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                                                                       Exhibit 4


                          CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
                              DATED JUNE 24, 1996,
                            BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND
                                DONALD E. PORTER


                                     
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                           CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT


         This Agreement is made and entered into as of this 24th day of July,
1996 ("Effective Date") by and between WOODBURY TELEPHONE COMPANY (the
"Company"), 299 Main Street South, Woodbury, Connecticut 06798 and DONALD E.
PORTER (the "Employee"), 163 Munn Road, Southbury, Connecticut 06488.

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, the Employee is currently employed as President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company reporting directly to the Board of Directors of
the Company and with the duties and responsibilities commensurate with such
position; and

         WHEREAS, the Employee desires to assure himself of continued employment
in the event of a Change in Control, as defined herein, and the Company wishes
to induce the Employee to continue his employment by the Company in the event of
a Change in Control; and

         WHEREAS, this Agreement is not intended to alter the compensation and
benefits that the Executive would receive in the absence of such a Change in
Control.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein set
forth, the parties agree as follows:

         1. AGREEMENT. This Agreement, although taking effect on the Effective
Date, will be operative only upon the occurrence of a Change in Control. Upon
such occurrence this Agreement shall become operative immediately. This
Agreement is not to be considered a contract of employment and shall in no way
change the nature of the Employee's present employment by the Company and the
Employee shall at all times prior to a Change in Control be considered an
employee at will.

         2. CHANGE IN CONTROL. A "Change in Control" shall be deemed to occur:

         (a)  when the Company acquires actual knowledge that any "person"
              (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the
              Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), other
              than an affiliate of the Company or an employee benefit plan
              established or maintained by the Company is or becomes the
              beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange
              Act), directly or indirectly, of 
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         securities of the Company representing more than ten percent (10%) of
         the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities
         (a "Control Person", and for purposes of this Agreement, Southern New
         England Telecommunications Corporation shall be deemed a "Control
         Person") or, in the case of a person who at the Effective Date is a
         "Control Person", when such Control Person increases its ownership of
         the Company's then outstanding stock, or

(b)      upon the first purchase of the Company's common stock pursuant to a
         tender or exchange offer (other than a tender or exchange offer made by
         the Company, or an employee benefit plan established or maintained by
         the Company, or their respective affiliates), or upon the approval by
         the Company's stockholders of: (A) a merger or consolidation of the
         Company with or into another corporation (other than a merger or
         consolidation the definitive agreement for which provides that at least
         two-thirds of the directors of the surviving or resulting corporation
         immediately after the transaction are Continuing Directors (as
         hereinafter defined) (a "Non-Control Transaction")), (B) a sale or
         disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's assets, or (C)
         a plan of liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or

(c)      if during any period of twenty-four (24) consecutive months,
         individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of
         Directors of the Company (the "Company Board") (the "Continuing
         Directors") cease for any reason to constitute at least two-thirds
         thereof or, following a Non- Control Transaction, two-thirds of the
         board of directors of the surviving or resulting corporation; provided
         that any individual whose election or nomination for election as a
         member of the Company Board (or, following a Non-Control Transaction,
         the board of directors of the surviving or resulting corporation) was
         approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Continuing Directors
         then in office shall be considered a Continuing Director, or



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         (d)      upon any filing by the Company or any other person with the
                  Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control or other
                  state regulatory agency pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. 16-43(1)
                  or other statute in connection with a plan to merge,
                  consolidate or exchange common stock with any other company or
                  sell, lease, assign, or otherwise dispose of all or
                  substantially all or any essential part of its franchise,
                  plant equipment or other property necessary and useful in the
                  performance of the Company's duty to the public.

     3.  FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE.  "Fundamental Change" means the occurrence
within six (6) months prior to or twenty-four (24) months after a Change in
Control of any of the following events or conditions:

         (a)      A change in the Employee's status, title, position or
                  responsibilities (including reporting responsibilities);

         (b)      A reduction in the Employee's compensation and/or benefits;

         (c)      Relocation of the Employee's principal office to a location
                  outside a thirty (30) mile radius from the Company's offices
                  described in this Agreement; or

         (d)      Termination of the Employee's employment other than "for
                  cause" as defined in Paragraph 4 or as a result of the
                  Employee's death, disability or retirement.

