Document:

EX-10.2

 Exhibit 10.2 

TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT 
 This Tax Matters
Agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into as of [                    ], by and among WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware
corporation (“WHI”), WINDSTREAM SERVICES, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company that is directly wholly-owned by WHI (“Windstream”), and COMMUNICATIONS SALES & LEASING, INC., a Maryland corporation and
currently a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Windstream (“CS&L”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Separation and Distribution Agreement by and among
WHI, Windstream and CS&L dated [                    ] (the “Separation and Distribution Agreement”). 

RECITALS 
 WHEREAS, as of the
date hereof, WHI is the common parent of an affiliated group of domestic corporations within the meaning of section 1504(a) of the Code, and the members of the affiliated group have heretofore joined in filing consolidated federal income Tax
Returns; 
 WHEREAS, the Parties have entered into the Separation and Distribution Agreement, pursuant to which, Windstream and its
Subsidiaries will transfer the Assigned Assets to CS&L and its Subsidiaries in actual or constructive exchange for (i) the assumption or incurrence, as applicable, by CS&L and certain of its Subsidiaries of the Assumed Liabilities (as
hereinafter defined), (ii) the issuance by CS&L to Windstream of all of the outstanding shares of the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of CS&L (the “CS&L Common Stock”), (iii) the transfer by
CS&L, directly or indirectly, to Windstream of the Cash Payment, and (iv) the transfer by CS&L, directly or indirectly, to Windstream of certain debt securities to be jointly issued CS&L and CSL Capital, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company that is disregarded as separate from CS&L for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as part of the Financing Arrangements (collectively, the “CS&L Debt Securities”), all as more fully described in the
Transaction Agreements (together with certain related transactions, the “Reorganization”); 
 WHEREAS, in advance of the
Reorganization, WHI, Windstream and its Subsidiaries intend to undertake (or have already undertaken) certain internal reorganization steps as more fully described in the Separation and Distribution Agreement (the “Internal
Reorganization”); 
 WHEREAS, following the Internal Reorganization and the Reorganization, Windstream intends to effect a
distribution to WHI of all of the outstanding shares of CS&L Common Stock (the “Internal Distribution”) and WHI intends to effect a distribution (the “External Distribution” and, together with the Internal
Distribution, the “Distributions”) to the holders of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of WHI (the “WHI Common Stock”), on a pro rata basis, of at least 80 percent of the CS&L
Common Stock so that, following the External Distribution, WHI and CS&L will be two independent, publicly traded companies with Windstream temporarily retaining a passive ownership interest of no more than 20 percent of the CS&L Common Stock
pending its opportunistic use of the CS&L Common Stock pursuant to the plan that includes the Reorganization and Distributions, subject to market conditions, to retire debt (the “Debt-for-Equity Exchange”); 

 WHEREAS, pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, dated as of
[                    ], among Windstream, J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC, Merrill Lynch, and J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Administrative Agent
(as defined therein), on the Distribution Date, Windstream expects to effect the exchange of the CS&L Debt Securities for outstanding debt obligations of Windstream (the “Debt Exchange”); 

WHEREAS, the Parties intend that the Reorganization, together with the Distributions, the Debt Exchange, and the Debt-for-Equity Exchange,
qualify as a tax-free reorganization under sections 368 and 355 of the Code and that the Separation and Distribution Agreement constitute a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of sections 361 and 368 of the Code; and 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Reorganization, Distributions, and Debt Exchange, the Parties desire to enter into this Agreement to provide
for certain Tax matters, including the assignment of responsibility for the preparation and filing of Tax Returns, the payment of and indemnification for Taxes, entitlement to refunds of Taxes, and the prosecution and defense of any Tax Contest.

 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained in this Agreement, the Parties hereby agree
as follows: 
 ARTICLE I 

DEFINITIONS 

Section 1.1 General. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings: 

“Action” means any demand, action, claim, suit, countersuit, litigation, arbitration, prosecution, proceeding
(including any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or appellate proceeding), hearing, inquiry, audit, examination or investigation commenced, brought, conducted or heard by or before, or otherwise involving, any court, grand jury or other
Governmental Authority or any arbitrator or arbitration panel. 
 “Agreement” shall have the meaning
specified in the preamble. 
 “Affiliate” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and
Distribution Agreement. 
 “Assigned Assets” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and
Distribution Agreement. 
 “Assumed Liabilities” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and
Distribution Agreement. 
 “Business Day” or “Business Days” shall mean any day except a
Saturday, Sunday or a day on which a commercial bank in New York, New York is authorized or required to close. 

  
 2 

 “Cash Payment” shall have the meaning specified in the
Separation and Distribution Agreement. 
 “Closing-of-the-Books Method” shall mean the apportionment of
items between portions of a Taxable period (i) in the case of any Tax based upon or related to income, gains, receipts, gross margins, employment, sales, use, or other Taxes imposed on a non-periodic basis, pursuant to an interim
closing-of-the-books as of the end of the Distribution Date, and (ii) in the case of property, ad valorem and other Taxes imposed on a periodic basis, on the basis of elapsed days during the relevant portion of the Taxable period. 

“Code” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement. 

“Consumer CLEC Business” shall have the meaning specified in the Ruling Request. 

“CS&L” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals. 

“CS&L Common Stock” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals. 

“CS&L Group” shall mean CS&L and its Subsidiaries, including any corporations that would be members of
an affiliated group if they were includible corporations under Code Section 1504(b) (in each case, including any successors thereof), but excluding any entity that is a member of the WHI Group. 

“CS&L Opinion” shall mean the written opinion of WHI’s tax counsel, addressed to CS&L and dated
as of the Distribution Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to CS&L, to the effect that CS&L has been organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code and that its proposed method of
operation will enable it meet the requirements for qualification and Taxation as a REIT under the Code. 

“Debt-for-Equity Exchange” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals. 

“Debt Exchange” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals. 

“Dispute” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.10. 

“Dispute Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.10. 

“Disqualifying Action” shall mean any action, including entering into any agreement, understanding or
arrangement or any substantial negotiations with respect to any transaction or series of transactions, or the failure to take any action expressly required pursuant to this Agreement, the Separation and Distribution Agreement or the Tax Materials
(for the avoidance of doubt, including any such action or failure to take action that is pursuant to any plan, agreement, understanding or arrangement existing in whole or in part prior to the Distribution Date), that would, in each case, cause a

  
 3 

 
Distribution Disqualification to occur; provided, however, that the term “Disqualifying Action” shall not include any action described in or contemplated by the Transaction Agreements
and Tax Materials, in each case, to the extent such action does not constitute a breach of any representation, warranty or covenant in any of the Transaction Agreements or Tax Materials. 

“Distributions” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals. 

“Distribution Date” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement. 

“Distribution Disqualification” shall mean that (i) the Reorganization, taken together with the
Distributions, the Debt Exchange and the Debt-for-Equity Exchange, fails to qualify as a tax-free reorganization under section 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code; (ii) the External Distribution fails to qualify as a distribution of the CS&L Common
Stock pursuant to section 355 of the Code, pursuant to which no gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes by any of WHI, Windstream, CS&L, or the holders of the WHI Common Stock, except to the extent of cash received in lieu of
fractional shares; (iii) the Debt Exchange or the Debt-for-Equity Exchange fails to constitute a transfer of qualified property to Windstream’s creditors in connection with the reorganization within the meaning of section 361(c)(3) of the
Code, (iv) the Cash Payment fails to qualify as money transferred to creditors or distributed to shareholders in connection with the reorganization within the meaning of section 361(b)(1) of the Code, but only to the extent that the Cash
Payment does not exceed Windstream’s tax basis in the CS&L Common Stock immediately prior to the Cash Payment and Windstream distributes the Cash Payment to its creditors or shareholders in connection with the Reorganization and Internal
Distribution, and/or (v) certain of the Internal Reorganization transactions fail to qualify for the tax-free status described in the WHI Opinion or the Ruling. 

“Distribution Taxes” shall mean all Taxes (other than Transfer Taxes), as determined by a Final Determination,
resulting from the Internal Reorganization, the Reorganization, the Distributions and the Debt Exchange (other than any Taxes arising in respect of an intercompany transaction pursuant to Section 1.1502-13 of the Treasury Regulations or an
excess loss account pursuant to Section 1.1502-19 of the Treasury Regulations, unless such Taxes would not have arisen absent a Distribution Disqualification). 

“Final Determination” shall mean the final resolution of liability for any Tax, which resolution may be for a
specific issue or adjustment or for a taxable period, (i) by an acceptance on an IRS Form 870 or 870-AD (or any successor forms thereto), or by a comparable form or agreement pursuant to the laws of a state, local, or non-United States taxing
jurisdiction, except that acceptance on an IRS Form 870 or 870-AD or comparable form or agreement will not constitute a Final Determination to the extent that such form or agreement reserves (whether by its terms or by operation of Law) the right of
the taxpayer to file a claim for refund or the right of the Taxing Authority to assert a further deficiency in respect of such issue or adjustment or for such taxable period (as the case may be); (ii) by a decision, judgment, decree, or other
order of a court of competent 

  
 4 

 
jurisdiction which is or has become final and unappealable; (iii) by a closing agreement or accepted offer in compromise pursuant to sections 7121 or 7122 of the Code, or a comparable
agreement pursuant to the laws of a state, local, or non-United States jurisdiction; (iv) by any allowance of a refund or credit in respect of an overpayment of a Tax, but only after the expiration of all periods during which such refund may be
recovered (including by way of offset) or, where such periods are undefined or indefinite, in accordance with ordinary course limitation periods, by the jurisdiction imposing such Tax; (v) by a final settlement resulting from a treaty-based
competent authority determination; or (vi) by any other final disposition, including by reason of the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations or by mutual agreement of the Parties. 

“Governmental Authority” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement. 

“Internal Reorganization” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals. 

“IRS” shall mean the Internal Revenue Service. 

“Operating Partnership” shall mean CSL National, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership. 

“Party” shall mean any of WHI, Windstream, or CS&L, as the context may require. 

“Person” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement. 

“Post-Closing Period” shall mean any Taxable year or other Taxable period beginning after the Distribution
Date and, in the case of any Straddle Period, that part of the Straddle Period that begins at the beginning of the day after the Distribution Date. 

“Potential Disqualifying Action” shall mean any action (including entering into any agreement, understanding
or arrangement or any substantial negotiations with respect to any transaction or series of transactions) that would be reasonably likely to cause a Distribution Disqualification to occur, including any action that would be inconsistent with any
representation or covenant made in this Agreement, the Separation and Distribution Agreement, or the Tax Materials. 

