security to Restricted Global Security or
               ---------------------------------------------- ------------------
     Regulation S Global Security.  Subject to Section 2.08(d)(2) hereof, if the
     ----------------------------                                               
     Holder of a Regulation S Note (other than a Global Security) wishes at any
     time to transfer all or any portion of such Regulation S Note to a Person
     who wishes to acquire the same in the form of a beneficial interest in the
     Restricted Global Security or the Regulation S Global Security, such
     transfer may be effected only in accordance with this Clause (b)(iv) and
     Clause (b)(vii) below and subject to the Applicable Procedures.  Upon
     receipt by the Trustee, as Note Registrar, of (A) such Regulation S Note as
     provided in Section 2.08(a) hereof and instructions satisfactory to the
     Trustee directing that a beneficial interest in the Restricted Global
     Security or Regulation S Global Security in a specified principal amount
     not greater than the principal amount of such Note be credited to a
     specified Agent Member's account and (B) if the transfer is to occur during
     the Restricted Period and the specified account is to be credited with a
     beneficial interest in the Restricted Global Security, a Restricted Notes
     Certificate (or the completion of the Certificate of Transfer on the Note)
     satisfactory to the Trustee and duly executed by such Holder or his
     attorney duly authorized in writing, then the Trustee, as Note Registrar
     but subject to Clause (b)(vii) below, shall cancel such Regulation S Note
     (and issue a new Regulation S Note in respect of any untransferred portion
     thereof) as provided in Section 2.08(a) hereof and increase the principal
     amount of the Restricted Global Security or the Regulation S Global
     Security, as the case may be, by the specified principal amount as provided
     in Section 2.08(d)(3) hereof.

          (v)  Non-Global Security to Non-Global Security.  A Note that is not a
               ------------------------------------------                       
     Global Security may be transferred, in whole or in part, to a Person who
     takes delivery in the form of another Note that is not a Global Security as
     provided in Section 2.08(a) hereof, provided that, if the Note to be
     transferred in whole or in part is a Restricted Note, or is a Regulation S
     Note and the transfer is to occur during the Restricted Period, then the
     Trustee shall have received (A) a Restricted Notes Certificate (or the
     completion of the Certificate of Transfer on the Note), satisfactory to the
     Trustee and duly executed by the transferor Holder or his attorney duly
     authorized in writing, in which case the transferee Holder shall take
     delivery in the form of a Restricted Note or (B) a Regulation S Certificate
     (or the completion of the Certificate of Transfer on the Note),
     satisfactory to the Trustee and duly executed by the transferor Holder or
     his attorney duly authorized in writing; in which case the transferee
     Holder shall take delivery in the form of a Regulation S Note (subject in
     every case to Section 2.08(c) hereof).

          (vi) Exchanges between Global Security and Non-Global Security.  A
               ---------------------------------------------------------    
     beneficial interest in a Global Security may be exchanged for a Note that
     is not a Global Security as provided in Section 2.08(d)(2) hereof, provided
     that, if such interest is a beneficial interest in the Restricted Global
     Security, or if such interest is a beneficial interest in the Regulation S
     Global Security and such exchange is to occur during the Restricted 

                                      44
<PAGE>
 
     Period, then such interest shall be exchanged for a Restricted Note
     (subject in each case to Section 2.08(c) hereof). A Note that is not a
     Global Security may be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Global
     Security only if (A) such exchange occurs in connection with a transfer
     effected in accordance with Clause (b)(iii) or (iv) above or (B) such Note
     is a Regulation S Note and such exchange occurs after the Restricted
     Period.

          (vii)  Regulation S Global Security to be Held Through Euroclear or
                 ------------------------------------------------------------
     Cedel during Restricted Period.  The Company shall use its best efforts to
     ------------------------------                                            
     cause the Depositary to ensure that, until the expiration of the Restricted
     Period, beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Security may be
     held only in or through accounts maintained at the Depositary by Euroclear
     or Cedel (or by Agent Members acting for the account thereof), and no
     person shall be entitled to effect any transfer or exchange that would
     result in any such interest being held otherwise than in or through such an
     account; provided that this Clause (b)(vii) shall not prohibit any transfer
     or exchange of such an interest in accordance with Clause (b)(ii) or (vi)
     above.

     (c)  Securities Act Legends.  Rule 144A Notes, Other Notes and their
          ----------------------                                         
respective Successor Notes shall bear a Restricted Note Legend, and the
Regulation S Notes and their Successor Notes shall bear a Regulation S Legend,
subject to the following:

          (i)   subject to the following Clauses of this Section 2.08(c), a Note
     or any portion thereof which is exchanged, upon transfer or otherwise, for
     a Global Security or any portion thereof shall bear the Securities Act
     Legend borne by such Global Security while represented thereby;

          (ii)  subject to the following Clauses of this Section 2.08(c), a new
     Note which is not a Global Security and is issued in exchange for another
     Note (including a Global Security) or any portion thereof, upon transfer or
     otherwise, shall bear the Securities Act Legend borne by such other Note,
     provided that, if such new Note is required pursuant to Section 2.08(b)(v)
     or (vi) hereof to be issued in the form of a Restricted Note, it shall bear
     a Restricted Note Legend and, if such new Note is so required to be issued
     in the form of a Regulation S Note, it shall bear a Regulation S Legend;

          (iii) Registered Notes shall not bear a Securities Act Legend;

          (iv)  at any time after the Notes may be freely transferred without
     registration under the Securities Act or without being subject to transfer
     restrictions pursuant to the Securities Act, a new Note which does not bear
     a Securities Act Legend may be issued in exchange for or in lieu of a Note
     (other than a Global Security) or any portion thereof which bears such a
     legend if the Trustee has received an Unrestricted Note Certificate,
     satisfactory to the Trustee and duly executed by the Holder of such
     legended Note or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and after such
     date and 

                                      45
<PAGE>
 
     receipt of such certificate, the Trustee shall authenticate and
     deliver such a new Note in exchange for or in lieu of such other Note as
     provided in this Article II;

          (v)   a new Note which does not bear a Securities Act Legend may be
     issued in exchange for or in lieu of a Note (other than a Global Security)
     or any portion thereof which bears such a legend if, in the Company's
     judgment, placing such a legend upon such new Note is not necessary to
     ensure compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act,
     and the Trustee, at the direction of the Company, shall authenticate and
     deliver such a new Note as provided in this Article II; and

          (vi)  notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section
     2.08(c), a Successor Note of a Note that does not bear a particular form of
     Securities Act Legend shall not bear such form of legend unless the Company
     has reasonable cause to believe that such Successor Note is a "restricted
     security" within the meaning of Rule 144, in which case the Trustee, at the
     direction of the Company, shall authenticate and deliver a new Note bearing
     a Restricted Note Legend in exchange for such Successor Note as provided in
     this Article II.

     (d)  The provisions of Clauses (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) below shall apply
only to Global Securities:

          (1)   Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be
     registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee thereof and delivered
     to the Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such
     Global Security shall constitute a single Note for all purposes of this
     Indenture.

          (2)   Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no Global
     Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Notes registered, and no
     transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the
     name of any Person other than the Depositary or a nominee thereof unless
     (i) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to
     continue as a depositary for such Global Security or if at any time the
     Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange
     Act, and a successor depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90
     days, (ii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee a notice that
     such Global Security shall be so transferable, registrable and
     exchangeable, and such transfer shall be registrable or (iii) there shall
     have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to the
     Notes represented by such Global Security.

          (3)   If any Global Security is to be exchanged for other Notes or
     canceled in whole, it shall be surrendered by or on behalf of the
     Depositary or its nominee to the Trustee, as Note Registrar, for exchange
     or cancellation as provided in this Article II.  If any Global Security is
     to be exchanged for other Notes or canceled in part, or if 

                                      46
<PAGE>
 
     another Note is to be exchanged in whole or in part for a beneficial
     interest in any Global Security, then either (i) such Global Security shall
     be so surrendered for exchange or cancellation as provided in this Article
     II or (ii) the principal amount thereof shall be reduced or increased by an
     amount equal to the portion thereof to be so exchanged or canceled, or
     equal to the principal amount of such other Note to be so exchanged for a
     beneficial interest therein, as the case may be, by means of an appropriate
     adjustment made on the records of the Trustee, as Note Registrar, whereupon
     the Trustee, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, shall instruct
     the Depositary or its authorized representative to make a corresponding
     adjustment to its records. Upon any such surrender or adjustment of a
     Global Security, the Trustee shall, subject to Section 2.08(d)(2) hereof
     and as otherwise provided in this Article II, authenticate and deliver any
     Notes issuable in exchange for such Global Security (or any portion
     thereof) to or upon the order of, and registered in such names as may be
     directed by, the Depositary or its authorized representative. Upon the
     request of the Trustee in connection with the occurrence of any of the
     events specified in the preceding paragraph, the Company shall promptly
     make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of Notes that are not in
     the form of Global Securities. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely upon
     any order, direction or request of the Depositary or its authorized
     representative which is given or made pursuant to this Article II if such
     order, direction or request is given or made in accordance with the
     Applicable Procedures.

          (4)  Every Note authenticated and delivered upon registration of
     transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any
     portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Section, Section 2.05, 2.09,
     3.06, 4.07, 4.08 or 9.06 hereof or otherwise, shall be authenticated and
     delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Security, unless such Note
     is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary or a
     nominee thereof.

          (5)  None of the Company, the Trustee, any agent of the Trustee, any
     Paying Agent or the Note Registrar will have any responsibility or
     liability for any aspect of the Depository's records (or the records of the
     participant of such Depository) relating to or payments made on account of
     beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining,
     supervising or reviewing any records of the Depository relating to such
     beneficial ownership interests.

     SECTION II.9.  Replacement Notes.  If any mutilated Note is surrendered to
                    -----------------                                          
the Trustee, the Company shall execute and upon its written request the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for any such mutilated Note, a new
Note containing identical provisions and of like principal amount, bearing a
number not contemporaneously outstanding.

                                      47
<PAGE>
 
     If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to
their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note and (ii) such
security or indemnity as may be required by them to save either of them and any
agent of each of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or
the Trustee that such Note has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the
Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Note, a new Note
containing identical provisions and of like principal amount, bearing a number
not contemporaneously outstanding.

     In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note has become or is
about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of
issuing a new Note, pay such Note.

     Upon the issuance of any new Note under this Section 2.09, the Company may
require the payment by the Holder of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other
expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

     Every new Note issued pursuant to this Section 2.09 in lieu of any
destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall constitute an original additional
contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or
stolen Note shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to
all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all
other Notes duly issued hereunder.

     The provisions of this Section 2.09 are exclusive and shall preclude (to
the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement
or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes.

     SECTION 2.10.  Outstanding Notes.  Notes outstanding at any time are all
                    -----------------                                        
Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those
delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section 2.10 as not
outstanding.  A Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an
Affiliate of the Company holds such Note.

     If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.09 hereof, it ceases to be
outstanding unless the Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory to
them that such replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.

     If the Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this
Indenture, on a redemption date or Maturity date money sufficient to pay all
principal, premium, if any, and interest payable on that date with respect to
the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be,
then on and after that date such Notes (or such portions thereof) shall cease to
be outstanding and interest on them shall cease to accrue.

                                      48
<PAGE>
 
     In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of
Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent or any amendment,
modification or other change to this Indenture, Notes held or beneficially owned
by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or by an Affiliate of
the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or by agents of any of the
foregoing shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining
whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver
or consent or any amendment, modification or other change to this Indenture,
only Notes which a Trust Officer knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
Notes so owned which have been pledged in good faith shall not be disregarded if
the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee such pledgee's right
so to act with respect to the Notes and that the pledgee is not the Company or
an Affiliate of the Company or any of their agents.

     SECTION 2.11.  Temporary Notes.  Pending the preparation of definitive
                    ---------------                                        
Notes, the Company may execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate, temporary
notes ("Temporary Notes") which are printed, lithographed, or otherwise
produced, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Notes in lieu of which
they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions
and other variations.

     If Temporary Notes are issued, the Company shall cause definitive Notes to
be prepared without unreasonable delay.  After the preparation of definitive
Notes, the Temporary Notes shall be exchangeable for definitive Notes upon
surrender of the Temporary Notes to the Trustee, without charge to the Holder.
Until so exchanged, Temporary Notes will evidence the same debt and will be
entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the definitive Notes in
lieu of which they have been issued.

     SECTION 2.12.  Cancellation.  The Company at any time may deliver Notes to
                    ------------                                               
the Trustee for cancellation.  The Note Registrar and the Paying Agent shall
forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of
transfer, exchange, purchase or payment.  The Trustee shall cancel all Notes
surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, purchase, payment or
cancellation and shall destroy such canceled Notes unless the Company shall by
Company Order otherwise direct. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace
Notes that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

     SECTION 2.13.  Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.  Interest on
                    ----------------------------------------------              
any Note which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any
Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note is
registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest
payment, which shall be the February 1 or August 1 (whether or not a Business
Day) immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.

     Any interest on any Note which is payable, but is not punctually paid or
duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called "Defaulted
Interest") shall forthwith cease to 

                                      49
<PAGE>
 
be payable to the registered Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date, and,
except as hereinafter provided, such Defaulted Interest, and any interest
payable on such Defaulted Interest, may be paid by the Company, at its election,
as provided in clause (a) or (b) below:

          (a)  The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest,
     and any interest payable on such Defaulted Interest, to the Persons in
     whose names the Notes are registered at the close of business on a Special
     Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be
     fixed in the following manner.  The Company shall notify the Trustee in
     writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on the
     Notes and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the
     Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the
     aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest
     or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit
     prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be
     held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted
     Interest as provided in this Clause.  Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a
     Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall
     be not more than 15 calendar days and not less than 10 calendar days prior
     to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 calendar days
     after the receipt by a Trust Officer of the Trustee of the notice of the
     proposed payment.  The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such
     Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company,
     shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and
     the Special Record Date therefor to be sent, first class mail, postage
     prepaid, to each Holder at such Holder's address as it appears in the Note
     Register, not less than 10 calendar days prior to such Special Record Date.
     Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special
     Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted
     Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Notes are
     registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall
     no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (b).

          (b)  The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest, and any
     interest payable on such Defaulted Interest, on the Notes in any other
     lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities
     exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be
     required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the
     Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of
     payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

     Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.13, each Note
delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange
for, or in lieu of, any other Note, shall carry the rights to interest accrued
and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Note.

                                      50
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 2.14.  Authorized Denominations.  The Notes shall be issuable in
                    ------------------------                                 
minimum denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

     SECTION 2.15.  Computation of Interest.  Interest on the Notes shall be
                    -----------------------                                 
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months; provided that
Special Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 365- or 366-day year, as
the case may be, and the number of days actually elapsed from the date Special
Interest commences to accrue to but not including the date on which Special
Interest ceases to accrue.

     SECTION 2.16.  Persons Deemed Owners.  Prior to the due presentation for
                    ---------------------                                    
registration of transfer of any Note, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying
Agent, the Note Registrar or any co-registrar may deem and treat the person in
whose name Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose
of receiving payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Note
and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is overdue, and
none of the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Note Registrar or any
co-Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

     SECTION 2.17.  CUSIP Numbers.  The Company, in issuing the Notes, may use
                    -------------                                             
"CUSIP" and "ISIN" numbers for each series of Notes and, if so, the Trustee
shall use the relevant CUSIP and ISIN numbers in any notices to Holders as a
convenience to such Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no
representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP and ISIN
numbers printed in the notice or on the Notes and that reliance may be placed
only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes.  The Company
shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in any CUSIP or "ISIN" numbers
used.

