Document:

<PAGE>   1

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.24
                                                                  CONFORMED COPY

GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P.           MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
C/O GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.                     1585 BROADWAY
85 BROAD STREET                              NEW YORK, NEW YORK  10036
NEW YORK, NEW YORK  10004

                                COMMITMENT LETTER

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

February 26, 2001

Mr. Kent Kalkwarf
Chief Financial Officer
Charter Communications Holdings, LLC
Charter Communications Holdings Capital Corporation
12444 Powerscourt Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63131

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  We are pleased to confirm the arrangements under which Goldman
Sachs Credit Partners L.P. ("GSCP") and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc.
("MSSF" and, together with GSCP, the "Administrative Agents") are exclusively
authorized by Charter Communications Holdings, LLC and Charter Communications
Holdings Capital Corporation (collectively, "Charter") to act as joint arrangers
and joint syndication agents in connection with the bridge loans described
herein, and, together with any additional initial lenders arranged for by
Charter pursuant to Section 1(b) hereof and made party to this Commitment Letter
(collectively with GSCP and MSSF, the "Initial Lenders") and any other entities
that become lenders in accordance with the syndication arrangements set forth
below (collectively with the Initial Lenders, the "Lenders"), commit, severally
and not jointly, to provide the bridge loans described herein, in each case on
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this letter and the
attached Annex A (together, the "Commitment Letter") and the Fee Letter (as
defined below).

                  We understand that Charter has entered into agreements, dated
today, with AT&T Broadband & Internet Services ("AT&T") to acquire certain cable
systems owned by AT&T in Alabama, Missouri and Nevada (collectively, the
"Acquisition"). We understand that Charter may require funds on an interim
basis, in the form of bridge loans, to fund the Acquisition and Charter's
accelerated capital expenditure plan and for general corporate purposes.
<PAGE>   2
         1. Commitment. (a) Each of GSCP and MSSF is pleased to confirm its
commitment (each a "Commitment"), severally and not jointly, to provide Charter
with Senior Increasing Rate Bridge Loans (the "Bridge Loans"), in the principal
amount set forth opposite its name on Schedule I hereto, or such lesser pro rata
amount as Charter may specify, having the terms set forth on Annex A, on the
terms and subject to the conditions contained in this Commitment Letter;
provided that the Commitments of GSCP and MSSF shall be reduced, on a pro rata
basis, by an amount equal to the aggregate amount of additional commitments
arranged by Charter pursuant to Section 1(b) hereof. Each Lender's Commitment is
subject to the conditions set forth in this Commitment Letter, including,
without limitation, the conditions precedent set forth in Annex A hereto, and to
the negotiation, execution and delivery of definitive documentation, including,
without limitation, a bridge loan agreement (the "Bridge Loan Agreement"),
consistent with the terms of Annex A hereto and satisfactory to each of Charter,
the Lenders and their counsel and the satisfaction of the terms, conditions and
covenants contained therein. The terms of this Commitment Letter are intended as
an outline of certain of the material terms of the Bridge Loans, but do not
include all of the terms, conditions, covenants, representations, warranties,
default clauses and other provisions that will be contained in the Bridge Loan
Agreement.

         (b) Charter shall have the right, for a period of 15 business days
after the date of the first announcement by Charter of the proposed Acquisition,
to arrange for additional banks or financial institutions to commit to provide
Bridge Loans pursuant to this Commitment Letter up to an aggregate amount of
$600 million, subject to the consent of the Administrative Agents to any such
additional bank or financial institution (which consent will not be unreasonably
withheld). Charter, GSCP and MSSF agree to amend and restate this Commitment
Letter as soon as practicable after the earlier of (x) the last day of such
15-day period and (y) the date that Charter notifies the Administrative Agents
that it has arranged an aggregate of $600 million in additional commitments
hereunder, to add hereto any such additional banks or financial institutions and
to reflect their respective commitments to provide Bridge Loans in accordance
with the terms of this Commitment Letter (as well as their pro rata allocation
of the fees set forth in the Fee Letter (as herein defined)), the maximum
aggregate commitments hereunder for all Lenders not to exceed $2 billion.

         (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Acquisition or any part
thereof is not completed for any reason or if either Charter or AT&T, or any of
their respective affiliates, publicly announces its intent (or if Charter
decides or is notified that AT&T has decided) not to pursue or complete the
Acquisition or any part thereof for any reason, the Commitments of the Lenders
hereunder shall be automatically and permanently reduced, on a pro rata basis,
by the principal amount or amounts set forth on Schedule II hereto, up to $1
billion. Charter shall promptly notify the Administrative Agents of any decision
by it or AT&T not to pursue or complete the Acquisition or any part thereof.

                                       2
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         2. Fees and Expenses. The fees for these services are set forth in a
separate fee letter (the "Fee Letter"), dated the date hereof, entered into by
GSCP, MSSF and Charter. In addition, pursuant to an engagement letter (the
"Engagement Letter"), dated the date hereof, among Charter, Charter
Communications, Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co. ("Goldman Sachs") and Morgan Stanley
& Co. Incorporated ("Morgan Stanley" and, together with Goldman Sachs, the
"Underwriters"), Charter and Charter Communications, Inc. have agreed to offer
the Underwriters the right to act as the exclusive initial purchasers,
underwriters or placement agents in connection with the sale of Securities (as
defined in the Engagement Letter) and to offer Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley
the right to act as joint bookrunners, in each case, pursuant to the terms of
the Engagement Letter.

         3. Syndication. The Administrative Agents intend and reserve the right
to syndicate the Commitments and/or the Bridge Loans to other Lenders (the
"Syndication"), subject to Section 1(b) hereof. The Administrative Agents will
lead the Syndication, including determining the timing of all offers to
potential Lenders and the acceptance of commitments, any title of agent or
similar designations awarded to Lenders, the amounts offered and the
compensation provided to each Lender from the amounts to be paid to the
Administrative Agents pursuant to the terms of this Commitment Letter and the
Fee Letter. Subject to Section 1(b), the Administrative Agents will determine
the identity of any entities that become Lenders after the date hereof and the
final commitment allocations subject to the consent of Charter, which will not
be unreasonably withheld, and will notify Charter of such determinations.
Pursuant to the syndication process described herein, the rights and obligations
of each Lender, including the right and obligation to make any Bridge Loan, may
(with the consent of the Administrative Agents (in their sole discretion) prior
to the earlier of (x) the date that is four months after the Closing Date (as
defined in Annex A) and (y) the date on which the Syndication has been completed
(as determined by the Administrative Agents), and thereafter with the consent of
the Administrative Agents (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), in
each case subject to the consent of Charter in the case of transfers to
non-affiliates, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) be assigned by
such Lender, in whole or in part, to any other bank, financial institution or
other investor and upon such assignment, the assignee shall become a Lender
hereunder and the assigning Lender will be relieved from all obligations with
respect to any Commitment assigned. Prior to the date that is four months after
the Closing Date, the Commitments and/or Bridge Loans of the Initial Lenders
shall be reduced on a pro rata basis as and when commitments are received from
other Lenders in the Syndication. To ensure an orderly and effective Syndication
of the Bridge Loans, Charter agrees that until the later of the termination of
the Syndication as determined by the Administrative Agents and 90 days following
the date of initial funding under the Bridge Loans, Charter will not and will
not permit any of its subsidiaries to syndicate or issue, attempt to syndicate
or issue, announce or authorize the announcement of the syndication or issuance
of, or engage in discussions concerning the syndication or issuance of, any debt

                                       3
<PAGE>   4
facility or debt or preferred or common equity security (other than the Bridge
Loans), including any renewals or refinancings of any existing debt facility or
debt or preferred equity security, without the prior written consent of the
Administrative Agents (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Charter may syndicate (and take appropriate
actions in connection therewith) at any time (x) up to an aggregate of $590
million currently permitted to be incurred under the incremental term
facilities, or greenshoes, under the current Falcon and Charter Operating credit
facilities (not to exceed $400 million in the case of the Charter Operating
facility) less the aggregate amount of any additional Falcon credit facility
commitments syndicated pursuant to the following clause and (y) the refinancing
or replacement of the current Falcon credit facility (including the syndication
of up to $590 million in additional commitments in connection therewith less the
aggregate amount of Falcon and Charter Operating incremental term facility
borrowings syndicated under the preceding clause (x)). The Lenders acknowledge
that Charter has no obligation to utilize the financing offered hereby and can
terminate this Commitment Letter at any time.

         4. Cooperation. Charter agrees to cooperate, and to cause its
affiliates to cooperate, with the Administrative Agents in connection with (i)
the preparation of an information package regarding the business, operations and
prospects of Charter including, without limitation, the delivery of all
information relating to the transactions contemplated hereunder and all other
information deemed reasonably necessary by the Administrative Agents to complete
the syndication of the Commitments and/or Bridge Loans and (ii) the presentation
of such information package in lender meetings and other communications with
prospective Lenders in connection with the syndication of the Bridge Loans.
Charter agrees to make its representatives and senior management reasonably
available to meet with the Lenders and prospective Lenders and rating agencies
and to make customary "road show" presentations at such locations as the
Administrative Agents may reasonably suggest. Charter shall be solely
responsible for the contents of any such information package and presentation
(other than information concerning the Lenders and the syndication process) and
acknowledges that the Lenders will be using and relying upon the information
contained in such information package and presentation without independent
verification thereof. In addition, Charter represents and covenants that all
information provided by Charter or its agents to the Administrative Agents or
the other Lenders in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder is
and will be complete and correct in all material respects and does not and will
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Charter agrees to
supplement such information from time to time until the Closing Date and, if
requested by the Administrative Agents in writing, for a reasonable period
thereafter (not to exceed six months) necessary to complete the syndication of
the Commitments and/or Bridge Loans, so that the representations and covenants
contained in the preceding sentence remain correct.

                                       4
<PAGE>   5
         5. Indemnification and Contribution. In partial consideration for our
commitments hereunder, Charter hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Lender, each of the members or shareholders or other investors or holders of
interests in, or other transferees of any Lender (collectively, "Additional
Investors"), any affiliates of the Lenders and the Additional Investors, and
each other person, if any, controlling the Lenders or any Additional Investors
and any of their respective affiliates, and any of the directors, officers,
agents and employees of any of the foregoing (each, an "Indemnified Person")
from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities related to, arising
out of or in connection with the matters which are the subject of the
commitments made hereunder (including, without limitation, any use made or
proposed to be made by Charter of the proceeds from the transactions referred to
above) (collectively, the "Subject Matter"), and will reimburse any Indemnified
Person for all expenses (including fees and expenses of counsel) as they are
incurred in connection with investigating, preparing, pursuing or defending any
action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding related to, arising out of or
in connection with the Subject Matter, whether or not pending or threatened and
whether or not such action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding is brought
by you, your affiliates, creditors or any Indemnified Person, or any Indemnified
Person is otherwise a party thereto. Charter will not, however, be responsible
to an Indemnified Person for any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
expenses relating thereto) that are finally judicially determined to have
resulted from the bad faith or gross negligence of such Indemnified Person.
Charter also agrees that no Indemnified Person shall have any liability (whether
direct or indirect, in contract or tort or otherwise) to Charter for or in
connection with the Subject Matter, except for any such liability for losses,
claims, damages or liabilities incurred by Charter that are finally judicially
determined to have resulted from the bad faith or gross negligence of such
Indemnified Person. No Lender shall be liable or responsible for any
consequential damages that may be alleged as a result of any failure to fund the
Bridge Loans.

