Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.12

[AMAZON.COM LETTERHEAD]

August 13, 1997

Mr. Richard Dalzell
2514 Orleans Drive
Rogers, AR 72758

Dear Richard:

This letter documents our revised offer and completely supersedes our letter to
you dated August 4, 1997.

On behalf of Amazon.com, Inc. (the "Company"), I am very pleased to offer you
the position of Vice President and Chief Information Officer. This letter
clarifies and confirms the terms of your employment with the Company.

START DATE AND SALARY

Unless we mutually agree otherwise, your start date will be September 2nd,
1997. Your starting salary will be $16,666.67 per month ($200,000 annualized),
payable in accordance with the Company's standard payroll practice and subject
to applicable withholding taxes.

SIGNING BONUS

You will receive a one-time signing bonus in the amount of $150,000, subject to
applicable taxes and withholdings. This bonus will be included in the first
paycheck issued to you subsequent to the beginning of your full-time
employment. If you resign from the Company prior to the first anniversary of
that start date, you will reimburse the Company for the bonus on a pro-rated
monthly basis.

RELOCATION ALLOWANCE

To help defray your relocation expenses, you will receive a relocation allowance
in the amount of $25,000, subject to applicable taxes and withholdings. This
allowance will be paid on your first day of full-time employment. In addition,
you will receive reimbursement for reasonable temporary living accommodations
for you and your family, as determined in the discretion of the Company. This
reimbursement will be taxable income and will be subject to applicable taxes
and withholdings.

STOCK GRANT

On commencement of your employment, we will recommend to the Board of Directors
of the Company that you be granted an option to purchase 125,000 shares of
Amazon.com common stock, at the fair market value per share of such stock on the
date the grant is approved by the Board of Directors. Your option will be
documented by delivery to you of a Stock Option Letter Agreement specifying the
terms and conditions of the option. Subject to approval by the Board of
Directors, the option will vest 20% after one year of employment, an additional
20% after two years of employment, and an additional 5% per quarter thereafter.

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BRIDGE LOAN

The Company will provide a bridge loan to assist you in purchasing a house in
the Seattle metropolitan area. The loan amount will be equal to the value of
your equity interest in your current residence (not to exceed $75,000) and will
be paid promptly upon your request. The loan will not bear interest, but the
imputed interest on the loan will be taxable income to you and will be subject
to applicable taxes and withholdings. The loan will have a one-year term and
will be secured by your stock option and any shares obtained through the
exercise of that option.

BENEFITS

You will also be entitled, during the term of your employment, to such
vacation, medical and other employee benefits as the Company may offer from
time to time, subject to applicable eligibility requirements. The Company does
reserve the right to make any modifications in this benefits package that it
deems appropriate. The Company's current vacation policy is to provide you with
two weeks paid vacation per year in the first year of your employment, and
three weeks per year thereafter, during the term of your employment. You are
also eligible to participate in Amazon.com's 401(k) retirement plan the first
quarter after 90 days of employment and to enroll in our major medial plan
on the first entry date after 30 days of employment

SEVERANCE PAY

If the Company terminates your employment for any reason prior to the third
anniversary of your full-time start date, you will receive a severance equal to
six times your monthly base salary at the time of termination, subject to
applicable taxes and withholdings.

EMPLOYMENT AT WILL

If you accept our offer of employment, you will be an employee-at-will, meaning
that either you or the Company may terminate our relationship at any time for
any reason, with or without cause. Any statements to the contrary that may have
been made to you, or that may be made to you, by the Company or its agents or
representatives are superseded by this offer letter.

CONFIDENTIALITY, NONCOMPETITION AND INVENTION ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT

As a condition of your employment pursuant to this offer letter, we do require
that you sign the enclosed Confidentiality, Noncompetition and Invention
Assignment Agreement. The Company's willingness to grant you the stock options
referred to above is based in significant part on your commitment to fulfill
the obligations specified in that agreement.

You should know that the agreement will significantly restrict your future
flexibility in many ways. For example, you will be unable to seek or accept
certain employment opportunities for a period of 18 months after you leave the
Company. Please review the agreement carefully and, if appropriate, have your
attorney review it as well.

ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

Your employment pursuant to this letter is also contingent upon your submitting
the legally required proof of your identity and authorization to work in the
United States.

The terms described in this letter, if you accept this offer, will be the terms
of your employment, and this letter supersedes any previous discussions or
offers. Any additions or modifications of these terms would have to be in
writing and signed by yourself and an officer of the Company.
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If you wish to accept employment with the Company, please indicate so by
signing both copies of this letter and both copies of the enclosed
Confidentiality, Noncompetition and Invention Assignment Agreement, retaining
one of each for your files and returning the other to me before August 20,
1997, upon which date this offer will expire.

We are very excited about the possibility of you joining us. I hope that you
will accept this offer and look forward to a productive and mutually beneficial
working relationship. Please let me know if I can answer any questions for you
about any of the matters outlined in this letter.

Sincerely,

/s/ JEFFREY P. BEZOS
---------------------------
    Jeffrey P. Bezos
    Chief Executive Officer
    Amazon.com, Inc.

