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                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.11

                          CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS

                                       of

                 SERIES F JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK

                                       of

                            Z-TEL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                        (Pursuant to Section 151 of the

                       Delaware General Corporation Law)

         Z-Tel Technologies, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the
"Corporation"), hereby certifies that the following resolution was adopted by
the Board of Directors of the Corporation as required by Section 151 of the
General Corporation Law on February 19, 2001:

         RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted to and vested in the
Board of Directors of this Corporation (hereinafter called the "Board of
Directors" or the "Board") in accordance with the provisions of the
Corporation's Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the "Certificate of
Incorporation") the Board of Directors hereby creates a new series of Preferred
Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Junior Preferred Stock"), of the
Corporation and hereby states the designation and number of shares of each such
series, and fixes the relative rights, preferences, and limitations of each
such series as follows:

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         Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be
designated as "Series F Junior Participating Preferred Stock" (the "Junior
Preferred Stock") and the number of shares constituting the Junior Preferred
Stock shall be 200,000. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by
resolution of the Board of Directors; provided, that no decrease shall reduce
the number of shares of Junior Preferred Stock to a number less than the number
of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for issuance upon
the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the conversion
of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible into Junior
Preferred Stock.

         Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.

                  (A)      Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares
         of any series of Preferred Stock (or any similar stock) ranking prior
         and superior to the Junior Preferred Stock with respect to dividends,
         the holders of shares of Junior Preferred Stock, in preference to the
         holders of the Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common
         Stock"), of the Corporation, and of any other junior stock, shall be
         entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of
         Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly
         dividends payable in cash on the first day of March, June, September
         and December in each year (each such date being referred to herein as
         a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first
         Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or
         fraction of a share of Junior Preferred Stock, in an amount per share
         (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1.00 or (b)
         subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 1000
         times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 1000
         times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash
         dividends or other distributions, other than a dividend payable in
         shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of
         Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the
         Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend
         Payment Date or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment
         Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of
         Junior Preferred Stock. If the Corporation shall at any time declare
         or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common
         Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the
         outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise
         than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a
         greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such
         case the amount to which holders of shares of Junior Preferred Stock
         were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (b) of the
         preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a
         fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common
         Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of
         which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding
         immediately prior to such event.

                  (B)      The Corporation shall declare a dividend or
         distribution on the Junior Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph
         (A) of this Section immediately after it declares a dividend or
         distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in
         shares of Common Stock); provided that, if no dividend or distribution
         shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the period between
         any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date

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         and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of
         $1.00 per share on the Junior Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be
         payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.

                  (C)      Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
         outstanding shares of Junior Preferred Stock from the Quarterly
         Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares,
         unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date
         for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends
         on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such
         shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment
         Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of
         holders of shares of Junior Preferred Stock entitled to receive a
         quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in
         either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be
         cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but
         unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares
         of Junior Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of
         such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be
         allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at
         the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for
         the determination of holders of shares of Junior Preferred Stock
         entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared
         thereon, which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to the
         date fixed for the payment thereof.

         Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Junior Preferred
Stock shall have the following voting rights:

                  (A)      Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter
         set forth, each share of Junior Preferred Stock shall entitle the
         holder thereof to 1000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the
         stockholders of the Corporation. If the Corporation shall at any time
         declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of
         Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation
         of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or
         otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock)
         into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in
         each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of
         shares of Junior Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to
         such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction,
         the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
         outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which
         is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding
         immediately prior to such event.

                  (B)      Except as otherwise provided herein, in any other
         Certificate of Designations creating a series of Preferred Stock or
         any similar stock, or by law, the holders of shares of Junior
         Preferred Stock and the holders of Common Stock and any other capital
         stock of the Corporation having general voting rights shall vote
         together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of
         stockholders of the Corporation.

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                  (C)      Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided
         by law, holders of Junior Preferred Stock shall have no voting rights
         and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are
         entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for
         taking any corporate action.

         Section 4. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no distribution
shall be made (1) to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as
to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Junior
Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Junior
Preferred Stock shall have received $1000 per share, plus an amount equal to
accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not
declared, to the date of such payment, provided that the holders of shares of
Junior Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an aggregate amount per
share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to
1000 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of
shares of Common Stock, or (2) to the holders of shares of stock ranking on a
parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up)
with the Junior Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the
Junior Preferred Stock and all such parity stock in proportion to the total
amounts to which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such
liquidation, dissolution or winding up. If the Corporation shall at any time
declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser
number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount
to which holders of shares of Junior Preferred Stock were entitled immediately
prior to such event under the proviso in clause (1) of the preceding sentence
shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after
such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

         Section 5. Consolidation, Merger, etc. If the Corporation shall enter
into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the
shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or
securities, cash or any other property, then in any such case each share of
Junior Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed
into an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter
set forth, equal to 1000 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash
or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for
which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. If the Corporation
shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise
than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or
lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount set
forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of
shares of Junior Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount
by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to
such event.

