Document:

<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.17

                                 FIRST AMENDMENT

                  FIRST AMENDMENT dated as of December 13, 2002 (this
"Amendment"), to the CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of December 20, 2001, among
COLLINS & AIKMAN PRODUCTS CO., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), COLLINS &
AIKMAN CANADA INC., a Canadian corporation, COLLINS & AIKMAN PLASTICS, LTD., a
Canadian corporation, COLLINS & AIKMAN CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation
("Holdings"), the financial institutions parties thereto (the "Lenders"), CREDIT
SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, as syndication agent, DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
(formerly known as DEUTSCHE BANC ALEX. BROWN INC.) and MERRILL LYNCH CAPITAL
CORPORATION, as co-documentation agents, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, a New York banking
corporation ("JPMorgan Chase Bank"), as administrative agent (in such capacity,
the "Administrative Agent"), and J.P. MORGAN BANK CANADA, a Canadian chartered
bank, as Canadian administrative agent.

                  WHEREAS pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Lenders have
agreed to make certain loans to the Borrowers; and

                  WHEREAS the Company has requested that certain provisions of
the Credit Agreement be modified in the manner provided for in this Amendment,
and the Lenders are willing to agree to such modifications as provided for in
this Amendment.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

                  1. Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used and not defined
herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement, as amended
hereby.

                  2. Amendments to Section 1.01. Section 1.01 of the Credit
Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

                  (a) the definition of "Capital Expenditures" is hereby amended
         by adding the following at the end thereof:

                  "Notwithstanding the foregoing and any contrary provision
                  herein, to the extent that the Borrowers or any Restricted
                  Subsidiary purchases, leases or otherwise acquires assets from
                  any person in a manner which would be subject to Section 6.08
                  and, but for the first parenthetical herein, would constitute
                  a Capital Expenditure, Holdings may elect to treat the
                  expenditure for such transaction as a Capital Expenditure and
                  such expenditure shall be deemed to be a Capital Expenditure
                  and shall not be subject to the restrictions of Section 6.08."

                  (b) the definition of "EBITDA" is hereby amended (but not for
         purposes of determining the Applicable Margin) by deleting
         "$25,000,000" in clause (xii) thereof and substituting "$55,000,000" in
         its place.

                  (c) the definition of "Excluded Collateral" is hereby amended
         by deleting clause (v) thereof and adding the following in its place:

<PAGE>

                           "(v) accounts receivable, related security,
                  collections and proceeds with respect thereto sold, or
                  purported to be sold, pursuant to a Permitted Receivables
                  Financing (but only for so long as such accounts receivable,
                  related security, collections and proceeds are subject to a
                  Permitted Receivables Financing);"

                  (d) the definition of "Foreign Subsidiary Letter of Credit" is
         hereby amended by inserting the following language before the clause
         "or the Brazilian Subsidiary" at the end thereof:

                           ", except to the extent that Indebtedness has been
                  incurred under clause (viii) of Section 6.01(c),".

                  (e) the definition of "Prepayment Event" is hereby amended by
         deleting the word "and" which precedes clause (ii) thereof and adding
         the following at the end of clause (ii) and before the proviso clause:

                           "and (iii) any arrangement or transaction entered
                  into in accordance with clause (d) of Section 6.06."

                  3. Amendment to Section 2.19. Section 2.19(a) of the Credit
Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the phrase "the Letter of Credit
Exposure in respect of Indebtedness of the Brazilian Subsidiary shall not exceed
$30,000,000 and" in clause (i)(y) thereof with the following phrase "the Letter
of Credit Exposure in respect of Indebtedness of the Brazilian Subsidiary shall
not exceed an amount equal to $30,000,000 less the amount of any Indebtedness
incurred under clause (viii) of Section 6.01(c) and".

                  4. Amendments to Section 5.

                  (a) Section 5.04(a)(ii) of the Credit Agreement is hereby
         amended by (i) adding the phrase "and Waterstone Insurance Inc."
         immediately following the phrase "Carcorp., Inc." therein; (ii)
         deleting the word "is" immediately following the phrase "Carcorp.,
         Inc." and adding the word "are" in its place and (iii) deleting the
         phrase "Unrestricted Subsidiary" therein and adding the phrase
         "Unrestricted Subsidiaries" in its place.

                  (b) Section 5.04(b)(ii) of the Credit Agreement is hereby
         amended by (i) adding the phrase "and Waterstone Insurance Inc."
         immediately following the phrase "Carcorp., Inc." therein; (ii)
         deleting the word "is" immediately following the phrase "Carcorp.,
         Inc." and adding the word "are" in its place and (iii) deleting the
         phrase "Unrestricted Subsidiary" therein and adding the phrase
         "Unrestricted Subsidiaries" in its place.

