Document:

INTERCREDITOR & SUBORDINATION

 Exhibit 4.5 
  
 
 
 FORM OF 
  
 INTERCREDITOR AND SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT 
  
 Dated as of December [___], 2002 
  
 between 
  
 GENERAL
ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, 
  
 as Administrative Agent, 
  
 the Senior Creditors 
  
 and 
  
 Certain Subordinated Creditors, 
  
 as the Initial Subordinate Creditors 
  
 

 

  
 TABLE OF CONTENTS 
  
 
	  	  	  	  	 Page
 

	 
	 ARTICLE I        DEFINITIONS
 	  	 1
 
	 
	         SECTION 1.1
 	  	 Cross-references
 	  	 1
 
	 
	         SECTION 1.2
 	  	 Additional Definitions
 	  	 2
 
	 
	 ARTICLE II       PAYMENTS, MODIFICATION OF DOCUMENTS AND SUBORDINATION TO SENIOR DEBT
 	  	 5
 
	 
	         SECTION 2.1
 	  	 Payments
 	  	 5
 
	 
	         SECTION 2.2
 	  	 Modification of Subordinated Debt Documents; Etc
 	  	 6
 
	 
	         SECTION 2.3
 	  	 Subordination to the Senior Debt
 	  	 6
 
	 
	 ARTICLE III      ENFORCEMENT OF REMEDIES
 	  	 6
 
	 
	         SECTION 3.1
 	  	 Waivers of Rights
 	  	 6
 
	 
	         SECTION 3.2
 	  	 Bankruptcy
 	  	 7
 
	 
	         SECTION 3.3
 	  	 Waiver and Indemnity
 	  	 8
 
	 
	         SECTION 3.4
 	  	 Rights of the Senior Creditors
 	  	 9
 
	 
	         SECTION 3.5
 	  	 Subrogation
 	  	 10
 
	 
	         SECTION 3.6
 	  	 Modification of Subordinated Debt Documents
 	  	 10
 
	 
	 ARTICLE IV      LIEN SUBORDINATION; RELEASE OF COLLATERAL
 	  	 10
 
	 
	         SECTION 4.1
 	  	 Lien Subordination
 	  	 10
 
	 
	         SECTION 4.2
 	  	 Release of Collateral
 	  	 10
 
	 
	 ARTICLE V       MISCELLANEOUS
 	  	 11
 
	 
	         SECTION 5.1
 	  	 No Partnership or Joint Venture
 	  	 11
 
	 
	         SECTION 5.2
 	  	 Notices
 	  	 11
 
	 
	         SECTION 5.3
 	  	 Amendments and Waivers
 	  	 12
 
	 
	         SECTION 5.4
 	  	 Payments
 	  	 12
 
	 
	         SECTION 5.5
 	  	 Counterparts; Effectiveness
 	  	 12
 
	 
	         SECTION 5.6
 	  	 Benefits
 	  	 12
 
	 
	         SECTION 5.7
 	  	 Term
 	  	 12
 
	 
	         SECTION 5.8
 	  	 Governing Law
 	  	 13
 
	 
	         SECTION 5.9
 	  	 Conflicts
 	  	 13
 
	 
	         SECTION 5.10
 	  	 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; LIMITATION OF REMEDIES
 	  	 13
 

 

  
 TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 (continued) 
  
 
	  	  	  	  	 Page
 

	 
	         SECTION 5.11
 	  	 Application of Provisions
 	  	 14
 
	 
	         SECTION 5.12
 	  	 Specific Performance
 	  	 14
 
	 
	         SECTION 5.13
 	  	 No Strict Construction
 	  	 14
 

 

  
 FORM OF 
  
 INTERCREDITOR AND SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT 
  
 THIS INTERCREDITOR AND SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT, dated as of December 31, 2002, is made by GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as administrative agent for the Senior Creditors (the “Administrative Agent”), the
Senior Creditors and the subordinated creditors described on Schedule I hereto (the “Initial Subordinated Creditors”). 
  
 RECITALS 
  
 A.    US LEC CORP., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”), certain operating subsidiaries of the Company, the Senior Creditors and the Administrative Agent have entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of December 20, 1999 (as amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”). 
  
 B.    The Company and the Initial Subordinated Creditors have also entered into a Note Purchase Agreement dated as of December 31, 2002 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time,
the “Subordinated Note Agreement”). 
  
 C.    The Company and its existing
Subsidiaries have executed and delivered, and the Company has agreed to cause all subsequently organized or acquired Subsidiaries to execute and deliver, various security agreements, financing statements and other documents providing liens and
security interests in favor of the Senior Creditors in the property described therein in order to secure the Senior Debt (the foregoing, together with any amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications thereto, collectively, the
“Senior Security Documents”). 
  
 D.    It is a condition precedent to the
effectiveness of the Subordinated Note Agreement that this Agreement shall have been executed and delivered in order to establish among the Senior Creditors and the Subordinated Creditors their respective rights with respect to (i) certain matters
relating to the Credit Agreement and the Subordinated Note Agreement and (ii) the Collateral described in the Senior Security Documents. 
  
 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby
agree as follows: 
  
 ARTICLE I 
  
 DEFINITIONS 
  
 SECTION 1.1  Defined Terms and
Cross-references.    The capitalized terms used herein and defined in the Credit Agreement but not otherwise defined in this Agreement are used herein 

 

  
 with the meaning therein specified as of the date hereof. Each reference to a particular section,
paragraph or other provision of the Credit Agreement or the Subordinated Note Agreement is a reference to such section, paragraph or other provision as in effect on the date hereof. 
  
 SECTION 1.2  Additional Definitions.    The following terms, as used herein, have the following meanings: 
  
 “Agreement” shall mean this Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time. 
  
 “Blockage Period” shall mean the period beginning with the date any
Default Notice is issued by the Administrative Agent to the Subordinated Creditors and ending on the date upon which such Senior Default is cured or the Senior Debt had been indefeasibly paid in full in cash; provided, that if the date for
payment of any Senior Debt is accelerated, then the Blockage Period shall continue until such Senior Debt has been indefeasibly paid in full in cash. 
  
 “Collateral” shall mean any and all property, security or other interest, tangible or intangible, securing the obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries under either or both
Credit Facilities and covered by any of the Senior Security Documents. 
  
 “Credit Facilities” shall
mean the Senior Debt Documents, the Subordinated Debt Documents and all notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued pursuant to either of the foregoing, and “Credit Facility” shall mean either of the foregoing. 

 
 “Creditors” shall mean the Senior Creditors and the Subordinated Creditors. 
  
 “Default Notice” shall mean a written notice by the Administrative Agent to the Subordinated Creditors notifying the
Subordinated Creditors of the existence of a Senior Default. 
  
 “Dollars” shall mean lawful
currency of the United States of America. 
  
 “Equity Obligations” shall mean any obligations and/or
liabilities of the Company to any Securityholder arising under or pursuant to the Warrant and/or the Securityholders Agreement. 
  
 “Event of Default” shall have the meaning set forth in the Credit Agreement, and any similar event under any Replacement Credit Agreement. 
  
 “Initial Subordinated Creditors” shall have the meaning specified in the preamble hereto. 
  
 “Insolvency Proceeding” shall mean any insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization or other similar proceedings, or any receivership proceedings in
connection therewith, any assignment for the benefit of creditors or marshaling of assets, and in the event of any proceedings for voluntary liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the Company or its Subsidiaries, whether or not involving
insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings. 

 
 2 

  
 “Post Petition Interest” shall mean interest accruing at the
applicable rate set forth in the Senior Debt Documents or Subordinated Debt Documents, as applicable, accruing subsequent to the filing of a petition initiating any Insolvency Proceeding whether or not such interest is an allowable claim in any such
Insolvency Proceeding. 
  
 “Replacement Credit Agreement” shall mean any loan or credit agreement or
securities purchase agreement or other similar agreement entered into by the Company in connection with any complete or partial refinancing of Senior Debt; provided, that such refinancing is on terms that would not be prohibited by Section
3.4 hereof if the Senior Debt being refinanced were amended to reflect the terms of such refinancing instead of being refinanced, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time. 
  
 “Required Creditors” shall mean (a) the Required Senior Creditors, and (b) the Required Subordinated Creditors.

  
 “Required Senior Creditors” shall mean the Required Lenders as defined in the Credit Agreement.

  
 “Required Subordinated Creditors” shall mean Subordinated Creditors holding, in the aggregate,
at least a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Subordinated Debt. 
  
 “Securityholder”
means the Initial Subordinated Creditors together with any other holders of a Warrant or Issued Warrant Shares (as defined in the Securityholders Agreement) and any subsequent transferee or assignee thereof. 
  
 “Securityholders Agreement” shall mean that certain Securityholders’ and Registration Rights Agreement dated as of
December 31, 2002 by and between the Company and the Initial Subordinated Creditors, as the same may be amended, waived, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time (and including any transferee or assignee of the Initial
Subordinated Creditor’s rights thereunder from time to time). 
  
 “Senior Covenant Default”
shall mean any Event of Default that is not a Senior Payment Default. 
  
 “Senior Creditors” shall
mean the Administrative Agent, all Lenders, all other holders from time to time of any Obligations (including, without limitation, any Affiliates of any Lenders that are parties to any interest rate protection agreements with any of the Loan Parties
or hold any deposit obligations), any agents and any lenders parties to any Replacement Credit Agreement, and all other holders from time to time of any obligations now existing or hereafter arising under any of the Senior Debt Documents.

  
 “Senior Debt” shall mean all Obligations and all other indebtedness, liabilities and obligations
of the Loan Parties or any of them or any other Person to any of the Senior Creditors whether direct, indirect, contingent, joint, several, or independent, now or hereafter existing or arising, due or to become due to, or held or to be held by, any
of the Senior Creditors arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Senior Debt Document, whether created directly or acquired by assignment or otherwise, whether or not evidenced by written instrument including, without
limitation, all principal, interest (including Post Petition Interest, 

 
 3 

  
 whether or not allowed in an Insolvency Proceeding), premium, obligations under guaranties, indemnity
payments, reimbursement obligations under letters of credit, fees, costs, and other expenses. 
  
 “Senior
Debt Documents” shall mean the Credit Agreement, the Senior Security Documents, the other Loan Documents, any Replacement Credit Agreement, and all other documents, guaranties, agreements and instruments evidencing, securing or otherwise
pertaining to all or any portion of the Senior Debt. 
  
 “Senior Default” shall mean any Senior
Covenant Default or a Senior Payment Default. 
  
 “Senior Payment Default” shall mean (a) any Event
of Default under clause (a) of Article 10.1 of the Credit Agreement, and (b) any failure to pay any other Senior Debt when the same becomes due (taking into account any permitted grace periods in respect thereof), as a result of acceleration or
otherwise. 
  
 “Senior Security Documents” shall have the meaning specified in Recital C hereto.

  
 “Standstill Period” shall mean a period ending on the 180th day after (a) with respect to any
Subordinated Debt Payment Default occurring as a result of the delivery of a Default Notice hereunder, the date of such Subordinated Debt Payment Default, (b) with respect to any Subordinated Debt Payment Default occurring other than as a result of
the delivery of a Default Notice hereunder, the date the Administrative Agent is provided with written notice of such Subordinated Debt Payment Default and (c) with respect to any Subordinated Debt Default (other than a Subordinated Debt Payment
Default), the date the Administrative Agent is provided with written notice of such Subordinated Debt Default which notice indicates the Subordinated Creditors’ intent to accelerate the Subordinated Debt; provided, in each case, that if
the date for payment of any Senior Debt is accelerated, the Standstill Period shall continue until such Senior Debt has been indefeasibly paid in full in cash. 
  
 “Subordinated Creditors” shall mean the Initial Subordinated Creditors and all other holders from time to time of the Subordinated Debt. 
  
 “Subordinated Debt” shall mean any and all existing and hereafter arising obligations and/or liabilities whatsoever,
including any payments of any nature whatsoever in respect of any Obligations (as defined in the Subordinated Note Agreement), of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (or any other Person) in connection with any of the Subordinated Debt
Documents, in each case, whether direct, indirect, contingent, joint, several, or independent, now or hereafter existing, due or to become due to, or held or to be held by, a Subordinated Creditor, whether created directly or acquired by assignment
or otherwise, and whether or not evidenced by written instrument, including, without limitation, all principal, interest (including Post Petition Interest, whether or not allowed in an Insolvency Proceeding), premium, obligations under guaranties,
indemnity payments, reimbursement obligations under letters of credit, fees, costs, and other expenses; provided that the term “Subordinated Debt” shall not include any Equity Obligations. 

 
 4 

  
 “Subordinated Debt Default” shall mean a Subordinated Debt
Payment Default or any other event or occurrence that entitles the holders of the Subordinated Debt to accelerate the maturity of the Subordinated Debt. 
  
 “Subordinated Debt Documents” shall mean the Subordinated Note Agreement, the Subordinated Note, the Warrant and all other documents, guaranties, agreements and instruments evidencing,
securing or otherwise pertaining to all or any portion of the foregoing. 
  
 “Subordinated Debt Payment
Default” shall mean any event of default under Section 8.1(b) or (c) of the Subordinated Note Agreement. 
  
 “Subordinated Note” shall mean the senior subordinated promissory note due December 31, 2007 to be issued to the Initial Subordinated Creditors by the Company pursuant to the Subordinated Note Agreement, together
with any portions thereof assigned or transferred. 
  
 “Warrant” means that certain Warrant to
Purchase the Common Stock of US LEC Corp., dated as of December 31, 2002 issued by the Company in favor of the Initial Subordinated Creditors (together with any replacement warrants issued to the Initial Subordinated Creditors pursuant to the terms
thereof and any additional warrants issued to any other Securityholder), as the same may be amended, waived, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time. 
  
 ARTICLE II 
  
 PAYMENTS, MODIFICATION OF DOCUMENTS AND

 SUBORDINATION TO SENIOR DEBT 
  
 SECTION 2.1  Payments. 
  
 (a)  Except as provided in Section 2.1(b) of
this Agreement, no Subordinated Creditor will ask, demand, sue for, take or receive from the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any Affiliate or other Person, by setoff or in any other manner, the whole or any part of the Subordinated Debt,
unless and until all Senior Debt has been indefeasibly paid in full in cash and all obligations of the Senior Creditors under the Senior Debt Documents have terminated. 
  
 (b)  At any time when no Blockage Period is in effect, the Company may make and the Subordinated Creditors may receive (i) regularly scheduled payments of
interest on account of the Subordinated Note in accordance with the terms of the Subordinated Note as in effect on the date hereof, (ii) payments in respect of indemnification obligations of the Company arising under the Subordinated Debt Documents
in respect of claims by third parties against the Subordinated Creditors, and (iii) costs, disbursements, other indemnification amounts, fees and expenses provided for pursuant to the Subordinated Debt Documents. Following the termination of any
Blockage Period, the Company may make and the Subordinated Creditors may receive the payments described in clauses (i)-(iii) of the foregoing sentence which could have been made but for the existence of a Blockage Period. 
  
 (c)  Any payments received by the Subordinated Creditors in violation of the terms hereof, shall be held by the Subordinated
Creditors in trust for the Senior Creditors and 

 
 5 

  
 shall immediately be delivered by the Subordinated Creditors, in the form received (together with any
necessary endorsement), to the Senior Creditors to be applied to the Senior Debt until all such Senior Debt shall have been paid in full in cash after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the Senior Creditors, and the
obligations of the Senior Creditors under the Senior Debt Documents shall have terminated. In the event that any Subordinated Creditor fails to provide any necessary endorsement as contemplated above, the Senior Creditors are hereby irrevocably
authorized to appropriately make the same. 
  
 SECTION 2.2  Modification of Subordinated Debt Documents;
Etc.    Until all Senior Debt has been indefeasibly paid in full in cash and all obligations of the Senior Creditors under the Senior Debt Documents have terminated, (i) no Subordinated Creditor will seek to establish with
the Company or any Subsidiary a sinking fund for the payment or prepayment of or otherwise arrange for the defeasance of any Subordinated Debt, and (ii) no amendment, modification or other alteration to the terms of the Subordinated Debt Documents
shall be of any effect unless the Required Senior Creditors have previously consented thereto in writing. Each Subordinated Creditor agrees that it will not challenge, object to or in any respect inhibit or otherwise interfere with the enforcement
by any of the Senior Creditors of any of their rights or remedies in respect of the Senior Debt, any Collateral or this Agreement. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Subordinated Creditor agrees that it will not take any action to (x) contest
the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of any Senior Debt, any Senior Debt Documents, any security interest in any Collateral therefor or any guaranties thereof; (y) contest the relative rights and duties of any holders of any Senior
Debt with respect to any Collateral, established in any instruments or agreements creating or evidencing any of the Senior Debt; or (z) contest or affect such Subordinated Creditor’s obligations and agreements set forth in this Agreement.

  
 SECTION 2.3  Subordination to the Senior Debt.    The Subordinated Creditors
shall at all times cause the Subordinated Debt to be junior in right of payment and otherwise subordinate to the Senior Debt on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and shall promptly execute and deliver all documents requested by
the Required Senior Creditors to evidence such subordination. 
  
 ARTICLE III 
  
 ENFORCEMENT OF REMEDIES 
  
 SECTION 3.1  Waivers of Rights.    Until all Senior Debt has been indefeasibly paid in full in cash and all obligations of the Senior Creditors under the Senior Debt Documents have
terminated, the Subordinated Creditors hereby agree: 
  
 (a)  to refrain from exercising any and all
rights each, either directly or through an agent, may now or hereafter have to (i) except as provided in clauses (b) and (c) below and except the right to receive permitted payments in accordance with Section 2.1(b) hereof, exercise any right
pursuant to the Subordinated Debt Documents or with respect to any Subordinated Debt, (ii) exercise any right available under the laws of any applicable jurisdiction with respect to the Collateral, whether at law or in equity, or (iii) otherwise
dispose of or retain any of the Collateral, in each case without the prior written consent of the Required Senior Creditors; 

 
 6 

  
 (b)  to refrain from initiating or joining, either directly or through
an agent, in the initiation of, any Insolvency Proceeding relative to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, without the prior written consent of the Required Senior Creditors until such time as a Standstill Period with respect to any then-existing
Subordinated Debt Default has both commenced and expired in accordance with the terms of the definition thereof; and 
  
 (c)  to refrain from accelerating the Subordinated Debt unless a Standstill Period with respect to any then-existing Subordinated Debt Default has both commenced and expired in accordance with the terms of the definition
thereof; provided, however, that the holders of the Subordinated Debt may accelerate the Subordinated Debt if the Senior Debt is accelerated, but must immediately rescind any such acceleration of the Subordinated Debt if acceleration
of the Senior Debt is rescinded. 
  
 SECTION 3.2  Bankruptcy.    Until all
Senior Debt has been indefeasibly paid in full in cash and all obligations of the Senior Creditors under the Senior Debt Documents have terminated, the Subordinated Creditors agree as follows: 
  

(a)  the Subordinated Creditors shall retain the right to vote and otherwise act with respect to the Subordinated Debt with respect to any Insolvency
Proceeding (including, without limitation, the right to vote to accept or reject any plan of partial or complete liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, resolution, compromise, settlement, composition or extension or for the election of trustees
or otherwise); provided, that no Subordinated Creditor shall vote in favor of or propose any such plan or take any other action in any way so as to contest (i) the validity or enforceability of any Senior Debt Document or any Senior Debt or
the perfection, priority or validity of any lien purporting to secure any of the Senior Debt, (ii) the relative rights and duties of the Administrative Agent or any Senior Creditors established in this Agreement, the Senior Debt Documents or any
instruments or agreements creating or evidencing any of the Senior Debt with respect to any of such Collateral, or (iii) any of the Senior Creditor’s rights or the Subordinated Creditors’ obligations and agreements set forth in this
Agreement; provided, further, that the Administrative Agent shall have the right, but not the obligation, to vote the claim of any Subordinated Creditor in any such Insolvency Proceeding if such Subordinated Creditor has not voted its
claim on or prior to ten (10) days before the expiration of the time to vote any such claim. In the event that the Administrative Agent votes any claim in accordance with the authority granted hereby, no Subordinated Creditor shall be entitled to
change or withdraw such vote. 
  
 (b)  the Subordinated Creditors will, at the Required Senior
Creditors’ request, file any claims, proofs of claim, or other instruments of similar character necessary to enforce the obligations of Company or its Subsidiaries in respect of the Subordinated Debt; provided that the Administrative
Agent shall have the right, but not the obligation, to execute, verify, deliver and file such proofs of claim upon the failure of any Subordinated Creditor to promptly do so prior to fifteen (15) days before the expiration of the time to file any
such proof of claim; 
  
 (c)  any payment or distribution of any kind or character with respect to the
Subordinated Debt, whether in cash, property or securities, by set-off or otherwise, to which the Subordinated Creditors would be entitled but for the provisions of this Agreement, including any such payment or distribution which may be payable or
deliverable by reason of the payment of 

 
 7 

  
 any other indebtedness of any Loan Party being subordinated to the payment of the Subordinated Debt is
hereby irrevocably assigned to the Senior Creditors and the liquidating trustee or agent or other person making such payment or distribution, whether a trustee in bankruptcy, a receiver or liquidating trustee or otherwise, is hereby irrevocably
directed to pay directly to the Senior Creditors, to the extent necessary to make payment in full in cash of all Senior Debt remaining unpaid, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the Senior Creditors; provided
that the Subordinated Creditors shall be entitled to receive (and shall not be required to remit to the Senior Creditors) in any such proceeding either (x) debt securities (but no payments thereon) which mature no earlier than 180 days prior the
maturity of the Subordinated Debt and are subordinated to the Senior Debt on terms no less favorable to the Senior Creditors (as determined by the Required Senior Creditors) than the Subordinated Debt or (y) equity securities (but no payments
thereon) which, with respect to any such debt securities and any preferred equity securities, rank junior in all respects to any debt or equity securities distributed to the Senior Creditors; and 
  

(d)  in the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.2, any Subordinated Creditor shall have received any payment or
distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (other than those described in the proviso to Section 3.2(c) above), before all Senior Debt is paid in full in cash, then and in such event such payment or distribution
shall be deemed to be the property of, segregated, received and held in trust for the benefit of and shall be immediately paid over or delivered forthwith to the Senior Creditors (in the same form as received, with any necessary endorsement) to the
extent necessary to make payment in full (or, in the case of non-cash property or securities, to be held as collateral for such payment in full in cash) of all Senior Debt remaining unpaid until all such Senior Debt shall have been paid in full in
cash, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the Senior Creditors. In the event that any Subordinated Creditor fails to provide any necessary endorsement as contemplated above, the Senior Creditors are hereby irrevocably
authorized to appropriately make the same. 
  
 In furtherance of the foregoing, the Subordinated Creditors hereby
irrevocably grant to the Administrative Agent the right to act as attorney-in-fact for the Subordinated Creditors in any Insolvency Proceeding and to take such actions (or refrain from taking any action) on behalf of the Subordinated Creditors, in
each case, solely to the extent the Administrative Agent is permitted to take any action (or omit to take any action) on behalf of the Subordinated Creditors pursuant to this Agreement. The Subordinated Creditors agree to execute and deliver to the
Administrative Agent or any successors in interest to the Administrative Agent such other and further powers of attorney or other instruments as such party or parties may request in order to accomplish the foregoing. 
  
 SECTION 3.3  Waiver and Indemnity.    The Senior Creditors shall have no liability to the
Subordinated Creditors with respect to, and the Subordinated Creditors waive any claim or defense which the Subordinated Creditors may now or hereafter have against the Senior Creditors arising from or in connection with the exercise by the Senior
Creditors of their rights under this Agreement, the Senior Debt Documents or any other documents or instruments contemplated hereby or thereby. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Subordinated Creditors waive any claim or defense which the
Subordinated Creditors may now or hereafter have against the Senior Creditors arising from or in connection with (a) any and all actions which the Senior 

 
 8 

  
 Creditors take or omit to take with respect to any Credit Facility or any Collateral now or hereafter
securing the same (including, without limitation, actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens in any Collateral, actions with respect to the occurrence of any default under any Credit Facility, actions with respect to
the foreclosure upon, sale, release of, depreciation of or failure to realize upon any of the Collateral, actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or any part of any Credit Facility from any account debtor, guarantor or any other
Person, and actions with respect to the valuation, use, protection, or release of any Collateral); (b) any right, now or hereafter existing, to require the Senior Creditors to proceed against or exhaust any Collateral at any time securing the Senior
Debt or to marshal any assets in favor of the Subordinated Creditors; (c) any notice of the incurrence or increase of Senior Debt, it being understood that the Senior Creditors may make advances now or hereafter relating to the Senior Debt and there
may be other increases to the Senior Debt without notice to or authorization of the Subordinated Creditors in reliance upon the provisions of this Agreement; (d) any defense based upon or arising by reason of (i) any disability or other defense of
the Company or any other Person or entity; or (ii) any lack of authority of any agent or any other person or entity acting or purporting to act on behalf of the Company or the Subordinated Creditors; or (iii) any failure by the Senior Creditors to
properly perfect any Lien in any asset of Company; or (e) any election by the Senior Creditors in any Insolvency Proceeding, including, without limitation, any failure of the Administrative Agent to make any election or vote any claim with regard to
the Subordinated Debt to the extent the Administrative Agent is permitted to do so under this Agreement. Each Subordinated Creditor further hereby severally agrees to pay and to indemnify and save each Senior Creditor harmless from and against any
damage, loss, cost or expense (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) which such Senior Creditor may incur or be subject to as a consequence, direct or indirect, of (A) the breach by the Subordinated Creditors of this Agreement, and
(B) any legal action commenced by a Subordinated Creditor to challenge the validity of this Agreement, unless it is determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such Senior Creditor has breached its
obligations under this Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the provisions set forth in this Section 3.3 shall survive the termination of this Agreement. 
  
 SECTION 3.4  Rights of the Senior Creditors.    The Senior Creditors may, at any time and from time
to time, without the consent of or notice to the Subordinated Creditors, without incurring responsibility to the Subordinated Creditors, and without impairing or releasing, any of its rights, or any of the obligations of the Subordinated Creditors
hereunder, do any of the following: 
  
 (a)  Change the amount, manner, place, or terms of payment or
change or extend the time of payment of or increase, renew or alter the Senior Debt, or any part thereof, or enter into or amend in any manner any agreement (including any related loan agreement, promissory notes and collateral documents) relating
to the Senior Debt; 
  
 (b)  Sell, exchange, release, or otherwise deal with all or any part of any
property by whomsoever at any time pledged or mortgaged to secure, or howsoever securing, the Senior Debt, or any part thereof; 

 
 9 

  
 (c)  Release anyone liable in any manner for the payment or collection
of the Senior Debt, or any part thereof; 
  
 (d)  Exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against
the Company and others (including, without limitation, the Subordinated Creditors); and 
  
 (e)  Apply any
sums, by whomsoever paid or however realized, in accordance with the Senior Debt Documents. 
  
 SECTION
3.5  Subrogation.    The holders of the Subordinated Debt shall not be subrogated to the rights of the holders of the Senior Debt in respect of payments or distributions of assets of, or ownership
interests in, the Company or any Loan Party made on the Senior Debt until after all Senior Debt has been indefeasibly paid in full in cash and all obligations under the Senior Debt Documents have terminated. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any
other Senior Creditor shall have any obligation or duty to protect any Subordinated Creditor’s rights of subrogation arising pursuant to this Agreement or under any applicable law, nor shall the Administrative Agent or any other Senior Creditor
be liable for any loss to, or impairment of, any subrogation rights held by any Subordinated Creditor. 
  
 For
purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the Senior Creditors of any cash, property or securities to which the Subordinated Creditors would be entitled except for the provisions of this Section 3.5, and no payments over pursuant
to the provisions of this Agreement to the Senior Creditors by any of the Subordinated Creditors, as among the Loan Parties, their creditors (other than the Senior Creditors), and the Subordinated Creditors, shall be deemed to be a payment or
distribution by any Loan Party to or on account of the Senior Debt. 
  
 SECTION 3.6  Modification of
Subordinated Debt Documents.    The holders of the Subordinated Debt shall not amend, modify, supplement or otherwise alter the terms and conditions of any Subordinated Debt Document, including, without limitation, the
creation of any lien or security interest to secure the Subordinated Debt, without the prior written consent of the Required Senior Creditors. 
  
 ARTICLE IV 
  
 LIEN SUBORDINATION; RELEASE OF COLLATERAL 
  
 SECTION 4.1  Lien Subordination.    If any lien or security interest is created to secure the
Subordinated Debt, such lien or security interest shall be made junior in priority and subordinated to the rights and interests of the Senior Creditors in the assets subject to such lien or security interest and the Subordinated Creditors shall
under no circumstances have any right to possession of any such assets or to foreclose upon any such assets, whether by judicial action or otherwise until all Senior Debt has been indefeasibly paid in full in cash and all obligations under the
Senior Debt Documents have terminated. The foregoing shall apply regardless of the order of filing of any such liens or perfection of any such security interests (or failure to make any such filing or perfect any such security interest).

  
 SECTION 4.2  Release of Collateral.    Without limiting any of the rights
(including any of the foreclosure rights) of the Administrative Agent or any Senior Creditor under the Senior Debt 

 
 10 

  
 Documents or under the provisions of any applicable law, in the event that the Administrative Agent
releases or discharges any Liens upon any Collateral which is subject to a Lien in favor of the Subordinated Debt, such Collateral shall thereupon be deemed to have been released from all Liens securing the Subordinated Debt, provided that
the Administrative Agent believes in good faith that any such released or discharged Collateral is being sold or transferred either (a) pursuant to a transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement or (b) following the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default under the Senior Debt, for consideration believed by the Administrative Agent to be reasonably equivalent to the fair value of such Collateral, under circumstances in which the seller of such Collateral shall have
agreed that the net proceeds of any such sale under this clause (b) shall be applied to the payment of the Senior Debt and the Subordinated Debt in the order of priority provided in this Agreement. Each Subordinated Creditor agrees that within ten
(10) days following the Administrative Agent’s written request therefor, the Subordinated Creditor will execute, deliver and file any and all such termination statements, lien releases and other agreements and instruments as the Administrative
Agent may reasonably deem necessary or appropriate in order to give effect to the preceding sentence. Each Subordinated Creditor hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent the true and lawful attorney-in-fact of the Subordinated Creditors
for the purpose of effecting any such executions, deliveries and filings. Without limiting the foregoing, and without implying that the Administrative Agent is obligated to undertake any special investigation with respect to its good faith belief as
to the fair value of any property, the parties hereto agree to be bound as to the fair value of any property as determined by any independent appraisal of such property that may be conducted at the request of the Administrative Agent. The cost of
any such appraisal, shall be borne by the Company and, if funded by the Administrative Agent or the Senior Creditors, shall constitute Senior Debt. 
  
 ARTICLE V 
  
 MISCELLANEOUS 
  
 SECTION 5.1  No Partnership or Joint Venture.    Nothing contained in this Agreement, and no
action taken by any of the Creditors pursuant hereto, is intended to constitute or shall be deemed to constitute a partnership, association, joint venture or other entity. 
  
 SECTION 5.2  Notices.    Unless otherwise specified herein, all notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall
be in writing (including overnight delivery service, facsimile copy or similar writing) and shall be given to such party at its address or facsimile number specified on the applicable signature page hereof, or such other address or facsimile number
as such party may hereafter specify in writing to the Administrative Agent for the purpose by notice to the other parties. All such notices and other communications shall be sent by certified or registered first-class mail, by nationally recognized
overnight delivery service, by personal delivery or by facsimile, and shall be deemed to have been duly given: if mailed, three (3) Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid; if delivered by a nationally recognized overnight
delivery service, the following Business Day; if personally delivered, when delivered by hand; or if by telecopier, upon confirmation of transmittal. 

 
 11 

  
 SECTION 5.3  Amendments and Waivers.    Any
provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, and only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and signed by the Required Creditors. 
  
 SECTION 5.4  Payments.    All payments hereunder shall be made in Dollars in immediately available funds. All payments to any Creditor shall be made to it, to the
extent practicable, in accordance with the provisions of the relevant Credit Facility. 
  
 SECTION
5.5  Counterparts; Effectiveness.    This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute a single agreement, with the
same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement shall become effective when (a) the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof executed by each of the other parties listed on the
signature pages hereto and (b) each of the Credit Facilities shall have become effective. 
  
 SECTION 5.6  
Benefits.    This Agreement is solely for the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Creditors and their successors or assigns, and neither the Company nor any other party shall have any right, benefit, priority or
interest under or by reason of this Agreement. The Subordinated Creditors will advise each future Subordinated Creditor that the Subordinated Debt and rights and remedies with respect to the Subordinated Debt are subordinated to the Senior Debt in
the manner and to the extent set forth herein, and will place the following legend on each document and instrument evidencing or related to the Subordinated Debt indicating that such instrument or document is subject to this Agreement (and which
shall be exhibited prominently thereon): 
  
 THIS INSTRUMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS EVIDENCED HEREBY ARE
SUBORDINATE IN THE MANNER AND TO THE EXTENT SET FORTH IN THAT CERTAIN INTERCREDITOR AND SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT DATED AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2002 BETWEEN GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION AND CERTAIN SUBORDINATED CREDITORS INCLUDING THE INITIAL
HOLDER HEREOF (THE “SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT”) TO THE “SENIOR DEBT” (AS DEFINED IN THE SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT), AND EACH HOLDER OF THIS INSTRUMENT, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, IRREVOCABLY AGREES TO BE BOUND BY THE PROVISIONS
OF THE SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT. 
  
 Notice of the acceptance of the provisions set forth herein is hereby waived.

  
 SECTION 5.7  Term.    This Agreement shall remain in effect until all Senior
Debt has been indefeasibly paid in full in cash and all obligations under the Senior Debt Documents have terminated. The Senior Creditors may continue, at any time and without notice to any Subordinated Creditor, to extend Senior Debt to or for the
benefit of the Company or any of its subsidiaries on the faith hereof. To the extent any payment of Senior Debt (whether by or on behalf of the Company or any Loan Party, as proceeds of security or enforcement of any right of set-off or otherwise)
is declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be paid to a trustee, receiver or similar party under any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, fraudulent conveyance or similar law, then if such payment is recovered by or paid
over to such trustee, 

 
 12 

  
 receiver or similar party, the Senior Debt or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be
deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred. 
  
 SECTION 5.8  Governing
Law.    THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 
  
 SECTION 5.9  Conflicts.    In the event of any inconsistency or conflict between the terms and provisions of any Security Document and
the terms and provisions of this Agreement, the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall control in all respects. 
  
 SECTION 5.10  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; LIMITATION OF REMEDIES. 
  
 (a)  EACH OF THE CREDITORS AGREES TO WAIVE ITS RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DEALINGS RELATING TO THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. THE SCOPE
OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS,
BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH OF THE CREDITORS ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO THE OTHER CREDITORS TO ENTER INTO THE BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT AND THE
FINANCING DOCUMENTS TO WHICH EACH IS A PARTY, THAT EACH CREDITOR HAS ALREADY RELIED ON THIS WAIVER IN ENTERING INTO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT OR SUBORDINATED NOTE AGREEMENT, AS APPLICABLE, AND THAT EACH CREDITOR WILL CONTINUE TO RELY ON THIS WAIVER IN
ITS RELATED FUTURE DEALINGS WITH THE COMPANY, ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND THE OTHER CREDITORS. EACH CREDITOR FURTHER WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL, AND THAT IT KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY
TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT. 
  
 (b)  Each Creditor hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any New York state or Federal court sitting in New York County, New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or
relating to this Agreement, or any dealings between such Creditor and any other Creditor relating to the subject matter of the transactions contemplated hereby, and such Creditor hereby irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of such action or
proceeding may be heard and determined in any such New York state or Federal court. Each Creditor hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or
proceeding. Each Subordinated Creditor further hereby agrees and irrevocably consents to the service of any and all process in any such action or proceeding by the mailing, by registered or certified U.S. mail, or by any other means or mail that
requires a 

 
 13 

  
 signed receipt, of copies of such process to the address of such Subordinated Creditor contained in the
records of the Company. Each Creditor agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this
Section 5.10 shall affect the right of any Creditor to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by law or affect the right of any Creditor to bring any action or proceeding against any other Creditor or its property in the courts of any
other jurisdiction. To the extent that any Creditor has or hereafter may acquire immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution,
execution or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, such Creditor hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations under this Agreement. 
  
 SECTION 5.11  Application of Provisions.    The provisions of this Agreement are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining
the relative rights of the Subordinated Creditors on the one hand and the Senior Creditors on the other hand. The failure by any Loan Party to make a payment on account of the Subordinated Debt by reason of any provision of this Agreement will not
be construed as preventing the occurrence of a default or event of default or the accrual of interest under the Subordinated Debt Documents. Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to or shall (a) impair, as among the Company, its respective
creditors (other than the Senior Creditors) and the Subordinated Creditors, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Subordinated Creditors the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Subordinated
Debt as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms (provided, however, that this provision is not intended to limit the restrictions on payments on the Subordinated Debt set forth in Article II
hereof); or (b) affect the relative rights of the Subordinated Creditors against the Company and creditors of the Company (other than the Senior Creditors); or (c) except as provided in Article III hereof, prevent the Subordinated Creditors from
exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon a default or any event of default under the Subordinated Debt Documents, subject however in all respects to the rights, if any, under this Agreement of the Senior Creditors (i) in
any Insolvency Proceeding of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to receive, pursuant to and in accordance with Section 3.2, cash, property and securities otherwise payable or deliverable to such holder, or (ii) under the conditions specified in
Article II, to prevent any payment prohibited by such Article. 
  
 SECTION 5.12  Specific
Performance.    The parties hereto hereby acknowledge that legal remedies may be inadequate and therefore the Senior Creditors are hereby authorized to demand specific performance of the provisions of this Agreement at any
time when any Loan Party or any Subordinated Creditor shall have failed to comply with any provision hereof. Each Subordinated Creditor hereby irrevocably waives any defense based on the adequacy of a remedy at law that might be asserted as a bar to
such remedy of specific performance. 
  
 SECTION 5.13  No Strict
Construction.    Each party hereto hereby acknowledges that it has been represented by counsel in connection with this Agreement and the transactions described herein. Each party hereto has participated jointly in the
negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises under any provision of this Agreement, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties 

 
 14 

  
 hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party hereto by
virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement. 
  