“Pre-Closing Period” shall mean any Taxable year or other Taxable period that ends on or before the
Distribution Date and, in the case of any Straddle Period, that part of the Straddle Period that ends at the end of the Distribution Date. 

“REIT” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.2(f). 

“Reorganization” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals. 

“Responsible Party” shall mean, with respect to any Tax Return, the Party having responsibility for preparing
and filing such Tax Return pursuant to this Agreement. 

  
 5 

 “Restricted Period” shall mean the two (2) year period
commencing on the Distribution Date. 
 “Ruling” shall mean the IRS Private Letter Ruling, dated
July 16, 2014, issued to Windstream. 
 “Ruling Request” shall mean the request for rulings submitted
by Windstream to the IRS in connection with the Ruling, including all appendices, attachments and exhibits thereto and all supplemental submissions and correspondence submitted by Windstream in connection with such request for rulings. 

“Straddle Period” shall mean any Taxable period commencing on or prior to, and ending after, the Distribution
Date. 
 “Subsidiary” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement. 

“Tax” (and, with correlative meaning, “Taxable”) shall mean (i) any and all U.S.
federal, state, local and foreign taxes, including income, alternative or add-on minimum, gross receipts, profits, lease, service, service use, wage, employment, workers compensation, business occupation, environmental, estimated, excise, sales,
use, transfer, license, payroll, franchise, severance, stamp, occupation, windfall profits, withholding, social security, unemployment, disability, ad valorem, capital stock, paid in capital, recording, registration, property, real property gains,
value added, business license, custom duties and other taxes, charges, fees, levies, imposts, duties or assessments of any kind whatsoever, imposed or required to be withheld by any Taxing Authority, including any interest, additions to Tax or
penalties applicable or related thereto, and (ii) any liability for the Taxes of any Person under section 1.1502-6 of the Treasury Regulations (or similar provision of state or local law). 

“Tax Advisor” shall mean tax counsel of recognized national standing with experience in the tax area involved
in the Dispute. 
 “Tax Attributes” shall mean net operating losses, capital losses, investment tax credit
carryovers, earnings and profits, foreign tax credit carryovers, overall domestic losses, overall foreign losses, dual consolidated losses, previously taxed income, separate limitation losses and any other losses, deductions, credits or other
comparable items that could affect a Tax liability for a past or future Taxable period. 
 “Tax
Certificates” shall mean the certificates, in customary form, of officers of the Parties that will be provided to WHI’s tax counsel in connection with the WHI Opinion and the CS&L Opinion. 

“Tax Contest” shall mean any audit, review, examination, dispute, suit, action, proposed assessment, or other
administrative or judicial proceeding with respect to Taxes. 

  
 6 

 “Tax-Free Status of the Transactions” shall mean the tax-free
treatment accorded to certain of the Internal Reorganization transactions, the Reorganization, the Distributions and the Debt Exchange as described in the Ruling and the WHI Opinion. 

“Tax Materials” shall mean (A) the Ruling Request, (B) the Ruling, (C) the Tax Opinions,
(D) the Tax Certificates, and (E) any other materials delivered or deliverable in connection with the issuance of the Ruling and the rendering of the Tax Opinions as memorialized in the Closing Memorandum. 

“Tax Opinions” shall mean the CS&L Opinion and the WHI Opinion. 

“Tax Return” shall mean any return, report, certificate, form or similar statement or document (including any
attachments thereto and any information return, amended tax return, claim for refund or declaration of estimated tax) supplied to or filed with, or required to be supplied to or filed with, a Taxing Authority, or any bill for or notice related to ad
valorem or other similar Taxes received from a Taxing Authority, in each case, in connection with the determination, assessment or collection of any Tax or the administration of any laws, regulations or administrative requirements relating to any
Tax. 
 “Taxing Authority” shall mean any Governmental Authority or other authority in connection with the
determination, assessment or collection of any Tax or the administration of any laws, regulations or administrative requirements relating to any Tax. 

“Transaction Agreements” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement. 

“Transfer Taxes” shall mean all sales, use, privilege, transfer, documentary, stamp, recording, and similar
Taxes and fees (including any penalties, interest or additions thereto) imposed upon any Party in connection with the Internal Reorganization, the Reorganization and the Distributions. 

“Unqualified Tax Opinion” shall mean an unqualified opinion of nationally recognized tax counsel on which WHI
and CS&L may rely to the effect that an action or transaction (including a Potential Disqualifying Action) will not alter any of the conclusions regarding the Tax-Free Status of the Transactions. Any such opinion must assume that the Internal
Reorganization, Reorganization, Distributions, and Debt Exchange, and any transaction associated therewith would have been tax-free, or would have had the tax treatment described in the WHI Opinion or the Ruling, if such action or transaction did
not occur. 
 “WHI Action” shall mean (i) any transaction with respect to the stock or assets of WHI or
its Subsidiaries that occurs after the Distribution Date, (ii) any failure by WHI or Windstream after the Distribution Date to maintain its status as a company engaged in the conduct of an active trade or business or (iii) (x) the
failure of any representation made by WHI or its Subsidiaries in connection with the Ruling or the WHI Opinion or any subsequent ruling or opinion in connection with the Distributions, in each case with

  
 7 

 
respect to WHI or its Subsidiaries or the businesses conducted by WHI or its Subsidiaries or the plans, proposals, intentions and policies of WHI after the Distribution Date, to have been true
and correct in all material respects when made, or (y) the failure by WHI or its Subsidiaries to comply with any covenant made by WHI in connection with the Ruling or the WHI Opinion or any subsequent ruling or opinion in connection with the
Distributions. 
 “WHI Common Stock” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals. 

“WHI Group” shall mean WHI and its Subsidiaries, including any corporations that would be members of an
affiliated group if they were includible corporations under Code Section 1504(b) (in each case, including any successors thereof), but excluding any entity that is a member of the CS&L Group. 

“WHI Opinion” shall mean the written opinion of WHI’s tax counsel, addressed to WHI and dated as of the
Distribution Date, with respect to certain Tax aspects of the Internal Reorganization, the Reorganization, the Distributions and Debt Exchange. 

Section 1.2 References; Interpretation. References in this Agreement to any gender include references to all genders, and
references to the singular include references to the plural and vice versa. The word “including” when used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. Unless the context otherwise
requires, references in this Agreement to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be deemed references to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, such Agreement. Unless the context otherwise requires, the words
“hereof”, “hereby”, and “herein” and words of similar meaning when used in this Agreement refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular Article, Section or provision of this Agreement. 

ARTICLE II 
 TAX
RETURNS AND TAX PAYMENTS 
 Section 2.1 Obligations to File Tax Returns. 

(a) WHI will have the sole and exclusive responsibility for the preparation and filing of all Tax Returns that any member of the WHI Group is
obligated to file, including for this purpose those Tax Returns that include any member of the CS&L Group for any Pre-Closing Period or any Straddle Period. CS&L, on behalf of each member of the CS&L Group, hereby irrevocably authorizes
and designates WHI as its agent, coordinator and administrator for the purpose of taking any and all actions necessary to the filing of any such Tax Return and for the purpose of making payments to, or collecting refunds from, any Taxing Authority
in respect of any such Tax Return. Except as otherwise provided herein, WHI shall have the exclusive right to file, prosecute, compromise or settle any claim for refund for Taxes in respect of a Tax Return for which WHI bears responsibility under
this Section 2.1(a) and to determine whether any refunds of such Taxes to which the WHI Group may be entitled shall be received by way of refund or credit against the Tax liability of the WHI Group. 

  
 8 

 (b) Except as provided herein, CS&L shall have the sole and exclusive responsibility for the
preparation of all Tax Returns that include any member of the CS&L Group for any Post-Closing Period. Except as otherwise provided herein, CS&L shall have the exclusive right to file, prosecute, compromise or settle any claim for refund for
Taxes in respect of a Tax Return for which CS&L bears responsibility under this Section 2.1(b) and to determine whether any refunds of such Taxes to which the CS&L Group may be entitled shall be received by way of refund or
credit against the Tax liability of the CS&L Group. 
 (c) To the extent permitted by law or administrative practice in any jurisdiction
in which Tax Returns that include any member of the CS&L Group are filed, the Parties shall cause the current Taxable period of such member of the CS&L Group to end at the end of the Distribution Date. 

(d) WHI shall have the sole and exclusive responsibility for the preparation and filing of all Tax Returns that include any member of the
CS&L Group for any Straddle Period. No later than twenty (20) Business Days prior to the date on which any such Straddle Period Tax Return is required to be filed (taking into account any valid extensions), WHI shall submit or cause to be
submitted to CS&L a draft of such Straddle Period Tax Return for CS&L’s review. WHI shall make or cause to be made any and all changes to such Tax Return reasonably requested by CS&L, to the extent that such changes do not
materially increase the amount of Tax for which WHI is responsible hereunder and shall consider, in good faith, other changes reasonably requested by CS&L; provided, however, that CS&L must submit to WHI its proposed changes to such
Tax Return in writing within ten (10) Business Days of receiving such Tax Return. 
 Section 2.2 Manner of Preparation.

 (a) Unless and until there has been a Final Determination to the contrary, all Tax Returns of or that include CS&L, WHI, or any of
their respective Subsidiaries shall be prepared in a manner that is consistent with the Tax Materials. In addition, to the extent permitted by law, unless and until there has been a Final Determination to the contrary, all Tax Returns of any member
of the CS&L Group prepared pursuant to Section 2.1(a) or Section 2.1(d) shall be prepared in a manner that is otherwise consistent with past practices of WHI, CS&L, and their respective Subsidiaries. 

(b) To the extent a Party takes a position on an income Tax Return prepared pursuant to Section 2.1 that is reasonably expected to
materially increase the Tax liability of the other Party and there is no past practice of WHI, CS&L or their respective Subsidiaries with respect to such position, the preparing Party shall provide such income Tax Return to the other Party for
its review and comment at least twenty (20) Business Days prior to the date on which such income Tax Return is required to be filed (taking into account any valid extensions). The preparing Party shall make or cause to be made any and all
changes to such Tax Return reasonably requested by the other Party, provided, however, that the other Party must submit to the preparing Party its proposed changes to such Tax Return in writing within ten (10) Business Days of receiving such
Tax Return. To the extent the Parties disagree with respect to the position, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to resolve such dispute. If the Parties are unable to resolve the dispute, such dispute shall be resolved pursuant to the terms of
Section 2.10 of this Agreement. 

