Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.6

                          LOAN AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT

         THIS AGREEMENT, dated this 11th day of January 2001 is by and between
Z-Tel Technologies, Inc. ("Z-Tel"), a Delaware corporation having its principal
place of business at 601 South Harbour Island Boulevard, Suite 220, Tampa,
Florida 33602, and James A. Kitchen (the "Employee").

                              BACKGROUND STATEMENT

         Z-Tel is a publicly held company the common stock of which is traded
on NASDAQ. The Employee is employed by Z-Tel Communications, Inc., a
wholly-owned subsidiary corporation of Z-Tel and Z-Tel's principal operating
company. The Employee is indebted to Thomas Weisel Partners ("Weisel") in the
principal amount of approximately $900,000 pursuant to a margin loan contract
in connection with account 781-14340 (the "Loan"). Substantially all the
collateral for the Loan consists of shares of Z-Tel Technologies, Inc. common
stock. The value of such collateral has become insufficient to support the
Loan. Without additional collateral Weisel will be required to foreclose upon
and liquidate such shares to repay the Loan. Z-Tel believes it is in its best
interests and the best interests of its shareholders to prevent the liquidation
of such shares because (i) the Employee provides valuable services to Z-Tel and
Z-Tel deems ownership of such stock by the Employee to be an important
incentive and motivational factor and (ii) sale of such shares might tend to
depress the market price for shares of Z-Tel's common stock and thus be
detrimental to Z-Tel's future capital raising needs.

         NOW THEREFORE, in reliance upon the forgoing background statement,
Z-Tel and the Employee agree to the following terms and conditions.

                              TERMS AND CONDITIONS

         1.       Guaranty. Promptly after the execution of this Agreement,
Z-Tel will deposit funds in an account with Weisel in an amount equal or
exceeding the principal amount of the Loan (the "Account"). Moreover,
contemporaneously therewith Z-Tel will enter into a guaranty with Bear Stearns
& Co. (Weisel's clearing house) in substantially the same form as the Guarantee
of Account attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Guaranty"). Z-Tel will maintain
the Account and the Guaranty until March 31, 2001. Z-Tel will have no
obligation with respect to the Employee in connection with the Account or the
Guaranty beyond such date.

         2.       Promissory Note. Simultaneously with the execution of this
Agreement, the Employee will execute and deliver to Z-Tel a promissory note in
substantially the same form as the Promissory Note attached hereto as Exhibit B
(the "Note"). To the extent any funds in the Account are foreclosed upon by
Weisel to reduce or pay the Loan, such amount or amounts will be deemed
advances on the Note by Z-Tel to the Employee.

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         3.       Pledge and Security Agreement. Simultaneously with the
execution of this Agreement, the Employee will execute and deliver to Z-Tel a
pledge and security agreement in substantially the same form as the Pledge and
Security Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit C (the "Security Agreement").

         4.       Restrictive Covenant. The Employee will not engage in any
transaction that increases the balance due under the Loan, any other
indebtedness to Weisel, or any other indebtedness secured by assets of the
Employee without obtaining the prior written consent of Gregg Smith, Z-Tel's
Chief Executive Officer.

         5.       Construction. This Agreement was negotiated at arms'-length
and will not be construed more strongly against any party regardless of which
party was responsible for its preparation. Wherever from the context it appears
appropriate, each term stated in either the singular or the plural will include
the singular and the plural, and pronouns stated in the masculine, feminine or
neuter gender will include the other genders. The words "Agreement," "hereof,"
"herein" and "hereunder" and words of similar import referring to this
Agreement refer to this Agreement as a whole, including Exhibits, and not to
any particular provision of this Agreement. Whenever the word "include,"
"includes" or "including" is used in this Agreement, it will be deemed to be
followed by the words "without limitation." The various headings contained in
this Agreement are inserted only as a matter of convenience and in no way
define, limit or extend the scope or intent of any of the provisions of this
Agreement.

         6.       Legal Matters. This Agreement will be governed and
interpreted under the substantive laws of the State of Florida, without
reference to its principles of conflicts of law. Venue for the purposes of any
litigation will, at the option of Z-Tel, lie solely in the Circuit Court in and
for Hillsborough County, Florida or the United States District Court in and for
the Middle District of Florida. The parties hereby consent to the jurisdiction
of the courts of the State of Florida and to service of process by regular
mail. The costs of litigation, whether incurred at the trial or appellate level
(including attorneys' fees, court costs and the costs of experts and of
paralegal, accounting, financial and other legal and investigative support
personnel), will be borne by the non-prevailing party.