                  5. Amendments to Section 6.01.

                  (a) Section 6.01(a) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended
by adding the following proviso at the end thereof:

<PAGE>

                  "; provided that the amount permitted under the preceding
         clauses (ii) and (iv) (to the extent relating to clause (ii)) shall be
         reduced by the amount of any Indebtedness incurred under clause (viii)
         of Section 6.01(c)" ;"

                  (b) Section 6.01(c) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended
by deleting clauses (iv) through (vi) thereof in their entirety and adding the
following in its place:

                  "(iv) any Foreign Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to
         any Domestic Restricted Subsidiary in a net aggregate principal amount
         not at any time in excess of $150,000,000 and evidenced by one or more
         Intercompany Notes pledged to the Applicable Collateral Agent under the
         applicable Security Document if the outstanding principal amount of
         such Indebtedness exceeds $10,000,000 in the aggregate, (v) Holdings to
         the Company in an aggregate principal amount not greater than
         $6,000,000 at any time, (vi) Collins & Aikman Plastics, to any Domestic
         Restricted Subsidiary in a net aggregate amount principal amount not to
         exceed $35,000,000, evidenced by one or more Intercompany Notes pledged
         to the Collateral Agent under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement,"

                  (c) Section 6.01(c) of the Credit Agreement is further amended
by deleting the semicolon at the end of clause (vii) thereof and adding the
following at the end thereof:

                  ",(viii) the Brazilian Subsidiary to the Company or to any
         Domestic Restricted Subsidiary (which Indebtedness may be loaned by the
         Company or a Domestic Restricted Subsidiary through a Foreign
         Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and on-loaned by such Foreign
         Restricted Subsidiary to the Brazilian Subsidiary) in an aggregate
         principal amount not at any time in excess of $30,000,000 (exclusive of
         capitalized interest) and evidenced by one or more of the Intercompany
         Notes held by the Company or a Domestic Restricted Subsidiary pledged
         to the Applicable Collateral Agent under the applicable Security
         Document if the outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness
         exceeds $10,000,000 in the aggregate and (ix) any Foreign Restricted
         Subsidiary to the Company or to any Domestic Restricted Subsidiary
         representing an Investment permitted to be made as an intercompany loan
         by the Company and its Domestic Restricted Subsidiaries in such Foreign
         Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Sections 6.07 (k), (m), (n) and (o)
         and the last paragraph of Section 6.07 and evidenced by one or more
         Intercompany Notes pledged to the Applicable Collateral Agent under the
         applicable Security Document if the outstanding principal amount of
         such Indebtedness exceeds $10,000,000 in the aggregate;"

                  6. Amendments to Section 6.06. Section 6.06 of the Credit
Agreement is hereby amended by (i) deleting the word "and" before clause (c)
thereof and adding a comma in its place and (ii) adding the following after
clause (c) thereof:

                  ", (d) such arrangements or transactions with respect to any
         of the real property of the Borrowers or any of the Restricted
         Subsidiaries located at 199 Blackhawk Road, Greenville, South Carolina
         and at 900 Queen Street, Ganonque, Ontario K7G 2W7 so long as the Net
         Proceeds thereof are used to prepay the Term Loans in accordance with
         Section 2.12(g)(i) as though such arrangements or transactions
         constitute Prepayment

<PAGE>

         Events; and (e) any such arrangements or transactions (with respect to
         property not constituting Collateral or, if constituting Collateral,
         property that remains as Collateral) solely between wholly owned
         Foreign Restricted Subsidiaries or solely between wholly owned Domestic
         Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Domestic Restricted
         Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors)."

                  7. Amendments to Section 6.07.

                  (a) Section 6.07(d) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended
by deleting such Section in its entirety and adding the following in its place:

                  "(d) intercompany loans permitted to be incurred as
         Indebtedness under Sections 6.01 (c) (other than clause (viii) thereof)
         and (r) and Guarantees permitted under Section 6.01;"

                  (b) Section 6.07(j) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended
deleting the phrase immediately preceding the first comma in its entirety and
adding the following in its place:

                  "Investments to the extent that the consideration therefor is
         capital stock of Holdings and/or"

                  (c) Section 6.07(k) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended
by deleting such Section in its entirety and adding the following in its place:

                  "(k) other Investments, including joint ventures and
         Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries, provided that the
         consideration for all such Investments (whether cash or property as
         valued at the time of such Investment, but excluding any capital stock
         of Holdings or the proceeds thereof) does not exceed (net of any return
         representing return of capital of (but not return on) any such
         Investment) at any time $50,000,000 in the aggregate;"