                  Charter will not, without the prior written consent of the
Lenders, settle, compromise, consent to the entry of any judgment in or
otherwise seek to terminate any action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding
in respect of which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not any
Indemnified Person is a party thereto) unless such settlement, compromise,
consent or termination includes a full and unconditional release of each
Indemnified Person from any liabilities arising out of such action, claim, suit,
investigation or proceeding. No Indemnified Person seeking indemnification,
reimbursement or contribution under this agreement will, without Charter's prior
written consent, settle, compromise, consent to the entry of any judgment in or
otherwise seek to terminate any action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding
referred to in the preceding paragraph.

                  If the indemnification provided for in the second preceding
paragraph of this Commitment Letter is judicially determined to be unavailable
(other than in accordance with the terms hereof) to an Indemnified Person in
respect of any losses,

                                       5
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claims, damages or liabilities referred to herein, then, in lieu of indemnifying
such Indemnified Person hereunder, Charter agrees to contribute to the amount
paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (and expenses relating thereto) (i) in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits to Charter on the one hand, and
the Lenders, on the other hand, of the financing or (ii) if the allocation
provided by clause (i) is not available, in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in such clause (i) but also
the relative fault of Charter on the one hand, and the Lenders, on the other
hand, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided that in
no event shall any Lender's contribution to the amount paid or payable exceed
the aggregate amount of fees actually received by such Lender under the Fee
Letter.

         6. Confidentiality. Please note that this Commitment Letter, the Fee
Letter, the Engagement Letter and any written or oral advice provided by the
Initial Lenders in connection with this arrangement is exclusively for the
information of the Board of Directors of Charter and may not be disclosed to any
other party or circulated or referred to publicly without the Initial Lenders'
prior written consent, except, after providing written notice to the Initial
Lenders, pursuant to law or a subpoena or order issued by a court of competent
jurisdiction or by a judicial, administrative or legislative body or committee.
In addition, we hereby consent to your disclosure of this Commitment Letter, the
Fee Letter, the Engagement Letter and such advice to your officers, directors,
agents and advisors who are directly involved in the consideration of the Bridge
Loans to the extent such persons are obligated to hold such material in
confidence and to the filing, after notice to the Administrative Agents, of this
Commitment Letter with the SEC, if required, and the description of this
Commitment Letter in any SEC filing, to the extent required.

         7. Additional Matters. You may not assign any of your rights or be
relieved of any of your obligations hereunder without the prior written consent
of each of the Lenders. As you know, each of the Lenders is a full service
securities firm and as such may from time to time effect transactions, for its
own account or the account of customers, and hold positions in securities or
options on securities of any of Charter Communications, Inc., Charter and their
subsidiaries (collectively, the "Charter Entities") and other companies that may
be the subject of this arrangement. In addition, the Administrative Agents may
employ the services of their affiliates in providing certain services hereunder
and may exchange with such affiliates information concerning any of the Charter
Entities and their subsidiaries and other companies that may be the subject of
this arrangement.

         8. Choice of Law. This Commitment Letter shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

                                       6
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         9. Trial by Jury. Charter (on its own behalf and, to the extent
permitted by law, on behalf of its stockholders) waives any right to trial by
jury in any action, claim, suit or proceeding arising out of or in connection
with this Commitment Letter, the Engagement Letter and the Fee Letter.

         The Lenders' Commitments hereunder shall terminate on the earlier of
(x) December 31, 2001 and (y) the execution and delivery of the Bridge Loan
Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions contained herein.

                                       7
<PAGE>   8
                  Please confirm that the foregoing is in accordance with your
understanding by signing and returning to each of GSCP and MSSF one of the
enclosed copies of this Commitment Letter, together, if not previously executed
and delivered, with the Fee Letter and the Engagement Letter on or before the
close of business, on the date first above written, whereupon this Commitment
Letter, the Fee Letter and the Engagement Letter shall become binding agreements
among us. If not signed and returned as described in the preceding sentence by
such date, this offer will terminate on such date. We look forward to working
with you on this transaction.

                                      Very truly yours,

                                      GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P.

                                      By: /s/ Ed Forst
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                                      Authorized Signatory

                                      MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.

                                      By: /s/ John R. Orem
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                                      Authorized Signatory

                                      Confirmed as of the date above:

                                      CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC

                                      By: /s/ Eloise A. Engman
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Eloise A. Engman
                                         Vice President

                                      CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS
                                      CAPITAL CORPORATION

                                      By: /s/ Eloise A. Engman
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Eloise A. Engman
                                         Vice President

                                       8
<PAGE>   9
                                   Schedule I

                                   Commitments

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Lender                                                  Commitment
------                                                  ----------
<S>                                                     <C>
Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P.                      $1,000.0 million
Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc.                     $1,000.0 million
                                                        ----------------

                        Total                           $2,000.0 million
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   10
                                   Schedule II

            Amount of Commitment Reductions Pursuant to Section 1(c)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         Cable Systems                               Principal Amount of Commitment Reduction
         -------------                               ----------------------------------------
<S>                                                  <C>
         St. Louis, Missouri                                   $631.0 million

         Nevada                                                $178.0 million

         Alabama                                               $191.0 million
                                                               --------------

                           Total                             $1,000.0 million
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   11
                                     ANNEX A

                 SUMMARY OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF BRIDGE LOANS

         This Summary of Terms and Conditions outlines certain terms of the
Bridge Loans and the Bridge Loan Agreement referred to in the Commitment Letter,
of which this Annex A is a part. Certain capitalized terms used herein are
defined in the Commitment Letter.

<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
BORROWERS...........................................    Charter Communications Holdings, LLC and Charter
                                                        Communications Holdings Capital Corporation
                                                        (collectively, "Charter"), jointly and severally
                                                        liable.

LOANS...............................................    Senior Increasing Rate Bridge Loans in a principal
                                                        amount of up to $2.0 billion, subject to reduction
                                                        as set forth in Section 1(c) of the Commitment
                                                        Letter and as otherwise provided herein (the
                                                        "Bridge Loans").

NUMBER OF PERMITTED DRAWS...........................    Two (the first such draw, "Draw 1 Bridge Loan" and
                                                        the second such draw, "Draw 2 Bridge Loan") on or
                                                        prior to December 31, 2001.

MINIMUM DRAW AMOUNT.................................    $500 million.

NOTICE..............................................    Charter must provide written notice to the
                                                        Administrative Agents three business days prior to
                                                        any requested funding date.

MATURITY............................................    The Bridge Loans mature one year from the date of
                                                        the making of Draw 1 Bridge Loan (the "Maturity
                                                        Date").  If, upon the Maturity Date, the Bridge
                                                        Loans have not been previously repaid in full, and
                                                        provided no Conversion Default (as defined below)
                                                        has occurred and is continuing, the outstanding
                                                        Bridge Loans shall be automatically converted into
                                                        Senior Term Loans (each a "Term Loan") due on the
                                                        nine-year anniversary of the Maturity Date.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   12
<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
                                                        At any time on or after the Maturity Date,
                                                        at the option of the applicable Lender, the
                                                        Senior Term Loans may be exchanged in whole
                                                        or in part for Senior Exchange Notes due on
                                                        the nine-year anniversary of the Maturity
                                                        Date (the "Exchange Notes") having an equal
                                                        principal amount. The initial date of
                                                        funding of the Draw 1 Bridge Loan is
                                                        hereinafter referred to as the "Closing
                                                        Date."

                                                        "Conversion Default" shall have the same meaning
                                                        (with all necessary and appropriate changes having
                                                        been made) as the term "Conversion Default" set
                                                        forth in Section 1.1 of the Senior Bridge Loan
                                                        Agreement, dated as of August 4, 2000 (the "August
                                                        Agreement"), among Charter and the initial lenders,
                                                        the sole arranger and the agents parties thereto.

                                                        The Senior Term Loans will be governed by the
                                                        provisions of the Bridge Loan Agreement and will
                                                        have the same terms as the Bridge Loans, except
                                                        as expressly set forth on Exhibit 1 to this
                                                        Annex A. The Exchange Notes will be issued
                                                        pursuant to an Indenture that will have the terms
                                                        set forth on Exhibit 1 to this Annex A.

INTEREST............................................    The Draw 1 Bridge Loan will initially bear interest
                                                        at a rate per annum equal to (a) the bid-side yield
                                                        (as confirmed by the Administrative Agents), as of
                                                        the Closing Date, on the 11.125% Senior Notes due
                                                        2011 of Charter or, at the discretion of the
                                                        Administrative Agents, such other issue of cash-pay
                                                        senior notes of Charter (the "Benchmark Notes")
                                                        less (b) 25 basis points.  If the Draw 1 Bridge
                                                        Loan is not repaid in whole within 90 days
                                                        following the Closing Date, the interest rate on
                                                        such outstanding Bridge Loan will increase by
</TABLE>

                                       A-2
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<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
                                                        125 basis points at the end of such 90-day
                                                        period and will increase by an additional 50
                                                        basis points at the end of each 90-day
                                                        period thereafter. The last day of each such
                                                        period being a "Step-Up Date."

                                                        The Draw 2 Bridge Loan will initially bear interest
                                                        at a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) the
                                                        interest rate on the Draw 1 Bridge Loan on the date
                                                        of funding of the Draw 2 Bridge Loan and (b) the
                                                        bid-side yield (as confirmed by the Administrative
                                                        Agents), as of the date of funding of the Draw 2
                                                        Bridge Loan, on the Benchmark Notes.  If the Draw 2
                                                        Bridge Loan is not repaid in whole by any Step-Up
                                                        Date following the funding of the Draw 2 Bridge
                                                        Loan, the interest rate on such outstanding Bridge
                                                        Loan will increase on such Step-Up Date by an
                                                        amount equal to the increase in interest rate on
                                                        Draw 1 Bridge Loan on such Step-Up Date.

