Document:

Exhibit 10.26
                         AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT BETWEEN
                           DIGITAL TELEPORT, INC., AND
                         PIRELLI CABLES AND SYSTEMS LLC

This  Amendment  ("Amendment")  by and  between  Pirelli  Cables and Systems LLC
("Pirelli")  and Digital  Teleports,  Inc.  ("DTI"),  is made and  entered  into
effective as of June 25,  2000,  and amends the  Agreement  dated as of June 26,
1998,  between the parties (the  "Agreement"),  and supersedes  any  conflicting
provision within such Agreement.

     1.   The  parties  agree  to a one  (1)  year  renewal  of  the  Agreement,
          commencing on June 26, 2000 (the "Renewal Term").

     2.   The  prices in effect on the date of this  Amendment  shall  remain in
          effect for the Renewal Term.

     3.   Pirelli shall ship product on  Non-Returnable  Wooden Reels. DTI shall
          hold Pirelli  harmless  regarding any liability due to losses incurred
          as a result of cable creep.

     4.   The parties further agree that the December 15, 1998 letter  agreement
          (the "BOC Deal") does not apply to delivery of products after June 26,
          2000.

     5.   Except as provided for herein,  all of the terms and conditions of the
          Agreement remain in full force and effect.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  this Amendment is  executed by the parties hereto
as of the date and year first above written.

Pirelli Cables and Systems LLC                     Digital Teleport, Inc.

By: /s/ Raymond L. Robinson                        By:  /s/ Richard D. Weinstein
   ---------------------------------                  --------------------------

Name  Raymond L. Robinson                          Name   Richard D. Weinstein
      ------------------------------                      ----------------------

Title  President, Communications Div.              Title  President
       -----------------------------                      ----------------------Exhibit 10.28

                              CONSULTING AGREEMENT

               THIS  CONSULTING  AGREEMENT  ("Consulting   Agreement")  is  made
effective  the 8th  day of  June,  1998  and is  entered  into on the 5th day of
November,  1998,  by and Digital  Teleport,  Inc., a Missouri  corporation  (the
"Company"), and Jerry W. Murphy ("Consultant" or "Murphy").

                                   WITNESSETH:

               WHEREAS,  the Company wishes to retain  Consultant and Consultant
wishes to be retained by Company on the terms set forth herein;

               WHEREAS,  this  Consulting  Agreement  shall be converted into an
employment agreement at the time specified herein;

               WHEREAS,  certain provisions herein shall not be applicable until
this Consulting Agreement is converted into an employment agreement.

               WHEREAS,  the  Company  is  a  wholly-owned   subsidiary  of  DTI
Holdings, Inc. ("Holdings");

               NOW,   THEREFORE,   in   consideration  of  the  mutual  promises
hereinafter set forth, it is hereby agreed as follows:

               1. Engagement.  Consultant is  hereby  engaged as a consultant to
the Company. The term of Consultant's  services to the Company shall commence on
June 6, 1998 and shall end on October 10, 1998,  unless  earlier  terminated  as
provided herein (the "Consulting Period").  The term of the employment agreement
into which this Consulting Agreement shall be converted ("Employment Agreement")
shall  commence  upon  the  termination  of the  Consulting  Period,  and  shall
terminate  upon the third  anniversary  of the  commencement  of the  Consulting
Period (the "Employment Period").

               2. Services and Duties.

                  (a)  Consulting   Services.   During  the  Consulting  Period,
Consultant  shall perform such  consulting  services as Company  requests in the
area of network  operations by the Company and any other services as Company and
Consultant mutually agree ("Consulting  Services").  During the Consulting Term,
Consultant shall devote such time,  attention,  skill, energy and efforts as may
be necessary for the faithful performance of the Consulting Services. Consultant
shall have the title "Vice President Network Operations" of the Company.

