Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.8

                      -----------------------------------
                      National Network Technologies, Inc.
                      -----------------------------------
                             26 Broadway, Suite 400
                            New York, New York 10004
                   Phone (212) 837-7770 - Fax (212) 837-7817

August 20, 1998

Mr. Jonathan H. Stern
57 Springhouse Road
Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07675

Dear Jon:

We are delighted to extend to you our offer of employment to join National
Network Technologies as our Chief Financial Officer. We are confident that you
will make an outstanding contribution to the growth and development of our firm
as we become a much larger and geographically diverse corporation.

The terms of our offer of employment are as follows:

*  Your base salary will be $205,100 per year.

*  In addition, you will be eligible for the achievement of a $50,000 targeted
   bonus award that will be paid in mid-January following the fiscal year
   closing. This targeted bonus will be measured by the establishment of
   mutually agreed upon, formal objectives which compromise 75% of the award.
   The remainder of the bonus award will be based on more subjective criteria
   and will carry a weight of 25%.

   For calendar year 1998, your bonus will be prorated and determined by more
   subjective criteria as well as our evaluation of your performance for the
   remaining months of the year.

*  As our Chief Financial Officer, you will receive Incentive Stock Options to
   purchase 220,000 common shares of stock at $.50 per share (approximately 1%
   of current outstanding shares). The Incentive Stock Options will have the
   following vesting schedule:

   -  After the first 12 months, 20% of the 220,000 share Incentive Stock
      Option will be vested.

   -  Thereafter, 1.67% of the remaining shares will vest each month for the
      remaining 48 months.
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     -  In the event that our company undergoes a change of control, you will be
        automatically vested in 50% of the shares that are not as yet vested.

              Vesting Example (A): Assume that a change of control takes place
              between the 24th and 25th month. You will have the following
              number of shares vested.

                  1.  20% of 220,000 shares or 44,000 shares would be vested
                      after the first 12 months.
                  2.  Additional 44,000 shares would vest in the ensuing 12
                      months.
                  3.  50% of the remaining shares, or 66,000, would qualify for
                      accelerated vesting. Therefore, the total number of shares
                      vested after the first 2 years would be 154,000 or 70% of
                      your Incentive Stock Options.

              Vesting Example (B):  Assume that a change of control takes place
              between the 48th and 49th month. You will have the following
              number of shares vested:

                  1.  After 12 months, you would be vested in 44,000 shares.
                  2.  For the ensuing 36 months, you would be vested in 132,000
                      shares.
                  3.  50% of the remaining shares or 27,000. Accelerated vesting
                      would give you another 22,000 of vested shares. Therefore,
                      the total shares vested after 48 months of employment
                      would be 198,000 or 90% of your Incentive Stock Options.

     -  In the event the company undergoes a change of control after 30 months
        and you are terminated without cause, your remaining unvested shares
        will automatically vest to 100% of the shares that are not yet vested.

-  You and your family will be covered by our Blue Cross/Blue Shield medical and
   dental plans at no cost to you.

-  You will receive three weeks vacation each year.

-  We are in the process of establishing a 401(k) plan and discontinuing our
   Defined Benefit Plan and our Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan (Money
   Purchase Plan). All employees will be eligible to participate in the 401(k)
   plan. Our company does not anticipate providing any matching funds to an
   employee's election to participate in the 401(k) plan.

We hope that this offer of employment meets with your approval. We look forward
to a long and successful relationship with you as the Chief Financial Officer.
As you requested, we will provide you with a prearranged severance of six months
continuation and benefit coverage in the event you are terminated without cause.
Cause is to be defined as an act of dishonesty or disloyalty to the company.
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If the above meets with your approval, please sign in the space provided below
and return the signed offer of employment to us.

Very truly yours,

/s/Hugh O'Kane, Jr.
--------------------
Hugh O'Kane, Jr.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Acceptance of Offer of Employment

Signed by: /s/ Jonathan H. Stern
      ---------------------------------
Date: 8/24/98
      ---------------------------------
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                    AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         AMENDMENT NO. 1, dated as February 14, 2000 to the Employment
Agreement, dated as of August 20, 1998 (as amended hereby, the "Employment
Agreement") by and between Lexent Inc. f/k/a National Network Technologies,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Jonathan H. Stern
("Executive").

         WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive wish to amend the terms of the
Executive's employment with the Company.

         NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants contained herein, the parties agree that the Employment Agreement
shall be amended as follows:

         SECTION 1. Duties. The Executive's position appearing in first sentence
of the first paragraph of the Employment Agreement is hereby amended to read
"Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer."

         SECTION 2. Bonus. The paragraph after the second bullet point of the
Employment Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as
follows:

         "In addition, you will be eligible to receive bonus compensation in
respect of each fiscal year (or portion thereof) occurring during your
employment with us in an amount targeted at 40% of your base salary if our
company achieves the target performance objectives established by the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors with respect to such fiscal
year. You will also be eligible to receive additional bonus compensation in
respect of each fiscal year (or portion thereof) occurring during your
employment with us in an amount targeted at 60% of your base salary (prorated
for any portion of a fiscal year) for exceptional performance as may be
determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion."

         SECTION 3. Other Provisions. Except as expressly modified by this
Amendment No. 1, all provisions of the Employment Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect.

         SECTION 4. Counterparts. This Amendment No. 1 may be executed in two or
more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

         SECTION 5. Governing Law. This Amendment No. 1 shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without
reference to the conflicts of laws provisions thereof.

                                     *****
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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment
No. 1 as of the day and year first above written.

                                    LEXENT INC.

                                    By /s/ Alf T. Hansen
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                           Alf T. Hansen
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

                                       /s/ Jonathan H. Stern
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                           Jonathan H. Stern<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 10.9

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

                  EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of December 13, 1999, by and
between LEXENT INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and JOSEPH HAINES
(the "Employee").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

                  WHEREAS the Company desires to induce the Employee to enter
into employment with the Company for the period provided in this Agreement, and
the Employee is willing to accept such employment with the Company on a
full-time basis, all in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth
below;

                  NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises
hereof and the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties hereto hereby
covenant and agree as follows:

                  1. Employment.

                  (a) The Company hereby agrees to employ the Employee, and the
         Employee hereby agrees to accept such employment with the Company,
         commencing on December 13, 1999 (the "Commencement Date") and
         continuing for the period set forth in Section 2 hereof, all upon the
         terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

                  (b) The Employee affirms and represents that as of the
         commencement of his employment by the Company on the Commencement Date,
         he will be under no obligation to any former employer or other party
         which is in any way inconsistent with, or which imposes any restriction
         upon, the Employee's acceptance of employment hereunder with the
         Company, the employment of the Employee by the Company, or the
         Employee's undertakings under this Agreement.

                  2. Term of Employment. Unless earlier terminated as provided
in this Agreement, the term of the Employee's employment under this Agreement
shall be for a period beginning on the Commencement Date and ending on December
31, 2003. The period from the Commencement Date until December 31, 2003, or, in
the event that the Employee's employment hereunder is earlier terminated as
provided herein, such shorter period, is hereinafter called the "Employment
Term"(the "Employment Term").

                  3. Duties. The Employee shall be employed as Executive Vice
President of the Company and President of the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary,
Hugh O'Kane Datacom, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("HOK"), shall
faithfully perform and discharge such
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duties as inhere in the positions of Executive Vice President of the Company and
President of HOK as may be specified in the By-laws of the Company or the
Limited Liability Company Agreement of HOK with respect to such positions, and
shall also perform and discharge such other duties and responsibilities
consistent with such position as the Board of Directors of the Company (the
"Board of Directors") shall from time to time determine. The Employee shall
report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Employee shall perform
his duties principally at offices of the Company in New York City, New York,
with such travel to such other locations from time to time as the Chief
Executive Officer may reasonably prescribe. Except as may otherwise be approved
in advance by the Board of Directors, and except during vacation periods and
reasonable periods of absence due to sickness, personal injury or other
disability, the Employee shall devote his full business time throughout the
Employment Term to the services required of him hereunder. The Employee shall
render his business services exclusively to the Company and its subsidiaries
during the Employment Term and shall use his best efforts, judgment and energy
to improve and advance the business and interests of the Company and its
subsidiaries in a manner consistent with the duties of his positions.

