Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.59

     THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), dated as of December 13, 2000,
2000 is by and between FirstWorld Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company") and John M. Harper ("Executive") (collectively, the "Parties").

                                   RECITALS

     The Company desires to employ Executive, effective upon his commencement of
employment (the "Commencement Date"), on the terms and conditions set forth in
this Agreement, and Executive desires to be so employed.

                                   AGREEMENT

     IN CONSIDERATION of the premises and the mutual covenants set forth below,
the parties hereby agree as follows:

     1.  Employment.  Subject to the Company being satisfied with the results of
a background check regarding education, employment, criminal and references
("Background Checks"), the Company hereby agrees to employ Executive as Chief
Technology Officer of the Company, and Executive hereby accepts such employment,
on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. If the Background Checks are
not acceptable to the Company, this Agreement will be null and void. Executive
acknowledges that he may be employed by a subsidiary of the Company, however,
the Company will remain liable for all obligations contained in this Agreement.

     2.  Term.  The period of employment of Executive by the Company hereunder
(the "Employment Period") shall commence at the Commencement Date and shall
continue through one (1) year from Commencement Date. The Employment Period may
be sooner terminated by either party in accordance with Section 5 of this
Agreement.

     3.  Position and Duties.  During the Employment Period, Executive shall
serve as Chief Technology Officer of the Company. Executive shall devote such
time, attention and energies to Company affairs as are necessary to fully
perform his duties (other than absences due to illness or vacation) for the
Company. During the Employment Period, Executive shall not, directly or
indirectly, render services to any other organization, entity or person, as an
employee, independent contractor, consultant or otherwise, with or without
compensation, without the prior written consent of the Board of Directors of the
Company (the "Board").

     4.  Compensation and Related Matters.

         (a)  Salary.  During the Employment Period, the Company shall pay
Executive an annual base salary of Two Hundred Thirty-Five Thousand and
00/Dollars ($235,000.00) per year ("Base Salary"). Executive's Base Salary shall
be paid in approximately equal installments in accordance with the Company's
customary payroll schedule and practices. Executive's Base Salary

                                      -1-
<PAGE>

shall be subject to annual reviews commencing one (1) year from Commencement
Date, and each year thereafter. If Executive's Base Salary is increased by the
Company, such increased Base Salary shall then constitute the Base Salary for
all purposes of this Agreement. All compensation paid to Executive shall be
subject to withholding and other employment taxes imposed by applicable law.

         (b)  Annual Bonus.  The President and Chief Executive Officer shall
review Executive's performance at least once quarterly during each year of the
Employment Period to review the Executive's performance pursuant to the
procedures and terms of Company's Quarterly Bonus Plan ("Bonus Plan"), as in
effect from time to time. The percentage of Executive's Salary to be used for
calculations under the Bonus Plan shall be an amount equal to 50% of the
Executive's Base Salary. The Executive's Bonus shall be paid pursuant to the
terms and conditions of the Bonus Plan.

         (c)  Stock Options.

              (i)  Stock Option Agreement:

                   a.  Executive shall be awarded a stock option (the "Stock
     Option") effective as of the Commencement Date ("Option Grant Date") to
     purchase Seven Hundred Thousand (700,000) shares of the Company's Series B
     Common Stock, par value $.0001 per share (the "Common Stock"). The shares
     of Common Stock subject to the Stock Option shall vest in increments of
     Three Hundred Fifty Thousand (350,000) shares on the first anniversary of
     the Option Grant Date; and Three Hundred Fifty Thousand (350,000) shares on
     the second anniversary of the Option Grant Date. The Purchase Price for the
     Common Stock covered by the Option shall be equal to the fair market value
     of the Common Stock as measured by the closing price of a share of Common
     Stock on NASDAQ on the Option Grant Date. The Stock Option will be granted
     under the 1999 Equity Incentive Plan of FirstWorld Communications, Inc.
     (the "Plan") and the terms and conditions of the Stock Option will be
     determined in accordance with the Plan; provided however, to the extent
     such terms of the Plan or the Stock Option agreement conflict with the
     terms of the Employment Agreement, the terms of the Employment Agreement
     will control. To the extent permissible under applicable law and the Plan,
     the Stock Option granted will be granted as incentive stock options.

