Document:

Exhibit 4.3

 

 

FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental
Indenture”), dated as of July 3, 2017, among Consolidated Communications, Inc., an Illinois corporation (as successor
to Consolidated Communications Finance II Co., the “Company”), the Guarantors listed on the signature page hereto
each of which is a subsidiary of the Company (the “New Guarantors”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
a national banking association (or its permitted successor), as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “Trustee”).
Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture.

 

W I T N E S S E T H

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the other Guarantors party thereto
have heretofore executed and delivered an Indenture, dated as of September 18, 2014, as amended by a First Supplemental
Indenture, dated as of October 16, 2014, a Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 14, 2014, a Third Supplemental
Indenture, dated as of June 8, 2015, and a Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 1, 2016 (as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Indenture”), providing for the issuance by the
Company of its 6.50% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “Notes”);

 

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances
a new Guarantor of the Company, including the New Guarantors, shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture
pursuant to which such New Guarantors shall, subject to Article 10 of the Indenture, unconditionally guarantee the Notes on the
terms and conditions set forth therein (the “Note Guarantee”);

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is
authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture
has been authorized by resolutions of the boards of directors or equivalent managing bodies of the Company and the New Guarantors;
and

 

WHEREAS, all conditions precedent and requirements necessary to make
this Supplemental Indenture a valid and legally binding instrument in accordance with its terms have been complied with, performed
and fulfilled, and the execution and delivery hereof has been in all respects duly authorized.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company, the New Guarantors and the Trustee
mutually covenant and agree for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1 Defined Terms. As used in this Supplemental Indenture,
terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recitals hereto are used herein as therein defined. The words “herein,”
“hereof” and “hereby” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this
Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.

 

    	1

     

    

 

ARTICLE 2

AGREEMENT TO GUARANTEE

 

Section 2.1 Agreement to be Bound. Each New Guarantor hereby
becomes a party to the Indenture as a Guarantor and as such will have all of the rights and be subject to all of the obligations
and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.

 

Section 2.2 Guarantee. Each New Guarantor agrees, on
a joint and several basis with all the existing Guarantors and each other New Guarantor, to fully, unconditionally and irrevocably
Guarantee to each Holder and the Trustee, the Company’s obligations under the Indenture and the Notes on the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture
applicable to “Guarantors.”

 

ARTICLE 3

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 3.1 Execution and Delivery. This Supplemental Indenture
shall be effective upon execution by the parties hereto. The Company hereby represents, warrants, and certifies to the Trustee
that the execution of this Supplemental Indenture is authorized and permitted by the Indenture, and constitutes the legal, valid
and binding obligation of the Company and the Guarantors enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally,
general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and an implied covenant of good faith and
fair dealing. Each New Guarantor agrees that the Note Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure
to endorse on each Note a notation of the Note Guarantee.

 

Section 3.2 Benefits Acknowledged. Each New Guarantor’s
Note Guarantee is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture. Each New Guarantor acknowledges that it will
receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by the Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture
and that the guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to its Note Guarantee and this Supplemental Indenture are knowingly made
in contemplation of such benefits.

 

Section 3.3 Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indenture
Part of Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the
terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of
the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

 

Section 3.4 Severability. In case any provision in this Supplemental
Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall
not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality
or unenforceability.

 

Section 3.5 New Guarantor May Consolidate, Etc., on Certain
Terms. No New Guarantor may sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, or consolidate with or
merge with or into, any Person other than as set forth in Section 10.04 of the Indenture.

 

Section 3.6 Release. Each New Guarantor’s Note Guarantee
shall be released as set forth in Section 10.05 of the Indenture.

 

    	2

     

    

 

Section 3.7No Recourse Against Others. Pursuant to Section
12.07 of the Indenture, no director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of any New Guarantor shall have any liability
for any obligations of the New Guarantor under the Notes, the Indenture, this Supplemental Indenture, the Note Guarantees or for
any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. This waiver and release are part of the
consideration for the Note Guarantee.

 

Section 3.8 Governing Law. THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE.

