Exhibit 10.2
                                                                    ------------

FIRST AMENDMENT
                                TO LOAN AGREEMENT
                                -----------------

         FIRST AMENDMENT, dated as of December 30, 2003 (the "Amendment"), to
the Loan Agreement referred to below, by and among (i) GENERAL DATACOMM
INDUSTRIES, INC., a Delaware corporation, GENERAL DATACOMM, INC., a Delaware
corporation ("GDC"), DATACOMM LEASING CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, GDC
HOLDING COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, GDC NAUGATUCK, INC.,
a Delaware corporation, GDC FEDERAL SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation, GDC
REALTY, INC., a Texas corporation (each, a "Borrower" and collectively, the
"Borrowers"), (ii) the lenders party thereto from time to time (the "Lenders"),
and (iii) ABLECO FINANCE LLC, as agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the
"Agent").

         WHEREAS, the Borrowers are obligated to repay certain indebtedness
owing to the Agent and the Lenders under that certain Loan and Security
Agreement dated as of August 20, 2002 (as amended, supplemented and otherwise
modified from time to time, the "Loan Agreement");

         WHEREAS, GDC has requested that the Lenders permit (i) GDC's incurrence
of additional loans to be made by Howard S. Modlin and John L. Segall in an
aggregate principal amount of $600,000 (the "Affiliate Loans") and (ii) the
grant by the Borrowers of Liens on their assets to secure the repayment of the
Affiliate Loans, all in accordance with the promissory notes and the security
agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A;

         WHEREAS, the Lenders are willing to consent to the transactions
described in the immediately preceding paragraph, subject to (i) the execution
and delivery of this Amendment by the Borrowers, and (ii) the other terms and
conditions set forth in this Amendment;

         NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and
valuable consideration, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

         1.1      Definitions in Amendment. Any capitalized term used herein and
not defined shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Loan Agreement.

         1.2      Affiliate Loans. Section 1.1 of the Loan Agreement is hereby
amended by inserting, in appropriate alphabetical order, a definition of the
term "Affiliate Loans" to read in its entirety as follows:

                           "'Affiliate Loans' means the loans made by Howard S.
         Modlin and John L. Segall to the Parent, on or about December 30, 2003,
         in an aggregate principal amount of $600,000, which loans are evidenced
         by promissory notes issued by the Parent and dated on or about December
         30, 2003."

         1.3      Permitted Liens. The definition of the term "Permitted Liens"
set forth in Section 1.1 of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by (a) deleting
the word "and" at the end of clause (m) thereof, (b) deleting the period at end
of clause (n) thereof and inserting ", and" in lieu thereof and (c) inserting a
new clause (o) therein to read as follows:

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         "(o) Liens in favor of Howard S. Modlin and John L. Segall to secure
         the repayment of the Affiliate Loans, provided that such Liens are
         expressly subordinated to the Liens granted by the Borrowers to the
         Agent for the benefit of the Lender Group and the terms and conditions
         of such subordination are reasonably acceptable to the Agent."

         1.4      Indebtedness; Amendments. (a) Section 7.1 of the Loan
Agreement is hereby amended by (i) deleting the period at end of clause (f)
thereof and inserting "; and" in lieu thereof and (ii) inserting a new clause
(g) therein to read as follows:

                           "(g)     the Affiliate Loans, provided that (i) the
         aggregate principal amount of the Affiliate Loans shall not exceed
         $600,000 and (ii) the Borrowers shall not pay any principal of,
         interest on or any other amount in respect of such Affiliate Loans if
         an Event of Default exists or would arise after giving effect to any
         such payment."

                  (b)      Section 7.8(b) of the Loan Agreement is hereby
amended by (i) deleting the reference to "Sections 7.1(b), (c), (d) or (e)" set
forth therein and (ii) inserting a reference to "Sections 7.1(b), (c), (d), (e)
or (g)" in lieu thereof.

         1.5      Warrants. Section 15.2(a)(i) of the Loan Agreement is hereby
amended in its entirety to read as follows:

                           "(i)     Holder is acquiring the Warrants hereunder
         for its own account, without a view to the distribution thereof, all
         without prejudice, however, to the right of the Holder at any time, in
         accordance with this Agreement, lawfully to sell or otherwise to
         dispose of all or any part of the Warrants or Warrant Stock held by it
         after the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date or, prior to such
         fifth anniversary, to any Affiliate of Holder or an Assignee that
         acquires the entire principal amount of the Term Loans then
         outstanding."