     SECTION 2.18.  Holder Lists.  The Trustee shall preserve in as current a
                    ------------                                             
form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the
names and addresses of Holders and shall otherwise comply with Trust Indenture
Act (S) 312(a).  If the Trustee is not the Note Registrar, the Company shall
furnish to the Trustee as of each Regular Record Date and at such other times as
the Trustee may request in writing a list in such form and as of such date as
the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders,
including the aggregate principal amount of Notes held by each Holder.

                                 ARTICLE III.

                                  REDEMPTION

     SECTION III.1. Notice to Trustee.  If the Company elects to redeem Notes
                    -----------------                                        
pursuant to paragraph two or three of the reverse side of the Notes, it shall
notify the Trustee in writing of the Redemption Date and the principal amount of
Notes to be redeemed.  The Company shall give each such notice to the Trustee at
least 60 calendar days prior to the Redemption Date 

                                      51
<PAGE>
 
unless the Trustee consents in writing to a shorter period. Such notice shall be
accompanied by an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel from the
Company to the effect that such redemption will comply with any conditions to
such redemption set forth herein and in the Notes.

     SECTION III.2.  Selection of Notes to be Redeemed.  If less than all the
                     ---------------------------------                       
Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be
redeemed by lot, on a pro rata or other basis as it shall deem fair and
appropriate; provided that the Trustee may select for redemption in part only
Notes in denominations larger than $1,000.  In selecting Notes to be redeemed
pursuant to this Section 3.02, the Trustee shall make such adjustments,
reallocations and eliminations as it shall deem proper so that the principal
amount of each Note to be redeemed shall be $1,000 or an integral multiple
thereof, by increasing, decreasing or eliminating any amount less than $1,000
which would be allocable to any Holder.  If the Notes to be redeemed are
certificated Notes, the certificated Notes to be redeemed shall be selected by
the Trustee by prorating, as nearly as may be, the principal amount of
certificated Notes to be redeemed among the Holders of certificated Notes
registered in their respective names.  The Trustee in its discretion may
determine the particular Notes (if there are more than one) registered in the
name of any Holder which are to be redeemed, in whole or in part. Provisions of
this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions
of Notes called for redemption.  The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly
of the Notes or portions of Notes to be redeemed.

     SECTION III.3.  Notice of Redemption.  At least 30 calendar days but not
                     --------------------                                    
more than 60 calendar days before a Redemption Date, the Company shall send a
notice of redemption, first class mail, postage prepaid, to Holders of Notes to
be redeemed at the addresses of such Holders as they appear in the Note
Register.

     The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:

          (a)  the Redemption Date;

          (b)  the Redemption Price (and shall specify the portion of such
     Redemption Price that constitutes the amount of accrued and unpaid interest
     to be paid, if any);

          (c)  the name and address of the Paying Agent;

          (d)  that the Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the
     Paying Agent to collect the Redemption Price;

          (e)  if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the
     principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the Redemption
     Date, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed
     portion will be issued;

                                      52
<PAGE>
 
          (f)  if fewer than all the outstanding Notes are to be redeemed, the
     identification and principal amounts of the particular Notes to be
     redeemed;

          (g)  that, unless the Company defaults in making the redemption
     payment, interest on the Notes (or portions thereof) called for redemption
     shall cease and such Notes (or portions thereof) shall cease to accrue
     interest on and after the Redemption Date;

          (h)  the paragraph of the Notes pursuant to which the Notes are being
     called for redemption; and

          (i)  any other information necessary to enable Holders to comply with
     the notice of redemption.

     At the Company's request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption
in the Company's name and at the Company's expense.  In such event, the Company
shall provide the Trustee with the information required by this Section 3.03 in
a timely manner.

     SECTION III.4.  Effect of Notice of Redemption.  Once notice of redemption
                     ------------------------------                            
is mailed, Notes called for redemption shall become due and payable on the
Redemption Date and at the Redemption Price stated in such notice.  Upon
surrender to the Paying Agent, such Notes shall be paid at the Redemption Price
stated in such notice.  Failure to give notice or any defect in the notice to
any Holder shall not affect the validity of the notice to any other Holder.

     SECTION III.5.  Deposit of Redemption Price.  On or prior to 10:00 a.m.,
                     ---------------------------                             
New York City time, on each Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the
Paying Agent (or, if the Company, one of its Subsidiaries or any of their
Affiliates is the Paying Agent, the Paying Agent shall segregate and hold in
trust for the benefit of the Holders) money, in federal or other immediately
available funds, sufficient to pay the Redemption Price on all Notes to be
redeemed on that date other than Notes or portions of Notes called for
redemption on such date which have been delivered by the Company to the Trustee
for cancellation.

     So long as the Company complies with the preceding paragraph and the other
provisions of this Article III, interest on the Notes to be redeemed on the
applicable Redemption Date shall cease to accrue from and after such date and
such Notes or portions thereof shall be deemed not to be entitled to any benefit
under this Indenture except to receive payment of the Redemption Price on the
Redemption Date.  If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon
surrender for redemption, then, from the Redemption Date until such principal is
paid, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal and, to the extent
permitted by law, on any accrued but unpaid interest thereon, in each case at
the rate prescribed therefor by such Notes.

                                      53
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION III.6.  Notes Redeemed in Part.  Upon surrender and cancellation of
                     ----------------------                                     
a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver to the surrendering Holder (at the Company's expense) a
new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note
surrendered and canceled; provided that each such Note shall be in a principal
amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof.


                                  ARTICLE IV.

                                   COVENANTS

     SECTION IV.1.  Payment of Notes.  The Company shall promptly pay the
                    ----------------                                     
principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the Notes on the dates and in
the manner provided in the Notes and in this Indenture.  Principal, premium and
interest shall be considered paid on the date due if, on such date, the Trustee
or the Paying Agent holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to
pay all principal, premium and interest then due.

     To the extent lawful, the Company shall pay interest on (i) any overdue
principal of (and premium, if any, on) the Notes, at the interest rate borne on
the Notes, plus 1% per annum, and (ii) Defaulted Interest (without regard to any
applicable grace period), at the same rate.  The Company's obligation pursuant
to the previous sentence shall apply whether such overdue amount is due at its
Stated Maturity, as a result of the Company's obligations pursuant to Section
3.05, Section 4.07 or Section 4.08 hereof, or otherwise.

     SECTION IV.2.  Maintenance of Office or Agency.  The Company shall maintain
                    -------------------------------                             
in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or agency where
Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Notes may be
surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and
demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be
served.  The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the
location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency.  If at any
time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or
shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations,
surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust
Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee its agent to
receive all presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

     The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices
or agencies (in or outside of The City of New York) where the Notes may be
presented or surrendered for any or all of such purposes, and may from time to
time rescind such designations; provided that no such designation or rescission
shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office
or agency in The City of New York, for such purposes.  The Company shall give
prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation and any change in
the location of any such other office or agency.

                                      54
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION IV.3.  Money for the Note Payments to be Held in Trust.  If the
                    -----------------------------------------------         
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any of their respective Affiliates
shall at any time act as Paying Agent with respect to the Notes, such Paying
Agent shall, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if
any) or interest on any of the Notes, segregate and hold in trust for the
benefit of the Persons entitled thereto money sufficient to pay the principal
(and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due until such money shall be paid
to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and shall promptly
notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

     Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents with respect to
the Notes, it shall, prior to or on each due date of the principal of (and
premium, if any) or interest on any of the Notes, deposit with a Paying Agent a
sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so
becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons
entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent
is the Trustee) the Paying Agent shall promptly notify the Trustee of the
Company's action or failure so to act.

     SECTION IV.4.  Corporate Existence.  Subject to the provisions of Article
                    -------------------                                       
IV and Article V hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things
necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect the corporate existence,
rights (charter and statutory) and franchises of the Company and each of its
Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that the Company and any such Restricted
Subsidiary shall not be required to preserve the corporate existence of any such
Restricted Subsidiary or any such right or franchise if the Board of Directors
shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the
conduct of the business of the Company and provided further that any Restricted
Subsidiary may consolidate with, merge into, or sell, convey, lease or otherwise
dispose of all of its property and assets to the Company or any wholly owned
Restricted Subsidiary.

     SECTION IV.5.  Maintenance of Property.  The Company shall cause all
                    -----------------------                              
Property used or useful in the conduct of its business or the business of any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries and material to the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries taken as a whole to be maintained and kept in good condition,
repair and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment and shall
cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and
improvements thereof, all as, in the judgment of the Company, may be necessary
so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and
advantageously conducted at all times; provided that nothing in this Section
4.05 shall prevent the Company from discontinuing the operation or maintenance
of any of such Property if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of the
Company, desirable in the conduct of its business or the business of any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries.

                                      55
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION IV.6.  Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.  The Company shall pay or
                    ---------------------------------                           
discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become
delinquent, (a) all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied
or imposed upon the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or upon the
income, profits or Property of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
and (b) all material lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if
unpaid, might by law become a Lien upon the Property of the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that the Company shall not be required to
pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment,
charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings upon stay of execution or the enforcement
thereof and for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP or other
appropriate provision has been made.

     SECTION IV.7.  Repurchase at the Option of Holders upon a Change of
                    ----------------------------------------------------
Control.  (a)  Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder shall
have the right to require the Company to purchase such Holder's Notes, in whole
or in part, in a principal amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,
pursuant to the offer described in Section 4.07(b) hereof (the "Change of
Control Offer"), at a purchase price (the "Change of Control Purchase Price") in
cash equal to 101 percent of the principal amount of such Notes (or portions
thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Change of Control
Payment Date.

     (b)  Within 30 calendar days of the date of any Change of Control, the
Company, or the Trustee at the request and expense of the Company, shall send to
each Holder by first class mail, postage prepaid, a notice prepared by the
Company stating:

          (i)    that a Change of Control has occurred and a Change of Control
     Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.07, and that all Notes that
     are timely tendered will be accepted for payment;

          (ii)   the Change of Control Purchase Price, and the date Notes are to
     be purchased pursuant to the Change of Control Offer (the "Change of
     Control Payment Date"), which date shall be a date occurring no earlier
     than 30 calendar days nor later than 60 calendar days subsequent to the
     date such notice is mailed;

          (iii)  that any Notes or portions thereof not tendered or accepted for
     payment will continue to accrue interest;

          (iv)   that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Change
     of Control Purchase Price with respect thereto, all Notes or portions
     thereof accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall
     cease to accrue interest from and after the Change of Control Payment Date;

                                      56
<PAGE>
 
          (v)    that any Holder electing to have any Notes or portions thereof
     purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to
     surrender such Notes, with the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect
     Purchase" on the reverse of such Notes completed, to the Paying Agent at
     the address specified in the notice, prior to the close of business on the
     third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;

          (vi)   that any Holder shall be entitled to withdraw such election if
     the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the
     second Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a
     telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter, setting forth the name
     of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a
     statement that such Holder is withdrawing such Holder's election to have
     such Notes or portions thereof purchased pursuant to the Change of Control
     Offer;

          (vii)  that any Holder electing to have Notes purchased pursuant to
     the Change of Control Offer must specify the principal amount that is being
     tendered for purchase, which principal amount must be $1,000 or an integral
     multiple thereof;

          (viii) that any Holder whose Notes are being purchased only in part
     will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased
     portion of the Note or Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion will be
     equal in principal amount to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof; and

          (ix)   any other information necessary to enable any Holder to tender
     Notes and to have such Notes purchased pursuant to this Section 4.07.

     (c)  On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall (i) accept
for payment any Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the
Change of Control Offer; (ii) irrevocably deposit with the Paying Agent, by
10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date, in immediately available funds, an
amount equal to the Change of Control Purchase Price in respect of all Notes or
portions thereof so accepted; and (iii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to
the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers' Certificate listing
the Notes or portions thereof tendered to the Company and accepted for payment.
The Paying Agent shall promptly send by first class mail, postage prepaid, to
each Holder of Notes or portions thereof so accepted for payment, payment in an
amount equal to the Change of Control Purchase Price for such Notes or portions
thereof. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Change of
Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment
Date.

     (d)  Upon surrender and cancellation of a Note that is purchased in part
pursuant to a Change of Control Offer, the Company shall promptly issue and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the surrendering Holder of such Note,
a new Note equal in principal amount to 

                                      57
<PAGE>
 
the unpurchased portion of such surrendered Note; provided that each such new
Note shall be in a principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof.

     (e)  The Company shall comply with the requirements of Section 14(e) under
the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations, to the extent
such laws and regulations are applicable, in connection with the purchase of
Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer.

     SECTION IV.8.  Limitation on Asset Sales.  (a)  The Company shall not, and
                    -------------------------                                  
shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, to,
consummate any Asset Sale, unless:

          (i)    the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be,
     receives consideration for such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair
     Market Value (as evidenced by a Board Resolution delivered to the Trustee)
     of the Property or assets sold or otherwise disposed of;

          (ii)   at least 75 percent of the consideration received in respect of
     such Asset Sale by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case
     may be, for such Property or assets consists of (a) Cash Proceeds and/or
     Telecommunications Assets; (b) shares of publicly-traded Voting Stock of
     any Person engaged in the Telecommunications Business in the United States;
     or (c) the assumption of Indebtedness of the Company or such Restricted
     Subsidiary (other than Indebtedness that is subordinated to the Notes) and
     the release of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may
     be, from all liability on the Indebtedness assumed; and

          (iii)  the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be,
     uses the Net Cash Proceeds from such Asset Sale in the manner set forth in
     Section 4.08(b) hereof.

     (b)  Within 360 calendar days after the closing of any Asset Sale, the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, may, at its option:

          (i)    reinvest an amount equal to the Net Cash Proceeds, or any
     portion thereof, from such Asset Sale in Telecommunications Assets or in
     Capital Stock of any Person engaged in the Telecommunications Business;
     and/or

          (ii)   apply an amount equal to such Net Cash Proceeds, or remaining
     Net Cash Proceeds, to the permanent reduction of Indebtedness of the
     Company (other than Indebtedness to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company)
     that is senior to or pari passu with the Notes or to the permanent
                          ---- -----                                   
     reduction of Indebtedness or Preferred Stock of any 

                                      58
<PAGE>
 
     Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than Indebtedness to, or
     Preferred Stock owned by, the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary of
     the Company).

Net Cash Proceeds from any Asset Sale that are not applied pursuant to clause
(i) or (ii) above within 360 calendar days of the closing of such Asset Sale
shall constitute "Excess Proceeds."

     (c)  If at any time the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds calculated as
of such date exceeds $5 million, the Company shall use the then-existing Excess
Proceeds to make an offer, as described in Section 4.08(d) hereof (an "Asset
Sale Offer"), to purchase from all Holders, on a pro rata basis, Notes in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the maximum principal amount that may be
purchased out of the then-existing Excess Proceeds, at a purchase price (the
"Asset Sale Purchase Price") in cash equal to 100 percent of the principal
amount of such Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Asset
Sale Payment Date.