  
 9 

 Section 2.3 Obligation to Remit Taxes. Except as otherwise provided herein, WHI and
CS&L shall each remit or cause to be remitted to the applicable Taxing Authority any Taxes due in respect of any Tax Return that it is required to file hereunder (or, in the case of a Tax for which no Tax Return is required to be filed, which is
otherwise payable by it or its Subsidiaries to any Taxing Authority) and shall be entitled to reimbursement for such payments from the other Party to the extent provided herein; provided, however, that in the case of any Tax Return,
the Party not required to file such Tax Return shall remit to the Party required to file such Tax Return in immediately available funds the amount of any Taxes reflected on such Tax Return for which the former Party is responsible hereunder at least
two (2) Business Days before payment of the relevant amount is due to a Taxing Authority. 
 Section 2.4 Allocation of and
Indemnification for Taxes. 
 (a) Indemnification by WHI. WHI shall pay or cause to be paid, shall be responsible for, and shall
indemnify and hold harmless CS&L from and against, (i) all Taxes (other than Distribution Taxes) of the WHI Group for any period, (ii) all Taxes (other than Distribution Taxes) of the WHI Group and the CS&L Group for any
Pre-Closing Period, and (iii) all Distribution Taxes, except to the extent that such Taxes are subject to indemnification by CS&L pursuant to Section 2.4(b)(ii). 

(b) Indemnification by CS&L. 

(i) CS&L shall pay or cause to be paid, shall be responsible for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless WHI from and
against all Taxes (other than Distribution Taxes) of the CS&L Group, or that otherwise relate to the Assigned Assets or Assumed Liabilities, for any Post-Closing Period (except for Taxes for which WHI is responsible pursuant to
Section 2.4(a)(i)). 
 (ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if there is a
Final Determination that a Distribution Disqualification has occurred, then, to the extent that the Distribution Disqualification results from any Disqualifying Action taken after the Distribution Date by CS&L or any other member of the CS&L
Group, CS&L shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the WHI Group from and against any and all (A) Distribution Taxes, (B) accounting, legal and other professional fees and court costs incurred in connection with such Taxes (other
than such costs incurred in the joint defense of a Third-Party Claim, which costs are subject to Section 5.4 below) and (C) Taxes resulting from indemnification payments hereunder incurred by the WHI Group. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the liability of CS&L pursuant to this Section 2.4(b)(ii), subject to the limitations contained in Section 2.4(c), shall be the sole and exclusive basis for any remedy of WHI
and its Affiliates for any matter (including any breach of representation or covenant) related to a Distribution Disqualification or any Distribution Taxes. 

(c) Straddle Period Taxes. In the case of Taxes (other than Distribution Taxes) that are attributable to a Straddle Period, such Taxes
shall be allocated between the portion of the Straddle Period that is a Pre-Closing Period and the portion of the Straddle Period that is a Post-Closing Period based on a Closing of the Books Method. 

  
 10 

 Section 2.5 Transfer Taxes. WHI and CS&L shall each bear fifty percent of any
Transfer Taxes. 
 Section 2.6 Refunds. CS&L shall be entitled to any refund of or credit for Taxes for which CS&L is
responsible under this Agreement, and WHI shall be entitled to any refund of or credit for Taxes for which WHI is responsible under this Agreement. Refunds for any Straddle Period shall be equitably apportioned between WHI and CS&L in accordance
with the provisions of this Agreement governing the Taxes with respect to such periods. A Party receiving a refund to which the other Party is entitled pursuant to this Agreement shall pay the amount to which such other Party is entitled within five
(5) Business Days after the receipt of the refund. 
 Section 2.7 Carrybacks. To the extent permitted by law, the CS&L
Group shall elect to forego a carryback of any net operating losses, capital losses, or credits (including the election under section 172(b)(3) of the Code) from any Post-Closing Period to any Pre-Closing Period. If and to the extent that the
CS&L Group is not permitted by applicable law to forego such carryback and requests in writing that WHI obtain a refund with respect to such carryback, then (a) WHI shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a refund with respect
to such carryback (including by filing an amended Tax Return) and (b) to the extent that WHI receives a refund of Taxes (including interest received thereon) attributable to such carryback, WHI shall pay such refund to CS&L. WHI shall be
entitled to reduce the amount of any such refund for its reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with such refund, including any Taxes on receipt of such refund or interest thereon. 

Section 2.8 Tax Attributes. The Parties acknowledge that CS&L intends to qualify as a real estate investment trust within the
meaning of Sections 856 through 860 of the Code (a “REIT”) for the tax year ending December 31, 2015 and thereafter. As soon as reasonably practicable following the Distribution Date, and, in any event, at least 90 calendar days
before the due date (including extensions) of the federal income Tax Return for the CS&L Group for the tax year ending December 31, 2015, WHI shall provide CS&L with its calculation of the Tax Attributes associated with the CS&L
Group and the Tax bases of the assets and liabilities transferred to CS&L in connection with the Distributions for its review and comment, which calculation shall be in accordance with applicable law. WHI shall consider in good faith any
reasonable comments to such calculation proposed by CS&L within thirty (30) days of CS&L’s receipt of such calculations and shall not unreasonably withhold incorporation of CS&L’s comments. To the extent the Parties are
unable to resolve a dispute with respect to the calculations, and such dispute is with respect to an issue of law or fact, such dispute will be settled pursuant to the terms of Section 2.10 of this Agreement. Unless and until there has
been a Final Determination to the contrary, all Tax Returns of or that include CS&L, WHI, or any of their respective Subsidiaries shall be prepared in a manner that is consistent with the determination of the allocation of Tax Attributes
pursuant to this Section 2.8. 
 Section 2.9 Amended Returns. Without the prior written consent of WHI, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, CS&L shall not, and shall not permit any member of the CS&L Group to, file any amended Tax Return that includes any member of the WHI Group. 

  
 11 

 Section 2.10 Dispute Resolution. Subject to the final sentence of this
Section 2.10, the Parties shall attempt in good faith to resolve any disagreement arising with respect to this Agreement, including any dispute in connection with a claim by a third party (a “Dispute”). Either Party may
give the other Party written notice of any Dispute not resolved in the normal course of business. Subject to the final sentence of this Section 2.10, if the Parties cannot agree within thirty (30) Business Day following the date on
which one Party gives such notice (the “Dispute Date”), then the Dispute shall be referred to a Tax Advisor acceptable to each of the Parties to act as an arbitrator in order to resolve the dispute. If the Parties are unable to
agree upon a Tax Advisor within fifteen (15) days, the Tax Advisor selected by WHI and the Tax Advisor selected by CS&L shall jointly select a Tax Advisor that will resolve the dispute. Such Tax Advisor shall be empowered to resolve the
Dispute, including by engaging nationally recognized accounting and other experts. The Tax Advisor shall furnish written notice to the Parties of its resolution of such Dispute as soon as practicable, but in no event later than forty-five
(45) Business Days after its acceptance of the matter for resolution. Any such resolution by the Tax Advisor will be conclusive and binding on the Parties. Each of WHI and CS&L shall bear 50% of the aggregate expenses of the Tax Advisor.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this provision shall not apply to any Dispute related to liability for, or an indemnification obligation with respect to, any Distribution Taxes. 

ARTICLE III 

REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS 

Section 3.1 Compliance with the Ruling Request, the Rulings and Tax Opinions. 

(a) WHI hereby represents and warrants that (i) it has examined (or upon receipt will examine) the Tax Materials and (ii) the facts
presented and representations made therein, to the extent descriptive of or otherwise relating to WHI or any of its Affiliates (including the CS&L Group), are or will be from the time presented or made through and including the Distribution Date
true, correct, and complete in all material respects. WHI hereby confirms and agrees to comply (or to cause its Subsidiaries, including the CS&L Group for periods through and including the Distribution Date, to comply) with any and all covenants
and agreements in the Tax Materials made by any member of the WHI Group. 
 (b) CS&L hereby represents and warrants that (i) it has
examined (or upon receipt will examine) the Tax Materials and (ii) the facts presented therein, to the extent descriptive of or relating to the intent, action, or non-action of the CS&L Group as of or following the Distribution Date, will
be true, correct, and complete in all material respects, and (iii) the representations made therein, to the extent made by any member of the CS&L Group, are or will be from the time presented or made through and including the Distribution
Date true, correct, and complete in all material respects. CS&L hereby confirms and agrees to comply (or to cause the members of the CS&L Group to comply) with any and all covenants and agreements in the Tax Materials made by any member of
the CS&L Group. 

  
 12 

 Section 3.2 Covenants. 

(a) From and after the Distribution Date, WHI shall not, and shall not permit any member of the WHI Group (but, for avoidance of doubt, not
including the CS&L Group) to, take any Disqualifying Action. 
 (b) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 3.2, until
the expiration of the Restricted Period, CS&L shall not, and shall not permit any member of the CS&L Group to, take a Potential Disqualifying Action. 

(c) Until the expiration of the Restricted Period, CS&L shall not enter into (or permit any member of the CS&L Group to enter into) any
agreement, understanding or arrangement or any substantial negotiations with respect to any transaction (including a merger to which CS&L is a party) involving the acquisition (including by any member of the CS&L Group) of capital stock of
CS&L, and CS&L shall not issue any additional shares of capital stock or transfer or modify any options, warrants, convertible obligations or other instrument that provides for the right or possibility to issue, redeem or transfer any shares
of capital stock of CS&L (or enter into any agreement, understanding, arrangement or any substantial negotiations with respect to any such issuance, transfer or modification), except to the extent that all such agreements, understandings,
arrangements, substantial negotiations and other issuances, taken together, do not involve a direct or indirect acquisition by any Person or Persons of a “50 percent or greater interest” in CS&L within the meaning of section 355(d)(4)
of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing: 
 (i) CS&L may issue additional shares of common stock of CS&L to a
person in a transaction to which section 83 or section 421(a) or (b) of the Code applies (or options to acquire stock in such a transaction) in connection with the person’s performance of services as an employee, director or independent
contractor of any member of the CS&L Group or any other person that is related to CS&L under section 355(d)(7)(A) of the Code or a corporation the assets of which CS&L or a member of the CS&L Group acquires in a reorganization under
section 368 of the Code, provided that such stock is not excessive by reference to the services performed by such person and such person or a coordinating group of which the person is a member will not be a controlling shareholder or a ten-percent
shareholder of CS&L (within the meaning of sections 1.355-7(h)(3) and (8) of the Treasury Regulations) immediately after the issuance of such common stock; and 

(ii) CS&L may issue additional shares of common stock of CS&L to a retirement plan of CS&L or any other person that
is treated as the same employer as CS&L under section 414(b), (c), (m), or (o) of the Code that qualifies under section 401(a) or 403(a) of the Code, provided that the stock acquired by all of the qualified plans of CS&L and such other
persons during the four-year period beginning two years before the Distribution Date does not, in the aggregate, represent more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of CS&L entitled to vote or more than ten
percent of the total value of shares of all classes of stock of CS&L. 