                   b.  the Option Agreement shall contain a provision relating
     to the expiration of the right to exercise vested Stock Options, which
     shall read as follows:

         If the Optionee's employment is terminated by the Company without Cause
         or by the Optionee for Good Reason, pursuant to Optionee's Employment
         Agreement, the Executive shall have the right to exercise the Options
         vested at the time of such termination upon the later to occur of: (i)
         one (1) year from Commencement Date, or (ii) ninety (90) days from the
         Date of Termination of Employment.

                   c.  The Option Agreement shall contain a provision related to
     Change of Control and Accelerated Vesting as follows:

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

         Notwithstanding any terms in the Plan to the contrary, this Option
         Agreement, the Employment Agreement, or otherwise, all of the Options
         granted hereunder shall become vested and exercisable immediately prior
         to such transaction in the event of the sale of all or substantially
         all of the Company's assets or a merger or consolidation in which the
         Company is not the surviving entity, or the Company's stockholders
         prior to the transaction own less than 50% of the voting power of the
         Company's outstanding securities immediately following the transaction.
         In addition, upon termination of Executive's employment by the Company
         without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason prior to the
         expiration of the Employment Period, those Options granted hereunder
         that would otherwise become vested on or before one (1) year from
         Commencement Date, shall become vested and exercisable.

         (d)  Expenses.  The Company shall promptly reimburse Executive for all
reasonable business expenses upon the presentation of reasonably itemized
statements of such expenses in accordance with the Company's policies and
procedures now in force or as such policies and procedures may be modified with
respect to all senior executive officers of the Company.

         (e)  Relocation Expenses.  The Company requires Executive to relocate
to the Denver, Colorado metropolitan area and Executive agrees that he will so
relocate. The Company will reimburse Executive 100% of reasonable relocation
expenses (e.g., temporary living expenses, house-hunting trips, transport of
household goods, temporary storage of household goods, and any costs incurred as
a result of selling a home in your current location and buying a home in your
new location) ("Relocation Payment") upon the presentation of itemized
statements of such expenses in accordance with the Company's policies and
procedures now in force or as such policies and procedures may be modified with
respect to all senior executive officers of the Company, provided, however, that
if Company terminates Executive's employment with Cause or if Executive
terminates employment without Good Reason, Executive shall, as of the Date of
Termination of employment, reimburse the Company a prorated amount of the
Relocation Payment based on the number of days employed compared to one full
year of employment. By way of example, if Executive's employment is so
terminated six months from the Commencement Date and the Relocation Payment was
$5,000, the calculation would be as follows: $5,000 365 = $14 x 182.5 (days
Executive employed) = $2,555; $5,000 - $2,555 = $2,445 due to Company from
Executive. Executive authorizes the Company to withhold an amount sufficient to
satisfy such reimbursement obligation from any sums otherwise due the Executive
under this Agreement or otherwise.

         (f)  Welfare and Other Plans.  In addition to Executive's Base Salary
and any incentive compensation and bonuses awarded to Executive hereunder, he
(and his family) shall be entitled to participate, to the extent that he is (and
they are) eligible under the terms and conditions thereof, in any 401k plan,
retirement, hospitalization, insurance, disability or medical service plan
generally available to the executive officers of the Company that may be in
effect from time to time during the Employment Period. The Company shall be
under no obligation to institute or continue the existence of any such employee
benefit plan. Executive is entitled to four (4) weeks vacation per calendar
year.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

     5.  Termination.  Executive's employment hereunder may be terminated during
the Employment Period under the following circumstances:

         (a)  Death.  Executive's employment hereunder shall terminate upon his
death.

         (b)  Disability.  If, as a result of Executive's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness, Executive shall have been substantially unable to
perform his duties hereunder for an entire period of thirty (30) consecutive
days, and within thirty (30) days after written Notice of Termination (as
defined in Section 6(a)) is given after such thirty (30) day period, Executive
shall not have returned to the substantial performance of his duties on a full-
time basis, the Company shall have the right to terminate Executive's employment
hereunder for "Disability," and such termination in and of itself shall not be,
nor shall it be deemed to be, a breach of this Agreement.