                  4. Compensation.

                  (a) Salary. As compensation for the performance by the
         Employee of the services to be performed by the Employee hereunder
         during the Employment Term, the Company shall pay the Employee a base
         salary at the annual rate of Two Hundred and Forty Thousand Dollars
         ($240,000) (said amount, together with any increases thereto as may be
         determined from time to time by the Board of Directors in its sole
         discretion, being hereinafter referred to as "Salary"). Any Salary
         payable hereunder shall be paid in regular intervals in accordance with
         the Company's payroll practices from time to time in effect.

                  (b) Bonus. The Employee shall be eligible to receive bonus
         compensation from the Company in respect of each fiscal year (or
         portion thereof) occurring during the Employment Term in an amount
         targeted at 40% of his Salary (pro rated for any portion of a fiscal
         year occurring during the Employment Term) if the Company achieves the
         target performance objectives established by the Compensation Committee
         of the Board of Directors (the "Compensation Committee") with respect
         to such fiscal year. The Employee shall also be eligible to receive
         additional bonus compensation from the Company in respect of each
         fiscal year (or portion thereof) occurring during the Employment Term
         for exceptional performance as may be determined by the Compensation
         Committee in its sole discretion. In any event, the Employee shall be
         entitled to receive an aggregate bonus (in addition to the Initial
         Payment discussed in (c) below) of not less than $115,000 in respect of
         the fiscal year ending December 31, 2000 (pro rated as aforesaid if the
         Employment Term ends prior to December 31, 2000).

                  (c) Initial Payment. In connection with the execution and
         delivery by the Employee of this Agreement, the Company shall pay the
         Employee a one-time bonus in

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         the amount of $50,000 (the "Initial Payment") in respect of the fiscal
         year ending December 31, 2000 on or before January 31, 2000. The
         Employee shall not receive any bonus in respect of the fiscal year
         ending December 31, 1999.

                  5. Other Benefits; Options.

                  (a) General. During the Employment Term, the Employee shall:

                           (i) be eligible to participate in employee fringe
         benefits and pension and/or profit sharing plans that may be provided
         by the Company for its senior executive employees in accordance with
         the provisions of such plans, as the same may be in effect from time to
         time;

                           (ii) be eligible to participate in any medical and
         health plans or other employee welfare benefit plans that may be
         provided by the Company for its senior executive employees in
         accordance with the provisions of any such plans, as the same may be in
         effect from time to time;

                           (iii) be entitled to the number of paid vacation days
         in each calendar year determined by the Company from time to time for
         its senior executive officers, provided that such number of paid
         vacation days in each calendar year shall not be less than fifteen (15)
         work days (three calendar weeks); the Employee shall also be entitled
         to all paid holidays given by the Company to its senior executive
         officers;

                           (iv) be entitled to sick leave, sick pay and
         disability benefits in accordance with any Company policy that may be
         applicable to senior executive employees from time to time; and

                           (v) be entitled to reimbursement for all reasonable
         and necessary out-of-pocket business expenses incurred by the Employee
         in the performance of his duties hereunder in accordance with the
         Company's normal policies from time to time in effect.

                  (b) Grant of Initial Options. In connection with the execution
         and delivery of this Agreement by the Employee, the Company is granting
         to the Employee options ("Initial Options") to purchase 350,000 shares
         of Company Common Stock, $.001 par value ("Common Stock"), at a
         purchase price of $10.00 per share, of which options to purchase
         100,000 shares of Common Stock shall vest immediately and options to
         purchase the remaining 250,000 shares of Common Stock will vest in
         thirty-six equal increments over the thirty-six month period beginning
         on the first anniversary of the Commencement Date, all as provided in
         the Stock Option Agreements of even date herewith between the Company
         and the Employee.