     (d)  Within 30 calendar days of the date the amount of Excess Proceeds
exceeds $5 million, the Company, or the Trustee at the request and expense of
the Company, shall send to each Holder by first class mail, postage prepaid, a
notice prepared by the Company stating:

          (i)    that an Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section
     4.08, and that all Notes that are timely tendered will be accepted for
     payment, subject to proration in the event the amount of Excess Proceeds is
     less than the aggregate Asset Sale Purchase Price of all Notes timely
     tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer;

          (ii)   the Asset Sale Purchase Price, the amount of Excess Proceeds
     that are available to be applied to purchase tendered Notes, and the date
     Notes are to be purchased pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer (the "Asset Sale
     Payment Date"), which date shall be a date no earlier than 30 calendar days
     nor later than 40 calendar days subsequent to the date such notice is
     mailed;

          (iii)  that any Notes or portions thereof not tendered or accepted for
     payment will continue to accrue interest;

          (iv)   that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Asset
     Sale Purchase Price with respect thereto, all Notes or portions thereof
     accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer shall cease to accrue
     interest from and after the Asset Sale Payment Date;

          (v)    that any Holder electing to have any Notes or portions thereof
     purchased pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer will be required to surrender
     such Notes, with the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on
     the reverse of such Notes completed, to the Paying Agent at the address
     specified in the notice, prior to the close of business on the third
     Business Day preceding the Asset Sale Payment Date;

                                      59
<PAGE>
 
          (vi)    that any Holder shall be entitled to withdraw such election if
     the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the
     second Business Day preceding the Asset Sale Payment Date, a telegram,
     telex, facsimile transmission or letter, setting forth the name of the
     Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a
     statement that such Holder is withdrawing such Holder's election to have
     such Notes or portions thereof purchased pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer;

          (vii)   that any Holder electing to have Notes purchased pursuant to
     the Asset Sale Offer must specify the principal amount that is being
     tendered for purchase, which principal amount must be $1,000 or an integral
     multiple thereof;

          (viii)  that any Holder whose Notes are being purchased only in part
     will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased
     portion of the Note or Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion will be
     equal in principal amount to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof; and

          (ix)    any other information necessary to enable any Holder to tender
     Notes and to have such Notes purchased pursuant to this Section 4.08.

     (e)  If the aggregate Asset Sale Purchase Price of the Notes surrendered by
Holders exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds as indicated in the notice
required by Section 4.08(d) hereof, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be
purchased on a pro rata basis based on the principal amount of the Notes
tendered, with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Trustee, so
that only Notes in denominations of $1,000 or integral multiples thereof shall
be purchased.

     (f)  On the Asset Sale Payment Date, the Company shall (i) accept for
payment any Notes or portions thereof properly tendered and selected for
purchase pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer and Section 4.08(e) hereof; (ii)
irrevocably deposit with the Paying Agent, by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on
such date, in immediately available funds, an amount equal to the Asset Sale
Purchase Price in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so accepted; and
(iii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee the Notes so accepted
together with an Officers' Certificate listing the Notes or portions thereof
tendered to the Company and accepted for payment.  The Paying Agent shall
promptly send by first class mail, postage prepaid, to each Holder of Notes or
portions thereof so accepted for payment, payment in an amount equal to the
Asset Sale Purchase Price for such Notes or portions thereof.  The Company shall
publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on or as soon as
practicable after the Asset Sale Payment Date.

     (g)  Upon surrender and cancellation of a Note that is purchased in part,
the Company shall promptly issue and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver
to the 

                                      60
<PAGE>
 
surrendering Holder of such Note a new Note equal in principal amount to the
unpurchased portion of such surrendered Note; provided that each such new Note
shall be in a principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof.

     (h)  Upon completion of an Asset Sale Offer (including payment of the Asset
Sale Purchase Price for accepted Notes), any surplus Excess Proceeds that were
the subject of such offer shall cease to be Excess Proceeds, and the Company may
then use such amounts for general corporate purposes.

     (i)  The Company shall comply with the requirements of Section 14(e) under
the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations, to the extent
such laws and regulations are applicable, in connection with the purchase of
Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer.

     SECTION IV.9.  Limitation on Consolidated Indebtedness.  (a) The Company
                    ---------------------------------------                  
shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, Incur any
Indebtedness after the Issue Date unless either (a) the ratio of (i) the
aggregate consolidated principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company
outstanding as of the most recent available quarterly or annual balance sheet,
after giving pro forma effect to the Incurrence of such Indebtedness and any
other Indebtedness Incurred since such balance sheet date and the receipt and
application of the proceeds thereof, to (ii) Consolidated Cash Flow Available
for Fixed Charges for the four full fiscal quarters immediately preceding the
Incurrence of such Indebtedness for which consolidated financial statements of
the Company have been filed with the Commission or have otherwise become
publicly available, determined on a pro forma basis as if any such Indebtedness
had been Incurred and the proceeds thereof had been applied at the beginning of
such four fiscal quarters, would be less than 5.5 to 1.0 for such four-quarter
periods ending on or prior to December 31, 2000 and 5.0 to 1.0 for such periods
ending thereafter, or (b) the Company's Consolidated Capital Ratio as of the
most recent quarterly or annual balance sheet of the Company that has been filed
with the Commission or has otherwise become publicly available, after giving pro
forma effect to (x) the Incurrence of such Indebtedness and any other
Indebtedness Incurred since such balance sheet date and (y) paid-in capital
received since such balance sheet date or concurrently with the Incurrence of
such Indebtedness, and in each case the receipt and application of the proceeds
thereof, is less than 2.0 to 1.0.

     (b)  Notwithstanding the foregoing limitation, the Company and any
Restricted Subsidiary may Incur each and all of the following:

          (i)  Indebtedness under Senior Credit Facilities in an aggregate
     principal amount outstanding or available at any one time not to exceed
     $100 million, and any renewal, extension, refinancing or refunding thereof
     in an amount which, together with any principal amount remaining
     outstanding or available 

                                      61
<PAGE>
 
     under all Senior Credit Facilities, does not exceed the aggregate principal
     amount outstanding or available under all Senior Credit Facilities
     immediately prior to such renewal, extension, refinancing or refunding;

          (ii)   Indebtedness under Qualified Receivable Facilities in an
     aggregate principal amount outstanding or available at any one time not to
     exceed the greater of (x) $150 million or (y) an amount equal to 85% of net
     Receivables determined in accordance with GAAP, and any renewal, extension,
     refinancing or refunding thereof in an amount which, together with any
     principal amount remaining outstanding or available under all Qualified
     Receivable Facilities, does not exceed the aggregate principal amount
     outstanding or available under all Qualified Receivable Facilities
     immediately prior to such renewal, extension, refinancing or refunding;

          (iii)  Purchase Money Indebtedness, provided that the amount of such
     Purchase Money Indebtedness does not exceed 90% of the cost of the
     construction, acquisition or improvement of the applicable
     Telecommunications Assets;

          (iv)   Indebtedness owed by the Company to any Wholly-Owned Restricted
     Subsidiary of the Company or Indebtedness owed by a Restricted Subsidiary
     of the Company to the Company or a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary of
     the Company; provided that upon either (x) the transfer or other
     disposition by such Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary or the Company of
     any Indebtedness so permitted to a Person other than the Company or another
     Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or (y) the issuance
     (other than directors' qualifying shares), sale, lease, transfer or other
     disposition of shares of Capital Stock (including by consolidation or
     merger) of such Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary to a Person other than
     the Company or another such Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary, the
     provisions of this clause (iv) shall no longer be applicable to such
     Indebtedness and such Indebtedness shall be deemed to have been Incurred at
     the time of such transfer or other disposition;

          (v)    Indebtedness Incurred to renew, extend, refinance or refund
     (each, a "refinancing") the Notes or Indebtedness outstanding at the date
     of the Indenture or Purchase Money Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to clause
     (iii) of this paragraph in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the
     aggregate principal amount of and accrued interest on the Indebtedness so
     refinanced plus the amount of any premium required to be paid in connection
     with such refinancing pursuant to the terms of the Indebtedness so
     refinanced or the amount of any premium reasonably determined by the
     Company as necessary to accomplish such refinancing by means of a tender
     offer or privately negotiated repurchase, plus the expenses of the Company
     incurred in connection with such refinancing; provided that Indebtedness
     the proceeds of which are used to refinance the Notes or Indebtedness which
     is pari passu to the Notes or Indebtedness which is subordinate in right of
     payment to the Notes shall only be permitted under this clause (v) if (A)
     in the case of any refinancing of the Notes or Indebtedness which is 

                                      62
<PAGE>
 
     pari passu to the Notes, the refinancing Indebtedness is made pari passu to
     the Notes or constitutes Subordinated Indebtedness, and, in the case of any
     refinancing of Subordinated Indebtedness, the refinancing Indebtedness
     constitutes Subordinated Indebtedness and (B) in any case, the refinancing
     Indebtedness by its terms, or by the terms of any agreement or instrument
     pursuant to which such Indebtedness is issued, (x) does not provide for
     payments of principal of such Indebtedness at stated maturity or by way of
     a sinking fund applicable thereto or by way of any mandatory redemption,
     defeasance, retirement or repurchase thereof by the Company (including any
     redemption, retirement or repurchase which is contingent upon events or
     circumstances, but excluding any retirement required by virtue of the
     acceleration of any payment with respect to such Indebtedness upon any
     event of default thereunder), in each case prior to the time the same are
     required by the terms of the Indebtedness being refinanced and (y) does not
     permit redemption or other retirement (including pursuant to an offer to
     purchase made by the Company) of such Indebtedness at the option of the
     Holder thereof prior to the time the same are required by the terms of the
     Indebtedness being refinanced, other than a redemption or other retirement
     at the option of the Holder of such Indebtedness (including pursuant to an
     offer to purchase made by the Company) which is conditioned upon a change
     of control pursuant to provisions substantially similar to those described
     in Section 4.07 hereof;

          (vi)   Indebtedness consisting of Permitted Interest Rate and Currency
     Protection Agreements;

          (vii)  Indebtedness (A) in respect of performance, surety or appeal
     bonds provided in the ordinary course of business or (B) arising from
     customary agreements providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase
     price for closing balance sheet changes within 90 days after closing, or
     similar obligations, or from Guarantees or letters of credit, surety bonds
     or performance bonds securing any obligations of the Company or any of its
     Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to such agreements, in each case Incurred
     in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or Restricted
     Subsidiary of the Company (other than Guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred
     by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or
     Restricted Subsidiary of the Company for the purpose of financing such
     acquisition) and in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the gross
     proceeds actually received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in
     connection with such disposition; and

          (viii) Indebtedness not otherwise permitted to be Incurred pursuant
     to clauses (i) through (vii) above, which, together with any other
     outstanding Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (viii), has an
     aggregate principal amount not in excess of $10 million at any time
     outstanding.

                                      63
<PAGE>
 
     (c)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.09, the maximum
amount of Indebtedness that the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary may Incur
pursuant to this Section 4.09, shall not be deemed to be exceeded due solely as
the result of fluctuations in the exchange rates of currencies.

     (d)  For purposes of determining any particular amount of Indebtedness
under this Section 4.09, (1) Guarantees, Liens or obligations with respect to
letters of credit supporting Indebtedness otherwise included in the
determination of such particular amount shall not be included and (2) any Liens
granted pursuant to the equal and ratable provisions referred to in Section 4.12
hereof shall not be treated as Indebtedness. For purposes of determining
compliance with this Section 4.09, in the event that an item of Indebtedness
meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in
the above clauses, the Company, in its sole discretion, shall classify such item
of Indebtedness and only be required to include the amount and type of such
Indebtedness in one of such clauses.

     SECTION IV.10. Limitation on Indebtedness and Preferred Stock of Restricted
                    ------------------------------------------------------------
Subsidiaries.  The Company shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary of the
------------                                                                
Company to Incur any Indebtedness or issue any Preferred Stock except:

          (i)    Indebtedness or Preferred Stock outstanding on the date of the
     Indenture after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of the
     Notes;

          (ii)   Indebtedness Incurred or Preferred Stock issued to and held by
     the Company or a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company
     (provided that such Indebtedness or Preferred Stock is at all times held by
     the Company or a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company);

          (iii)  Indebtedness Incurred or Preferred Stock issued by a Person
     prior to the time (A) such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary of the
     Company, (B) such Person merges into or consolidates with a Restricted
     Subsidiary of the Company or (C) another Restricted Subsidiary of the
     Company merges into or consolidates with such Person (in a transaction in
     which such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company), which
     Indebtedness or Preferred Stock was not Incurred or issued in anticipation
     of such transaction and was outstanding prior to such transaction;

          (iv)   Indebtedness under a Senior Credit Facility which is permitted
     to be outstanding under clause (i) of Section 4.09(b);

          (v)    in the case of a Restricted Subsidiary that is a Qualified
     Receivable Subsidiary, Indebtedness under a Qualified Receivable Facility
     which is permitted to be outstanding under clause (ii) of Section 4.09(b);

                                      64
<PAGE>
 
          (vi)   Indebtedness consisting of Permitted Interest Rate and Currency
     Protection Agreements;

          (vii)  Indebtedness (A) in respect of performance, surety and appeal
     bonds provided in the ordinary course of business or (B) arising from
     customary agreements providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase
     price for closing balance sheet changes within 90 days after closing, or
     similar obligations, or from Guarantees or letters of credit, surety bonds
     or performance bonds securing any obligation of such Restricted Subsidiary
     pursuant to such agreements, in each case Incurred in connection with the
     disposition of any business, assets or Restricted Subsidiary of such
     Restricted Subsidiary (other than Guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by
     any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or
     Restricted Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition) and in
     an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the gross proceeds actually
     received by such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such disposition;

          (viii) Indebtedness or Preferred Stock which is exchanged for, or the
     proceeds of which are used to refinance, refund or redeem, any Indebtedness
     or Preferred Stock permitted to be outstanding pursuant to clauses (i) and
     (iii) hereof or any extension or renewal thereof (for purposes hereof, a
     "refinancing"), in an aggregate principal amount, in the case of
     Indebtedness, or with an aggregate liquidation preference in the case of
     Preferred Stock, not to exceed the aggregate principal amount of the
     Indebtedness so refinanced or the aggregate liquidation preference of the
     Preferred Stock so refinanced, plus the amount of any premium required to
     be paid in connection with such refinancing pursuant to the terms of the
     Indebtedness or Preferred Stock so refinanced or the amount of any premium
     reasonably determined by the Company as necessary to accomplish such
     refinancing by means of a tender offer or privately negotiated repurchase,
     plus the amount of expenses of the Company and the applicable Restricted
     Subsidiary Incurred in connection therewith and provided the Indebtedness
     or Preferred Stock Incurred or issued upon such refinancing  by its terms,
     or by the terms of any agreement or instrument pursuant to which such
     Indebtedness or Preferred Stock is Incurred or issued, (x) does not provide
     for payments of principal or liquidation value at the stated maturity of
     such Indebtedness or Preferred Stock or by way of a sinking fund applicable
     to such Indebtedness or Preferred Stock or by way of any mandatory
     redemption, defeasance, retirement or repurchase of such Indebtedness or
     Preferred Stock by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company
     (including any redemption, retirement or repurchase which is contingent
     upon events or circumstances, but excluding any retirement required by
     virtue of acceleration of such Indebtedness upon an event of default
     thereunder), in each case prior to the time the same are required by the
     terms of the Indebtedness or Preferred Stock being refinanced and (y) does
     not permit redemption or other retirement (including pursuant to an offer
     to purchase made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company)
     of such 

                                      65
<PAGE>
 
     Indebtedness or Preferred Stock at the option of the holder thereof prior
     to the stated maturity of the Indebtedness or Preferred Stock being
     refinanced, other than a redemption or other retirement at the option of
     the holder of such Indebtedness or Preferred Stock (including pursuant to
     an offer to purchase made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the
     Company) which is conditioned upon the change of control of the Company
     pursuant to provisions substantially similar to those described in Section
     4.07 hereof and provided, further, that in the case of any exchange or
     redemption of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company,
     such Preferred Stock may only be exchanged for or redeemed with Preferred
     Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary; and

          (ix)   Indebtedness Incurred or Preferred Stock issued by a Restricted
     Subsidiary, provided that the Fair Market Value of the Company's Investment
     in all Restricted Subsidiaries which Incur Indebtedness or issue Preferred
     Stock pursuant to this clause (ix) shall not exceed, at any time,
     $30,000,000 in the aggregate, and provided further that such Indebtedness
     Incurred is otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 4.09 hereof.