                                                        Notwithstanding the foregoing, except in the case
                                                        of default interest described below, at no time
                                                        will the interest rate in effect on the Bridge
                                                        Loans be less than 9% per annum or exceed 15% per
                                                        annum.

                                                        Interest will be payable quarterly in arrears and on
                                                        the date of any prepayment of the Bridge Loans.

                                                        Notwithstanding the foregoing, after the occurrence
                                                        and during the continuance of an Event of Default (to
                                                        be defined in the Bridge Loan Agreement, as herein
                                                        specified), interest will accrue on the Bridge Loans
                                                        at the then applicable rate plus 200 basis points per
                                                        annum.

USE OF PROCEEDS.....................................    To fund the Acquisition and Charter's accelerated
                                                        capital expenditure plan and for
</TABLE>

                                       A-3
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<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
                                                        general corporate purposes.

MANDATORY REPAYMENT; COMMITMENT REDUCTION...........    On the date of each borrowing under the Bridge Loan
                                                        Agreement, the aggregate stated commitments of the
                                                        Lenders to make advances shall be automatically and
                                                        permanently reduced, on a pro rata basis, by an
                                                        amount equal to the aggregate amount of the
                                                        borrowings made on such date.

                                                        The net cash proceeds received by any of the Charter
                                                        Entities from (i) any direct or indirect public
                                                        offering or private placement of any debt or equity
                                                        securities by any of the Charter Entities, (ii) any
                                                        future bank borrowings by any of the Charter Entities
                                                        (other than (x) revolving credit borrowings under any
                                                        of the existing credit facilities of Charter's
                                                        subsidiaries (the "Credit Facilities") as in effect
                                                        on the Closing Date, (y) borrowings by Falcon and
                                                        Charter Operating pursuant to the incremental term
                                                        facilities, or greenshoes, under the current Falcon
                                                        and Charter Operating credit facilities,
                                                        respectively, in an aggregate amount not to exceed
                                                        $590 million (not to exceed $400 million in the case
                                                        of the Charter Operating facility) (the "Incremental
                                                        Borrowings") less the aggregate amount of any
                                                        Additional Falcon Borrowings (as defined below), and
                                                        (z) borrowings by Falcon under an amended and
                                                        restated or new credit facility not to exceed $1.8
                                                        billion, representing the $1.21 billion committed
                                                        under the current Falcon credit facility plus an
                                                        additional amount of up to $590 million (such
                                                        additional amount, the "Additional Falcon
                                                        Borrowings"), less the aggregate amount of any
                                                        Incremental Borrowings; provided that the aggregate
                                                        amount under the Credit
</TABLE>

                                      A-4
<PAGE>   15
<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
                                                        Facilities, including the Falcon and the Charter
                                                        Operating credit facilities, does not exceed $9.2
                                                        billion) and (iii) any future asset sales (it being
                                                        understood that the provisions of the Bridge Loan
                                                        Agreement regarding asset sales shall be
                                                        substantially the same (with all necessary and
                                                        appropriate changes having been made) as those set
                                                        forth in the August Agreement) by any of the Charter
                                                        Entities will be used to prepay the Bridge Loans in
                                                        each case at 100% of the principal amount of the
                                                        Bridge Loans redeemed plus accrued interest to the
                                                        date of the redemption subject, in the case of
                                                        clauses (ii) and (iii) only, to the terms of the
                                                        existing Credit Facilities or indentures requiring
                                                        prepayment of any amounts outstanding thereunder;
                                                        provided that, for purposes of clause (i), "net cash
                                                        proceeds" shall not include net cash proceeds
                                                        received by Charter Communications, Inc. ("CCI") from
                                                        any sale by CCI of shares of its Class A common stock
                                                        in an amount not to exceed $550 million (or, if the
                                                        net cash proceeds from such sale are less than $1.1
                                                        billion, not to exceed 50% of such net cash proceeds)
                                                        if such amount of net cash proceeds is designated for
                                                        payment to AT&T at the closing of the Acquisition or
                                                        any part thereof as consideration therefor in lieu of
                                                        CCI issuing shares of Class A common stock to AT&T in
                                                        connection therewith as long as such amount can be
                                                        transferred to Charter without restriction to fund
                                                        the Acquisition or any part thereof and to prepay
                                                        Bridge Loans and, if such amount were to be
                                                        transferred to any other Charter Entity, as long as
                                                        such amount could be subsequently transferred to
                                                        Charter without restriction to fund the Acquisition
                                                        or any part thereof and to prepay Bridge Loans (such
                                                        amount, the "Designated Equity Amount"); provided
</TABLE>

                                       A-5
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<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
                                                        further that, if any portion of the Designated Equity
                                                        Amount is not paid to AT&T in connection with the
                                                        Acquisition or any part thereof, such portion shall
                                                        be used promptly to prepay Bridge Loans. The Bridge
                                                        Loan Agreement will contain a provision to the effect
                                                        that Charter will be required to use all of the
                                                        Designated Equity Amount to fund the Acquisition or
                                                        any part thereof prior to the Lenders being required
                                                        to make any Bridge Loan for the purpose of funding
                                                        the Acquisition or any part thereof.

                                                        The unused commitments of the Lenders (under the
                                                        Commitment Letter or the Bridge Loan Agreement, as
                                                        the case may be) shall be automatically and
                                                        permanently reduced, on a pro rata basis, (A) by an
                                                        amount equal to the net cash proceeds received by any
                                                        of the Charter Entities from any transaction
                                                        specified in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of the
                                                        preceding paragraph minus the amount of such net cash
                                                        proceeds applied to prepay Bridge Loans in accordance
                                                        with the preceding paragraph, and (B) as provided in
                                                        Section 1(c) of the Commitment Letter; provided that,
                                                        for purposes of clause (A), "net cash proceeds" shall
                                                        not include any Designated Equity Amount; provided
                                                        further that, if any portion of the Designated Equity
                                                        Amount is not paid to AT&T at the closing of the
                                                        Acquisition or any part thereof, the unused
                                                        commitments of the Lenders (under the Commitment
                                                        Letter or the Bridge Loan Agreement, as the case may
                                                        be), if any, shall be automatically and permanently
                                                        reduced, on a pro rata basis, by such portion
                                                        (without duplication of any commitment reductions as
                                                        provided in Section 1(c) of the Commitment Letter).
</TABLE>

                                      A-6
<PAGE>   17
<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
                                                        In addition, at any time when the Underwriters are no
                                                        longer entitled under the Engagement Letter to act as
                                                        initial purchasers, underwriters or placement agents
                                                        in connection with the sale of Securities and there
                                                        still remain unused commitments of the Lenders, all
                                                        unused commitments of the Lenders (under the
                                                        Commitment Letter or the Bridge Loan Agreement, as
                                                        the case may be) shall be automatically and
                                                        immediately terminated in full if any of the Charter
                                                        Entities enters into any mandate, commitment,
                                                        engagement or other agreement, whether oral or
                                                        written, with any person (other than the Underwriters
                                                        in the capacities contemplated by the Engagement
                                                        Letter) pursuant to which such person is offered the
                                                        right to act as an initial purchaser, underwriter or
                                                        placement agent in connection with any sale of
                                                        Securities.

CHANGE OF CONTROL...................................    Each holder of Bridge Loans will be entitled to
                                                        require Charter, and Charter must offer, to repay
                                                        the Bridge Loans held by such holder at a price of
                                                        100% of principal amount, plus accrued interest,
                                                        upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (which
                                                        term shall have the same meaning as the term
                                                        "Change of Control" set forth in the August
                                                        Agreement) of Charter, subject to the optional
                                                        redemption provisions described below.

OPTIONAL REPAYMENT..................................    The Bridge Loans may be prepaid, in whole or in
                                                        part, at the option of Charter at any time upon
                                                        three business days' written notice at a price
                                                        equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus
                                                        accrued interest to the date of repayment.

PAYMENTS............................................    Payments by Charter will be made by wire
</TABLE>

                                      A-7
<PAGE>   18
<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
                                                        transfer of immediately available funds.

TRANSFERABILITY AND
PARTICIPATIONS......................................    Each of the Lenders will be free (with the consent
                                                        of the Administrative Agents (in their sole
                                                        discretion) prior to the earlier of (x) the date
                                                        that is four months after the Closing Date and (y)
                                                        the date on which the Syndication has been
                                                        completed (as determined by the Administrative
                                                        Agents), and thereafter with the consent of the
                                                        Administrative Agents (such consent not to be
                                                        unreasonably withheld)), to sell or transfer all or
                                                        any part of or any participation in any of the
                                                        Bridge Loans to any third party and to pledge any
                                                        or all of the Bridge Loans to any commercial bank
                                                        or other institutional lender or the Federal
                                                        Reserve Bank, to the extent permitted by law.

MODIFICATION OF
THE BRIDGE LOANS....................................    Modification of the Bridge Loans may be made with
                                                        the consent of Lenders holding greater than 50% of
                                                        the Bridge Loans then outstanding, except that no
                                                        modification or change may extend the maturity of
                                                        the Bridge Loans or time of payment of interest of
                                                        the Bridge Loans, reduce the rate of interest or
                                                        the principal amount of the Bridge Loans, alter the
                                                        redemption provisions of the Bridge Loans or reduce
                                                        the percentage of holders necessary to modify or
                                                        change the Bridge Loans without the consent of
                                                        Lenders holding 100% of the Bridge Loans affected
                                                        thereby.

COST AND YIELD PROTECTION...........................    The Lenders will receive cost and yield protection
                                                        customary for facilities and transactions of this
                                                        type, including, but not limited to taxes
                                                        (including but not limited to gross-up provisions
                                                        for withholding taxes imposed by the United States
                                                        or any
</TABLE>

                                       A-8
<PAGE>   19
<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
                                                        State thereof as a result of a change in law, and
                                                        income taxes associated with all gross-up payments),
                                                        changes in capital requirements, guidelines or
                                                        policies or their interpretation or application,
                                                        illegality, change in circumstances, reserves and
                                                        other provisions deemed necessary by the Lenders to
                                                        provide customary protection for U.S. and non-U.S.
                                                        financial institutions.