  
 13 

 (d) Until the expiration of the Restricted Period, CS&L shall continue and
cause to be continued the active conduct (as defined in section 355(b)(2) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder) of the Consumer CLEC Business, taking into account section 355(b)(3) of the Code. 

(e) Until the expiration of the Restricted Period, CS&L shall not voluntarily dissolve, liquidate, merge or consolidate
with any other person, unless, in the case of a merger or consolidation, CS&L is the survivor of the merger or consolidation. 

(f) Until the expiration of the Restricted Period, CS&L shall not redeem or otherwise repurchase (directly or through an
Affiliate) any stock, or rights to acquire stock, except to the extent such repurchases satisfy section 4.05(1)(b) of Revenue Procedure 96-30 (as in effect prior to the amendment of such Revenue Procedure by Revenue Procedure 2003-48 and Revenue
Procedure 2013-32). 
 (g) Neither CS&L nor any member of the CS&L Group (including the Operating Partnership) shall
take any action with respect to the CS&L Debt Securities that might result in their failing to qualify as “securities” of CS&L, within the meaning of section 361, for purposes of the Internal Distribution and the Debt Exchange.

 (h) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 3.2 shall not prohibit CS&L or any
member of the CS&L Group from implementing any action or transaction (including a Potential Disqualifying Action) if (i) the IRS has granted a favorable ruling to WHI or CS&L that such action would not alter the Tax-Free Status of the
Transactions, (ii) CS&L has delivered to WHI an Unqualified Tax Opinion, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to WHI, with respect to such action or transaction, or (iii) WHI has waived in writing the requirement to
obtain such ruling or Unqualified Tax Opinion with respect to such action or transaction. Within 10 Business Days of the receipt by WHI of a draft of an Unqualified Tax Opinion, WHI shall inform CS&L in writing of whether such Unqualified Tax
Opinion is reasonably acceptable to it and, to the extent unacceptable, shall inform CS&L with reasonable specificity of the reasons therefor. If CS&L notifies WHI that it desires to seek a ruling from the IRS or an Unqualified Tax Opinion
with respect to such an action or transaction, WHI shall cooperate with CS&L and use its commercially reasonable efforts to assist CS&L in obtaining such a ruling from the IRS or an Unqualified Tax Opinion. CS&L shall reimburse WHI for
all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the WHI Group in assisting CS&L in obtaining a ruling or Unqualified Tax Opinion within ten (10) days after receiving an invoice from WHI therefor. 

ARTICLE IV 
 PAYMENTS

 Section 4.1 Payments. Except as otherwise provided herein, payments due under this Agreement shall be made no later
than ten (10) Business Days after (i) the receipt or crediting of a refund or (ii) the delivery of notice of payment of a Tax for which the other Party is responsible under this Agreement, in each case by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to an account designated by the Party entitled to such payment. Payments due hereunder, but not made within such period, shall be accompanied by simple interest at a rate of ten (10) percent. 

  
 14 

 Section 4.2 Treatment of Payments. The Parties agree that any payment made between
the Parties pursuant to this Agreement or the Distributing and Separation Agreement with respect to a Pre-Closing Period or as a result of an event or action occurring in a Pre-Closing Period shall be treated, to the extent permitted by law, for all
Tax purposes as a distribution from or a capital contribution to CS&L made immediately prior to the Distributions. If the receipt or accrual of any such payment that is an indemnification payment results in Taxable income (including an increase
in the amount of any gain or other income recognized on the Distributions) to the recipient thereof, such payment shall be increased so that, after the payment of any Taxes with respect to the payment, the recipient thereof shall have realized the
same net amount it would have realized had the payment not resulted in Taxable income. 
 Section 4.3 Notice. The Parties shall
give each other prompt written notice of any payment that may be due to the provider of such notice under this Agreement. 

Section 4.4 CS&L REIT Status. In the event that CS&L determines that any payment provided for under this Agreement could
reasonably be expected to give rise to a successful challenge to CS&L’s status as a REIT, then WHI shall remit such payment in accordance with reasonable written instructions provided by CS&L no less ten (10) Business Days before
such payment is to be made. 
 ARTICLE V 

TAX CONTESTS 

Section 5.1 Notice of Tax Contests. CS&L shall promptly notify WHI in writing upon receipt by CS&L or any member of the
CS&L Group of a written communication from any Taxing Authority with respect to any Tax Contest concerning any Tax Return or otherwise concerning Taxes for which WHI may be liable under this Agreement. WHI shall promptly notify CS&L in
writing upon receipt by WHI or any member of the WHI Group of a written communication from any Taxing Authority with respect to any Tax Contest concerning any Tax Return or otherwise concerning Taxes for which CS&L may be liable under this
Agreement. 
 Section 5.2 Control of Contest by WHI. Except as provided in Section 5.4, WHI shall have the sole
responsibility and control over the handling of any Tax Contest, including the exclusive right to communicate with agents of the Taxing Authority, involving (a) any Pre-Closing Period Tax Return of CS&L or any member of the CS&L Group
or otherwise relating to the Assigned Assets or Assumed Liabilities for a Pre-Closing Period or (b) any Straddle Period Tax Return of CS&L or any member of the CS&L Group or otherwise relating to the Assigned Assets or Assumed
Liabilities for a Straddle Period, to the extent that the Tax Contest relates only to the Pre-Closing Period portion of such Straddle Period. Upon CS&L’s request, CS&L shall be allowed to participate in, but not to control, at
CS&L’s expense, the handling of any such Tax Contest with respect to any item that may affect CS&L’s liability for Taxes pursuant to this Agreement. WHI shall not settle or concede any such Tax Contest with respect to any item in
excess of $50,000 for which CS&L is liable hereunder without the prior written consent of CS&L, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed, or conditioned. 

  
 15 

 Section 5.3 Control of Contest by CS&L. Except as provided in
Section 5.4, CS&L shall have the sole responsibility and control over the handling of any Tax Contest, including the exclusive right to communicate with agents of the Taxing Authority, involving any Tax Return that includes CS&L
or any member of the CS&L Group or otherwise relates to the Assigned Assets or Assumed Liabilities not described in Section 5.2. Upon WHI’s request, WHI shall be allowed to participate in, but not to control, at WHI’s
expense, the handling of any such Tax Contest with respect to any item that may affect the liability of WHI hereunder. CS&L shall not settle or concede any such Tax Contest with respect to any item in excess of $50,000 for which WHI is liable
hereunder without the prior written consent of WHI, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed, or conditioned. 

Section 5.4 Joint Control of Certain Tax Contests. WHI and CS&L shall jointly control, and shall cooperate in good faith in,
the handing of any Tax Contest that relates to (i) any potential Distribution Disqualification or any Distribution Taxes for which CS&L may be obligated to provide indemnification hereunder or (ii) any Straddle Period Tax Return, if
the Tax Contest relates both to the Pre-Closing Period portion and to the Post-Closing Period portion of the Straddle Period. WHI and CS&L shall exercise their rights to jointly control the defense of any such Tax Contest solely for the purpose
of defeating such Tax Contest. If either WHI or CS&L fails to jointly defend any such Tax Contest, then the other party shall solely defend such Tax Contest and the party failing to jointly defend shall use reasonable best efforts to cooperate
with the other party in its defense of such Tax Contest. WHI and CS&L shall each pay its own expenses related to the handling of any such Tax Contest. 

ARTICLE VI 

COOPERATION 

Section 6.1 General. Each Party shall, and shall cause all of such Party’s Subsidiaries and, to the extent capable of so
doing, Affiliates to, fully cooperate with the other Party in connection with the preparation and filing of any Tax Return or the conduct of any Tax Contest (including, where appropriate or necessary, providing a power of attorney) concerning any
issues or any other matter contemplated under this Agreement. Each Party shall make its employees and facilities available on a mutually convenient basis to facilitate such cooperation. 

Section 6.2 Consistent Treatment. Unless and until there has been a Final Determination to the contrary, each Party agrees
(a) to treat the Reorganization, taken together with the Distributions, the Debt Exchange and the Debt-for-Equity Exchange, as a tax-free reorganization under section 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code and the External Distribution as a tax-free
distribution of the CS&L Common Stock under section 355(a) of the Code, and (b) not to take any position on any Tax Return or in connection with any Tax Contest that is inconsistent with (i) the allocation of Taxes and Tax Attributes
hereunder, or (ii) this Agreement, the Separation and Distribution Agreement, or the Tax Materials. 

  
 16 

 ARTICLE VII 

RETENTION OF RECORDS; ACCESS 

Section 7.1 Retention of Records; Access. The Parties shall (a) retain records, documents, accounting data, and other
information (including computer data) necessary for the preparation and filing of all Tax Returns in respect of Taxes of either the WHI Group or the CS&L Group for any Taxable period, or for any Tax Contests relating to such Tax Returns, and
(b) give to the other Party reasonable access to such records, documents, accounting data, and other information (including computer data) and to its personnel (insuring their cooperation) and premises, for the purpose of the review or audit of
such Tax Returns to the extent relevant to an obligation or liability of a Party under this Agreement or for purposes of the preparation or filing of any such Tax Return, the conduct of any Tax Contest or any other matter reasonably and in good
faith related to the Tax affairs of the requesting Party. At any time after the Distribution Date that WHI or any member of the WHI Group proposes to destroy such material or information, WHI shall first notify CS&L in writing and CS&L shall
be entitled to receive such materials or information proposed to be destroyed. At any time after the Distribution Date that CS&L or any member of the CS&L Group proposes to destroy such material or information, CS&L shall first notify
WHI in writing and WHI shall be entitled to receive such materials or information proposed to be destroyed. 
 Section 7.2
Confidentiality; Ownership of Information; Privileged Information. The provisions of Section 8.2(b) of the Separation and Distribution Agreement relating to confidentiality of information, ownership of information, privileged
information, and related matters shall apply with equal force to any records and information prepared and shared by and among the Parties in carrying out the intent of this Agreement. 

