Document:

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                                  EXHIBIT 4.19

                                REMEDYTEMP, INC.

                                       and

                       _________________, AS WARRANT AGENT

                             FORM OF DEBT SECURITIES

                                WARRANT AGREEMENT

                                   DATED AS OF

                                 [------------]

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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

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ARTICLE 1             ISSUANCE OF WARRANTS AND EXECUTION AND DELIVERY
                      OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES...................................................................... 1

            1.1       Issuance of Warrants......................................................................... 1

            1.2       Execution and Delivery of Warrant Certificates............................................... 2

            1.3       Issuance of Warrant Certificates............................................................. 3

ARTICLE 2             WARRANT PRICE, DURATION AND EXERCISE OF WARRANTS............................................. 3

            2.1       Warrant Price................................................................................ 3

            2.2       Duration of Warrants......................................................................... 3

            2.3       Exercise of Warrants......................................................................... 3

ARTICLE 3             OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES....................... 5

            3.1       No Rights as Holders of Warrant Debt Securities Conferred by Warrants or Warrant
Certificates

            3.2       Lost, Stolen, Mutilated or Destroyed Warrant Certificates.................................... 5

            3.3       Holder of Warrant Certificate May Enforce Rights............................................. 5

            3.4       Merger, Sale, Conveyance or Lease............................................................ 5

            3.5      Notice to Warrantholders...................................................................... 6

ARTICLE 4             EXCHANGE AND TRANSFER OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES................................................ 6

            4.1       Exchange and Transfer of Warrant Certificates................................................ 6

            4.2       Treatment of Holders of Warrant Certificates................................................. 7

            4.3       Cancellation of Warrant Certificates......................................................... 7

ARTICLE 5             CONCERNING THE WARRANT AGENT................................................................. 8

            5.1       Warrant Agent................................................................................ 8

            5.2       Conditions of Warrant Agent's Obligations.................................................... 8
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            5.3       Resignation, Removal and Appointment of Successors...........................................  9

ARTICLE 6             MISCELLANEOUS................................................................................ 11

            6.1       Amendment.................................................................................... 11

            6.2       Notices and Demands to the Company and Warrant Agent......................................... 11

            6.3       Addresses.................................................................................... 11

            6.4       Governing Law................................................................................ 11

            6.5       Delivery of Prospectus....................................................................... 11

            6.6       Obtaining of Governmental Approvals.......................................................... 11

            6.7       Persons Having Rights Under Warrant Agreement................................................ 12

            6.8       Headings..................................................................................... 12

            6.9       Counterparts................................................................................. 12

           6.10      Inspection of Agreement....................................................................... 12
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                                REMEDYTEMP, INC.

                    Form of Debt Securities Warrant Agreement

         DEBT SECURITIES WARRANT AGREEMENT, dated as of ______________ between
REMEDYTEMP, INC., a California corporation (the "Company") and ____________, a
[corporation] [national banking association] organized and existing under the
laws of _____________and having a corporate trust office in ________, as warrant
agent (the "WARRANT AGENT").

         WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an indenture dated as of [
_________(the "SENIOR INDENTURE"), with _______________, as trustee (such
trustee, and any successors to such trustee, herein called the "SENIOR
TRUSTEE"), providing for the issuance from time to time of its unsubordinated
debt securities, to be issued in one or more series as provided in the Senior
Indenture (the "DEBT SECURITIES");] [ __________(the "SUBORDINATED INDENTURE"),
with ___________, as trustee (such trustee, and any successors to such trustee,
herein called the "SUBORDINATED TRUSTEE"), providing for the issuance from time
to time of its subordinated debt securities, to be issued in one or more series
as provided in the Subordinated Indenture (the "DEBT SECURITIES");]

         WHEREAS, the Company proposes to sell [If Warrants are sold with other
securities -- title of such other Securities being offered (the "OTHER
SECURITIES") with] warrant certificates evidencing one or more warrants (the
"WARRANTS" or, individually, a "WARRANT") representing the right to purchase
[title of Debt Securities purchasable through exercise of Warrants] (the
"WARRANT DEBT SECURITIES"), such warrant certificates and other warrant
certificates issued pursuant to this Agreement being herein called the "WARRANT
CERTIFICATES"; and

         WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the
Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing so to act, in connection with the
issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, exercise and replacement of the
Warrant Certificates, and in this Agreement wishes to set forth, among other
things, the form and provisions of the Warrant Certificates and the terms and
conditions on which they may be issued, registered, transferred, exchanged,
exercised and replaced;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual
agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE 1
                     ISSUANCE OF WARRANTS AND EXECUTION AND
                        DELIVERY OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES

         1.1 ISSUANCE OF WARRANTS. [If Warrants alone -- Upon issuance, each
Warrant Certificate shall evidence one or more Warrants.] [If Other Securities
and Warrants -- Warrant Certificates shall be [initially] issued in connection
with the issuance of the Other Securities [but shall be separately transferable
on and after _______________(the "DETACHABLE DATE")] [and shall not be
separately transferable] and each Warrant Certificate shall evidence one or more
Warrants.] Each Warrant evidenced thereby shall represent the right, subject to
the

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provisions contained herein and therein, to purchase one Warrant Debt
Security. [If Other Securities and Warrants -- Warrant Certificates shall be
initially issued in units with the Other Securities and each Warrant Certificate
included in such a unit shall evidence _____________Warrants for each [$
________________ principal amount] [_______ shares] of Other Securities included
in such unit.].

         1.2 EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES. Each Warrant
Certificate, whenever issued, shall be in registered form substantially in the
form set forth in Exhibit A hereto, shall be dated the date of its
countersignature by the Warrant Agent and may have such letters, numbers, or
other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements
printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the officers of the Company
executing the same may approve (execution thereof to be conclusive evidence of
such approval) and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this
Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or
regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any
securities exchange on which the Warrants may be listed, or to conform to usage.
The Warrant Certificates shall be signed on behalf of the Company by any of its
present or future chief executive officers, presidents, senior vice presidents,
vice presidents, chief financial officers, chief legal officers, treasurers,
assistant treasurers, controllers, assistant controllers, secretaries or
assistant secretaries under its corporate seal reproduced thereon. Such
signatures may be manual or facsimile signatures of such authorized officers and
may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Warrant Certificates. The seal
of the Company may be in the form of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed,
affixed, imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Warrant Certificates.

         No Warrant Certificate shall be valid for any purpose, and no Warrant
evidenced thereby shall be exercisable, until such Warrant Certificate has been
countersigned by the manual signature of the Warrant Agent. Such signature by
the Warrant Agent upon any Warrant Certificate executed by the Company shall be
conclusive evidence that the Warrant Certificate so countersigned has been duly
issued hereunder.

         In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the
Warrant Certificates either manually or by facsimile signature shall cease to be
such officer before the Warrant Certificates so signed shall have been
countersigned and delivered by the Warrant Agent, such Warrant Certificates may
be countersigned and delivered notwithstanding that the person who signed
Warrant Certificates ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Warrant
Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by such persons as, at the
actual date of the execution of such Warrant Certificate, shall be the proper
officers of the Company, although at the date of the execution of this Agreement
any such person was not such officer.

         The term "holder" or "holder of a Warrant Certificate" as used herein
shall mean any person in whose name at the time any Warrant Certificate shall be
registered upon the books to be maintained by the Warrant Agent for that purpose
[If Other Securities and Warrants are not immediately detachable -- or upon the
registration of the Other Securities prior to the Detachable Date. Prior to the
Detachable Date, the Company will, or will cause the registrar of the Other
Securities to, make available at all times to the Warrant Agent such information
as to holders of the Other Securities as may be necessary to keep the Warrant
Agent's records up to date].

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         1.3 ISSUANCE OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES. Warrant Certificates evidencing
the right to purchase Warrant Debt Securities may be executed by the Company and
delivered to the Warrant Agent upon the execution of this Warrant Agreement or
from time to time thereafter. The Warrant Agent shall, upon receipt of Warrant
Certificates duly executed on behalf of the Company, countersign such Warrant
Certificates and shall deliver such Warrant Certificates to or upon the order of
the Company.

                                    ARTICLE 2
                WARRANT PRICE, DURATION AND EXERCISE OF WARRANTS

         2.1 WARRANT PRICE. During the period specified in Section 2.2, each
Warrant shall, subject to the terms of this Warrant Agreement and the applicable
Warrant Certificate, entitle the holder thereof, to purchase the principal
amount of Warrant Debt Securities specified in the applicable Warrant
Certificate at an initial exercise price of ________% of the principal amount
thereof [plus accrued amortization, if any, of the original issue discount of
the Warrant Debt Securities] [plus accrued interest, if any, from the most
recent date from which interest shall have been paid on the Warrant Debt
Securities or, if no interest shall have been paid on the Warrant Debt
Securities, from the date of their initial issuance.] [The original issue
discount ($ _______ for each $1,000 principal amount of Warrant Debt Securities)
will be amortized at a _______% annual rate, computed on a[n] [semi-] annual
basis [using a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months].] Such purchase
price for the Warrant Debt Securities is referred to in this Agreement as the
"WARRANT PRICE."

         2.2 DURATION OF WARRANTS. Each Warrant may be exercised in whole or in
part at any time, as specified herein, on or after [the date thereof]
[__________] and at or before [______] p.m., [City] time, on ___________ or such
later date as the Company may designate by notice to the Warrant Agent and the
holders of Warrant Certificates mailed to their addresses as set forth in the
record books of the Warrant Agent (the "Expiration Date"). Each Warrant not
exercised at or before [__________] p.m., [City] time, on the Expiration Date
shall become void, and all rights of the holder of the Warrant Certificate
evidencing such Warrant under this Agreement shall cease.

         2.3 EXERCISE OF WARRANTS.

                  (a) During the period specified in Section 2.2, the Warrants
         may be exercised to purchase a whole number of Warrant Debt Securities
         in registered form by providing certain information as set forth on the
         reverse side of the Warrant Certificate and by paying in full, in
         lawful money of the United States of America, [in cash or by certified
         check or official bank check in New York Clearing House funds] [by bank
         wire transfer in immediately available funds] the Warrant Price for
         each Warrant Debt Security with respect to which a Warrant is being
         exercised to the Warrant Agent at its corporate trust office, provided
         that such exercise is subject to receipt within five business days of
         such payment by the Warrant Agent of the Warrant Certificate with the
         form of election to purchase Warrant Debt Securities set forth on the
         reverse side of the Warrant Certificate properly completed and duly
         executed. The date on which payment in full of the Warrant Price is
         received by the Warrant Agent shall, subject to receipt of the Warrant
         Certificate as aforesaid, be deemed to be the date on which the Warrant
         is exercised; provided,

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         however, that if, at the date of receipt of such Warrant Certificates
         and payment in full of the Warrant Price, the transfer books for the
         Warrant Debt Securities purchasable upon the exercise of such Warrants
         shall be closed, no such receipt of such Warrant Certificates and no
         such payment of such Warrant Price shall be effective to constitute the
         person so designated to be named as the holder of record of such
         Warrant Debt Securities on such date, but shall be effective to
         constitute such person as the holder of record of such Warrant Debt
         Securities for all purposes at the opening of business on the next
         succeeding day on which the transfer books for the Warrant Debt
         Securities purchasable upon the exercise of such Warrants shall be
         opened, and the certificates for the Warrant Debt Securities in respect
         of which such Warrants are then exercised shall be issuable as of the
         date on such next succeeding day on which the transfer books shall next
         be opened, and until such date the Company shall be under no duty to
         deliver any certificate for such Warrant Debt Securities. The Warrant
         Agent shall deposit all funds received by it in payment of the Warrant
         Price in an account of the Company maintained with it and shall advise
         the Company by telephone at the end of each day on which a payment for
         the exercise of Warrants is received of the amount so deposited to its
         account. The Warrant Agent shall promptly confirm such telephone advice
         to the Company in writing.

                  (b) The Warrant Agent shall, from time to time, as promptly as
         practicable, advise the Company of (i) the number of Warrant Debt
         Securities with respect to which Warrants were exercised, (ii) the
         instructions of each holder of the Warrant Certificates evidencing such
         Warrants with respect to delivery of the Warrant Debt Securities to
         which such holder is entitled upon such exercise, (iii) delivery of
         Warrant Certificates evidencing the balance, if any, of the Warrants
         for the remaining Warrant Debt Securities after such exercise, and (iv)
         such other information as the Company or the [Senior] [Subordinated]
         Trustee shall reasonably require.

                  (c) As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrant,
         the Company shall issue, pursuant to the Indenture, in authorized
         denominations, to or upon the order of the holder of the Warrant
         Certificate evidencing such Warrant, the Warrant Debt Securities to
         which such holder is entitled, in fully registered form, registered in
         such name or names as may be directed by such holder. If fewer than all
         of the Warrants evidenced by such Warrant Certificate were exercised,
         the Company shall execute, and an authorized officer of the Warrant
         Agent shall manually countersign and deliver, a new Warrant Certificate
         evidencing Warrants for the number of Warrant Debt Securities remaining
         unexercised.

                  (d) The Company shall not be required to pay any stamp or
         other tax or other governmental charge required to be paid in
         connection with any transfer involved in the issue of the Warrant Debt
         Securities, and in the event that any such transfer is involved, the
         Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any Warrant Debt
         Securities until such tax or other charge shall have been paid or it
         has been established to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax or
         other charge is due.

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                                    ARTICLE 3
                     OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO RIGHTS OF
                         HOLDERS OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES

         3.1 NO RIGHTS AS HOLDERS OF WARRANT DEBT SECURITIES CONFERRED BY
WARRANTS OR WARRANT CERTIFICATES. No Warrant Certificate or Warrant evidenced
thereby shall entitle the holder thereof to any of the rights of a holder of
Warrant Debt Securities, including, without limitation, the right to receive the
payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Warrant
Debt Securities or to enforce any of the covenants in the Indenture.

         3.2 LOST, STOLEN, MUTILATED OR DESTROYED WARRANT CERTIFICATES. Upon
receipt by the Warrant Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it and the
Company of the ownership of and the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
any Warrant Certificate and/or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Warrant
Agent and the Company and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender of the
mutilated Warrant Certificate to the Warrant Agent for cancellation, then, in
the absence of notice to the Company or the Warrant Agent that such Warrant
Certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall
execute, and an authorized officer of the Warrant Agent shall manually
countersign and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of the lost, stolen,
destroyed or mutilated Warrant Certificate, a new Warrant Certificate of the
same tenor and evidencing Warrants for a like principal amount of Warrant Debt
Securities. Upon the issuance of any new Warrant Certificate under this Section
3.2, the Company may require the payment 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 Warrant Agent) in connection
therewith. Every substitute Warrant Certificate executed and delivered pursuant
to this Section 3.2 in lieu of any lost, stolen or destroyed Warrant Certificate
shall represent an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or
not the lost, stolen or destroyed Warrant Certificate shall be at any time
enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement
equally and proportionately with any and all other Warrant Certificates duly
executed and delivered hereunder. The provisions of this Section 3.2 are
exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and
remedies with respect to the replacement of mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed
Warrant Certificates.

         3.3 HOLDER OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE MAY ENFORCE RIGHTS. Notwithstanding
any of the provisions of this Agreement, any holder of any Warrant Certificate,
without the consent of the Warrant Agent, the [Senior] [Subordinated] Trustee,
the holder of any Warrant Debt Securities or the holder of any other Warrant
Certificate, may, in such holder's own behalf and for such holder's own benefit,
enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against
the Company suitable to enforce, or otherwise in respect of, such holder's right
to exercise the Warrants evidenced by such holder's Warrant Certificate in the
manner provided in such holder's Warrant Certificates and in this Agreement.

         3.4 MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE OR LEASE. In case of (a) any share
exchange, merger or similar transaction of the Company with or into another
person or entity (other than a share exchange, merger or similar transaction in
which the Company is the acquiring or surviving corporation) or (b) the sale,
exchange, lease, transfer or other disposition

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of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company as an
entirety (in any such case, a

         "REORGANIZATION EVENT"), then, as a condition of such Reorganization
Event, lawful provisions shall be made, and duly executed documents evidencing
the same from the Company's successor shall be delivered to the holders of the
Warrants, so that such successor shall succeed to and be substituted for the
Company, and assume all the Company's obligations under, this Agreement and the
Warrants. The Company shall thereupon be relieved of any further obligation
hereunder or under the Warrants, and the Company as the predecessor corporation
may thereupon or at any time thereafter be dissolved, wound up or liquidated.
Such successor or assuming entity thereupon may cause to be signed, and may
issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company, any or all of the
Warrants issuable hereunder which heretofore shall not have been signed by the
Company, and may execute and deliver securities in its own name, in fulfillment
of its obligations to deliver Warrant Debt Securities upon exercise of the
Warrants. All the Warrants so issued shall in all respects have the same legal
rank and benefit under this Agreement as the Warrants theretofore or thereafter
issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as though all of such
Warrants had been issued at the date of the execution hereof. In any case of any
such Reorganization Event, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in
substance) may be made in the Warrants thereafter to be issued as may be
appropriate.

         The Warrant Agent may receive a written opinion of legal counsel as
conclusive evidence that any such Reorganization Event complies with the
provisions of this Section 3.4.

         3.5 NOTICE TO WARRANTHOLDERS. In case the Company shall (a) effect any
Reorganization Event or (b) make any distribution on or in respect of the [title
of Warrant Debt Securities] in connection with the dissolution, liquidation or
winding up of the Company, then the Company shall mail to each holder of
Warrants at such holder's address as it shall appear on the books of the Warrant
Agent, at least ten days prior to the applicable date hereinafter specified, a
notice stating the date on which such Reorganization Event, dissolution,
liquidation or winding up is expected to become effective, and the date as of
which it is expected that holders of [title of Warrant Debt Securities] of
record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of [title of Warrant Debt
Securities] for securities or other property deliverable upon such
Reorganization Event, dissolution, liquidation or winding up. No failure to mail
such notice nor any defect therein or in the mailing thereof shall affect any
such transaction.

                                    ARTICLE 4
                  EXCHANGE AND TRANSFER OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES

         4.1 EXCHANGE AND TRANSFER OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES. [If Other Securities
with Warrants which are immediately detachable -- Upon] [If Other Securities
with Warrants which are not immediately detachable -- Prior to the Detachable
Date, a Warrant Certificate may be exchanged or transferred only together with
the Other Security to which the Warrant Certificate was initially attached, and
only for the purpose of effecting or in conjunction with an exchange or transfer
of such Other Security. Prior to any Detachable Date, each transfer of the Other
Security shall operate also to transfer the related Warrant Certificates. After
the Detachable Date, upon] surrender at the corporate trust office of the
Warrant Agent, Warrant Certificates evidencing Warrants may be exchanged for
Warrant Certificates in other

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denominations evidencing such Warrants or the transfer thereof may be registered
in whole or in part; provided that such other Warrant Certificates evidence
Warrants for the same aggregate principal amount of Warrant Debt Securities as
the Warrant Certificates so surrendered. The Warrant Agent shall keep, at its
corporate trust office, books in which, subject to such reasonable regulations
as it may prescribe, it shall register Warrant Certificates and exchanges and
transfers of outstanding Warrant Certificates, upon surrender of the Warrant
Certificates to the Warrant Agent at its corporate trust office for exchange or
registration of transfer, properly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate
instruments of registration of transfer and written instructions for transfer,
all in form satisfactory to the Company and the Warrant Agent. No service charge
shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Warrant
Certificates, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any stamp or other tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with any such exchange or registration of transfer. Whenever any
Warrant Certificates are so surrendered for exchange or registration of
transfer, an authorized officer of the Warrant Agent shall manually countersign
and deliver to the person or persons entitled thereto a Warrant Certificate or
Warrant Certificates duly authorized and executed by the Company, as so
requested. The Warrant Agent shall not be required to effect any exchange or
registration of transfer which will result in the issuance of a Warrant
Certificate evidencing a Warrant for a fraction of a Warrant Debt Security or a
number of Warrants for a whole number of Warrant Debt Securities and a fraction
of a Warrant Debt Security. All Warrant Certificates issued upon any exchange or
registration of transfer of Warrant Certificates shall be the valid obligations
of the Company, evidencing the same obligations and entitled to the same
benefits under this Agreement as the Warrant Certificate surrendered for such
exchange or registration of transfer.

         4.2 TREATMENT OF HOLDERS OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES. [If Other Securities
and Warrants are not immediately detachable -- Prior to the Detachable Date, the
Company, the Warrant Agent and all other persons may treat the owner of the
Other Security as the owner of the Warrant Certificates initially attached
thereto for any purpose and as the person entitled to exercise the rights
represented by the Warrants evidenced by such Warrant Certificates, any notice
to the contrary notwithstanding. After the Detachable Date and prior to due
presentment of a Warrant Certificate for registration of transfer, the] [The]
Company, the Warrant Agent and all other persons may treat the registered holder
of a Warrant Certificate as the absolute owner thereof for any purpose and as
the person entitled to exercise the rights represented by the Warrants evidenced
thereby, any notice to the contrary notwithstanding.

         4.3 CANCELLATION OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES. Any Warrant Certificate
surrendered for exchange, registration of transfer or exercise of the Warrants
evidenced thereby shall, if surrendered to the Company, be delivered to the
Warrant Agent and all Warrant Certificates surrendered or so delivered to the
Warrant Agent shall be promptly canceled by the Warrant Agent and shall not be
reissued and, except as expressly permitted by this Agreement, no Warrant
Certificate shall be issued hereunder in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof.
The Warrant Agent shall deliver to the Company from time to time or otherwise
dispose of canceled Warrant Certificates in a manner satisfactory to the
Company.

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                                    ARTICLE 5
                          CONCERNING THE WARRANT AGENT

         5.1 WARRANT AGENT. The Company hereby appoints ____________as Warrant
Agent of the Company in respect of the Warrants and the Warrant Certificates
upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, and __________
hereby accepts such appointment. The Warrant Agent shall have the powers and
authority granted to and conferred upon it in the Warrant Certificates and
hereby and such further power and authority to act on behalf of the Company as
the Company may hereafter grant to or confer upon it. All of the terms and
provisions with respect to such power and authority contained in the Warrant
Certificates are subject to and governed by the terms and provisions hereof.

         5.2 CONDITIONS OF WARRANT AGENT'S OBLIGATIONS. The Warrant Agent
accepts its obligations herein set forth upon the terms and conditions hereof,
including the following to all of which the Company agrees and to all of which
the rights hereunder of the holders from time to time of the Warrant
Certificates shall be subject:

         (a) COMPENSATION AND INDEMNIFICATION. The Company agrees promptly to
pay the Warrant Agent the compensation to be agreed upon with the Company for
all services rendered by the Warrant Agent and to reimburse the Warrant Agent
for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable counsel fees)
incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct by the Warrant
Agent in connection with the services rendered hereunder by the Warrant Agent.
The Company also agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent for, and to hold it
harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence,
bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Warrant Agent, arising out of
or in connection with its acting as Warrant Agent hereunder, including the
reasonable costs and expenses of defending against any claim of such liability.

         (b) AGENT FOR THE COMPANY. In acting under this Warrant Agreement and
in connection with the Warrant Certificates, the Warrant Agent is acting solely
as agent of the Company and does not assume any obligations or relationship of
agency or trust for or with any of the holders of Warrant Certificates or
beneficial owners of Warrants.

         (c) COUNSEL. The Warrant Agent may consult with counsel satisfactory to
it, which may include counsel for the Company, and the written advice of such
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
accordance with the advice of such counsel.

         (d) DOCUMENTS. The Warrant Agent shall be protected and shall incur no
liability for or in respect of any action taken or omitted by it in reliance
upon any Warrant Certificate, notice, direction, consent, certificate,
affidavit, statement or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be
genuine and to have been presented or signed by the proper parties.

         (e) CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS. The Warrant Agent, and its officers,
directors and employees, may become the owner of, or acquire any interest in,
Warrants, with the same rights that it or they would have if it were not the
Warrant Agent hereunder, and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, it or
they may engage or be interested in any financial or other

                                       8
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transaction with the Company and may act on, or as depositary, trustee or agent
for, any committee or body of holders of Warrant Securities or other obligations
of the Company as freely as if it were not the Warrant Agent hereunder. Nothing
in this Warrant Agreement shall be deemed to prevent the Warrant Agent from
acting as [Senior] [Subordinated] Trustee under the [Senior] [Subordinated]
Indenture.

         (f) NO LIABILITY FOR INTEREST. Unless otherwise agreed with the
Company, the Warrant Agent shall have no liability for interest on any monies at
any time received by it pursuant to any of the provisions of this Agreement or
of the Warrant Certificates.

         (g) NO LIABILITY FOR INVALIDITY. The Warrant Agent shall have no
liability with respect to any invalidity of this Agreement or any of the Warrant
Certificates (except as to the Warrant Agent's countersignature thereon).

         (h) NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPRESENTATIONS. The Warrant Agent shall not
be responsible for any of the recitals or representations herein or in the
Warrant Certificates (except as to the Warrant Agent's countersignature
thereon), all of which are made solely by the Company.

         (i) NO IMPLIED OBLIGATIONS. The Warrant Agent shall be obligated to
perform only such duties as are herein and in the Warrant Certificates
specifically set forth and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into
this Agreement or the Warrant Certificates against the Warrant Agent. The
Warrant Agent shall not be under any obligation to take any action hereunder
which may tend to involve it in any expense or liability, the payment of which
within a reasonable time is not, in its reasonable opinion, assured to it. The
Warrant Agent shall not be accountable or under any duty or responsibility for
the use by the Company of any of the Warrant Certificates authenticated by the
Warrant Agent and delivered by it to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or
for the application by the Company of the proceeds of the Warrant Certificates.
The Warrant Agent shall have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by
the Company in the performance of its covenants or agreements contained herein
or in the Warrant Certificates or in the case of the receipt of any written
demand from a holder of a Warrant Certificate with respect to such default,
including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any duty or
responsibility to initiate or attempt to initiate any proceedings at law or
otherwise or, except as provided in Section 6.2 hereof, to make any demand upon
the Company.

         5.3 RESIGNATION, REMOVAL AND APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSORS.

                  (a) The Company agrees, for the benefit of the holders from
         time to time of the Warrant Certificates, that there shall at all times
         be a Warrant Agent hereunder until all the Warrants have been exercised
         or are no longer exercisable.

                  (b) The Warrant Agent may at any time resign as agent by
         giving written notice to the Company of such intention on its part,
         specifying the date on which its desired resignation shall become
         effective; provided that such date shall not be less than three months
         after the date on which such notice is given unless the Company
         otherwise agrees. The Warrant Agent hereunder may be removed at any
         time by the filing with it of an instrument in writing signed by or on
         behalf of the Company and specifying such

                                       9
<PAGE>

         removal and the intended date when it shall become effective. Such
         resignation or removal shall take effect upon the appointment by the
         Company, as hereinafter provided, of a successor Warrant Agent (which
         shall be a bank or trust company authorized under the laws of the
         jurisdiction of its organization to exercise corporate trust powers)
         and the acceptance of such appointment by such successor Warrant Agent.
         The obligation of the Company under Section 5.2(a) shall continue to
         the extent set forth therein notwithstanding the resignation or removal
         of the Warrant Agent.

                  (c) In case at any time the Warrant Agent shall resign, or
         shall be removed, or shall become incapable of acting, or shall be
         adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or shall commence a voluntary case
         under the Federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or
         under 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 Warrant Agent or its property 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, or a decree or order for relief by a court having jurisdiction
         in the premises shall have been entered in respect of the Warrant Agent
         in an involuntary case under the Federal 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 similar official) of the Warrant Agent or of its
         property or affairs, or any public officer shall take charge or control
         of the Warrant Agent or of its property or affairs for the purpose of
         rehabilitation, conservation, winding up or liquidation, a successor
         Warrant Agent, qualified as aforesaid, shall be appointed by the
         Company by an instrument in writing, filed with the successor Warrant
         Agent. Upon the appointment as aforesaid of a successor Warrant Agent
         and acceptance by the successor Warrant Agent of such appointment, the
         Warrant Agent shall cease to be Warrant Agent hereunder.

                  (d) Any successor Warrant Agent appointed hereunder shall
         execute, acknowledge and deliver to its predecessor and to the Company
         an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon such
         successor Warrant Agent, without any further act, deed or conveyance,
         shall become vested with all the authority, rights, powers, trusts,
         immunities, duties and obligations of such predecessor with like effect
         as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, and such
         predecessor, upon payment of its charges and disbursements then unpaid,
         shall thereupon become obligated to transfer, deliver and pay over, and
         such successor Warrant Agent shall be entitled to receive, all monies,
         securities and other property on deposit with or held by such
         predecessor, as Warrant Agent hereunder.

                  (e) Any corporation into which the Warrant Agent hereunder may
         be merged or converted or any corporation with which the Warrant Agent
         may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger,
         conversion or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a
         party, or any corporation to which the Warrant Agent shall sell or
         otherwise transfer all or substantially all the assets and business of
         the Warrant Agent,

                                       10
<PAGE>

         provided that it shall be qualified as aforesaid, shall be the
         successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without the execution or
         filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the
         parties hereto.

                                    ARTICLE 6
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         6.1 AMENDMENT. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto,
without the consent of the holder of any Warrant Certificate, for the purpose of
curing any ambiguity, or of curing, correcting or supplementing any defective
provision contained herein, or making any other provisions with respect to
matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the Company and the Warrant
Agent may deem necessary or desirable; provided that such action shall not
materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Warrant
Certificates.