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT................................    The several obligations of the Lenders to make, or
                                                        cause one of their respective affiliates to make,
                                                        Bridge Loans will be subject to closing conditions
                                                        deemed appropriate by the Lenders for financings of
                                                        this kind generally and for this transaction in
                                                        particular, including, without limitation, the
                                                        closing conditions set forth in paragraphs 1
                                                        through 8 below (and such other conditions
                                                        substantially similar (with all necessary and
                                                        appropriate changes having been made) to those set
                                                        forth in the August Agreement except for section
                                                        3.1(b) thereof); provided that the Lenders shall
                                                        not be required to make Bridge Loans to fund the
                                                        Acquisition in a principal amount in excess of $1.8
                                                        billion in total and, with respect to the Missouri,
                                                        Nevada and Alabama parts of the Acquisition, in
                                                        excess of the purchase price therefor specified in
                                                        the agreements for the Acquisition as agreed upon
                                                        by the Administrative Agents.  In addition, the
                                                        several obligations of the Lenders to make, or
                                                        cause one of their respective affiliates to make,
                                                        Bridge Loans to fund the acquisitions of the Nevada
                                                        and Alabama cable systems that are part of the
                                                        Acquisition will be subject to the additional
                                                        condition set forth in paragraph 9 below:

                                                        1. Defaults Under Financing Agreements. There
                                                           shall not exist any default or
</TABLE>

                                       A-9
<PAGE>   20
<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
                                                           event of default under any of the Credit
                                                           Facilities, the Bridge Loans, the Bridge Loan
                                                           Agreement or any of the other documents to be
                                                           executed in connection therewith (the "Loan
                                                           Documents"), or under other material
                                                           indebtedness of Charter or its subsidiaries.

                                                        2. Due Diligence. Each of the Lenders shall have
                                                           conducted a due diligence review in form,
                                                           scope and substance satisfactory to such
                                                           Lender and shall be satisfied with the results
                                                           thereof. Such review may include but may not
                                                           be limited to an examination of (i) the
                                                           capitalization, corporate and ownership
                                                           structure of the Charter Entities, (ii)
                                                           accounting, legal, regulatory, tax, labor,
                                                           insurance, pension and environmental
                                                           liabilities, actual or contingent (which, at
                                                           the request of the Lenders, shall include an
                                                           environmental audit satisfactory to the
                                                           Lenders and their counsel), (iii) material
                                                           contracts, leases and debt agreements and (iv)
                                                           the general business, operations, financial
                                                           condition, management, prospects and value of
                                                           the Charter Entities.

                                                           The Lenders shall not have become aware of any
                                                           information relating to conditions or events
                                                           not previously described to the Lenders or
                                                           constituting new information or additional
                                                           developments concerning conditions or events
                                                           previously disclosed to the Lenders which
                                                           they, in their judgment, believe may have a
                                                           material adverse effect on the condition
                                                           (financial or otherwise), assets, liabilities
                                                           (contingent or otherwise), properties,
                                                           solvency, business, management or
</TABLE>

                                      A-10
<PAGE>   21
<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
                                                           prospects of the Charter Entities.

                                                        3. Absence of Certain Changes. No material change
                                                           in the capital stock, liabilities or long-term
                                                           debt of the Charter Entities (other than
                                                           increases in liabilities and long-term debt
                                                           contemplated by and set forth in the
                                                           supplemental unaudited pro forma data in
                                                           Charter's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
                                                           September 30, 2000 and those incurred in the
                                                           ordinary course of business consistent with
                                                           past practice) or any material adverse change,
                                                           or any development involving a prospective
                                                           material adverse change, in or affecting the
                                                           general affairs, management, financial
                                                           position, stockholders' equity, results of
                                                           operations or prospects of the Charter
                                                           Entities, shall have occurred since September
                                                           30, 2000 (the date of the most recent
                                                           financial statements that have been delivered
                                                           to the Lenders as of the date hereof) and no
                                                           material inaccuracy in such financial
                                                           statements shall exist. No Change of Control
                                                           shall have occurred. On or after the date
                                                           hereof (i) no downgrading (other than a
                                                           downgrading resulting from the execution of
                                                           the Commitment Letter or funding of the Bridge
                                                           Loans) shall have occurred in the rating
                                                           accorded Charter's debt securities by any
                                                           "nationally recognized statistical rating
                                                           organization," as that term is defined by the
                                                           Securities and Exchange Commission for
                                                           purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act, and
                                                           (ii) no such organization shall have publicly
                                                           announced that it has under surveillance or
                                                           review, with possible negative implications,
                                                           its rating of any of Charter's debt
                                                           securities, excluding
</TABLE>

                                      A-11
<PAGE>   22
<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
                                                           any such surveillance or review caused by the
                                                           execution of the Commitment Letter or funding
                                                           of the Bridge Loans.

                                                        4. Documentation, Legal Matters, etc. The Bridge
                                                           Loan Agreement and the other definitive
                                                           documentation evidencing the Bridge Loans
                                                           shall be prepared by counsel to the
                                                           Administrative Agents and shall be in form and
                                                           substance reasonably satisfactory to the
                                                           Initial Lenders and Charter. All other matters
                                                           relating to the Bridge Loan Agreement shall be
                                                           reasonably satisfactory to Charter and the
                                                           Initial Lenders in all respects and the
                                                           Lenders shall have received such additional
                                                           certificates, legal and other opinions, in
                                                           form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
                                                           the Initial Lenders and counsel for the
                                                           Lenders, and such other documentation as they
                                                           shall request.

                                                        5. Market Disruption. There shall not have
                                                           occurred any disruption or adverse change, as
                                                           determined by GSCP and MSSF in their sole
                                                           discretion, in the financial or capital
                                                           markets generally, or in the markets for
                                                           bridge loan syndication, high yield debt or
                                                           equity securities in particular or affecting
                                                           the syndication or funding of bridge loans (or
                                                           the refinancing thereof) that may have a
                                                           material adverse impact on the ability to sell
                                                           or place Securities or to syndicate the Bridge
                                                           Loans.

                                                        6. Approvals and Consents. All governmental,
                                                           shareholder and third-party approvals and
                                                           consents necessary or, in the reasonable
                                                           opinion of the
</TABLE>

                                      A-12
<PAGE>   23
<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
                                                           Administrative Agents, desirable in connection
                                                           with the Bridge Loans shall have been received
                                                           and shall be in full force and effect.

                                                        7. Litigation, etc. There shall not exist any
                                                           action, suit, investigation, litigation or
                                                           proceeding pending or threatened in any court
                                                           or before any arbitrator or governmental
                                                           authority that, in the reasonable opinion of
                                                           the Administrative Agents, affects any of the
                                                           transactions contemplated hereby, or that
                                                           could have a material adverse effect on the
                                                           Charter Entities.

                                                        8. Payment of Fees and Expenses. All fees and
                                                           expenses due to the Lenders, GSCP, Goldman
                                                           Sachs, MSSF, Morgan Stanley or the
                                                           Administrative Agents on or before the Closing
                                                           Date pursuant to the Commitment Letter, the
                                                           Fee Letter, the Engagement Letter or otherwise
                                                           shall have been paid in full.

                                                        9. The Acquisition. CCI shall have raised at
                                                           least $490 million from the sale of its Class
                                                           A common stock which amount is designated to
                                                           fund the acquisitions of the Nevada and
                                                           Alabama cable systems that are part of the
                                                           Acquisition or AT&T and/or its affiliates
                                                           shall have concurrently taken at least $490
                                                           million in CCI Class A common stock as partial
                                                           consideration for such acquisitions.

COVENANTS...........................................    The Bridge Loan Agreement will contain such
                                                        covenants by Charter (with respect to Charter and
                                                        its subsidiaries) as are usual and customary for
                                                        financings of this kind or as otherwise deemed
                                                        appropriate by the
</TABLE>

                                      A-13
<PAGE>   24
<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
                                                        Lenders for this transaction in particular (in
                                                        their sole discretion), based upon the covenants
                                                        in the Credit Facilities (such covenants to be
                                                        substantially the same (with all necessary and
                                                        appropriate changes having been made) as those
                                                        set forth in the August Agreement).

                                                        The Bridge Loan Agreement will contain a covenant
                                                        to the effect that, at any time when funded
                                                        Bridge Loans, Senior Term Loans or Exchange Notes
                                                        are outstanding and the Underwriters are no
                                                        longer entitled under the Engagement Letter to
                                                        act as underwriters, placement agents or initial
                                                        purchasers in connection with any sale of
                                                        Securities, no Charter Entity will enter into any
                                                        mandate, commitment, engagement or other
                                                        agreement with any person (other than the
                                                        Underwriters in the capacities contemplated by
                                                        the Engagement Letter) pursuant to which such
                                                        person is offered the right to act as
                                                        underwriter, placement agent or initial purchaser
                                                        in connection with the sale of any Securities
                                                        unless such mandate, commitment, engagement or
                                                        other agreement (x) is in writing and (y)
                                                        constitutes a firm commitment by such person to
                                                        underwrite, place or sell such Securities (or, if
                                                        such Securities cannot be sold or placed in the
                                                        market for any reason, to purchase such
                                                        Securities for its own account or to provide
                                                        bridge or other loan financing in lieu of such
                                                        offering or placement of Securities), which
                                                        commitment is subject to closing conditions that
                                                        are usual and customary for financings of the
                                                        kind contemplated thereby and that are approved
                                                        by the Administrative Agents (which approval will
                                                        not be unreasonably withheld). For the avoidance
                                                        of doubt, the net cash proceeds received by any
                                                        Charter Entity
</TABLE>

                                      A-14
<PAGE>   25
<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
                                                        from any financing contemplated by the previous
                                                        sentence, shall constitute "net cash proceeds"
                                                        for purposes of the mandatory repayment and
                                                        commitment reduction provisions of this
                                                        Commitment Letter and the Bridge Loan Agreement.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT...................................    The Bridge Loan Agreement will include such events
                                                        of default (and, as appropriate, grace periods) as
                                                        are usual and customary for financings of this kind
                                                        or as otherwise deemed appropriate by the Lenders
                                                        for this transaction in particular (in their sole
                                                        discretion), based upon the events of default in
                                                        the Credit Facilities (such events of default to be
                                                        substantially the same (with all necessary and
                                                        appropriate changes having been made) as those set
                                                        forth in the August Agreement).

REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES..........................................    The Bridge Loan Agreement will contain such
                                                        representations and warranties by Charter (with
                                                        respect to Charter and its subsidiaries) as are
                                                        usual and customary for financings of this kind or
                                                        as are otherwise deemed appropriate by the Lenders
                                                        for this transaction in particular (in their sole
                                                        discretion), based upon the representations and
                                                        warranties in the Credit Facilities (such
                                                        representations and warranties to be substantially
                                                        the same (with all necessary and appropriate
                                                        changes having been made) as those set forth in the
                                                        August Agreement).

TAXES, RESERVE
REQUIREMENTS AND
INDEMNITIES.........................................    The Bridge Loan Agreement will provide that all
                                                        payments will be made free and clear of any taxes
                                                        (other than franchise taxes and taxes on overall
                                                        net income), imposts, assessments, withholdings or
                                                        other deductions whatsoever assessed by the United
                                                        States or any State thereof and resulting from a
                                                        change in law.  Foreign
</TABLE>

                                      A-15
<PAGE>   26
<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
                                                        Lenders will be required to furnish to the
                                                        Administrative Agents appropriate certificates or
                                                        other evidence of exemption from U.S. federal tax
                                                        withholding.
                                                        Charter will indemnify the Lenders against all
                                                        increased costs of capital resulting from reserve
                                                        requirements or otherwise imposed, in each case
                                                        subject to customary increased costs and capital
                                                        adequacy.

