CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES INC
10-Q, 1995-11-09
TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIOTELEPHONE)
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                                  UNITED STATES

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q


[X]      Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
         Exchange Act of 1934

                  For the quarterly period ended September 30, 1995

                                       or

[ ]      Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
         Exchange Act of 1934

                          Commission File Number:  1-7784


                       CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


           Louisiana                                        72-0651161
  (State or other jurisdiction of                        (I.R.S. Employer
   incorporation or organization)                       Identification No.)


                 100 Century Park Drive, Monroe, Louisiana 71203
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (318) 388-9500

       Indicate by check mark whether the  registrant  (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934  during  the  preceding  12 months  (or for such  shorter  period  that the
registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.

                                                      [X] Yes          [ ] No


      As of October 31,  1995,  there were  59,031,773  shares of common  stock
outstanding.






<PAGE>




                       CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS



                                                                    Page No.
                                                                    --------
Part I.  Financial Information:

     Consolidated Statements of Income--Three Months and Nine 
      Months Ended September 30, 1995 and 1994..................       3

     Consolidated Balance Sheets--September 30, 1995 and
      December 31, 1994.........................................       4

     Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity--
      Nine Months Ended September 30, 1995 and 1994.............       5

     Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows--
      Nine Months Ended September 30, 1995 and 1994.............       6

     Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.................      7-8

     Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
      Condition and Results of Operations.......................     9-19

Part II. Other Information:

     Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K...........................       20

Signature.......................................................       21

Index to Exhibits...............................................       22


                                        2


<PAGE>



                          PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

                       CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.
                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                   (UNAUDITED)

 
                                      Three months            Nine months
                                   ended September 30      ended September 30
                                   ------------------      ------------------
                                    1995        1994        1995        1994
                                   ------      ------      ------      ------
                                         (Dollars, except per share
                                            amounts, and shares
                                           expressed in thousands)

OPERATING REVENUES              
   Telephone                     $105,918      99,487     308,051     286,226
   Mobile Communications           53,204      42,028     143,230     109,149
                                 --------    --------    --------    --------
     Total operating revenues     159,122     141,515     451,281     395,375
                                 --------    --------    --------    --------

OPERATING EXPENSES
   Cost of sales and
     operating expenses            75,220      70,519     218,488     202,413
   Depreciation and
     amortization                  28,830      25,215      81,353      69,582
                                 --------    --------    --------    --------
     Total operating expenses     104,050      95,734     299,841     271,995
                                 --------    --------    --------    --------

OPERATING INCOME                   55,072      45,781     151,440     123,380
                                 --------    --------    --------    --------

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
   Interest expense               (10,924)    (11,513)    (32,771)    (30,839)
   Income from unconsolidated
     cellular entities              6,602       4,604      14,700      10,579
   Gain on sales of assets              -           -       5,909           -
   Minority interest               (2,440)     (1,461)     (6,281)     (3,016)
   Other income and expense         2,470       2,378       5,445       4,062
                                 --------    --------    --------    --------
     Total other income
        (expense)                  (4,292)     (5,992)    (12,998)    (19,214)
                                 --------    --------    --------    --------

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX
  EXPENSE                          50,780      39,789     138,442     104,166

Income tax expense                 18,900      15,176      53,395      38,867
                                 --------    --------    --------    --------

NET INCOME                       $ 31,880      24,613      85,047      65,299
                                 ========    ========    ========    ========

PRIMARY EARNINGS PER SHARE       $    .54         .46        1.47        1.22
                                 ========    ========    ========    ========

FULLY DILUTED EARNINGS PER
  SHARE                          $    .54         .44        1.46        1.18
                                 ========    ========    ========    ========

DIVIDENDS PER COMMON SHARE       $  .0825       .0800       .2475       .2400
                                 ========    ========    ========    ========

AVERAGE PRIMARY SHARES
  OUTSTANDING                      58,734      53,583      57,790      53,299
                                 ========    ========    ========    ========

AVERAGE FULLY DILUTED SHARES
  OUTSTANDING                      59,193      58,332      58,812      58,016
                                 ========    ========    ========    ========


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                        3


<PAGE>




                       CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                   (UNAUDITED)

                                                 September 30,      December 31,
                                                     1995               1994
                                                 ------------       ------------

                                                     (Dollars in thousands)

ASSETS                                                                          
- ------

CURRENT ASSETS
   Cash and cash equivalents                      $   10,026           7,154
   Accounts receivable
      Customers, less allowance for doubtful
        accounts of $2,459 and $2,360                 48,988          40,824
      Other                                           24,083          23,180
   Materials and supplies, at average cost             5,961           7,090
   Other                                               4,939           2,980
                                                  ----------      ----------
                                                      93,997          81,228
                                                  ----------      ----------

NET PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT                  1,025,136         947,131
                                                  ----------      ----------

INVESTMENTS AND OTHER ASSETS
   Excess cost of net assets acquired,
     less accumulated amortization of
     $49,543 and $40,756                             498,472         441,436
   Other                                             197,036         173,458
                                                  ----------      ----------
                                                     695,508         614,894
                                                  ----------      ----------

                                                  $1,814,641       1,643,253
                                                  ==========      ==========   
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
- ----------------------

CURRENT LIABILITIES
   Current maturities of long-term debt           $   43,059          12,718
   Notes payable                                      15,199         158,000
   Accounts payable                                   56,606          52,331
   Accrued expenses and other liabilities
      Salaries and benefits                           16,476          17,884
      Taxes                                           25,515          16,530
      Interest                                         8,534           8,243
      Other                                            4,678           9,237
   Advance billings and customer deposits             12,895          11,725
                                                  ----------      ----------
                                                     182,962         286,668
                                                  ----------      ----------

LONG-TERM DEBT                                       570,003         518,603
                                                  ----------      ----------

DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER LIABILITIES               203,159         187,746
                                                  ----------      ----------

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
   Common stock, $1.00 par value, authorized
     175,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding
     59,026,020 and 53,574,361 shares                 59,026          53,574
   Paid-in capital                                   449,364         319,235
   Retained earnings                                 362,569         291,999
   Unearned ESOP shares                              (14,710)        (16,840)
   Preferred stock - non-redeemable                    2,268           2,268
                                                  ----------      ----------
                                                     858,517         650,236
                                                  ----------      ----------
                                                  $1,814,641       1,643,253
                                                  ==========      ==========

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                        4


<PAGE>



                       CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                   (UNAUDITED)

                                                               Nine months
                                                           ended September 30
                                                          --------------------
                                                            1995        1994
                                                          --------    --------
                                                         (Dollars in thousands)

COMMON STOCK
   Balance at beginning of period                         $ 53,574      51,295
   Issuance of common stock for acquisitions                   577       2,000
   Issuance of common stock through conversion
     of debentures                                           4,540           -
   Issuance of common stock through dividend
     reinvestment, incentive and benefit plans                 335         126
   Conversion of preferred stock into common stock               -           2
                                                          --------    --------

   Balance at end of period                                 59,026      53,423
                                                          --------    --------

PAID-IN CAPITAL
   Balance at beginning of period                          319,235     262,294
   Issuance of common stock for acquisitions                15,981      50,311
   Issuance of common stock through conversion
     of debentures                                         108,596           -
   Issuance of common stock through dividend
     reinvestment, incentive and benefit plans               4,566       2,451
   Amortization of unearned compensation and other             986         588
   Conversion of preferred stock into common stock               -          52
                                                          --------    --------

   Balance at end of period                                449,364     315,696
                                                          --------    --------

RETAINED EARNINGS
   Balance at beginning of period                          291,999     208,945
   Net income                                               85,047      65,299
   Cash dividends declared
     Common stock-$.2475 and $.2400 per share,
        respectively                                       (14,385)    (12,800)
      Preferred stock                                          (92)        (70)
                                                          --------    --------

   Balance at end of period                                362,569     261,374
                                                          --------    --------

UNEARNED ESOP SHARES
   Balance at beginning of period                          (16,840)     (9,220)
   Commitment to ESOP                                            -     (10,000)
   Release of ESOP shares                                    2,130       1,630
                                                          --------    --------

   Balance at end of period                                (14,710)    (17,590)
                                                          --------    --------

PREFERRED STOCK - NON-REDEEMABLE
   Balance at beginning of period                            2,268         454
   Issuance of preferred stock for acquisition                   -       1,875
   Conversion of preferred stock into common stock               -         (54)
                                                          --------    --------

   Balance at end of period                                  2,268       2,275
                                                          --------    --------

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                                $858,517     615,178
                                                          ========    ========

                                                   

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


                                        5


<PAGE>



                       CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (UNAUDITED)

                                                             Nine months
                                                         ended September 30
                                                         ------------------
                                                          1995        1994
                                                         ------      ------
                                                       (Dollars in thousands)
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
   Net income                                           $ 85,047      65,299
   Adjustments to reconcile net income to
     net cash provided by operating activities:
      Depreciation and amortization                       88,482      76,264
      Deferred income taxes                                4,481      (5,602)
      Income from unconsolidated cellular
        entities                                         (14,700)    (10,579)
      Gain on sales of assets                             (5,909)          -
      Changes in current assets and current
        liabilities:
         Increase in accounts receivable                  (8,968)     (1,070)
         Increase (decrease) in accounts payable           3,933      (4,504)
         Increase in other accrued taxes                   8,892      18,525
         Changes in other current assets and other
           current liabilities, net                       (3,700)      6,594
      Increase in other noncurrent liabilities            10,983       7,948
      Other, net                                             864         691
                                                        --------    --------

         Net cash provided by operating
           activities                                    169,405     153,566
                                                        --------    --------

INVESTING ACTIVITIES
   Payments for property, plant and equipment           (143,551)   (147,352)
   Acquisitions, net of cash acquired                    (21,906)    (54,899)
   Proceeds from sales of assets                          17,922           -
   Investments in unconsolidated cellular
     entities                                             (7,786)     (1,652)
   Distributions from unconsolidated cellular
     entities                                              3,048       3,950
   Purchase of life insurance investment                  (6,417)     (7,664)
   Note receivable                                           416     (25,000)
   Other, net                                             (1,713)       (416)
                                                        --------    --------

         Net cash used in investing activities          (159,987)   (233,033)
                                                        --------    --------

FINANCING ACTIVITIES
   Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt               31,487     185,472
   Payments of long-term debt                            (16,576)    (90,731)
   Notes payable, net                                    (12,000)      1,000
   Proceeds from issuance of common stock                  4,901       2,578
   Cash dividends                                        (14,477)    (12,870)
   Other, net                                                119       1,237
                                                        --------    --------

         Net cash provided by (used in)
           financing activities                           (6,546)     86,686
                                                        --------    --------

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                  2,872       7,219

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
  of period                                                7,154       9,777
                                                        --------    --------

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period              $ 10,026      16,996
                                                        ========    ========

Supplemental cash flow information:

 Income taxes paid                                      $ 45,884      26,686
                                                        ========    ========

 Interest paid                                          $ 32,480      28,024
                                                        ========    ========

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                        6


<PAGE>




                       CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                               September 30, 1995
                                   (UNAUDITED)


(1)  Basis of Financial Reporting

     Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial
statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting  principles
have  been  condensed  or  omitted  pursuant  to rules  and  regulations  of the
Securities  and  Exchange   Commission;   however,   the  Company  believes  the
disclosures  which are made are adequate to make the  information  presented not
misleading.  The financial  statements and footnotes  included in this Form 10-Q
should be read in  conjunction  with the financial  statements and notes thereto
included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1994.  Certain 1994 amounts have been reclassified to be consistent with the
1995 presentation.

     The unaudited  financial  information  for the three months and nine months
ended  September  30, 1995 and 1994 has not been audited by  independent  public
accountants;  however,  in the opinion of  management,  all  adjustments  (which
include  only normal  recurring  adjustments)  necessary  to present  fairly the
results of  operations  for the  three-month  and  nine-month  periods have been
included  therein.  The results of  operations  for the first nine months of the
year are not necessarily  indicative of the results of operations which might be
expected for the entire year.

(2)  Net Property, Plant and Equipment

     Net property, plant and equipment is composed of the following:

                                          September 30,       December 31,
                                              1995                1994
                                          -------------      -------------  
                                               (Dollars in thousands)

   Telephone, at original cost             $1,176,568           1,076,496
   Accumulated depreciation                  (343,707)           (295,255)
                                           ----------          ----------
                                              832,861             781,241
                                           ----------          ----------

   Mobile Communications, at cost             180,298             152,305
   Accumulated depreciation                   (49,946)            (38,552)
                                           ----------          ----------
                                              130,352             113,753
                                           ----------          ----------

   Other, at cost                             100,385              85,406
   Accumulated depreciation                   (38,462)            (33,269)
                                           ----------          ----------
                                               61,923              52,137
                                           ----------          ----------

                                           $1,025,136             947,131
                                           ==========          ==========

(3)  Conversion of Debentures

     In  February  1995  all  $115.0  million  of  Century's  outstanding  6%
convertible  debentures due 2007 were converted into Century common stock by the
debenture holders at a conversion price of $25.33 per share.


                                        7


<PAGE>




                       CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                               September 30, 1995
                                   (UNAUDITED)


(4)  Earnings from Unconsolidated Cellular Entities

     The following summarizes the unaudited combined results of operations of
the cellular  entities in which the Company's  investments  (as of September 30,
1995 and 1994) were accounted for by the equity method.

                                         Nine months
                                     ended September 30
                                     ------------------
                                       1995       1994
                                     --------   --------
                                   (Dollars in thousands)

Results of operations
   Revenues                          $536,296   238,388
   Operating income                  $187,179    65,944
   Net income                        $188,536    64,905

(5)  Sales of Assets 

     In the first  quarter of 1995 the  Company  sold,  for an  aggregate  of
approximately   $17.9   million  cash,   its  ownership   interests  in  certain
non-strategic  cellular RSAs located primarily in western states and two MSAs in
the midwest, which represented an aggregate of approximately 253,000 pops. These
transactions  resulted in a pre-tax gain of $5.9  million  ($2.0  million  after
tax).

(6)  Long-term Debt

     Short-term  borrowings of $145.0 million at September 30, 1995 have been
classified as long-term  debt on the  accompanying  balance sheet as the Company
has available $145.0 million in long-term revolving credit facilities amended or
entered into subsequent to September 30, 1995.


                                        8


<PAGE>

                       CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.
                     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                  FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


     Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations  ("MD&A") included herein should be read in conjunction with MD&A and
the other  information  included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1994. The results of operations for the three months
and/or nine months ended  September 30, 1995 are not  necessarily  indicative of
the results of operations which might be expected for the entire year.

                              RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

                 Three Months Ended September 30, 1995 Compared
                    to Three Months Ended September 30, 1994

     Net income  for the third  quarter of 1995 was $31.9  million  compared  to
$24.6 million during the third quarter of 1994, a 29.5%  increase.  The increase
was  principally due to a $9.3 million  increase in operating  income and a $2.0
million increase in income from  unconsolidated  cellular  entities,  which were
partially offset by a $3.7 million increase in income tax expense and a $979,000
increase in minority  interest.  Fully diluted  earnings per share  increased to
$.54 for the three  months ended  September  30, 1995 from $.44 during the three
months ended September 30, 1994, a 22.7% increase.

                                                     Three months
                                                  ended September 30
                                                  ------------------
                                                    1995      1994
                                                  --------  -------- 
                                               (Dollars in thousands,
                                              except per share amounts)

Operating income                              
   Telephone                                      $36,555    33,740
   Mobile Communications                           18,517    12,041
                                                  -------   -------
                                                   55,072    45,781

Interest expense                                  (10,924)  (11,513)
Income from unconsolidated cellular entities        6,602     4,604
Minority interest                                  (2,440)   (1,461)
Other income and expense                            2,470     2,378
Income tax expense                                (18,900)  (15,176)
                                                  -------   -------

Net income                                        $31,880    24,613
                                                  =======   =======

Fully diluted earnings per share                  $   .54       .44
                                                  =======   =======

     Contributions  to operating  revenues and operating income by the Company's
telephone operations and mobile  communications  operations for the three months
ended September 30, 1995 and 1994 were as follows:

                                                     Three months
                                                  ended September 30
                                                  ------------------
                                                    1995      1994
                                                  --------  --------

Operating revenues
   Telephone operations                             66.6%     70.3
   Mobile Communications operations                 33.4%     29.7

Operating income
   Telephone operations                             66.4%     73.7
   Mobile Communications operations                 33.6%     26.3
                                                       

                                       9


<PAGE>


                                  
Telephone Operations
                                                      Three months
                                                   ended September 30
                                                   ------------------ 
                                                     1995      1994
                                                   --------  --------
                                                 (Dollars in thousands)
Operating revenues
   Local service                                   $28,455    26,192
   Network access and
     long distance                                  65,596    61,614
   Other                                            11,867    11,681
                                                   -------   -------
                                                   105,918    99,487
                                                   -------   -------
Operating expenses
   Plant operations                                 21,801    22,031
   Customer operations                               9,759     8,870
   Corporate and other                              15,426    15,331
   Depreciation and amortization                    22,377    19,515
                                                   -------   -------
                                                    69,363    65,747
                                                   -------   -------

Operating income                                   $36,555    33,740
                                                   =======   =======

     Telephone operating income increased $2.8 million (8.3%) due to an increase
in operating  revenues of $6.4 million (6.5%) which more than offset an increase
in operating expenses of $3.6 million (5.5%).

     The increase in revenues was primarily  due to a $1.4 million  contribution
to revenues from a local exchange  telephone  company  acquired during the first
quarter of 1995; a $1.8 million increase in local service revenues, primarily as
a result of an  increase  in the number of  customer  access  lines;  and a $1.5
million  increase  in revenues  based on minutes of use, of which  approximately
$1.0  million  was  associated  with a change in the  method  used to  calculate
factors applied in the network access revenue billing process.

     During  the  third  quarter  of  1995,  operating  expenses,  exclusive  of
depreciation and amortization, were $754,000 (1.6%) higher than during the third
quarter  of 1994.  The  increase  was  primarily  due to $1.0  million  of added
expenses  resulting from the acquisition of a local exchange  telephone  company
and  an  $800,000   increase  in  marketing   expenses.   Such   increases  were
significantly offset by reductions in various operating costs, including
certain network and maintenance costs.

     Depreciation and amortization increased $2.9 million (14.7%) which included
$1.2  million of  depreciation  due to higher  recurring  rates or  nonrecurring
depreciation  charges  which  have  been  approved  or are  anticipated  will be
approved  in  1995  for  certain   subsidiaries.   The  remaining   increase  in
depreciation and amortization was primarily due to higher levels of plant in
service.

Mobile Communications Operations
                                                          Three months
                                                       ended September 30
                                                       ------------------  
                                                         1995      1994
                                                       --------  --------
                                                     (Dollars in thousands)
Operating revenues
  Cellular service                                     $51,858    39,611
  Equipment and other                                    1,346     2,417
                                                       -------   -------
                                                        53,204    42,028
                                                       -------   -------
Operating expenses
  Cost of sales and other operating expenses             8,914     8,142
  General, administrative and customer
    service                                             10,072     8,678
  Sales and marketing                                    9,248     7,467
  Depreciation and amortization                          6,453     5,700
                                                       -------   -------
                                                        34,687    29,987
                                                       -------   -------

Operating income                                       $18,517    12,041
                                                       =======   =======

                                       10


<PAGE>



     The mobile  communications  operating income reflects the operations of the
cellular  entities in which the Company owns a majority  interest.  The minority
interest  owners'  share of the income or loss of such  entities  ($2.4  million
during the third  quarter of 1995 and $1.5 million  during the third  quarter of
1994) is  reflected  as an  expense  in  "Minority  interest"  on the  Company's
consolidated  statements of income.  The Company's  share of income or loss from
the  cellular  entities  in which it owns less than a  majority  interest  ($6.6
million during the three months ended September 30, 1995 and $4.6 million during
the three  months  ended  September  30,  1994) is  reflected  as  "Income  from
unconsolidated  cellular entities" on the Company's  consolidated  statements of
income.

     Mobile  communications  operating  income increased $6.5 million (53.8%) to
$18.5  million  in the third  quarter  of 1995 from  $12.0  million in the third
quarter  of 1994.  Mobile  communications  operating  revenues  increased  $11.2
million (26.6%) which more than offset an increase in operating expenses of $4.7
million (15.7%).

     The  increase in cellular  service  revenues was  substantially  due to the
increase in the number of  cellular  units in  service.  The  average  number of
cellular units in service in majority-owned  markets during the third quarter of
1995 and 1994 was 250,000 and 182,000, respectively.  Cellular entities acquired
during the third quarter of 1995 contributed $1.4 million of service revenues.

     The average monthly cellular  service revenue per customer  declined to $69
during the third  quarter of 1995 from $73 during the third  quarter of 1994. It
has been an  industry-wide  trend that early  subscribers have normally been the
heaviest  users and that a higher  percent of new  subscribers  tend to be lower
usage  customers.  The average  monthly service revenue per customer may further
decline (i) as market penetration increases and additional lower usage customers
are activated and (ii) as competitive  pressures intensify and continue to place
downward  pressure  on rates.  The  Company is  responding  to such  competitive
pressures  by,  among  other  things,  modifying  certain of its price plans and
implementing  certain  other  plans and  promotions,  all of which may result in
lower  average  revenue  per  customer.  The Company  will  continue to focus on
customer  service and  attempt to  stimulate  cellular  usage by  promoting  the
availability  of certain  enhanced  services and by improving the quality of its
service through the  construction  of additional cell sites and  enhancements to
its system.

     Equipment  and other  revenues  decreased to $1.3 million  during the third
quarter  of  1995  from  $2.4  million   during  the  third   quarter  of  1994,
substantially  because the third quarter of 1994  included  $887,000 of revenues
applicable to the Company's  paging  operations which were sold in October 1994.
Revenues  from the sale of  cellular  phones  decreased  $187,000  in the  third
quarter of 1995 compared to the third quarter of 1994. Although the Company sold
more  phones in the third  quarter  of 1995 than in the third  quarter  of 1994,
revenues  decreased  because the Company has begun to sell phones  below cost, a
strategy which is common in the cellular industry.

     Cost of sales and other operating expenses during the third quarter of 1995
increased  $772,000 primarily due to costs incurred in connection with providing
service to a larger  number of customers,  including  costs related to operating
additional cell sites placed in service.

     General,  administrative  and  customer  service  expenses  increased  $1.4
million  primarily  due to costs  associated  with  serving  a larger  number of
customers.

                                       11

<PAGE>


     Sales  and  marketing  costs  increased  $1.8  million  primarily  due to a
$900,000  increase  in  commissions  paid to agents and  employees  for  selling
cellular service to new customers and a $400,000  increase in the costs of sales
promotions.

     Depreciation and amortization increased $753,000 (13.2%) due primarily to a
higher level of plant in service.

Interest Expense

     Interest expense decreased $589,000 (5.1%) during the third quarter of 1995
compared  to the third  quarter  of 1994.  Average  debt  outstanding  decreased
primarily due to the conversion of $115.0  million of 6% convertible  debentures
into common stock in February 1995. The resulting  decrease in interest  expense
was  substantially  offset by an increase in interest  expense  caused by higher
average interest rates.

Income from Unconsolidated Cellular Entities

     Earnings from unconsolidated  cellular entities, net of the amortization of
associated  goodwill,  was $6.6  million in the third quarter of 1995 and $4.6
million in the third quarter of 1994.  This increase was due to  improvement  in
profitability  of the  cellular  entities in which the Company  owns less than a
majority interest.

Minority Interest

     The  increased  profitability  during  the  third  quarter  of  1995 of the
Company's   majority-owned   and  operated   cellular  entities  resulted  in  a
corresponding  increase of  $979,000  in the expense  recorded by the Company to
reflect the minority interest owners' share of the profits.

Income Tax Expense

     Income tax expense  increased $3.7 million (24.5%) during the third quarter
of 1995 compared to the third  quarter of 1994  primarily due to the increase in
income before taxes.


                                       12

<PAGE>




                  Nine Months Ended September 30, 1995 Compared
                     to Nine Months Ended September 30, 1994

     Net  income  for the first  nine  months of 1995  increased  $19.7  million
(30.2%) to $85.0  million  from $65.3  million  during the first nine  months of
1994. The increase was principally due to a $28.1 million  increase in operating
income  (of  which  $20.7  million  was  applicable  to  the  Company's   mobile
communications   operations),   a  $4.1   million   increase   in  income   from
unconsolidated  cellular entities and a $5.9 million pre-tax gain on the sale of
certain  non-strategic  cellular  entities,   which  were  partially  offset  by
increases in income tax expense and minority  interest of $14.5 million and $3.3
million,  respectively.  Fully diluted earnings per share increased to $1.46 for
the nine months ended September 30, 1995 from $1.18 during the nine months ended
September 30, 1994, a 23.7% increase.

                                                        Nine months
                                                     ended September 30
                                                     ------------------
                                                       1995      1994
                                                     --------  --------         
                                                   (Dollars in thousands,
                                                 except per share amounts)
Operating income                             
   Telephone                                        $105,925    98,526
   Mobile Communications                              45,515    24,854
                                                    --------  --------
                                                     151,440   123,380

Interest expense                                     (32,771)  (30,839)
Income from unconsolidated cellular entities          14,700    10,579
Gain on sales of assets                                5,909         -
Minority interest                                     (6,281)   (3,016)
Other income and expense                               5,445     4,062
Income tax expense                                   (53,395)  (38,867)
                                                    --------  --------

Net income                                          $ 85,047    65,299
                                                    ========  ========

Fully diluted earnings per share                    $   1.46      1.18
                                                    ========  ========

     Contributions  to operating  revenues and operating income by the Company's
telephone  operations and mobile  communications  operations for the nine months
ended September 30, 1995 and 1994 were as follows:

                                                      Nine months
                                                   ended September 30
                                                   ------------------
                                                     1995      1994
                                                   --------  --------
Operating revenues
   Telephone operations                              68.3%     72.4
   Mobile Communications operations                  31.7%     27.6

Operating income
   Telephone operations                              69.9%     79.9
   Mobile Communications operations                  30.1%     20.1



                                       13

<PAGE>



Telephone Operations               
                                                     Nine months
                                                 ended September 30
                                                 ------------------             
                                                   1995      1994
                                                 --------  --------
                                               (Dollars in thousands)
Operating revenues
   Local service                                $ 82,933    73,664
   Network access and
     long distance                               189,752   179,539
   Other                                          35,366    33,023
                                                --------   -------
                                                 308,051   286,226
                                                --------   -------

Operating expenses
   Plant operations                               64,475    63,621
   Customer operations                            28,849    25,734
   Corporate and other                            45,546    44,019
   Depreciation and amortization                  63,256    54,326
                                                --------  --------
                                                 202,126   187,700
                                                --------   -------

Operating income                                $105,925    98,526
                                                ========  ========

     Telephone operating income increased $7.4 million (7.5%) due to an increase
in operating revenues of $21.8 million (7.6%) which more than offset an increase
in operating expenses of $14.4 million (7.7%).

     The increase in revenues was  primarily  due to a $3.8 million  increase in
amounts received from the Federal  Communications  Commission mandated Universal
Service  Fund; a $5.1 million  contribution  to revenues  from a local  exchange
telephone  company acquired in early 1995; $2.9 million from increased rates for
basic services in one jurisdiction  which was partially offset by a $1.7 million
decrease in intrastate high cost assistance revenues; a $3.4 million increase in
revenues as a result of an increase in the number of customer access lines; $2.0
million  due to an  increase  in  revenues  based on  minutes  of use,  of which
approximately  $1.0 million was  associated  with a change in the method used to
calculate  factors applied in the network access revenue billing process;  and a
$2.1 million  increase in the partial recovery of increased  operating  expenses
through  revenue pools in which the Company  participates  with other  telephone
companies.  Annualized  internal access line growth during the first nine months
of 1995 was 5.0%.

     During the first nine  months of 1995,  operating  expenses,  exclusive  of
depreciation  and  amortization,  increased $5.5 million (4.1%) partially due to
$3.2 million of added expenses  which  resulted from the  acquisition of a local
exchange telephone company;  $2.0 million due to increased  marketing  expenses;
and a $1.2 million  increase in ad valorem taxes  resulting from the increase in
telephone plant and equipment. In addition,  operating expenses during the first
nine months of 1994  included a $1.1 million  reduction in expenses  recorded in
the second  quarter of 1994 due to a reduction in the  Company's  liability  for
long-term  disability.  Such increases  were  partially  offset by reductions in
various operating costs, including certain maintenance and consulting costs.

     Depreciation and amortization increased $8.9 million (16.4%) which included
$3.6  million of  depreciation  due to higher  recurring  rates or  nonrecurring
depreciation  charges  which  have  been  approved  or are  anticipated  will be
approved  in  1995  for  certain   subsidiaries.   The  remaining   increase  in
depreciation  and  amortization  was  primarily due to higher levels of plant in
service.

                                       14

<PAGE>

Mobile Communications Operations                           Nine months
                                                       ended September 30
                                                       ------------------ 
                                                         1995      1994
                                                       --------  --------
                                                    (Dollars in thousands)
Operating revenues
  Cellular service                                    $139,101   101,640
  Equipment and other                                    4,129     7,509
                                                      --------  --------
                                                       143,230   109,149
                                                      --------  --------

Operating expenses
  Cost of sales and other operating expenses            26,026    22,639
  General, administrative and customer service          27,920    24,361
  Sales and marketing                                   25,672    22,039
  Depreciation and amortization                         18,097    15,256
                                                      --------   -------
                                                        97,715    84,295
                                                      --------  --------
Operating income                                      $ 45,515    24,854
                                                      ========  ========

     The mobile  communications  operating income reflects the operations of the
cellular entities in which the Company owns a majority interest and includes the
operations  of  Celutel,  Inc.  ("Celutel")  subsequent  to its  acquisition  in
February 1994. The minority interest owners' share of the income or loss of such
entities  ($6.3  million  during the first nine months of 1995 and $3.0  million
during the first nine months of 1994) is  reflected  as an expense in  "Minority
interest" on the  Company's  consolidated  statements  of income.  The Company's
share of income or loss from the cellular  entities in which it owns less than a
majority  interest ($14.7 million and $10.6 million during the nine months ended
September  30,  1995 and  1994,  respectively)  is  reflected  as  "Income  from
unconsolidated  cellular entities" on the Company's  consolidated  statements of
income.

     Mobile  communications  operating income increased $20.7 million (83.1%) to
$45.5  million in the first nine months of 1995 from $24.9  million in the first
nine months of 1994. Mobile  communications  operating  revenues increased $34.1
million  (31.2%)  which more than offset an increase  in  operating  expenses of
$13.4 million (15.9%).

     The  increase in cellular  service  revenues was  substantially  due to the
increase in the number of  cellular  units in  service.  The  average  number of
cellular units in service in majority-owned markets during the first nine months
of 1995 and 1994 was 233,000 and 162,000, respectively.

     The average monthly cellular  service revenue per customer  declined to $66
during  the first nine  months of 1995 from $70 during the first nine  months of
1994. It has been an  industry-wide  trend that early  subscribers have normally
been the heaviest users and that a higher percent of new subscribers  tend to be
lower usage  customers.  The average  monthly  service  revenue per customer may
further decline (i) as market  penetration  increases and additional lower usage
customers are activated and (ii) as competitive pressures intensify and continue
to  place  downward  pressure  on  rates.  The  Company  is  responding  to such
competitive  pressures  by, among other things,  modifying  certain of its price
plans and  implementing  certain  other plans and  promotions,  all of which may
result in lower average revenue per customer. The Company will continue to focus
on customer  service and attempt to stimulate  cellular  usage by promoting  the
availability  of certain  enhanced  services and by improving the quality of its
service through the  construction  of additional cell sites and  enhancements to
its system.

                                       15


<PAGE>



     Equipment and other revenues  decreased $3.4 million to $4.1 million during
the nine months ended  September  30, 1995  compared to $7.5 million  during the
nine months ended  September 30, 1994. The nine months ended  September 30, 1994
included $2.8 million of revenues  applicable to the Company's paging operations
which were sold in  October  1994.  Revenues  from the sale of  cellular  phones
decreased  $615,000  during the first nine months of 1995  compared to the first
nine months of 1994.  Although  the  Company  sold more phones in the first nine
months of 1995 than in the first nine months of 1994, revenues decreased because
the Company has begun to sell phones below cost,  a strategy  which is common in
the cellular industry.

     Cost of sales and other operating  expenses during the first nine months of
1995 increased $3.4 million substantially as a result of a $1.2 million increase
in cost of sales  caused  by an  increase  in the  number of  phones  sold.  The
remaining  increase  was  primarily  due to costs  incurred in  connection  with
providing  service to a larger number of customers,  including  costs related to
operating additional cell sites placed in service.

     General,  administrative  and  customer  service  expenses  increased  $3.6
million  primarily due to the costs  associated  with serving a larger number of
customers.

     Sales and marketing expenses increased $3.6 million primarily due to a $2.2
million  increase  in  commissions  paid to agents  and  employees  for  selling
cellular  service to new customers.  The remainder of the increase was primarily
due to costs of sales promotions.

     Depreciation and amortization  increased $2.8 million (18.6%) due primarily
to a higher level of plant in service.

Interest Expense

     Interest expense increased $1.9 million (6.3%) during the first nine months
of 1995 compared to the first nine months of 1994 primarily due to the effect of
higher average  interest rates which  increased  interest  expense $5.0 million.
Such increase was substantially  offset by a decrease in interest expense due to
a decrease in average debt outstanding. The decrease in average debt outstanding
was  principally  due to the  conversion  of $115.0  million  of 6%  convertible
debentures into common stock in February 1995.

Income from Unconsolidated Cellular Entities

     Earnings from unconsolidated  cellular entities, net of the amortization of
associated goodwill, increased $4.1 million (39.0%) during the first nine months
of 1995  compared  to the  first  nine  months  of 1994  due to  improvement  in
profitability  of the  cellular  entities in which the Company  owns less than a
majority interest. During the first nine months of 1995, the Company recorded an
$800,000 reduction in earnings from unconsolidated cellular entities as a result
of a multi-year  retroactive  adjustment  recorded by the operator of a cellular
partnership in which the Company owns less than a majority interest.

Gain on Sales of Assets

     During the first quarter of 1995, the Company sold its ownership  interests
in certain  non-strategic  cellular entities which resulted in a pre-tax gain of
$5.9  million  ($2.0  million  after-tax;  $.03 per fully  diluted  share).  For
additional   information,   see  Note  5  of  Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial
Statements.


                                  16

<PAGE>

Minority Interest

     The increased profitability during the first nine  months of 1995 of the
Company's   majority-owned   and  operated   cellular  entities  resulted  in  a
corresponding increase of $3.3 million in the expense recorded by the Company to
reflect the minority interest owners' share of the profits.

Other Income and Expense

     Other income and expense for the first nine months of 1995 was $5.4 million
compared to $4.1 million during the first nine months of 1994.  Interest  income
increased  $995,000 in the first nine months of 1995 due to interest income on a
$25.0 million note receivable issued to Century in May 1994.

Income Tax Expense

     Income tax expense  increased  $14.5 million  (37.4%) during the first nine
months of 1995  compared to the first nine months of 1994  primarily  due to the
32.9%  increase in income  before taxes.  The effective  income tax rate for the
first nine months of 1995 increased  primarily because of the income tax expense
attributable to the gain on sales of assets during the first quarter of 1995.

                         LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

     Excluding cash used for  acquisitions,  the Company relies on cash provided
by operations to provide a substantial  portion of its cash needs. The Company's
telephone  operations  have  historically  provided a stable source of cash flow
which  has  helped  the  Company  continue  its  long-term  program  of  capital
improvements.  Cash provided by mobile  communications  operations has increased
each year since that segment became cash-flow positive in 1991.

     Net cash provided by operating  activities  was $169.4  million  during the
first  nine  months of 1995  compared  to $153.6  million  during the first nine
months of 1994. The Company's accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows
identify major differences between net income and net cash provided by operating
activities for each of these periods. For additional information relating to the
telephone  operations and mobile  communications  operations of the Company, see
Results of Operations.