         6.2 NOTICES AND DEMANDS TO THE COMPANY AND WARRANT AGENT. If the
Warrant Agent shall receive any notice or demand addressed to the Company by the
holder of a Warrant Certificate pursuant to the provisions of the Warrant
Certificates, the Warrant Agent shall promptly forward such notice or demand to
the Company.

         6.3 ADDRESSES. Any communication from the Company to the Warrant Agent
with respect to this Agreement shall be addressed to _______________, Attention:
__________ _____________ and any communication from the Warrant Agent to the
Company with respect to this Agreement shall be addressed to RemedyTemp, Inc.,
101 Enterprise, Aliso Viejo, California 92656, Attention: Investor Relations (or
such other address as shall be specified in writing by the Warrant Agent or by
the Company).

         6.4 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement and each Warrant Certificate issued
hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of [New York].

         6.5 DELIVERY OF PROSPECTUS. The Company shall furnish to the Warrant
Agent sufficient copies of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the Warrant Debt Securities
deliverable upon exercise of the Warrants (the "PROSPECTUS"), and the Warrant
Agent agrees that upon the exercise of any Warrant, the Warrant Agent will
deliver to the holder of the Warrant Certificate evidencing such Warrant, prior
to or concurrently with the delivery of the Warrant Debt Securities issued upon
such exercise, a Prospectus.

         The Warrant Agent shall not, by reason of any such delivery, assume any
responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of such Prospectus.

         6.6 OBTAINING OF GOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS. The Company will from time to
time take all action which may be necessary to obtain and keep effective any and
all permits, consents and approvals of governmental agencies and authorities and
securities act filings under United States Federal and state laws (including
without limitation a registration statement in respect of the Warrants and
Warrant Debt Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended), which may
be or become requisite in connection with the issuance, sale, transfer, and
delivery of the Warrant Debt Securities issued upon exercise of the Warrants,
the

                                       11
<PAGE>

issuance, sale, transfer and delivery of the Warrants or upon the expiration of
the period during which the Warrants are exercisable.

         6.7 PERSONS HAVING RIGHTS UNDER WARRANT AGREEMENT. Nothing in this
Agreement shall give to any person other than the Company, the Warrant Agent and
the holders of the Warrant Certificates any right, remedy or claim under or by
reason of this Agreement.

         6.8 HEADINGS. The descriptive headings of the several Articles and
Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.

         6.9 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which as so executed shall be deemed to be an original,
but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

         6.10 INSPECTION OF AGREEMENT. A copy of this Agreement shall be
available at all reasonable times at the principal corporate trust office of the
Warrant Agent for inspection by the holder of any Warrant Certificate. The
Warrant Agent may require such holder to submit his Warrant Certificate for
inspection by it.

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

                                            REMEDYTEMP, INC.

                                            By
                                               ---------------------------------

                                            Its
                                                --------------------------------
Attest:
                                                                            , as
-------------------------------------       --------------------------------
                                            Warrant Agent

                                            By
                                               ---------------------------------

                                            Its
                                                --------------------------------

              [SIGNATURE PAGE TO DEBT SECURITIES WARRANT AGREEMENT]

                                       12
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

                           FORM OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE

                         [Face of Warrant Certificate]

[Form if Warrants are attached to          Prior to ________, this Warrant
Other Securities and are not               Certificate cannot be transferred or
immediately detachable.                    exchanged unless attached to a
                                           [Title of Other Security].]

[Form of Legend if Warrants are not        Prior to _________, Warrants
exercisable.                               immediately evidenced by this Warrant
                                           Certificate cannot be exercised.]

EXERCISABLE ONLY IF COUNTERSIGNED BY THE WARRANT AGENT AS PROVIDED HEREIN

VOID AFTER [__________] P.M., [CITY] TIME, ON ,

                                REMEDYTEMP, INC.

                        WARRANT CERTIFICATE REPRESENTING

                              WARRANTS TO PURCHASE

                       [TITLE OF WARRANT DEBT SECURITIES]

      No.                                             Warrants

         This certifies that _____________or registered assigns is the
registered owner of the above indicated number of Warrants, each Warrant
entitling such owner [If Warrants are attached to Other Securities and are not
immediately detachable -- , subject to the registered owner qualifying as a
"Holder" of this Warrant Certificate, as hereinafter defined)] to purchase, at
any time [after [________] p.m., [City] time, on __________ and] on or before
[_______] p.m., [City] time, on _______, $ ____ principal amount of [Title of
Warrant Debt Securities] (the "WARRANT DEBT SECURITIES"), of RemedyTemp, Inc.
(the "COMPANY"), issued or to be issued under the Indenture (as hereinafter
defined), on the following basis: during the period from __________, through and
including _______, each Warrant shall entitle the Holder thereof, subject to the
provisions of this Agreement, to purchase the principal amount of Warrant Debt
Securities stated in the Warrant Certificate at the warrant price (the "WARRANT
PRICE") of _______% of the principal amount thereof [plus accrued amortization,
if any, of the original issue discount of the Warrant Debt Securities] [plus
accrued interest, if any, from the most recent date from which interest shall
have been paid on the Warrant Debt Securities or, if no interest shall have been
paid on the Warrant Debt Securities, from the date of their original issuance].
[The original issue discount ($ ________ for each $1,000 principal amount of
Warrant Debt

                                       1
<PAGE>

Securities) will be amortized at a _______% annual rate, computed on a[n]
[semi-]annual basis [using a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months].
The Holder may exercise the Warrants evidenced hereby by providing certain
information set forth on the back hereof and by paying in full, in lawful money
of the United States of America, [in cash or by certified check or official bank
check in New York Clearing House funds] [by bank wire transfer in immediately
available funds], the Warrant Price for each Warrant Debt Security with respect
to which this Warrant is exercised to the Warrant Agent (as hereinafter defined)
and by surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the purchase form on the back
hereof duly executed, at the corporate trust office of [name of Warrant Agent],
or its successor as warrant agent (the "WARRANT AGENT"), which is, on the date
hereof, at the address specified on the reverse hereof, and upon compliance with
and subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement (as
hereinafter defined).

         The term "HOLDER" as used herein shall mean [If Warrants are attached
to Other Securities and are not immediately detachable -- , prior to _________,
____(the "DETACHABLE DATE"), the registered owner of the Company's [title of
Other Securities] to which this Warrant Certificate was initially attached, and
after such Detachable Date,] the person in whose name at the time this Warrant
Certificate shall be registered upon the books to be maintained by the Warrant
Agent for that purpose pursuant to Section 4 of the Warrant Agreement.

         The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may be exercised to
purchase Warrant Debt Securities in the principal amount of $1,000 or any
integral multiple thereof in registered form. Upon any exercise of fewer than
all of the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate, there shall be issued
to the Holder hereof a new Warrant Certificate evidencing Warrants for the
aggregate principal amount of Warrant Debt Securities remaining unexercised.

         This Warrant Certificate is issued under and in accordance with the
Warrant Agreement dated as of _________, ____ (the "WARRANT AGREEMENT"), between
the Company and the Warrant Agent and is subject to the terms and provisions
contained in the Warrant Agreement, to all of which terms and provisions the
Holder of this Warrant Certificate consents by acceptance hereof. Copies of the
Warrant Agreement are on file at the above-mentioned office of the Warrant
Agent.

         The Warrant Debt Securities to be issued and delivered upon the
exercise of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate will be issued under
and in accordance with an Indenture, [dated as of _________, ____ (the "SENIOR
INDENTURE"), between the Company and ________ , as trustee (such trustee, and
any successors to such trustee, the "SENIOR TRUSTEE")] [dated as of _________,
____, (the "SUBORDINATED INDENTURE"), between the Company and __________, as
trustee (such trustee, and any successors to such trustee, the "SUBORDINATED
Trustee")] and will be subject to the terms and provisions contained in the
Warrant Debt Securities and in the Indenture. Copies of the [Senior]
[Subordinated] Indenture, including the form of the Warrant Debt Securities, are
on file at the corporate trust office of the Trustee.

         [If Warrants are attached to Other Securities and are not immediately
detachable -- Prior to the Detachable Date, this Warrant Certificate may be
exchanged or transferred only together

                                       2
<PAGE>

with the [Title of Other Securities] (the "OTHER SECURITIES") to which this
Warrant Certificate was initially attached, and only for the purpose of
effecting or in conjunction with, an exchange or transfer of such Other
Security. Additionally, on or prior to the Detachable Date, each transfer of
such Other Security on the register of the Other Securities shall operate also
to transfer this Warrant Certificate. After such date, transfer of this] [If
Warrants are attached to Other Securities and are immediately detachable --
Transfer of this] Warrant Certificate may be registered when this Warrant
Certificate is surrendered at the corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent by
the registered owner or such owner's assigns, in the manner and subject to the
limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement.

         [If Other Securities with Warrants which are not immediately
detachable-Except as provided in the immediately preceding paragraph, after][If
Other Securities with Warrants which are immediately detachable or Warrants
alone -- After] countersignature by the Warrant Agent and prior to the
expiration of this Warrant Certificate, this Warrant Certificate may be
exchanged at the corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent for Warrant
Certificates representing Warrants for the same aggregate principal amount of
Warrant Debt Securities.

         This Warrant Certificate shall not entitle the Holder hereof to any of
the rights of a holder of the Warrant Debt Securities, including, without
limitation, the right to receive payments of principal of (and premium, if any)
or interest, if any, on the Warrant Debt Securities or to enforce any of the
covenants of the Indenture.

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

         This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until countersigned by the Warrant Agent.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be executed
in its name and on its behalf by the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized
officers.

Dated:                                    REMEDYTEMP, INC.
       -------------------------
                                          By
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Its
                                              ----------------------------------
Attest:

--------------------------------

Countersigned:

--------------------------------

As Warrant Agent

By:
    ----------------------------
    Authorized Signature

                                       3
<PAGE>

                        [REVERSE OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE]

                     (Instructions for Exercise of Warrants)

         To exercise any Warrants evidenced hereby for Warrant Debt Securities
(as hereinafter defined), the Holder must pay, in lawful money of the United
States of America, [in cash or by certified check or official bank check in New
York Clearing House funds] [by bank wire transfer in immediately available
funds], the Warrant Price in full for Warrants exercised, to [Warrant Agent]
[address of Warrant Agent], Attn: ___________, which payment must specify the
name of the Holder and the number of Warrants exercised by such Holder. In
addition, the Holder must complete the information required below and present
this Warrant Certificate in person or by mail (certified or registered mail is
recommended) to the Warrant Agent at the appropriate address set forth above.
This Warrant Certificate, completed and duly executed, must be received by the
Warrant Agent within five business days of the payment.

(To be executed upon exercise of Warrants)

         The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ___________
Warrants, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to purchase $ ________
principal amount of the [Title of Warrant Debt Securities] (the "WARRANT DEBT
SECURITIES") of RemedyTemp, Inc. and represents that he has tendered payment for
such Warrant Debt Securities, in lawful money of the United States of America,
[in cash or by certified check or official bank check in New York Clearing House
funds] [by bank wire transfer in immediately available funds], to the order of
RemedyTemp, Inc., c/o [insert name and address of Warrant Agent], in the amount
of $ ___________ in accordance with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests
that said principal amount of Warrant Debt Securities be in fully registered
form in the authorized denominations, registered in such names and delivered all
as specified in accordance with the instructions set forth below.

         If the number of Warrants exercised is less than all the Warrants
evidenced hereby, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate
evidencing the Warrants for the aggregate principal amount of Warrant Debt
Securities remaining unexercised be issued and delivered to the undersigned
unless otherwise specified in the instructions below.

Dated:                                  Name
       ----------------------------          -----------------------------------
                                                      (Please Print)

                                        Address
                                                --------------------------------

                                        ----------------------------------------

                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        (Insert Social Security or Other
                                        Identifying Number of Holder)

                                       4
<PAGE>

------------------------------------       -------------------------------------
Signature Guaranteed                       Signature

                                           (Signature must conform in all
                                           respects to name of holder as
                                           specified on the face of this Warrant
                                           Certificate and must bear a signature
                                           guarantee by a bank, trust company or
                                           member broker of the New York,
                                           Midwest or Pacific Stock Exchange)

This Warrant may be exercised at the following addresses:

     By hand at
                   -------------------------------------------------------------

                   -------------------------------------------------------------

                   -------------------------------------------------------------

      By mail at
                   -------------------------------------------------------------

                   -------------------------------------------------------------

                   -------------------------------------------------------------

[Instructions as to form and delivery of Warrant Debt Securities and, if
applicable, Warrant Certificates evidencing Warrants for the number of Warrant
Debt Securities remaining unexercised -- complete as appropriate.]

                                       5
<PAGE>

                                   ASSIGNMENT

                      [Form of assignment to be executed if

Warrant Holder desires to transfer Warrant)

      FOR VALUE RECEIVED,              hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto:

-------------------------------

-------------------------------

-------------------------------     --------------------------------------------
(Please print name and              Please insert Social Security or other
address including zip code)         identifying number

         the right represented by the within Warrant to purchase $ ___________
aggregate principal amount of [Title of Warrant Debt Securities] of RemedyTemp,
Inc. to which the within Warrant relates and appoints ___________ attorney to
transfer such right on the books of the Warrant Agent with full power of
substitution in the premises.

Dated
      -----------------------        -------------------------------------------
                                     Signature

                                     (Signature must conform in all respects to
                                     name of holder as specified on the face of
                                     the Warrant)

Signature Guaranteed

--------------------------------

                                       1<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                        STANDBY CREDIT FACILITY AGREEMENT

            STANDBY CREDIT FACILITY AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated August
24, 2004, by and among Z-Tel Technologies, Inc., a corporation organized under
the laws of Delaware (the "Company"), and The 1818 Fund III, L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership (the "Fund").

            WHEREAS, the Company wishes to obtain funds to provide for general
corporate purposes and to pay for capital expenditures (and capitalized salaries
relating thereto) relating substantially to the establishment of the Company's
planned network; and

            WHEREAS, the Fund is willing, on the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth herein and in the Note (defined below), to make loans to
the Company from time to time in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed
$15,000,000 (the "Maximum Loan Amount").

            NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and
agreements set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree
as follows:

                                   ARTICLE 1

                                  DEFINITIONS

            1.1   Definitions. As used in this Agreement, and unless the context
requires a different meaning, the following terms have the meanings indicated:

                  "Additional Loan Date" means, with respect to each Additional
Loan, the date on which such Additional Loan is made.

                  "Affiliate" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule
12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act; provided,
that for purposes of this Agreement the Fund shall not be deemed an Affiliate of
the Company.

                  "Borrowing Request" means an irrevocable request by the
Company for an Additional Loan in accordance with Section 2.4 and in a form
reasonably acceptable to both parties.

                  "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or
other day on which commercial banks in the City of New York, New York are
authorized or required by law or executive order to close.

                  "Certificate of Incorporation" means the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company together with all amendments and restatements
thereof.

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

<PAGE>
                                                                               2

                  "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission or
any similar agency then having jurisdiction to enforce the Securities Act.

                  "Commission Documents" means all registration statements,
proxy statements, reports and other documents (and all amendments thereto),
required to be filed by the Company since October 19, 1999 under the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act.

                  "Common Stock" means the common stock, par value $.01 per
share, and each other class of capital stock of the Company into which such
stock is reclassified or reconstituted.

                  "Communications Act" means the Communications Act of 1934, as
amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, as amended.

                  "Communications Licenses" means all licenses, waivers,
consents, permits or other authorizations issued or granted by the FCC or any
other state or local public utilities commission to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries in connection with ownership and operation of the services provided
by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

                  "Condition of the Company" means the assets, business,
properties, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company and
its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                  "Contingent Obligation" means, as applied to any Person, any
direct or indirect liability of that Person with respect to any Indebtedness,
lease, dividend, guarantee, letter of credit or other obligation (the "primary
obligation") of another Person (the "primary obligor"), including, without
limitation, any obligation of such first-mentioned Person, whether or not
contingent, (a) to purchase, repurchase or otherwise acquire such primary
obligations or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor,
or (b) to advance or provide funds (i) for the payment or discharge of any such
primary obligation, or (ii) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the
primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency or any
balance sheet item, level of income or financial condition of the primary
obligor, or (c) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the
purpose of assuring the beneficiary of any such primary obligation of the
ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation, or
(d) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the beneficiary of any such primary
obligation against loss in respect thereof. The amount of any Contingent
Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable
amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Contingent Obligation
is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated
liability in respect thereof as determined by the Company in good faith.

                  "Contractual Obligations" means as to any Person, any
provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement,
undertaking, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument to
which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

<PAGE>
                                                                               3

                  "Copyrights" means any foreign or United States copyright
registrations and applications for registration thereof, and any non-registered
copyrights.

                  "Credit Period" means the period from the Initial Closing Date
and ending on March 31, 2005.

                  "Environmental Laws" means any applicable federal, state,
territorial, provincial or local law, common law doctrine, rule, order, decree,
judgment, injunction, license, permit or regulation in effect as of the Initial
Closing Date, relating to environmental matters, including those pertaining to
air, soil, surface water, ground water (including the protection, cleanup,
removal, remediation or damage thereof), or any other environmental matter,
together with any other laws (federal, state, territorial, provincial or local)
relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of any
contaminant including, without limitation, medical, biological, biohazardous or
radioactive waste and materials, into ambient air, land, surface water,
groundwater, personal property or structures, or otherwise relating to the
manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal,
transportation, discharge or handling of any contaminant, including, without
limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act (42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et seq.), the Hazardous Material
Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. Section 1801 et seq.), the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. Section 6901 et seq.), the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act (33 U.S.C. Section 1251 et seq.), the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C.
Section 7401 et seq.), the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. Section 2601
et seq.), the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C.
Section 136 et seq.), and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. Section 2701
et seq.).

                  "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended.

                  "Event of Default" has the meaning ascribed to such term in
the Note.

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

                  "FCC" means the Federal Communications Commission.

                  "FCC Rules" means the current rules, regulations and policies
of the FCC.

                  "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting
Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and
statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or
such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the
accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the
circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

                  "Governmental Authority" means the government of any nation,
state or other political subdivision thereof, any entity exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining
to government, and any corporation or

<PAGE>
                                                                               4

other entity owned or controlled, through stock or capital ownership or
otherwise, by any of the foregoing.

                  "Holder" with respect to the Note means the Fund and any
subsequent direct or indirect transferee of the Note.

                  "Indebtedness" means as to any Person, without duplication,
(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money (including, without
limitation, reimbursement and all other obligations with respect to surety
bonds, letters of credit and bankers' acceptances, whether or not matured), (b)
all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments,
(c) all obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services,
except trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary
course of business, (d) all interest rate and currency swaps and similar
agreements under which payments are obligated to be made, whether periodically
or upon the happening of a contingency, (e) all indebtedness created or arising
under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to
property acquired by such Person (even though the rights and remedies of the
seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default are limited to
repossession or sale of such property), (f) all obligations under leases which
have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases, (g)
all indebtedness secured by any Lien (other than Liens in favor of lessors under
leases other than leases included in clause (f)) on any property or asset owned
or held by that Person regardless of whether the indebtedness secured thereby
shall have been assumed by that Person or is non-recourse to the credit of that
Person, (h) all obligations of such Person to reimburse or prepay any bank or
other Person in respect of amounts paid under a letter of credit, banker's
acceptance or similar instrument, (i) all capital stock issued by such Person
subject to mandatory redemption that is not contingent upon future events or
circumstances, and (j) any Contingent Obligation.

                  "Internet Assets" means any Internet domain names and other
computer user identifiers and any rights in and to sites on the worldwide web,
including rights in and to any text, graphics, audio and video files and html or
other code incorporated in such sites.

                  "Knowledge" means what any senior executive of the Company or
any of the Company's Subsidiaries officers should have known after making due
inquiry. References to the Knowledge of the Company include the Knowledge of all
of the Company's Subsidiaries.

                  "Lien" means any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge,
hypothecation, assignment, encumbrance, claim, lien (statutory or other) or
preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement of
any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, those created by,
arising under or evidenced by any conditional sale or other title retention
agreement, the interest of a lessor under a capitalized lease obligation, or any
financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the
foregoing).

                  "Loans" means the Initial Loan and any Additional Loans,
collectively.

                  "NASDAQ" means the National Market System of the Nasdaq Stock
Market.

<PAGE>
                                                                               5

                  "Note" means the Senior Unsecured Promissory Note of the
Company in favor of the Fund in the form attached as Exhibit A.

                  "NYSE" means the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

                  "Orders" means any judgment, injunction, writ, award, decree
or order of any nature of any Governmental Authority against, or binding upon,
the Company.

                  "Patents" means any foreign or United States patents and
patent applications, including any divisions, continuations,
continuations-in-part, substitutions or reissues thereof, whether or not patents
are issued on such applications and whether or not such applications are
modified, withdrawn or resubmitted.

                  "Person" means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association,
joint venture, joint stock company, Governmental Authority or other entity of
any kind, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such
entity.

                  "Requirements of Law" means as to any Person, the Certificate
of Incorporation and By-laws or other organizational or governing documents of
such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an
arbitrator or Order of a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case
applicable or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such
Person or any of its property is subject.

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

                  "Senior Creditor Documents" has the meaning set forth in the
Subordination Agreement.

                  "Senior Indebtedness" means any and all Indebtedness of the
Company and its Subsidiaries to the Senior Lender pursuant to the Senior Credit
Documents.

                  "Senior Lender" means Textron Financial Corporation, as the
lender under the Senior Loan Agreement.

                  "Senior Loan Agreement" means the Loan and Security Agreement,
dated April 22, 2004, among the Company, the Senior Lender and the other
signatories thereto.

                  "Software" means any computer software programs, source code,
object code, data and documentation.

                  "Solvent" means, with respect to any Person, that the fair
saleable value on a going concern basis of the assets and property of such
Person is, on the date of determination, greater than the total amount of
liabilities (including Contingent Obligations) of such Person as of such date
and that, as of such date, such Person is able to pay all liabilities of such
Person as such liabilities mature. In computing the amount of Contingent
Obligations at any time, such liabilities will be computed as the amount which,
in light of all the facts and
<PAGE>
                                                                               6

circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that is probable to
become an actual or matured liability.

                  "Subordination Agreement" means the Subordination Agreement in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.

                  "Subsidiaries' Guarantee" means the guarantee in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit C by each Subsidiary of the Company of the
Indebtedness of the Company under the Note.

                  "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, another Person
of which 50% or more of the voting power of the voting equity securities or
equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by such first-mentioned
Person. Unless otherwise qualified, all references to a "Subsidiary" or to
"Subsidiaries" in this Agreement shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of
the Company.

                  "Taxes" means all federal, state, county, local, foreign and
other taxes, including, without limitation, income taxes, estimated taxes,
excise taxes, sales taxes, use taxes, gross receipts taxes, franchise taxes,
employment and payroll related taxes, property taxes and import duties, whether
or not measured in whole or in part by net income.

                  "Trademarks" means any foreign or United States trademarks,
service marks, trade dress, trade names, brand names, designs and logos,
corporate names, product or service identifiers, whether registered or
unregistered, and all registrations and applications for registration thereof.

                  "Trade Secrets" means any trade secrets, whether in the form
of research records, processes, procedures, manufacturing formulae, technical
know-how, technology, blue prints, designs, plans, inventions (whether
patentable and whether reduced to practice), or invention disclosures and
improvements thereto.

                  "Transaction Documents" means the Note, the Subordination
Agreement and the Subsidiaries' Guarantee.

            1.2   Additional Definitions. The following terms are defined in the
section of this Agreement set forth opposite such term:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     Term                                                 Section
-------------------                                       -------
<S>                                                       <C>
Additional EBITDA Enhancement Measures                     6.33
Additional Loan                                            2.4
Audited Financials                                         6.10
Business Model                                             6.26
Company                                                    Preamble
Company Disclosure Letter                                  1.4
DGCL                                                       6.22
EBITDA Enhancement Measures                                6.32
Facility                                                   2.1
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
                                                                               7

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     Term                                                 Section
-------------------                                       -------
<S>                                                       <C>
Forecast                                                   6.26
Fund                                                       Preamble
Indemnified Party                                          8.1
Initial Closing                                            2.3
Initial Closing Date                                       2.3
Initial Loan                                               2.3
Intellectual Property                                      6.28
Interim Financials                                         6.10
Liabilities                                                8.1
Material Contracts                                         6.25
Note                                                       2.3
PWRW&G                                                     2.2
</TABLE>

            1.3   Accounting Terms; Financial Covenants. All accounting terms
used herein not expressly defined in this Agreement shall have the respective
meanings given to them in accordance with sound accounting practice. The term
"sound accounting practice" shall mean such accounting practice as, in the
opinion of the independent accountants regularly retained by the Company,
conforms at the time to GAAP applied on a consistent basis except for changes
with which such accountants concur. If any changes in accounting principles are
hereafter occasioned by promulgation of rules, regulations, pronouncements or
opinions by or are otherwise required by the Financial Accounting Standards
Board or the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (or successors
thereto or agencies with similar functions), and any of such changes results in
a change in the method of calculation of, or affects the results of such
calculation of, any of the financial covenants, standards or terms found herein,
then the parties hereto agree to enter into and diligently pursue negotiations
in order to amend such financial covenants, standards or terms so as to reflect
fairly and equitably such changes, with the desired result that the criteria for
evaluating the Company's financial condition and results of operations shall be
the same after such changes as if such changes had not been made.

            1.4   Schedules. The Company has delivered to the Fund a disclosure
letter relating to this Agreement dated as of the date hereof (the "Company
Disclosure Letter"). Each reference to a "Schedule" in this Agreement shall mean
a schedule to the Company Disclosure Letter, unless the context of any such
reference requires a different meaning. The Schedules contained in the Company
Disclosure Letter are intended only to qualify the representations and
warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement and shall not be deemed to
expand in any way the scope or effect of any of such representation or
warranties. All information disclosed in the Company Disclosure Letter in
connection with any Section of this Agreement shall be deemed disclosed under
and incorporated into any other Section of this Agreement to which it is
expressly cross-referenced or to the extent a matter in such Section is
disclosed in such a way as to make its relevance to the information called for
by such other representation, warranty or covenant reasonably apparent.

<PAGE>
                                                                               8

                                   ARTICLE 2

                                     LOANS

            2.1   The Facility. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
herein, the Fund agrees (a) to make the Initial Loan to the Company and (b) to
permit the Company to request Additional Loans from time to time during the
Credit Period up to an aggregate principal amount (inclusive of the Initial
Loan) not to exceed the Maximum Loan Amount (collectively, the "Facility"). The
proceeds of all Loans shall be used by the Company for the purpose set forth in
Section 4 of the Note. The Facility shall be available commencing on the Initial
Closing Date and ending on the last day of the Credit Period. All Loans shall
mature on the Maturity Date (as defined in the Note).

            2.2   The Note. All Loans shall be subject to the terms and
conditions of the Note and this Agreement and shall bear interest at the per
annum rates set forth in the Note.

            2.3   Initial Loan. The closing of the Initial Loan (the "Initial
Closing") shall be held at the offices of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton &
Garrison LLP ("PWRW&G") at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date (the
"Initial Closing Date") on which all of the conditions to the Initial Closing
set forth in Articles 3 and 4 are satisfied or waived, or as otherwise agreed in
writing pursuant to Section 10.5 by the Company and the Fund. At the Initial
Closing, the Company shall, against delivery by the Fund of $5,000,000 (the
"Initial Loan") in United States dollars by wire transfer of immediately
available funds, execute, issue and deliver to the Fund the Senior Unsecured
Promissory Note in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (as appropriately
completed in conformity herewith, the "Note"). The Note shall be registered in
the name of the Fund and delivered free and clear of any Lien with all
appropriate issue stamps, if any, affixed at the expense of the Company.

            2.4   Requests for Additional Loans. During the Credit Period and
after the Initial Loan, the Company may request that the Fund make additional
Loans to the Company in an aggregate principal amount (inclusive of the Initial
Loan) not to exceed the Maximum Loan Amount (each such additional Loan, an
"Additional Loan"). To request an Additional Loan, the Company shall deliver to
the Fund a written Borrowing Request signed by an authorized officer of the
Company, which Borrowing Request shall set forth (a) the aggregate principal
amount of the requested Additional Loan and (b) the date on which the Company
requests that such Additional Loan be funded, which date shall be a Business Day
at least ten (10) Business Days from the date of such Borrowing Request. Upon
receipt of any such Borrowing Request from the Company, the Fund shall, within a
reasonable time period from its receipt thereof, send a notice to the Company
setting forth the amount of any Additional Loan that the Fund will agree to make
(if any) and the date on which the Fund agrees to make any such Additional Loan
(if at all); provided, however, the Fund's obligation to make any such
Additional Loan described in any such notice by the Fund shall be subject to the
satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article 5.

<PAGE>
                                                                               9

                                   ARTICLE 3

                          CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATION
                      OF THE FUND TO FUND THE INITIAL LOAN

            The obligation of the Fund to fund the Initial Loan at the Initial
Closing and to perform any obligations hereunder shall be subject to the
satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions on or before the Initial
Closing Date (except as otherwise set forth below):

            3.1   Representations and Warranties True. The representations and
warranties of the Company contained in Article 6 hereof shall be true and
correct in all material respects at and as of the Initial Closing Date as if
made at and as of such date; provided, that any representation and warranty
qualified in any respect by materiality shall be true and correct at and as of
the Initial Closing Date as if made at and as of such date.

            3.2   Compliance with this Agreement. The Company shall have
performed and complied with all of its agreements and conditions set forth or
contemplated herein that are required to be performed or complied with by the
Company on or before the Initial Closing Date.