 [Remainder of Page
Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Pages Follow] 
  

 
 15 

  
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Intercreditor and
Subordination Agreement to be duly executed by their respective officers hereunto duly authorized as of the date first above set forth. 
  
 
	 GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL
 CORPORATION, as
Administrative Agent
 and a Senior Creditor
  
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	     /s/    Angela M. LePore
 

	  	 	 Name:
 	 	 Angela M. LePore
 

	  	 	 Title:
 	 	 SVP, Special Assets
 

 
  
 
	 Address for notices:
  
 
	 General Electric Capital Corporation
 

	 10 Riverview Drive
 

	 Danbury, CT 06810
 

	 Attention:    SA Account Manager
 

 
  
 
	 WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL
 ASSOCIATION, as a Senior Creditor
  
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	     /s/    Matthew Berk
 

	  	 	 Name:
 	 	 Matthew Berk
 

	  	 	 Title:
 	 	 Authorized Officer
 

 
  
 
	 Address for notices:
  
 Wachovia
 

	 301 S. College St.
 

	 NC 0537 TWS
 

	 Charlotte, NC 28288
 

	 Attn:    Matthew Berk
 

 

 

  
 
	 US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
 as a Senior
Creditor
  
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	     /s/    David Y. Kopolow
 

	  	 	 Name:
 	 	 David Y. Kopolow
 

	  	 	 Title:
 	 	 Vice President
 

 
  
 
	 Address for notices:
  
 
	 U.S. Bancorp Center
 

	 BC-MN-H22A
 

	 800 Nicollet Mall
 

	 Minneapolis, MN 55402
 

 
  
 
	 PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
 as a Senior
Creditor
  
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	     /s/    Steven J. McGehrin
 

	  	 	 Name:
 	 	 Steven J. McGehrin
 

	  	 	 Title:
 	 	 Vice President
 

 
  
 
	 Address for notices:
  
 
	 1600 Market Street
 

	 11th Floor
 

	 Philadelphia, PA 19103
 

	 

 
  
 
	 IBM CREDIT CORPORATION,
 as a Senior
Creditor
  
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	 /s/    Steven A. Flanagan    
 

	  	 	 Name:
 	 	 Steven A. Flanagan
 

	  	 	 Title:
 	 	 Manager of Global Special Handling
 

 
  
 
	 Address for notices:
  
 
	 North Castle Drive
 

	 Mail Stop NC 318
 

	 Armonk, NY 10504-2575
 

	 

 
  
  

 

  
 
	 BANK AUSTRIA CREDIT ANSTALT CORPORATE FINANCE, INC.,
 as a Senior
Creditor
  
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	     /s/    A.W. Seidel
 

	  	 	 Name:
 	 	 A.W. Seidel
 

	  	 	 Title:
 	 	 SVP
 

 
  
 
	 Address for notices:
  
 
	 c/o Hypo Vereinsbank
 

	 Attn:    HVB Credit Advisers, LLC
 

	 150 East 42 Street
 

	 New York, NY 10017
 

 
  
 
	 SUBORDINATED CREDITORS:
 
	 
	 /s/    Richard T. Aab  
 

	 Richard T. Aab
 

 
  
 
	 Address for notices:
 
	 
	 C/o RTA Associates, LLC
 200 Meridian Centre, Suite 140

Rochester, New York 14618
 

 
  
 
	 
	 /s/    Tansukh V. Ganatra
 

	 Tansukh V. Ganatra
 

 
  
 
	 Address for notices:
 
	 
	 6523 Ashdale Place
 Charlotte, North Carolina 28215
 

 
  

 

  
 
	 
	 /s/    Shirley C. Levy
 

	 Shirley C. Levy
 

 
  
 
	 Address for notices:
 

 
  
 
	 Permanent Address:
 5267 Menteth
Drive
 Canandaigua, New York 14424
 Temporary Address (Dec. 2002-Jan. 2003):
 425 17th Avenue South
 Naples, FL
34102
 

 
  
 
	 
	 /s/    Michael E. Jones
 

	 Michael E. Jones
 

 
  
 
	 Address for notices:
 

 
  
 
	 8 Hidden Springs
 Pittsford, New York
14534
 

 
  
 
	 
	 /s/    Frank Lamar, DDS
 

	 Frank Lamar, DDS
 

 
  
 
	 Address for notices:
 

 
  
 
	 1950 Clinton Avenue South
 Rochester,
New York 14618
 

 
  
 
	 
	 /s/    Kevin J. Phelps
 

	 Kevin J. Phelps
 

 
  
  
 
	 Address for notices:
 

 
  
 
	 22 Chelsea Park
 Pittsford,
New York 14534
 

 
  
  

 

  
 
	 
	 /s/    Ann E. Phelps
 

	 Ann E. Phelps
 

 
  
 
	 Address for notices:
 

 
  
 
	 22 Chelsea Park
 Pittsford, New York
14534
 

 
  
 
	 
	 /s/    Stephen E. Webster
 

	 Stephen E. Webster
 

 
  
  
 
	 Address for notices:
 

 
  
 
	 1595 Elmwood Avenue
 Rochester, New
York 14620
 

 
  
 
	 
	 /s/    R. Wayne LeChase
 

	 R. Wayne LeChase
 

 
  
 
	 Address for notices:
 

 
  
 
	 420 Windward Shores
 Webster, New
York 14580
 

 
  
 
	 SYKES ASSOCIATES,
 a New York
Limited Partnership
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	 /s/    Robert F. Sykes       
 

	  	 	 Name: Robert F. Sykes
 Title: General Partner
 

 
  
 
	 Address for notices:
 

 
  
 
	 60 Brookside Drive
 Rochester, New
York 14618
 Attn: Robert F. Sykes, General Partner
 

 
  
  
  
  

 

  
 
	 ROBJAN LLC,
 a New York
Limited Liability Company
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	 /s/    Dr. Robert Loss       
 

	  	 	 Name: Dr. Robert Loss
 Title: Manager/Member
 

 
  
 
	 Address for notices:
 

 
  
 
	 19 Brookwood Road
 Pittsford, New
York 14534
 Attn: Dr. Robert Loss
 

 
  
 
	 BROPHY, DAILEY & CO., Profit Sharing Plan,
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	 /s/    Harold E. Dailey, Jr.       
 

	  	 	 Name: Harold E. Dailey, Jr.
 Title: Trustee
 

 
  
 
	 Address for notices:
 

 
  
 
	 C/o Harold Dailey, Jr.
 150 Allens
Creek Road
 Rochester, New York 14618
 

 
  
 
	 Frame Family LLC
 a New York
Limited Liability Company
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	 /s/    Robert B. Frame         
 

	  	 	 Name: Robert B. Frame
 Title: Manager/Member
 

 
  
 
	 Address for notices:
 

 
  
 
	 6 Malm Lane
 Rochester, New York
14618
 Attn: Robert B. Frame
 

 
  
  

 

  
 
	 Jo & Co.,
 an Indiana Partnership
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	 /s/    Ross J. Mangano
 

	  	 	 Name: Ross J. Mangano
 Title: General Partner
 

 
  
 
	 Address for notices:
 

 
  
 
	 P.O. Box 1655
 South Bend, Indiana 46634-1655
 Attn: Ross J. ManganoTHIRD AMENDED LOAN AGREEMENT

 Exhibit 10.1 
  
 
 
 THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED 
  
 LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT 
  
 Dated as of December 31, 2002 
  
 among 
  
 US LEC
CORP., 
  
 as Guarantor and Borrower Representative, 
  
 CERTAIN OPERATING SUBSIDIARIES OF US LEC CORP., 
  
 as
Borrowers, 
  
 LENDERS PARTY HERETO, 
  
 GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, 
  
 as Administrative Agent,

  
 WACHOVIA BANK, National Association, 
  
 as Documentation Agent 
  
 and 
  
 WACHOVIA SECURITIES, INC., 
  
 as Syndication Agent 
  
 
 
 GECC CAPITAL MARKETS GROUP, INC. 
  
 and 
  
 WACHOVIA SECURITIES, INC., 
  
 as Co-Arrangers

  
 

 

 TABLE OF CONTENTS 
  
 
	 
	  	 	  	  	 Page
 
	 
	  
 ARTICLE 1:
 	 	 DEFINITIONS
 	  	 1
 
	 
	 1.1  
 	 	 Certain Definitions
 	  	 1
 
	 
	 1.2  
 	 	 Accounting Principles; Subsidiaries
 	  	 19
 
	 
	 1.3  
 	 	 UCC Terms
 	  	 20
 
	 
	 1.4  
 	 	 General Construction; Captions
 	  	 20
 
	 
	 1.5  
 	 	 References to Documents and Laws
 	  	 20
 
	 
	 ARTICLE 2:
 	 	 LOANS
 	  	 20
 
	 
	 2.1  
 	 	 Facility A
 	  	 20
 
	 
	 2.2  
 	 	 Facility B
 	  	 20
 
	 
	 2.4  
 	 	 Letters of Credit
 	  	 21
 
	 
	 2.5  
 	 	 Reliance on Notices; Appointment of Borrower Representative
 	  	 21
 
	 
	 2.6  
 	 	 Procedures for Borrowing
 	  	 22
 
	 
	 2.7  
 	 	 Facility B Loan Amortization
 	  	 22
 
	 
	 2.8  
 	 	 Intentionally Omitted
 	  	 22
 
	 
	 2.9  
 	 	 Maturity
 	  	 22
 
	 
	 2.10
 	 	 Prepayments; Commitment Reductions
 	  	 23
 
	 
	 2.11
 	 	 Interest and Applicable Margins
 	  	 25
 
	 
	 2.12
 	 	 Payments
 	  	 27
 
	 
	 2.13
 	 	 Application and Allocation of Payments
 	  	 27
 
	 
	 2.14
 	 	 Loan Account and Accounting
 	  	 28
 
	 
	 2.15
 	 	 Indemnity
 	  	 28
 
	 
	 2.16
 	 	 Access
 	  	 29
 
	 
	 2.17
 	 	 Taxes
 	  	 30
 
	 
	 2.18
 	 	 Capital Adequacy; Increased Costs; Illegality
 	  	 30
 
	 
	 2.19
 	 	 Use of Proceeds
 	  	 31
 
	 
	 2.20
 	 	 Fees
 	  	 32
 
	 
	 2.21
 	 	 Expenses
 	  	 32
 
	 
	 ARTICLE 3:
 	 	 ASSIGNMENT AND PARTICIPATIONS; APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
 	  	 33
 
	 
	 3.1  
 	 	 Assignment and Participations
 	  	 33
 
	 
	 3.2  
 	 	 Appointment of Administrative Agent
 	  	 34
 
	 
	 3.3  
 	 	 Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Etc
 	  	 35
 
	 
	 3.4  
 	 	 GE Capital and Affiliates
 	  	 35
 

 

 

  
 TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
	  	  	  	  	 Page
 
	 
	  
 3.5  
 	  	 Lender Credit Decision
 	  	 36
 
	 
	 3.6  
 	  	 Indemnification
 	  	 36
 
	 
	 3.7  
 	  	 Successor Administrative Agent
 	  	 36
 
	 
	 3.8  
 	  	 Set Off and Sharing of Payments
 	  	 37
 
	 
	 3.9  
 	  	 Facility A Advances; Payments; Non-Funding Lenders; Information; Actions in Concert
 	  	 38
 
	 
	 3.10
 	  	 Syndication and Documentation Agents
 	  	 40
 
	 
	 ARTICLE 4:
 	  	 COLLATERAL AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
 	  	 40
 
	 
	 4.1  
 	  	 Grant of Security Interest
 	  	 40
 
	 
	 4.2  
 	  	 Regulatory Authorizations
 	  	 41
 
	 
	 4.3  
 	  	 Priority of Security Interests
 	  	 41
 
	 
	 4.4  
 	  	 Pledge Agreements
 	  	 42
 
	 
	 4.5  
 	  	 Further Documentation; Pledge of Instruments; Chattel Paper
 	  	 42
 
	 
	 4.6  
 	  	 Accounts, Etc
 	  	 43
 
	 
	 4.7  
 	  	 Further Identification of Collateral
 	  	 43
 
	 
	 4.8  
 	  	 Remedies
 	  	 43
 
	 
	 4.9  
 	  	 Standard of Care
 	  	 43
 
	 
	 4.10
 	  	 Advances to Protect Collateral
 	  	 43
 
	 
	 4.11
 	  	 License to Use
 	  	 44
 
	 
	 4.12
 	  	 Benefit of Lenders
 	  	 44
 
	 
	 4.13
 	  	 Release of Collateral
 	  	 44
 
	 
	 ARTICLE 5:
 	  	 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
 	  	 44
 
	 
	 5.1  
 	  	 Organization and Qualification
 	  	 44
 
	 
	 5.2  
 	  	 Authority and Authorization
 	  	 44
 
	 
	 5.3  
 	  	 Execution and Binding Effect
 	  	 44
 
	 
	 5.4  
 	  	 Governmental Authorizations
 	  	 45
 
	 
	 5.5  
 	  	 Regulatory Authorizations
 	  	 45
 
	 
	 5.6  
 	  	 Agreements and Other Documents
 	  	 45
 
	 
	 5.7  
 	  	 Absence of Conflicts
 	  	 45
 
	 
	 5.8  
 	  	 No Restrictions
 	  	 45
 
	 
	 5.9  
 	  	 Government Contracts
 	  	 46
 
	 
	 5.10
 	  	 Financial Statements; Business Plan
 	  	 46
 
	 
	 5.11
 	  	 Financial Accounting Practices
 	  	 46
 

 

 

  
 TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
	  	 	  	  	 Page
 
	 
	  
 5.12
 	 	 Deposit and Disbursement Accounts
 	  	 46
 
	 
	 5.13
 	 	 Insurance
 	  	 46
 
	 
	 5.14
 	 	 Accurate and Complete Disclosure
 	  	 47
 
	 
	 5.15
 	 	 No Event of Default; Compliance with Material Agreements
 	  	 47
 
	 
	 5.16
 	 	 Labor Matters
 	  	 47
 
	 
	 5.17
 	 	 Litigation
 	  	 47
 
	 
	 5.18
 	 	 Rights to Property
 	  	 47
 
	 
	 5.19
 	 	 Intentionally Omitted
 	  	 48
 
	 
	 5.20
 	 	 Taxes
 	  	 48
 
	 
	 5.21
 	 	 No Material Adverse Change
 	  	 48
 
	 
	 5.22
 	 	 No Regulatory Event
 	  	 48
 
	 
	 5.23
 	 	 Solvency
 	  	 48
 
	 
	 5.24
 	 	 Trade Relations
 	  	 48
 
	 
	 5.25
 	 	 No Brokerage Fees
 	  	 48
 
	 
	 5.26
 	 	 Margin Stock; Regulation U
 	  	 48
 
	 
	 5.27
 	 	 Investment Company; Public Utility Holding Company
 	  	 48
 
	 
	 5.28
 	 	 Personal Holding Company; Subchapter S
 	  	 49
 
	 
	 5.29
 	 	 Securities Act, Etc
 	  	 49
 
	 
	 5.30
 	 	 ERISA
 	  	 49
 
	 
	 5.31
 	 	 Intellectual Property
 	  	 49
 
	 
	 5.32
 	 	 Environmental Warranties
 	  	 49
 
	 
	 5.33
 	 	 Security Interests
 	  	 49
 
	 
	 5.34
 	 	 Place of Business
 	  	 49
 
	 
	 5.35
 	 	 Location of Collateral
 	  	 50
 
	 
	 5.36
 	 	 Validity of Contracts and Accounts
 	  	 50
 
	 
	 5.37
 	 	 No Defaults Under Contracts or Accounts
 	  	 50
 
	 
	 5.38
 	 	 Subsidiaries
 	  	 50
 
	 
	 5.39
 	 	 Assumed Names
 	  	 50
 
	 
	 5.40
 	 	 Pledge Agreements; Registration of Pledge
 	  	 50
 
	 
	 5.41
 	 	 Transactions with Affiliates
 	  	 50
 
	 
	 5.42
 	 	 Going Concern
 	  	 51
 
	 
	 ARTICLE 6:
 	 	 CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS
 	  	 51
 
	 
	 6.1  
 	 	 Closing Certificates
 	  	 51
 

 

 

  
 TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
	  	 	  	  	 Page
 
	 
	  
 6.2  
 	 	 Opinions of Counsel
 	  	 51
 
	 
	 6.3  
 	 	 Closing Documents
 	  	 52
 
	 
	 6.4  
 	 	 No Material Adverse Change
 	  	 52
 
	 
	 6.5  
 	 	 No Existing Default or Event of Default
 	  	 53
 
	 
	 6.6  
 	 	 Payment of Expenses
 	  	 53
 
	 
	 6.7  
 	 	 Facility B Loan Payment
 	  	 53
 
	 
	 6.8  
 	 	 Subordinated Debt Investment
 	  	 53
 
	 
	 ARTICLE 7:
 	 	 CONDITIONS OF LENDING
 	  	 53
 
	 
	 7.1  
 	 	 Conditions to Each Borrowing Date
 	  	 53
 
	 
	 7.2  
 	 	 Affirmation of Representations and Warranties
 	  	 54
 
	 
	 7.3  
 	 	 Deadline for Funding Conditions
 	  	 54
 
	 
	 ARTICLE 8:
 	 	 AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
 	  	 54
 
	 
	 8.1  
 	 	 Reporting and Information Requirements
 	  	 54
 
	 
	 8.2  
 	 	 Other Notices
 	  	 56
 
	 
	 8.3  
 	 	 Notice of Pension-Related Events
 	  	 57
 
	 
	 8.4  
 	 	 Inspection Rights
 	  	 57
 
	 
	 8.5  
 	 	 Preservation of Corporate Existence and Qualification
 	  	 57
 
	 
	 8.6  
 	 	 Continuation of Business
 	  	 57
 
	 
	 8.7  
 	 	 Insurance
 	  	 58
 
	 
	 8.8  
 	 	 Payment of Taxes, Charges, Claims and Current Liabilities
 	  	 59
 
	 
	 8.9  
 	 	 Financial Accounting Practices
 	  	 60
 
	 
	 8.10
 	 	 Compliance with Laws
 	  	 60
 
	 
	 8.11
 	 	 Use of Proceeds
 	  	 60
 
	 
	 8.12
 	 	 Government Authorizations; Regulatory Authorizations, Etc
 	  	 60
 
	 
	 8.13
 	 	 Contracts and Franchises
 	  	 60
 
	 
	 8.14
 	 	 Site Leases and Consents
 	  	 61
 
	 
	 8.15
 	 	 Financial Covenants
 	  	 61
 
	 
	 8.16
 	 	 Patent, Trademark and Copyright Collateral
 	  	 61
 
	 
	 8.17
 	 	 Sites
 	  	 62
 
	 
	 8.18
 	 	 Certain Notices
 	  	 62
 
	 
	 8.19
 	 	 Management Team
 	  	 62
 
	 
	 8.20
 	 	 Enforcement of Contracts
 	  	 62
 
	 
	 8.21
 	 	 Legal Fee Reserve
 	  	 62
 

 

 

  
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	  	 	  	  	 Page
 
	 
	  
 8.22
 	 	 Subordinated Loans
 	  	 62
 
	 
	 8.23
 	 	 Liens on After-Acquired Property
 	  	 62
 
	 
	 8.24
 	 	 Intentionally Omitted
 	  	 63
 
	 
	 8.25
 	 	 Intentionally Omitted
 	  	 63
 
	 
	 8.26
 	 	 Further Assurances
 	  	 63
 
	 
	 8.27
 	 	 Financial Advisor
 	  	 63
 
	 
	     ARTICLE 9:
 	 	 NEGATIVE COVENANTS
 	  	 63
 
	 
	 9.1  
 	 	 Indebtedness
 	  	 63
 
	 
	 9.2  
 	 	 Restrictions on Liens and Sale of Collateral
 	  	 64
 
	 
	 9.3  
 	 	 Limitation on Contingent Obligations
 	  	 65
 
	 
	 9.4  
 	 	 Prohibition of Mergers, Acquisitions, Name, Office or Business Changes, Etc
 	  	 65
 
	 
	 9.5  
 	 	 Limitation on Equity Payments
 	  	 66
 
	 
	 9.6  
 	 	 Prohibition on Sale or Issuance of Stock
 	  	 66
 
	 
	 9.7  
 	 	 Limitation on Investments, Advances and Loans
 	  	 66
 
	 
	 9.8  
 	 	 Capital Expenditures
 	  	 66
 
	 
	 9.9  
 	 	 Limitation on Leases
 	  	 66
 
	 
	 9.10
 	 	 Transactions with Affiliates
 	  	 67
 
	 
	 9.11
 	 	 Extension of Accounts
 	  	 67
 
	 
	 9.12
 	 	 Assumed Names
 	  	 67
 
	 
	 9.13
 	 	 Subsidiaries
 	  	 67
 
	 
	 9.14
 	 	 Advisor
 	  	 67
 
	 
	 9.15
 	 	 Cash Management
 	  	 67
 
	 
	     ARTICLE 10:
 	 	 EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
 	  	 67
 
	 
	 10.1
 	 	 Events of Default
 	  	 67
 
	 
	 10.2
 	 	 Remedies
 	  	 70
 
	 
	 10.3
 	 	 Waivers by Loan Parties
 	  	 71
 
	 
	 10.4
 	 	 Exercise of Rights
 	  	 71
 
	 
	 10.5
 	 	 Rights of Secured Party
 	  	 71
 
	 
	 10.6
 	 	 Additional Remedies
 	  	 72
 
	 
	 10.7
 	 	 Application of Proceeds
 	  	 73
 
	 
	 10.8
 	 	 Discontinuance of Proceedings
 	  	 73
 
	 
	 10.9
 	 	 Power of Attorney
 	  	 73
 

 

 

  
 
	 TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
	  	 	  	  	 Page
 
	 
	  
 10.10
 	 	 Regulatory Matters
 	  	 74
 
	 
	 ARTICLE 11:
 	 	 JOINT AND SEVERAL OBLIGATIONS; GUARANTY
 	  	 75
 
	 
	 11.1  
 	 	 Guaranty
 	  	 75
 
	 
	 11.2  
 	 	 Waivers by Loan Parties
 	  	 76
 
	 
	 11.3  
 	 	 Benefit of Guaranty
 	  	 76
 
	 
	 11.4  
 	 	 Subordination of Subrogation, Etc
 	  	 76
 
	 
	 11.5  
 	 	 Election of Remedies
 	  	 77
 
	 
	 11.6  
 	 	 Limitation
 	  	 77
 
	 
	 11.7  
 	 	 Contribution with Respect to Guaranty Obligations
 	  	 78
 
	 
	 11.8  
 	 	 Liability Cumulative
 	  	 78
 
	 
	 ARTICLE 12:
 	 	 GENERAL CONDITIONS/MISCELLANEOUS
 	  	 78
 
	 
	 12.1  
 	 	 Amendments, Modifications and Waivers
 	  	 78
 
	 
	 12.2  
 	 	 Advances Not Implied Waivers
 	  	 79
 
	 
	 12.3  
 	 	 Business Day
 	  	 79
 
	 
	 12.4  
 	 	 Records
 	  	 79
 
	 
	 12.5  
 	 	 Notices
 	  	 80
 
	 
	 12.6  
 	 	 FCC and PUC Approval
 	  	 80
 
	 
	 12.7  
 	 	 Lenders Sole Beneficiary
 	  	 80
 
	 
	 12.8  
 	 	 Lender’s Review of Information
 	  	 81
 
	 
	 12.9  
 	 	 No Joint Venture
 	  	 81
 
	 
	 12.10
 	 	 Severability
 	  	 81
 
	 
	 12.11
 	 	 Rights Cumulative
 	  	 81
 
	 
	 12.12
 	 	 Duration; Survival
 	  	 81
 
	 
	 12.13
 	 	 Governing Law
 	  	 81
 
	 
	 12.14
 	 	 Counterparts
 	  	 81
 
	 
	 12.15
 	 	 Successors and Assigns
 	  	 81
 
	 
	 12.16
 	 	 Disclosures and Confidentiality
 	  	 82
 
	 
	 12.17
 	 	 Jurisdiction and Venue
 	  	 83
 
	 
	 12.18
 	 	 Jury Waiver
 	  	 84
 
	 
	 12.19
 	 	 Limitation on Liability
 	  	 84
 
	 
	 12.20
 	 	 General Wavier and Release
 	  	 84
 
	 
	 12.21
 	 	 Schedules, Exhibits and Annexes
 	  	 85
 
	 
	 12.22
 	 	 Agreement to Govern
 	  	 85
 

 

 

  
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	  	 	  	  	 Page
 
	  
 12.23
 	 	 Entire Agreement
 	  	 85
 

 

 

  
  
 
	 ANNEXES TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
 
	 
	 Annex I
 	  	 Letters of Credit
 
	 
	 Annex II
 	  	 Initial Commitments; Addresses of Lenders
 
	 
	 Annex III
 	  	 Closing Checklist
 
	 
	 Annex IV
 	  	 Matrix of Actual to Projected Operating Statistics
 
	  
 SCHEDULES TO LOAN AND SECURITY
AGREEMENT
 
	 
	 Schedule 1
 	  	 Borrower Information and Certain Defined Terms
 
	 
	 Schedule 2.7
 	  	 Facility B Loan Amortization Schedule
 
	 
	 Schedule 2.10(b)
 	  	 Alternate Working Capital
 
	 
	 Schedule 2.20
 	  	 Commitment Fees
 
	 
	 Schedule 3.9
 	  	 Wire Instructions
 
	 
	 Schedule 5.4
 	  	 Required Consent
 
	 
	 Schedule 5.5
 	  	 Regulatory Authorizations
 
	 
	 Schedule 5.6
 	  	 Agreements and Other Documents
 
	 
	 Schedule 5.8
 	  	 Restrictions on Indebtedness
 
	 
	 Schedule 5.9
 	  	 Government Contracts
 
	 
	 Schedule 5.10
 	  	 Financial Statements
 
	 
	 Schedule 5.12
 	  	 Deposit and Disbursement Accounts
 
	 
	 Schedule 5.13
 	  	 Insurance Policies
 
	 
	 Schedule 5.16
 	  	 Labor Matters
 
	 
	 Schedule 5.17
 	  	 Litigation
 
	 
	 Schedule 5.18
 	  	 Site and Site Leases; Real Property; Equipment Location
 
	 
	 Schedule 5.31
 	  	 Intellectual Property
 
	 
	 Schedule 5.33
 	  	 Security Interests—Recordings and Filings
 
	 
	 Schedule 5.34
 	  	 Place of Business
 
	 
	 Schedule 5.35
 	  	 Location of Collateral
 
	 
	 Schedule 5.39
 	  	 Assumed Names
 
	 
	 Schedule 5.41
 	  	 Transactions with Affiliates
 
	 
	 Schedule 8.7
 	  	 Insurance; Certificates of Insurance
 
	 
	 Schedule 8.15
 	  	 Financial Covenants
 
	 
	 Schedule 9.1
 	  	 Permitted Debt
 
	 
	 Schedule 9.2
 	  	 Liens
 
	 
	 Schedule 9.14
 	  	 Advisor Services
 
	 
	 Schedule 10.2
 	  	 Chief Strategy Officer Services
 
	 
	 EXHIBITS TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
 
	  
	 
	 Exhibit A-1
 	  	 Form of Amended and Restated Facility A Note
 
	 
	 Exhibit A-2
 	  	 Form of Amended and Restated Facility B Note
 
	 
	 Exhibit B
 	  	 Form of Borrowing Certificate
 
	 
	 Exhibit C
 	  	 Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation
 
	 
	 Exhibit D
 	  	 Form of Opinion of Counsel to Loan Parties
 
	 
	 Exhibit E
 	  	 Form of Opinion of Regulatory Counsel to Loan Parties
 
	 
	 Exhibit F
 	  	 Form of Landlord Waiver and Consent
 
	 
	 Exhibit G
 	  	 Form of Assignment Agreement
 
	 
	 Exhibit H
 	  	 Form of Administrative Questionnaire
 
	 
	 Exhibit I
 	  	 Form of Additional Borrower Assumption
 
	 
	 Exhibit J
 	  	 Form of Amended and Restated Pledge Agreement
 

 

 

  
 
	 
	 Exhibit K
 	  	 Form of Perfection Certificate
 
	 
	 Exhibit L
 	  	 Form of Compliance Certificate
 

 

 

 THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT 
  
 THIS THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT is dated as of December 31, 2002, by and among the entity or entities which are described on Schedule 1
or may become a party hereto pursuant to an Additional Borrower Assumption as herein provided (individually a “Borrower” and collectively, “Borrowers”); US LEC CORP., a Delaware corporation
(“Holdings”), as Guarantor and Borrower Representative; GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION (in its individual capacity, “GE Capital”), as a Lender and as administrative agent for Lenders (in that latter capacity,
“Administrative Agent”); WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (“Wachovia Bank”), as a Lender and as documentation agent for Lenders (in that latter capacity, “Documentation Agent”); WACHOVIA
SECURITIES, INC., (“Wachovia Securities”), as syndication agent (in that capacity, “Syndication Agent”); and the other Lenders party hereto from time to time. 
  

B A C K G R O U N D: 
  
 1.    Borrowers, Holdings, GE Capital, Wachovia Bank, Wachovia Securities and the Lenders are parties to the Second Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of December 20, 1999 (the
“Existing Loan Agreement”). 
  
 2.    Borrowers and Holdings have requested that
Lenders amend and restate the Existing Loan Agreement in its entirety. 
  
 3.    It is the
intention of the parties hereto that (a) this Agreement not constitute a novation of the obligations and liabilities existing under the Existing Loan Agreement or evidence payment of all or any of such obligations and liabilities (b) this Agreement
amend and restate in its entirety the Existing Loan Agreement and (c) from and after the Effective Date, the Existing Loan Agreement be of no further force or effect except as to evidence the incurrence of the “Obligations” under and as
defined therein, the representations and warranties made and the actions or omissions performed or required to be performed thereunder, in each case prior to the Effective Date. 
  
 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants herein contained and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

  
 ARTICLE 1: DEFINITIONS 
  
 1.1    Certain Definitions.     Certain terms are defined on Schedule 1. In addition to other words and terms defined
in the preamble hereof or elsewhere in this Agreement, or on the Schedules, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings unless the context otherwise clearly requires: 
  
 “Accounts”: as defined in Section 4.1(a). 
  
 “Additional Borrower”: as defined in Section 6.3(c). 
  
 “Additional Borrower Assumption”: as defined in Section 9.13. 
  
 “Additional Interest”: as defined in Section 2.11(b). 

 
 1 

  
 “Advisor”: a Person retained by Holdings in accordance with
Section 9.14, and any successor thereof, with the duties and obligations as set forth on Schedule 9.14. 
  
 “Affected Lender”: as defined in Section 2.18(d). 
  
 “Affiliate”: with respect to any Person, (a) each Person that, directly or indirectly, owns or controls, whether beneficially, or as a trustee, guardian or other fiduciary, five percent (5%) or more of the Stock
having ordinary voting power in the election of directors of such Person, (b) each Person that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person, (c) each of such Person’s officers, directors, joint venturers and partners
and (d) in the case of individuals, the immediate family members, spouses and lineal descendants of individuals who are Affiliates of any Borrower. For the purposes of this definition, “control” of a Person shall mean the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of its management or policies, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; provided, however, that the term
“Affiliate” shall specifically exclude, in the case of any Loan Party, Administrative Agent and each Lender. 
  
 “Agent”: Administrative Agent, Syndication Agent or Documentation Agent. 
  
 “Agreement”: the Existing Loan Agreement, as amended and restated by this Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement. 
  
 “Alternate Working Capital”: the lesser of the Loan Parties’ Excess Unrestricted Cash and Excess Working Capital. 
  
 “Amendment Fee”: as defined in Section 6.3(g). 
  
 “Applicable Base Margin”: the 3.00% per annum interest rate margin payable in addition to the Base Rate applicable to the Base Rate Loans. 

 
 “Applicable L/C Margin”: the per annum fee, from time to time in effect, payable with respect to outstanding
Letter of Credit Obligations, which shall be equal to the Applicable LIBOR Margin. 
  
 “Applicable LIBOR
Margin”: the 4.00% per annum interest rate margin payable in addition to the LIBOR Rate applicable to LIBOR Loans. 
  
 “Asset Disposition”: means any sale or other disposition, or series of sales or other dispositions (including by merger or consolidation, and whether by operation of law or otherwise), made on or after the date
hereof by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries to any Person of (a) all or substantially all of the outstanding Stock of any of its Subsidiaries, (b) all or substantially all of its assets or the assets of any division of any Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries or (c) any other asset or assets which, when taken together with all sales or other dispositions of assets not covered by the foregoing clauses (a) and (b), yield proceeds or involve assets having a fair market value in excess of
$100,000 in any twelve-month period, other than as a result of (x) the casualty or condemnation of such assets the proceeds of which do not exceed $500,000 in the aggregate and (y) an upgrade of any existing asset so long as the replacement asset is
acquired within five (5) Business Days of such disposition; provided that in the case of clause (x) above, such proceeds shall be reinvested in productive assets useable in the Borrowers’ business on or before 180 days after receipt
thereof. 

 
 2 

  
 “Assignment Agreement”: as defined in Section 3.1(a).

  
 “Base Rate”: for any day, a floating rate equal to the higher of (a) the rate publicly quoted
from time to time by The Wall Street Journal as the “base rate on corporate loans at large U.S. money center commercial banks” (or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases quoting a base rate of the type described, the
highest per annum rate of interest published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in Federal Reserve statistical release H.15 (519) entitled “Selected Interest Rates” as the Bank prime loan rate or its equivalent)
and (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus fifty (50) basis points per annum. Each change in any interest rate provided for in this Agreement based upon the Base Rate shall take effect at the time of such change in the Base Rate. 
  
 “Base Rate Loan”: a Loan or portion thereof bearing interest by reference to the Base Rate. 
  
 “Borrower Representative”: Holdings, in its capacity as representative and agent of Borrowers. 
  
 “Borrowers”: as defined in Schedule 1 and any other subsidiary of Holdings that becomes a Borrower as herein
provided. 
  
 “Borrowing Certificate”: a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

  
 “Borrowing Date”: any Business Day on which a Facility A Advance is made or a Letter of Credit
Obligation is incurred. 
  
 “Business Day”: a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on
which commercial banks in New York, New York or Charlotte, North Carolina are authorized or required by law to close. 
  
 “Business Plan”: Loan Parties’ business plan, including pro forma projections, dated December 12, 2002, a copy of which is attached as Schedule 5.10, updated as provided in Section 8.1(i).

  
 “Capital Expenditures”: for any period, (a) the additions to property, plant and equipment and
other capital expenditures (including all systems and development expenditures related to the Networks) of Loan Parties that are (or would be) set forth in a consolidated statement of cash flows of Loan Parties for such period prepared in accordance
with GAAP; provided, however, that no consideration paid for or expenditure related to the acquisition of any license and no capitalized interest shall be treated as a Capital Expenditure nor shall expenditures of proceeds of insurance
settlements, condemnation awards and other like settlements in respect of lost, destroyed, damaged or condemned property, plant or equipment, to the extent that such expenditures are made to repair or replace such property or to acquire other
property, plant and equipment useful in the business within twelve (12) months of receipt of such proceeds, be deemed Capital Expenditures and (b) Capital Lease Obligations incurred by Loan Parties during such period. 
  
 “Capital Lease”: with respect to any Person, any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by such Person
as lessee that, in accordance with GAAP, would be required to be classified and accounted for as a capital lease on a balance sheet of such Person. 

 
 3 

  
 “Capital Lease Obligation”: with respect to any Capital Lease of
any Person, the amount of the obligation of the lessee thereunder that, in accordance with GAAP, would appear on a balance sheet of such lessee in respect of such Capital Lease. 
  
 “Cash”: at any time, the cash, cash equivalents or marketable investment grade securities held by any Loan Party free of any claims or encumbrances other
than those created by the Loan Documents. 
  
 “Cash Interest Coverage Ratio”: EBITDAR for any period
of twelve (12) consecutive Fiscal Months divided by Net Interest Expense (excluding any portion thereof not paid in cash) for such period. 
  
 “Change of Control”: the earlier to occur of (a) an occurrence whereupon, fewer than one-half of the directors comprising the board of directors of Holdings shall include members of a
group consisting of (i) the directors of Holdings as of the Effective Date, and (ii) replacement or additional directors nominated or supported by one-half or more of the members of the foregoing group and any such replacement or additional
directors; provided, however, that in the event the “Investor Agents” exercise their rights under Section 3.4 of the Corporate Governance Agreement dated April 11, 2000, between Holdings and affiliates of Bain Capital, Inc.
and Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P., such exercise shall not constitute a “Change of Control” and (b) a “Change of Control” under any documentation with respect to Permitted Subordinated Debt. 
  
 “Charges”: all federal, state, county, city, municipal, local, foreign or other governmental taxes (including taxes owed
to the PBGC at the time due and payable), levies, assessments, charges, liens, claims or encumbrances upon or relating to (a) the Collateral, (b) the Obligations, (c) the employees, payroll, income or gross receipts of any Loan Party, (d) any Loan
Party’s ownership or use of any properties or other assets or (e) any other aspect of any Loan Party’s business. 
  
 “Closing Checklist”: the schedule, including all appendices, exhibits or schedules thereto, listing certain documents and information to be delivered in connection with this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and
the transactions contemplated thereunder, substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex III. 
  
 “Co-Arrangers”: GECMG and Wachovia Securities. 
  
 “Code”: the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. 
  
 “Collateral”: as defined in
Section 4.1. 
  
 “Commercial Tort Claim”: shall have the meaning given to it in the UCC.

  
 “Commitment Fees”: as defined in Section 2.20(a). 
  
 “Communications Law”: any and all of (a) the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the Communications Act of 1934, any similar
or successor federal statute to either and the rules and regulations of the FCC thereunder and (b) any state law governing the provision of telecommunications services and the rules and regulations of the PUC, all as the same may be in effect from
time to time. 

 
 4 

  
 “Communications Pledge Agreement”: the Pledge Agreement, dated
as of even date herewith, executed by US LEC Communications Inc., pursuant to which all of the Stock of US LEC Acquisition Co. described on Schedule 1 on the date hereof is pledged to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties.