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                  (c) Grant of Subsequent Options. In connection with his
         continued employment by the Company, on the first anniversary of the
         Commencement Date, and on each of the subsequent anniversaries thereof
         during the Employment Term, the Company agrees to grant the Employee
         options ("Subsequent Options") to purchase 15,000 shares of Common
         Stock at a purchase price equal to the Fair Market Value (as defined in
         (d) below) of the Common Stock on the date of grant, which options
         shall vest in twenty-five percent increments over a four-year period
         with the first twenty-five percent to vest on the first anniversary of
         the date of grant. Each grant of these Subsequent Options shall be
         pursuant to specific terms set forth in a stock option agreement
         between the Company and the Employee.

                  (d) Fair Market Value. "Fair Market Value" means as of any
         date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows:

                           (i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established
         stock exchange or a national market system, including without
         limitation the National Market System of the National Association of
         Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation ("NASDAQ") System, the
         Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be the closing sales
         price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as
         quoted on such system or exchange (or the exchange with the greatest
         volume of trading in Common Stock) on the last market trading day prior
         to the day of grant of the particular Subsequent Options and as
         reported in the Wall Street Journal or such other source as the
         Compensation Committee deems reliable;

                           (ii) If the Common Stock is quoted on the NASDAQ
         System (but not on the National Market System thereof) or is regularly
         quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not
         reported, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be the
         average between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock
         on the last market trading day prior to the day of grant of the
         particular Subsequent Options and as reported in the Wall Street
         Journal or such other source as the Compensation Committee deems
         reliable; or

                           (iii) In the absence of an established market for the
         Common Stock, the Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith
         by the Compensation Committee.

                  6. Confidential Information. The Employee hereby covenants,
agrees and acknowledges as follows:

                  (a) The Employee has and will have access to and will
         participate in the development of or be acquainted with confidential or
         proprietary information and trade secrets related to the business of
         the Company and any present or future subsidiaries or affiliates of the
         Company (collectively with the Company, the "Companies"), including but

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         not limited to (i) customer lists; related records and compilations of
         information; the identity, lists or descriptions of any new customers,
         referral sources or organizations; financial statements; cost reports
         or other financial information; contract proposals or bid ding
         information; business plans; training and operations methods and
         manuals; personnel records; software programs; reports and
         correspondence; and management systems, policies or procedures,
         including related forms and manuals; (ii) information pertaining to
         future developments such as future marketing or acquisition plans or
         ideas, and potential new business locations and (iii) all other
         tangible and intangible property, which are used in the business and
         operations of the Companies but not made public. The information and
         trade secrets relating to the business of the Companies described
         hereinabove in this paragraph (a) are hereinafter referred to
         collectively as the "Confidential Information", provided that the term
         Confidential Information shall not include any information (A) that is
         or becomes generally publicly available (other than as a result of
         violation of this Agreement by the Employee), (B) that the Employee
         receives on a nonconfidential basis from a source (other than the
         Companies or their representatives) that is not known by him to be
         bound by an obligation of secrecy or confidentiality to any of the
         Companies or (C) that was in the possession of the Employee prior to
         disclosure by the Companies.

                  (b) The Employee shall not disclose, use or make known for his
         or another's benefit any Confidential Information or use such
         Confidential Information in any way except as is in the best interests
         of the Companies in the performance of the Employee's duties under this
         Agreement. The Employee may disclose Confidential Information when
         required by a third party and applicable law or judicial process, but
         only after providing immediate notice to the Company of any third
         party's request for such information, which notice shall include the
         Employee's intent to disclose any Confidential Information with respect
         to such request.

                  (c) The Employee acknowledges and agrees that a remedy at law
         for any breach or threatened breach of the provisions of this Section 6
         would be inadequate and, therefore, agrees that the Companies shall be
         entitled to seek injunctive relief in addition to any other available
         rights and remedies in case of any such breach or threatened breach by
         the Employee; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall be
         construed as prohibiting the Companies from pursuing any other rights
         and remedies available for any such breach or threatened breach.

                  (d) The Employee agrees that upon termination of his
         employment with the Company for any reason, the Employee shall
         forthwith return to the Company all Confidential Information in
         whatever form maintained (including, without limitation, computer discs
         and other electronic media).