                  (b)  Duties.  During the Employment Period, Murphy shall serve
in a full-time  capacity with the title Vice President Network Operations (which
area of  responsibilities  may be  modified  from time to time by the  Company's
President)  with  the  Company  or the  business  of the  Company  as  presently

<PAGE>

conducted  and as said  business may evolve  during the  Employment  Period on a
full-time basis.  During the Employment  Period,  Murphy shall devote such time,
attention,  skill,  energy and  efforts  as may be  necessary  for the  faithful
performance of duties assigned to Murphy.

               3. Compensation.

                  (a) The  Company  shall  pay  Consultant  $3,077 a week  spent
performing Consulting Services.

                  (b) Consultant  shall  be paid $25,000  upon the  execution of
this Consulting Agreement.

                  (c) Consultant  shall  be  reimbursed  by the  Company for his
reasonable  expenses  for  travel  from his  home in  Dallas,  Texas on  Company
business,  including without limitation travel to the Company's  headquarters in
St. Louis,  Missouri and his  reasonable  living  expenses while in St. Louis on
Company  business,  in  accordance  with  the  Company's  general  reimbursement
policies.

                  (d) If Murphy moves his  household  from Dallas,  Texas to St.
Louis,  Murphy shall be entitled to receive from the Company  reimbursement  for
the relocation expenses set forth in Exhibit B (the "Relocation Expenses"). With
respect to the  Relocation  Expenses  listed in  paragraphs  (a), (b) and (c) in
Exhibit  B,  reimbursement  shall be made to  Murphy  only for  actual  expenses
incurred,  as evidenced in writing in form reasonably acceptable to the Company.
In the event Murphy  voluntarily  terminates  his services  under the Consulting
Agreement or  Employment  Agreement  prior to the one-year  anniversary  hereof,
Murphy shall  reimburse the Company an amount equal to the Relocation  Expenses,
other than those specified in paragraphs (c) and (d) of Exhibit B.

                  (e) During the Employment Period, the Company shall pay Murphy
as  compensation  for his services during the Employment  Period,  a base salary
(the "Base  Salary") at a rate of One hundred and Seventy Five thousand  Dollars
($175,000)  per year,  such Base  Salary to be  payable in  accordance  with the
Company's  usual payment  practices.  Additionally,  Murphy shall be entitled to
participate in all of the Company's  employee benefit plans generally  available
to employees of the Company.

                  (f) Murphy will receive a grant of options to purchase 300,000
shares of Holdings' outstanding common stock. The grant date shall be as soon as
reasonably  practicable following the commencement of the Employment Period, not
to exceed four (4) months.  Such options shall be have the features set forth in
Exhibit A hereto.

                  (g) Murphy will be eligible for a bonus on June 6, 1998,  June
6, 1999 and June 6, 2000, of up to one-third of his Base Salary.  Such incentive
compensation  shall be  guaranteed  for the  first  such  bonus in an  amount of
$58,333, and subsequent incentive  compensation shall be payable in the sole and

                                       2
<PAGE>

absolute  discretion of the Company.  Any such incentive  compensation  shall be
payable within four weeks following the dates set forth in the first sentence of
this Section 3(g).

                  (h) All compensation shall be subject to customary withholding
taxes and other employment and usage taxes as required with respect thereto.

                  4.  Termination of Employment.  During the Employment  Period,
the  Employment  Agreement  and Murphy's  employment  may be  terminated  by the
Company as follows:

                  (a) Upon  thirty (30) days prior  written  notice to Murphy in
the event Murphy becomes disabled. In the event of a disagreement concerning the
existence  of  any  such   disability,   the  matter  shall  be  resolved  by  a
disinterested licensed physician chosen by the Company.