         4. TERMINATION FOR CAUSE. For the purposes of Paragraph 3 above,
termination of the Employee for any of the following reasons shall be considered
to be termination for cause:

         (a)      gross negligence or wilful misconduct, including material
                  dishonesty by the Employee in the performance of the
                  Employee's duties;

         (b)      material breach by the Employee of any terms of Employee's
                  employment by the Company and failure to correct such breach
                  within twenty (20) days after written notice by the Board of
                  Directors; or

         (c)      upon the Employee's failure or refusal to comply with lawful
                  directions or instructions by the Board of Directors.


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         If the Employee is terminated for any of the foregoing reasons he shall
not be entitled to the benefits provided for in Paragraph 5.

     5.  BENEFITS UPON TERMINATION FOR A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE

         (a)      The Employee may, if a Fundamental Change occurs, choose to
                  terminate his employment by the Company. Upon such termination
                  by the Employee for a Fundamental Change, the Employee shall
                  receive the lesser of (i) two hundred and twenty percent
                  (220%) of the annual compensation then being paid to the
                  Employee or (ii) two hundred ninety nine percent (299%) of the
                  average of the Employee's annual compensation for the
                  preceding five (5) years, provided that such termination
                  occurs within twelve (12) months following the Fundamental
                  Change.

         (b)      If the Fundamental Change which occurs is the Company's
                  termination of the Employee's employment other than "for
                  cause" as defined in Paragraph 4, then the Employee shall be
                  entitled to receive the lesser of (i) two hundred twenty
                  percent (220%) of the annual compensation then being paid to
                  the Employee or (ii) two hundred ninety nine percent (299%) of
                  the average of the Employee's annual compensation for the
                  preceding five (5) years. If such termination occurs within
                  six (6) months prior to a Change in Control, then such payment
                  shall be due and owing upon the occurrence of the Change in
                  Control. If such termination occurs within twenty- four (24)
                  months following a Change in Control, then such payment shall
                  be due and owing upon termination.

         (c)      The Employee shall have the option to receive any payment to
                  which he is entitled under subparagraphs (a) or (b) above as a
                  lump sum within five (5) days after such termination, or in
                  substantially equal monthly installments until full payment
                  has been made.

         6. DEATH, DISABILITY AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS. If the Employee should
die or become eligible to receive benefits under a long term disability plan of
the Company or retire following a Change in Control at a time when this
Agreement is in effect, Employee's employment and the Company's obligations
under this Agreement shall terminate as of the end of the month in which his
death or eligibility to receive such disability payments or retirement occurs.

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     7.  MISCELLANEOUS.

         (a)      GOVERNING LAW. The validity, construction, interpretation and
                  enforceability of this Agreement, and the capacity of the
                  parties shall be determined and governed by the laws of the
                  State of Connecticut.

         (b)      SEVERABILITY. In the event any one or more the provisions
                  contained in this Agreement is held invalid in any respect,
                  such invalidity shall not effect the validity of the other
                  provisions of this Agreement, and such provision(s) is
                  modified to the extent necessary to make it (them)
                  enforceable.

         (c)      BINDING EFFECT. Provisions of this Agreement shall be binding
                  on and inure to the benefit of the Company and the Employee
                  and their respective heirs, administrators, executors,
                  successors and assigns.

         (d)      WAIVER. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between
                  the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
                  This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a writing
                  signed by the party against whom enforcement of any waiver,
                  change, modification, extension or discharge is sought. No
                  delay or failure on the part of either party in exercising any
                  power or right shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any
                  single or partial exercise of any power or right preclude
                  other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other
                  power or right.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this
Agreement as of this 24th day of July, 1996.


                              WOODBURY TELEPHONE COMPANY



                              By: /s/ J. Garry Mitchell
                                  ------------------------
                                 J. Garry Mitchell
                                 Its Chairman of the Board


                              EMPLOYEE


                              /s/ Donald E. Porter
                              ----------------------------
                              Donald E. Porter






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