         1.6      Events of Default. Section 8.13 of the Loan Agreement is
hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

                           "8.13    If (a) the Parent fails to cause its Board
         of Directors to elect the Persons listed in the Appointment Notice (as
         defined below) as the Ableco Directors (as defined in Section (B) of
         Article Seventh of the Parent's Amended and Restated Certificate of
         Incorporation) within fifteen (15) Business Days following the delivery
         by the Agent (including any successor Agent) to the Parent of a written
         notice (the "Appointment Notice") directing the Parent to cause its
         Board of Directors to so appoint up to three Persons designated by the
         Agent as the Ableco Directors, or (b) the Parent fails to cause its
         Board of Directors to remove or replace any Person listed in the
         Removal/Replacement Notice (as defined below) as an Ableco Director, in
         furtherance of the terms and provisions set forth in Section (B) of
         Article Seventh of the Parent's Amended and Restated Certificate of
         Incorporation, within fifteen (15) Business Days following the delivery
         by the Agent (including any successor Agent) to the Parent of a written
         notice (the "Removal/Replacement Notice") directing the Parent to cause
         its Board of Directors to so remove and/or replace any Person then
         acting as an Ableco Director."

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         2.       Conditions. The effectiveness of this Amendment is subject to
the fulfillment, in a manner satisfactory to the Agent, of each of the following
conditions precedent (the date such conditions are fulfilled or waived by the
Lender is hereinafter referred to as the "Amendment Effective Date"):

                  (a)      Representations and Warranties; No Event of Default.
The representations and warranties contained herein, in Section 5 of the Loan
Agreement and in each other Loan Document and certificate or other writing
delivered to the Agent or any Lender pursuant hereto on or prior to the
Amendment Effective Date shall be correct on and as of the Amendment Effective
Date as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent that such
representations and warranties (or any schedules related thereto) expressly
relate solely to an earlier date (in which case such representations and
warranties shall be true and correct on and as of such date); and no Default or
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the Amendment
Effective Date or would result from this Amendment becoming effective in
accordance with its terms.

                  (b)      Delivery of Documents. The Lender shall have received
on or before the Amendment Effective Date the following, each in form and
substance satisfactory to the Agent and, unless indicated otherwise, dated the
Amendment Effective Date:

                           (i)      counterparts of this Amendment duly executed
by the Borrowers and the Lenders; and

                           (ii)     such other agreements, instruments,
approvals, opinions and other documents as the Agent may reasonably request.

                  (c)      Proceedings. All proceedings in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Amendment, and all documents incidental
thereto, shall be satisfactory to the Agent and its special counsel, and the
Agent and such special counsel shall have received all such information and such
counterpart originals or certified copies of documents, and such other
agreements, instruments, approvals, opinions and other documents, as the Agent
or such special counsel may reasonably request.

         3.       Condition Subsequent. The obligation of the Lender Group (or
any member thereof) to maintain the Term Loans is subject to the fulfillment, on
or before the date applicable thereto, of the condition subsequent set forth
below (the failure by Borrowers to so perform or cause to be performed
constituting an Event of Default):

                  (a)      within 15 days after the Amendment Effective Date,
         Agent shall have received amended and restated Warrants (in exchange
         for the existing Warrants to be cancelled by the Parent), duly executed
         by the Parent, permitting the transfer of such Warrants (i) to any
         Person on or after the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date or (ii)
         prior to such fifth anniversary, to any Affiliate of the Holder or an
         Assignee that acquires the entire principal amount of the Term Loans
         then outstanding.

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         4.       Representations and Warranties. Each Borrower hereby
represents and warrants to the Agent and the Lenders as follows:

                  (a)      Representations and Warranties; No Event of Default.
The representations and warranties herein, in Section 5 of the Loan Agreement
and in each other Loan Document and certificate or other writing delivered to
the Agent or any Lender pursuant hereto on or prior to the Amendment Effective
Date are correct on and as of the Amendment Effective Date as though made on and
as of such date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties
(or any schedules related thereto) expressly relate solely to an earlier date
(in which case such representations and warranties are true and correct on and
as of such date); and no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing on the Effective Date or would result from this Amendment becoming
effective in accordance with its terms.

                  (b)      Organization, Good Standing, Etc. Such Borrower (i)
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the state of its organization, (ii) has all requisite power and
authority to execute, deliver and perform this Amendment and the other Loan
Documents to which it is a party being executed in connection with this
Amendment, and to perform the Loan Agreement, as amended hereby, and (iii) is
duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in
which the character of the properties owned or leased by it or in which the
transaction of its business makes such qualification necessary except where the
failure to be so qualified reasonably could not be expected to have a Material
Adverse Change.