            3.3   Officer's Certificate. The Fund shall have received a
certificate, dated the Initial Closing Date and signed by the President or the
Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certifying that the conditions set forth
in Sections 3.1 and 3.2 hereof have been satisfied on and as of the Initial
Closing Date.

            3.4   Secretary's Certificate. The Fund shall have received a
certificate, dated the Initial Closing Date, and signed by the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of the Company, certifying the truth and correctness of (a)
the attached copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of the
Company and (b) the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company
approving this Agreement, the Transaction Documents and the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby.

            3.5   Documents. The Fund shall have received copies of such
documents as they reasonably may request in connection with the funding of the
Initial Loan and the transactions contemplated hereby, all in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Fund.

            3.6   Purchase Permitted by Applicable Laws. The acquisition of the
Note and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (a) except as
set forth on Schedule 6.3, shall not be prohibited by any applicable law or
governmental regulation and (b) shall not subject the Fund to any penalty or, in
its reasonable judgment, other onerous condition under or pursuant to any
applicable law or governmental regulation.

            3.7   Opinion of General Counsel. The Fund shall have received the
opinion of the General Counsel of the Company, dated as of the Initial Closing
Date, in a form satisfactory to the Fund.

            3.8   Approval of Counsel to the Fund. All actions and proceedings
hereunder and all documents required to be delivered by the Company hereunder or
in connection with the

<PAGE>
                                                                              10

consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and all other related
matters, shall have been reasonably acceptable to PWRW&G, counsel to the Fund,
as to their form and substance.

            3.9   Consents and Approvals. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.3,
all consents, exemptions, authorizations, or other actions by, or notices to, or
filings with, Governmental Authorities and other Persons necessary or required
in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Company or
enforcement against the Company of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents
shall have been obtained and be in full force and effect, and the Fund shall
have been furnished with appropriate evidence thereof.

            3.10  No Material Adverse Change. Since March 31, 2004, there shall
have been no material adverse change, nor shall any such change be threatened,
in the Condition of the Company since that date (except as set forth in the
Company's Disclosure Letter or the Commission Documents).

            3.11  Conduct of Business. The Company shall have conducted its
business in the ordinary course from March 31, 2004 through the Initial Closing
Date, and no transaction not in the ordinary course of business shall have
occurred without the Fund's consent.

            3.12  Subordination Agreement. The Company and the other signatories
thereto shall have duly executed and delivered to the Fund the Subordination
Agreement.

            3.13  Note; Subsidiaries' Guarantee. The Company shall have executed
and delivered to the Fund the Note. Each of the Company's Subsidiaries shall
have executed and delivered to the Fund the Subsidiaries' Guarantee.

            3.14  Charter and By-Laws of the Company. No amendments to the
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company as in effect on the date
of this Agreement shall have been effected.

            3.15  Market Conditions. (a) Trading in the Common Stock shall not
have been suspended by the Commission or by the NASDAQ for a material portion of
a trading day, (b) trading in securities generally on the NYSE or NASDAQ shall
not have been suspended or limited or minimum or maximum prices shall not have
been generally established on such exchange, or additional material governmental
restrictions, not in force on the date of this Agreement, shall not have been
imposed upon trading in securities generally by such exchange or by order of the
Commission or any court or other Governmental Authority, (c) a general banking
moratorium shall not have been declared by either Federal or New York State
authorities and (d) any material adverse change in the financial or securities
markets in the United States or in political, financial or economic conditions
in the United States or any outbreak or material escalation of hostilities or
declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or other
calamity or crisis shall not have occurred.

            3.16  No Litigation. Except as disclosed in the Commission
Documents, no action, suit, proceeding, claim or dispute shall have been brought
or otherwise arisen at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental
Authority against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which would, if
adversely determined (a) have a material adverse effect on the

<PAGE>
                                                                              11

Condition of the Company or (b) have a material adverse effect on the ability of
the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any of the
Transaction Documents.

            3.17  No Default or Breach of Contractual Obligations. Neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be or have been in default under or
with respect to any Contractual Obligation (other than the Senior Creditor
Documents) in any respect, which, individually or together with all such
defaults, would be materially adverse to the Condition of the Company or which
could materially adversely affect the ability of the Company to perform its
obligations under this Agreement or any of the Transaction Documents.

            3.18  No Default of Senior Creditor Documents. Neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) shall be or have been in default under or with
respect to any of the Transaction Documents or the Senior Creditor Documents to
which they are a party, which default is continuing, and (ii) will be, after
giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby, in default under any of
the Transaction Documents or the Senior Creditor Documents.

            3.19  NASDAQ. As of the Initial Closing Date, the Company shall
reasonably believe and the Fund shall have no reasonable basis for disbelief,
that the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Transaction Documents will not result in any action by NASDAQ against the
Company.

            3.20  Due Diligence. Satisfactory completion by the Fund, in its
sole judgment and discretion, of its due diligence investigation of the Company,
including, without limitation, detailed review of the proposed use of proceeds,
near-term and long-range business forecasts, historical and prospective working
capital requirements, budget spending levels and capital spending requirements.

            3.21  Capital Expenditures. The Fund shall have approved, in its
sole judgment and discretion, the Capital Expenditures (as defined in the Note)
for the fiscal quarter ending on September 30, 2004 as set forth on Schedule
3.21.

            3.22  EBITDA Improvements. The Fund shall be satisfied, in its sole
judgment and discretion, that the Company has taken all actions necessary to
accomplish the EBITDA Enhancement Measures and the Additional EBITDA Enhancement
Measures.

            3.23  Unrestricted Cash Balances and Accounts Receivable. The Fund
shall be satisfied, in its sole judgment and discretion, that the unrestricted
cash balances of the Company will not decline below an average daily balance of
$5,000,000 during the period beginning on the Initial Closing Date and ending on
December 31, 2005 and that the Company's accounts payable, measured on a
dollar-weighted basis, will not, during such period, have an average life
exceeding ninety (90) days.

            3.24  Opinion of Regulatory Counsel. The Fund shall have received
the opinion of Kelley Drye & Warren, regulatory counsel to the Company, dated as
of the Initial Closing Date, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Fund.

<PAGE>
                                                                              12

                                   ARTICLE 4

                          CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATION
                    OF THE COMPANY TO BORROW THE INITIAL LOAN

            The obligations of the Company to borrow the Initial Loan and to
execute, issue and deliver the Note, and shall be subject to the satisfaction or
waiver of the following conditions on or before the Initial Closing Date:

            4.1   Representations and Warranties True. The representations and
warranties of the Fund contained in Article 7 hereof shall be true and correct
in all material respects at and as of the Initial Closing Date as if made at and
as of such date.

            4.2   Compliance with this Agreement. The Fund shall have performed
and complied with all of their agreements and conditions set forth or
contemplated herein that are required to be performed or complied with by the
Fund on or before the Initial Closing Date.

            4.3   Issuance Permitted by Applicable Laws. The issuance of the
Note and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby by
the Company (a) shall not be prohibited by any applicable law or governmental
regulation and (b) shall not subject the Company to any penalty or, in its
reasonable judgment, other onerous condition under or pursuant to any applicable
law or governmental regulation.

            4.4   Approval of the Company. All actions and proceedings hereunder
and all documents required to be delivered by the Fund hereunder or in
connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and
all other related matters, shall have been reasonably acceptable to the General
Counsel of the Company, as to their form and substance.

            4.5   Consents and Approvals. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.3,
all consents, exemptions, authorizations, or other actions by, or notices to, or
filings with, Governmental Authorities and other Persons necessary or required
in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Fund or
enforcement against the Fund of this Agreement shall have been obtained and be
in full force and effect, and the Company shall have been furnished with
appropriate evidence thereof.

                                   ARTICLE 5

                    CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATION OF THE FUND
                            TO MAKE ADDITIONAL LOANS

            The obligation of the Fund to make any Additional Loan of which the
Fund has notified the Company of the Fund's willingness to make pursuant to
Section 2.4 shall be subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following
conditions:

            5.1   Representations and Warranties True. The representations and
warranties of the Company contained in Article 6 hereof shall be true and
correct in all material respects at

<PAGE>
                                                                              13

and as of the Additional Loan Date as if made at and as of such date (unless
representations and warranties relate to matters as of a particular date, in
which case such representations and warranties shall be true in all material
respects as of such date); provided, that any representation and warranty
qualified in any respect by materiality shall be true and correct at and as of
the Additional Loan Date (or such particular date) as if made at and as of such
date.

            5.2   No Default. An Event of Default or an "event of default" as
defined in the Senior Loan Agreement or an event with notice or the lapse of
time would be an Event of Default or "event of default" under the Senior Loan
Agreement shall not have occurred and be continuing and shall not occur as a
result of the Additional Loan.

            5.3   Charter and By Laws of the Company. No amendments to the
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company as in effect on the date
of this Agreement shall have been effected, except amendments to the Certificate
of Incorporation relating to a conversion or exchange of all or a substantial
portion of the Company's outstanding preferred stock or a change in the
Company's name.

            5.4   Officer's Certificate. The Fund shall have received a
certificate, dated the Additional Loan Date and signed by the President or the
Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certifying that the conditions set forth
in Sections 5.1 through 5.3 hereof have been satisfied on and as of the
Additional Loan Date.

            5.5   No Material Adverse Change. In the sole judgment and
discretion of the Fund, there shall have been no material adverse change, nor
shall any such change be threatened, in the Condition of the Company since the
Initial Closing Date.

            5.6   Market Conditions. (a) Trading in the Common Stock shall not
have been suspended by the Commission or by the NASDAQ for a material portion of
a trading day, (b) trading in securities generally on the NYSE or NASDAQ shall
not have been suspended or limited or minimum or maximum prices shall not have
been generally established on such exchange, or additional material governmental
restrictions, not in force on the date of this Agreement, shall not have been
imposed upon trading in securities generally by such exchange or by order of the
Commission or any court or other Governmental Authority, (c) a general banking
moratorium shall not have been declared by either Federal or New York State
authorities and (d) any material adverse change in the financial or securities
markets in the United States or in political, financial or economic conditions
in the United States or any outbreak or material escalation of hostilities or
declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or other
calamity or crisis shall not have occurred.

<PAGE>
                                                                              14

                                   ARTICLE 6

                               REPRESENTATIONS AND
                            WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

            The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Fund as follows:

            6.1   Corporate Existence and Power. The Company and each of its
Subsidiaries:

                  (a)   is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization;

                  (b)   has (i) full corporate (or other organizational) power
and authority and (ii) all governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and
approvals to own and operate its property, to lease the property it operates as
lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently, or is currently
proposed to be, engaged;

                  (c)   is duly qualified as a foreign person, licensed and in
good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or
operation of property or the conduct of its business requires such
qualification; and

                  (d)   is in compliance with all Requirements of Law; except,
in the case of (b)(ii), (c) or (d) of this Section 6.1, to the extent that the
failure to so comply would not have a material adverse effect on the Condition
of the Company.

            6.2   Corporate Authorization; No Contravention. The execution,
delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the Transaction
Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby, including, without limitation, the issuance of the Note:

                  (a)   are within the Company's corporate power and authority
and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action; and

                  (b)   will not violate, conflict with or result in any breach
or contravention of or the creation of any Lien under, any Material Contract of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any order or decree directly relating
to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

            6.3   Governmental Authorization; Third Party Consents. Except as
set forth on Schedule 6.3, no approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or
other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any
other Person, is necessary or required in connection with the execution,
delivery or performance by the Company or enforcement against the Company of
this Agreement and the Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby.

<PAGE>
                                                                              15

            6.4   Binding Effect. This Agreement and each of the Transaction
Documents to which the Company is a party have been duly executed and delivered
by the Company. This Agreement and each of the Transaction Documents constitute
the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the
Company in accordance with their terms, except as enforceability may be limited
by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent
transfer, or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally from time to
time in effect and general equitable principles, and except that any rights to
indemnification set forth in this Agreement and the Fund Registration Rights
Agreement may be limited by federal and state securities laws and public policy
considerations.

            6.5   No Legal Bar. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.3, neither the
execution, delivery nor performance of this Agreement or any Transaction
Document will violate any Requirement of Law.

            6.6   Litigation.

                  (a)   Except as set forth on Schedule 6.6, there are no
actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending, or to the Knowledge of
the Company, threatened, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any
Governmental Authority against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries:

                        (i)   with respect to this Agreement, any Transaction
Document or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby; or

                        (ii)  which would, if adversely determined, (A) have a
material adverse effect on the Condition of the Company or (B) have a material
adverse effect on the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under
this Agreement or any Transaction Document.

                  (b)   No injunction, writ, temporary restraining order, decree
or any order of any nature has been issued by any arbitrator or arbitral panel
or any court or other Governmental Authority purporting to enjoin or restrain
the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or any Transaction
Document.

            6.7   No Default or Breach.

                  (a)   No event has occurred and is continuing which
constitutes a default under or breach of any of the provisions of Section 9 of
the Note. No event which constitutes a default under or breach of any of the
provisions of Section 9 of the Note is likely to result from the incurring of
obligations by the Company under this Agreement or the Transaction Documents or
from the issuance of the Note. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
is in default under or with respect to any Contractual Obligation in any
respect, which, individually or together with all such defaults, would have a
material adverse effect on the Condition of the Company or on the ability of the
Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or the Transaction
Documents.

<PAGE>
                                                                              16

                  (b)   The Company has delivered true, correct and complete
copies of all of the Senior Creditor Documents. The Senior Creditor Documents
are in full force and effect and binding upon the parties thereto in accordance
with its terms. The Company and its Subsidiaries are not, and, to the Knowledge
of the Company, the Senior Lender, is not, in default under, and no condition
exists that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default
under, the Senior Creditor Documents. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has any Knowledge of any threatened cancellation or termination of
the Senior Creditor Documents or the acceleration of the Senior Indebtedness.

            6.8   Title to Properties. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries
have good and defensible title to, or hold leases in full force and effect in
all their real property, except for such defects in title as could not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the
Condition of the Company or the ability of the Company to perform its
obligations under this Agreement or the Transaction Documents.

            6.9   Taxes. The Company and its Subsidiaries have filed or caused
to be filed, or have properly filed extensions for, all income tax returns which
are required to be filed and have paid or caused to be paid all taxes as shown
on said returns and on all assessments received by it to the extent that such
taxes have become due, except taxes the validity or amount of which is being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which
adequate reserves have been set aside. The Company and its Subsidiaries have
paid or caused to be paid, or have established reserves that the Company
reasonably believes to be adequate for all income tax liabilities applicable to
the Company and its Subsidiaries for all fiscal years which have not been
examined and reported on by the taxing authorities (or closed by applicable
statutes).

            6.10  Financial Condition. The Company heretofore has delivered to
the Fund true and correct copies of audited consolidated financial statements of
the Company and its Subsidiaries dated as of the last day of its most recently
ended fiscal year (the "Audited Financials") and the unaudited consolidated
financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries dated as of each fiscal
quarter ended after such fiscal year (the "Interim Financials"). The Audited
Financials and the Interim Financials have been prepared in accordance with GAAP
applied consistently and present fairly in all material respects the
consolidated financial condition of the Company as of the dates thereof and the
consolidated results of operations of the Company for the period, or portion
thereof, then ended (except in the case of the Interim Financials, for normal
year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes).

            6.11  No Material Adverse Change. Since March 31, 2004, there has
not been any material adverse change, nor to the Knowledge of the Company is any
such change threatened, in the Condition of the Company, except as set forth in
the Company Disclosure Letter or the Commission Documents filed on or prior to
the date hereof.

            6.12  Commission Documents. The Company has filed all registration
statements, proxy statements, reports and other documents required to be filed
by it under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, and all amendments thereto.
The Company has furnished or made available to the Fund copies of all Commission
Documents, each as filed with the Commission. Each Commission Document, as
amended, when filed with the Commission or as

<PAGE>
                                                                              17

so amended was true and accurate in all material respects and in compliance in
all material respects with the requirements of its respective report form.

            6.13  Environmental Matters. The Company is in compliance with all
applicable Environmental Laws except as would not have a material adverse effect
on the Condition of the Company. There is no civil, criminal or administrative
judgment, action, suit, demand, claim, hearing, notice of violation,
investigation, proceeding, notice or demand letter pending or, to the Knowledge
of the Company, threatened against the Company pursuant to Environmental Laws
except as would not have a material adverse effect on the Condition of the
Company; and, to the Knowledge of the Company, there are no past or present
events, conditions, circumstances, activities, practices, incidents, agreements,
actions or plans which could reasonably be expected to prevent compliance with,
or which have given rise to or will give rise to liability under, Environmental
Laws except as would have not have a material adverse effect on the Condition of
the Company.

            6.14  Investment Company. Neither the Company nor any Person
controlling the Company is an "investment company" within the meaning of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

            6.15  Subsidiaries. As of the Initial Closing Date, Schedule 6.15
sets forth a complete and accurate list of all of the Subsidiaries of the
Company together with their respective jurisdictions of incorporation or
organization. Each such Subsidiary is directly or indirectly wholly owned by the
Company.

            6.16  [Intentionally omitted.]

            6.17  Solvency. On and as of the Initial Closing Date and each
Additional Loan Date, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated in
this Agreement, the Company will be Solvent.

            6.18  Private Offering. No form of general solicitation or general
advertising was used by the Company or, to its Knowledge, its representatives in
connection with the offer or issuance of the Note. Assuming the truth and
accuracy of the Fund's representation in Section 7.5, no registration of the
Note pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act or any state securities or
"blue sky" laws will be required by the issuance of the Note pursuant to this
Agreement. The Company agrees that neither it, nor anyone acting on its behalf,
will offer or sell any security so as to require the registration of the Note
pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act or any state securities or
"blue sky" laws, unless the Note is so registered.

            6.19  Broker's, Finder's or Similar Fees. There are no brokerage
commissions, finder's fees or similar fees or commissions payable in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby based on any agreement, arrangement or
understanding with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any action taken
by any such entity.

<PAGE>
                                                                              18

            6.20  Full Disclosure.

                  (a)   No statement by the Company contained in (i) this
Agreement, (ii) any certificates delivered to the Fund in connection with the
issuance of the Note, (iii) any certificate required to be delivered by the
Company or its officers pursuant to this Agreement or the Note or (iv) any
Borrowing Request delivered by the Company in connection with any Additional
Loan contains (or will contain) an untrue statement of a material fact or omits
(or will omit) to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances in
which made, not materially false or misleading.

                  (b)   There is no fact that the Company has not disclosed to
the Fund in writing or has not disclosed in the Commission Documents filed on or
before the date hereof, which materially adversely affects, or insofar as the
Company can reasonably foresee, could materially adversely affect, the Condition
of the Company or the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under
this Agreement or the Transaction Documents.

            6.21  Regulatory Compliance.

                  (a)   The Company and its Subsidiaries hold all Communications
Licenses required under the Communications Act, the FCC Rules or other state or
local laws or rules to own and operate their properties and to carry on the
business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as now conducted, except as would
not have a material adverse effect on the Condition of the Company.

                  (b)   Set forth on Schedule 6.21 is a complete list, as of the
Initial Closing Date, of all Communications Licenses of the Company and its
Subsidiaries relating to or used in connection with the business of the Company
and its Subsidiaries, including which legal entity holds such License and, if
such legal entity is neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, a summary
of the terms under which the Company and its Subsidiaries is permitted to engage
in the business relating to such License. Such list correctly sets forth the
expiration date, if any, of each such Communications License. Each such
Communications License is in full force and effect, and is not subject to any
special conditions outside the ordinary course. The Company and its Subsidiaries
have taken all actions and performed all of their obligations that are necessary
to maintain such Communications Licenses without adverse modification or
impairment.

                  (c)   Except as set forth on Schedule 6.21, the Company and
its Subsidiaries are not parties to, nor to the Knowledge of the Company is
there threatened in writing, any formal investigation, notice of apparent
liability, violation, forfeiture or other notice, order or formal complaint
issued by or before any court or regulatory body (other than non-material,
ordinary course of business customer complaints), including the FCC, that could
in any manner threaten or adversely affect the validity or continued
effectiveness of the Communications Licenses of the Company and its
Subsidiaries. Since March 31, 2004, the Company and each Subsidiary has filed in
a substantially timely manner all material reports, applications, documents,
instruments and information required to be filed by it pursuant to the
Communications Act, the FCC Rules or other state or local laws or rules related
to Communications Licenses. All such filings are accurate and complete in all
material respects.

<PAGE>
                                                                              19

                  (d)   The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with
the Communications Licenses, the Communications Act, the FCC Rules or other
state or local laws or rules, except as would not have a material adverse effect
on the Condition of the Company.

                  (e)   The Company has no Knowledge of any facts, and the
Company and the Subsidiaries have received no formal written notice, indicating
that the Company and the Subsidiaries, in their ownership and operation of the
business of the Company and the Subsidiaries, are not in compliance with all
requirements of (i) applicable FCC Rules or the Communications Act, or (ii)
similar state and local statutes, regulations and ordinances, except as would
not have a material adverse effect on the Condition of the Company.

                  (f)   No consent, waiver or other action of, or filing or
notification to, the FCC is required for the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.

            6.22  [Intentionally omitted.]

            6.23  [Intentionally omitted.]

            6.24  Trade Relations. There exists (a) to the Knowledge of the
Company, no actual or (b) so far as the Company is aware, no threatened,
material change in the business relationship of the Company and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole with any customer or any group of customers, or with any
supplier, which would have a material adverse effect on the business of the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

            6.25  Material Contracts. Except as disclosed in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 or in the
Commission Documents filed subsequent thereto, but prior to the date hereof, all
contracts, agreements and commitments of the Company and its Subsidiaries
required to be filed with the Commission Documents ("Material Contracts") are in
full force and effect and binding upon the parties thereto in accordance with
their terms, except as (i) enforceability may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, or
similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally from time to time in effect
and general equitable principles, or (ii) as to contracts that have expired or
terminated according to their respective terms, or (iii) where the failure of
any such contract to be in full force and effect would not have a material
adverse effect on the Condition of the Company. Neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any other party to a
Material Contract, is in default under, and no condition exists that with notice
or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default under any Material
Contract, in each case other than defaults that individually or in the aggregate
would not have a material adverse effect on the Condition of the Company. The
Company has no Knowledge of any threatened cancellation or termination of any
Material Contract.

            6.26  Business Model and Cash Flow Forecast. Prior to the date
hereof, the Company delivered to the Fund the Z-Tel Technologies, Inc.
Consolidated Business Model 2004 Business Plan (the "Business Model") and the
Z-Tel 2004 Consolidated Cash Balance forecast, (the "Forecast") copies of each
of which are set forth as Schedule 6.26. The assumptions used in preparation of
the Business Model and Forecast were reasonable when made and continue to be
reasonable as of the Initial Closing Date. The Business Model and Forecast have
been prepared

<PAGE>
                                                                              20

in good faith. The Fund acknowledges that the Business Model and Forecast
contain assumptions about future events and that actual results during the
period or periods covered may differ from the data and results contained in such
Business Model and Forecast and such differences may be material and adverse to
the Company.

            6.27  No Undisclosed Financial Liabilities. Except as set forth on
Schedule 6.27, the Company and its Subsidiaries, after giving effect to the
transactions contemplated hereby, will not have any material direct or indirect
indebtedness, liability (including, without limitation, product liability or
warranty claim), obligation, whether known or unknown, fixed or unfixed,
contingent or otherwise, and whether or not of a kind required by GAAP to be set
forth on a financial statement, other than (a) liabilities fully and adequately
reflected on the 2004 Interim Financials, (b) liabilities incurred since March
31, 2004 in the ordinary course of business, (c) liabilities incurred pursuant
to this Agreement and (d) liabilities which individually or in the aggregate
would not have a material adverse effect on the Condition of the Company.

            6.28  Intellectual Property.

                  (a)   (i) The Company is the owner of all, or has the license
or right to use, sell and license all of, the Copyrights, Patents, Trade
Secrets, Trademarks, Internet Assets, Software and other proprietary rights
(collectively, "Intellectual Property") that are used in connection with its
business as presently conducted or contemplated in the Business Plan, free and
clear of all Liens, except as would have not have a material adverse effect on
the Condition of the Company.

                        (ii)  Except as set forth on Schedule 6.28, no action,
suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim or demand is
pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing, which
challenges the validity, enforceability, use or ownership of the Intellectual
Property.

                        (iii) The Company has substantially performed all
obligations imposed upon it under any Intellectual Property licenses, and is
not, nor to the Knowledge of the Company is any other party thereto, in breach
of or default thereunder in any respect, nor is there any event which with
notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a default thereunder. All of
the Intellectual Property licenses are enforceable and in full force and effect,
and will continue to be so on identical terms immediately following each Closing
except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or transfer, moratorium or similar laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by general
principles of equity relating to enforceability (regardless of whether
considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).

                  (b)   To the Knowledge of the Company, no Person is infringing
upon or otherwise violating any Trademarks of the Company and no Person is
violating any other Intellectual Property rights of the Company, except in each
case as would not in the aggregate be reasonably expected to have a material
adverse effect on the Condition of the Company.

<PAGE>
                                                                              21

                  (c)   No former employer of any employee of the Company
currently is asserting a claim against the Company that such employee is
utilizing Intellectual Property of such former employer.

                  (d)   The Company is not a party to or bound by any license or
other agreement requiring the payment by the Company of any royalty payment,
excluding such agreements relating to software licensed for use solely on the
computers of the Company.

                  (e)   To the Knowledge of the Company, no employee of the\
Company is in violation of any term of any employment agreement, patent or
invention disclosure agreement or other contract or agreement relating to the
relationship of such employee with the Company except where such violation would
not have a material adverse effect on the Condition of the Company. To the
Knowledge of the Company, no employee of the Company is in violation of any term
of any employment agreement, patent or invention disclosure agreement or other
contract or agreement relating to the relationship of such employee with any
prior employer.

                  (f)   To the Knowledge of the Company, none of the Trade
Secrets of the Company, wherever located, the value of which is contingent upon
maintenance of confidentiality thereof, has been disclosed to any Person other
than employees, representatives and agents of the Company, except as required
pursuant to the filing of a patent application by the Company or pursuant to a
non-disclosure agreement.

                  (g)   Except on Schedule 6.28, it is not necessary for the
Company's business to use any Intellectual Property owned by any director,
officer, employee or consultant of the Company (or persons the Company presently
intends to hire).

                  (h)   All present employees of the Company who have access to
material confidential information of the Company have executed and delivered
confidentiality agreements with the Company, and are obligated under the terms
thereof to protect all confidential information received during the course of
employment for a period of five years after such information is received.

            6.29  ERISA. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
violated any provisions of ERISA, or the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, except for such violations which would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Condition of the Company. If
any plan subject to ERISA is adopted, the execution and delivery of this
Agreement or any Transaction Document will not involve any non-exempt prohibited
transaction within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the
Code.

            6.30  Labor Relations. Except to the extent set forth in Schedule
6.30 (a) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any
collective bargaining agreement, (b) the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is
in compliance with all applicable laws respecting employment and employment
practices, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, including but
not limited to, the Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, and
neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged in any unfair labor
practice, (c) there is no unfair labor practice complaint against the Company or
any of its

<PAGE>
                                                                              22

Subsidiaries or pending before the National Labor Relations Board, (d) there is
no labor strike, dispute, slowdown or stoppage actually pending or, to the
Company's Knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, (e) with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, no
grievance or arbitration proceeding arising out of or under collective
bargaining agreements is pending or exists and, to the Company's Knowledge, no
claim therefor is threatened, and (f) neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has experienced any work stoppage or other labor difficulty since
inception; except in the case of clauses (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) as would not
have a material adverse effect on the Condition of the Company.

            6.31  Usury Laws. The terms of the Note do not violate any
applicable usury laws.

            6.32  EBITDA Improvements. The Company has taken all actions
necessary to accomplish the measures set forth on Schedule 6.32 (the "EBITDA
Enhancement Measures"). Management of the Company reasonably believes that the
accomplishment of the EBITDA Enhancement Measures will cause EBITDA to increase
at the estimated rate and at the times set forth on Schedule 6.32 to a level
above what EBITDA would have been at such time had such EBITDA Enhancement
Measures not been accomplished.

            6.33  Additional EBITDA Improvements. All necessary actions have
been taken to implement the measures (in addition to the EBITDA Enhancement
Measures) set forth on Schedule 6.33 (the "Additional EBITDA Enhancement
Measures"). Management reasonably believes that the financial consequences of
the Additional EBITDA Enhancement Measures totals no less than $1,250,000 per
month of expected EBITDA.

            6.34  Outstanding Borrowings. Schedule 6.34 sets forth (i) the
amount of all Indebtedness for money borrowed (other than the Note), (ii) the
Liens that relate to such Indebtedness for money borrowed and that encumber the
assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (iii) the name of each
lender thereof.

                                   ARTICLE 7

                               REPRESENTATIONS AND
                             WARRANTIES OF THE FUND

            The Fund represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

            7.1   Existence and Power. The Fund:

                  (a)   is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of
the State of Delaware; and

                  (b)   has full power and authority to own and operate its
property, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct the
business in which it is currently, or is currently proposed to be, engaged.

<PAGE>
                                                                              23

            7.2   Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and
performance by the Fund of this Agreement, the Transaction Documents to which it
is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including
without limitation the acquisition of the Note:

                  (a)   is within the Fund's power and authority and has been
duly authorized by all necessary action;

                  (b)   does not contravene the terms of the governing documents
of the Fund, or any amendment thereof;

                  (c)   will not violate, conflict with or result in any breach
or contravention of or the creation of any Lien under, any Contractual
Obligation of the Fund, or any order or decree directly relating to the Fund,
and

                  (d)   does not require approval, consent, exemption,
authorization or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental
Authority or any other Person.