                  (d) Section 6.07 of the Credit Agreement is further amended by
(i) deleting the word "and" at the end of clause (l) thereof, (ii) deleting the
period at the end of clause (m) thereof and adding a semicolon in its place and
(iii) inserting the following below clause (m):

                  "(n) the acquisition by any Restricted Subsidiary of the
         business of Delphi Corporation and its subsidiaries conducted
         principally at facilities in Logrono, Spain; La Rioja, Spain; Zaragoza,
         Spain; and Azambuja, Portugal and related assets, provided that the
         purchase price for such acquisition (whether cash or property, as
         valued at the time of such Investment) does not exceed the equivalent
         of euro 15,000,000 together with the assumed liabilities, subject to
         purchase price adjustments based upon the assets and/or working capital
         delivered at closing; and

                  (o) Investments in Foreign Restricted Subsidiaries to the
         extent necessary to meet statutory capital requirements."

<PAGE>

                  (e) The final paragraph of Section 6.07 of the Credit
Agreement is amended by deleting the second sentence thereof in its entirety and
adding the following in its place:

         "Holdings and its Subsidiaries will not make Investments in the Italian
         JV or any of its businesses or purchase any Capital Stock of the
         Italian JV (whether by the purchase of Capital Stock or assets or
         otherwise) after the Closing Date, except (i) Investments made pursuant
         to Section 6.07(k), (ii) Investments in the form of a Guarantee of (or
         letter of credit support for) Indebtedness of the Italian JV as
         permitted by Section 6.01(a) or (iii) Investments necessary to meet the
         Italian JV's statutory capital requirements. Notwithstanding anything
         herein to the contrary, if no Default or Event of Default exists or
         would exist after giving effect thereto, the Company and the Restricted
         Subsidiaries may either (i) expend up to $23,140,000 (subject to
         purchase price adjustments of up to an additional $5,000,000 related to
         the Italian JV as provided in Section 5.20(c) in the Tac-Trim Purchase
         Agreement) to purchase Capital Stock of the Italian JV on a basis
         similar to the put/call arrangements set forth in Section 5.20 of the
         Tac-Trim Purchase Agreement at the times provided therein (or such
         earlier times as the Company may agree) if such purchase is accretive
         to Holdings (i.e., after giving effect to such purchase and the
         financing thereof, if any, and taking into account, without
         duplication, Indebtedness and outstanding factoring arrangements of the
         Italian JV and letters of credit issued for the account of or for the
         benefit of the Italian JV the pro forma Leverage Ratio of Holdings,
         calculated in a manner, and taking into account pro forma adjustments,
         satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, decreases) or (ii) purchase
         the remaining equity interests in the Italian JV not owned by them for
         an aggregate purchase price (whether cash or property, as valued at the
         time thereof, but excluding up to $10,000,000 of existing Indebtedness
         of the Italian JV) not to exceed $20,000,000."

                  8. Amendment to Section 6.08. Section 6.08(e) of the Credit
Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following at the end thereof:

                  "and sales or other dispositions of worn-out, obsolete or
         surplus equipment in the ordinary course of business"

                  9. Amendments to Exhibit A.

                  (a) Exhibit A-7 to the Credit Agreement is hereby amended
         deleting the phrase "Adjusted LIBO Rate plus five (5) percent" in the
         first paragraph therein and adding the following in its place:

                  "[Insert interest rate, which interest rate shall be a
         market-based rate based upon the then prevailing market conditions]"

                  (b) Exhibit A-7 of the Credit Agreement is further amended by
         deleting the phrase immediately preceding the proviso in third sentence
         of the second paragraph therein and adding the following in its place:

                  "Payments of interest on this Intercompany Note shall be
         payable [Insert times when interest is payable] and on the Maturity
         Date by transfer of immediately available funds to such account of
         Payee as Payee may designate,"

<PAGE>

                  10. Representations and Warranties. The Company hereby
represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that, as of
the date hereof and after giving effect to the amendments and waivers contained
herein:

                  (a) No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing.

                  (b) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of
this Amendment has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and other
action and does not and will not require any registration with, consent or
approval of, notice to or action by, any person (including any Governmental
Authority) in order to be effective and enforceable. The Credit Agreement as
amended by this Amendment constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of
the Company, enforceable against each in accordance with its terms, subject to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization,
moratorium or other laws affecting creditors' rights generally and subject to
general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding
in equity or at law.

                  (c) All representations and warranties of each Loan Party set
forth in the Loan Documents as amended hereby are true and correct in all
material respects.