Section 7.3 Continuation of Retention of Information, Access Obligations. The obligations set forth above in
Section 7.1 and Section 7.2 shall continue until the longer of (a) the time of a Final Determination or (b) expiration of all applicable statutes of limitations to which the records and information relate. For
purposes of the preceding sentence, each Party shall assume that no applicable statute of limitations has expired unless such Party has received notification or otherwise has actual knowledge that such statute of limitations has expired. 

ARTICLE VIII 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 

Section 8.1 Complete Agreement; Construction. This Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement among the Parties with respect
to the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all previous negotiations, commitments and writings with respect to such subject matter. 

Section 8.2 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original agreement, but
all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. 
 Section 8.3 Survival of Agreements. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, all representations, covenants and obligations contained in this Agreement shall survive until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations with respect to any such matter (including
extensions thereof). 

  
 17 

 Section 8.4 Notices. All notices or other communications required or permitted
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally, by facsimile (with confirming copy sent by one of the other delivery methods specified herein), by overnight courier or sent by certified, registered or express air mail, postage
prepaid, and shall be deemed given when so delivered personally, or when so received by facsimile or courier, or, if mailed, three (3) calendar days after the date of mailing, as follows: 

 

			
	If to WHI:		 Windstream Holdings, Inc.
 4001 Rodney Parham
Road
 Little Rock, AR, 72212
 Facsimile: (501) 748-7400

Attention: Willis Kemp

		
	with a copy to:		 Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Four Times Square
 New York, NY 10036

Facsimile: (917) 777-2000
 Attention: Pamela Lawrence
Endreny

		
	If to CS&L:		 Communications Sales & Leasing, Inc.
 10802
Executive Center Drive
 Benton Building Suite 300
 Little Rock,
AR 72211
 Attention: Kenny Gunderman

		
	with a copy to:		 Bryan Cave LLP One
 Metropolitan Square, Suite
3600
 211 N. Broadway
 St. Louis, MO 63102

Facsimile: (314) 259-2020
 Attention: Steven Baumer

 or to such other address and with such other copies as any Party hereto shall notify the other Parties hereto (as provided
above) from time to time. 
 Section 8.5 Waivers. The failure of any Party to require strict performance by the other Party of
any provision in this Agreement will not waive or diminish that Party’s right to demand strict performance thereafter of that or any other provision hereof. 

Section 8.6 Amendment and Modification. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of
each of the Parties hereto. 
 Section 8.7 Assignment; Successors and Assigns; No Third Party Rights. This Agreement may not be
assigned by any Party hereto without the prior written consent of the other Parties hereto, and any attempted assignment shall be null and void. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective
successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement shall be for the sole benefit of the Parties hereto, and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and is not intended, nor shall be construed, to give any Person, other than the Parties
hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns any legal or equitable right, benefit, remedy or claim hereunder. 

  
 18 

 Section 8.8 No Strict Construction. WHI and CS&L each acknowledge that this
Agreement has been prepared jointly by the Parties hereto and shall not be strictly construed against any Party hereto. 
 Section 8.9
Application to Present and Future Subsidiaries. This Agreement is being entered into by the Parties on behalf of themselves and their respective Subsidiaries. This Agreement shall constitute a direct obligation of each such entity and shall
be deemed to have been readopted and affirmed on behalf of any entity that becomes a Subsidiary of any Party to this Agreement in the future. 

Section 8.10 Titles and Headings. The headings and table of contents in this Agreement are for reference purposes only, and shall
not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. 
 Section 8.11 Exhibits and Schedules. The exhibits and
schedules to this Agreement shall be construed with and as an integral part of this Agreement to the same extent as if the same had been set forth verbatim herein. 

Section 8.12 Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
Laws of the State of Delaware. Each of the Parties hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware and the United States District Court for any district within such state for the purpose of any Action
or judgment relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby and to the laying of venue in such court. Service of process in connection with any such Action may be served on each Party hereto by the same
methods as are specified for the giving of notices under this Agreement. Each Party hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim any objection to the laying of venue of any such Action brought in such courts and
irrevocably and unconditionally waives any claim that any such Action brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. 

Section 8.13 Severability. If any term, provisions, covenant, or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent
jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void, or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants, and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired, or
invalidated so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party. Upon such determination, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement
so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible. 

[remainder of page intentionally left blank] 

  
 19 

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

					
	Windstream Holdings, Inc.
		
	By:		 
			Name:		
			Title:		

  

					
	Windstream Corporation
		
	By:		 
			Name:		
			Title:		

  

					
	Communications Sales & Leasing, Inc.
		
	By:		 
			Name:		
			Title:		

  
 20EX-10.3

 Exhibit 10.3 

TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT 

THIS TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated
            , 201    , is entered into by and between Windstream Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“WIN”), and CSL National, L.P., a
Maryland limited partnership (“CSL”), on behalf of itself and its Affiliates, including Talk America Services, LLC (“TAS”). WIN and CSL are each sometimes referred to herein as a “Party” and,
collectively, as the “Parties”. 
 WHEREAS, CSL and WIN have entered into that certain Separation and Distribution
Agreement, dated             , 2015 (the “Distribution Agreement”; capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the
Distribution Agreement), which provides, among other things, that WIN and CSL shall enter into a Transition Services Agreement in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Distribution Agreement; 

WHEREAS, WIN and its Affiliates currently provide and provided as of the date of the Distribution Agreement certain services in support
of the CSL Business; and 
 WHEREAS, to facilitate the transition of the CSL Business to CSL, the Parties desire that, for a limited
transition period, WIN and its Affiliates provide certain services to CSL and its Affiliates on the terms and conditions set forth herein. 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows: 

1. Description of Services. 

(a) Services. Subject to the terms and provisions of this Agreement and solely for the purpose of facilitating the transition of the CSL
Business to CSL, WIN shall (or shall cause its Affiliates to) provide to CSL the services set forth on Exhibit 1 hereto (as such Exhibit 1 may be amended by the mutual agreement of the Parties in writing from time to time, the
“Services Attachment”) (the “Services”). 
 (b) Purchase of Additional or Modified Services. From
time to time, CSL may request WIN to provide additional or modified Services that are not described in Exhibit 1, but are of a similar scope or nature as those used by WIN relating to the CSL Business prior to the Distribution Date. WIN will
use commercially reasonable efforts to accommodate any reasonable requests by CSL to provide such additional or modified Services. In order to initiate a request for additional or modified Services, CSL shall submit a request in writing to WIN
specifying the nature of the additional or modified Services and requesting a cost estimate (based on the general parameters set forth in this Agreement) and time frame for completion. WIN shall respond within ten (10) business days to such
written request; provided that, subject to the second sentence of Section 1.3, such ten (10) business day period shall be subject to a reasonable extension if, due to the volume, frequency or type of requests submitted by CSL, WIN’s
preparation of responses to such requests is materially interfering with, or is likely to materially interfere with, WIN’s normal business activities. If WIN can accommodate CSL’s request to provide such additional or modified Services,
and if CSL accepts the terms and conditions set 

  
 1 

 
forth in WIN’s response to such request, then such additional or modified Services shall be provided hereunder and according to the terms agreed to by the Parties in a written amendment to
this Agreement, which shall be consistent to the greatest extent practicable with the terms of this Agreement. 
 (c) Ancillary
Services. Any functions, responsibilities, activities or tasks that are not specifically described in this Agreement or the Exhibit hereto, but are reasonably required for the proper performance and delivery of the Services (including any
additional or modified Services), and are a necessary or inherent part of such Services, as performed by WIN, in the ordinary course of business, shall be deemed to be implied by and included within the scope of such Services, subject to any
limitations set forth in this Agreement or the Exhibit hereto, to the same extent and in the same manner as if specifically described in this Agreement. 

(d) Modifications. Unless otherwise provided for in this Agreement, if CSL makes any change in the processes, procedures, practices,
networks, equipment, configurations, or systems pertaining to the CSL Business, and such change has a materially adverse impact on WIN’s ability to provide any of the Services, then WIN shall be excused from performance of any such affected
Service until CSL mitigates the material adverse impact of such change or the Parties enter into an agreement to purchase additional or modified services that may be necessitated by such changes, and CSL shall be responsible for all direct expenses
incurred by WIN in connection with the cessation and, if applicable, the resumption of the affected Services. 
 (e) Transition Plan.
The Parties shall agree on a written transition plan after the execution of this Agreement (the “Transition Plan”) which shall include: (i) a plan and timetable for the migration of CSL away from the Services;
(ii) assistance in relation to migration (including the migration of data and the “Carve-Out Assistance” listed in the Services Attachment); (iii) information in relation to the operation of the relevant IT systems and the
interface between such IT systems for the purpose of implementing the migration referred to in this Section (including the applicable Services listed in the Services Attachment); (iv) respective responsibilities of the Parties in carrying out
the migration; and (v) safeguards to ensure minimal disruption to both Parties’ ongoing businesses during the migration. Each Party shall implement and comply with its obligations under the Transition Plan. Except as may otherwise be
expressly provided in the Transition Plan or Schedule of Services, as applicable, CSL shall bear all costs associated with the migration by CSL away from the Services provided by WIN. 

(f) Representatives. 

(i) Transition Representatives. Each Party will designate an individual who shall be the primary interface for the
purposes of coordinating the Services provided hereunder (the “Transition Representative”). Such individual shall (A) coordinate with the other Party and their Service Representatives (as defined below) to provide the relevant
contacts in that Party’s applicable departments for the purposes of implementing and performing the Services, and (B) evaluate in consultation with the other Party’s Transition Representative when a particular Service may be
terminated. The Transition Representative shall perform the duties required hereby in a professional and timely manner. Each Party may change its Transition Representative by giving written notice to the other in accordance with the notice
provisions of this Agreement. 

  
 2 

 (ii) Role of the Service Representative. Each Party shall provide up to
two (2) individuals (each, a “Service Representative”) who are familiar with that Party’s business and who will be that Party’s primary points of contact in dealing with the other Party’s Service Representatives
under this Agreement and who will have the authority and power to make decisions with respect to actions to be taken by such Party with respect to the provision of Services under this Agreement. Each Party may change its Service Representative(s) by
giving written notice to the other in accordance with the notice provisions of this Agreement. 
 (iii) Obligations of
the Service Representatives. Each Party shall, or shall ensure that their Service Representative, as applicable, respond within a commercially reasonable time to any reasonable requests by the other Party or its Service Representative for such
Party’s Service Representative to provide directions, instructions, approvals, authorizations, decisions or other information reasonably necessary for WIN to perform any Services; provided, however, any request contemplated in
Section 1(b) of this Agreement shall be delivered by and to, and accepted or rejected by, the Transition Representatives. 