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                  (e) The obligations of the Employee under this Section 6
         shall, except as otherwise provided herein, survive the termination of
         the Employment Term and the expiration or termination of this
         Agreement.

                  (f) Without limiting the generality of Section 12 hereof, the
         Employee hereby expressly agrees that the foregoing provisions of this
         Section 6 shall be binding upon the Employee's heirs, successors and
         legal representatives.

                  7. Termination of Employment.

                  (a) The Employee's employment hereunder shall be terminated
         upon the occurrence of any of the following:

                           (i) death of the Employee;

                           (ii) the Employee's inability to perform his duties
         on account of disability or incapacity for a period of one hundred
         eighty (180) or more days, whether or not consecutive, within any
         period of twelve (12) consecutive months;

                           (iii) the Company giving written notice, at any time,
         to the Employee that the Employee's employment is being terminated for
         "Cause" (as defined in (b) below);

                           (iv) the Company giving written notice, at any time,
         to the Employee that the Employee's employment is being terminated or
         is not being renewed, other than pursuant to clause (i), (ii) or (iii)
         above ("Without Cause");

                           (v) the Employee terminates his employment hereunder
         because the Company, solely due to an Executive Management Stockholder
         Block (as defined in (c) below), fails to consummate an initial public
         offering of its Common Stock within one (1) year of the Commencement
         Date; or

                           (vi) the Employee terminates his employment hereunder
         for any reason whatsoever (whether by reason of retirement, resignation
         or otherwise), other than in accordance with (v) above ("Without Good
         Reason").

                  (b) Cause. The following actions, failures and events by or
         affecting the Employee shall constitute "Cause" for termination within
         the meaning of clause (iii) of Section 7 (a) above:

                           (i) an indictment for or conviction of the Employee
         of, or the entering of a plea of nolo contendere by the Employee with
         respect to, having committed a felony;

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                           (ii) abuse of controlled substances or alcohol or
         acts of dishonesty or moral turpitude by the Employee that are
         detrimental to one or more of the Companies;

                           (iii) acts or omissions by the Employee that the
         Employee knew were likely to damage the business of one or more of the
         Companies;

                           (iv) negligence by the Employee in the performance
         of, or disregard by the Employee of, his material obligations under
         this Agreement or otherwise relating to his employment, which
         negligence or disregard continue unremedied for a period of fifteen
         (15) days after written notice thereof to the Employee; or

                           (v) failure by the Employee to obey the reasonable
         and lawful orders and policies of the Board of Directors that are
         consistent with the provisions of this Agree ment.

                  (c) Executive Management Stockholder Block. For purposes of
         this Agreement, an "Executive Management Stockholder Block" means the
         decision by the Company's Executive Management Stockholders (as that
         term is defined in the Stockholders Agreement, dated as of July 23,
         1998, among the Company and the stockholders party thereto, as the same
         may be amended or modified from time to time) to not consent to an
         initial public offering by the Company of its Common Stock; provided,
         however, that an Executive Management Stockholder Block shall not be
         deemed to have occurred if a decision or action by the Board of
         Directors or the holders of the Company's Series A Convertible
         Preferred Stock, $.001 par value, prevents the consummation of such an
         initial public offering.

                  8. Payments Upon Termination.

                  (a) Termination Without Cause. In the event that the
         Employee's employment is terminated by the Company Without Cause during
         the period between the Commencement Date and the date six months
         following the Commencement Date (the "Initial Period"), then the
         Company shall pay to the Employee, as severance pay or liquidated
         damages or both, monthly payments at the rate per annum of his Salary
         at the time of such termination for a period of:

                           (i) eighteen (18) months after such termination if
                  such termination occurs in the first month of the Initial
                  Period;

                           (ii) seventeen (17) months after such termination if
                  such termination occurs in the second month of the Initial
                  Period;

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                           (iii) sixteen (16) months after such termination if
                  such termination occurs in the third month of the Initial
                  Period;

                           (iv) fifteen (15) months after such termination if
                  such termination occurs in the fourth month of the Initial
                  Period;

                           (v) fourteen (14) months after such termination if
                  such termination occurs in the fifth month of the Initial
                  Period;

                           (vi) thirteen (13) months after such termination if
                  such termination occurs in the sixth month of the Initial
                  Period; and

                           (vii) twelve (12) months after such termination if
                  such termination occurs after the end of the Initial Period.