ACCEPTANCE

I accept employment with Amazon.com, Inc. under the terms set forth in this
letter:

/s/ R. L. DALZELL                         8 / 14
--------------------               -------------------, 1997
Signature

Printed Name: R. L. Dalzell
              -------------<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.45

                                   AMENDMENT

     THIS AMENDMENT (the "Amendment"), with respect to the Credit Agreement
referred to below is entered into as of the 20th day of July, 1999, by and
among NORTHLAND CABLE PROPERTIES SIX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a limited partnership
organized under the laws of the State of Washington (the "Borrower"), the
Lenders party to such Credit Agreement (collectively, the "Lenders"), and FIRST
UNION NATIONAL BANK, a national banking association, in its capacity as
Administrative Agent for the Lenders (the "Administrative Agent").

                              STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

     The Borrower, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and First Union
Capital Markets Corp., as Arranger, are parties to a certain Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement dated as of December 31, 1997, (as previously
modified, as amended hereby and as may from time to time be further amended,
restated or otherwise modified, the "Credit Agreement"), pursuant to which the
Lenders have agreed to make, and have made, certain Loans to the Borrower.

     In order to avoid potential Events of Default the Borrower has requested
that the Lenders amend certain covenants under the Credit Agreement as more
fully described herein. The Administrative Agent and Lenders are willing to
agree to the requested amendments, but only upon the terms and conditions of
this Amendment.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual agreements
contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

     1.     Definitions.   All capitalized terms used and not defined herein
shall have the meanings given thereto in the Credit Agreement.

     2.     Amendments.

     (a)    Section 3.3 is hereby amended by deleting such section in its
entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

            "SECTION 3.3. Repayment of Term Loan. The Borrower shall repay the
     aggregate outstanding principle amount of the Term Loan in full, together
     will accrued interest thereon and any other outstanding amounts due with
     respect to the Term Loan Facility, on the Term Loan Maturity Date."

     (b)    Section 9.1 entitled "Maximum Leverage Ratio" is hereby amended by
deleting the compliance periods and corresponding ratios for such Section in
their entirety and inserting the following in lieu thereof:
<PAGE>   2
<TABLE>
     Period                                             Ratio
     ------                                         ------------
     <S>                                            <C>
     Closing Date - 09/29/98                        5.50 to 1.00
     09/30/98 and thereafter                        5.25 to 1.00
</TABLE>

     (c)    Section 9.3 entitled "Fixed Charge Ratio" is hereby amended by
deleting such Section in its entirety and inserting the following in lieu
thereof:

            "SECTION 9.3. [Reserved.]"

     (d)    Section 9.4 entitled "Maximum Capital Expenditures" is hereby
amended by deleting such section in its entirety and inserting the following in
lieu thereof:

            "SECTION 9.4. [Reserved.]"

     3.     Representations and Warranties. The Borrower hereby confirms to the
Administrative Agent and Lenders that upon the effectiveness of this Amendment,
each representation and warranty made by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
under the Loan Documents shall be true and correct as of the date hereof and
that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. The
Borrower hereby represents and warrants that as of the date hereof there are no
claims or offsets against or defenses or counterclaims to its or its
Subsidiaries' obligations under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document.

     4.     Limited Amendment. Except as expressly waived and amended herein,
the Credit Agreement and each other Loan Document shall continue to be, and
shall remain, in full force and effect. This Amendment shall not be deemed (a)
to be a waiver of, or consent to, or a modification or amendment of, any other
term or condition of the Credit Agreement or (b) to prejudice any other right
or rights which the Administrative Agent or Lenders may now have or may have in
the future under or in connection with the Credit Agreement or the Loan
Documents or any of the instruments or agreements referred to therein, as the
same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

     5.     Costs and Expenses. The Borrower agrees to pay or reimburse the
Administrative Agent for all of the reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel thereto incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation and
execution of this Amendment.

     6.     Effectiveness. This Amendment shall become effective upon receipt
by the Administrative Agent of (a) this Amendment duly executed and delivered
by the Borrower and the Required Lenders under the Credit Agreement and (b) an
amendment fee equal to $25,000, $15,000 of which fee shall be for the account
of the Administrative Agent and $10,000 of which fee shall be distributed
thereby to Bank of Montreal, Chicago Branch, for its account.

     7.     Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed by one or more of the
parties hereto in any number of separate counterparts and all of said
counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same
instrument.

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     8.   Governing Law. This Amendment shall be governed by, and construed and
interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of North Carolina,
without reference to the conflicts or choice of law principles thereof.

                            [SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

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      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be
executed and delivered under seal by their respective duly authorized officers
as of the date first above written.

                                   NORTHLAND CABLE PROPERTIES SIX
                                   LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, as Borrower
[CORPORATE SEAL]

                                   By:  Its Managing General Partner,
                                        Northland Communications Corporation

                                   By:  /s/ GARY S. JONES
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Name:  Gary S. Jones
                                               ------------------------------
                                        Title: Vice President
                                               ------------------------------

                           [SIGNATURE PAGES CONTINUE]
<PAGE>   5

                                             FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
                                             as Administrative Agent and Lender

                                             By:   /s/ MARK K. MISENHEIMER
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                  Name:  Mark K. Misenheimer
                                                       -------------------------
                                                  Title: Director
                                                        ------------------------

                           [SIGNATURE PAGES CONTINUE]
<PAGE>   6

                                             BANK OF MONTREAL, CHICAGO BRANCH,
                                             as Lender

                                             By:   /s/ KAREN KLAPPER
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                  Name:  Karen Klapper
                                                       -------------------------
                                                  Title: Director
                                                        ------------------------

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