     Net cash used in investing activities was $160.0 million and $233.0 million
for the nine months ended September 30, 1995 and 1994,  respectively.  Cash used
in  connection  with the  acquisitions  of certain  cellular  entities was $21.9
million during the first nine months of 1995;  cash used in connection  with the
acquisition  of Celutel  during the first nine months of 1994 was $54.9 million.
Payments for property,  plant and equipment  were $3.8 million less in the first
nine  months  of  1995  than  in the  comparable  period  during  1994.  Capital
expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 1995 were $98.0 million for
telephone  operations,  $30.0 million for mobile  communications  operations and
$16.3  million  for other  operations.  The  $160.0  million of net cash used in
investing  activities in 1995 was net of $17.9 million of proceeds from the sale
of certain cellular entities. In connection with the corporate  restructuring of
a local exchange  telephone company that has been viewed from time to time as an
acquisition candidate,  Century loaned the telephone company's then-newly-formed
parent company $25.0 million in May 1994.

                                       17
<PAGE>

     Net cash used in financing  activities  was $6.5  million  during the first
nine months of 1995; net cash provided by financing activities was $86.7 million
during the first nine months of 1995. Net  borrowings,  including  notes payable
and  long-term  debt,  were $2.9  million  during the first nine  months of 1995
compared to $95.7 million during the first nine months of 1994. During the first
nine  months  of  1994,  the  Company  filed  a  shelf  registration   statement
registering  $400.0 million of senior  unsecured debt securities under which the
Company  issued $150.0 million of senior notes on May 6, 1994. The proceeds were
used to discharge the Company's  indebtedness  under a $90.0 million bridge loan
incurred  to  fund  substantially  all of the  Company's  cash  requirements  in
connection  with the  acquisition of Celutel in February 1994, and to reduce the
Company's short-term bank indebtedness under various credit facilities.

     Revised  budgeted  capital  expenditures  for 1995 total $120.0 million for
telephone  operations,  $63.0 million for mobile  communications  operations and
$18.0 million for other operations.

     As of September 30, 1995,  Century's  telephone  subsidiaries had available
for use $136.1  million of  commitments  for long-term  financing from the Rural
Utilities Service ("RUS") and the Company had $77.1 million of undrawn committed
bank lines of credit.  In October 1995, the Company increased its committed bank
lines of credit by an additional $40.0 million. In addition, approximately $38.0
million of uncommitted  credit facilities were available to Century at September
30, 1995.  The Company also has access to debt and equity capital  markets.  The
Company has  experienced no significant  problems in obtaining funds through the
issuance of debt or equity for capital expenditures or other purposes.

                            ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

     In March 1995 the Financial  Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial  Accounting  Standards  No. 121,  "Accounting  for the  Impairment  of
Long-Lived  Assets and for  Long-Lived  Assets To Be Disposed Of" ("SFAS  121"),
effective  for  fiscal  years  beginning  after  December  15,  1995.  SFAS  121
establishes  guidance  for  recognizing  and  measuring impairment losses and
requires that the carrying  amount of an impaired asset be reduced to fair value
when  events  or  circumstances  indicate  that the  carrying  value  may not be
recoverable.  Recoverability  would generally be determined by estimating future
cash flows resulting from use and eventual  disposition of the asset. The effect
on the  Company's  financial  statements of the adoption of SFAS 121 has not yet
been determined.

                                      OTHER

     During  the  third  quarter  of 1995,  the  Public  Service  Commission  of
Wisconsin  completed its  examination of  transactions  in which Century and its
service  subsidiaries  provided  various services and materials to the Company's
Wisconsin telephone subsidiaries. The impact of the examination was not material
to the results of operations of the Company.

     During  1995  regulatory   proceedings   promoting  competition  have  been
initiated  by a  number  of state  regulatory  commissions,  including  those in
Louisiana, Ohio, Texas and Tennessee, furthering the expectation that regulation
will  continue  to  decrease  and  competition  increase  in  the  traditionally
monopolistic portion of the telecommunications industry.

                                     18

<PAGE>

     During the second quarter of 1995, the Louisiana Public Service  Commission
("LPSC") culminated its two-year  investigation into the earnings of independent
telephone  companies  in Louisiana  by adopting a new  regulatory  plan for such
companies  effective July 1, 1995. The plan provides that independent  telephone
companies in Louisiana  will be  regulated on an  incentive-type  rate of return
basis in a manner yet to be determined.

     Under this plan,  the Company  will be  required  to reduce its  intrastate
switched access rates over a two-year period beginning July 1, 1995 to match the
rates in effect for BellSouth.  The Company anticipates that this directive will
reduce its access  revenues  by  approximately  $500,000  in 1995 and up to $4.2
million annually upon completion of the two year phase-in.

     The plan also  establishes  a target  rate of return of between  10.75% and
12.75%  after  giving  effect to the access  rate  reductions  described  above.
Beginning July 1, 1996,  companies  earning in excess of 12.75% will be required
to lower their prospective rate of return to 12.25%,  either by further reducing
access rates (subject to certain  limits) or taking such other actions as may be
directed  by the LPSC.  Although  the impact of this  directive  on the  Company
cannot be readily determined until the LPSC provides  additional guidance on the
operation and methodology of the plan, the Company  anticipates  that the impact
of these changes will adversely affect its results of operations and there is no
assurance  that the effect will not be material.  The Company  anticipates  that
certain  of its  Louisiana  telephone  subsidiaries  may take  action  to reduce
earnings levels as a result of this plan.

     The United  States  Senate  and the House of  Representatives  each  passed
separate  telecommunications  bills  during 1995 that  propose to  substantially
alter the  regulatory  framework  of the  telecommunications  industry by, among
other  things,  promoting  deregulation  and  local  exchange  competition.  The
Conference  Committee composed of members of both bodies is currently attempting
to reconcile  the  conflicting  terms of these bills.  Assuming  these  measures
become law in substantially their current form, the Company does not believe the
resulting  competition  is likely  to  materially  affect  it in the near  term,
although  there can be no  assurance  to this effect or to the effect that these
bills will not be substantially altered by the conference committee.

     In July 1995 the Federal Communications  Commission ("FCC") issued a Notice
of Proposed Rulemaking and Notice of Inquiry, in which it is seeking comments on
proposals and policy changes  relating to certain  federal high cost  assistance
mechanisms  that  provide  substantial  revenues to the Company,  including  the
Universal  Service  Fund.  The FCC's stated  goals are to ensure that  universal
service can be  maintained,  but still hold the total level of  assistance  to a
reasonable level and, where possible,  reduce barriers to competitive  entry and
to promote  efficient  investment in and  operation of local  service  networks.
Although  the  Company  anticipates  that  these  initiatives  may  result  in a
reduction of its federal support revenues,  management  believes it is premature
to assess or estimate the ultimate  impact  thereof.  There can be no assurance,
however, that such impact will not be material.

                                       19
<PAGE>

                           PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

                       CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.

Item 6.       Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
- -------       --------------------------------

      A.      Exhibits

              4.1   Fourth  Amendment to  Competitive  Advance and  Revolving
                    Credit Facility Agreement, dated October 5, 1995, between
                    Registrant and NationsBank of Texas, N.A.

              4.2   Competitive Advance and Revolving Credit Facility
                    Agreement, dated October 17, 1995, between Registrant
                    and Bank One of Texas, N.A.

              10.1  Amendment No. 1, dated as of May 22, 1995, to Form of
                    Stock Option Agreement entered into in 1990 by the
                    Registrant, pursuant to 1990 Incentive Compensation
                    Program, with certain of its officers.

              10.2  Amendment No. 1, dated as of May 22, 1995, to Form of
                    Stock Option Agreement entered into in 1992 by the
                    Registrant, pursuant to 1990 Incentive Compensation
                    Program, with certain of its officers.

              10.3  Amendment No. 1, dated as of May 22, 1995, to Form of
                    Performance Share Agreement under the 1990 Incentive
                    Compensation Program entered into in 1993 with certain
                    of its officers.

              10.4  Amendment No. 1, dated as of May 22, 1995, to Form of
                    Restricted Stock Agreement and Performance Share
                    Agreement under the 1988 Incentive Compensation Program
                    entered into in 1993 with certain of its officers.

              11    Computations of Earnings Per Share.

              12    Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

              27    Financial Data Schedule.

      B.      Reports on Form 8-K
              -------------------

              The following  item was reported in the Form 8-K dated July 31,
              1995:

                    Item  5.  Other  Events - News  release  reporting
                              results of operations  for the quarter ended
                              June 30, 1995.


                                       20

<PAGE>


                                    SIGNATURE


     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                     CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.



Date: November 9, 1995               /s/ Murray H. Greer
                                     -------------------
                                     Murray H. Greer
                                     Controller
                                     (Principal Accounting Officer)



                                       21


<PAGE>

                       CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.


                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibit
Number
- -------

4.1        Fourth Amendment to Competitive Advance and Revolving Credit
           Facility Agreement, dated October 5, 1995, between Registrant and
           NationsBank of Texas, N.A., included herein.

4.2        Competitive Advance and Revolving Credit Facility Agreement, dated
           October 17, 1995, between Registrant and Bank One of Texas, N.A.,
           included herein.

10.1       Amendment No. 1, dated as of May 22, 1995, to Form of Stock Option
           Agreement entered into in 1990 by the Registrant, pursuant to 1990
           Incentive Compensation Program, with certain of its officers,
           included herein.

10.2       Amendment No. 1, dated as of May 22, 1995, to Form of Stock Option
           Agreement entered into in 1992 by the Registrant, pursuant to 1990
           Incentive Compensation Program, with certain of its officers,
           included herein.

10.3       Amendment No. 1, dated as of May 22, 1995, to Form of Performance
           Share Agreement under the 1990 Incentive Compensation Program
           entered into in 1993 with certain of its officers, included
           herein.

10.4       Amendment No. 1, dated as of May 22, 1995, to Form of Restricted
           Stock Agreement and Performance Share Agreement under the 1988
           Incentive Compensation Program entered into in 1993 with certain
           of its officers, included herein.

11         Computations of Earnings Per Share, included herein.

12         Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges, included herein.

27         Financial Data Schedule, included herein.


                                       22

<PAGE>




                                                             EXHIBIT 4.1

                 FOURTH AMENDMENT TO COMPETITIVE ADVANCE
                 ---------------------------------------
                 AND REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY AGREEMENT
                 ---------------------------------------

            THIS AMENDMENT is entered into as of October 5, 1995,  among CENTURY
    TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES,  INC., a Louisiana corporation (the "Borrower"),  the
    banks listed on the  signature  page of the  amendment  (the  "Banks"),  and
    NATIONSBANK OF TEXAS, N.A., a national banking association, as agent for the
    Banks (in such capacity, the "Agent") and as auction administration agent
    (in such capacity, the "Auction Administration Agent").

            The  Borrower,  certain of the Banks,  the  Agent,  and the  Auction
    Administration  Agent  entered into the  Competitive  Advance and  Revolving
    Credit Facility Agreement (as renewed, extended,  amended, and supplemented,
    the "Credit Agreement") dated as of February 7, 1992,  providing for certain
    of the Banks to extend  credit to the Borrower on a revolving  credit basis,
    not to exceed an aggregate principal amount of $55,000,000. The Borrower and
    the Banks, the Agent, and the Auction Administration Agent have agreed, upon
    the following terms and conditions, to amend the Credit Agreement to provide
    for an increase in the Total Commitment (as defined in the Credit Agreement)
    to  $75,000,000.  Accordingly,  in  consideration  of the mutual  agreements
    below, the Borrower and the Banks, the Agent, and the Auction Administration
    Agent agree as follows:

          1. Certain Definitions.  Unless otherwise stated, terms defined in the
     Credit  Agreement have the same meanings when used in this  amendment,  and
     all references to "Sections,"  "Schedules," and "Exhibits" are to sections,
     schedules, and exhibits of or to the Credit Agreement.

               (a)  The  following   definitions  of  "Designated   Lender"  and
          "Designation  Agreement" are hereby added to Section 1.1 of the Credit
          Agreement in alphabetical order:

                    "Designated  Lender"  means a  special  purpose  corporation
               which is an  Affiliate  of a Bank,  that is  engaged  in  making,
               purchasing  or  otherwise  investing in  commercial  loans in the
               ordinary course of its business and that issues (or the parent of
               which issues)  commercial  paper rated at least "Prime-1" (or the
               then  equivalent  grade)  by  Moody's  Investors  Service,   Inc.
               ("Moody's") or "A-1" (or the then  equivalent  grade) by Standard
               and  Poor's  Ratings  Services,  a  division  of The  McGraw-Hill
               Companies,  Inc.  ("S&P") that, in either case,  (i) is organized
               under the laws of the United  States or any state  thereof,  (ii)
               shall have become a party to this  Agreement  pursuant to Section
               9.20(d) and (iii) is not otherwise a Bank.

                    "Designation   Agreement"  means  a  designation   agreement
               entered  into  by a Bank  (other  than a  Designated  Lender),  a
               Designated  Lender,  and the Borrower,  and accepted by the Agent
               and the Auction  Administration  Agent, in substantially the form
               of Exhibit G hereto.

<PAGE>

               (b) The  definition of "Banks" in the Credit  Agreement is hereby
          amended in its entirety to read as follows:

                    "Banks" means those banks  signatory  hereto and other banks
               and financial  institutions  which from time to time become party
               hereto pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement,  and, except
               when  used  in  reference  to  a  Committed   Loan,  a  Committed
               Borrowing,  a Committed  Note,  the  Commitment  of any Bank or a
               related term, each Designated Lender.

          2.  Schedule 1.  Schedule 1 to the Credit  Agreement is amended in its
     entirety to be in the form of Schedule I to this amendment.

          3.  Notes.  Exhibits  D-1 and D-2 are  replaced  in  their  respective
     entireties  with,  and each  reference  in the  Credit  Agreement  to those
     exhibits shall be  respectively  to,  Exhibits D-1 and D-2 attached to this
     amendment.

          4. CD  Loans.  Effective  immediately,  CD Loans  shall no  longer  be
     available under the terms of the Agreement.

          5.  Margin.  The  definition  of  "Margin"  is hereby  amended  in its
     entirety to read as follows:

               "Margin" means,

                    (a) as to any Competitive Bid relating to a Eurodollar Loan,
               the margin  (expressed as a percentage rate per annum in the form
               of a decimal to no more than four decimal  places) to be added to
               or  subtracted  from the  LIBOR  Rate in order to  determine  the
               interest  rate  acceptable  to such  Bank  with  respect  to such
               Eurodollar Loan; and

                    (b) as to any Committed Loan which is a Eurodollar  Loan the
               following percentages in the following contexts:

               --------------------------------------------------
                Borrower's Senior Unsecured
                Long-Termn Debt as Rated by          Margin
                Standard & Poors Corporation
                ==================================================
                       AA- or better            14 basis points
                --------------------------------------------------
                         A or A+                17 basis points
                --------------------------------------------------
                        BBB+ or A-              21 basis points
                --------------------------------------------------
                           BBB                  28 basis points
                --------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>

                       BBB- or below            31.5 basis points
                ==================================================

          6.  Termination  Date. The definition of "Termination  Date" is hereby
     amended in its entirety to read as follows:

               "Termination  Date" means,  at any time,  August 31, 2000, or the
          earlier date of termination in whole of the Total Commitment  pursuant
          to Section 2.6.

          7.  Commitments.  Section 2.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby 
     amended in its entirety to read as follows:

              2.1 Commitments.  Subject to the terms and conditions and relying
          upon the  representations  and warranties herein set forth, each Bank,
          severally  and not  jointly,  agrees to make  revolving  credit  loans
          ("Committed Loans") to the Borrower, at any time and from time to time
          on  and  after  the  date  hereof  and  until  the  Termination  Date.
          Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  (a) the aggregate principal amount of
          all Committed Loans of a Bank shall not exceed at any time outstanding
          such Bank's  Commitment and (b) the Commitment of a Bank which makes a
          Competitive Loan and the Total Commitment shall be deemed used from
          time to time to the extent of the  aggregate  principal  amount of the
          Competitive  Loans then outstanding from such Bank (such deemed use of
          such Bank's  Commitment and the Total  Commitment being a "Competitive
          Reduction"),  subject,  however, to the conditions that (i) at no time
          shall (A) the sum of (x) the outstanding aggregate principal amount of
          all  Committed  Loans  made by all  Banks  plus  (y)  the  outstanding
          aggregate  principal amount of all Competitive Loans made by all Banks
          exceed  (B) the  Total  Commitment  and (ii) the  principal  amount of
          Committed Loans to be made by a Bank pursuant to a Committed Borrowing
          (whether  pursuant  to Section 2.3 or as part of a  refinancing  under
          Section 2.4) shall equal the product of (x) the  percentage  which its
          Commitment  (after a Competitive  Reduction for its Competitive  Loans
          outstanding)  represents of the Total Commitment  (after a Competitive
          Reduction  for  its  Competitive  Loans)  times  (y)  the  outstanding
          aggregate principal amount of all Committed Loans obligated to be made
          by all Banks in connection with such Committed Borrowing.

              Within the  foregoing  limits,  the Borrower  may borrow,  repay,
          prepay, and reborrow hereunder, on and after the date hereof and prior
          to the  Termination  Date,  subject  to  the  terms,  provisions,  and
          limitations set forth herein.

          8.  Competitive Bid Procedure.  Section 2.2(b) of the Credit Agreement
     is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

              (b)  Each  Bank  may,  in its sole  discretion,  make one or more
          Competitive Bids to the Borrower responsive to each Competitive Bid

<PAGE>

          Request.  Each  Competitive  Bid by a Bank  must  be  received  by the
          Auction Administration Agent via telex or telecopier, substantially in
          the form of Exhibit C hereto, (i) in the case of Eurodollar Loans, not
          later than 11:00 a.m., Dallas,  Texas time, three Business Days before
          the Borrowing Date specified for a proposed Competitive  Borrowing and
          (ii) in the case of Fixed  Rate  Loans,  not later  than  11:00  a.m.,
          Dallas,  Texas time,  one Business Day before the Borrowing  Date of a
          proposed Competitive  Borrowing.  Competitive Bids that do not conform
          substantially  to the  format  of  Exhibit  C may be  rejected  by the
          Auction  Administration  Agent  after  conferring  with,  and upon the
          instruction  of, the Borrower,  and the Auction  Administration  Agent
          shall notify the Bank that  submitted the  non-conforming  Competitive
          Bid of such rejection as soon as  practicable.  Each  Competitive  Bid
          shall refer to this  Agreement  and (x) specify the  principal  amount
          (which shall be in a minimum  principal amount of $3,000,000 and in an
          integral  multiple  of  $1,000,000  and which  may  equal  the  entire
          principal  amount  of  the  Competitive  Borrowing  requested  by  the
          Borrower) of the  Competitive  Loan the Bank is willing to make to the
          Borrower, (y) specify the Competitive Bid Rate(s) at which the Bank is
          prepared to make the  Competitive  Loan,  and (z) confirm the Interest
          Period  with  respect  thereto   specified  by  the  Borrower  in  its
          Competitive  Bid  Request.  If any  Bank  shall  elect  not to  make a
          Competitive Bid, such Bank shall so notify the Auction  Administration
          Agent via telex or telecopier (I) in the case of Eurodollar Loans, not
          later than 11:00 a.m., Dallas,  Texas time, three Business Days before
          the Borrowing Date specified for a proposed Competitive Borrowing, and
          (II) in the case of Fixed  Rate  Loans,  not later  than  11:00  a.m.,
          Dallas,  Texas time,  one Business Day before the Borrowing  Date of a
          proposed Competitive Borrowing; provided, however, that failure by any
          Bank to give such notice  shall not cause such Bank to be obligated to
          make any Competitive  Loan as part of such  Competitive  Borrowing.  A
          Competitive  Bid  submitted by a Bank  pursuant to this  paragraph (b)
          shall be irrevocable.

          9. Facility Fee. Section 2.5 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended
     in its entirety to read as follows:

             2.5 Fees.  The Borrower  agrees to pay to each Bank,  through the
          Agent, on each March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and on
          the Termination  Date, in immediately  available funds, a facility fee
          (a "Facility Fee") calculated by multiplying the percentages set forth
          below in the contexts set forth below by the  Commitment of such Bank,
          during the preceding  quarter (or shorter period  commencing  with the
          date hereof and/or ending with the Termination Date):

            =================================================
              Borrower's Senior Unsecured
              Long-Term Debt as Rated by          Percentage
              Standard & Poors Corporation
            -------------------------------------------------
                   AA- or better                 .09 percent
            -------------------------------------------------
                     A or A+                     .11 percent
            -------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>

                    BBB+ or A-                   .125 percent
            -------------------------------------------------
                      BBB                        .17 percent
            -------------------------------------------------
                  BBB- or below                  .21 percent
            =================================================

        All  Facility  Fees shall be  computed  by the Agent on the basis of the
        actual  number  of days  elapsed  in a year of 365  days,  and  shall be
        conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest  error.  The
        Facility  Fee due to each  Bank  shall  commence  to  accrue on the date
        hereof and shall cease to accrue on the earlier of the Termination  Date
        and the  termination of the Commitment of such Bank as provided  herein.
        Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  in no event shall any Bank be permitted
        to receive any compensation hereunder constituting interest in excess of
        the Highest Lawful Rate.

          10.  Notes.  The first sentence of Section 2.8 of the Credit Agreement
     is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

               The  Competitive  Loans made by each Bank shall be evidenced by a
          single  Competitive  Note,  payable  to the  order  of such  Bank in a
          principal amount equal to the Total Commitment.

          11.  Interest  on Loans.  Section  2.9(a) of the Credit  Agreement  is
     hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

               (a) Subject to the  provisions of Section 2.10,  each  Eurodollar
          Loan shall bear interest at a rate per annum (computed on the basis of
          the actual  number of days  elapsed  over a year of 360 days) equal to
          the lesser of (i) the  Highest  Lawful Rate and (ii) the LIBO Rate for
          the Interest  Period in effect for such Loan (A) plus or minus, as the
          case  may be,  in the  case  of  each  Competitive  Loan,  the  Margin
          specified by a Bank with respect to such Loan in its  Competitive  Bid
          submitted pursuant to Section 2.2(b) and (B) plus, in the case of each
          Committed Loan, the Margin.  Interest on each Eurodollar Loan shall be
          payable  on  each  Interest  Payment  Date  applicable  thereto.   The
          applicable  LIBOR Rate for each Interest Period shall be determined by
          the Agent, and such determination  shall be conclusive absent manifest
          error.

          12.  Financial  Statements.  Section  3.4 of the Credit  Agreement  is
     hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

               3.4 Financial Statements. The Current Financials were prepared in
          accordance  with GAAP and present  fairly the  consolidated  financial
          condition  and the results of  operations  of the Companies as of, and
          for the periods ended,  the dates thereof.  There were no material (to
          the Companies taken as a whole) liabilities, direct or indirect, fixed
          or contingent, of any Company as of the date of the Current Financials

<PAGE>

          which are not  reflected  therein.  There  have been no changes in the
          consolidated  financial  condition of the Companies from that shown in
          the Current  Financials  between  such dates and the date hereof which
          could  reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect.  No
          Company has incurred any material (to the Companies  taken as a whole)
          liability, direct or indirect, fixed or contingent,  between the dates
          of the Current Financials and the date hereof,  except in the ordinary
          course  of  business,  such as in  connection  with  acquisitions  and
          financing activities.

          13.  Conditions  Precedent  - Each  Loan.  Section  4.2 of the  Credit
     Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

               4.2 Each Loan.  In  addition,  the Banks will not be obligated to
          fund  any  Loan   unless  at  the  time  of  such   funding   (a)  the
          representations  and  warranties  made in the Loan Papers (other than,
          after the initial Loan, those contained in the penultimate sentence of
          Section  3.4 and the  first  sentence  of  Section  3.18) are true and
          correct in all  material  respects  (except to the extent that (i) the
          representations  and  warranties  speak to a specific date or (ii) the
          facts on which such representations and warranties are based have been
          changed by transactions  contemplated or permitted by this Agreement),
          (b) no Default or Event of Default  shall have  occurred  and shall be
          continuing,  (c) the funding of such Loan is permitted by Law, and (d)
          if requested by the Agent or the Majority  Banks,  the Borrower  shall
          have delivered to the Agent evidence substantiating any of the matters
          contained in this Agreement which are necessary to enable the Borrower
          to qualify for such Loan.

          14.  Representation  Default.  Section 6.8 of the Credit  Agreement is
     hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

               6.8  Misrepresentation.  Either Agent or any Bank  discovers that
          any statement,  representation,  or warranty in the Loan Papers, other
          than,  after the initial  Loan,  those  contained  in the  penultimate
          sentence of Section 3.4 and the first  sentence of Section  3.18,  any
          Financial Statement of the Borrower,  or any writing ever delivered to
          either  Agent  or any  Bank  pursuant  to the Loan  Papers  is  false,
          misleading,  or  erroneous  when  made or  delivered  in any  material
          respect.

          15. Successors and Assigns; Participations; Assignments. Section 9.20
     of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to make provision
     for "Designated Lenders" as follows:

               9.20 Successors and Assigns; Participations; Assignments.

               (a)  This  Agreement  shall be  binding  upon,  and  inure to the
          benefit of the  parties  hereto and their  respective  successors  and
          assigns, except that (i) the Borrower may not, directly or indirectly,
          assign or  transfer,  or  attempt  to assign or  transfer,  any of its
          Rights,  duties, or obligations under any Loan Papers to which it is a
          party  without  the

<PAGE>

          express  written  consent of all Banks,  and (ii)
          except as permitted  under Section 2.20 and this Section 9.20, no Bank
          may transfer,  pledge,  assign,  sell  participations in, or otherwise
          encumber its portion of the Obligation.

               (b) Subject to the  provisions  of this  Section  9.20,  any Bank
          (other than a Designated Lender) may sell to one or more Persons (each
          a "Participant")  participating  interests (in each case not less than
          $2,500,000 and in an integral  multiple of $500,000) in its portion of
          the Obligation;  provided that each Bank's Commitment must be at least
          50  percent of its  Commitment  on the date of this  Agreement  at all
          times and the Agent and the  Borrower  shall have the right to approve
          any Participant which is not a financial institution.  In the event of
          any such sale to a  Participant,  (i) such Bank shall  remain a "Bank"
          under this Agreement and the Participant shall not constitute a "Bank"
          hereunder,  (ii) such Bank's  obligations  under this Agreement  shall
          remain unchanged,  (iii) such Bank shall remain solely responsible for
          the performance thereof, (iv) such Bank shall remain the holder of its
          share of the Obligation for all purposes under this Agreement, and (v)
          the Borrower and the Agent shall  continue to deal solely and directly
          with such Bank in connection  with such Bank's Rights and  obligations
          under the Loan  Papers.  Participants  shall have no Rights  under the
          Loan Papers,  other than certain voting rights as provided below. Each
          Bank shall be entitled to obtain (on behalf of its  Participants)  the
          benefits of Section 2 with respect to all  participations in its Loans
          outstanding  from time to time.  No Bank shall sell any  participating
          interest under which the Participant  shall have any Rights to approve
          any amendment,  modification,  or waiver of any Loan Paper,  except to
          the extent such  amendment,  modification,  or waiver  extends the due
          date for payment of any amount in respect of principal,  interest,  or
          fees due under the Loan Papers,  or reduces the  interest  rate or the
          amount of principal or fees applicable to the Obligation  (except such
          reductions as are  contemplated by this  Agreement);  provided that in
          those cases where a Participant is entitled to the benefits of Section
          2 or a Bank grants Rights to its Participants to approve amendments to
          or  waivers  of the Loan  Papers  respecting  the  matters  previously
          described in this sentence,  such Bank must include a voting mechanism
          in the  relevant  participation  agreement  whereby a majority of such
          Bank's  portion  of the  Obligation  (whether  held  by  such  Bank or
          participated) shall control the vote for all of such Bank's portion of
          the  Obligation.  Except  in the case of the  sale of a  participating
          interest to a Bank,  the relevant  participation  agreement  shall not
          permit   the   Participant   to   transfer,   pledge,   assign,   sell
          participations   in,  or   otherwise   encumber  its  portion  of  the
          Obligation.

               (c) Subject to the provisions of this Section 9.20, any Bank may,
          with the prior  written  consent of the Agent and the Borrower  (which
          will  not be  unreasonably  withheld),  sell to one or more  financial
          institutions  (each a "Purchaser") a proportionate  part (in each case
          not less than  $2,500,000 and in an integral  multiple of $500,000) of
          its  Rights  and  obligations  under the Loan  Papers  pursuant  to an
          assignment  agreement  between such Purchaser and such Bank;  provided
          that  each  Bank's  Commitment  must be at  least  50  percent  of its
          Commitment  on the  date of this  Agreement  at all  times.  Upon  (i)
          delivery of an executed copy of the assignment to the Borrower and the
          Agent and
<PAGE>

          (ii)  payment of a fee of $2500 from such Bank to the Agent,
          from and after the  assignment's  effective date (which shall be after
          the date of such delivery), such Purchaser shall for all purposes be a
          Bank hereunder and shall have all the Rights and obligations of a Bank
          hereunder  to the same extent as if it were an original  party  hereto
          with  commitments  as set forth in the assignment  agreement,  and the
          transferor Bank shall be released from its obligations  hereunder to a
          corresponding  extent.  Upon any  transfer  pursuant  to this  Section
          9.20(c), Schedule 1 shall automatically be deemed to reflect the name,
          address,  and  Committed  Sum of such  Purchaser  and the Agent  shall
          deliver to the Borrower and the Banks an amended Schedule 1 reflecting
          such changes.  A Purchaser  shall be subject to all the  provisions in
          this Section 9.20 the same as if it were a Bank as of the date hereof.
          Notwithstanding  anything herein to the contrary, no Designated Lender
          may make an  assignment  pursuant to the  provisions  of this  Section
          9.20(c),  other  than to the  Bank  which  originally  designated  the
          Designated Lender.

               (d) Each Bank (other than a  Designated  Lender) may  designate a
          Designated Lender to make Competitive Loans as a Bank purusant to this
          Agreement;  provided, however, that (i) no such Bank shall be entitled
          to make more  than one such  designation,  (ii) each such Bank  making
          such designation  shall retain the right to make Competitive Bid Loans
          as a Bank pursuant to this  Agreement and (iii) each such  designation
          shall be to a Designated  Lender  approved by the Borrower,  the Agent
          and the  Auction  Administration  Agent,  and the parties to each such
          designation  shall  execute and deliver a Designation  Agreement,  for
          acceptance by the Borrower,  the Agent and the Auction  Administration
          Agent.  Upon  such  execution,   delivery,  and  acceptance,  and  the
          execution and delivery by the Borrower to the  Designated  Lender of a
          Competitive  Note in the  same  principal  amount  as that  previously
          delivered  to the Bank  making  such  designation,  from and after the
          effective date specified in each  Designated  Agreement,  the designee
          thereunder  shall be a party hereto with the right to make Competitive
          Bid Loans as a Bank  pursuant  to this  Agreement,  and shall have the
          obligations related thereto. By executing and delivering a Designation
          Agreement, the Bank making the designation thereunder and its designee
          thereunder  confirm  and agree with each  other and the other  parties
          hereto as follows:

                    (i)  such  Bank  makes no  representation  or  warranty  and
               assumes  no  responsibility   with  respect  to  any  statements,
               warranties or representations  made in or in connection with this
               Agreement  or any other  Loan Paper or the  execution,  legality,
               validity,  enforceability,  genuineness,  sufficiency or value of
               this Agreement or any other Loan Paper or any other instrument or
               document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto;

                    (ii) such  Bank  makes no  representation  or  warranty  and
               assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition
               of the Borrower or the  performance or observance by the Borrower
               of any of its obligations  under this Agreement or any other Loan
               Paper or any other  instrument  or  document  furnished  pursuant
               hereto  or  thereto;

 

<PAGE>

                   (iii) such  designee  confirms that it has received a copy of
               this Agreement and each other Loan Paper, together with copies of
               the Current  Financials and such other  documents and information
               as it has deemed  appropriate to make its own credit analysis and
               decision to enter into such Designation Agreement;

                    (iv) such designee will, independently and without reliance
               upon  the  Agent,   the  Auction   Administration   Agent,   such
               designating  Bank or any other  Bank and based on such  documents
               and  information  as it  shall  deem  appropriate  at  the  time,
               continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking
               action under this Agreement or any other Loan Paper;

                    (v) such designee confirms that it is a Designated Lender;

                    (vi) such designee  appoints and authorizes (A) the Agent to
               take such  action as agent on its  behalf  and to  exercise  such
               powers and  discretion  under this  Agreement and each other Loan
               Paper as are  delegated  to the  Agent by the  terms  hereof  and
               thereof,   together  with  such  powers  and  discretion  as  are
               reasonably incidental thereto and (B) the Auction  Administration
               Agent to take such actions as agent on its behalf and to exercise
               such powers and  discretion  under this  Agreement and each other
               Loan Paper as are delegated to the Auction  Administration  Agent
               by the terms  hereof and thereof,  together  with such powers and
               discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto; and

                    (vii)  such   designee   agrees  that  it  will  perform  in
               accordance with their terms all of the  obligations  which by the
               terms of this Agreement and each other Loan Paper are required to
               be performed by it as a Bank.

               (e)  If pursuant to Section 9.20(c)any interest in the Obligation
          is transferred to any Purchaser  which is organized  under the laws of
          any jurisdiction  other than the United States of America or any State
          thereof, the transferor Bank shall cause such Purchaser,  concurrently
          with the  effectiveness  of such  transfer,  (i) to  represent  to the
          transferor  Bank (for the benefit of the  transferor  Bank, the Agent,
          and the  Borrower)  that under  applicable  Laws and treaties no Taxes
          will be required to be withheld  by the Agent,  the  Borrower,  or the
          transferor  Bank  with  respect  to any  payments  to be  made to such
          Purchaser in respect of the Obligation, (ii) to furnish to each of the
          transferor Bank, the Agent, and the Borrower two duly completed copies
          of either U.S.  Internal  Revenue  Service Form 4224 or U.S.  Internal
          Revenue Service Form 1001 (wherein such Purchaser  claims  entitlement
          to  complete  exemption  from  U.S.  federal  withholding  tax  on all
          interest payments  hereunder),  and (iii) to agree (for the benefit of
          the  transferor  Bank,  the Agent,  and the  Borrower)  to provide the
          transferor  Bank, the Agent,  and the Borrower a new Form 4224 or Form
          1001  upon  the  obsolescence  of any  previously  delivered  form  in
          accordance  with  applicable  U.S. laws and regulations and amendments
          duly executed and
<PAGE>

          completed by such Purchaser, and to comply from time
          to time with all applicable U.S. laws and  regulations  with regard to
          such withholding tax exemption.

          16.  Designation  Agreement.  A  Designation  Agreement in the form of
     Exhibit G hereto is hereby added as Exhibit G to the Credit Agreement.

          17.  Conditions.  This amendment shall not become  effective until (a)
     all the parties named below shall have executed and delivered  counterparts
     of this  amendment to the Agent,  and (b) the Agent shall have received all
     the agreements,  documents,  instruments, and other items listed on Annex A
     to this amendment.

          18.  Representations.  The  Borrower  represents  and  warrants to the
     Banks,  the  Agent,  and the  Auction  Administration  Agent  that  (a) all
     representations  and warranties stated in Section 3 of the Credit Agreement
     are true and  correct  in all  material  respects  the same as if  restated
     verbatim in this amendment as of the date of this amendment,  except to the
     extent that (i) the representations and warranties speak to a specific date
     or (ii) the facts on which such  representations  and  warranties are based
     have been changed by  transactions  contemplated or permitted by the Credit
     Agreement,  and (b) as of the date of this amendment,  no Material  Adverse
     Effect, Default, or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

          19.  References.  All  references  in the Loan  Papers to the  "Credit
     Agreement"  shall  refer  to  the  Credit  Agreement  as  amended  by  this
     amendment, and, because this amendment is a "Loan Paper" referred to in the
     Credit Agreement,  the provisions  relating to Loan Papers set forth in the
     Credit Agreement are incorporated in this amendment by reference,  the same
     as if set forth in this amendment verbatim.