                  11. Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness. This Amendment
shall become effective on the date on which each of the following conditions is
satisfied (the "Effective Date"):

                  (a) The Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts
thereof duly executed and delivered by the Company, Holdings, the Borrowers and
the Required Lenders;

                  (b) The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and
other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to
the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses
(including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel) required to be
reimbursed or paid by any Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document;
and

                  (c) The Company shall have paid to the Administrative Agent,
in immediately available funds, for the account of each Lender that has
delivered (including by telecopy) an executed counterpart of this Amendment to
the Administrative Agent or its counsel prior to 5:00 p.m., New York time, on
December 13, 2002, an amendment fee in an amount separately agreed to by the
Company and such Lender.

                  12. Expenses. The Company agrees to pay or reimburse the
Administrative Agent for its out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this
Amendment, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of Simpson
Thacher & Bartlett, counsel for the Administrative Agent.

                  13. Governing Law; Counterparts. (a) This Amendment and the
rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed by, and construed
and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

<PAGE>

                  (a) This Amendment may be executed by one or more of the
parties to this Amendment on any number of separate counterparts, and all of
said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same
instrument. This Amendment may be delivered by facsimile transmission of the
relevant signature pages hereof.

                     [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK]

<PAGE>

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company, the Canadian Borrowers,
Holdings, the Agents, and the Lenders have caused this Amendment to be duly
executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first
above written.

                                         COLLINS & AIKMAN PRODUCTS CO.

                                         By
                                            --------------------------------
                                            Title:

                                         COLLINS & AIKMAN CORPORATION

                                         By
                                            --------------------------------
                                            Title:

                                         COLLINS & AIKMAN CANADA INC.

                                         By
                                            --------------------------------
                                            Title:

                                         COLLINS & AIKMAN PLASTICS, LTD.

                                         By
                                            --------------------------------
                                              Title:

<PAGE>

                                         JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, as
                                            Administrative Agent, Collateral
                                            Agent and as a Lender

                                         By
                                            --------------------------------
                                              Title:

                                         Address for Notices:
                                         270 Park Avenue
                                         New York, NY  10017
                                         Attention:
                                         Telecopy:  (212) 270-

                                         JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, TORONTO
                                            BRANCH, as Canadian
                                            Administrative Agent,
                                            Canadian Collateral Agent
                                            and Canadian Lender

                                         By
                                            --------------------------------
                                              Title:

                                         Address for Notices:
                                         200 Bay Street, Suite 1800
                                         Royal Bank Plaza, South Tower
                                         Toronto, Ontario M5J 2J2
                                         Attention:  Corporate Banking Officer
                                         Telecopy:  (416) 981-9128

<PAGE>

                                         Signature page to the First Amendment,
                                         dated as of December 13, 2002, to the
                                         Credit Agreement, dated as of December
                                         20, 2001, among Collins & Aikman
                                         Products Co., Collins & Aikman Canada
                                         Inc., Collins & Aikman Plastics, Ltd.,
                                         Collins & Aikman Corporation, the
                                         financial institutions parties thereto,
                                         the syndication agent and
                                         co-documentation agents named therein,
                                         JPMorgan Chase Bank, as administrative
                                         agent, and J.P. Morgan Bank Canada, as
                                         Canadian administrative agent

                                         --------------------------------------
                                         [Name of Lender]

                                         by    ________________________________
                                               Title:<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.29

                                    AGREEMENT

        This Agreement, made as of the 20th day of December, 2002 by and between
TOLLGRADE COMMUNICATIONS, INC., a Pennsylvania corporation (the "Corporation")
and ERIC SUCHARSKI, an individual residing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
and an employee of the Corporation (the "Executive").

                                   WITNESSETH:

        WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Corporation has determined that
it is in the best interests of the Corporation to enter into this Agreement with
the Executive to provide for compensation of the Executive upon termination of
employment under certain circumstances relating to a change in control of the
Corporation; and

        WHEREAS, the Executive desires to obtain such benefits in the event the
Executive's employment is terminated under the circumstances provided herein.

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and premises contained
herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as
follows:

        1.      DEFINITION OF TERMS. The following terms when used in this
Agreement shall have the meaning hereafter set forth:

        "ANNUAL SALARY ADJUSTMENT PERCENTAGE" shall mean the mean average
        percentage increase in base salary for all elected officers of the
        Corporation during the two full calendar years immediately preceding the
        time to which such percentage is being applied; provided however, that
        if after a Change-in-Control, as hereinafter defined, there should be a
        significant change in the number of elected officers of the Corporation
        or in the manner in which they are compensated, then the foregoing
        definition shall be changed by substituting for the phrase "elected
        officers of the Corporation" the phrase "persons then performing the
        functions formerly performed by the elected officers of the
        Corporation."