         7.       Entire Agreement. With respect to its subject matter, this
Agreement, together with any exhibits, schedules or attachments, contains the
sole and entire agreement between the parties superseding all prior discussions
and agreements between them. Except as otherwise provided herein, this
Agreement will not be modified or amended except by an instrument in writing
signed by both parties.

         8.       Survival of Warranties and Representations. The warranties
and representations in this Agreement will survive the execution of this
Agreement and continue without limitation.

         9.       Exhibits. All exhibits, schedules and other attachments to
this Agreement are hereby incorporated by this reference as integral parts of
this Agreement.

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         10.      Execution and Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
two or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, and all of
which will constitute one and the same instrument.

         11.      Binding Effect. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of the respective successors and permitted assigns of the
parties to this Agreement.

         12.      Waiver. No failure or delay on the part either party to this
Agreement in the exercise of any right, power or remedy the party may have will
operate as a waiver, nor will any single or partial exercise of any right,
power or remedy by either party preclude any other or further exercise of that
right, power or remedy or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. No
express waiver or assent by any party to any breach of or default in any term
or condition of this Agreement will constitute a waiver of or assent to any
succeeding breach of or default in the same or any other term or conditions of
this Agreement.

         13.      Time of the Essence. Time is essential to the respective
responsibilities of the parties to this Agreement.

         14.      Fax Signatures. Signed facsimile copies of this Agreement,
addenda, attachments and exhibits will legally bind the parties to the same
extent as original documents.

         15.      No Contravention. The Employee warrants and represents to
Z-Tel that the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the performance by the
Employee of his obligations under this Agreement and the exercise by the
Employee of the rights created by this Agreement do not (i) constitute a breach
of or a default under any agreement or instrument to which he is a party or by
which he or his assets are bound or (except as described in this Agreement)
result in the creation of a mortgage, security interest or other encumbrance
upon his assets; (ii) violate a judgment, decree or order of any court or
administrative tribunal which is binding on the Employee or the his assets; or
(iii) violate any Federal or state law, rule or regulation by which the
Employee is bound.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first set forth above.

                                          EMPLOYEE

                                          /s/ James A. Kitchen
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          James A. Kitchen

                                          Z-Tel Technologies, Inc.

                                          By: /s/ Mark H. Johnson
                                             ----------------------------------
                                                Mark H. Johnson, As Treasurer

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.7

         This Secured Promissory Note ("Note") has been executed and delivered
by James A. Kitchen (the "Maker") to Z-Tel Technologies, Inc. (the "Payee")
pursuant to a certain Loan and Guaranty Agreement between them of even date
herewith. Under that Agreement, Z-Tel agreed to guarantee a certain loan from
Thomas Weisel Partners ("Weisel") to the Maker (the "Loan") and to deposit
funds in an account with Weisel (the "Account") equal or greater than the
balance of the Loan. To the extent any funds in the Account are foreclosed upon
by Weisel to reduce or pay the Loan, such amount or amounts will be deemed
advances on this Note by Payee to the Maker.

                            SECURED PROMISSORY NOTE

                                                         Date: January 11, 2001

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, James A. Kitchen hereby promises
to pay to the order of Z-Tel Technologies, Inc., or the Payee's successors or
assigns, (the Payee, the Payee's successors and assigns and any holder of this
Note are collectively referred to in this Note as the "Holder"), at 601 S.
Harbour Island Boulevard, Suite 220, Tampa, Florida 33602, or such place as the
Holder of this Note may designate in writing, the principal sum of all advances
made by the Payee to the Maker, together with interest on the unpaid balance in
accordance with the following provisions:

         A.       Interest will accrue on the unpaid principal balance at an
annual rate equal to the Prime Rate plus two percent. The Prime Rate will be
the Prime Rate published from time to time by the Wall Street Journal.