                  (b) At the  election of the Company,  for "Cause"  immediately
upon  notice by the  Company  to Murphy.  For the  purposes  of this  Employment
Agreement, "Cause" shall mean:

                      (i)  willful  or  prolonged  absence  from  work by Murphy
(other  than by reason of  disability  due to  physical  or mental  illness)  or
failure, neglect or refusal by Murphy to perform his duties and responsibilities
under the Employment Agreement;

                      (ii)  material  breach by  Murphy of any of the  covenants
contained in the Employment Agreement;

                      (iii) Murphy's  commission of fraud or dishonesty  against
the Company or willful  misfeasance or nonfeasance of duty intended to injure or
having the effect of injuring the reputation, business or business relationships
of the Company,  its  subsidiaries or affiliates or their  respective  officers,
directors or employees; or

                      (iv) upon a charge by a governmental entity against Murphy
of any crime involving moral turpitude or which could reflect  unfavorably  upon
the  Company  or upon the  filing  of any  civil  action  involving  a charge of
embezzlement, theft, fraud or other similar act.

                  (c) For any other cause or without cause,  upon written notice
to Murphy.

                  Upon termination of the Employment  Agreement,  all rights and
obligations of the parties hereunder shall cease,  except: (i) if the Employment
Agreement is terminated  without cause pursuant to Subsection (c) above prior to
the end of the  Employment  Period,  Murphy shall receive all of his or her Base
Salary for the remainder of such  Employment  Period;  and (ii)  termination  of

                                       3
<PAGE>

employment  pursuant  to this  Section 5 or  otherwise  shall not  terminate  or
otherwise  affect the rights and obligations of the parties pursuant to Sections
6, 7 and 9 through 13 of the Employment Agreement.

                  Nothing  contained  herein will be construed to prevent Murphy
from seeking or obtaining other employment in the event the employment of Murphy
is terminated by the Company without cause.

                  5.       Change of Control.

                  (a) Following the beginning of the Employment  Period,  if (i)
the Company  terminates  Murphy's  employment  without  Cause  during the period
commencing  with the date of a Change of Control (as  hereinafter  defined)  and
ending  twelve  months  following  the Change of Control (the "Change of Control
Period"),  or (ii) the Company  terminates  Murphy's  employment  without  Cause
within three months prior to a Change of Control unless such termination was not
in connection with or not in  anticipation of a Change of Control,  Murphy shall
be  entitled  to  receive  as  compensation   Change  of  Control  Payments  (as
hereinafter defined) and such Change of Control Payments shall be in lieu of any
other payments  described in Section 4 herein.  Notwithstanding  anything to the
contrary contained herein, nothing in the Employment Agreement shall relieve the
Company of its  obligation of providing  Murphy with all retirement and deferred
compensation  benefits  in  accordance  with  the  terms of all  retirement  and
deferred compensation plans in which Murphy participates.

                  (b) The term  "Change of Control" for purposes of this section
shall mean:

                      (i) any  "person"  (within the  meaning of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"),  becomes the beneficial owner of more
than fifty percent (50%) of Holdings then outstanding  voting  securities (other
than as a  result  of any sale by KLT  Telecom  Inc.  of  voting  securities  in
Holdings or change of ownership of KLT Telecom Inc.);

                      (ii) the  shareholders  of Holdings  approve a  definitive
agreement of merger or consolidation with any other business entity other than a
merger or consolidation  that would result in the voting  securities of Holdings
outstanding immediately prior to the consummation of the merger or consolidation
continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or being converted into
voting  securities of the surviving  entity) at least fifty percent (50%) of the
combined voting power of the voting  securities of the surviving  entity of such
merger  or   consolidation   outstanding   immediately   after  such  merger  or
consolidation   (provided  that  if  such  agreement  is  terminated   prior  to
consummation  of such  merger or  consolidation,  a change of  control  shall be
deemed not to have happened for purposes of the  Employment  Agreement if Murphy
has not been previously terminated); or

                                       4
<PAGE>

                      (iii)  the  shareholders  of  Holdings  approve  a plan of
complete  liquidation or dissolution of Holdings or an agreement for the sale or
disposition  by Holdings of all or  substantially  all of the assets of Holdings
(provided  that if  such  plan  is  terminated  prior  to  such  liquidation  or
dissolution,  or if such agreement is terminated  prior to the  consummation  of
such sale or  disposition,  a change  of  control  shall be  deemed  not to have
happened  for  purposes  of the  Employment  Agreement  if  Murphy  has not been
previously terminated).

Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  in no event shall an initial public offering of
Holdings,  or an increase in the ownership of shares of voting securities by any
shareholder of Holdings who beneficially  owns shares of voting securities as of
the date of the Consulting Agreement, be considered a Change of Control.

                  (c) The term  "Change  of  Control  Payments"  shall  mean the
greater of:

                      (i)  Murphy's   Base  Salary  for  the  remainder  of  the
Employment  Period,  plus an amount equal to the simple  average of  performance
bonuses previously paid to Murphy, prorated to the end of the Employment Period;
or

                      (ii) an amount equal to Murphy's Base Salary for one year.

                  6.  Third-Party Confidentiality.  Murphy shall not disclose to
the Company or induce the Company to use any secret or confidential  information
belonging to persons not affiliated with the Company.  Murphy  acknowledges that
the Company  has  disclosed  that the Company is now,  and may be in the future,
subject to duties to third parties to maintain  information  in  confidence  and
secrecy.  Murphy  agrees to be bound by any such duty owed by the Company to any
third party.

                  7.  Inventions, Etc.; Confidentiality

                  (a) Any  and  all  ideas,  inventions,  discoveries,  patents,
patent applications, continuation-in-part patent applications, divisional patent
applications,  technology,  copyrights,  derivative works,  trademarks,  service
marks,  improvements,  trade  secrets  and the  like  ("Invention"),  which  are
developed,  conceived,  created, discovered,  learned, produced and/or otherwise
generated by Murphy,  whether  individually or otherwise,  during the Consulting
Period or the  Employment  Period,  whether or not during  working  hours,  that
relate to (i) the business and/or activities of the Company,  (ii) the Company's
anticipated  research or development,  or (iii) any work performed by Murphy for
the Company,  shall be the sole and exclusive  property of the Company,  and the
Company shall own any and all right, title and interest to such property. Murphy
assigns  and  agrees to  assign  to the  Company  any and all  right,  title and
interest  in and to any  such  Inventions,  whenever  requested  to do so by the
Company,  at the  Company's  expense,  and Murphy  agrees to execute any and all
applications, assignments or other instruments which the Company deems desirable
or necessary to protect such interests.

                                       5
<PAGE>

                  (b)  Section  8(a)  shall not apply to any  Invention  (1) for
which no  equipment,  supplies,  facilities,  or  confidential  and trade secret
information  of the  Company  was used and which was  developed  entirely on the
Murphy's  own  time,  unless  (i) the  Invention  relates  (A) to the  Company's
business or (B) to the Company's actual or demonstrably  anticipated research or
development or (ii) the Invention  results from any work performed by the Murphy
for the Company,  or (2) that has resulted or results from the specific business
set forth on Exhibit C.

                  (c) Murphy  acknowledges that Murphy's work for the Company is
expected  to bring  him or her into  close  contact  with  various  confidential
business  data of the  Company and its  clients  not  readily  available  to the
public. Accordingly, Murphy:

                      (i)  covenants  and agrees that (A) during the  Employment
Period, except pursuant to appropriate safeguards on confidentiality and only in
connection  with the  business  of the  Company,  and (B) after  the  Employment
Period, on any basis for any reason,  Murphy shall not use or disclose to anyone
except  authorized  personnel  of the  Company,  whether  or not  for his or her
benefit or otherwise,  any  confidential  matters  (collectively,  "Confidential
Matters"),  concerning  the  Company or its  suppliers,  consultants,  agents or
clients,  whether former,  current or potential  (collectively,  the "Clients"),
including  without  limitation,  all confidential  technical  information of the
Company,  secrets, trade secrets,  formulas,  proprietary software,  copyrights,
Client  lists,  lists of employees,  confidential  evaluations,  mailing  lists,
details of  consultant  contracts,  pricing  policies,  sales data and  reports,
margins,  operational  methods and  processes,  marketing  plans or  strategies,
business   acquisition  plans,  new  personnel   acquisition  plans,   financial
information  and  other  confidential   business  affairs,   learned  by  Murphy
concerning  the  Company,  its  Clients,  or a third  party,  including  without
limitation, any subsidiaries,  partners,  affiliates,  shareholders,  employees,
lenders, suppliers, consultants, agents or joint venture partners of the Company
(collectively, "Affiliates"); and