        "CAUSE FOR TERMINATION" shall mean:

        (a)     the deliberate and intentional failure by the Executive to
                devote substantially his entire business time and best efforts
                to the performance of his duties (other than any such failure
                resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to physical or
                mental illness or disability) after a demand for substantial
                performance is delivered to the Executive by the Board of
                Directors which specifically identifies the manner in which the
                Board of Directors believes that the Executive has not
                substantially performed his duties,
                or

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<PAGE>

        (b)     wilfully engaging by the Executive in conduct which constitutes
                a fraud against the Corporation or a material breach of this
                Agreement,

                or

        (c)     the Executive's conviction of any crime which constitutes a
                felony.

        For purposes of this definition, no act, or failure to act, on the
        Executive's part shall be considered "deliberate and intentional" or
        "willfully" unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive not in
        good faith and without reasonable belief that his action or omission was
        in the best interests of the Corporation.

        "CHANGE-IN-CONTROL" shall mean the determination (which may be made
        effective as of a particular date specified by the Board of Directors of
        the Corporation) by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, made by a
        majority vote that a change in control has occurred, or is about to
        occur. Such a change shall not include, however, a restructuring,
        reorganization, merger, or other change in capitalization in which the
        Persons who own an interest in the Corporation on the date hereof (the
        "Current Owners")(or any individual or entity which receives from a
        Current Owner an interest in the Corporation through will or the laws of
        descent and distribution) maintain more than a sixty-five percent (65%)
        interest in the resultant entity. Regardless of the Board's vote or
        whether or not the Board votes, a Change-in-Control will be deemed to
        have occurred as of the first day any one (1) or more of the following
        subparagraphs shall have been satisfied:

        (a)     Any Person (other than the Person in control of the Corporation
                as of the date of this Agreement, or other than a trustee or
                other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit
                plan of the Corporation, or a corporation owned directly or
                indirectly by the stockholders of the Corporation in
                substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock
                of the Corporation), becomes the beneficial owner, directly or
                indirectly, of securities of the Corporation representing more
                than thirty five percent (35%) of the combined voting power of
                the Corporation's then outstanding securities; or

        (b)     The stockholders of the Corporation approve:

                (i)     A plan of complete liquidation of the Corporation;

                (ii)    An agreement for the sale or disposition of all or
                        substantially all of the Corporation's assets; or

                (iii)   A merger, consolidation, or reorganization of the
                        Corporation with or involving any other corporation,
                        other than a merger, consolidation, or

                                       2
<PAGE>

                        reorganization that would result in the voting
                        securities of the Corporation outstanding immediately
                        prior thereto continuing to represent (either by
                        remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting
                        securities of the surviving entity) at least sixty-five
                        percent (65%) of the combined voting power of the voting
                        securities of the Corporation (or such surviving entity)
                        outstanding immediately after such merger,
                        consolidation, or reorganization.

        However, in no event shall a Change in Control be deemed to have
        occurred, with respect to the Executive, if the Executive is part of a
        purchasing group which consummates the Change-in-Control transaction.
        The Executive shall be deemed "part of the purchasing group" for
        purposes of the preceding sentence if the Executive is an equity
        participant or has agreed to become an equity participant in the
        purchasing company or group (except for (i) passive ownership of less
        than five percent (5%) of the voting securities of the purchasing
        company; or (ii) ownership of equity participation in the purchasing
        company or group which is otherwise deemed not to be significant, as
        determined prior to the Change-in-Control by a majority of the
        non-employee continuing Directors of the Board of Directors of the
        Corporation).

        "DATE OF TERMINATION" shall mean:

        (a)     if the Executive's employment is terminated for Disability, the
                date that a Notice of Termination is given to the Executive;

        (b)     if the Executive terminates due to his death or Retirement, the
                date of death or Retirement, respectively;

        (c)     if the Executive decides to terminate employment upon Good
                Reason for Termination, the date following such decision
                specified by the Corporation after it has been notified of the
                Executive's decision to terminate employment; or

        (d)     if the Executive's employment is terminated for any other
                reason, the date on which such termination becomes effective
                pursuant to a Notice of Termination.

        "DISABILITY" shall mean such incapacity due to physical or mental
        illness or injury as causes the Executive to be unable to perform his
        duties with the Corporation during 180 consecutive days.