(iv) Meetings of the Transition and Service Representatives. The Transition Representatives and the Service
Representatives shall meet on a monthly basis (which meeting may be held telephonically) during the Term. The purpose of such meetings shall be to discuss the Services and each Party’s obligations under this Agreement, including operational
details, transitional matters, dispute resolution and any other issues related to this Agreement. Such meetings will take place at mutually agreed locations (including by teleconference) and may include a reasonable number of additional
representatives from either Party. 
 (g) Standard of the Provision of Services. WIN shall provide the Services in a manner and at a
level as more particularly described in Section 8 of this Agreement. WIN shall provide Services in accordance in all material respects with all applicable Laws. 

2. Term. 
 (a) The
term of this Agreement shall commence on the date hereof and, unless terminated earlier in accordance with Section 12, expire on the latest end date specified in Exhibit 1 (the “Term”). Thereafter, if CSL desires and WIN
agrees to continue to perform any of the Services after the Term has expired, the parties shall negotiate in good faith to determine an amount that compensates WIN for all of its costs for such performance. However, should WIN fail to complete
performance of any billing and/or collection Service(s), including the logical billing database separation, within the Term identified in Exhibit 1 for such Service(s), and such failure does not result from the actions or inactions of CSL or
a force majeure event (as defined in Section 16 herein), the Term for such incomplete Service(s) shall be extended to accommodate complete performance without additional charge to CSL. The Services so performed by WIN after the
expiration of the Term shall continue to constitute Services under this Agreement and be subject in all respects to the provisions of this Agreement for the duration of the agreed-upon extension period. 

(b) WIN shall (or shall cause its Affiliates to) provide each Service for the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the earlier
to occur of (i) the expiration of the Term, (ii) the Parties mutually agree in writing that such Service is no longer required to be provided by WIN or its Affiliates, or (iii) the date upon which the trigger event for termination
occurs for such Service as set forth in the Services Attachment, subject to earlier termination of this Agreement or termination of all or a portion of the Services, as set forth in Section 12 hereof.

  
 3 

 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, CSL shall (and shall cause its Affiliates to) use commercially reasonable efforts to transition the Services to another, non-transitional provider as quickly as
practicable or, as applicable, to cause CSL and/or its Affiliates to provide the Services. 
 3. Consideration for Services.
As consideration for the Services, CSL shall pay to WIN the service fee for the Services as set forth in the Services Attachment and for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses from third parties actually incurred by WIN in the provision of the
Services that are explicitly set forth in the applicable Services Attachment or otherwise approved in writing (including by electronic mail) by CSL’s Transition Representative or Service Representatives prior to WIN incurring such out-of-pocket
expense; provided, however, WIN shall be excused from performance for Services to the extent WIN’s performance is delayed as a result of CSL’s pre-approval process for third-party costs and expenses (the “Service
Fee”). 
 4. Terms of Payment. 

(a) Not later than thirty (30) calendar days following the end of each calendar month during the Term, WIN shall submit to CSL in writing
an invoice setting out in reasonable detail each Service performed by WIN during the preceding month and the related Service Fee. CSL shall pay the amount shown on each such invoice no later than thirty (30) calendar days after receipt of such
invoice; payment shall be made without withholding or deduction of any kind. If such amount is not received by WIN within such 30-day period, CSL shall also pay WIN interest from and after the last day of such 30-day period following receipt of such
invoice, at a rate per annum equal to the prime lender rate as reported on the last day of the calendar month in respect of such invoice by the Wall Street Journal. 

(b) Any transition, excise, sales, use or similar tax charged to, assessed on or incurred by the rendering of the Services shall be split
equally between WIN, on the one hand, and CSL, on the other hand, and CSL’s share shall be paid to WIN in addition to the Service Fees; provided, however, WIN shall be solely responsible for its own income taxes. 

(c) Should CSL dispute in good faith any portion or the entire amount due on any invoice or require any adjustment to an invoiced amount, CSL
shall promptly notify WIN in writing of the nature and basis of the dispute and/or adjustment within fifteen (15) business days after CSL’s receipt of such invoice. If CSL fails to notify WIN within such 15-day period, the invoiced amount
shall be deemed to be accurate and correct and shall not be subject to dispute or contest by CSL or any Affiliate thereof. In the event CSL timely delivers notice of a dispute and/or adjustment, the Parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to
resolve such matter within thirty (30) calendar days. WIN shall reimburse CSL within fifteen (15) business days following, as applicable (i) agreement by the Parties of any excess payment made by CSL in respect of Services, or
(ii) resolution of any disputed amounts paid in excess of the amount of the costs of such Services, in either case, with interest from and after the date payment was made by CSL through, but excluding, the date of reimbursement by WIN, at the
rate per annum equal to the prime lender rate as reported on the last day of the calendar month in respect of the applicable invoice by the Wall Street Journal. 

(d) WIN and CSL agree to remit payments to each other in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Billing and Remittance
Agreement between the Parties. 

  
 4 

 5. Method of Payment. All amounts payable by CSL hereunder shall be remitted to WIN
in United States dollars to a bank to be designated in the invoice or otherwise in writing by WIN, unless otherwise provided for and agreed upon in writing by the Parties. 

6. Accounting Records and Documents. 

(a) WIN or its Affiliates shall be responsible for maintaining full and accurate accounts and records of all Services rendered pursuant to this
Agreement and such additional information as CSL may reasonably request for purposes of their internal bookkeeping, accounting, operations and management. WIN shall maintain its accounts and records in accordance with past practice; provided,
that, to the extent full and accurate information is not relied upon by WIN in the ordinary course of business with respect to any particular item, unit or market/sub-market, WIN shall maintain such accounts and records on the basis of
appropriate and reasonable allocations. WIN shall keep such accounts and records available, during all reasonable business hours during the Term of this Agreement, at its principal offices, or at such other location as required by applicable Laws,
for audit, inspection and copying by CSL and Persons, upon reasonable notice, authorized by them or any governmental agency having jurisdiction over CSL; provided, that, the costs or expenses incurred by CSL or WIN for any such audit,
inspection or copying shall be the sole responsibility of CSL. 
 (b) At any time during the Term of this Agreement, CSL, or its authorized
independent auditors or counsel, shall have the right to inspect and audit WIN’s accounts, books and records relating to the Services upon five (5) business days prior written notice during regular business hours and without undue
disruption of the normal operations of WIN. 
 (c) All information CSL, its Affiliates and its other authorized Persons gain access to
pursuant to this Section 6 shall be subject to the terms of the confidentiality provisions set forth in Section 13 of this Agreement. 

7. Consents. 

(a) If any consent or approval of, or notice to, any third party is required to implement the terms of this Agreement (“Third Party
Consent”), CSL and WIN shall each use their respective reasonable endeavors to obtain any Third Party Consent as soon as reasonably practicable, each at the cost of CSL. If any such Third Party Consent is refused or not obtained within
three (3) months after the Distribution Date, the Parties shall co-operate in good faith to agree and implement reasonable alternative arrangements which achieve the same commercial effect as that contemplated by this Agreement. 

(b) If either Party so requests, the other Party shall provide all reasonable assistance in obtaining any Third Party Consent and neither
Party will unreasonably do or omit to do anything which would cause any relevant third party to refuse to grant or to terminate or revoke any Third Party Consent. 

8. Performance Standards. In providing the Services to CSL under this Agreement, WIN shall (and shall cause its
Affiliates to) provide the Services in a timely and professional manner generally consistent with the past practices of WIN and its Affiliates in providing the same or similar Services to the CSL Business prior to the execution of the Distribution
Agreement and in conformance in all material respects with any service levels set forth in the applicable Services Attachment. For purposes of clarity, the Parties agree that the 

  
 5 

 
measure of such past performance shall be, except as otherwise agreed in writing by the Parties, that WIN shall provide each of the Services in substantially the same manner and with
substantially the same level of care and service as the manner and the level of care and service with which such Service was provided during 2014. 

9. No Representations or Warranties. WIN MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSITION SERVICES, AT LAW OR
IN EQUITY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WITH RESPECT TO MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND ANY AND ALL REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES ARE HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. 

10. Status of Employees and Facilities; Proprietary Rights.  

(a) Whenever WIN utilizes its (or its Affiliates’) employees to perform the Services for CSL pursuant to this Agreement, such employees
shall at all times remain subject to the direction and control of WIN (or its Affiliates), and CSL shall have no liability to such Persons for their welfare, salaries, fringe benefits, legally required employer contributions and tax obligations by
virtue of the relationships established under this Agreement. WIN shall have complete discretion to supervise and manage such employees and any third-party contractors providing the Services on behalf of WIN, and WIN is not required to continue
employment for any specific individual personnel of WIN or its Affiliates or to maintain engagements with specific third-party contractors. No equipment or facility of WIN used in performing the Services for or subject to use by CSL shall be deemed
to be transferred, assigned, conveyed or leased by such performance or use. WIN shall maintain appropriate security, maintenance and insurance coverage on such equipment or facility. 

(b) Except as set forth in the Services Attachment, to the extent WIN or its Affiliates use any proprietary intellectual property rights owned
by or licensed to WIN or its Affiliates in providing the Services, such proprietary intellectual property rights and any derivative works thereof, or modifications or improvements thereto, conceived or created as part of the provision of Services
(“Improvements”) will, as between the Parties, remain the sole property of WIN or its Affiliate, as applicable, unless any such Improvement was created for CSL pursuant to a certain Service. If any Improvement is created for CSL
pursuant to a certain Service or other proprietary intellectual property rights are created specifically for CSL pursuant to Services provided under the Services Attachment (a “CSL Specific Improvement”), such CSL Specific
Improvement shall be owned by CSL. The applicable Party will and hereby does assign to the applicable owner designated above, and agrees to assign automatically in the future upon first recordation in a tangible medium or first reduction to
practice, all of such Party’s right, title and interest in and to all Improvements, if any. All rights not expressly granted herein are reserved. 

11. Indemnification. 

(a) From and after the date of this Agreement, WIN shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the CSL Indemnified Parties from and against all
Liabilities asserted against, imposed upon or incurred by the CSL Indemnified Parties resulting from, arising out of, based upon or otherwise in respect of any third party claim arising out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of WIN in the
performance of its obligations under this Agreement, except to the extent any such Liabilities arise out of or result from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of CSL. 