                  (b) Termination by the Employee due to an Executive Management
         Stockholder Block. In the event that the Employee's employment is
         terminated by the Employee pursuant to clause (v) of Section 7(a) above
         during the ninety (90) day period following the date of such Executive
         Management Stockholder Block, then:

                           (i) the Company shall pay to the Employee, as
                  severance pay or liquidated damages or both, monthly payments
                  at the rate per annum of his Salary at the time of such
                  termination for a period of twenty-four (24) months after such
                  termination; and

                           (ii) the Company shall, upon the request therefor by
                  the Employee as described below, purchase up to 100,000 shares
                  of Common Stock acquired by the Employee pursuant to the
                  exercise of Initial Options upon the following terms and
                  conditions (the "Employee's Put"):

                                    (1) The Employee's Put may be exercised by
                           Employee at any time during the thirty (30) day
                           period following the Employee's termination by giving
                           written notice thereof ("Put Notice") to the Company
                           specifying the amount of shares (up to the maximum
                           referred to above) of Common Stock the Employee
                           wishes to sell to the Company (the "Put Securities").
                           The date of exercise of the Employee's Put shall be
                           the date of the Put Notice.

                                    (2) Within 30 days following receipt of the
                           Put Notice, the Company shall deliver to the Employee
                           a notice (the "Company Notice") stating the purchase
                           price per share of the Put Securities determined in
                           accordance with clause (4) hereof and a date and
                           place for closing of the purchase (the

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                           "Put Closing"), which date shall be within ninety
                           (90) days after the date the Company receives the Put
                           Notice or, in the event an appraiser is hired
                           pursuant to clause (4) hereof, within ninety (90)
                           days after receipt of such appraiser's determination
                           of the purchase price of the Put Securities.

                                    (3) At the Put Closing, the Company shall
                           pay to the Employee the purchase price of the Put
                           Securities by check or wire transfer. At such Put
                           Closing, the Employee shall execute and deliver to
                           the Company such stock powers and such other
                           instruments of transfer as counsel for the Company
                           deems necessary to validly and effectively transfer
                           title to the Put Securities to the Company, free and
                           clear of any lien, claim or encumbrance.

                                    (4) The purchase price per share of the Put
                           Securities shall be the Fair Market Value (as defined
                           in Section 5(d) above) of the Common Stock on the
                           date of exercise of the Employee's Put. In the event
                           that such Fair Market Value was determined by the
                           Compensation Committee as described in Section
                           5(d)(iii) above, the Employee shall have the right to
                           disagree with such determination and elect, within
                           ten (10) days of receipt of the Company Notice, to
                           have the Company select a recognized business
                           appraiser to calculate the purchase price of the Put
                           Securities which shall be the fair market value
                           thereof. The determination of the purchase price by
                           such appraiser will be binding on both parties. All
                           costs and expenses of the appraisal, including,
                           without limitation, all fees of the appraiser, shall
                           be borne by the Company.

                  (c) Payments Limited. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
         expressed or implied herein, except as required by applicable law and
         except as set forth in Sections 8(a) and (b) above, neither the Company
         nor any of its affiliates shall be obligated to make any payments to
         the Employee or on his behalf of whatever kind or nature by reason of
         the Employee's cessation of employment (including, without limitation,
         by reason of termination of the Employee's employment by the Company's
         for Cause, Without Cause or otherwise), other than (i) such amounts, if
         any, of his Salary as shall have accrued and remained unpaid as of the
         date of said cessation and (ii) such other amounts, if any, which may
         be then otherwise payable to the Employee pursuant to the terms of the
         Company's benefits plans or pursuant to clause (v) of Section 5(a)
         above.

                  (d) Interest. No interest shall accrue on or be paid with
         respect to any portion of any payments under this Section 8.

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<PAGE>   10
                  9. Non-Assignability.