  
 “Compliance Certificate”: a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit L, which
shall also include an update of the Perfection Certificate, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent. 
  
 “Contingent Obligation”: as to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing, directly or indirectly, any Indebtedness, leases, dividends or other obligations (“primary obligations”) of any
other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property
constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (b) to advance or supply funds (i) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation or (ii) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain
the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (c) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary
obligation or (d) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof. 
  
 “Contracts”: as defined in Section 4.1(b). 
  
 “CSO”: as
defined in Section 10.2(c). 
  
 “Current Assets”: with respect to any Person, all current
assets of such Person as of any date of determination calculated in accordance with GAAP, but excluding Indebtedness due from Affiliates. 
  
 “Current Liabilities”: with respect to any Person, all liabilities which should, in accordance with GAAP, be classified as current liabilities, and in any event shall include all Indebtedness payable on
demand or within one year from any date of determination without any option on the part of the obligor to extend or renew beyond such year, all accruals for federal or other taxes based on or measured by income and payable within such year, and the
current portion of long-term debt required to be paid within one year, but excluding, in the case of Borrowers, the aggregate outstanding principal balances of the Loans. 
  
 “Default”: any of the conditions or occurrences specified in Section 10.1, whether or not any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of
time, or both, or any other condition has been satisfied. 
  
 “Default Rate”: as defined in
Section 2.11(e). 
  
 “Deferral Period”: the period of eight (8) consecutive Fiscal Quarters
beginning with the Fiscal Quarter ended December 31, 2002, through and including the Fiscal Quarter ended September 30, 2004, during which a portion of the Facility B Loan amortization payments due under the Existing Loan Agreement are deferred.

  
 “Deferred Amortization”: all amortization due during the Deferral Period under the Existing Loan
Agreement (exclusive of the Facility B Loan Payment) in an aggregate amount of not more than $30,000,000, which has been reallocated as set forth in Schedule 2.7. 

 
 5 

  
 “Deposit Account”:  shall have the meaning given to it
in the UCC. 
  
 “Disqualified Stock”:  any Stock of Holdings which, by its terms (or by
the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is exchangeable for
Indebtedness, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the first anniversary of the Facility B Loan Maturity Date. 
  
 “EBITDAR”:  for any period, the sum of (a) consolidated net income (excluding (i) extraordinary gains and losses and any losses resulting from
resolution of disputed reciprocal compensation, (ii) costs and expenses of the Advisor and the CSO and (iii) costs and expenses related to the execution of this Agreement and the Subordinated Debt Investment Documents (including amendment fees, fees
and expenses of counsel, charges taken in respect of loan fees previously paid and similar charges relating to this Agreement, the Subordinated Debt Investment Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby), plus (b) depreciation,
amortization, Net Interest Expense, and tax expense plus (c) non-cash charges and non-cash losses from (i) write-offs or write-downs resulting from the impairment or abandonment of assets or (ii) the amount of any compensation deduction as
the result of any grant of Stock to employees, officers, directors or consultants (other than charges representing accruals of future cash expenses and any non-cash gains from any reversal of a charge by reason of a decrease in the value of any
Stock or Stock Equivalent); provided that in the case of clause (i), such write-off or write-down shall be required by GAAP and/or a requirement of Holding’s independent auditors but not as the result of any sale or closure of any asset
or facility minus (d) non-cash gains. 
  
 “Effective Date”:  the date on which the
conditions set forth in Article 6 are satisfied or waived with consent of all Lenders. 
  
 “Electronic
Chattel Paper”:  shall have the meaning given to it in the UCC. 
  
 “Environmental
Laws”:  all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, statutes, ordinances, codes, rules, standards and regulations, now or hereafter in effect, and in each case as amended or supplemented from time to time, and any
applicable judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any applicable judicial or administrative order, consent decree, order or judgment, imposing liability or standards of conduct for or relating to the regulation and protection
of human health, safety, the environment and natural resources (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, wetlands, land surface or subsurface strata, wildlife, aquatic species and vegetation). Environmental Laws include the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 et seq.) (“CERCLA”); the Hazardous Materials Transportation Authorization Act of 1994 (49 U.S.C. §§ 5101 et seq.);
the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. §§ 136 et seq.); the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 6901 et seq.); the Toxic Substance Control Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 2601 et
seq.); the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 7401 et seq.); the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.); the Occupational Safety and Health Act (29 U.S.C. §§ 651 et seq.); and
the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 300(f) et seq.); each as from time to time amended, and any and all regulations promulgated thereunder, and all analogous state, local and foreign counterparts or equivalents and any
transfer of ownership notification or approval statutes. 
  
 “Environmental
Liabilities”:  with respect to any Person, all liabilities, obligations, responsibilities, response, remedial and removal costs, investigation and feasibility study costs, capital costs, operation and maintenance costs, losses,
damages, punitive damages, property 

 
 6 

  
 damages, natural resource damages, consequential damages, treble damages, costs and expenses (including
all fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel, experts and consultants), fines, penalties, sanctions and interest incurred as a result of or related to any claim, suit, action, investigation, proceeding or demand by any Person, whether based in
contract, tort, implied or express warranty, strict liability, criminal or civil statute or common law, including any arising under or related to any Environmental Laws, Environmental Permits, or in connection with any Release or threatened Release
or presence of a Hazardous Material whether on, at, in, under, from or about or in the vicinity of any real or personal property. 
  
 “Environmental Permits”:  all permits, licenses, authorizations, certificates, approvals or registrations required by any Governmental Authority under any Environmental Laws. 
  
 “Equipment”:  as defined in Section 4.1(c). 
  
 “Equity Payment”:  any distribution of earnings or capital, or any redemption or other payment in respect of stock, membership interests,
partnership interests or other equity interests, including options and warrants, either directly or indirectly, whether in cash or property or in obligations of any Loan Party. 
  
 “ERISA”:  the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute. 
  
 “Event of Default”:  any of the events specified in Section 10.1; provided, however, that
any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, or any other condition, under Section 10.1 or otherwise, has been satisfied. 
  
 “Excess Cash”:  at any date, the aggregate amount of unrestricted Cash in excess of $5 million held by Loan Parties on such date. 
  
 “Excess Cash Flow”:  without duplication, with respect to any Fiscal Year of Loan Parties, consolidated net
income plus (a) depreciation, amortization and Net Interest Expense to the extent deducted in determining consolidated net income, plus decreases or minus increases (as the case may be) (b) in Working Capital (exclusive of Cash), minus (c) Net
Interest Expense paid or accrued (excluding any original issue discount, interest paid in kind or amortized debt discount, to the extent included in determining Net Interest Expense) and scheduled principal payments paid or payable in respect of
Indebtedness permitted hereunder to be incurred, minus or plus (as the case may be), (d) extraordinary gains or losses which are cash items not included in the calculation of net income, minus (e) Capital Expenditures for such Fiscal Year permitted
hereunder, plus (f) taxes deducted in determining consolidated net income to the extent not paid for in Cash. 
  
 “Excess Unrestricted Cash”:  for each Fiscal Month, the amount of actual unrestricted Cash in excess of the sum of (a) the amount of projected unrestricted cash as set forth on Schedule 2.10(b)
opposite such Fiscal Month, (b) $7,500,000, (c) the proceeds from Asset Dispositions that the Loan Parties are permitted to retain under Section 2.10(b)(i) and (d) the proceeds from the sale or issuance of Stock or Indebtedness that the Loan
Parties are permitted to retain under Section 2.10(b)(ii). 
  
 “Excess Working
Capital”:  for each Fiscal Month, the amount of actual Working Capital in excess of the sum of (a) the amount of projected Working Capital as set forth on Schedule 2.10(b) opposite such Fiscal Month, (b) $15,000,000, (c)
the proceeds from Asset Dispositions 

 
 7 

  
 that the Loan Parties are permitted to retain under Section 2.10(b)(i), and (d) the proceeds from
the sale or issuance of Stock or Indebtedness that the Loan Parties are permitted to retain under Section 2.10(b)(ii). 
  
 “Existing Loan”:  as defined in Section 2.2(b). 
  
 “Existing Loan Agreement”:  as defined in the recitals to this Agreement. 
  
 “Facility A Advance”:  any advance made pursuant to Section 2.1(a) together with each “Facility A Advance” under and as defined in the Existing Loan Agreement. 
  
 “Facility A Commitment”:  (a) as to any Lender, the aggregate commitment of such Lender to make its Pro Rata
Share of Facility A Advances and/or incur Letter of Credit Obligations hereunder or in the most recent Assignment Agreement executed by such Lender and (b) as to all Lenders, the aggregate commitment of all Lenders to make Facility A Advances and/or
incur Letter of Credit Obligations, which aggregate commitment shall be Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000) on the date hereof, as such amount may be adjusted, if at all, from time to time in accordance with this Agreement. 

 
 “Facility A Commitment Termination Date”:  the earliest of (a) December 20, 2006, (b) the date of
termination of Lenders’ obligations to make Facility A Advances and/or incur Letter of Credit Obligations or permit existing Loans to remain outstanding pursuant to Section 10.2(b) and (c) the date of indefeasible prepayment in full by
Borrowers of the Facility A Loans and the cancellation and return (or stand-by guarantee) of all Letters of Credit or the cash collateralization of all Letter of Credit Obligations pursuant to Annex I and the permanent reduction of the
Facility A Commitment to zero dollars ($0). 
  
 “Facility A Loan”:  at any time, the sum
of (a) the aggregate amount of Facility A Advances outstanding to Borrowers plus (b) the aggregate outstanding balance of all Letter of Credit Obligations incurred on behalf of Borrowers. Unless the context otherwise requires, references to the
outstanding principal balance of the Facility A Loan shall include the outstanding balance of Letter of Credit Obligations. 
  
 “Facility A Note”:  as defined in Section 2.3(a). 
  
 “Facility B Loan”:  the aggregate amount of “Facility B Advances” under and as defined in the Existing Loan Agreement outstanding to Borrowers on the Effective Date. 
  
 “Facility B Loan Maturity Date”:  the earlier of (a) December 20, 2006 and (b) the date of termination of
Lenders’ obligations to permit the Facility B Loan to remain outstanding pursuant to Section 10.2(b). 
  
 “Facility B Loan Payment”:  as defined in Section 6.7. 
  
 “Facility B Note”:  as defined in Section 2.3(b). 
  
 “FCC”:  the Federal Communications Commission of the United States of America, and any successor, in whole or in part, to its jurisdiction. 

 
 8 

  
 “Federal Funds Rate”:  shall mean, for any day, a
floating rate equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions among members of the Federal Reserve System, as determined by Administrative Agent. 
  
 “Fees”:  any and all fees payable to Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents.

  
 “Financial Statements”:  the consolidated income statements, statements of cash flows
and balance sheets of Loan Parties delivered in accordance with this Agreement. 
  
 “Fiscal
Month”:  any of the monthly accounting periods of Loan Parties ending on the last day of each calendar month of each year. 
  
 “Fiscal Quarter”:  any of the quarterly accounting periods of Loan Parties ending on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year. 
  
 “Fiscal Year”:  any of the annual accounting periods of Loan Parties ending on December 31 of each year.

  
 “Fixed Charges”:  the sum, for any period, of (a) Total Debt Service, plus (b) Capital
Expenditures, plus (c) cash taxes. 
  
 “Fixed Charges Coverage Ratio”:  as of any date,
(a) the sum of (i) EBITDAR for any period of twelve (12) consecutive Fiscal Months plus (ii) the product of (but not less than zero) (x) up to $15 million of Excess Cash as of the last day of the most recent Fiscal Month in such period
minus (y) Cash required to be paid pursuant to Section 2.10(b) on such date or thereafter and which is attributable to such period, divided by (b) Fixed Charges for such period. 
  
 “GAAP”:  subject to Section 1.2, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of
America (as such principles may change from time to time) applied on a consistent basis (except for changes in application in which Loan Parties’ independent certified public accountants concur), applied both to classification of items and
amounts. 
  
 “General Intangibles”:  as defined in Section 4.1(d). 

 
 “Governmental Actions”:  actions by any Governmental Authority. 
  
 “Governmental Authority”:  the federal government, any state or political subdivision thereof, any city or
municipal entity, and any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government. 
  
 “Gross PP&E”:  total property, plant and equipment, excluding accumulated depreciation and amortization. 
  
 “Gross Profit Percentage”:  for any period, the percentage resulting from consolidated gross profit of Loan Parties divided by
consolidated total revenues of Loan Parties. 
  
 “Guaranties”:  collectively, the
Holdings Guaranty and any other guaranty executed by any Guarantor in favor of Secured Parties in respect of the Obligations. 

 
 9 

  
 “Guarantors”:  Holdings and any existing or future
Subsidiary of Holdings which is not a Borrower and which executes a guaranty or other similar agreement in favor of Secured Parties in respect of the Obligations. 
  
 “Hazardous Material”:  any substance, material or waste which is regulated by, or forms the basis of liability now or hereafter under, any
Environmental Laws, including any material or substance which is (a) defined as a “solid waste,” “hazardous waste,” “hazardous material,” “hazardous substance,” “extremely
hazardous waste,” “restricted hazardous waste,” “pollutant,” “contaminant,” “hazardous constituent,” “special waste,” “toxic substance” or
other similar term or phrase under any Environmental Laws or (b) petroleum or any fraction or by-product thereof, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (“PCBs”) or any radioactive substance. 
  
 “Holdings”:  as defined in the recitals to this Agreement. 
  
 “Holdings Guaranty”:  the Guaranty of Holdings, pursuant to Article 11. 
  
 “Holdings Pledge Agreement”:  the Amended and Restated Pledge Agreement, dated of even date herewith, as
amended, executed by Holdings pursuant to which all of the Stock of all Borrowers described on Schedule I on the date hereof is pledged to Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties. 
  
 “Holdings Series A Preferred Stock”:  Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of
Holdings. 
  
 “Indebtedness”:  as to any Person, at a particular time, without duplication
(a) indebtedness for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of property or services in respect of which such Person is liable, contingently or otherwise, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, or in respect of which such Person otherwise
assures a creditor against loss, (b) obligations under leases which shall have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as Capital Leases in respect of which obligations such Person is liable, contingently or otherwise, as obligor,
guarantor or otherwise, or in respect of which obligations such Person assures a creditor against loss, (c) obligations of such Person to purchase or repurchase accounts receivable, chattel paper or other payment rights sold or assigned by such
Person, (d) indebtedness or obligations of such Person under or with respect to letters of credit, notes, bonds or other debt instruments (other than letters of credit that are cash collateralized) and (e) all obligations of such Person under any
interest rate swap, cap or collar agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to alter the risks of that Person arising from fluctuations in interest rates, in each case whether contingent or matured. 
  
 “Interest Expense”:  for any period, the aggregate amount of interest, hedging costs and fees (excluding
closing fees) paid or payable during such period by Loan Parties in respect of Total Debt. 
  
 “Interest
Income”:  for any period, the aggregate amount of interest received during such period by Loan Parties in respect of Cash. 
  
 “Interest Payment Date”:  (a) as to any Base Rate Loan, the last Business Day of each Fiscal Quarter to occur while such Loan is outstanding and (b) as to any LIBOR Loan, the
last day of the applicable LIBOR Period; provided, however, that in the case of any LIBOR Period greater than three (3) months in duration, interest shall be payable at three month intervals and on the last day of such LIBOR Period;
and provided, further, that, in addition to the foregoing, each 

 
 10 

 of (x) the date upon which the Facility A Commitment has been terminated and all of the Loans have been paid in full and (y) the Facility A
Commitment Termination Date shall be deemed to be an “Interest Payment Date” with respect to any interest which is then accrued under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, until the repayment in full of the Deferred
Amortization, the Interest Payment Date, with respect to any Base Rate Loan or LIBOR Loan shall be the last Business Day of each Fiscal Month to occur while such Loan is outstanding and, as applicable, the last day of any applicable LIBOR Period.

  
 “Inventory”: as defined in Section 4.1(e). 
  
 “Investment Property”: shall have the meaning given to it in the UCC. 
  
 “Investors”: shall mean the Persons party to the Subordinated Debt Investment Documents as investors. 

 
 “Landlord Consent”: a consent substantially in the form of Exhibit F or in other form acceptable to
Requisite Lenders executed by the owner/landlord, sublessor and/or licensor (including carriers) of any real property where any of the Collateral is or is to be located. 
  
 “Law”: any law (including common law), constitution, statute, regulation, rule, ordinance, order, injunction, writ, decree or award of any governmental
body or court of competent jurisdiction or of any arbitrator (including but not limited to ERISA, the Code, the UCC, any applicable tax law, product safety law, occupational safety or health law, Communications Law, Environmental Law and/or
securities laws). 
  
 “L/C Sublimit”: as defined in Annex I. 
  
 “Lenders”: the Lenders party hereto and, if any such Lender shall decide to assign all or any portion of the Obligations,
such term shall include such assignee and any subsequent assignee of any assignee. 
  
 “Letter of Credit
Obligations”: all outstanding obligations incurred by Administrative Agent or Lenders at the request of Borrower Representative, whether direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, due or not due, in connection with the issuance of a
reimbursement agreement or guaranty by Administrative Agent or purchase by Lenders of a participation as set forth in Annex I with respect to any Letter of Credit. The amount of such Letter of Credit Obligations shall equal the maximum amount
which may be payable by Administrative Agent or Lenders thereupon or pursuant thereto. 
  
 “Letter of Credit
Right”: shall have the meaning given to it in the UCC. 
  
 “Letters of Credit”: commercial
or standby letters of credit issued for the account of any Borrower by any L/C Issuer for which Administrative Agent and Lenders have incurred Letter of Credit Obligations. 
  
 “Liberty”: Liberty Bank and Trust Company. 
  
 “LIBOR Business Day”: a Business Day on which banks in the city of London are generally open for interbank or foreign exchange transactions. 

 
 11 

  
 “LIBOR Loan”:   Loan or any portion thereof bearing
interest by reference to the LIBOR Rate. 
  
 “LIBOR Period”:  with respect to any LIBOR
Loan, each period commencing on a LIBOR Business Day selected by Borrower Representative pursuant to this Agreement and ending one week or one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by Borrower Representative’s irrevocable notice to
Administrative Agent as set forth in Section 2.11(e); provided, however, that the foregoing provision relating to LIBOR Periods is subject to the following: 
  
 (a)  if any LIBOR Period would otherwise end on a day that is not a LIBOR Business Day, such LIBOR Period shall be extended to the next succeeding LIBOR Business
Day unless the result of such extension would be to carry such LIBOR Period into another calendar month in which event such LIBOR Period shall end on the immediately preceding LIBOR Business Day; 
  

(b)  any LIBOR Period pertaining to a LIBOR Loan that begins on the last LIBOR Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no
numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such LIBOR Period) shall end on the last LIBOR Business Day of a calendar month; 
  
 (c)  Borrower Representative shall select LIBOR Periods so as not to require a payment or prepayment of any LIBOR Loan during a LIBOR Period for such Loan; 
  
 (d)  Borrower Representative shall select LIBOR Periods so that there shall be no more than six (6) separate LIBOR Loans in
existence at any one time; and 
  
 (e)  Borrower Representative may not more frequently than once each
calendar month select, or continue a LIBOR Loan for, a LIBOR Period of one week and may not continue any LIBOR Loan having a LIBOR Period of one week for another LIBOR Period of one week. 
  
 “LIBOR Rate”:  for each LIBOR Period, a rate of interest determined by Administrative Agent equal to: 
  
 (a)  the offered rate for deposits in United States Dollars for the applicable LIBOR Period which appears on
Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on the second full LIBOR Business Day next preceding the first day of each LIBOR Period (unless such date is not a Business Day, in which event the next succeeding Business Day will be used);
divided by 
  
 (b)  a number equal to 1.0 minus the aggregate (but without
duplication) of the rates (expressed as a decimal fraction) of reserve requirements in effect on the day which is two (2) LIBOR Business Days prior to the beginning of such LIBOR Period (including basic, supplemental, marginal and emergency reserves
under any regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or other governmental authority having jurisdiction with respect thereto, as now and from time to time in effect) for Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as
“Eurocurrency liabilities” in Regulation D of such Board) which are required to be maintained by a member bank of the Federal Reserve System. 

 
 12 

  
 If such interest rates shall cease to be available from Telerate News Service,
the LIBOR Rate shall be determined from such financial reporting service or other information as shall be mutually acceptable to Administrative Agent and Borrower Representative. 
  
 “Lien”:  any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, lien (statutory or other), judgment lien, security interest, security agreement, charge or other
encumbrance, or other security arrangement of any nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, any installment contract, conditional sale or other title retention arrangement, any sale of accounts receivable or chattel paper, and any
assignment, deposit arrangement or lease intended as, or having the effect of, security and the filing of any financing statement under the UCC or comparable law of any jurisdiction. 
  
 “Loan Documents”:  this Agreement, the Notes, the Security Documents, the Guaranties, all other filings and all other agreements, instruments,
documents and certificates identified in the Closing Checklist executed and delivered to, or in favor of, Administrative Agent and/or Lenders and including all other pledges, powers of attorney, consents, assignments, contracts, notices, filings and
all other written matter whether heretofore, now or hereafter executed by or on behalf of any Loan Party, or any employee of any Loan Party, and delivered to Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby. Any reference in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to a Loan Document shall include all appendices, exhibits or schedules thereto, and all amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications thereto, and shall
refer to such agreement as the same may be in effect at any and all times such reference becomes operative. 
  
 “Loan Parties”:  Borrowers, Holdings and each other Guarantor. 
  
 “Loans”:  the Facility A Loan and the Facility B Loan. 
  
 “Markets”:  as defined in Schedule 1. 
  
 “Material Adverse
Effect” or “Material Adverse Change”:  a material adverse effect on or material adverse change in (a) a material portion of the Collateral, (b) the business, financial or other condition, prospects or projections
of Holdings and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole from that reflected in the Business Plan, (c) the ability of any Loan Party to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Notes, the other Loan Documents or the System Agreements or (d)
Administrative Agent’s or Lenders’ ability to enforce the rights and remedies granted under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, in all cases whether attributable to a single circumstance or event or an aggregation of circumstances
or events. 
  
 “Maximum Lawful Rate”:  as defined in Section 2.11(f). 

 
 “Net Interest Expense”:  for any period, Interest Expense less Interest Income. 

 
 “Net Total Debt”:  as of any date, (a) Total Debt minus (b) the product of (but not less than
zero) (i) Cash minus (ii) Cash required to be paid pursuant to Section 2.10(b) on such date or thereafter and which is attributable to such period. 
  
 “Network”:  a transmission and communications system operated by a Loan Party, including all Equipment related thereto. 
  

“Non-Funding Lender”:  as defined in Section 3.9(a)(ii). 

 
 13 

  
 “Notes”:  the Facility A Notes and the Facility B
Notes, collectively. 
  
 “Notice of Conversion/Continuation”:  as defined in Section
2.11(f). 
  
 “Obligations”:  all loans, advances, debts, liabilities and obligations
for the performance of covenants, tasks or duties or for payment of monetary amounts (whether or not such performance is then required or contingent, or such amounts are liquidated or determinable) owing by any Loan Party to Administrative Agent or
any Lender, and all covenants and duties regarding such amounts, of any kind or nature, present or future, whether or not evidenced by any note, agreement or other instrument, arising under this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any
interest rate swap agreement. This term includes all principal, interest (including all interest which accrues after the commencement of any case or proceeding in bankruptcy after the insolvency of, or for the reorganization of, any Loan Party,
whether or not allowed in such proceeding), Letter of Credit Obligations, Fees, expenses, attorneys’ fees and any other sum chargeable to any Loan Party under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents. 
  
 “Organizational Documents”:  with respect to a corporation, the articles of incorporation and by-laws of such
corporation; with respect to a partnership, the certificate of partnership (or limited partnership, as applicable) and partnership agreement, together with the analogous documents for any corporate or partnership general partner; and in any case,
any other document governing the formation and conduct of business by such entity. 
  
 “Original
Amortization”:  the component of each amortization payment of the Facility B Loan identified on Schedule 2.7 as “Original Amortization”. 
  
 “Other Lender”:  as defined in Section 3.9(d). 
  
 “PBGC”:  the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established under Title IV of ERISA or any other governmental agency, department or instrumentality succeeding to its
functions. 
  
 “Perfection Certificate”:  a certificate substantially in the form of
Exhibit K. 
  
 “Permits”:  all consents, licenses, notices, approvals,
authorizations, filings, orders, registrations, and permits required by any Governmental Authority for the construction and operation of a Network (excluding Regulatory Authorizations), issued or obtained as and when required in accordance with all
Requirements of Law. 
  
 “Permitted Acquisition”:  a Telecommunications Acquisition which
satisfies the following conditions: 
  
 (a)  no Default or Event of Default exists, both immediately
before and after giving effect to such acquisition; 
  
 (b)  not later than fifteen (15) days prior to the
completion of such acquisition, Holdings shall have provided Lenders with information and financial analysis (including purchase price and historical and projected revenue, cash flow and cost reductions) regarding such acquisition, demonstrating to
the reasonable satisfaction of Lenders, after giving pro forma effect to such acquisition, compliance with Schedule 8.15; 

 
 14 

  
 (c)  the sole form of consideration for such acquisition shall consist
of Stock of Holdings which does not constitute Disqualified Stock and/or Permitted Subordinated Debt; 
  
 (d)  the Advisor shall have analyzed the proposed acquisition and shall have recommended the acquisition; 
  
 (e)  the acquisition shall have been approved by management and the board of directors of Holdings; and 
  
 (f)  the total transaction value of any single acquisition or series of related acquisitions shall not exceed $2,500,000 or, until the Termination Date, $5,000,000 in the aggregate with all
other acquisitions. 
  
 “Permitted Debt”:  (a) the Obligations, (b) existing Indebtedness
(including existing letters of credit) specified on Schedule 9.1 and any refinancings thereof which do not increase the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof and are on terms that in the aggregate are not less favorable to Loan
Parties, (c) Indebtedness incurred in connection with purchase money Indebtedness and Capital Leases in an aggregate amount up to $1,000,000 at any time outstanding, (d) Indebtedness incurred in connection with letters of credit (including letters
of credit set forth on Schedule 9.1) with Wachovia and Liberty or such other financial institution as shall be acceptable to Administrative Agent or the Lenders in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,000,000 at any time outstanding,
provided that simultaneously with the issuance of any letter of credit by a financial institution other than Wachovia or Liberty, the relevant control agreement then in effect with Wachovia or Liberty shall be revised to decrease the
aggregate amount of letters of credit permitted thereunder in an amount equal to the letters of credit issued by such financial institution, (e) Permitted Subordinated Debt, (f) inter-company Indebtedness between Loan Parties and (g) interest rate
protection agreements in connection with Indebtedness permitted hereunder. 
  
 “Permitted
Encumbrances”:  the Liens permitted under Section 9.2. 
  
 “Permitted Subordinated
Debt”:  (a) the subordinated debt evidencing and giving rise to the Subordinated Debt Investment and (b) Indebtedness in an amount not greater than $150,000,000 that (i) does not require any payment of principal until twelve (12)
months after the later of the Facility A Commitment Termination Date and the Facility B Loan Maturity Date, (ii) is issued on market terms prevailing at the time and (iii) is subordinated on terms reasonably acceptable to Requisite Lenders to the
Indebtedness created hereunder or pursuant to any other Loan Document. 
  
 “Person”:  any
individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, corporation, limited liability company, institution, public benefit corporation, other entity or government (whether federal, state,
county, city, municipal, local, foreign, or otherwise, including any instrumentality, division, agency, body or department thereof). 
  
 “Plan”:  any employee pension benefit plan to which Section 4021 of ERISA applies and (i) which is maintained for employees of any Loan Party or (ii) to which any Loan Party made, or was required
to make, contributions at any time within the preceding five (5) years. 

 
 15 

  
 “Pledge Agreement(s)”:   the Holdings Pledge Agreement
and any other pledge agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit J, executed by any Loan Party pledging any stock or membership or ownership interests to Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties. 
  
 “Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement”:  Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 11, 2000, among
Holdings and affiliates of Bain Capital, Inc. and Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P., without giving effect to any amendments thereof or waivers with respect thereto.” 
  
 “Preferred Stock Transaction Documents”:  collectively, the Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement and the other Transaction Documents (as defined in
the Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement), without giving effect to any amendments thereof or waivers with respect thereto. 
  
 “Proceeds”:  as defined in Section 4.1(l). 
  
 “Projections”:  Loan Parties’ forecasted consolidated (a) balance sheets; (b) profit and loss statements and (c) cash flow statements, together with appropriate supporting details and a statement of
underlying assumptions. 
  
 “Pro Rata Share”:  (a) with respect to all matters relating to
any Lender, the percentage obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the Facility A Commitment and outstanding Facility B Loans of such Lender by (ii) the aggregate Facility A Commitment and Facility B Loans of all Lenders and (b) with respect to all
Loans on and after the Facility A Commitment Termination Date, the percentage obtained by dividing (i) the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Loans held by that Lender by (ii) the outstanding principal balance of the Loans held by all
Lenders. 
  
 “PUC”:  the public utilities commission for the state or any other
jurisdiction in which all or any portion of a Network is located, or any successor agency, and any successor, in whole or in part, to its functions or jurisdictions, and any other Persons specified on Schedule 1. 
  
 “Regulatory Authorizations”:  all approvals, authorizations, licenses, filings, notices, registrations,
consents, permits, exemptions, registrations, qualifications, designations, declarations, or other actions or undertakings now or hereafter made by, to or in respect of any telecommunications Governmental Authority, including any certificates of
public convenience and all grants, approvals, licenses, filings and registrations from or to the FCC or PUC or under any Communications Law necessary in order to enable any Loan Party to provide telecommunications service of the type provided or
proposed to be provided by such Loan Party and any authorizations specified on Schedule 1. 
  
 “Regulatory Event”:  any of the following events: (a) any Lender becomes subject to regulation as a “carrier,” a “telephone company,” a “common carrier,” a
“public utility” or otherwise under any applicable law or governmental regulation, federal, state or local, solely as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, or (b) any Loan Party
becomes subject to regulation by any Governmental Authority in any way that is materially different from the regulation existing on the date of the Existing Loan Agreement and that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or
(c) the FCC or any PUC issues an order revoking, denying or refusing to renew, or recommending the revocation, denial or non-renewal of, any Regulatory Authorization that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 

 
 “Release”:  any release, threatened release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting,
emptying, escape, injection, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, dumping, leaching 

 
 16 

  
 or migration of Hazardous Material in the indoor or outdoor environment, including the movement of
Hazardous Material through or in the air, soil, surface water, ground water or property. 
  
 “Released
Parties”: as defined in Section 12.20. 
  
 “Replacement Lender”: as defined in
Section 2.18(d). 
  
 “Reportable Event”: (a) a reportable event described in Section 4043 of
ERISA and regulations thereunder, (b) a withdrawal by a substantial employer from a Plan to which more than one employer contributes, as referred to in Section 4063(b) of ERISA or (c) a cessation of operations at a facility causing more than twenty
percent (20%) of Plan participants to be separated from employment, as referred to in Section 4062(f) of ERISA. 
  
 “Required Consents”: the Governmental Authority approvals or consents of other Persons required with respect to each Loan Party’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents, as defined in Schedule 5.4. 
  
 “Requirement of Law”: as to any Person, the
Organizational Documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation, or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its properties or
transactions or to which such Person or any of its property or transactions is subject, including all applicable common law and equitable principles, all provisions of all applicable state and federal constitutions, statutes, rules, regulations and
orders of governmental bodies, all Permits or Regulatory Authorizations issued to Borrower, all Communications Laws and all Environmental Laws. 
  
 “Requisite Lenders”: (a) (i) Lenders having at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the sum of the Facility A Commitment and outstanding Facility B Loan of all Lenders
or (ii) if the Facility A Commitment has been terminated, at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the aggregate outstanding amount of all Loans, as applicable, and (b) in no event, shall be fewer than three (3) Lenders. In the event
that any Affiliate of a Loan Party shall become a Lender, such Lender’s Facility A Commitment and Loans shall not be taken into account in determining the Requisite Lenders. As of the Effective Date, no Lender is an Affiliate of any Loan Party.

  
 “Responsible Officer”: of a Person, the chief executive officer, the president, the general
counsel, the chief financial officer or the vice president of treasury operations of such Person. 
  
 “Secured Parties”: Administrative Agent and Lenders. 
  
 “Security
Documents”: this Agreement, the Pledge Agreements, the Landlord Consents, all financing statements, and any other documents granting, evidencing, or perfecting any security interest or Lien with respect to or securing any of the
Obligations. 
  
 “Site Leases”: collectively, all leases, subleases, tower leases, co-location
agreements, license agreements, easements, use agreements, privileges, access agreements, right-of-way agreements and all other agreements relating to the use by any Loan Party of any Site. 
  
 “Site(s)”: any site where Equipment with a cost of more than $100,000 is located. 

 
 17 

  
 “Software” and “Software
Licenses”:  any software now or hereafter owned by, or licensed to, any Loan Party or with respect to which such Loan Party has or may have license or use rights. 
  
 “Solvent”:  with respect to any Person on a particular date, that on such date (a) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person
in a non-distressed sale is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person; (b) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s
ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature and (c) such Person is not engaged in a business or transaction, and is not about to engage in a business or transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably
small capital. The amount of contingent liabilities (such as litigation, guarantees and pension plan liabilities) at any time shall be computed as the amount which, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at the time, represents the
amount which can be reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability. 
  
 “Stock”:  all shares, options, warrants, general or limited partnership or membership interests or other equivalents (regardless of how designated) of or in a corporation, partnership, limited liability
company or equivalent entity, whether voting or nonvoting, including common stock, preferred stock or any other “equity security” (as such term is defined in Rule 3a11-1 of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated by the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). 
  
 “Subordinated
Debt Investment”:  net cash proceeds of at least $5,000,000 in form and substance, including with respect to any terms and conditions thereto, acceptable to Administrative Agent and Requisite Lenders, in their sole and absolute
discretion. 
  
 “Subordinated Debt Investment Documents”:  all agreements, instruments,
documents and certificates executed and delivered in connection with the Subordinated Debt Investment or the transactions contemplated thereby, including all appendices, exhibits or schedules thereto. 
  
 “Subsidiary”:  with respect to any Person, (a) any corporation of which an aggregate of more than fifty percent
(50%) of the outstanding Stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether, at the time, Stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have
voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned legally or beneficially by such Person and/or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or with respect to which any such Person has the right
to vote or designate the vote of fifty percent (50%) or more of such Stock, whether by proxy, agreement, operation of law or otherwise, and (b) any partnership or limited liability company in which such Person and/or one or more Subsidiaries of such
Person shall have an interest (whether in the form of voting or participation in profits or capital contribution) of more than fifty percent (50%) or of which any such Person is a general partner or may exercise the powers of a general partner.

  
 “System Agreements”:  any and all agreements and documents executed by or delivered by
or to any Loan Party at any time in connection with any Network or its acquisition, construction or operation, including all management and maintenance agreements, agreements for storage or warehousing of Collateral, Site Leases and interconnection
agreements. 
  
 “Taxes”:  taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, Charges or withholdings, and
all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding taxes imposed on or measured by the net income of Administrative Agent or a Lender by the jurisdiction under which Administrative Agent or any 

 
 18 

  
 Lender is organized or from which it makes its Loans or any political subdivision of either thereof.

  
 “Telecommunications Acquisition”:  the acquisition of a Telecommunications Business
effected by (a) a merger with a Loan Party in which the Loan Party is the surviving entity, (b) an acquisition of assets by a Loan Party, (c) an acquisition of Stock by Holdings or (d) a merger of a newly created wholly-owned first tier Subsidiary
of Holdings into another Person, which, upon the merger, becomes a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Holdings and a Borrower. 
  
 “Telecommunications Business”:  the business of primarily (a) transmitting, or providing services relating to the transmission of voice, fax, video or data through owned or leased transmission facilities or
the provision of Internet related or other enhanced services (“Telecommunications Services”), (b) creating, developing or marketing communications related network equipment, software and other devices for use in a Telecommunications
Services, (c) owning, developing or operating assets related to Telecommunications Services, (d) owning, developing or operating back-office or support systems related to Telecommunications Services or (e) evaluating, participating or pursuing any
other activity or opportunity that is primarily related to those identified in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) above. 
  
 “Termination Date”:  the date on which the Loans have been indefeasibly repaid in full and all other amounts then due and payable under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents have been
indefeasibly paid in full and Letter of Credit Obligations have been cash collateralized, canceled or backed by stand-by letters of credit in accordance with Annex I, and no Borrower shall have any further right to borrow any monies under
this Agreement. 
  
 “Total Debt”:  Without duplication, (a) all Indebtedness of any Loan
Party (other than Indebtedness under clause (e) of the definition thereof), (b) all guarantees by any Loan Party of Indebtedness of any Person other than a Loan Party and (c) all liabilities of any Person other than a Loan Party secured by any Lien
on property of any Loan Party; provided, that the amount of such obligation shall be the lesser of the stated or determinable amount of such obligation and the value of the property securing the same. 
  
 “Total Debt Service”:  the sum, for any period, of: (a) scheduled principal payments on Total Debt and (b) Net
Interest Expense (excluding any portion thereof not paid in cash). 
  
 “Total Leverage
Ratio”:  for any period, Net Total Debt as of the last day of such period divided by EBITDAR for any period of twelve (12) consecutive Fiscal Months. 
  
 “UCC”:  the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York or the Uniform Commercial Code of
another jurisdiction, to the extent it may be required to apply to any item or items of Collateral. 
  
 “Working Capital”:  for any date, Current Assets minus Current Liabilities. 
  
 1.2    Accounting Principles; Subsidiaries.      Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all computations and determinations as to accounting or financial matters and
all financial statements to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be made and prepared in accordance with GAAP (including principles of consolidation where appropriate), consistently applied, and all accounting or financial terms shall have
the meanings ascribed to such terms by GAAP. If at any time a Loan Party has any Subsidiaries, all accounting and financial terms herein shall be deemed to include references to consolidated and consolidating principles, and 

 
 19 

  
 covenants, representations and agreements with respect to a Loan Party and its properties and activities
shall be deemed to refer to such Loan Party and its consolidated Subsidiaries collectively. For purposes of Section 8.15, GAAP shall be determined on the basis of such principles in effect on the date of the most recent annual audited
Financial Statements provided hereunder (or if prior to delivery of the first such annual audited Financial Statements hereunder, then on a basis consistent with the annual audited Financial Statements referenced in Section 5.10);
provided, however, that if due to a change in application of GAAP or the rules promulgated with respect thereto, (i) Borrower Representative shall object to determination of compliance with the financial covenants in Section
8.15 on such basis or (ii) Administrative Agent or Requisite Lenders shall object to determination of compliance therewith on such basis within thirty (30) days after delivery of such Financial Statements, then such calculations shall be made on
a basis consistent with the most recent Financial Statements delivered as to which no such objection shall have been made. 
  