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         Section 6. Certain Restrictions.

                  (A)      Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
         distributions payable on the Junior Preferred Stock are in arrears,
         thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and
         distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Junior Preferred
         Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall
         not:

                           (i)      declare or pay dividends, or make any other
                  distributions, on any shares of stock ranking junior (either
                  as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding
                  up) to the Junior Preferred Stock;

                           (ii)     declare or pay dividends, or make any other
                  distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on parity
                  (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
                  winding up) with the Junior Preferred Stock, except dividends
                  paid ratably on the Junior Preferred Stock and all such
                  parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in
                  proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all
                  such shares are then entitled;

                           (iii)    redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
                  consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as
                  to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up)
                  to the Junior Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation
                  may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares
                  of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock
                  of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or
                  upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Junior
                  Preferred Stock; or

                           (iv)     redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
                  consideration any shares of Junior Preferred Stock, or any
                  shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Junior Preferred
                  Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in
                  writing or by publication (as determined by the Board of
                  Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as
                  the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective
                  annual dividend rates and other relative rights and
                  preferences of the respective series and classes, shall
                  determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable
                  treatment among the respective series or classes.

                  (B)      The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of
         the Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
         shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under
         paragraph (A) of this Section 1, purchase or otherwise acquire such
         shares at such time and in such manner.

         Section 7. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Junior Preferred Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever
shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such
shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of
Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock
subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the
Certificate of

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Incorporation, or in any other Certificate of Designations creating a series of
Preferred Stock or any similar stock or as otherwise required by law.

         Section 8. No Redemption. The shares of Junior Preferred Stock shall
not be redeemable.

         Section 9. Rank. The Junior Preferred Stock shall rank, with respect
to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, junior to all
series of any other class of the Corporation's Preferred Stock.

         Section 10. Amendment. The Certificate of Incorporation shall not be
amended in any manner which would alter or change the powers, preferences or
special rights of the Junior Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely
without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the
outstanding Junior Preferred Stock.

         Section 11. Fractional Shares. The Junior Preferred Stock may be
issued in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to
such holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends,
participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of
holders of the Junior Preferred Stock.

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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designations is executed on
behalf of the Corporation by its Chairman of the Board and attested by its
Secretary this 20th day of February, 2001.

                                             /s/ D. Gregory Smith
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Chairman of the Board

Attest:

/s/ Mark H. Johnson
---------------------------
Secretary<PAGE>   1

                                                                   Exhibit 10.5

                            Z-TEL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
                           INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

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

         THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of the 1st day of January,
2001, by and between Z-TEL TECHNOLOGIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and ___________ ("Indemnitee").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:
                              - - - - - - - - - -

         WHEREAS, Indemnitee is a director or an executive officer of the
Company and provides valuable services in such capacity or capacities for the
Company;

         WHEREAS, the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended (the "Certificate"), and Amended and Restated Bylaws
(the "Bylaws") provide for the indemnification of the directors and executive
officers by the Company to the maximum extent authorized by the Delaware
General Corporation Law, as amended (the "Law");

         WHEREAS, the Certificate, the Bylaws and the Law, by their
nonexclusive nature, permit agreements between the Company and its directors
and executive officers with respect to indemnification of such directors and
executive officers;

         WHEREAS, as a result of recent developments affecting the terms,
scope, and availability of directors' and officers' liability insurance, there
exists general uncertainty as to the extent of protection which may be afforded
the Company's directors and executive officers by such insurance; and

         WHEREAS, in order to induce Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve
as a director or an executive officer of the Company, the Company has
determined and agreed to enter into this Agreement with Indemnitee.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of Indemnitee's service or continued
service as a director or an executive officer after the date hereof, the
parties hereto agree as follows:

         1.       INDEMNIFICATION. The Company hereby agrees to hold harmless
and indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted or required by the
provisions of the Law as it is presently constituted and as it may be amended
from time to time; provided, however, that in the case of any amendment to the
Law, the Company's obligations to hold harmless and indemnify Indemnitee shall
be changed only to the extent that such amendment to the Law permits or
requires the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than prior to
such amendment.