        "GOOD REASON FOR TERMINATION" shall mean the occurrence of:

        (a)     without the Executive's express written consent, the assignment
                to the Executive of any duties materially and substantially
                inconsistent with his positions, duties, responsibilities and
                status with the Corporation immediately prior to a
                Change-in-Control, or a material change in his reporting
                responsibilities, titles or offices as in

                                       3
<PAGE>

                effect immediately prior to a Change-in-Control, or any removal
                of the Executive from or any failure to re-elect the Executive
                to any of such positions, except in connection with the
                termination of the Executive's employment due to Cause for
                Termination, Disability or Retirement (as hereinafter defined)
                or as a result of the Executive's death;

        (b)     (i) a reduction by the Corporation prior to a Change-in-Control
                in the Executive's base salary unless such reduction is the
                result of the Board of Directors of the Corporation determining
                that the Executive has not adequately discharged his duties;

                (ii) a reduction by the Corporation after a Change-in-Control in
                the Executive's base salary as in effect immediately prior to
                any Change-in-Control or a failure by the Corporation after a
                Change-in-Control to increase the Executive's base salary by the
                Annual Salary Adjustment Percentage;

        (c)     a failure by the Corporation to continue to provide incentive
                compensation comparable to that provided by the Corporation
                immediately prior to any Change-in-Control;

        (d)     a failure by the Corporation after a Change-in-Control to
                continue in effect any benefit or compensation plan, stock
                option plan, pension plan, life insurance plan, health and
                accident plan or disability plan in which the Executive is
                participating immediately prior thereto (provided, however, that
                there shall not be deemed to be any such failure if the
                Corporation substitutes for the discontinued plan, a plan
                providing the Executive with substantially similar benefits) or
                the taking of any action by the Corporation which would
                adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially
                reduce the Executive's benefits under any of such plans or
                deprive the Executive of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by
                the Executive immediately prior to a Change-in-Control
                (provided, however, that any act or failure to act by the
                Corporation that is on a plan-wide basis, i.e., it similarly
                affects all employees of the Corporation or all employees
                eligible to participate in any such plan, as the case may be,
                shall not constitute Good Reason for Termination);

        (e)     the failure of the Corporation to obtain the assumption of this
                Agreement by any successor as contemplated in SECTION 10(c)
                hereof;

        (f)     any purported termination of the employment of the Executive by
                the Corporation which is not (i) due to the Executive's
                Disability, Retirement (as hereinafter defined) or Cause for
                Termination, or (ii) effected as a Notice of Termination, as
                defined herein; or

        (g)     the Corporation's requiring the Executive to be based anywhere
                other than the Corporation's executive offices at which the
                Executive has his principal office

                                       4
<PAGE>

                immediately prior to a Change-in-Control or executive offices
                located within 50 miles of the location of the Corporation's
                executive offices immediately prior to a Change-in-Control,
                except for required travel on the Corporation's business to an
                extent substantially consistent with the Executive's present
                business travel obligations.

        "NOTICE OF TERMINATION" shall mean a written statement which sets forth
        the specific reason for termination and, if such is claimed to be a
        Cause for Termination or Good Reason for Termination, in reasonable
        detail the facts and circumstances which indicate that such is Cause for
        Termination or Good Reason for Termination.

        "OPTIONS" shall mean any stock options issued pursuant to any present or
        future stock option plan of the Corporation.

        "PERSON" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9)
        of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on the date hereof
        and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, including a "group" as
        defined in Section 13(d) thereof.

        "RETIREMENT" shall mean the termination of the Executive's employment
        after age 65 or in accordance with any mandatory retirement arrangement
        with respect to an earlier age agreed to by the Executive.

        "STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT" shall mean any stock appreciation rights
        issued pursuant to any stock option plan of the Corporation or any
        future stock appreciation rights plan.

        2.      TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT. The Executive acknowledges that this
Agreement does not constitute an employment contract and that the Executive's
employment relationship with the Corporation is at-will and not for any
particular period. Rather, this Agreement is only intended to set forth certain
liquidated damages to be paid in the event of termination of the Executive upon
the terms and conditions specified herein.

        3.      TERM OF AGREEMENT. The initial term of this Agreement shall be
for a period of four (4) years. Upon expiration of the initial term, the Company
shall, in its sole discretion, determine whether this Agreement shall be renewed
upon such terms it deems advisable.

        4.      PAYMENTS FOLLOWING TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT UPON A
CHANGE-IN-CONTROL.

        (a)     If the Executive's employment with the Corporation shall be
                terminated:

                (i)     due to the Executive's death,

                (ii)    by the Executive other than the Executive's having
                        terminated for Good Reason for Termination following a
                        Change-in-Control, or

                                       5
<PAGE>

                (iii)   by the Corporation due to Cause for Termination or for
                        Disability or Retirement,

                then the Corporation shall have no obligations to the Executive
                other than to pay the Executive any unpaid portion of base
                salary due until the Date of Termination and any other sums due
                in accordance with the then various policies, practices and
                benefit plans of the Corporation.