            7.3   Binding Effect. This Agreement and each Transaction Document
to which the Fund is a party has been duly executed and delivered by the Fund,
constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Fund enforceable
against it in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited
by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting the enforcement
of creditors' rights generally or by equitable principles relating to
enforceability.

            7.4   No Legal Bar. The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and the Transaction Documents will not violate any Requirement of Law
or any Contractual Obligation of the Fund.

            7.5   Purchase for Own Account. The Note to be acquired by the Fund
pursuant to this Agreement is being acquired for the Fund's own account for
investment purposes and with no view toward any "distribution" thereof within
the meaning of the Securities Act, without prejudice, however, to the rights of
the Fund at all times to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the
Note under an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or
under an exemption from such registration available under the Securities Act,
and subject, nevertheless, to the disposition of the Fund's property being at
all times within their control. If the Fund should in the future decide to
dispose of the Note, the Fund understands and agrees that it may do so only in
compliance with the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, as then
in effect. If the Fund should decide to dispose of the Note, the Fund, if
requested by the Company, will have the obligation in connection with such
disposition, at the Fund's expense, of delivering to the Company an opinion of
counsel of recognized standing in securities law, to the effect that the
proposed disposition of the Note would not be in violation of the Securities Act
or any applicable state securities laws and, assuming such opinion is required
and is otherwise appropriate in form and substance under the circumstances, the
Company will accept, and will recommend to any applicable transfer agent or
trustee for any such securities that it accept, such opinion. The Fund agrees to
the imprinting, so long as required by law, of a legend on the Note to the
following effect:

<PAGE>
                                                                              24

      "THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED, QUALIFIED, APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED
      UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND
      MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE
      REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SUCH ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS
      OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION TO THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF SUCH ACT OR
      SUCH LAWS AND NEITHER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
      NOR ANY OTHER FEDERAL OR STATE REGULATORY AUTHORITY HAS PASSED ON OR
      ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THIS NOTE."

            7.6   Broker's, Finder's or Similar Fees. There are no brokerage
commissions, finder's fees or similar fees or commissions payable in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby based on any agreement, arrangement or
understanding with the Fund or any action taken by the Fund.

            7.7   Investment Knowledge. The Fund has sufficient knowledge and
experience in financial and business matters and the business in which the
Company is engaged so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of
making the Loans and accepting in the Note, and is able to bear the economic
risk of the loss of its making the Loans. The Fund is an "accredited investor"
within the meaning of Rule 501 promulgated under the Securities Act.

                                   ARTICLE 8

                                INDEMNIFICATION

            8.1   Indemnification by the Company. In addition to all other sums
due hereunder or provided for in this Agreement, the Company agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless the Fund and their Affiliates (including, without limitation,
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.) and their respective officers, directors, agents,
employees, subsidiaries, partners and controlling persons (each, an "Indemnified
Party") to the fullest extent permitted by law from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages, expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable
fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel, but excluding consequential
damages) or other liabilities ("Liabilities") resulting from any breach of any
covenant, agreement, representation or warranty of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries in this Agreement, any Transaction Document, any certificate
delivered in connection hereto or thereto or any Borrowing Request or any legal,
administrative or other actions (including actions brought by the Company or any
equity holders of the Company or derivative actions brought by any Person
claiming through the Company or in the Company's name), proceedings or
investigations (whether formal or informal), or written threats thereof, based
upon, relating to or arising out of this Agreement, the Transaction Documents,
the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or any indemnified person's
role therein or in the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be liable under this Section 8.1: (a) for
any amount paid in settlement of claims without the Company's consent (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), (b) with respect to Liabilities
arising solely out of actions brought by the partners or members of the Fund
against an Indemnified Party or by one Indemnified Party

<PAGE>
                                                                              25

against another, (c) to the extent that it is finally judicially determined that
such Liabilities resulted primarily from (i) the willful misconduct, bad faith
or gross negligence of such Indemnified Party or (ii) a breach of the Fund's
representations in Article 7 or any breach of the Fund's obligations under this
Agreement or the Fund Registration Rights Agreement, or (d) any Liabilities
arising solely from the transfer of the Note by the Fund to any Person;
provided, further, that if and to the extent that such indemnification is
unenforceable for any reason, the Company shall make the maximum contribution to
the payment and satisfaction of such indemnified liability which shall be
permissible under applicable laws. In connection with the obligation of the
Company to indemnify for expenses as set forth above, the Company further agrees
to reimburse each Indemnified Party for all such expenses (including reasonable
fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel) as they are incurred by such
Indemnified Party; provided, however, that if an Indemnified Party is reimbursed
hereunder for any expenses, such reimbursement of expenses shall be refunded to
the extent it is finally judicially determined that the Liabilities in question
resulted primarily from the willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of
such Indemnified Party. The maximum aggregate amount the Company shall be
required to pay the Fund under this Section 8.1 with respect to Liabilities
resulting from any breach of any covenant, agreement, representation or warranty
of the Company in this Agreement shall not exceed the Maximum Loan Amount.

            8.2   Notification. Each Indemnified Party under this Article 8
will, promptly after the receipt of notice of the commencement of any action or
other proceeding against such Indemnified Party in respect of which indemnity
may be sought from the Company under this Article 8, notify the Company in
writing of the commencement thereof. The omission of any Indemnified Party so to
notify the Company of any such action shall not relieve the Company from any
liability which it may have to such Indemnified Party (i) other than pursuant to
this Article 8 or (ii) under this Article 8 unless, and only to the extent that,
such omission results in the Company's forfeiture of substantive rights or
defenses. In case any such action or other proceeding shall be brought against
any Indemnified Party and it shall promptly notify the Company of the
commencement thereof, the Company shall be entitled to participate therein and,
to the extent that it may wish, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party; provided, however, that any
Indemnified Party may, at its own expense, retain separate counsel to
participate in such defense. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any action or
proceeding in which both the Company and an Indemnified Party is, or is
reasonably likely to become, a party, such Indemnified Party shall have the
right to employ separate counsel at the Company's expense and to control its own
defense of such action or proceeding if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel to
such Indemnified Party, (a) there are or may be legal defenses available to such
Indemnified Party or to other indemnified parties that are different from or
additional to those available to the Company or (b) any conflict or potential
conflict exists between the Company and such Indemnified Party that would make
such separate representation advisable; provided, however, that in no event
shall the Company be required to pay unreasonable fees or expenses or fees and
expenses under this Article 8 for more than one firm of attorneys in any
jurisdiction in any one legal action or group of related legal actions. The
Company agrees that the Company will not, without the prior written consent of
the Fund, settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any
pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding relating to the matters
contemplated hereby (if any Indemnified Party is a party thereto or has been
actually threatened to be made a party thereto) unless such settlement,

<PAGE>
                                                                              26

compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of the Fund and each
other Indemnified Party from all liability arising or that may arise out of such
claim, action or proceeding. The rights accorded to indemnified parties
hereunder shall be in addition to any rights that any Indemnified Party may have
at common law, by separate agreement or otherwise.

                                   ARTICLE 9

                             AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

            The Company hereby covenants and agrees with the Fund, any Affiliate
of the Fund, and with any other Holder.

            9.1   Additional Parties to Subsidiaries' Guarantees. For so long as
any Indebtedness under this Note shall remain outstanding, the Company shall
cause any Subsidiary formed after the Initial Closing Date to become a party to
the Subsidiaries' Guarantee.

                                   ARTICLE 10

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

            10.1  Survival of Provisions. All warranties, representations and
covenants made by the Company in or under this Agreement shall be considered to
have been relied upon by the Fund and shall survive the execution and delivery
of this Agreement and the issuance to the Fund of the Note, regardless of any
investigation made by the Fund or on their behalf. All warranties,
representations and covenants made by the Fund or on their behalf shall survive
the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the issuance to the Fund of the
Note. All of the representations and warranties made herein and each of the
provisions of Articles 8, 9 and 10 shall survive the execution and delivery of
this Agreement, any investigation by or on behalf of the Fund or any Affiliate,
acceptance of the Note, the making of any Loan, payment or prepayment of the
Note upon redemption or otherwise, or termination of this Agreement.

            10.2  Notices. All notices, demands and other communications
provided for or permitted hereunder (including, without limitation, any
Borrowing Request; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to
send a copy of any Borrowing Request to any Person other than the Fund) shall be
made in writing and shall be by registered or certified first-class mail, return
receipt requested, facsimile, courier service or personal delivery:

                  (a)   if to the Fund at the following address:

                        The 1818 Fund III, L.P.
                        c/o Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
                        140 Broadway
                        New York, New York 10005
                        Facsimile: (212) 493-8429
                        Attention: Lawrence C. Tucker

<PAGE>
                                                                              27

                  with a copy to:

                        Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
                        1285 Avenue of the Americas
                        New York, New York 10019-6064
                        Facsimile: (212) 757-3990
                        Attention: Marilyn Sobel, Esq.

                  (b)   if to the Company at the following address:

                        Z-Tel Technologies, Inc.
                        6091 South Harbour Island Boulevard
                        Suite 220
                        Tampa, Florida 33602
                        Facsimile: (813) 233-4623
                        Attention: Andrew Graham, Esq.

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given:
when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; when delivered by courier, if
delivered by commercial overnight courier service; five (5) Business Days after
being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; and when receipt is
acknowledged, if sent by facsimile.

            10.3  Confidentiality. The Fund agrees to use commercially
reasonable efforts (equivalent to the efforts the Fund applies to maintain the
confidentiality of its own confidential information) to maintain as confidential
all confidential information provided to it by the Company and designated as
confidential for a period of three (3) years following receipt thereof, except
that the Fund may disclose such information (a) to Persons employed or engaged
by the Fund, so long as such Person is required to keep such confidential
information confidential; (b) to any bona fide assignee or participant or
potential assignee or participant that has agreed to comply with the covenant
contained in this Section 10.3 (and any such bona fide assignee or participant
or potential assignee or participant may disclose such information to Persons
employed or engaged by them as described in clause (a) above); (c) as required
or requested by any Governmental Authority or reasonably believed by the Fund to
be compelled by any court decree, subpoena or legal or administrative order or
process; (d) as, on the advice of the Fund's counsel, is required by law; (e) in
connection with the exercise of any right or remedy under the Transaction
Documents or in connection with any litigation or other proceeding to which the
Fund is a party; or (f) that ceases to be confidential through no fault of the
Fund.

            10.4  Successors and Assigns; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and
permitted assigns of the parties hereto. The Fund may assign any of its rights
under this Agreement only to any of its Affiliates; provided, that any such
Affiliate (including any limited partner) agrees to be bound by the provisions
in this Agreement. The Company may not assign any of its rights under this
Agreement without the written consent of the Fund. Except as provided in Article
8, no Person other than the parties hereto is intended to be a beneficiary of
this Agreement or the Transaction Documents. Nothing in this Section 10.4 shall
prohibit the Fund from transferring the Note to any Person.

<PAGE>
                                                                              28

            10.5  Amendment and Waiver. No failure or delay on the part of the
Company or the Fund in exercising any right, power or remedy hereunder shall
operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any
such right, power or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or
the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. The remedies provided for
herein are cumulative and are not exclusive of any remedies that may be
available to the Company or the Fund at law, in equity or otherwise. Any
amendment, supplement, modification or termination of or to any provision of
this Agreement, any waiver of any provision of this Agreement, and any consent
to any departure by the Company from the terms of any provision of this
Agreement, shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific
purpose for which made or given and shall be effective only when signed in
writing by the Fund (if prior to the Initial Closing or with respect to any
Additional Loan by the Fund) or by or on behalf of holders representing at least
75% of the aggregate principal amount of the Note then outstanding (if after the
Initial Closing and not with respect to any Additional Loan by the Fund). Except
where notice is specifically required by this Agreement, no notice to or demand
on the Company in any case shall entitle the Company to any other or further
notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

            10.6  Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto 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.

            10.7  Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience
of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

            10.8  Determinations. Except where any provision expressly requires
that a determination be reasonable or a consent not be unreasonably withheld, or
be subject to qualifications to similar effect, all determinations to be made by
the Company, the Fund or any Holder hereunder in its opinion or judgment or with
its approval or otherwise shall be made by it in its sole discretion.

            10.9  Governing Law. This Agreement has been negotiated, executed
and delivered in the State of New York and shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to principles
of choice of laws or conflicts of laws that would cause the application of the
laws of any other jurisdiction.

            10.10 Jurisdiction. Each party to this Agreement hereby irrevocably
agrees that any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Agreement, the Transaction Documents or any agreements or transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby shall be brought only in the courts of the State
of New York located in New York City or of the United States of America for the
Southern District of New York and hereby expressly submits to the personal
jurisdiction and venue of such courts for the purposes thereof and expressly
waives any claim of improper venue and any claim that such courts are an
inconvenient forum. Each party hereby irrevocably consents to the service of
process of any of the aforementioned courts in any such suit, action or
proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail,
postage

<PAGE>
                                                                              29

prepaid, to the address set forth in Section 10.2, such service to become
effective 10 days after such mailing.

            10.11 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ANY RIGHTS THEY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY
ACTION BASED UPON, OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS
OR ANY AGREEMENTS OR TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.

            10.12 Severability. In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the
validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other
respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired,
unless the provisions held invalid, illegal or unenforceable shall substantially
impair the benefits of the remaining provisions hereof.

            10.13 Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires,
"or" is not exclusive, and references to sections or subsections refer to
sections or subsections of this Agreement.

            10.14 Remedies. If a breach of this Agreement or any Transaction
Document by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries occurs and is continuing, any
Holder may pursue any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to
enforce the performance (including, without limitation, the specific
performance) of any provision of this Agreement or any Transaction Document.
Except as otherwise provided by law, a delay or omission by any Holder in
exercising any right or remedy accruing upon any such breach shall not impair
the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in any such
breach. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are
cumulative.

            10.15 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the exhibits
hereto, the Company Disclosure Letter and the Transaction Documents, is intended
by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a
complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the
parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and therein.
There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than
those set forth or referred to herein or therein. This Agreement, together with
the exhibits hereto, the Company Disclosure Letter and the Transaction
Documents, supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the
parties with respect to such subject matter.

            10.16 Attorneys' Fees. In any action or proceeding brought to
enforce any provision of this Agreement (including, without limitation, the
representations and warranties of the Fund), the Transaction Documents or any
other document or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, or where any
provision hereof or thereof is validly asserted as a defense, the successful
party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys' fees, charges and
disbursements in addition to any other available remedy.

            10.17 Publicity. Except as may be required by applicable law or
exchange rules, neither party hereto shall issue a publicity release or
announcement or otherwise make any public

<PAGE>
                                                                              30

disclosure concerning this Agreement, the Transaction Documents or the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, without reasonable prior approval
by the other party hereto. If any announcement is required by law or exchange
rules to be made by either party hereto, prior to making such announcement such
party will deliver a draft of such announcement to the other party and shall
give the other party an opportunity to comment thereon.

            10.18 Expenses. The Company acknowledges and agrees that whether or
not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Company shall
reimburse the Fund for (i) all reasonable consulting and legal fees and expenses
and other charges of the Fund in connection with the negotiation, execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, without limitation,
all reasonable fees, disbursements and related charges of PWRW&G) and (ii)
reasonable out-of pocket expenses for attendance at meetings of the Board of
Directors of the Company by the Fund's Directors and any representative. The
Company agrees that it will make such reimbursements as such fees and expenses
are incurred, upon request from the Fund.

            10.19 No Strict Construction. The parties hereto have participated
jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and the Transaction
Documents. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation
arises, this Agreement and the Transaction Documents shall be construed as if
drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof
shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any
provisions of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents.

                        [Signatures follow on next page.]

<PAGE>

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be executed and delivered by their respective representatives hereunto duly
authorized as of the date first above written.

                                       Z-TEL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                                       By:_____________________________________
                                          Name: Horace J. Davis, III
                                          Title: Chief Financial Officer

                                       THE 1818 FUND III, L.P.

                                       By: Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.,
                                           General Partner

                                       By:_____________________________________
                                          Name: Lawrence C. Tucker
                                          Title: Partner

Signature page to Standby Credit Facility Agreement

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         Page
                                                                                         ----
<S>                                                                                      <C>
ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS..............................................................       1
    1.1     Definitions............................................................       1
    1.2     Additional Definitions.................................................       6
    1.3     Accounting Terms; Financial Covenants..................................       7
    1.4     Schedules..............................................................       7

ARTICLE 2 LOANS....................................................................       8
    2.1     The Facility...........................................................       8
    2.2     The Note...............................................................       8
    2.3     Initial Loan...........................................................       8
    2.4     Requests for Additional Loans..........................................       8

ARTICLE 3 CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATION OF THE FUND TO FUND THE INITIAL LOAN........       9
    3.1     Representations and Warranties True....................................       9
    3.2     Compliance with this Agreement.........................................       9
    3.3     Officer's Certificate..................................................       9
    3.4     Secretary's Certificate................................................       9
    3.5     Documents..............................................................       9
    3.6     Purchase Permitted by Applicable Laws..................................       9
    3.7     Opinion of General Counsel.............................................       9
    3.8     Approval of Counsel to the Fund........................................       9
    3.9     Consents and Approvals.................................................      10
    3.10    No Material Adverse Change.............................................      10
    3.11    Conduct of Business....................................................      10
    3.12    Subordination Agreement................................................      10
    3.13    Note; Subsidiaries' Guarantee..........................................      10
    3.14    Charter and By-Laws of the Company.....................................      10
    3.15    Market Conditions......................................................      10
    3.16    No Litigation..........................................................      10
    3.17    No Default or Breach of Contractual Obligations........................      11
    3.18    No Default of Senior Creditor Documents................................      11
    3.19    NASDAQ.................................................................      11
    3.20    Due Diligence..........................................................      11
    3.21    Capital Expenditures...................................................      11
    3.22    EBITDA Improvements....................................................      11
    3.23    Unrestricted Cash Balances and Accounts Receivable.....................      11
    3.24    Opinion of Regulatory Counsel..........................................      11

ARTICLE 4 CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATION OF THE COMPANY TO BORROW THE INITIAL LOAN...      12
    4.1     Representations and Warranties True....................................      12
    4.2     Compliance with this Agreement.........................................      12
</TABLE>
                                      -i-
<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (Continued)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         Page
                                                                                         ----
<S>                                                                                      <C>
    4.3     Issuance Permitted by Applicable Laws..................................      12
    4.4     Approval of the Company................................................      12
    4.5     Consents and Approvals.................................................      12

ARTICLE 5 CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATION OF THE FUND TO MAKE ADDITIONAL LOANS........      12
    5.1     Representations and Warranties True....................................      12
    5.2     No Default.............................................................      13
    5.3     Charter and By Laws of the Company.....................................      13
    5.4     Officer's Certificate..................................................      13
    5.5     No Material Adverse Change.............................................      13
    5.6     Market Conditions......................................................      13

ARTICLE 6 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY............................      14
    6.1     Corporate Existence and Power..........................................      14
    6.2     Corporate Authorization; No Contravention..............................      14
    6.3     Governmental Authorization; Third Party Consents.......................      14
    6.4     Binding Effect.........................................................      15
    6.5     No Legal Bar...........................................................      15
    6.6     Litigation.............................................................      15
    6.7     No Default or Breach...................................................      15
    6.8     Title to Properties....................................................      16
    6.9     Taxes..................................................................      16
    6.10    Financial Condition....................................................      16
    6.11    No Material Adverse Change.............................................      16
    6.12    Commission Documents...................................................      16
    6.13    Environmental Matters..................................................      17
    6.14    Investment Company.....................................................      17
    6.15    Subsidiaries...........................................................      17
    6.16    [Intentionally omitted.................................................      17
    6.17    Solvency...............................................................      17
    6.18    Private Offering.......................................................      17
    6.19    Broker's, Finder's or Similar Fees.....................................      17
    6.20    Full Disclosure........................................................      18
    6.21    Regulatory Compliance..................................................      18
    6.22    [Intentionally omitted.................................................      19
    6.23    [Intentionally omitted.................................................      19
    6.24    Trade Relations........................................................      19
    6.25    Material Contracts.....................................................      19
    6.26    Business Model and Cash Flow Forecast..................................      19
    6.27    No Undisclosed Financial Liabilities...................................      20
    6.28    Intellectual Property..................................................      20
    6.29    ERISA..................................................................      21
</TABLE>
                                      -ii-
<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (Continued)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         Page
                                                                                         ----
<S>                                                                                      <C>
    6.30    Labor Relations........................................................      21
    6.31    Usury Laws.............................................................      22
    6.32    EBITDA Improvements....................................................      22
    6.33    Additional EBITDA Improvements.........................................      22
    6.34    Outstanding Borrowings.................................................      22

ARTICLE 7 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE FUND...............................      22
    7.1     Existence and Power....................................................      22
    7.2     Authorization; No Contravention........................................      23
    7.3     Binding Effect.........................................................      23
    7.4     No Legal Bar...........................................................      23
    7.5     Purchase for Own Account...............................................      23
    7.6     Broker's, Finder's or Similar Fees.....................................      24
    7.7     Investment Knowledge...................................................      24

ARTICLE 8 INDEMNIFICATION..........................................................      24
    8.1     Indemnification by the Company.........................................      24
    8.2     Notification...........................................................      25

ARTICLE 9 AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS....................................................      26
    9.1     Additional Parties to Subsidiaries' Guarantees.........................      26

ARTICLE 10 MISCELLANEOUS...........................................................      26
    10.1    Survival of Provisions.................................................      26
    10.2    Notices................................................................      26
    10.3    Confidentiality........................................................      27
    10.4    Successors and Assigns; No Third Party Beneficiaries...................      27
    10.5    Amendment and Waiver...................................................      28
    10.6    Counterparts...........................................................      28
    10.7    Headings...............................................................      28
    10.8    Determinations.........................................................      28
    10.9    Governing Law..........................................................      28
    10.10   Jurisdiction...........................................................      28
    10.11   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL...................................................      29
    10.12   Severability...........................................................      29
    10.13   Rules of Construction..................................................      29
    10.14   Remedies...............................................................      29
    10.15   Entire Agreement.......................................................      29
    10.16   Attorneys' Fees........................................................      29
    10.17   Publicity..............................................................      29
    10.18   Expenses...............................................................      30
    10.19   No Strict Construction.................................................      30
</TABLE>
                                     -iii-
<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                   (Continued)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBITS
<S>               <C>
Exhibit A         Form of Note
Exhibit B         Form of Subordination Agreement
Exhibit C         Form of Subsidiaries' Guarantee
</TABLE>

                                      -iv-
<PAGE>

                                                                  Execution Copy

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

                        STANDBY CREDIT FACILITY AGREEMENT

                                  by and among

                            Z-TEL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                                       and

                             THE 1818 FUND III, L.P.

                         --------------------------------

                              Dated August 24, 2004

                         --------------------------------

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

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED, QUALIFIED, APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND MAY NOT BE SOLD
OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER SUCH ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION
TO THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF SUCH ACT OR SUCH LAWS AND NEITHER THE UNITED
STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY OTHER FEDERAL OR STATE
REGULATORY AUTHORITY HAS PASSED ON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THIS NOTE.

THIS NOTE IS SUBORDINATE TO THE INDEBTEDNESS EVIDENCED BY THAT CERTAIN LOAN AND
SECURITY AGREEMENT, DATED APRIL 22, 2004 (THE "SENIOR LOAN AGREEMENT"), AMONG
THE COMPANY, TEXTRON FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND THE OTHER SIGNATORIES THERETO, AS
SUCH SENIOR LOAN AGREEMENT HAS BEEN AND HEREAFTER MAY BE AMENDED, SUPPLEMENTED
OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME. THE TERMS OF THE SUBORDINATION ARE MORE
SPECIFICALLY DEFINED IN THAT CERTAIN SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG THE
FUND, THE COMPANY, TEXTRON FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND THE OTHER SIGNATORIES
THERETO. EACH HOLDER OF THIS INSTRUMENT, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, SHALL BE
BOUND BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT.

                            Z-TEL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                        SENIOR UNSECURED PROMISSORY NOTE

Up to $15,000,000                                               August 24, 2004

            FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Z-TEL TECHNOLOGIES, INC., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), promises to pay on March 31, 2006 (as such
date may be extended in accordance with Section 3, the "Maturity Date") to the
order of THE 1818 FUND III, L.P. (the "Fund") or its assigns an amount (the
"Full Repayment Amount") equal to the sum of (a) the principal amount of the
Initial Loan on the date hereof of FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ($5,000,000) and the
principal amount of any Additional Loan as shall be borrowed by the Company from
time to time under the Credit Agreement (defined below) (such sum as reduced
pursuant to Section 7, the "Principal Amount"), plus (b) all accrued and unpaid
interest, plus (c) a premium in an amount equal to four and one-half percent
(4.5%) of the Principal Amount of all loans advanced to the Company (such amount
as reduced pursuant to Section 7, the "Premium Amount"). The Full Repayment
Amount shall be paid in whole, but not in part, in cash by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to an account designated in writing prior to the
Maturity Date by the holder of this Note. The Company hereby authorizes the
holder of this Note to endorse on Annex A hereto the amount of each Loan made to
the Company under this Note and all reductions pursuant to Section 7, which
endorsements shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive as to the
outstanding Principal Amount; provided, however, that the failure to make such
notation with respect to any

<PAGE>

                                                                               2

such Loan or reduction shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of
the Company under the Credit Agreement or this Note.

            1.    Standby Credit Facility Agreement. This Senior Unsecured
Promissory Note (this "Note") is issued pursuant to the Standby Credit Facility
Agreement, dated August __, 2004, by and between the Company and the Fund (the
"Credit Agreement") and the holder of this Note is entitled to the benefits of
this Note and the Credit Agreement and may enforce the agreements contained
herein and therein and exercise the remedies provided hereby and thereby or that
are otherwise available hereto or thereto.

            2.    Interest. The Company promises to pay interest on the
Principal Amount of this Note at the rate of 9.95% per annum. If the Maturity
Date shall be extended pursuant to Section 3, the Company promises to pay
interest on the Principal Amount of this Note, from and after April 1, 2006, at
the rate of 8.95% per annum. Interest shall be payable as set forth below.

            The Company shall pay accrued interest quarterly in arrears on the
last day of October, January, April and July and on the Maturity Date or, if any
such date shall not be a Business Day, on the preceding Business Day to occur
before such date (each date upon which interest shall be so payable, an
"Interest Payment Date"). On each Interest Payment Date, the Company shall pay
the total amount of interest due on such Interest Payment Date in cash by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by
the holder of this Note. Interest on this Note shall accrue daily from the date
of issuance until repayment of the Principal Amount and payment of Premium
Amount and of all accrued interest in full. Accrued interest shall be calculated
from and including the first day of any period to but excluding the date of
payment. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve
30-day months. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2, but
subject to applicable law, any overdue principal or Premium Amount of, and
overdue interest on, this Note shall bear interest, payable on demand in
immediately available funds, for each day from the date payment of principal,
Premium Amount or interest was due to the date of actual payment, at the then
current rate of interest plus 2.0% per annum, and, upon and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, this Note shall bear interest, from the date
of the occurrence of such Event of Default until such Event of Default is cured
or waived, payable on demand in immediately available funds, at the then current
rate of interest plus 2.0% per annum. Subject to applicable law, any interest
that shall accrue on overdue interest on this Note as provided in the preceding
sentence and shall not have been paid in full on or before the next Interest
Payment Date to occur after the Interest Payment Date on which the overdue
interest became due and payable shall itself be deemed to be overdue interest on
this Note to which the preceding sentence shall apply. In no event whatsoever
shall interest charged hereunder, however such interest may be characterized or
computed, exceed the highest rate permissible under any law which a court of
competent jurisdiction shall, in a final determination, deem applicable hereto.
In the event that such a court determines that the holder of this Note has
received interest hereunder in excess of the highest rate applicable hereto,
such excess interest shall, at the

<PAGE>
                                                                               3

Company's option and to the extent permitted by law, (a) be applied as a credit
against the outstanding principal balance hereof or accrued and unpaid interest
hereon, (b) refunded to the Company or (c) any combination of the foregoing.

            3.    Extension of Maturity Date. Subject to Sections 5 and 6, as
applicable, the Company shall pay the holder of this Note the Full Repayment
Amount on March 31, 2006; provided, however, that the Company may, at its
option, extend the maturity date from March 31, 2006 to August 30, 2006 if the
following conditions have been satisfied: (a) all reported trades in the Common
Stock during the months of June 2005 and July 2005 are in excess of $5.00 per
share (subject to equitable adjustment for any stock dividend, stock split,
combination, reorganization, recapitalization or similar event involving a
change in the Common Stock), (b) not more than forty-five (45) days and not less
than thirty (30) days before the then effective Maturity Date the Company shall
have requested of the holder of this Note in writing that the Maturity Date be
extended pursuant to this Section 3 subject to the satisfaction of the
conditions set forth herein and (c) on the then effective Maturity Date (i.e.,
March 31, 2006), the Company shall deliver to the holder of this Note a
certificate to the effect that (i) the conditions set forth in clauses (a) and
(b) above have been satisfied, (ii) no default under this Note or the Credit
Agreement nor any Event of Default exists on such date and (iii) no "event of
default" exists under the Senior Loan Agreement.

            4.    Use of Proceeds. The Company shall use the proceeds from the
Initial Loan for general corporate purposes and the proceeds from each
Additional Loan to pay for Capital Expenditures (and capitalized salaries
relating thereto) relating substantially to the establishment of the Company's
planned network.