          20. Scope of Amendment. Except as specifically amended and modified in
     this amendment, (a) the Credit Agreement is unchanged and continues in full
     force and effect,  and (b) the  Borrower  hereby  confirms and ratifies the
     existence of and each and every term, condition,  and covenant contained in
     the Credit  Agreement,  to the same  extent and as though the same were set
     out in full in this amendment.

          21.  Counterparts.  This  amendment  has been  executed in a number of
     identical  counterparts,  each of which  shall be  deemed an  original.  In
     making proof of this instrument, it shall not be necessary for any party to
     account for all  counterparts,  and it shall be sufficient for any party to
     produce but one such counterpart.

          22.  Parties  Bound.  This  amendment  shall be binding upon and shall
     inure  to  the  benefit  of  the  Borrower,   each  Bank,  the  Agent,  and
     Administrative  Agent, and their respective  successors and assigns subject
     to Section 9.20 of the Credit Agreement.

          23.  ENTIRETY.  THIS AMENDMENT AND THE LOAN PAPERS REPRESENT THE FINAL
     AGREEMENT  BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE  CONTRADICTED  BY EVIDENCE OF
     PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR

<PAGE>

     SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS BY THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL
     AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

<PAGE>



            EXECUTED as of the date first stated above.


              CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.,
              as the Borrower

              By: /s/ R. Stewart Ewing, Jr.
                  -------------------------------
              Name:   R. Stewart Ewing, Jr.
              Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


              NATIONSBANK OF TEXAS, N.A., as the Agent,
              the Auction Administration Agent, and a Bank

              By: /s/ Chad E. Green
                  -------------------------------
              Name:  Chad E. Green
              Title: Vice President


              TEXAS COMMERCE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Bank

              By: /s/ Scot Brunke
                  -------------------------------
              Name: Scot Brunke
              Title: Senior Vice President


              THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as a Bank

              By: /s/ F.C.H. Ashby
                  -------------------------------
              Name: F.C.H. Ashby
              Title: Senior Assistant Agent



              TRUST COMPANY BANK, as a Bank

              By: /s/ Brian M. Davis
                  -------------------------------
              Name: Brian M. Davis
              Title: Corporate Banking Officer

              By: /s/ Ruth E. Whitner
                  -------------------------------
              Name: Ruth E. Whitner
              Title: AVP


              REGIONS BANK OF LOUISIANA, as a Bank

              By: /s/ Nathan G. Smith
                  -------------------------------
              Name: Nathan G. Smith
              Title: Vice President

<PAGE>


                              ANNEX A
                              -------
                            CONDITIONS
                            ----------
        Unless otherwise specified, all documents are dated
        as of the date of this amendment



        1.  FOURTH  AMENDMENT  TO  COMPETITIVE   ADVANCE  AND  REVOLVING  CREDIT
            FACILITY   AGREEMENT  (the  "Amendment")   among  Century  Telephone
            Enterprises,  Inc.  (the  "Borrower"),  the banks named therein (the
            "Banks"), and NationsBank of Texas, N.A., as agent for the Banks and
            as auction administration agent.

                    Annex A     Conditions
                    Exhibit D-1 Competitive Note
                    Exhibit D-2 Committed Note

        2.  COMPETITIVE NOTES executed by the Borrower,
            payable to the following Banks in the face amount
            of $75,000,000

                    NationsBank of Texas, N.A.
                    Texas Commerce Bank National Association
                    The Bank of Nova Scotia
                    Trust Company Bank
                    Regions Bank of Louisiana

        3.  COMMITTED NOTES executed by the Borrower, payable
            to the following Banks in the following face amounts:

              =========================================
              Bank                            Amount
              =========================================
              NationsBank of Texas, N.A.    $31,000,000
              -----------------------------------------
              Texas Commerce Bank           $14,000,000
              National Association
              -----------------------------------------
              The Bank of Nova Scotia       $10,000,000
              -----------------------------------------
              Trust Company Bank            $10,000,000
              -----------------------------------------
              Regions Bank of Louisiana     $10,000,000
              =========================================

<PAGE>

        4.  A CERTIFICATE from the president, secretary,
            chief financial officer, or treasurer of the
            Borrower certifying as to (a) the due incumbency of
            its officers authorized to execute or attest to the
            Loan Papers, (b) any changes to the corporate
            charter or Bylaws previously provided to Agent, and
            (c) resolutions duly adopted by its directors
            approving and authorizing this amendment and
            execution of the Loan Papers to which will be
            attached:

            Exhibit A   Changes to Charter, if any
            Exhibit B   Changes to Bylaws, if any
            Exhibit C   Resolutions

        5.  Such other agreements, documents, instruments,
            and items as any Bank may request.

                                                                 Annex A
                                                                 -------
       
<PAGE>

                          SCHEDULE 1

        Parties, Addresses, Committed Sums, and Wiring Information
        ----------------------------------------------------------

        Borrower
        --------
             All  notice  confirming  amounts  borrowed  and the  interest  rate
             thereon,  responses to Competitive Bid Requests,  notices regarding
             amounts of any principal or interest  payments due and any billings
             for Facility Fees should be directed to:

                             Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc.
                             P. O. Box 4065
                             Monroe, Louisiana 71211-4065
                             Attention:  Director of Treasury Services
                             FAX No.: 318-388-9602

             Other written communications:

                             Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc.
                             P. O. Box 4065
                             Monroe, Louisiana 71211-4065
                             Attention:  David G. Thiels, Treasurer
                             FAX No.: 318-388-9602

                             with a copy to:

                             Harvey P. Perry, Senior Vice President,
                             Secretary and General Counsel
                             Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc.
                             P. O. Box 4065
                             Monroe, Louisiana 71211-4065
                             FAX No.: 318-388-9562


        Agents
        ------
                             NationsBank of Texas, N.A.
                             NationsBank Plaza, 64th Floor
                             901 Main Street
                             Dallas, Texas 75202
                             Attention:  Communications Finance
                             FAX No.: 214/508-9390

<PAGE>

        Copy to:             Winstead Sechrest & Minick P.C.
                             5400 Renaissance Tower
                             1201 Elm Street
                             Dallas, Texas  75270-2199
                             Attention:  Ira D. Einsohn
                             FAX No.:  214/745-5390


<PAGE>
                                                         
                                                    
        Banks                            Commitment
        -----                            ----------

        NationsBank of Texas, N.A.       $31,000,000

        Domestic Lending Office
        -----------------------

        NationsBank Plaza, 64th Floor
        901 Main Street
        Dallas, Texas  75202
        Attention:Jay S. Tweed
        FAX No.:214/508-9390

        Eurodollar Lending Office
        -------------------------

        NationsBank Plaza, 64th Floor
        901 Main Street
        Dallas, Texas  75202
        Attention:Jay S. Tweed
        FAX No.:214/508-9390


        The Bank of Nova Scotia                 $10,000,000

             Domestic and Eurodollar Lending Office
             --------------------------------------

                    The Bank of Nova Scotia
                    Atlanta Agency 600
                    Peachtree Street, N.E., Suite 2700
                    Atlanta,Georgia  30308
                    Attention:F.C.H. Ashby 
                    FAX No.: 404-888-8998

             with a copy to:

                    The Bank of Nova Scotia
                    Houston Representative Office
                    1100 Louisiana, Suite 3000
                    Houston, Texas 77002
                    Attention:Paul Gonin
                    FAX No.: 713-752-2425

<PAGE>

        Texas Commerce Bank National             $14,000,000
        Association

        Domestic and Eurodollar Lending Office
        --------------------------------------

        Texas Commerce Bank National Association
        Texas Commerce Bank Tower, 3rd Floor
        2200 Ross Avenue
        Dallas, Texas 75201
        Attention:Kevin Kelty, Senior Vice President
        FAX No.:214-922-2990



        Trust Company Bank                       $10,000,000

        Trust Company Bank
        M/C 120-24th Floor
        25 Park Place, N.E.
        Atlanta, Georgia 30303
        Attention:Brian M. Davis, Corporate Banking Officer
        FAX No.:404/827-6270


        Regions Bank of Louisiana                $10,000,000

        Regions Bank of Louisiana
        1500 N. 18th Street
        Monroe, Louisiana 71201
        Attention:Nathan G. Smith, Vice President of Lending Division
        FAX No.:318/362-8864

<PAGE>


                          Wiring Information
                          ------------------

        NATIONSBANK OF TEXAS, N.A.
        --------------------------

            Location of account:NationsBank of Texas, N.A.
                                (Dallas, Texas)
            ABA #:  111000025
            Attention:  Commercial Loans
                Account #0180019828
                (reference Century Telephone)


        THE BORROWER
        ------------

            Location of account:Regions Bank of Louisiana
                                (Monroe, Louisiana)
            ABA #:  111101050
            A/C#:   13-044-3
            Reference:  Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc.
            (Immediate advice to Treasury Department, 318-388-9613)


        THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
        -----------------------

            Location of account:The Bank of Nova Scotia
                                New York Agency

            ABA #:  026002532, for further credit to Atlanta Agency,
                    Account #0606634
            Reference:  Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc.


        TEXAS COMMERCE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
        ----------------------------------------
            Location of account:Texas Commerce Bank National
                                Association-Houston

            ABA #:  113000609
            Attention:  Commercial Loan Clearing Account 10965/5800
            Reference:  Century Telephone (TCB-Dallas)

<PAGE>

        TRUST COMPANY BANK
        ------------------
            Location of account:Trust Company Bank
                                (Atlanta, Georgia)
            ABA #:  061000104
            Attention:Tammy Lamont
            Reference:Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc.


        REGIONS BANK OF LOUISIANA
        -------------------------
            Location of account:Regions Bank of Louisiana
                                1500 N. 18th Street
                                Monroe, Louisiana 71201
            ABA #:  062005690 - First Alabama Bank of Birmingham
            Attention:Regions Bank of Monroe
                      Nathan G. Smith, Vice President of Lending Division
            Reference:Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc.


                                                                 Schedule 1
                                                                 ----------
<PAGE>
 
                           EXHIBIT D-1
                            -----------

                      FORM OF COMPETITIVE NOTE


        $75,000,000                                        ____________, 1995


             FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES,
        INC., a Louisiana corporation (the "Company"), hereby promises to pay to
        the order of (the "Bank") on or before the  Termination  Date the lesser
        of (i) Seventy-five Million Dollars ($75,000,000) and (ii) the aggregate
        amount  of  Competitive  Loans  made  by the  Bank  to the  Company  and
        outstanding on the Termination Date.

            This note has been executed and delivered  under,  and is subject to
        the terms of, the  Competitive  Advance and  Revolving  Credit  Facility
        Agreement  dated as of  February  7, 1992 (as  amended,  and as  further
        renewed, extended, amended, supplemented, or replaced from time to time,
        the "Credit  Agreement"),  among the Company,  the Banks, the Agent, and
        the Auction  Administration Agent, and is one of the "Competitive Notes"
        referred  to therein.  Unless  defined  herein or the context  otherwise
        requires,  capitalized  terms used herein have the meaning given to such
        terms in the Credit Agreement. Reference is made to the Credit Agreement
        for provisions  affecting this note regarding applicable interest rates,
        principal and interest  payment  dates,  final  maturity,  voluntary and
        mandatory  prepayments,  acceleration  of maturity,  exercise of Rights,
        payment of attorneys'  fees,  court costs and other costs of collection,
        certain waivers by the Company and others now or hereafter obligated for
        payment of any sums due hereunder  and security for the payment  hereof.
        Without limiting the immediately  preceding sentence,  reference is made
        to Section 9.12 of the Credit Agreement for usury savings provisions.

            This note is being  executed  and  delivered,  and is intended to be
        performed,  in the State of Texas, and the Laws of such State and of the
        United  States of  America  shall  govern  the  Rights and duties of the
        Company and the Bank and the validity,  construction,  enforcement,  and
        interpretation hereof.

                       CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.

                     By: ________________________________________
                     Name:  R. Stewart Ewing, Jr.
                     Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


                                                            Exhibit D-1
                                                            -----------

<PAGE>

                            EXHIBIT D-2
                            -----------
                       FORM OF COMMITTED NOTE


       $_________                                         __________ , 1995


            FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned,  CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES,
        INC., a Louisiana corporation (the "Company"), hereby promises to pay to
        the order of (the "Bank") on or before the  Termination  Date the lesser
        of (i) the amount of the Bank's Commitment and (ii) the aggregate amount
        of Committed  Loans made by the Bank to the Company and  outstanding  on
        the Termination Date.

            This note has been executed and delivered  under,  and is subject to
        the terms of, the  Competitive  Advance and  Revolving  Credit  Facility
        Agreement  dated as of  February  7, 1992 (as  amended,  and as  further
        renewed, extended, amended, supplemented, or replaced from time to time,
        the "Credit  Agreement"),  among the Company,  the Banks, the Agent, and
        the Auction  Administration  Agent, and is one of the "Committed  Notes"
        referred  to therein.  Unless  defined  herein or the context  otherwise
        requires,  capitalized  terms used herein have the meaning given to such
        terms in the Credit Agreement. Reference is made to the Credit Agreement
        for provisions  affecting this note regarding applicable interest rates,
        principal and interest  payment  dates,  final  maturity,  voluntary and
        mandatory  prepayments,  acceleration  of maturity,  exercise of Rights,
        payment of attorneys'  fees,  court costs and other costs of collection,
        certain waivers by the Company and others now or hereafter obligated for
        payment of any sums due hereunder  and security for the payment  hereof.
        Without limiting the immediately  preceding sentence,  reference is made
        to Section 9.12 of the Credit Agreement for usury savings provisions.

            This note is being  executed  and  delivered,  and is intended to be
        performed,  in the State of Texas, and the Laws of such State and of the
        United  States of  America  shall  govern  the  Rights and duties of the
        Company and the Bank and the validity,  construction,  enforcement,  and
        interpretation hereof.

                      CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.

                      By: _______________________________________
                      Name:  R. Stewart Ewing, Jr.
                      Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


                                                             Exhibit D-2
                                                             -----------
<PAGE>

                             EXHIBIT G
                             ---------
                   FORM OF DESIGNATION AGREEMENT



            Reference  is made to the Credit  Agreement  dated as of February 7,
        1992 (as amended,  supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time,
        the "Credit  Agreement"  among CENTURY  TELEPHONE  ENTERPRISES,  INC., a
        Louisiana  corporation (the  "Borrower"),  the Banks, as defined therein
        (the  "Banks"),   NATIONSBANK  OF  TEXAS,   N.A.,  a  national   banking
        association, as agent for the Banks (in such capacity, the "Agent"), and
        as  auction   administration  agent  (in  such  capacity,  the  "Auction
        Administration  Agent").  Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used
        herein with the same meaning.

            [NAME OF DESIGNOR] , (the  "Designor") and [NAME OF DESIGNEE],  (the
        "Designee") agree as follows:

            1. The Designor  hereby  designates  the Designee,  and the Designee
        hereby  accepts such  designation,  to have a right to have  Competitive
        Loans pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

            2. The Designor makes no  representation  or warranty and assumes no
        responsibility  with  respect  to  (a)  any  statements,  warranties  or
        representations  made in or in  connection  with any  Loan  Paper or the
        execution, legality, validity, enforceability,  genuineness, sufficiency
        or value of any Loan Paper or any other instrument or document furnished
        pursuant thereto and (b) the financial  condition of the Borrower or the
        performance  or  observance  by the  Borrower of any of its  obligations
        under  any Loan  Paper or any other  instrument  or  document  furnished
        pursuant thereto.

            3. The  Designee  (a)  confirms  that it has received a copy of each
        Loan Paper,  together  with copies of the  Current  Financials  and such
        other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its
        own  credit  analysis  and  decision  to  enter  into  this  Designation
        Agreement;  (b) agrees that it will,  independently and without reliance
        upon any Agent,  the Auction  Administration  Agent, the Designor or any
        other Bank and based on such documents and  information as it shall deem
        appropriate  at the time,  continue to make its own credit  decisions in
        taking or not taking  action under any Loan Paper;  (c) confirms that it
        is a Designated  Lender;  (d) appoints and  authorizes the Agent to take
        such  action as agent on its  behalf  and to  exercise  such  powers and
        discretion  under any Loan  Paper as are  delegated  to the Agent by the
        terms  thereof,   together  with  such  powers  and  discretion  as  are
        reasonably  incidental thereto,  and appoints and authorizes the Auction
        Administration  Agent to take such  action as agent on its behalf and to
        exercise  such  powers  and  discretion  under  any  Loan  Paper  as are
        delegated  to the  Auction  Administration  Agent by the terms  thereof,
        together  with such power and  discretion as are  reasonably  incidental
        thereto;  and (e) agrees that it will perform in  accordance  with their


<PAGE>

        terms all of the  obligations  which by the terms of any Loan  Paper are
        required to be performed by it as a Bank.

            4.  Following  the  execution of this  Designation  Agreement by the
        Designor and its Designee, it will be delivered to the Agent and Auction
        Administration  Agent  for  acceptance.  The  effective  date  for  this
        Designation  Agreement  (the  "Effective  Date")  shall  be the  date of
        acceptance hereof by the Agent and Auction  Administration Agent, unless
        otherwise specified on the signature page hereto.

            5. Upon such  acceptance  by the  Agent and  Auction  Administration
        Agent,  as of the Effective  Date,  the Designee shall be a party to the
        Credit  Agreement  with a right  to  make  Competitive  Loans  as a Bank
        pursuant to the Credit  Agreement  and the rights and  obligations  of a
        Bank related thereto.

            6. This  Designation  Agreement shall be governed by, and construed
        in accordance with, the laws of the State of Texas.

            7. This  Designation  Agreement  may be  executed  in any  number of
        counterparts and by different  parties hereto in separate  counterparts,
        each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all
        of which taken  together shall  constitute  one and the same  agreement.
        Delivery  of  an  executed  counterpart  of a  signature  page  to  this
        Designation  Agreement by facsimile  transmission  shall be effective as
        delivery  of  a  manually  executed   counterpart  of  this  Designation
        Agreement.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the Designor and the Designee,  intending to be
        legally bound,  and the Borrower,  intending to indicate his approval of
        the Designee,  have caused this Designation  Agreement to be executed by
        their  officers  thereunto  duly  authorized  as of the date first above
        written.

        Effective Date:[*]  _______________, 199__


                             [NAME OF DESIGNOR], as Designor
                             ------------------------------- 
                             By:____________________________
                             Name:
                             Title:

<PAGE>

                             [NAME OF DESIGNEE], as Designee
                             -------------------------------  
                             By:____________________________
                             Name:
                             Title:


                            Applicable Lending Office
                            (and address for notices):

                                    [ADDRESS]


                             CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.,
                             as Borrower

                             By:__________________________
                             Name: R. Stewart Ewing, Jr.
                             Title: Senior Vice President and
                                    Chief Financial Officer


     ACCEPTED:

     NATIONSBANK OF TEXAS, N.A.,
     as Agent and Auction Administration Agent

     By:________________________
     Name:
     Title:

     **FOOTNOTES**

     [*]:This date  should be no earlier  than five  Business  Days after the
         delivery of this Designation Agreement to the Agent.


                                                                       Exhibit G



                                                              Exhibit 4.2

                              COMPETITIVE ADVANCE AND

                        REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY AGREEMENT


                                    Dated as of

                                 October 17, 1995

                                       among


                       CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.,

                              THE BANKS NAMED HEREIN,

                                        and

                              BANK ONE, TEXAS, N.A.,

                                     as Agent

                                        and

                          as Auction Administration Agent




<PAGE>



                                 TABLE OF CONTENTS



 SECTION 1.               DEFINITIONS.....................................  1
          1.1    Certain Defined Terms....................................  1

 SECTION 2.               COMMITMENT...................................... 12
          2.1    Commitments.............................................. 12
          2.2    Competitive Bid Procedure................................ 12
          2.3    Committed Borrowing Procedure............................ 15
          2.4    Refinancings............................................. 15
          2.5    Fees..................................................... 16
          2.6    Termination and Reduction of Commitments................. 16
          2.7    Loans.................................................... 17
          2.8    Notes.................................................... 18
          2.9    Interest on Loans........................................ 18
          2.10   Interest on Overdue Amounts.............................. 19
          2.11   Alternate Rate of Interest............................... 19
          2.12   Prepayment of Loans...................................... 19
          2.13   Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances............ 20
          2.14   Change in Legality....................................... 22
          2.15   Indemnity................................................ 22
          2.16   Pro Rata Treatment....................................... 23
          2.17   Sharing of Setoffs....................................... 23
          2.18   Payments................................................. 24
          2.19   Calculation of LIBO...................................... 25
          2.20   Booking Loans............................................ 25
          2.21   Quotation of Rates....................................... 25

 SECTION 3.               REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.................. 25
          3.1    Purpose of Credit Facility............................... 25
          3.2    Corporate Existence, Good Standing, and Authority........ 25
          3.3    Subsidiaries............................................. 26
          3.4    Financial Statements..................................... 26
          3.5    Compliance with Laws, Charter, and Agreements............ 26
          3.6    Litigation............................................... 27
          3.7    Taxes.................................................... 27
          3.8    Environmental Matters.................................... 27
          3.9    Employee Benefit Plans................................... 27
          3.10   Properties; Liens........................................ 27
          3.11   Holding Company and Investment Company Status............ 27
          3.12   Transactions with Affiliates............................. 28
          3.13   Leases................................................... 28
          3.14   Labor Matters............................................ 28
          3.15   Insurance................................................ 28



                                              -i-

<PAGE>



          3.16   Solvency................................................. 28
          3.17   Business................................................. 28
          3.18   General.................................................. 28

 SECTION 4.               CONDITIONS PRECEDENT............................ 29
          4.1    Initial Loan............................................. 29
          4.2    Each Loan................................................ 29
          4.3    Materiality of Conditions................................ 30
          4.4    Waiver of Conditions..................................... 30

 SECTION 5.               COVENANTS....................................... 30
          5.1    Use of Proceeds.......................................... 30
          5.2    Books and Records........................................ 30
          5.3    Items to be Furnished.................................... 30
          5.4    Inspection............................................... 31
          5.5    Taxes.................................................... 31
          5.6    Payment of Obligations................................... 31
          5.7    Expenses of Agent........................................ 32
          5.8    Maintenance of Existence, Assets,
                    Business, and Insurance............................... 32
          5.9    Preservation and Protection of Rights.................... 32
          5.10   Employee Benefit Plans................................... 32
          5.11   Liens.................................................... 32
          5.12   Acquisitions, Mergers, and Dissolutions.................. 32
          5.13   Loans, Advances, and Investments......................... 32
          5.14   Transactions with Affiliates............................. 33
          5.15   Sale of Assets........................................... 34
          5.16   Compliance with Laws and Documents....................... 34
          5.17   New Businesses........................................... 34
          5.18   Assignment............................................... 34
          5.19   Fiscal Year and Accounting Methods....................... 34
          5.20   Holding Company and Investment Company Status............ 34
          5.21   Environmental Laws....................................... 35
          5.22   Environmental Indemnification............................ 35
          5.23   Ratio of Funded Debt to Net Worth........................ 35
          5.24   Ratio of EBIT to Interest Expense and
                    Preferred Stock Dividends............................. 35
          5.25   Tax Consolidation........................................ 35

 SECTION 6.               DEFAULT......................................... 36
          6.1    Payment of Obligation.................................... 36
          6.2    Covenants................................................ 36
          6.3    Debtor Relief............................................ 37
          6.4    Attachment............................................... 37
          6.5    Payment of Judgments..................................... 37
          6.6    Default Under Other Agreements........................... 37
          6.7    Antitrust Proceedings.................................... 37
          6.8    Misrepresentation........................................ 37



                                              -ii-

<PAGE>




 SECTION 7.               RIGHTS AND REMEDIES............................. 38
          7.1    Remedies Upon Event of Default........................... 38
          7.2    Waivers.................................................. 38
          7.3    Performance by Agent..................................... 38
          7.4    Delegation of Duties and Rights.......................... 39
          7.5    Banks Not in Control..................................... 39
          7.6    Waivers by Banks......................................... 39
          7.7    Cumulative Rights........................................ 39
          7.8    Application of Proceeds.................................. 39
          7.9    Certain Proceedings...................................... 39

 SECTION 8.               AGREEMENT AMONG BANKS........................... 40
          8.1    Agents................................................... 40
          8.2    Expenses................................................. 42
          8.3    Proportionate Absorption of Losses....................... 42
          8.4    Delegation of Duties; Reliance........................... 42
          8.5    Limitation of Agents' Liability.......................... 42
          8.6    Default.................................................. 43
          8.7    Limitation of Liability of Banks......................... 44
          8.8    Relationship of Banks.................................... 44
          8.9    Foreign Banks............................................ 44
          8.10   Benefits of Agreement.................................... 44

 SECTION 9.               MISCELLANEOUS................................... 44
          9.1    Changes in GAAP.......................................... 44
          9.2    Money and Interest....................................... 45
          9.3    Number and Gender of Words............................... 45
          9.4    Headings................................................. 45
          9.5    Exhibits................................................. 45
          9.6    Communications........................................... 45
          9.7    Form and Number of Documents............................. 45
          9.8    Exceptions to Covenants.................................. 45
          9.9    Survival................................................. 46
          9.10   Governing Law............................................ 46
          9.11   VENUE; SERVICE OF PROCESS; JURY TRIAL.................... 46
          9.12   Maximum Interest Rate.................................... 46
          9.13   Invalid Provisions....................................... 47
          9.14   Entirety................................................. 47
          9.15   Amendments, Etc.......................................... 48
          9.16   Waivers.................................................. 48
          9.17   Taxes.................................................... 48
          9.18   Governmental Regulation.................................. 48
          9.19   Multiple Counterparts.................................... 48
          9.20   Successors and Assigns; Participations; Assignments...... 49
          9.21   Confidentiality.......................................... 52
          9.22   Conflicts and Ambiguities................................ 52



                                              -iii-

<PAGE>



          9.23   General Indemnification.................................. 52
          9.24   Investment Representation................................ 53


                                     SCHEDULES

Parties, Addresses, Commitments, Wiring Information        Schedule 1
Permitted Liens                                            Schedule 2
Litigation                                                 Schedule 3.6
Transactions with Affiliates                               Schedule 3.12
Business of Companies                                      Schedule 3.17


                                      EXHIBITS

Competitive Bid Request                                    Exhibit A-1
Notice of Committed Borrowing                              Exhibit A-2
Notice to Banks of Competitive Bid Request                 Exhibit B
Competitive Bid                                            Exhibit C
Competitive Note                                           Exhibit D-1
Committed Note                                             Exhibit D-2
Opinion of Borrower's Counsel                              Exhibit E
Financial Report Certificate                               Exhibit F
Designation Agreement                                      Exhibit G




                                       -iv-

<PAGE>



                    COMPETITIVE ADVANCE AND
              REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY AGREEMENT


         COMPETITIVE ADVANCE AND REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY
AGREEMENT dated as of October 17, 1995, among CENTURY TELEPHONE
ENTERPRISES, INC., a Louisiana corporation (the "Borrower"), the banks listed on
the signature  pages hereof (the  "Banks"),  BANK ONE,  TEXAS,  N.A., a national
banking association, as agent for the Banks (in such capacity, the "Agent"), and
as auction administration agent (in such capacity,  the "Auction  Administration
Agent").

         The Borrower has  requested  the Banks to extend credit to the Borrower
in order to enable it to borrow  on a  revolving  credit  basis on and after the
date hereof and at any time and from time to time prior to the Termination  Date
(as herein defined) a principal  amount not in excess of $70,000,000 at any time
outstanding.  The Borrower has also  requested  the Banks to provide a procedure
pursuant to which the Borrower may designate that all of the Banks be invited to
bid on an uncommitted basis on borrowings by the Borrower scheduled to mature on
or prior to the Termination Date. The Banks are willing to extend such credit to
the  Borrower on the terms and  conditions  herein set forth.  Accordingly,  the
Borrower, the Agents, and the Banks agree as follows:


SECTION 1.                 DEFINITIONS.

     1.1 Certain Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms
shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to
both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

          "Adjusted   Consolidated   Net  Worth"  means,   as  of  the  date  of
determination,  Consolidated  Net Worth  minus (i)  deferred  assets  other than
prepaid insurance,  prepaid taxes, prepaid interest,  extraordinary retirements,
and deferred  charges  where such deferred  charges are  considered by Tribunals
when  setting  rates,   (ii)  patents,   copyrights,   trademarks,   tradenames,
franchises, experimental expense, goodwill (other than goodwill arising from the
purchase  of capital  stock or assets of a Person  engaged in the  telephone  or
cellular mobile communications  business) and similar intangible or intellectual
property,  and (iii)  unamortized  debt  discount  and expense  (other than debt
discount and expense of the Companies located in jurisdictions  where such items
are considered by Tribunals when
setting rates).

         "Affiliate" means a Person that directly,  or indirectly through one or
more  intermediaries,  controls or is controlled  by or is under common  control
with another Person.

         "Agent" is defined in the introduction to this Agreement.

         "Agents" means the Agent and the Auction Administration Agent.



                                    -1-

<PAGE>




         "Agreement"  means  this  Competitive   Advance  and  Revolving  Credit
Facility Agreement, as the same may be amended,  supplemented,  or modified from
time to time.

         "Applicable  Lending  Office"  means,  with respect to each Bank,  such
Bank's Domestic  Lending Office in the case of a Base Loan, or a Fixed Rate Loan
and such Bank's Eurodollar Lending Office in the case of a Eurodollar Loan.

          "Auction  Administration Agent" is defined in the introduction to this
Agreement.

         "Banks"  means  those  banks  signatory  hereto  and  other  banks  and
financial  institutions  which from time to time become party hereto pursuant to
the  provisions  of this  Agreement,  and,  except when used in  reference  to a
Committed Loan, a Committed  Borrowing,  a Committed Note, the Commitment of any
Bank or a related term, each Designated Lender.

         "Base Loan" means any Committed Loan with respect to which the Borrower
shall have selected an interest  rate based on the Base Rate in accordance  with
the provisions of Section 2.

         "Base Rate" means, for any date, a rate per annum (rounded upwards,  if
not already a whole multiple of 1/16 of 1%, to the next higher 1/16 of 1%) equal
to the  greatest  of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day or (b) the Federal
Funds Effective Rate in effect for such day plus 1/2 of 1%. For purposes hereof,
the term "Prime Rate" means that rate of interest  established from time to time
by the Agent as its  general  reference  rate of  interest,  after  taking  into
account such factors as the Agent may from time to time, in its sole discretion,
deem appropriate, it being understood,  however, that the Agent may from time to
time make  various  loans at rates of interest  having no  relationship  to such
general  reference rate of interest.  "Federal Funds Effective Rate" means,  for
any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal for each day during such
period  to the  weighted  average  of  the  rates  on  overnight  federal  funds
transactions  with  members of the Federal  Reserve  System  arranged by federal
funds  brokers,  as  published  on the  succeeding  Business  Day by the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which
is a  Business  Day,  the  average  of  the  quotations  for  the  day  of  such
transactions  received  by  the  Agent  from  three  federal  funds  brokers  of
recognized  standing selected by it. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change
in the Federal Funds  Effective Rate shall be effective on the effective date of
such change in the Federal  Funds  Effective  Rate.  If for any reason the Agent
shall have determined (which  determination  shall be conclusive absent manifest
error) that it is unable to ascertain the Federal Funds  Effective  Rate for any
reason, including,  without limitation, the inability or failure of the Agent to
obtain sufficient bids or publications in accordance with the terms hereof,  the
Base Rate shall be the Prime Rate until the  circumstances  giving  rise to such
inability no longer exist.

          "Board" means the Board of Governors of the Federal  Reserve System of
the United States.

         "Borrower" is defined in the introduction to this Agreement.



                                                      -2-

<PAGE>




         "Borrowing" means a Competitive Borrowing or a Committed Borrowing.

         "Borrowing  Date" means the Business Day upon which the proceeds of any
Borrowing are to be made available to the Borrower.

         "Business  Day"  means a day when the Agents and each Bank are open for
business,  and if the applicable  Business Day relates to any Eurodollar Loan, a
day on which  dealings  are carried on in the  Eurodollar  Interbank  Market and
commercial  banks are open for  domestic  or  international  business in London,
England, in New York, New York, and in Dallas, Texas.

         "Code" means the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended,  together
with rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

         "Commitment"  means,  with  respect to each Bank,  the amount set forth
opposite the name of such Bank on Schedule 1, as amended from time to time.

         "Committed  Borrowing"  means a borrowing  consisting  of  simultaneous
Committed  Loans from each of the Banks  distributed  ratably among the Banks in
accordance with their respective Commitments.

         "Committed  Loan"  means a Loan by a Bank to the  Borrower  pursuant to
Section 2.3, and shall be either a Eurodollar Loan or a Base Loan.

         "Committed Note" means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to the
order of each Bank, in  substantially  the form of Exhibit D-2 hereto,  with the
blanks  appropriately  completed,  evidencing the aggregate  indebtedness of the
Borrower to such Bank  resulting  from the Committed  Loans made by such Bank to
the  Borrower,  together  with  all  modifications,  extensions,  renewals,  and
rearrangements thereof.

          "Companies"  means,  collectively,  Borrower and its  Subsidiaries and
"Company" means any of the same.

         "Competitive  Bid" means an offer by a Bank to make a Competitive  Loan
pursuant to Section 2.2.

         "Competitive  Bid Rate" means, as to any Competitive Bid made by a Bank
pursuant to Section  2.2(b),  (i) in the case of a Eurodollar  Loan,  the Margin
(which will be added to or subtracted from the LIBO Rate),  and (ii) in the case
of a Fixed Rate Loan, the fixed rate of interest,  in each case,  offered by the
Bank making such Competitive Bid.

         "Competitive  Bid Request"  means a request for  Competitive  Bids made
pursuant to Section 2.2(a) substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1.




                                    -3-

<PAGE>



         "Competitive  Borrowing"  means  a  borrowing  consisting  of a  single
Competitive Loan from a Bank or simultaneous  Competitive Loans from a number of
Banks,  in  each  case,  whose  Competitive  Bid as all  or as a  part  of  such
Borrowing,  as the case may be,  has been  accepted  by the  Borrower  under the
bidding procedure described in Section 2.2.

         "Competitive Loan" means a Loan from a Bank to the Borrower pursuant to
the bidding procedure described in Section 2.2, and shall be either a Eurodollar
Loan or a Fixed Rate Loan.

         "Competitive  Note" means a promissory note of the Borrower  payable to
the order of each Bank, in  substantially  the form of Exhibit D-1 hereto,  with
the blanks appropriately completed, evidencing the aggregate indebtedness of the
Borrower to such Bank resulting from the Competitive  Loans made by such Bank to
the  Borrower,  together  with  all  modifications,  extensions,  renewals,  and
rearrangements thereof.

         "Competitive Reduction" is defined in Section 2.1.

         "Consolidated  Net Worth" means, as of the date of  determination,  the
amount of stated  capital plus (or minus,  in the case of a deficit) the capital
surplus and earned  surplus of the Companies,  as calculated in accordance  with
GAAP (but  treating  Minority  Interests  in  Subsidiaries  as  liabilities  and
excluding the contra-equity  account  resulting from the Borrower's  obligations
under its  employee  stock  ownership  plan  commitments).  For purposes of this
Agreement,  Consolidated Net Worth shall exclude the effect of Statement No. 106
of the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

         "Current Date" means any date after the date hereof.

         "Current Financials" means the consolidated Financial Statements of the
Companies for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1994,  and the fiscal  quarter
ended June 30, 1995.

         "Debt" of any Person means, from time to time and without  duplication,
all  indebtedness,  liabilities,  and  obligations  of such  Person  (including,
without limitation,  indebtedness,  liabilities,  and obligations secured by any
assets of such Person  regardless  whether such Person has assumed the liability
so secured),  whether or not  considered  as  liabilities  according to GAAP and
whether matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated,  primary or secondary,
direct or indirect, or absolute, fixed, or contingent.