                      (ii)  covenants  and  agrees  that  (A)  all  confidential
memoranda,  notes, sketches, lists (including,  without limitation,  mailing and
customer lists),  records,  other confidential  documents and computer diskettes
(and all copies  thereof) made or compiled by Murphy or made available to him or
her concerning the Company, its Clients and any Affiliates are the sole property
of the Company,  and (B) if such  documents are in the  possession or control of
Murphy,  Murphy shall deliver them, without retaining any copies thereof, to the
Company  promptly at the time of Murphy's  termination  of  employment or at any
other time upon request by the Company.

                  8.  Noncompetition/Conflicts of Interest.

                      (a)  Murphy  covenants  and  agrees  that  he  shall  not,
directly or indirectly, as a principal,  employee, partner, consultant, agent or
otherwise,  compete or assist in competitive  activity with the Company,  within
the areas in which the Company currently provides telecommunications services at

                                       6
<PAGE>

the time of commencement of the Restricted Period (as defined below), during the
Employment Period and for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months immediately
following (i)  termination of Murphy with Cause, or (ii) the termination of this
Agreement  on the  mutual  consent  of the  Company  and  Murphy  pursuant  to a
separation agreement that provides compensation acceptable to Murphy (the period
of time during which Murphy is restricted from such competition  pursuant to the
foregoing  provisions is  hereinafter  referred to as the  "Restricted  Period")
without the express prior  written  consent of the Company;  provided,  however,
that the running of the  Restricted  Period shall be tolled during any period of
time in which  Murphy  violates  the  provisions  herein.  Without  limiting the
generality of what might constitute  competitive  activity,  Murphy acknowledges
and agrees that any  fiber-optic  competitive  access  provider,  competitive or
incumbent  local exchange  carrier or  inter-exchange  carrier shall  constitute
competitive activity. Upon request from Murphy during the Restricted Period, the
Company may, in its sole and  reasonable  discretion,  determine that a proposed
future  employment of Murphy will not constitute  competitive  activity with the
Company and may therefore waive the provisions of this Section 8.

                      (b)  During  the  Restricted  Period,   Murphy  shall  not
directly or indirectly,  alone or in concert with others,  solicit or accept the
business of any customer (or any person or entity whom the Company or any of its
employees or agents has solicited as a prospective  customer)  ("Customer") (nor
provide any services to any Customer) which was a Customer of the Company at any
time during the Employment Period.

                      (c)  During  the  Restricted  Period,  Murphy  shall  not,
directly or  indirectly,  alone or in concert with others,  solicit or encourage
any employee of the  Company,  or an employee of any person or entity with which
the Company has an agreement  through which the Company and the person or entity
are  to  act  in  concert  with  respect  to the  business  of  the  Company  (a
"consultant"),  to leave their respective employment or hire any employee of the
Company or any person who was an  employee of the Company at any time within the
one (1) year period prior to the date first above written.

                      (d)  During  the  Restricted  Period,  Murphy  shall  not,
directly  or  indirectly,  alone  or  in  concert  with  others,  encourage  any
consultant  which is then under  contract  with the Company to cease to work for
the Company or any consultant.

                      9.   Acknowledgment    Regarding   Restrictions.    Murphy
recognizes and agrees that the  restraints  contained in Section 7 and Section 8
are reasonable and enforceable in view of the Company's  legitimate interests in
protecting its trade secrets and customer contacts.  Murphy further acknowledges
that the  limitations  contained in Section 7 and Section 8 are reasonable as to
the  duration  in time,  as to  geographic  scope  and as to the  nature  of the
activities  restricted.  However,  in the event an appropriate  court determines
that  the  provisions  of  Section  8 are  excessively  broad  as  to  duration,
geographic  scope,  prohibited  activities or otherwise,  the parties agree that
Section 8 may be  reduced or  curtailed  to the  extent  necessary  to render it
enforceable.