 

Section 3.9 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND
EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY
IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, THE INDENTURE, THE NOTES, THE NOTE GUARANTEES
OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

Section 3.10 Counterparts. The parties may sign any number
of copies of this Supplemental Indenture (including by electronic transmission). Each signed copy shall be an original, but all
of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by
facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties
hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted
by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

Section 3.11 Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein
are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

Section 3.12 Trustee. The Trustee shall not be responsible
in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of
the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guarantors and the Company. In entering into this Supplemental
Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to the benefit of every provision of the Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting
the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee, including its right to be compensated, reimbursed and indemnified, whether
or not elsewhere herein so provided. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental
Indenture, all of which recitals are made solely by the Company and the Guarantors. The Company hereby confirms to the Trustee
that this Supplemental Indenture has not resulted in a material modification of the Notes for Foreign Accounting Tax Compliance
Act (“FATCA”) purposes. The Company shall give the Trustee prompt written notice of any material modification
of the Notes deemed to occur for FATCA purposes. The Trustee shall assume that no material modification for FATCA purposes has
occurred regarding the Notes, unless the Trustee receives written notice of such modification from the Company.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOW]

 

 

 

 

    	3

     

    

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental
Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.

 

 

	
        COMPANY:

         

        CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

         

         

        By: /s/ Steven L. Childers

        Name:  Steven L. Childers

        Title:  Chief Financial Officer
	
        GUARANTORS:

         

        NEW GUARANTORS:

         

        Northern New England Telephone Operations LLC,
        as Guarantor

        FairPoint Business Services LLC, as Guarantor

        Telephone Operating Company of Vermont LLC,
        as Guarantor

        BE Mobile Communications, Incorporated,
        as Guarantor

        Bentleyville Communications Corporation,
        as Guarantor

        Berkshire Cable Corp., as Guarantor

        Berkshire Cellular, Inc., as Guarantor

        Berkshire New York Access, Inc., as Guarantor

        Berkshire Telephone Corporation, as Guarantor

        Big Sandy Telecom, Inc. , as Guarantor

        Bluestem Telephone Company, as Guarantor

        C&E Communications, Ltd. (d/b/a C& E
        Teleadvantage), as Guarantor

        Chautauqua & Erie Communications, Inc.,
        as Guarantor

        Chautauqua and Erie Telephone Corporation,
        as Guarantor

        Chouteau Telephone Company, as Guarantor

        Columbine Telecom Company, as Guarantor

        Comerco, Inc., as Guarantor

         

         

         

        By:  /s/ Steven L. Childers

        Name:  Steven L. Childers

        Title:  Chief Financial Officer

         

         

         

         

 

[Signature Page to Fifth Supplemental Indenture]

     

     

    

	
        GUARANTORS:

         

        NEW GUARANTORS (continued):

         

        C-R Communications, Inc., as Guarantor

        C-R Long Distance, Inc., as Guarantor

        El Paso Long Distance Company, as Guarantor

        Ellensburg Telephone Company, as Guarantor

        Elltel Long Distance Corp., as Guarantor

        Enhanced Communications of Northern New England
        Inc., as Guarantor

        ExOp of Missouri, Inc., as Guarantor

        FairPoint Broadband, Inc. , as Guarantor

        FairPoint Carrier Services, Inc. (f/k/a FairPoint
        Communications Solutions Corp.), as Guarantor

        FairPoint Communications Missouri, Inc.,
        as Guarantor

        FairPoint Communications, Inc., as Guarantor

        FairPoint Logistics, Inc., as Guarantor

        FairPoint Vermont, Inc., as Guarantor

        Germantown Long Distance Company, as Guarantor

        GTC Communications, Inc., as Guarantor

        GTC, Inc., as Guarantor

        Marianna and Scenery Hill

        Telephone Company, as Guarantor

        Marianna Tel, Inc., as Guarantor

        MJD Services Corp., as Guarantor

        MJD Ventures, Inc., as Guarantor

        Orwell Communications, Inc., as Guarantor

         

         