INDEMNITY...........................................    The Bridge Loan Agreement will contain customary
                                                        and appropriate provisions relating to indemnity
                                                        and related matters in a form reasonably
                                                        satisfactory to the Administrative Agents and the
                                                        Lenders and acceptable to Charter.

GOVERNING LAW AND
JURISDICTION........................................    The Bridge Loan Agreement will provide that Charter
                                                        will submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction and
                                                        venue of the federal and state courts of the State
                                                        of New York and will waive any right to trial by
                                                        jury.  New York law will govern the Loan Documents.
</TABLE>

         The foregoing is intended to summarize certain basic terms of the
Bridge Loans. It is not intended to be a definitive list of all of the
requirements of the Lenders in connection with the Bridge Loans.

                                      A-16
<PAGE>   27
                              EXHIBIT 1 TO ANNEX A

     SUMMARY OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SENIOR TERM LOANS AND EXCHANGE NOTES

         Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the
Summary of Terms and Conditions of Bridge Loans to which this Exhibit 1 is
attached.

                                SENIOR TERM LOANS

         On the Maturity Date, so long as no Conversion Default has occurred and
is continuing, the outstanding Bridge Loans will be automatically converted into
Senior Term Loans. The Senior Term Loans will be governed by the provisions of
the Bridge Loan Agreement and, except as expressly set forth below, the Senior
Term Loans will have the same terms as the Bridge Loans.

<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
MATURITY....................................            The Senior Term Loans will mature on the ninth
                                                        anniversary of the Maturity Date.

INTEREST RATE...............................            The Senior Term Loans will initially bear
                                                        interest at a rate per annum equal to the sum of
                                                        (i) the greater of (a) the interest rate
                                                        applicable to the Draw 1 Bridge Loan on the
                                                        Maturity Date (after giving effect to any
                                                        applicable step-up) and (b) the interest rate
                                                        applicable to the Draw 2 Bridge Loan on the
                                                        Maturity Date (after giving effect to any
                                                        applicable step-up) plus (ii) 50 basis points. If
                                                        the Senior Term Loans are not repaid within 90
                                                        days following the Maturity Date, the interest
                                                        rate on the Senior Term Loans will increase by 50
                                                        basis points at the end of such 90-day period and
                                                        will increase by an additional 50 basis points at
                                                        the end of each 90-day period thereafter.
                                                        Notwithstanding the foregoing, except in the case
                                                        of default interest described below, at no time
                                                        will the interest rate in effect on the Senior
                                                        Term Loans be less than 9% per annum or exceed
                                                        15% per annum.

                                                        Interest on the Senior Term Loans will be payable
                                                        quarterly in arrears and on the date
</TABLE>

                                      A-17
<PAGE>   28
<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
                                                        of any prepayment of such Senior Term Loans.

                                                        Notwithstanding the foregoing, after the
                                                        occurrence and during the continuance of an Event
                                                        of Default, interest will accrue on the Senior
                                                        Term Loans at the then applicable rate plus 200
                                                        basis points per annum.
</TABLE>

                                      A-18
<PAGE>   29
                              SENIOR EXCHANGE NOTES

         At any time on or after the Maturity Date, upon five or more business
days prior notice, Senior Term Loans may, at the option of a Lender, be
exchanged for a principal amount of Exchange Notes equal to 100% of the
aggregate principal amount of the Senior Term Loans so exchanged in connection
with a transfer of Exchange Notes to an unaffiliated third party. No Exchange
Notes will be issued until Charter receives requests to issue at least $25.0
million in aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes. Charter will issue
Exchange Notes under an indenture, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Administrative Agents, which complies with the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended (the "Indenture"). Charter will appoint a trustee reasonably
acceptable to the holders of the Bridge Loans. Charter will agree in the Bridge
Loan Agreement to execute and deliver the Indenture within 150 days after the
date of the initial borrowing under the Bridge Loan Agreement.

<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
MATURITY...........................................     The Exchange Notes will mature on the ninth
                                                        anniversary of the Maturity Date.

INTEREST RATE......................................     Each Exchange Note will bear interest at a fixed
                                                        rate equal to the greater of (x) the interest rate
                                                        on the Senior Term Loans on the date of issuance of
                                                        such Exchange Notes and (y) the bid side yield (as
                                                        confirmed by the Administrative Agents) on the
                                                        Benchmark Notes, on the date prior to the date of
                                                        issuance of the Exchange Notes; provided that,
                                                        except in the case of default interest described
                                                        below, in no event will the interest rate in effect
                                                        on the Exchange Notes be less than 9% or exceed 15%
                                                        per annum.

OPTIONAL REDEMPTION................................     Exchange Notes will be non-callable until the fifth
                                                        anniversary of the Closing Date.  Thereafter, each
                                                        Exchange Note will be callable at par plus accrued
                                                        interest plus a premium equal to one half of the
                                                        coupon on such Exchange Note, which premium shall
                                                        decline ratably on each yearly anniversary to zero
                                                        on the date that is two years prior to the maturity
                                                        of the Exchange Notes.
</TABLE>

                                      A-19
<PAGE>   30
<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
DEFEASANCE
PROVISIONS OF
EXCHANGE NOTES.....................................     Customary.

MODIFICATION.......................................     Customary.

REGISTRATION RIGHTS................................     Charter will agree in the Bridge Loan Agreement to
                                                        execute and deliver a registration rights
                                                        agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to
                                                        the Administrative Agents (the "Registration Rights
                                                        Agreement"), within 150 days after the date of the
                                                        initial borrowings under the Bridge Loan
                                                        Agreement.  The Registration Rights Agreement will
                                                        provide, among other provisions, that Charter will
                                                        file as soon as practicable, but no later than 300
                                                        days after the Closing Date and will use all
                                                        commercially reasonable efforts to cause to become
                                                        effective as soon thereafter as practicable, but no
                                                        later than the date that is 60 days prior to the
                                                        Maturity Date, a shelf registration statement with
                                                        respect to the Exchange Notes (a "Shelf
                                                        Registration Statement").  If a Shelf Registration
                                                        Statement is filed and becomes effective, Charter
                                                        will use commercially reasonable efforts to keep
                                                        such registration statement effective and available
                                                        (subject to customary exceptions) until it is no
                                                        longer needed to permit unrestricted resales of the
                                                        Exchange Notes.  If a Shelf Registration Statement
                                                        for the Exchange Notes has not been declared
                                                        effective on or before the date that is 60 days
                                                        prior to the Maturity Date because Charter has
                                                        failed to use commercially reasonable efforts to
                                                        have it become effective, then Charter will pay
                                                        liquidated damages in the form of increased
                                                        interest of 50 basis points per annum on the
                                                        principal amount of Exchange Notes and Senior Term
</TABLE>

                                      A-20
<PAGE>   31
<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
                                                        Loans outstanding to holders of such Exchange Notes
                                                        and Senior Term Loans from and including the
                                                        Maturity Date (if the Shelf Registration Statement
                                                        has not been declared effective by such date) to
                                                        but excluding the effective date of such Shelf
                                                        Registration Statement.  On the 90th day after the
                                                        Maturity Date, if a Shelf Registration Statement
                                                        for the Exchange Notes has not been declared
                                                        effective because Charter has failed to use
                                                        commercially reasonable efforts to have it become
                                                        effective, the liquidated damages shall increase by
                                                        50 basis points per annum to a per annum rate of
                                                        100 basis points, and for all periods after the
                                                        90-day anniversary of the Maturity Date, if a Shelf
                                                        Registration Statement for the Exchange Notes has
                                                        not been declared effective because Charter has
                                                        failed to use commercially reasonable efforts to
                                                        have it become effective, the liquidated damages
                                                        shall be 100 basis points per annum.  Charter will
                                                        also pay such liquidated damages for any period of
                                                        time (subject to customary exceptions) following
                                                        the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement
                                                        that such Shelf Registration Statement is not
                                                        available for sales thereunder.  All accrued
                                                        liquidated damages will be paid on each interest
                                                        payment date.

COVENANTS..........................................     The Indenture relating to the Exchange Notes will
                                                        include covenants that are substantially similar to
                                                        those contained in the indenture governing the
                                                        Benchmark Notes.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT..................................     The Indenture relating to the Exchange Notes will
                                                        provide for Events of Default similar to those
                                                        contained in the indenture governing the
                                                        Benchmark Notes.
</TABLE>

                                      A-21
<PAGE>   32
<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
COUNSEL FOR
THE LENDERS........................................     Debevoise & Plimpton.
</TABLE>

         The foregoing is intended to summarize certain basic terms of the
Senior Term Loans and Exchange Notes. It is not intended to be a definitive list
of all of the requirements of the Lenders in connection with the Senior Term
Loans and Exchange Notes.

                                      A-22<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.13

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), dated as of May 1, 2000,
is by and between IASIS Healthcare Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and C. Wayne Gower (the "Executive").

         WHEREAS, the Executive has experience beneficial to the Company's
operations, management and business development of acute care hospitals,
outpatient facilities and ancillary medical services (the "Business"); and

         WHEREAS, the Company desires that the Executive serve as President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Executive desires to hold such
positions under the terms and conditions of this Agreement; and

         WHEREAS, the parties desire to enter into this Agreement setting forth
the terms and conditions of the employment relationship of the Executive with
the Company.

         NOW, THEREFORE, intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree
as follows:

                  1. EMPLOYMENT. The Company hereby employs the Executive and
the Executive hereby accepts employment with the Company, upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth herein.

                  2. TERM.

                     (a) Subject to termination pursuant to Section 10 hereof,
                         the term of the employment by the Company of the
                         Executive pursuant to this Agreement (as the same may
                         be extended, the "Term") shall commence on February 1,
                         2000, (the "Effective Date"), and terminate on the
                         fifth anniversary thereof.

                     (b) Commencing on the fourth anniversary of the Effective
                         Date and on each subsequent anniversary thereof, the
                         Term shall automatically be extended for a period of
                         one (1) additional year following the expiration of the
                         otherwise applicable Term unless, not later than ninety
                         days (90) prior to any such anniversary date, either
                         party hereto shall have notified the other party hereto
                         in writing that such extension shall not take effect.

