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|   |              |                     |
|--------|-------------------|--------------------------|
| TO:    | Robert      Sousa | As      of July 30, 2002 |

|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                |   |   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|--------|--------|
| 1.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | Position and      Responsibilities. |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                |   |   |
|                  1.1          You shall      serve as President of the Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Country      Road Communications, LLC (“Country Road”), and shall perform the duties      customarily associated with such capacity from time to time and at such      place or places as the Company shall designate as appropriate and      necessary in connection with such employment. You shall report to the CEO      of Country Road. |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                |   |   |
|                   1.2          You      will, to the best of your ability, devote your full time (as described in      Exhibit A)      and best efforts to the performance of your duties hereunder and the      business and affairs of the Company. You agree to perform such duties as      may be assigned to you by or on authority of the Company’ Boards of      Directors from time to time.                                                   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                |   |   |
|                   1.3          You will duly,      punctually, and faithfully perform and observe any and all rules and      regulations that the Company may now, or shall hereafter, establish      governing the conduct of its business.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                |   |   |
|                   1.4          The      Company will provide you the same indemnification rights as are afforded      all officers and directors of the Company with respect to your duties and      responsibilities described herein.                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                |   |   |
| 2.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | Term of      Employment.            |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                |   |   |
|                   2.1          The term of this      Agreement shall be for the term set forth on Exhibit A,      annexed hereto, commencing on July 30, 2002. Your employment with the      Company may be terminated at any time as provided  herein.                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                |   |   |
|                    2.2          The Company      shall have the right, on written notice to you, to terminate your      employment:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |

|   |   | (a)    | immediately      at any time for Cause (as hereinafter defined); or                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|--------|--------|--------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   |   |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|   |   | (b)    | at      any time without Cause; provided that if your termination is without      Cause, the Company shall (i) pay you all salary accrued but unpaid as of      the termination date, and (ii) within ninety (90) days following      termination, pay you a lump-sum amount equivalent to twelve months month’s      Base Salary (as defined in Exhibit A), and any accrued bonus, less      applicable taxes and other required withholdings and any amounts you may      owe to theCompany. |

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|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|--------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                    2.3          For      purposes of Section 2.2, the term “Cause” shall  mean: |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   | (a)    | your      failure or refusal to perform the services specified herein, or to carry      out any reasonable and lawful directions of the Board of Directors of the      Company with respect to the services to be rendered, or the manner of      rendering such services by you;                                                                                  |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   | (b)    | conviction      of a felony;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   | (c)    | fraud      or embezzlement involving the assets of the Company, its customers,      suppliers, or affiliates, or other dishonest act or deliberate attempt to      injure the Company;                                                                                                                                                                             |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   | (d)    | gross      negligence or willful misconduct;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   | (e)    | inability      for a continuous period of at least ninety (90) days in the aggregate      during any 360 day period to perform duties hereunder due to a physical or      mental disability that is incapable of reasonable accommodation under      applicable law, including but not limited to the Americans with      Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended; or |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   | (f)    | breach      of any term of thisAgreement.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |

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|                       |                          |                       |   |   |
|----------------------------|-------------------------------|----------------------------|--------|--------|
|                       | Very      truly yours,        |
|                       |                          |
|                       | PINE      TREE HOLDINGS, INC. |
|                       |                          |
|                       | By:                           | /s/      Thomas Mendenhall |
|                       | Title:                        | VP                         |
|                       |                          |
| Accepted      and Agreed:  |                          |
|                       |                          |
| /s/ Robert      Souza |                          |                       |
| Robert      Souza          |                          |