         (c)  Cause.  The Company shall have the right to terminate Executive's
employment for Cause (as defined), and such termination in and of itself shall
not be, nor shall it be deemed to be, a breach of this Agreement. For purposes
of this Agreement, the Company shall have "Cause" to terminate Executive's
employment upon Executive's:

              (i)    conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any
     crime constituting a felony;

              (ii)   commission of a material act of dishonesty, fraud,
     misrepresentation or other act of moral turpitude that would, in the
     Board's reasonable judgment, prevent the effective performance of his
     duties hereunder;

              (iii)  continued failure to substantially perform his duties
     hereunder to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board (other than such
     failure resulting from Executive's incapacity due to physical or mental
     illness) after demand for substantial performance is delivered by the Board
     in writing that specifically identifies the manner in which the Board
     believes Executive has not used reasonable best efforts to substantially
     perform his duties; or

              (iv)   willful misconduct (including, but not limited to, a
     willful breach of the provisions of Section 8) that is, in the Board's
     reasonable judgment, injurious to the Company or to any entity in control
     of, controlled by or under common control with the Company ("Affiliate").

     For purposes of this Section 5(c), no act, or failure to act, by Executive
shall be considered "willful" unless committed in bad faith and without a
reasonable belief that the act or omission was in the best interests of the
Company or any Affiliates thereof; provided, however, that the requirements
outlined in paragraphs (iii) or (iv) above shall be deemed to have occurred if
Executive's action or non-action continues for more than ten (10) days after
Executive has received written notice of the inappropriate action or non-action.
This Section 5(c) shall not prevent Executive from challenging the Board's
determination that Cause exists or that Executive has failed to cure any act (or
failure to act) that purportedly formed the basis for the Board's determination,
under the arbitration procedures set forth in Section 10 below.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

         (d)  Good Reason.  Executive may terminate his employment for "Good
Reason" within thirty (30) days after Executive has actual knowledge of the
occurrence, without the written consent of Executive, of one of the following
events that has not been cured within thirty (30) days after written notice
thereof has been given by Executive to the Company (provided, that with respect
to this Section 5(d), the Company shall have the right to challenge Executive's
determination that he has the right to terminate his employment for "Good
Reason" under the arbitration procedures set forth in Section 10 below):

              (i)    a reduction by the Company in Executive's Base Salary or a
     failure by the Company to pay any such amounts when due;

              (ii)   the Company's failure to provide the Stock Option
     referenced in paragraph 4(d)1, or the Company's material breach of one or
     more of the stock option agreements pursuant to which the Stock Option was
     issued to Executive;

              (iii)  the Company's failure to substantially provide any material
     employee benefits due to be provided to Executive; or

              (iv)   the Company's failure to provide in all material respects
     the indemnification set forth in the agreement referenced in Section 9 of
     this Agreement.

     Executive's continued employment during the thirty (30) day period referred
to above in this paragraph (d) shall not constitute Executive's consent to, or a
waiver of rights with respect to, any act or failure to act constituting Good
Reason hereunder.

         (e)  Without Good Reason or Cause.  Executive shall have the right to
terminate his employment hereunder without Good Reason and the Company shall
have the right to terminate Executive's employment hereunder without Cause by
providing the other with a Notice of Termination, and such termination shall not
in and of itself be, nor shall it be deemed to be, a breach of this Agreement.

     6.  Termination Procedure.

         (a)  Notice of Termination.  Any termination of Executive's employment
by the Company or by Executive during the Employment Period (other than
termination pursuant to Section 5(a)) shall be communicated by written Notice of
Termination (as defined below) to the other party hereto in accordance with
Section 12 below. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination"
shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in
this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts
and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated.

         (b)  Date of Termination.  "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if
Executive's employment is terminated by his death, the date of his death, (ii)
if Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to Section 5(b), thirty (30)
days after Notice of Termination (provided that Executive shall not have
returned to the substantial performance of his duties on a full-time basis
during such thirty (30) day period) and (iii) if Executive's employment is
terminated for any other

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given or any later date
(within thirty (30) days after the giving of such notice) set forth in such
Notice of Termination.