        By:  /s/ Steven L. Childers

        Name:  Steven L. Childers

        Title:  Chief Financial Officer
	
        GUARANTORS:

         

        NEW GUARANTORS (continued):

         

        Quality One Technologies, Inc., as Guarantor

        Ravenswood Communications, Inc., as Guarantor

        S T Enterprises, Ltd., as Guarantor

        ST Long Distance, Inc., as Guarantor

        St. Joe Communications, Inc., as Guarantor

        Sunflower Telephone Company, Inc., as
        Guarantor

        Taconic Technology Corp., as Guarantor

        Taconic TelCom Corp., as Guarantor

        Taconic Telephone Corp., as Guarantor

        The Columbus Grove Telephone Company,
        as Guarantor

        The Germantown Independent Telephone Company,
        as Guarantor

        The Orwell Telephone Company, as Guarantor

        Unite Communications SYSTEMS, Inc., as
        Guarantor

        YCOM Networks Inc., as Guarantor

         

         

         

        By:  /s/ Steven L. Childers

        Name:  Steven L. Childers

        Title:  Chief Financial Officer

         

         

         

         

 

[Signature Page to Fifth Supplemental Indenture]

     

     

    

 

TRUSTEE:

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

 

 

By:  /s/ Alexander Pabon

Name:  Alexander Pabon

Title:  Assistant Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Fifth Supplemental Indenture]Exhibit 10.1

 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

This Amendment No. 3 to Third Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement, dated as of July 3, 2017 (this “Agreement”), and effective in accordance with Section 4
below, by and among CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), CONSOLIDATED
COMMUNICATIONS, INC., an Illinois corporation (the “Borrower”), certain Subsidiaries of Holdings (each such
Subsidiary, a “Subsidiary Guarantor” and, together with Holdings, the “Guarantors”), the
Lenders party hereto (constituting at least the Requisite Lenders), including pursuant to an authorization in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit A (each, a “Lender Authorization”) and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national
banking association, as Administrative Agent.

 

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:

 

Holdings, the Borrower, the Lenders and the
Administrative Agent are parties to that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 5, 2016 (as amended,
restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Credit Agreement”).

 

In connection with the acquisition of FairPoint
Communications, Inc. (the “FairPoint Acquisition”) in accordance with the FairPoint Acquisition Agreement, the
Borrower will also acquire, among other entities, Peoples Mutual Telephone Company and Peoples Mutual Long Distance Company, each
a Virginia corporation (collectively, the “FairPoint Virginia Entities”).

 

The Borrower has requested that the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders agree to certain modifications of the Credit Agreement as set forth herein, including, without limitation,
the waiver of the requirements under the Credit Agreement that the FairPoint Virginia Entities be joined as guarantors, that the
assets of such entities be pledged as Collateral under the Loan Documents, and that the equity interests issued by each of them
be pledged as Collateral under the Loan Documents. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Administrative Agent
and each of the undersigned Lenders have agreed to grant such requests of the Borrower.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration,
the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

1.     
Capitalized Terms. Except as otherwise specified herein, all capitalized undefined terms used in this Agreement (including,
without limitation, in the introductory paragraph and the statement of purpose hereto) shall have the meanings assigned thereto
in the Credit Agreement.

 

2.     
Amendments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and the effectiveness of this Agreement in accordance
with Section 5 below, the parties hereto agree that the Credit Agreement is amended as follows:

 

(a)                                    
Existing Letters of Credit Definition. The definition of “Existing Letters of Credit” in Section 1.01
of the Credit Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

“ ‘Existing Letters of Credit’
means (a) those letters of credit existing on the Restatement Date and identified on Schedule 1.01(b) and (b) those letters
of credit existing on the effective date of that certain Amendment No. 3 to Third Amended and Restated Credit dated as of July
3, 2017 and identified on Schedule I to such amendment; provided that such letters of credit identified on Schedule I shall
only be deemed to be Existing Letters of Credit on the date upon which the Administrative Agent receives written notice that the
issuer of such letters of credit is an Issuing Bank.”