         "Debtor Relief Laws" means the Bankruptcy  Code of the United States of
America  and all  other  applicable  liquidation,  conservatorship,  bankruptcy,
moratorium, rearrangement,  receivership, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent
transfer or  conveyance,  suspension  of payments,  or similar Laws from time to
time in effect affecting the Rights of creditors generally.

         "Default"  means the  occurrence  of any event which with the giving of
notice or the passage of time or both would become an Event of Default.



                               -4-

<PAGE>




         "Default Rate" means an annual interest rate equal to the lesser of (a)
2% plus the Base Rate and (b) the Highest Lawful Rate.

         "Designated  Lender" means a special  purpose  corporation  which is an
Affiliate of a Bank that is engaged in making, purchasing or otherwise investing
in commercial  loans in the ordinary  course of its business and that issues (or
the parent of which issues)  commercial  paper rated at least ""Prime-1" (or the
then equivalent grade) by Moody's Investors Service,  Inc.  ("Moody's") or "A-1"
(or the then  equivalent  grade) by  Standard  and Poor's  Ratings  Services,  a
division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. ("S&P") that, in either case, (i) is
organized  under the laws of the United States or any state thereof,  (ii) shall
have become a party to this Agreement  pursuant to Section  9.20(d) and (iii) is
not otherwise a Bank.

         "Designation Agreement" means a designation agreement entered into by a
Bank (other than a Designated  Lender),  a Designated  Lender, and the Borrower,
and accepted by the Agent and the Auction Administration Agent, in substantially
the form of Exhibit G hereto.

         "Domestic  Lending Office" means,  with respect to any Bank, the office
of such Bank  specified as its "Domestic  Lending  Office" on Schedule 1 to this
Agreement  or such other  office of such Bank as such Bank may from time to time
specify to the Borrower and the Agent.

         "EBIT" means, for the applicable  period, net income before tax expense
and interest  expense and excluding the effects of  nonrecurring  and/or unusual
non-cash  transactions  that  reduce net income and items that do not reduce the
cash flow of the  Companies  (e.g.,  write-off  of  intangibles,  write-down  of
assets, effects of new accounting pronouncements, etc.).

         "Eligible  Assignee"  means (i) a commercial  bank organized  under the
Laws of the United  States,  or any state  thereof,  and having  total assets in
excess of $1,000,000,000; (ii) a commercial bank organized under the Laws of any
other country which is a member of the OECD, or a political  subdivision  of any
such country, and having total assets in excess of $1,000,000,000; provided that
such bank is acting  through a branch or agency  located in the country in which
it is organized or another country which is also a member of the OECD; and (iii)
the central bank of any country which is a member of the OECD.

         "Environmental  Law" means any Law that relates to the  environment  or
handling or control of Hazardous Substances.

         "ERISA" means the Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

         "ERISA  Affiliate"  means any company or trade or business  (whether or
not incorporated) which is, or has been within the last five (5) years, a member
of a group of which  Borrower  is a member and which is, or has been  within the
last five (5) years,  under common  control with Borrower  within the meaning of
section 414 of the Code.




                                     -5-

<PAGE>




         "Eurocurrency Liabilities" is defined in Regulation D.

         "Eurodollar  Interbank  Market" means the eurodollar  interbank  market
selected by the Agent in its sole discretion, acting in good faith.

         "Eurodollar  Lending  Office"  means,  with  respect to each Bank,  the
branches or affiliates of such Bank which such Bank has designated on Schedule 1
as it "Eurodollar  Lending Office" or may hereafter  designate from time to time
as its "Eurodollar Lending Office" by notice to the Borrower and the Agent.

         "Eurodollar  Loan"  means any Loan with  respect to which the  Borrower
shall have selected an interest  rate based on the LIBO Rate in accordance  with
the provisions of Section 2.

         "Event of  Default"  means any of the  events  described  in Section 6,
provided  there has been satisfied any  requirement in connection  therewith for
the giving of notice,  lapse of time,  or  happening  of any further  condition,
event, or act.

         "Facility Fee" is defined in Section 2.5.

     "Federal Funds Effective Rate" has the meaning specified in the definition
of Base Rate.

     "Financial Report Certificate" means a certificate substantially in the
form of Exhibit F.

         "Financial   Statements"   means  balance   sheets,   profit  and  loss
statements,  statements  of capital and  surplus,  and  statements  of cash flow
prepared in comparative form to the corresponding period of the preceding fiscal
year.

         "Fixed Rate Loan" means any Competitive Loan made by a Bank pursuant to
Section 2.2 based upon an actual percentage rate per annum offered by such Bank,
expressed  as a decimal (to no more than four decimal  places),  and accepted by
the Borrower.

         "Funded  Debt" shall mean and  include,  as of any date as of which the
amount  thereof  is to  be  determined,  (i)  all  funded  indebtedness  of  the
Companies,  (ii) all funded  indebtedness  of any Subsidiary  (other than funded
indebtedness  of such Subsidiary  owing to the Borrower or another  Subsidiary),
and (iii) all indebtedness  for borrowed money, but not indebtedness  secured by
or borrowed  against the cash surrender  value of life insurance  policies up to
the amount of such cash surrender value.

         "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles of the Accounting
Principles Board of the American  Institute of Certified Public  Accountants and
the Financial  Accounting Standards Board which are applicable as of the date of
the Financial Statements in question.




                                    -6-

<PAGE>




         "Guaranty"  means by any  particular  Person,  all  obligations of such
Person  guaranteeing  or in  effect  guaranteeing  any Debt,  dividend  or other
obligation  of any other Person (the  "primary  obligor") in any manner  whether
directly or indirectly,  including,  without limitation of the generality of the
foregoing,  obligations incurred through an agreement,  contingent or otherwise,
by such  particular  Person  (i) to  purchase  such  Debt or  obligation  or any
property or assets  constituting  security  therefor,  (ii) to advance or supply
funds (x) for the  purchase  or  payment  of such Debt or  obligation  or (y) to
maintain  working  capital  or equity  capital or  otherwise  to advance or make
available funds for the purchase or payment of such Debt or obligation, (iii) to
purchase property,  securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring
the owner of such Debt or  obligation  of the ability of the primary  obligor to
make payment of the Debt or obligation or (iv)  otherwise to assure the owner of
the Debt or obligation of the primary obligor against loss in respect thereof.

          "Hazardous  Substance" means any hazardous or toxic waste,  pollutant,
contaminant, or substance.

         "Highest Lawful Rate" means,  at the particular  time in question,  the
maximum  rate of  interest  which,  under  applicable  Law,  the  Banks are then
permitted  to charge the  Borrower on the  Obligation.  If the  maximum  rate of
interest  which,  under  applicable  Law, the Banks are  permitted to charge the
Borrower on the  Obligation  shall  change  after the date  hereof,  the Highest
Lawful Rate shall be automatically  increased or decreased,  as the case may be,
as of the effective time of such change without notice to the Borrower.

         "Interest  Payment  Date"  means (i) with  respect  to any Base Loan or
Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable  thereto and, in
addition in the case of a Eurodollar  Loan or Base Loan with an Interest  Period
longer than three  months or 90 days,  as  applicable,  each day that would have
been the  Interest  Payment  Date for such Loan had an Interest  Period of three
months been  applicable to such Loan, and (ii) in the case of a Fixed Rate Loan,
the last day of the  Interest  Period  applicable  thereto and, in the case of a
Fixed Rate Loan with an Interest Period of more than 90 days, on the numerically
corresponding  day which occurs during such  Interest  Period every three months
from  the  first  day  of  such  Interest  Period  (or,  if  there  is  no  such
corresponding day in any such month, the last day of such month).

         "Interest  Period"  means,  with respect to each Loan,  the duration of
such Loan and:

                  (i) as to any Eurodollar  Loan,  the period  commencing on the
         date of such Loan and ending on the numerically  corresponding  day (or
         if there is no  corresponding  day, the last day) in the calendar month
         that is one, two, three, or six months thereafter,  as the Borrower may
         elect;  provided,  however,  that the Interest  Period for a Eurodollar
         Loan subject to a Competitive Bid shall not exceed 3 months;

                  (ii) as to any Base Loan, the period commencing on the date of
         such Loan and ending not later  than 90 days later or, if  earlier,  on
         the Termination Date, or the date of prepayment of such Loan; and




                                  -7-

<PAGE>




                  (iii) as to any Fixed Rate Loan, the period  commencing on the
         date of such Loan and ending on the date  specified in the  Competitive
         Bid in which  the  offer  to make the  Fixed  Rate  Loan was  extended;
         provided,  however,  that each such period shall have a duration of not
         more than 90 calendar days;

provided,  further,  that (x) if any  Interest  Period  would end on a day which
shall not be a Business Day, such Interest  Period shall be extended to the next
succeeding Business Day unless, with respect to Eurodollar Loans only, such next
succeeding  Business Day would fall in the next  calendar  month,  in which case
such Interest  Period shall end on the next  preceding  Business Day, and (y) no
Interest  Period may be  selected  that ends later  than the  Termination  Date.
Interest shall accrue from and including the first day of an Interest  Period to
but excluding the last day of such Interest Period

         "Laws"  means all  applicable  statutes,  laws,  treaties,  ordinances,
rules, regulations, orders, writs, injunctions,  decrees, judgments, or opinions
of any Tribunal.

         "LIBO Rate"  means the rate  (rounded  upwards,  if not already a whole
multiple  of 1/16 of 1%, to the next higher 1/16 of 1%) equal to the annual rate
of interest at which dollar deposits approximately equal to the principal amount
of the  applicable  Eurodollar  Loan and with a maturity equal to the applicable
Interest  Period are offered in  immediately  available  funds to the  principal
office of the Agent in London, England (or if the Agent does not at the time any
such determination is made maintain an office in London,  England, the principal
office of any Affiliate of the Agent in London,  England), at 11:00 a.m., London
time (or as soon thereafter as practicable),  two Business Days before the first
day of such Interest Period.

         "Lien" means any lien, mortgage, security interest, pledge, assignment,
charge,  title  retention  agreement,  or encumbrance of any kind, and any other
Right of or arrangement with any creditor to have his claim satisfied out of any
property or assets, or the proceeds therefrom, prior to the general creditors of
the owner thereof.

          "Litigation" means any action conducted,  pending, or threatened by or
before any Tribunal.

          "Loan" means a Competitive  Loan, a Committed Loan, a Eurodollar Loan,
a Fixed Rate Loan, or a Base Loan.

         "Loan Papers" means (i) this Agreement, certificates delivered pursuant
to this Agreement,  and exhibits and schedules hereto, (ii) any notes,  security
documents,  guaranties, and other agreements in favor of the Agents or the Banks
ever  delivered  in  connection  with this  Agreement,  and (iii) all  renewals,
extensions,  or  restatements  of, or amendments or  supplements  to, any of the
foregoing.





                                -8-

<PAGE>



         "Majority Banks" means at any time (a) the Majority Committed Banks and
(b) Banks holding at least 66-2/3% of the then aggregate unpaid principal amount
of the Competitive Loans.

         "Majority  Committed Banks" means the Banks holding at least 66-2/3% of
the then  aggregate  unpaid  principal  amount of the  Committed  Loans or if no
Committed  Loans are  outstanding,  the Banks  having  at least  66-2/3%  of the
available  Commitments   (determined  without  considering  the  effect  of  any
Competitive Reduction).

         "Margin" means,

                  (a) as to any Competitive  Bid relating to a Eurodollar  Loan,
         the margin  (expressed as a percentage  rate per annum in the form of a
         decimal  to no  more  than  four  decimal  places)  to be  added  to or
         subtracted  from the LIBO Rate in order to determine  the interest rate
         acceptable to such Bank with respect to such Eurodollar Loan; and

                  (b) as to any Committed  Loan which is a Eurodollar  Loan the
         following percentages in the following contexts:
=====================================================================
   Borrower's Senior Unsecured
   Long-Term Debt as Rated by                        Margin
 Standard & Poor's Ratings Group
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
          AA- or better                          14 basis points
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
             A or A+                             17 basis points
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
           BBB+ or A-                            21 basis points
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
               BBB                               28 basis points
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
  BBB- or below or is not rated                 31.5 basis points
=====================================================================


         "Material Adverse Effect" means any set of one or more circumstances or
events which, individually or collectively,  will result in any of the following
(a) a material  and adverse  effect upon the validity or  enforceability  of any
Loan Paper,  (b) a material  and adverse  effect on the  consolidated  financial
condition of the Companies  represented in the latter of the Current  Financials
or the most recent audited consolidated  Financial Statements,  (c) a Default or
(d) the  issuance  of an  accountant's  report  on the  Companies'  consolidated
Financial  Statements  containing an  explanatory  paragraph  about the entity's
ability to continue as a going concern (as defined in accordance  with Generally
Accepted Auditing Standards).

         "Material  Agreement" of any Person means any material  written or oral
agreement,  contract,  commitment,  or  understanding  to which such Person is a
party, by which such




                                        -9-

<PAGE>



Person is directly or  indirectly  bound,  or to which any assets of such Person
may be subject,  and which is not cancelable by such Person upon 30 days or less
notice without  liability for further  payment other than nominal  penalty,  and
which requires such Person to pay more than 1 percent of Consolidated  Net Worth
during any 12-month period.

         "Minority  Interest" means,  with respect to any Subsidiary,  an amount
determined  by valuing  preferred  stock held by Persons other than the Borrower
and its  wholly-owned  Subsidiaries at the voluntary or involuntary  liquidating
value of such preferred stock, whichever is greater, and by valuing common stock
or  partnership  interests  held by  Persons  other  than the  Borrower  and its
wholly-owned  Subsidiaries  at the book value of capital and surplus  applicable
thereto on the books of such Subsidiary adjusted,  if necessary,  to reflect any
changes from the book value of common stock required by the foregoing  method of
valuing Minority Interest attributable to preferred stock.

         "Multiemployer  Plan" means a multiemployer plan as defined in sections
3(37) or  4001(a)(3) of ERISA or section 414 of the Code to which any Company or
any ERISA Affiliate is making, or has made, or is accruing,  or has accrued,  an
obligation to make contributions.

         "Note" means a Competitive Note or a Committed Note.

         "Notice of Committed Borrowing" is defined in Section 2.3.

         "Obligation"  means all present and future  indebtedness,  obligations,
and liabilities,  and all renewals,  extensions, and modifications thereof, owed
to the Agents or the Banks by the Borrower,  arising pursuant to any Loan Paper,
together with all interest  thereon and costs,  expenses,  and  attorneys'  fees
incurred in the enforcement or collection thereof.

          "OECD" means the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
(or any successor).

         "Participant" is defined in Section 9.20(b).

         "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any successor
thereof, established pursuant to ERISA.

         "Permitted Liens" means the Liens described on Schedule 2.

         "Person"  means  and  includes  an  individual,   partnership,  limited
liability company, joint venture, corporation,  trust, Tribunal,  unincorporated
organization, or government, or any department, agency, or political subdivision
thereof.

         "Plan" means any plan defined in Section 4021(a) of ERISA in respect of
which the Borrower is an  "employer" or a  "substantial  employer" as such terms
are defined in ERISA.





                                      -10-

<PAGE>



         "Prime Rate" has the meaning specified in the definition of Base Rate.

         "Purchaser" is defined in Section 9.20(c).

         "Regulation  D" means  Regulation  D of the Board,  as the same is from
time to time in effect, and all official rulings and interpretations  thereunder
or thereof.

         "Rights" means rights, remedies, powers, and privileges.

         "Significant  Subsidiary"  means a  Subsidiary  of the Borrower (i) the
assets  of which  equal or  exceed  5% of all  assets  of the  Borrower  and its
Subsidiaries  as shown on a  consolidated  balance sheet of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries,  (ii) the operating  revenue of which, for the most recently ended
period of twelve  consecutive  months,  equals or  exceeds  5% of the  operating
revenues of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period,  or (iii) the net
income of  which,  for the most  recently  ended  period  of twelve  consecutive
months,  equals  or  exceeds  5% of the  net  income  of the  Borrower  and  its
Subsidiaries for such period.

         "Solvent"  means, as to any Person at the time of  determination,  that
(a) the aggregate  fair value of such Person's  assets exceeds the present value
of its liabilities (whether contingent,  subordinated,  unmatured, unliquidated,
or otherwise),  and (b) such Person has sufficient cash flow to enable it to pay
its Debts as they mature.

         "Subsidiary" means any Person with respect to which Borrower or any one
or more  Subsidiaries  owns directly or indirectly 50% or more of the issued and
outstanding voting stock (or equivalent interests).

         "Taxes"  means all taxes,  assessments,  fees,  or other charges at any
time imposed by any Laws or Tribunal.

         "Termination  Date" means, at any time, August 31, 2000, or the earlier
date of termination in whole of the Total Commitment pursuant to Section 2.6.

         "Total Commitment" means at any time the aggregate amount of the Banks'
Commitments, as in effect at such time.

         "Tribunal" means any municipal, state, commonwealth,  federal, foreign,
territorial, or other court, governmental body, subdivision, agency, department,
commission, board, bureau, or instrumentality.

         "United States" and "U.S." each means United States of America.





                                 -11-

<PAGE>



SECTION 2.                 COMMITMENT.

         2.1  Commitments.  Subject to the terms and conditions and relying upon
the  representations  and warranties herein set forth, each Bank,  severally and
not jointly,  agrees to make revolving credit loans  ("Committed  Loans") to the
Borrower,  at any time and from time to time on and after  the date  hereof  and
until the Termination  Date.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  (a) the aggregate
outstanding  principal  amount of all Committed Loans of a Bank shall not exceed
at any time such Bank's  Commitment and (b) the Commitment of a Bank which makes
a Competitive  Loan and the Total  Commitment  shall be deemed used from time to
time to the extent of the aggregate  principal  amount of the Competitive  Loans
then outstanding  from such Bank (such deemed use of such Bank's  Commitment and
the Total Commitment being a "Competitive Reduction"),  subject, however, to the
conditions  that  (i) at no  time  shall  (A)  the  sum of (x)  the  outstanding
aggregate principal amount of all Committed Loans made by all Banks plus (y) the
outstanding  aggregate  principal  amount of all  Competitive  Loans made by all
Banks exceed (B) the Total Commitment and (ii) the principal amount of Committed
Loans to be made by a Bank pursuant to a Committed  Borrowing  (whether pursuant
to Section 2.3 or as part of a  refinancing  under  Section 2.4) shall equal the
product  of (x)  the  percentage  which  its  Commitment  (after  a  Competitive
Reduction  for  its  Competitive  Loans  outstanding)  represents  of the  Total
Commitment (after a Competitive  Reduction for all Competitive Loans outstanding
times (y) the  outstanding  aggregate  principal  amount of all Committed  Loans
obligated to be made by all Banks in connection with such Committed Borrowing.

         Within the foregoing limits,  the Borrower may borrow,  repay,  prepay,
and  reborrow  hereunder,  on  and  after  the  date  hereof  and  prior  to the
Termination Date,  subject to the terms,  provisions,  and limitations set forth
herein.

         2.2  Competitive  Bid  Procedure.  (a) In order to request  Competitive
Bids, the Borrower shall hand deliver,  telex,  or telecopy to the Agents a duly
completed  Competitive Bid Request, to be received by the Agents (i) in the case
of  Eurodollar  Loans,  not later than 10:00  a.m.,  Dallas,  Texas  time,  four
Business Days before the  Borrowing  Date  specified for a proposed  Competitive
Borrowing  and (ii) in the case of Fixed Rate Loans,  not later than 10:00 a.m.,
Dallas,  Texas time, two Business Days before the Borrowing Date specified for a
proposed Competitive  Borrowing.  No Base Loan shall be requested in, or, except
pursuant to Section 2.11 or Section 2.14,  made  pursuant to, a Competitive  Bid
Request.  A Competitive Bid Request that does not conform  substantially  to the
format of Exhibit A-1 may be rejected at the Auction Administration Agent's sole
discretion,  and the Auction  Administration Agent shall, not later than noon on
the date of delivery of the Competitive Bid Request, notify the Borrower of such
rejection by telex or  telecopier.  Each  Competitive  Bid Request shall in each
case refer to this Agreement and specify (x) whether the Competitive  Loans then
being requested are to be Eurodollar Loans or Fixed Rate Loans, or both, (y) the
Borrowing Date of such Competitive Loans (which shall be a Business Day) and the
aggregate  principal  amount thereof (which shall not be less than $3,000,000 or
greater than the unused Total  Commitment on such Borrowing Date and shall be an
integral  multiple of  $1,000,000),  and (z) the  Interest  Period with  respect
thereto (which may not end after the




                                    -12-

<PAGE>



Termination Date).  Promptly after its receipt of a Competitive Bid Request that
is not rejected as aforesaid,  the Auction  Administration Agent shall invite by
telex or  telecopier  (substantially  in the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto)
the  Banks to bid,  on the  terms  and  conditions  of this  Agreement,  to make
Competitive Loans pursuant to such Competitive Bid Request.

                  (b) Each Bank may,  in its sole  discretion,  make one or more
Competitive  Bids to the Borrower  responsive to each  Competitive  Bid Request.
Each  Competitive  Bid by a Bank must be received by the Auction  Administration
Agent via telex or  telecopier,  substantially  in the form of Exhibit C hereto,
(i) in the case of Eurodollar  Loans, not later than 11:00 a.m.,  Dallas,  Texas
time,  three  Business Days before the Borrowing  Date  specified for a proposed
Competitive  Borrowing and (ii) in the case of Fixed Rate Loans,  not later than
11:00 a.m., Dallas,  Texas time, one Business Day before the Borrowing Date of a
proposed   Competitive   Borrowing.   Competitive   Bids  that  do  not  conform
substantially  to the  format  of  Exhibit  C may  be  rejected  by the  Auction
Administration  Agent after  conferring  with, and upon the  instruction of, the
Borrower,  and the  Auction  Administration  Agent  shall  notify  the Bank that
submitted  the  non-conforming  Competitive  Bid of  such  rejection  as soon as
practicable.  Each Competitive Bid shall refer to this Agreement and (x) specify
the principal amount (which shall be in a minimum principal amount of $3,000,000
and in an  integral  multiple  of  $1,000,000  and which  may  equal the  entire
principal amount of the Competitive  Borrowing requested by the Borrower) of the
Competitive  Loan the Bank is willing to make to the  Borrower,  (y) specify the
Competitive  Bid Rate(s) at which the Bank is  prepared to make the  Competitive
Loan, and (z) confirm the Interest Period with respect thereto  specified by the
Borrower in its Competitive  Bid Request.  If any Bank shall elect not to make a
Competitive Bid, such Bank shall so notify the Auction  Administration Agent via
telex or telecopier  (I) in the case of Eurodollar  Loans,  not later than 11:00
a.m.,  Dallas,  Texas  time,  three  Business  Days  before the  Borrowing  Date
specified for a proposed  Competitive  Borrowing,  and (II) in the case of Fixed
Rate Loans,  not later than 11:00 a.m.,  Dallas,  Texas time,  one  Business Day
before  the  Borrowing  Date  of a  proposed  Competitive  Borrowing;  provided,
however,  that failure by any Bank to give such notice shall not cause such Bank
to be  obligated  to make  any  Competitive  Loan  as  part of such  Competitive
Borrowing.  A Competitive Bid submitted by a Bank pursuant to this paragraph (b)
shall be irrevocable.

                  (c) The Auction Administration Agent shall promptly notify the
Borrower  by  telex  or  telecopier  of  all  the  Competitive  Bids  made,  the
Competitive  Bid Rate  and the  principal  amount  of each  Competitive  Loan in
respect of which a  Competitive  Bid was made and the  identity of the Bank that
made each bid on the date of delivery of  Competitive  Bids  pursuant to Section
2.2(b).  The Auction  Administration  Agent shall send a copy of all Competitive
Bids to the Borrower for its records as soon as practicable  after completion of
the bidding process set forth in this Section 2.2.

                  (d) The  Borrower  may in its  sole and  absolute  discretion,
subject only to provisions of this Section  2.2(d),  accept or reject any or all
of the Competitive Bids referred to in paragraph (c) above;  provided,  however,
that the aggregate amount of the Competitive




                                       -13-

<PAGE>



Bids so  accepted by the  Borrower  may not exceed the  principal  amount of the
Competitive  Borrowing requested by the Borrower.  The Borrower shall notify the
Auction  Administration  Agent by telex or telecopier whether and to what extent
it has  decided  to  accept  or  reject  any or all of the bids  referred  to in
paragraph (c) above,  (i) in the case of Eurodollar  Loans, not later than 11:00
a.m., Dallas,  Texas time, two Business Days before the Borrowing Date specified
for a proposed  Competitive  Borrowing and (ii) in the case of Fixed Rate Loans,
not later than 11:00 a.m.,  Dallas,  Texas time, on the Borrowing Date specified
for a proposed Competitive Borrowing; provided, however, that (w) the failure by
the  Borrower to give such notice  shall be deemed to be a rejection  of all the
bids referred to in paragraph (c) above, (x) the Borrower shall not accept a bid
made at a particular  Competitive Bid Rate if the Borrower has decided to reject
a bid made at a lower  Competitive  Bid Rate,  (y) if the Borrower  shall accept
bids made at a particular  Competitive Bid Rate but shall be restricted by other
conditions  hereof from borrowing the principal  amount of Competitive  Loans in
respect of which  bids at such  Competitive  Bid Rate have been  made,  then the
Borrower  shall accept a pro rata  portion of each bid made at such  Competitive
Bid Rate based as nearly as  possible  on the  respective  principal  amounts of
Competitive  Loans  for  which  such  bids  were  made,  and (z) no bid shall be
accepted for a  Competitive  Loan unless such  Competitive  Loan is in a minimum
principal  amount  of  $3,000,000  and  an  integral   multiple  of  $1,000,000.
Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  if it is necessary for the Borrower to accept a
pro rata  allocation of the bids made in response to a  Competitive  Bid Request
(whether  pursuant to the events specified in clause (y) above or otherwise) and
the available  principal  amount of Competitive  Loans to be allocated among the
Banks is not sufficient to enable Competitive Loans to be allocated to each Bank
in a minimum  principal  amount  of  $3,000,000  and in  integral  multiples  of
$1,000,000,  then the  Borrower  shall  select  the Banks to be  allocated  such
Competitive  Loans and shall round  allocations up or down to the next higher or
lower multiple of $1,000,000 as it shall deem appropriate. A notice given by the
Borrower pursuant to this paragraph (d) shall be irrevocable.

                  (e) The Auction  Administration  Agent shall  promptly  notify
each bidding Bank whether or not its  Competitive  Bid has been accepted (and if
so, in what amount and at what Competitive Bid Rate) by telex or telecopier, and
each  successful  bidder  will  thereupon  become  bound,  subject  to the other
applicable  conditions  hereof, to make the Competitive Loan in respect of which
its bid has been accepted. After completing the notifications referred to in the
immediately  preceding  sentence,  the  Auction  Administration  Agent shall (i)
notify  the Agent of each  Competitive  Bid that has been  accepted,  the amount
thereof,  and the Competitive Bid Rate therefor and (ii) notify each Bank of the
aggregate principal amount of all Competitive Bids accepted.

                  (f) Upon receipt from the Agent of the LIBO Rate applicable to
any  Eurodollar  Loan to be made by any Bank pursuant to a Competitive  Bid that
has been  accepted  by the  Borrower  pursuant  to Section  2.2(d),  the Auction
Administration  Agent shall notify such Bank of (i) the applicable LIBO Rate and
(ii) the sum of the applicable LIBO Rate plus the Margin bid by such Bank.





                                -14-

<PAGE>



                  (g) No  Competitive  Borrowing  shall  be  made  within  three
Business  Days of the  date  of any  other  Competitive  Borrowing,  unless  the
Borrower and the Auction Administration Agent shall mutually agree otherwise.

                  (h) If the Auction Administration Agent shall at any time have
a  Commitment  hereunder  and  shall  elect to submit a  Competitive  Bid in its
capacity as a Bank,  it shall  submit  such bid  directly  to the  Borrower  one
quarter of an hour  earlier  than the latest  time at which the other  Banks are
required to submit their bids to the Auction  Administration  Agent  pursuant to
paragraph (b) above.

     (i) All notices required by this Section 2.2 shall be made in accordance
with Section 9.6.

         2.3  Committed  Borrowing  Procedure.  In order to  effect a  Committed
Borrowing,  the Borrower shall hand deliver,  telex,  or telecopy to the Agent a
duly completed  request for Committed  Borrowing,  substantially  in the form of
Exhibit  A-2  hereto (a  "Notice of  Committed  Borrowing"),  (i) in the case of
Eurodollar  Loans, not later than 11:00 a.m.,  Dallas,  Texas time, two Business
Days before the Borrowing Date specified for a proposed Committed Borrowing, and
(ii) in the case of Base Loans, not later than 11:00 a.m.,  Dallas,  Texas time,
on the  Business  Day  which is the  Borrowing  Date  specified  for a  proposed
Committed Borrowing. No Fixed Rate Loan shall be requested or made pursuant to a
Notice of Committed  Borrowing.  Such notice shall be  irrevocable  and shall in
each case refer to this  Agreement  and specify (x) whether the Loans then being
requested are to be Eurodollar  Loans or Base Loans,  (y) the Borrowing  Date of
such Loans  (which shall be a Business  Day) and the  aggregate  amount  thereof
(which  shall not be less than  $500,000  and shall be an  integral  multiple of
$100,000), and (z) the Interest Period with respect thereto (which shall not end
later than the  Termination  Date).  If no Interest  Period with  respect to any
Eurodollar Loan is specified in any such Notice of Committed Borrowing, then the
Borrower  shall be deemed to have  selected  an  Interest  Period of one month's
duration. Promptly, and in any event on the same day the Agent receives a Notice
of Committed  Borrowing pursuant to this Section 2.3, the Agent shall advise the
other Banks of such Notice of Committed  Borrowing and of each Bank's portion of
the  requested  Committed  Borrowing  by telex  or  telecopier.  Each  Committed
Borrowing  shall  consist  of Loans of the same type made as of the same day and
having the same Interest Period.

         2.4  Refinancings.  The Borrower may  refinance  all or any part of any
Loan with a Loan of the same or a different type made pursuant to Section 2.2 or
Section 2.3,  subject to the  conditions  and  limitations  set forth herein and
elsewhere in this  Agreement,  including,  without  limitation,  refinancings of
Competitive  Loans with  Committed  Loans and Committed  Loans with  Competitive
Loans.  Any Loan or part thereof so  refinanced  shall be deemed to be repaid in
accordance  with Section 2.8 with the proceeds of a new Borrowing  hereunder and
the  proceeds of the new Loan,  to the extent  they do not exceed the  principal
amount of the Loan being refinanced, shall not be paid by the Banks to the Agent
or by the Agent to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.7(c);  provided,  however,
that (i) if the principal  amount extended by a Bank in a refinancing is greater
than the principal amount extended by such




                                   -15-

<PAGE>



Bank in the Borrowing being refinanced, then such Bank shall pay such difference
to the Agent for distribution to the Banks described in (ii) below,  (ii) if the
principal amount extended by a Bank in the Borrowing being refinanced is greater
than the principal  amount being extended by such Bank in the  refinancing,  the
Agent shall return the difference to such Bank out of amounts received  pursuant
to (i) above,  (iii) to the extent any Bank fails to pay the Agent  amounts  due
from it  pursuant to (i) above,  any Loan or portion  thereof  being  refinanced
shall not be deemed repaid in accordance  with Section 2.8 to the extent of such
failure and the Borrower  shall pay such amount to the Agent pursuant to Section
2.8, and (iv) to the extent the  Borrower  fails to pay to the Agent any amounts
due in  accordance  with Section 2.8 as a result of the failure of a Bank to pay
the Agent any  amounts  due as  described  in (iii)  above,  the  portion of any
refinanced  Loan deemed not repaid shall be deemed to be  outstanding  solely to
the Bank which has failed to pay the Agent  amounts  due from it pursuant to (i)
above to the full extent of such Bank's portion of such refinanced Loan.

         2.5 Fees. The Borrower  agrees to pay to each Bank,  through the Agent,
on each March 31, June 30,  September 30, and December 31 and on the Termination
Date,  in  immediately  available  funds,  a  facility  fee (a  "Facility  Fee")
calculated by multiplying  the  percentages  set forth below in the contexts set
forth below by the  Commitment of such Bank,  during the  preceding  quarter (or
shorter  period   commencing  with  the  date  hereof  and/or  ending  with  the
Termination Date):

==========================================================================
      Borrower's Senior Unsecured
      Long-Term Debt as Rated by                    Percentage
    Standard & Poor's Ratings Group
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
             AA- or better                          .09 percent
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                A or A+                             .11 percent
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
              BBB+ or A-                           .125 percent
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  BBB                               .17 percent
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
     BBB- or below or is not rated                  .21 percent
==========================================================================

All  Facility  Fees  shall be  computed  by the Agent on the basis of the actual
number of days  elapsed  in a year of 365  days,  and  shall be  conclusive  and
binding for all purposes,  absent manifest  error.  The Facility Fee due to each
Bank shall  commence  to accrue on the date  hereof and shall cease to accrue on
the earlier of the  Termination  Date and the  termination  of the Commitment of
such Bank as provided herein.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  in no event shall
any  Bank be  permitted  to  receive  any  compensation  hereunder  constituting
interest in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate.

         2.6 Termination  and Reduction of  Commitments.  (a) Subject to Section
2.12(b),  the Borrower may permanently  terminate,  or from time to time in part
permanently  reduce,  the  Total  Commitment,  in each  case  upon at least  ten
Business Days' prior written or telex




                                  -16-

<PAGE>



notice to the Agent (who shall promptly  forward a copy thereof to each Bank and
the Auction  Administration  Agent).  Such notice shall specify the date and the
amount  of the  termination  or  reduction  of the Total  Commitment.  Each such
partial  reduction  of the  Total  Commitment  shall be in a  minimum  aggregate
principal amount of $5,000,000 and in an integral multiple of $1,000,000.

                  (b) On the Termination Date the Total Commitment shall be
zero.

                  (c) Each  reduction in the Total  Commitment  pursuant to this
paragraph  shall be made  ratably  among  the  Banks in  accordance  with  their
respective  Commitments.  Simultaneously  with any  termination  or reduction of
commitments pursuant to this paragraph,  the Borrower shall pay to the Agent for
the  accounts  of the  Banks  the  Facility  Fees  on the  amount  of the  Total
Commitment  so  terminated  or  reduced,   accrued  through  the  date  of  such
termination or reduction.

         2.7 Loans. (a) Each Borrowing made by the Borrower on any date shall be
(i) in the case of Competitive  Loans, in an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and
in a minimum  aggregate  principal  amount of $3,000,000 and (ii) in the case of
Committed Loans, in an integral  multiple of $100,000 and in a minimum aggregate
principal  amount of $500,000.  Competitive  Loans shall be made by the Banks in
accordance with Section  2.2(d),  and Committed Loans shall be made by the Banks
ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments on the Borrowing Date of
the Committed Borrowing; provided, however, that the failure of any Bank to make
any Loan shall not in itself  relieve any other Bank of its  obligation  to lend
hereunder. The initial Competitive Loan and Committed Loan by each Bank shall be
made  against  delivery  to such  Bank of an  appropriate  Competitive  Note and
Committed Note, respectively,  payable to the order of such Bank, as referred to
in Section 2.8.

                  (b) Each  Competitive  Loan  shall be a  Eurodollar  Loan or a
Fixed Rate Loan, and each  Committed  Loan shall be a Eurodollar  Loan or a Base
Loan, as the Borrower may request  subject to and in accordance with Section 2.2
or Section 2.3, as  applicable.  Each Bank may at its option make any Eurodollar
Loan by  causing a foreign  branch  of such  Bank to make such  Loan;  provided,
however, that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the
Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance  with the terms of the applicable Note
and  this  Agreement.  Loans  of more  than  one  interest  rate  option  may be
outstanding at the same time; provided,  however, that the Borrower shall not be
entitled to request any Loan which,  if made,  would  result in an  aggregate of
more than 10 separate  Borrowings being  outstanding  hereunder at any one time.
For  purposes  of  the  foregoing,  Loans  having  different  interest  Periods,
regardless  of  whether  they  commence  on the same date,  shall be  considered
separate Loans.