  
 6 

 (b) From and after the date of this Agreement, CSL shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the
WIN Indemnified Parties from and against all Liabilities asserted against, imposed upon or incurred by the WIN Indemnified Parties resulting from, arising out of, based upon or otherwise in respect of any third party claim arising out of the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of CSL in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, except to the extent any such Liabilities arise out of or result from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of WIN. 

(c) In the event WIN (or any WIN Indemnified Party) or CSL (or any CSL Indemnified Party) shall have a claim for indemnity against the other
party under the terms of this Agreement, the parties shall follow the procedures set forth in Article VII of the Distribution Agreement as if fully set forth herein. 

(d) Independent of, severable from, and to be enforced independently of any other enforceable or unenforceable provision of this Agreement, NO
PARTY WILL BE LIABLE TO ANY OTHER PARTY (NOR TO ANY PERSON CLAIMING RIGHTS DERIVED FROM ANY OTHER PARTY’S RIGHTS) FOR PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR INDIRECT DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY LOSS OF USE,
LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF PROFIT OR LOSS OF GOODWILL. Further, indemnification shall be limited to actual damages which in no event shall exceed the total amount of compensation payable to WIN hereunder. 

(e) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 11, WIN’s sole responsibility to CSL for errors or omissions in providing
the Services shall be to re-perform such Services promptly and properly in a diligent manner, at no additional cost or expense; provided, however, that each Party shall use reasonable best efforts to detect any such errors or omissions
and promptly advise the other Party of any such error or omission of which it becomes aware. 
 12. Termination.  

(a) This Agreement may be terminated prior to expiration of the Term in accordance with the following: 

(i) upon the mutual written agreement of the Parties; 

(ii) by either WIN, on the one hand, or CSL, on the other hand, (i) for material breach of any of the terms hereof by WIN or by CSL,
respectively, if such breach is curable within thirty (30) days and such breach shall not have been cured within thirty (30) calendar days after written notice of breach is delivered to the defaulting Party and (ii) if such breach is
not curable within thirty (30) days, such breach shall not have been addressed by the defaulting Party through a good faith plan to cure such breach; 

(iii) CSL shall fail to pay for Services in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (and such payment is not disputed by CSL in good
faith in accordance with Section 4(c) hereof) and such breach is not cured within fifteen (15) calendar days after written notice of breach is delivered to CSL, including by electronic mail to CSL’s Transition Representative;
or 

  
 7 

 (iv) by either WIN, on the one hand, or CSL, on the other hand, upon written notice to WIN, on
the one hand, or CSL, on the other hand, if the other Party files a proceeding in bankruptcy, receivership, rehabilitation or reorganization, or for composition, liquidation or dissolution or for similar relief, or there is a filing against such
person of any such proceeding which is not dismissed within sixty (60) calendar days after the filing thereof. 
 (b) In addition, this
Agreement may be terminated solely with respect to any one or more Service(s) or additional service(s) provided hereunder prior to the expiration of the Term in accordance with the following: 

(i) If CSL desires to terminate a Service, CSL shall complete a Service Termination Request Form, substantially in the form attached hereto
as Exhibit 2. In completing the Service Termination Request Form, CSL shall refer to the Service it wishes to terminate (the “Terminated Service”) as it is specifically named in the Services Attachment or Transition Plan, as
applicable. 
 (ii) Unless otherwise set forth on the Service Termination Request Form, WIN shall cease such Terminated Service(s) or
additional service(s) as soon as practicable after WIN’s receipt of the Service Termination Request Form, but in no event later than thirty (30) calendar days after WIN has received such written notification from CSL. 

(iii) If a Service is terminated, the Services Attachment and/or Transition Plan shall be updated, as applicable, to reflect such
termination. 
 (c) Immediately following expiration or termination of this Agreement, each Party shall return to the other Party (and make
no further use of) all proprietary information of the other Party in each Party’s possession or control, including, in the case of CSL, any WIN Confidential Information and, in the case of WIN, any CSL Confidential Information. Likewise, except
as necessary to comply with applicable law, within thirty (30) days following any such termination or expiration, each Party shall return to the other Party (and make no further use of) all copies of all proprietary information of the other
Party in each Party’s possession or control, including, in the case of CSL, any WIN Confidential Information and, in the case of WIN, any CSL Confidential Information. 

13. Confidentiality. Each Party acknowledges that during the course of providing Services hereunder, or in the course of
receiving Services hereunder, the other Party may disclose to it certain confidential information. Each Party agrees to use such confidential information only for the purposes for which it was disclosed and in accordance with the terms and
conditions set forth in Section 8.2 of the Distribution Agreement and the obligations hereunder shall survive until the earlier of (i) five (5) years after the date of final disclosure of confidential information hereunder or
(ii) so long as may be required by Law. 
 14. Independent Contractor Status. Each Party shall be deemed to be an
independent contractor to the other Party. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall create or be deemed to create an employment, agency, joint venture or partnership relationship between WIN and CSL. The terms of this Agreement are not intended to
cause any of the Parties and their Affiliates to become a joint employer for any purpose. Each of the Parties agrees that the provisions of this Agreement as a whole are not intended to, and do not, constitute control of the other Party (or any
Affiliates thereof) or provide it with the ability to control such other Party (or any Affiliates thereof), and each Party expressly disclaims any right or power under this Agreement to exercise any power whatsoever over the management or policies
of the other Party (or any Affiliates thereof). Nothing in this Agreement shall oblige either Party to act in breach of the requirements of any Law applicable to it, including securities and telecommunications laws,

  
 8 

 
written policy statements of securities commissions, telecommunications and other regulatory authorities, and the by-laws, rules, regulations and written policy statements of relevant securities
and self-regulatory organizations. 
 15. Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED, CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CHOICE OF LAW PROVISIONS THEREOF). 
 16. Force
Majeure. Neither Party shall be held liable for any delay or failure in performance of any part of this Agreement (other than outstanding payment obligations hereunder) from acts of God, acts of civil or military authority, embargoes,
epidemics, war, terrorist acts, riots, insurrections, fires, explosions, earthquakes, nuclear accidents, floods, strikes, and power blackouts. Upon the occurrence of a condition described in this Section 16, the Party whose performance
is prevented shall give written notice to the other Party and the Parties shall promptly confer, in good faith, to agree upon equitable, reasonable action to minimize the impact, on both Parties, of such conditions. 

17. Dispute Resolution Procedures.  

(a) Other than such disputed matters addressed by Section 4(c), if a dispute arises between the Parties with respect to the terms
and conditions of this Agreement, a Party’s performance of its obligations hereunder, or any matter relating to the Services (“Dispute”), the Parties agree to use and follow this dispute resolution procedure described in this
Section 17 prior to initiating any judicial action. 
 (b) Claims Procedure. If a Party shall have a Dispute, such Party
shall provide written notice to the other Party in accordance with the provisions of Section 19 of this Agreement, in the form of a claim identifying the nature of the Dispute in sufficient detail to describe the basis for the claim (a
“Dispute Notice”). Upon receipt of the Dispute Notice, the other Party shall have five (5) calendar days to provide a written response to the Dispute Notice (the “Response”). The Party providing the Dispute
Notice shall have an additional five (5) calendar days following its receipt of the Response to accept the proposed resolution or to request implementation of the procedure set forth in Section 17(c) below (the “Escalation
Procedure”). Failure to comply with the time limitations set forth in this Section 17 may result in the implementation of the Escalation Procedures. 

(c) Escalation Procedure. At the written request of a Party involved in the Dispute and in compliance with Section 17(b),
each Party shall appoint a knowledgeable, responsible representative to negotiate in good faith to resolve such Dispute (the “Representatives”). The Parties intend that the Representatives shall be empowered to decide the issues
presented in any Dispute. The Representatives will attempt to resolve the Dispute within five (5) business days of receiving the written request. If the Dispute cannot be resolved within that time period, then the Parties may resort to judicial
action or other remedies. During the time period of any Dispute, each Party shall continue to perform its respective obligations under this Agreement (except in the event CSL fails to pay amounts due in accordance with Section 4
hereunder). 

  
 9 

 18. Amendments; Waivers. No alteration, modification or change of this Agreement,
including the Services set forth on the Services Attachment, shall be valid except by an agreement in writing executed by the Parties. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, no failure or delay by any Party in exercising any right, power or
privilege hereunder (and no course of dealing between or among any of the Parties) shall operate as a waiver of any such right, power or privilege. No waiver of any default on any one occasion shall constitute a waiver of any subsequent or other
default. No single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege shall preclude the further or full exercise thereof 
 19.
Notices. All notices, demands and requests required or permitted to be given under the provisions of this Agreement shall be (i) in writing, (ii) sent by facsimile (with receipt personally confirmed by telephone), delivered by
personal delivery, or sent by commercial delivery service or certified mail, return receipt requested, (iii) deemed to have been given on the date telecopied with receipt confirmed, the date of personal delivery, or the date set forth in the
records of the delivery service or on the return receipt, and (iv) addressed as follows: 
 If to WIN: 

Windstream Services, LLC 
 4001
Rodney Parham Rd. 
 Mailstop: B1F3-71A 

Little Rock, AR 72212 
 Attn:
General Counsel 
 Fax No.: 501-748-7400 

If to CSL: 
 CSL
National, L.P. 
 1701 Centerview Dr. 

Suite 300 
 Little Rock, AR
72211 
 Attn: TBD 
 or to any other or
additional persons and addresses as the Parties may from time to time designate in a writing delivered in accordance with this Section 19. 