 

    	1

     

    

(b)                                   
Letter of Credit Sublimit. Section 2.06(b) of the Credit Agreement is amended by replacing the reference to “$15.0
million” therein with “$20.0 million”.

 

(c)                                    
Schedule 1 to 2016 Incremental Amendment Schedule 1 to the 2016 Incremental Amendment is replaced in its entirety
with the schedule attached hereto as Schedule II.

 

3.     
Waiver. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and the effectiveness of this Agreement in accordance
with Section 5 below, and notwithstanding the provisions of the 2016 Incremental Amendment and Sections 5.11 and
5.16 of the Credit Agreement to the contrary, the Lenders party hereto hereby waive the requirements that the FairPoint
Virginia Entities be joined as guarantors, that the assets of such entities be pledged as Collateral under the Loan Documents,
and that the equity interests issued by each of them be pledged as Collateral under the Loan Documents. The waiver set forth in
this Section 3 is limited to the extent specifically set forth herein and no other terms, covenants or provisions of the
Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document are intended to be affected hereby.

 

4.     
Consent. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and the effectiveness of this Agreement in accordance
with Section 5 below, and notwithstanding Section 5(b)(i) of the 2016 Incremental Amendment to the contrary, the
Lenders party hereto hereby agree that (a) any mortgages (and related documentation) on any Real Property acquired in connection
with the FairPoint Acquisition shall not be required to be delivered until the date that is thirty (30) days (as such date may
be extended by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) after the 2016 Incremental Term Loan Facility Closing Date and
(b) the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, may extend the time period by which the new Subsidiaries acquired in connection
with the FairPoint Acquisition be joined as guarantors under the Loan Documents (including the pledge of their assets as Collateral
in connection therewith). The consents set forth in this Section 4 are limited to the extent specifically set forth herein
and no other terms, covenants or provisions of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document are intended to be affected hereby.

 

5.     
Conditions to Effectiveness. Upon the satisfaction or waiver of each of the following conditions, this Agreement
shall be deemed to be effective concurrently with the consummation of the FairPoint Acquisition, the funding of the 2016 Incremental
Term Loan under the Credit Agreement and the completion of the following (the “Effective Date”):

 

(a)                                    
The Administrative Agent’s receipt of counterparts of this Agreement duly executed by Holdings, the Borrower, each
Subsidiary Guarantor, the Requisite Lenders (including by way of Lender Authorization) and the Administrative Agent, each of which
shall be originals or facsimiles (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified in writing by the Administrative Agent
to the Borrower, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the applicable signing Loan Party.

 

(b)                                   
All fees and expenses required to be paid hereunder or pursuant to the Credit Agreement shall have been paid in full in
cash or will be paid in full in cash concurrently with the effectiveness of this Agreement.

 

Without limiting the generality of the provisions
of the last paragraph of Section 8.03 of the Credit Agreement, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions
specified in this Section 5, the Administrative Agent and each Lender that has signed this Agreement (or a Lender Authorization)
shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder
to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received
notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Effective Date specifying its objection thereto.

    	2

     

    

 

6.     
Reaffirmation.

 

(a)       The
Borrower and each of the Guarantors each hereby acknowledge and agree that (i) the Guaranty Agreement, the Collateral Agreement
and each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party remains in full force and effect and enforceable against it in accordance
with its terms and shall not be impaired or limited by the execution or effectiveness of this Agreement, (ii) the Liens and assignments
granted pursuant to the Collateral Agreement and each of the other Security Documents to which it is a party remain valid upon
the effectiveness of this Agreement, (iii) the Collateral Agreement, each of the other Security Documents to which it is a party
and such Liens and assignments support or secure, and will continue to support or secure, the Obligations under the Credit Agreement
and (iv) each reference in the Guaranty Agreement and the Collateral Agreement to “Obligations” shall mean and be a
reference to “Obligations” as defined in the Credit Agreement after giving effect to this Agreement.

 

(b)       Each
Guarantor hereby acknowledges that it has reviewed the terms and provisions of this Agreement and confirms its obligations to guarantee
the payment and performance of all “Guaranteed Obligations” (as defined in the Guaranty Agreement).