                  3. POSITION; LOCATION. During the Term, the Executive shall
serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, supervising the
conduct of the business and affairs of the Company and performing such other
duties as the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Company Board") shall
determine, which duties shall not be materially inconsistent with the duties to
be performed by executives holding similar offices in similarly-sized healthcare
corporations. The Executive shall report directly to the Company Board. The
Company agrees to nominate the Executive for a position on the Company Board
promptly following the date hereof and thereafter during each election of
directors held during the Term, and the Executive agrees to serve, without any

<PAGE>   2

additional compensation (other than customary director fees paid or benefits
conferred as and to the extent paid to or conferred on members of the board of
directors who are members of management or designees of substantial stockholders
of the Company), as a director on the Company Board and the board of directors
of any subsidiary of the Company, and/or in one or more chief executive officer
positions with any subsidiary of the Company. The parties acknowledge and agree
that during the Term (i) the Executive's principal office will not be moved to a
location more than 20 miles from Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County,
Tennessee without his approval and (ii) the Company shall maintain, in the
organizational documents thereof, indemnification provisions providing for the
maximum indemnification permitted by applicable law of the Executive by the
Company for actions taken in his capacity as an officer, director or employee
thereof.

                  4. DUTIES. During the Term, the Executive shall devote his
full time and attention during normal business hours to the business and affairs
of the Company.

                  5. SALARY AND BONUS.

                      (a) During the Term, the Company shall pay to the
Executive a base salary at the rate of $510,000 per year. Commencing on or
before the first anniversary of the Effective Date, the Company Board shall
review the base salary annually and may increase such amount from time to time
as it may deem advisable (such salary, as the same may be increased, the "Base
Salary"). The Base Salary shall be payable to the Executive in substantially
equal installments in accordance with the Company's normal payroll practices.

                      (b) For the Company's fiscal year ending September 30,
2000, and for each fiscal year thereafter during the Term, the Executive shall
be eligible to receive an annual cash bonus equal to up to one hundred percent
(100%) of the Base Salary, subject to the terms of the Company's executive bonus
program to be adopted by the Company Board, the principal terms of which are set
forth on EXHIBIT A hereto (the "Bonus Plan"), or, to the extent more favorable
to the Executive, other incentive compensation plan established by the Company
Board for the Company's senior executive officers, as either of the same may be
amended from time to time (provided that no such amendment or alternative plan
shall materially diminish the benefits available to the Executive upon
satisfaction of the conditions of such plan).

                  6. STOCK OPTION PLAN; INITIAL GRANT OF OPTIONS. Reference is
made to the IASIS Healthcare Corporation 2000 Stock Option Plan to be adopted by
the Company Board and, if applicable, the stockholders of the Company, the
principal terms of which are set forth on EXHIBIT B hereto (the "Stock Option
Plan"). Promptly following adoption of the Stock Option Plan, the Company shall
grant the Executive options under the Stock Option Plan (the terms of which
shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of Sections 10(e) and 10(f) below)
to purchase a number of shares of common stock of the Company equal to not less
than twenty-one percent (21%) of the total number of shares for which options
are available under the Stock Option Plan. Thereafter during the Term, the
Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Stock Option Plan or, to the
extent more favorable to the Executive, other equity plan established by the
Company Board for the Company's senior executive officers, as the same may be
amended from

                                       2
<PAGE>   3

time to time (provided that no such amendment shall materially diminish the
benefits to Executive thereunder), as and to the extent other senior executive
officers participate in the same.

                  7. VACATION, HOLIDAYS AND SICK LEAVE. During the Term, the
Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation, paid holidays and sick leave in
accordance with the Company's standard policies for its senior executive
officers; provided that the Executive shall during each year of the Term be
entitled to at least four (4) weeks of such vacation, which shall not accrue
from year to year.

                  8. BUSINESS EXPENSES. The Executive shall be reimbursed for
all reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred by him in connection
with his employment (including, without limitation, expenses for travel and
entertainment incurred in conducting or promoting business for the Company) upon
timely submission by the Executive of receipts and other documentation in
accordance with the Company's normal expense reimbursement policies.

                  9. OTHER BENEFITS. During the Term, the Executive shall be
eligible to participate fully in all health and other employee benefit
arrangements available to senior executive officers of the Company generally;
provided that (i) the Company agrees in any event to provide major medical,
disability and life insurance coverage in amounts substantially consistent with
such coverage at similarly-sized healthcare corporations and (ii) the Company
agrees to institute, within one hundred eighty (180) days of commencement of
operations, a 401(k) savings program and other retirement plans as considered
and approved by the Company Board and make employer contributions thereto on the
Executive's behalf.

                  10. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT. The Executive's employment by
the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall not be terminated prior to the end
of the Term hereof except as set forth in this Section 10.

                      (a) BY MUTUAL CONSENT. The Executive's employment pursuant
to this Agreement may be terminated at any time by the mutual written agreement
of the Company and the Executive.

                      (b) DEATH. The Executive's employment pursuant to this
Agreement shall be terminated upon the death of the Executive, in which event
the Executive's spouse or heirs shall receive, when the same would have been
paid to the Executive (whether or not the Term shall have expired during such
period), (i) all Base Salary and benefits to be paid or provided to the
Executive under this Agreement through the Date of Termination (as defined in
Section 10(h) hereof) and (ii) Base Salary at the then-current rate of Base
Salary and benefits to be provided pursuant to clause 9(i) above through the
date one (1) year after the Date of Termination. In the case of health and
medical continuation coverage ("COBRA"), the Company will make all COBRA premium
payments on behalf of the Executive and his dependents (and the Company will
continue to pay that portion of the coverage then-currently paid by the Company)
until the earlier to occur of the date of cessation of benefits as provided
above or the end of the maximum period of COBRA eligibility under
then-applicable law.

                                       3
<PAGE>   4

                      (c) DISABILITY. The Executive's employment pursuant to
this Agreement may be terminated by written notice to the Executive by the
Company or to the Company by the Executive in the event that (i) the Executive
becomes unable to perform his duties as set forth in Section 3 by reason of
physical or mental illness or accident for any six (6) consecutive month period
or (ii) the Company receives written opinions from both a physician for the
Company and a physician for the Executive that the Executive will be so
disabled. In the event the Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to this
Section 10(c), the Executive shall be entitled to receive, when the same would
have been paid to the Executive (whether or not the Term shall have expired
during such period), (i) all Base Salary and benefits to be paid or provided to
the Executive under this Agreement through the Date of Termination and (ii) Base
Salary at the then-current rate of Base Salary and benefits to be provided
pursuant to clause 9(i) above through the date one (1) year after the Date of
Termination; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that amounts payable to the Executive under this
Section 10(c) shall be reduced by the proceeds of any short or long-term
disability payments to which the Executive may be entitled during such period
under policies maintained at the expense of the Company as and to the extent
such disability payments compensate the insured for lost wages resulting from
the disability. In the case of COBRA, the Company will make all COBRA premium
payments on behalf of the Executive and his dependents (and the Company will
continue to pay that portion of the coverage then-currently paid by the Company)
until the earlier to occur of the date of cessation of benefits as provided
above or the end of the maximum period of COBRA eligibility under
then-applicable law.

                      (d) BY THE COMPANY FOR CAUSE. The Executive's employment
pursuant to this Agreement may be terminated by written notice to the Executive
("Notice of Termination") upon the occurrence of any of the following events
(each of which shall constitute "Cause" for termination); (i) the Executive
commits any act of gross negligence, fraud or wilful misconduct causing material
harm to the Company, (ii) the conviction of the Executive of a felony that would
reasonably be expected by the Company Board to adversely affect the Company or
its reputation, (iii) the Executive intentionally obtains material personal
gain, profit or enrichment at the expense of the Company or from any transaction
in which the Executive has an interest which is adverse to the interest of the
Company, unless the Executive shall have obtained the prior written consent of
the Company Board, or (iv) any material breach of the Executive of this
Agreement, including, without limitation, a material breach of Section 13
hereof, which breach remains uncorrected for a period of fifteen (15) days after
receipt by the Executive of written notice from the Company setting forth the
breach. In the event the Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to this
Section 10(d), the Executive shall be entitled to receive all Base Salary and
benefits to be paid or provided to the Executive under this Agreement through
the Date of Termination and no more.

                      (e) BY THE COMPANY WITHOUT CAUSE. The Executive's
employment pursuant to this Agreement may be terminated by the Company at any
time without Cause by delivery of a Notice of Termination to the Executive. In
the event that the Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to this Section
10(e), the Executive shall be entitled to receive (i) on or prior to the Date of
Termination, all Base Salary and benefits to be paid or provided to the
Executive under this Agreement through the Date of Termination, (ii) an amount
equal to two hundred percent (200%) of the Executive's Base Salary at the
then-current rate of Base Salary, (iii) in the event that (A) the Company's
actual aggregate earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization
("EBITDA") for the twelve (12) month period ending on the last day of the month
prior to the month in which such Notice of Termination is delivered to the

                                       4
<PAGE>   5

Executive (for purposes of this Section 10(e), such 12-month period, the
"Trailing Employment Year") shall equal or exceed the aggregate budgeted EBITDA
as reflected in the monthly budgets prepared by the Company with respect to such
period and (B) the Company's EBITDA for any nine (9) months during the Trailing
Employment Year, considered individually, shall equal or exceed the budgeted
EBITDA as reflected in the budgets prepared by the Company with respect to such
months, an amount equal to two hundred percent (200%) of the base target bonus
(e.g., in the case of the Bonus Plan for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2000, fifty percent (50%) of the Executive's base salary) set forth in the Bonus
Plan for the fiscal year in which such Notice of Termination is delivered and
(iv) a lump sum payment equal to the then present value of all other benefits to
be provided pursuant to clause 9(i) above through the date two (2) years after
the Date of Termination, provided that under such circumstances the Executive
shall make all COBRA premium payments on his own behalf. The sum of the amounts
described in clauses (ii), (iii), if any, and (iv) above are hereafter referred
to as the "Severance Amount." Fifty percent (50%) of the Severance Amount shall
be paid to the Executive no later than ten (10) days following the Date of
Termination and the balance of the Severance Amount shall be paid to the
Executive in twenty four (24) equal monthly installments commencing on the first
day of the month immediately following the Date of Termination. Additionally, in
the event that the Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to this Section
10(e), a percentage of the Executive's options to purchase shares of capital
stock of the Company unvested as of the Date of Termination but otherwise
scheduled to vest on the first vesting date scheduled to occur following the
Date of Termination, which percentage shall equal the percentage of the twelve
(12) month period immediately preceding such subsequent vesting date occurring
prior to the Date of Termination, shall immediately vest and become exercisable
on the Date of Termination. In the event that the Executive shall be entitled to
receive a bonus payment pursuant to clause (iii) above, all of the Executive's
options to purchase capital stock of the Company that are vested as of the
applicable Date of Termination or become vested pursuant to the immediately
preceding sentence may be exercised by the Executive at any time within the
twenty-four (24) months following the Executive's Date of Termination
notwithstanding any other provision of the Stock Option Plan or any grant of
options thereunder to the contrary.