     SECTION IV.11. Limitation on Restricted Payments.  (a)  The Company shall
                    ---------------------------------                         
not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or
indirectly, make any Restricted Payment unless, at the time of and after giving
effect to such proposed Restricted Payment:

          (i)    no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
     continuing or shall occur as a consequence thereof;

          (ii)   after giving effect, on a pro forma basis, to such Restricted
     Payment and the incurrence of any Indebtedness the net proceeds of which
     are used to finance such Restricted Payment, the Company could incur at
     least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the first paragraph of
     Section 4.09 hereof; and

          (iii)  after giving effect to such Restricted Payment on a pro forma
     basis, the aggregate amount expended (the amount so expended, if other than
     cash, to be determined in good faith by a majority of the disinterested
     members of the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be conclusive
     and evidenced by a resolution thereof) or declared for all Restricted
     Payments after the Issue Date does not exceed the sum of (A) 50% of the
     Consolidated Net Income of the Company (or, if Consolidated Net Income
     shall be a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit) for the period (taken as
     one accounting period) beginning on the last day of the fiscal quarter
     immediately preceding the Issue Date and ending on the last day of the
     fiscal quarter for which the Company's financial statements have been filed
     with the Commission or otherwise become publicly available immediately
     preceding the date of such Restricted Payment, plus (B) 100% of the net
     reduction in Investments, subsequent to the Issue Date, in any Person,
     resulting from payments of interest on Indebtedness, dividends, repayments
     of loans or advances, 

                                      66
<PAGE>
 
     or other transfers of Property (but only to the extent such interest,
     dividends, repayments or other transfers of Property are not included in
     the calculation of Consolidated Net Income), in each case to the Company or
     any Restricted Subsidiary from any Person (including, without limitation,
     from Unrestricted Subsidiaries) or from redesignations of Unrestricted
     Subsidiaries as Restricted Subsidiaries (valued in each case as provided in
     the definition of "Investments" in Section 1.01 hereof), not to exceed in
     the case of any Person the amount of Investments previously made subsequent
     to the Issue Date by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in such
     Person and which was treated as a Restricted Payment; provided that the
     Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company may make any Restricted
     Payment with the aggregate net proceeds received after the date of the
     Indenture, including the fair value of property other than cash (determined
     in good faith by the Board of Directors as evidenced by a resolution of the
     Board of Directors filed with the Trustee), (x) as capital contributions to
     the Company, (y) from the issuance (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary)
     of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company and
     warrants, rights or options on Capital Stock (other than Disqualified
     Stock) of the Company, or (z) from the conversion of Indebtedness of the
     Company into Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and other than by
     a Restricted Subsidiary) of the Company after the date of this Indenture.

     (b)  The foregoing limitations shall not prevent the Company from:

          (i)    paying a dividend on its Capital Stock at any time within 60
     days after the declaration thereof if, on the declaration date, the Company
     could have paid such dividend in compliance with the preceding paragraph of
     this Section 4.11;

          (ii)   retiring (A) any Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted
     Subsidiary of the Company, (B) Indebtedness of the Company that is
     subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, or (C) Indebtedness of a
     Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, in exchange for, or out of the
     proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of Qualified Stock of the
     Company;

          (iii)  retiring any Indebtedness of the Company subordinated in right
     of payment to the Notes in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, the
     substantially concurrent incurrence of Indebtedness of the Company (other
     than Indebtedness to a Subsidiary of the Company), provided that such new
     Indebtedness (A) is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes at least
     to the same extent as, (B) has an Average Life at least as long as, and (C)
     has no scheduled principal payments due in any amount earlier than, any
     equivalent amount of principal under the Indebtedness so retired;

          (iv)   retiring any Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of the
     Company in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, the substantially
     concurrent incurrence of Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted
     Subsidiary that is permitted under 

                                      67
<PAGE>
 
     Section 4.09 hereof (in the case of Indebtedness of the Company) and
     Section 4.10 hereof (in the case of Indebtedness of Restricted
     Subsidiaries) and that (A) is not secured by any assets of the Company or
     any Restricted Subsidiary to a greater extent than the retired Indebtedness
     was so secured, (B) has an Average Life at least as long as the retired
     Indebtedness, and (C) is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes at
     least to the same extent as the retired Indebtedness;

          (v)    retiring any Capital Stock or options to acquire Capital Stock
     of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company held by any
     directors, officers or employees of the Company or any Restricted
     Subsidiary, provided that the aggregate price paid for all such retired
     Capital Stock shall not exceed, in the aggregate, the sum of $2 million
     plus the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company subsequent to the
     Issue Date from issuances of Capital Stock or options to acquire Capital
     Stock by the Company to directors, officers or employees of the Company and
     its Subsidiaries;

          (vi)   making payments or distributions to dissenting stockholders
     pursuant to applicable law in connection with a consolidation, merger or
     transfer of assets permitted in Article V hereof;

          (vii)  retiring any Capital Stock of the Company to the extent
     necessary (as determined in good faith by a majority of the disinterested
     members of the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be conclusive
     and evidenced by a resolution thereof) to prevent the loss, or to secure
     the renewal or reinstatement, of any license or franchise held by the
     Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from any governmental agency;

          (viii) making Investments in any Person primarily engaged in the
Telecommunications Business; provided, that the aggregate amount of such
Investments does not exceed at any time the sum of (A) $30,000,000 plus (B) the
amount of Net Cash Proceeds received by the Company after the Issue Date as a
capital contribution or from the sale of its Capital Stock (other than
Disqualified Stock) to a Person who is not a Subsidiary of the Company, except
to the extent such Net Cash Proceeds are used to make Restricted Payments
permitted pursuant to clauses (x), (y) and (z) of clause (iii) of Section
4.11(a) hereof or clause (ii) of Section 4.11(b) hereof or this clause (viii),
plus (C) the net reduction in Investments made pursuant to this clause (viii)
resulting from distributions on or repayments of such Investments or from the
Net Cash Proceeds from the sale of any such Investment (except in each case to
the extent any such payment or proceeds are included in the calculation of
Consolidated Net Income) or from such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary
(valued in each case as provided in the definition of "Investment" set forth in
Section 1.01 hereof), provided that the net reduction in any Investment shall
not exceed the amount of such Investment; and

                                      68
<PAGE>
 
          (ix)   making Investments not otherwise permitted in an aggregate
     amount not to exceed $15 million at any time outstanding.

     (c)  In determining the amount of Restricted Payments permissible under
this Section 4.11, amounts expended pursuant to clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) of
the foregoing paragraph shall not be included as Restricted Payments.

     (d)  Not later than the date of making any Restricted Payment (including
any Restricted Payment permitted to be made pursuant to the two previous
paragraphs), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth the basis
upon which the required calculations were computed, which calculations may be
based upon the Company's latest available financial statements.

     SECTION IV.12. Limitation on Liens.  (a)  The Company shall not, and shall
                    -------------------                                        
not permit any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to, Incur or suffer to exist
any Lien on or with respect to any property or assets now owned or hereafter
acquired to secure any Indebtedness without making, or causing such Restricted
Subsidiary to make, effective provision for securing the Notes (x) equally and
ratably with such Indebtedness as to such property for so long as such
Indebtedness will be so secured or (y) in the event such Indebtedness is
Indebtedness of the Company which is subordinate in right of payment to the
Notes, prior to such Indebtedness as to such property for so long as such
Indebtedness will be so secured.

     (b)  The foregoing restrictions shall not apply to:

          (i)    Liens existing on the date of the Indenture and securing
     Indebtedness outstanding on the date of the Indenture or Incurred on or
     after the Issue Date pursuant to any Senior Credit Facility or Qualified
     Receivable Facility;

          (ii)   Liens securing Indebtedness in an amount which, together with
     the aggregate amount of Indebtedness then outstanding or available under
     all Senior Credit Facilities (or under refinancings or amendments of such
     Senior Credit Facilities), does not exceed 1.5 times the Company's
     Consolidated Cash Flow Available for Fixed Charges for the four full fiscal
     quarters preceding the Incurrence of such Lien for which the Company's
     consolidated financial statements have been filed with the Commission or
     become publicly available, determined on a pro forma basis as if such
     Indebtedness had been Incurred and the proceeds thereof had been applied at
     the beginning of such four fiscal quarters;

          (iii)  Liens in favor of the Company or any Wholly-Owned Restricted
     Subsidiary of the Company;

                                      69
<PAGE>
 
          (iv)   Liens on Property of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary
     acquired, constructed or constituting improvements made after the Issue
     Date of the Notes to secure Purchase Money Indebtedness which is otherwise
     permitted under the Indenture, provided that (a) the principal amount of
     any Indebtedness secured by any such Lien does not exceed 100% of such
     purchase price or cost of construction or improvement of the Property
     subject to such Lien, (b) such Lien attaches to such property prior to, at
     the time of or within 180 days after the acquisition, completion of
     construction or commencement of operation of such Property and (c) such
     Lien does not extend to or cover any Property other than the specific item
     of Property (or portion thereof) acquired, constructed or constituting the
     improvements made with the proceeds of such Purchase Money Indebtedness;

          (v)    Liens to secure Acquired Indebtedness, provided that (a) such
     Lien attaches to the acquired asset prior to the time of the acquisition of
     such asset and (b) such Lien does not extend to or cover any other
     Property;

          (vi)   Liens to secure Indebtedness Incurred to extend, renew,
     refinance or refund (or successive extensions, renewals, refinancings or
     refundings), in whole or in part, Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred
     to in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), (iv) and (v) so long as such Lien
     does not extend to any other Property and the principal amount of
     Indebtedness so secured is not increased except as otherwise permitted
     under clause (v) of Section 4.09(b) hereof (in the case of Indebtedness of
     the Company) or clause (viii) of Section 4.10 hereof (in the case of
     Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries);

          (vii)  Liens not otherwise permitted by the foregoing clauses (i)
     through (vi) in an aggregate amount not to exceed 5% of the Company's
     Consolidated Tangible Assets;

          (viii) Liens granted after the Issue Date pursuant to the immediately
     preceding paragraph to secure the Notes; and

          (ix)   Permitted Liens.

     SECTION IV.13. Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions.  The Company
                    ---------------------------------------------              
shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly
or indirectly, enter into, assume, Guarantee or otherwise become liable with
respect to any Sale and Leaseback Transaction (other than a Sale and Leaseback
Transaction between the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary on the one hand and a
Restricted Subsidiary or the Company on the other hand), unless (i) the Company
or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the
time of such Sale and Leaseback Transaction at least equal to the Fair Market
Value (as evidenced by a Board Resolution delivered to the Trustee) of the
Property 

                                      70
<PAGE>
 
subject to such transaction; (ii) the Attributable Indebtedness of the Company
or such Restricted Subsidiary with respect thereto is included as Indebtedness
and would be permitted by Section 4.09 hereof or Section 4.10 hereof, as the
case may be; (iii) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary would be permitted
to create a Lien on such Property without securing the Notes by Section 4.12
hereof; and (iv) the Net Cash Proceeds from such transaction are applied in
accordance with Section 4.08 hereof; provided that the Company shall be
permitted to enter into Sale and Leaseback Transactions for up to $30 million
with respect to construction of the Company's headquarters buildings located in
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, provided that any such transaction is entered into within
180 days of the earlier of (x) substantial completion or (y) occupation of the
applicable phase of such headquarters building.

     SECTION IV.14. Limitation on Dividends and Other Payment Restrictions
                    ------------------------------------------------------
Affecting Subsidiaries.  The Company shall not, and shall not permit any
----------------------                                                  
Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, cause or suffer to exist or
become effective, or enter into, any encumbrance or restriction (other than
pursuant to law or regulation) on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary (i)
to pay dividends or make any other distributions in respect of its Capital Stock
or pay any Indebtedness or other obligation owed to the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary; (ii) to make loans or advances to the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary; or (iii) to transfer any of its Property to the Company
or any other Restricted Subsidiary, except:

          (a)  any encumbrance or restriction existing as of the Issue Date or
     any other agreement relating to any Existing Indebtedness or any
     Indebtedness under a Qualified Receivable Facility otherwise permitted
     under this Indenture;

          (b)  any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement relating
     to an acquisition of Property, so long as the encumbrances or restrictions
     in any such agreement relate solely to the Property so acquired;

          (c)  any encumbrance or restriction relating to any Indebtedness of
     any Restricted Subsidiary existing on the date on which such Restricted
     Subsidiary is acquired by the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary
     (other than any such Indebtedness Incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary in
     connection with or in anticipation of such acquisition);

          (d)  any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement effecting
     a permitted refinancing of Indebtedness issued pursuant to an agreement
     referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (c), so long as the
     encumbrances and restrictions contained in any such refinancing agreement
     are not materially more restrictive than the encumbrances and restrictions
     contained in such agreements;

                                      71
<PAGE>
 
          (e)  customary provisions (A) that restrict the subletting, assignment
     or transfer of any property or asset that is a lease, license, conveyance
     or contract or similar property or asset; (B) existing by virtue of any
     transfer of, agreement to transfer, option or right with respect to, or
     Lien on, any property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
     not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture or (C) arising or agreed to in
     the ordinary course of business, not relating to any Indebtedness, and that
     do not, individually or in the aggregate, detract from the value of
     property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any
     manner material to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

          (f)  in the case of clause (iii) above, restrictions contained in any
     security agreement (including a Capital Lease Obligation) securing
     Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary otherwise permitted
     under the Indenture, but only to the extent such restrictions restrict the
     transfer of the property subject to such security agreement; and

          (g)  any restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary of the
     Company imposed pursuant to an agreement which has been entered into for
     the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or
     assets of such Restricted Subsidiary, provided that the consummation of
     such transaction would not result in an Event of Default or an event that,
     with the passing of time or the giving of notice or both, would constitute
     an Event of Default, that such restriction terminates if such transaction
     is not consummated and that the consummation or abandonment of such
     transaction occurs within one year of the date such agreement was entered
     into.