 

7.     
Effect of this Agreement.

 

(a)       Except
as expressly provided herein, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain unmodified and in full force and effect.
Except as expressly set forth herein, this Agreement shall not be deemed (i) to be a waiver of, or consent to, a modification or
amendment of, any other term or condition of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) to prejudice any other right
or rights which the Administrative Agent or the Lenders may now have or may have in the future under or in connection with the
Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any of the instruments or agreements referred to therein, as the same may be amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, (iii) to be a commitment or any other undertaking or expression
of any willingness to engage in any further discussion with Holdings, the Borrower, any Subsidiary Loan Party or any other Person
with respect to any waiver, amendment, modification or any other change to the Credit Agreement or the Loan Documents or any rights
or remedies arising in favor of the Lenders or the Administrative Agent, or any of them, under or with respect to any such documents
or (iv) to be a waiver of, or consent to or a modification or amendment of, any other term or condition of any other agreement
by and among the Loan Parties, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, on the other hand. On and after
the Effective Date, references in the Credit Agreement to “this Agreement” (and indirect references such as “hereunder”,
“hereby”, “herein”, and “hereof”) and in any Loan Document to the “Credit Agreement”
shall be deemed to be references to the Credit Agreement as modified by this Agreement.

 

(b)       On
the Effective Date, the Credit Agreement shall be modified by this Agreement. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that (i)
this Agreement and any other Loan Documents executed and delivered in connection herewith do not constitute a novation, or termination
of the Obligations under the Credit Agreement as in effect prior to the Effective Date; (ii) such Obligations are in all respects
continuing (as modified by the Agreement) with the terms, conditions, covenants and agreements contained in the Credit Agreement
being modified only to the extent provided in the Agreement; and (iii) the Liens and security interests as granted under the Loan
Documents securing the Obligations are in all such respects continuing and in full force and effect.

 

    	3

     

    

(c)       This
document shall constitute a “Loan Document” for all purposes of the Credit Agreement and shall be administrated and
construed pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

8.     
Representations and Warranties/No Default. By its execution hereof,

 

(a)       each
of the Borrower and the Guarantors represents and warrants that the representations and warranties contained in each Loan Document
(including this Agreement and the Credit Agreement) are true and correct on and as of the date hereof, other than any such representations
or warranties that, by their express terms, refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall have been true and correct on and
as of such earlier date and that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as of the Effective Date;

 

(b)       no
FairPoint Virginia Entity is a guarantor or pledges any of its assets in support of any Material Indebtedness including, without
limitation, the 2022 Senior Notes;

 

(c)       each
of the Borrower and the Guarantors hereby certifies, represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

(i)       it
has the right, power and authority and has taken all necessary corporate and other action to authorize the execution and delivery
of this Agreement and the performance of this Agreement, the Credit Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement, the Collateral Agreement
and each other document executed in connection herewith or therewith to which it is a party in accordance with their respective
terms and the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby; and

 

(ii)       this
Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement, the Collateral Agreement and each other document executed in connection herewith or therewith
has been duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized officers of each Loan Party, and each such document constitutes the
legal, valid and binding obligation of each such Loan Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited
by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar state or federal debtor relief laws from time to time in effect
which affect the enforcement of creditors’ rights in general and the availability of equitable remedies.

 

9.     
Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.

 

10.  Miscellaneous.
The headings of this Agreement are for purposes of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof. This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate the remaining provisions
hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision
in any other jurisdiction.

 

11.  Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of
which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
Delivery by telecopier or electronic mail of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement or a Lender Authorization
shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

    	4

     

    

12.  Waiver
of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT
MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY
OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH
PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE,
THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT
AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS,
THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

 

 

 

 

    	5

     

    

 

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

 

BORROWER:

 

CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.,

as Borrower

 

 

By: /s/ Steven L. Childers

Name: Steven L. Childers

Title: Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary

 

HOLDINGS:

 

 

CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, INC., as Guarantor

 

 

By: /s/ Steven L. Childers

Name: Steven L. Childers

Title: Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amendment No. 3 to 3rd A&R Credit Agreement

Consolidated Communications, Inc.