                      (f) BY THE EXECUTIVE FOR GOOD REASON. The Executive's
employment pursuant to this Agreement may be terminated by the Executive by
written notice of his resignation ("Notice of Resignation") delivered within
twelve (12) months after the occurrence of any of the following events (each of
which shall constitute "Good Reason" for resignation): (i) any Change of Control
(as defined below) shall occur, (ii) the removal of the Executive from or the
failure to elect or re-elect the Executive to the position of President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company, (iii) the removal of the Executive from
or the failure to elect or re-elect the Executive to the Company Board, (iv) any
material reduction by the Company of the Executive's duties or responsibilities
or the assignment to the Executive of duties materially inconsistent with such
position or (v) any breach by the Company of this Agreement (including the
provisions of Section 3), which breach remains uncorrected for a period of
fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of written notice from the
Executive. Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv)
above, in the event the Executive is elected as president and chief executive
officer and a member of the board of directors of any entity which acquires
control of more than 50% of the voting securities of the Company or, if such
entity is a subsidiary of another entity, the ultimate parent of such
subsidiary, with responsibility for (A) no fewer facilities than

                                       5
<PAGE>   6

the Company controlled at the end of the fiscal year ending immediately
preceding such Change of Control and (B) operating revenues equal to or greater
than the Company's operating revenues during such fiscal year, and is provided
with a written employment agreement by the entity or, if such entity is a
subsidiary of another entity, the ultimate parent of such subsidiary, on
substantially the same terms as those contained in this Agreement, the
appointment to such position shall not constitute Good Reason for purposes of
this Agreement. In the event that the Executive resigns for Good Reason pursuant
to this Section 10(f), the Executive shall be entitled to receive, (i) on or
prior to the Date of Termination, all Base Salary and benefits to be paid or
provided to the Executive under this Agreement through the Date of Termination
and (ii) the Severance Amount payable at the times and in the manner set forth
in Section 10(e) above, provided that applicable references therein to the date
of delivery of Notice of Termination shall mean reference to the date of
delivery of Notice of Resignation. Additionally, in the event that the
Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to this Section 10(f), a
percentage of the Executive's options to purchase shares of capital stock of the
Company unvested as of the Date of Termination but otherwise scheduled to vest
on the first vesting date scheduled to occur following the Date of Termination,
which percentage shall equal the percentage of the twelve (12) month period
immediately preceding such subsequent vesting date occurring prior to the Date
of Termination, shall immediately vest and become exercisable on the Date of
Termination. In the event that the Severance Amount described in clause (ii)
above shall include a bonus payment as determined pursuant to clause (iii) of
Section 10(e) above, all of the Executive's options to purchase capital stock of
the Company that are vested as of the applicable Date of Termination or become
vested pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence may be exercised by the
Executive at any time within twenty-four (24) months following the Executive's
Date of Termination notwithstanding any other provision of the Stock Option Plan
or any grant of options thereunder to the contrary.

                  For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change in Control" shall be
deemed to have occurred (A) at such time as any Person (as defined in Section
13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from
time to time (the "Exchange Act")) or "group" of Persons (as defined in Section
13(d) of the Exchange Act), other than any of the parties to that certain
Stockholders Agreement, dated October 7, 1999, among the Company, JLL
Healthcare, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and certain other
stockholders, as the same may be amended (the "Stockholders Agreement"),
directly or indirectly, acquires beneficially or of record, more than 50% of the
outstanding voting securities of the Company (by operation of law or otherwise)
or (B) upon a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.

                      (g) BY THE EXECUTIVE WITHOUT GOOD REASON. The Executive's
employment pursuant to this Agreement may be terminated by the Executive at any
time by delivery of a Notice of Resignation to the Company. In the event that
the Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to this Section 10(g), the
Executive shall receive all Base Salary and benefits to be paid or provided to
the Executive under this Agreement through the Date of Termination and no more.

                                       6
<PAGE>   7

                      (h) DATE OF TERMINATION. The Executive's Date of
Termination shall be (i) if the Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to
Section 10(b), the date of his death, (ii) if the Executive's employment is
terminated pursuant to Section 10(c), the last day of the six-month period
referred to in Section 10(c)(i) or the date of delivery of the last physician's
opinion referred to in Section 10(c)(ii), as the case may be, (iii) if the
Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to Section 10(d), the date on
which a Notice of Termination is given, (iv) if the Executive's employment is
terminated pursuant to Section 10(e), sixty (60) days after the date the Notice
of Termination is given; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company may waive such
notice in the event of a termination pursuant to Section 10(e) in which event,
the Executive's Date of Termination shall be five (5) days after the Notice of
Termination, (v) if the Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to Section
10(f), five (5) days after the date the Notice of Resignation is given and (vi)
if the Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to Section 10(g), one
hundred twenty (120) days after the date the Notice of Resignation is given or
such shorter period as may be determined by the Company.

                      (i) COMPANY'S FAILURE TO EXTEND TERM. In the event the
Company provides notice of its intent not to extend the Term for any additional
period as provided in Section 2(b) and the Executive is not then in violation of
Section 13 hereof, the Company shall pay to Executive, on the expiration of the
Term, a lump sum payment in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the aggregate
amount of one (1) year of Base Salary at the then-current rate of Base Salary
and (ii) in the event that (A) the Company's actual EBITDA for the twelve (12)
month period ending on the last day of the month prior to the month in which
such expiration of the Term occurs (for purposes of this Section 10(i), such
12-month period, the "Trailing Employment Year") shall equal or exceed the
aggregate budgeted EBITDA as reflected in the monthly budgets prepared by the
Company with respect to such period and (B) the Company's EBITDA for any nine
(9) months during the Trailing Employment Year, considered individually, shall
equal or exceed the budgeted EBITDA as reflected in the budgets prepared by the
Company with respect to such months, an amount equal to one hundred percent
(100%) of the base target bonus (e.g., in the case of the Bonus Plan for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 2000, fifty percent (50%) of the Executive's
base salary) set forth in the Bonus Plan for the fiscal year in which such
expiration of the Term occurs.

                      (j) CERTAIN TAX MATTERS. In the event any provision of
this Agreement, any other Agreement between the Executive and the Company or any
plan of the Company would result in an "excess parachute payment" within the
meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code") and the imposition of an excise tax on the Executive under Section 4999
of the Code, the Company agrees to take such lawful action as may reasonably be
requested by the Executive to assist him in the avoidance of all or a portion of
such tax (including, if applicable, approval of any such excess parachute
payments by the shareholders of the Company); provided that nothing contained
herein shall obligate the Company or its shareholders to take any action which
would reasonably be expected to result in any cost or charge to the Company.

                                       7
<PAGE>   8

                  11. REPRESENTATIONS.

                      (a) The Company represents and warrants that this
Agreement has been authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company
and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable against both in
accordance with its terms.

                      (b) The Executive represents and warrants that he is not a
party to any agreement or instrument which would prevent him from entering into
or performing his duties in any way under this Agreement.

                  12. ASSIGNMENT; BINDING AGREEMENT. This Agreement is a
personal contract and the rights and interests of the Executive hereunder may
not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated by him,
except as otherwise expressly permitted by the provisions of this Agreement.
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive
and his personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should
die while any amount would still be payable to him hereunder had the Executive
continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be
paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to his devisee, legatee or
other designee or, if there is no such designee, to his estate.

                  13. CONFIDENTIALITY; NON-COMPETITION; OWNERSHIP OF WORKS.

                      (a) The Executive acknowledges that: (i) the Business is
intensely competitive and that the Executive's employment by the Company will
require that the Executive have access to and knowledge of confidential
information of the Company relating to the Business, including, but not limited
to, the identity of the Company's employees, physicians, payors or suppliers,
the kinds of services provided by the Company, the manner in which such services
are performed or offered to be performed, the service needs of actual or
prospective patients, physicians or payors, pricing information and other
contractual terms, information concerning the creation, acquisition or
disposition of products and services, creative ideas and concepts, including
clinical and financial systems, compliance programs and physician relation and
retention programs, computer software applications and other programs, research
data, personnel information and other trade secrets, in each case other than as
and to the extent such information is generally known or publicly available
through no violation of this Section 13 by the Executive or such information may
place the Company at a competitive disadvantage and may do damage, monetary or
otherwise, to the Company's business; and (iii) the engaging by the Executive in
any of the activities prohibited by this Section 13 may constitute improper
appropriation and/or use of such Confidential Information. The Executive
expressly acknowledges the trade secret status of the Confidential Information
and that the Confidential Information constitutes a protectable business
interest in the Company. Accordingly, the Company and the Executive agree as
follows:

                      (b) For purposes of this Section 13, the Company shall be
construed to include the Company and its parents and subsidiaries engaged in the
Business, including any divisions managed by the Executive.

                                       8
<PAGE>   9

                      (c) During the Executive's employment with the Company,
and at all times after the termination of the Executive's employment by
expiration of the Term or otherwise, the Executive shall not, directly or
indirectly, whether individually, as a director, stockholder, owner, partner,
employee, principal or agent of any business, or in any other capacity, make
known, disclose, furnish, make available or utilize any of the Confidential
Information, other than in the proper performance of the duties contemplated
herein, or as expressly permitted herein, or as required by a court of competent
jurisdiction or other administrative or legislative body, the Executive shall
promptly notify the Company so that the Company may seek a protective order or
other appropriate remedy. The Executive agrees to return all documents or other
materials containing Confidential Information, including all photocopies,
extracts and summaries thereof, and any such information stored electronically
on tapes, computer disks or in any other manner to the Company at any time upon
request by the Company and immediately upon the termination of his employment
for any reason.

                      (d) For a period of two (2) years following the
Executive's Date of Termination (or one (1) year following the expiration of the
Term in the case of the Company's delivery of notice of its intent not to extend
the Term for any additional period as provided in Section 2(b)), whether upon
expiration of the Term or otherwise, the Executive shall not engage in
Competition, as defined below, with the Company or its subsidiaries within fifty
(50) miles of the location of any hospital managed by the Company (or other
facility managed by the Company from which in excess of five percent (5%) of the
Company's annual revenues are derived) at the time of, or within six (6) months
prior to, the Executive's Date of Termination or the expiration of the Term (as
applicable), or in which, during the six (6) months period prior to the
Executive's Date of Termination or the expiration of the Term (as applicable),
the Company had made substantial plans with the intention of establishing
operations in such locality or region. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Competition" by the Executive shall mean the Executive's engaging in
significant activities relating to, or otherwise directly or indirectly being
employed by or acting as a consultant or lender to, or being a director,
officer, employee, principal, agent, stockholder, member, owner or partner of,
or permitting his name to be used in connection with the activities of any
entity engaged in significant activities relating to, the Business; PROVIDED
THAT, it shall not be a violation of this sub-paragraph for the Executive to
become the registered or beneficial owner of up to five percent (5%) of any
class of the capital stock of any one or more competing corporations registered
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, PROVIDED THAT, the
Executive does not actively participate in the business of such corporation
until such time as this covenant expires.