     Nothing contained in this Section 4.14 shall prevent the Company or any
other Restricted Subsidiary from (1) creating, incurring, assuming or suffering
to exist any Liens otherwise permitted under Section 4.12 hereof or (2)
restricting the sale or other disposition of property or assets of the Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that secure Indebtedness of the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries otherwise permitted under Section 4.09 hereof
or Section 4.10 hereof, as the case may be.

     SECTION IV.15.  Limitation on Issuance and Sale of Capital Stock of
                     ---------------------------------------------------
Restricted Subsidiaries.  The Company (i) shall not permit any Restricted
-----------------------                                                  
Subsidiary to issue any Capital Stock other than to the Company or a Wholly-
Owned Restricted Subsidiary unless immediately after giving effect thereto such
Restricted Subsidiary would no longer constitute a Restricted Subsidiary and any
Investment of the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary in such Restricted
Subsidiary would have been permitted under Section 4.11 hereof if made on the
date of such issuance and (ii) shall not permit any Person other than the
Company or a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary to own any Capital Stock of any
Restricted Subsidiary,  other than directors' qualifying shares and except for:

                                      72
<PAGE>
 
          (a)  a sale of 100% of the Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary
     sold in a transaction not prohibited by the covenant described under
     Section 4.08 hereof;

          (b)  a sale of the Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary sold in a
     transaction not prohibited by the covenant described under Section 4.08
     hereof if, after giving effect thereto, greater than 50% of the Capital
     Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary is owned by the Company or by a Wholly-
     Owned Restricted Subsidiary;

          (c)  Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued and outstanding
     on the Issue Date and held by Persons other than the Company or any
     Restricted Subsidiary;

          (d)  Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued and outstanding
     prior to the time that such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary so long
     as such Capital Stock was not issued in anticipation or contemplation of
     such Person's becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or otherwise being acquired
     by the Company;

          (e)  any Preferred Stock permitted to be issued under Section 4.10
     hereof; and

          (f)  ownership by any Person other than the Company or a Subsidiary of
     the Company of less than 50% of the Capital Stock of a Person (A) in which
     the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary has made a Permitted Investment
     pursuant to clause (iii) of the definition of "Permitted Investments" set
     forth in Section 1.01 hereof, (B) of which  more than 50% of such Person's
     Capital Stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company and (C) as
     to which the Company has the power to direct the policies, management and
     affairs.

     SECTION IV.16.  Transactions with Affiliates.  The Company shall not, and
                     ----------------------------                             
shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly,
sell, lease, transfer, or otherwise dispose of, any of its Properties or assets
to, or purchase any Property or assets from, or enter into any contract,
agreement, understanding, loan, advance or Guarantee with or for the benefit of,
any Affiliate (each of the foregoing, an "Affiliate Transaction"), unless (a)
such Affiliate Transaction or series of Affiliate Transactions is on terms that
are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those
that would have been obtained in a comparable arm's-length transaction by the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with a Person that is not an Affiliate
(or, in the event that there are no comparable transactions involving Persons
who are not Affiliates of the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary to
apply for comparative purposes, is otherwise on terms that, taken as a whole,
the Company has determined to be fair to the Company or the relevant Restricted
Subsidiary) and (b) the Company delivers to the Trustee (i) with respect to any
Affiliate Transaction involving aggregate payments in excess of $1 million, a
certificate of the chief executive, operating or financial officer of the
Company evidencing such officer's determination that such Affiliate 

                                      73
<PAGE>
 
Transaction or series of Affiliate Transactions complies with clause (a) above
and is in the best interests of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary and
(ii) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of Affiliate
Transactions involving aggregate payments in excess of $5 million, a Board
Resolution certifying that such Affiliate Transaction or series of Affiliate
Transactions complies with clause (a) above and that such Affiliate Transaction
or series of Affiliate Transactions has been approved by a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board of Directors who have determined that such
Affiliate Transaction or series of Affiliate Transactions is in the best
interest of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary; provided that the
following shall not be deemed Affiliate Transactions:

          (i)    any employment agreement entered into by the Company or any of
     its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and
     consistent with industry practice;

          (ii)   any agreement or arrangement with respect to the compensation
     of a director or officer of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
     approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of
     Directors and consistent with industry practice;

          (iii)  transactions between or among the Company and its Restricted
     Subsidiaries;

          (iv)   transactions permitted by Section 4.11 hereof;

          (v)    transactions pursuant to any agreement or arrangement existing
     on the Issue Date; and

          (vi)   transactions with respect to wireline or wireless transmission
     capacity, the lease or sharing or other use of cable or fiberoptic lines,
     equipment, rights-of-way or other access rights, between the Company or any
     Restricted Subsidiary and any other Person; provided, in any case, that
     such transaction is on terms that are no less favorable, taken as a whole,
     to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that could
     have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such
     Restricted Subsidiary with Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company or
     the relevant Restricted Subsidiary (or, in the event that there are no
     comparable transactions involving Persons who are not Affiliates of the
     Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary to apply for comparative
     purposes, is otherwise on terms that, taken as a whole, the Company has
     determined to be fair to the Company or the relevant Restricted
     Subsidiary).

     SECTION IV.17.  Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.  (a)  The Company
                     ----------------------------------------                   
may designate a Subsidiary (including a newly formed or newly acquired
Subsidiary) of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary if such Subsidiary 

                                      74
<PAGE>
 
does not have any obligations which, if in Default, would result in a cross
default on Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than
Indebtedness to the Company or a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary), and (i)
such Subsidiary has total assets of $1,000 or less, (ii) such Subsidiary has
assets of more than $1,000 and an Investment in such Subsidiary in an amount
equal to the Fair Market Value of such Subsidiary would then be permitted under
Section 4.11(a) hereof or (iii) such designation is effective immediately upon
such Person becoming a Subsidiary. Unless so designated as an Unrestricted
Subsidiary, any Person that becomes a Subsidiary of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries shall be classified as a Restricted Subsidiary thereof.

     (b)  The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, take any action or enter into any transaction or series of
transactions that would result in a Person (other than a newly formed Subsidiary
having no outstanding Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness to the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary) at the date of determination) becoming a Restricted
Subsidiary (whether through an acquisition, the redesignation of an Unrestricted
Subsidiary or otherwise), unless, after giving effect to such action,
transaction or series of transactions on a pro forma basis, (i) the Company
could incur at least $1 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.09(a)
hereof and (ii) no Default or Event of Default would occur.

     (c)  Subject to clause (b), an Unrestricted Subsidiary may be a
redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary. The designation of a Subsidiary as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary or the designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a
Restricted Subsidiary in compliance with clause (b) shall be made by the Board
of Directors pursuant to a Board Resolution delivered to the Trustee and shall
be effective as of the date specified in such Board Resolution, which shall not
be prior to the date such Board Resolution is delivered to the Trustee.

     SECTION IV.18.  Reports.  For as long as any Notes remain outstanding, the
                     -------                                                   
Company shall furnish to the Holders of the Notes and to securities analysts and
prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be
delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.  The Company
shall file with the Trustee within 15 days after it files them with the
Commission copies of the annual and quarterly reports and the information,
documents, and other reports that the Company is required to file with the
Commission pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act ("SEC
Reports").  In the event the Company shall cease to be required to file SEC
Reports pursuant to the Exchange Act, the Company shall nevertheless continue to
file such reports with the Commission (unless the Commission shall not accept
such a filing) and in any event with the Trustee.  The Company shall furnish
copies of the SEC Reports to the Holders of Notes at the time the Company is
required to file the same with the Trustee and will make such information
available to investors who request it in writing.

                                      75
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION IV.19.  Compliance Certificate; Notice of Default or Event of
                     -----------------------------------------------------
Default.  The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 calendar days
-------                                                                    
after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof,
an Officers' Certificate stating whether or not, to the best knowledge of such
officer, the Company has complied with all conditions and covenants under this
Indenture, and, if the Company shall be in Default, specifying all such Defaults
and the nature thereof of which such officer may have knowledge.

     For the purposes of this Section 4.19, compliance shall be determined
without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice under this
Indenture.

     The Company shall deliver written notice to the Trustee within 30 calendar
days after any executive officer of the Company becomes aware of the occurrence
of any event which constitutes, or with the giving of notice or the lapse of
time or both would constitute, a Default or Event of Default, describing such
Default or Event of Default, its status and what action the Company is taking or
proposes to take with respect thereto.

                                  ARTICLE V.

             CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, LEASE OR TRANSFER

     SECTION V.1.  Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets.  The Company shall
                   ---------------------------------------                    
not in any transaction or series of related transactions, consolidate with, or
merge with or into, any other Person or permit any other Person to merge with or
into the Company (other than a merger of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company
into the Company in which the Company is the continuing corporation), or sell,
convey, assign, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all
of the Property and assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken
as a whole to any other Person, unless:

          (a)  either (i) the Company shall be the continuing corporation or
     (ii) the corporation (if other than the Company) formed by such
     consolidation or into which the Company is merged, or the Person which
     acquires, by sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or disposition,
     all or substantially all of the Property and assets of the Company and its
     Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole (any such corporation or Person
     being the "Surviving Entity") shall be a corporation organized and validly
     existing under the laws of the United States of America, any political
     subdivision thereof, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and
     shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and
     delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee,
     the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and
     interest on all the Notes and the performance of every covenant and
     obligation in this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or
     observed;

                                      76
<PAGE>
 
          (b)  immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of
     related transactions on a pro forma basis (including, without limitation,
     any Indebtedness incurred or anticipated to be incurred in connection with
     or in respect of such transaction or series of related transactions), no
     Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

          (c)  immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of
     related transactions on a pro forma basis (including, without limitation,
     any Indebtedness incurred or anticipated to be incurred in connection with
     or in respect of such transaction or series of transactions), the Company
     (or the Surviving Entity, if the Company is not continuing) would (A) be
     permitted to Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under Section 4.09(a)
     hereof and (B) have a Consolidated Net Worth that is not less than the
     Consolidated Net Worth of the Company immediately before such transaction
     or series of transactions; and

          (d)  if, as a result of any such transaction, Property of the Company
     would become subject to a Lien prohibited by the provisions of the
     Indenture described under Section 4.12 hereof, the Company or the successor
     entity to the Company shall have secured the Notes as required thereby.

     In connection with any consolidation, merger, conveyance, lease or other
disposition contemplated by this Section 5.01, the Company shall deliver, or
cause to be delivered, to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the
Trustee, an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that
such consolidation, merger, conveyance, lease or disposition and any
supplemental indenture in respect thereto comply with this Article V and that
all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have
been complied with.

     SECTION V.2.  Successor Corporation Substituted.  Upon any consolidation
                   ---------------------------------                         
with, or merger by the Company with or into, any other corporation, or any sale,
assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the Property and assets of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries taken as a whole in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the
successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is
merged, or the Person to which such sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer,
lease, conveyance or other disposition is made, shall succeed to, and be
substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under
this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person has been named
as the Company herein; and thereafter the predecessor corporation shall be
relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Notes,
except for the obligation to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest on the Notes.

                                  ARTICLE VI.

                             DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
 
                                      77
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION VI.1.  Events of Default.  "Event of Default," wherever used herein
                    -----------------                                           
with respect to the Notes, means any one of the following events (whatever the
reason for such event, and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary, or be
effected by operation of law, pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any
court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental
body):

          (a)  default in the payment of interest on any Note when the same
     becomes due and payable, and the continuance of such Default for a period
     of 30 calendar days; or

          (b)  default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any,
     on) any Note when the same becomes due and payable whether upon Maturity,
     optional redemption, required repurchase (including pursuant to a Change of
     Control Offer or an Asset Sale Offer) or otherwise, or the failure to make
     an offer to purchase any Note as herein required; or

          (c)  default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or
     agreement contained in Section 4.07, Section 4.08 or Article V hereof; or

          (d)  default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or
     warranty of the Company contained in this Indenture or the Notes (other
     than a covenant or warranty addressed in Section 6.01(a), Section 6.01(b)
     or Section 6.01(c) hereof), and the continuance of such Default or breach
     for a period of 60 calendar days after written notice thereof has been
     given to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by
     the Holders of at least 25 percent of the aggregate principal amount of the
     outstanding Notes specifying such Default and stating that such notice is a
     "Notice of Default" delivered in connection with this Indenture; or

          (e)  a default or defaults under any bond, debenture, note or other
     evidence of Indebtedness by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the
     Company (or under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there
     may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any
     Indebtedness by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary) having,
     individually or in the aggregate, a principal or similar amount outstanding
     of at least $10 million, whether such indebtedness now exists or shall
     hereafter be created, which default or defaults shall have resulted in the
     acceleration of the maturity of such Indebtedness prior to its express
     maturity or shall constitute a failure to pay such Indebtedness when due
     and payable after the expiration of any applicable grace period with
     respect thereto or shall have resulted in such Indebtedness becoming or
     being declared due and payable; or

                                      78
<PAGE>
 
          (f)  a final judgment or final judgments for the payment of money
     (other than to the extent covered by insurance as to which the insurance
     company has acknowledged coverage and other than to the extent covered by
     an indemnity given by an insurance company) is entered against the Company
     or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in an aggregate amount in
     excess of $10 million by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction, which
     judgment is not discharged, waived, stayed, bonded or satisfied for a
     period of 45 consecutive calendar days; or

          (g)  the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (i) a
     decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or any Restricted
     Subsidiary of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under United
     States bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other
     applicable Federal, state, or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, or other
     similar law or (ii) a decree or order adjudging the Company or any
     Restricted Subsidiary of the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving
     as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement,
     adjustment or composition of, or in respect of, the Company or any
     Restricted Subsidiary of the Company under United States bankruptcy laws,
     as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable Federal, state or
     foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar law, or appointing a custodian,
     receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar
     official of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or of
     any substantial part of the Property or assets of the Company or any
     Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or ordering the winding-up or
     liquidation of the affairs of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of
     the Company, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or
     any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60
     consecutive calendar days; or

          (h)  the commencement by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of
     the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under United States
     bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable
     Federal, state, or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or
     of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent;
     or (ii) the consent by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the
     Company to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the
     Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in an involuntary case
     or proceeding under United States bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter
     constituted, or any other applicable Federal, state, or foreign bankruptcy,
     insolvency, or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy
     or insolvency case or proceeding against the Company or any Restricted
     Subsidiary of the Company; or (iii) the filing by the Company or any
     Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of a petition or answer or consent
     seeking reorganization or relief under United States bankruptcy laws, as
     now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable Federal, state or
     foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law; or (iv) the consent by
     the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the filing of
     such petition or to the 

                                      79
<PAGE>
 
     appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator,
     assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Company or any
     Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or of any substantial part of the
     Property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the
     Company, or the making by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the
     Company of an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (v) the admission
     by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in writing of
     its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due; or (vi) the
     taking of corporate action by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of
     the Company in furtherance of any such action.

     SECTION VI.2.  Acceleration.  If any Event of Default (other than an Event
                    ------------                                               
of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or Section 6.01(h) hereof) occurs and is
continuing, then and in every such case, the Trustee by a notice in writing to
the Company may, and at the direction of the Holders of not less than 25 percent
of the outstanding aggregate principal amount of Notes by a notice in writing to
the Company and the Trustee, shall declare the Default Amount and any accrued
and unpaid interest on all Notes then outstanding to be immediately due and
payable.  Upon any such declaration, such Default Amount and any accrued and
unpaid interest on all Notes then outstanding will become and be immediately due
and payable.