                  (c) Subject to Section  2.4,  each Bank shall make its portion
of each  Competitive  Borrowing  and each  Committed  Borrowing  on the proposed
Borrowing Date thereof by paying the amount required to the Agent in Dallas,  in
immediately  available funds not later than 12:00 noon, Dallas,  Texas time, and
the Agent shall by 2:00 p.m., Dallas,




                                      -17-

<PAGE>



Texas time, credit the amounts so received to the general deposit account of the
Borrower  with the Agent or,  if Loans  are not made on such  date  because  any
condition  precedent to a Borrowing  herein  specified  shall not have been met,
return the amounts so received to the respective  Banks as soon as  practicable;
provided,  however,  if and to the  extent  the Agent  fails to return  any such
amounts to a Bank on the Borrowing Date for such Borrowing,  the Agent shall pay
interest on such  unreturned  amounts,  for each day from such Borrowing Date to
the date such amounts are returned to such Bank, at the Federal Funds  Effective
Rate.

         2.8 Notes.  The Competitive  Loans made by each Bank shall be evidenced
by a single  Competitive Note,  payable to the order of such Bank in a principal
amount  equal to the Total  Commitment.  The  Committed  Loans made by each Bank
shall be evidenced by a single  Committed Note payable to the order of such Bank
in a principal  amount equal to the  Commitment  of such Bank.  The  outstanding
principal  balance of each  Competitive Loan and Committed Loan, as evidenced by
the  relevant  Note,  shall be  payable on the last day of the  Interest  Period
applicable to such Loan.  Each Note shall bear interest from the date thereof on
the  outstanding  principal  balance  thereof  as set forth in  Section  2.9 and
Section  2.10.  Each Bank shall,  and is hereby  authorized  by the Borrower to,
endorse on the schedule attached to the relevant Note held by such Bank (or on a
continuation  of such  schedule  attached  to each  such  Note  and  made a part
thereof) or in its records relating such Note an appropriate notation evidencing
the date and amount of each  Competitive  Loan or Committed Loan, as applicable,
of such Bank, each payment or prepayment of principal of any Competitive Loan or
Committed Loan, as applicable,  and the other  information  provided for on such
schedule. The aggregate unpaid principal amount so recorded shall be presumptive
evidence  of the  principal  amount  owing by the  Borrower to a Bank and unpaid
under the Note of such Bank.  The failure of any Bank to make such a notation or
any error therein shall not in any manner affect the  obligation of the Borrower
to repay the Competitive  Loans or Committed Loans, as applicable,  made by such
Bank in accordance with the terms of the relevant Note.

         2.9 Interest on Loans.  (a) Subject to the  provisions of Section 2.10,
each  Eurodollar  Loan shall bear interest at a rate per annum  (computed on the
basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days) equal to the
lesser of (i) the Highest  Lawful  Rate and (ii) the LIBO Rate for the  Interest
Period  in effect  for such  Loan (A) plus or minus,  as the case may be, in the
case of each  Competitive  Loan, the Margin  specified by a Bank with respect to
such Loan in its  Competitive  Bid submitted  pursuant to Section 2.2(b) and (B)
plus,  in the  case  of  each  Committed  Loan,  the  Margin.  Interest  on each
Eurodollar  Loan shall be  payable  on each  Interest  Payment  Date  applicable
thereto.  The applicable  LIBO Rate for each Interest Period shall be determined
by the Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

                  (b) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.10,  each Base Loan
shall bear  interest at the rate per annum  (computed on the basis of the actual
number of days elapsed over a year of (x) 365 or 366 days, as the case may be if
the Base  Rate is based on the  Prime  Rate or (y) 360 days if the Base  Rate is
based on the Federal Funds Effective Rate)




                                    -18-

<PAGE>



equal to the  lesser  of (i) the  Highest  Lawful  Rate and (ii) the Base  Rate.
Interest  on each Base Loan  shall be  payable  on each  Interest  Payment  Date
applicable  thereto.  The applicable Base Rate during each Interest Period shall
be determined by the Agent, and such  determination  shall be conclusive  absent
manifest error.

                  (c) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.10, each Fixed Rate
Loan  shall  bear  interest  at a rate per annum  (computed  on the basis of the
actual  number of days  elapsed over a year of 360 days) equal to the fixed rate
of interest  offered by the Bank making such Loan and  accepted by the  Borrower
pursuant  to Section  2.2.  Interest on each Fixed Rate Loan shall be payable on
each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto.

         2.10 Interest on Overdue Amounts.  If the Borrower shall default in the
payment of the principal of or interest on any Loan or any other amount becoming
due hereunder,  the Borrower shall on demand from time to time pay interest,  to
the extent  permitted by Law, on such defaulted amount up to (but not including)
the date of actual  payment  (after as well as  before  judgment)  at a rate per
annum  equal to the lesser of (i) the  Highest  Lawful Rate and (ii) the Default
Rate.

         2.11  Alternate Rate of Interest.  In the event,  and on each occasion,
that on the day two  Business  Days prior to the  commencement  of any  Interest
Period for a  Eurodollar  Loan,  the Agent  shall have  determined  that  dollar
deposits in the amount of the requested principal amount of such Eurodollar Loan
are not generally  available in the Eurodollar  Interbank Market, or that dollar
deposits of such Eurodollar  Loan are not generally  available in the Eurodollar
Interbank Market for the requested  Interest  Period,  or that the rate at which
such dollar  deposits are being offered will not  adequately  and fairly reflect
the cost to any Bank of making or maintaining  such  Eurodollar Loan during such
Interest Period, or that reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the LIBO
Rate, the Agent shall, as soon as practicable thereafter,  give written or telex
notice of such  determination,  stating the specific  reasons  therefor,  to the
Borrower,  the Auction  Administration Agent, and the Banks. In the event of any
such  determination,  any request by the Borrower  for a Eurodollar  Loan shall,
until the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, be deemed to
be a request for a Base Loan. Each determination by the Agent hereunder shall be
conclusive absent manifest error.

         2.12  Prepayment  of Loans.  (a)  Prior to the  Termination  Date,  the
Borrower shall have the right at any time to prepay any Committed Borrowing,  in
whole or in part,  subject to the  requirements  of Section  2.15 but  otherwise
without premium or penalty,  but prepayment of Eurodollar Loans shall require at
least five Business  Days prior written or telex notice to the Agent;  provided,
however,  that each such partial  prepayment shall be in an integral multiple of
$100,000 and in a minimum aggregate principal amount of $100,000. Each notice of
prepayment shall specify the prepayment date and the aggregate  principal amount
of each  Borrowing  to be prepaid,  shall be  irrevocable  and shall  commit the
Borrower to prepay such  Borrowing by the amount  stated  therein.  The Borrower
shall not have the right to prepay any Competitive Borrowing.



                                    -19-

<PAGE>



                  (b) On the date of any  termination  or reduction of the Total
Commitment  pursuant to Section 2.6(a), the Borrower shall pay or prepay so much
of the Loans as shall be necessary in order that the aggregate  principal amount
of the Loans  outstanding  will not exceed the Total  Commitment  following such
termination  or  reduction.  Subject  to the  foregoing,  any  such  payment  or
prepayment  shall be applied to such  Borrowing  or  Borrowings  as the Borrower
shall select.  All prepayments  under this paragraph shall be subject to Section
2.15 and Section 2.16.

                  (c)  All   prepayments   under  this  Section  2.12  shall  be
accompanied  by accrued  interest on the  principal  amount being prepaid to the
date of prepayment.

         2.13 Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances. (a) Notwithstanding
any other  provision  herein,  if after the date of this Agreement any change in
applicable Law or regulation or in the interpretation or administration  thereof
by any  Tribunal  charged  with the  interpretation  or  administration  thereof
(whether or not having the force of Law) (i) shall  change the basis of taxation
of payments to any Bank of the principal of or interest on any  Eurodollar  Loan
or Fixed  Rate  Loan  made by such Bank or any  other  fees or  amounts  payable
hereunder  (other than (x) Taxes  imposed on the overall net income of such Bank
by the  jurisdiction  in which  such  Bank has its  principal  office  or by any
political  subdivision or taxing authority  therein (or any Tax which is enacted
or adopted by such jurisdiction, political subdivision, or taxing authority as a
direct  substitute  for any such  Taxes)  or (y) any Tax,  assessment,  or other
governmental  charge that would not have been imposed but for the failure of any
Bank to comply  with any  certification,  information,  documentation,  or other
reporting  requirement),  (ii) shall  impose,  modify,  or deem  applicable  any
reserve,  special deposit,  or similar  requirement  against assets of, deposits
with or for the account  of, or credit  extended  by, such Bank,  or (iii) shall
impose on such  Bank or the  Eurodollar  Interbank  Market  any other  condition
affecting this Agreement or any Eurodollar  Loan or Fixed Rate Loan made by such
Bank,  and the result of any of the  foregoing  shall be to increase the cost to
such  Bank of  maintaining  its  Commitment  or of  making  or  maintaining  any
Eurodollar  Loan or Fixed Rate Loan or to reduce the amount of any sum  received
or  receivable  by such Bank  hereunder  (whether  of  principal,  interest,  or
otherwise) in respect  thereof by an amount deemed in good faith by such Bank to
be material,  then the  Borrower  shall pay to the Agent for the account of such
Bank such  additional  amount or amounts as will  compensate  such Bank for such
increase or reduction to such Bank upon demand by such Bank (through the Agent).
Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  in no event  shall  any Bank be  permitted  to
receive  any  compensation  hereunder  constituting  interest  in  excess of the
Highest Lawful Rate.

                  (b) If any Bank shall have  determined  in good faith that the
adoption of any applicable law, rule, regulation, or guideline regarding capital
adequacy,  or any  change  therein,  or any  change  in  the  interpretation  or
administration  thereof by any Tribunal,  central  bank,  or  comparable  agency
charged with the interpretation or administration  thereof, or compliance by any
Bank (or any  lending  office  of such  Bank)  with  any  request  or  directive
regarding  capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of Law) of any such
authority,  central bank, or comparable  agency, has or would have the effect of
reducing  the rate of return on such  Bank's  capital  as a  consequence  of its
obligations  hereunder to a level below that which such Bank could have achieved
but for such adoption, change, or compliance




                                 -20-

<PAGE>



(taking  into  consideration  such  Bank's  policies  with  respect  to  capital
adequacy)  by an amount  deemed by such Bank to be  material,  then from time to
time,  the  Borrower  shall pay to the Agent for the  account  of such Bank such
additional  amount or amounts as will  compensate  such Bank for such  reduction
upon demand by such Bank (through the Agent).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in
no event  shall any Bank be  permitted  to receive  any  compensation  hereunder
constituting interest in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate.

                  (c) A certificate of a Bank setting forth in reasonable detail
(i) such  amount or amounts as shall be  necessary  to  compensate  such Bank as
specified  in  paragraph  (a) or (b)  above,  as the case  may be,  and (ii) the
calculation of such amount or amounts under clause (a)(i), shall be delivered to
the Borrower (with a copy to the Agent)  promptly after such Bank  determines it
is entitled to compensation under this Section 2.13, and shall be conclusive and
binding  absent  manifest  error.  The  Borrower  shall pay to the Agent for the
account of such Bank the amount shown as due on any such  certificate  within 15
days after its receipt of the same. In preparing such certificate, such Bank may
employ such  assumptions  and  allocations  of costs and expenses as it shall in
good faith deem reasonable and may use any reasonable  averaging and attribution
method.

                  (d) Failure on the part of any Bank to demand compensation for
any increased costs or reduction in amounts  received or receivable or reduction
in return on capital with respect to any Interest  Period shall not constitute a
waiver of such Bank's rights to demand  compensation  for any increased costs or
reduction in amounts  received or  receivable  or reduction in return on capital
with  respect  to  such  Interest  Period  or any  other  Interest  Period.  The
protection  of this Section 2.13 shall be available to each Bank  regardless  of
any possible contention of invalidity or inapplicability of the law, regulation,
or condition which shall have been imposed.

                  (e) In the event any Bank shall seek compensation  pursuant to
this Section 2.13, the Borrower may give notice to such Bank (with copies to the
Agents) that it wishes to seek one or more Eligible  Assignees (which may be one
or more of the Banks) to assume the  Commitment of such Bank and to purchase its
outstanding Loans and Notes. Each Bank requesting  compensation pursuant to this
Section 2.13 agrees to sell its Commitment,  Loans,  Notes, and interest in this
Agreement and the other Loan Papers to any such Eligible  Assignee for an amount
equal to the sum of the outstanding  unpaid principal of and accrued interest on
such  Loans  and Notes  plus all  other  fees and  amounts  (including,  without
limitation, any compensation claimed by such Bank under this Section 2.13 and as
to which such Bank has delivered the certificate  required by Section 2.13(c) on
or before the date such  Commitment,  Loans,  and Notes are  purchased) due such
Bank hereunder  calculated,  in each case, to the date such  Commitment,  Loans,
Notes, and interest are purchased. Following any such sale, such Bank shall have
no further Commitment or other obligation to the Borrower hereunder or under any
other Loan Paper.

                  (f) Notwithstanding  anything herein to the contrary,  no Bank
shall be entitled to any  compensation  under this  Section 2.13 with respect to
any Competitive Loan.




                                   -21-

<PAGE>



                  (g) Without prejudice to the survival of any other obligations
of the Borrower  hereunder,  the  obligations of the Borrower under this Section
2.13 shall survive for one year after the  termination of this Agreement  and/or
the payment or assignment of any of the Notes.

         2.14 Change in Legality.  (a) Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary
herein  contained,  if any change in any or regulation or in the  interpretation
thereof  by any  Tribunal  charged  with the  administration  or  interpretation
thereof  shall make it unlawful for any Bank to make or maintain any  Eurodollar
Loan or to give effect to its  obligations  as  contemplated  hereby,  then,  by
written notice to the Borrower and to the Agents, such Bank may:

                  (i) declare that Eurodollar  Loans will not thereafter be made
         by such Bank hereunder, whereupon the Borrower shall be prohibited from
         requesting  Eurodollar  Loans  from such  Bank  hereunder  unless  such
         declaration is subsequently withdrawn; and

                  (ii) require that all outstanding  Eurodollar Loans made by it
         be  converted  to Base Loans,  in which  event (A) all such  Eurodollar
         Loans  shall  be  automatically  converted  to  Base  Loans  as of  the
         effective  date of such notice as provided in  paragraph  (b) below and
         (B) all payments and  prepayments  of principal  which would  otherwise
         have been applied to repay the converted Eurodollar Loans shall instead
         be applied to repay the Base Loans  resulting  from the  conversion  of
         such Eurodollar Loans.

                  (b) For  purposes  of  this  Section  2.14,  a  notice  to the
Borrower  (with a copy to the Agent) by any Bank pursuant to paragraph (a) above
shall be effective on the date of receipt thereof by the Borrower.

         2.15 Indemnity. The Borrower shall indemnify each Bank against any loss
or reasonable  expense which such Bank may sustain or incur as a consequence  of
(a) any failure by the Borrower to borrow  hereunder after a Notice of Committed
Borrowing  pursuant to Section 2 has been given or after  Competitive  Bids have
been  accepted,  (b)  any  payment,   prepayment,  or  conversion,   other  than
conversions under Section  2.14(a)(ii),  of a Eurodollar Loan or Fixed Rate Loan
required by any other  provision of this  Agreement or otherwise  made on a date
other than the last day of the applicable  Interest  Period,  (c) any default in
the  payment  or  prepayment  of the  principal  amount  of any Loan or any part
thereof or  interest  accrued  thereon,  as and when due and payable (at the due
date thereof, by notice of prepayment,  or otherwise),  or (d) the occurrence of
any Event of Default.  The indemnity of the Borrower pursuant to the immediately
preceding sentence shall include,  but not be limited to, any loss or reasonable
expense  sustained or incurred or to be sustained or incurred in  liquidating or
employing  deposits from third parties  acquired to effect or maintain such Loan
or any part  thereof  as a  Eurodollar  Loan or Fixed  Rate  Loan.  Such loss or
reasonable  expense shall include,  without  limitation,  an amount equal to the
excess,  if  any,  as  reasonably  determined  by each  Bank of (i) its  cost of
obtaining  the funds for the Loan  being  paid,  prepaid,  or  converted  or not
borrowed (based on the LIBO Rate or, in the case of a Fixed Rate Loan, the fixed
rate of interest applicable thereto) for the period from the date of



                                   -22-

<PAGE>



such payment,  prepayment, or conversion or failure to borrow to the last day of
the Interest  Period for such Loan (or, in the case of a failure to borrow,  the
Interest  Period for the Loan which  would  have  commenced  on the date of such
failure to borrow) over (ii) the amount of interest (as reasonably determined by
such Bank) that would be realized by such Bank in reemploying the funds so paid,
prepaid, or converted or not borrowed for such period or Interest Period, as the
case may be. A  certificate  of each Bank  setting  forth any  amount or amounts
which such Bank is entitled to receive  pursuant to this  Section  2.15 shall be
delivered to the Borrower (with a copy to the Agent) and shall be conclusive, if
made in good faith,  absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay to the Agent
for the account of each Bank the amount shown as due on any  certificate  within
30 days after its  receipt of the same.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  in no
event  shall  any  Bank be  permitted  to  receive  any  compensation  hereunder
constituting interest in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate. Without prejudice to
the survival of any other obligations of the Borrower hereunder, the obligations
of the Borrower  under this  Section  2.15 shall  survive for one year after the
termination  of this  Agreement  and/or the payment or  assignment of any of the
Notes.

         2.16 Pro Rata  Treatment.  (a) Each payment or  prepayment of principal
and each  payment of interest  with  respect to a  Competitive  Borrowing  (at a
particular Competitive Bid Rate) or a Committed Borrowing shall be made pro rata
among the Banks in accordance with the respective principal amounts of the Loans
extended by each Bank,  if any,  with respect to such  Competitive  Borrowing or
Committed  Borrowing,  and (b)  refinancings  of Committed  Loans with Committed
Loans of any type,  refinancings of Competitive  Loans with Committed Loans, and
Committed Loans which are not refinancings of other Loans shall be made pro rata
among the Banks in accordance with then respective Commitments.

         2.17 Sharing of Setoffs. Each Bank agrees that if it shall, through the
exercise  of a right of  banker's  lien,  setoff,  or  counterclaim  against the
Borrower,  including,  but not limited to, a secured  claim under Section 506 of
Title 11 of the United States Code or other  security or interest  arising from,
or in lieu of, such secured  claim,  received by such Bank under any  applicable
Debtor Relief Law or otherwise,  obtain payment  (voluntary or  involuntary)  in
respect of the Committed Note held by it (other than pursuant to Section 2.13 or
Section 2.15) as a result of which the unpaid principal portion of the Committed
Note held by it shall be proportionately  less than the unpaid principal portion
of the  Committed  Note  held by any  other  Bank,  it shall be  deemed  to have
simultaneously  purchased from such other Bank a participation  in the Committed
Note held by such other Bank, so that the aggregate  unpaid  principal amount of
the Committed Note and participations in Committed Notes held by each Bank shall
be in the same  proportion  to the  aggregate  unpaid  principal  amount  of all
Committed Notes then  outstanding as the principal  amount of the Committed Note
held by it prior to such exercise of banker's lien,  setoff, or counterclaim was
to the  principal  amount  of all  Committed  Notes  outstanding  prior  to such
exercise of banker's lien, setoff, or counterclaim;  provided,  however, that if
any such  purchase or purchases or  adjustments  shall be made  pursuant to this
Section 2.17 and the payment giving rise thereto shall  thereafter be recovered,
such  purchase or purchases or  adjustments  shall be rescinded to the extent of
such recovery and the purchase  price or prices or adjustment  restored  without
interest.  The Borrower  expressly  consents to the foregoing  arrangements  and
agrees that any


                                     -23-

<PAGE>



Bank  holding  a  participation  in a  Committed  Note  deemed  to have  been so
purchased  may, upon the existence of an Event of Default,  exercise any and all
rights of banker's lien,  setoff,  or  counterclaim  with respect to any and all
moneys  owing by the  Borrower  to such Bank as fully as if such Bank had made a
Committed Loan directly to the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

         2.18 Payments.  (a) The Borrower shall make each payment  hereunder and
under any instrument delivered hereunder not later than 1:00 p.m. (Dallas, Texas
time) on the day when due in dollars to the Agent at its address  referred to on
Schedule 1 for the account of the Banks,  in immediately  available  funds.  The
Agent will promptly  thereafter  cause to be distributed  like funds relating to
the payment of principal of or interest on Committed  Loans (other than pursuant
to Section 2.13 and Section 2.15) or Facility Fees ratably to the Banks and like
funds  relating  to  the  payment  of  any  other  amount  (including,   without
limitation, payments of principal or interest on Competitive Loans which are not
made  ratably to the Banks)  payable to any Bank to such Bank for the account of
its Applicable Lending Office, in each case to be applied in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement.

                  (b) Whenever any payment hereunder or under the Notes shall be
stated to be due on a day other than a Business  Day, such payment shall be made
on the next  succeeding  Business  Day, and such  extension of time shall in all
such cases be  included  in the  computation  of payment of interest or Facility
Fee,  as the case may be;  provided,  however,  if such  extension  would  cause
payment of interest on or principal of a Eurodollar  Loan to be made in the next
following  calendar  month,  such  payment  shall be made on the next  preceding
Business Day.

                  (c)  Unless  the Agent  shall have  received  notice  from the
Borrower  prior to the date on which any  payment is due to the Banks  hereunder
that the Borrower will not make such payment in full,  the Agent may assume that
the  Borrower  has made or will make such  payment  in full to the Agent on such
date  and  the  Agent  may,  in  reliance  upon  such  assumption,  cause  to be
distributed to each Bank on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due
such Bank. If and to the extent the Borrower shall not have so made such payment
in full to the Agent,  each Bank shall  repay to the Agent  forthwith  on demand
such amount  distributed to such Bank together with interest  thereon,  for each
day from the date such  amount is  distributed  to such Bank until the date such
Bank repays such amount to the Agent, at the Federal Funds Effective Rate.

                  (d)  All  payments  (whether  of  principal,  interest,  fees,
reimbursements, or otherwise) by the Borrower under this Agreement shall be made
without setoff or  counterclaim  and shall be made free and clear of and without
deduction  for any  present or future Tax,  levy,  impost,  or any other  charge
against the Borrower,  if any, of any nature whatsoever now or hereafter imposed
by any Tribunal. If the making of such payments by the Borrower is prohibited by
Law unless such a Tax,  levy,  impost,  or other  charge is deducted or withheld
therefrom,  the  Borrower  shall  pay to the  Agent,  on the  date of each  such
payment,  such  additional  amounts  (without  duplication  of any other amounts
required  to be  paid  by the  Borrower  pursuant  to  Section  2.13)  as may be
necessary  in order  that the net  amounts  received  by the  Banks  after  such
deduction or withholding shall equal the amounts



                                    -24-

<PAGE>



which  would  have been  received  if such  deduction  or  withholding  were not
required.  The Borrower shall confirm that all applicable Taxes, if any, imposed
on this Agreement or transactions hereunder shall have been properly and legally
paid  by it to the  appropriate  taxing  authorities  by  sending  official  Tax
receipts or notarized  copies of such receipts to the Agent within 30 days after
payment of any applicable Tax.

                  (e) So  long  as no  Event  of  Default  has  occurred  and is
continuing, payments and prepayments of the Obligation shall be applied first to
accrued  interest  then due and payable and to the  remaining  Obligation in the
order and manner as the Borrower  may direct.  At any time during which an Event
of Default has  occurred  and is  continuing  or if the  Borrower  fails to give
direction,  any payment or prepayment  shall be applied in the following  order:
(i) to  expenses  and fees for which  the  Agents  and the  Banks  have not been
reimbursed in accordance  with the Loan Papers;  (ii) to accrued  interest;  and
(iii) to the remaining  Obligation in the order and manner as the Majority Banks
deem appropriate.

         2.19 Calculation of LIBO. The provisions of this Agreement  relating to
calculation  of the LIBO Rate are included  only for the purpose of  determining
the rate of interest or other amounts to be paid  hereunder  that are based upon
such rate,  it being  understood  that each Bank shall be  entitled  to fund and
maintain its funding of all or any part of a Eurodollar Loan as it sees fit. All
such  determinations  hereunder,  however,  shall  be made as if each  Bank  had
actually  funded and  maintained  funding of each  Eurodollar  Loan  through the
purchase in the Eurodollar  InterBank Market of one or more eurodollar  deposits
in an amount  equal to the  principal  amount of such Loan and having a maturity
corresponding to the Interest Period for such Loan.

         2.20 Booking Loans.  Any Bank may make,  carry,  or transfer Loans at,
to, or for the account of any of its branch offices.

         2.21 Quotation of Rates.  It is hereby  acknowledged  that the Borrower
may call the Agent on or before the date on which notice of a Borrowing is to be
delivered by the Borrower in order to receive an indication of the rate or rates
then in effect,  but that such projection shall not be binding upon the Agent or
any Bank nor affect the rate of interest which  thereafter is actually in effect
when the election is made.

     SECTION 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Borrower represents and
warrants to the Agents and the Banks as follows:

         3.1 Purpose of Credit  Facility.  The Borrower  will use Loan  proceeds
only for working capital and general  corporate  purposes of the Companies.  The
proceeds  loaned  hereunder  will not be used  directly  or  indirectly  for the
purpose of  purchasing  or carrying,  or for the purpose of extending  credit to
others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any "margin stock" as that term
is defined in Regulation G, T, U, or X of the Board, as amended, or to repay any
Debt which was created for such purposes.

          3.2 Corporate Existence, Good Standing, and Authority. Each Company
is, to the best of the Borrower's knowledge, duly organized, validly existing,
and in good standing



                                      -25-

<PAGE>



under  the  Laws  of  its  state  of  incorporation  (such  jurisdictions  being
identified on Exhibit 21 of Borrower's  most recent annual report filed with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission on Form 10K). Except where failure would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect,  each Company (a) is
duly  qualified  to  transact  business  and is in good  standing  as a  foreign
corporation in each jurisdiction where the nature and extent of its business and
properties  require the same and (b) possesses all requisite  authority,  power,
licenses, permits, and franchises to conduct its business as is now being, or is
contemplated  herein to be,  conducted.  The Borrower  possesses  all  requisite
authority,  power,  licenses,  permits, and franchises to execute,  deliver, and
comply with the terms of the Loan  Papers,  all which have been duly  authorized
and approved by all necessary  corporate  action and, except where failure would
not  reasonably  be expected  to have a Material  Adverse  Effect,  for which no
approval or consent of any Person or  Tribunal  is  required  which has not been
obtained  and no filing or other  notification  to any  Person  or  Tribunal  is
required which has not been properly completed.

         3.3  Subsidiaries.  Exhibit 21 of the  Borrower's  most  recent  annual
report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10K sets forth,
in  all  material  respects,  all  existing  Subsidiaries  of the  Borrower  and
correctly lists, as to each Subsidiary, (a) its name and (b) its jurisdiction of
incorporation.  The  shares of  capital  stock of each  Subsidiary  owned by the
Borrower  (either  directly or indirectly  through another  Subsidiary),  as set
forth on Exhibit 21 of the  Borrower's  most recent annual report filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10K, are the duly authorized, validly
issued, fully paid, and nonassessable shares of such Subsidiary and are owned by
the Borrower free and clear of all Liens except Permitted Liens.

         3.4  Financial  Statements.  The Current  Financials  were  prepared in
accordance with GAAP and present fairly the consolidated financial condition and
the results of operations of the Company as of, and for the periods  ended,  the
dates  thereof.  There  were no  material  (to the  Companies  taken as a whole)
liabilities,  direct or indirect, fixed or contingent,  of any Company as of the
date of the Current Financials which are not reflected therein.  There have been
no changes in the  consolidated  financial  condition of the Companies from that
shown in the Current  Financials  between  such dates and the date hereof  which
could reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect.  No Company has
incurred any material (to the Companies taken as a whole)  liability,  direct or
indirect,  fixed or contingent,  between the dates of the Current Financials and
the  date  hereof,  except  in the  ordinary  course  of  business,  such  as in
connection with acquisitions and financing activities.

         3.5 Compliance with Laws, Charter,  and Agreements.  No Company is, nor
will the  execution,  delivery,  performance,  or  observance of the Loan Papers
cause any Company to be, in violation of any Laws or any Material  Agreements to
which it is a party,  other than such  violations  which would not reasonably be
expected  to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect.  Neither  the  Borrower  nor any
Significant  Subsidiary is, nor will the execution,  delivery,  performance,  or
observance of the Loan Papers cause the Borrower or any  Significant  Subsidiary
to be, in violation of its bylaws or charter.



                                      -26-

<PAGE>



         3.6  Litigation.  Except  as  described  on  Schedule  3.6  and  to the
knowledge of the Borrower, no Company is aware of any "Material" Litigation, and
there are no Material  outstanding  or unpaid  judgments  against  any  Company.
Material for purpose of this Section 3.6 in relation to Litigation would include
any actions or proceedings  pending or threatened against any Company before any
court or Tribunal seeking damages,  net of insurance proceeds to the Company, in
excess  of  $1,000,000  in any  case  or 1% of  Consolidated  Net  Worth  in the
aggregate, or which might result in any Material Adverse Effect.

         3.7 Taxes.  All returns of each Company  required to be filed have been
filed (or extensions  have been granted) except where the failure to do so could
not  reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect,  and all Taxes
imposed  upon each  Company  which are due and payable have been paid other than
Taxes for which the criteria for Permitted Liens have been satisfied.

         3.8  Environmental  Matters.  No  Company's  ownership  of  its  assets
violates any  applicable  Environmental  Law, other than such  violations  which
would not  reasonably  be expected  to have a Material  Adverse  Effect.  To the
Borrower's knowledge, no investigation or review is pending or threatened by any
Tribunal  with  respect to any alleged  violation  of any  Environmental  Law in
connection  with any Company's  assets.  None of any Company's  assets have been
used by such Company or, to the Borrower's knowledge, any other Person as a dump
site for any Hazardous Substance.

         3.9 Employee  Benefit Plans. (a) No employee benefit plan as defined in
the Code  and  Title IV of ERISA of any  Company  has  incurred  an  accumulated
funding  deficiency in an amount  sufficient to have a Material  Adverse Effect,
(b) no Company has incurred  material  liability to the PBGC in connection  with
any  such  plan,  (c)  no  Company  has  withdrawn  in  whole  or in  part  from
participation  in a  Multiemployer  Plan,  and (d) to the best of the Borrower's
knowledge,  no "prohibited  transaction"  (as defined in section 406 of ERISA or
section 4975 of the Code) or  "reportable  event" (as defined in section 4043 of
ERISA) has  occurred  which  could  reasonably  be  expected  to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

         3.10 Properties;  Liens.  Each Company has good and marketable  (except
for  Permitted  Liens)  title  to all  its  property  reflected  on the  Current
Financials  (except  for  dispositions  of property  in the  ordinary  course of
business  between  the date or dates  thereof and the date  hereof).  Except for
Permitted  Liens,  there  is no Lien on any  property  of any  Company,  and the
execution,  delivery,  performance,  or  observance  of the Loan Papers will not
require or result in the creation of any Lien other than Permitted Liens.

         3.11 Holding Company and Investment Company Status. The Borrower is not
(a) a "holding  company,"  a  "subsidiary  company" of a "holding  company,"  an
"affiliate"  of a "holding  company" or of a "subsidiary  company" of a "holding
company," or a "public utility" within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding
Company Act of 1935, as amended,  (b) a "public  utility"  within the meaning of
the Federal  Power Act,  as  amended,  (c) an  "investment  company"  within the
meaning of the  Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended,  (d) an "investment
adviser" within the meaning of the Investment Advisers Act of


                                     -27-

<PAGE>



1940,  as  amended,   or  (e)  subject  to  the   jurisdiction  of  the  Federal
Communications Commission or any public service commission.

         3.12  Transactions  with  Affiliates.  Except as  disclosed on Schedule
3.12, no Company is a party to a material transaction with any of its Affiliates
other than  transactions  in the  ordinary  course of business and upon fair and
reasonable terms not materially less favorable than such Company could obtain or
could become entitled to in an arm's-length  transaction  with a Person that was
not its  Affiliate.  For purposes of this Section 3.12,  such  transactions  are
"material" if they, individually or in the aggregate, require any Company to pay
more  than 1  percent  of  Consolidated  Net  Worth  over  the  course  of  such
transactions.

         3.13 Leases.  All material  leases under which any Company is lessee or
tenant are in full force and effect,  and no default or potential default exists
thereunder, the effect of which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

         3.14  Labor  Matters.  There  are  no  actual  or,  to  the  Borrower's
knowledge,  threatened strikes,  labor disputes,  slow downs, walkouts, or other
concerted interruptions of operations by any Company's employees,  the effect of
which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

         3.15 Insurance. Each Company maintains with financially sound insurance
companies or associations (or, as to workers' compensation or similar insurance,
with an insurance fund or by  self-insurance  authorized by the jurisdictions in
which it operates)  insurance  concerning its properties and businesses  against
such  casualties  and  contingencies  and of such types and in such amounts (and
with  co-insurance  and  deductibles)  as is  customary  in the  case of same or
similar  businesses;  provided,  however,  a program of  self-insurance  in such
amounts  and such risks as are  prudent and which is  consistent  with  accepted
business practice shall constitute compliance with this Section 3.15.

         3.16     Solvency.  The Companies are, and after giving effect to the
transactions contemplated under the Loan Papers will be, solvent.

         3.17     Business.  The business of the Borrower, as presently
conducted and as proposed to be conducted, is set forth on Schedule 3.17.

         3.18     General.  There is no material  fact or condition  relating
to the Loan Papers or the  financial  condition and business of any Company 
which could reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect and which
has not been related, in writing, to the Agent, other than industry-wide risks
in the ordinary course of business  associated with the types of business
conducted by any Company. All writings exhibited or delivered to the Agent by
or on behalf of any  Company  are and will be genuine  and in all  material
respects  what they purport and appear to be.




                                 -28-

<PAGE>



SECTION 4.                 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.

         4.1      Initial Loan.  No Bank will be obligated to fund the initial
Loan unless the Agent has received all of the following in form and substance
satisfactory to the Agent and its special counsel:

                  (a)      Loan Papers.  This Agreement, the Notes, a Notice of
Committed Borrowing or a Competitive Bid Request, and the Current Financials.

                  (b) Officers' Certificates. A certificate dated as of the date
         hereof,  executed and  delivered by the Borrower,  certifying  that (i)
         attached is a true,  correct,  and complete copy of (A) the  Borrower's
         charter,  certified by the appropriate state official and dated no more
         than ten (10) days prior to the date hereof, (B) the Borrower's bylaws,
         and (C)  resolutions of the Borrower's  board of directors  authorizing
         the  execution and delivery of each Loan Paper to which the Borrower is
         a party and (ii) the officers whose specimen  signatures appear on such
         certificate  hold the corporate  office indicated and are authorized to
         sign agreements, documents, and instruments on behalf of the Borrower.

                  (c) Good  Standing,  Existence,  and  Authority.  Certificates
         (dated no more than ten (10) days prior to the date hereof) relating to
         the  Borrower's  existence,  good  standing,  and authority to transact
         business issued by appropriate  state officials as set forth on Exhibit
         21  of  the  Borrower's  most  recent  annual  report  filed  with  the
         Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10K.

                  (d)  Opinions of Counsel.  The  favorable  opinion,  dated the
         Closing Date and substantially in the form of Exhibit E of Boles, Boles
         & Ryan, special counsel to the Borrower.

                  (e)  Fees and Expenses.  Payment from the Borrower of all
         fees then due the Agents or the Banks pursuant to this Agreement or 
         any other agreement.

                  (f)  Other.  Such other agreements, documents, instruments,
         opinions, certificates, and evidences as the Agent may reasonably 
         request.