 1.3    UCC Terms.    Except as otherwise provided or amplified (but not limited) herein, terms used in this Agreement that are defined in the UCC shall have the same meanings herein.

  
 1.4    General Construction; Captions.    All definitions and
other terms used in this Agreement shall be equally applicable to the singular and plural forms thereof, and all references to any gender shall include all other genders. The words “hereof,” “hereto,”
“herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section, subsection or clause in this Agreement.
References herein to an Exhibit, Schedule, Article, Section, subsection or clause refer to the appropriate Exhibit, Schedule, Article, Section, subsection or clause in this Agreement unless otherwise specified. The word “including”
shall have the meaning represented by the phrase “including, without limitation.” The captions and table of contents in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are for convenience only, and in no way limit or amplify the
provisions hereof. 
  
 1.5    References to Documents and Laws.    All
defined terms and references in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents with respect to any agreements, notes, instruments, certificates or other documents shall be deemed to refer to such documents and to any amendments, modifications, renewals,
extensions, replacements, restatements, substitutions and supplements of and to such documents. All references to Laws shall include any amendments thereof and any successor statutes and regulations. 
  
 ARTICLE 2:  LOANS 
  
 2.1    Facility A.    Borrowers acknowledge and confirm that Lenders made and that there are outstanding Facility A Advances under the Existing Loan
Agreement in an amount equal to $25,000,000 in the aggregate which shall be deemed to be a Facility A Loan hereunder on the Effective Date. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Lender agrees to continue to make available from time to
time until the Facility A Commitment Termination Date its Pro Rata Share of all Facility A Advances. The Pro Rata Share of any Lender of the Facility A Loan shall not at any time exceed such Lender’s Facility A Commitment. The obligations of
each Lender hereunder shall be several and not joint. Until the Facility A Commitment Termination Date, Borrowers may from time to time borrow, repay and reborrow under this Section 2.1. 
  

2.2    Facility B.    Borrowers acknowledge and confirm that (a) Lenders made and that there is outstanding a Facility B
Loan under the Existing Loan Agreement in an amount equal to $110,937,500 and (b) after giving effect to the Facility B Loan Payment, there will be outstanding 

 
 20 

  
 a Facility B Loan in an amount equal to $102,937,500 which shall be deemed to be a Facility B Loan
hereunder on the Effective Date. 
  
 2.3    Notes. 

 
 (a)  Borrowers shall execute and deliver to each Lender a note to evidence the Facility A Commitment
of that Lender. 
 Each note shall be in the principal amount of the Facility A Commitment of the applicable Lender, dated the Effective Date, and substantially in the form of
Exhibit A-1 (each a “Facility A Note” and, collectively, the “Facility A Notes”). Each Facility A Note shall represent the obligation of each Borrower to pay the amount of each Lender’s Facility A
Commitment or, if less, the applicable Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Facility A Advances to such Borrower together with interest thereon as prescribed in Section 2.11. 
  
 (b)  Borrowers shall execute and deliver to each Lender a note to evidence the Facility B Loan of that Lender.
Each 
 note shall be in the principal amount of the Facility B Loan of the applicable Lender, dated the Effective Date, and substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 (each
a “Facility B Note” and, collectively, the “Facility B Notes”). Each Facility B Note shall represent the obligation of each Borrower to pay the amount of each Lender’s Facility B Loan to such Borrower together
with interest thereon as prescribed in Section 2.11. 
  
 2.4    Letters of
Credit.    Subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions contained herein and in Annex I, Borrower Representative shall have the right to request, and Lenders agree to incur, or purchase participations in,
Letter of Credit Obligations for the account of Borrowers. 
  
 2.5    Reliance on Notices;
Appointment of Borrower Representative.    Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, any Borrowing Certificate, Notice of Conversion/Continuation or
similar notice believed by Administrative Agent or such Lender to be genuine. Administrative Agent and each Lender may assume that each Person executing and delivering such a notice was duly authorized, unless the responsible individual acting
thereon for Administrative Agent or such Lender has actual knowledge to the contrary. Each Borrower hereby designates Holdings as its representative and agent on its behalf for the purposes of issuing Borrowing Certificates and Notices of
Conversion/Continuation, giving instructions with respect to the disbursement of the proceeds of the Loans, selecting interest rate options, requesting Letters of Credit, giving and receiving all other notices and consents hereunder or under any of
the other Loan Documents and taking all other actions (including in respect of compliance with covenants) on behalf of any Borrower or Borrowers under the Loan Documents (Holdings, in that capacity, being “Borrower Representative”).
Holdings hereby accepts such appointment. Administrative Agent and each Lender may regard any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document from Borrower Representative as a notice or communication from all Borrowers, and may give any
notice or communication required or permitted to be given to any Borrower or Borrowers hereunder to Borrower Representative on behalf of such Borrower or Borrowers. Each Borrower agrees that each notice, election, representation and warranty,
covenant, agreement and undertaking made on its behalf by Borrower Representative shall be deemed for all purposes to have been made by such Borrower and shall be binding upon and enforceable against such Borrower to the same extent as if the same
had been made directly by such Borrower. 

 
 21 

  
 2.6    Procedures for Borrowing.

  
 (a)  Borrowing Certificates.    To request a Facility A Advance hereunder,
Borrower Representative shall send to Administrative Agent a completed Borrowing Certificate at least three (3) Business Days prior to the requested Borrowing Date for LIBOR Loans and one (1) Business Day prior to the requested Borrowing Date for
Base Rate Loans. Each Borrowing Certificate shall specify therein (i) the requested Borrowing Date, (ii) the aggregate amount of such Facility A Advance, (iii) the amount thereof, if any, requested to be LIBOR Loans and (iv) the initial LIBOR Period
or Periods for any such LIBOR Loans. The Loans shall be made as Base Rate Loans unless (subject to Section 2.18) the Borrowing Certificate specifies that all or a portion thereof shall be LIBOR Loans. All LIBOR Loans shall comply with
Section 2.11(e). 
  
 Each Borrowing Certificate shall be irrevocable and binding on Borrowers. In the case of
any requested Facility A Advance which the related Borrowing Certificate specifies is to be comprised of LIBOR Loans, Borrowers shall, jointly and severally, indemnify each Lender against any loss, cost or expense incurred by such Lender as a result
of any failure to fulfill on or before the date specified in such Borrowing Certificate for such requested Facility A Advance the applicable conditions set forth in Article 7, including any loss (including loss of anticipated profits), cost
or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender to fund any LIBOR Loan to be made by such Lender as part of such requested Facility A Advance when such LIBOR Loan, as a result of
such failure, is not made on such date. 
  
 (b)  Lender’s
Obligation.    The failure of any Lender to make the Facility A Advance to be made by it as part of and Loan shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Facility A Advance on such
Borrowing Date, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Facility A Advance to be made by such other Lender on the Borrowing Date. 
  
 (c)  Facility A Advances.    Each Facility A Advance (other than the last Facility A Advance) shall be in an aggregate 

principal amount of not less than $1,000,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof. No amount may be borrowed hereunder on or after the Facility A Commitment Termination Date
applicable to the proposed Facility A Advance. 
  
 2.7    Facility B Loan
Amortization.    The Facility B Loan shall be amortized according to Schedule 2.7. 
  
 2.8    Intentionally Omitted. 
  
 2.9    Maturity. 
  
 (a)  The entire unpaid balance of the
aggregate Facility A Loan and all other non-contingent Obligations shall be immediately due and payable in full in immediately available funds on the Facility A Commitment Termination Date, if not sooner paid in full pursuant to Section 2.10.

  
 (b)  The entire unpaid balance of the aggregate Facility B Loan and all other non-contingent
Obligations shall be immediately due and payable in full in immediately available funds on the Facility B Loan Maturity Date, if not sooner paid in full pursuant to Section 2.10. 

 
 22 

  
 2.10    Prepayments; Commitment
Reductions. 
  
 (a)  Voluntary Prepayments. 
  
 (i)  Borrowers may, at their option, at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, voluntarily

 prepay all or part of any Loan upon three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice to Administrative Agent, specifying the date and amount of prepayment, in a minimum
amount of $1,000,000, plus all accrued but unpaid interest thereon and any LIBOR funding breakage costs in accordance with Section 2.15(b). Such notice shall be irrevocable and the principal amount specified in such notice shall be due and
payable on the date specified together with accrued interest on the amount prepaid. Any prepayment of the Facility A Loan made by Borrowers pursuant to this clause (a) shall be applied as follows: first, to Fees and reimbursable expenses of
Administrative Agent then due and payable pursuant to any of the Loan Documents; second, to interest then due and payable on the Facility A Loan; third, to prepay the Facility A Loan; and fourth, to any Letter of Credit
Obligations of Borrowers to provide cash collateral therefore in the manner set forth in Annex I, until all such Letter of Credit Obligations have been fully cash collateralized in the manner set forth in Annex I. Any prepayments of
the Facility B Loan made by Borrowers pursuant to this clause (a) shall be applied as follows: first, to Fees and reimbursable expenses of Administrative Agent then due and payable pursuant to any of the Loan Documents; second, to
interest then due and payable on the Facility B Loan; third, to prepay the scheduled installments of the Facility B Loan comprised of Deferred Amortization in the inverse order of maturity; and fourth, to prepay the scheduled
installments of the Facility B Loan comprised of Original Amortization in the inverse order of maturity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, until payment in full of the Deferred Amortization, Borrower may not make any prepayment to the Facility A Loan.

  
 (ii)  Borrowers may, at their option, at any time, permanently reduce from time to
time or terminate the 
 Facility A Commitment in a minimum amount of $1,000,000; provided, however, that the Facility A Commitment shall not be reduced to an amount
less than the outstanding principal amount of the Facility A Loan. 
  
 (b)  Mandatory Prepayments.

  
 (i)  Asset Dispositions.    In the event of receipt by any
Loan Party of proceeds of any Asset Disposition 
 (including insurance recoveries and condemnation proceeds); Borrowers shall prepay the Loans in an amount equal to all such cash
proceeds, as and when received, net of (A) commissions and other reasonable and customary transaction costs, fees and expenses properly attributable to such transaction and payable by such Loan Party in connection therewith (in each case, paid to
non-Affiliates), (B) transfer taxes and (C) an appropriate reserve for income taxes in accordance with GAAP in connection therewith. Any such prepayment shall be applied in accordance with clause (c) of this Section 2.10. 

 
 (ii)  Sale or Issuance of Stock or Indebtedness.    No later than the
Business Day following the receipt by 
 Holdings of any proceeds from (A) a sale or issuance of Stock by Holdings or (B) the issuance or incurrence of any Indebtedness (excluding
Permitted Debt incurred pursuant to clauses (a), (b), (c), (e) and (f) of the definition thereof) by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case, Borrowers shall prepay the Loans in an amount equal to (A) during the Deferral Period, (I)
twenty-five percent (25%) of the cash proceeds thereof up to and including the amount of $10,000,000, and (II) fifty percent (50%) of the cash proceeds thereof in excess of $10,000,000, (B) thereafter until repayment in full of the Deferred
Amortization, one hundred percent (100%) of the cash proceeds thereof, and (C) upon repayment in full of the 

 
 23 

  
 Deferred Amortization, one hundred percent (100%) of the cash proceeds solely from the sale or issuance
of Stock by Holdings. Any cash proceeds applied in respect of the sale or issuance of Stock by Holdings shall be (A) exclusive of 100% of proceeds from the exercise of options granted pursuant to equity-based compensation arrangements, the issuance
of stock pursuant to employee stock purchase plans and the exercise of warrants and (B) net of underwriting discounts and commissions and other reasonable costs paid to non-Affiliates in connection therewith. Any such prepayment shall be applied in
accordance with clause (c) of this Section 2.10. 
  
 (iii)  Excess Cash
Flow.    After repayment in full of the Deferred Amortization, Borrowers shall prepay the Loans, in an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of Excess Cash Flow, in each case for each Fiscal Year, which payment shall be made on
the earlier of the date which is ten (10) days after (A) the date on which Holdings’ annual audited Financial Statements for the immediately preceding Fiscal Year are delivered pursuant to Section 8.1 or (B) the date on which such annual
audited Financial Statements were required to be delivered pursuant to Section 8.1. 
  
 (iv)  Alternate Working Capital.    Until repayment in full of the Deferred Amortization, Borrowers shall prepay the Loans in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Alternate Working
Capital for each Fiscal Month, which payment shall be made on the earlier of the date which is five (5) days after (A) the date on which Holdings’ unaudited Financial Statements for the immediately preceding Fiscal Month are delivered pursuant
to Section 8.1 or (B) the date on which such monthly unaudited Financial Statements were required to be delivered pursuant to Section 8.1. 
  
 (v)  Subordinated Debt Investment Interest Prepayment.    Borrowers shall prepay the Loans, in an amount equal to 5% per annum on the original principal amount of
the Subordinated Debt Investment and on any other Permitted Subordinated Debt incurred prior to the repayment in full of the Deferred Amortization, which payment shall be made on the date of any payment (in Cash) of interest on such Subordinated
Debt Investment or Permitted Subordinated Debt. For purposes of greater clarity, no prepayment is required under this clause (v) unless cash payment is made on the Subordinated Debt Investment or Permitted Subordinated Debt, as applicable.

  
 (c)  Application of Mandatory Prepayments. 
  
 (i)  Any prepayments made by Borrowers pursuant to clause (b)(ii), b(iii), b(iv) or b(v) of this
Section 2.10 above shall be applied as follows: first, to Fees and reimbursable expenses of Administrative Agent then due and payable pursuant to any of the Loan Documents; second, to interest then due and payable on the
Facility B Loan; third, to prepay the scheduled principal installments of the Facility B Loan attributable to the Deferred Amortization component of such installment in inverse order of maturity until such Deferred Amortization shall have
been prepaid in full; fourth, to prepay the scheduled principal installments of the Facility B Loan attributable to the Original Amortization component of such installment in the inverse order of maturity until such Original Amortization
shall have been prepaid in full; fifth, to interest then due and payable on the Facility A Advances; sixth, to the principal balance of the Facility A Advances outstanding until the same shall have been paid in full; seventh, to
any Letter of Credit Obligations of Borrowers to provide cash collateral therefor in the manner set forth in Annex I, until all such Letter of Credit Obligations have been fully cash collateralized in the manner set forth in Annex I.

 
 24 

  
 (ii)  Any prepayments made by Borrowers pursuant to
clause (b)(i) of this Section 2.10 above shall be 
 applied as follows: first, to Fees and reimbursable expenses of Administrative Agent then due and payable
pursuant to any of the Loan Documents; second, to interest then due and payable on the Facility B Loan; third, to prepay the scheduled principal installments of the Facility B Loan attributable to the Original Amortization component of
such installment in inverse order of maturity until such Original Amortization shall have been prepaid in full; fourth, to prepay the scheduled principal installments of the Facility B Loan attributable to the Deferred Amortization component
of such installment in the inverse order of maturity until such Deferred Amortization shall have been prepaid in full; fifth, to interest then due and payable on the Facility A Advances; sixth, to the principal balance of the Facility
A Advances outstanding until the same shall have been paid in full; seventh to any Letter of Credit Obligations of Borrowers to provide cash collateral therefor in the manner set forth in Annex I, until all such Letter of Credit
Obligations have been fully cash collateralized in the manner set forth in Annex I. 
  
 2.11     Interest and Applicable Margins. 
  
 (a)  Borrowers shall pay interest to Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of Lenders in accordance with the 
 various Loans being made by each
Lender, in arrears on each applicable Interest Payment Date, at the following rates: (i) the Base Rate plus the Applicable Base Margin per annum or (ii) at the election of Borrower Representative and, if permitted herein, the applicable LIBOR Rate
plus the Applicable LIBOR Margin per annum, based on the aggregate amount of Loans outstanding from time to time. 
  
 (b)  Additional interest shall accrue on the Deferred Amortization from the date such Deferred Amortization would 
 have been paid under the Existing
Loan Agreement to and including the date such Deferred Amortization is paid in full at the rate of 10.00% per annum (the “Additional Interest”). Borrowers shall pay Additional Interest to Administrative Agent, for the ratable
benefit of Lenders in accordance with each Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Facility B Loan, on the earlier of (i) the Facility B Loan Maturity Date and (ii) the date of repayment in full of the Facility B Loans. 
  
 Solely for purposes of calculating the Additional Interest (i) the Facility B Loan Payment shall be applied against

 the Deferred Amortization in direct order of maturity (i.e. $4,687,500 to the amount of the fourth Fiscal Quarter 2002 payment due under the Existing Loan Agreement and
deferred hereunder and $3,312,500 to the amount of the first Fiscal Quarter 2003 payment due under the Existing Loan Agreement and deferred hereunder) and (ii) all mandatory prepayments and voluntary prepayments shall be applied in the manner set
forth in Section 2.13. 
  
 (c)  If any payment on any Loan becomes due and payable
on a day other than a Business Day, the maturity thereof 
 will be extended to the next succeeding Business Day (except as set forth in the definition of LIBOR Period) and, with
respect to payments of principal, interest thereon shall be payable at the then applicable rate during such extension. 
  
 (d)  All computations of Fees calculated on a per annum basis and of interest shall be made by Administrative 
 Agent on the basis of a three
hundred sixty (360) day year, in each case for the actual number of days occurring in the period for which such interest and Fees are payable. The Base Rate shall be determined each day based upon the Base Rate as in effect each day. Each
determination by Administrative Agent of an interest rate and Fees hereunder shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. 

 
 25 

  
 (e)  As long as an Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing under Section 10.1(a), (j) or (k) or as long 
 as any other Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, at the election of Requisite Lenders
confirmed by written notice to Borrower Representative, the interest rates applicable to the Loans and the Letter of Credit Fees shall be increased by two percent (2%) per annum above the rates of interest or the rate of such Fees otherwise
applicable hereunder (“Default Rate”), and all outstanding Obligations shall bear interest at the Default Rate applicable to such Obligations. Interest and Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate shall accrue from the initial date
of such Event of Default until that Event of Default is cured or waived and shall be payable upon demand. 
  
 (f)  As long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Borrower Representative shall 
 have the option to (i) request
that any Facility A Advance be made as a LIBOR Loan, (ii) convert at any time all or any part of outstanding Loans from Base Rate Loans to LIBOR Loans, (iii) convert any LIBOR Loan to a Base Rate Loan, subject to payment of LIBOR funding breakage
costs in accordance with Section 2.15(b) if such conversion is made prior to the expiration of the LIBOR Period applicable thereto, or (iv) continue all or any portion of any Loan as a LIBOR Loan upon the expiration of the applicable LIBOR
Period and the succeeding LIBOR Period of that continued Loan shall commence on the last day of the LIBOR Period of the Loan to be continued. Any Loan to be made or continued as, or converted into, a LIBOR Loan must be in a minimum amount of
$1,000,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 in excess of such amount. Any such election must be made by 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the third (3rd) Business Day prior to (1) the date of any proposed Facility A Advance which is to bear interest
at the LIBOR Rate, (2) the end of each LIBOR Period with respect to any LIBOR Loans to be continued as such or (3) the date on which Borrower Representative wishes to convert any Base Rate Loan to a LIBOR Loan for a LIBOR Period designated by
Borrower Representative in such election. If no election is received with respect to a LIBOR Loan by 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the third (3rd) Business Day prior to the end of the LIBOR Period with respect thereto (or if an Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing), that LIBOR Loan shall be converted to a Base Rate Loan at the end of its LIBOR Period. Borrower Representative must make such election by notice to Administrative Agent in writing, by telecopy or overnight
courier. In the case of any conversion or continuation, such election must be made pursuant to a written notice (a “Notice of Conversion/Continuation”) in the form of Exhibit C. 
  
 (g)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 2.11, if a court of competent
jurisdiction 
 determines in a final order that the rate of interest payable hereunder exceeds the highest rate of interest permissible under law (the “Maximum Lawful
Rate”), then so long as the Maximum Lawful Rate would be so exceeded, the rate of interest payable hereunder shall be equal to the Maximum Lawful Rate; provided, however, that if at any time thereafter the rate of interest
payable hereunder is less than the Maximum Lawful Rate, Borrowers shall continue to pay interest hereunder at the Maximum Lawful Rate until such time as the total interest received by Administrative Agent, on behalf of Lenders, is equal to the total
interest which would have been received had the interest rate payable hereunder been (but for the operation of this paragraph) the interest rate payable since the date of the making of the applicable Loan as otherwise provided in this Agreement.
Thereafter, interest hereunder shall be paid at the rate(s) of interest and in the manner provided in Sections 2.11(a) through (e) above unless and until the rate of interest again exceeds the Maximum Lawful Rate, and at that time this
paragraph shall again apply. In no event shall the total interest received by any Lender pursuant to the terms hereof exceed the amount which such Lender could lawfully have received had the interest due hereunder been calculated for the full term
hereof at the Maximum Lawful Rate. If the Maximum Lawful Rate is calculated pursuant to this paragraph, such interest shall be 

 
 26 

  
 calculated at a daily rate equal to the Maximum Lawful Rate divided by the number of days in the
year in which such calculation is made. If, notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 2.11(f), a court of competent jurisdiction shall finally determine that a Lender has received interest hereunder in excess of the Maximum Lawful Rate,
Administrative Agent shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, promptly apply such excess in the order specified in Section 2.13 and thereafter shall refund any excess to Borrowers or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise
order. 
  
 2.12    Payments.    All payments and
prepayments to be made in respect of principal, interest or other amounts due from 
 Borrowers hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be payable on or before 1:00 p.m.,
New York time, on the day when due, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, and an action therefor shall immediately accrue. Such payments shall be made to Administrative Agent at
Administrative Agent’s office at 10 Riverview Drive, Danbury, Connecticut 06810, Attn: TFS/US LEC Portfolio Manager or such other location specified in writing by Administrative Agent, in immediately available funds, without set off,
recoupment, counterclaims or any other deduction of any nature. Payments received after 1:00 p.m., New York time, on any Business Day shall be deemed to have been received on the following Business Day. 
  
 2.13     Application and Allocation of Payments. 
  
 (a)  As long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (i) payments matching

 specific scheduled payments then due shall be applied to those scheduled payments; (ii) voluntary prepayments shall be applied as set forth in Section 2.10(a); and (iii)
mandatory prepayments shall be applied as set forth in Section 2.10(c). All payments and prepayments applied to a particular Loan shall be applied ratably to the portion thereof held by each Lender as determined by its Pro Rata Share. As to
each other payment, and as to all payments made when an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or following the Facility A Commitment Termination Date, each Borrower hereby irrevocably waives the right to direct the application of
any and all payments received from or on behalf of such Borrower, and each Borrower hereby irrevocably agrees that Administrative Agent shall have the continuing exclusive right to apply any and all such payments against the Obligations of Borrowers
as Administrative Agent may deem advisable notwithstanding any previous entry by Administrative Agent in the Loan Account or any other books and records. In the absence of a specific determination by all Lenders and Administrative Agent with respect
thereto, payments shall be applied to amounts then due and payable in the following order: (1) to Fees and Administrative Agent’s and Lenders’ expenses reimbursable hereunder; (2) to interest on the Loans, ratably in proportion to the
interest accrued as to each Loan; (3) to principal payments on the Loans and to provide cash collateral for Letter of Credit Obligations in the manner described in Annex I, ratably to the aggregate, combined principal balance of the Loans and
outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations (such prepayments of the Facility B Loan to be applied in the inverse order of maturity and first to the Original Amortization component of each installment and thereafter to the Deferred Amortization
component of each installment); and (4) to all other Obligations including expenses of Lenders to the extent reimbursable under Section 2.21. 
  
 (b)  Administrative Agent is authorized to, and at its sole election may, charge to the Facility A Loan balance on 
 behalf of each Borrower and cause to be paid all Fees, expenses, Charges, costs (including insurance premiums in accordance with Section 8.7(a)) and interest and principal, other than principal
of the Facility A Loan, owing by Borrowers under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents if and to the extent Borrowers fail to promptly pay any such amounts as and when due, even if such charges would cause the balance of the aggregate
Facility 

 
 27 

  
 A Loan to exceed the Facility A Commitment. At Administrative Agent’s option and to the extent
permitted by law, any charges so made shall constitute part of the Facility A Loan hereunder. 
  
 2.14    Loan Account and Accounting.    Administrative Agent shall maintain a loan account (the “Loan Account”) on its books to record: all Facility A Advances, all
Loans, all payments made by Borrowers, and all other debits and credits as provided in this Agreement with respect to the Loans or any other Obligations. All entries in the Loan Account shall be made in accordance with Administrative Agent’s
customary accounting practices as in effect from time to time. The balance in the Loan Account, as recorded on Administrative Agent’s most recent printout or other written statement, shall, absent manifest error, be presumptive evidence of the
amounts due and owing to Administrative Agent and Lenders by Borrowers; provided, however, that any failure to so record or any error in so recording shall not limit or otherwise affect any Borrower’s duty to pay the Obligations.
Administrative Agent shall render to Borrower Representative a monthly accounting of transactions with respect to the Loans setting forth the balance of the Loan Account. Unless Borrower Representative notifies Administrative Agent in writing of any
objection to any such accounting (specifically describing the basis for such objection), within thirty (30) days after the date thereof, each and every such accounting shall (absent manifest error) be deemed final, binding and conclusive upon
Borrowers in all respects as to all matters reflected therein. Only those items expressly objected to in such notice shall be deemed to be disputed by Borrowers. Notwithstanding any provision herein contained to the contrary, any Lender may elect
(which election may be revoked) to dispense with the issuance of Notes to that Lender and may rely on the Loan Account as evidence of the amount of Obligations from time to time owing to it. 
  
 2.15    Indemnity. 
  
 (a)  Each Loan Party that is a signatory hereto shall jointly and severally indemnify and hold harmless each of Administrative Agent, Syndication Agent, Documentation Agent, Lenders and their
respective Affiliates, and each such Person’s respective officers, directors, employees, attorneys, agents and representatives (each, an “Indemnified Person”), from and against any and all suits, actions, proceedings, claims,
damages, losses, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements and other costs of investigation or defense, including those incurred upon any appeal) which may be instituted or asserted against or incurred by
any such Indemnified Person as the result of credit having been extended, suspended or terminated under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the administration of such credit, and in connection with or arising out of the transactions
contemplated hereunder and thereunder and any actions or failures to act in connection therewith, including any and all Environmental Liabilities and legal costs and expenses arising out of or incurred in connection with disputes between or among
any parties to any of the Loan Documents (collectively, “Indemnified Liabilities”); provided, however, that no such Loan Party shall be liable for any indemnification to an Indemnified Person to the extent that any
such suit, action, proceeding, claim, damage, loss, liability or expense results from that Indemnified Person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct or material and knowing breach of its obligations and this Agreement. NO INDEMNIFIED PERSON
SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE TO ANY OTHER PARTY TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, ANY SUCCESSOR, ASSIGNEE OR THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARY OF SUCH PERSON OR ANY OTHER PERSON ASSERTING CLAIMS DERIVATIVELY THROUGH SUCH PARTY, FOR INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES WHICH MAY BE ALLEGED AS A RESULT OF CREDIT HAVING BEEN EXTENDED, SUSPENDED OR TERMINATED 

 
 28 

  
 UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR AS A RESULT OF ANY OTHER TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER.

  
 (b)  To induce Lenders to provide the LIBOR Rate option on the terms provided herein,
if (i) any LIBOR Loans 
 are repaid in whole or in part prior to the last day of any applicable LIBOR Period (whether that repayment is made pursuant to any provision of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document or is the result of acceleration, by operation of law or otherwise); (ii) any Borrower shall default in payment when due of the principal amount of or interest on any LIBOR Loan; (iii) any Borrower shall default
in making any borrowing of, conversion into or continuation of LIBOR Loans after Borrower Representative has given notice requesting the same in accordance herewith; or (iv) any Borrower shall fail to make any prepayment of a LIBOR Loan after
Borrower Representative has given a notice thereof in accordance herewith, Borrowers shall jointly and severally indemnify and hold harmless each Lender from and against all losses, costs and expenses resulting from or arising from any of the
foregoing. Such indemnification shall include any loss (including loss of margin) or expense arising from the reemployment of funds obtained by it or from fees payable to terminate deposits from which such funds were obtained. For the purpose of
calculating amounts payable to a Lender under this subsection, each Lender shall be deemed to have actually funded its relevant LIBOR Loan through the purchase of a deposit which bears interest at the LIBOR Rate in an amount equal to the amount of
that LIBOR Loan and having a maturity comparable to the relevant LIBOR Period; provided, however, that each Lender may fund each of its LIBOR Loans in any manner it sees fit, and the foregoing assumption shall be utilized only for the
calculation of amounts payable under this subsection. This covenant shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Notes and all other amounts payable hereunder. As promptly as practicable under the circumstances, each Lender
shall provide Borrower Representative with its written calculation of all amounts payable pursuant to this Section 2.15, and such calculation shall be presumed correct (absent manifest error) and shall be binding on the parties hereto unless
Borrower Representative shall object in writing within thirty (30) Business Days of receipt thereof, specifying the basis for such objection in detail. 
  
 2.16    Access.    Each Loan Party which is a party hereto shall, during normal business hours, from time to time upon one (1) Business Day’s prior
notice as frequently as Administrative Agent determines to be appropriate: (a) provide any Agent and any of its officers, employees and agents (and, during the continuance of an Event of Default, any Lender and any of its officers, employees and
agents) access to the properties, facilities, advisors and employees (including officers) of such Loan Party and to the Collateral, (b) permit any Agent, each Lender and any of their officers, employees and agents, to inspect, audit and make
extracts from such Loan Party’s books and records and (c) permit Administrative Agent, each Lender and their officers, employees and agents, to inspect, review, evaluate and make test verifications and counts of the Accounts, Equipment,
Inventory and other Collateral of such Loan Party. If a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or if access is necessary to preserve or protect the Collateral as determined by Administrative Agent, each such Loan Party
shall provide such access to Administrative Agent and to each Lender at all times and without advance notice. Furthermore, as long as any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each such Loan Party shall provide Administrative Agent
and each Lender with access to their suppliers and customers. Each Loan Party shall make available to Administrative Agent, each Lender and their respective counsel, as quickly as is possible under the circumstances, originals or copies of all books
and records which Administrative Agent may request. Each Loan Party shall deliver any document or instrument necessary for Administrative Agent or each Lender, as it may from time to time request, to obtain records from any service bureau or other
Person which maintains records for such Loan Party, and shall maintain duplicate records or supporting documentation on 

 
 29 

  
 media, including computer tapes and discs owned by such Loan Party. Any Lender or its representatives
(other than any Person in the telecommunications business), upon request by such Lender to Administrative Agent, may accompany Administrative Agent on any such visit. 
  
 2.17    Taxes. 
  
 (a)  Any and all payments by Borrowers hereunder (including any payments made pursuant to Article 11 or under 
 any other Loan Document) shall be made, in accordance with this Section 2.17, free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future Taxes. If any Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from
or in respect of any sum payable hereunder (including any sum payable pursuant to Article 11 or under any other Loan Document), (i) the sum payable shall be increased as much as shall be necessary so that after making all required deductions
(including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.17) Administrative Agent or Lenders, as applicable, receive an amount equal to the sum they would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) such
Borrower shall make such deductions, and (iii) such Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxing or other authority in accordance with applicable law. Within thirty (30) days after the date of any payment of Taxes, Borrower
Representative shall furnish to Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof. 
  
 (b)  Each Loan Party that is a signatory hereto shall jointly and severally indemnify and, within ten (10) days of 
 demand therefor, pay Administrative Agent and each Lender for the full amount of Taxes (including any Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 2.17) paid by Administrative Agent or such Lender,
as appropriate, and any liability (including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally asserted. 
  
 2.18    Capital Adequacy; Increased Costs; Illegality. 
  
 (a)  If any Lender shall have determined that any law, treaty, governmental (or quasi-governmental) rule, 
 regulation, guideline or order regarding capital adequacy, reserve requirements or similar requirements or compliance by any Lender with any request or directive regarding capital adequacy, reserve
requirements or similar requirements (whether or not having the force of law), in each case, adopted after the date hereof, from any central bank or other Governmental Authority increases or would have the effect of increasing the amount of capital,
reserves or other funds required to be maintained by such Lender and thereby reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital as a consequence of its obligations hereunder, then Borrowers shall from time to time upon demand by such Lender
made within ninety (90) days of the occurrence thereof (with a copy of such demand to Administrative Agent) pay to Administrative Agent, for the account of such Lender, additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender for such reduction. A
certificate as to the amount of that reduction and showing the basis of the computation thereof submitted by such Lender to Borrower Representative and to Administrative Agent shall, absent manifest error, be final, conclusive and binding for all
purposes. 
  
 (b)  If, due to either (i) the introduction of or any change in any law or
regulation (or any change in the 
 interpretation thereof) or (ii) the compliance with any guideline or request from any central bank or other Governmental Authority (whether or
not having the force of law), in each case adopted after the date hereof, there shall be any increase in the cost to any Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining any Loan, then Borrowers shall from time to time, upon demand by
such Lender (with a copy of such demand to Administrative Agent), pay to Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender additional amounts sufficient to compensate 

 
 30 

  
 such Lender for such increased cost. A certificate as to the amount of such increased cost, submitted to
Borrower Representative and to Administrative Agent by such Lender, shall be conclusive and binding on Borrowers for all purposes, absent manifest error. Each Lender agrees that, as promptly as practicable after it becomes aware of any circumstances
referred to above which would result in any such increased cost, but in any event within ninety (90) days thereof, the affected Lender shall, to the extent not inconsistent with such Lender’s internal policies of general application, use
reasonable commercial efforts to minimize costs and expenses incurred by it and payable to it by Borrowers pursuant to this Section 2.18(b). 
  
 (c)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if the introduction of or any change in any law or regulation (or any change in the interpretation thereof) shall make it
unlawful, or any central bank or other Governmental Authority shall assert that it is unlawful, for any Lender to agree to make or to make or to continue to fund or maintain any LIBOR Loan, then, unless that Lender is able to make or to continue to
fund or to maintain such LIBOR Loan at another branch or office of that Lender without, in that Lender’s opinion, adversely affecting it or its Loans or the income obtained therefrom, on notice thereof and demand therefor by such Lender to
Borrower Representative through Administrative Agent, (i) the obligation of such Lender to agree to make or to make or to continue to fund or maintain LIBOR Loans shall terminate and (ii) Borrowers shall forthwith prepay in full all outstanding
LIBOR Loans owing by such Borrower to such Lender, together with interest accrued thereon, unless Borrower Representative on behalf of Borrowers, within five (5) Business Days after the delivery of such notice and demand, converts all such
Loans into a Loan bearing interest based on the Base Rate. 
  
 (d)  Replacement of Lender in Respect of
Increased Costs.    Within fifteen (15) days after receipt by Borrower Representative of written notice and demand from any Lender (an “Affected Lender”) for payment of additional amounts or increased costs
as provided in Section 2.17, 2.18(a) or 2.18(b), Borrower Representative may, at its option, notify Administrative Agent and such Affected Lender of its intention to replace the Affected Lender. As long as no Default or Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Borrower Representative, with the consent of Administrative Agent, may obtain, at Borrowers’ expense, a replacement Lender (“Replacement Lender”) for the Affected Lender, which
Replacement Lender must be satisfactory to Administrative Agent. If Borrowers obtain a Replacement Lender within ninety (90) days following notice of their intention to do so, the Affected Lender must sell and assign its Loans and Facility A
Commitment to such Replacement Lender for an amount equal to the principal balance of all Loans held by the Affected Lender and all accrued interest and Fees with respect thereto through the date of such sale; provided, however, that
Borrowers shall have reimbursed such Affected Lender for the additional amounts or increased costs that it is entitled to receive under this Agreement through the date of such sale and assignment. 
  
 Notwithstanding the foregoing, Borrowers shall not have the right to obtain a Replacement Lender if the Affected Lender rescinds its
demand for increased costs or additional amounts within fifteen (15) days following its receipt of Borrowers’ notice of intention to replace such Affected Lender. Furthermore, if Borrowers give a notice of intention to replace and do not so
replace such Affected Lender within ninety (90) days thereafter, Borrowers’ rights under this Section 2.18(d) shall terminate and Borrowers shall promptly pay all increased costs or additional amounts demanded by such Affected Lender
pursuant to Sections 2.17(a), 2.18(a) and 2.18(b). 
  
 2.19    Use of
Proceeds.    (a)  Borrowers utilized the proceeds of the Facility B Loan under the Existing Loan Agreement solely for the financing of the acquisition, construction or improvement of telecommunication asset or
assets which are an integral part of a Network in a 

 
 31 

 Market or any assets (not including any leasehold improvements except those leasehold improvements expended during the initial buildout of each
switch site and related off-site sales office) which are at all times located at a Site or sales office in a Market or, to the extent other funds were used by the Loan Parties to acquire such assets, for general corporate purposes. 

 
 (b)  Borrowers shall utilize the proceeds of the Facility A Loan for Permitted Acquisitions, working capital or
general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures and transaction costs. 
  
 2.20    Fees.    Borrower shall pay to Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of Lenders, the fees described on Schedule 2.20 in connection with this Agreement (the
“Commitment Fees”). 
  