     7.  Compensation upon Termination or During Disability.  In the event
Executive is disabled or his employment terminates during the Employment Period,
the Company shall provide Executive with the payments and benefits set forth
below. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the payments set forth in this
Section 7 constitute liquidated damages for termination of his employment during
the Employment Period.

         (a)  Termination by Company without Cause or by Executive for Good
Reason. If Executive's employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or
by Executive for Good Reason:

              (i)    Within thirty (30) days following the Date of Termination,
     the Company shall pay to Executive a severance payment equal to the greater
     of the amount of Base Salary Executive would have received under the
     Agreement if Executive had remained employed throughout the Employment
     Period stated in Section 2, or the amount of Base Salary Executive is
     entitled to receive for twelve (12) months, plus accrued vacation;

              (ii)   Within thirty (30) days following the Date of Termination,
     the Company shall reimburse Executive pursuant to Section 4(e) for
     reasonable expenses incurred, but not paid prior to such termination of
     employment; and

              (iii)  Executive shall be entitled to any other rights,
     compensation and/or benefits as may be due to Executive as of the Date of
     Termination, in accordance with the terms and provisions of any agreements,
     plans or programs of the Company.

         (b)  Termination by Company for Cause or by Executive without Good
Reason. If Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for Cause or by
Executive (other than for Good Reason):

              (i)    the Company shall pay Executive his Base Salary and, to the
     extent required by law or the Company's vacation policy, his accrued
     vacation pay through the Date of Termination, as soon as practicable
     following the Date of Termination;

              (ii)   the Company shall reimburse Executive pursuant to Section
     4(e) for reasonable expenses incurred, but not paid prior to such
     termination of employment, unless such termination resulted from a
     misappropriation of Company funds; and

              (iii)  Executive shall be entitled to any other rights,
     compensation and/or benefits as may be due to Executive as of the Date of
     Termination in accordance with the terms and provisions of any agreements,
     plans or programs of the Company.

         (c)  Disability.  During any period that Executive fails to perform his
duties hereunder as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness,
Executive shall continue to receive his full Base Salary set forth in Section
4(b) until his employment is terminated pursuant to

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

Section 5(b). In the event Executive's employment is terminated for Disability
pursuant to Section 5(b):

              (i)    Within 30 days following the Date of Termination, the
     Company shall pay to Executive his Base Salary and accrued vacation pay
     through the Date of Termination;

              (ii)   the Company shall reimburse Executive pursuant to Section
     4(e) for reasonable expenses incurred, but not paid prior to such
     termination of employment; and

              (iii)  Executive shall be entitled to any other rights,
     compensation and/or benefits as may be due to Executive as of the Date of
     Termination, in accordance with the terms and provisions of any agreements,
     plans or programs of the Company.

         (d)  Death.  If Executive's employment is terminated by his death:

              (i)    the Company shall pay in a lump sum to Executive's
     beneficiary, legal representatives or estate, as the case may be,
     Executive's Base Salary through the Date of Termination;

              (ii)   the Company shall reimburse Executive's beneficiary, legal
     representatives, or estate, as the case may be, pursuant to Section 4(e)
     for reasonable expenses incurred, but not paid prior to such termination of
     employment; and

              (iii)  Executive's beneficiary, legal representatives or estate,
     as the case may be, shall be entitled to any other rights, compensation and
     benefits as of the Date of Termination, as may be due to any such persons
     or estate in accordance with the terms and provisions of any agreements,
     plans or programs of the Company.

     8.  Confidential Information, Ownership of Documents, Non-Competition.

         (a)  Confidential Information.  Executive shall hold in a fiduciary
capacity for the benefit of the Company all Confidential Information (as defined
below) relating to the Company and its businesses and investments, which shall
have been obtained by Executive during Executive's employment by the Company and
which is not generally available public knowledge (other than by acts of
Executive in violation of this Agreement). Except as may be required or
appropriate in connection with his carrying out his duties under this Agreement,
Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company or as may
otherwise be required by law or any legal process, or as is necessary in
connection with any adversarial proceeding against the Company (in which case
Executive shall use his reasonable best efforts in cooperating with the Company
in obtaining a protective order against disclosure by a court of competent
jurisdiction), communicate or divulge any such Confidential Information relating
to the Company to anyone other than the Company and those designated by the
Company or on behalf of the Company in the furtherance of its business or to
perform duties hereunder.