                  (a) Neither this Agreement nor any right or interest hereunder
         shall be assignable by the Employee or his beneficiaries or legal
         representatives without the Company's prior written consent; provided,
         however, that nothing in this Section 9(a) shall preclude the Employee
         from designating a beneficiary to receive any benefit payable hereunder
         upon his death or incapacity. This Agreement may not be assigned by the
         Company except with the Employee's prior written consent, provided,
         however, that the Company may assign this Agreement to an affiliate of
         the Company with the financial resources to fulfill the Company's
         obligations hereunder.

                  (b) Except as required by law, no right to receive payments
         under this Agreement shall be subject to anticipation, commutation,
         alienation, sale, assignment, encumbrance, charge, pledge, or
         hypothecation or to exclusion, attachment, levy or similar process or
         to assignment by operation of law, and any attempt, voluntary or
         involuntary, to effect any such action shall be null, void and of no
         effect.

                  10. Restrictive Covenants.

                  (a) Competition. During the Employment Term and, in the event
         the Employee's employment is terminated, during the period (the
         "Applicable Continuation Period") following such termination and
         continuing until (i) the last payment is made to the Employee pursuant
         to Section 8(a) or (b) hereof, as the case may be, or (ii) in the case
         of a termination of the Employee's employment pursuant to Section
         7(a)(iii) or (vi) hereof, the first anniversary of the date of such
         termination, the Employee will not directly or indirectly (as a
         director, officer, executive employee, manager, consultant, independent
         contractor, advisor or otherwise) engage in competition with, or own
         any interest in, perform any services for, participate in or be
         connected with any business or organization which engages in
         competition with any of the Companies within the meaning of Section
         10(d), provided, however, that the provisions of this Section 10(a)
         shall not be deemed to prohibit the Employee's ownership of not more
         than two percent (2%) of the total shares of all classes of stock
         outstanding of any publicly held company, or ownership, whether through
         direct or indirect stock holdings or otherwise, of not more than one
         percent (1%) of any other business.

                  (b) Non-Solicitation. During the Employment Term and during
         the Applicable Continuation Period, the Employee, without the prior
         written consent of the Company, will not directly or indirectly induce
         or attempt to induce any employee of any of the Companies to leave the
         employ of the Company or such subsidiary or affiliate, or in any way
         interfere with the relationship between any of the Companies and any
         employee thereof.

                                       10
<PAGE>   11
                  (c) Non-Interference. During the Employment Term and during
         the Applicable Continuation Period, the Employee, without the prior
         written consent of the Company, will not directly or indirectly hire,
         engage, send any work to, place orders with, or in any manner be
         associated with any supplier, contractor, subcontractor or other
         business relation of any of the Companies if such action by him would
         have an adverse effect on the business, assets or financial condition
         of any of the Companies, or materially interfere with the relationship
         between any such person or entity and any of the Companies.

                  (d) Certain Definitions.

                           (i) For purposes of this Section 10, a person or
         entity (including, without limitation, the Employee) shall be deemed to
         be a competitor of one or more of the Companies, or a person or entity
         (including, without limitation, the Employee) shall be deemed to be
         engaging in competition with one or more of the Companies, if such
         person or entity conducts, or, to the knowledge of the Employee, plans
         to conduct, the Specified Business (as hereinafter defined) as a
         significant portion of its business in any of the markets served by the
         Companies or, in the case of a person or entity pursuing a business
         strategy of providing telecommunications infrastructure services,
         anywhere in the continental United States. Notwithstanding the
         foregoing, a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier ("CLEC") shall not be
         deemed to be a competitor of, or engaging in competition with, one or
         more of the Companies, unless such CLEC, directly or indirectly,
         conducts, or, to the knowledge of the Employee, plans to conduct, the
         Specified Business.

                           (ii) For purposes of this Agreement, "Specified
         Business" means (A)(1) providing outsourced telecommunications
         infrastructure services to local or long distance telecommunications
         providers or (2) engaging in any business conducted by the Company at
         the time of termination of the Employee's employment with the Company
         other than business of a CLEC that is not, directly or indirectly,
         engaged in the business described in clause (A)(1) or (B) conducting,
         operating, carrying out or engaging in the business of managing any
         entity described in clause (A).