20. Assignment; Benefit and Binding Effect. No Party may assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of each
of the other Party; provided, however, WIN, without the consent of CSL, may assign this Agreement to any Affiliate of WIN, and CSL may, without the consent of WIN, assign this Agreement to any Affiliate of CSL, but none of the
assignments described in this sentence shall relieve the assignor of its obligations hereunder and, provided further, that any Party may make a collateral assignment of its rights hereunder for the benefit of its lenders. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall be for the exclusive benefit of the Parties (and their successors and permitted assigns) and
shall not be for the benefit of any other Person. 
 21. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the application
thereof to any Person or circumstance shall be invalid or unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby and shall be enforced to the
greatest extent permitted by Law. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid or unenforceable, the Parties shall 

  
 10 

 
negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the transactions contemplated
hereby are fulfilled to the greatest extent possible.  
 22. Entire Agreement. The Distribution Agreement, this
Agreement, the Billing and Remittance Agreement, and the Schedules and Exhibits hereto and thereto collectively represent the entire understanding and agreement of the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. Each Party hereby
represents, acknowledges and agrees that it has not relied on any representation, warranty, covenant, understanding, agreement, written or oral, discussion, or negotiation not expressly contained herein or in the Distribution Agreement in entering
into this Agreement. 
 23. Captions. The captions contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and are not
part of this Agreement. 
 24. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts with the same effect as if the
signature on each counterpart were upon the same instrument. 
 25. Specific Performance. The Parties acknowledge that
monetary damages may not be an adequate remedy for violations of this Agreement and that any Party may, in its sole discretion and in addition to all other rights and remedies available in law or in equity, to the extent permitted hereunder, apply
for specific performance or injunctive or other relief with a court of competent jurisdiction as such court may deem just and proper in order to enforce this Agreement or to prevent violation hereof and, to the extent permitted by applicable Law,
each Party waives any objection to the imposition of such relief. 
 26. Remedies Cumulative. All rights, powers and remedies
provided under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity shall, be cumulative and not alternative, and the exercise or beginning of the exercise of any right, power or remedy thereof by a Party shall not preclude
the simultaneous or later exercise of any other such right, power or remedy by such Party. 
 27. Fees and Expenses. Except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement and the Exhibit hereto, each Party shall pay its own expenses incurred in connection with the authorization, preparation, execution, and performance of this Agreement, including all fees and expenses of counsel,
accountants, agents, and representatives, and each Party shall be responsible for all fees or commissions payable to any finder, broker, advisor, or similar Person retained by or on behalf of such Party. 

28. Survival. The provisions of Sections 4, 8 through 28, 30 and 31 shall survive the
expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement. 
 29. General Cooperation. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
in this Agreement, WIN’s obligations under this Agreement shall be conditioned on CSL using all commercially reasonable efforts to provide information and documentation sufficient for WIN to perform the Services as they were performed prior to
the date of this Agreement, and make available, as reasonably requested by WIN, sufficient resources and timely decisions, approvals and acceptances in order that WIN accomplish its obligations under this Agreement in a timely and efficient manner.

  
 11 

 30. Controlling Provisions. If there is any conflict or inconsistency between the
terms and conditions set forth in the main body of this Agreement and the Services Attachment, the provisions of the Services Attachment shall control with respect to the rights and obligations of the Parties regarding the Services. If there is any
conflict or inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Distribution Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall control solely with respect to the rights and obligations of the Parties regarding the Services. 

31. No Set-Off. The obligations under this Agreement shall not be subject to set-off for non-performance or any monetary or
non-monetary claim by any Party or any of their respective Affiliates under any other agreement between the Parties or any of their respective Affiliates. 

32. Parties in Interest. Other than Persons entitled to receive indemnification under Section 10, nothing in this
Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer on any Person other than the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns any rights or remedies under or by virtue of this Services Agreement. Each CSL Indemnified Party other
than CSL, and each WIN Indemnified Party other than WIN, is an express, third-party beneficiary of Section 11. 
 33. Data
Protection. Each Party shall comply with its obligations under all applicable data protection laws in respect of the Services to be provided under this Agreement. Each Party agrees in respect of any such personal data supplied to it by the
other Party that it shall: (a) only act on instructions from the other Party regarding the processing of such personal data under this Agreement and shall ensure that appropriate technical and organizational measures shall be taken against
unauthorized or unlawful processing of the personal data and against accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to, the personal data; and (b) comply with any reasonable request made by the other Party to ensure compliance with the measures
contained in this Section. 
 34. Further Assurances. Each Party shall perform all other acts and execute and deliver all
other documents as may be necessary to secure all necessary authorizations and approvals of this Agreement by all applicable governmental bodies in the United States of America, and as otherwise may be required to give effect to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement. 
 [Remainder of page intentionally left blank] 

  
 12 

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf on
the day and year first above written. 
  

			
	CSL NATIONAL, L.P.
		
	By:		  

	Name:		
	Title:		

  

			
	WINDSTREAM SERVICES, LLC
		
	By:		  

	Name:		
	Title:		

 Signature Page to Transition Services Agreement 

 EXHIBIT 1 

SERVICES ATTACHMENT – SUMMARY SERVICES DESCRIPTION 

 

									
	 Business
Function
Category
	  	 Business Area
	  	 Service

Description
	  	 Term
	  	 Detailed Service Description

					
	Billing - Payment Assurance	  	Consumer CLEC	  	Billing - Payment Processing: Receivables/ Cash Collections (pAptis only)	  	18 months	  	Following its existing processes, WIN shall provide to TAS processing of payments through lock box, E-Pay, IVR, Recurring, etc. Existing vendor SLAs will apply to TAS. No special reporting will be provided.
					
	Billing - Payment Assurance	  	Consumer CLEC	  	Billing Payment Processing : Payment investigation (pAptis only)	  	18 months	  	Following its existing processes, WIN shall provide to TAS Investigation of misapplied payments. Vendor SLAs will apply to TAS.
					
	Financial Services - Collections	  	Consumer CLEC	  	Treatment Collections – Inbound/ Outbound Calls (pAptis only)	  	18 months	  	WIN shall provide to TAS Online collection support to include Inbound/Outbound call support to customers.
					
	Financial Services - Collections	  	Consumer CLEC	  	Treatment and Collections (pAptis only)	  	18 months	  	WIN shall provide to TAS offline collections support including preparation of customer lists for dunning/demand notifications, write off balances, bankruptcies, and referral to 3rd Party Collections agency.
					
	Financial Services - Collections	  	Consumer CLEC	  	Treatment Collections – Customer Adjustments/ Refund Reviews (pAptis only)	  	18 months	  	WIN shall provide to TAS customer adjustments & refund reviews.
					
	IT Infrastructure	  	Consumer CLEC	  	Data Migration: Cutover Assistance, including PST files	  	30 days	  	Assistance in planning, testing, and executing the cut-over from WIN to TAS applications at exit including the following applications:
- File shares, PST files
					
	IT Infrastructure	  	Consumer CLEC	  	PC Programs, Desktop Hardware and support	  	30 days	  	 WIN shall provide to TAS PC Programs and LAN support.
  

WIN shall provide to TAS desktop hardware, support, and image. Manage and support all business applications installed on end user workstation to include
images, installs and supports tickets as required. Manage licensing, vendors and configurations.

					
	IT Infrastructure	  	 Consumer
 CLEC
	  	Infrastructure: End User Migration	  	90 days	  	Provide ninety (90) days of email forwarding
					
	IT Infrastructure	  	Consumer CLEC	  	Network and Communication: LAN/WAN Data Service	  	120 days	  	Provide Local Area Network (LAN) / Wide Area Network (WAN) data connectivity to the Richmond office as required to access core business systems identified within this Schedule.
					
	IT Infrastructure	  	Consumer CLEC	  	Network and Communication: IP Telephony	  	120 days	  	Provide telephony services to individual users and manage MACs (Moves/Adds/Changes) within the system as requested by TAS. WIN may charge back to TAS any usage fees as long as they can be directly attributed to use of the
resources.

  
 1 

 EXHIBIT 1 

SERVICES ATTACHMENT – SUMMARY SERVICES DESCRIPTION, CONT’D 

 

									
	 Business
Function
Category
	  	 Business Area
	  	 Service
Description
	  	 Term
	  	 Detailed Service Description

					
	Marketing	  	Consumer CLEC	  	Fulfillment (pAptis only)	  	90 days (on- demand)	  	WIN shall provide to TAS fulfillment literature/collateral if needed. Assuming TAS will provide direction regarding which specific pieces are required. List of current pieces in use in ILEC markets is being provided for TAS to
review and aid that decision.
					
	Marketing Communications	  	Consumer CLEC	  	Advertising Support (pAptis only)	  	90 days (on- demand)	  	WIN shall provide to TAS advertising support to include: promotional mailers, email, bill inserts/onserts, and newspaper ads. Media placement service will also be available.
					
	Marketing	  	Consumer CLEC	  	Product Management/ Marketing Support (pAptis only)	  	90 days (on- demand)	  	WIN shall provide to TAS Product Management/Marketing support for all current products/services (directory assistance, operator services, 3PV, TechHelp and PC Protect etc.)
					
	Sales	  	Consumer CLEC	  	End of Life Equipment (pAptis only)	  	18 months	  	WIN shall provide to TAS End of Life equipment support - processes and procedures as provided to WIN’s customers today.
					
	SEC Financial Reporting	  	Finance and Accounting	  	CSL Annual and Quarterly Filings	  	120 days	  	WIN shall provide to CSL financial information and related footnote support, in a timely manner, to facilitate CSL in the preparation of its Q1 2015 Form 10-Q filing.
					
	SEC Financial Reporting	  	Finance and Accounting	  	Financial Information	  	120 days	  	WIN shall provide to CSL financial information and related footnote support for the period from April 1, 2015 to spin-date, in a timely manner, to facilitate CSL in the preparation of its Q2 2015 Form 10-Q filing
					
	Training	  	Consumer CLEC	  	Provide Financial Services training (pAptis only)	  	18 months	  	WIN shall provide financial services training to TAS.
					
	HR	  	HR: Payroll	  	Data Requirements	  	90 days (on- demand)	  	General interaction and support from the WIN Payroll team to transition HR and pay-related data to the HR/Payroll vendors

  
 2 

 EXHIBIT 2 

SERVICES TERMINATION REQUEST FORM 
  

					
	  

Service Termination Request Form
  

	  
  

        [Insert WIN Logo]

 
  
		 		  

 
 [Insert CSL Logo]

 
  

  

 

					
	 Requesting Company:

 
		 		
	 Date of Request:

 
		 		
	 Completed By:

 
		 		
	 Service to be Changed:

 
		 		

  
  

  

 

Requested Service Termination 
  

											
	    Item    
    #      		Service		
Service Provider
 (Company)
		Service Recipient
(Company)		Estimated Cost		Requested
Termination Date
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	    1      		 		 		 		 		 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	    2      		 		 		 		 		 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	    3      		 		 		 		 		 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	    4      		 		 		 		 		 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	    5      		 		 		 		 		 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	    6      		 		 		 		 		 

  

 
  

			
	Acknowledgements
	 Functional TSA Owner: [insert
Receiving Functional Lead name]
 X
		 Functional TSA Owner: [insert Providing Functional Lead name]

X

	On Behalf of [insert NewCo name]		On Behalf of [insert ParentCo name]
	 	  	 
	Contract Manager: [insert CSL CM Name]		Contract Manager: [insert WIN CM Name]
	X		X
	On Behalf of CSL National, L.P.		On Behalf of Windstream Services, LLC

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00241-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00241-of-00352.parquet"}]]