     For the purposes hereof, the term "Confidential Information" means, with
respect to any person, any information concerning such person or its business,
products, financial condition, prospects and affairs that is not generally
available to the public.  The term Confidential Information

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

shall not include information that: (i) is already known to the recipient and
was properly obtained by the recipient prior to the date of this Agreement; (ii)
is in the public domain other than through a negligent act or omission or
willful misconduct of the recipient; (iii) is acquired in good faith from a
third party and, at the time of the acquisition, the recipient had no knowledge
or reason to believe that such information was wrongfully obtained or disclosed
by the third party; (iv) is independently developed by the recipient from
information not defined as "Confidential Information" in this Agreement, as
evidenced by the recipient's written records; (v) is disclosed to third parties
by the disclosing party without restriction; (vi) is required to be disclosed
under applicable law or by a valid subpoena or other court or governmental
order, decree, regulation or rule; provided, however, that if disclosure is
required under this provision the recipient shall advise the disclosing party of
the requirement to disclose the Confidential Information prior to such
disclosure and as soon as reasonably practicable after the recipient becomes
aware of such required disclosure; and further provided that upon the request of
the disclosing party, the recipient agrees to cooperate in good faith with any
reasonable and lawful actions which the disclosing party takes to resist such
disclosure, limit the information to be disclosed or limit the extent to which
the information so disclosed may be used or made available to third parties, at
the cost of the disclosing party.

         (b)  Removal of Documents; Rights to Products.  All records, files,
drawings, documents, models, equipment, and the like relating to the Company's
business, which Executive has control over shall not be removed from the
Company's premises by Executive without the Board's written consent, unless such
removal is in the furtherance of the Company's business or is in connection with
Executive's carrying out his duties under this Agreement and, if so removed by
Executive, shall be returned to the Company promptly after termination of
Executive's employment hereunder, or otherwise promptly after removal if such
removal occurs following termination of employment. Executive shall assign to
the Company all rights to trade secrets and other products relating to the
Company's business developed by him alone or in conjunction with others at any
time while employed by the Company.

         (c)  Non-Compete.  During the Employment Period and until the six month
anniversary of Executive's Date of Termination, in the event Executive is
terminated by the Company for Cause, Executive terminates employment without
Good Reason, or Executive is terminated by the Company for Disability, the
Executive will not (i) engage, anywhere within the geographical areas in which
the Company or any of its controlled Affiliates (the "Designated Entities") are
conducting their business operations or providing services as of the Date of
Termination, in any business which is being engaged in by the Designated
Entities as of the Date of Termination or pursue or attempt to develop any
project known to Executive and which the Designated Entities are pursuing,
developing or attempting to develop as of the Date of Termination (a "Project"),
unless such Project has been inactive for over nine (9) months, directly or
indirectly, alone, in association with or as a stockholder, principal, agent,
partner, officer, director, employee or consultant of any other organization,
(ii) divert to any entity which is engaged in any business conducted by the
Designated Entities in the same geographic area as the Designated Entities, any
Project or any customer of any of the Designated Entities or (iii) solicit any
officer, employee (other than secretarial staff) or consultant of any of the
Designated Entities to leave the employ of any of the Designated Entities.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Executive shall not be prohibited from
owning less than five (5%) percent of any publicly traded corporation, whether
or not such corporation is in competition with the

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

Company. If, at any time, the provisions of this Section 8(c) shall be
determined to be invalid or unenforceable, by reason of being vague or
unreasonable as to area, duration or scope of activity, this Section 8(c) shall
be considered divisible and shall become and be immediately amended to only such
area, duration and scope of activity as shall be determined to be reasonable and
enforceable by the court or other body having jurisdiction over the matter; and
Executive agrees that this Section 8(c) as so amended shall be valid and binding
as though any invalid or unenforceable provision had not been included herein.