                  (e) Certain Representations of the Employee. In connection
         with the foregoing provisions of this Section 10, the Employee
         represents that his experience, capabilities and circumstances are such
         that such provisions will not prevent him from earning a livelihood.
         The Employee further agrees that the limitations set forth in this
         Section 10 (including, without limitation, time and territorial
         limitations) are reasonable and properly required for the adequate
         protection of the current and future businesses of the Companies. It is
         understood and agreed that the covenants made by the Employee in this
         Section 10 (and in Section 6 hereof) shall survive the expiration or
         termination of this Agreement.

                  (f) Injunctive Relief. The Employee acknowledges and agrees
         that a remedy at law for any breach or threatened breach of the
         provisions of Section 10 hereof would be

                                       11
<PAGE>   12
         inadequate and, therefore, agrees that the Company and any of its
         subsidiaries or affiliates shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief
         in addition to any other available rights and remedies in cases of any
         such breach or threatened breach; provided, however, that nothing
         contained herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Company or any
         of its affiliates from pursuing any other rights and remedies available
         for any such breach or threatened breach.

                  11. Representations and Warranties. The Employee represents
and warrants that he is not subject to or a party to any agreement, contract,
covenants, order or other restriction which in any way prohibits, restricts or
impairs the Employee's ability to enter into this Agreement and carry out his
duties and obligations hereunder. Each party hereto represents and warrants to
the other that (i) each has the full legal right and power and all authority and
approvals required to enter into, execute and deliver this Agreement and to
perform fully all of his or its obligations hereunder; and (ii) this Agreement
has been duly executed and delivered and constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of each party, enforceable in accordance with its terms.

                  12. Binding Effect. Without limiting or diminishing the effect
of Section 9 hereof, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, successors, legal
representatives and assigns.

                  13. Notices. All notices which are required or may be given
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
sufficient in all respects if given in writing and (i) delivered personally,
(ii) mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and
postage prepaid, (iii) sent via a nationally recognized overnight courier or
(iv) sent via facsimile confirmed in writing to the recipient, if to the Company
at the Company's principal place of business, and if to the Employee, at his
home address most recently filed with the Company, or to such other address or
addresses as either party shall have designated in writing to the other party
hereto, provided, however, that any notice sent by certified or registered mail
shall be deemed delivered on the date of delivery as evidenced by the return
receipt.

                  14. Law Governing. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

                  15. Severability. The Employee agrees that in the event that
any court of competent jurisdiction shall finally hold that any provision of
Section 6 or 10 hereof is void or constitutes an unreasonable restriction
against the Employee, the provisions of such Section 6 or 10 shall not be
rendered void but shall apply with respect to such extent as such court may
judicially determine constitutes a reasonable restriction under the
circumstances. If any part of this Agreement other than Section 6 or 10 is held
by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegible or incapable of
being enforced in whole or in part by reason of any rule of law or public
policy, such part shall be deemed to be severed from the remainder of this
Agreement for the purpose only of the particular legal proceedings in question
and all other covenants and provisions

                                       12
<PAGE>   13
of this Agreement shall in every other respect continue in full force and effect
and no covenant or provision shall be deemed dependent upon any other covenant
or provision.

                  16. Waiver. Failure to insist upon strict compliance with any
of the terms, covenants or conditions hereof shall not be deemed a waiver of
such term, covenant or condition, nor shall any waiver or relinquishment of any
right or power hereunder at any one or more times be deemed a waiver or
relinquishment of such right or power at any other time or times.

                  17. Entire Agreement; Modifications. This Agreement
constitutes the entire and final expression of the agreement of the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, oral
and written, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof. This Agreement may be modified or amended only by an instrument in
writing signed by both parties hereto.

                  18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or
more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                                       13
<PAGE>   14
                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Employee have duly
executed and delivered this Agreement as of the day and year first above
written.

                                          LEXENT INC.

                                          By:  /s/ Kevin O'Kane
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Name:  Kevin O'Kane
                                             Title: C.O.O.

                                                  /s/ Joseph Haines
                                          -------------------------------------
                                                   Joseph Haines

                                       14

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