 2.21    Expenses.    Borrowers shall (a) pay or reimburse (i) Administrative Agent for all of its reasonable costs, fees, charges and expenses incurred or arising in connection with the
negotiation, review, preparation and execution of this Agreement, the Loan Documents or any commitment or proposal letter and (ii) Administrative Agent (and, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Lender) for all
of its reasonable costs, fees, charges and expenses incurred or arising in connection with the negotiation, review, preparation and execution of any amendment, supplement, waiver, modification to, or restructuring of this Agreement, the Obligations
or the other Loan Documents, including reasonable legal fees and disbursements, expenses, document charges and other charges and expenses of Administrative Agent, (b) pay or reimburse Administrative Agent for all of its reasonable costs, fees,
charges and expenses incurred in connection with the administration and syndication of the Loans (including printing, distribution and bank meetings) and Administrative Agent and each Lender for all of its reasonable costs, fees, charges and
expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement, protection or preservation of any rights under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, including reasonable legal fees and disbursements, audit fees and charges, and all
out-of-pocket expenses, (c) pay, indemnify and hold Lenders harmless from any and all recording and filing fees and taxes and any and all liabilities with respect to, or resulting from any delay by any Loan Party in paying, stamp, excise and other
taxes (excluding income and franchise taxes and Taxes of similar nature), if any, which may be payable or determined to be payable in connection with the execution and delivery or recordation or filing of, or consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated by, or any amendment, supplement or modification of, or any waiver or consent under or in respect of, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. All of the amounts described in this Section are referred to collectively as the
“Lenders’ Expenses,” shall be payable upon demand, and shall accrue interest at the interest rate in effect when such demand is made from five (5) days after the date of demand until paid in full. All Lenders’ Expenses,
and interest thereon, shall be part of the Obligations and shall be secured by the Collateral. The agreements in this Section 2.21 shall survive repayment of the Obligations. All Lenders’ Expenses that are outstanding on any Borrowing
Date shall be paid before or with such advance. If Borrower Representative has not paid to Lenders the amount of all Lenders’ Expenses billed to Borrowers at least five (5) Business Days before such Borrowing Date, Lenders shall be authorized
to retain from any Facility A Advance on such Borrowing Date the amount of such Lenders’ Expenses that remain unpaid. Borrowers’ obligation to pay Lenders’ Expenses shall not be limited by any limitation on the amount of the
Commitment that may be designated as available for such purposes, and any amounts so designated shall be used to pay Lenders’ Expenses accrued at the time of any Facility A Advance before any of Borrowers’ legal fees or similar expenses.

 
 32 

  
 ARTICLE 3: ASSIGNMENT AND PARTICIPATIONS; APPOINTMENT OF 
 ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT 
  
 3.1    Assignment and Participations. 
  
 (a)  Loan Parties
signatory hereto consent to any Lender’s assignment of, and/or sale of participations in, at any time or times, the Loan Documents, Loans, Letter of Credit Obligations and any Commitment or of any portion thereof or interest therein, including
any Lender’s rights, title, interests, remedies, powers or duties thereunder, whether evidenced by a writing or not. Any assignment by a Lender shall (i) except in the case of assignments to existing Lenders, require the consent of
Administrative Agent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld); (ii) require the execution of an assignment agreement (an “Assignment Agreement”) and the delivery by the assignee of a completed Administrative Questionnaire,
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G and Exhibit H, respectively, and otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to, and acknowledged by, Administrative Agent; (iii) be conditioned on such assignee Lender
representing to the assigning Lender and Administrative Agent that it is making the purchase for its own account, for investment purposes and not with a view to the distribution thereof; (iv) if a partial assignment, be in an amount at least equal
to $5,000,000, be of the same Pro Rata Share of each of the Facility A Commitment and Facility B Loan and, after giving effect to any such partial assignment, the assigning Lender shall have retained a Facility A Commitment and Facility B Loan in an
aggregate amount at least equal to $5,000,000; and (v) include a payment to Administrative Agent of an assignment fee of $3,500 by the assigning Lender. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an assignment to a Person that is engaged in the
telecommunications industry in the Markets as its primary business activity and which is a competitor of any Loan Party shall require the consent of Borrower Representative. In the case of an assignment by a Lender under this Section 3.1, the
assignee shall have, to the extent of such assignment, the same rights, benefits and obligations as it would if it were a Lender hereunder. The assigning Lender shall be relieved of its obligations hereunder with respect to its Facility A Commitment
or assigned portion thereof from and after the date of such assignment. Each Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that any assignment will give rise to a direct obligation of Borrowers to the assignee and that the assignee shall be considered to
be a “Lender.” In all instances, each Lender’s liability to make Loans hereunder shall be several and not joint and shall be limited to such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the applicable Commitment. In the event any Lender
assigns or otherwise transfers all or any part of the Obligations, any such Lender shall so notify Borrower Representative and Borrowers shall, upon the request of Administrative Agent or such Lender, execute a new Note in exchange for each Note, if
any, or portion thereof being assigned. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.1(a), any Lender may at any time pledge the Obligations held by it and such Lender’s rights under this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents to a Federal Reserve Bank, and any Lender that is an investment fund may assign the Obligations held by it and such Lender’s rights under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to another investment fund managed by the same
investment advisor; provided, however, that no such pledge to a Federal Reserve Bank or to another such investment fund shall release such Lender from such Lender’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document.

  
 (b)  Any participation by a Lender of all or any part of its Facility A Commitment shall be made with
the understanding that all amounts payable by Borrowers hereunder shall be determined as if that Lender had not sold such participation, and that the holder of any such participation shall not be entitled to require such Lender to take or omit to
take any action hereunder except actions directly affecting (i) any reduction in the principal amount of, or interest rate or Fees payable with respect to, any Loan in which such holder participates, (ii) any 

 
 33 

 extension of the scheduled amortization of the principal amount of any Loan in which such holder participates or the final maturity date
thereof, and (iii) any release of all or substantially all of the Collateral (other than in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Collateral Documents or the other Loan Documents). Solely for purposes of Sections 2.15, 2.17,
2.18 and 3.8, each Borrower acknowledges and agrees that a participation shall give rise to a direct obligation of Borrowers to the participant and the participant shall be considered to be a “Lender.” Except as set
forth in the preceding sentence no Borrower or Loan Party shall have any obligation or duty to any participant. Neither Administrative Agent nor any Lender (other than Lender selling a participation) shall have any duty to any participant and may
continue to deal solely with Lender selling a participation as if no such sale had occurred. 
  
 (c)  Except as expressly provided in this Section 3.1, no Lender shall, as between any Loan Party and that Lender, or Administrative Agent and that Lender, be relieved of any of its obligations hereunder as a result
of any sale, assignment, transfer or negotiation of, or granting of participation in, all or any part of the Loans, the Notes or other Obligations owed to such Lender. 
  
 (d)  Each Loan Party executing this Agreement shall assist any Lender permitted to sell assignments or participations under this Section 3.1 as reasonably
required to enable the assigning or selling Lender to effect any such assignment or participation, including the execution and delivery of any and all agreements, notes and other documents and instruments as shall be requested and, if requested by
Administrative Agent, the preparation of informational materials for, and the participation of management in meetings with, potential assignees or participants. Each Loan Party executing this Agreement shall certify the correctness, completeness and
accuracy of all descriptions of such Loan Parties and its affairs contained in any selling materials provided by it and all other information provided by it and included in such materials, except that any Projections delivered by such Loan Party
shall only be certified by such Loan Party as having been prepared by it in compliance with the representations contained in Section 5.10. 
  
 (e)  A Lender may furnish any information concerning Loan Parties in the possession of such Lender from time to time to assignees and participants (including prospective assignees and
participants). Each Lender shall obtain from assignees or participants confidentiality covenants substantially equivalent to those contained in Section 12.16. 
  
 (f)  So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, no Lender shall assign or sell participations in any portion of its Loans or Facility A
Commitment to a potential Lender or participant if, as of the date of the proposed assignment or sale, the assignee Lender or participant would be subject to capital adequacy or similar requirements under Section 2.18(a), increased costs
under Section 2.18(b), an inability to fund LIBOR Loans under Section 2.18(c), or withholding taxes in accordance with Section 2.17(a). 
  
 3.2    Appointment of Administrative Agent.    GE Capital is hereby appointed to act on behalf of all Lenders as Administrative Agent under this Agreement
and the other Loan Documents. The provisions of this Section 3.2 are solely for the benefit of Administrative Agent and Lenders and no Loan Party nor any other Person shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary of any of the provisions
hereof. In performing its functions and duties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, Administrative Agent shall act solely as an agent of Lenders and does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation toward or
relationship of agency or trust with or for any Loan Party or any other Person. Administrative Agent shall have no duties or responsibilities except for those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. The duties of
Administrative Agent shall be 

 
 34 

 mechanical and administrative in nature and Administrative Agent shall not have, or be deemed to have, by reason of this Agreement, any other
Loan Document or otherwise a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Lender. Neither Administrative Agent nor any of its Affiliates nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives shall be liable to any Lender
for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or in connection herewith or therewith, except for damages caused by its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct. 
  
 If Administrative Agent shall request instructions from Requisite Lenders or all affected Lenders with respect to any act or action
(including failure to act) in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, then Administrative Agent shall be entitled to refrain from such act or taking such action unless and until Administrative Agent shall have received
instructions from Requisite Lenders or all affected Lenders, as the case may be, and Administrative Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining. Administrative Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to
take any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document (a) if such action would, in the opinion of Administrative Agent, be contrary to law or the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (b) if such action would, in the opinion of
Administrative Agent, expose Administrative Agent to Environmental Liabilities or (c) if Administrative Agent shall not first be indemnified to its satisfaction against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of
taking or continuing to take any such action. Without limiting the foregoing, no Lender shall have any right of action whatsoever against Administrative Agent as a result of Administrative Agent acting or refraining from acting hereunder or under
any other Loan Document in accordance with the instructions of Requisite Lenders or all affected Lenders, as applicable. 
  
 3.3    Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Etc.    Neither Administrative Agent nor any of its Affiliates nor any of their respective directors, officers, agents or employees shall be
liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, except for damages caused by its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation of the
generality of the foregoing, Administrative Agent: (a) may treat the payee of any Note as the holder thereof until Administrative Agent receives written notice of the assignment or transfer thereof signed by such payee and in form satisfactory to
Administrative Agent; (b) may consult with legal counsel, independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such
counsel, accountants or experts; (c) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender for any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents; (d) shall not have any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents on the part of any Loan Party or to inspect the
Collateral (including the books and records) of any Loan Party; (e) shall not be responsible to any Lender for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or
any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto; and (f) shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing
(which may be by telecopy, telegram, cable or telex) believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent by the proper party or parties. 
  
 3.4    GE Capital and Affiliates.    With respect to its Facility A Commitment and its Loans hereunder, GE Capital shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not 

 
 35 

 Administrative Agent; and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated, include
GE Capital in its individual capacity. GE Capital and its Affiliates may lend money to, invest in, and generally engage in any kind of business with, any Loan Party, any of their Affiliates and any Person who may do business with or own securities
of any Loan Party or any such Affiliate, all as if GE Capital were not Administrative Agent and without any duty to account therefor to Lenders. GE Capital and its Affiliates may accept fees and other consideration from any Loan Party for services
in connection with this Agreement or otherwise without having to account for the same to Lenders. Each Lender acknowledges the potential conflict of interest between GE Capital as a Lender and GE Capital as Administrative Agent. 

 
 3.5    Lender Credit Decision.    Each Lender acknowledges that it has,
independently and without reliance upon Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on the Financial Statements referred to in Section 5.10 and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit and
financial analysis of Loan Parties and its own decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and
information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement. Each Lender acknowledges the potential conflict of interest of each other Lender as a result of
Lenders holding disproportionate interests in the Loans, and expressly consents to, and waives any claim based upon, such conflict of interest. 
  
 3.6    Indemnification.    Lenders agree to indemnify Administrative Agent (to the extent Administrative Agent is not reimbursed by Loan Parties and
without limiting the obligations of Loan Parties hereunder), ratably according to their respective Pro Rata Shares, from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or
disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against Administrative Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any action taken or omitted by
Administrative Agent in connection therewith; provided, however, that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements
resulting from Administrative Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse Administrative Agent promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any out-of-pocket expenses
(including counsel fees) incurred by Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal
advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement and each other Loan Document, to the extent that Administrative Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by Loan Parties. 
  

3.7    Successor Administrative Agent.    Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving not less than thirty
(30) days’ prior written notice thereof to Lenders and Borrower Representative. Upon any such resignation, the Requisite Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have
been so appointed by the Requisite Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the resigning Administrative Agent’s giving notice of resignation, then the resigning Administrative Agent may, on behalf of
Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a Lender, if a Lender is willing to accept such appointment, or otherwise shall be a commercial bank or financial institution or a subsidiary of a commercial bank or financial
institution if such commercial bank or financial institution is organized under the laws of the United States of America or of any State thereof and has a combined capital and surplus of at 

 
 36 

 least $300,000,000. If no successor Administrative Agent has been appointed pursuant to the foregoing by the 30th day after the date such notice
of resignation was given by the resigning Administrative Agent, such resignation shall become effective and the Requisite Lenders shall thereafter perform all the duties of Administrative Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Requisite
Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided above. Any successor Administrative Agent appointed by the Requisite Lenders hereunder shall be subject to the approval of Borrower Representative, such approval not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed; provided, however, that such approval shall not be required if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a
successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the resigning Administrative Agent. Upon the earlier of the acceptance of any appointment as
Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent or the effective date of the resigning Administrative Agent’s resignation, the resigning Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, except that any indemnity rights or other rights in favor of such resigning Administrative Agent shall continue. After any resigning Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this
Section 3.7 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. 
  
 3.8    Set Off and Sharing of Payments.    In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable law and not by
way of limitation of any such rights, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender and each holder of any Note and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time or from time to time,
without notice to any Loan Party or to any other Person, any such notice being hereby expressly waived, to set off and to appropriate and to apply any and all balances held by it at any of its offices for the account of any Borrower or Guarantor
(regardless of whether such balances are then due to such Borrower or Guarantor) and any other properties or assets at any time held or owing by that Lender, that holder or that Affiliate to or for the credit or for the account of any Borrower or
Guarantor against and on account of any of the Obligations which are not paid when due. Any Lender or holder of any Note or any Affiliate of either exercising a right to set off or otherwise receiving any payment on account of the Obligations in
excess of its Pro Rata Share of the Obligations shall purchase for cash (and the other Lenders or holders shall sell) such participations in each such other Lender’s or holder’s Pro Rata Share of the Obligations as would be necessary to
cause such Lender or holder to share the amount so set off or otherwise received with each other Lender or holder in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares. Each Loan Party agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that (a) any
Lender or holder may exercise its right to set off with respect to amounts in excess of its Pro Rata Share of the Obligations and may sell participations in such amount so set off to other Lenders and holders and (b) any Lender or holder so
purchasing a participation in the Loans made or other Obligations held by other Lenders or holders may exercise all rights of set off, bankers’ lien, counterclaim or similar rights with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender
or holder were a direct holder of the Loans and the other Obligations in the amount of such participation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if all or any portion of the set off amount or payment otherwise received is thereafter recovered from Lender,
holder or Affiliate that has exercised the right of set off, the purchase of participations by that Lender shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored without interest. 

 
 37 

  
 3.9    Facility A Advances; Payments; Non-Funding Lenders;
Information; Actions in Concert. 
  
 (a)  Facility A Advances; Payments. 

 
 (i)  Administrative Agent shall notify Lenders, promptly after receipt of a Borrowing Certificate and in any event
prior to 3:00 p.m. (New York time) on the date such Borrowing Certificate is received, by telecopy, telephone or other similar form of transmission. Each Lender shall make the amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such Facility A Advance
available to Administrative Agent in same day funds by wire transfer to Administrative Agent’s account as set forth in Schedule 3.9 not later than 3:00 p.m. (New York time) on the requested funding date in the case of a Base Rate Loan
and not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the requested funding date in the case of a LIBOR Loan. After receipt of such wire transfers (or, in Administrative Agent’s sole discretion, before receipt of such wire transfers), subject to the
terms hereof, Administrative Agent shall make the requested Facility A Advance to Borrower Representative to the account of Borrower Representative specified on Schedule 3.9. All payments by each Lender shall be made without set off,
counterclaim or deduction of any kind. 
  
 (ii)  All Payments due hereunder and under the Notes shall be
made to Administrative Agent by wire transfer to the account specified on Schedule 3.9 no later than 1:00 p.m. (New York time) on the date due. Payments received after such time shall be deemed to have been made on the next Business Day. On
each Business Day that Administrative Agent receives a payment with respect to the Loans, Administrative Agent will advise each Lender by telephone or telecopy of the amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of principal, interest and Fees paid
for the benefit of Lenders with respect to each applicable Loan. Provided that such Lender has funded all payments or Facility A Advances required to be made by it and has purchased all participations required to be purchased by it under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents as of such date, Administrative Agent will pay to each Lender such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such payment. Such payments shall be made by wire transfer to such Lender’s account (as specified by such
Lender in Schedule 3.9 or the applicable Assignment Agreement) not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York time) on the next Business Day following receipt. To the extent that any Lender (a “Non-Funding Lender”) has failed to fund all
such payments and Facility A Advances or failed to fund the purchase of all such participations, Administrative Agent shall be entitled to set off the funding short-fall against that Non-Funding Lender’s Pro Rata Share of all payments received
from Borrowers. 
  
 (b)  Availability of Lender’s Pro Rata
Share.    Administrative Agent may assume that each Lender will make its Pro Rata Share of each Facility A Advance available to Administrative Agent on each funding date. If such Pro Rata Share is not, in fact, paid to
Administrative Agent by such Lender when due, Administrative Agent will be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Lender without set off, counterclaim or deduction of any kind. If any Lender fails to pay the amount of its Pro Rata Share
forthwith upon Administrative Agent’s demand, Administrative Agent shall promptly notify Borrower Representative and Borrowers shall immediately repay such amount to Administrative Agent. Nothing in this Section 3.9(b) or elsewhere in
this Agreement or the other Loan Documents shall be deemed to require Administrative Agent to advance funds on behalf of any Lender or to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Facility A Commitment hereunder or to prejudice any
rights that any Loan Party may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder. To the extent that Administrative Agent advances funds to Borrowers on behalf of any Lender and is not reimbursed therefor on the same
Business Day as such Facility A Advance is made, 

 
 38 

 Administrative Agent shall be entitled to retain for its account all interest accrued on such Facility A Advance until reimbursed by the
applicable Lender. 
  
 (c)  Return of Payments. 
  
 (i)  If Administrative Agent pays an amount to a Lender under this Agreement in the belief or expectation that a related
payment has been or will be received by Administrative Agent from Borrowers and such related payment is not received by Administrative Agent, then Administrative Agent will be entitled to recover such amount from such Lender on demand without set
off, counterclaim or deduction of any kind. 
  
 (ii)  If Administrative Agent determines at any time that
any amount received by Administrative Agent under this Agreement must be returned to any Borrower or paid to any other Person pursuant to any insolvency law or otherwise, then, notwithstanding any other term or condition of this Agreement or any
other Loan Document, Administrative Agent will not be required to distribute any portion thereof to any Lender. In addition, each Lender will repay to Administrative Agent on demand any portion of such amount that Administrative Agent has
distributed to such Lender, together with interest at such rate, if any, as Administrative Agent is required to pay to Borrowers or such other Person, without set off, counterclaim or deduction of any kind. 
  
 (d)  Non-Funding Lenders.    The failure of any Non-Funding Lender to make any Facility A Advance or
any payment required by it hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender (each such other Lender, an “Other Lender”) of its obligations to make such Facility A Advance, but neither any Other Lender nor Administrative Agent shall be
responsible for the failure of any Non-Funding Lender to make a Facility A Advance or to purchase a participation required hereunder. Notwithstanding anything set forth herein to the contrary, a Non-Funding Lender shall not have any voting or
consent rights under or with respect to any Loan Document or constitute a “Lender” (or be included in the calculation of “Requisite Lenders” hereunder) for any voting or consent rights under or with respect to any
Loan Document. 
  
 (e)  Dissemination of Information.    Administrative Agent
will use reasonable efforts to provide Lenders with any notice of an Event of Default received by Administrative Agent from, or delivered by Administrative Agent to, any Loan Party, with notice of any Event of Default of which Administrative Agent
has actually become aware and with notice of any action taken by Administrative Agent following any Event of Default; provided, however, that Administrative Agent shall not be liable to any Lender for any failure to do so, except to
the extent that such failure is attributable to Administrative Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Lenders acknowledge that each Loan Party is required to provide Financial Statements and Collateral Reports to Lenders hereunder and
agrees that Administrative Agent shall have no duty to provide the same to Lenders. 
  
 (f)  Actions in
Concert.    Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, each Lender hereby agrees with each other Lender that no Lender shall take any action to protect or enforce its rights arising out of this Agreement or
the Notes (other than exercising any rights of set off) without first obtaining the prior written consent of Requisite Lenders, it being the intent of Lenders that any such action to protect or enforce rights under this Agreement and the Notes shall
be taken in concert and at the direction or with the consent of Administrative Agent. 

 
 39 

  
 3.10    Syndication and Documentation
Agents.    The Syndication Agent and the Documentation Agent shall have no duties, responsibilities or obligations under this Agreement. 
  
 ARTICLE 4: COLLATERAL AND SECURITY AGREEMENT 
  
 4.1    Grant of Security Interest.    To secure the prompt and complete payment, performance and observance of all of the Obligations (specifically including each Loan Party’s
Obligations arising under the provisions of Article 10), each Loan Party hereby grants, assigns, conveys, mortgages, pledges, hypothecates and transfers to Administrative Agent, for itself and the benefit of Lenders, a continuing Lien upon
all of such Loan Party’s right, title and interest in and to the following kinds and types of property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired or arising, wherever located, together with all substitutions therefor and all accessions,
replacements and renewals thereof, and in all proceeds and products thereof (collectively, the “Collateral”): 
  
 (a)  all existing and future accounts, accounts receivable and rights to payment and (i) all accounts receivable created by or arising from all sales or leases of goods or rendition of services by such Loan Party to its
customers or subscribers; (ii) all unpaid seller’s rights (including rescission, replevin, reclamation and stopping in transit) relating to the foregoing or arising therefrom; (iii) all rights to any goods represented by any of the foregoing,
including returned or repossessed goods; (iv) all reserves and credit balances arising from any of the foregoing; (v) all guarantees or collateral for any of the foregoing; and (vi) all insurance policies or rights relating to any of the foregoing
(collectively, “Accounts”); 
  
 (b)  all existing and future instruments, chattel paper,
documents of title, securities, contracts, agreements, licenses, easements, grants and rights now or hereafter entered into or acquired by such Loan Party, as modified, replaced or supplemented from time to time, including (i) all capacity usage
agreements and other agreements with carriers, customers or subscribers which constitute five percent (5%) or more of such Loan Party’s revenues, (ii) all purchase agreements and supply agreements and related warranty rights, (iii) all
operating agreements, (iv) all interconnection agreements, (v) all other System Agreements and (vi) all insurance policies (collectively, “Contracts”); 
  
 (c)  all equipment, furniture and fixtures, switches, towers, electronics, transmitting equipment, software, cabling, hardware, devices and components now or
hereafter owned by such Loan Party, and any and all additions, substitutions and replacements to or of any of the foregoing, together with all attachments, components, parts, improvements, upgrades and accessions installed thereon or affixed thereto
(collectively, “Equipment”); 
  
 (d)  all general intangibles and intangible property,
including rights under Contracts, rights to payment of any kind, insurance proceeds and amounts due under insurance policies, deposit accounts, patent rights, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, trade names, customer lists, goodwill,
registrations, licenses, license rights, rights in intellectual property, software, software licenses, computer programming (including source codes, object codes and all other embodiments of computer programming or information), tax refunds and
benefits, corporate and other business records, refunds and indemnification rights, all amounts owed at any time to such Loan Party (to the extent permitted by applicable law in effect at any time and subject to Section 4.2), all rights that
such Loan Party may have at any time in any Regulatory Authorization, including any rights to payment upon any transfer of any Regulatory Authorization, or any other transfer or transaction intended to result in a transfer of such a Regulatory
Authorization, or the obtaining of FCC or PUC authority for another Person to operate a telecommunications system in the area instead of such Loan Party, all rights to receive 

 
 40 

  
 payment or property upon any assignment, transfer, sale or surrender of any other Collateral and all
other intangible personal property of such Loan Party of every kind and nature (collectively, “General Intangibles”); 
  
 (e)  all merchandise, inventory and goods now or hereafter owned by such Loan Party, together with all goods and materials used or usable in manufacturing, processing, packaging or shipping such merchandise,
inventory and goods in all states of production, from raw materials through work-in-progress to finished goods (collectively, “Inventory”); 
  
 (f)  all Deposit Accounts; 
  
 (g)  all
Investment Property; 
  
 (h)  all Letter of Credit Rights; 
  
 (i)  all books and records relating to the Collateral; 
  
 (j)  all other goods and personal property of such Loan Party whether tangible or intangible wherever located; 
  
 (k)  all property of such Loan Party held by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party, including all property of
every description, in the possession or custody of or in transit to the Administrative Agent or such Secured Party for any purpose, including safekeeping, collection or pledge, for the account of such Loan Party or as to which such Loan Party may
have any right or power; and 
  
 (l)  all proceeds and products of any of the foregoing, including (i) any
and all proceeds of any insurance, indemnity, warranty or guaranty payable to such Loan Party from time to time with respect to any of the Collateral, (ii) any and all payments (in any form whatsoever) made or due and payable to such Loan Party from
time to time in connection with any requisition, confiscation, condemnation, seizure or forfeiture of all or any part of any other Collateral by any Governmental Authority (or any Person acting under color of governmental authority), (iii) any and
all other amounts from time to time paid or payable under or in connection with any other Collateral and (iv) any and all cash proceeds and non-cash proceeds in the form of Equipment, Inventory, Contracts, Accounts, General Intangibles, chattel
paper, documents, instruments, securities or other proceeds (collectively, “Proceeds”). 
  
 4.2    Regulatory Authorizations.    Administrative Agent and each Lender acknowledge and recognize that each Loan Party’s assignment of or grant of a security interest in its
Regulatory Authorizations may be subject to restrictions imposed by the FCC or PUC on such Loan Party’s ability to assign its interest in or transfer control of any Regulatory Authorizations. Likewise, Administrative Agent and each Lender
acknowledge and recognize that each Loan Party’s assignment of or grant of a security interest in any state or local franchises or licenses may be subject to similar government restrictions. Each Loan Party acknowledges, however, that the value
of the Regulatory Authorizations is a critical part of the Collateral package, and agrees to use its best efforts to effect the transfer of such Regulatory Authorizations to Administrative Agent, on behalf of Lenders, or its designee upon the
occurrence of an Event of Default. 
  
 4.3    Priority of Security
Interests.    The security interests granted in Section 4.1 by each Loan Party to Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties are and shall be continuing 

 
 41 

  
 and indefeasible first-priority security interests in the Collateral which may be perfected by filing
under the UCC, subject to no Liens except for Liens permitted under Section 9.2. 
  
 4.4    Pledge Agreements.    Each Loan Party hereby represents and warrants that valid, first-priority security interests have been granted by Holdings to Administrative Agent, on behalf
of Secured Parties, pursuant to the Holdings Pledge Agreement, in 100% of the Stock of each Borrower, together with an irrevocable proxy to vote such Stock if an Event of Default should occur, and that all existing stock certificates, warrants and
other instruments evidencing ownership, together with executed blank stock powers, have been delivered to Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties. Each Loan Party shall also grant to Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties valid,
first-priority security interests in 100% of the Stock of all other present or future Subsidiaries of such Loan Party having assets in excess of $100,000 and an irrevocable proxy to vote such Stock if an Event of Default should occur. 

 
 4.5    Further Documentation; Pledge of Instruments; Chattel Paper 
  
 (a)  At any time and from time to time, upon the written request of the Administrative Agent or Requisite Lenders, and at the
sole expense of Loan Parties, each Loan Party shall promptly execute, deliver and record any documents, instruments, agreements and amendments, and take all such further action, as the Administrative Agent or Requisite Lenders may deem necessary or
reasonably desirable in obtaining the full benefits of this Agreement and of the rights and powers herein granted, including (i) filing any financing or continuation statements under the UCC with respect to the Liens granted hereunder or under any
other Loan Document, (ii) transferring Collateral to the Administrative Agent’s possession (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) if such Collateral consists of any chattel paper, promissory notes or other instruments or certificated
securities or if a Lien on such Collateral can be perfected only by possession, or if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or Requisite Lenders, (iii) obtaining, or using its reasonable best efforts to obtain Landlord Consents in
accordance with this Agreement, (iv) obtaining signed acknowledgements of the Administrative Agent’s Liens from bailees having possession of Loan Parties’ goods; and (v) obtaining signed control agreements with respect to all (A) Deposit
Accounts and (B) Investment Property not in certificated form excluding any Deposit Accounts containing Cash and/or uncertificated Investment Property with a value not to exceed $50,000 in the aggregate at any time for all such Deposit Accounts and
Investment Property. Each Loan Party also hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, to file any such financing or continuation statements without the signature of such Loan Party, or with a copy or telecopy
of such Loan Party’s signature, to the extent permitted by applicable law, or to execute any financing statement or amendment thereof on behalf of such Loan Party as such Loan Party’s attorney-in-fact. If any amount payable under or in
connection with any of the Collateral is or shall become evidenced by any promissory note or other instrument or any certificated securities, such note, instrument or certificate shall be immediately pledged and delivered to Administrative Agent on
behalf of the Secured Parties hereunder, duly endorsed in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or Requisite Lenders. 
  
 (b)  Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, Loan Parties shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original of all letters of credit issued to it as a beneficiary along with a collateral assignment thereof
evidencing the consent to such assignment by the issuer of the letter of credit and each correspondent or confirming bank, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. 
  
 (c)  All chattel paper shall be marked with the following legend: “This writing and the obligations evidenced or secured
hereby are subject to the security interest of General Electric 

 
 42 

  
 Capital Corporation, as Administrative Agent, for the benefit of Administrative Agent and
Lenders.” Loan Parties shall take all steps necessary to grant the Administrative Agent control of all Electronic Chattel Paper in accordance with the UCC as revised effective July 1, 2001. 
  
 (d)  Each Loan Party shall keep and maintain, in accordance with GAAP and prudent business standards for companies engaged in
the same or similar businesses, at its own cost and expense, satisfactory and complete records of the Collateral, including a record of any and all payments received and any and all credits granted with respect to the Collateral and all other
dealings with the Collateral. Each Loan Party shall mark its books and records pertaining to the Collateral to evidence this Agreement and the Liens granted hereby. Each Loan Party shall duly register on its books and records pertaining to the Stock
the security interests of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties in such Stock. 
  
 4.6    Accounts, Etc.    Each Loan Party shall be entitled to collect any Accounts and General Intangibles until the occurrence of an Event of Default, during the continuance of which
Administrative Agent or Requisite Lenders may restrict or terminate such authority. Each Loan Party agrees that, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties shall be entitled to assume any or all of
the Contracts, Accounts or General Intangibles in the place of such Loan Party (without releasing such Loan Party from liability thereunder). 
  
 4.7    Further Identification of Collateral.    Each Loan Party shall furnish to Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties from time to time
statements and schedules further identifying and describing the Collateral and each location thereof and such other reports in connection with the Collateral as Administrative Agent or Requisite Lenders may reasonably request, all in reasonable
detail. 
  
 4.8    Remedies.    Administrative Agent on behalf of
Secured Parties shall have all the rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC, and shall be entitled to exercise any and all remedies available under this Article 4 or Article 10 or otherwise available at law or in equity
upon the occurrence of an Event of Default. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, each Loan Party hereby waives presentment, demand, protest or any notice (to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law) of any kind in connection with
this Agreement or any Collateral. 
  
 4.9    Standard of
Care.    Administrative Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any of the Collateral in its possession if it takes such action for that purpose as Borrower Representative
requests in writing, but Administrative Agent’s failure to comply with any such request shall not of itself be deemed a failure to exercise reasonable care, and no failure of Administrative Agent to preserve or protect any rights with respect
to such Collateral against prior parties, or to do any act with respect to the preservation of such Collateral not so requested by Borrower Representative, shall be deemed a failure to exercise reasonable care in the custody or preservation of such
Collateral. 
  
 4.10    Advances to Protect Collateral.    All
insurance expense and all expenses of protecting, storing, warehousing, insuring, handling, maintaining and shipping the Collateral (including all rent payable by any Loan Party to any landlord of any premises where any of the Collateral may be
located) and any and all Taxes shall be borne and paid by such Loan Party. Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties may (but shall not be obligated to) make advances to preserve, protect or obtain any of the Collateral, including advances
to cure defaults under any of the Contracts or advances to pay Taxes, insurance and the like, and all such 

 
 43 

  
 advances shall become part of the Obligations owing to Lenders hereunder and shall be payable to
Administrative Agent on demand, with interest thereon from the date of such advance until paid at the Default Rate applicable to Base Rate Loans in effect on the date of such advance. 
  
 4.11    License to Use.    Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties is hereby granted a non-exclusive license or
other right to use without charge during the continuance of an Event of Default any Loan Party’s labels, patents, copyrights, rights of use of any name, trade secrets, trade names, trademarks and advertising matter, or any tangible or
intangible property or rights of a similar nature, as they pertain to the Collateral, in advertising for sale and selling any Collateral, and such Loan Party’s rights under all licenses and all franchise agreements shall inure to the benefit of
Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties. 
  
 4.12    Benefit of
Lenders.    All Liens granted or contemplated hereby shall be for the benefit of Administrative Agent and Lenders, and all Proceeds or payments realized from the Collateral in accordance herewith shall be applied to the
Obligations in accordance with the terms provided herein. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the amount realizable hereunder in respect of the Collateral pledged by any Borrower shall not exceed the Obligations of such Borrower under
Section 11.6 and Article 2. 
  
 4.13    Release of
Collateral.    Upon any sale of assets permitted herein and application of the proceeds as required by Section 2.10, the Liens granted by Loan Parties to Administrative Agent for the benefit of Secured Parties shall be
released and Administrative Agent shall, upon request of Borrower Representative, execute and deliver to Borrower Representative appropriate executed UCC-3s confirming such release. 
  
 ARTICLE 5: REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 
  
 Each Loan Party hereby represents and warrants, jointly and severally, to Administrative Agent and each Lender, with respect to all Loan Parties, as follows: 
  
 5.1    Organization and Qualification.    Each Loan Party is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of its state of organization. Each Loan Party is duly qualified to do business and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the failure to receive or retain such qualification could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. As to any Loan Party that is a limited liability company, each manager is duly organized, validly existing, in good standing under the laws of its state of organization, and duly qualified to do business and in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which the failure to receive or retain such qualification could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 
  
 5.2    Authority and Authorization.    Each Loan Party has all requisite corporate or limited liability company right, power, authority and legal right to carry on its business,
to own or lease its properties and to execute and deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement, to make the borrowings provided for herein, and to execute and deliver and to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents. Each Loan
Party’s execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate or limited liability company proceedings on the part of each Loan Party and the manager of any Loan Party that is
a limited liability company. 
  
 5.3    Execution and Binding
Effect.    This Agreement, the Notes and all other Loan Documents have been or will be duly and validly executed and delivered by each Loan Party, and constitute or, when executed and delivered, will constitute, the legal,
valid and binding 

 
 44 

 obligations of such Loan Party enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally. 
  
 5.4    Governmental Authorizations.    Except for the consents identified on Schedule 5.4 (the “Required Consents”), no authorization, consent, approval, license,
exemption or other action by, and no registration, qualification, designation, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Authority (other than the filing of financing statements and continuation statements) is or will be necessary in connection
with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Documents by each Loan Party, consummation by each Loan Party of the transactions herein or therein contemplated, including obtaining the Loans and granting security for
the Obligations, performance of or compliance by each Loan Party with the terms and conditions hereof or thereof or the legality, validity and enforceability hereof or thereof. 
  
 5.5    Regulatory Authorizations.    Loan Parties hold all authorizations, permits and licenses required by the FCC or the
PUC or any Communications Law for the conduct of their business as now conducted and as proposed in the Business Plan to be conducted, and all such Regulatory Authorizations are in full force and effect, are subject to no further administrative or
judicial review and are therefore final. No Lender, by reason of the execution, delivery and performance (other than the enforcement of remedies) of any of the Loan Documents, will be subject to the regulation or control of either the FCC or the
PUC. The Regulatory Authorizations are described on Schedule 5.5. 
  
 5.6    Agreements
and Other Documents.    As of the date hereof, Schedule 5.6 contains a list of all of the following agreements or documents to which such Loan Party is subject: (a) supply agreements and purchase agreements not
terminable by such Loan Party within sixty (60) days following written notice issued by such Loan Party and involving transactions in excess of $1,000,000 per annum; (b) any lease of Equipment having a remaining term of one year or longer and
requiring aggregate rental and other payments in excess of $500,000 per annum; (c) licenses and permits held by such Loan Party, the absence of which could be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; (d) instruments or documents
evidencing Indebtedness of such Loan Party and any security interest granted by such Loan Party with respect thereto; and (e) instruments and agreements evidencing the issuance of any equity securities, warrants, rights or options to purchase equity
securities of a Borrower. Upon the request of Administrative Agent, Loan Parties will provide Lenders with accurate and complete copies of the foregoing agreements or documents. 
  
 5.7    Absence of Conflicts.    The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents, the
consummation of the transactions herein or therein contemplated and the performance of or compliance with the terms and conditions hereof or thereof by each Loan Party will not (a) violate any applicable Law; (b) conflict with or result in a breach
of or a default under the Organizational Documents of such Loan Party or any material agreement or instrument to which such Loan Party is a party or by which such Loan Party or its properties are bound; or (c) result in the creation or imposition of
any Lien upon any property (now owned or hereafter acquired) of such Loan Party except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement. 
  
 5.8    No Restrictions.    No Loan Party is a party or subject to any contract, agreement or restriction in its Organizational Documents that materially and adversely affects
its business or the use or ownership of any of its properties or operation of its business as contemplated in its 

 
 45 

  
 Business Plan. Loan Parties’ strategy is to deploy owned switching equipment and to lease
transmission capacity from others. No Loan Party is a party or subject to any contract or agreement which restricts its right or ability to incur Indebtedness, other than as set forth on Schedule 5.8, none of which prohibits such Loan
Party’s execution of or compliance with this Agreement. No Loan Party has agreed or consented to cause or permit in the future (upon the happening of a contingency or otherwise) any of the Collateral, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to
be subject to a Lien that is not a Permitted Encumbrance. 
  