                      (e) For a period of two (2) years following the
Executive's Date of Termination (or one (1) year following the expiration of the
Term in the case of the Company's delivery of notice of its intent not to extend
the Term for any additional period as provided in Section 2(b)), whether upon
expiration of the Term or otherwise, the Executive agrees that he will not,
directly or indirectly, for his benefit or for the benefit of any other person,
firm or entity, do any of the following:

                         (i) solicit from any physician or physician group,
                  payor or supplier doing business with the Company as of the

                                       9
<PAGE>   10

                  Executive's termination, business of the same or of a similar
                  nature to the business of the Company with such physician,
                  physician group, payor or supplier;

                         (ii) solicit from any known potential physician or
                  physician group, payor or supplier of the company business of
                  the same or of a similar nature to that which has been the
                  subject of a known written or oral bid, offer or proposal by
                  the Company, or of substantial preparation with a view to
                  making such a bid, proposal or offer, within six (6) months
                  prior to the Executive's termination; or

                         (iii) recruit or solicit the employment or services of
                  any person who was employed by the Company upon termination of
                  the Executive's employment and is employed by the Company at
                  the time of such recruitment or solicitation.

                      (f) The Executive will make full and prompt disclosure to
the Company of all inventions, improvements, formulas, data, programs,
processes, ideas, concepts, discoveries, methods, developments, software, and
works of authorship, whether or not copyrightable, trademarkable or patentable,
which relate to the actual or anticipated business, activities or research of
the Company and either (i) are created, made, conceived or reduced to practice
by the Executive, either alone, under his direction or jointly with others
during the period of his employment with the Company, (ii) result from or are
suggested by work performed by the executive for the Company or (iii) result, to
any extent, from use of the Company's premises or property (all of which are
collectively referred to in this Agreement as "Works"). All Works shall be the
sole property of the Company, and, to the extent that the Company is not already
considered the owner thereof as a matter of law, the Executive hereby assigns to
the Company, without further compensation, all his right, title and interest in
and to such Works and any and all related intellectual property rights
(including, but not limited to, patents, patent applications, copyrights,
copyright applications, and trademarks) in the United States and elsewhere.

                      (g) The Executive acknowledges that the services to be
rendered by him to the Company are of a special and unique character, which
gives this Agreement a peculiar value to the Company, the loss of which may not
be reasonably or adequately compensated for by damages in an action at law, and
that a breach or threatened breach by him of any of the provisions contained in
this Section 13 may cause the Company irreparable injury. The Executive
therefore agrees that the Company may be entitled, in addition to any other
right or remedy, to a temporary, preliminary and permanent injunction, without
the necessity of proving the inadequacy of monetary damages or the posting of
any bond or security, enjoining or restraining the Executive from any such
violation or threatened violations.

                      (h) If any one or more of the provisions contained in this
Agreement shall be held to be excessively broad as to duration, activity or
subject, such provisions shall be construed by limiting and reducing them so as
to be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

                  14. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement contains all the
understandings between the parties hereto pertaining to the matters referred to
herein, and supersedes any other undertakings and agreements, whether oral or in
writing, previously entered into by them with respect thereto. The Executive
represents that, in executing this Agreement, he does not rely and has not

                                       10
<PAGE>   11

relied upon any representation or statement not set forth herein made by the
Company with regard to the subject matter or effect of this Agreement or
otherwise.

                  15. AMENDMENT OR MODIFICATION WAIVER. No provision of this
Agreement may be amended or waived, unless such amendment or waiver is agreed to
in writing, signed by the Executive and by a duly authorized officer of the
Company. No waiver by any party hereto of any breach by another party hereto of
any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party
shall be deemed a waiver of a similar or dissimilar condition or provision at
the same time, any prior time or any subsequent time.

                  16. NOTICES. Any notice to be given hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed given when delivered personally, sent by courier or
facsimile or registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt
requested, addressed to the party concerned at the address indicated below or to
such other address as such party may subsequently give notice hereunder in
writing:

         To the Executive at:
                   1607 North Martha Street
                  -------------------------
                   Brentwood, TN 37027
                  -------------------------

         With copies to:
                  Sherrard & Roe, PLC
                  ------------------------
                  424 Church Street, Suite 2000
                  ------------------------
                  Nashville, TN 37219
                  ------------------------
                  Facsimile: (615)742-4539
                  ------------------------
                  Attention: L. Webb Campbell
                  ------------------------

         To the Company at:

                  IASIS Healthcare Corporation
                  Dover Centre
                  113 Seaboard Lane, Suite A200
                  Franklin, TN  37067
                  Facsimile: (615) 846-3006

         With copies to:

                  Joseph Littlejohn & Levy
                  450 Lexington Avenue
                  New York, New York  10022
                  Attention: Jeffrey C. Lightcap

                           and

                                       11
<PAGE>   12

                  Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP
                  One Rodney Square
                  P.O. Box 636
                  Wilmington, Delaware  19899
                  Facsimile: (302) 651-3001
                  Attention: Robert B. Pincus, Esquire

                  Any notice delivered personally or by courier under this
Section 16 shall be deemed given on the date delivered and any notice sent by
facsimile or registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt
requested, shall be deemed given on the date transmitted by facsimile or mailed.

                  17. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement or the
application of any such provision to any party or circumstances shall be
determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid and
unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement or the application
of such provision to such person or circumstances other than those to which it
is so determined to be invalid and unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby,
and each provision hereof shall be validated and shall be enforced to the
fullest extent permitted by law.

                  18. SURVIVORSHIP. The respective rights and obligations of the
parties hereunder shall survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent
necessary to the intended preservation of such rights and obligations.

                  19. GOVERNING LAW; VENUE. This Agreement will be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without
regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.

                  20. HEADINGS. All descriptive headings of sections and
paragraphs in this Agreement are intended solely for convenience, and no
provision of this Agreement is to be construed by reference to the heading of
any section or paragraph.

                  21. WITHHOLDING. All payments to the Executive under this
Agreement shall be reduced by all applicable withholding required by federal,
state or local law.

                  22. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                            [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

                                       12
<PAGE>   13

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Employment Agreement on May 1, 2000 to be effective as of the Effective Date.

                                         IASIS HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

                                         By:     /s/ Jeffrey C. Lightcap
                                             ----------------------------------
                                         Name:   Jeffrey C. Lightcap
                                               --------------------------------
                                         Title:  Director
                                                -------------------------------

                                                /s/ C. Wayne Gower
                                                -------------------
                                                    C. Wayne Gower

                                       13
<PAGE>   14

                                                                       Exhibit A

                          Iasis Healthcare Corporation
                              Executive Bonus Plan
                      Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2000

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                 <C>                         <C>
EBITDA OBJECTIVE:

         Fiscal year target                                                     $139,400,000
         Bottom level                                 92.50%                    $128,945,000
         Top level                                   115.00%                    $160,310,000
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                 <C>                         <C>
TOTAL INDEBTEDNESS OBJECTIVE:

         Targeted total long-term debt, net of cash at year end                 $568,000,000

         Bottom level                                100.00%                    $568,000,000
         Top level                                   107.50%                    $525,400,000

</TABLE>

BONUS OF 50% OF BASE SALARY WILL BE COMPUTED BASED ON 75/25 WEIGHTING OF THE
EBITDA AND TOTAL INDEBTEDNESS OBJECTIVES. THE FOLLOWING DEMONSTRATES APPLICATION
OF THE OVER/UNDER FACTORS TO POTENTIAL ACTUAL RESULTS:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                               ACTUAL                   ACTUAL               37.5%            12.5%
                               EBITDA                    DEBT                EBITDA            DEBT         TOTAL
                               ------                    ----                ------            ----         -----

<S>                         <C>                       <C>                     <C>              <C>          <C>
Case I                      $130,000,000              $605,000,000            3.78%            0.00%        3.78%

Case II                     $137,500,000              $580,000,000           30.69%            0.00%       30.69%

Budget Case                 $139,400,000              $568,000,000           37.50%           12.50%       50.00%

Case III                    $145,000,000              $555,000,000           47.54%           16.31%       63.86%

Case IV                     $152,500,000              $530,000,000           60.99%           23.65%       84.64%

Case V                      $160,000,000              $505,000,000           74.44%           25.00%       99.44%

Case VI                     $167,500,000              $480,000,000           75.00%           25.00%      100.00%
</TABLE>

Note: Bonus will be paid after receipt of audited financial statements and
results will exclude items not resulting from the ordinary course of business.

                                       14
<PAGE>   15

                                                                       Exhibit B

                          IASIS HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
                                2000 OPTION PLAN
                                   TERM SHEET

NUMBER OF SHARES AVAILABLE             686,566 Shares

EXPIRATION DATE                           10 years from grant

GRANT                                     Each grant will consist of
                                          two parts-a Series I Option
                                          and a Series II Option.

SERIES I OPTIONS                          Divided into three tranches:

Exercise Price/Number of Shares             Tranche A   $100  100,969 shares
                                            Tranche B   $260  117,797 shares
                                            Tranche C   $420   92,555 shares

Vesting                                     Twenty percent of Series I Options
                                            in each tranche vest on each
                                            September 30 through September 30,
                                            2004

SERIES II OPTIONS                         Divided into three tranches:

Exercise Price/Number of Shares             Tranche A    $100    121,701 shares
                                            Tranche B    $260    141,985 shares
                                            Tranche C    $420    111,559 shares

Vesting                                     Twenty percent of Series II Options
                                            in each Tranche will time vest on
                                            each September 30 through September
                                            30, 2004; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no
                                            Series II Options shall become
                                            exercisable until the earlier of the
                                            occurrence of a Triggering Event (to
                                            be defined) and seven years from the
                                            date of the grant.

CHANGE OF CONTROL                           All unexercised Options vest
                                            automatically

TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

For Cause                                   All Options cancelled

                                       15
<PAGE>   16

Death or Disability                         All vested Options may be exercised
                                            for a period of 90 days following
                                            the date of termination.

Without Cause/Good Reason                   All vested Options may be exercised
Voluntary                                   for a period of 90 days following
                                            the date of termination.

                                       16

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