     If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or Section 6.01(h)
hereof occurs, the Default Amount and any accrued and unpaid interest on all
Notes then outstanding shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and
payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any
Holder of Notes.

     In the event of a declaration of acceleration because an Event of Default
set forth in Section 6.01(e) hereof has occurred and is continuing, such
declaration of acceleration shall be automatically rescinded and annulled if the
event of default triggering such Event of Default pursuant to Section 6.01(e)
hereof shall be remedied, or cured, or waived by the holders of the relevant
Indebtedness, within 60 calendar days after such event of default; provided no
judgment or decree for the payment of the money due on the Notes has been
obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article VI provided.

     At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to Notes has
been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been
obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article VI provided, the Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes, by written notice to
the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its
consequences if,

          (a)  the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum
     sufficient to pay:

          (i)  all overdue installments of interest on all Notes,

                                      80
<PAGE>
 
          (ii)   the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Notes which have
     become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest
     thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Notes,

          (iii)  to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest
     on the Defaulted Interest at the rate prescribed therefor in the Notes and
     this Indenture, and

          (iv)   all moneys paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the
     reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
     Trustee, its agents and counsel and all other amounts due to the Trustee
     pursuant to Section 7.07 hereof; and

          (b)     all Events of Default with respect to the Notes, other than
     the non-payment of the principal of Notes which have become due solely by
     such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived by the Holders
     as provided herein.

     No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right
consequent thereon.

     SECTION VI.3.  Other Remedies.  The Company covenants that if an Event of
                    --------------                                            
Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or Section 6.01(b) hereof occurs the
Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit
of the Holders, the whole amount then due and payable on the Notes for principal
(and premium, if any) and interest and, to the extent that payment of such
interest shall be legally enforceable, interest upon the overdue principal (and
premium, if any) and upon Defaulted Interest, at the rate or rates prescribed
therefor in such Notes; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall
be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the
reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee,
its agents and counsel and all other amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to
Section 7.07 hereof.

     If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the
Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may and, at the
direction of the Holders of not less than a majority of the outstanding
aggregate principal amount of the Notes, shall institute a judicial proceeding
for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute such
proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the
Company or any other obligor upon such Notes and collect the moneys adjudged or
decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the Property and
assets of the Company or any other obligor upon such Notes, wherever situated.

     If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes occurs and is continuing,
the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and
the rights of the Holders by 

                                      81
<PAGE>
 
such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual
to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of
any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any
power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

     SECTION VI.4.  Waiver of Past Defaults.  The Holders of not less than a
                    -----------------------                                 
majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may, on behalf of the
Holders of all the Notes, waive any past Default and its consequences under this
Article VI, except a Default (a) in the payment of the principal of (or
premium, if any) or interest on, any Note, or (b) in respect of a covenant or
provision hereof which under Section 9.02 hereof cannot be modified or amended
without the consent of the Holders of each outstanding Note affected.

     SECTION VI.5.  Control by Majority.  The Holders of not less than a
                    -------------------                                 
majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes shall have the right to
direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the
Trustee; provided that

          (a)  such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or
     with this Indenture or unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders
     and would not subject the Trustee to personal liability, and

          (b)  the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the
     Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

     SECTION VI.6.  Limitation on Suits.  No Holder of Notes shall have any
                    -------------------                                    
right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this
Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other
remedy hereunder, unless:

          (a)  such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of
     a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Notes;

          (b)  the Holders of not less than 25 percent in principal amount of
     the outstanding Notes shall have made written request to the Trustee to
     institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name
     as Trustee hereunder;

          (c)  such Holder or Holders have offered and, if requested, provided
     to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee in its
     reasonable discretion against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be
     incurred in compliance with such request;

          (d)  the Trustee for 30 calendar days after its receipt of such
     notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such
     proceeding; and

                                      82
<PAGE>
 
          (e)  no direction inconsistent with such written request has been
     given to the Trustee during such 30-day period by the Holders of a majority
     in principal amount of the outstanding Notes;

in any event, it being understood and intended that no one or more Holders of
Notes shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing
of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights
of any other Holders of Notes, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or
preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this
Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable
benefit of all Holders of Notes.

     SECTION VI.7.  Rights of Holders to Receive Payment.  Notwithstanding any
                    ------------------------------------                      
other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of
principal of (premium, if any) and interest on the Notes held by such Holder, on
or after the respective due dates expressed in the Notes or the redemption dates
or purchase dates provided for therein, or to bring suit for the enforcement of
any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall be absolute and
unconditional and shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such
Holder.

     SECTION VI.8.  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.  In case of the pendency
                    --------------------------------                          
of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization,
arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceedings, or any
voluntary or involuntary case under United States bankruptcy laws, as now or
hereafter constituted, relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the
Notes or the Property and assets of the Company or of such other obligor or
their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of such
Notes shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or
otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on
the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled
and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, (i) to file and
prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any) and
interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Notes, to file such other papers or
documents and to take such other actions, including participating as a member or
otherwise in any official committee of creditors appointed in the matter, as may
be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including
any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances
of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and all other amounts due to the Trustee
pursuant to Section 7.07 hereof) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial
proceeding, and (ii) to collect and receive any moneys or other Property payable
or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any receiver,
assignee, trustee, custodian, liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar
official) in any such proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make
such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to
the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any
amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and

                                      83
<PAGE>
 
advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the
Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof.  Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to
authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of
any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition
affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the
Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

     SECTION VI.9.  Priorities.  Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to
                    ----------                                                 
this Article VI shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates
fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account
of principal (premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Notes and
the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender
thereof if fully paid:

          FIRST:   To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section
     7.07 hereof;

          SECOND:  To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for
     principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes, ratably,
     without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due
     and payable on such Notes for principal (and premium, if any) and interest,
     respectively; and

          THIRD:   To the Company.

     The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to
Holders pursuant to this Section 6.09.  At least 15 calendar days before such
record date, the Company shall mail to each Holder and the Trustee a notice that
states such record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.  The Trustee
may mail such notice in the name and at the expense of the Company.

     SECTION 6.10.  Undertaking for Costs.  All parties to this Indenture agree,
                    ---------------------                                       
and each Holder of any Note by such Holder's acceptance thereof shall be deemed
to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for
the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit
against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee,
the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs
of such suit and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs,
including reasonable attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in such suit,
having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by
such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any
suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group
of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10 percent in principal amount of
the outstanding Notes, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the
enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest
on any Note on or after its Stated Maturity.

                                      84
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 6.11.  Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.  The Company (to the
                    --------------------------------                      
extent it may lawfully do so) shall not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in
any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or
extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may
affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to
the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or
advantage of any such law, and shall not hinder, delay or impede the execution
of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the
execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

     SECTION 6.12.  Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of the Notes.
                    ----------------------------------------------------------  
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Notes may be
prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the
Notes or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such
proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name, as
trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision
for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and
advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of
the Holders of the Notes.

     SECTION 6.13.  Restoration of Rights and Remedies.  If the Trustee or any
                    ----------------------------------                        
Holder of Notes has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy
under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for
any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder,
then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall,
subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and
respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and
remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such
proceeding had been instituted.

     SECTION 6.14.  Rights and Remedies Cumulative.  Except as otherwise
                    ------------------------------                      
provided in Section 2.09 hereof, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or
reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any
other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted
by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given
hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The
assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall
not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate
right or remedy.

     SECTION 6.15.  Delay or Omission Not Waiver.  No delay or omission of the
                    ----------------------------                              
Trustee or of any Holder of any Note to exercise any right or remedy accruing
upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a
waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein.  Every right and
remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may
be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the
Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

                                      85
<PAGE>
 
                                 ARTICLE VII.

                                    TRUSTEE


SECTION VII.1.  Duties of Trustee.  (a)  If an Event of Default has occurred and
                -----------------                                               
is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by
this Indenture and shall use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise
as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct
of such person's own affairs.

     (b)  Except during the continuance of an Event of Default of which a Trust
Officer has actual knowledge: (i) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties
and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no
implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the
Trustee; and (ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may
conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the
opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the
Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; provided that in
the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision of this
Indenture are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee
shall examine such certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they
conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

     (c)  The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent
action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct; provided
that:  (i) this paragraph (c) shall not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of
this Section 7.01; (ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of
judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer unless it is proved that the
Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and (iii) the Trustee
shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good
faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05
hereof.

     (d)  Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other
funds except to the extent required by law.

     (e)  No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or
risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance
of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or
powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such
funds or adequate indemnity against such risk of liability is not reasonably
assured to it.

                                      86
<PAGE>
 
     (f)  Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting
the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the
provisions of this Article VII and to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act.

     SECTION VII.2.  Rights of Trustee.   (a)  The Trustee may rely on any
                     -----------------                                    
document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by
the proper Person.  Except as provided in Section 7.01(b) hereof, the Trustee
need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

     (b)  Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an
Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel.  The Trustee shall not be liable
for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on any
Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.

     (c)  The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for
the misconduct or negligence of any such agent; provided that such agent was
appointed with due care by the Trustee.

     (d)  The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to
take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or
powers; provided that the Trustee's conduct does not constitute willful
misconduct or gross negligence.

     (e)  The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or
Event of Default under Section 6.01(c), 6.01(d), 6.01(e) or 6.01(f) hereof, of
the identity of any Restricted Subsidiary or of the existence of any Change of
Control or Asset Sale unless either (i) a Trust Officer shall have actual
knowledge thereof, or (ii) the Trustee shall have received notice thereof in
accordance with Section 10.02 hereof from the Company or any Holder of Notes.

     (f)  The Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such
counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and
protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder
in good faith and in reliance thereon.

     (g)  The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the
facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument,
opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture or
other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion may make such
further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit,
and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or
investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises
of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney.

     (h)  The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to
take in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority
of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Notes relating to the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding 

                                      87
<PAGE>
 
for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power
conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture.

     SECTION VII.3.  Individual Rights of Trustee.   The Trustee, any Paying
                     ----------------------------                           
Agent or Note Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the
owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or its
Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying
Agent or Note Registrar hereunder, as the case may be; provided that the Trustee
must in any event comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.

     SECTION VII.4.  Trustee's Disclaimer.   The Trustee shall not be
                     --------------------                            
responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of
this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Company's use
of the proceeds from the Notes, and it shall not be responsible (a) for any
statement of the Company in this Indenture, including the recitals contained
herein, or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Notes or in
the Notes other than the Trustee's certificate of authentication or (b) for
compliance by the Company with the Registration Agreement.

     SECTION VII.5.  Notice of Defaults.  Within 90 calendar days after the
                     ------------------                                    
occurrence of any Default hereunder known to a Trust Officer with respect to the
Notes, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders, as their names and
addresses appear in the Note Register, notice of such Default hereunder known to
the Trustee, unless such Default shall have been cured or waived; provided that,
except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of (or premium,
if any) or interest on any Note, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding
such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or
a trust committee of directors and/or Trust Officers of the Trustee in good
faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the
Holders.

     SECTION VII.6.  Preservation of Information; Reports by Trustee to Holders.
                     ----------------------------------------------------------
(a)  The Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

          (i)  semiannually, not less than 10 calendar days prior to each
     Interest Payment Date, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably
     require, of the names and addresses of the Holders as of the Regular Record
     Date immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date, and

          (ii) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within
     30 calendar days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a
     list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 calendar
     days prior to the time such list is furnished;

provided that if and so long as the Trustee shall be the Note Registrar for the
Notes, no such list need be furnished with respect to the Notes.

                                      88
<PAGE>
 
     (b)  The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent
list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.06(a) hereof and the
names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Note
Registrar, if so acting.  The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as
provided in Section 7.06(a) hereof upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

     (c)  Holders may communicate as provided in Section 312(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act with other Holders with respect to their rights under this
Indenture or under the Notes.

     (d)  Each Holder of Notes, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with
the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee shall be
held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the
names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with this Section 7.06,
regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the
Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant
to a request made under this Section 7.06.

     (e)  Within 60 calendar days after April 15 of each year commencing with
the year 1999, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Notes, a
brief report dated as of such April 15 if and to the extent required under
Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

     (f)  The Trustee shall comply with Sections 313(b) and 313(c) of the Trust
Indenture Act.

     (g)  A copy of each report described in Section 7.06(e) hereof shall, at
the time of its transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock
exchange, if any, upon which the Notes are then listed, with the Commission and
also with the Company. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any
stock exchange upon which the Notes are listed.

     SECTION VII.7.  Compensation and Indemnity.  The Company shall pay to the
                     --------------------------                               
Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its services. The Company
shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, in addition to
the compensation for its services.  Such expenses shall include the reasonable
compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee's agents
and counsel.  The Trustee's compensation shall not be limited by any law on
compensation of a trustee of an express trust.

     The Company shall indemnify the Trustee for, and hold it harmless against,
any and all loss, liability or expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees)
arising out of or incurred by it in connection with the acceptance or
administration of the trust created by this Indenture and the performance of its
duties hereunder, except as set forth in the next paragraph.  The Trustee shall
notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity.
Failure by 

                                      89
<PAGE>
 
the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its
obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend any such claim and the Trustee
shall cooperate in the defense of such claim. The Trustee may have separate
counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such
counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

     The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss,
liability or expense incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee's own willful
misconduct, negligence or bad faith.

     To secure the Company's payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the
Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or
collected by the Trustee other than money or property held in trust to pay
principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, particular Notes.

     The Company's payment obligations pursuant to this Section 7.07 shall
survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and discharge of this
Indenture.  Subject to any other rights available to the Trustee under
applicable bankruptcy law, when the Trustee incurs expenses after the occurrence
of a Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or Section 6.01(h) hereof, the
expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under bankruptcy
law.

     SECTION VII.8.  Replacement of Trustee.  (a)  No resignation or removal of
                     ----------------------                                    
the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article
VII shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor
Trustee under this Section 7.08.

     (b)  The Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to
the Company.  If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not
have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 calendar days after the giving of
such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

     (c)  The Trustee may be removed at any time by Act of the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes, delivered to the Trustee
and to the Company.

     (d)  If at any time:

          (i)  the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 310(b) of the Trust
     Indenture Act after written request therefor by the Company or by any
     Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Note for at least six months,
     unless the Trustee's duty to resign is stayed in accordance with the
     provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act; or

                                      90
<PAGE>
 
          (ii)  the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 7.10 hereof
     and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or
     by any such Holder; or

          (iii) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or a decree or
     order for relief by a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall have
     been entered in respect of the Trustee in an involuntary case under the
     United States bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any
     other applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law; or
     a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall have
     been entered for the appointment of a receiver, custodian, liquidator,
     assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Trustee
     or of its Property and assets or affairs, or any public officer shall take
     charge or control of the Trustee or of its Property and assets or affairs
     for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation, winding up or liquidation;
     or

          (iv)  the Trustee shall commence a voluntary case under the United
     States bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other
     applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or shall
     consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver,
     custodian, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar
     official) of the Trustee or its Property and assets or affairs, or shall
     make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall admit in writing
     its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or shall take
     corporate action in furtherance of any such action,

then, in any such case, (i) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the
Trustee with respect to the Notes, or (ii) subject to Section 6.10 hereof, any
Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Note for at least six months may, on
behalf of such Holder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a
successor Trustee for the Notes.