            5.    Mandatory Redemption Upon a Note Change of Control.

                  5.1   Mandatory Redemption. In the event of any Note Change of
Control of the Company, the Company shall pay to the holder of this Note an
amount (the "Mandatory Redemption Amount") equal to the Full Repayment Amount as
of the Mandatory Redemption Date. The Mandatory Redemption Amount shall be in
whole, but not in part, in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds
to an account designated in writing prior to the Mandatory Redemption Date by
the holder of this Note.

                  5.2   Notice. Notice of a Note Change of Control (the
"Mandatory Redemption Notice") shall be delivered at least 10 Business Days
prior to the occurrence of a Note Change of Control to the holder of this Note
at such holder's address as it appears on the transfer books of the Company. The
date of payment of the Mandatory Redemption Amount (the "Mandatory Redemption
Date") shall be fixed by the Company in the Mandatory Redemption Notice and
shall be on or prior to the consummation of the Note Change of Control.

                  5.3   Procedure for Mandatory Redemption. On the Mandatory
Redemption Date the holder of this Note shall surrender this Note to the Company
at the place designated by the Company. From and after the Mandatory Redemption
Date (a) this Note shall no longer be deemed outstanding, (b) the right to
receive interest on

<PAGE>
                                                                               4

this Note shall cease to accrue, (c) all rights of the holder of this Note shall
cease and terminate, excepting only the right to receive the Mandatory
Redemption Amount therefor; provided, however, that if the Company shall default
in the payment of the Mandatory Redemption Amount, this Note shall thereafter be
deemed to be outstanding and the holder hereof shall have all of the rights
provided in this Note until such time as such default shall no longer be
continuing.

            6.    Optional Redemption at Election of Company.

                  6.1   Optional Redemption. The Company shall have the right,
at any time at its sole option and election, to redeem this Note in whole, but
not in part (the "Optional Redemption"), at a price (the "Optional Redemption
Price") equal to the Full Repayment Amount as of the Optional Redemption Date.
The Optional Redemption Price shall be paid in cash by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to an account designated in writing prior to the
Optional Redemption Date by the holder of this Note.

                  6.2   Notice. Notice of an Optional Redemption (the "Optional
Redemption Notice") shall be delivered at least 10 Business Days prior to the
date of payment of the Optional Redemption Price (the "Optional Redemption
Date") to the holder of this Note at such holder's address as it appears on the
transfer books of the Company. The Optional Redemption Date shall be fixed by
the Company in the Optional Redemption Notice.

                  6.3   Procedure for Optional Redemption. On the Optional
Redemption Date the holder of this Note shall surrender this Note to the Company
at the place designated by the Company. From and after the Optional Redemption
Date (a) this Note shall no longer be deemed outstanding, (b) the right to
receive interest on this Note shall cease to accrue, (c) all rights of the
holder of this Note shall cease and terminate, excepting only the right to
receive the Optional Redemption Price therefor; provided, however, that if the
Company shall default in the payment of the Optional Redemption Price, this Note
shall thereafter be deemed to be outstanding and the holder hereof shall have
all of the rights provided in this Note until such time as such default shall no
longer be continuing.

            7.    Pre-emptive Rights. If at any time the Company shall offer to
sell any Securities to any Person (including, without limitation, the holders of
the Company's preferred stock ("Preferred Stock") or Common Stock) (a
"Securities Offering"), including, without limitation, in connection with a
negotiated conversion or exchange of its Preferred Stock but excluding shares of
Common Stock issued for the exercise of any Preferred Stock or options of the
Company in accordance with their respective terms on the date of initial
issuance, the holder of this Note shall have the right (in addition to any other
rights of the holder of this Note, if any, as a holder of Preferred Stock,
Common Stock or other Securities of the Company), at its option, to (a) purchase
a number of any such offered Securities of the Company ("Offered Securities") up
to the number of Offered Securities purchasable on the date of payment for such
Offered Securities for an amount equal to the sum of (i) $15,675,000 plus (ii)
the amount of any accrued and unpaid interest under this Note as of such date
and (b) use this Note, up to the Full

<PAGE>
                                                                               5

Repayment Amount as of the date of payment for Offered Securities and in lieu of
cash, to purchase any such Offered Securities. The right of the holder of this
Note to purchase the Offered Securities under this Section 7 shall be
conditioned upon (i) the receipt of all consents, exemptions, authorizations, or
other actions by, or notices to, or filings with, Governmental Authorities and
other Persons necessary or required in connection with the purchase of the
Offered Securities by the Fund and (ii) the receipt of the approval of the
Company's stockholders to the extent required under the NASD rules. Any such
purchase of Offered Securities shall be at the most favorable price and on the
most favorable terms offered to any other Person. Upon the consummation of any
purchase of Offered Securities by the holder of this Note in accordance with
clause (b) of this Section 7, the Full Repayment Amount (beginning, first, with
the Premium Amount, second, with any accrued and unpaid interest and, third,
with the Principal Amount) of this Note shall be reduced dollar-for-dollar for
any portion of the Full Repayment Amount used by the holder of this Note to
purchase any such Offered Securities.

            8.    Affirmative Covenants. In addition to the covenants and
agreements contained in the Credit Agreement, the Company hereby covenants and
agrees with the holder of this Note and its assigns as follows:

                  8.1   Financial Statements. The Company shall deliver to the
holder of this Note within one hundred twenty (120) days following the close of
each fiscal year, the Company's audited financial statements, certified by a
recognized firm of certified public accountants acceptable to the holder of this
Note as having been prepared in accordance with GAAP and as presenting fairly
the financial condition of the Company as of the date thereof and for the period
then ended (and including a management letter to the Company from such
accountants, if prepared by such accountants at the Company's request, to be
delivered not later than thirty (30) days thereafter). The Company shall deliver
to the holder of this Note: (a) within forty-five (45) days following the close
of each fiscal quarter, reasonably detailed quarterly financial statements
(other than the last fiscal quarter of the fiscal year), including income
statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flow, prepared in accordance
with GAAP (subject to the absence of notes and to annual audit adjustment),
certified by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer or other
authorized individual of the Company as presenting fairly the financial
condition of the Company as of the date thereof and for the period then ended,
(b) at least thirty (30) days prior to the end of the Company's fiscal year an
annual operating budget showing a projected income statement, balance sheet and
cash flows as of each fiscal quarter's end for the forthcoming fiscal year, (c)
within thirty (30) days of the end of each calendar month, reasonably detailed
monthly financial statements, including income statement, balance sheet, and
statement of cash flow, prepared in accordance with GAAP (subject to the absence
of notes and to annual audit adjustment and to any other material deviations
from GAAP expressly noted therein), certified by the Chief Executive Officer or
Chief Financial Officer or other authorized individual of the Company as
presenting fairly the financial condition of the Company as of the date thereof
and for the period then ended, (d) daily online access to (i) cash balances,
(ii) cash receipts, (iii) cash disbursements, (iv) changes in borrowing levels
under existing borrowings and (v) daily changes in line accounts by category and
(e) such other financial information as the holder of this Note shall reasonably
request.

<PAGE>
                                                                               6

                  8.2   Books and Records. Each Company Group Member shall, and
the Company shall cause each Company Group Member to, keep accurate and complete
records of its assets, leases, agreements and other properties and shall, at
reasonable times and upon reasonable notice, permit the holder of this Note to
(a) visit the its business locations at intervals to be determined by the holder
of this Note; and (b) inspect, audit and make extracts from or copies of its
books, records, journals, receipts, computer tapes and disks. The parties
expressly acknowledge and agree that notice of twenty-four (24) hours or more
shall be reasonable in the event the Company is not in default of any of its
obligations under this Note, the Credit Agreement or the Senior Loan Agreement
(collectively, the "Debt Obligations") at the time such inspection is requested,
and that prior notice shall not be required in the event the Company is in
default under any of the Note at the time any such inspection is requested. All
Governmental Authorities are authorized to furnish the holder of this Note with
copies of reports of examinations of any Company Group Member made by such
Governmental Authorities.

                  8.3   Payments. The Company shall punctually pay the interest,
the Principal Amount, the Premium Amount and any other payments or liabilities
due under this Note in the manner specified in this Note.

                  8.4   Holder Approvals.

                        (a)   If either (i) the EBITDA of the Company Group for
the last completed fiscal quarter is less than $4,000,000 or (ii) the average
daily unrestricted cash balances of the Company Group for the last completed
fiscal quarter are less than $15,000,000, the Company shall not, and the Company
shall cause each Company Group Member not to, make any Capital Expenditures in
the next fiscal quarter if the amount of all Capital Expenditures in such fiscal
quarter will exceed $1,000,000 unless the type and amount of any such Capital
Expenditure (to the extent the Capital Expenditures exceed $1,000,000) is
approved in advance by the holder of this Note. The Company shall deliver to the
holder of this Note at least thirty (30) days prior to the end of each fiscal
quarter a list in the form of Annex B hereto, which list shall be reasonably
acceptable to and approved by the holder of this Note, of all projected Capital
Expenditures for the next succeeding fiscal quarter. The Company will promptly
deliver to the holder of this Note any material revisions to the Capital
Expenditures list; provided, however that unless and until the holder approves
any such revisions, the Company shall comply with this Section on the basis of
the list previously delivered to and approved by the holder. Each Capital
Expenditure made by the Company Group in any fiscal quarter shall be in material
compliance with any Capital Expenditures list approved by the holder of this
Note under this Section 8.4(a); provided that in no event shall the Capital
Expenditures made by the Company Group in any fiscal quarter exceed the
aggregate amount of Capital Expenditures projected to be made in such fiscal
quarter as set forth on the Capital Expenditures list with respect to such
fiscal quarter approved by the holder of this Note. The Company and the Fund
hereby agree that the Capital Expenditures for the fiscal quarter ending on
September 30, 2004 that are set forth on Schedule 3.21 to the Company Disclosure
Letter are approved for purposes of this Section 8.4(a).

<PAGE>
                                                                               7

                        (b)   If either (i) the EBITDA of the Company Group for
the preceding four consecutive fiscal quarters is less than $20,000,000 or (ii)
the average daily unrestricted cash balances of the Company Group for the
preceding six months is less than $25,000,000, the Company shall consult with
the holder of this Note, and provide the holder of this Note with such
information as such holder shall reasonably request, prior to taking any action
to implement any geographic or product expansions involving, individually or in
the aggregate, a material increase in the Company's operating costs.

                  8.5   Notice of Event of Default. The Company shall promptly,
upon the Company's acquiring knowledge thereof, give written notice to the
holder of this Note of the occurrence of any Event of Default.

                  8.6   Compliance with Laws and Taxes. Each Company Group
Member shall, and the Company shall cause each Company Group Member to, comply
in all material respects with all Applicable Laws. Each Company Group Member
shall, and the Company shall cause each Company Group Member to, deliver
promptly to the holder of this Note, upon request, an executed copy of any
document filed or submitted to any Governmental Authority pursuant to Applicable
Laws, each copy certified by the Company to be a true and correct copy thereof.
Each Company Group Member shall, and the Company shall cause each Company Group
Member to, pay all real and personal property taxes, assessments and charges,
and all franchise, income, unemployment, social security, withholding, sales and
all other taxes assessed against it or its assets, at such times and in such
manner so as to avoid any penalty from accruing against it or any other Company
Group Member or any Lien from attaching to its assets or the assets of any other
Company Group Member; provided, however, that no Company Group Member shall be
required to pay any such tax, assessment, or charge so long as the validity
thereof shall be actively contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings,
the amount of such taxes, assessments or charges in dispute do not exceed the
sum of $100,000 in the aggregate at any time, such Company Group Member shall
have set aside on its books adequate reserves, which reserves shall be derived
from sources other than directly from the Senior Lender or the holder of this
Note, and the Company shall have reported the same pursuant to a certificate
delivered to, and reviewed and approved by, the holder of this Note; but
provided further that each Company Group Member shall, and the Company shall
cause each Company Group Member to, pay any such tax, assessment, or charge
forthwith upon the commencement of proceedings to foreclose any Lien securing
the same. Each Company Group Member shall, and the Company shall cause each
Company Group Member to, deliver promptly to the holder of this Note, upon
request, receipted bills evidencing payment of such taxes and assessments.

                  8.7   Regulatory Approvals and Notices. The Company, with the
cooperation of the holder of this Note, shall file, and shall cause each
applicable Company Group Member to file, any and all: (a) applications required
by any state public utility commission seeking approval for the provision of
guarantee by any such Company Group Member that is a party to the Subsidiary
Guaranty, within fourteen (14) Business Days of the date of this Note, and shall
diligently seek, and shall cause each applicable Subsidiary to seek diligently,
to obtain the approval of such applications; and

<PAGE>
                                                                               8

(b) notifications required by any state public utility commission with respect
to the provision of the guaranties by any Subsidiary that is a party to the
Subsidiary Guaranty, within fourteen (14) Business Days of the date of this
Note.

                  8.8   Governmental Authorization; Stockholder Approval. The
Company, with the cooperation of the holder of this Note, shall take all
necessary actions required to obtain (a) any approval, consent, exemption,
authorization, or other action by, or give any notice to, or make any filing
with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person, and (b) any approval of
the Company's stockholders that is required, in each case in connection with the
Fund's purchase of Offered Securities pursuant to Section 7 hereof.

                  8.9   Further Assurances. Each Company Group Member shall
promptly, and the Company shall cause each Company Group Member promptly to,
execute and deliver upon request by the holder of this Note and at the Company's
expense, such additional documents, instruments and agreements as the holder of
this Note may reasonably determine to be necessary to (a) carry out the
provisions of this Note and the Credit Agreement and the transactions and
actions contemplated hereby and thereby and (b) to evidence the Company's
obligations hereunder.

            9.    Negative Covenants. In addition to any covenants and
agreements contained in the Credit Agreement, for so long as this Note remains
outstanding, the Company hereby covenants and agrees with the holder of this
Note and its assigns as follows:

                  9.1   Indebtedness. No Company Group Member shall, and the
Company shall cause each Company Group Member not to, directly or indirectly,
create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except (a)
Indebtedness under this Note, (b) Indebtedness under the Senior Loan Agreement
and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided,
however, that the amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of
such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension in excess of an aggregate
amount equal to $40,000,000, (c) Indebtedness in respect of capital leases and
purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets in an aggregate amount
not to exceed $20,000,000, (d) accounts and taxes payable incurred in the
ordinary course of business, (e) Indebtedness that (i) is fully subordinated to
this Note pursuant to a subordination agreement satisfactory to the holder of
this Note in its sole judgment and discretion and (ii) requires no principal
repayment until at least six (6) months after August 30, 2006 and (f) Preferred
Stock of the Company currently outstanding or amended with the approval of the
holder of this Note.

                  9.2   Liens. No Company Group Member shall, and the Company
shall cause each Company Group Member not to, directly or indirectly, create,
incur, assume or suffer to exist, any Lien on any asset, lease, agreement or
other property now owned or hereafter acquired by it (including, without
limitation, any real property), except (a) Liens granted by the Company and its
Subsidiaries in favor of the Senior Lender in connection with the Senior Loan
Agreement as of the date hereof, (b) Liens for taxes not yet due; provided that
adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on

<PAGE>
                                                                               9

the books of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries in conformity with GAAP, (c)
carriers', warehousemen's, landlords', mechanics', materialmen's, repairmen's or
other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business, provided such
Liens are immediately discharged in the event that steps are instituted to
enforce such Liens unless the underlying obligations are being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings with adequate reserves therefor in accordance
with GAAP, (d) Liens for capital leases and purchase money obligations permitted
under Section 9.1(c) and (e) encumbrances consisting of zoning restrictions,
easements, licenses or other restrictions on the use of real property; provided,
however, that such items do not materially impair the use of such property for
the purposes intended. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Company Group Member
shall, and the Company shall cause each Company Group Member not to, directly or
indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist, any Lien on any capital
stock or other equity interest or on any debt securities of the Company's
Subsidiaries other than Liens in favor of the Senior Lender in accordance with
the Senior Loan Agreement, the other loan documents related thereto and the
Subordination Agreement.

                  9.3   Restricted Payments. No Company Group Member shall, and
the Company shall cause each Company Group Member not to, directly or
indirectly, declare or make, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise)
to declare or make (a) any dividend payments or other distributions on the
Company's capital stock, including, without limitation, the Common Stock and
Preferred Stock, (b) any payment on account of the purchase, redemption,
defeasance, sinking fund or other retirement of the Company's or any of its
Subsidiaries' capital stock or any other payment or distribution made in respect
thereof, either directly or indirectly, (c) any payment made to redeem,
purchase, repurchase or retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding
warrants, options or other rights to acquire capital stock of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries now or hereafter outstanding, (d) any payment of a claim for
the rescission of the purchase or sale of, or for material damages arising from
the purchase or sale of, any shares of the Company's or its Subsidiaries'
capital stock or of a claim for reimbursement, indemnification or contribution
arising out of or related to any such claim for damages or rescission, (e) any
payment, loan, contribution, or other transfer of funds or other property to any
stockholder of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than payment of
compensation in the ordinary course of business to stockholders who are
employees of the Company or any of its respective Subsidiaries and (f) any
payment of management fees (or other fees of a similar nature) by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries to any stockholder of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or Affiliates; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not
restrict dividends, rents, royalties and distributions by Subsidiaries of the
Company paid to the Company.

                  9.4   Disposition of Assets. No Company Group Member shall,
and the Company shall cause each Company Group Member not to, sell, consign,
lease or remove from their respective business locations any of its assets
except that, until the holder of this Note gives the Company notice to the
contrary during the existence of any Event of Default, each Company Group Member
may (a) sell Inventory in the ordinary course of its business (any sale or
exchange of Inventory in satisfaction of indebtedness of any Company Group
Member shall not be deemed a sale of Inventory in the ordinary course of
business); (b) sell or dispose of obsolete assets which such Company Group

<PAGE>
                                                                              10

Member has determined, in good faith, not to be useful in the conduct of its
business and which, in any fiscal year, do not have an aggregate fair market
value in excess of $100,000; (c) sell or dispose of obsolete assets which such
Company Group Member has determined, in good faith, not to be useful in the
conduct of its business; and (d) sell or dispose of accounts in the course of
collection in the ordinary course of business.

                  9.5   Investments. No Company Group Member shall, and the
Company shall cause each Company Group Member not to, make any Investment other
than Permitted Investments and securities received in exchange for Permitted
Investments pursuant to bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings of the issuer of
such Permitted Investments.

                  9.6   Mergers; Consolidations; Acquisitions. No Company Group
Member shall, and the Company shall cause each Company Group Member not to, (a)
merge or consolidate with any other Person, except that the Company or any other
Company Group Member may merge or consolidate with another Person with the prior
written consent of the holder of this Note, nor (b) acquire all or any
substantial part of the properties and assets or Securities of any Person (other
than from the Company or a Subsidiary), except that the Company or other Company
Group Member may acquire such property of any other Person with the prior
written consent of the holder of this Note.

                  9.7   Affiliate Transactions. No Company Group Member shall,
and the Company shall cause each Company Group Member not to, enter into or be a
party to any agreement or transaction with any Affiliate (including, without
limitation, the transfer of any assets to any such Affiliate) except (a) in the
ordinary course of such Company Group Member's business and upon fair and
reasonable terms that are no less favorable to such Company Group Member, as the
case may be, than such Person would obtain in a comparable arms'-length
transaction with a Person not an Affiliate of the Company, and on terms
consistent with the business relationship of such Company Group Member and such
Affiliate prior to the date of this Note, if any, and fully disclosed to the
holder of this Note, (b) transactions in the ordinary course of such Company
Group Member's business for the provision or receipt of services of an
administrative, support, or other similar nature and (c) transactions solely
between the Company and its Subsidiaries or between two or more Subsidiaries.

                  9.8   Liquidation. Upon a liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up of any Company Group Member, no Company Group Member shall, and the
Company shall cause each Company Group Member not to, directly or indirectly,
declare or make, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to declare or
make, any distribution or other payment to any holder of the Company's capital
stock, including, without limitation, the Common Stock and any Preferred Stock
of the Company currently outstanding, until such time as the Full Repayment
Amount is paid in full to the holder of this Note in accordance with the terms
hereof.

                  9.9   No Inconsistent Agreements. No Company Group Member
shall, and the Company shall cause each Company Group Member not to, enter into
any

<PAGE>
                                                                              11

loan or other agreement (other than the Subordination Agreement), or enter into
any amendment or other modification to any currently existing agreement, which
by its terms restricts or prohibits the ability of the Company to pay (a) the
Full Repayment Amount in accordance with this Note when due, (b) interest in
cash on this Note in accordance with Section 2 when due or (c) the Mandatory
Redemption Amount in accordance with Section 5 when due.

            10.   Events of Default. Any of the following shall constitute
an "Event of Default":

                  10.1  Non-Payment. The Company fails to pay (a) when and as
required to be paid herein, any amount of the Full Repayment Amount, the
Mandatory Redemption Amount or the Optional Redemption Price, or (b) within five
(5) Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest accrued on this Note
in accordance with Section 2; or

                  10.2  Certain Covenant Defaults. The Company fails to perform
or observe any covenant or agreement contained in Sections 8.4 or 9; or

                  10.3  Other Defaults. The Company or any other Company Group
Member fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not
specified in Section 10.1 or 10.2 above) contained in this Note, the Credit
Agreement or the Subsidiary Guaranty on the part of such Person to be performed
or observed and such failure continues for 30 days after notice or knowledge
thereof; or

                  10.4  Representations and Warranties. Any representation,
warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf
of the Company in this Note, the Credit Agreement, any Borrowing Request or in
any certificate or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be
incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made; or

                  10.5  Cross-Default; Cross Acceleration. The Company or any of
its Subsidiaries (a) fails to make any payment when due after giving effect to
all grace periods, whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment,
acceleration, demand, or otherwise, in respect of any Indebtedness for borrowed
money or guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder) having an aggregate
principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including
amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit
arrangement) of more than $1,000,000 or (b) after giving effect to all grace
periods, fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating
to any such Indebtedness or guarantee or contained in any instrument or
agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs,
the effect of which default or other event is to cause, such Indebtedness to be
demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed
(automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or
redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such
guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be
demanded; or

<PAGE>
                                                                              12

                  10.6  Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. The Company or any of its
Subsidiaries institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under
any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or
applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian,
conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or
any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian,
conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without
the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues
undischarged or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or any proceeding under any
Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of
its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues
undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered
in any such proceeding; or

                  10.7  Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (a) The Company or
any of its Subsidiaries becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or
fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (b) any writ or warrant
of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or
any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released,
vacated or fully bonded within 30 days after its issue or levy; or

                  10.8  Judgments. There is entered against the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries (a) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of
money, or (b) one or more non-monetary final judgments, in each case, that have,
or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
material adverse effect on the Condition of the Company, and, in either case to
the extent not paid or otherwise covered by independent third-party insurance as
to which the insurer does not dispute coverage; or

                  10.9  Invalidity of Note or Subsidiary Guaranty.

                        (a)   This Note, at any time after its execution and
delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or
satisfaction in full of all the Company's obligations hereunder, ceases to be in
full force and effect; or the Company or any other Person contests in any manner
the validity or enforceability of this Note other than satisfaction in full of
all the Company's obligations hereunder; or the Company denies that it has any
or further liability or obligation under this Note, or purports to revoke,
terminate or rescind this Note other than satisfaction in full of all its
obligations hereunder.

                        (b)   The Subsidiary Guaranty, at any time after its
execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted
thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the obligations thereunder, ceases to
be in full force and effect; or the Company, any Subsidiary or any other Person
contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of the Subsidiary Guaranty
other than satisfaction in full of all the obligations thereunder; or any
Subsidiary denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under the
Subsidiary Guaranty, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind the Subsidiary
Guaranty other than satisfaction in full of all the obligations thereunder.

<PAGE>
                                                                              13

            11.   Remedies Upon Event of Default.

            If any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the holder
of this Note may, upon written notice to the Company, except in the case of
events described in Sections 10.6 and 10.7, in which case no notice shall be
required:

                  (a)   declare all or any portion of the Full Repayment Amount
and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder immediately due and payable, in
cash, all without presentment, demand, protest or further act or notice of any
kind, all of which are expressly waived by the Company; and

                  (b)   exercise any and all rights and remedies available to
the holder of this Note under this Note, the Credit Agreement, at law or in
equity;

provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in
Sections 10.6 or 10.7, the Full Repayment Amount and all other amounts as
aforesaid shall automatically become immediately due and payable, in cash, in
each case without presentment, demand, protest or further act or notice of any
kind, all of which are expressly waived by the Company. No course of dealing,
forbearance, indulgence, failure or delay on the part of the holder of this Note
in exercising any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver
thereof, nor as an acquiescence in any default. No single or partial exercise of
any such right, power or remedy shall preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. No notice to or
demand upon the Company shall entitle the Company to other or further notice or
demand in similar or other circumstances. The remedies provided for herein are
cumulative and are not exclusive of any other remedies that may be available to
the holder of this Note pursuant to agreement, at law, in equity or otherwise.

            12.   Definitions. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this
Note shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Credit Agreement. As used
in this Note, and unless the context requires a different meaning, the following
terms have the meanings indicated:

            "Affiliate" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 12b-2 of
the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act; provided, that for
purposes of this Note no holder hereof shall be deemed an Affiliate of the
Company.

            "Applicable Laws" means all applicable provisions of constitutions,
statutes, rules, regulations and orders of Governmental Authorities and orders
and decrees of courts and arbitrators.

            "Bankruptcy Code" means Title 11, U.S. Code or any other federal,
state or foreign law for the relief of debtors, as any such laws may be amended
from time to time.

            "Business Day" means a day on which the commercial banks in New York
City are open to conduct commercial banking business.

<PAGE>
                                                                              14

            "Capital Expenditures" means the aggregate of all expenditures made
and liabilities incurred that, in accordance with GAAP, are required to be
included in or reflected by the property, plant, equipment or similar fixed
assets accounts other than capitalized salaries related thereto.

            "Capital Lease" means a lease that is required to be capitalized for
financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP.

            "Common Stock" means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of
the Company.

            "Company Group" means the Company and all of its Subsidiaries.

            "Company Group Member" means any of member of the Company Group.

            "Debtor Relief Laws" means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States,
and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the
benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency,
reorganization, or similar debtor relief laws of the United States or other
applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of
creditors generally.

            "EBITDA" means, for any period, the sum of the amounts for such
period of (a) Net Income, (b) Interest Expense, (c) taxes imposed on or measured
by income or excess profits (for such period and without regard to any prior
periods), and (d) the amount of all depreciation and amortization allowances and
other non-cash expenses of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

            "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as in effect from time to time.

            "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles
Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements
and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other
principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting
profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of
the date of determination, consistently applied.

            "Governmental Authority" means the government of any nation, state
or other political subdivision thereof, any entity exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining
to government, and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through
stock or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.

            "Indebtedness" means, as to any Person, all obligations, contingent
and otherwise, which in accordance with GAAP should be classified upon such
Person's

<PAGE>
                                                                              15

balance sheet as liabilities, but in any event including, without limitation,
liabilities secured by Lien, existing on property owned or acquired by such
Person whether or not the liability secured thereby shall have been assumed,
letters of credit open for account, obligations under acceptance facilities,
capitalized lease obligations and all obligations on account of guaranties,
endorsements, all capital stock issued by such Person subject to mandatory
redemption or subject to repurchase at the option of the holder and any other
contingent obligations in respect of the Indebtedness of others whether or not
reflected on such balance sheet or in a footnote thereto. The amount of any
Indebtedness shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable
amount of such Indebtedness or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum
reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof.

            "Interest Expense" means for any period as determined in conformity
with GAAP, total interest expense, whether paid or accrued or due (including
without limitation, in respect of the Debt Obligations and subordinated debt, if
any) and payable, including without limitation, the interest component of
Capital Lease obligations for such period, all bank fees, and net costs under
interest rate contracts.

            "Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
in effect from time to time.

            "Inventory" has the same meaning given to it in the UCC.

            "Investment" means, with respect to any Person: (a) the acquisition
or ownership by such Person of any share of capital stock, evidence of
Indebtedness (which shall not include funds on deposit in demand deposit
accounts) or other Security issued by any other Person, other than stock or
other Securities received in settlement or replacement in bankruptcy of a debt
that was created in the ordinary course of business, (b) any loan, advance or
extension of credit to, or contribution to the capital of, any other Person,
excluding advances to employees in the ordinary course of business for business
expenses, (c) the obligations of any other Person that are guaranteed by such
Person, (d) any other investment in any other Person, and (e) any commitment or
option to make any of the investments listed in clauses (a) through (d) above.

            "Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment,
deposit arrangement, encumbrance, claim, lien (statutory or other), charge, or
preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement of
any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title
retention agreement, and any financing lease having substantially the same
economic effect as any of the foregoing), in each case to secure any liability.

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

            "Net Income" means, as applied to any Person, the net income (or net
loss) of such Person for the period in question after giving effect to deduction
of or provision for all operating expenses, all taxes and reserves (including
reserves for deferred taxes) and all other proper deductions, all determined in
accordance with GAAP,

<PAGE>
                                                                              16

provided that there shall be excluded: (a) the net income (or net loss) of any
Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of, or is merged into
or consolidated with, the Person whose Net Income is being determined or a
Subsidiary of such Person, (b) the net income (or net loss) of any Person in
which the Person whose Net Income is being determined or any Subsidiary of such
Person has an ownership interest, except, in the case of net income, to the
extent that any such income has actually been received by such Person or such
Subsidiary in the form of cash dividends or similar distributions, (c) any
restoration of any contingency reserve, except to the extent that provision for
such reserve was made out of income during such period, (d) any net gains or
losses on the sale or other disposition, not in the ordinary course of business,
of Investments, business units and other capital assets, provided that there
shall also be excluded any related charges for taxes thereon, (e) any net gain
arising from the collection of the proceeds of any insurance policy, (f) any
write-up of any asset, and (g) any other extraordinary item.

