Document:

Employment Agreement dtd February 5, 2008 between Richard Monto & Neutral Tandem

 Exhibit 10.71 
 NEUTRAL TANDEM, INC. 
 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 
 This Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of February 5, 2008, by and between Richard L.
Monto, an individual resident of Wilmette, Illinois (the “Executive”), and Neutral Tandem, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). 
 WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive and the Executive is willing to accept such employment upon the terms and conditions set
forth herein. 
 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein, the parties agree as follows:

 1. Employment by the Company. 
 1.1 Effective Date. The effective date of this Agreement shall be February 5, 2008 (the “Effective Date”) and this Agreement shall have an initial term that expires on
February 5, 2010 unless terminated sooner pursuant to Section 6. Unless either party provides written notice to the other of its or his intent not to renew this Agreement at least thirty (30) days prior the expiration of the initial
term (or of any subsequent term) hereof, this Agreement shall automatically renew for successive one (1)-year terms beginning on the anniversary of the prior term. 
 1.2 Position. Subject to terms set forth herein, the Company agrees to employ Executive in the position of General Counsel
and Senior Vice President and Executive hereby accepts such position. During the term of his employment with the Company, Executive will devote his best efforts and all of his business time and attention (except for vacation periods as set forth
herein, reasonable periods of illness or other incapacities permitted by the Company’s general employment policies) to the business of the Company. 
 1.3 Duties. Executive shall perform such duties as are customarily associated with his then current title and as assigned to the Executive by the Company’s Board of Directors (the
“Board”). The Board has the right to assign and change the Executive’s duties at any time, provided, however, that certain assignments and changes in Executive’s duties hereunder may trigger certain rights and remedies of
Employee as set forth elsewhere herein. At the request of the Board, the Executive shall serve as a member of the Board and any subsidiary of the Company without compensation other than that provided in this Agreement. 
 1.4 Other Employment Policies. The employment relationship between the parties shall also be governed by the general
employment policies and practices of the Company, including those relating to protection of confidential information and assignment of inventions, except that when the terms of this Agreement differ from or are in conflict with the Company’s
general employment policies or practices, this Agreement shall control. 

 2. Compensation. 
 2.1 Salary. Executive shall receive for all services rendered under this Agreement an annualized base salary of $182,500,
subject to federal and state withholding requirements, payable in accordance with the Company’s usual payroll practices. Such salary shall be adjusted no less than annually at the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board, but in no
event will the base salary be reduced. 
 2.2 Bonus. The Executive will be eligible to receive an annual bonus,
in the form of a cash payment and/or equity award, as determined by the Board in its discretion, of up to thirty-five (35%) of Executive’s base salary for calendar year 2008, and, for subsequent years, as determined by the Board. Any bonus
shall be based on the extent to which Executive achieves performance goals to be established by the Board from time to time in consultation with the Executive. The Company will pay Executive’s bonus, if any, no later than March 15 in the
calendar year following the calendar year to which the bonus relates. No bonus shall be deemed to have been earned by Executive for any calendar year in which the Executive is not actively employed as of December 31 of the calendar year to
which the bonus relates. 
 2.3 Benefits. 
 (a) Executive shall be eligible to participate in all benefits plans and programs that the Company may offer to its employees
generally from time to time, under the terms and conditions of such plans or programs. Executive shall be entitled to three (3) weeks paid vacation, to be earned in accordance with the Company’s policy or practice. 
 (b) During the term of this Agreement, the Company will provide Executive with a cell phone and laptop computer, which shall be
returned promptly by the Executive to the Company upon termination of his employment. 
 2.4 Expense
Reimbursement. The Company will reimburse Executive for reasonable and customary business expenses, including monthly cell phone/PDA charges, in accordance with the Company’s standard reimbursement policies in effect from time to time.

 3. [intentionally omitted.] 
 4. Employee Obligations. 
 4.1 Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement.
Executive agrees to abide by the terms and conditions of the Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement executed by the Executive by the Executive on February 12, 2007. 
 4.2 Non-Competition Obligations. 
 (a) Executive and the Company acknowledge that (i) the Company has developed and will continue to develop goodwill, going concern value, customer and client relationships and confidential information that
are valuable property rights of the Company and that Executive will have access to and knowledge concerning such rights, which if used other than for the benefit of the Company could significantly injure the Company; and (ii) the Company is
engaged 

  

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in the operation of telecommunication hubs and switching systems, transmission and switching of voice, data, audio, video and information via telephone,
wireless and cable networks, and IP peering (the “Business”). Accordingly, and in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein, Executive covenants that, during the period commencing on the Effective Date and
terminating on the first anniversary of the Executive’s termination of employment (the “Restrictive Period”), he shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, in his individual
capacity or on behalf of any other individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or any other entity (collectively “Person”), Compete with the Company or any of its respective successors or assigns.