        (b)     If the Executive's employment with the Corporation shall have
                terminated during the period commencing six months prior to the
                date of a Change-in-Control and ending on the third anniversary
                of a Change-in-Control other than in the circumstances described
                in subsection (a) above, then the Corporation shall pay on or
                before the fifth day following the Date of Termination (or if
                the Date of Termination preceded the date of the
                Change-in-Control, on or before the fifth day following the date
                of the Change-in-Control), to the Executive the following sums:

                (i)     in cash any unpaid portion of the Executive's full base
                        salary for the period from the last period for which the
                        Executive was paid to the Date of Termination, or the
                        date of the Change-in-Control, as the case may be; and

                (ii)    an amount in cash as liquidated damages for lost future
                        renumeration equal to the product obtained by
                        multiplying

                        (A)     the lesser of

                                (1)     two, or

                                (2)     a number equal to the number of calendar
                                        months remaining from the Date of
                                        Termination to the date on which the
                                        Executive is 65 years of age (or, if
                                        earlier, the age agreed to by the
                                        Executive pursuant to any prior
                                        arrangement) divided by twelve, or

                                (3)     a number equal to the greater of (i) one
                                        (1.0) or (ii) thirty six (36) less the
                                        number of completed months commencing
                                        after the date of the Change-in-Control
                                        during which the Executive was employed
                                        by the Corporation and did not have Good
                                        Reason for Termination times (iii)
                                        one-twelfth (1/12)

                                        times

                        (B)     the sum of

                                       6
<PAGE>

                                (1)     the greater of

                                        (i)     the Executive's annual base
                                                salary for the year in effect on
                                                the Date of Termination
                                                (provided that in the case of
                                                Termination for Good Reason by
                                                the Executive the date
                                                immediately preceding the date
                                                of the earliest event which gave
                                                rise to the Termination for Good
                                                Reason by the Executive shall be
                                                used instead of the Date of
                                                Termination)

                                        or

                                        (ii)    the Executive's annual base
                                                salary for the year in effect on
                                                the date of the
                                                Change-in-Control;

                                plus

                                (2)     the greater of

                                        (i)     the average annual cash award
                                                received by the Executive as
                                                incentive compensation or bonus
                                                for one calendar year
                                                immediately preceding the Date
                                                of Termination (provided that in
                                                the case of Termination for Good
                                                Reason by the Executive the date
                                                immediately preceding the date
                                                of the event which gave rise to
                                                the Termination for Good Reason
                                                by the Executive shall be used
                                                instead of the Date of
                                                Termination)

                                        or

                                        (ii)    the average annual cash award
                                                received by the Executive as
                                                incentive compensation or bonus
                                                for one calendar year
                                                immediately preceding the date
                                                of the Change-in-Control.

        5.      OUTPLACEMENT SERVICES. If the Executive's employment with the
Corporation should terminate under circumstances as to entitle the Executive to
receive payment hereunder, the Corporation shall reimburse the Executive for any
reasonable fees or other costs incurred by the Executive during the two (2)
years following the Date of Termination in retaining executive placement
agencies, up to a maximum dollar amount not to exceed fifteen percent (15%) of
the Executive's base salary at the time of such termination. Such reimbursement
shall be made within

                                       7
<PAGE>

five (5) days following the Executive's presentment of bills or other evidence
of the costs incurred with executive placement agencies.

        6.      TAX IMPLICATIONS. If any payment due to the Executive pursuant
to this Agreement result in a tax being imposed on the Executive pursuant to
Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, or any successor
provision ("Section 4999"), then the Corporation shall, at the Executive's
option, either (i) reduce the total payments payable to the Executive to the
maximum amount payable without incurring the Section 4999 tax, or (ii) pay to
the Executive the total amount payable, with the understanding that Section 4999
tax will be due on that total amount.