            "Note Change of Control" of the Company shall mean such times as:

                  (i)   Any Person or "group" (within the meaning of Section
13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than the Fund is or becomes the beneficial
owner, directly or indirectly, of outstanding shares of stock of the Company
entitling such Person or Persons to exercise 50% or more of the total votes
entitled to be cast at a regular or special meeting, or by action by written
consent, of shareholders of the Company (the term "beneficial owner" shall be
determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3, promulgated by the Commission under
the Exchange Act);

                  (ii)  A majority of the Board of Directors of the Company
shall consist of Persons other than Continuing Directors. The term "Continuing
Director" shall mean any member of the Board of Directors on the date of this
Note and any other member of the Board of Directors who shall be recommended or
elected to succeed or become a Continuing Director by a majority of Continuing
Directors who are then members of the Board of Directors.

                  (iii) The stockholders of the Company shall have approved a
recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar transaction,
in each case with respect to which all or substantially all the Persons who were
the respective beneficial owners, directly or indirectly, of the outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Company immediately prior to such
recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar transaction,
will own less than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Company resulting from such recapitalization,
reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar transaction.

                  (iv)  The stockholders of the Company shall have approved of
the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the
Company in one transaction or in a series of related transactions;

                  (v)   Any transaction occurs, the result of which is that the
Common Stock does not continue to be registered under Section 12 of the Exchange
Act and that

<PAGE>
                                                                              17

the holders of Common Stock do not receive common stock of the Person surviving
such transaction that is registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act; or

                  (vi)  (1) Immediately after any merger, consolidation,
recapitalization or similar transaction, D. Gregory Smith or a "group" (within
the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) shall be the beneficial
owners, directly or indirectly, of outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Company (or any Person surviving such transaction) entitling them collectively
to exercise 50% or more of the total voting power of shares of capital stock of
the Company (or the surviving Person in such transaction) and (2) in connection
with or as a result of such transaction, the Company (or such surviving Person)
shall have incurred or issued additional indebtedness such that the total
indebtedness so incurred or issued equals at least 50% of the consideration
payable in such transaction.

            "Permitted Investments" means Investments of the Company in: (a)
negotiable certificates of deposit or time deposits issued by a state bank or by
any United States bank or trust company having capital, surplus and undivided
profits in excess of $1,000,000; (b) any direct obligation of the United States
of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof which has a remaining
maturity at the time of purchase of not more than one year and repurchase
agreements relating to the same; (c) other than in the ordinary course of the
Company's business, advances or extensions of credit made by the Company not to
exceed $100,000 in the aggregate outstanding at any time; (d) Investments in
existing Subsidiaries described on Schedule 1 hereto, and (e) Investments in new
Subsidiaries which become parties to the Subsidiary Guaranty.

            "Person" means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association,
joint venture, joint stock company, Governmental Authority or other entity of
any kind, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) or such
entity.

            "Plan" means any employee benefit plan as defined in Section 3(3) of
ERISA in respect of which the Company or any of its Affiliates is, or within the
immediately preceding six (6) years was, an "employer" as defined in Section
3(5) of ERISA.

            "Security" has the same meaning given to it in Section 2(1) of the
Securities Act.

            "Senior Lender" means Textron Financial Corporation, as lender under
the Senior Loan Agreement.

            "Senior Loan Agreement" means the Loan and Security Agreement, dated
April 22, 2004, among the Company, the Senior Lender and the other signatories
thereto (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time).

<PAGE>
                                                                              18

            "Subordination Agreement" means the Subordination Agreement, dated
August [__], 2004, among the Company, the Fund, the Senior Lender and the other
signatories thereto (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time).

            "Subsidiary" means, (a) when used to determine the relationship of a
Person to another Person, a Person of which an aggregate of fifty percent (50%)
or more of the stock of any class or classes or fifty percent (50%) of more of
other ownership interests is owned of record or beneficially by such other
Person, or by one or more Subsidiaries of such other Person, or by such other
Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, (i) if the holders of such
stock, or other ownership interests, (A) are ordinarily, in the absence of
contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of a majority of the directors
(or other individuals performing similar functions) of such Person, even though
the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency,
or (B) are entitled, as such holders, to vote for the election of a majority of
the directors (or individuals performing similar functions) of such Person,
whether or not the right so to vote exists by reason of the happening of a
contingency, or (ii) in the case of such other ownership interests, if such
ownership interests constitute a majority voting interest, and (b) when used
with respect to a Plan, ERISA or a provision of the Internal Revenue Code
pertaining to employee benefit plans, any other corporation, trade or business
(whether or not incorporated) which is under common control with Company and is
treated as a single employer with Company under Section 414(b) or (c) of the
Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.

            "UCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to
time in the State of New York.

            13.   Exchange of Note; Assignment. At the option of the holder of
this Note, this Note may be exchanged for other Notes identical to this Note
which collectively have an aggregate principal amount equal to the Full
Repayment Amount on the date of such exchange, upon surrender of this Note at
the principal office of the Company. This Note and any other Notes for which
this Note is exchanged may be assigned by the holder thereof without the consent
of the Company.

            14.   Amendment. Amendments, modifications and waivers of the terms
of this Note and all other Notes for which this Note is exchanged may be made
only upon the prior written consent of the Company and the holders of Notes
representing at least 75% of the aggregate principal amount of all such Notes.
No waiver shall extend to or affect any obligation not expressly waived or
impair any right consequent thereon.

            15.   Waivers by the Company. The Company hereby waives presentment,
notice of dishonor, protest and any other notice or formality with respect to
this Note and agrees to remain bound for the payment of principal, interest and
all other sums due under this Note notwithstanding any change or changes by way
of release, surrender, exchange, modification or substitution of any security
for this Note or by way of any extension or extensions of time for the payment
of principal, interest or any other sum due hereunder.

<PAGE>
                                                                              19

            16.   Unconditional Obligations. The obligations to make the
payments provided for in this Note are absolute and unconditional and not
subject to any defense, set-off, counterclaim, rescission, recoupment or
adjustment whatsoever.

            17.   Expenses. On the date hereof, the Company shall reimburse the
Fund for its out-of-pocket expenses and the fees, disbursements and other
charges of its counsel and any consultants incurred in connection with this Note
and the transactions contemplated hereby. If the holder of this Note shall
institute any action to enforce this Note or to collect of any portion of the
Full Repayment Amount, there shall be immediately due and payable from the
Company, in addition to the then unpaid portion of the Full Repayment Amount,
all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the holder of this Note in
connection therewith, including reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements.

            18.   Headings. The headings contained in this Note are for
convenience of reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of this Note.

            19.   Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires,
"or" is not exclusive, and references to sections or subsections refer to
sections or subsections of this Note.

            20.   Severability. Any provision of this Note which is prohibited
or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be
ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without
invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or
unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

            21.   GOVERNING LAW. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD FOR CHOICE OF
LAW OR CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS
OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

            22.   Jurisdiction.

                  (a)   Any action or proceeding against the Company relating in
any way to this Note may be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of
New York or of the United States for the Southern District of New York, and the
Company, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, irrevocably consents to the
jurisdiction of each such court in respect of any such action or proceeding. The
Company, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, and the holder of this Note
each irrevocably consents to the service of process in any such action or
proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail,
postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to such Person at the address for
such Person set forth in Section 10.2 of the Credit Agreement or such other
address such Person shall notify the other in writing. The foregoing shall not
limit the right of the holder of this Note or the Company to serve process in
any other manner permitted by

<PAGE>
                                                                              20

law or to bring any action or proceeding, or to obtain execution of any
judgment, in any other jurisdiction.

                  (b)   The Company, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries,
hereby irrevocably waives any objection that it or its Subsidiaries may now or
hereafter have to the laying of venue of any action or proceeding arising under
or relating to this Note in any court located in the Borough of Manhattan, City
and State of New York, or located in any other jurisdiction chosen by the holder
of this Note in accordance with clause (a) of this Section. Each of the Company,
on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, and the holder of this Note hereby
irrevocably waives any claim that a court located in the Borough of Manhattan,
City and State of New York is not a convenient forum for any such action or
proceeding.

                  (c)   The Company, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries,
hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable United
States federal and state law, all immunity from jurisdiction, service of
process, attachment (both before and after judgment) and execution to which it
or its Subsidiaries might otherwise be entitled in any action or proceeding
relating in any way to this Note in the courts of the State of New York, of the
United States or of any other country or jurisdiction, and hereby waives any
right it or its Subsidiaries might otherwise have to raise or claim or cause to
be pleaded any such immunity at or in respect of any such action or proceeding.

            23.   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE COMPANY, ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND ITS
SUBSIDIARIES, AND THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ANY RIGHTS
THEY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY ACTION BASED UPON, OR ARISING
OUT OF THIS NOTE.

                     [Signature page follows on next page.]

<PAGE>

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be duly
executed and delivered by its proper and duly authorized officer as of the date
first above written.

                                        Z-TEL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                                        By:______________________________
                                           Name: Horace J. Davis, III
                                           Title: Chief Financial Officer

Senior Unsecured Promissory Note of Z-Tel Technologies, Inc.

<PAGE>

                                   ANNEX A TO
                        SENIOR UNSECURED PROMISSORY NOTE

                    SCHEDULE OF LOANS AND PRINCIPAL PAYMENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   DATE LOAN MADE OR               AMOUNT OF LOAN        AMOUNT OF PRINCIPAL REDUCED        PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
REDUCED UNDER SECTION 7                MADE                   UNDER SECTION 7                  OF NOTE
-----------------------          -----------------       ----------------------------      ------------------
<S>                              <C>                     <C>                               <C>
-----------------                ----------------            -----------------             -----------------
-----------------                ----------------            -----------------             -----------------
-----------------                ----------------            -----------------             -----------------
-----------------                ----------------            -----------------             -----------------
-----------------                ----------------            -----------------             -----------------
-----------------                ----------------            -----------------             -----------------
-----------------                ----------------            -----------------             -----------------
-----------------                ----------------            -----------------             -----------------
-----------------                ----------------            -----------------             -----------------
-----------------                ----------------            -----------------             -----------------
-----------------                ----------------            -----------------             -----------------
-----------------                ----------------            -----------------             -----------------
-----------------                ----------------            -----------------             -----------------
-----------------                ----------------            -----------------             -----------------
-----------------                ----------------            -----------------             -----------------
-----------------                ----------------            -----------------             -----------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                   ANNEX B TO
                        SENIOR UNSECURED PROMISSORY NOTE

                      FORM OF LIST OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
                          FOR QUARTERLY HOLDER APPROVAL

                                 [See attached.]

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 1 TO
                        SENIOR UNSECURED PROMISSORY NOTE

                      INVESTMENTS IN EXISTING SUBSIDIARIES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          Direct and Indirect                                                    Direct or Indirect
             Subsidiaries                         State of Organization         Ownership Percentage
---------------------------------------           ---------------------         ---------------------
<S>                                               <C>                           <C>
Z-Tel Communications, Inc.                              Delaware                      100%
Z-Tel Network Services, Inc.                            Delaware                      100%
Z-Tel Holdings, Inc.                                    Florida                       100%
Z-Tel Communications of Virginia, Inc.                  Virginia                      100%
Z-Tel Business Networks, Inc.                           Delaware                      100%
Z-Tel, Inc.                                             Nevada                        100%
Z-Tel Investments, Inc.                                 Delaware                      100%
Touch 1 Communications, Inc.                            Alabama                       100%
DirecTEL, Inc.                                          Alabama                       100%
directConnect                                           Alabama                       100%
Z-Tel Consumer Services LLC                             Alabama                       100%
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT B

                             SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT

      This Subordination Agreement ("Agreement") is made and entered into this
24th day of August, 2004 among THE 1818 FUND III, L.P. ("Junior Creditor"),
Z-TEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; Z-TEL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (the "Company"); Z-TEL,
INC.; Z-TEL BUSINESS NETWORKS, INC.; Z-TEL NETWORK SERVICES, INC.; Z-TEL
HOLDINGS, INC.; Z-TEL COMMUNICATIONS OF VIRGINIA, INC.; Z-TEL INVESTMENTS, INC.;
TOUCH-1 COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; DirecTEL, INC.; direcCONNECT, INC.; and Z-TEL
CONSUMER SERVICES, LLC (the Company and its subsidiaries are hereinafter
individually and/or collectively referred to as "Debtor"), and TEXTRON FINANCIAL
CORPORATION ("Senior Creditor").

                                   WITNESSETH:

      WHEREAS, Debtor is now and may from time to time be indebted to Junior
Creditor;

      WHEREAS, Debtor desires to obtain loans, extensions of credit or other
financial accommodations from Senior Creditor; and

      WHEREAS, Senior Creditor is unwilling to provide such financial
accommodations to Debtor unless Junior Creditor and Debtor enter into this
Agreement with Senior Creditor.

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein and for
other valuable consideration and to induce Senior Creditor to provide financial
accommodations to or for the benefit of Debtor, the parties hereto, intending to
be legally bound hereby, do agree as follows:

      1.    DEFINITIONS. All terms used in this Agreement that are defined in
the UCC shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the UCC unless otherwise
expressly defined herein. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the meanings respectively set forth after each such term:

      "BANKRUPTCY CODE" shall mean Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States
Code, as amended from time to time and any successor statute and all rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.

      "CLOSING COSTS" shall mean any fees, costs and expenses payable to Junior
Creditor under the Junior Creditor Documents on or about the date of closing of
the transactions contemplated by the Standby Credit Facility Agreement.

      "COMMON STOCK" shall mean any of the common stock, par value $0.01, per
share of the Company issued or issuable pursuant to (i) the conversion of the
Preferred Stock, (ii) the exercise of the Warrant, (iii) the conversion or
exchange of the Junior Creditor Indebtedness, or (iv) the exercise or conversion
of any present or future equity interest now existing or hereinafter held by
Junior Creditor.

      "DISTRIBUTION" shall mean, with respect to the Junior Creditor
Indebtedness, any payment, prepayment, redemption, purchase or other
distribution by or on behalf of Debtor or any guarantor of the Junior Creditor
Indebtedness of cash, securities or other property, by set-off or otherwise, on

<PAGE>

account of such Junior Creditor Indebtedness, other than (i) the issuance of
Reorganization Subordinated Securities (to the extent permitted by Section 3
hereof) or (ii) the Preferred Stock or the Common Stock issued upon the
conversion or exchange of Junior Creditor Indebtedness or upon conversion of the
Preferred Stock.

      "ENFORCEMENT ACTION" shall mean to take any action or otherwise commence
the exercise of remedies against Debtor, including, without limitation, judicial
or non-judicial foreclosure, notification to Debtor's account debtors, the
seeking of the appointment of a receiver for any portion of Debtor's property
assets or otherwise, or to take possession of any of the Senior Creditor
Collateral.

      "JUNIOR CREDITOR COSTS AND EXPENSES" shall mean all reasonable
out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, payable
by the Company to Junior Creditor pursuant to the terms of the Junior Creditor
Documents as in effect on the date of this Agreement or as modified in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

      "JUNIOR CREDITOR DOCUMENTS" shall mean the Subordinated Note, the Standby
Credit Facility Agreement (to the extent relating solely to the Subordinated
Note, the Subordinated Guarantee any and all present and future agreements,
documents and/or instruments evidencing, documenting, securing or otherwise
relating to any or all of the indebtedness evidenced by the Subordinated Note,
all as the same may from time to time be amended, modified, extended, renewed or
restated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (for the avoidance of
doubt, the "Junior Creditor Documents" shall not include the Registration Rights
Agreement, the Warrant, the Letter Agreement or any other agreement, documents
and/or instruments evidencing, documenting or otherwise relating to any present
or future equity interest now existing or hereinafter held by Junior Creditor).

      "JUNIOR CREDITOR INDEBTEDNESS" shall mean all monetary obligations,
liabilities and indebtedness of every nature of the Company from time to time
owed to Junior Creditor evidenced by or incurred pursuant to the Junior Creditor
Documents, including, without limitation, the principal amount of the
Subordinated Note), all accrued and unpaid interest thereon and all fees, costs
and expenses, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or
otherwise, heretofore, now and from time to time hereafter owing, due or payable
under the Junior Creditor Indebtedness, whether before or after the filing of a
Proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code, including any interest accruing thereon
after the commencement of a Proceeding, without regard to whether or not such
interest is an allowed claim. For purposes hereof, Junior Creditor Indebtedness
shall not include Closing Costs.

         "JUNIOR CREDITOR INDEBTEDNESS DEFAULT" shall mean a default in the
payment of all or any portion of the Junior Creditor Indebtedness or in the
performance of any term, covenant or condition contained in the Junior
Indebtedness Documents or any other occurrence permitting Junior Creditor to
accelerate the payment of or cause the redemption of all or any portion of the
Junior Creditor Indebtedness.

      "JUNIOR CREDITOR INDEBTEDNESS DEFAULT NOTICE" shall mean a written notice
from Junior Creditor or the Company to Senior Creditor pursuant to which Senior
Creditor is notified of the occurrence of a Junior Creditor Indebtedness
Default, which notice incorporates a reasonably detailed description of such
Junior Creditor Indebtedness Default.

                                       2
<PAGE>

      "LETTER AGREEMENT" shall mean that letter agreement dated the date hereof
from the Fund to the Company relating to the Fund's agreement in principle to
have the Subordinated Note paid in Common Stock or Preferred Stock under the
terms and conditions set forth therein.

      "PAYMENT BLOCKAGE" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
4(a) hereof.

      "PERMITTED JUNIOR CREDITOR INDEBTEDNESS PAYMENTS" shall mean (i) the
payment of any Junior Creditor Costs and Expenses, (ii) regularly scheduled
payments of interest, on the Junior Creditor Indebtedness due at the rates and
payable on a non-accelerated basis in accordance with the terms set forth in the
Junior Creditor Documents and (iii) to the extent not paid as a result of a
Payment Blockage, at any time following the expiration of such Payment Blockage,
the payment of all accrued, but unpaid, interest on the Junior Creditor
Indebtedness at the rates and payable on a non-accelerated basis in accordance
with the terms set forth in the Junior Creditor Documents, including, without
limitation, at any applicable default rate.

      "PREFERRED STOCK" shall mean any shares of preferred stock of the Company.

      "PERSON" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association,
joint venture, joint stock company, governmental authority or other entity of
any kind, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of any such
entity.

      "PROCEEDING" shall mean any voluntary or involuntary insolvency,
bankruptcy, receivership, custodianship, liquidation, dissolution,
reorganization, assignment for the benefit of creditors, appointment of a
custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers or any other
proceeding for the liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of a Person.

      "REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT" shall mean the Registration Rights
Agreement, dated November 13, 2000, among the Company and Junior Creditor
executed in connection with the issuance of the Company's 8% Convertible
Preferred Stock, Series E, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time.

      "REORGANIZATION SUBORDINATED SECURITIES" shall mean any debt or equity
securities of the Company or any other Person that are distributed to Junior
Creditor in respect of the Junior Creditor Indebtedness pursuant to a confirmed
plan of reorganization or adjustment and that (a) are subordinated in right of
payment to the Senior Creditor Indebtedness (or any debt or equity securities
issued in substitution of all or any portion of the Senior Creditor
Indebtedness) to at least the same extent as the Junior Creditor Indebtedness is
subordinated to the Senior Creditor Indebtedness and (b) do not have the benefit
of any obligation of any Person (whether as issuer, guarantor or otherwise)
unless the Senior Creditor Indebtedness has at least the same benefit of the
obligation of such Person.

      "SENIOR COVENANT DEFAULT" shall mean any "Event of Default" that has
occurred and is continuing under the Senior Creditor Indebtedness Documents
(other than a Senior Payment Default) beyond any applicable grace or cure
period.

                                       3
<PAGE>

      "SENIOR CREDITOR COLLATERAL" shall mean all of the property and assets of
Debtor described on EXHIBIT A attached hereto and incorporated herein by
reference and all cash and non-cash proceeds thereof.

      "SENIOR CREDITOR DOCUMENTS" shall mean that certain (a) Loan and Security
Agreement among Senior Creditor and Debtor, dated as of April 22, 2004 (the
"Senior Loan Agreement"), and (b) any and all present and future agreements,
documents and/or instruments evidencing, documenting, securing or otherwise
relating to any or all of the Senior Creditor Indebtedness, all as the same may
from time to time be amended, modified, extended, supplemented, renewed or
restated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

      "SENIOR CREDITOR INDEBTEDNESS" shall mean all monetary obligations,
liabilities and indebtedness of every nature of Debtor from time to time owed to
Senior Creditor under the Senior Creditor Documents (but subject to the
limitations contained herein and in Section 19 hereof), including, without
limitation, the principal amount of all debts, claims and indebtedness, accrued
and unpaid interest and all fees, costs and expenses, whether primary,
secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise, heretofore, now and from time
to time hereafter owing, due or payable under the Senior Indebtedness Documents,
whether before or after the filing of a Proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code
together with (a) any amendments, modifications, renewals or extensions thereof
to the extent not prohibited by the terms of this Agreement and (b) any interest
accruing thereon after the commencement of a Proceeding, without regard to
whether or not such interest is an allowed claim; provided, however, that in no
event shall the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Indebtedness exceed
$40,000,000. Senior Indebtedness shall be considered to be outstanding whenever
any loan commitment under the Senior Creditor Documents is outstanding.

      "SENIOR DEFAULT" shall mean any Senior Payment Default or Senior Covenant
Default.

      "SENIOR DEFAULT NOTICE" shall mean a written notice from Senior Creditor
to the Junior Creditor pursuant to which Junior Creditor is notified of the
occurrence of a Senior Covenant Default, which notice incorporates a reasonably
detailed description of such Senior Covenant Default.

      "SENIOR PAYMENT DEFAULT" shall mean any "Event of Default" that has
occurred and is continuing under the Senior Indebtedness Documents resulting
from the failure of Debtor to pay when due (following any applicable grace or
cure period) any principal, fees payable to Senior Creditor under the Senior
Indebtedness Documents, or interest under the Senior Creditor Indebtedness
Documents including, without limitation, any default in the payment of Senior
Indebtedness after the acceleration thereof (unless such acceleration has
otherwise been rescinded).

      "STANDBY CREDIT FACILITY AGREEMENT" shall mean the Standby Credit Facility
Agreement, dated August __, 2004, by and between the Company and Junior Creditor
as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance
with this Agreement.

      "SUBORDINATED GUARANTEE" shall mean the Subordinated Subsidiaries'
Guarantee, dated August __, 2004, by and among Junior Creditor and the other
signatories thereto.

                                       4
<PAGE>

      "SUBORDINATED NOTE" means that certain Senior Unsecured Note made by
Debtor to the order of Junior Creditor in the principal amount of up to
$15,000,000.00, a true and correct copy of which is annexed hereto as EXHIBIT B
and made a part hereof.

      "UCC" shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect from time to
time in the State of Rhode Island.

      "WARRANT" shall mean the warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock, that
may be issued to the Fund pursuant to the Letter Agreement as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

      2.    SUBORDINATION. Junior Creditor covenants and agrees that the payment
of any and all of the Junior Creditor Indebtedness shall be subordinate and
subject in right and time of payment, to the extent and in the manner
hereinafter set forth, to the prior indefeasible payment in full in cash of all
Senior Creditor Indebtedness; provided that Debtor shall be permitted to make,
and the Junior Creditor shall be entitled to receive, all Closing Costs, and
subject to the provisions of Sections 3 and 4 hereof, any other Permitted Junior
Creditor Indebtedness Payments. The Subordinated Note shall at all times bear a
conspicuous legend that the Junior Creditor Indebtedness evidenced thereby is
subordinated to the Senior Creditor Indebtedness pursuant to this Agreement.
Debtor's and Junior Creditor's books shall be marked to evidence the
subordination of all of the Junior Creditor Indebtedness to Senior Creditor.
Senior Creditor is authorized to examine such books from time to time and to
make any notations required by this Agreement. The provisions of this Section 2
shall remain effective and binding upon Junior Creditor, to the full extent of
the Senior Creditor Indebtedness, even if any of the Senior Creditor
Indebtedness is avoided, equitably subordinated or nullified in any Proceeding.
For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or prevent
the payment, distribution or issuance to Junior Creditor of (i) Reorganization
Subordinated Securities or (ii) Preferred Stock or Common Stock upon the
conversion or exchange of Junior Creditor Indebtedness or upon the conversion of
the Preferred Stock.

      3.    LIQUIDATION, DISSOLUTION, BANKRUPTCY. In the event of any Proceeding
involving Debtor:

            (a)   All Senior Creditor Indebtedness shall first be fully, finally
and indefeasibly paid in cash and all commitments to lend under the Senior
Creditor Documents shall be terminated before any Distribution, whether in cash,
securities or other property, shall be made to Junior Creditor on account of any
Junior Creditor Indebtedness.

            (b)   Any Distribution, whether in cash, securities or other
property which would otherwise, but for the terms hereof, be payable or
deliverable in respect of the Junior Creditor Indebtedness shall be paid or
delivered directly to Senior Creditor (to be held and/or applied by Senior
Creditor in accordance with the terms of the Senior Creditor Documents) until
all Senior Creditor Indebtedness is fully, finally and indefeasibly paid and all
commitments to lend under the Senior Creditor Documents shall have been
terminated. Junior Creditor irrevocably authorizes, empowers and directs any
debtor, debtor in possession, receiver, trustee, liquidator, custodian,
conservator or other Person having authority, to pay or otherwise deliver all
such Distributions to Senior Creditor. Junior Creditor also irrevocably
authorizes and empowers Senior Creditor, in the name of Junior Creditor, to
demand, sue for, collect and receive any and all such Distributions.

                                       5
<PAGE>

            (c)   Junior Creditor agrees not to initiate, prosecute or
participate in any claim, action or other proceeding challenging the
enforceability, validity, perfection or priority of the Senior Creditor
Indebtedness or any liens and security interests securing the Senior Creditor
Indebtedness.

      4.    JUNIOR CREDITOR INDEBTEDNESS PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS.

            (a)   Notwithstanding the terms of the Junior Creditor Documents,
Debtor hereby agrees that it may not make, and Junior Creditor hereby agrees
that it will not accept, any Distribution with respect to the Junior Creditor
Indebtedness until the Senior Creditor Indebtedness is fully, finally and
indefeasibly paid in cash in full and all commitments to lend under the Senior
Creditor Documents have terminated other than Permitted Junior Creditor
Indebtedness Payments; provided, however, that Debtor and Junior Creditor
further agree that no Permitted Junior Creditor Indebtedness Payment (other than
the payment of any Closing Costs) may be made by Debtor or accepted by Junior
Creditor if, at the time of such payment (each a "Payment Blockage"):

                  (i)   a Senior Payment Default exists and such Senior Payment
      Default shall not have been cured or waived; or

                  (ii)  subject to paragraph (d) of this Section 4, (A) the
      Company and Junior Creditor shall have received a Senior Default Notice
      from Senior Creditor stating that a Senior Covenant Default exists, (B)
      each such Senior Covenant Default shall not have been cured or waived and
      (C) 180 days shall not have elapsed since the date such Senior Default
      Notice was received.

            (b)   Debtor may resume Permitted Junior Creditor Indebtedness
Payments (and may make any Permitted Junior Creditor Indebtedness Payments
missed due to the application of paragraph (a) of this Section 4) in respect of
the Junior Creditor Indebtedness or any judgment with respect thereto:

                  (i)   in the case of a Senior Payment Default referred to in
      clause (i) of paragraph (a) this Section 4, upon a cure or waiver thereof;
      or

                  (ii)  in the case of a Senior Covenant Default referred to in
      clause (ii) of paragraph (a) of this Section 4, upon the earlier to occur
      of (A) the cure or waiver of all such Senior Covenant Defaults or (B) the
      expiration of such period of 180 days.

            (c)   No Senior Default shall be deemed to have been waived for
purposes of this Section 4 unless and until the Company shall have received a
written waiver from Senior Creditor.

            (d)   Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 4 to the
contrary:

                  (i)   clause (ii) of paragraph (a) of this Section 4 shall not
      prohibit Debtor from making, nor shall it prohibit Junior Creditor from
      receiving, Permitted Junior Creditor Indebtedness Payments for more than
      an aggregate of 180 days within any period of 365 consecutive days and not
      more than two quarterly interest payments with respect to the Junior
      Creditor Indebtedness may be deferred under clause (ii) of paragraph (a)
      of this Section 4 within any period of 365 consecutive days;

                                       6
<PAGE>

                  (ii)  no Senior Covenant Default which the Senior Creditor
      knows exists on the date any Senior Default Notice is given pursuant to
      clause (ii) of paragraph (a) of this Section 4 shall, unless the same
      shall have ceased to exist for a period of at least 90 consecutive days,
      be used as a basis for any subsequent such notice;

                  (iii) the failure of Debtor to make any Distribution with
      respect to the Junior Creditor Indebtedness by reason of the operation of
      this Section 4 shall not be construed as preventing the occurrence of a
      Junior Creditor Indebtedness Default under the applicable Junior Creditor
      Documents; and

                  (iv)  Senior Creditor agrees to use good faith efforts to
      provide Junior Creditor notice of any event or circumstance which
      constitutes a Payment Blockage.