 5.9     Government
Contracts.     Except as set forth in Schedule 5.9, as of the date hereof, no Loan Party is a party to any contract or agreement with any Governmental Authority and no Loan Party’s Accounts are subject to the
Federal Assignment of Claims Act, as amended (31 U.S.C. § 3727) or any similar state or local law. 
  
 5.10    Financial Statements; Business Plan.    Borrower Representative has furnished to Lenders the most recent annual or quarterly Financial Statements of Holdings, certified by a
Responsible Officer of Holdings, including balance sheets and related statements of income, retained earnings and cash flow, as described on Schedule 5.10. Such Financial Statements (including the notes thereto) present fairly the financial
condition of Loan Parties on a consolidated basis as of the end of such fiscal period and the results of its operations and the changes in its financial position for the fiscal period then ended, all in conformity with GAAP applied on a basis
consistent with that of the preceding fiscal period. As of the date hereof, no Loan Party has any obligation or liability (absolute, contingent, liquidated or unliquidated) material to Loan Parties taken as a whole, which are required to be
disclosed in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for those reflected in the Financial Statements discussed on Schedule 5.10, and since the date hereof has incurred no such obligation or liability, except as permitted
by this Agreement. The Projections and pro forma financial statements delivered by Borrower Representative to Administrative Agent, on behalf of Lenders, as part of the Business Plan, a copy of which has been delivered prior to the date hereof, were
prepared in good faith, based on reasonable assumptions. 
  
 5.11    Financial Accounting
Practices.    Loan Parties have made and kept books, records and accounts which, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect their respective transactions and dispositions of their assets, and Loan Parties maintain a
system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (a) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (b) transactions are recorded as necessary (i) to permit
preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and (ii) to maintain accountability for assets, (c) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (d) the recorded
accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. 
  
 5.12    Deposit and Disbursement Accounts.    Schedule 5.12 lists all banks and other financial institutions at which any Loan Party maintains
Deposit Accounts as of the date hereof, including any disbursement accounts, and such Schedule correctly identifies the name, address and telephone number of each depository, the name in which the account is held, a description of the purpose of the
account, and the complete account number. 
  
 5.13    Insurance.    Schedule 5.13 lists all insurance policies of any nature maintained, as of the date hereof, for current occurrences by each Loan Party, as well as a summary
of the terms of each such policy. 

 
 46 

  
 5.14    Accurate and Complete
Disclosure.    No representation or warranty made by any Loan Party in this Agreement or any other Loan Document and no statement made by any Loan Party in any financial statement, certificate, report, exhibit or document
furnished by such Loan Party to Administrative Agent pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement (including any filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the FCC or the PUC) is or was false or misleading as of the date made in any
material respect (including by omission of material information necessary to make such representation, warranty or statement not misleading). There are no facts that would reasonably be expected to evidence or create a Material Adverse Effect which
have not been set forth in the Financial Statements referred to in Section 5.10 or otherwise disclosed in writing to Administrative Agent and Lenders prior to the Effective Date. 
  
 5.15    No Event of Default; Compliance with Material Agreements.    No event has occurred and is continuing and no condition
exists which constitutes a Default or an Event of Default. As of the date hereof, no Loan Party is in violation of any term of any material agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or its properties are bound that would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 
  
 5.16    Labor
Matters.    As of the date hereof, (a) no strikes or other material labor disputes against any Loan Party are pending or, to any Loan Party’s knowledge, threatened; (b) hours worked by and payment made to employees of
each Loan Party comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act and each other federal, state, local or foreign law applicable to such matter; (c) all payments due from any Loan Party for employee health and welfare insurance have been paid or accrued as a
liability on the books of such Loan Party; (d) except as set forth in Schedule 5.16, no Loan Party is a party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement, management agreement, consulting agreement or any employment agreement (and,
upon the request of Administrative Agent, true and complete copies of any agreements described on Schedule 5.16 will be delivered to Administrative Agent and each Lender); (e) there is no organizing activity involving any Loan Party pending
or, to any Loan Party’s knowledge, threatened by any labor union or group of employees; (f) there are no representation proceedings pending or, to any Loan Party’s knowledge, threatened with the National Labor Relations Board, and no labor
organization or group of employees of any Loan Party has made a pending demand for recognition; and (g) except as set forth in Schedule 5.16, there are no complaints or charges against any Loan Party pending or, to the knowledge of the
executive officers of Holdings, threatened to be filed with any Governmental Authority or arbitrator based on, arising out of, in connection with, or otherwise relating to the employment or termination of employment by any Loan Party of any
individual which, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 
  
 5.17    Litigation.    Except as set forth in Schedule 5.17, there is no pending action, suit or threatened proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority against or affecting
any Loan Party or any of its properties, rights or licenses which if adversely decided could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 
  
 5.18    Rights to Property.    Each Loan Party has good and marketable title, subject only to the Permitted Encumbrances, to the Collateral, to all other
personal and real property purported to be owned by it and to all property reflected in the most recent balance sheet referred to in Section 5.10 (except as sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business as no longer used or
useful in the conduct of the business). Schedule 5.18 lists as of the date hereof (i) all Sites and Site Leases, (ii) all other real property owned by each Loan Party, and (iii) all material Equipment of each Loan Party and its location or
proposed location. Each Loan Party 

 
 47 

  
 has entered into the Site Leases described on Schedule 5.18. Such Site Leases are in full force
and effect and are not subject to termination because of default or otherwise. 
  
 5.19    Intentionally Omitted. 
  
 5.20    Taxes.    Each Loan Party’s federal tax identification number is set forth on Schedule 1. All tax returns required to be filed by each Loan Party have been properly
prepared, executed and filed, and all Taxes upon such Loan Party or upon any of its respective properties, incomes, sales or franchises which are shown to be due and payable thereon have been paid, other than Taxes or assessments the validity or
amount of which such Loan Party is contesting in good faith. The reserves and provisions for taxes on the books of each Loan Party are adequate for all open years and for its current fiscal period. 
  
 5.21    No Material Adverse Change.    Since the date of the Financial Statements
referenced in Section 5.10, there has been no Material Adverse Change. 
  
 5.22    No
Regulatory Event.     No Regulatory Event has occurred and is continuing. 
  
 5.23    Solvency.    After giving effect to (a) the Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations outstanding on the Effective Date (after giving effect to the Facility B Loan Payment) or on
such other date as the Facility A Advances and Letter of Credit Obligations requested hereunder are made or extended, (b) the disbursement of the proceeds of such Loans pursuant to the instructions of Borrower Representative and (c) the payment and
accrual of all transaction costs in connection with the foregoing, Loan Parties, taken as a whole, are Solvent. 
  
 5.24    Trade Relations.    There exists no actual or threatened termination, cancellation or limitation of, or any modification or change in, the business relationship between any Loan
Party and any customer or supplier that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or to prevent Loan Parties from conducting their business after the consummation of the financing contemplated by this Agreement in substantially
the same manner as is contemplated in the Business Plan. 
  
 5.25    No Brokerage
Fees.    No brokerage or other fee, commission or compensation is to be paid by any Loan Party to any Person in connection with the Loans to be made hereunder except as contemplated herein. Each Loan Party jointly and
severally hereby indemnifies each Indemnified Person against any claims brought against such Indemnified Person for brokerage fees or commissions of any Person based on an agreement with such Loan Party and agrees to pay all expenses incurred by
such Indemnified Person in connection with the defense of any action or proceeding brought to collect any such brokerage fees or commissions. 
  
 5.26    Margin Stock; Regulation U.    No Loan Party is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit
for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock. The making of the Facility A Advances and the use of the proceeds thereof will not violate Regulation U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. 
  
 5.27    Investment Company; Public Utility Holding Company.    No Loan Party is an
“investment company” or a “company controlled by an investment company” or an “affiliated person” or “promoter” or “principal underwriter” for, an
“investment company,” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or a “holding company,” or a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company,” or an
“affiliate” of a “holding company” or of a 

 
 48 

  
 “subsidiary company” of a “holding company,” within the meaning of the
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended. 
  
 5.28    Personal Holding Company;
Subchapter S.    No Loan Party is a “personal holding company” as defined in Section 542 of the Code, or a “Subchapter S” corporation within the meaning of the Code. 
  
 5.29    Securities Act, Etc.    The Notes are not required to be registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under the securities laws of any state. 
  
 5.30    ERISA.    (i) With respect to any Plan, there is no Reportable Event currently under consideration by the PBGC which may reasonably result in any material liability to the PBGC
with respect to any Plan, (ii) no Plan has been terminated, (iii) no trustee has been appointed by any United States District Court to administer any Plan, (iv) the PBGC has not instituted proceedings to terminate any Plan or to appoint a trustee to
administer any such Plan, (v) no Loan Party or Affiliate of a Loan Party has withdrawn, completely or partially, from any Plan and (vi) no Loan Party or Affiliate of a Loan Party has incurred secondary liability for withdrawal liability payments
under any Plan. 
  
 5.31    Intellectual Property.    Each Loan Party
owns or possesses the right to use all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, know-how, franchises, Software and Software Licenses necessary for the operation of its business, free from burdensome restrictions that could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All such rights are described on Schedule 5.31. 
  
 5.32    Environmental Warranties.    Each Loan Party is in compliance with all Environmental Laws applicable to such Loan Party or its business or to the real or personal property owned,
leased or operated by such Loan Party, except for such non-compliances as in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Loan Party has received notice of, or is aware of, any violation or alleged violation,
or any liability or asserted liability, under any Environmental Law, with respect to such Loan Party or its business or its premises. The only premises occupied by any Loan Party are office spaces in multi-tenant commercial office buildings.

  
 5.33    Security Interests.    The provisions of Article 4
are effective to create in favor of Administrative Agent, on behalf of Secured Parties, a legal, valid and enforceable Lien on or security interest in all of the Collateral, and, when the recordings and filings described on Schedule 5.33 have
been effected in the public offices listed on said Schedule 5.33, this Agreement will create a perfected first priority security interest in all right, title, estate and interest of each Loan Party in the Collateral which may be perfected by
filing, subject to no Liens except for Permitted Encumbrances. All action necessary or desirable to protect and perfect such security interest in each item of the Collateral has been duly taken. The recordings and filings shown on said Schedule
5.33 are all the actions necessary or advisable in order to establish, protect and perfect the interest of Administrative Agent, on behalf of Secured Parties, in the Collateral. 
  
 5.34    Place of Business.    The chief executive office of each Loan Party is identified on Schedule 5.34. Each Loan
Party’s principal place of business in the state(s) where a Site is located is identified on Schedule 5.34. Each Loan Party’s records concerning the Collateral are kept at one or both of these addresses. 

 
 49 

  
 5.35    Location of Collateral.  The
Collateral is and will be kept at the locations identified by Loan Party and type of Collateral on Schedule 5.35 or such other locations as may be permitted under Section 9.4. 
  
 5.36    Validity of Contracts and Accounts.    Each Contract, General Intangible and Account is, or will be when it is
created, a bona fide, valid and legally enforceable property or right of a Loan Party and, so far as such Loan Party knows, of any other party thereto, except for those that do not, in the aggregate, materially and adversely affect the value of the
Collateral. All consents, licenses, approvals or authorizations of, or declarations with, any Governmental Authority required in connection with each Loan Party’s execution, delivery or performance of each Contract, General Intangible or
Account have been or will be duly and timely obtained, effected or given and are or will be in full force and effect except where all failures to do or be so, in the aggregate, do not materially and adversely affect the value of the Collateral. No
amount payable under or in connection with any of the Contracts, General Intangibles or Accounts are evidenced by any chattel paper or any promissory notes or other instruments that have not been delivered to Administrative Agent on behalf of
Secured Parties. 
  
 5.37    No Defaults Under Contracts or
Accounts.    With respect to each Contract, Account and General Intangible, no default by any Loan Party or event which with the giving of notice or the passage of time would be a default has occurred and, to the knowledge of
the executive officers of Holdings, the other party or parties thereto are not in default thereunder except as referred to in Section 5.17, and each Loan Party has fully and timely performed all its material obligations thereunder. Except as
referred to in Section 5.17, the right, title and interest of such Loan Party thereunder is not subject to any defense, set off, counterclaim or claim, and none of the foregoing been asserted or alleged against such Loan Party except in
respect of such defaults, defenses, set offs, counterclaims and claims that in the aggregate do not materially adversely affect the value of the Collateral. Except as referred to in Section 5.17, the amount represented by each Loan Party to
Administrative Agent, on behalf of Lenders, from time to time as owing on any or all Accounts, Contracts or General Intangibles, will at such time be the correct amount actually and unconditionally owing by such account debtors thereunder.

  
 5.38    Subsidiaries.    No Borrower has any Subsidiaries (other
than US LEC Acquisition Co., which is a Borrower) nor any current plans to form or acquire any Subsidiary. 
  
 5.39    Assumed Names.    Except as set forth on Schedule 5.39, no Loan Party conducts business under any assumed names or trade names, or has conducted business under any other
names, or any assumed names or trade names, at any time prior to the date hereof. 
  
 5.40    Pledge Agreements; Registration of Pledge.    The Holdings Pledge Agreement is effective to grant to Administrative Agent, on behalf of Secured Parties, a legal, valid and
enforceable security interest in 100% of the Stock of each Borrower, to the extent that such security interests may be created under Article 8 and/or Article 9 of the UCC. Such security interests constitute fully perfected, first priority security
interests in such Stock and proceeds thereof, and the security interests of Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties in Holdings’ interests have been duly registered on the books and records of such Borrower. 
  
 5.41    Transactions with Affiliates.    No Affiliate and no officer or director of any
Loan Party or any individual related by blood, marriage, adoption or otherwise to any such Affiliate, officer or director, or any Person in which any such Affiliate, officer, director or individual related thereto owns any material beneficial
interest, is a party to any agreement, contract, 

 
 50 

 commitment or transaction with such Loan Party or has any material interest in any material property used by such Loan Party, except as set
forth on Schedule 5.41. 
  
 5.42    Going Concern.    Holdings
has reviewed the professional standards published by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants that are applied to determine if the going concern assumption is appropriate for an entity. Based on a review of these standards and a
confirmation of Holdings’ understanding of such standards with its outside auditors, Holdings believes that the Subordinated Debt Investment, the Deferred Amortization and the financial covenant modifications provided hereby, and the projected
operating results included in the Business Plan dated December 12, 2002, document that the Loan Parties will achieve the going concern criteria at December 31 , 2002. 
  
 ARTICLE 6: CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS 
  
 This
Agreement shall become effective upon satisfaction, or waiver by all Lenders, of the following conditions: 
  
 6.1    Closing Certificates.    Administrative Agent and each Lender shall have received the following certificates, all in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent and
Requisite Lenders and all dated the Effective Date upon which Administrative Agent may conclusively rely unless and until later certificates have been furnished to Administrative Agent and each Lender: (a) a certificate of each Loan Party signed by
a duly authorized Responsible Officer, certifying as to (i) true copies of Organizational Documents of such Loan Party in effect on such date; (ii) true copies of all corporate action (including, without limitation, a corporate resolution of its
board of directors ratifying the Loan Documents, and authorizing the Obligations and the granting of the liens and security interests in the Collateral securing the Obligations) taken by such Loan Party relative to this Agreement, the Note and the
other Loan Documents which have been properly adopted and have not been modified or amended; and (iii) the names, true signatures and incumbency of the Responsible Officers of such Loan Party authorized to execute and deliver this Agreement, the
Note and the other Loan Documents; (b) a Certificate of Good Standing (or equivalent certificate) for such Loan Party and for the managing member of any Loan Party that is a limited liability company, duly issued by the Secretary of State of each
state in which such Loan Party intends to do business; and (c) a certificate as to such other matters as Administrative Agent or any Lender shall request. 
  
 6.2    Opinions of Counsel.    Administrative Agent and each Lender shall have received the following opinions, all dated the Effective Date and all in
form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent and each Lender: 
  
 (a)    a written
opinion of counsel to each Loan Party, substantially in the form of Exhibit D, as to such matters as shall be required by Administrative Agent, any Lender or their respective counsel, including the corporate good standing of such Loan Party,
the proper adoption of any corporate resolution required hereby, the authority of the Person signing for such Loan Party, the validity, binding nature and enforceability of the Loan Agreement and related Loan Documents and the continuation of the
perfected liens and security interests granted to Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties by such Loan Party in the Collateral; and 
  
 (b)    a written opinion of regulatory counsel for Loan Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit E, as to such matters as shall be required by Administrative Agent and
its counsel, including the validity of each Loan Party’s authorizations and approvals, permits or licensing required by the Federal Communications Commission, the Public Utilities 

 
 51 

 Commission(s) and the relevant state and local utilities commissions or municipality, and all other applicable regulatory or governmental
bodies. 
  
 6.3    Closing Documents.    Administrative Agent and
Lenders shall have received the following documents, all in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, Lenders and their respective counsel: 
  
 (a)    Agreement.    This Agreement, duly executed by all Loan Parties; 
  
 (b)    Notes.    The Notes, duly executed by all Borrowers, to the order of each Lender; 
  
 (c)    Financing Statements.    All UCC-1 financing statements necessary to perfect the
Liens granted hereby by any Borrower which was not a party to the Existing Loan Agreement (each an “Additional Borrower”), duly executed by such Additional Borrower, and duly recorded in all of the offices identified on Schedule
5.33; 
  
 (d)    Pledge Amendment.    (i) The Holdings Pledge
Agreement duly executed by Holdings, along with the original pledged stock or membership interest certificates with executed blank stock powers or assignments attached thereto with respect to 100% of the Stock of any Borrower and (ii) the
Communications Pledge Agreement duly executed by US LEC Communications Inc., along with the original pledged stock certificates with executed blank stock powers attached thereto with respect to 100% of the Stock of US LEC Acquisition Inc.;

  
 (e)    Required Consents.    Evidence of the Required Consents or
a certificate of a Responsible Officer of Borrower Representative to such effect; 
  
 (f)    Control Agreements.    Except as set forth in Section 8.26(c), Loan Parties shall have obtained signed control agreements (in form and substance acceptable to
Administrative Agent in its sole and absolute discretion) with respect to any Deposit Accounts and Investment Property not in certificated form, or, to the extent any Loan Party is unable to obtain such control agreement, such Loan Party shall have
closed the account and opened a replacement account with a financial institution that has executed or contemporaneously with the opening of such account executes a control agreement; 
  
 (g)    Amendment Fee.    Administrative Agent shall have received an amendment fee in an amount equal to 0.15% of the
aggregate amount of the Facility A Commitments in effect and the Facility B Loans outstanding on the Effective Date (the “Amendment Fee”). 
  
 (h)    Pre-Closing Lien Searches.    Lien searches from all jurisdictions reasonably determined by Administrative Agent or any Lender to be appropriate,
effective as of a date reasonably close to the Effective Date, with respect to each Additional Borrower (under their present names and any previous names), reflecting no other Liens (other than Permitted Encumbrances) on any of the Collateral.

  
 6.4    No Material Adverse Change.    As of the Effective Date,
after giving effect to any Facility A Advances or outstanding Loans, there shall not have been (i) any litigation commenced which, if successful, would have a material adverse impact on any Loan Party, its Subsidiaries, their business or their
ability to repay the Loan or which would challenge the financing contemplated by this Agreement, except those litigations listed on Schedule 5.17 and (ii) since Holding’s last audited Financial Statements, any material increase in the
liabilities, liquidated or 

 
 52 

 contingent, of any Loan Party and its Subsidiaries or a material decrease in the assets of any Loan Party and its Subsidiaries. 

 
 6.5    No Existing Default or Event of Default.    No “Default”
or “Event of Default” under the Existing Loan Agreement is continuing. 
  
 6.6    Payment of Expenses.    All fees and expenses of Administrative Agent, Syndication Agent and Lenders reimbursable by Borrowers (including all fees and expenses of Weil, Gotshal
& Manges LLP and KPMG LLP) accrued through the Effective Date shall have been paid. 
  
 6.7    Facility B Loan Payment.    Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of Lenders, on or before the Effective Date the amount of $8,000,000, which amount
shall be applied to repay the Facility B Loan (the “Facility B Loan Payment”). 
  
 6.8    Subordinated Debt Investment.    Administrative Agent and Lenders shall have received satisfactory evidence that Holdings shall have received the Subordinated Debt Investment.

  
 ARTICLE 7: CONDITIONS OF LENDING 
  
 7.1    Conditions to Each Borrowing Date.    The obligation of any Lender to fund any Facility A Advance, convert or continue
any Loan or portion thereof as a LIBOR Loan or incur any Letter of Credit Obligation is subject to each Loan Party’s performance of its obligations hereunder and satisfaction of the following further conditions on the Borrowing Date for any
such Facility A Advance (including the Effective Date), the date of such conversion or continuation or the issuance of such Letter of Credit: 
  
 (a)    Borrowing Certificate.    Administrative Agent shall have received a duly executed Borrowing Certificate in the form of Exhibit B or a
request for a Letter of Credit pursuant to Annex I. 
  
 (b)    No Default or Event of
Default.    No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would exist upon the consummation of transactions to occur on such Borrowing Date. 
  
 (c)    Representations and Warranties.    The representations and warranties contained in Article 5 shall be true and
correct in all material respects on and as of such Borrowing Date hereunder both before and after giving effect thereto. 
  
 (d)    No Regulatory Event.    No Regulatory Event (in Requisite Lenders’ reasonable determination) shall have occurred and be continuing or would exist upon the consummation of
transactions to occur on such Borrowing Date. 
  
 (e)    Expenses.    All closing costs and other expenses of Administrative Agent, Syndication Agent and Co-Arrangers that are reimbursable by the Company shall have been paid in full (or
shall be paid first from such Facility A Advance as provided in Section 2.21). 
  
 (f)    Details, Proceedings and Documents.    All legal details and proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be reasonably satisfactory to
Administrative Agent and Requisite Lenders, and Administrative Agent and Requisite Lenders 

 
 53 

 shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents and proceedings in connection with such
transactions, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent and Requisite Lenders, as Administrative Agent and Requisite Lenders may from time to time request. 
  
 7.2    Affirmation of Representations and Warranties.    Any Borrowing Certificate or other request for any Facility A
Advance or Letter of Credit hereunder shall constitute a representation and warranty that (a) the representations and warranties contained in Article 5 are true and correct on and as of the date of such request with the same effect as though
made on and as of the date of such request and (b) on the date of such request no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or exists or will occur or exist after giving effect to such Facility A Advance or issuance of Letter of
Credit (for this purpose such Facility A Advance or Letter of Credit being deemed to have been made or issued, as the case may be, on the date of such request). Failure of Administrative Agent to receive notice from each Loan Party to the contrary
before the applicable Borrowing Date shall constitute a further representation and warranty by such Loan Party that (x) the representations and warranties of such Loan Party contained in the first sentence of this Section 7.2 are true and
correct on and as of such Borrowing Date with the same effect as though made on and as of such Borrowing Date, (y) on such Borrowing Date, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or exists or will occur or exist after giving
effect to such Facility A Advance or issuance and (z) on such Borrowing Date, all conditions set forth in this Article 7 have been satisfied. 
  
 7.3    Deadline for Funding Conditions.    No Lender shall have any obligation to make any Facility A Advance hereunder if all of the conditions set forth
in Article 6 and Article 7 have not been fully satisfied or waived by Requisite Lenders. 
  
 ARTICLE 8:
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS 
  
 Loan Parties hereby jointly and severally agree as to all Loan Parties to, from and
after the date hereof until the Termination Date, keep and perform fully each and all of the following covenants: 
  
 8.1    Reporting and Information Requirements. 
  
 (a)    Annual Audit Reports.    As soon as practicable, and in any event within ninety (90) days after the close of each Fiscal Year, Borrower Representative shall furnish or cause to be
furnished to Administrative Agent and Lenders audited consolidated statements of income, cash flow and retained earnings for Holdings for such Fiscal Year and a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings as of the close of such Fiscal Year, and notes to
each, all in reasonable detail, and beginning with the second full Fiscal Year after the date hereof setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the preceding Fiscal Year, with such statements and balance sheet to be certified
without qualification by independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing selected by Borrower Representative and reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent and Requisite Lenders. 
  
 (b)    Quarterly Reports.    Within forty five (45) days after the end of the first three
(3) Fiscal Quarters, Borrower Representative shall furnish to Administrative Agent and Lenders (i) unaudited consolidated statements of income, cash flow and retained earnings for Holdings for such quarter and for the period from the beginning of
the then current Fiscal Year to the end of such quarter, and an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Holdings as of the end of such quarter, all in reasonable detail and certified by a Responsible Officer of Borrower Representative 

 
 54 

 as presenting fairly the financial position of Loan Parties as of the end of such quarter and the results of their operations and the changes in
their financial position for such quarter, in conformity with GAAP (except for accompanying notes thereto), subject to year-end audit adjustments, (ii) updates of revenues, gross margin and EBITDAR of Holdings on a consolidating basis, (iii) upon
request of Administrative Agent or Requisite Lenders, an aging of accounts payable and accounts receivable and (iv) a disclosure for the corresponding quarter setting forth by switch site the revenues, direct market costs and EBITDAR of Loan Parties
before and after corporate allocations. 
  
 (c)    Monthly
Reports.    Until repayment in full of the Deferred Amortization, within thirty (30) days after the end of each Fiscal Month, Borrower Representative shall furnish to Administrative Agent and Lenders (a) unaudited statements
of income, cash flow and retained earnings for Holdings for such month and that portion of the current Fiscal Year ending as of the close of such month, and an unaudited balance sheet of Holdings as of the end of such month, all in reasonable detail
and certified by a Responsible Officer of Borrower Representative as presenting fairly the financial position of Loan Parties as of the end of such periods and the results of their operations and the changes in their financial position for the
periods indicated in conformity with GAAP (except for accompanying notes thereto), subject to quarter-end and year-end audit adjustments, setting forth in comparative form the projected figures in the Business Plan for the corresponding month, (b) a
matrix reflecting in comparative form the actual operating statistics to projected operating statistics in substantially the form attached hereto as Annex IV, (c) an accounts receivable aging report of all customers with balances in excess of
$1,000,000, (d) an accounts payable aging report of all payables in excess of $1,000,000 and (e) a narrative discussing performance for the corresponding month and explaining any material variations from the Business Plan. 
  
 (d)    Compliance Certificates.    Within thirty (30) days after the end of each Fiscal
Month, (ii) forty-five (45) days after the end of the first three (3) Fiscal Quarters, and (iii) ninety (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, Borrower Representative shall deliver to Administrative Agent and Lenders a Compliance Certificate,
dated as of the end of such Fiscal Month, Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year, as applicable, signed by a Responsible Officer of Borrower Representative (A) stating that as of the date thereof no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or exists,
or if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or exists, specifying in detail the nature and period of existence thereof and any action with respect thereto taken or contemplated to be taken by the applicable Loan Party; (B) stating that
the signer has personally reviewed this Agreement and that such certificate is based on an examination made by or under the supervision of the signer sufficient to assure that such certificate is accurate; (C) in the case of a Compliance Certificate
delivered for the first two (2) Fiscal Months of each Fiscal Quarter, the first three (3) Fiscal Quarters and each Fiscal Year, calculating and certifying Loan Parties’ compliance with the financial covenants set forth on Schedule 8.15;
(D) certifying such Loan Parties’ compliance with the provisions of Section 8.27; (E) in the case of a Compliance Certificate delivered for any Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year, calculating and certifying the amount of the Capital
Expenditures made by Loan Parties during such Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year and stating the source of funds for such Capital Expenditures; and (F) detailing the parties (or financial institutions), the amounts and a description of (1) Indebtedness
incurred pursuant to clauses (c), (d) or (e) of the definition of Permitted Debt, (2) obligations secured by deposits pursuant to Section 9.2(a)(v) or letters of credit cash collateralized pursuant to Section 9.2(a)(x), (3) Asset
Dispositions pursuant to Section 9.2(b), (4) leases entered into pursuant to Section 9.9 and (5) each account in which any Loan Party maintains any Cash or Investment Property. 

 
 55 

  
 (e)  Accountants’ Certificate.    Each
set of year-end audited consolidated Financial Statements and balance sheet delivered pursuant to Section 8.1(a) shall be accompanied by a certificate or report dated the date of such statement and balance sheet by the accountants who
certified such statements and balance sheet stating in substance that they have reviewed this Agreement and that in making the examination necessary for their certification of such statements and balance sheet they did not become aware of any Event
of Default or, if they did become so aware, such certificate or report shall state the nature and period of existence thereof. 
  
 (f)  Projections.    If requested by Administrative Agent or Requisite Lenders, Borrower Representative shall deliver to Administrative Agent and Lenders within thirty (30) days after the
beginning of each calendar year projections of Holdings’ anticipated income, expenses, cash flow, assets and liabilities for the next five (5) calendar years prepared in good faith on assumptions believed by Holdings to be reasonable and in a
manner and format consistent with other Financial Statements and the Projections provided by Borrower Representative to Administrative Agent and Lenders. 
  
 (g)  Other Reports and Information.    Upon the request of Administrative Agent or Requisite Lenders, Borrower Representative shall deliver to Administrative Agent
and Lenders copies of (i) all regular or special reports or effective registration statements which any Loan Party shall file with Governmental Authorities, the FCC or the PUC (or any successor thereto) or any securities exchange, (ii) financial
statements, material reports, and other information distributed by any Loan Party to its creditors or the financial community in general, and (iii) all press releases issued by or concerning any Loan Party. 
  
 (h)  Further Information.    Each Loan Party will promptly furnish to Administrative Agent or any
Lender such other information (including any report by independent auditors) in such form as Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request. 
  
 (i)  Business Plan.    Borrower Representative shall deliver to the Administrative Agent on the earlier of (i) forty-five (45) days after the beginning of each
Fiscal Year (commencing with the Fiscal Year 2004) and (ii) the completion thereof, an updated Business Plan of Holdings for such Fiscal Year and each Fiscal Year up to and including the Fiscal Year ending on December 31, 2006, certified by the
Chief Financial Officer of Holdings, as having been discussed and approved by, among others, the Chief Executive Officer and the Vice President, Treasurer, of Holdings, as prepared in good faith and believed to be reasonable and in a manner and
format consistent with other Financial Statements provided by Borrower Representative to Administrative Agent and Lenders, containing substantially the types of financial information contained in the Business Plan previously delivered, which shall
include forecasts prepared by management for each Fiscal Quarter in the next succeeding Fiscal Year, including (A) a projected year end consolidated balance sheet and income statement and statement of cash flows and (B) a statement of all of the
material assumptions on which such forecasts are based. 
  
 8.2    Other
Notices.    Promptly upon a Responsible Officer of any Loan Party becoming aware of any of the following, Borrower Representative shall give Administrative Agent and each Lender notice thereof, together with a written
statement of a Responsible Officer of Borrower Representative setting forth the details thereof and any action with respect thereto taken or contemplated to be taken by such Loan Party: 
  
 (a)  a Default or Event of Default; 

 
 56 

  
 (b)  any Material Adverse Change; 
  
 (c)  any event or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or cause a Material Adverse
Effect; 
  
 (d)  any event that could reasonably be expected to constitute a Regulatory Event;

  
 (e)  the commencement, existence or threat of any proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority
against such Loan Party which, if adversely decided, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; 
  
 (f)  such Loan Party’s receipt of any notice of violation of, or liability under, any Environmental Laws affecting such Loan Party or any of its properties that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect; 
  
 (g)  any Change of Control; 
  
 (h)  any Commercial Tort Claim filed by or in favor of any Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries; or 
  
 (i)  the resignation or removal of the Advisor. 
  
 8.3    Notice of Pension-Related Events.    Each Loan Party shall promptly furnish Administrative Agent with written notice
upon the receipt by such Loan Party or the administrator of any Plan of any notice, correspondence or other communication from the PBGC, the IRS, the Secretary of Treasury, the Department of Labor, or any other Person, as the case may be, relating
to (i) any Reportable Event, (ii) any funding deficiency with respect to any Plan, (iii) any liability, either primary or secondary, with respect to complete or partial withdrawal from any Plan, (iv) proceedings to terminate any Plan or (v) the
appointment of a trustee for any Plan that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Such notice shall be accompanied by any pertinent documents including the relevant notice, correspondence or other communication and a
statement of a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party describing the event or the action taken and the reasons therefor. 
  
 8.4    Inspection Rights.    To the extent required by Section 2.16, each Loan Party shall upon reasonable notice permit such persons as Administrative Agent or any Lender may
designate to visit and inspect the Collateral or any other properties of such Loan Party, to examine its books and records and take copies and extracts therefrom and discuss its respective affairs with its officers, employees and independent
engineers at such times and as often as Administrative Agent may reasonably request. Each Loan Party hereby authorizes such officers, employees and independent engineers to discuss with Administrative Agent or such Lenders the affairs of such Loan
Party. 
  
 8.5    Preservation of Corporate Existence and
Qualification.    Each Loan Party shall maintain its existence, good standing and rights in full force and effect in its jurisdiction of organization. Each Loan Party shall qualify to do business and remain qualified and in
good standing and shall obtain all necessary authorizations to do business in each jurisdiction in which failure to receive or retain such would have a Material Adverse Effect. 
  
 8.6    Continuation of Business.    Loan Parties shall continue to engage solely in the business of providing
telecommunications services and shall acquire and maintain in full force 

 
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 and effect all material rights, privileges, franchises and licenses necessary therefor (including any license or authorization required by the
FCC or any PUC). 
  
 8.7    Insurance. 
  
 (a)  Loan Parties shall, at their sole cost and expense, provide and maintain or cause to be maintained at all times insurance
in such forms and covering such risks and hazards and in such amounts and with an insurance corporation with a Best rating of “A” or above, licensed to do business in the states where any Network or Loan Party is located, as may be
satisfactory to Administrative Agent, as shown on Schedule 8.7, and otherwise as may be required by the Security Documents. If any Loan Party at any time or times hereafter shall fail to obtain or maintain any of the policies of insurance
required above or to pay all premiums relating thereto, Administrative Agent may at any time or times thereafter obtain and maintain such policies of insurance and pay such premiums and take any other action with respect thereto which Administrative
Agent deems advisable. Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to obtain insurance for any Loan Party or pay any premiums therefor. By doing so, Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have waived any Default or Event of Default arising
from any Loan Party’s failure to maintain such insurance or pay any premiums therefor. All sums so disbursed, including attorneys’ fees, court costs and other charges related thereto, shall be payable on demand by Loan Parties to
Administrative Agent and shall be additional Obligations hereunder secured by the Collateral. 
  
 (b)  Administrative Agent reserves the right at any time upon any material change in any Loan Party’s risk profile (including any change in the business conducted by any Loan Party or any laws affecting the potential
liability of such Loan Party) to require additional forms and limits of insurance to, in Administrative Agent’s reasonable opinion, adequately protect both Administrative Agent’s and Lenders’ interests in all or any portion of the
Collateral and to ensure that each Loan Party is protected by insurance in amounts and with coverage customary for its industry. If requested by Administrative Agent, each Loan Party shall deliver to Administrative Agent from time to time a report
of a reputable insurance broker, satisfactory to Administrative Agent, with respect to its insurance policies. 
  
 (c)  Each Loan Party shall cause (i) all general liability and automobile insurance policies to name Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties as an additional insured, (ii) all physical damage insurance policies to
contain a lender’s or mortgagee’s loss payable provision acceptable to Administrative Agent, (iii) all insurance policies to provide that no assignment, cancellation, material modification, reduction in amount or adverse change in coverage
thereof shall be effective until at least thirty (30) days after receipt by Administrative Agent of written notice thereof, (iv) all insurance policies to insure the interests of Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties regardless of any
breach of or violation by such Loan Party of any warranties, declarations or conditions contained therein and (v) all insurance policies to provide that Administrative Agent and Lenders shall have no obligation or liability for premiums,
commissions, assessments or calls in connection with such insurance. Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to verify the adequacy or existence of any insurance coverage. Each Loan Party shall furnish Administrative Agent copies of, or
acceptable certificates with respect to, all such policies prior to the date hereof, and shall provide to Administrative Agent, at least thirty (30) days prior to each policy expiration date, evidence of the insurance being maintained by such Loan
Party in compliance with this Section 8.7(c). Certificates for insurance required under clause (i) above shall be in ACORD Form 25S (attached to Schedule 8.7), and all certificates shall be satisfactory in form and substance to
Administrative Agent. 

 
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 (d)  If any of the Collateral is partially or totally damaged or
destroyed, Borrower Representative shall give prompt notice to Administrative Agent, and all insurance proceeds, less the costs of collection thereof, shall be paid to or retained by Administrative Agent. Settlements, adjustments or compromises of
any claims for loss, damage or destruction to the Collateral shall be made jointly by Borrower Representative and Administrative Agent as long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and otherwise shall be made solely by
Administrative Agent. Each Loan Party hereby authorizes and directs any affected insurance company to pay such proceeds directly to Administrative Agent, and to rely on Administrative Agent’s statement as to whether an Event of Default has
occurred. Loan Parties shall pay all costs of collection of insurance proceeds payable on account of such damage or destruction. If no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date any Network is partially or totally damaged or
destroyed, Administrative Agent shall make available to Borrower Representative the proceeds of any physical damage insurance actually paid to Administrative Agent in respect of such damage or destruction of any of the Collateral (after deducting
therefrom any sums retained by Administrative Agent in reimbursement for costs of collection) to pay the cost of restoration, and Borrower Representative shall proceed promptly with the work of restoration of the Collateral and shall pursue the work
of restoration diligently to completion. If any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing either on the date of such damage or destruction or on the date such insurance proceeds are paid, or if any Event of Default shall occur prior to
completion of such work of restoration, then Administrative Agent, at its option, may apply such insurance proceeds in payment of any of the Obligations, in such order as set forth in Section 2.10(c). Any insurance proceeds remaining after
completion of work or restoration shall, at Administrative Agent’s election, be applied in accordance with Section 2.10(c), or paid over to Borrower Representative. Upon completion of any restoration, Borrower Representative shall
deliver to Administrative Agent a certificate stating that the restoration has been duly completed and accounting for the use of any insurance proceeds in such restoration. 
  