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|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|--------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.     | Term. The term of the Agreement to which this      Exhibit A is annexed and incorporated shall be the period starting July      30, 2002, through and including July 29, 2007 (the “Anniversary      Date”). The employment term will be automatically extended in one-year      increments unless terminated in writing at least ninety (90) days prior to      the Anniversary Date by either party.                                                                                          |
|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| 2.     | Principal      Place of Business. Your principal location will be Portland, Maine,      with travel to various locations as directed by the Company from time to      time. You will be on the Company’ payroll, and subject to the employment      practices and benefits of the Company.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| 3.     | Compensation.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|   | (a)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | Base      Salary. Your Base Salary shall be $114,000.00 per annum, payable in      accordance with the Company’ payroll policies.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|   | (b)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | Bonus.      You will be eligible for an annual target bonus between twenty percent      (20%) and fifty percent (50%) of your Base Salary (the “Bonus”). The      criteria upon which such Bonus will be based, and the determination of the      amount of the Bonus will be made by the Company’ Boards of Directors in      their sole discretion. |
|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|   | (c)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | Incentive      Share Purchase. Pursuant to an Incentive Share Purchase Agreement,      you shall be issued 200,000 Series C shares representing membership      interests in Country Road, on terms and conditions approved by Country      Road’s Board of Directors.                                                                                            |
|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| 4.     | Vacations.      You shall be entitled to a total of three (3) weeks paid vacation/sick      time, in addition to paid holidays for New Year’s Day, Memorial Day,      Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the following Friday,      Christmas and Christmas Eve, all in accordance with the Company policies,      as they may change from time to time.                                                                                                                                        |
|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| 5.     | Insurance      and Benefits. You shall be eligible for participation in all health      and insurance benefit plans that may be established by the Company, or      which the Company are required to maintain by law. You shall also be      entitled to participate in any employee benefit programs which the Company      may establish for its key employees or for its employees generally,      including, but not limited to other insurance policies, bonuses, and stock      purchase or option plans. |

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|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |   |
|--------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|
| 6.     | Automobile      Allowance. The Company shall provide you with an automobile for      business and personal use. Reimbursement for insurance, maintenance and      other expenses will be in accordance with the Company’ policies, as may be      changed from time to time. |
|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |   |
| 7.     | Full      Time. To be entitled to the benefits described in the Agreement to      which this Exhibit is annexed and incorporated, you shall devote 100% of      your working time to theCompany.                                                                                   |

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|   |                          |                     |
|--------|-------------------------------|--------------------------|
| To:    | Pine      Tree Holdings, Inc. | As      of July 30, 2002 |

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|                          |                                                |   |   |
|-------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|--------|--------|
|                          | EMPLOYEE                                            |
|                          |                                                |
|                          |      /s/      Robert Souza |
|                          | Robert      Souza                                   |
| Accepted      and Agreed:     |                                                |
|                          |                                                |
| PINE      TREE HOLDINGS, INC. |                                                |
|                          |                                                |
| By:                           | /s/      Thomas Mendenhall                          |   |   |

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|   |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|--------|--------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   | 1.     | Base Salary.      The Base Salary shall be $165,000.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|   |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|   | 2.     | Position and      Responsibilities. The Employee shall serve as Otelco’s Vice      President of Operations, New England Division. As such, the Employee shall      have duties and responsibilities commensurate with such position and such      other duties and responsibilities as may from time to time be assigned to      or vested in the Employee by the Company’s board of directors, the      Company’s Chief Executive Officer or the President of Mid-Maine      Communications, Inc.                |
|   |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|   | 3.     | Special Bonus.      The Employee shall be entitled to receive a special one-time bonus (the      “Special Bonus”) payable on or about December 31, 2012 (the “Special Bonus      Date”), in an amount equal to 50% of the Base Salary; provided that the      Special Bonus shall not be payable if (i) the Employee terminates the      Employment Agreement prior to the Special Bonus Date or (ii) the Company      terminates the Employment Agreement with Cause prior to the Special Bonus      Date. |

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|   |                          |                                |   |   |
|--------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------------|--------|--------|
|   | PINE      TREE HOLDINGS, INC. |                                |
|   |                          |                                |   |
|   | By:                           | /s/      Curtis L. Garner, Jr.      |   |
|   |                          | Name:      Curtis L. Garner, Jr.    |   |
|   |                          | Title:      Chief Financial Officer |   |
|   |                          |                                |   |
|   | EMPLOYEE                      |                                |
|   |                          |                                |
|   | /s/      Robert Souza         |                                |   |
|   | Robert      Souza             |                                |   |

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|                   |                                                              |
|------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
| December      16, 2008 |
|                   |                                                              |
| Memorandum             |
|                   |                                                              |
| For:                   | Mr.      Rob Souza                                                |
|                   | Vice      President                                               |
|                   |                                                              |
| From:                  | Curtis      Garner, CFO                                           |
|                   |                                                              |
| Re:                    | Otelco      Employment Agreement and IRS Section 409A  Compliance |

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|   |                                         |
|--------|----------------------------------------------|
|   | Otelco      Inc.                             |
|   | /s/      Curtis L. Garner                    |
|   | Curtis      L. Garner Chief FinancialOfficer |

|                  |   |                   |
|-----------------------|--------|------------------------|
| /s/      Robert Souza |   | December      31, 2008 |
| Robert      Souza     |   |                   |