      5.    NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. All undertakings, agreements,
representations and warranties contained in this Agreement are solely for the
benefit of Junior Creditor and Senior Creditor and there are no other parties
(including, without limitation, Debtor) who are intended to be benefited in any
way by this Agreement. The existence of this Agreement shall not commit or
obligate Junior Creditor or Senior Creditor to make loans or extend credit to
Debtor.

      6.    PRIORITY OF SECURITY INTERESTS. Irrespective of (a) the time, order
manner or method of creation, attachment or perfection of the respective
security interests and/or liens, if any, granted to or on behalf of Junior
Creditor or Senior Creditor in or on any or all of the property or assets of
Debtor, (b) the time or manner of the filing of their respective financing
statements, (c) whether Junior Creditor or Senior Creditor or any other bailee
or agent thereof holds possession of any or all of the property or assets of
Debtor, (d) the dating, execution or delivery of any agreement, document or
instrument granting Junior Creditor or Senior Creditor security interests and/or
liens in or on any or all of the property or assets of Debtor, (e) the giving or
failure to give notice of the acquisition or expected acquisition of any
purchase money or other security interests and (f) any provision of the UCC or
any other applicable law to the contrary, any and all security interests, liens,
rights and interests of Junior Creditor, whether now or hereafter arising and
howsoever existing, in or on any or all of the Senior Creditor Collateral shall
be and hereby are subordinated to any and all security interests, liens, rights
and interests of Senior Creditor in and to the Senior Creditor Collateral. For
purposes of the foregoing allocation of priorities, any claim of a right of
setoff shall be treated in all respects as a security interest and no claimed
right of setoff shall be asserted to defeat or diminish the rights or priorities
provided for herein.

      7.    STANDSTILL.

            (a)   Until the Senior Creditor Indebtedness is fully, finally and
indefeasibly paid in cash and all commitments to lend under the Senior Creditor
Documents shall be terminated, Junior Creditor shall not, without the prior
written consent of Senior Creditor, take any Enforcement Action with respect to
the Junior Creditor Indebtedness, until the earliest to occur of the following
and in any event no earlier than five (5) days after Senior Creditor's receipt
of written notice of Junior Creditor's intention to take any such Enforcement
Action:

                  (i)   acceleration of the Senior Creditor Indebtedness,
      including acceleration as a result of the commencement of any Proceeding,
      or the taking of any

                                       7
<PAGE>

      "enforcement action" with respect to any Senior Creditor Indebtedness of
      the type described in the definition of "Enforcement Action"; or

                  (ii)  the passage of 180 days from the delivery of a Junior
      Creditor Indebtedness Default Notice to Senior Creditor if any Junior
      Creditor Indebtedness Default described therein shall not have been cured
      or waived within such period.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Junior Creditor may file proofs of claim against
Debtor in any Proceeding involving Debtor. Any Distributions or other proceeds
of any Enforcement Action obtained or accepted by Junior Creditor not permitted
to be made by Debtor, as applicable, under this Agreement or accepted by Junior
Creditor shall in any event be held in trust by it for the benefit of Senior
Creditor and promptly paid or delivered to Senior Creditor for its benefit in
the form received until all Senior Creditor Indebtedness is fully, finally and
indefeasibly paid in cash and all commitments to lend under the Senior Creditor
Documents shall have been terminated.

            (b)   Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if
following the acceleration of the Senior Creditor Indebtedness by Senior
Creditor such acceleration is rescinded (whether or not any existing Senior
Default has been cured or waived), then, unless judgment thereon has already
been entered, all Enforcement Actions taken by Junior Creditor shall likewise be
rescinded if such Enforcement Action is based solely on clause (i) of paragraph
(a) of this Section 7.

      8.    SUBROGATION. Subject to the full, final and indefeasible payment in
cash of all Senior Creditor Indebtedness and the termination of all lending
commitments under the Senior Creditor Documents, Junior Creditor shall be
subrogated to the rights of Senior Creditor to receive Distributions with
respect to the Senior Creditor Indebtedness until the Senior Creditor
Indebtedness is paid in full. Junior Creditor agrees that in the event that all
or any part of a payment made with respect to the Senior Creditor Indebtedness
is recovered from the holders of the Senior Creditor Indebtedness in a
Proceeding or otherwise, any Distribution received by Junior Creditor with
respect to the Junior Creditor Indebtedness at any time after the date of the
payment that is so recovered, whether pursuant to the right of subrogation
provided for in this Agreement or otherwise, shall be deemed to have been
received by Junior Creditor in trust as property of the holders of the Senior
Creditor Indebtedness and Junior Creditor shall forthwith deliver the same to
Senior Creditor for its benefit for application to the Senior Creditor
Indebtedness until the Senior Creditor Indebtedness is paid in full. A
Distribution made pursuant to this Agreement to Senior Creditor which otherwise
would have been made to Junior Creditor are not, as between Debtor and Junior
Creditor, a payment by Debtor to or on account of the Senior Creditor
Indebtedness.

      9.    DISTRIBUTION OF SENIOR CREDITOR COLLATERAL. Junior Creditor agrees
that it will not ask for, demand, sue for, take or receive from Debtor or any
successor or assign of Debtor, including, without limitation, a receiver,
trustee or debtor in possession, whether by setoff or in any other manner, the
whole or any part of the Junior Creditor Indebtedness from any of the Senior
Creditor Collateral, unless and until all of the Senior Creditor Indebtedness
shall have been fully, finally and indefeasibly paid in cash and all of the
financing arrangements and commitments by and between Debtor and Senior Creditor
have been terminated. Junior Creditor acknowledges and agrees that the terms and
provisions of this Agreement do not violate any term or provision of any of the
Junior Creditor Documents.

                                       8
<PAGE>

      10.   RELEASE OF SENIOR CREDITOR COLLATERAL. Junior Creditor agrees that
any collection, sale or other disposition of any or all of the Senior Creditor
Collateral by Senior Creditor (whether pursuant to the UCC or otherwise) shall
be free and clear of any and all security interests, liens, claims and/or rights
of Junior Creditor in such Senior Creditor Collateral. At the request of Senior
Creditor, Junior Creditor shall promptly provide Senior Creditor with any
necessary or appropriate releases to permit the collection, sale or other
disposition of any or all of the Senior Creditor Collateral by Senior Creditor
free and clear of Junior Creditor's security interests and liens. In addition,
at the request of Senior Creditor, Junior Creditor shall promptly release any
and all security interests, liens, claims and/or rights which it may have on or
in the applicable Senior Creditor Collateral to facilitate the collection, sale
or other disposition of such Senior Creditor Collateral by Debtor so long as the
proceeds thereof are applied first to the payment of the Senior Creditor
Indebtedness and any excess is then applied to the payment of the Junior
Creditor Indebtedness to the extent the same is secured by such Senior Creditor
Collateral.

      11.   TURNOVER OF SENIOR CREDITOR COLLATERAL RECEIVED BY JUNIOR CREDITOR.
In the event of any Distribution to Junior Creditor is made from any of the
Senior Creditor Collateral upon or with respect to any of the Junior Creditor
Indebtedness prior to the time all of the Senior Creditor Indebtedness shall
have been fully, finally and indefeasibly paid in cash and all financing
arrangements and commitments by and between Debtor and Senior Creditor shall
have been terminated (other than Permitted Junior Creditor Indebtedness payments
by Debtor to Junior Creditor on the Junior Creditor Indebtedness to the extent
permitted under Section 4 above), Junior Creditor shall receive and hold the
same in trust, as trustee, for the benefit of Senior Creditor and shall
forthwith deliver the same to Senior Creditor in precisely the form received
(except for the endorsement or assignment of Junior Creditor where necessary)
for application against the Senior Creditor Indebtedness whether due or not due,
and, until so delivered, the same shall be in trust by Junior Creditor as the
property of Senior Creditor.

      12.   NONAVOIDABILITY AND PERFECTION. The subordinations and relative
priority arrangements set forth in this Agreement are applicable regardless of
whether the security interest and/or lien to which another security interest
and/or lien is subordinated is not perfected or is voidable for any reason.

      13.   REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS OF JUNIOR CREDITOR AND DEBTOR. Junior
Creditor and Debtor represent and warrant to, and covenant and agree with,
Senior Creditor that: (a) as of the date hereof the outstanding principal
balance of the Junior Creditor Indebtedness as defined herein is $5,000,000; (b)
Junior Creditor will provide Senior Creditor with written notice of the
declaration by Junior Creditor of any event of default under any of the Junior
Creditor Documents; (c) Junior Creditor agrees not to oppose, interfere with or
otherwise attempt to prevent Senior Creditor from enforcing its security
interests in and/or liens on any of the Senior Creditor Collateral or otherwise
realizing upon any of the Senior Creditor Collateral; and (d) Junior Creditor
shall not commence or join with any other creditors of Debtor in commencing any
bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership or insolvency proceeding against
Debtor.

      14.   INSURANCE PROCEEDS. In the event of the occurrence of any casualty
with respect to any of the Senior Creditor Collateral, Junior Creditor and
Senior Creditor agree that Senior Creditor shall have the sole and exclusive
right to adjust, compromise or settle any such loss with the insurer

                                       9
<PAGE>

thereof, and to collect and receive the proceeds from such insurer until all of
the Senior Creditor Indebtedness shall have been fully, finally and indefeasibly
paid in cash and all financing arrangements and commitments between Debtor and
Senior Creditor shall have been terminated. Any insurer shall be fully protected
if it acts in reliance on the provisions of this Section 13.

      15.   WAIVER OF CERTAIN RIGHTS. Junior Creditor hereby waives any and all
rights to (a) require Senior Creditor to marshal any property or assets of
Debtor or to resort to any of the property or assets of Debtor in any particular
order or manner; (b) require Senior Creditor to enforce any guaranty or any
security interest or lien given by any Person other than Debtor to secure the
payment of any or all of the Senior Creditor Indebtedness as a condition
precedent or concurrent to taking any action against or with respect to the
Senior Creditor Collateral; (c) commence any Proceeding; and/or (d) bring any
action to contest the validity, legality, enforceability, perfection, priority
or avoidability of any of the Senior Creditor Indebtedness, any of the Senior
Creditor Documents or any of the security interests and/or liens of Senior
Creditor in or on any of the Senior Creditor Collateral.

      16.   BANKRUPTCY FINANCING ISSUES. This Agreement shall continue in full\
force and effect after the filing of any petition for relief by or against
Debtor under the Bankruptcy Code and all converted or succeeding cases in
respect thereof (all references herein to the Debtor being deemed to apply to
Debtor as debtor-in-possession and to a trustee for the Debtor), and shall apply
with full force and effect with respect to all Senior Creditor Collateral
acquired by the Debtor, and to all Senior Creditor Indebtedness and Junior
Creditor Indebtedness incurred by the Debtor, subsequent to such filing. If
Debtor shall become subject to a Proceeding, and if Senior Creditor shall desire
to permit the use of cash collateral by Debtor or to provide post-petition
financing from Senior Creditor to Debtor, Junior Creditor agrees as follows: (a)
adequate notice to Junior Creditor shall be deemed to have been provided for
such use of cash collateral or such post-petition financing if Junior Creditor
receives notice thereof at least three (3) business days prior to the earlier of
(i) any hearing on a request to approve such use of cash collateral or such
post-petition financing or (ii) the date of entry of an order approving the
same; and (b) no objection will be raised by Junior Creditor to any such use of
cash collateral or such post-petition financing from Senior Creditor on the
grounds of a failure to provide adequate protection or other similar grounds. No
objection will be raised by Junior Creditor to Senior Creditor's motion for
relief from the automatic stay in any such proceeding to foreclose on, sell or
otherwise realize upon the Senior Creditor Collateral.

      17.   ASSIGNMENT OF JUNIOR CREDITOR INDEBTEDNESS. Junior Creditor
represents and warrants to Senior Creditor that it has not previously assigned
any interest in any of the Junior Creditor Indebtedness, that no other party
owns an interest in any of the Junior Creditor Indebtedness other than Junior
Creditor (whether as a joint holder of the Junior Creditor Indebtedness, as a
participant or otherwise) and that the entire Junior Creditor Indebtedness is
owed only to Junior Creditor. Junior Creditor covenants and agrees with Senior
Creditor that the entire Junior Creditor Indebtedness shall continue to be owing
only to Junior Creditor, unless such indebtedness is assigned expressly subject
to the terms, provisions and conditions of this Agreement, the assignee of such
indebtedness agrees in writing to be bound by the terms, provisions and
conditions of this Agreement and Junior Creditor shall have delivered such
executed assignment and assumption agreements to Senior Creditor.

                                       10
<PAGE>

      18. TERM. This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until all
of the Senior Creditor Indebtedness shall have been fully, finally and
indefeasibly paid in cash and all financing arrangements and commitments between
Debtor and Senior Creditor shall have been terminated, after which this
Agreement shall terminate without further action by the parties hereto. This
Agreement shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be,
if at any time any payment of any of the Senior Creditor Indebtedness is
rescinded or must otherwise be returned by Senior Creditor upon the insolvency,
bankruptcy or reorganization of Debtor or otherwise, all as though such payment
had not been made. This is a continuing agreement of subordination and Senior
Creditor may continue to extend credit or other financial accommodations and
loan monies to or for the benefit of Debtor, on the faith hereof, under the
Senior Creditor Documents or otherwise without notice to Junior Creditor subject
to the limitations contained herein.

      19. AMENDMENT OF SENIOR CREDITOR INDEBTEDNESS; RELEASE OF SENIOR CREDITOR
COLLATERAL. Senior Creditor may at any time and from time to time without the
consent of or notice to Junior Creditor, without incurring liability to Junior
Creditor and without impairing or releasing the obligations of Junior Creditor
under this Agreement, change the manner or place of payment or extend the time
of payment of or renew or alter any of the terms of the Senior Creditor
Indebtedness, or amend in any manner any agreement, note, guaranty or other
instrument evidencing or securing or otherwise relating to the Senior Creditor
Indebtedness; provided that Senior Creditor shall not increase the principal
amount of the Senior Creditor Indebtedness (except as permitted by the
definition of Senior Creditor Indebtedness herein).

      20. MODIFICATIONS TO JUNIOR CREDITOR DOCUMENTS. Until the Senior Creditor
Indebtedness has been fully, finally and indefeasibly paid in cash and all
lending commitments under the Senior Creditor Documents have terminated, and
notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Junior Creditor
Documents, Junior Creditor shall not, without the prior written consent of
Senior Creditor, agree to any amendment, modification or supplement to the
Junior Creditor Documents the effect of which is to (a) increase the maximum
principal amount of the Junior Creditor Indebtedness or the rate of interest on
any of the Junior Creditor Indebtedness, except in connection with the
imposition of a default rate of interest in accordance with the terms of the
Junior Creditor Documents as in effect on the date hereof, (b) change the dates
upon which payments of principal or interest on the Junior Creditor Indebtedness
are due, except (i) as a result of acceleration and (ii) in connection with the
extension of the maturity date of the Subordinated Note in accordance with the
terms thereof as in effect on the date hereof, (c) change any financial
covenants or events of default in respect of the Junior Creditor Indebtedness,
(d) change any redemption or prepayment provisions to become more restrictive,
(e) add any additional financial covenants or events of default to the Junior
Creditor Documents, (f) change any redemption or prepayment provisions of the
Junior Creditor Indebtedness, (g) alter the subordination provisions with
respect to the Junior Creditor Indebtedness, including, without limitation,
subordinating the Junior Creditor Indebtedness to any other indebtedness or (h)
take any liens or security interests in any assets of Debtor.

      21. RELIANCE BY SENIOR CREDITOR; WAIVER OF NOTICES; NO REPRESENTATIONS BY
SENIOR CREDITOR; MANAGEMENT OF CREDIT FACILITIES BY SENIOR CREDITOR. All of the
Senior Creditor Indebtedness shall be deemed to have been made or incurred in
reliance upon this Agreement.

                                       11

<PAGE>

Junior Creditor expressly waives all notice of the acceptance by Senior Creditor
of the provisions of this Agreement and all other notices by Senior Creditor not
specifically required pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Junior Creditor
agrees that Senior Creditor has not made any representation or warranty with
respect to the due execution, legality, validity, completeness or enforceability
of any of the Senior Creditor Documents, the perfection or priority of any
security interest or lien securing any or all of the Senior Creditor
Indebtedness or the collectibility of any of the Senior Creditor Indebtedness.
Senior Creditor shall be entitled to manage and supervise its credit facilities
with Debtor in accordance with applicable law and its usual business practices,
modified from time to time as it deems appropriate under the circumstances,
without regard to the existence of any rights that Junior Creditor may have now
or hereafter in or to any of the property or assets of Debtor, and Senior
Creditor shall have no liability to Junior Creditor for any loss, claim or
damage allegedly suffered by Junior Creditor in any proceeding by Senior
Creditor to foreclose or otherwise enforce any of its security interests in
and/or liens on any of the Senior Creditor Collateral.

      22. FINANCIAL CONDITIONS OF DEBTOR. Except for any notice or information
to be provided to Junior Creditor pursuant to this Agreement or the Junior
Creditor Documents, Junior Creditor hereby assumes responsibility for keeping
itself informed of the financial condition of Debtor and of all other
circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Junior Creditor
Indebtedness that diligent inquiry would reveal and Junior Creditor hereby
agrees that Senior Creditor shall have no duty to advise Junior Creditor of any
information regarding such condition or any such circumstances.

      23. NOTICES. Any notice, request, demand, consent or other communication
hereunder shall be in writing and (a) delivered in person or (b) sent by
facsimile (receipt acknowledged) and confirmed by certified mail, return receipt
requested and postage pre-paid or (c) sent by certified mail, return receipt
requested, to the applicable party at its address or facsimile number set forth
on the signature pages hereof, or at such other address or facsimile number as
any party hereto may designate as its address for communications hereunder by
notice so given. Such notices shall be deemed effective on the day on which
delivered or sent if delivered in person or sent by facsimile (receipt
acknowledged), or on the third business day after the day on which mailed, if
sent by certified mail.

      24. UCC NOTICES. If Senior Creditor shall be required by the UCC or any
other applicable law to give notice to Junior Creditor of any action taken or to
be taken by Senior Creditor against or with respect to any or all of the Senior
Creditor Collateral, such notice shall be given in accordance with Section 23
above and five (5) days' notice shall be conclusively deemed to be commercially
reasonable.

      25. FURTHER ASSURANCES. Junior Creditor hereby covenants and agrees at its
own expense to take any and all additional actions and execute, deliver, file
and/or record any and all additional agreements, documents and instruments as
may be necessary or as Senior Creditor may from time to time reasonably request
to effect the subordination and other provisions of this Agreement.

      26. MODIFICATIONS IN WRITING. No amendment, modification, supplement,
termination, consent or waiver of or to any provision of this Agreement nor any
consent to any departure therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the
same shall be in writing and signed by or on

                                       12

<PAGE>

behalf of Junior Creditor and Senior Creditor. Any waiver of any provision of
this Agreement, and any consent to any departure from the terms of any provision
of this Agreement, shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the
specific purpose for which given.

      27. WAIVERS; FAILURE OR DELAY. No failure or delay on the part of Junior
Creditor or Senior Creditor in the exercise of any power, right, remedy or
privilege under this Agreement shall impair such power, right, remedy or
privilege or shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any such power, right, remedy or privilege preclude any other or
further exercise of any other power, right, remedy or privilege. The waiver of
any such right, power, remedy or privilege with respect to particular facts and
circumstances shall not be deemed to be a waiver with respect to other facts and
circumstances.

      28. SEVERABILITY. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement
shall be interpreted in such a manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement shall be prohibited by or
invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the
extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of
such provisions or the remaining provisions of this Agreement.

      29. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of Junior Creditor and Senior Creditor and their respective
successors and assigns.

      30. GOVERNING LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive
laws of the State of Rhode Island (without reference to conflict of law
principles). JUNIOR CREDITOR, DEBTOR AND SENIOR CREDITOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY (A)
CONSENT AND SUBMIT TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL
COURTS LOCATED IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND (B) WAIVE THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY
JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION IN WHICH JUNIOR CREDITOR, DEBTOR AND SENIOR
CREDITOR ARE PARTIES RELATING TO OR ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS
AGREEMENT.

      31. EQUITABLE REMEDIES. Each party to this Agreement acknowledges that the
breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement is likely to cause
irreparable damage to the other parties. Therefore, the relief to which any
party shall be entitled in the event of any such breach or threatened breach
shall include, but not be limited to, a mandatory injunction for specific
performance, injunctive or other judicial relief to prevent a violation of any
of the provisions of this Agreement, damages and any other relief to which it
may be entitled at law or in equity.

      32. ATTORNEYS' FEES AND EXPENSES. In the event of any dispute concerning
the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement which results in litigation, or
in the event of any litigation by a party hereto to enforce the provisions
hereof, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the
non-prevailing party, in addition to its other damages, its reasonable
attorneys' fees and expenses and any actual court costs incurred.

                                       13

<PAGE>

      33. HEADINGS. Section headings used in this Agreement are for convenience
of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement for any
purpose or affect the construction of this Agreement.

      34. EXECUTION IN COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and by different parties on separate counterparts, each
of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an
original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute but one
and the same Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution
and delivery of a counterpart hereof by each of the parties hereto. Any
signature delivered by a party via facsimile shall be deemed to be an original
signature hereto.

                    [Signatures begin on the following page.]

                                       14

<PAGE>

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed as of the date
first above written.

JUNIOR CREDITOR:                   THE 1818 FUND III, L.P.

                                   By:    Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.,
                                   General Partner

                                   By:    ______________________________________
                                   Name:  Lawrence C. Tucker
                                   Title: Partner
                                   c/o Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
                                   140 Broadway
                                   New York, New York 10005
                                   Attention:  Lawrence C. Tucker
                                   Facsimile:  (212) 493-8429

with a copy to:                    Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
                                   1285 Avenue of the Americas
                                   New York, New York  10019-6064
                                   Attention:  Marilyn Sobel, Esq.
                                   Facsimile:  (212) 757-3990

SENIOR CREDITOR:                   TEXTRON FINANCIAL CORPORATION

                                   By:    ______________________________________
                                   Name:  Ron Eckhoff
                                   Title: Vice President
                                   11575 Great Oaks Way, Suite 210
                                   Alpharetta, GA 30022
                                   Attention:  SVP-ABLG Portfolio Mgmt
                                   Facsimile:  (770) 360-1672

with a copy to:                    Thomas Kaiser, Esq.
                                   Textron Financial Corporation
                                   11575 Great Oaks Way, Suite 210
                                   Alpharetta, GA  30022
                                   Facsimile:  (770) 360-1458

[Signature page to Subordination Agreement]

<PAGE>

DEBTOR:                            Z-TEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                   By:    ______________________________________
                                   Name:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                   Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
                                   601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
                                   Suite 210
                                   Tampa, FL 33602
                                   Attention: Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                   Facsimile: (813) 233-4582

                                   Z-TEL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                                   By:    ______________________________________
                                   Name:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                   Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
                                   601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
                                   Suite 210
                                   Tampa, FL 33602
                                   Attention:   Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                   Facsimile: (813) 233-4582

                                   Z-TEL NETWORK SERVICES, INC.

                                   By:    ______________________________________
                                   Name:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                   Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
                                   601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
                                   Suite 210
                                   Tampa, FL 33602
                                   Attention:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                   Facsimile:  (813) 233-4582

                                   Z-TEL BUSINESS NETWORKS, INC.

                                   By:    ______________________________________
                                   Name:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                   Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
                                   601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
                                   Suite 210
                                   Tampa, FL 33602
                                   Attention:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                   Facsimile:  (813) 233-4582

[Signature page to Subordination Agreement]

<PAGE>

                                   Z-TEL, INC.

                                   By:    ______________________________________
                                   Name:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                   Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
                                   601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
                                   Suite 210
                                   Tampa, FL 33602
                                   Attention:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                   Facsimile:  (813) 233-4582

                                   Z-TEL HOLDINGS, INC.

                                   By:    ______________________________________
                                   Name:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                   Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
                                   601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
                                   Suite 210
                                   Tampa, FL 33602
                                   Attention:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                   Facsimile:  (813) 233-4582

                                   Z-TEL COMMUNICATIONS OF
                                   VIRGINIA, INC.

                                   By:    ______________________________________
                                   Name:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                   Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
                                   601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
                                   Suite 210
                                   Tampa, FL 33602
                                   Attention:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                   Facsimile:  (813) 233-4582

[Signature page to Subordination Agreement]

<PAGE>

                                   Z-TEL INVESTMENTS, INC.

                                   By:    ______________________________________
                                   Name:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                   Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
                                   601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
                                   Suite 210
                                   Tampa, FL 33602
                                   Attention: Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                   Facsimile: (813) 233-4582

                                   TOUCH-1 COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                   By:    ______________________________________
                                   Name:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                   Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
                                   601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
                                   Suite 210
                                   Tampa, FL 33602
                                   Attention:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                   Facsimile:  (813) 233-4582

                                   DirecTEL, INC.

                                   By:    ______________________________________
                                   Name:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                   Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
                                   601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
                                   Suite 210
                                   Tampa, FL 33602
                                   Attention:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                   Facsimile:  (813) 233-4582

                                   direcCONNECT, INC.

                                   By:    ______________________________________
                                   Name:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                   Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
                                   601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
                                   Suite 210
                                   Tampa, FL 33602
                                   Attention:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                   Facsimile:  (813) 233-4582

[Signature page to Subordination Agreement]

<PAGE>

                                   Z-TEL CONSUMER SERVICES, LLC

                                   By: TOUCH-1 COMMUNICATIONS, INC.,
                                   its sole member

                                   By: _________________________________________
                                   Name:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                   Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
                                   601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
                                   Suite 210
                                   Tampa, FL 33602
                                   Attention:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                   Facsimile:  (813) 233-4582

with a copy to:                    Richard B. Hadlow
                                   Holland & Knight, LLP
                                   100 North Tampa Street, Suite 4100
                                   Tampa, Florida  33602-3644
                                   P.O. Box 1288 (33601-1288)
                                   Facsimile:  (813) 229-0134

[Signature page to Subordination Agreement]
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A
                           TO SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT

                    DESCRIPTION OF SENIOR CREDITOR COLLATERAL

      "SENIOR CREDITOR COLLATERAL" means all of Debtor's personal property,
including, without limitation, all of the following property and interests in
property of Debtor, wherever located and whether now or hereafter existing or
now owned or hereafter acquired or arising: (i) Receivables; (ii) Inventory;
(iii) Equipment; (iv) Contract Rights; (v) General Intangibles; (vi) Investment
Property; (vii) each Deposit Account and all certificates of deposit maintained
with a bank, savings and loan association, credit union or like organization,
other than an account evidenced by a certificate of deposit that is an
instrument under the UCC; (viii) goods and other property, whether or not
delivered, (a) the sale or lease of which gives or purports to give rise to any
Receivable, including, but not limited to, all merchandise returned or rejected
by or repossessed from customers, or (b) securing any Receivable, including,
without limitation, all rights as an unpaid vendor or lienor (including, without
limitation, stoppage in transit, replevin and reclamation) with respect to such
goods and other property; (ix) all mortgages, deeds to secure debt and deeds of
trust on real or personal property, guaranties, leases, security agreements, and
other agreements and property which secure or relate to any Receivable or other
Collateral, or are acquired for the purpose of securing and enforcing any item
thereof; (x) all documents of title, policies and certificates of insurance,
securities, chattel paper and other documents and instruments; (xi) all other
goods and personal property, whether tangible or intangible, wherever located,
including money, letters of credit, and each Letter-of-credit right; (xii) all
files, correspondence, computer programs, tapes, discs and related data
processing software which contain information identifying or pertaining to any
of the Receivables, or any Account Debtor, or showing the amounts thereof or
payments thereon or otherwise necessary or helpful in the realization thereon or
the collection thereof; and (xiii) any and all products and proceeds of the
foregoing (including, but not limited to, any claim to any item referred to in
this definition, and any claim against any third party for loss of, damage to or
destruction of any or all of, the Collateral or for proceeds payable under, or
unearned premiums with respect to, policies of insurance) in whatever form,
including, but not limited to, cash, negotiable instruments and other
instruments for the payment of money, chattel paper, security agreements and
other documents.

      As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

      "ACCOUNT" or "ACCOUNTS" means all now owned or hereafter acquired right,
title and interest in all accounts, as such term is defined in the UCC, and any
and all supporting obligations with respect to any of the foregoing.

      "ACCOUNT DEBTOR" means a Person to whom Debtor sells inventory, goods or
services in the ordinary course of business, including without limitation, each
Person who is obligated on a Receivable.

      "CONTRACT RIGHTS" means any rights under contracts not yet earned by
performance and not evidenced by an instrument or chattel paper.

      "DEPOSIT ACCOUNT" has the meaning given to it in the UCC.

                                      A-1

<PAGE>

      "EQUIPMENT" has the meaning given to it in the UCC.

      "GENERAL INTANGIBLES" has the meaning given to it in the UCC.

      "INVENTORY" has the meaning given to it in the UCC.

      "INVESTMENT PROPERTY" has the meaning given to it in the UCC.

      "LETTER-OF-CREDIT RIGHT" has the meaning given to it in the UCC.

      "PERSON" means any individual, limited liability company, corporation,
partnership, association, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government
or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

      "RECEIVABLE" means and includes (a) any and all rights to the payment of
money or other forms of consideration of any kind (whether classified under the
UCC as Accounts, contract rights, chattel paper, general intangibles, or
otherwise) including, but not limited to, Accounts, accounts receivable, letters
of credit and the right to receive payment thereunder, chattel paper, tax
refunds, insurance proceeds, Contract Rights, notes, drafts, instruments,
documents, acceptances, and all other debts, obligations and liabilities in
whatever form from any Person, (b) all guarantees, security and liens for
payment thereof, (c) all goods, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and
whether sold, delivered, undelivered, in transit or returned, which may be
represented by, or the sale or lease of which may have given rise to, any such
right to payment or other debt, obligation or liability, and (d) all proceeds of
any of the foregoing.