 (b) For purposes of this Agreement, “Compete” shall mean: (i) to engage in business
activities identical or substantially similar to the Business as engaged in by the Company, or any entity controlling, under common control or controlled by the Company (collectively, the “Neutral Tandem Group”), at any time
during the one (1)-year period preceding the date of termination of Executive’s employment (a “Competitive Business”) hereunder within the geographic limits of those standard metropolitan statistical areas in the United
States within which the Neutral Tandem Group has engaged in the Business during the one (1)-year period preceding the date of termination of Executive’s employment or within which the Company contemplates engaging in or has developed plans to
engage in (based on its then-current business plan, operating plan, or similar document) the Business during the one (1)-year period following the date of termination of Executive’s employment (the “Territory”);
(ii) to assist any Person (whether in a financial, managerial, employment, advisory or other capacity or as a stockholder or owner, or by the provision of information) to engage in a Competitive Business within the Territory; or (iii) to
own any interest in or to organize a corporation, partnership or other business or organization which engages in a Competing Business within the Territory. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive’s ownership of or investment in an otherwise
Competing Business shall not be a violation of Section 4.2 if (a) the stock of such business is publicly traded, (b) Executive’s equity interest in such business does not exceed five percent (5%) of the aggregate outstanding
equity interests of such business, and (c) Executive does not otherwise participate in the management or operational affairs of such business, including as an advisor or consultant or in any other capacity. 
 (c) The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the covenants contained in this Section 4.2 are reasonable in scope, geographic
application and duration, in view of the benefits to the Executive hereunder, and that the provisions of this Section 4.2 are both necessary and reasonable for the protection of the Company. 
 5. Former Employment. 
 5.1 No Conflict with Existing Obligations. Executive represents that his performance of all the terms of this Agreement and as an employee of the Company does not and will not breach any agreement or obligation of any kind
made prior to his employment by the Company, including agreements or obligations he may have with prior employers or entities for which he has provided services. Executive has not entered into, and agrees he will not enter into, any agreement or
obligation either written or oral in conflict herewith. 
  

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 6. Termination Of Employment. 
 6.1 General. Employee’s employment by the Company may be terminated by the Company or the Executive at any time, with or
without Cause (as defined below). Upon termination of Executive’s employment, the Company’s obligations to pay Executive’s base salary and bonus shall be limited as provided in Sections 6.2 and 6.3 below. 
 6.2 Termination Without Cause, Etc. In the event Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated (i) by the Company
without Cause, (ii) by Executive for Good Reason (as defined below), or (iii) following a Change of Control (as defined below), and Executive’s employment with the surviving company is terminated or Executive’s responsibilities
are materially diminished within six (6) months by the surviving company, the Company will pay Executive, subject to his compliance with the agreements referred to or set forth in Section 4, (x) any unpaid base salary through the date
of termination, and any accrued vacation pay, and (y) severance pay equal to twelve (12) months’ base salary at the salary rate in effect on the date of termination. It is a condition precedent to the Company’s obligation to make
any severance payments to Executive pursuant to this Section 6.2 that Executive executes a general release, in form and substance acceptable to the Board, on or prior to the date of termination in favor of the Company, the members of the Board
and its other affiliates releasing all claims arising out of Executive’s employment and his termination of employment. 
 6.3 Other Termination Events. In the event that Executive dies, becomes Disabled (as defined below), or Executive’s employment terminates or is terminated for any other reason other than as described in Section 6.2(i),
(ii) or (iii), the Company will only be obligated to pay Executive (a) any unpaid base salary through the date of termination, (b) any unused vacation accrued through the date of termination, and (c) any unreimbursed business
expenses. 
 6.4 Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement: 
 (a) The term “Cause” shall mean any of the following: (i) Executive’s willful misconduct in the
performance of his duties for the Company, or Executive’s willful failure to abide by or comply with any legal policy or directive of the Board, (ii) conviction of or plea of guilty or any other plea other than “not guilty” to a
felony, or any crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude; (iii) the violation by Executive of any material provision of this Agreement which either is not cured within ten (10) days after written notice is given to Executive by the
Company or constitutes a habitual breach; or (iv) Executive’s dishonesty, misappropriation or fraud with regard to the business or affairs of the Company or its affiliates. 
 (b) The term “Change of Control” of the Company shall mean any transaction or series of related
transactions whether by consolidation, merger, sale or issuance of equity securities, or sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, or otherwise, that results in the equity holders of the Company immediately prior to
such transaction or series of transactions owning less than fifty percent (50%) of the equity or voting power of the surviving entity, or controlling less than fifty percent (50%) of the Company’s assets, thereafter. 
  