         2.       ADDITIONAL INDEMNITY. Subject only to the exclusions set
forth in Section 3 hereof, the Company hereby further agrees to hold harmless
and indemnify Indemnitee:

                  (a)      Against any and all expenses (including attorneys'
fees), costs, judgments, fines (which term, whenever used in this Agreement,
includes, without limitation, excise taxes), and amounts paid by Indemnitee in
connection with the defense or settlement of any threatened, pending, or
completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative,
or

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investigative (including an action by or in the right of the Company) to which
Indemnitee is, was, or at any time becomes a party, witness or deponent or is
threatened to be made a party, witness or deponent by reason of the fact that
Indemnitee is, was, or at any time becomes a director, officer, employee, or
agent of the Company, or is or was serving or at any time serves at the request
of the Company as a director, officer, employee, trustee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust,
benefit plan or other enterprise; and

                  (b)      Otherwise to the fullest extent as may be provided to
Indemnitee by the Company under the non-exclusive provisions of the Law.

         3.       LIMITATIONS ON ADDITIONAL INDEMNITY. No indemnity pursuant to
Section 2 hereof shall be paid by the Company:

                  (a)      If a judgment or other final adjudication
establishes that Indemnitee's actions, or omissions to act, were material to
the cause of the action so adjudicated and constitute: (i) a violation of the
criminal law, unless Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe his conduct was
lawful or had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; (ii) a
transaction from which Indemnitee derived an improper personal benefit; (iii)
in the case of Indemnitee being a director, a circumstance under which the
liability provisions of the Law are applicable; or (iv) willful misconduct or a
conscious disregard for the best interests of the Company in a proceeding by or
in the right of the Company or in a proceeding by or in the right of a
shareholder of the Company; or

                  (b)      If a final decision by a court having jurisdiction in
the matter shall determine that such indemnification is not lawful.

                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Indemnitee shall be entitled
to the fullest indemnification under this Agreement if he is successful on the
merits (including, without limitation, dismissal with or without prejudice) in
any matter for which indemnification is not prohibited by the Law.

         4.       CONTRIBUTION. If the indemnification provided in Section 1 or
2 hereof is unavailable and may not be paid to Indemnitee for any reason other
than those set forth in paragraph (a) of Section 3 hereof, then in respect of
any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding in which the
Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such
action, suit, or proceeding), the Company shall contribute to the amount of
expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid or
payable by Indemnitee in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (a) the
relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and Indemnitee on the
other hand from the transaction from which such action, suit, or proceeding
arose, and (b) the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of
Indemnitee on the other hand in connection with the events which resulted in
such expenses, judgments, fines, or settlement amounts, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company on the one
hand and of the Indemnitee on the other hand shall be determined by reference
to, among other things, the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information, and opportunity to correct or prevent the circumstances resulting
in such expenses, judgments, fines, or settlement amounts.

         5.       CONTINUATION OF OBLIGATIONS. All agreements and obligations
                  of the Company

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contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee is a director,
officer, employee, or agent of the Company (or is or was serving at the request
of the Company as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another
corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, or
other enterprise) and shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be
subject to any possible claim or threatened, pending, or completed action,
suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, or investigative, by reason of
the fact that Indemnitee was a director or an executive officer of the Company
or serving in any other capacity referred to herein and shall inure to the
benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of Indemnitee.

         6.       NOTIFICATION AND DEFENSE OF CLAIM. Promptly after receipt by
Indemnitee of notice of the commencement of any action, suit, or proceeding,
Indemnitee will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
Company under this Agreement, notify the Company of the commencement thereof.
The failure of Indemnitee to notify the Company shall have no effect on the
obligations of the Company hereunder. With respect to any such action, suit, or
proceeding:

                  (a)      The Company will be entitled to participate therein
at its own expense.

                  (b)      Except as otherwise provided below, to the extent
that it may wish, the Company shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof,
with counsel satisfactory to Indemnitee. After notice from the Company to
Indemnitee of its election to assume the defense thereof, the Company will not
be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the defense thereof
except as otherwise provided below. Indemnitee shall have the right to employ
his counsel in such action, suit, or proceeding, but the fees and expenses of
such counsel incurred after notice from the Company of its assumption of the
defense thereof shall be at the expense of Indemnitee unless (i) the employment
of counsel by Indemnitee has been authorized by the Company, (ii) Indemnitee
shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest
between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of the defense of such
action, or (iii) the Company shall not in fact have employed counsel to assume
the defense of such action, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of
such counsel of Indemnitee shall be at the expense of the Company. The Company
shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any action, suit, or proceeding
brought by or on behalf of the Company.