         (d)  Continuing Operation.  Except as specifically provided in this
Section 8, the termination of Executive's employment or of this Agreement shall
have no effect on the continuing operation of this Section 8.

     9.  Indemnification.

         (a)  Upon the Commencement Date, Executive will enter into the
Company's standard directors and officers indemnification agreement.

         (b)  Upon the Commencement Date, the Company will ensure that Executive
is added as an insured on its directors and officers liability insurance policy.
In the event that Executive's employment relationship with the Company is
severed, for any reason, the Company will provide that Executive shall continue
to be an insured under the Company's directors and officers liability insurance
policy for as long as the Company retains such coverage, and if the Company
discontinues such coverage, Executive and/or his heirs or personal or legal
representative shall be given the opportunity to purchase continuation coverage
in accordance with the terms of the applicable policy.

     10. Arbitration.  Any controversy between Executive and the Company
involving the construction or application of any of the terms, provisions or
conditions of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the determination
of whether "Cause" or "Good Reason" exists under Section 5(c) or Section 5(d)
hereof and claims involving specific performance, shall on the written request
of either party served on the other in accordance with Section 12 below be
submitted to binding arbitration. EACH PARTY, BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT,
VOLUNTARILY, KNOWINGLY AND INTELLIGENTLY WAIVES ANY RIGHTS SUCH PARTY MAY
OTHERWISE HAVE TO SEEK REMEDIES IN COURT OR OTHER FORUMS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO
A JURY TRIAL. Arbitration shall comply with and be governed in accordance with
the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (the
"AAA"). The arbitration will be conducted only in Denver, Colorado, before a
single arbitrator selected by the parties or, if they are unable to agree on an
arbitrator, before an arbitrator selected by the AAA. The arbitrator shall have
full authority to order specific performance and award damages and other relief
available under this Agreement or applicable law, but shall have no authority to
add to, detract from, change or amend the terms of this Agreement or existing
law. All arbitration proceedings, including settlements and awards, shall be
confidential. The decision of the arbitrator will be final and binding, and
judgment on the award by the arbitrator may be entered in any court of competent
jurisdiction. THIS SUBMISSION AND AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE WILL BE SPECIFICALLY
ENFORCEABLE. The arbitrator will have no power to award punitive or exemplary
damages, to ignore or vary the terms of this Agreement and any other agreement
between Executive and the Company and will be bound to apply controlling law.
The prevailing party in any

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

such arbitration shall be entitled to receive the costs of arbitration,
including reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, from the losing party.

     11. Successors, Binding Agreement.

         (a)  Company's Successors.  No rights or obligations of the Company
under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred, except that the Company
will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger,
consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or
assets of the Company to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in
the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to
perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement,
"Company" shall mean the Company as herein before defined and any successor to
its business and/or assets (by merger, purchase or otherwise) which executes and
delivers the agreement provided for in this Section 11 or which otherwise
becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of
law.

         (b)  Executive's Successors.  No rights or obligations of Executive
under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by Executive other than his
rights to payments or benefits hereunder, which may be transferred only by will
or the laws of descent and distribution. Upon Executive's death, this Agreement
and all rights of Executive hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by Executive's beneficiary or beneficiaries, personal or legal
representatives or estate, to the extent any such person succeeds to Executive's
interests under this Agreement. Executive shall be entitled to select and change
a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive any benefit or compensation payable
hereunder following Executive's death by giving the Company written notice
thereof. In the event of Executive's death or a judicial determination of his
incompetence, reference in this Agreement to Executive shall be deemed, where
appropriate, to refer to his beneficiary(ies), estate or other legal
representative(s). If Executive should die following his Date of Termination
while any amounts would still be payable to him hereunder if he had continued to
live, all such amounts unless otherwise provided herein shall be paid in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement to such person or persons so
appointed in writing by Executive, or otherwise to his legal representatives or
estate.

