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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1


                            [Belden Inc. Letterhead]




May __ , 2004



Dear:

         As you know, on February 4, 2004, Belden Inc. (the "Company"), BC
Merger Corp. (the "Subsidiary") and Cable Design Technologies Corporation
("CDT") entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement")
pursuant to which, among other things, the Subsidiary will be merged with and
into the Company (the "Merger"). The Company believes that it is crucial that we
take steps to retain key employees like you whose role is essential to our
ongoing business efforts and to the successful completion of the Merger. This
Agreement is intended to provide you with an incentive to continue your
employment through the date on which the Merger is completed (the "Closing
Date") and an additional transition period of two years thereafter (the
"Retention Period"). Accordingly, as a means of assuring itself of the continued
availability of your services during this critical time, the Company desires to
enter into this Agreement with you.

         1. RETENTION AND INTEGRATION AWARD. If the Merger is completed pursuant
to the Merger Agreement, then, subject to the terms of this Agreement, you shall
receive a retention payment (a "Retention and Integration Award") equal to
[___]% of your base annual salary as in effect on the date hereof (subject to
all applicable withholding taxes). 50% of the value of the Retention and
Integration Award will be in the form of a cash award (the "Cash Award") and the
remaining 50% will be in the form of shares of CDT restricted common stock (the
"Restricted Stock Award") (which value shall be based on the closing price of
common stock of CDT on the Closing Date, as adjusted by the proposed reverse
stock split of the common stock of CDT, if appropriate).

                  (a) Cash Award. Subject to Section 2 and provided that you are
         employed by the Company or one of its affiliates on each applicable
         payment date set forth below, the Company shall pay you the Cash Award
         at the following times: (i) one-third (1/3) of the Cash Award on the
         Closing Date, (ii) one-third (1/3) of the Cash Award on the first
         anniversary of the Closing Date and (iii) the remaining one-third (1/3)
         of the Cash Award on the second anniversary of the Closing Date.


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May __, 2004
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                  (b) Restricted Stock Award. Subject to Section 2 and provided
         that you are employed by the Company or one of its affiliates on each
         applicable vesting date set forth below, your Restricted Stock Award
         shall vest at the following times: (i) one-third (1/3) of the
         Restricted Stock Award on the Closing Date, (ii) one-third (1/3) of the
         Restricted Stock Award on the first anniversary of the Closing Date and
         (iii) the remaining one-third (1/3) of the Restricted Stock Award on
         the second anniversary of the Closing Date.

         Except as limited by this Agreement, you will have all rights
         associated with the restricted stock, whether vested or unvested,
         unless and until such shares are forfeited in accordance with the terms
         of this Agreement, including the right to vote, or to direct the voting
         of, such shares and to receive any dividends on such shares; provided
         that prior to vesting of the restricted stock (i) no certificates for
         such restricted stock will be issued to you and (ii) no such restricted
         stock will be transferable by you.

         2. CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN RETENTION AND INTEGRATION AWARD WILL NOT BE PAID
OR VEST. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary if (i) you
terminate your employment with the Company and its affiliates for any reason
prior to the end of the Retention Period (including death or for "good reason"
under your change of control agreement), (ii) the Company and its affiliates
terminate your employment for any reason prior to the end of the Retention
Period or (iii) the Merger does not occur, then the Company shall not be
obligated to pay to you any unpaid Cash Award and any unvested portion of the
Restricted Stock Award shall be forfeited and cancelled. In the event that a
portion of the Restricted Stock is forfeited, you grant to each officer of the
Company (acting solely) the power of attorney to take such actions on your
behalf to cause such portion of the Restricted Stock Award to be cancelled.

         3. TREATMENT OF EXISTING EQUITY AWARDS. In consideration of the Company
entering into this Agreement, you agree that notwithstanding anything in the
Belden Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan, the Belden Inc. 2003 Long-Term Incentive
Plan, any other Company plan, the change of control agreement dated [ ], as
amended, (the "Change of Control Agreement"), or any agreement entered into
thereunder (collectively, the "Compensation Plans"), neither the Merger nor any
of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement shall constitute
a "change of control" for purposes of any restricted stock awards held by you
under the Compensation Plans and no such restricted stock shall vest as a result
thereof. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if your employment is
terminated following the Merger by the Company and its affiliates without Cause
or by you for Good Reason (as such terms are defined in your Change of Control
Agreement), immediately prior to the effective time of such termination (i) any
unvested shares of restricted stock issued to you (other than any unvested
portion of the Restricted Stock Award) shall vest and the restrictions
thereunder shall terminate or lapse so that such shares of stock shall be freely
transferable, subject to applicable securities laws and (ii) each then unvested
stock option granted to you and then outstanding shall become exercisable and
all stock options then held by you may be