                  (c)      The Company shall not be liable to indemnify
Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any
action or claim effected without the Company's written consent. The Company
shall not settle any action or claim in any manner which would constitute an
admission by Indemnitee as to any matter or impose any penalty or limitation on
Indemnitee without Indemnitee's written consent. Neither the Company nor
Indemnitee will unreasonably withhold its or his consent to any proposed
settlement.

         7.       ADVANCEMENT AND REPAYMENT OF EXPENSES.

                  (a)      In the event that Indemnitee employs his own counsel
pursuant to Section 6(b)(i), (ii), or (iii) above, the Company shall advance to
Indemnitee, prior to any final disposition of any threatened or pending action,
suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative,
any and all expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred in
investigating or defending any such action, suit, or proceeding within ten (10)
days after receiving copies of invoices presented to Indemnitee for such
expenses.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4

                  (b)      Indemnitee agrees and undertakes that Indemnitee
will reimburse the Company for all expenses paid by the Company to Indemnitee
pursuant to Section 7(a) hereof in the event and only to the extent that it
shall be finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that
Indemnitee is not entitled, under the provisions of the Law, the Certificate,
the Bylaws, this Agreement, or otherwise, to be indemnified by the Company for
such expenses.

         8.       ENFORCEMENT.

                  (a)      The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it
has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on the
Company hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve or to continue to serve
as a director or an executive officer of the Company, and acknowledges that
Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving or continuing to serve in
such capacity.

                  (b)      In the event Indemnitee is required to bring any
action to enforce rights or to collect monies due under this Agreement and is
successful in such action, the Company shall reimburse Indemnitee for all of
Indemnitee's fees and expenses in bringing and pursuing such action.

         9.       NON-EXCLUSIVITY. The indemnification provided by this
Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any rights to which Indemnitee may
be entitled under the Law, the Certificate, the Bylaws, any agreement, any vote
of shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in
Indemnitee's official capacity, and as to action in another capacity while
holding such office. The indemnification provided under this Agreement shall
continue as to Indemnitee for any action taken or not taken while serving in an
indemnified capacity even though she may have ceased to serve in such capacity
at the time of any action, suit, or other covered proceeding.

         10.      LIABILITY INSURANCE. The Company shall maintain an insurance
policy or policies providing directors' and officers' liability insurance and
Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies, in accordance with its
or their terms, to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any
director or executive officer of the Company.

         11.      SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this Agreement shall be
regarded as divisible, and if any of said provisions or any part hereof is
declared invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the
validity and enforceability of the remainder of such provisions or parts hereof
and the applicability thereof shall not be affected thereby.

         12.      GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware,
without reference to conflict or choice of law principles thereunder.

         13.      BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and the Company, and their respective
successors, assigns and personal or legal representatives.

         14.      AMENDMENT. This Agreement may not be amended or modified at
any time except by written instrument executed by the Company and Indemnitee.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5

         15.      NOTICES. Notices given pursuant to this Agreement shall be in
writing, and except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be deemed
given when actually received by Indemnitee or actually received by the
Company's President or any officer of the Company. If sent by mail, such
notices shall be mailed by United States registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested, postage prepaid, if to the Company, to Z-Tel Technologies,
Inc., Attention: General Counsel, 601 South Harbour Island Boulevard, Suite
220, Tampa, Florida 33602, or if to Indemnitee, at the address set forth below
Indemnitee's signature of this Agreement, or to such other address as the party
to be notified shall have theretofore given to the other party in writing.

         16.      CERTAIN RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. No party shall be considered
as being responsible for the drafting of this Agreement for the purpose of
applying any rule construing ambiguities against the drafter or otherwise. No
draft of this Agreement shall be taken into account in construing this
Agreement.

         17.      NO WAIVER. No waiver by either party at any time of any
breach by the other party of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of
this Agreement to be performed by the other party shall be deemed a waiver of
similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same time or any prior or
subsequent time.

         18.      ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement contains the entire
agreement of the parties, and supersedes any prior written or oral agreement of
the parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

                              [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

                                      -5-
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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the day and year first above written.

                                          Z-TEL  TECHNOLOGIES,   INC.,  a
                                          Delaware corporation

                                          By:
                                             ----------------------------------
                                                  D. Gregory Smith
                                                  President and Chief
                                                  Executive Officer

                                          INDEMNITEE:

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

                                      -6-

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