                                       7
<PAGE>

                      10. Non-Waiver of Rights. The Company's failure to enforce
at any time any of the  provisions  of the  Consulting  Agreement or  Employment
Agreement  or to  require  at any time  performance  by the Murphy of any of the
provisions  of either  Agreement  shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of
such provisions or to affect either the validity of the Consulting  Agreement or
Employment  Agreement,  or any part of  either  Agreement,  or the  right of the
Company  thereafter to enforce each and every  provision in accordance  with the
terms of the Consulting Agreement or Employment  Agreement.  Murphy's failure to
enforce  at any  time  any of the  provisions  of the  Consulting  Agreement  or
Employment Agreement or to require at any time performance by the Company of any
of the  provisions  of either  Agreement  shall in no way be  construed  to be a
waiver of such  provisions  or to affect  either the validity of the  Consulting
Agreement or Employment Agreement, or any part of either Agreement, or the right
of Murphy  thereafter to enforce each and every provision in accordance with the
terms of the  Consulting  Agreement or Employment  Agreement.

                      11. The Company's Right to Injunctive Relief. In the event
of a breach or threatened breach of any of Murphy's duties and obligations under
the terms and  provisions  of Sections 7 and 8,  Murphy  agrees that the Company
shall be  entitled  to a  temporary  restraining  order  and a  preliminary  and
permanent  injunction  to prevent such breach or threatened  breach  because the
harm  which  might  result  to  the  Company's  business  as  a  result  of  any
noncompliance  by Murphy with any of the  provisions of Sections 7 and 8 will be
irreparable.  Murphy  acknowledges that the Company's  entitlement to injunctive
relief shall be in addition to the  Company's  entitlement  to damages.

                      12. The Company's Right to Recover Costs and Fees. Each of
Murphy and the Company  agree that if the other party  breaches or  threatens to
breach the Employment Agreement  ("Breaching  Party"),  then the Breaching Party
shall be liable for any attorneys' fees and costs incurred by the other party in
enforcing the rights of that other party under the  Employment  Agreement in the
event  that a court  determines  that  the  Breaching  Party  has  breached  the
Employment Agreement or if the other party obtains injunctive relief against the
Breaching Party.

                      13. Other  obligations.  Murphy represents and warrants to
the Company that his obligations  under the Consulting  Agreement and Employment
Agreement  do not violate or conflict  with,  or  otherwise  interfere  with the
noncompetition provisions or any other obligations or restrictions applicable to
Murphy.  Murphy further  certifies that he will not disclose or use,  during the
Consulting  Period or Employment  Period,  any confidential  information that he
acquired  as a  result  of  any  previous  employment  or  under  a  contractual
obligation of confidentiality before the date hereof.

                      14. Limited  Liability.  With regard to the services to be
performed  by  Consultant  pursuant  to the terms of the  Consulting  Agreement,
neither  Consultant nor any Consultants or agents of Consultant  shall be liable
to the  Company,  or to anyone who may claim any right due to this  relationship
with the Company, for any action or omission in the performance of said services

                                       8
<PAGE>

on the  part of  Consultant  or on the  part of the  agents  or  Consultants  of
Consultant,  except when said acts or omissions of  Consultant or such agents or
Consultants are due to willful misconduct or gross negligence. The Company shall
hold Consultant free and harmless from any obligations,  costs, claims judgments
attorneys  fees and  attachments  arising  from or growing  out of the  services
rendered  to the  Company  pursuant  to the terms of the  Consulting  Agreement,
except  when the same shall  arise due to the  intentional  misconduct  or gross
negligence  of  Consultant,  and  Consultant  is  determined  to have  committed
intentional  misconduct  or  gross  negligence  by the  arbitration  proceedings
provided herein.  During the Employment Period,  Murphy shall be entitled to all
indemnification to which he is entitled by law.