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 (c) The term “Disability” shall mean, Executive is
prevented, by illness, accident, disability or any other physical or mental condition (to be determined by means of a written opinion of a competent medical doctor chosen by mutual agreement of the Company and you or your personal representative(s))
from substantially performing your duties and responsibilities hereunder for one (1) or more periods totaling ninety (90) days in any twelve (12)-month period. 
 (d) The term “Good Reason” shall mean, without Executive’s written consent: (i) a material
adverse change in Executive’s title or the duties assigned to Executive; or (ii) any material failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under this Agreement. 
 7. General Provisions. 
 7.1 Notices. Any notices provided hereunder must be in writing and shall be deemed effective upon the earlier of delivery, if by hand or by facsimile (with confirmed receipt), one (1) business day after deposit with a
reputable overnight courier service, or three (3) business days after mailing by first class mail, to the Company at its primary office location and to Executive at his address as listed on the Company payroll. 
 7.2 Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective
and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not
affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions had never been contained herein. 
 7.3 Waiver. If either party should waive any breach of any provisions of this Agreement, he or it shall not thereby be
deemed to have waived any preceding or succeeding breach of the same or any other provision of this Agreement. 
 7.4
Complete Agreement. This Agreement, including Exhibit A, constitutes the entire agreement between Executive and the Company with respect to the subject matter contained herein. This Agreement supersedes any prior oral discussions or written
communications and agreements, including the offer letter from the Company to Executive, dated January 30, 2007. This Agreement is entered into without reliance on any promise or representation other than those expressly contained herein, and
it cannot be modified or amended except in writing signed by an authorized officer of the Company. 
 7.5
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, any one of which need not contain signatures of more than one party, but all of which taken together will constitute one and the same Agreement. 
 7.6 Headings. The headings of the sections hereof are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute a
part hereof nor to affect the meaning thereof. 
 7.7 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is intended to bind
and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive and the Company, and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators, except that Executive may not assign any of his duties hereunder and he may not assign any of
his rights hereunder without the written consent of the Company, which shall not be withheld unreasonably. 
  

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 7.8 Attorney Fees. Each of the Company and Executive shall be responsible
for their own respective costs and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and costs) in connection with any action brought by any party to enforce its rights hereunder or any other legal action involving this Agreement or any
party’s performance hereunder. 
 7.9 Choice of Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity
and interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by the law of the internal, substantive laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to the conflict of laws provisions thereof. Executive expressly consents to the jurisdiction of the state
and federal courts for New Castle County, Delaware, for all actions arising out of or relating to this Agreement. 
 7.10 Section 409A Compliance. 
 (a) It is the intention of the parties that no payment or
entitlement pursuant to this Agreement will give rise to any adverse tax consequences to any person pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 409A. This Agreement shall be interpreted to that end, and no effect shall be given to any provision
herein in a manner that reasonably could be expected to give rise to adverse tax consequences under said 409A. Should either party determine that there is a reasonable possibility that the text of this Agreement could give rise to such adverse tax
consequences, the parties agree to negotiate in good faith to amend the Agreement to obviate the possibility of such consequences. 
 (b) If at any time, the Company or any successor obligated to make any
payment hereunder (the “Employer”) has a class of stock that is publicly traded on an established securities market or otherwise, then the Employer shall from time to time compile a list of “Specified Employees” as
defined in and pursuant to, Prop. Reg. § 1.409A-1(i) or any successor regulation. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the Executive is a Specified Employee on the date of termination of his employment within the meaning of
Prop. Reg. § 1.409A-1(h)(ii) or any successor regulation (his “Termination of Employment”), no payment of compensation shall be made to the Executive under any provision of this Agreement (including Section 6.2)
during the period ending six (6) months from the date of his Termination of Employment unless the Employer determines that there is no reasonable basis for believing that making such payment would cause the Executive to suffer any adverse tax
consequences pursuant to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. If any payment to the Executive is delayed pursuant to the provisions of this Section 7.10(b), such payment instead shall be made on the first (1st) business day following the expiration of the six (6)-month period referred to herein, together with a compensatory amount in the nature of interest
computed at the “Prime Rate” as of the date of Termination of Employment (as reported in The Wall Street Journal) plus two percent (2%). 
 [remainder of page intentionally left blank] 
  

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 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Employment Agreement on the day and year
first above written. 
  

			
	NEUTRAL TANDEM, INC.
		