      "UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE" or "UCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code as in
effect from time to time in the State of Rhode Island.

                                      A-2

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT B
                           TO SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT

                                SUBORDINATED NOTE

                                 [See Attached.]

                                       B-1

<PAGE>

STATE OF _________________   )
                             ) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
COUNTY OF ________________   )

The undersigned, a notary public for the State of ____________, hereby certifies
that ______________, ____________________________ of Z-TEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.,
personally appeared before me this day and acknowledged the due execution of the
foregoing instrument.

Witness my hand and official seal this
____ day of __________, ______.

___________________________________
Notary Public for the State of ____________
My Commission Expires: __________

<PAGE>

STATE OF _________________   )
                             ) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
COUNTY OF ________________   )

The undersigned, a notary public for the State of ____________, hereby certifies
that ______________, ____________________________ of Z-TEL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.,
personally appeared before me this day and acknowledged the due execution of the
foregoing instrument.

Witness my hand and official seal this
____ day of __________, ______.

___________________________________
Notary Public for the State of ____________
My Commission Expires: __________

<PAGE>

STATE OF _________________   )
                             ) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
COUNTY OF ________________   )

The undersigned, a notary public for the State of ____________, hereby certifies
that ______________, ____________________________ of Z-TEL NETWORK SERVICES,
INC., personally appeared before me this day and acknowledged the due execution
of the foregoing instrument.

Witness my hand and official seal this
____ day of __________, ______.

___________________________________
Notary Public for the State of ____________
My Commission Expires: __________

<PAGE>

STATE OF _________________   )
                             ) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
COUNTY OF ________________   )

The undersigned, a notary public for the State of ____________, hereby certifies
that ______________, ____________________________ of Z-TEL BUSINESS NETWORKS,
INC., personally appeared before me this day and acknowledged the due execution
of the foregoing instrument.

Witness my hand and official seal this
____ day of __________, ______.

___________________________________
Notary Public for the State of ____________
My Commission Expires: __________

<PAGE>

STATE OF _________________   )
                             ) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
COUNTY OF ________________   )

The undersigned, a notary public for the State of ____________, hereby certifies
that ______________, ____________________________ of Z-TEL, INC., personally
appeared before me this day and acknowledged the due execution of the foregoing
instrument.

Witness my hand and official seal this
____ day of __________, ______.

___________________________________
Notary Public for the State of ____________
My Commission Expires: __________

<PAGE>

STATE OF _________________   )
                             ) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
COUNTY OF ________________   )

The undersigned, a notary public for the State of ____________, hereby certifies
that ______________, ____________________________ of Z-TEL HOLDINGS, INC.,
personally appeared before me this day and acknowledged the due execution of the
foregoing instrument.

Witness my hand and official seal this
____ day of __________, ______.

___________________________________
Notary Public for the State of ____________
My Commission Expires: __________

<PAGE>

STATE OF _________________   )
                             ) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
COUNTY OF ________________   )

The undersigned, a notary public for the State of ____________, hereby certifies
that ______________, ____________________________ of Z-TEL COMMUNICATIONS OF
VIRGINIA, INC., personally appeared before me this day and acknowledged the due
execution of the foregoing instrument.

Witness my hand and official seal this
____ day of __________, ______.

___________________________________
Notary Public for the State of ____________
My Commission Expires: __________

<PAGE>

STATE OF _________________   )
                             ) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
COUNTY OF ________________   )

The undersigned, a notary public for the State of ____________, hereby certifies
that ______________, ____________________________ of Z-TEL INVESTMENTS, INC.,
personally appeared before me this day and acknowledged the due execution of the
foregoing instrument.

Witness my hand and official seal this
____ day of __________, ______.

___________________________________
Notary Public for the State of ____________
My Commission Expires: __________

<PAGE>

STATE OF _________________   )
                             ) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
COUNTY OF ________________   )

The undersigned, a notary public for the State of ____________, hereby certifies
that ______________, ____________________________ of TOUCH-1 COMMUNICATIONS,
INC., personally appeared before me this day and acknowledged the due execution
of the foregoing instrument.

Witness my hand and official seal this
____ day of __________, ______.

___________________________________
Notary Public for the State of ____________
My Commission Expires: __________

<PAGE>

STATE OF _________________   )
                             ) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
COUNTY OF ________________   )

The undersigned, a notary public for the State of ____________, hereby certifies
that ______________, ____________________________ of DirecTEL, Inc., personally
appeared before me this day and acknowledged the due execution of the foregoing
instrument.

Witness my hand and official seal this
____ day of __________, ______.

___________________________________
Notary Public for the State of ____________
My Commission Expires: __________

<PAGE>

STATE OF _________________   )
                             ) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
COUNTY OF ________________   )

The undersigned, a notary public for the State of ____________, hereby certifies
that ______________, ____________________________ of direcCONNECT, Inc.,
personally appeared before me this day and acknowledged the due execution of the
foregoing instrument.

Witness my hand and official seal this
____ day of __________, ______.

___________________________________
Notary Public for the State of ____________
My Commission Expires: __________

<PAGE>

STATE OF _________________   )
                             ) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
COUNTY OF ________________   )

The undersigned, a notary public for the State of ____________, hereby certifies
that ______________, ____________________________ of Touch-1 Communications,
Inc., sole member of Z-TEL CONSUMER SERVICES, LLC, personally appeared before me
this day and acknowledged the due execution of the foregoing instrument.

Witness my hand and official seal this
____ day of __________, ______.

___________________________________
Notary Public for the State of ____________
My Commission Expires: __________

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT C

THIS GUARANTEE IS SUBORDINATE TO THE INDEBTEDNESS EVIDENCED BY THAT CERTAIN LOAN
AND SECURITY AGREEMENT, DATED APRIL 22, 2004 (THE "SENIOR LOAN AGREEMENT"),
AMONG THE COMPANY, TEXTRON FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND THE OTHER SIGNATORIES
THERETO, AS SUCH SENIOR LOAN AGREEMENT HAS BEEN AND HEREAFTER MAY BE AMENDED,
SUPPLEMENTED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME. THE TERMS OF THE
SUBORDINATION ARE MORE SPECIFICALLY DEFINED IN THAT CERTAIN SUBORDINATION
AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG THE FUND, THE COMPANY, TEXTRON FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND
THE OTHER SIGNATORIES THERETO. EACH HOLDER OF THIS GUARANTEE, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE
HEREOF, SHALL BE BOUND BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT.

                             SUBSIDIARIES' GUARANTEE

            SUBSIDIARIES' GUARANTEE (the "Guarantee"), dated as of August 24,
2004, made by each of the Persons that are signatories hereto (the
"Guarantors"), in favor of The 1818 Fund III, L.P. (the "Fund"), as lender
pursuant to the Senior Unsecured Promissory Note, dated August 24, 2004 (as
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Company
Note"), in the aggregate principal amount of up to $15,000,000 issued pursuant
to the Standby Credit Facility Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2004 (as
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit
Agreement"), by and between Z-Tel Technologies, Inc. (the "Borrower"), and the
Fund.

                                  WITNESSETH:

            WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Fund has agreed to
make Loans to Borrower upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in
the Credit Agreement and the Company Note;

            WHEREAS, the Borrower owns directly or indirectly all of the issued
and outstanding stock of each Guarantor;

            WHEREAS, the proceeds of the Loans will be used in part to enable
the Borrower to make valuable transfers (as determined as provided herein) to
some of the Guarantors in connection with the operation of their respective
businesses;

            WHEREAS, each Guarantor will derive substantial direct or indirect
benefit from the Loans; and

<PAGE>

            WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligation of the Fund
to fund the Loans that the Guarantors shall have executed and delivered this
Guarantee to the Fund and the Fund would not agree to enter into the Credit
Agreement or to fund the Loans without the execution and delivery of this
Guarantee by each Guarantor.

            NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good
and valuable consideration accruing to each Guarantor, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, and to induce the Fund to enter
into the Credit Agreement and to fund the Loans, the Guarantors hereby agree
with the Fund as follows:

            1.    Defined Terms.

                  (a) The defined terms below shall have the following meanings
for purposes of this Guarantee:

            "Applicable Laws" has the meaning given to such term in the Company
Note.

            "Contractual Obligation" means as to any Person, any provision of
any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other
understanding to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its
property is bound.

            "Event of Default" has the meaning given to such term in the Company
Note.

            "Obligations" means the collective reference to the unpaid principal
of and interest on the Company Note and all other obligations and liabilities of
the Borrower to the Fund (including, without limitation, the Premium Amount or
interest accruing at the then applicable rate provided in the Company Note after
the maturity of the Company Note and interest accruing at the then applicable
rate provided in the Company Note after the filing of any petition in
bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like
proceeding, relating to the Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or
post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), whether direct or
indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or
hereafter incurred, which may arise under, out of, or in connection with, the
Company Note, or the Credit Agreement, or any other document made, delivered or
given in connection therewith, whether on account of principal, Premium Amount,
interest, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses or
otherwise (including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel
to the Fund that are required to be paid by the Borrower or the Guarantor
pursuant to the terms of the Company Note, Credit Agreement or this Guarantee or
any other Transaction Document).

                  (b) Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the
Credit Agreement or Company Note and not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement or Company Note.

<PAGE>

                  (c) The words "hereof," "herein" and "hereunder" and words of
similar import when used in this Guarantee shall refer to this Guarantee as a
whole and not to any particular provision of this Guarantee, and section and
paragraph references are to this Guarantee unless otherwise specified.

                  (d) The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be
equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.

            2.    Guarantee.

                  (a) Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2(b), each of the
Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally and irrevocably,
guarantees to the Fund, their respective successors, indorsees, transferees and
assigns, the prompt and complete payment and performance by the Borrower when
due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the
Obligations.

                  (b) Anything herein or in any other Transaction Document to
the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum liability of each Guarantor hereunder
and under the other Transaction Documents shall in no event exceed the amount
which can be guaranteed by such Guarantor, under all applicable federal and
state laws, including, without limitations, those relating to the insolvency of
debtors, and after giving effect to all applicable rights of contribution, would
result in the avoidance or illegality of the obligations of such Guarantor
hereunder or under the Transaction Documents. Nothing herein shall be construed
to shift to the Fund the burden of proof with respect to the maximum liability
of any Guarantor hereunder.

                  (c) Each Guarantor further agrees to pay any and all expenses
(including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel) which may
be paid or incurred by the Fund in enforcing, or obtaining advice of counsel in
respect of, any rights with respect to, or collecting, any or all of the
Obligations and/or enforcing any rights with respect to, or collecting against,
such Guarantor under this Guarantee.

                  (d) Each Guarantor agrees that the Obligations may at any time
and from time to time exceed the amount of the liability of such Guarantor
hereunder without impairing this Guarantee or affecting the rights and remedies
of the Fund hereunder.

                  (e) No payment or payments made by the Borrower, any of the
Guarantors, any other guarantor or any other Person, or received or collected by
the Fund from the Borrower, any of the Guarantors, any other guarantor or any
other Person by virtue of any action or proceeding or any set-off or
appropriation or application at any time or from time to time in reduction of or
in payment of the Obligations shall be deemed to modify, reduce, release or
otherwise affect the liability of any Guarantor hereunder which shall,
notwithstanding any such payment or payments other than payments made by such
Guarantor in respect of the Obligations or payments received or collected from
such Guarantor in respect of the Obligations, remain liable for the

<PAGE>

Obligations up to the maximum liability of such Guarantor hereunder until the
Obligations are paid in full.

                  (f) Each Guarantor agrees that whenever, at any time, or from
time to time, it shall make any payment to the Fund on account of its liability
hereunder, it will notify the Fund in writing that such payment is made under
this Guarantee for such purpose.

                  (g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Section 2, this Guarantee shall be effective with respect to each Guarantor upon
execution of this Guarantee subject to, in the case of each individual
Guarantor, the receipt of any necessary approvals from state public utility
commissions having jurisdiction over any such Guarantor. For the avoidance of
doubt, if no such approvals are required with respect to any individual
Guarantor, this Guarantee shall be effective with respect to each such Guarantor
as of the date hereof.

            3. Right of Contribution. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that to the
extent that a Guarantor shall have paid more than its proportionate share of any
payment made hereunder, such Guarantor shall be entitled to seek and receive
contribution from and against any other Guarantor hereunder who has not paid its
proportionate share of such payment. Each Guarantor's right of contribution
shall be subject to the terms and conditions of Section 5 hereof. The provisions
of this Section shall in no respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any
Guarantor to the Fund, and each Guarantor shall remain liable to the Fund for
the full amount guaranteed by such Guarantor hereunder.

            4. No Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payment or payments made by
any of the Guarantors hereunder or any set-off or application of funds of any of
the Guarantors by the Fund, no Guarantor shall be entitled to be subrogated to
any of the rights of the Fund against the Borrower or any other Guarantor or any
collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by the Fund for the
payment of the Obligations, nor shall any Guarantor seek or be entitled to seek
any contribution or reimbursement from the Borrower or any other Guarantor in
respect of payments made by such Guarantor hereunder, until all amounts owing to
the Fund by the Borrower on account of the Obligations are paid in full. If any
amount shall be paid to any Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights at
any time when all of the Obligations shall not have been paid in full, such
amount shall be held by such Guarantor in trust for the Fund, segregated from
other funds of such Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such
Guarantor, be turned over to the Fund in the exact form received by such
Guarantor (duly indorsed by such Guarantor to the Fund, if required), to be
applied against the Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such order as
the Fund may determine.

            5. Amendments, etc. with respect to the Obligations; Waiver of
Rights. Each Guarantor shall remain obligated hereunder notwithstanding that,
without any reservation of rights against any Guarantor and without notice to or
further assent by any Guarantor, any demand for payment of any of the
Obligations made by the Fund may be rescinded by such party and any of the
Obligations continued, and the Obligations, or the liability of any other party
upon or for any part thereof, or guarantee therefor or right

<PAGE>

of offset with respect thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or in part, be
renewed, extended, amended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived,
surrendered or released by the Fund, and the Company Note, the Credit Agreement
and any other documents executed and delivered in connection therewith may be
amended, modified, supplemented or terminated, in whole or in part, as the Fund
may deem advisable from time to time, and any guarantee or right of offset at
any time held by the Fund for the payment of the Obligations may be sold,
exchanged, waived, surrendered or released. The Fund shall not have any
obligation to protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien at any time held by it
as security (if any) for the Obligations or for this Guarantee or any property
subject thereto. When making any demand hereunder against any of the Guarantors,
the Fund may, but shall be under no obligation to, make a similar demand on the
Borrower or any other Guarantor or guarantor, and any failure by the Fund to
make any such demand or to collect any payments from the Borrower or any such
other Guarantor or guarantor or any release of the Borrower or such other
Guarantor or guarantor shall not relieve any of the Guarantors in respect of
which a demand or collection is not made or any of the Guarantors not so
released of their several obligations or liabilities hereunder, and shall not
impair or affect the rights and remedies, express or implied, or as a matter of
law, of the Fund against any of the Guarantors. For the purposes hereof "demand"
shall include the commencement and continuance of any legal proceedings.

            6. Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional. Each Guarantor waives any
and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any of the
Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by the Fund upon this Guarantee
or acceptance of this Guarantee, the Obligations, and any of them, shall
conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred, or renewed,
extended, amended or waived, in reliance upon this Guarantee; and all dealings
between the Borrower and any of the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Fund,
on the other hand, likewise shall be conclusively presumed to have been had or
consummated in reliance upon this Guarantee. Each Guarantor waives diligence,
presentment, protest, demand for payment and notice of default or nonpayment to
or upon the Borrower or any of the Guarantors with respect to the Obligations.
Each Guarantor understands and agrees that this Guarantee shall be construed as
a continuing, absolute and unconditional guarantee of payment without regard to
(a) the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Company Note, the Credit
Agreement, any of the Obligations, or any guarantee or right of offset with
respect thereto at any time or from time to time held by the Fund (b) any
defense, set-off or counterclaim (other than a defense of payment or
performance) which may at any time be available to or be asserted by the
Borrower against the Fund, or (c) any other circumstance whatsoever (with or
without notice to or knowledge of the Borrower or such Guarantor) which
constitutes, or might be construed to constitute, an equitable or legal
discharge of the Borrower for the Obligations, or of such Guarantor under this
Guarantee, in bankruptcy or in any other instance. When pursuing its rights and
remedies hereunder against any Guarantor, the Fund may, but shall be under no
obligation to, pursue such rights and remedies as it may have against the
Borrower or any other Person or against any collateral security or guarantee for
the Obligations or any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by
the Fund to pursue such other rights or remedies or to collect any payments from
the Borrower or any such other Person or to exercise any such right

<PAGE>

of offset, or any release of the Borrower or any such other Person, guarantee or
right of offset, shall not relieve such Guarantor of any liability hereunder,
and shall not impair or affect the rights and remedies, whether express, implied
or available as a matter of law, of the Fund against such Guarantor. This
Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and be binding in accordance
with and to the extent of its terms upon each Guarantor and the successors and
assigns thereof, and shall inure to the benefit of the Fund, and their
respective successors, indorsees, transferees and assigns, until all the
Obligations and the obligations of each Guarantor under this Guarantee shall
have been satisfied by payment in full.

            7. Reinstatement. This Guarantee shall continue to be effective, or
be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof,
of any of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned
by the Fund upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or
reorganization of the Borrower or any Guarantor, or upon or as a result of the
appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar
officer for, the Borrower or any Guarantor or any substantial part of its
property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made.

            8. Payments. Each Guarantor hereby guarantees that payments
hereunder will be paid to the Fund without set-off or counterclaim in U.S.
Dollars by wire transfer in immediately available funds, as directed by the Fund
in writing.

            9. Representations and Warranties. Each Guarantor hereby represents
and warrants that:

                  (a) it is duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization;

                  (b) has (i) full corporate (or other similar organizational)
power and authority and (ii) all governmental licenses, authorizations, consents
and approvals to own and operate its property, to lease the property it operates
as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently, or is currently
proposed to be, engaged;

                  (c) is duly qualified as a foreign person, licensed and in
good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or
operation of property or the conduct of its business requires such
qualification;

                  (d) has the corporate (or similar organizational) power and
authority and the legal right to execute and deliver, and to perform its
obligations under this Guarantee, and has taken all necessary corporate action
to authorize its execution, deliver and performance of this guarantee;

                  (e) this Guarantee constitutes a legal, valid and binding
obligation of such Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as
affected by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization,
moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of
creditors' rights generally, general equitable principles and an implied
covenant of good faith and fair dealing;

<PAGE>

                  (f) the execution, delivery and performance of this Guarantee
will not violate any provision of any Requirement of Law or Contractual
Obligation of such Guarantor and will not result in or require the creation or
imposition of any Lien on any of the properties or revenues of such Guarantor
pursuant to any Requirement of Law or Contractual Obligation of the Guarantor;

                  (g) except as set forth on Schedule 9(g) hereto, no consent or
authorization of, filing with, or other act by or in respect of, any arbitrator
or Governmental Authority and no consent of any other Person (including, without
limitation, any stockholder or creditor of such Guarantor) is required in
connection with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability
of this Guarantee;

                  (h) no litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before
any arbitrator or Governmental Authority is pending or, to the knowledge of such
Guarantor, threatened by or against such Guarantor or against any of its
properties or revenues (1) with respect to this Guarantee or any of the
transactions contemplated hereby, (2) which, if adversely determined, would have
or would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the assets,
business, properties, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of such
Guarantor;

Each Guarantor agrees that the foregoing representations and warranties shall be
deemed to have been made by such Guarantor on the date of each Loan by the
Borrower on and as of such date as though made hereunder on and as of such date.

            10. Affirmative Covenants. Each Guarantor hereby covenants and
agrees with the Fund and its assigns as follows:

                  (a) Company Note Covenants. Each Guarantor shall be bound by
the terms of Sections 8.2, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 8.9, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5,
9.6, 9.7, 9.8 and 9.9 of the Company Note as a primary obligor thereunder.

                  (b) Further Assurances. Each Guarantor shall promptly execute
and deliver upon request by the Fund and at the Guarantor's expense, such
additional documents, instruments and agreements as the Fund may reasonably
determine to be necessary to (i) carry out the provisions of this Guaranty and
the transactions and actions contemplated hereby and thereby and (ii) to
evidence the Guarantor's obligations hereunder.

            11. Negative Covenants. In addition to the covenants in Section 10
of this Guaranty, each Guarantor hereby covenants and agrees with the Fund and
its assigns that each such Guarantor shall not take any action that would result
in the Company not being in compliance with Sections 8 or 9 of the Company Note.

            12. Notices. All notices, demands and other communications provided
for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing and shall be by registered
or certified first class mail, return receipt requested, facsimile, courier
service or personal delivery:

<PAGE>

                  (a) if to the Fund, at its address or facsimile number for
notices provided under its signature below.

                  (b) if to any Guarantor, at its address or facsimile number
for notices set forth under its signature below.

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given:
when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; when delivered by courier, if
delivered by commercial overnight courier service; five (5) Business Days after
being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; and when receipt is
acknowledged, if sent by facsimile. The Fund and each Guarantor may change its
address and facsimile numbers for notices by notice in the manner provided in
this Section.

            13. Counterparts. This Guarantee may be executed by one or more of
the Guarantors on any number of separate counterparts, and all of said
counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same
instrument. A set of the counterparts of this Guarantee signed by all the
Guarantors shall be lodged with the Fund.

            14. Severability. Any provision of this Guarantee which is
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction,
be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without
invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or
unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

            15. Integration. This Guarantee represents the agreement of each
Guarantor with respect to the subject matter hereof and there are no promises or
representations by the Fund relative to the subject matter hereof not reflected
herein.

            16. Amendments in Writing; No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.

                  (a) None of the terms or provisions of this Guarantee may be
waived, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified except by a written
instrument executed by each Guarantor and the Fund; provided that any provision
of this Guarantee may be waived by the Fund in a letter or agreement executed by
the Fund or by signed facsimile transmission from the Fund.

                  (b) The Fund shall not by any act (except by a written
instrument pursuant to paragraph 16(a) hereof), delay, indulgence, omission or
otherwise be deemed to have waived any right or remedy hereunder or to have
acquiesced in any default or Event of Default or in any breach of any of the
terms and conditions hereof. No failure to exercise, nor any delay in
exercising, on the part of the Fund, any right, power or privilege hereunder
shall operate as a waiver thereof. No single or partial exercise of any right,
power or privilege hereunder shall preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. A waiver by the
Fund of any right or remedy hereunder on any one occasion shall not be construed
as a bar to any right or remedy which the Fund would otherwise have on any
future occasion.

<PAGE>

                  (c) The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative,
may be exercised singly or concurrently and are not exclusive of any other
rights or remedies provided by law.

            17. Section Headings. The section headings used in this Guarantee
are for convenience of reference only and are not to affect the construction
hereof or be taken into consideration in the interpretation hereof.

            18. Successors and Assigns. This Guarantee shall be binding upon the
successors and assigns of each Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the
Fund and its successors and assigns.

            19. GOVERNING LAW. THIS GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD FOR CHOICE
OF LAW OR CONFLICT OR LAWS PRINCIPLES THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE
LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

            20.   Jurisdiction.

                  (a) Any action or proceeding against the Guarantors relating
in any way to this Guarantee may be brought and enforced in the courts of the
State of New York or of the United States for the Southern District of New York,
and the Guarantors, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, irrevocably
consent to the jurisdiction of each such court in respect of any such action or
proceeding. The Guarantors, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, and the
holder of this Guarantee each irrevocably consent to the service of process in
any such action or proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to such Guarantors at
the address for such Guarantors set forth on the signature page hereof, or such
other address such Guarantors shall notify the other in writing. The Guarantors
agree that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive
and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any
other manner provided by law. The foregoing shall not limit the right of the
holder of this Guarantee to serve process in any other manner permitted by law
or to bring any action or proceeding, or to obtain execution of any judgment, in
any other jurisdiction.

                  (b) Each Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives any objection
that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any action or
proceeding arising under or relating this Guarantee in any court located in the
Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, or located in any other
jurisdiction chosen by the holder of this Guarantee in accordance with clause
(a) of this Section. Each Guarantor and the Fund hereby irrevocably waives any
claim that a court located in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New
York is not a convenient forum for any such action or proceeding.

                  (c) Each Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest
extent permitted by the applicable United States federal and state law, all
immunity from

<PAGE>

jurisdiction, service of process, attachment (both before and after judgment)
and execution to which it might otherwise be entitled in any action or
proceeding relating in any way to this Guarantee in the courts of the State of
New York, of the United States or of any other country or jurisdiction, and
hereby waives any right it might otherwise have to raise or claim or cause to be
pleaded any such immunity at or in respect of any such action or proceeding.

            21. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH GUARANTOR AND THE FUND HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ANY RIGHTS THEY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY
ACTION BASED UPON, OR ARISING OUT OF THIS GUARANTEE.

                [Signature pages follow beginning on next page.]

<PAGE>

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this
Guarantee to be duly executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer as of
the day and year first above written.

                            Z-TEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                            By: ________________________________________
                                Name:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

                            Address for Notices:

                                601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
                                Suite 210
                                Tampa, FL  33602
                                Attention:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                Facsimile:  (813) 233-4582

                            Z-TEL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                            By: ________________________________________
                                Name:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

                            Address for Notices:

                                601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
                                Suite 210
                                Tampa, FL  33602
                                Attention:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                Facsimile:  (813) 233-4582

Signature page to Subsidiaries' Guarantee

<PAGE>
                            Z-TEL NETWORK SERVICES, INC.

                            By: ________________________________________
                                Name:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

                            Address for Notices:

                                601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
                                Suite 210
                                Tampa, FL  33602
                                Attention:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                Facsimile:  (813) 233-4582

                            Z-TEL BUSINESS NETWORKS, INC.

                            By: ________________________________________
                                Name:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

                            Address for Notices:

                                601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
                                Suite 210
                                Tampa, FL  33602
                                Attention:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                Facsimile:  (813) 233-4582

Signature page to Subsidiaries' Guarantee

<PAGE>

                            Z-TEL, INC.

                            By: ________________________________________
                                Name:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

                            Address for Notices:

                                601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
                                Suite 210
                                Tampa, FL  33602
                                Attention:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                Facsimile:  (813) 233-4582

                            Z-TEL HOLDINGS, INC.

                            By: ________________________________________
                                Name:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

                            Address for Notices:

                                601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
                                Suite 210
                                Tampa, FL  33602
                                Attention:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                Facsimile:  (813) 233-4582

Signature page to Subsidiaries' Guarantee

<PAGE>

                            Z-TEL COMMUNICATIONS OF VIRGINIA, INC.

                            By: ________________________________________
                                Name:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

                            Address for Notices:

                                601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
                                Suite 210
                                Tampa, FL  33602
                                Attention:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                Facsimile:  (813) 233-4582

                            Z-TEL INVESTMENTS, INC.

                            By: ________________________________________
                                Name:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

                            Address for Notices:

                                601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
                                Suite 210
                                Tampa, FL  33602
                                Attention:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                Facsimile:  (813) 233-4582

Signature page to Subsidiaries' Guarantee

<PAGE>

                            TOUCH 1 COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                            By: ________________________________________
                                Name:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

                            Address for Notices:

                                601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
                                Suite 210
                                Tampa, FL  33602
                                Attention:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                Facsimile:  (813) 233-4582

                            DirecTEL, INC.

                            By: ________________________________________
                                Name:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

                            Address for Notices:

                                601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
                                Suite 210
                                Tampa, FL  33602
                                Attention:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                Facsimile:  (813) 233-4582

Signature page to Subsidiaries' Guarantee

<PAGE>

                            direcCONNECT, INC.

                            By: ________________________________________
                                Name:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

                            Address for Notices:

                                601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
                                Suite 210
                                Tampa, FL  33602
                                Attention:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                Facsimile:  (813) 233-4582

                            Z-TEL CONSUMER SERVICES, LLC

                            By: Touch 1 Communications, Inc.,
                                its sole member

                            By: ________________________________________
                                Name:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

                            Address for Notices:

                                601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
                                Suite 210
                                Tampa, FL  33602
                                Attention:  Horace J. "Trey" Davis, III
                                Facsimile:  (813) 233-4582

Signature page to Subsidiaries' Guarantee

<PAGE>

                             SUBSIDIARIES' GUARANTY
                                  SCHEDULE 9(g)
                                    CONSENTS

Public utility Governmental Authorities in the following states may require
authorization of the Subsidiary Guarantees of Z-Tel Communications, Inc. and
Touch 1 Communications, Inc. before the effectiveness thereof:

Delaware
Georgia
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Hawaii

Public utility Governmental Authorities in the following states may require
notification of the Subsidiary Guarantees of Z-Tel Communications, Inc. and
Touch 1 Communications, Inc. before the effectiveness thereof:

Indiana
Kentucky
Maine
Nebraska
New Hampshire
North Carolina
Vermont

Performance under the Guarantee that would affect the telecommunications
services offered by Z-Tel Communications, Inc. or Touch 1 Communications, Inc.
may require the prior consent of the Federal Communications Commission and or
state public utility Governmental Authorities.

Consent of Textron Financial Corporation may be required in the connection with
certain performances under the Guarantee, including, without limitation,
payments of Obligations that represent payments of other than "Permitted Junior
Creditor Indebtedness Payments" as defined in the Subordination Agreement by and
among Textron Financial Corporation, the Fund, the Borrower and the Guarantors.

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