                      15. Assignments.  The Consulting  Agreement and Employment
Agreement  shall be freely  assignable  by the  Company  and shall  inure to the
benefit of, and be binding upon, the Company,  its successors and assigns and/or
any other corporate  entity which shall succeed to the business  presently being
operated by the Company,  but, being a contract for personal  services,  neither
this Consulting Agreement nor any rights hereunder are assignable by Consultant.

                      16.  Vacation and Holidays.  After this agreement has been
converted  into an Employment  Agreement,  Murphy shall be entitled to three (3)
weeks paid vacation per year starting at the beginning of the  employment  term,
provided that the Company may require that such  vacation  shall be scheduled as
mutually agreed by Murphy and the Company.

                      17. Governing  Law/Arbitration.  This Consulting Agreement
and the  Employment  Agreement  shall  be  interpreted  in  accordance  with and
governed by the laws of the State of Missouri  without regard to its conflict of
law rules. Any dispute arising out of or relating to the Consulting Agreement or
Employment Agreement or the breach, termination or validity of either Agreement,
other than Section 7 and Section 8, shall be settled by arbitration in St. Louis
County,  Missouri in accordance  with the commercial  arbitration  rules then in
effect of the  American  Arbitration  Association.  The  parties  consent to the
jurisdiction  of the Supreme  Court of the State of Missouri,  and of the United
States  District  Court for the Eastern  District  of the State of Missouri  for
injunctive,  specific  enforcement  or other  relief  in aid of the  arbitration
proceedings or to enforce judgment of the award in such arbitration  proceeding.
The award entered by the arbitrator(s) shall be final and binding on all parties
to arbitration.  Each party shall bear its respective  arbitration  expenses and
shall each pay its pro rata portion of the  arbitrator's  charges and  expenses.
The arbitrator(s) shall not award punitive,  exemplary or consequential damages.
With  respect  to  disputes  arising  out of  Section  7 and  Section  8 of this
Agreement,  the parties  agree that  exclusive  venue and  jurisdiction  for any
action brought under this  Consulting  Agreement  shall lie in the County of St.
Louis, Missouri.

                                       9
<PAGE>

                      18.  Amendments.  No modification,  amendment or waiver of
any of the provisions of this Consulting  Agreement shall be effective unless in
writing and signed by the parties hereto.

                      19.  Notices.  Any  notices  to be given by  either  party
hereunder  shall be in  writing  and shall be deemed to have been duly  given if
delivered or mailed,  certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, as follows:
to the Company at Digital Teleport,  Inc., 8112 Maryland Avenue,  4th Floor, St.
Louis, Missouri 63105, Attn.: Richard D. Weinstein, President; and to Consultant
at 17633 Lasiandra Drive, Chesterfield, Missouri 63005; or to such other address
as may have been  furnished to the other party in writing.

                      20.  Reflection  and  Advice of  Counsel  Encouraged.  The
Consulting Agreement and Employment Agreement contain substantial obligations on
Murphy,  including without limitation  restrictions in the Employment  Agreement
placed on Murphy's right to seek employment or consult with certain employers or
to  engage  in  businesses  competitive  with  the  Company's  business.  Murphy
acknowledges that he has had ample time to reflect on these restrictions and has
sought the advice of  counsel  with  respect  to the  Consulting  Agreement  and
Employment  Agreement.

                      21.  Entire  Agreement.   The  Consulting   Agreement  and
Employment   Agreement  are  the  entire  agreements  between  the  parties  and
supersedes any previous oral or written  agreement or understanding  between the
Company and Murphy  with  respect to the subject  matter  thereof  respectively.
There are no  representations,  warranties,  promises or undertakings other than
those  expressly  contained  in  the  Consulting  Agreement  or  the  Employment
Agreement.