         4.2 Each Loan. In addition, the Banks will not be obligated to fund any
Loan unless at the time of such funding (a) the  representations  and warranties
made in the Loan Papers (other than,  after the initial Loan, those contained in
the penultimate  sentence of Section 3.4 and the first sentence of Section 3.18)
are true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent that (i) the
representations  and  warranties  speak to a specific  date or (ii) the facts on
which  such  representations  and  warranties  are based  have been  changed  by
transactions  contemplated  or permitted by this  Agreement),  (b) no Default or
Event of Default shall have occurred and shall be continuing, (c) the funding of
such Loan is  permitted by Law and (d) if requested by the Agent or the Majority
Banks,  the Borrower shall have  delivered to the Agent evidence  substantiating
any of the matters contained in this Agreement which are necessary to enable the
Borrower to qualify for such Loan.


                                 -29-

<PAGE>




         4.3      Materiality of Conditions.  Each condition precedent herein 
is material to the transactions contemplated herein, and time is of the essence
in respect of each thereof.

         4.4     Waiver of Conditions. Subject to the provisions of Section
9.15, the Majority Banks may elect to fund any Loan without all conditions being
satisfied, but this shall not be deemed to be a waiver of the requirement that
each such condition precedent be satisfied as a prerequisite for any subsequent
Loan, unless the Majority Banks (or, if required by Section 9.15, all Banks)
specifically waive each such item in writing.

SECTION 5.  COVENANTS.  So long as the Banks are  committed  to make Loans under
this  Agreement  and  thereafter  until the  Obligation is paid and performed in
full,  unless the  Borrower  receives a prior  written  notice from the Majority
Banks (or, if required by Section 9.15,  all Banks) that they do not object to a
deviation,  the Borrower  covenants  and agrees with the Agents and the Banks as
follows:

         5.1      Use of Proceeds.  Proceeds advanced hereunder shall be used
only as represented herein.

         5.2      Books and Records.  Each Company shall keep, in accordance
with GAAP, proper and complete books, records, and accounts.

         5.3      Items to be Furnished.  The Borrower shall cause the 
following to be furnished to the Agent:

                  (a)  Promptly  after  preparation,  and no later than 120 days
         after  the  last day of each  fiscal  year of the  Borrower,  Financial
         Statements showing the consolidated  financial condition and results of
         operations of the Companies as of, and for the year ended on, such last
         day,  accompanied  by (i) the  opinion  of KPMG Peat  Marwick  Main (or
         another  firm of  nationally-recognized  independent  certified  public
         accountants reasonably acceptable to Majority Banks), based on an audit
         using  generally  accepted  auditing  standards,  that  such  Financial
         Statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP and present fairly the
         consolidated  financial  condition  and  results of  operations  of the
         Companies  (and  such  accountants  shall  indicate  in a letter to the
         Agent,  that  during  their  audit no Default  or Event of Default  not
         already reported was discovered or, if such Default or Event of Default
         was discovered,  the nature and period of existence thereof) and (ii) a
         Financial Report Certificate with respect to such Financial Statements.

                  (b)  Promptly  after  preparation,  and no later  than 60 days
         after the last day of each of the first  three  quarters of each fiscal
         year of the Borrower, (i) Financial Statements showing the consolidated
         financial  condition  and results of operations of the Companies as of,
         and for the period from the  beginning  of the current  fiscal year to,
         such last day, and (ii) a Financial Report  Certificate with respect to
         such Financial Statements.



                                           -30-

<PAGE>



                  (c) Promptly after preparation (and no later than the later of
         15 days (a) after such  filing is due or (b) after  timely  filing,  if
         filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission),  true copies of all
         regular and periodic reports,  statements,  documents, plans, and other
         written  communications  furnished  by or on behalf of any  Company  to
         stockholders  or to the  Securities and Exchange  Commission.  However,
         only  registration  statements  covering  more  than 2  percent  of the
         Borrower's  outstanding  shares of common stock shall be required to be
         furnished unless specifically requested by the Agent.

                  (d)  Promptly  upon  receipt  thereof,  copies of any  notices
         received  from  any  Tribunal  (including,  without  limitation,  state
         regulatory agencies) relating to the possible violation or violation of
         any Law which might  materially  and adversely  affect the  franchises,
         permits, or rights for the operation of the business of any Company.

                  (e) Notice, promptly after the Borrower knows or has reason to
         know of, (i) the  existence  of any Material  Litigation  as defined in
         Section  3.6,  (ii)  any  material  change  in  any  material  fact  or
         circumstance  represented  or warranted  in any Loan Paper,  or (iii) a
         Default or Event of  Default,  specifying  the nature  thereof and what
         action the  Borrower  or any other  Company  has taken,  is taking,  or
         proposes to take with respect thereto.

                  (f)  Promptly  upon  the  Agent's  reasonable  request,   such
         information  (not  otherwise  required to be  furnished  under the Loan
         Papers) respecting the business affairs, assets, and liabilities of any
         Company, and any opinions,  certifications,  and documents, in addition
         to those mentioned herein.

         5.4 Inspection.  The Borrower shall allow the Agent and each Bank, when
the Agent or such Bank reasonably deems necessary, at such Bank's own expense if
no Default then exists,  to inspect any of its  properties,  to review  reports,
files,  and other records and to make and take away copies  thereof,  to conduct
tests or  investigations,  and to discuss any of its  affairs,  conditions,  and
finances  with any director,  officer,  or employee of such Company from time to
time, upon reasonable notice during reasonable business hours, or otherwise when
reasonably considered necessary.

         5.5 Taxes.  Each Company shall promptly pay when due any Taxes,  except
those which if unpaid  would not cause a Material  Adverse  Effect and Taxes for
which the criteria for Permitted Liens have been satisfied. No Company shall use
any proceeds of Loans to pay the wages of employees  unless a timely  payment to
or deposit  with the United  States of America of all amounts of Tax required to
be deducted and withheld with respect to such wages is also made.

         5.6 Payment of  Obligations.  Each Company shall promptly pay (or renew
and  extend) all of its  material  obligations  as the same  become due,  but no
Company will make any  voluntary  prepayment  of the principal of any Debt other
than the Obligation,  whether subordinate to the Obligation or not, if a Default
or Event of Default exists under any Loan Paper.



                                        -31-

<PAGE>




         5.7 Expenses of Agent.  The Borrower  shall promptly pay all reasonable
and necessary  out-of-pocket  costs,  fees, and expenses paid or incurred by the
Agent incident to any Loan Paper (including,  but not limited to, the reasonable
fees and expenses of counsel to the Agent in  connection  with the  negotiation,
preparation,  delivery,  and  execution  of the  Loan  Papers  and  any  related
amendment,  waiver,  or consent) or to the enforcement of the obligations of any
Company or the exercise of any Rights (including, but not limited to, reasonable
attorneys'  fees  and  court  costs),  all  of  which  shall  be a  part  of the
Obligation.

         5.8 Maintenance of Existence,  Assets, Business, and Insurance.  Except
as permitted by Section  5.12,  each  Company  shall at all times:  Maintain its
corporate  existence and authority to transact business and good standing in its
jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and all other  jurisdictions where
the  failure to so  maintain  could  reasonably  be  expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect; maintain all licenses, permits, and franchises necessary for its
business,  where the failure to so maintain could reasonably be expected to have
a Material  Adverse  Effect;  keep all of its assets which are  necessary to its
business in good working order and condition  (ordinary wear and tear excepted),
and make all necessary repairs and replacements thereto; and maintain either (a)
insurance with such insurers, in such amounts, and covering such risks, as shall
be ordinary and  customary  in the  industry or (b) a comparable  self-insurance
program.

         5.9 Preservation  and Protection of Rights.  Each Company shall perform
such acts and duly authorize,  execute,  acknowledge,  deliver, file, and record
any additional agreements, documents, instruments, and certificates as the Agent
may  reasonably  deem  necessary or appropriate in order to preserve and protect
the Rights of the Agents or the Banks under any Loan Paper.

         5.10 Employee  Benefit Plans. No Company will,  directly or indirectly,
if it would  have a  Material  Adverse  Effect,  (a)  engage in any  "prohibited
transaction"  (as defined in section 406 of ERISA or section  4975 of the Code),
(b) permit the funding  requirements  under ERISA with  respect to any  employee
benefit plan  established  or maintained by any Company to ever be less than the
minimum  required by ERISA,  (c) permit any employee benefit plan established or
maintained  by any  Company  to  ever  be  subject  to  involuntary  termination
proceedings, or (d) fully or partially withdraw from any Multiemployer Plan.

         5.11 Liens.  No Company will create,  incur,  or suffer or permit to be
created or incurred or to exist any Lien (other than  Permitted  Liens) upon any
of its assets.

         5.12 Acquisitions,  Mergers, and Dissolutions. No Company will merge or
consolidate with any Person other than any merger or  consolidation  whereby the
Borrower (or another  Company,  if the  Borrower is not a party  thereto) is the
surviving  corporation and immediately after such merger or consolidation  there
shall not exist any Default or Event of Default.

         5.13     Loans, Advances, and Investments.  Except as permitted by
Section 5.12, no Company will make any loan, Guaranties, advance, extension of
credit, or capital contribution to, make any investment in, or purchase or 
commit to purchase any stock or


                                     -32-

<PAGE>



other  securities  or evidences of Debt of, or interests  in, any other  Person,
other than (a) expense  accounts for and other advances to directors,  officers,
and  employees of such Company in the ordinary  course of business not to exceed
$1,000,000 in the aggregate  outstanding  at any time;  (b)  investments  in (or
secured by) obligations of the United States of America and agencies thereof and
obligations  guaranteed by the United States of America maturing within one year
from the date of acquisition;  (c)  certificates of deposit issued by any of the
Banks;  (d)  certificates  of deposit  which are fully  insured  by the  Federal
Deposit Insurance  Corporation or are issued by commercial banks organized under
the Laws of the  United  States of  America  or any  state  thereof  and  having
combined capital,  surplus,  and undivided profits of not less than $100,000,000
(as shown on such Person's most recently published statement of condition), and,
unless  Borrower has a written  commitment to borrow funds from such  commercial
bank,  which  certificates  of deposit have one of the two highest  ratings from
Moody's  Investors  Service,  Inc.,  or  Standard & Poor's  Ratings  Group;  (e)
commercial  paper  rated  A-1 by  Moody's  Investors  Service,  Inc.,  or P-1 by
Standard & Poor's Ratings Group;  (f) investments  having one of the two highest
ratings from  Moody's  Investors  Service,  Inc.,  or Standard & Poor's  Ratings
Group;  (g)  extensions  of credit in  connection  with  trade  receivables  and
overpayments of trade payables,  in each case resulting from transactions in the
ordinary course of business; (h) loans from any Company to any other Company and
investments by any Company in any other Company and Guaranties by any Company of
the Debt of any other Company;  (i)  investments in the cash surrender  value of
life insurance policies issued by Persons with a financial rating from A.M. Best
Company (as reported in Best's  Insurance  Reports) of at least "A+";  provided,
however, that if such Person's financial rating is downgraded to less than "A+",
then within 90 days following such downgrading,  either (i) such cash value life
insurance  policies  will be  transferred  to another  insurance  company with a
financial rating of at least "A+", (ii) such cash value insurance  policies will
be collapsed  and the cash value  thereof  will be  collected  by the  investing
Company,  or (iii) such  investment  will  become an  investment  subject to the
limitations of  subparagraph  (m) of this Section 5.13;  (j)  investments in the
capital  stock or  securities  of or loans to or  Guaranties  of the Debt of any
Person engaged in business comparable to the general business of any Company (x)
in which a Company possesses (or will possess,  after such investment) an equity
ownership  interest in such Person or (y) secured by the borrower's  interest in
such  business;  (k) in the ordinary  course of business and  investments in the
capital stock of the Rural Telephone Bank,  National Bank for  Cooperatives,  or
the National  Rural  Utilities  Cooperative  Finance  Corporation,  or any other
lender  from whom the  investing  Company is  intending  to borrow  money  which
requires such Company to make an equity investment in such lender in order to so
borrow;  (l) Guaranties of the Debt of the Borrower's  Employee Stock  Ownership
Plan; and (m) other loans,  advances,  Guaranties,  and investments  which never
exceed  in the  aggregate  at any time 25% of  Adjusted  Consolidated  Net Worth
(valued on the basis of original cost, plus subsequent cash and stock additions,
less any write-down in value).

         5.14  Transactions  with  Affiliates.  No  Company  will enter into any
material transaction with any of its Affiliates,  other than transactions in the
ordinary  course of business and upon fair and  reasonable  terms not materially
less favorable than such Company could obtain or could become  entitled to in an
arm's-length  transaction with a Person that was not its Affiliate. For purposes
of this Section 5.14, such transactions are "material" if



                                    -33-

<PAGE>



they,  individually or in the aggregate,  require any Company to pay more than 1
percent of Consolidated Net Worth over the course of such transactions.

         5.15 Sale of Assets.  No Company will sell, lease, or otherwise dispose
of all or any  substantial  part of its assets other than (a) sales of inventory
in the  ordinary  course  of  business,  (b) sales of  equipment  for a fair and
adequate  consideration,  provided  that if any such  equipment  is sold,  and a
replacement  is  necessary  for the proper  operation  of the  business  of such
Company,  such Company will replace such equipment with adequate equipment,  (c)
the exchange of assets -- other than equipment -- for similar assets of equal or
greater  value,  (d) the sale,  discount,  or  transfer of  delinquent  notes or
accounts  receivable  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business  for  purposes  of
collection,  and (e) in any  12-month  period,  dispositions  of assets  (net of
acquisitions of similar assets) that, when added to all other such  dispositions
by all Companies, do not exceed 10 percent of Consolidated Net Worth.

         5.16  Compliance  with Laws and Documents.  No Company will violate the
provisions of any laws or any Material  Agreement if such  violation  alone,  or
when aggregated with all other such violations,  could reasonably be expected to
have a Material  Adverse  Effect.  No Company will violate the provisions of its
charter or bylaws or modify,  repeal,  replace,  or amend any  provision  of its
charter or bylaws if such action could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse  Effect.  The Borrower will provide to the Agent a copy of each document
that materially modifies,  repeals, replaces, or amends the charter or bylaws of
the Borrower.

         5.17     New Businesses.  No Company will engage in any material
business other than the businesses in which it is presently engaged or
businesses related thereto, as described on Schedule 3.17.

         5.18     Assignment.  The Borrower will not assign or transfer any of
its Rights, duties, or obligations under any of the Loan Papers.

         5.19 Fiscal Year and Accounting  Methods.  The Borrower will not change
its fiscal year or accounting methods (other than immaterial changes and changes
required  by changes in GAAP)  without  the prior  written  consent of the Agent
(which shall not be unreasonably withheld).

         5.20 Holding Company and Investment  Company Status.  The Borrower will
not  conduct  its  business  in such a way that it will  become  (a) a  "holding
company," a "subsidiary  company" of a "holding  company," an  "affiliate"  of a
"holding  company" or of a  "subsidiary  company" of a "holding  company,"  or a
"public utility" within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of
1935, as amended, (b) a "public utility" within the meaning of the Federal Power
Act,  as  amended,  (c)  an  "investment  company"  within  the  meaning  of the
Investment  Company Act of 1940,  as  amended,  or (d) an  "investment  adviser"
within the meaning of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.



                                     -34-

<PAGE>



         5.21 Environmental  Laws. Each Company shall conduct its business so as
to  comply  with all  applicable  Environmental  laws and  shall  promptly  take
corrective  action to remedy  any  non-compliance  with any  Environmental  Law,
except where  failure to so comply or take such action would not  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Company shall maintain a system
which, in its reasonable business judgment, will assure its continued compliance
with Environmental Laws.

         5.22 Environmental Indemnification.  Borrower shall indemnify, protect,
and  hold  each  Indemnified  Party  harmless  from  and  against  any  and  all
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
claims,  proceedings,   costs,  expenses  (including,  without  limitation,  all
reasonable  attorneys' fees and legal expenses  whether or not suit is brought),
and  disbursements  of any kind or  nature  whatsoever  which may at any time be
imposed on,  incurred by, or asserted  against such  Indemnified  Parties,  with
respect to or as a direct or indirect  result of the violation by any Company of
any  Environmental  Law; or with respect to or as a direct or indirect result of
any Company's generation, manufacture,  production, storage, release, threatened
release, discharge,  disposal or presence in connection with its properties of a
Hazardous Substance including,  without limitation,  (a) all damages of any such
use, generation, manufacture,  production, storage, release, threatened release,
discharge,  disposal, or presence, or (b) the costs of any required or necessary
environmental investigation,  monitoring, repair, cleanup, or detoxification and
the preparation and implementation of any closure, remedial, or other plans. The
provisions of and undertakings and  indemnification  set forth in this paragraph
shall survive the  satisfaction and payment of the Obligation and termination of
this  Agreement for a period of time set forth in the statute of  limitations in
any applicable Environmental Law.

         5.23 Ratio of Funded  Debt to Net Worth.  As  calculated  at the end of
each fiscal  quarter of the Borrower,  the Borrower  shall not permit (a) Funded
Debt of the  Companies  to exceed 185% of  Consolidated  Net Worth or (b) Funded
Debt of the Companies other than the Borrower to exceed 150% of Consolidated Net
Worth (excluding Borrower's portion thereof). For purposes of this Section 5.23,
Funded Debt shall  include any  Company's  Guaranty of Funded Debt of any Person
other than another Company or the Borrower's Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

         5.24 Ratio of EBIT to Interest  Expense and Preferred Stock  Dividends.
As  calculated  at the end of each fiscal  quarter of the Borrower (but computed
for the four fiscal quarters ending on the last day of such fiscal quarter), the
Borrower  shall not permit EBIT of the Companies to be less than 150% of the sum
of (a) consolidated interest expense of the Companies and (b) dividends declared
or paid by any Company (other than to another Company) on its preferred  capital
stock (but if such  dividends  are  declared  and paid during such  four-quarter
period, the amount shall not be counted twice).

         5.25 Tax  Consolidation.  If the Borrower is acquired by another Person
and,  as a result of such  acquisition,  the  Borrower or the  Borrower  and any
Subsidiary  becomes an  "includible  corporation"  within the meaning of section
1504(b)  of the Code and files a  consolidated  federal  income  tax return as a
member of an "affiliated  group" of  corporations  within the meaning of section
1504(a) of the Code, the Borrower shall require the parent


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<PAGE>



corporation  of the  affiliated  group to enter into an  agreement  which  shall
provide that if the Borrower or such Subsidiary  shall sustain any loss that may
be applied to reduce the consolidated  taxable income of the affiliated group of
which the Borrower or the Borrower and such Subsidiary is or was a member,  such
parent corporation will pay, or cause all corporations  (other than the Borrower
and the Subsidiaries) which were members of the affiliated group for the year in
which such loss is applied to pay, to the  Borrower or such  Subsidiary,  as the
case may be,  promptly after filing the  consolidated  federal income tax return
for such taxable  year,  an amount  equal to the excess of (i) the  consolidated
federal  income tax liability of the  affiliated  group for such year,  computed
without reducing the consolidated  taxable income of such group by the amount of
the Borrower's or such  Subsidiary's  loss, over (ii) the  consolidated  federal
income tax  liability  of such group for such year  computed  by  including  the
Borrower's or such  Subsidiary's  loss in consolidated  taxable  income.  If any
corporation  (other than the Borrower or a Subsidiary) which is a member of such
affiliated group shall sustain any such loss in a taxable year, the Borrower and
each Subsidiary  which is or was a member of such affiliated group for such year
may agree to pay to the member  sustaining  such  loss,  or to pay to the parent
corporation of such affiliated group for distribution to such member,  an amount
equal to the excess of (i) the  consolidated  federal income tax liability which
the Borrower and said  Subsidiaries  would have  incurred for such year, if such
liability had been computed on a basis which was not consolidated with the other
members  of such  affiliated  group,  over (ii) the  total  federal  income  tax
liability  (taking into account such member's  loss) which the Borrower and said
Subsidiaries actually were required to pay for such year.

SECTION  6.  DEFAULT.  The term  "Event of  Default"  means the  occurrence  and
continuance of any one or more of the following events (including the passage of
time, if any, specified  therefor)  (provided that, if any such event occurs and
the Banks or Majority  Banks,  as required by the  provisions  of Section  9.15,
subsequently agree in writing that they will not exercise any remedies hereunder
as a result  thereof,  the  occurrence  and  continuance  of such event shall no
longer be deemed an Event of  Default  hereunder  insofar  as the state of facts
giving rise to such event is concerned):

         6.1 Payment of  Obligation.  The failure or refusal of the  Borrower to
pay any portion of the Obligation, as the same become due in accordance with the
terms of the Loan Papers and, in the case of an interest  payment,  such failure
or refusal  continues  for a period of 5 Business  Days (no grace  period  being
given for failure or refusal to make a principal  payment).  Notwithstanding the
foregoing,  the  Borrower's  failure to pay, if caused solely by a wire transfer
malfunction  or similar  problem  outside the Borrower's  control,  shall not be
deemed an Event of Default.

         6.2      Covenants.

                  (a)  The  failure  or  refusal  of  the  Borrower   (and,   if
         applicable,  any other  Company) to  punctually  and properly  perform,
         observe,  and  comply  with  any  covenant,   agreement,  or  condition
         contained in Sections 5.11,  5.12,  5.14, 5.17, 5.18, 5.19, 5.20, 5.23,
         and 5.24.



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<PAGE>



                  (b)  The  failure  or  refusal  of  the  Borrower   (and,   if
         applicable,  any other  Company) to  punctually  and properly  perform,
         observe,  and  comply  with  any  covenant,   agreement,  or  condition
         contained  in any of the Loan Papers to which such  Company is a party,
         other than covenants to pay the Obligation and the covenants  listed in
         clause (a) preceding, and such failure or refusal continues for 10 days
         after notice from the Agent to the Borrower.

         6.3 Debtor Relief.  The Companies shall not be Solvent,  or any Company
(a) fails to pay its Debts generally as they become due, (b) voluntarily  seeks,
consents  to, or  acquiesces  in the  benefit of any Debtor  Relief  Law, or (c)
becomes a party to or is made the subject of any proceeding  provided for by any
Debtor Relief Law,  other than as a creditor or claimant,  that could suspend or
otherwise  adversely affect the Rights of the Agents or the Banks granted in the
Loan Papers (unless,  in the event such proceeding is involuntary,  the petition
instituting same is dismissed within 60 days after its filing).

         6.4 Attachment. The failure of any Company to have discharged within 60
days after  commencement any attachment,  sequestration,  or similar  proceeding
which,  individually or together with all such other  proceedings  then pending,
affects assets of such Company having a value  (individually or collectively) of
1 percent of Consolidated Net Worth or more.

         6.5 Payment of  Judgments.  Any Company  fails to pay any  judgments or
orders for the payment of money in excess of 1 percent of Consolidated Net Worth
(individually  or  collectively)  rendered  against  it or any of its assets and
either (a) any enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor
upon  any  such  judgment  or  order  or (b) a stay of  enforcement  of any such
judgment or order,  by reason of pending  appeal or  otherwise,  shall not be in
effect  prior  to the time its  assets  may be  lawfully  sold to  satisfy  such
judgment.

         6.6 Default Under Other Agreements. A default exists under any Material
Agreement to which any Company is a party,  the effect of which is to cause,  or
which permits the holder thereof (or a trustee or representative of such holder)
to cause,  unpaid  consideration of at least 1 percent of Consolidated Net Worth
(individually or in the aggregate) to become due prior to the stated maturity or
prior to the regularly scheduled dates of payment.

         6.7 Antitrust  Proceedings.  A petition or complaint is filed before or
by any Tribunal  (including,  without limitation,  the Federal Trade Commission,
the United States Justice Department, or the Federal Communications  Commission)
seeking to cause the Borrower or any Subsidiary to divest a significant  portion
of its assets or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to any antitrust, restraint of
trade,  unfair  competition,  or similar laws, and such petition or complaint is
not dismissed or discharged within 270 days after the filing thereof.

         6.8  Misrepresentation.  Either  Agent or any Bank  discovers  that any
statement, representation, or warranty in the Loan Papers, other than, after the
initial Loan, those contained in the penultimate sentence of Section 3.4 and the
first sentence of Section 3.18,


                                   -37-

<PAGE>



any Financial Statement of the Borrower, or any writing ever delivered to either
Agent or any Bank pursuant to the Loan Papers is false, misleading, or erroneous
when made or delivered in any material respect.

SECTION 7.                 RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.

         7.1      Remedies Upon Event of Default.

                  (a) Should an Event of Default occur and be  continuing  under
         Section  6.3,  the   commitment  of  the  Banks  to  make  Loans  shall
         automatically terminate and the entire unpaid balance of the Obligation
         shall  automatically  become due and payable  without any action of any
         kind whatsoever.

                  (b) Should any other Event of Default occur and be continuing,
         subject to any agreement among the Banks, the Agent may (and shall upon
         the request of the Majority  Banks),  at its (or the  Majority  Banks')
         election,  do any one or more of the following:  (i) If the maturity of
         the Obligation has not already been  accelerated  under Section 7.1(a),
         declare  the  entire  unpaid  balance  of the  Obligation,  or any part
         thereof,  immediately  due and  payable,  whereupon it shall be due and
         payable  (and  notice  of such  declaration  shall  promptly  be  given
         thereafter by the Agent to the Borrower); (ii) terminate commitments to
         make Loans hereunder; (iii) reduce any claim to judgment; (iv) exercise
         (or  request  each Bank to  exercise)  the Rights of offset or banker's
         Lien against the  interest of the Borrower in and to every  account and
         other  property of the Borrower which are in the possession of any Bank
         to the extent of the full amount of the  Obligation;  and (v)  exercise
         any and all  other  legal  or  equitable  Rights  afforded  by the Loan
         Papers, the laws of the State of Texas or any other jurisdiction as the
         Agent shall deem appropriate, or otherwise,  including, but not limited
         to, the Right to bring suit or other  proceedings  before any  Tribunal
         either for specific  performance of any covenant or condition contained
         in any of the  Loan  Papers  or in  aid of the  exercise  of any  Right
         granted to the Banks in any of the Loan Papers.

         7.2 Waivers.  The Borrower  hereby  waives  presentment  and demand for
payment, protest, notice of intention to accelerate, notice of acceleration, and
notice of protest and nonpayment,  and agrees that its liability with respect to
the  Obligation,  or any part  thereof,  shall not be affected by any renewal or
extension in the time of payment of the Obligation, by any indulgence, or by any
release or change in any security for the payment of the Obligation.

         7.3  Performance by Agent.  If any covenant,  duty, or agreement of any
Company is not  performed in accordance  with the terms of the Loan Papers,  the
Agent may, at its option (but subject to the  approval of the  Majority  Banks),
perform or attempt to perform  such  covenant,  duty,  or agreement on behalf of
such  Company.  In  such  event,  any  amount  expended  by the  Agent  in  such
performance  or  attempted  performance  shall  be  reasonable,  payable  by the
Borrower to the Agent on demand, shall become part of the Obligation,  and shall
bear interest at the Default Rate from the date of such expenditure by the Agent
until


                                     -38-

<PAGE>



paid.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  it is expressly understood that the Agent
does not assume and shall never have, except by its express written consent, any
liability or  responsibility  for the  performance  of any  covenant,  duty,  or
agreement of any Company.

         7.4  Delegation  of Duties  and  Rights.  The  Agents and the Banks may
perform  any of their  duties or  exercise  any of their  Rights  under the Loan
Papers by or through  the Agent and their and the Agent's  officers,  directors,
employees, attorneys, agents, or other representatives.

         7.5 Banks Not in Control.  None of the  covenants  or other  provisions
contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Paper shall, or shall be deemed
to, give the Agents or the Banks the Right to exercise  control  over the assets
(including,  without limitation,  real property),  affairs, or management of any
Company,  the power of the  Agents and the Banks  being  limited to the Right to
exercise the remedies provided in this Section 7.

         7.6 Waivers by Banks.  The acceptance by the Agents or the Banks at any
time and from time to time of  partial  payment on the  Obligation  shall not be
deemed to be a waiver of any Event of Default  then  existing.  No waiver by the
Agents, the Majority Banks, or all of the Banks of any Event of Default shall be
deemed to be a waiver of any other then-existing or subsequent Event of Default.
No delay or omission by the Agents,  the Majority  Banks, or all of the Banks in
exercising  any Right  under  the Loan  Papers  shall  impair  such  Right or be
construed as a waiver thereof or any acquiescence  therein, nor shall any single
or  partial  exercise  of any such  Right  preclude  other or  further  exercise
thereof, or the exercise of any other Right under the Loan Papers or otherwise.

         7.7 Cumulative Rights. All Rights available to the Agents and the Banks
under the Loan Papers are  cumulative  of and in  addition  to all other  Rights
granted  to the  Agents  and the Banks at law or in  equity,  whether or not the
Obligation  is due and  payable  and whether or not the Agents or the Banks have
instituted any suit for collection,  foreclosure,  or other action in connection
with the Loan Papers.

         7.8 Application of Proceeds.  Any and all proceeds ever received by the
Agents or the Banks from the exercise of any Rights pertaining to the Obligation
shall be applied to the Obligations in the order and manner set forth in Section
2.18.

         7.9 Certain Proceedings. The Borrower will promptly execute and deliver
or  cause  the  execution  and  delivery  of,  all  applications,  certificates,
instruments,  registration  statements,  and all other  documents and papers the
Agents or the Banks may reasonably  request in connection  with the obtaining of
any  consent,  approval,  registration,   qualification,   permit,  license,  or
authorization of any other Tribunal or other Person necessary or appropriate for
the effective exercise of any Rights under the Loan Papers. Because the Borrower
agrees  that the  Agents'  and the  Banks'  remedies  at law for  failure of the
Borrower to comply with the provisions of this paragraph would be inadequate and
that such failure would not be adequately  compensable in damages,  the Borrower
agrees that the covenants of this paragraph may be specifically enforced.



                                   -39-

<PAGE>



SECTION 8.                 AGREEMENT AMONG BANKS.

         8.1      Agents.

                  (a) Each Bank hereby  irrevocably  appoints and authorizes the
Agents to act on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this  Agreement as
are  specifically  delegated  to or required of such Agent by the terms  hereto,
together  with  such  powers as are  reasonably  incidental  thereto.  As to any
matters not expressly  provided for by this  Agreement or the Notes  (including,
without  limitation,  enforcement or collection of the Notes),  the Agents shall
not be required  to exercise  any  discretion  or take any action,  but shall be
required to act or to refrain  from acting (and shall be fully  protected  in so
acting or refraining  from acting) upon the  instructions of the Majority Banks,
and such instructions  shall be binding upon all Banks and all holders of Notes;
provided, however, that neither Agent shall be required to take any action which
exposes such Agent to personal  liability or which is contrary to this Agreement
or applicable law.

                  (b) The Agent may resign at any time by giving  written notice
thereof to the Banks, the Auction Administration Agent, and the Borrower and may
be removed  as the Agent  under  this  Agreement  and the Notes at any time with
cause by all Banks other than the Agent (the  "Removing  Banks").  Upon any such
resignation  or  removal,  the  Majority  Banks  shall have the right,  with the
consent of the Borrower, not to be unreasonably withheld, to appoint a successor
Agent from among the Banks  (other than the  resigning  Agent).  If no successor
Agent  shall  have been so  appointed  by the  Majority  Banks,  and shall  have
accepted such  appointment,  within 30 calendar days after the retiring  Agent's
giving  notice of  resignation  or the Removing  Banks'  removal of the retiring
Agent,  then the retiring Agent may, on behalf of the Banks, with the consent of
the Borrower, not to be unreasonably withheld,  appoint a successor Agent, which
shall be a  commercial  bank  organized  under the laws of the United  States of
America or of any state thereof and having a combined  capital and surplus of at
least  $100,000,000.  Upon  the  acceptance  of any  appointment  as  the  Agent
hereunder and under the Notes by a successor  Agent,  such successor Agent shall
thereupon succeed to and become vested with all rights,  powers,  privileges and
duties of the retiring  Agent,  and the retiring Agent shall be discharged  from
its  duties  and  obligations  under this  Agreement  and the  Notes.  After any
retiring  Agent's  resignation  or removal as the Agent  hereunder and under the
Notes,  the  provisions  of this  Section 8 shall inure to its benefit as to any
actions  taken or  omitted  to be taken by it while it was the Agent  under this
Agreement and the Notes.

                  (c) The Auction Administration Agent may resign at any time by
giving written notice thereof to the Banks,  the Agent, and the Borrower and may
be removed as the  Auction  Administration  Agent under this  Agreement  and the
Notes at any time with cause by all Banks other than the Auction  Administrative
Agent (the "AAA Removing  Banks").  Upon any such  resignation  or removal,  the
Majority Banks shall have the right, with the consent of the Borrower, not to be
unreasonably  withheld, to appoint a successor Auction  Administration Agent. If
no successor  Auction  Administration  Agent shall have been so appointed by the
Majority  Banks,  and shall have accepted such  appointment,  within 30 calendar
days  after  the  retiring  Auction  Administration  Agent's  giving  notice  of
resignation


                                     -40-

<PAGE>



or the AAA Removing Banks' removal of the retiring Auction Administration Agent,
then the  retiring  Auction  Administration  Agent may,  on behalf of the Banks,
appoint a  successor  Auction  Administration  Agent,  with the  consent  of the
Borrower,  not to be  unreasonably  withheld,  which shall be a commercial  bank
organized under the Laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof
and having a combined  capital  and surplus of at least  $100,000,000.  Upon the
acceptance of any appointment as the Auction  Administration Agent hereunder and
under the Notes by a successor  Auction  Administration  Agent,  such  successor
Auction  Administration  Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with
all  the  rights,  powers,  privileges,  and  duties  of  the  retiring  Auction
Administration  Agent,  and the retiring Auction  Administration  Agent shall be
discharged from its duties and  obligations  under this Agreement and the Notes.
After any retiring Auction  Administration Agent's resignation or removal as the
Auction  Administration  Agent hereunder and under the Notes,  the provisions of
this Section 8 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions  taken or omitted to
be  taken  by it  while  it was the  Auction  Administration  Agent  under  this
Agreement and the Notes.

                  (d) If either  Agent  fails to take any action  under any Loan
Paper  after an Event of  Default  and  within a  reasonable  time  after  being
reasonably  requested  to do so by any Bank (when such Bank is  entitled to make
such request under the Loan Papers and after such  requesting  Bank has obtained
the  concurrence of such other Banks as may be required  hereunder),  such Agent
shall not suffer or incur any  liability as a result of such failure or refusal,
but such  requesting  Bank may  request  such  Agent to  resign  as such  Agent,
whereupon such Agent shall so resign upon receiving such request.

                  (e) The Agent, in its capacity as a Bank,  shall have the same
Rights  under the Loan  Papers as any other  Bank and may  exercise  the same as
though it were not acting as the Agent or the Auction  Administration Agent; the
term "Bank" shall,  unless the context otherwise  indicates,  include the Agent;
and any resignation by the Agent hereunder shall not impair or otherwise  affect
any Rights which it has or may have in its capacity as an individual Bank.

                  (f) Subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the
Loan Papers,  the Agents may be engaged in, or may  hereafter  engage in, one or
more  loan,  letter  of  credit,   leasing,  or  other  financing   transactions
(collectively,  the "other financings") not the subject of the Loan Papers, with
one or more of the Companies,  or may act as trustee on behalf of, or depositary
for, or otherwise engage in other business  transactions with one or more of the
Companies, in each case with no responsibility to account therefor to the Banks.
Without limiting Rights to which the Banks are  specifically  entitled under the
Loan Papers, no other Banks shall have, by virtue of their being parties hereto,
any  interest  in (i) any such  other  financings,  (ii) any  present  or future
guaranties  by or for the account of any Company which are not  contemplated  or
included in the Loan  Papers,  (iii) any present or future  offset  exercised by
such Agent in respect of such other  financings,  or (iv) any  present or future
property taken as security for any such other  financings  even if such property
may become  security for the  obligations of any Company  arising under the Loan
Papers by reason of a general  description of  indebtedness  related to any such
other  financings;  provided that, if any payments in respect of such guaranties
or such property or the proceeds thereof shall be


                                 -41-

<PAGE>



applied to reduce the Obligations,  then each Bank shall be entitled to share in
such application according to its pro rata part thereof.