     12. Notice.  For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and all
other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered either personally or by
United States certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid, addressed as follows:

         If to Executive:     John M. Harper
                              2217 East Manor Drive
                              Gilbert, AZ  85296
                              Facsimile:  (877) 534-0496

         If to the Company:   FirstWorld Communications, Inc.
                              8390 East Crescent Parkway, Suite 300
                              Greenwood Village, CO 80111
                              Attn:  General Counsel
                              Facsimile:  (303) 874-2461

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the others in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.

     13.  Waiver.  No provisions of this Agreement may be amended, modified, or
waived unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in a writing signed by
Executive and by a duly authorized officer of the Company, and such waiver is
set forth in writing and signed by the party to be charged.  No waiver by either
party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of any
condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party
shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at
the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

     14.  Survival.  Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, the
respective rights and obligations of the parties under this Agreement shall
survive Executive's termination of employment and the termination of this
Agreement to the extent necessary for the intended preservation of such rights
and obligations.

     15.  Choice of Law.  The validity, interpretation, construction and
performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Colorado without regard to its conflicts of law principles.

     16.  Validity.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or
provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and
effect.

     17.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument. Facsimile signatures will
be deemed to be effective originals hereunder.

     18.  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of
the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and
supersedes all prior agreements, promises, covenants, arrangements,
communications, representations or warranties, whether oral or written, by any
officer, employee or representative of any party hereto in respect of such
subject matter. Any prior agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the
subject matter contained herein is hereby terminated and canceled.

     19.  Withholding.  All payments hereunder shall be subject to any required
withholding of Federal, state and local taxes pursuant to any applicable law or
regulation.

     20.  Section Headings.  The section headings in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only, and they form no part of this Agreement and shall
not affect its interpretation.

                 [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the
date first above written.

FIRSTWORLD COMMUNICATIONS, INC.,
a Delaware corporation

By:_______________________________________       _______________________________
Name:  Scott M. Chase                            John M. Harper
Title: Senior Vice President Corporate and
       External Affairs

                                      -12-<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.7

DECEMBER 2000 AMENDMENT TO OEM AGREEMENT DATED APRIL 19, 1999

     This Amendment to OEM Agreement (the "Amendment") is entered into as of
December 21, 2000 by and between Sonic Innovations, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Sonic"), and Starkey Laboratories, Inc., a Minnesota corporation ("Starkey").

RECITALS

     WHEREAS, Sonic and Starkey are party to an OEM Agreement dated April 19,
1999, which has been amended from time to time (the "Original Agreement" and,
together with any and all subsequent amendments, the "Agreement"); and

     WHEREAS, the parties wish to amend the Agreement as more fully described
herein.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants
hereinafter set forth, Sonic and Starkey agree as follows:

     1. Restatement of Framework. The following describes in its entirety the
Agreement between Sonic and Starkey with respect to the framework governing
current and future purchase orders made under the Agreement:

          a.   Provisions in Force. The following Sections of the Original
               Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety:
               Sections 1, 2, 3.2(a), 3.2(c) (except that the reference to
               "Section 3.2(b)" shall be replaced by "the applicable purchase
               order"), 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15. All
               other provisions of the Original Agreement, as amended, not
               specifically referenced are hereby terminated.

          b.   Amendment of Certain Definitions. Sections 1.2 and 1.5 of the
               Original Agreement, are hereby amended as follows:

          (i)       Section 1.2. Section 1.2 shall be amended to read in its
                    -----------
                    entirety: "'Hybrid' shall mean Sonic's proprietary
                    integrated circuit for digital signal processing known as
                    the 'Strata' product as previously shipped to Starkey."

          (ii)      Section 1.5. Section 1.5 shall be amended to read in its
                    -----------
                    entirety: "'Specifications' shall mean the specifications
                    for the use and operation of the 'Strata' product as
                    previously shipped to Starkey."

     2. Current Obligations. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1
above, but without in any way waiving the application of paragraph 1 to future
purchase orders, the following sets forth the current obligations of the
parties:

          a.   Payment of $3,485,180.50 due by December 28, 2000 for previous
               shipments of components.

          b.   Payments due January 7, 2001 - March 28, 2001, as set forth on
               the schedule attached as Exhibit A.

          c.   Purchase order # 151919-0 dated September 11, 2000 (see paragraph
               3 below).