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May __, 2004
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exercised by you (subject to the terms of such options, other than vesting) for
twelve months following the date of such termination of employment. You agree to
take such actions as the Company may request in order to effectuate the
foregoing.

         4. PAYMENT TAXABLE/NOT BENEFIT BEARING. The Company shall be entitled
to withhold from any payment made pursuant to this Agreement all taxes and other
amounts required to be withheld under applicable law and, subject to Section 8,
you shall pay to the Company or its designee, upon its demand such amount as may
be required for the purpose of satisfying the Company's obligation to withhold
federal, state, local or foreign income, employment or other taxes incurred by
reason of the vesting of the Restricted Stock or your filing of a Section 83(b)
election (which election shall be in your sole discretion). Amounts payable
under this Agreement and the value of any Restricted Stock Award shall not be
treated as compensation for purposes of computing or determining any benefit
under any pension, savings, severance, bonus/incentive, insurance, or other
employee compensation or benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

         5. NO RIGHT TO CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT/NO LIMIT ON COMPANY DISCRETION.
Nothing in this Agreement is intended to limit the Company's discretion to take
any action with regard to the Merger that the Company may consider appropriate,
including, without limitation, postponing the Closing Date or terminating the
Merger Agreement. This Agreement does not entitle you to be retained in the
employ of the Company for any minimum or prescribed period of time and does not
otherwise modify the status of your employment.

         6. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be interpreted and enforced in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, disregarding its choice of
law rules.

         7. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT; SUCCESSORS; REFERENCES. You acknowledge that you
understand the terms of this Agreement. This Agreement may be modified only by
written agreement duly executed by you and Company. References herein to
employment by the "Company" include your employment by a subsidiary of the
Company.

         8. TAX WITHHOLDING; DEFERRALS. You may elect to satisfy any FICA or tax
withholding obligations under federal, state or local law arising from the
vesting of any Restricted Stock Award by having the Company retain the number of
shares of common stock whose Fair Market Value equals the FICA and tax amount
required to be withheld (or at your option a lesser number). Any amount so
elected to be withheld shall be applied to the FICA and tax obligations
generated by the vesting of the Restricted Stock Award. To make a tax
withholding/FICA election, you must provide a written election request to the
Director, Tax & Assistant Treasurer at least 10 days prior to the vesting of a
Restricted Stock Award (i.e., at least 10 days prior to the Closing Date with
respect to the award that will vest on such date). "Fair Market Value" shall
mean the closing price of CDT common stock on the date of vesting of any
Restricted Stock Award.


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May __, 2004
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         9. SUCCESSORS. In addition to any obligations imposed by law upon any
successor to the Company, the Company will require any successor (whether direct
or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to expressly
assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same
extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession
had taken place. This Agreement shall not be terminated by the voluntary or
involuntary dissolution of the Company.

         10. DUE AUTHORIZATION. The execution, delivery and performance by the
Company of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate
action. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the
Company and constitutes the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms. This Agreement may
be executed in separate counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original
and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.

         11. GUARANTEE. At the time of the Merger, the Company shall cause CDT
to execute this Agreement and upon such execution (i) CDT shall automatically
and without any further action on behalf of any party unconditionally assume all
of the obligations of Belden Inc. under this Agreement as the primary obligor
and (ii) references herein to the "Company" shall be deemed references to CDT.

         I hope that the terms of this Agreement and the incentive just
described will induce you to remain in the employ of the Company and to continue
your valuable contributions to our Company's success. Please indicate your
acceptance of this Agreement by signing the enclosed copy of this letter and
returning it to me within five (5) business days.


Sincerely,


[                            ]


I have read, understand and agree to the foregoing.



-----------------------------------------
Signature



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May __, 2004
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Following completion of the Merger:

Assumption pursuant to Section 11
CABLE DESIGN TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION



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