 8.8    Payment of Taxes, Charges, Claims and Current Liabilities.    Each Loan Party shall pay or discharge: 

 
 (a)  on or prior to the date on which penalties thereto accrue, all taxes, assessments and other government charges
or levies imposed upon it or any of its properties or income (including such as may arise under Section 4062, Section 4063 or Section 4064 of ERISA, or any similar provision of law); 
  
 (b)  on or prior to the date when due, all lawful claims of materialmen, mechanics, carriers, warehousemen and other like persons which result in creation of a
Lien upon any such property; 
  
 (c)  on or prior to the date when due, all other lawful claims which, if
unpaid, might result in the creation of a Lien upon any such property (other than Permitted Encumbrances) or which, if unpaid, might give rise to a claim entitled to priority over general creditors of such Loan Party in a case under Title 11
(Bankruptcy) of the United States Code, as amended, or in any insolvency proceeding or dissolution or winding-up involving such Loan Party; and 
  
 (d)  all other current liabilities so that none is overdue more than sixty (60) days. 
  
 Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Loan Party shall be entitled to contest or appeal the requirements of any Law or Governmental Authority or the payment of any tax, assessment, charge, levy, claim,
asserted liability or any judgment entered against such Loan 

 
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 Party (collectively, in this Section 8.8, the “requirements”), as long as (i) such requirements are being contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; (ii) Borrower Representative has given Administrative Agent written notice of such requirements and its intent to contest them, with supporting reasons for such contest, before the addition
of any interest or penalties that may accrue on such requirements; (iii) such Loan Party maintains adequate cash reserves and makes other appropriate provisions as may be required by GAAP to provide for any liability arising from such requirements;
(iv) the contesting of, or failure to comply with, such requirements does not in any way jeopardize such Loan Party’s ability or authority to operate all or any part of its business or the value or continuing priority of the security interests
of Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties in the Collateral; (v) the contesting of, or failure to comply with, such requirements does not have a Material Adverse Effect, in the reasonable determination of Requisite Lenders; and (vi) any
foreclosure, attachment, execution, sale or similar proceeding against such Loan Party or any of its properties in connection with any such requirements is duly stayed by posting of a bond or security deposit or by other action sufficient under
applicable law to stay such foreclosure, attachment, execution, sale or other proceedings. 
  
 8.9    Financial Accounting Practices.    Each Loan Party shall make and keep books, records and accounts which, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect its transactions and
dispositions of its assets and maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (a) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (b) transactions
are recorded as necessary (i) to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and (ii) to maintain accountability for assets, (c) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific
authorization and (d) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. 
  
 8.10    Compliance with Laws.    Each Loan Party shall comply in all respects with all Laws applicable to such Loan Party,
including all Environmental Laws; provided, however, that such Loan Party shall not be deemed to be in violation of this Section 8.10 as a result of any failure to comply which would not result in any liability or exposure to
Administrative Agent or Lenders or any fines, penalties, injunctive relief or other civil or criminal liabilities which, in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 
  
 8.11    Use of Proceeds.    Each Loan Party shall use the proceeds of Facility A Advances
and the Letter of Credit Obligations hereunder only as set forth in Section 2.19. 
  
 8.12    Government Authorizations; Regulatory Authorizations, Etc.    Each Loan Party shall at all times obtain and maintain in force all Regulatory Authorizations and all other
authorizations, permits, consents, approvals, licenses, exemptions and other actions by, and all registrations, qualifications, designations, declarations and other filings with, any Governmental Authority necessary in connection with execution and
delivery of this Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Document, consummation of the transactions herein or therein contemplated, performance of or compliance with the terms and conditions hereof or thereof or to ensure the legality, validity and
enforceability hereof or thereof. 
  
 8.13     Contracts and
Franchises     Each Loan Party shall comply with all agreements or instruments to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties (now owned or hereafter acquired) may be subject or bound and shall maintain any
and all franchises it may have or hereafter acquire; provided, however, that such Loan Party shall not be deemed to be in violation 

 
 60 

  
 of this Section 8.13 as a result of any failure to comply with any agreement if such failure
would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Loan Parties taken as a whole. 
  
 8.14    Site
Leases and Consents.    Each Loan Party shall maintain in force and renew as necessary all Site Leases and shall obtain Landlord Consents to protect the Administrative Agent’s Liens and access to the Collateral with
respect to all Site Leases entered into after the Effective Date. All Site Leases entered into after the date hereof shall have a term (including automatic renewals and such Loan Party’s unilateral renewal rights) equal to or greater than the
term of this Agreement and shall require that Administrative Agent be given notice of default and the right to elect to cure defaults and/or assume such agreement upon such Loan Party’s default thereunder or an Event of Default under this
Agreement. 
  
 8.15    Financial Covenants.    Loan Parties shall
comply with the financial covenants set forth on Schedule 8.15. 
  
 8.16    Patent,
Trademark and Copyright Collateral. 
  
 (i)  Borrower Representative shall notify Administrative Agent
immediately if it knows or has reason to know that any application or registration relating to any patent, trademark or copyright (now or hereafter existing) may become abandoned or of any adverse determination or development (including the
institution of, or any such determination or development in, any proceeding in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any court) regarding any Loan Party’s ownership of any patent, trademark or
copyright, its right to register the same, or to keep and maintain the same. 
  
 (ii)  In no event shall
any Loan Party, either itself or through any agent, employee, licensee or designee, file an application for the registration of any patent, trademark or copyright with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office
or any similar office or agency without giving Administrative Agent prior written notice thereof and, upon request of Administrative Agent, such Loan Party shall execute and deliver any and all Patent Security Agreements, Copyright Security
Agreements or Trademark Security Agreements as Administrative Agent may request to evidence the Lien of Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties on such patent, trademark or copyright, and the General Intangibles of such Loan Party relating
thereto or represented thereby. 
  
 (iii)  Each Loan Party shall take all actions necessary or requested by
Administrative Agent to maintain and pursue each application, to obtain the relevant registration and to maintain the registration of each of the patents, trademarks and copyrights (now or hereafter existing), including the filing of applications
for renewal, affidavits of use, affidavits of noncontestability and opposition and interference and cancellation proceedings, unless the applicable Loan Party shall determine that such patent, trademark or copyright is not material to the conduct of
its business. 
  
 (iv)  In the event that any of the patent, trademark or copyright Collateral is infringed
upon, or misappropriated or diluted by a third party, Borrower Representative shall notify Administrative Agent promptly after any Loan Party learns thereof. Each Loan Party shall, unless such Loan Party shall reasonably determine that such patent,
trademark or copyright Collateral is in no way material to the conduct of its business or operations, promptly sue for infringement, misappropriation or dilution and to recover any and all damages for such infringement, misappropriation or dilution,
and shall take such other actions as 

 
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 Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate under the circumstances to protect such patent, trademark or
copyright Collateral. 
  
 8.17    Sites.    For all Sites acquired
after the date hereof by any Loan Party at any time (except for leases of retail sales offices with terms shorter than three years), such Loan Party shall provide to Administrative Agent, all at such Loan Party’s expense and all in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent, within twenty (20) days of such Loan Party’s acquisition thereof and before placing any Collateral thereon: 
  
 (a)  Site Leases.    Copies of duly executed counterparts of the Site Lease; and 
  

(b)  Consent.    Duly executed Landlord Consent executed by the owner of such real property. 
  
 8.18    Certain Notices.    Borrower Representative shall promptly provide Administrative
Agent and Lenders with written notice and verification in form and substance satisfactory to Requisite Lenders of each occasion that (i) a switch is installed and (ii) a switch becomes operational in one of the Markets. 
  
 8.19    Management Team.    Each Loan Party shall engage and continue to retain a
professional and experienced management staff. 
  
 8.20    Enforcement of
Contracts.    Each Loan Party shall exercise promptly and diligently its material rights under each Contract, General Intangible and/or Account (other than any right of termination). Borrower Representative shall deliver to
Administrative Agent copies of all material demands or notices received by any Loan Party relating in any way to any Contract, General Intangible and/or Account. 
  
 8.21    Legal Fee Reserve.    Loan Parties shall maintain a legal fee reserve adequate to cover current period unpaid litigation expense for all pending
litigation in form, amount and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent and Requisite Lenders and, upon request of Administrative Agent or Requisite Lenders, will provide Administrative Agent and Lenders with a quarterly analysis evidencing
its compliance with this requirement. 
  
 8.22    Subordinated
Loans.    Any and all Indebtedness, loans or advances to any Loan Party by any other Loan Party shall upon request of Administrative Agent or Requisite Lenders be subordinated to any and all Obligations of such Loan Party to
Administrative Agent and Lenders upon terms and provisions reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent and Requisite Lender, and each such other Loan Party shall deliver to Administrative Agent and Lenders a signed subordination agreement on
terms satisfactory to Administrative Agent and Requisite Lenders. 
  
 8.23    Liens on
After-Acquired Property.    With respect to any assets acquired after the date hereof of the type defined as Collateral in this Agreement of each Loan Party or any Subsidiary of Holdings as to which Administrative Agent on
behalf of Secured Parties does not have a perfected first-priority Lien, such Loan Party shall promptly grant or cause to be granted, or confirm or evidence the grant herein of, to Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties a Lien, upon the
terms contained herein, on all such property and interests, free of all other Liens except those permitted under Section 9.2. Such Loan Party at its own expense, shall (i) prepare, execute, acknowledge and deliver, or cause the preparation,
execution, acknowledgment and delivery of, and thereafter register, file or record, or cause to be registered, filed or recorded, in an 

 
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 appropriate governmental office, any document or instrument deemed by Administrative Agent to be
necessary or desirable for the creation, perfection, renewal and continuation of the foregoing Liens (including as to each after-acquired leasehold premises and simultaneously with the execution of the applicable lease a landlord consent in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent), (ii) pay, or cause to be paid, all taxes, fees and legal expenses related to such registration, filing or recording and (iii) deliver to Administrative Agent resolutions of Board of
Directors and opinions of counsel, in form and substance as may be reasonably acceptable to Administrative agent. 
  
 8.24    Intentionally Omitted. 
  
 8.25    Intentionally Omitted. 
  
 8.26    Further
Assurances. 
  
 (a)  Each Loan Party executing this Agreement agrees that it shall and shall cause each
other Loan Party to, at such Loan Party’s expense and upon request of Administrative Agent or Requisite Lenders, duly execute and deliver, or cause to be duly executed and delivered, to Administrative Agent and Lenders such further instruments
and do and cause to be done such further acts as may be necessary or proper in the reasonable opinion of Administrative Agent or Requisite Lenders to carry out more effectively the provisions and purposes of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, including, but not limited to, (i) providing notice of any Commercial Tort Claim in accordance with the terms of Section 8.2(h) and (ii) taking action to grant, secure and/or continue the Secured Parties’ first priority
perfected security interest in the Collateral in accordance with the terms of Revised Article 9 of the UCC, effective July 1, 2001. 
  
 (b)  Within sixty (60) days of the Effective Date, Loan Parties will use reasonable best efforts to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent, Landlord Consents for any
real property location where any of the Collateral is located. 
  
 (c)  Loan Parties shall obtain a control
agreement (in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent) with respect to Deposit Accounts and Investment Property not in certificated form with (i) Wachovia Securities on or before January 10, 2003 and (ii) Liberty on or
before January 3, 2003. 
  
 8.27    Financial Advisor.    Loan Parties
shall continue to engage and maintain Ruth Ford of Crossroads, LLC, or any replacement reasonably acceptable to the Requisite Lenders, to act as the financial advisor to Loan Parties with responsibilities and duties similar to those responsibilities
and duties being performed on the Effective Date until such time as the Advisor is engaged pursuant to Section 9.14. 
  
 ARTICLE 9: NEGATIVE COVENANTS 
  
 Each Loan Party hereby jointly and severally
agrees as to all Loan Parties that, until the Termination Date, no Loan Party shall, without prior written consent of Requisite Lenders, do or permit to exist any of the following: 
  
 9.1    Indebtedness.    Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist at any one time any Indebtedness, except for Permitted Debt,
or purchase, redeem, prepay, defease or otherwise acquire for value or make any payment on account or in respect of any principal amount of Permitted Subordinated Debt. 

 
 63 

  
 9.2    Restrictions on Liens and Sale of Collateral.

  
 (a)  Create or suffer to exist any Lien on the Collateral or on any other property of any Loan Party,
or any part thereof, whether superior or subordinate to the Lien of the Loan Documents, except for the following permitted Liens (the “Permitted Encumbrances”): 
  
 (i)  Liens and encumbrances in favor of Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties; 
  

(ii)  Liens for Taxes not yet due, or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings in accordance with Section
8.8; 
  
 (iii)  carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’,
materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue for a period of more than thirty (30) days or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings in
accordance with Section 8.8; 
  
 (iv)  pledges or liens in connection with
workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation; 
  
 (v)  deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the
ordinary course of business; 
  
 (vi)  easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other
similar encumbrances that are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of such Loan Party; 

 
 (vii)  judgments and judgment Liens with respect to which execution has been stayed within ten (10)
days by appropriate judicial proceedings and the posting of adequate security which may not be any of the Collateral; 
  
 (viii)  specific Liens, if any, identified on Schedule 9.2; 
  
 (ix)  Liens to secure purchase money indebtedness and Capital Leases permitted by clause c of the definition of Permitted Debt which is secured by only the property acquired; 
  
 (x)  cash collateralization of the letters of credit (including letters of credit set forth on Schedule
9.1) permitted by clause (d) of the definition of Permitted Debt in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,000,000; and 
  
 (xi)  certain other Liens as may be permitted with Requisite Lenders’ prior written consent. 
  
 (b)  Assign, convey, sell or otherwise dispose of or encumber its interest in the Collateral, or any part thereof (including execution of any lease), or permit any such action to be taken, except for sales and
other dispositions of equipment and inventory in the ordinary course of business for fair value, not exceeding $400,000 per year in the aggregate. 

 
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 (c)  Enter into or permit to exist any agreement, note, indenture or
instrument, take any other action, which would prohibit the creation of a Lien on any of its properties or other assets in favor of Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties, as additional collateral for the Obligations, except operating
leases, Capital Leases or Licenses which prohibit Liens solely upon the assets that are subject thereto. 
  
 9.3    Limitation on Contingent Obligations.    Agree to, or assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise in any way be or become responsible or liable for, directly or indirectly, any
Contingent Obligation except for those created or contemplated by the Loan Documents or with respect to the obligations (other than Obligations in respect of Indebtedness) of another Loan Party in the ordinary course of business. 

 
 9.4    Prohibition of Mergers, Acquisitions, Name, Office or Business Changes, Etc. 

 
 (a)  Enter into, or become the subject of, any transaction of merger, acquisition or consolidation, or liquidate,
wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or convey, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, all or any substantial part of such Loan Party’s business or
assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, without Requisite Lenders’ prior written consent; provided, that upon the repayment in full of the Deferred Amortization Holdings and its Subsidiaries may enter into Permitted
Acquisitions. 
  
 (b)  Change its name, chief executive office, principal place of business, corporate
structure or the location of any Collateral without giving Administrative Agent and Lenders at least thirty (30) days’ advance written notice of such change, and ensuring that any steps that Administrative Agent or Requisite Lenders may deem
necessary to continue the perfection and priority of security interests of Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties in the Collateral shall have been taken. 
  
 (c)  Change the Fiscal Year end of such Loan Party from December 31, except with the prior written consent of Requisite Lenders, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld. 
  
 (d)  Amend, restate or otherwise modify, or violate any terms of, its
Organizational Documents in any material respect without the prior written consent of Requisite Lenders, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld. 
  
 (e)  Become or agree to become a general or limited partner in any general or limited partnership, or a member in a limited liability company or a joint venturer in any joint venture other
than a wholly-owned Subsidiary. 
  
 (f)  Acquire or purchase substantially all of the stock or ownership
interests in, or substantially all of the business, assets, customers or operations of, any other entity; provided, that upon the repayment in full of the Deferred Amortization Holdings and its Subsidiaries may enter into Permitted
Acquisitions. 
  
 (g)  Enter into any new business or make any material change in any of such Loan
Party’s business objectives, purposes and operations from those contemplated in the Business Plan without the prior written consent of Requisite Lenders. 
  
 (h)  Establish or seek to establish any Network outside of the Markets. 

 
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 9.5    Limitation on Equity
Payments.    In the case of Holdings, make any Equity Payment (other than dividends that are cumulative and accrue daily at the rate of 6% per annum on Holdings Series A Preferred Stock and shares of common stock
issued upon conversion of any such Holdings Series A Preferred Stock to the extent provided for in the Certificate of Incorporation of Holdings (including the applicable Certificates of Designation) as in effect on the date of the first issuance of
each of Holdings Series A Preferred Stock; provided, however, that in no event shall any Loan Party make any Equity Payment in Cash if, after giving effect to such Equity Payment, a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing; provided, further, that in no event shall Holdings make any Equity Payment in Cash until the repayment in full of the Deferred Amortization. 
  
 9.6    Prohibition on Sale or Issuance of Stock.    Issue any stock, stock option, warrant, or any other securities other
than non-convertible debt securities, or the right to receive any such security (“equity securities”) of each Loan Party other than issuances of equity securities by Holdings, the net cash proceeds of which shall be applied in
accordance with Section 2.10(b)(ii). 
  
 9.7    Limitation on Investments, Advances and
Loans.    Organize, create, acquire, capitalize or own any Subsidiary except in compliance with Section 9.13 or make or commit to make any advance (except in compliance with Section 9.13 or as permitted by
Section 9.10), loan, guarantee of any Indebtedness, extension of credit or capital contribution to, or hold or invest in or purchase or otherwise acquire any stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities of, or make any other investment
in, any Person, including any officer of a Loan Party, any Affiliate of a Loan Party (other than another Loan Party) or any officer of any Affiliate of a Loan Party, except for (a) upon repayment in full of the Deferred Amortization, Permitted
Acquisitions, (b) loans to another Loan Party, (c) travel advances in the ordinary course of business, (d) relocation loans to employees but not in excess of $250,000 in the aggregate outstanding at any one time, (e) other loans to any employees of
any Loan Party but in any case in an amount (including principal and interest outstanding) not to exceed $250,000 in the aggregate at any given time, other than loans that would be in violation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and (f) Cash. 

 
 9.8    Capital Expenditures.    Directly or indirectly make or commit to make
any expenditure in respect of the purchase or other acquisition (including installment purchases or Capital Leases) of fixed or capital assets, except for normal replacements and maintenance (including capacity expansions and enhancements for
existing Sites) which are properly charged to current operations exceeding, in the aggregate for Holdings, Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries during any Fiscal Quarter, the amount set forth for such Fiscal Quarter in the Business Plan dated
December 12, 2002; provided, that (i) one hundred percent (100%) of any amount not used in any Fiscal Quarter, commencing with the Fiscal Quarter ended March 31, 2003, may be carried forward into the next succeeding Fiscal Quarter and to the
extent not used in such succeeding Fiscal Quarter may be carried forward into the next succeeding Fiscal Quarter, provided that (A) such carry forward of unused Capital Expenditure capacity may not exceed three Fiscal Quarters in the
aggregate and (B) except as specifically set forth in clause (ii) below, such carry forward or unused Capital Expenditure capacity for any Fiscal Year may not be carried forward into the succeeding Fiscal Year and (ii) Borrowers may carry forward
into the Fiscal Quarter ended March 31, 2003, $2,000,000 from the Fiscal Quarter ended December 31, 2002. 
  
 9.9    Limitation on Leases.    Enter into any agreement, or be or become liable under any agreement, not in existence on December 20, 1999, and reflected on such Loan Party’s
financial statements, for the lease, hire or use of any real or personal property in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate, including capital or operating leases, except that such Loan Party may, in the ordinary course of business and on terms
standard in the industry, enter into leases or 

 
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 agreements for office space, vehicles or office equipment and for the location or storage of Collateral.

  
 9.10    Transactions with Affiliates.    Except as described in
Schedule 5.41, enter into any transactions, including any loans or advances, any repayment of loans or advances, or the purchase, sale or exchange of property or the rendering of any services, with any Affiliate (other than another Loan
Party), or enter into, assume or suffer to exist any employment or consulting contract with any Affiliate (other than another Loan Party), or otherwise pay any fees or expenses to, or reimburse or assure any obligation for the reimbursement of any
expenses incurred by, any Affiliate (other than another Loan Party). 
  
 9.11    Extension of
Accounts.    Without Requisite Lenders’ prior written consent, with respect to any material Accounts, General Intangibles or Contracts (other than with respect to disputed reciprocal compensation and related facilities
charges), (i) grant any material extension of the time of payment, (ii) compromise, compound or settle for a material amount less than the full amount thereof, (iii) release any person liable for the payment thereof, or (iv) allow any credit or
discount whatsoever thereon, other than trade discounts granted in the normal course of business or discounts, compromises, compounds or settlements that will not have a Material Adverse Effect. 
  

9.12    Assumed Names.    Transact or engage in business under any assumed name, fictitious name, trade style or
“d/b/a” except those identified on Schedule 5.39. 
  
 9.13    Subsidiaries.    Permit or cause any Loan Party to create, organize or acquire a Subsidiary owning, or any Subsidiary of Holdings that is not already a Borrower to own, assets
unless such Subsidiary delivers to Administrative Agent and Lenders an Additional Borrower Assumption (an “Additional Borrower Assumption”), substantially in the form of Exhibit I, pursuant to which such Subsidiary becomes a
Borrower, and satisfies the conditions set forth therein, to the reasonable satisfaction of Requisite Lenders. 
  
 9.14    Advisor.    Fail to (a) within ten (10) Business Days of delivery to Holdings of a list of three (3) potential advisors approved by all Lenders, engage the Advisor, (b) continue
to engage and retain the Advisor until repayment in full of the Deferred Amortization, or (c) in the event of the resignation or removal of the Advisor for any reason, replace the Advisor with another Person approved by all Lenders within ten (10)
Business Days of delivery to Holdings of a new list of potential advisors. 
  
 9.15    Cash
Management.    Permit any Loan Party to maintain any Cash or Investment Property with any Person other than (i) a Lender or a financial institution which has executed a control agreement in respect thereof in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent and Lenders and (ii) Deposit Accounts containing Cash and/or uncertificated Investment Property with a value not to exceed $50,000 in the aggregate at any time for all such Deposit Accounts
and Investment Property. 
  
 ARTICLE 10: EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES 
  
 10.1    Events of Default.    An Event of Default shall mean the occurrence or existence of
one or more of the following events or conditions (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether voluntary, involuntary or effected by operation of Law): 

 
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 (a)  Payment Default.    Any Borrower (i)
fails to make any payment of principal when due, (ii) fails to make any payment of interest on, or Fees owing in respect of, the Loans or any of the other Obligations within one (1) Business Day after such amount becomes due and payable or (iii)
fails to pay or reimburse Administrative Agent or Lenders for any expense reimbursable hereunder or under any other Loan Document within ten (10) Business Days following demand for such reimbursement or payment of expenses. 
  
 (b)  False Statement.    If any statement, representation or warranty made or deemed made by any Loan
Party in any Loan Document or made in any financial statement, certificate, report, exhibit or document furnished to Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to any Loan Document, proves to have been untrue, incomplete, false or misleading in any
material respect as of the time when made or deemed made (including by omission of material information necessary to make such representation, warranty or statement not misleading). 
  
 (c)  Immediate Default.    Any Loan Party shall (i) fail or neglect to perform, keep or observe any of the provisions of Sections
8.1(a) (as a result of a qualification of the certification of the independent certified public accountant as to going concern or arising out of the scope of the audit) 8.2, 8.7, 8.11, 8.15 (as of the end of any
Fiscal Year, Fiscal Quarter or any two (2) consecutive Fiscal Months), 8.27 and Article 9 or (ii) shall discharge more than two (2) Advisors in any period of twelve (12) consecutive months. 
  
 (d)  Covenant Defaults.    If any Loan Party fails or neglects to perform, keep or observe any
provision of this Agreement (other than as set forth in clauses (a) through (c) above), and such default continues for a period of ten (10) Business Days after the earlier of such Loan Party’s knowledge thereof or receipt of written notice from
the Lenders or the Administrative Agent thereof, except for violations of Section 8.8(d), which shall become an Event of Default at the end of the sixty (60) day period stated therein. 
  

(e)  Undischarged Judgments.    If one or more judgments for the payment of money have been entered against Borrower in an amount
in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate and such judgment or judgments have remained undischarged and unstayed for a period of thirty (30) calendar days or, if stayed, all of the conditions in Section 8.8 have not been satisfied. 

 
 (f)  Attachments, Etc.    If a writ or warrant of attachment, garnishment, execution,
distraint or similar process has been issued against any Loan Party or any of its properties in an amount in excess of $200,000, which has remained undischarged and unstayed for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days or, if stayed, all of the
conditions in Section 8.8 have not been satisfied. 
  
 (g)  Default Under Third Party
Agreements.    A default or breach occurs under any other agreement, document or instrument to which any Loan Party is a party which is not cured within any applicable grace period, and such default or breach (i) involves the
failure to make any payment $200,000 in the aggregate, or (ii) causes, or permits any holder of such Indebtedness or a trustee to cause, Indebtedness or a portion thereof in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate to become due prior to its stated
maturity or prior to its regularly scheduled dates of payment, regardless of whether such default is waived, or such right is exercised, by such holder or trustee. 
  
 (h)  Dissolution; Discontinuance of Business, Etc.    If any Loan Party discontinues its usual business, dissolves, has its charter
revoked, winds up or liquidates itself or its business. 

 
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 (i)  Involuntary Bankruptcy or Receivership
Proceedings.    A case or proceeding commences against any Loan Party seeking a decree or order in respect of any Loan Party (i) under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended or any other
applicable federal, state or foreign bankruptcy or other similar law, (ii) appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or sequestrator (or similar official) for any Loan Party or of any substantial part of any such Person’s
assets, or (iii) ordering the winding-up or liquidation of the affairs of any Loan Party, and such case or proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) days or more or such court shall enter a decree or order granting the relief
sought in such case or proceeding. 
  
 (j)  Voluntary Bankruptcy.    Any Loan
Party (i) prepares to file or files a petition seeking relief under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other applicable federal, state or foreign bankruptcy or other similar law, (ii) fails to contest
in a timely and appropriate manner or consents to the institution of proceedings thereunder or to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or sequestrator
(or similar official) of any Loan Party or of any substantial part of any such Person’s assets, (iii) makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, (iv) takes any corporate action in furtherance of any of the foregoing or (v) admits in
writing its inability to, or shall be generally unable to, pay its debts as such debts become due. 
  
 (k)  Assignments for Benefit of Creditors, Etc.    If any Loan Party makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or admits in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become
due, or consents to the appointment of a receiver, trustee or liquidator of itself or of all or any part of its properties. 
  
 (l)  Non-compliance with Governmental Requirements.    If any Loan Party fails to comply with any requirement of any Governmental Authority within twenty (20) calendar days after notice in writing
of such requirement shall have been given to such Loan Party by such Governmental Authority or such longer period of time permitted by such Governmental Authority and is not being contested by such Loan Party in compliance with Section 8.8.

  
 (m)  Regulatory Authorizations.    If any Regulatory Authorization in
connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any such Regulatory Authorization now or hereafter necessary or advisable to make this Agreement or any other Loan Documents legal, valid, enforceable and admissible in evidence or to
permit each Loan Party to conduct its business as it is then conducted in all material respects is not obtained or has ceased to be in full force and effect or has been modified or amended or has been held to be illegal or invalid or is revoked or
terminated, and is not being contested by such Loan Party in compliance with Section 8.8, and Requisite Lenders have reasonably determined in good faith (which determination shall be conclusive) that such event or occurrence may have a
Material Adverse Effect. 
  
 (n)  Damage or Destruction.    If the proceeds of
any physical damage insurance actually paid in respect of the partial or total damage or destruction of any material amount of Equipment are insufficient to cover the cost of the restoration thereof or if Administrative Agent determines that such
damage or destruction is so extensive that repair or restoration cannot be expected within a time period short enough to prevent a Material Adverse Effect. 
  
 (o)  Landlord Consents.    If Loan Party fails to provide the Landlord Consents required hereunder and Requisite Lenders determine in their sole discretion that
such failure results in a material impairment of Lenders’ security for the Loans. 

 
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 (p)  ERISA Defaults.    If, with respect to
any Plan, (i) there has occurred a Reportable Event being considered by the PBGC which may reasonably result in any material liability to the PBGC with respect to any Plan, (ii) a Plan has been terminated, (iii) a trustee has been appointed by a
United States District Court to administer a Plan, (iv) a PBGC or any other person has instituted proceedings to terminate a Plan or to appoint a trustee to administer any such Plan, (v) any Loan Party or any Affiliate has withdrawn, completely or
partially, from any Plan, (vi) any Loan Party or any Affiliate has incurred secondary liability for withdrawal liability payments under any Plan or (vii) a Plan has failed to meet the minimum funding standards established under the Code or ERISA.

  
 (q)  Defaults Under Other Loan Documents.    If any default,
misrepresentation or breach should occur under any Pledge Agreement, Security Document, Guaranty or other Loan Document and is not cured or waived within the time permitted therein, or any such Loan Documents should cease to be in full force and
effect, or any Loan Party thereto should assert any unenforceability of, or deny liability on, or admit inability to perform under, any such Loan Document. 
  
 (r)  Security Interest.    Any material provision of any Loan Document shall for any reason cease to be valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms
(or any Loan Party shall challenge the enforceability of any Loan Document or shall assert in writing, or engage in any action or inaction based on any such assertion, that any provision of any of the Loan Documents has ceased to be or otherwise is
not valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms), or any security interest created under any Loan Document shall cease to be a valid and perfected first priority security interest or Lien (except as otherwise permitted herein or
therein) in any of the Collateral purported to be covered thereby. 
  
 (s)  Change of Control,
Etc.    Any Change of Control occurs. 
  
 10.2    Remedies.

  
 (a)  If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or if a Default shall have occurred
and be continuing and Requisite Lenders shall have determined not to make any Facility A Advances or incur any Letter of Credit Obligations so long as that specific Default is continuing, Administrative Agent shall (at the written request of the
Requisite Lenders), without notice, suspend the Facility A Commitment with respect to further Facility A Advances and/or the incurrence of further Letter of Credit Obligations, whereupon any further Facility A Advances and Letter of Credit
Obligations shall be made or extended (in the sole discretion of the Requisite Lenders) so long as such Default or Event of Default is continuing. If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Administrative Agent shall (at the
written request of Requisite Lenders), without notice except as otherwise expressly provided herein, increase the rate of interest applicable to the Loans and the Letter of Credit Fees to the Default Rate. 
  
 (b)  If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Administrative Agent shall (at the written request of the
Requisite Lenders), upon notice to Borrower Representative, (i) terminate the Facility A Commitment with respect to further Facility A Advances or the incurrence of further Letter of Credit Obligations; (ii) declare all or any portion of the
Obligations, including all or any portion of any Loan to be forthwith due and payable, and require that the Letter of Credit Obligations be cash collateralized as provided in Annex I, all without presentment, demand, protest or further notice
of any kind, all of which are expressly waived by Borrowers and each other Loan Party; and (iii) exercise any rights and remedies provided to Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties under the Loan 

 
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 Documents and/or at law or equity, including all remedies provided under the Code; provided,
however, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Sections 10.1(i), (j) or (k), the Facility A Commitment shall be immediately terminated and all of the Obligations, including the Loans, shall become
immediately due and payable without declaration, notice or demand by any Person. 
  
 (c)  Until repayment
in full of the Deferred Amortization, if any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing for a period of more than ten (10) Business Days pursuant to (i) Section 10.1(a), (b), (i), (j) or (k), (ii) Section
10.1(c) as a result of the failure of Borrowers to comply with Section 8.15 or (iii) as a result of a qualification of the certification of the independent certified public accountant as to going concern or arising out of the scope of the
audit, then Holdings shall engage and continue to retain a chief strategy officer (“CSO”) with the duties and obligations set forth on Schedule 10.2. 
  
 (d)  If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, interest due and owing to the Investors in respect of the Permitted Subordinated Debt shall
accrue and may be paid solely through the issuance of additional notes; it being understood that no Loan Party shall make payment thereof in Cash so long as an Event of Default is continuing. 
  

10.3    Waivers by Loan Parties.    Except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement or by applicable law, each Loan
Party waives (including for purposes of Article 11): (a) presentment, demand and protest and notice of presentment, dishonor, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration, protest, default, nonpayment, maturity, release, compromise,
settlement, extension or renewal of any or all commercial paper, accounts, contract rights, documents, instruments, chattel paper and guaranties at any time held by Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties on which any Loan Party may in any
way be liable, and hereby ratifies and confirms whatever Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties may do in this regard, (b) all rights to notice and a hearing prior to Administrative Agent’s taking possession or control of, or to
Administrative Agent’s replevy, attachment or levy upon, the Collateral or any bond or security which might be required by any court prior to allowing Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties to exercise any of its remedies, and (c)
the benefit of all valuation, appraisal, marshaling and exemption laws. If any notification of intended disposition of any of the Collateral is required by law, such notification shall be deemed reasonably and properly given if given in accordance
with Section 12.5 at least ten (10) days before such disposition. 
  
 10.4    Exercise
of Rights.    Subject to any requirements for FCC, PUC or other governmental approval upon the occurrence of any Event of Default, the rights, powers and privileges provided in this Section 10.4 and all other remedies
available to Administrative Agent and Lenders under this Agreement or by statute or by rule of law may be exercised by Administrative Agent or any Lender at any time from time to time whether or not the Obligations shall be due and payable, and
whether or not Administrative Agent or any Lender shall have instituted any foreclosure or other action for the enforcement of this Agreement or any other Loan Document. No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising on the part of
Administrative Agent or any Lender, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder or
thereunder preclude any other or future exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. 
  
 10.5    Rights of Secured Party.    In addition to all other rights and remedies granted to it under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and under any other instrument or agreement
securing, evidencing or relating to any of the Obligations, if any Event of Default shall have 

 
 71 

 occurred and be continuing, Administrative Agent may exercise all rights and remedies of a secured party. 
  
 10.6    Additional Remedies.    Remedies of Administrative Agent and Lenders upon the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default shall include, in addition to, and not in lieu of, such remedies as are available at law or in equity or provided for in any of the Loan Documents, the following: 
  
 (a)  Foreclosure; Receivership.    Administrative Agent shall be entitled to file one or more suits
at law or in equity to collect the Obligations and/or to foreclose on the Liens on and security interests created by this Agreement or any other Loan Document. Administrative Agent may apply or require any Loan Party to apply for any necessary
transfers, assignments, orders, consents or licenses in connection with the operation or abandonment of any Network or any part thereof, and shall also be entitled as a matter of right and without notice and without requiring bond (notice and bond
being hereby waived), without regard to the solvency or insolvency of any Loan Party at the time of application and without regard to the value of the Collateral at that time, to have a receiver appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction in
order to manage, protect and preserve the Collateral or any part thereof and to continue the operation of the business of any Loan Party, and to collect all revenues and profits thereof and apply the same to the payment of all expenses and other
charges of such receivership until the sale or other final disposition of the Collateral. Each Loan Party hereby consents to the appointment of such receiver. 
  
 (b)  Collection of Accounts, Etc.    At any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default notify account debtors that the Accounts
have been assigned to Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties and that payments shall be made directly to Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties. Upon the request of Requisite Lenders at any time after the occurrence and during
the continuance of an Event of Default, Borrowers shall so notify such account debtors. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties shall be entitled, but not obligated, to collect, compromise,
settle and otherwise act with respect to any Accounts, Contracts or General Intangibles, and shall be authorized to (i) endorse checks and other instruments, (ii) communicate directly with any Loan Party’s customers or other obligors to collect
payments and/or (iii) bring actions to enforce such collection, and otherwise take any actions necessary to collect and recover any amounts owing to such Loan Party. Any amounts so received by Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties shall
be held for the account of Borrowers and may be applied to the Obligations at Administrative Agent’s option, at the direction of Requisite Lenders, but shall not be deemed to be payment of the Obligations until so applied. Borrower
Representative shall, at Requisite Lenders’ request, deliver to Administrative Agent copies of all original and other documents evidencing or relating to the Accounts, Contracts or General Intangibles, including without limitation all original
orders, sublease contracts, invoices, shipping receipts, computer records and databases. 
  
 (c)  Segregation of Payments.    Upon Administrative Agent’s request, at the direction of Requisite Lenders, following an Event of Default, Borrowers shall immediately deliver to
Administrative Agent on behalf of Lenders all Proceeds received by any Loan Party, in the form received except for Borrower’s endorsement if required. Alternatively, Administrative Agent may, at the direction of Requisite Lenders, require
Borrowers, at the direction of Requisite Lenders, to immediately deliver, or may require the delivery of, such Proceeds to a special bank account or post office box from which only Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties can withdraw them.
In either case, all such Proceeds and any payments received by any Loan Party under or in connection with any of the Collateral received by such Loan Party shall be held 

 
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 by Borrowers in trust for Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties and shall be segregated from other funds of Borrowers. Any and all
such payments so received by Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties (whether from Borrowers or otherwise) may, in the sole discretion of Administrative Agent, be held by Administrative Agent on behalf of Secured Parties as collateral
security for, and/or then or at any time thereafter applied in whole or in part by Administrative Agent, against all or any part of the Obligations of Loan Parties in such order as Administrative Agent may determine in its sole discretion. Any
balance of such payments held by Administrative Agent and remaining after payment in full of all the Obligations shall be paid over to Borrowers or to any Person lawfully entitled to receive the same. 
  
 (d)  Right to Cure.    If any Loan Party fails in any material respect to perform or comply with any
of its agreements contained herein or in any of the other Loan Documents or any Contracts, Administrative Agent may take whatever actions it may deem appropriate to perform or comply or otherwise cause performance or compliance with such agreement,
all at the risk, cost and expense of Borrowers. 
  
 (e)  Set Off.    If the
unpaid principal amount of the Loans, interest accrued thereon or any other amount owing by Loan Parties hereunder or under the Loans shall have become due and payable (by acceleration or otherwise), each Lender and each Affiliate of a Lender shall
have the right, in addition to all other rights and remedies available to it, without notice to Loan Parties, to set off against and to appropriate and apply to such due and payable amounts any debt owing to, and any other funds held in any manner
for the account of, any of Loan Parties by such Lender or Affiliate. Such right shall exist whether or not such Lender or Affiliate shall have given notice or made any demand hereunder or under the Other Loan Documents, whether or not such debt
owing to or funds held for the account of Loan Parties is or are matured or unmatured, and regardless of the existence or adequacy of any collateral, guaranty or any other security, right or remedy available to Administrative Agent and Lenders. Each
Loan Party hereby consents to and confirms the foregoing arrangements and confirms such Lender’s and Affiliate’s rights of set off. 
  