                  (c)      Authorization, Etc. The execution, delivery and
performance by such Borrower of this Amendment and each other Loan Document to
which it is a party being executed in connection with this Amendment, and the
performance by such Borrower of the Loan Agreement, as amended hereby, (i) have
been duly authorized by all necessary action, (ii) do not and will not
contravene such Borrower's charter or by-laws, any applicable law or any
contractual restriction binding on or otherwise affecting it or any of its
properties, (iii) do not and will not result in or require the creation of any
Lien (other than pursuant to any Loan Document) upon or with respect to any of
its properties, and (iv) do not and will not result in any suspension,
revocation, impairment, forfeiture or nonrenewal of any permit, license,
authorization or approval applicable to its operations or any of its properties.

         5.       Miscellaneous.

                  (a)      Continued Effectiveness of the Loan Agreement. Except
as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Loan Agreement and the other Loan
Documents are, and shall continue to be, in full force and effect and are hereby
ratified and confirmed in all respects, except that on and after the Amendment
Effective Date (i) all references in the Loan Agreement to "this Agreement",
"hereto", "hereof", "hereunder" or words of like import referring to the Loan
Agreement shall mean the Loan Agreement as amended by this Amendment, and (ii)
all references in the other Loan Documents to which any Borrower is a party to
the "Loan Agreement", "thereto", "thereof", "thereunder" or words of like import
referring to the Loan Agreement shall mean the Loan Agreement as amended by this
Amendment. Except as expressly provided herein, the execution, delivery and
effectiveness of this Amendment shall not operate as an amendment of any right,
power or remedy of the Lender under the Loan Agreement or any other Loan

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Document, nor constitute an amendment of any provision of the Loan Agreement or
any other Loan Document.

                  (b)      Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any
number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together
shall constitute one and the same agreement.

                  (c)      Headings. Section headings herein are included for
convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Amendment
for any other purpose.

                  (d)      Governing Law. This Amendment shall be governed by,
and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

                  (e)      Costs and Expenses. The Borrowers jointly and
severally agree to pay on demand all fees, costs and expenses of the Agent and
each Lender in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of this
Amendment and the other related agreements, instruments and documents.

                  (f)      Amendment as Loan Document. Each Borrower hereby
acknowledges and agrees that this Amendment constitutes a "Loan Document" under
the Loan Agreement. Accordingly, it shall be an Event of Default under the Loan
Agreement if (i) any representation or warranty made by a Borrower under or in
connection with this Amendment shall have been untrue, false or misleading in
any material respect when made, or (ii) a Borrower shall fail to perform or
observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in this Amendment.

                  (g)      Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH BORROWER, THE AGENT AND
THE LENDER EACH HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR
OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AMENDMENT OR THE ACTIONS OF THE
AGENT OR ANY LENDER IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE OR
ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.


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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be
executed and delivered as of the date first above written.


                                       Borrowers:

                                       GENERAL DATACOMM INDUSTRIES, INC.,
                                       ----------------------------------
                                       a Delaware corporation

                                       By_______________________________________

                                       Title:___________________________________


                                       GENERAL DATACOMM, INC.,
                                       -----------------------
                                       a Delaware corporation

                                       By_______________________________________

                                       Title:___________________________________


                                       DATACOMM LEASING CORPORATION,
                                       -----------------------------
                                       a Delaware corporation

                                       By_______________________________________

                                       Title:___________________________________


                                       GDC HOLDING COMPANY, LLC,
                                       -------------------------
                                       a Delaware limited liability company

                                       By_______________________________________

                                       Title:___________________________________


                                       GDC FEDERAL SYSTEMS, INC.,
                                       --------------------------
                                       a Delaware corporation

                                       By_______________________________________

                                       Title:___________________________________


<PAGE>

                                       GDC NAUGATUCK, INC.,
                                       --------------------
                                       a Delaware corporation

                                       By_______________________________________

                                       Title:___________________________________


                                       GDC REALTY, INC.,
                                       -----------------
                                       a Texas corporation

                                       By_______________________________________

                                       Title:___________________________________


                                       Agent and Lender:

                                       ABLECO FINANCE LLC,
                                       -------------------
                                       a Delaware limited liability company,
                                       on behalf of itself and its affiliated
                                       assigns

                                       By_______________________________________

                                       Title:___________________________________