        7.      BENEFITS. If the Executive's employment with the Corporation
should terminate under circumstances as to entitle the Executive to receive
payment hereunder, the Executive shall also be deemed, for purposes of medical
insurance, pension and other benefits of the Corporation, to have remained in
the continuous employment of the Corporation for the two (2) year period
following the Date of Termination and shall be entitled to all of the medical
insurance, pension or other benefits provided by the Corporation as if the
Executive had so remained in the employment of the Corporation. If, for any
reason, whether by law or provisions of the Corporation's employee medical
insurance, pension or other benefit plans, or otherwise any benefits which the
Executive would be entitled to under this SECTION 6 cannot be paid pursuant to
such employee benefit plans, then the Corporation contractually agrees to pay
the Executive the difference between the benefits which the Executive would have
received in accordance with this Section if the relevant employee medical
insurance, pension or other benefit plan could have paid such benefit and the
amount of benefits, if any, actually paid by such employee medical insurance,
pension or other benefit plan. The Corporation shall not be required to fund its
obligation to pay the foregoing difference.

        8.      OTHER EMPLOYMENT. In the event of termination under the
circumstances contemplated in SECTION 4(b) hereunder, the Executive shall have
no duty to seek any other employment after termination of his employment with
the Corporation and the Corporation hereby waives and agrees not to raise or use
any defense based upon the position that the Executive had a duty to mitigate or
reduce the amounts due him hereunder by seeking other employment whether
suitable or unsuitable and should the Executive obtain other employment, then
the only effect of such on the obligations of the Corporation shall be that the
Corporation shall be entitled to credit against any payments that would
otherwise be made pursuant to SECTION 7 hereof, any comparable payments to which
the executive is entitled under the employee benefit plans maintained by the
Executive's other employer or employers in connection with services to such
employer or employers after termination of this employment with the Corporation.

        9.      STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS AND OPTIONS. If the Executive's
employment should terminate under circumstances as to entitle the Executive to
receive payment hereunder, then with respect to any standing Stock Appreciation
Rights and/or Options which did not immediately become exercisable upon the
occurrence of a Change-in-Control, such Stock Appreciation Right or Option shall
be automatically vested and remain outstanding in accordance with its terms and
be exercisable thereafter until the stated expiration date of such Stock
Appreciation Right or Option.

                                       8
<PAGE>

        10.     MISCELLANEOUS.

        (a)     This Agreement shall be construed under the laws of the
                Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

        (b)     This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the
                parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and may
                only be amended or modified by written agreement signed by the
                parties hereto. This Agreement specifically supercedes the
                agreement entered into between the Corporation and the Executive
                dated as of August 5, 1996 with respect to the subject matter
                hereof, and by the execution of this Agreement, the previous
                agreement is hereby terminated and of no further force and
                effect.

        (c)     The Corporation 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
                Corporation, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to
                the Executive, to expressly assume and agree to perform this
                Agreement in the same manner required of the Corporation and to
                perform it as if no such succession had taken place. As used in
                this Agreement, "Corporation" shall mean the Corporation as
                hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or
                assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers the agreement
                provided for in this subsection (c) or which otherwise becomes
                bound by all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement by
                operation of law.

        (d)     This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable
                by the Executive and the Corporation and their respective legal
                representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs,
                distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should die
                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 his devisee, legatee or other designee or, if
                there be no such designee, to his estate.

        (e)     Any notice or other communication provided for in this Agreement
                shall be in writing and, unless otherwise expressly stated
                herein, shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed by
                United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage
                prepaid, addressed in the case of the Executive to his office at
                the Corporation with a copy to his residence and in the case of
                the Corporation to its principal executive offices, attention to
                the Chief Executive Officer.

        (f)     No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or
                discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is
                agreed to in writing signed by the Executive and approved by
                resolution of the Board of Directors of the Corporation. No
                waiver by

                                       9
<PAGE>

                either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party
                hereto of, or compliance with, 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. No
                agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or
                implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been
                made by either party which are not set forth expressly in this
                Agreement.

        (g)     The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this
                Agreement shall not affect the validity or unenforceability of
                any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in
                full force and effect. If any provision hereof shall be deemed
                invalid or unenforceable, either in whole or in part, this
                Agreement shall be deemed amended to delete or modify, as
                necessary, the offending provision and to alter the bounds
                thereof in order to render it valid and enforceable.

        (h)     This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each
                of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
                taken together will constitute one and the same instrument.

        (i)     If litigation should be brought to enforce, interpret or
                challenge any provision contained herein, the prevailing party
                shall be entitled to its reasonable attorney's fees and
                disbursements and other costs incurred in such litigation and,
                if a money judgment be rendered in favor of the Executive, to
                interest on any such money judgment obtained calculated at the
                prime rate of interest in effect from time to time at Mellon
                Bank, N.A., from the date that the payment should have been made
                or damages incurred under this Agreement.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed on the date first
above written.

                                        TOLLGRADE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                        By: /s/ Sara M. Antol, Secretary
                                            ------------------------------------

                                               /s/ Eric Sucharski
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                       10

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