 10.7    Application of Proceeds.    Any proceeds of any of the Collateral, received by Administrative Agent through sale or disposition of the Collateral
or otherwise, shall be applied by Administrative Agent toward the payment of the Obligations, including expenses in connection with the Collateral (including reasonable fees and legal expenses) as specified in Section 2.13(a). 

 
 10.8    Discontinuance of Proceedings.    If Administrative Agent or any Lender
should proceed to enforce any right or remedy under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and then discontinue or abandon such proceeding for any reason, all rights, powers and remedies of Administrative Agent and Lenders hereunder shall
continue as if no such proceeding had been taken. 
  
 10.9    Power of
Attorney.    For the purpose of carrying out the provisions and exercising the rights, powers and privileges granted by the Loan Documents, including this Article 10, each Loan Party hereby irrevocably constitutes and
appoints Administrative Agent for the benefit of Administrative Agent and Lenders its true and lawful attorney-in-fact to execute, acknowledge and deliver any instruments and do and perform any acts such as are referred to in the Loan Documents,
including this Article 10, in the name and on behalf of such Loan Party, from time to time in Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, in accordance with the
Loan Documents and any statute or rule of law. This power of attorney is a power coupled with an interest and cannot be revoked. 

 
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 Each Loan Party hereby ratifies all that said attorney-in-fact shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue and in accordance with the terms
hereof. 
  
 Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Administrative Agent may, after the occurrence and
during the continuance of an Event of Default, do the following without notice to or assent by any Loan Party to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement: 
  
 (a)  upon failure of such Loan Party to timely pay or discharge taxes or Liens levied or placed on or threatened against the Collateral, effect any repairs or any insurance called for by the
terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and pay all or any part of the premiums therefor and the costs thereof; 
  
 (b)  file any application, petition or other request with the FCC, PUC or any other Governmental Authority for the purpose of obtaining any consent or approval from or satisfying any filing or notice requirement of any
Governmental Authority in order to effect a sale or transfer of any or all the Collateral, or a change in control of, or to permit Administrative Agent to complete or operate, or both, any Network; and 
  
 (c)  (i)  direct any party liable for any payment under any of the Contracts or Accounts to make payment of any and
all monies due and to become due thereunder directly to Administrative Agent or as Administrative Agent shall direct; (ii) in the name of such Loan Party or its own name or otherwise, take possession of and endorse and collect any checks, drafts,
notes, acceptances, or other instruments for the payment of monies due under, or otherwise receive payment of and receipt for any and all monies, claims and other amounts due and to become due at any time in respect of or arising out of any
Collateral; (iii) sign and endorse any invoices, freight or express bills, bills of lading, storage or warehouse receipts, drafts against debtors, assignments, verifications and notices in connection with Accounts and other documents relating to the
Collateral; (iv) commence and prosecute any suits, actions or proceedings at law or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction or before any arbitrator to collect all or any of the Collateral and to enforce any other right in respect of any
Collateral; (v) defend any suit, action or proceeding brought against such Loan Party with respect to any Collateral; (vi) settle, compromise or adjust any suit, action or proceeding described above upon commercially reasonable terms under the
circumstances and, in connection therewith, give such discharges or releases as Administrative Agent may reasonably deem appropriate; (vii) cure any default under any Contract and/or modify and/or assume any such Contract; and (viii) generally sell,
use, operate, transfer, pledge, make any agreement with respect to or otherwise deal with any of the Collateral as fully and completely as though Administrative Agent were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes, and, at Administrative
Agent’s option and Loan Parties’ expense, at any time or from time to time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, all other acts and things that Administrative Agent reasonably deems necessary to perfect,
preserve or realize upon the Collateral and Administrative Agent’s security interest therein on behalf of Secured Parties, in order to effect the intent of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents all as fully and effectively as such Loan
Party might do. 
  
 10.10    Regulatory Matters. 
  
 (a)  Loan Parties’ Cooperation; Consents.    Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary
contained herein, Administrative Agent and Lenders will not exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement that requires prior FCC or PUC approval without first obtaining such approval. If counsel to Administrative Agent reasonably determines
that the consent of the FCC or PUC is required in connection with any of the actions that may be taken by 

 
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 Administrative Agent in the exercise of its rights hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents, then Loan Parties, at their sole cost and
expense, agree to use their best efforts to secure such consent and to cooperate with Administrative Agent in any action commenced by Administrative Agent to secure such consent. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default
the applicable Borrower shall promptly execute and/or cause the execution of all applications, certificates, instruments and other documents and papers that may be required in order to obtain any necessary governmental consent, approval or
authorization, and if such Borrower fails or refuses to execute such documents, the clerk of the court with jurisdiction may execute such documents on behalf of such Borrower. 
  
 (b)  Loan Parties’ Cooperation; Transfers.    In connection with the enforcement by Administrative Agent of any remedies
available to it as a result of any Event of Default and subject to the provisions of Section 10.10(a), Loan Parties shall join and cooperate fully with Administrative Agent, and with any receiver or trustee referred to herein and with the
successful bidder or bidders at any foreclosure sale when any of these entities file an application with the FCC or PUC, or with any necessary federal, state and local governmental authorities, requesting their prior approval of (i) the operation or
abandonment of all or any portion of the Collateral and (ii) the assignment or transfer to such entity of all licenses, authorizations and permits issued to any Loan Party by the FCC, PUC or any such other authorities with respect to Loan
Parties’ business and the operation thereof. Loan Parties’ cooperation shall include, without limitation, the furnishing of any information that may be required in connection with such applications. 
  
 (c)  Conveyance of Regulatory Authorizations.    Subject to any necessary FCC or PUC approval, each
Loan Party agrees to assign, transfer and convey the Regulatory Authorizations to Administrative Agent (or its designee) upon Administrative Agent’s request following the occurrence of an Event of Default, to the extent that any such assignment
or transfer may be deemed necessary to allow Administrative Agent to exercise its remedies hereunder or under the Loan Documents. 
  
 (d)  Specific Performance.    Each Loan Party recognizes that its Regulatory Authorizations are unique assets that may have to be transferred in order for Administrative Agent to
adequately realize the value of its security interests. Each Loan Party further recognizes that a violation of this provision would result in irreparable harm to Administrative Agent and Lenders for which monetary damages are not readily
ascertainable. Therefore, in addition to any other remedy that may be available to Administrative Agent and Lenders at law or in equity, Administrative Agent shall have the remedy of specific performance to enforce the provisions of this section.

  
 ARTICLE 11: JOINT AND SEVERAL OBLIGATIONS; GUARANTY 
  

11.1  Guaranty.    Each Borrower hereby agrees that such Borrower is jointly and severally liable for, and hereby absolutely and
unconditionally guarantees to Administrative Agent and Lenders and their respective successors and assigns, the full and prompt payment (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) and performance of, all Obligations owed or hereafter
owing to Administrative Agent and Lenders by each other Borrower; provided, however, that US LEC of Georgia Inc. shall not be liable for Obligations in excess of $75,000,000. In addition, Holdings hereby absolutely and unconditionally
guarantees to Administrative Agent and Lenders and their respective successors and assigns, the full and prompt payment (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) and performance of all Obligations owed or hereafter owing to
Administrative Agent and Lenders by each Borrower. Each Loan Party agrees that its guaranty obligation hereunder is a continuing guaranty of 

 
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 payment and performance and not of collection, that its obligations under this Article 11 shall not be discharged until payment and
performance, in full, of the Obligations has occurred, and that its obligations under this Article 11 shall be absolute and unconditional, irrespective of, and unaffected by: 
  
 (a)  the genuineness, validity, regularity, enforceability or any future amendment of, or change in, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other
agreement, document or instrument to which any Loan Party is or may become a party; 
  
 (b)  the absence
of any action to enforce this Agreement (including this Article 11) or any other Loan Document or the waiver or consent by Administrative Agent and Lenders with respect to any of the provisions thereof; 
  
 (c)  the existence, value or condition of, or failure to perfect its Lien against, any security for the Obligations or any
action, or the absence of any action, by Administrative Agent and Lenders in respect thereof (including the release of any such security); 
  
 (d)  the insolvency of any Loan Party; or 
  
 (e)  any other action or circumstances which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor. 
  
 Each Loan Party shall be regarded, and shall be in the same position, as principal debtor with respect to the Obligations guaranteed hereunder. 
  
 11.2    Waivers by Loan Parties.    Each Loan Party expressly waives all rights it may have
now or in the future under any statute, or at common law, or at law or in equity, or otherwise, to compel Administrative Agent or Lenders to marshall assets or to proceed in respect of the Obligations guaranteed hereunder against any other Loan
Party, any other party or against any security for the payment and performance of the Obligations before proceeding against, or as a condition to proceeding against, such Loan Party. It is agreed among each Loan Party, Administrative Agent and
Lenders that the foregoing waivers are of the essence of the transaction contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and that, but for the provisions of this Article 11 and such waivers, Administrative Agent and Lenders would
decline to enter into this Agreement. Without limiting the effect of the foregoing, if and to the extent that North Carolina law is applicable, Loan Parties hereby expressly waive the provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 26-7 through 26-9,
inclusive. 
  
 11.3    Benefit of Guaranty.    Each Loan Party agrees
that the provisions of this Article 11 are for the benefit of Administrative Agent and Lenders and their respective successors, transferees, endorsees and assigns, and nothing herein contained shall impair, as between any Loan Party and
Administrative Agent or Lenders, the obligations any Loan Party has under the Loan Documents. 
  
 11.4    Subordination of Subrogation, Etc.    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, and except as set forth in Section 11.7,
each Loan Party hereby expressly and irrevocably subordinates to payment of the Obligations any and all rights at law or in equity to subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution, indemnification or set off and any and all defenses
available to a surety, guarantor or accommodation co-obligor until the Obligations are indefeasibly paid in full in cash. Each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees that this subordination is intended to benefit Administrative 

 
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 Agent and Lenders and shall not limit or otherwise affect such Loan Party’s liability hereunder or the enforceability of this Article
11 and that Administrative Agent, Lenders and their respective successors and assigns are intended third-party beneficiaries of the waivers and agreements set forth in this Section 11.4. 
  
 11.5    Election of Remedies.    If Administrative Agent or any Lender may, under
applicable law, proceed to realize its benefits under any of the Loan Documents giving Administrative Agent or such Lender a Lien upon any Collateral, whether owned by any Loan Party or by any other Person, either by judicial foreclosure or by
non-judicial sale or enforcement, Administrative Agent or any Lender may, at its sole option, determine which of its remedies or rights it may pursue without affecting any of its rights and remedies under this Article 11. If, in the exercise
of any of its rights and remedies, Administrative Agent or any Lender shall forfeit any of its rights or remedies, including its right to enter a deficiency judgment against any Loan Party or any other Person, whether because of any applicable laws
pertaining to “election of remedies” or the like, each Loan Party hereby consents to such action by Administrative Agent or such Lender and waives any claim based upon such action, even if such action by Administrative Agent or such
Lender shall result in a full or partial loss of any rights of subrogation which each Loan Party might otherwise have had but for such action by Administrative Agent or such Lender. Any election of remedies which results in the denial or impairment
of the right of Administrative Agent or any Lender to seek a deficiency judgment against any Loan Party shall not impair any other Loan Party’s obligation to pay the full amount of the Obligations. In the event Administrative Agent or any
Lender shall bid at any foreclosure or trustee’s sale or at any private sale permitted by law or the Loan Documents, Administrative Agent or such Lender may bid all or less than the amount of the Obligations and the amount of such bid need not
be paid by Administrative Agent or such Lender but, at the election of Administrative Agent or such Lender, shall be credited against the Obligations. The amount of the successful bid at any such sale, whether Administrative Agent, Lender or any
other party is the successful bidder, shall be conclusively deemed to be the fair market value of the Collateral and the difference between such bid amount and the remaining balance of the Obligations shall be conclusively deemed to be the amount of
the Obligations guaranteed under this Article 11, notwithstanding that any present or future law or court decision or ruling may have the effect of reducing the amount of any deficiency claim to which Administrative Agent or any Lender might
otherwise be entitled but for such bidding at any such sale. 
  
 11.6    Limitation.    Notwithstanding any provision herein contained to the contrary, each Borrower’s liability under this Article 11 (which liability is in any event in
addition to amounts for which such Borrower is primarily liable under Article 2) shall be limited to an amount not to exceed as of any date of determination the greater of: 
  
 (a)  the net amount of all Loans advanced to any other Borrower under this Agreement and then re-loaned or otherwise transferred to, or for the benefit of, such
Borrower; and 
  
 (b)  the amount which could be claimed by Administrative Agent and Lenders from such
Borrower under this Article 11 without rendering such claim voidable or avoidable under Section 548 of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code or under any applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act or
similar statute or common law after taking into account, among other things, such Borrower’s right of contribution and indemnification from each other Borrower under Section 11.7. 

 
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 11.7    Contribution with Respect to Guaranty
Obligations. 
  
 (a)  To the extent that any Borrower shall make a payment under this Article
11 of all or any of the Obligations (other than Loans made to that Borrower for which it is primarily liable) (a “Guarantor Payment”) which, taking into account all other Guarantor Payments then previously or concurrently made
by any other Borrower, exceeds the amount which such Borrower would otherwise have paid if each Borrower had paid the aggregate Obligations satisfied by such Guarantor Payment in the same proportion that such Borrower’s “Allocable
Amount” (as defined below) (as determined immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment) bore to the aggregate Allocable Amounts of each of Borrowers as determined immediately prior to the making of such Guarantor Payment, then,
following indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Obligations and termination of the Facility A Commitment, such Borrower shall be entitled to receive contribution and indemnification payments from, and be reimbursed by, each other Borrower for
the amount of such excess, prorata based upon their respective Allocable Amounts in effect immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment. 
  
 (b)  As of any date of determination, the “Allocable Amount” of any Borrower shall be equal to the maximum amount of the claim which could then be recovered from such
Borrower under this Article 11 without rendering such claim voidable or avoidable under Section 548 of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code or under any applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act or
similar statute or common law. 
  
 (c)  This Section 11.7 is intended only to define the relative
rights of Borrowers and nothing set forth in this Section 11.7 is intended to or shall impair the obligations of Borrowers, jointly and severally, to pay any amounts as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement, including Section 11.1. Nothing contained in this Section 11.7 shall limit the liability of any Borrower to pay the Loans made directly or indirectly to that Borrower and accrued interest, fees and expenses
with respect thereto for which such Borrower shall be primarily liable. 
  
 (d)  The parties hereto
acknowledge that the rights of contribution and indemnification hereunder shall constitute assets of Borrowers to which such contribution and indemnification are owing. 
  
 (e)  The rights of the indemnifying Borrowers against other Loan Parties under this Section 11.7 shall be exercisable upon the full and indefeasible
payment of the Obligations and the termination of the Facility A Commitment. 
  
 11.8    Liability Cumulative.    The liability of Borrowers under this Article 11 is in addition to and shall be cumulative with all liabilities of each Borrower to Administrative
Agent and Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Borrower is a party or in respect of any Obligations or obligation of the other Borrowers without any limitation as to amount, unless the instrument or agreement
evidencing or creating such other liability specifically provides to the contrary. 
  
 ARTICLE 12: GENERAL
CONDITIONS/MISCELLANEOUS 
  
 The following conditions shall be applicable throughout the term of this
Agreement: 
  
 12.1    Amendments, Modifications and Waivers. 

 
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 (a)  No amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this
Agreement nor consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Requisite Lenders, and then any such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific
instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no amendment, modification, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by each Lender affected thereby, do any of the following: (i) waive any of
the conditions specified in Article 6, except as otherwise provided therein; (ii) increase the Facility A Commitment or subject any Lender to any additional obligations; (iii) reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Loans or any fees or
other amounts payable hereunder; (iv) amend any of the provisions in Article 2 in a manner adverse to Lenders (it being understood that any amendment or modification of any definition used therein or in any other Article or Section of this
Agreement referred to therein shall not be deemed an amendment of Article 2); (v) release any material amount of Collateral except as shall otherwise be provided herein; (vi) release any Guarantor having a material amount of assets; (vii) amend the
definition of Requisite Lenders; (viii) amend this Section 12.1 or (ix) waive the remedy set forth in Section 10.2(c); and provided, further, that no amendment, modification, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and
signed by Administrative Agent in addition to Lenders required above to take such action, affect the rights or duties of Administrative Agent under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents. No failure on the part of any Lender or Administrative
Agent to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder or under any Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the
exercise of any other right. 
  
 (b)  Administrative Agent, Lenders and Loan Parties recognize that
certain financial covenants set forth in Section 8.15 may need to be adjusted to permit Loan Parties to remain in compliance therewith upon the issuance of the full amount of Permitted Subordinated Debt and, accordingly, upon receipt of
notice from Holdings of any proposed issuance of Permitted Subordinated Debt, agree to negotiate in good faith to adjust the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.15 to reflect such issuance. 
  
 12.2    Advances Not Implied Waivers.    No waiver of the requirements contained in any
Loan Document shall be effective unless in writing duly signed by the required number of Lenders provided for herein. No Facility A Advance hereunder shall constitute a waiver of any of the conditions of Lenders’ obligation to make further
Facility A Advances. Any advance made by any Lender and any sums expended by any Lender pursuant to the Loan Documents shall be deemed to have been made pursuant to this Agreement, notwithstanding the existence of an uncured Default or Event of
Default. No Facility A Advance at a time when an Event of Default exists shall constitute a waiver of any right or remedy by Administrative Agent or any Lender existing by reason of such Event of Default, including the right to accelerate the
maturity of the Indebtedness evidenced by the Loan Documents or to foreclose the Lien on the Collateral or to refuse to make further advances hereunder. 
  
 12.3    Business Day.    Except as otherwise provided herein, whenever any payment or action to be made or taken hereunder or under any other Loan
Document shall be stated to be due on a day which is not a Business Day, such payment or action shall be made or taken on the next Business Day and such extension of time shall be included in computing interest or fees, if any, in connection with
such payment or action. 
  
 12.4    Records.    From time to time
Administrative Agent may send Borrower Representative statements of the unpaid principal amount of the Loans, the unpaid interest accrued thereon, the interest rate or rates applicable to such unpaid principal amount, the duration 

 
 79 

 of such applicability, and the amount remaining available on any Commitment, and each statement shall be deemed correct and conclusively binding
on Borrowers (absent manifest error) unless Borrower Representative notifies Administrative Agent of an error in the statement in writing within thirty (30) days of the date on which any such statement is provided to Borrower Representative.

  
 12.5    Notices.    All notices, requests, demands, directions and
other communications (collectively, “notices”) required under the provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be in writing (including communication by facsimile transmission) unless otherwise expressly permitted
hereunder and shall be sent by hand, by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), by overnight courier service (maintaining records of receipt) or by facsimile transmission with confirmation of receipt, in all cases with charges
prepaid, and any such properly given notice shall be effective upon the earliest of (i) receipt, (ii) when delivered by hand, (iii) the third Business Day after being mailed, (iv) the following Business Day if sent by overnight courier service or
(v) upon transmission when sent by facsimile. All notices shall be addressed as follows: 
  
 If to any Loan Party, to
the Notice Address set forth on Schedule 1, with copies, if any, as set forth on Schedule 1. 
  
 If to
Administrative Agent: 
  
 General Electric Capital Corporation 
 10 Riverview Drive 
 Danbury, Connecticut
06810 
 Attention: SA Account Manager 
 Telecopy: (203) 749-4531 
  
 If to any Lender, to the Notice Address set forth on Annex II or
in the Assignment Agreement by which it became a Lender. 
  
 All notices shall be sent to the applicable party at the
address stated above or in accordance with the last unrevoked written direction from such party to the other party hereto, given in accordance with the terms hereof. The giving of any notice required hereunder may be waived in writing by the party
entitled to receive such notice. 
  
 12.6    FCC and PUC
Approval.    The exercise of any rights or remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document by Administrative Agent or any Lender that may require FCC or PUC approval shall be subject to obtaining such approval. Pending
the receipt of any PUC or FCC approval, no Loan Party shall delay, hinder, interfere with or obstruct the exercise of Administrative Agent’s or Lenders’ rights or remedies hereunder or the obtaining of such approvals. 

 
 12.7    Lenders Sole Beneficiary.    All conditions of the obligation of Lenders
to make any Facility A Advances hereunder are imposed solely and exclusively for the benefit of Lenders and their respective assigns; no other Person shall have standing to require satisfaction of such conditions in accordance with their terms or be
entitled to assume that any Lender will refuse to make any Facility A Advances in the absence of strict compliance with any or all such conditions; and no other Person shall under any circumstances be deemed to be a beneficiary of such conditions,
any or all of which may be freely waived in whole or in part by Lenders at any time if, in their sole discretion, Lenders deem it advisable to do so. Each Lender’s sole obligation 

 
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 hereunder is to make the Facility A Advances if and to the extent required by this Agreement or any
other Loan Document. 
  
 12.8    Lender’s Review of
Information.    Each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees that any review or analysis by Administrative Agent or any Lender of financial information, operating information, marketing data or other information provided to
Administrative Agent or such Lender by or on behalf of such Loan Party at any time is and shall be conducted solely for Administrative Agent’s and such Lender’s benefit and internal use and that neither Administrative Agent nor any Lender
is under any duty or obligation to make the results of such review or analysis available to any Loan Party. No Loan Party is relying, and will not rely, on Administrative Agent or any Lender for financial or business advice. 
  
 12.9    No Joint Venture.    Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be
deemed to constitute any kind of partnership, joint venture or fiduciary relationship between Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Loan Party. 
  
 12.10    Severability.    The provisions of this Agreement are intended to be severable. Wherever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be
interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent
of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement. 
  
 12.11    Rights Cumulative.    All rights, powers and remedies herein given to Administrative Agent and Lenders are cumulative and not alternative and are in addition to all
statutes or rules of law. 
  
 12.12    Duration; Survival.    All
representations and warranties of any Loan Party contained herein or made in connection herewith shall survive the making of and shall not be waived by the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, any investigation by
Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the making of any Facility A Advances or Loans hereunder. All covenants and agreements of any Loan Party contained herein shall continue in full force and effect from and after the date hereof so long as it may
borrow hereunder and until payment in full of the Loans, interest thereon, all fees and all other Obligations of Borrowers. Without limitation, it is understood that all obligations of Loan Parties to make payments to or indemnify Lenders shall
survive the payment in full of the Loans and of all other Obligations. 
  
 12.13    Governing
Law.    This Agreement, the Notes and each of the other Loan Documents shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the law of the State of New York, except to the extent that the law of jurisdictions
where the Collateral is located may be required to apply to the Collateral. 
  
 12.14    Counterparts.    This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (by facsimile transmission or otherwise) and by the different parties hereto on separate
counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall constitute one and the same instrument. 
  
 12.15    Successors and Assigns.    This Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be binding on and shall inure to the benefit of each Loan Party,
Administrative Agent, Lenders and their respective successors and assigns (including, in the case of any Loan Party, a debtor-in- 

 
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 possession on behalf of such Loan Party), except as otherwise provided herein or therein. No Loan Party
may assign, transfer, hypothecate or otherwise convey its rights, benefits, obligations or duties hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents without the prior express written consent of Administrative Agent and Lenders. Any such purported
assignment, transfer, hypothecation or other conveyance by any Loan Party without the prior express written consent of Administrative Agent and Lenders shall be void. The terms and provisions of this Agreement are for the purpose of defining the
relative rights and obligations of each Loan Party, Administrative Agent and Lenders with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby and no Person shall be a third-party beneficiary of any of the terms and provisions of this Agreement or any of
the other Loan Documents. 
  
 12.16    Disclosures and Confidentiality. 

 
 (a)  Each Loan Party agrees that it and each of its Affiliates will obtain Administrative Agent’s written
consent before using or generating any press release, advertisement, publicity materials or other publication in which the name or logo of Administrative Agent or any Lender or any of their Affiliates is used or may be reasonably inferred and will
not distribute any such materials in the absence of such prior written approval. 
  
 (b)  Each Loan Party
agrees that it will not, directly or indirectly, disclose to any third party the terms of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or prior or future correspondence relating thereto, or the transactions contemplated hereby, or any other
information regarding Administrative Agent, any Lender or their Affiliates learned by such Loan Party during the course of negotiation thereof. The term “third party” shall exclude only Loan Parties, their Affiliates and their
respective attorney(s) and certified public accountant(s). This Section 12.16(b) shall not restrict the disclosure of information if such disclosure is required by law, by order of any court or by the order, rule or regulation of any
administrative agency, including any requirements of the FCC, any PUC or any state or federal securities commissions (the “Commissions”); provided, however, that, except for disclosures required by the FCC, PUC or
Commissions, Borrower Representative shall provide Administrative Agent with advance notice of any such required disclosure of information so that Administrative Agent or the applicable Lender may seek an appropriate protective order and/or waive
compliance with this Section 12.16(b). Each Loan Party shall not oppose any action taken by Administrative Agent or any Lender to obtain an appropriate protective order or other reliable assurance that the information will be accorded
confidential treatment. The obligations set forth in this Section 12.16(b) shall survive the termination of this Agreement. 
  
 (c)  Administrative Agent and each Lender agree to use commercially reasonable efforts (equivalent to the efforts Administrative Agent or such Lender applies to maintaining the confidentiality of its own
confidential information) to maintain as confidential all confidential information provided to them by Loan Parties and designated as confidential for a period of two (2) years following receipt thereof, except that Administrative Agent and each
Lender may disclose such information (a) to Persons employed or engaged by Administrative Agent or such Lender in evaluating, approving, structuring or administering the Loans and the Facility A Commitment; (b) to any bona fide assignee or
participant or potential assignee or participant that has agreed to comply with the covenant contained in this Section 12.16 (and any such bona fide assignee or participant or potential assignee or participant may disclose such information to
Persons employed or engaged by them as described in clause (b) above); (c) as required or requested by any Governmental Authority or reasonably believed by Administrative Agent or such Lender to be compelled by any court decree, subpoena or
legal or administrative order or process; (d) as, in the opinion of Administrative Agent’s or such Lender’s counsel, required by 

 
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 law; (e) in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy under the Loan Documents or in
connection with any litigation to which Administrative Agent or such Lender is a party; or (f) which ceases to be confidential through no fault of Administrative Agent or such Lender. 
  
 (d)  The disclosure of information by any of Administrative Agent, Lenders or Loan Parties will not be restricted under this Agreement if such information (i) has
been or becomes published or is now, or in the future, in the public domain through (A) no fault of the parties, (B) disclosure other than unauthorized disclosure by the party to whom the information is disclosed or (C) disclosure to third parties
by the disclosing party without similar restriction; (ii) is property (other than proposal letters, commitment letters or other correspondence between Lenders and Loan Parties) within the legitimate possession of the receiving party prior to
disclosure hereunder; (iii) subsequent to disclosure hereunder, is lawfully received from a third party having rights therein without restriction of the third party’s or receiving party’s rights to disseminate the information and without
notice of any restriction against its further disclosure; (iv) is disclosed with the written approval of the other party; or (v) is or becomes publicly available free of any obligation to keep it confidential. 
  
 (e)  Each Loan Party authorizes Administrative Agent and each Lender to discuss with and furnish to any Affiliate of
Administrative Agent or such Lender, any government or self-regulatory agency with jurisdiction over Administrative Agent or such Lender, any other Governmental Authority or, subject to such Person’s agreeing to this Section 12.16, any
assignee, successor, participant, successor, or prospective assignee, successor or participant, all financial statements, audit reports and other information pertaining to such Loan Party and/or its Subsidiaries whether such information was provided
by such Loan Party or prepared or obtained by Administrative Agent, Lenders or third parties. No representation or warranty is made by Administrative Agent, Lenders or any of their employees, officers, directors or agents to any existing or
prospective assignee, successor or participant regarding any audit reports or other analyses of any Loan Party that Administrative Agent or any Lender may distribute, whether such information was provided by any Loan Party or prepared or obtained by
Administrative Agent, Lenders or third parties, nor shall Administrative Agent, Lenders or any of their employees, officers, directors or agents be liable to any Person receiving a copy of such reports or analyses for any inaccuracy or omission
contained in such reports or analyses or relating thereto. 
  
 (f)  Every reference in this Agreement to
disclosures of any Loan Party to any Lender or Administrative Agent (except the Business Plan and financial statements), to the extent that such references refer or are intended to refer to disclosures at or prior to the execution of this Agreement,
shall be deemed strictly to refer only to written disclosures delivered to Administrative Agent or Lenders concurrently with the execution of this Agreement and referred to specifically in the Loan Documents. The parties intend that such disclosures
are to be limited to those presented in an orderly manner at the time of executing this Agreement and are not to be deemed to include expressly or impliedly any disclosures that previously may have been delivered from time to time to Administrative
Agent or any Lender, except to the extent that such previous disclosures are again presented to Administrative Agent or such Lender in writing concurrently with the execution of this Agreement. 
  

12.17    Jurisdiction and Venue.    EACH LOAN PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE OR
FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN NEW YORK COUNTY, CITY OF NEW YORK, NEW YORK FOR ANY SUIT BROUGHT OR ACTION COMMENCED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS OR THE OBLIGATIONS AND AGREES NOT TO CONTEST VENUE IN ANY SUCH COURTS. In any
such litigation, each Loan Party waives personal service of 

 
 83 

  
 any summons, complaint or other process, and agree that the service thereof may be made by certified or
registered mail directly to Borrower Representative at its address set forth in Section 12.5. The choice of forum set forth herein shall not be deemed to preclude the enforcement of any judgment obtained in such forum or the taking of any
action under this Agreement to enforce the same in any appropriate jurisdiction. 
  
 12.18    Jury Waiver.    THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY KNOWINGLY AND WILLINGLY WAIVE THEIR RIGHTS TO DEMAND A JURY TRIAL IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING INVOLVING THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENT, THE OBLIGATIONS OR ANY RELATIONSHIP AMONG ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, LENDERS AND ANY LOAN PARTY. EACH LOAN PARTY REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THE FOREGOING WAIVERS WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL AND HAS KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVED
ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT. 
  
 12.19    Limitation on Liability.    NONE OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR ANY LOAN PARTY SHALL HAVE ANY LIABILITY
UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS FOR SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY SORT IN ANY SUIT BROUGHT OR ACTION COMMENCED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, THE
OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS OR THE OBLIGATIONS AND, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROHIBITED BY LAW, EACH PARTY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO CLAIM OR RECOVER IN ANY SUCH ACTION ANY SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF
ANY SORT OTHER THAN ACTUAL DAMAGES. 
  
 12.20    General Wavier and
Release.    IN ADDITION, TO INDUCE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND LENDERS TO AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT, LOAN PARTIES (BY THEIR EXECUTION BELOW) REPRESENT AND WARRANT THAT AS OF THE DATE OF THEIR EXECUTION OF THIS
AGREEMENT THERE ARE NO CLAIMS OR OFFSETS AGAINST OR DEFENSES OR COUNTERCLAIMS TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE EXISTING LOAN AGREEMENT, THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, IN THE EVENT THERE EXIST ANY
SUCH CLAIMS OR OFFSETS AGAINST OR DEFENSES OR COUNTERCLAIMS, LOAN PARTIES (BY THEIR EXECUTION BELOW) HEREBY: 
  
 (a)  FOREVER GENERALLY WAIVE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, OFFSETS, DEFENSES AND/OR COUNTERCLAIMS, WHETHER KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, ARISING ON OR PRIOR TO THE DATE OF THEIR EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT; AND 
  
 (b)  FOREVER RELEASE, ACQUIT AND DISCHARGE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND LENDERS, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS,
EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, SHAREHOLDERS, AFFILIATES AND ATTORNEYS (COLLECTIVELY THE “RELEASED PARTIES”) FROM ANY AND ALL OBLIGATIONS, INDEBTEDNESS, LIABILITIES, CLAIMS, RIGHTS, CAUSES OF ACTION OR DEMANDS WHATSOEVER, WHETHER KNOWN OR
UNKNOWN, SUSPECTED OR UNSUSPECTED, IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHICH ANY LOAN PARTY EVER HAD, NOW HAS, CLAIMS TO 

 
 84 

  
 HAVE OR MAY HAVE AGAINST ANY RELEASED PARTY ARISING ON OR PRIOR TO THE DATE HEREOF AND FROM OR IN
CONNECTION WITH THE EXISTING LOAN AGREEMENT, THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY AND HEREIN. 
  
 The provisions of this Section 12.20, including without limitation the representations and warranties contained herein, shall survive termination of this Agreement indefinitely. 

 
 12.21    Schedules, Exhibits and Annexes.    The Schedules, Exhibits and Annexes
attached to this Agreement are an integral part hereof, and are hereby made a part of this Agreement. 
  
 12.22    Agreement to Govern.   In case of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and any of the other Loan Documents, the terms of this Agreement shall govern. 
  
 12.23     Entire Agreement. 
  
 (a)  This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and other documents, agreements and certificates executed by the parties contemporaneously herewith or subsequent
hereto constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede all prior understandings and agreements, written or oral, among the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof. No Loan Party is entering into this Agreement in reliance
on statements or representations made by any Person other than as set forth herein. 
  
 (b)  On the
Effective Date, the Existing Loan Agreement shall be amended and restated in its entirety by this Agreement and the Existing Loan Agreement shall thereafter be of no further force and effect except to evidence (i) the incurrence by any Borrower of
the “Obligations” under and as defined therein (whether or not such “Obligations” are contingent as of the Effective Date), (ii) the representations and warranties made by the Borrowers prior to the Effective Date and (iii) any
action or omission performed or required to be performed pursuant to such Existing Loan Agreement prior to the Effective Date (including any failure, prior to the Effective Date, to comply with the covenants contained in such Existing Loan
Agreement). The amendments and restatements set forth herein (including deletion of financial covenants applicable to previous Fiscal Quarters) shall not cure any breach thereof or any “Default” or “Event of Default” under and as
defined in the Existing Loan Agreement existing prior to the date hereof. This Agreement is not in any way intended to constitute a novation of the obligations and liabilities existing under the Existing Loan Agreement or evidence payment of all or
any portion of such obligations and liabilities. 
  
 (c)  The terms and conditions of this Agreement and
Administrative Agent’s and Lenders’ rights and remedies under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, shall apply to all of the Obligations incurred under the Existing Loan Agreement and the Notes issued thereunder. 

 
 (d)  The Borrower reaffirms the Liens granted pursuant to this Existing Loan Agreement and the Security Documents to
Administrative Agent for the benefit of Lenders, which Liens shall continue in full force and effect during the term of this Agreement and any renewals or extensions thereof and shall continue to secure the Obligations. 
  
 (e)  On and after the Effective Date, (i) all references to the Existing Loan Agreement (or to any amendment, supplement,
modification or amendment and restatement thereof) in the 

 
 85 

  
 Loan Documents (other than this Agreement) shall be deemed to refer to the Existing Loan Agreement as
amended and restated hereby, (ii) all references to any section (or subsection) of the Existing Loan Agreement in any Loan Document (but not herein) shall be amended to become, mutatis mutandis, references to the corresponding provisions of this
Agreement and (iii) except as the context otherwise provides, on or after the Effective Date, all references to this Agreement herein (including for purposes of indemnification and reimbursement of fees) shall be deemed to be reference to the
Existing Loan Agreement as amended and restated hereby. 
  
 (f)  This amendment and restatement is limited
as written and is not a consent to any other amendment, restatement, waiver or other modification, whether or not similar, and, except as expressly provided herein or in any other Loan Document, all terms and conditions of the Loan Documents remain
in full force and effect unless otherwise specifically amended by this Agreement or any other Loan Document. 
  
 [SIGNATURE PAGE APPEARS ON THE NEXT PAGE.] 

 
 86 

  
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed as of the date first
above written. 
  
 
	 Administrative Agent and Lender:
  
 GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	 /s/    Angela M. LePore
 

	  	 	 Name:    Angela M. LePore
 
	  	 	 Title:      SVP, Special Assets
 

 
  
 
	 Lenders:
 
	  
 WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
     as a Lender
 

 
  
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	 /s/    Matthew Berk
 

	  	 	 Name:
 	 	 Matthew Berk
 

	  	 	 Title:
 	 	 Authorized Officer
 

 
  
 
	 U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
 

 
  
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	 /s/    Greg Wilson
 

	  	 	 Name:
 	 	 Greg Wilson
 

	  	 	 Title:
 	 	 Vice President
 

 
  
 
	 PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
 

 
  
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	 /s/    Steven J. McGehrin
 

	  	 	 Name:
 	 	 Steven J. McGehrin
 

	  	 	 Title:
 	 	 Vice President
 

 
  
 
	 IBM CREDIT CORPORATION
 

 
  
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	 /s/    Steven A. Flanagan
 

	  	 	 Name:
 	 	 Steven A. Flanagan
 

	  	 	 Title:
 	 	 Manager at Global Special Handling
 

 

 
 87 

  
  
 
	 BANK AUSTRIA CREDITANSTALT
 CORPORATE FINANCE, INC.
 

 
  
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	 /s/    A.W.Seidel
 

	  	 	 Name:
 	 	 A.W. Seidel
 

	  	 	 Title:
 	 	 SVP
 

 
  
 
	 Borrower Representative And Guarantor:
 
	  
 US LEC CORP.
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	 /s/    Michael K. Robinson
 

	  	 	 Name:
 	 	 Michael K. Robinson
 
	  	 	 Title:
 	 	 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 

 
  
 
	 Borrowers:
 
	 
	 US LEC OF ALABAMA INC.
 
	 US LEC COMMUNICATIONS INC.
 
	 US LEC OF FLORIDA INC.
 
	 US LEC OF GEORGIA INC.
 
	 US LEC OF MARYLAND INC.
 
	 US LEC OF NORTH CAROLINA INC.
 
	 US LEC OF PENNSYLVANIA INC.
 
	 US LEC OF SOUTH CAROLINA INC.
 
	 US LEC OF TENNESSEE INC.
 
	 US LEC OF VIRGINIA L.L.C.
 
	 US LEC ACQUISITION CO.
 

 
  
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	 /s/    Michael K. Robinson
 

	  	 	 Name:
 	 	 Michael K. Robinson
 
	  	 	 Title:
 	 	 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 

 

 
 88

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