         B.       Principal and accrued interest will be payable ON DEMAND.

         C.       All payments will be applied first to accrued interest due
and payable and then to principal. Interest will accrue at a rate of 1/365th of
the annual rate of interest for each day that principal is outstanding. The
Maker may prepay any portion of this Note any time without penalty or premium.
All advances will be additions to principal and will constitute a single
indebteness. No individual advance will be considered a separate loan. Rather
such advances will represent increases in the unpaid principal balance.

         D.       In the event the amount of interest due or payments in the
nature of interest exceed the maximum rate of interest allowed by applicable
law, then the excess sum, if paid, will be applied to principal. Under no
circumstances will the Maker be required to pay interest in excess of the
maximum rate allowed by law.

         E.       Time is of the essence of this Note. If the Maker fails to
make any payment when due under this Note and the failure is not cured within
ten days after notice is given to the Maker,

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or if the Maker defaults on any obligation contained in any other agreement
between the Maker and the Payee or defaults on any other indebtedness owing to
the Holder and the failure has not been cured in accordance with the other
agreement or instrument of the indebtedness, or if the Maker becomes insolvent
or bankrupt, then, at the option of the Holder, the entire unpaid balance of
principal and accrued interest will become due and payable immediately without
demand or notice.

         F.       Except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Note, the
Maker hereby waives presentment for payment, protest, grace and all notices or
demands of any kind whatsoever, including notice of dishonor or non-payment.

         G.       The Maker promises to pay all costs, including reasonable
court costs, attorneys' fees, and the costs of paralegals and other
investigative and legal support personnel, incurred by the Holder in enforcing
this Note and collecting the amounts due. All such costs will be added to a
become principal under this Note.

         H.       This obligations under this Note are further evidenced by a
certain pledge and security agreement between the Maker and the Payee. All
rights and remedies of the Holder whether evidenced by this Note or any other
document or instrument will be cumulative and may be exercised severally or
concurrently.

         I.       Every provision of this Note is intended to be severable. If
any court of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision or portion of
a provision in this Note is illegal or invalid, then the remainder of this Note
will not be affected. Moreover, any provision of this Note determined by such
court to be unreasonable, arbitrary or against public policy will be modified
as necessary so that it is not unreasonable, arbitrary or against public
policy.

         J.       A waiver by the Holder of any default or failure by the Maker
under this Note will not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other
default or failure or a waiver of the same default or failure on a future
occasion. No delay or omission by the Holder in enforcing any rights under this
Note, acceptance by the Holder of a past-due payment or the granting of any
other indulgence from time to time by the Holder will operate or be construed
as a waiver or a novation, prevent the Holder from insisting on strict
compliance with the terms of this Note or prevent the Holder from exercising
any rights granted by this Note or applicable laws. No extension of the time
for payment will operate to release, discharge, modify, change or affect the
original liability of the Maker or any person, entity or organization liable
for payment under this Note, either in whole or part, unless the Holder agrees
otherwise in writing. This Note may not be modified or amended except by a
writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of the modification or
amendment is sought.

         K.       All references to the "Maker" and the "Holder" under this
Note will be deemed to include their respective legal representatives,
administrators, executors, successors and assigns, whether arising voluntarily
or by operation of law.

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         L.       Wherever from the context it appears appropriate, each term
stated in either the singular or the plural will include the singular and the
plural and pronouns stated in the masculine, feminine or neuter gender will
include the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.

         M.       This Note will be governed by and interpreted in accordance
with the substantive laws of the State of Florida without reference to
conflicts of law. Venue for the purposes of any litigation in connection with
this Note will, at the option of the Holder, lie solely in the Circuit Court in
and for Hillsborough County, Florida or the United States District Court in and
for the Middle District of Florida. The Maker hereby consents to the
jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located in Florida, and hereby
consents to service of process by regular mail at the Maker's address set forth
below. The Maker hereby irrevocably waives all rights to demand a jury trial.

         N.       The obligations of the Maker under this Note are absolute and
unconditional and are not subject to set-off or any deductions of any kind.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF AND INTENDING TO BE LEGALLY BOUND, the undersigned
has executed effective as of the date first set forth above.

                                          MAKER:

                                          /s/ James A. Kitchen
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          James A. Kitchen

                                          215 Bolling Road,
                                          Atlanta, Georgia 30305
                                          -------------------------------------
                                                          Address

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