         8.2 Expenses.  Each Bank shall pay its pro rata part of any  reasonable
expenses  (including,  without limitation,  court costs,  reasonable  attorneys'
fees, and other costs of collection) incurred by either Agent in connection with
any of the Loan  Papers if such Agent does not  receive  reimbursement  therefor
from other sources within 60 days after incurred;  provided that each Bank shall
be entitled to receive its pro rata part of any reimbursement for such expenses,
or part thereof, which such Agent subsequently receives from such other sources.

         8.3  Proportionate  Absorption  of Losses.  Except as herein  provided,
nothing in the Loan Papers shall be deemed to give any Bank any  advantage  over
any other Bank insofar as the portion of the  Obligation  arising under the Loan
Papers is concerned,  or to relieve any Bank from absorbing its pro rata part of
any  losses  sustained  with  respect  to the  Obligation  (except to the extent
unilateral  actions or  inactions  by any Bank result in any credit,  allowance,
setoff,  defense, or counterclaim solely with respect to all or any part of such
Bank's pro rata part of the Obligation).

         8.4 Delegation of Duties;  Reliance. Each Agent may exercise any of its
duties under the Loan Papers by or through its officers,  directors,  employees,
attorneys, or agents (collectively,  "Representatives"),  and each Agent and its
Representatives  shall (a) be entitled to rely upon (and shall be  protected  in
relying upon) any writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate,  affidavit,
letter,  cablegram,  telecopy,  telegram, telex or teletype message,  statement,
order, or other  documents or conversation  believed by it or them to be genuine
and  correct  and to have been  signed or made by the proper  Person  and,  with
respect to legal matters, upon opinion of counsel selected by such Agent, (b) be
entitled  to deem and treat  each  Bank as the owner and  holder of its pro rata
part of the Obligation for all purposes until,  subject to Section 9.20, written
notice of the  assignment  or  transfer  thereof  shall  have been  given to and
received by such Agent (and, any request, authorization, consent, or approval of
any Bank shall be conclusive and binding on each subsequent holder, assignee, or
transferee  of such  Lender's  pro rata part of the  Obligation  or  Participant
therein),  and (c) not be deemed to have notice of the occurrence of an Event of
Default  unless an officer of such  Agent has actual  knowledge  thereof or such
Agent has been notified thereof by a Bank or the Borrower.

         8.5      Limitation of Agents' Liability.

                  (a)  Neither  of  the  Agents  nor  any  of  their  respective
Representatives (as defined in Section 8.4) shall be liable for any action taken
or  omitted  to be taken by it or them  under the Loan  Papers in good faith and
believed by it or them to be within the discretion or power conferred upon it or
them by the Loan Papers or be responsible  for the  consequences of any error of
judgment,  except for fraud,  gross negligence,  or willful misconduct (IT BEING
THE  EXPRESS  INTENTION  OF THE  PARTIES  THAT THE AGENTS  AND THEIR  RESPECTIVE
REPRESENTATIVES SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ACTIONS AND OMISSIONS RESULTING FROM
THEIR


                                      -42-

<PAGE>



ORDINARY CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE OR UNDER CLAIMS OF STRICT
LIABILITY),   and   neither  of  the   Agents   nor  any  of  their   respective
Representatives has a fiduciary relationship with any Bank by virtue of the Loan
Papers  (provided  that nothing herein shall negate the obligation of each Agent
to account for funds received by it for the account of any Bank).

                  (b) Unless indemnified to its satisfaction against loss, cost,
liability, and expense, neither Agent shall be compelled to do any act under the
Loan Papers or to take any action  toward the  execution or  enforcement  of the
powers thereby created or to prosecute or defend any suit in respect of the Loan
Papers.  If  either  Agent  requests  instructions  from  the  Banks or from the
Majority  Banks,  as  the  case  may  be,  with  respect  to any  act or  action
(including,  but not limited to, any failure to act) in connection with any Loan
Paper,  such Agent  shall be  entitled  (but shall not be  required)  to refrain
(without  incurring any liability to any Person by so refraining)  from such act
or action  unless  and until it has  received  such  instructions.  In no event,
however,  shall either Agent or any of its  Representatives  be required to take
any action  which it or they  reasonably  determine  could  incur for it or them
criminal or onerous civil liability.

                  (c) Neither  Agent shall be  responsible  in any manner to any
Bank or any  Participant  for, and each Bank represents and warrants that it has
not relied upon  either  Agent in respect  of, (i) the  creditworthiness  of the
Borrower  and  the  risks  involved  to  such  Bank,  (ii)  the   effectiveness,
enforceability,  genuineness,  validity, or the due execution of any Loan Paper,
(iii) any representation,  warranty, document, certificate, report, or statement
made  therein  or  furnished  thereunder  or in  connection  therewith,  or (iv)
observation of or compliance with any of the terms,  covenants, or conditions of
any Loan  Paper on the part of any  Company.  Each  Bank also  acknowledges  and
agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon either Agent or any
other  Bank and  based  on such  documents  and  information  as it  shall  deem
appropriate at the time,  continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or
not taking action under this Agreement. Each Bank agrees to indemnity each Agent
and its respective  Representatives and hold them harmless from and against (but
limited to such Bank's pro rata part of) any and all  liabilities,  obligations,
losses,  damages,  penalties,   actions,  judgments,  suits,  costs,  reasonable
expenses,  and reasonable  disbursements of any kind or nature  whatsoever which
may be imposed on, asserted against,  or incurred by them in any way relating to
or arising out of the Loan  Papers or any action  taken or omitted by them under
the Loan Papers,  except to the extent the same result solely from fraud,  gross
negligence, or willful misconduct by such Agent or its Representatives (IT BEING
THE  EXPRESS  INTENTION  OF THE  PARTIES  THAT THE AGENTS  AND THEIR  RESPECTIVE
REPRESENTATIVES SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ACTIONS AND OMISSIONS RESULTING FROM
THEIR ORDINARY CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE OR UNDER CLAIMS OF STRICT LIABILITY).

         8.6  Default.  Upon  the  occurrence  and  continuance  of an  Event of
Default,  the Banks agree to promptly  confer in order that the  Majority  Banks
(or, if required by Section  9.15,  all Banks) may agree upon a course of action
for the enforcement of the Rights of the Banks; provided that the Agent shall be
entitled  (but not  obligated)  to proceed to take any actions  necessary in its
reasonable judgment to preserve the Rights of the Agents and the



                                     -43-

<PAGE>



Banks  hereunder,  pending  agreement by the Majority  Banks (or, if required by
Section 9.15, all Banks) on the course of action to be taken.

         8.7 Limitation of Liability of Banks. No Bank or any Participant  shall
incur  any  liability  to any  other  Bank or  Participant  except  for  acts or
omissions in bad faith, and no Bank or any Participant shall incur any liability
to any Company or any other  Person for any act or omission of any other Bank or
any Participant.

         8.8      Relationship of Banks.  Nothing herein shall be construed as 
creating a partnership or joint venture among the Agents, the Agents and the 
Banks, or the Banks.

         8.9 Foreign  Banks.  Each Bank that is organized  under the laws of any
jurisdiction  other than the United  States of America or any State  thereof (a)
represents  to the Agents and the Borrower  that (i) under  applicable  Laws and
treaties no Taxes will be required to be withheld by the Agents or the  Borrower
with  respect  to any  payments  to be  made  to such  Bank  in  respect  of the
Obligation  and (ii) it has  furnished  to the Agent and the  Borrower  two duly
completed  copies of either  U.S.  Internal  Revenue  Service  Form 4224 or U.S.
Internal  Revenue  Service Form 1001  (wherein such Bank claims  entitlement  to
complete  exemption from U.S. federal  withholding tax on all interest  payments
hereunder),  and (b)  covenants  to (i) provide the Agent and the Borrower a new
Form 4224 or Form 1001 upon the obsolescence of any previously delivered form in
accordance  with  applicable  U.S.  laws and  regulations  and  amendments  duly
executed  and  completed by such Bank and (ii) comply from time to time with all
applicable  U.S.  laws and  regulations  with  regard  to such  withholding  tax
exemption.

         8.10 Benefits of Agreement. Except for requiring the Borrower's consent
under  Section  8.1(b) and the  representations  and covenants in Section 8.9 in
favor of the Borrower,  none of the  provisions of this Section 8 shall inure to
the benefit of any Company or any Person other than the Agents,  the Banks,  and
the Participants;  consequently,  neither any Company nor any other Person shall
be entitled to rely upon,  or to raise as a defense,  in any manner  whatsoever,
the failure of either Agent or any Bank to comply with such provisions.

SECTION 9.                 MISCELLANEOUS.

         9.1 Changes in GAAP. All accounting and financial  terms used in any of
the Loan Papers and the  compliance  with each  covenant  contained  in the Loan
Papers which relates to financial matters shall be determined in accordance with
GAAP,  except to the extent that a deviation  therefrom is  expressly  stated in
such  Loan  Papers.  Should a change in GAAP  require a change in any  method of
accounting or should any voluntary change in the accounting methods be permitted
pursuant  to  Section  5.19,  then such  change  shall not result in an Event of
Default if, at the time of such  change,  such Event of Default had not occurred
and was not then continuing, based upon the former methods of accounting used by
or on behalf of the Borrower; provided that, after any such change in accounting
methods,  the Financial  Statements required to be delivered shall either be (a)
supplemented  with  financial  information  prepared  in  comparative  form,  in
compliance with the former method of


                                 -44-

<PAGE>



accounting used prior to such change,  as well as with the new method or methods
of accounting  and, for the purpose of  determining  whether an Event of Default
has  occurred,  Lenders  shall look solely to that portion of such  supplemental
information  that  complies  with  the  former  methods  of  accounting,  or (b)
supplemented  with financial  information  prepared in compliance  with such new
method or methods of accounting but accompanied by such information, in form and
detail satisfactory to Lenders, that will allow Lenders to readily determine the
effect of such changes in accounting methods on such Financial Statements,  and,
for the purpose of determining whether an Event of Default has occurred, Lenders
shall  look  solely to such  supplemental  information  as  adjusted  to reflect
compliance with such former method or methods of accounting.

         9.2 Money and Interest.  Unless stipulated otherwise (a) all references
in any of the Loan Papers to "dollars,"  "money,"  "payments,"  or other similar
financial or monetary  terms are  references to currency of the United States of
America  and (b) all  references  to  interest  are to simple  and not  compound
interest.

         9.3 Number and Gender of Words. Whenever in any Loan Paper the singular
number is used,  the same shall include the plural where  appropriate,  and vice
versa; and words of any gender in any Loan Paper shall include each other gender
where  appropriate.  The words "herein,"  "hereof," and  "hereunder,"  and other
words of similar  import refer to the relevant  Loan Paper as a whole and not to
any particular part or subdivision thereof.

         9.4 Headings.  The headings,  captions, and arrangements used in any of
the Loan Papers are, unless specified otherwise,  for convenience only and shall
not be deemed to limit,  amplify,  or modify the terms of the Loan  Papers,  nor
affect the meaning thereof.

         9.5 Exhibits.  If any Exhibit,  which is to be executed and  delivered,
contains  blanks,  the same shall be completed  correctly and in accordance with
the terms and provisions  contained and as contemplated  herein prior to, at the
time of, or after the execution and delivery thereof.

         9.6 Communications.  Unless specifically  otherwise provided,  whenever
any Loan Paper requires or permits any consent,  approval,  notice,  request, or
demand from one party to another,  such  communication must be in writing (which
may be by telex or telecopy)  to be  effective  and shall be deemed to have been
given on the day  actually  delivered  or, if mailed,  on the Business Day it is
received  by the party to be notified  at the  address  indicated  on Schedule 1
(unless  changed by notice  pursuant  hereto),  properly  stamped,  sealed,  and
deposited in the appropriate official postal service.

         9.7 Form and Number of Documents. Each agreement, document, instrument,
or other writing to be furnished  under any provision of this  Agreement must be
in form and  substance and in such number of  counterparts  as may be reasonably
required by the Agent and its counsel.

         9.8      Exceptions to Covenants.  The Borrower shall not take any 
action or fail to take any action which is permitted as an exception to any of
the covenants contained in any


                                    -45-

<PAGE>



of the Loan Papers if such action or omission  would result in the breach of any
other covenant contained in any of the Loan Papers.

         9.9 Survival. All covenants, agreements, undertakings, representations,
and  warranties  made in any of the Loan Papers (a) shall  survive all  closings
under the Loan Papers, (b) except as otherwise indicated,  shall not be affected
by any investigation made by any party, and (c) unless otherwise provided herein
shall  terminate  upon the later of the  termination  of this  Agreement and the
payment in full of the Obligation.

         9.10  Governing  Law. The Loan Papers are being executed and delivered,
and are  intended to be  performed,  in the State of Texas,  and the laws (other
than conflict-of-laws provisions thereof) of such State and of the United States
of America  shall  govern the  Rights and duties of the  parties  hereto and the
validity, construction, enforcement, and interpretation of the Loan Papers.

         9.11 VENUE; SERVICE OF PROCESS;  JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO, IN EACH
CASE FOR ITSELF, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS,  HEREBY (a) IRREVOCABLY  SUBMITS TO
THE  NONEXCLUSIVE  JURISDICTION  OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS OF THE STATE OF
TEXAS AND AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE MADE UPON IT IN ANY
LEGAL  PROCEEDING  ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION  WITH THE LOAN PAPERS AND THE
OBLIGATION  BY  SERVICE OF PROCESS AS  PROVIDED  BY TEXAS LAW,  (b)  IRREVOCABLY
WAIVES,  TO THE FULLEST EXTENT  PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW
OR  HEREAFTER  HAVE  TO  THE  LAYING  OF  ANY  LITIGATION  ARISING  OUT OF OR IN
CONNECTION WITH THE LOAN PAPERS AND THE OBLIGATION BROUGHT IN DISTRICT COURTS OF
DALLAS COUNTY,  TEXAS,  OR IN THE UNITED STATES  DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN
DISTRICT OF TEXAS,  DALLAS DIVISION,  (c) IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY CLAIMS THAT ANY
LITIGATION BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT  FORUM,
(d) AGREES TO DESIGNATE  AND MAINTAIN AN AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS IN DALLAS,
TEXAS,  IN  CONNECTION  WITH ANY SUCH  LITIGATION  AND TO  DELIVER  TO THE AGENT
EVIDENCE  THEREOF,  IF  REQUESTED,  (e)  IRREVOCABLY  CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF
PROCESS OUT OF ANY OF THE  AFOREMENTIONED  COURTS IN ANY SUCH  LITIGATION BY THE
MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF BY CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT  REQUESTED,  POSTAGE
PREPAID,  AT ITS ADDRESS SET FORTH HEREIN, (f) IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ANY LEGAL
PROCEEDING  AGAINST ANY PARTY HERETO  ARISING OUT OF OR IN  CONNECTION  WITH THE
LOAN  PAPERS  ON THE  OBLIGATION  MAY BE  BROUGHT  IN ONE OF THE  AFOREMENTIONED
COURTS, AND (g) IRREVOCABLY  WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ITS
RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL IN ANY LITIGATION ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE
LOAN PAPERS AND THE OBLIGATION.

         9.12     Maximum Interest Rate.  Regardless of any provision contained
in any of the Loan Papers, no Bank shall ever be entitled to contract for, 
charge, take, reserve, receive, or


                                   -46-

<PAGE>



apply, as interest on the Obligation,  or any part thereof, any amount in excess
of the  Highest  Lawful  Rate,  and, in the event the Banks ever  contract  for,
charge,  take, reserve,  receive, or apply as interest any such excess, it shall
be  deemed a  partial  prepayment  without  penalty  of  principal  and  treated
hereunder as such and any remaining excess shall be refunded to the Borrower. In
determining  whether or not the  interest  paid or payable,  under any  specific
contingency,  exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate, the Borrower and the Banks shall,
to the maximum extent  permitted under  applicable Law, (a) treat all Borrowings
as but a single  extension of credit (and the Banks and the Borrower  agree that
such is the case and that provision herein for multiple  Borrowings and multiple
Notes is for convenience only), (b) characterize any nonprincipal  payment as an
expense,  fee,  or  premium  rather  than as  interest,  (c)  exclude  voluntary
prepayments  and the  effects  thereof,  and (d)  "spread"  the total  amount of
interest  throughout the entire  contemplated  term of the Obligation;  provided
that,  if the  Obligation  is paid and performed in full prior to the end of the
full  contemplated  term  thereof,  and if the interest  received for the actual
period of existence  thereof  exceeds the Highest  Lawful Rate,  the Banks shall
refund such  excess,  and, in such event,  the Banks shall not be subject to any
penalties provided by any Law for contracting for, charging,  taking, reserving,
or receiving  interest in excess of the Highest  Lawful Rate.  To the extent the
Laws of the  State of Texas are  applicable  for  purposes  of  determining  the
"Highest  Lawful Rate," such term shall mean the  "indicated  rate ceiling" from
time to time in effect under Article 1.04,  Title 79,  Revised Civil Statutes of
Texas,  as amended,  or, if permitted by applicable  Law and effective  upon the
giving of the notices required by such Article 1.04 (or effective upon any other
date  otherwise  specified  by  applicable  Law),  the  "monthly  ceiling,"  the
"quarterly  ceiling," or "annualized  ceiling" from time to time in effect under
such  Article  1.04,  whichever  the Banks  shall  elect to  substitute  for the
"indicated  rate ceiling," and vice versa,  each such  substitution  to have the
effect  provided in such Article  1.04;  and the Banks shall be entitled to make
such election from time to time and one or more times and, without notice to the
Borrower,  to leave any such substitute rate in effect for subsequent periods in
accordance  with  subsection  (h)(1) of such Article  1.04.  Pursuant to Article
15.10(b) of Chapter 15,  Subtitle 79, Revised Civil Statutes of Texas,  1925, as
amended,  the  Borrower  agrees that such  Chapter 15 (which  regulates  certain
revolving credit loan accounts and revolving triparty accounts) shall not govern
or in any manner apply to the Obligation.

         9.13 Invalid Provisions.  If any provision in any Loan Paper is held to
be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable,  such provision shall be fully severable;
the appropriate  Loan Paper shall be construed and enforced as if such provision
had never comprised a part thereof;  and the remaining  provisions thereof shall
remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by such  provision  or
by its severance therefrom.  Furthermore,  in lieu of such provision there shall
be added  automatically  as a part of such Loan  Paper a  provision  as  similar
thereto as may be possible and be legal, valid, and enforceable.

         9.14     Entirety.  A LOAN AGREEMENT IN WHICH THE AMOUNT
INVOLVED EXCEEDS $50,000 IN VALUE IS NOT ENFORCEABLE UNLESS THE
AGREEMENT IS IN WRITING AND SIGNED BY THE PARTY TO BE BOUND OR
BY THAT PARTY'S AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE.  THE RIGHTS AND
OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HERETO SHALL BE DETERMINED SOLELY
FROM WRITTEN AGREEMENTS, DOCUMENTS, AND INSTRUMENTS, AND ANY



                                    -47-

<PAGE>



PRIOR ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES ARE SUPERSEDED BY AND MERGED INTO SUCH
WRITINGS. THIS AGREEMENT (AS AMENDED IN WRITING FROM TIME TO TIME) AND THE OTHER
WRITTEN LOAN PAPERS EXECUTED BY THE BORROWER,  THE AGENTS,  AND THE BANKS (OR BY
THE  BORROWER  FOR THE  BENEFIT OF THE AGENTS OR ANY BANK)  REPRESENT  THE FINAL
AGREEMENT  BETWEEN THE PARTIES HERETO AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF
PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS,  OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS BY THE PARTIES. THERE ARE
NO UNWRITTEN  ORAL  AGREEMENTS  BETWEEN THE PARTIES.  THIS PARAGRAPH IS INCLUDED
HEREIN  PURSUANT TO SECTION  26.02 OF THE TEXAS  BUSINESS AND COMMERCE  CODE, AS
AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME.

         9.15  Amendments,  Etc. No amendment or waiver of any  provision of any
Loan Paper nor  consent to any  departure  therefrom  by the  Borrower  shall be
effective  unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Majority  Banks
and the Borrower, and then, such amendment, waiver or consent shall be effective
only in the  specific  instance  and for the  specific  purpose for which given;
provided,  however,  that no  amendment,  waiver,  or consent  shall,  unless in
writing  and signed by all  Banks,  do any of the  following:  (a)  increase  or
decrease  the  Commitments,  or extend  the due date for  payment  of any of the
Obligation,  (b)  reduce  the  principal  amount of Loans due  hereunder  or any
interest rate or the amount of fees  applicable to the  Obligation  (except such
reductions as are contemplated by this Agreement), (c) amend or waive compliance
with this Section 9.15 or (d) amend the definition of Majority  Banks;  provided
that no amendment, waiver, or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the
Agent in addition to the Banks  required  above to take such action,  affect the
rights or duties of the Agent under this or any other Loan Paper.

         9.16  Waivers.  No course of  dealing  nor any  failure or delay by the
Agents,  any Bank, or any of their respective  officers,  directors,  employees,
agents,  representatives,  or attorneys  with respect to exercising any Right of
the Banks  hereunder  shall  operate as a waiver  thereof.  A waiver  must be in
writing and signed by the Banks (or the Majority Banks, if permitted  hereunder)
to be effective, and such waiver will be effective only in the specific instance
and for the specific purpose for which it is given.

         9.17  Taxes. Any Taxes (excluding income taxes) payable or ruled 
payable by any  Tribunal in respect of this  Agreement  or any other Loan Paper 
shall be paid by the Borrower, together with interest and penalties, if any.

         9.18  Governmental Regulation.  Anything contained in this Agreement 
to the contrary notwithstanding, the Banks shall not be obligated to extend 
credit to the Borrower in violation of any Law.

         9.19  Multiple Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in a
number of identical counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original for
all purposes and all of which constitute, collectively, one Agreement; but, in
making proof of this Agreement, it shall not be necessary to produce or account
for more than one such counterpart.  It is not


                                     -48-

<PAGE>



necessary  that each Bank  execute  the same  counterpart  so long as  identical
counterparts  are executed by the Borrower and each Bank.  This Agreement  shall
become effective when counterparts hereof shall have been executed and delivered
to the Agent by each Bank, the Agents, and the Borrower, or, in the case only of
the Banks,  when the Agent shall have  received  telecopied,  telexed,  or other
evidence satisfactory to it that each Bank has executed and is delivering to the
Agent a counterpart hereof.

         9.20     Successors and Assigns; Participations; Assignments.

                  (a) This  Agreement  shall be binding  upon,  and inure to the
         benefit  of, the parties  hereto and their  respective  successors  and
         assigns,  except that (i) the Borrower may not, directly or indirectly,
         assign or  transfer,  or  attempt  to assign  or  transfer,  any of its
         Rights,  duties,  or obligations under any Loan Papers to which it is a
         party without the express written consent of all Banks, and (ii) except
         as permitted  under  Section 2.20 and this  Section  9.20,  no Bank may
         transfer, pledge, assign, sell participations in, or otherwise encumber
         its portion of the Obligation.

                  (b) Subject to the  provisions of this Section 9.20,  any Bank
         (other than a Designated  Lender) may sell to one or more Persons (each
         a  "Participant")  participating  interests (in each case not less than
         $2,500,000  and in an integral  multiple of $500,000) in its portion of
         the Obligation;  provided that each Bank's  Commitment must be at least
         50 percent of its Commitment on the date of this Agreement at all times
         and the Agent and the  Borrower  shall  have the right to  approve  any
         Participant which is not a financial  institution.  In the event of any
         such sale to a  Participant,  (i) such Bank shall remain a "Bank" under
         this  Agreement  and the  Participant  shall  not  constitute  a "Bank"
         hereunder,  (ii) such Bank's  obligations  under this  Agreement  shall
         remain unchanged,  (iii) such Bank shall remain solely  responsible for
         the performance thereof,  (iv) such Bank shall remain the holder of its
         share of the Obligation for all purposes under this Agreement,  and (v)
         the Borrower  and the Agent shall  continue to deal solely and directly
         with such Bank in connection  with such Bank's  Rights and  obligations
         under the Loan Papers. Participants shall have no Rights under the Loan
         Papers,  other than certain voting rights as provided below.  Each Bank
         shall be  entitled  to  obtain  (on  behalf  of its  Participants)  the
         benefits of Section 2 with respect to all  participations  in its Loans
         outstanding  from time to time.  No Bank shall  sell any  participating
         interest under which the  Participant  shall have any Rights to approve
         any amendment, modification, or waiver of any Loan Paper, except to the
         extent such amendment, modification, or waiver extends the due date for
         payment of any amount in respect of  principal,  interest,  or fees due
         under the Loan Papers,  or reduces the  interest  rate or the amount of
         principal or fees applicable to the Obligation  (except such reductions
         as are  contemplated by this  Agreement);  provided that in those cases
         where a Participant  is entitled to the benefits of Section 2 or a Bank
         grants Rights to its  Participants to approve  amendments to or waivers
         of the Loan Papers respecting the matters previously  described in this
         sentence,  such Bank must  include a voting  mechanism  in the relevant
         participation  agreement  whereby a majority of such Bank's  portion of
         the Obligation (whether held


                                          -49-

<PAGE>



         by such Bank or  participated)  shall  control the vote for all of such
         Bank's portion of the  Obligation.  Except in the case of the sale of a
         participating interest to a Bank, the relevant participation  agreement
         shall not permit the  Participant  to transfer,  pledge,  assign,  sell
         participations in, or otherwise encumber its portion of the Obligation.

                  (c) Subject to the  provisions of this Section 9.20,  any Bank
         may,  with the prior  written  consent  of the  Agent and the  Borrower
         (which  will  not be  unreasonably  withheld),  sell  to  one  or  more
         financial  institutions  (each a "Purchaser") a proportionate  part (in
         each case not less  than  $2,500,000  and in an  integral  multiple  of
         $500,000) of its Rights and obligations  under the Loan Papers pursuant
         to an  assignment  agreement  between  such  Purchaser  and such  Bank;
         provided that each Bank's Commitment must be at least 50 percent of its
         Commitment  on the date of this  Agreement  at all times and  provided,
         further,  that NBD Bank may assign  all of its  Rights and  obligations
         under the Loan Papers to one or more of its  Affiliates  in  connection
         with a  corporation  reorganization  of NBD  Bank  and  its  affiliates
         without  the  consent of Agent or  Borrower.  Upon (i)  delivery  of an
         executed copy of the  assignment to the Borrower and the Agent and (ii)
         payment of a fee of $2500  from such Bank to the Agent,  from and after
         the assignment's  effective date (which shall be after the date of such
         delivery),  such  Purchaser  shall for all purposes be a Bank hereunder
         and shall have all the Rights and  obligations  of a Bank  hereunder to
         the same extent as if it were an original party hereto with commitments
         as set forth in the assignment agreement, and the transferor Bank shall
         be released from its obligations  hereunder to a corresponding  extent.
         Upon any transfer  pursuant to this Section  9.20(c),  Schedule 1 shall
         automatically be deemed to reflect the name, address, and Committed Sum
         of such  Purchaser  and the Agent shall deliver to the Borrower and the
         Banks an amended Schedule 1 reflecting such changes.  A Purchaser shall
         be subject to all the provisions in this Section 9.20 the same as if it
         were a Bank as of the date hereof.  Notwithstanding  anything herein to
         the contrary,  no Designated Lender may make an assignment  pursuant to
         the  provisions of this Section  9.20(c),  other than to the Bank which
         originally designated the Designated Lender.

                  (d) Each Bank (other than a Designated Lender) may designate a
         Designated  Lender to make Competitive Loans as a Bank pursuant to this
         Agreement;  provided,  however, that (i) no such Bank shall be entitled
         to make more than one such designation, (ii) each such Bank making such
         designation  shall retain the right to make  Competitive Bid Loans as a
         Bank pursuant to this Agreement and (iii) each such  designation  shall
         be to a Designated  Lender approved by the Borrower,  the Agent and the
         Auction  Administration Agent, and the parties to each such designation
         shall execute and deliver a Designation  Agreement,  for  acceptance by
         the Borrower, the Agent and the Auction Administration Agent. Upon such
         execution,  delivery, and acceptance, and the execution and delivery by
         the Borrower to the Designated Lender of a Competitive Note in the same
         principal  amount as that previously  delivered to the Bank making such
         designation,  from and  after  the  effective  date  specified  in each
         Designated  Agreement,  the designee thereunder shall be a party hereto
         with the right to make Competitive Bid Loans as a Bank pursuant to this
         Agreement, and shall have


                                           -50-

<PAGE>



         the  obligations   related  thereto.  By  executing  and  delivering  a
         Designation  Agreement,  the Bank making the designation thereunder and
         its designee thereunder confirm and agree with each other and the other
         parties hereto as follows:

                           (i) such Bank makes no representation or warranty and
                  assumes no  responsibility  with  respect  to any  statements,
                  warranties or  representations  made in or in connection  with
                  this  Agreement  or any  other  Loan  Paper or the  execution,
                  legality, validity, enforceability,  genuineness,  sufficiency
                  or value of this  Agreement  or any  other  Loan  Paper or any
                  other  instrument  or document  furnished  pursuant  hereto or
                  thereto;

                           (ii) such Bank makes no  representation  or  warranty
                  and assumes no  responsibility  with respect to the  financial
                  condition of the Borrower or the  performance or observance by
                  the Borrower of any of its obligations under this Agreement or
                  any other  Loan  paper or any  other  instrument  or  document
                  furnished pursuant hereto or thereto;

                           (iii) such  designee  confirms that it has received a
                  copy of this  Agreement  and each other Loan  Paper,  together
                  with copies of the Current Financials and such other documents
                  and  information as it has deemed  appropriate to make its own
                  credit  analysis and  decision to enter into such  Designation
                  Agreement;

                           (iv) such designee  will,  independently  and without
                  reliance  upon the Agent,  the Auction  Administration  Agent,
                  such  designating  Bank or any  other  Bank and  based on such
                  documents and information as it shall deem  appropriate at the
                  time,  continue to make its own credit  decisions in taking or
                  not  taking  action  under  this  Agreement  or any other Loan
                  Paper;

                           (v)  such designee confirms that it is a Designated
                  Lender;

                           (vi) such designee  appoints and  authorizes  (A) the
                  Agent  to take  such  action  as agent  on its  behalf  and to
                  exercise such powers and  discretion  under this Agreement and
                  each  other Loan  Paper as are  delegated  to the Agent by the
                  terms  hereof  and  thereof,  together  with such  powers  and
                  discretion as are  reasonably  incidental  thereto and (B) the
                  Auction  Administration Agent to take such actions as agent on
                  its behalf and to exercise  such powers and  discretion  under
                  this  Agreement  and each other Loan Paper as are delegated to
                  the  Auction  Administration  Agent by the  terms  hereof  and
                  thereof,  together  with such  powers  and  discretion  as are
                  reasonably incidental thereto; and

                           (vii) such  designee  agrees that it will  perform in
                  accordance  with their terms all of the  obligations  which by
                  the terms of this  Agreement  and each  other  Loan  Paper are
                  required to be performed by it as a Bank.



                                            -51-

<PAGE>



                  (e)  If  pursuant  to  Section  9.20(c)  any  interest  in the
         Obligation is transferred to any Purchaser which is organized under the
         laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States of America or any
         State  thereof,   the  transferor  Bank  shall  cause  such  Purchaser,
         concurrently with the effectiveness of such transfer,  (i) to represent
         to the  transferor  Bank (for the benefit of the  transferor  Bank, the
         Agent,  and the Borrower)  that under  applicable  Laws and treaties no
         Taxes will be required to be withheld by the Agent,  the  Borrower,  or
         the  transferor  Bank with  respect to any  payments to be made to such
         Purchaser in respect of the Obligation,  (ii) to furnish to each of the
         transferor  Bank, the Agent, and the Borrower two duly completed copies
         of either U.S.  Internal  Revenue  Service  Form 4224 or U.S.  Internal
         Revenue Service Form 1001 (wherein such Purchaser claims entitlement to
         complete  exemption from U.S.  federal  withholding tax on all interest
         payments  hereunder),  and  (iii) to  agree  (for  the  benefit  of the
         transferor Bank, the Agent, and the Borrower) to provide the transferor
         Bank, the Agent, and the Borrower a new Form 4224 or Form 1001 upon the
         obsolescence  of any  previously  delivered  form  in  accordance  with
         applicable  U.S. laws and  regulations and amendments duly executed and
         completed by such  Purchaser,  and to comply from time to time with all
         applicable  U.S. laws and regulations  with regard to such  withholding
         tax exemption.

         9.21  Confidentiality.  All  nonpublic  information  furnished  by  the
Companies to the Agents or the Banks in connection  with the Loan Papers and the
transactions  contemplated thereby will be treated as confidential,  but nothing
herein  contained shall limit or impair the Agent's or any Bank's right, and the
Agent and the Banks shall be entitled,  (a) to disclose the same to any Tribunal
or as otherwise  required by Law or to any prospective or actual  Participant or
Purchaser  or to the  respective  affiliates,  directors,  officers,  employees,
attorneys,  and agents of any  prospective  or actual  Participant  or Purchaser
(provided that such prospective or actual Participant or Purchaser has agreed in
writing to comply with this Section  9.21),  (b) to use such  information to the
extent pertinent to an evaluation of the Obligation,  (c) to enforce  compliance
with the terms and  conditions  of the Loan  Papers,  and (d) to take any action
which the Agent or any Bank deems necessary to protect its interests if an Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing.

         9.22 Conflicts and Ambiguities.  Any conflict or ambiguity  between the
terms and  provisions  herein and terms and  provisions  in any other Loan Paper
shall be controlled by the terms and provisions herein.

         9.23 General  Indemnification.  The Borrower shall indemnity,  protect,
and hold the Agents and the Banks and their  respective  parents,  subsidiaries,
directors, officers, employees,  representatives,  agents, successors,  assigns,
and  attorneys  (collectively,  the  "Indemnified  Parties")  harmless  from and
against  any and  all  liabilities,  obligations,  losses,  damages,  penalties,
actions,   judgments,   suits,  claims,  costs,  expenses  (including,   without
limitation,  attorneys'  fees and legal expenses  whether or not suit is brought
and settlement  costs), and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which
may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Indemnified  Parties, in
any way relating to or arising out of the Loan Papers or any of the transactions
contemplated therein (collectively, the


                                       -52-

<PAGE>



"Indemnified   Liabilities"),   to  the  extent  that  any  of  the  Indemnified
Liabilities  results,  directly  or  indirectly,  from any claim made or action,
suit,  or  proceeding  commenced  by or on behalf of any  Person  other than the
Indemnified  Parties;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  THAT ALTHOUGH EACH INDEMNIFIED PARTY
SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE  INDEMNIFIED  FROM ITS OWN  ORDINARY  NEGLIGENCE,  NO
INDEMNIFIED  PARTY SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE INDEMNIFIED  HEREUNDER FOR ITS OWN
FRAUD,  GROSS  NEGLIGENCE,   OR  WILLFUL  MISCONDUCT.   The  provisions  of  and
undertakings and  indemnification  set forth in this paragraph shall survive the
satisfaction and payment of the Obligation and termination of this Agreement for
the period of time set forth in any applicable statute of limitations.

         9.24  Investment  Representation.  The Notes are being  acquired by the
Banks for their own respective  account for investment and not with the view to,
or for sale in connection with, any distribution  thereof.  The Banks understand
that the Notes will not be registered  under the  Securities  Act of 1933 or any
securities  act of any state  pursuant  to an  exemption  from the  registration
provisions  thereof.  Each Bank shall indemnify the Borrower against and hold it
harmless from any claim,  and any cost or expense  therefrom,  that the Borrower
shall have  committed a violation of applicable Law by virtue of the exercise by
such Bank of its right to sell participations or make assignments hereunder.


                                         -53-

<PAGE>



         EXECUTED as of the day and year first mentioned.


                            CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES,
                            INC.