                      22.  Severability.   Subject  to  severability  provisions
integral to any paragraph of the Consulting  Agreement or Employment  Agreement,
the  unenforceability,   invalidity  or  illegality  of  any  provision  of  the
Consulting  Agreement  or  Employment  Agreement  shall not affect or impair the
continuing  enforceability  or  validity  of any  other  part of the  Consulting
Agreement or Employment Agreement,  respectively, all of which shall survive and
be valid and enforceable.

                      23. Headings. The headings in the Consulting Agreement and
Employment  Agreement are for  reference  purposes only and shall not in any way
affect the meaning or interpretation  of the Consulting  Agreement or Employment
Agreement,  respectively.

                      24.  Future  Employment.  During  the  Restricted  Period,
Murphy shall inform each new  employer,  prior to accepting  employment,  of the
existence of the  Employment  Agreement and provide that employer with a copy of
Sections 6, 7 and 8 hereof.  Murphy hereby  authorizes  the Company to forward a
copy of Sections 6, 7 and 8 hereof to any actual or prospective  new employer of
Murphy during the Restricted Period.

                                       10
<PAGE>

                      25.  Relationship.  Murphy and the Company  agree that the
relationship  contemplated  by the Consulting  Agreement is that of a consultant
and not an employee.  Consultant agrees to pay all applicable taxes with respect
to the compensation provided under the Consulting  Agreement.  Consultant agrees
that he is not entitled to any benefits or remuneration  from the Company during
the  Consulting  Period  other than as  expressly  set forth  herein,  including
without limitation any medical or vacation benefits.  The Company will issue the
Consultant a Form 1099 with respect to the  compensation  paid to him  hereunder
unless otherwise required by law.

                      26.  Conversion.  This Consulting  Agreement shall convert
into an  Employment  Agreement on October 10, 1998,  unless sooner agreed by the
parties,  without any further  action or  execution  of  documents by Company or
Murphy. IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the parties have executed this agreement on the 5th
day of November, 1998.

                                                   DIGITAL TELEPORT, INC.

                                                   By:  /s/ Richard D. Weinstein
                                                       -------------------------
                                                   Name: Richard D. Weinstein
                                                   Title:  President

                                                    /s/ Jerry W. Murphy
                                                   -----------------------------
                                                    Jerry W. Murphy
                                       11
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

                                  Stock Options

1.   The options shall be nonqualified stock options.

2.   One third of the options  shall  become  exercisable  after each of June 6,
     1998, June 6, 1999 and June 6, 2000.

3.   The exercisability of options shall accelerate upon a change of control.

4.   Employee  shall have 60 days following  termination to exercise  options if
     terminated  without cause, or if termination  occurs  following a change of
     control.

5.   The exercise price will be equal to $6.66.

6.   The options will have a term of ten years.

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT B

                               Relocation Expenses

     (a) Customary real estate transaction fees and expenses, including brokers'
fees, for the sale of Murphy's residence in the Dallas,  Texas metropolitan area
and purchase of a residence in the St. Louis metropolitan area;

     (b) Moving  expenses,  including  normal and  customary  packing and moving
charges, but not including the moving of automobiles or bulk material;

     (c) Temporary  housing expenses for up to ninety days, not to exceed $2,500
per month; and

     (d) A relocation supplement of $2,000 cash to be paid upon Murphy's move to
the St. Louis  metropolitan  area to cover incidental moving expenses in lieu of
reimbursement.

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT C

                               Items Excluded from
                           Definition of "Inventions"

1.   The design and operation of wholesale  internet  services  using  signaling
     system 7 messages  to provide  shared  use  modems  and lines  rather  than
     dedicated  numbers  and  lines,  as  included  in  the  business  plan  for
     "InfoLinc" developed by Murphy prior to joining DTI.

2.   The use of Digital  Subscriber  Loop  (DSL) by a CLEC to deploy  high speed
     data and voice  services via twisted pair, as included in the business plan
     for "InfoLinc" developed by Murphy prior to joining DTI.

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00015-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00015-of-00352.parquet"}]]