	By:	 	/s/ Robert Junkroski
		 	Name: Robert Junkroski
		 	Title: CFO

 Accepted and agreed on and as of February 5, 2008 
  

	
	/s/ Richard L. Monto
	Richard L. Monto

 [signature page to Employment Agreement]Amendment to Employment Agreement dated November 21, 2008

 Exhibit 10.72 
 AMENDMENT TO 
 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 
 This Amendment to Employment Agreement (“Amendment”) is made by and between Neutral Tandem, Inc. (the “Company”) and Richard L.
Monto (the “Executive”). This Amendment is made as of November 21, 2008. 
 BACKGROUND 
 1. The Company and Executive entered into an Employment Agreement dated February 5, 2008 (collectively, the “Agreement”). 
 2. The parties wish to amend the Agreement to reflect the following change. 
 THE AGREEMENT 
 The parties agree as follows: 
 1. Definitions. All capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment have the same meanings given to those terms in the Agreement (other than the
definitions of “Change in Control” and “Good Reason,” which definitions are amended pursuant to this Amendment as set forth below). 
 2. Section 6.2. Section 6.2 of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following: 
 6.2 Termination Without Cause, Etc. In the event Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated (i) by the Company
without Cause, (ii) by Executive for Good Reason (as defined below), or (iii) by the Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason within six (6) months following a Change of Control (as defined below), in each case subject to
his compliance with the agreements referred to or set forth in Section 4, (x) any unpaid base salary through the date of termination, and any accrued vacation pay, and (y) severance pay equal to twelve (12) months’ base
salary at the salary rate in effect on the date of termination. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.10(b), any severance payable pursuant to this Section 6.2 shall be paid in equal installments in accordance with the Company’s
payroll payment schedule in effect on the date Executive’s employment terminates, provided that any such payment that would (absent this proviso) be made less than sixty (60) days after the date Executive’s employment terminates shall
instead be paid on the sixtieth (60th) day after the date Executive’s employment terminates. It is a condition precedent to the Company’s obligation to make any severance payments to Executive pursuant to this Section 6.2 that
Executive executes a general release, in form and substance acceptable to the Board, in favor of the Company, the members of the Board and its other affiliates releasing all claims arising out of Executive’s employment and his termination of
employment, and that such release shall be executed (and no longer subject to revocation, if applicable) within sixty (60) days following the date Executive’s employment terminates. 
 3. Section 6.4(b). Section 6.4(b) of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following: 
 (b) The term “Change of Control” of the Company shall mean any transaction or series of related transactions
whether by consolidation, merger, sale or issuance of equity securities, or sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, or otherwise, in 

  

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which any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, (i) acquires ownership of stock of the Company that, together with stock held by such
person or group, constitutes more than 50 percent of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company or (ii) acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by
such person or persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than forty (40) percent of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately before such acquisition or
acquisitions (excluding any asset transferred to (A) shareholder of the Company (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to its stock, (B) an entity, fifty (50) percent or more of the total value or
voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, (C) a person, or more than one person acting as a group, that owns, directly or indirectly, fifty (50) percent or more of the total value or voting power of all the
outstanding stock of the Company, or (D) an entity, at least 50 percent of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a person described in clause (ii)(C) of this definition. This definition is intended to
comply with the definitions of “change in ownership” of a corporation and “change in ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of a corporation set forth in the Treasury Regulations issued under section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v)
of the Internal Revenue Code and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such intention. 
 4. Section 6.4(d).
Section 6.4(d) of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following: 
 (d) The term
“Good Reason” shall mean, without Executive’s written consent: (i) a material adverse change in Executive’s title or the duties assigned to Executive or (ii) any material failure by the Company to comply
with its obligations under this Agreement, but in each such case only if Executive has provided notice to the Company of the existence of the condition described in clause (i) or (ii) of this definition within ninety (90) days
following of the initial existence of the condition, and the Company has not remedied such condition within thirty (30) days after receiving such notice. 
 5. Section 7.10(b). Section 7.10(b) of the Agreement is amended by replacing “Prop. Reg. § 1.409A-1(i)” with “section 1.409A-1(i) of the Treasury Regulations” and by replacing
“Prop. Reg. § 1.409A-1(h)(ii)” with “section 1.409A-1(h)(1)(ii) of the Treasury Regulations.” 
 6. Section
References. Section titles used in this Amendment have no substantive meaning and are not a part of the parties’ agreement. 
 7.
Successors and Assigns. This Amendment is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of the parties. 
 8. Entire Agreement. Except as expressly modified by this Amendment, the Agreement is and will remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms and constitutes the legal and binding obligations of the Company and
Executive. This Amendment, including the Agreement, is the complete agreement of the parties and supersedes any prior agreements or representations, whether oral or written, with respect to the subject matter of this Amendment. 
  

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 The Company and Executive have executed this Amendment as of the date first set forth above. 
  

									
	Neutral Tandem, Inc.	 		 	Richard L. Monto
					
	By:	 	\s\ Rian Wren	 		 	By:	 	\s\ Richard L. Monto
	Name: Rian Wren	 		 		 	
	Title: CEO	 		 		 	

  

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