     (e)  If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting,
or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, the Company,
by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor
Trustee.  If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability,
or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee shall be appointed by the
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes delivered to
the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall,
forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with this
Section 7.08, become the successor Trustee and to that extent replace any
successor Trustee appointed by the Company.  If no successor Trustee shall have
been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and shall have accepted
appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Holder that has been a bona
fide Holder of a Note for at least six months may, subject to Section 6.10

                                      91
<PAGE>
 
hereof, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any
court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

     (f)  The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of
the Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee by mailing written
notice of such resignation, removal and appointment by first class mail, postage
prepaid, to the Holders as their names and addresses appear in the Note
Register.  Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with
respect to the Notes and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

     (g)  In the event of an appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee, each
such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to
the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such
appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee
shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed
or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and
duties of the retiring Trustee but, on request of the Company or the successor
Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and
deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights,
powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee, and shall duly assign, transfer and
deliver to such successor Trustee all Property and money held by such former
Trustee hereunder, subject to its Lien, if any, provided for in Section 7.07
hereof.

     (h)  Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute
any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming
to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in
Section 7.08(g) hereof.

     (i)  No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time
of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under
this Article VII and under the Trust Indenture Act.

     SECTION VII.9.  Successor Trustee by Merger.  Any corporation into which
                     ---------------------------                             
the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or
any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which
the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or
substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the
successor of the Trustee hereunder; provided that such corporation shall be
otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article VII and under the Trust
Indenture Act, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act
on the part of any of the parties hereto.  In case any Notes shall have been
authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor
by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt
such authentication and deliver the Notes so authenticated with the same effect
as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Notes.  In the event
that any Notes shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee,
any such successor Trustee may authenticate and deliver such Notes, in either
its own name or that of its predecessor Trustee, 

                                      92
<PAGE>
 
with the full force and effect which this Indenture provides for the certificate
of authentication of the Trustee.

     SECTION VII.10.  Eligibility; Disqualification.  There shall at all times
                      -----------------------------                           
be a Trustee hereunder which shall be

          (i)  a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the
     United States of America, any State or Territory thereof or the District of
     Columbia, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers,
     and subject to supervision or examination by Federal, State, Territorial or
     District of Columbia authority, or

          (ii) a corporation or other Person organized and doing business under
     the laws of a foreign government that is permitted to act as Trustee
     pursuant to a rule, regulation or order of the Commission, authorized under
     such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, and subject to supervision or
     examination by authority of such foreign government or a political
     subdivision thereof substantially equivalent to supervision or examination
     applicable to United States institutional trustees,

in either case having a combined capital and surplus of at least $25,000,000.

     If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant
to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining
authority, then for the purposes of this Section 7.10, the combined capital and
surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and
surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.
Neither the Company nor any Affiliate of the Company shall serve as Trustee
hereunder.  If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible to serve as
Trustee hereunder pursuant to the provisions of this Section 7.10, it shall
resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Article
VII.

     If the Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the
meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the
Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of
the Trust Indenture Act.  Nothing herein shall prevent the Trustee from filing
with the Commission the application referred to in the penultimate paragraph of
Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

     SECTION VII.11.  Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.  The
                      -------------------------------------------------      
Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding
any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of
the Trust Indenture Act to the extent indicated therein.

                                      93
<PAGE>
 
                                 ARTICLE VIII.

                                  DEFEASANCE

     SECTION VIII.1.   Company's Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant
                       -------------------------------------------------------
Defeasance.  The Company may elect, at its option, at any time, to have Section
----------                                                                     
8.02 or Section 8.03 hereof applied to the outstanding Notes (in whole and not
in part) upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article
VIII.  Such election shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution delivered to the
Trustee.

     SECTION VIII.2.   Legal Defeasance and Discharge.  Upon the Company's
                       ------------------------------                     
exercise of its option to have this Section 8.02 applied to the outstanding
Notes (in whole and not in part), the Company shall be deemed to have been
discharged from its obligations with respect to such Notes as provided in this
Section 8.02 on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04
hereof are satisfied (hereinafter called "Defeasance").  For this purpose, such
Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged
the entire indebtedness represented by such Notes and to have satisfied all its
other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture insofar as such Notes are
concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper
instruments acknowledging the same), subject to the following which shall
survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

     (a)  the rights of Holders of such Notes to receive, solely from the trust
fund described in Section 8.04 hereof and as more fully set forth in such
Section 8.04, payments in respect of the principal of and any premium and
interest on such Notes when such payments are due,

     (b)  the Company's obligations with respect to such Notes under Sections
2.09, 2.10, 2.12, 4.02 and 4.03 hereof,

     (c)  the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee under
this Indenture,

     (d)  Article III hereof, and

     (e)  this Article VIII.

     Subject to compliance with this Article VIII, the Company may exercise its
option to have this Section 8.02 applied to the outstanding Notes (in whole and
not in part) notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option to have Section
8.03 hereof applied to such Notes.

                                      94
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION VIII.3.  Covenant Defeasance.  Upon the Company's exercise of its
                      -------------------                                     
option to have this Section 8.03 applied to the outstanding Notes (in whole and
not in part), (i) the Company shall be released from its obligations under
Section 5.01(c) and (d), Sections 4.05 through 4.18, inclusive, and any covenant
added to this Indenture subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to Section 9.01
hereof, (ii) the occurrence of any event specified in Section 6.01(c) or Section
6.01(d) hereof, with respect to any of Section 5.01(c) and (d), Sections 4.05
through 4.18, inclusive, and any covenant added to this Indenture subsequent to
the Issue Date pursuant to Section 9.01 hereof, shall be deemed not to be or
result in an Event of Default, in each case with respect to such Notes as
provided in this Section 8.03 on and after the date the conditions set forth in
Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter called "Covenant Defeasance").
For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such
Notes, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in
respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such specified
Section (to the extent so specified in the case of Sections 6.01(c) and 6.01(d)
hereof), whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere
herein to any such Section or by reason of any reference in any such Section to
any other provision herein or in any other document; but the remainder of this
Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby.

     SECTION VIII.4.  Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.  The
                      -----------------------------------------------      
following shall be the conditions to the application of Section 8.02 or Section
8.03 hereof to the outstanding Notes:

     (a)  The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited
with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following
payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to the
benefits of the Holders of such Notes, (i) money in an amount, or (ii) U.S.
Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and
interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not
later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or
(iii) a combination thereof, in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a
nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a
written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge,
and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other qualifying trustee)
to pay and discharge, the principal of and any installment of interest on such
Notes on the respective Stated Maturities thereof, in accordance with the terms
of this Indenture and such Notes.

     (b)  In the event of an election to have Section 8.02 hereof apply to the
outstanding Notes, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of
Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee stating that (i) the Company has
received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a
ruling or (ii) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the
applicable Federal income tax law, in either case (i) or (ii) to the effect
that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such
Notes will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a
result of the deposit,

                                      95
<PAGE>
 
Defeasance and discharge to be effected with respect to such Notes and will be
subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the
same times as would be the case if such deposit, Defeasance and discharge were
not to occur.

     (c)  In the event of an election to have Section 8.03 hereof apply to the
outstanding Notes, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of
Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee to the effect that the Holders of
such Notes will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a
result of the deposit and Covenant Defeasance to be effected with respect to
such Notes and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the
same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit and
Covenant Defeasance were not to occur.

     (d)  No Default or Event of Default with respect to the outstanding Notes
shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit after giving
effect thereto or at any time on or prior to the 91st calendar day after the
date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be
deemed satisfied until after such 91st calendar day).

     (e)  Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to
have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act
(assuming for the purpose of this clause (e) that all Notes are in default
within the meaning of such Act).

     (f)  Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or
violation of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement or instrument
to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

     (g)  Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in the trust
arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning
of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, unless such trust shall be
registered under such Act or exempt from registration thereunder.

     (h)  The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been
complied with.

     SECTION VIII.5.  Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held
                      ----------------------------------------------------------
in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions.  All money and U.S. Government Obligations
----------------------------------                                            
(including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section
8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and
applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this
Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any such Paying Agent as
the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes, of all sums due and to
become due thereon in respect of principal and any premium and interest, but
money so held in trust need not be segregated from other funds except to the
extent required by

                                      96
<PAGE>
 
law. The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or
other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations
deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received
in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is
for the account of the Holders of outstanding Notes.

     Anything in this Article VIII to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee
shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Order any
money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 8.04
hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent
public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the
Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be
deposited to effect the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be,
with respect to the outstanding Notes.

     The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon written
request any money held by them for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or
interest that remains unclaimed for two years; provided that the Trustee or such
                                               --------                         
Paying Agent before being required to make any payment may cause to be published
at the expense of the Company once in a newspaper of general circulation in the
City of New York or mail to each Holder entitled to such money at such Holder's
address (as set forth in the Note Register) notice that such money remains
unclaimed and that after a date specified therein (which shall be at least 30
days from the date of such publication or mailing) any unclaimed balance of such
money then remaining will be repaid to the Company. After payment to the
Company, Holders entitled to such money must look to the Company for payment as
general creditors unless an applicable law designates another Person, and all
liability of the Trustee and such Paying Agent with respect to such money shall
cease.

     SECTION VIII.6.  Reinstatement.  If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable
                      -------------                                           
to apply any money in accordance with this Article VIII with respect to any
Notes by reason of any order or judgement of any court or governmental authority
enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application then the
obligations under this Indenture and such Notes from which the Company has been
discharged or released pursuant to Sections 8.02 or 8.03 hereof shall be revived
and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article VIII
with respect to such Notes, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is
permitted to apply all money held in trust pursuant to Section 8.05 hereof with
respect to such Notes in accordance with this Article VIII; provided that if the
Company makes any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any such
Note following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be
subrogated to the rights (if any) of the Holders of such Notes to receive such
payment from the money so held in trust.

                                  ARTICLE IX.

                                  AMENDMENTS

                                      97
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION IX.1.  Without Consent of Holders.   The Company and the Trustee 
                    --------------------------                               
may, at any time, and from time to time, without notice to or consent of any
Holder of Notes, enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form
satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

          (a)  to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and
     the assumption by such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and
     contained in the Notes; or

          (b)  to add to the covenants of the Company, for the benefit of the
     Holders of all of the Notes, or to surrender any right or power herein
     conferred upon the Company; or

          (c)  to add any additional Events of Default; or

          (d)  to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of
     certificated Notes; or

          (e)  to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment
     hereunder of a successor Trustee; or

          (f)  to secure the Notes; or

          (g)  to cure any ambiguity herein, or to correct or supplement any
     provision hereof which may be inconsistent with any other provision hereof
     or to add any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising
     under this Indenture; provided that such actions shall not adversely affect
                           --------                                             
     the interests of the Holders of Notes in any material respect; or

          (h)  to comply with the requirements of the Commission in order to
     effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust
     Indenture Act.

     SECTION IX.2.  With Consent of Holders.  With the consent of the Holders of
                    -----------------------                                     
not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes, by Act of
said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company and the
Trustee may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto for the
purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any
of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of
the Holders; provided that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the
consent of the Holder of each outstanding Note,

                                      98
<PAGE>
 
          (a)  change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any
     installment of interest on, any Note, or alter the redemption provisions
     thereof, or reduce the principal amount thereof (or any premium, if any),
     or the interest thereon, that would be due and payable upon Maturity
     thereof, or change the place of payment where, or the coin or currency in
     which, any Note or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair
     the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or
     after the Maturity thereof; or

          (b)  reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding
     Notes, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental
     indenture; or

          (c)  modify any of the provisions of Section 6.04 hereof, except to
     increase any percentage set forth therein or to provide that certain other
     provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the
     consent of the Holder of each outstanding Note affected thereby; or

          (d)  subordinate in right of payment, or otherwise subordinate, the
     Notes to any other Indebtedness; or

          (e)  modify any of the provisions of this Section 9.02, except to
     increase any percentage set forth herein or to provide that certain other
     provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the
     consent of the Holder of each outstanding Note affected thereby.

     It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section 9.02 to
approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall
be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

     SECTION IX.3.  Effect of Supplemental Indentures.  Upon the execution of
                    ---------------------------------                        
any supplemental indenture under this Article IX, this Indenture shall be
modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a
part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Notes theretofore
or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

     SECTION IX.4.  Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.  Every amendment or
                    -----------------------------------                     
supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall comply with the Trust Indenture
Act as then in effect.

     SECTION IX.5.  Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers.  A consent to
                    ---------------------------------------------               
an amendment, supplement or a waiver by a Holder of a Note shall bind the Holder
and every subsequent Holder of such Note or portion of such Note that evidences
the same debt as the consenting Holder's Note, even if notation of the consent
or waiver is not made on such Note; 

                                      99
<PAGE>
 
provided that any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent or 
--------                                   
waiver as to such Holder's Note or portion of such Note if the Trustee receives
the notice of revocation at least one day prior to the date the amendment,
supplement or waiver becomes effective. After an amendment, supplement or waiver
becomes effective pursuant to this Article IX, it shall bind every Holder.

     The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the
purpose of determining the Holders entitled to give their consent or take any
other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to
this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately
preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or
their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to
give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such
action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record
date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 calendar
days after such record date.

     SECTION IX.6.  Notation on or Exchange of Notes.  If a supplemental
                    --------------------------------                    
indenture changes the terms of a Note, the Trustee may require the Holder
thereof to deliver such Note to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an
appropriate notation on such Note regarding the changed terms and return it to
the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the
Company in exchange for such Note shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate
a new Note that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate
notation or to issue a new Note shall not affect the validity of such amendment
or supplement.

     SECTION IX.7.  Trustee to Execute Supplemental Indentures.  The Trustee
                    ------------------------------------------              
shall execute any supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article IX
if such supplemental indenture does not adversely affect the rights, duties,
liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may, but shall
not be required to, execute such supplemental indenture. In executing any
supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall be (subject to Section 7.01 hereof)
fully protected in relying upon an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of
Counsel, which shall not be at the expense of the Trustee, stating that the
execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this
Indenture.

                                  ARTICLE X.

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

     SECTION X.1.  Trust Indenture Act Controls.  If and to the extent that any
                   ----------------------------                                
provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties
imposed by, or with another provision (an "incorporated provision") included in
this Indenture by operation of, Sections

                                      100
<PAGE>
 
310 to 318, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties or
incorporated provision shall control.

     SECTION X.2.  Notices.  Any notice or communication shall be in writing and
                   -------                                                      
delivered in person or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed as
follows: if to the Company: McLeodUSA Incorporated, 6400 C Street, S.W., Cedar
Rapids, Iowa 52406, Attention: Clark E. McLeod; if to the Trustee: United States
Trust Company of New York, 114 West 47th Street, New York, New York 10036,
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.