Signature Page

     

     

    

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:

 

CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, ENTERPRISE SERVICES, INC.,
as Guarantor

CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS OF FORT BEND COMPANY, as Guarantor

CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS OF TEXAS COMPANY, as Guarantor

CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS OF PENNSYLVANIA COMPANY, LLC,
as Guarantor

CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS OF CALIFORNIA COMPANY, as Guarantor

CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS OF MINNESOTA COMPANY, as Guarantor

CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS OF MID-COMM. COMPANY, as Guarantor

 

 

By: /s/ Steven L. Childers

Name: Steven L. Childers

Title: Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amendment No. 3 to 3rd A&R Credit Agreement

Consolidated Communications, Inc.

Signature Page

     

     

    

 

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:

 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent on behalf of
itself and each Lender signing a Lender Authorization

 

 

By: /s/ Kieran Mahon

Name: Kieran Mahon

Title:Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amendment No. 3 to 3rd A&R Credit Agreement

Consolidated Communications, Inc.

Signature Page

     

     

    

 

Exhibit A

 

[form of Lender Authorization attached]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

     

    

 

LENDER AUTHORIZATION AND CONSENT

 

Consolidated Communications, Inc.

Amendment No. 3 to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,

as Administrative Agent

MAC D1109-019

1525 West W.T. Harris Blvd.

Charlotte, North Carolina 28262

Attention: Syndication Agency Services

 

 

		Re:	Amendment No. 3 to be dated on or about July 3, 2017 (the “Agreement”) to the
Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October 5, 2016 (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”)
by and among Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc., as a Guarantor (“Holdings”), Consolidated Communications,
Inc. (the “Borrower”), the Subsidiary Loan Parties, the Lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National
Association, as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”).

 

 

This authorization acknowledges our receipt
and review of the execution copy of the Agreement in the form posted on the Consolidated Communications online workspace. By executing
this authorization, we hereby approve the Agreement and authorize the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver the Agreement
on our behalf.

 

 

	 	 	 
	 	 	[Insert name of applicable financial institution]
	 	 	 
	 	 	By: 	 
	 	 	Name: 	 
	 	 	Title:	 
	 	 	 

 

 

 

 

 

Amendment No. 3 to 3rd A&R Credit Agreement

Consolidated Communications, Inc.

Lender Authorization

     

     

    

 

Schedule I

 

FairPoint Letters of Credit

 

	Issuer Name	Applicant Name	Letter of Credit Number	Issue Date	Expiration Date	Beneficiary Name	Amount
	Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A.	FairPoint Communications, Inc.	2016113000	11/30/16	
        11/30/17

        (auto renewal)
	NYS Urban Development Corporation d/b/a Empire State Development Corp	$100,000.00
	Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A.	FairPoint Communications, Inc.	2013022600	2/26/13	
        2/26/18

        (auto renewal)
	Ace American Insurance Company, and/or Indemnity Insurance Company of North America and/or Agri General Insurance Company	$10,232,359.00
	Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A.	FairPoint Communications, Inc.	2015120300	12/3/15	
        12/3/17

        (auto renewal)
	State of Main Public Utilities Commission Emergency Services Communications Bureau	$4,000,000.00
	Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A.	FairPoint Communications, Inc.	2013090600	9/6/13	
        9/6/17

        (auto renewal)
	Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada 	$200,000.00
	Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A.	FairPoint Communications, Inc.	2013031500	3/15/13	
        7/26/17

        (auto renewal)
	Central Maine Power Company	$300,000.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

     

    

 

Schedule II

 

Schedule 1

2016 Incremental Term Commitments and 2016 Incremental Term Facility Lenders

	2016 Incremental Term Facility Lender	2016 Incremental Term Commitment	Commitment Percentage
	Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc.	$935,000,000	100%
	Total:	$935,000,000	100%

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00272-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00272-of-00352.parquet"}]]