     3. Amendment of Purchase Order # 151919-0. The parties agree that Starkey's
purchase order # 151919-0,
<PAGE>

which originally reflected an order of 26,667 OEM NR Hybrids ("NR Hybrids"), is
superceded by the two purchase orders listed below for an aggregate of 26,000
Strata Hybrids ("Strata Hybrids"). Sonic has previously shipped, and Starkey has
received and accepted, 667 NR Hybrids under Starkey purchase order # 151919-0,
which completed that purchase order as modified. Contingent on Starkey's timely
performance of the obligations set forth in this Amendment (particularly the
payment of $3,485,180.50 by December 28, 2000 referenced in paragraph 2(a)
above), Sonic will fill the following orders:

          a.   Purchase Order # 154742-0: 13,000 Strata Hybrids on or before
               December 31, 2000. Starkey shall pay Sonic $1,950,000 for these
               Strata Hybrids net 90 days after the date of shipment of the
               Strata Hybrids by Sonic to Starkey.

          b.   Purchase Order # 154743-0: 13,000 Strata Hybrids on or before
               March 16, 2001. Starkey shall pay Sonic $1,950,000 for these
               Strata Hybrids net 90 days after the date of shipment of the
               Strata Hybrids by Sonic to Starkey.

     4. Further Agreements. The parties further agree as follows:

          a.   Hybrid Exchange. Sonic will exchange 11,600 Strata Hybrids for
               15,000 unused IC-1 Hybrids ("IC-1 Hybrids") that Starkey has in
               inventory. Starkey must deliver the 15,000 IC-1 Hybrids to Sonic
               no later than December 22, 2000, and Sonic will ship the 11,600
               Strata Hybrids to Starkey no later than December 31, 2000. If
               Starkey returns fewer than 15,000 IC-1 Hybrids, the number of
               Strata Hybrids shipped in exchange will be proportionately
               reduced. This provision supercedes all previous agreements
               regarding exchanges. Sonic and Starkey agree that there will be
               no further returns of IC-1 Hybrids for any reason.

          b.   Correction of Record. As reflected in the joint press release
               that accompanies this Amendment as Exhibit B, which is initialed
               by Bill Austin to certify its accuracy, Mr. Austin agrees to
               correct the record concerning previous statements in which Mr.
               Austin was misquoted in the Bloomberg News.

          c.   Good Standing. Sonic and Starkey agree that this Amendment sets
               forth the entirety of current obligations between the parties and
               that each party has faithfully and fully performed all other
               contractual obligations toward the other party, including but not
               limited to all quality requirements otherwise owed to date.

          d.   Future Business. Future business between the parties shall be on
               a purchase order basis. Unless otherwise provided in a writing
               signed by both parties, such purchase orders will be governed by
               the framework set forth in paragraph 1 above. Payment and
               delivery terms shall be established at the time of each order.
               Starkey may place orders solely in its discretion. Sonic may
               accept orders solely in its discretion. There shall be no stated
               minimum order requirements.

     5. Time of the Essence. The parties agree that time is of the essence,
particularly with regard to paragraphs 2, 3 and 4(a).

     6. Entire Agreement. This Amendment, including the Exhibits attached
hereto, constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof, and supercedes all prior and contemporaneous
understandings or agreements, whether written or oral, between Sonic and Starkey
with respect to such subject matter. In the event of any conflict between the
terms of any purchase order, confirmation or invoice and the terms of this
Amendment, this Amendment shall govern. No amendment or modification hereof
shall be valid or binding upon the parties unless made in writing and signed by
the duly authorized representatives of both parties. Purchase orders shall not
be deemed amendments.

     7. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Amendment as of
the day and year set forth above.

SONIC INNOVATIONS, INC.                 STARKEY LABORATORIES, INC.

By: /s/ Jorgen Heide                    By: /s/ Jerome C. Ruzicka
    ------------------------------          ------------------------------
    Jorgen Heide                            Jerome C. Ruzicka
    VP International & OEM                  President

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00022-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00022-of-00352.parquet"}]]