     The Company or the Trustee, by notice to the other, may designate
additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications. Any
notice or communication mailed to a Holder shall be sent to the Holder by first
class mail, postage prepaid, at the Holder's address as it appears in the Note
Register and shall be duly given if so sent within the time prescribed. Failure
to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not
affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or
communication is mailed to the Company, the Trustee or a Holder in the manner
provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it. In
case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any
other cause it shall be impracticable to give notice by mail to Holders, then
such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall
constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

     SECTION X.3.  Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.  Upon any
                   --------------------------------------------------           
request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take or refrain from
taking any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the
Trustee: (a) an Officers' Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the
signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture
relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and (b) an Opinion of
Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions
precedent have been complied with.

     SECTION X.4.  Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.  Each
                   ---------------------------------------------       
certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition
provided for in this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 4.19 hereof)
shall include: (a) a statement that the individual making such certificate or
opinion has read such covenant or condition; (b) a brief statement as to the
nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements
or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (c) a statement
that, in the opinion of such individual, such person has made such examination
or investigation as is necessary to enable such person to express an informed
opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with;
and (d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such individual,
such covenant or condition has been complied with; provided that, with respect
to matters of fact, an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officers' Certificate
or certificates of public officials.

                                      101
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION X.5.  Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Note Registrar.  The
                   -------------------------------------------------      
Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Holders, and any
Note Registrar and Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions;
provided that no such rule shall conflict with terms of this Indenture or the
Trust Indenture Act.

     SECTION X.6.  Payments on Business Days.  If a payment hereunder is
                   -------------------------                            
scheduled to be made on a date that is not a Business Day, payment shall be made
on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, and no interest shall accrue
with respect to that payment during the intervening period. If a regular record
date is a date that is not a Business Day, such record date shall not be
affected.

     SECTION X.7.  Governing Law.  THIS INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE
                   -------------                                        
GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SAID STATE.

     SECTION X.8.  No Recourse Against Others.  No controlling Person, director,
                   --------------------------                                   
officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company, as such, shall
have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or this
Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such
obligations or their creation, solely by reason of its past, present or future
status as a controlling Person, director, officer, employee, incorporator or
stockholder of the Company. By accepting a Note, each Holder waives and releases
all such liability (but only such liability) as part of the consideration for
issuance of such Note to such Holder.

     SECTION X.9.  Successors.  All agreements of the Company in this Indenture
                   ----------                                                  
and the Notes shall bind its successors and assigns whether so expressed or not.
All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors and
assigns whether so expressed or not.

     SECTION X.10.  Counterparts.  This Indenture may be executed in any number
                    ------------                                               
of counterparts and by the parties thereto in separate counterparts, each of
which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

     SECTION X.11.  Table of Contents; Headings.  The table of contents, cross-
                    ---------------------------                               
reference table and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have
been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be
considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or
provisions hereof.

     SECTION X.12.  Severability.  In case any provision in this Indenture or in
                    ------------                                                
the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or
impaired thereby.

                                      102
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION X.13.  Further Instruments and Acts.  Upon request of the Trustee,
                    ----------------------------                               
the Company will execute and deliver such further instruments and do such
further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more
effectively the purposes of this Indenture.

                                      103
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be
duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.

                         MCLEODUSA INCORPORATED



                         By  /s/ Stephen C. Gray
                             -----------------------------------
                         Name:  Stephen C. Gray
                         Title: President


Attest:

/s/ Randall Rings
-------------------

                         UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK,
                         as Trustee


                         By  /s/ James E. Logan
                             ------------------------------------
                         Name:  James E. Logan
                         Title: Vice President



Attest:

/s/ Cynthia Chaney
-------------------

                                      104
<PAGE>
 
STATE OF IOWA       )
                    )   SS.:
COUNTY OF LINN      )



          On the 12th day of February, 1999, before me personally came
Stephan C. Gray, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say
that he is President of McLeodUSA Incorporated, one of the corporations
described in and which executed the foregoing instrument and that he signed his
name thereto by authority of the Board of Directors of said corporation.


                            /s/ Janella D. Klein
                            -----------------------------------------
                                       Notary Public

                            State of Iowa
                            My commission expires 10/7/00

[Seal]
<PAGE>
 
STATE OF NEW YORK   )
                    )   SS.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK  )


          On the 11th day of February, 1999, before me personally came
James E. Logan, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say
that he is Vice President of United States Trust Company of New York, one
of the corporations described in and which executed the foregoing instrument and
that he signed his name thereto by authority of the Board of Directors of said
corporation.

                            /s/ Christine C. Collins
                            -------------------------------------
                                       Notary Public

                            State of New York
                            My commission expires   3/30/00

[Seal]
<PAGE>
 
                                                               ANNEX A - Form of
                                                        Regulation S Certificate



                           REGULATION S CERTIFICATE

           (For transfers pursuant to (S) 2.08(b)(i), (iii) and (v)
                               of the Indenture)



United States Trust Company of New York,
 as Trustee
114 West 47th Street
New York, New York 10036

Attention:

     Re:  8 1/8% Senior Notes due February 15, 2009
          of McLeodUSA Incorporated (the "Notes")
          ----------------------------------------------

     Reference is made to the Indenture, dated as of February 22, 1999 (the
"Indenture"), between McLeodUSA Incorporated (the "Company") and United States
Trust Company of New York, as Trustee.  Terms used herein and defined in the
Indenture or in Regulation S or Rule 144 under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "Securities Act") are used herein as so defined.

     This certificate relates to U.S. $________ principal amount of Notes, which
are evidenced by the following certificate(s) (the "Specified Notes"):

     CUSIP No(s). _________________________________

     CERTIFICATE No(s). ___________________________

The person in whose name this certificate is executed below (the "Undersigned")
hereby certifies that either (i) it is the sole beneficial owner of the
Specified Notes or (ii) it is acting on behalf of all the beneficial owners of
the Specified Notes and is duly authorized by them to do so.  Such beneficial
owner or owners are referred to herein collectively as the "Owner".  If the
Specified Notes are represented by a Global Security, they are held through the
Depositary or an Agent Member in the name of the Undersigned, as or on behalf of
the Owner.  If the Specified Notes are not represented by a Global Security,
they are registered in the name of the Undersigned, as or on behalf of the
Owner.
<PAGE>
 
     The Owner has requested that the Specified Notes be transferred to a person
(the "Transferee") who will take delivery in the form of a Regulation S Note.
In connection with such transfer, the Owner hereby certifies that, unless such
transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under
the Securities Act, it is being effected in accordance with Rule 904 or Rule 144
under the Securities Act and with all applicable securities laws of the states
of the United States and other jurisdictions.  Accordingly, the Owner hereby
further certifies as follows:

          (1)  Rule 904 Transfers.  If the transfer is being effected in
               ------------------                                       
     accordance with Rule 904:

               (A)  the Owner is not a distributor of the Notes, an affiliate of
          the Company or any such distributor or a person acting on behalf of
          any of the foregoing;

               (B)  the offer of the Specified Notes was not made to a person in
          the United States;

               (C)  either:

                    (i)  at the time the buy order was originated, the
               Transferee was outside the United States or the Owner and any
               person acting on its behalf reasonably believed that the
               Transferee was outside the United States, or

                    (ii) the transaction is being executed in, on or through
               the facilities of the Eurobond market, as regulated by the
               Association of International Bond Dealers, or another designated
               offshore securities market and neither the Owner nor any person
               acting on its behalf knows that the transaction has been
               prearranged with a buyer in the United States;

               (D)  no directed selling efforts have been made in the United
          States by or on behalf of the Owner or any affiliate thereof;

               (E)  if the Owner is a dealer in securities or has received a
          selling concession, fee or other remuneration in respect of the
          Specified Notes, and the transfer is to occur during the Restricted
          Period, then the requirements of Rule 904(c)(1) have been satisfied;
          and

               (F)  the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the
          registration requirements of the Securities Act.
<PAGE>
 
          (2)  Rule 144 Transfers. If the transfer is being effected pursuant to
               ------------------  
     Rule 144:

               (A) the transfer is occurring after a holding period of at least
          one year (computed in accordance with paragraph (d) of Rule 144) has
          elapsed since the Specified Notes were last acquired from the Company
          or from an affiliate of the Company, whichever is later, and is being
          effected in accordance with the applicable amount, manner of sale and
          notice requirements of Rule 144; or

               (B) the transfer is occurring after a holding period of at least
          two years has elapsed since the Specified Notes were last acquired
          from the Company or from an affiliate of the Company, whichever is
          later, and the Owner is not, and during the preceding three months has
          not been, an affiliate of the Company.

     This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your
benefit and the benefit of the Company and the Purchasers.



Dated:         ______________________________________________
                    (Print the name of the Undersigned, as such
                    term is defined in the second paragraph of this
                    certificate.)



                    By:____________________________________________
                      Name:
                      Title:

                    (If the Undersigned is a corporation, partnership or
                    fiduciary, the title of the person signing on behalf of the
                    Undersigned must be stated.)
<PAGE>
 
                                    ANNEX B - Form of Restricted
                                    Notes Certificate



                         RESTRICTED NOTES CERTIFICATE

        (For transfers pursuant to (S) 2.08(b)(ii), (iii), (iv) and (v)
                               of the Indenture)



United States Trust Company of New York,
     as Trustee
114 West 47th Street
New York, New York 10036

Attention:

     Re:  8 1/8% Senior Notes due February 15, 2009
          of McLeodUSA Incorporated (the "Notes")
          ----------------------------------------------

     Reference is made to the Indenture, dated as of February 22, 1999 (the
"Indenture"), between McLeodUSA Incorporated (the "Company") and United States
Trust Company of New York, as Trustee.  Terms used herein and defined in the
Indenture or in Regulation S or Rule 144 under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "Securities Act") are used herein as so defined.

     This certificate relates to U.S. $__________ principal amount of Notes,
which are evidenced by the following certificate(s) (the "Specified Notes"):

     CUSIP No(s). _____________________________

     CERTIFICATE No(s). _______________________

The person in whose name this certificate is executed below (the "Undersigned")
hereby certifies that either (i) it is the sole beneficial owner of the
Specified Notes or (ii) it is acting on behalf of all the beneficial owners of
the Specified Notes and is duly authorized by them to do so.  Such beneficial
owner or owners are referred to herein collectively as the "Owner".  If the
Specified Notes are represented by a Global Security, they are held through the
Depositary or an Agent Member in the name of the Undersigned, as or on behalf of
the Owner.  If the Specified Notes are not represented by a Global Security,
they are registered in the name of the Undersigned, as or on behalf of the
Owner.
<PAGE>
 
     The Owner has requested that the Specified Notes be transferred to a person
(the "Transferee") who will take delivery in the form of a Restricted Note.  In
connection with such transfer, the Owner hereby certifies that, unless such
transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under
the Securities Act, it is being effected in accordance with Rule 144A, Rule 144
or to an Institutional Accredited Investor under Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7)
under the Securities Act and in compliance with all applicable securities laws
of the states of the United States and other jurisdictions.  Accordingly, the
Owner hereby further certifies as follows:

          (1)  Rule 144A Transfers.  If the transfer is being effected in
               -------------------                                       
     accordance with Rule 144A:

               (A) the Specified Notes are being transferred to a person that
          the Owner and any person acting on its behalf reasonably believe is a
          "qualified institutional buyer" within the meaning of Rule 144A,
          acquiring for its own account or for the account of a qualified
          institutional buyer; and

               (B) the Owner and any person acting on its behalf have taken
          reasonable steps to ensure that the Transferee is aware that the Owner
          may be relying on Rule 144A in connection with the transfer; and

          (2)  Rule 144 Transfers.  If the transfer is being effected pursuant
               ------------------                                             
     to Rule 144:

               (A) the transfer is occurring after a holding period of at least
          one year (computed in accordance with paragraph (d) of Rule 144) has
          elapsed since the Specified Notes were last acquired from the Company
          or from an affiliate of the Company, whichever is later, and is being
          effected in accordance with the applicable amount, manner of sale and
          notice requirements of Rule 144; or

               (B) the transfer is occurring after a holding period of at least
          two years has elapsed since the Specified Notes were last acquired
          from the Company or from an affiliate of the Company, whichever is
          later, and the Owner is not, and during the preceding three months has
          not been, an affiliate of the Company.

          (3)  Institutional Accredited Investor Transfers.  If the transfer is
               -------------------------------------------                     
     being effected to an Institutional Accredited Investor as defined under
     Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7), the Specified Notes are being transferred
     to such an Institutional Accredited Investor as therein so defined who is
     purchasing for investment purposes and not for distribution.

     This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your
benefit and the benefit of the Company and the Purchasers.
<PAGE>
 
Dated:         _________________________________________________________
               (Print the name of the Undersigned, as such
               term is defined in the second paragraph of this
               certificate.)



               By:_____________________________________________________
                 Name:
                 Title:

               (If the Undersigned is a corporation,
               partnership or fiduciary, the title of the
               person signing on behalf of the Undersigned
               must be stated.)
<PAGE>
 
                                       ANNEX C - Form of Unrestricted
                                       Notes Certificate



                        UNRESTRICTED NOTES CERTIFICATE
         (For removal of Securities Act Legends pursuant to (S) 2.08c)
                               of the Indenture)


United States Trust Company of New York,
 as Trustee
114 West 47th Street
New York, New York 10036

Attention:

     Re:  8 1/8% Senior Notes due February 15, 2009
          of McLeodUSA Incorporated (the "Notes")
          -----------------------------------------------

     Reference is made to the Indenture, dated as of February 22, 1999 (the
"Indenture"), between McLeodUSA Incorporated (the "Company") and United States
Trust Company of New York, as Trustee.  Terms used herein and defined in the
Indenture or in Regulation S or Rule 144 under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "Securities Act") are used herein as so defined.

     This certificate relates to U.S. $_________________ principal amount of
Notes, which are evidenced by the following certificate(s) (the "Specified
Notes"):

     CUSIP No(s). _________________________________

     CERTIFICATE No(s). ___________________________

The person in whose name this certificate is executed below (the "Undersigned")
hereby certifies that either (i) it is the sole beneficial owner of the
Specified Notes or (ii) it is acting on behalf of all the beneficial owners of
the Specified Notes and is duly authorized by them to do so.  Such beneficial
owner or owners are referred to herein collectively as the "Owner".  If the
Specified Notes are represented by a Global Security, they are held through the
Depositary or an Agent Member in the name of the Undersigned, as or on behalf of
the Owner.  If the 
<PAGE>
 
Specified Notes are not represented by a Global Security, they are registered in
the name of the Undersigned, as or on behalf of the Owner.

     The Owner has requested that the Specified Notes be exchanged for Notes
bearing no Securities Act Legend pursuant to Section 2.08(c) of the Indenture.
In connection with such exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that the exchange
is occurring after a holding period of at least two years (computed in
accordance with paragraph (d) of Rule 144) has elapsed since the Specified Notes
were last acquired from the Company or from an affiliate of the Company,
whichever is later, and the Owner is not, and during the preceding three months
has not been, an affiliate of the Company.  The Owner also acknowledges that any
future transfers of the Specified Notes must comply with all applicable
securities laws of the states of the United States and other jurisdictions.

     This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your
benefit and the benefit of the Company and the Purchasers.



Dated:         _________________________________________________________
                    (Print the name of the Undersigned, as such
                    term is defined in the second paragraph of this
                    certificate.)



                    By:_____________________________________________________
                      Name:
                      Title:

                    (If the Undersigned is a corporation,
                    partnership or fiduciary, the title of the
                    person signing on behalf of the Undersigned
                    must be stated.)