                            By          /s/ R. Stewart Ewing, Jr.
                                        --------------------------
                                Name:   R. Stewart Ewing, Jr.
                                Title:  Senior Vice President and
                                        Chief Financial Officer



                            BANK ONE, TEXAS, N.A
                            as the Agent, the Auction Administration
                            Agent, and a Bank


                            By          /s/ Fred Points
                                        --------------------------   
                                Name:   Fred Points
                                Title:  Vice President



                            NBD BANK



                            By          /s/ D. Andrew Bateman
                                        --------------------------
                                Name:   D. Andrew Bateman
                                Title:  First Vice President 



                            FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF COMMERCE



                            By          /s/ Suzanne G. Babin
                                        --------------------------
                                Name:   Suzanne G. Babin 
                                Title:  Vice President 


    
                                 -54-

<PAGE>





                            WACHOVIA BANK OF GEORGIA, N.A.


                            By          /s/ Douglas L. Williams
                                        ---------------------------
                                Name:   Douglas L. Williams 
                                Title:  Senior Vice President
                                        Group Executive



                            PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION


                            By          /s/ Scott C. Meves
                                        --------------------------
                                Name:   Scott C. Meves
                                Title:  Vice President




                                    -55-

<PAGE>



                                    SCHEDULE 1

            Parties, Addresses, Committed Sums, and Wiring Information

Borrower           All notices  confirming  amounts borrowed and
                   the  interest  rate  thereon,   responses  to
                   Competitive Bid Requests,  notices  regarding
                   amounts of any principal or interest payments
                   due and any billings for Facility Fees should
                   be directed to:

                                     Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc.
                                     P. O. Box 4065
                                     Monroe, Louisiana 71211-4065
                                     Attention: Director of Treasury Services
                                     FAX No.: 318-388-9602

                   Other written communications:

                                     Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc.
                                     P. O. Box 4065
                                     Monroe, Louisiana 71211-4065
                                     Attention: David G. Thiels, Treasurer
                                     FAX No.: 318-388-9602

                                     with a copy to:

                                     Harvey P. Perry, Senior Vice President,
                                     Secretary and General Counsel
                                     Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc.
                                     P. O. Box 4065
                                     Monroe, Louisiana 71211-4065
                                     FAX No.: 318-388-9562

Agent                                Bank One, Texas, N.A.
- -----
                                     Bank One Center
                                     Third Floor
                                     1717 Main Street
                                     Dallas  Texas  75201
                                     Attention: Fred A. Points
                                     214-290-2367
                                     214-290-2683 (Fax)

Copy to:                             Thompson & Knight, P.C.
                                     1700 Pacific Avenue, Suite 3300
                                     Dallas, Texas 75201
                                     Attention: Dorothy H. Bjorck
                                     FAX No.: 214/969-1751


                                   1-1

<PAGE>



                                SCHEDULE 1



Banks                                                             Commitment

All notices regarding borrowings,interest rates, Competitive Bid Requests, and
amounts due should be directed to:


Bank One, Texas, N.A.                                            $ 27,000,000

Domestic and Eurodollar Lending Office

Bank One Center
1717 Main Street, Third Floor
Dallas  Texas  75201
Attention:  Fred A. Points
Tel:  214-290-2367
Fax:  214-290-2683





NBD Bank                                                         $ 13,000,000

Domestic and Eurodollar Lending Office

NBD Bank
611 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI  48226
Attention:  Kim Zazula, Vice President
Tel:  313-225-3444
Fax:  313-225-2649








                                1-2

<PAGE>



First National Bank of Commerce                                   $ 10,000,000

Domestic and Eurodollar Lending Office

First National Bank of Commerce
210 Baronne Street
New Orleans, LA  70160-0279
Attention:  Suzanne G. Babin, Vice President
Tel:  504-561-1624
Fax:  504-561-1864




Wachovia Bank of Georgia, N.A.                                    $ 10,000,000

Domestic an Eurodollar Lending Office

Wachovia Corporate Services, Inc.
191 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Atlanta, GA  30303
Attention:  Carl E. Peoples, Assistant Vice President
Tel:  404-332-1470
Fax:  404-332-6898




PNC Bank, National Association                                    $ 10,000,000

Domestic and Eurodollar Lending Offices

PNC Bank, National Association
100 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA  19110
Attention:  Scott C. Meves, Vice President
Tel:  215-585-6014
Fax:  215-585-6680



                                 1-3

<PAGE>



                                  Wiring Information



BANK ONE, TEXAS, N.A.

         Location of account:          Bank One, Texas, N.A.

         ABA#:           111000614

         Attention:      Nancy Daniel

         A/C#            Account #0109904045
                         (reference Century Telephone)





THE BORROWER

         Location of account:          First American Bank & Trust of Louisiana
                                       (Monroe, Louisiana)
         ABA#:           111101050

         A/C#:           13-044-3

         Reference:      Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc.
                         (Immediate advice to Treasury Department, 318-388-9613)





NBD BANK

         Location of account:          NBD Bank, N.A.

         ABA #:          072000326

         Attention:      Commercial Loan Department

         A/C#:           0436527

         Reference:      Century Telephone




                                   1-4

<PAGE>



FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF COMMERCE

         Location of account:          First National Bank of Commerce
                                       (Main Office)

         ABA #:          065000029

         Attention:      Loan Operations

         A/C#:           1343623-4999

         Reference:      Century Telephone





WACHOVIA BANK OF GEORGIA, N.A.

         Location of account:          Wachovia Bank of Georgia, N.A.

         ABA #:          061000010

         Attention:      Michelle Willis

         A/C#:           18-171-498

         Reference:      Century Telephone





PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

         Location of account:          PNC Bank, National Association

         ABA #:          031000053

         Attention:      Commercial Loan Operations

         A/C#:           Loan Suspense Account #130-76-156

         Reference:      Century Telephone



                                       1-5

<PAGE>


                                           SCHEDULE 2

                                         Permitted Liens


1.  Any Lien  securing  Debt  incurred for the purchase or capital lease of
    one or more assets, if such Lien encumbers only the assets so purchased
    or leased.

2.  Pledges or deposits made to secure payment of workers' compensation, or
    to  participate in any fund in connection  with workers'  compensation,
    unemployment insurance, pensions, or other social security programs.

3.  Good-faith  pledges or  deposits  made to secure  performance  of bids,
    tenders, contracts (other than for the repayment of borrowed money), or
    leases, or to secure statutory obligations,  surety or appeal bonds, or
    indemnity, performance, or other similar bond in the ordinary course of
    business.

4.  Encumbrances and restrictions on the use of real property which do not 
    materially impair such property.

5.  The following, if either (a) no amounts are due and payable and no Lien
    has been filed or agreed to or (b) the  validity  or amount  thereof is
    being  contested  in  good  faith  by  lawful  proceedings   diligently
    conducted,  reserve or other provision  required by GAAP has been made,
    levy and execution  thereon have been (and continue to be) stayed,  and
    neither the value nor use of the  property in question  are  materially
    affected:

    a. Liens for Taxes;
    b. Liens upon, and defects of title to, property, including any attachment 
       of property or other legal process prior to adjudication of a dispute on
       the merits;
    c. Liens of mechanics, materialmen, warehousemen, carriers, and landlords, 
       and similar Liens; and
    d. Adverse judgments on appeal.

6.  Liens in favor of the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural 
    Electrification Administration or Rural Telephone Bank or similar lenders 
    such as the Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative.

7.  Liens existing on any property of a Subsidiary existing at the time when
    it became such, which were not created with a view of its becoming a
    Subsidiary, provided that (a) the principal amount of the Debt secured by
    each such Lien shall not exceed the cost (which shall be deemed to include
    the amount of all Debt secured by Liens, including existing Liens, on such
    property) of such property to such Subsidiary, or the fair value of such
    property (without deduction of the Debt secured by Liens on such property)
    at the time of its becoming a Subsidiary, whichever is the lesser, and (b)
    the Debt secured by such Liens may not be increased, extended, renewed or


                                     2-1

<PAGE>



    continued  beyond  its  original  stated  maturity  if  such  increase,
    extensions  or renewal  would result in a Default under Section 5.23 or
    Section 5.24.

8.  Liens either on shares of stock of a corporation which, when such Liens
    arise, concurrently becomes a Subsidiary or on all or substantially all
    of the assets of a corporation  arising in connection with the purchase
    or acquisition  thereof by the Company,  provided that the Debt secured
    by such Liens may not be increased  or  extended,  renewed or continued
    beyond its original  stated  maturity if such  increase,  extensions or
    renewal would result in a Default under Section 5.23 or Section 5.24.

9.  Liens  on  property  of a  Subsidiary  (other  than  on  the  stock  of
    Subsidiary  except  to the  extent  permitted  in  paragraph  8  above)
    securing obligations owing to the Borrower or a wholly-owned Subsidiary
    or  securing  indebtedness  of  such  Subsidiary  created,  assumed  or
    incurred after the date hereof, the creation,  assumption or incurrence
    of which would not create a Default  under Section 5.23 or Section 5.24
    hereof.

10. Liens existing on the date hereof.

11. Except as otherwise prohibited in paragraphs 7 and 8 above, Liens
    securing extensions and renewals of the Debt originally secured thereby.



                                      2-2

<PAGE>



                                  SCHEDULE 3.6

                               MATERIAL LITIGATION



1.  CASE:             MBF Corporation vs. Century Business Communications

    NATURE OF CASE:   Tortious interference with a business relationship (suit
                      filed 7/30/90)

    CLAIM AMOUNT:     Original claim amount $500,000 + $2,500,000 in
                      punitive damages

    COMMENTS:         Trial was held and a summary judgment granted in
                      Century's favor.  Appealed to MS Supreme Court.
                      Adverse decision is not expected.

2.  CASE:             Robert C. James, Individually and d/b/a Southwest
                      Cellular vs. McAllen Cellular Telephone Company

    NATURE OF CASE:   Case was originally against Cellutel and is a dispute over
                      owed commissions.  Nature of case has changed to
                      deceptive trade practices.

    COMMENTS:         6th Amended Petition to Complaint mentions claims in
                      excess of $1,000,000.  However, we are still trying to
                      evaluate our estimate of actual damages which will
                      probably be between $18,000 and $30,000 for lost
                      commissions.

3.  CASE:             Shirley Cain vs. Century Cellunet, Inc., et al

    NATURE OF CASE:   Sexual harassment, assault and battery.  Case filed
                      3/23/95

    COMMENTS:         Originally filed as an EEOC complaint in McAllen,
                      Texas.  Suit was filed in Hidalgo County, Texas.
                      Unspecified damages as of yet.  Listed for disclosure.




<PAGE>


                              SCHEDULE 3.12

                      Transactions with Affiliates


                                  NONE




<PAGE>



                              SCHEDULE 3.17

                          Business of Companies


A.       Borrower

         The  Borrower  directly  or  indirectly  owns the  voting  stock of the
Subsidiaries  named in Exhibit 21 of the  Borrower's  most recent  annual report
filed with the Securities  and Exchange  Commission on Form 10K and is active in
acquiring additional  Subsidiaries,  businesses,  or assets for the provision of
communications  products and services.  The Borrower directly owns no assets for
the provision of communications  services, but it provides or arranges financing
and provides general  management,  and other operating services to its operating
Subsidiaries.

B.       Subsidiaries

         The  Subsidiaries  named in Exhibit 21 of the  Borrower's  most  recent
annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission on Form 10K are
engaged in providing telephone and/or other  communication  service to consumers
or they  provide  services to other  Subsidiaries  and other  telecommunications
companies.

         Local  telephone  service is provided in the  Subsidiaries'  respective
service area. Long distance toll service is provided over  facilities  partially
owned by the  telephone  Subsidizes  and  interconnected  with  other  telephone
companies and with nationwide toll networks of American  Telephone and Telegraph
Company and other long distance carriers.  Other communication  services include
facilities for private line service  teletypewriter,  microwave,  long distance,
data transmission,  cellular mobile telephone,  mobile radio telephone,  paging,
wide area toll service (WATS), and voice messaging.

         Other  services   provided  include   management,   finance,   billing,
accounting,  engineering,   purchasing,  data  processing,  printing  and  other
business  communications  products,  light  manufacturing,  and installation and
repair of central office equipment.



<PAGE>



                              EXHIBIT A-1

                    FORM OF COMPETITIVE BID REQUEST

                         _____________ 19____

Bank One, Texas, N.A.
      as Auction Administration Agent under,
      and as Agent for the Banks as defined in,
      the Credit Agreement referred to below



      Reference  is made to the  Competitive  Advance  and  Revolving  Credit
Facility  Agreement dated as of October __, 1995 (as amended,  supplemented,  or
replaced from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"),  among the undersigned, the
Banks  named  therein,   and  Bank  One,  Texas,   N.A.  as  Agent  and  Auction
Administration  Agent.  Capitalized  terms used herein and not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings  assigned to such terms in the Credit  Agreement.
The  undersigned  hereby gives you notice  pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Credit
Agreement that it requests a Competitive  Borrowing under the Credit  Agreement,
and in that  connection  sets forth  below the terms on which  such  Competitive
Borrowing is requested to be made:

(A)   Borrowing Date of Competitive Borrowing (a Business Day) __________
(B)   Principal Amount of Competitive Borrowing*               __________
(C)   Type of Loan**                                           __________
(D)   Interest Period and the last day thereof***              __________

                                  Very truly yours,

                                  CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.


                                  By  __________________________________
                                      Name:
                                      Title:
- --------
*        Not less than  $____________________  or greater  than the unused Total
         Commitment and in integral multiples of $____________________.
**       Eurodollar Loan or Fixed Rate Loan or both.
***      Eurodollar Loan -- 1,2, or 3 months.
         Fixed Rate Loan -- 90 or fewer days.
         In no event may the interest period end after the Termination Date.


<PAGE>



                                   EXHIBIT A-2

                     FORM OF NOTICE OF COMMITTED BORROWINGS

                              _____________ 19____

Bank One, Texas, N.A.
      as Agent for the Banks as defined in,
      the Credit Agreement referred to below

      Reference  is made to the  Competitive  Advance  and  Revolving  Credit
Facility  Agreement dated as of October __, 1995 (as amended,  supplemented,  or
replaced from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"),  among the undersigned, the
Banks  named  therein,   and  Bank  One,  Texas,   N.A.  as  Agent  and  Auction
Administration  Agent.  Capitalized  terms used herein and not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings  assigned to such terms in the Credit  Agreement.
The  undersigned  hereby gives you notice  pursuant to Section 2.3 of the Credit
Agreement that it requests a Committed Borrowing under the Credit Agreement, and
in that connection sets forth below the terms on which such Committed  Borrowing
is requested to be made:

(A)   Borrowing Date of Committed Borrowing (a Business Day)
(B)   Principal Amount of Committed Borrowing*
(C)   Type of Loan**
(D)   Interest Period and the last day thereof***

      On the date the rate is set, please confirm the interest rate below and
return  by  facsimile   transmission  to  our  Director  of  Treasury  Services,
318-388-9602.

                                   Very truly yours,

                                   CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.


                                   By
                                      Name:
                                      Title:
Rate: _______________
Confirmed by: ______________________________
- --------
*     Not less than  $____________________  or greater  than the unused Total
      Commitment and in integral multiples of $____________________.
**    Eurodollar Loan or Base Loan.
***   Eurodollar Loan -- 1, 2, 3, or 6 months.
      Base Loan -- 90 or fewer days.
      In no event may the interest period end after the Termination Date.


<PAGE>



                                  EXHIBIT B

             FORM OF NOTICE TO BANKS OF COMPETITIVE BID REQUEST

                        ____________________, 19____


[Name of Bank]
[Address of Bank]
Attention: ________________


     Reference  is made to the  Competitive  Advance  and  Revolving  Credit
Facility  Agreement dated as of October __, 1995 (as amended,  supplemented,  or
replaced from time to time,  the "Credit  Agreement"),  among Century  Telephone
Enterprises, Inc. (the "Company"), the Banks named therein, and Bank One, Texas,
N.A. as Agent and as Auction Administration Agent. Capitalized terms used herein
and not otherwise  defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms
in the Credit  Agreement.  The Company delivered a Competitive Bid Request dated
______________ 19___, pursuant to Section 2.2(a) of the Credit Agreement, and in
that  connection you are invited to submit a Competitive  Bid by [Date] / [Time]
 .* Your  Competitive Bid must comply with Section 2.2(b) of the Credit Agreement
and the terms set forth below on which the Notice of  Competitive  Borrowing was
made:

(A)  Borrowing Date of Committed Borrowing (a Business Day)
(B)  Principal Amount of Competitive Borrowing
(C)  Type of Loan
(D)  Interest Period and the last day thereof

                                  Very truly yours,

                                  BANK ONE, TEXAS, N.A.,
                                  Auction Administration Agent


                                  By _________________________________
                                     Name:
                                     Title:
- --------
*        The  Competitive  Bid must be received  by the  Auction  Administration
         Agent (i) in the case of Eurodollar  Loans,  not later than 10:00 a.m.,
         Dallas,  Texas time,  three  Business Days before the Borrowing Date of
         the proposed Competitive Borrowing,  and (ii) in the case of Fixed Rate
         Loans, not later than 10:00 a.m., Dallas,  Texas time, one Business Day
         before the Borrowing Date of the proposed Competitive Borrowing.


<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT C

                             FORM OF COMPETITIVE BID

                          ____________________, 19____

Bank One, Texas, NA,
      as Auction Administration Agent under
      the Credit Agreement referred to below

     The undersigned, [Name of Bank] , refers to the Competitive Advance and
Revolving  Credit  Facility  Agreement dated as of October __, 1995 (as amended,
supplemented,  or replaced  from time to time,  the "Credit  Agreement"),  among
Century Telephone  Enterprises,  Inc. (the "Company"),  the Banks named therein,
and  Bank  One,  Texas,  N.A.  as  Agent  and  Auctions   Administration  Agent.
Capitalized  terms used herein and not otherwise  defined  herein shall have the
meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.  The undersigned hereby
makes a Competitive Bid pursuant to Section 2.2(b) of the Credit  Agreement,  in
response   to  the   Competitive   Bid   Request   made   by  the   Company   on
____________________,  19____, and in that connection sets forth below the terms
on which such Competitive Bid is made:

(A)  Principal Amount*
(B)  Competitive Bid Rate**
(D)  Interest Period and the last day thereof***

     The undersigned hereby confirms that it is prepared to extend credit to
the  Company  upon  acceptance  by the  Company of this bid in  accordance  with
Section 2.2(d) of the Credit Agreement.

                                       Very truly yours,
                                       [NAME OF BANK]

                                       By _______________________________
                                           Name:
                                           Title:
- --------
*     Not less than $____________________ or greater than the available Total
      Commitment and in integral multiples of $____________________. Multiple
      bids will be accepted by the Auction Administration Agent.
**    LIBO Rate +  __________%  or -  __________%,  in the case of Eurodollar
      Loans, or  __________%,  in the case of Fixed Rate Loans (in each case,
      expressed  in the  form of a  decimal  to no  more  than  four  decimal
      places).
*** The Interest Period must be the Interest Period specified
      in the Competitive Bid Request.


<PAGE>



                                   EXHIBIT D-1

                            FORM OF COMPETITIVE NOTE


$70,000,000                                        ______________, 1995


         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, CENTURY TELEPHONE
ENTERPRISES,  INC., a Louisiana corporation (the "Company"),  hereby promises to
pay to the order of  _______________________________  (the  "Bank") on or before
the Termination Date the lesser of (i) Seventy Million Dollars ($70,000,000) and
(ii) the aggregate  amount of Competitive  Loans made by the Bank to the Company
and outstanding on the Termination Date.

         This note has been executed and delivered  under, and is subject to the
terms of the Competitive  Advance and Revolving Credit Facility  Agreement dated
as of  October  ___,  1995 (as  renewed,  extended,  amended,  supplemented,  or
replaced  from time to time,  the "Credit  Agreement"),  among the Company,  the
Banks,  the  Agent,  and the  Auction  Administration  Agent,  and is one of the
"Competitive  Notes"  referred to therein.  Unless defined herein or the context
otherwise requires, capitalized terms used herein have the meaning given to such
terms in the Credit  Agreement.  Reference is made to the Credit  Agreement  for
provisions  affecting this note regarding  applicable interest rates,  principal
and interest payment dates, final maturity, voluntary and mandatory prepayments,
acceleration of maturity,  exercise of Rights, payment of attorneys' fees, court
costs and other costs of collection,  certain  waivers by the Company and others
now or hereafter  obligated  for payment of any sums due  hereunder and security
for the payment hereof.  Without  limiting the immediately  preceding  sentence,
reference  is made to Section  9.12 of the Credit  Agreement  for usury  savings
provisions.

         This  note is being  executed  and  delivered,  and is  intended  to be
performed,  in the State of Texas,  and the Laws of such State and of the United
States of America shall govern the Rights and duties of the Company and the Bank
and the validity, construction, enforcement, and interpretation hereof.


                            CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.


                            By: __________________________________
                                 Name:   R. Stewart Ewing, Jr.
                                 Title:  Senior Vice President and
                                         Chief Financial Officer



<PAGE>




                                    PRINCIPAL            
DATE             LOAN               REPAYMENT               BALANCE

- ---------      $---------------     $-----------------      $----------------

- ---------      $---------------     $-----------------      $----------------

- ---------      $---------------     $-----------------      $----------------

- ---------      $---------------     $-----------------      $----------------

- ---------      $---------------     $-----------------      $----------------

- ---------      $---------------     $-----------------      $----------------

- ---------      $---------------     $-----------------      $----------------

- ---------      $---------------     $-----------------      $----------------

- ---------      $---------------     $-----------------      $----------------

- ---------      $---------------     $-----------------      $----------------

- ---------      $---------------     $-----------------      $----------------

- ---------      $---------------     $-----------------      $----------------

- ---------      $---------------     $-----------------      $----------------

- ---------      $---------------     $-----------------      $----------------

- ---------      $---------------     $-----------------      $----------------

- ---------      $---------------     $-----------------      $----------------

- ---------      $---------------     $-----------------      $----------------

- ---------      $---------------     $-----------------      $----------------

- ---------      $---------------     $-----------------      $----------------

- ---------      $---------------     $-----------------      $----------------

- ---------      $---------------     $-----------------      $----------------

                                                         Exhibit D-1 - Page 2



<PAGE>



                                 EXHIBIT D-2

                           FORM OF COMMITTED NOTE


$____________                                            ______________, 1995


         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, CENTURY TELEPHONE
ENTERPRISES,  INC., a Louisiana corporation (the "Company"),  hereby promises to
pay to the order of  _______________________________  (the  "Bank") on or before
the Termination  Date the lesser of (i) the amount of the Bank's  Commitment and
(ii) the aggregate amount of Committed Loans made by the Bank to the Company and
outstanding on the Termination Date.

         This note has been executed and delivered  under, and is subject to the
terms of the Competitive  Advance and Revolving Credit Facility  Agreement dated
as of  October  ___,  1995 (as  renewed,  extended,  amended,  supplemented,  or
replaced  from time to time,  the "Credit  Agreement"),  among the Company,  the
Banks,  the  Agent,  and the  Auction  Administration  Agent,  and is one of the
"Committed  Notes"  referred to therein.  Unless  defined  herein or the context
otherwise requires, capitalized terms used herein have the meaning given to such
terms in the Credit  Agreement.  Reference is made to the Credit  Agreement  for
provisions  affecting this note regarding  applicable interest rates,  principal
and interest payment dates, final maturity, voluntary and mandatory prepayments,
acceleration of maturity,  exercise of Rights, payment of attorneys' fees, court
costs and other costs of collection,  certain  waivers by the Company and others
now or hereafter  obligated  for payment of any sums due  hereunder and security
for the payment hereof.  Without  limiting the immediately  preceding  sentence,
reference  is made to Section  9.12 of the Credit  Agreement  for usury  savings
provisions.

         This  note is being  executed  and  delivered,  and is  intended  to be
performed,  in the State of Texas,  and the Laws of such State and of the United
States of America shall govern the Rights and duties of the Company and the Bank
and the validity, construction, enforcement, and interpretation hereof.


                                CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.


                                By:  _________________________________ 
                                     Name:   R. Stewart Ewing, Jr.
                                     Title:  Senior Vice President and
                                             Chief Financial Officer





<PAGE>




                                       PRINCIPAL
DATE              LOAN                 REPAYMENT                BALANCE

- ---------       $---------------       $-----------------       $--------------

- ---------       $---------------       $-----------------       $--------------

- ---------       $---------------       $-----------------       $--------------

- ---------       $---------------       $-----------------       $--------------

- ---------       $---------------       $-----------------       $--------------

- ---------       $---------------       $-----------------       $--------------

- ---------       $---------------       $-----------------       $--------------

- ---------       $---------------       $-----------------       $--------------

- ---------       $---------------       $-----------------       $--------------

- ---------       $---------------       $-----------------       $--------------

- ---------       $---------------       $-----------------       $--------------

- ---------       $---------------       $-----------------       $--------------

- ---------       $---------------       $-----------------       $--------------

- ---------       $---------------       $-----------------       $--------------

- ---------       $---------------       $-----------------       $--------------

- ---------       $---------------       $-----------------       $--------------

- ---------       $---------------       $-----------------       $--------------

- ---------       $---------------       $-----------------       $--------------

- ---------       $---------------       $-----------------       $--------------

- ---------       $---------------       $-----------------       $--------------

- ---------       $---------------       $-----------------       $--------------

                                                       Exhibit D-2 - Page 2


<PAGE>



                                EXHIBIT E

                  FORM OF OPINION OF BORROWER'S COUNSEL


                       ____________________, 19___


Bank One, Texas, N.A.,
         as Agent for the Banks as defined in
         the Credit Agreement referred to below
Bank One Center
1717 Main Street, Third Floor
Dallas  Texas  75201

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel for Century  Telephone  Enterprises,  Inc.,  a
Louisiana  corporation  (the  "Borrower"),  in connection with the execution and
delivery of the Competitive  Advance and Revolving Credit Facility  Agreement of
even date herewith (the "Credit  Agreement") among the Borrower,  the Agent, the
Auction Administration Agent, and the Banks party thereto.

         This  opinion is delivered to you pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Credit
Agreement  and upon the express  instruction  of the  Borrower.  Unless  defined
herein,  capitalized  terms have the meanings  given to such terms in the Credit
Agreement.

         In connection  with this opinion,  we have examined  executed copies of
the Credit  Agreement  and  Competitive  Notes and Committed  Notes  executed by
Borrower and payable to each Bank  (collectively,  the "Loan  Papers").  We have
also examined and relied upon the  representations  and warranties as to factual
matters  contained  in or made  pursuant to the Loan  Papers and such  corporate
documents  and  records  of the  Borrower,  certificates  of  public  officials,
officers of the Borrower,  and such other documents as we have deemed  necessary
or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion. In stating our opinion, we have
assumed the  genuineness  of all  signatures  of, and the authority of,  persons
signing  the Loan  Papers  on  behalf  of the  parties  thereto  other  than the
Borrower,  the authenticity of all documents  submitted to us as originals,  the
conformity to authentic original  documents of all documents  submitted to us as
certified,  conformed, or photostatic copies, and that all documents, books, and
records made available to us by the Borrower are accurate and complete.

         We are  qualified  to practice  law in the State of  Louisiana  and our
opinion is restricted to the laws of the State and the federal law of the United
States of America.  We have  assumed  that  insofar as the  substantive  laws of
states other than  Louisiana  that may be  applicable  to any matters  opined on
herein, such laws are the same as the substantive laws of the State of Louisiana
applied by us herein.


<PAGE>


Bank One, Texas, N.A., Agent
____________________, 19____
Page 2


         Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

         1. The Borrower is a corporation duly organized,  validly existing, and
in good  standing  under the laws of its state of  incorporation.  Except  where
failure would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect,  the
Borrower (a) is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing as a
foreign  corporation  in each  jurisdiction  where the  nature and extent of its
business  and  properties  require  the same  and (b)  possesses  all  requisite
authority,  power, licenses,  permits, and franchises to conduct its business as
is now being conducted.  The Borrower possesses all requisite authority,  power,
licenses, permits, and franchises to execute, deliver, and comply with the terms
of the Loan  Papers,  all which have been duly  authorized  and  approved by all
necessary  corporate  action and,  except where failure would not  reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect,  for which no approval or consent of
any Person or Tribunal is required  which has not been obtained and no filing or
other  notification  to any Person or Tribunal  is  required  which has not been
properly completed.

         2. The Borrower is not, nor will the execution, delivery,  performance,
or  observance  of the Loan Papers  cause the Borrower to be, (a) to the best of
our knowledge,  in violation of any laws or any Material  Agreements to which it
is a party, other than such violations which would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect, or (b) in violation of its bylaws or charter.

         3. We have no knowledge of any Material  Litigation or  outstanding  or
unpaid Material judgments against the Borrower,  except as described on Schedule
3.6 attached to the Credit Agreement.

         4. The Borrower is not (a) a "holding company," a "subsidiary  company"
of  a  "holding  company,"  an  "affiliate"  of  a  "holding  company"  or  of a
"subsidiary  company" of a "holding  company," or a "public  utility" within the
meaning of the Public  Utility  Holding  Company Act of 1935, as amended,  (b) a
"public utility" within the meaning of the Federal Power Act, as amended, (c) an
"investment  company" or  "controlled"  by an  "investment  company"  within the
meaning of the  Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended,  (d) an "investment
advisor" within the meaning of the Investment  Advisors Act of 1940, as amended,
or (e) subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal  Communications  Commission or
any public service commission as a common carrier.

         5. Each of the Loan Papers  constitutes a valid, and binding obligation
of the Borrower,  enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms,
except  as  enforceability   may  be  limited  by  (a)  applicable   bankruptcy,
insolvency,  fraudulent transfer,  reorganization,  moratorium, or other similar
laws affecting  creditors'  rights generally,  (b) general  principles of equity
(whether  enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law), and (c) the
qualification that certain provisions of the Loan Papers may be



<PAGE>


Bank One, Texas, N.A., Agent
____________________, 19____
Page 3

unenforceable in whole or in part under the laws of the State, but the inclusion
of such  provisions does not affect the validity of any Loan Paper and each Loan
Paper  contains  adequate  provisions for enforcing  payment of the  Obligations
secured  thereby  or  provided  for  therein,  as the case  may be,  and for the
practical  realization of the rights and benefits afforded thereby,  though they
may result in delays  thereof  (and we  express  no  opinion as to the  economic
consequences, if any, of such delays).

         6. Under the circumstances of the actions as contemplated by the Credit
Agreement, courts of the State of Louisiana would honor the choice of law agreed
to by the parties in the Credit Agreement.

         This opinion is furnished  solely in connection  with the  transactions
referred to in the Credit  Agreement  and may not,  without our  permission,  be
circulated  to any  Person,  except you,  your legal  counsel,  the Banks,  bank
supervisory authorities,  prospective Participants or Purchasers, or as required
by law or order of a court or other  legal  process  and may not be relied  upon
except  by you,  your  legal  counsel,  the  Banks  or  actual  Participants  or
Purchasers.

                                                     Very truly yours,

                                                     BOLES, BOLES & RYAN





<PAGE>



                                   EXHIBIT F

                         FINANCIAL REPORT CERTIFICATE
         FOR ____________________ ENDED ____________________, 19_____




AGENT:            Bank One, Texas, N.A.

DATED AS OF:      ____________________, 19_____

BORROWER:         Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc.

FOR:              $70,000,000 Competitive Advance and Revolving Credit Facility
                  Agreement



      This   certificate  is  delivered   pursuant  to  Section  5.3  of  the
Competitive  Advance and Revolving Credit Facility Agreement dated as of October
__, 1995 (as amended,  supplemented,  or replaced from time to time, the "Credit
Agreement"),  among  the  Borrower,  the  Banks,  the  Agent,  and  the  Auction
Administration Agent. Unless defined herein, capitalized terms have the meanings
given to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

      I certify to the Agent that I am the  ____________________  (president,
chief  financial  officer,  or treasurer) of the Borrower on the date hereof and
that:

      1. The Financial Statements attached hereto were prepared in accordance
with GAAP and present fairly the consolidated financial condition and results of
operations  of the  Companies  as  of,  and  for  the  _________________  ended,
____________________, 19___ (the "Subject Period").

      2. A review of the Borrower's  activities during the Subject Period has
been made under my supervision  with a view to determining  whether,  during the
Subject Period, the Borrower has kept, observed,  performed and fulfilled all of
its  obligations  under the Loan Papers,  and during the Subject  Period,  to my
knowledge,  the Borrower kept, observed,  performed and fulfilled each and every
covenant and condition of the Loan Papers in all material  respects  (except for
any deviations set forth on the attached schedule).

      3. During the Subject  Period,  no Event of Default has occurred  which
has not been cured or waived  (except for any Events of Default set forth on the
attached schedule).

      4. Evidence of compliance by Borrower with Sections 5.23 and 5.24 of the
Credit Agreement as of the last day of the Subject Period is set forth on the
attached schedule.



<PAGE>




      5. This  certificate is being  delivered on behalf of the Borrower.  No
person or entity other than the Agents and the Banks (collectively, the "Subject
Recipients")  shall be entitled to receive or rely upon this certificate for any
purpose.  The Subject  Recipients agree by their acceptance hereof that (a) they
shall look solely to the Borrower for any loss, cost,  damage,  expense,  claim,
demand,  suit or cause of action  arising  out of or relating in any way to this
certificate or its preparation and delivery,  and (b) the undersigned  shall not
under  any  circumstances  have  any  personal  liability   whatsoever  for  the
preparation or execution of this certificate.

                                  CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.


                                  By: ________________________________
                                      Name:
                                      Title:




<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT G

                          FORM OF DESIGNATION AGREEMENT


         Reference is made to the Credit  Agreement dated as of  ______________,
1995 (as amended,  supplemented  or otherwise  modified  from time to time,  the
"Credit  Agreement"  among  CENTURY  TELEPHONE  ENTERPRISES,  INC.,  a Louisiana
corporation (the "Borrower"),  the Banks, as defined therein (the "Banks"), BANK
ONE, TEXAS,  N.A., a national  banking  association,  as agent for the Banks (in
such  capacity,  the  "Agent"),  and as  auction  administration  agent (in such
capacity,  the  "Auction  Administration  Agent").  Terms  defined in the Credit
Agreement are used herein with the same meaning.

         ____________[NAME   OF   DESIGNOR}____________   (the  "Designor")  and
__________[NAME OF DESIGNEE]___________ ( the "Designee") agree as follows:

         1. the Designor hereby designates the Designee, and the Designee 
hereby accepts such designation, to have a right to have competitive loans
pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

         2. The  Designor  makes no  representation  or warranty  and assumes no
responsibility with respect to (a) any statements, warranties or representations
made in or in  connection  with  any  Loan  Paper  or the  execution,  legality,
validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of any Loan Paper or
any  other  instrument  or  document  furnished  pursuant  thereto  and  (b) the
financial  condition of the Borrower or the  performance  or  observance  by the
Borrower of any of its obligations  under any Loan Paper or any other instrument
or document furnished pursuant thereto.

         3. The Designee  (a) confirms  that it has received a copy of each Loan
Paper,  together with copies of the Current  Financials and such other documents
and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and
decision  to enter into this  Designation  Agreement;  (b) agrees  that it will,
independently  and without reliance upon any Agent,  the Auction  Administration
Agent,  the  Designor  or any  other  Bank  and  based  on  such  documents  and
information as it shall deem  appropriate at the time,  continue to make its own
credit  decisions  in taking or not  taking  action  under any Loan  Paper;  (c)
confirms that it is a Designated  Lender;  (d) appoints and authorizes the Agent
to take such  action as agent on its  behalf  and to  exercise  such  powers and
discretion  under  any Loan  Paper as are  delegated  to the  Agent by the terms
thereof,  together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably  incidental
thereto,  and appoints and authorizes the Auction  Administration  Agent to take
such  action as agent on its behalf and to exercise  such powers and  discretion
under any Loan Paper as are delegated to the Auction Administration Agent by the
terms  thereof,  together  with such  power  and  discretion  as are  reasonably
incidental thereto; and (e) agrees that it will perform in accordance with their
terms all of the  obligations  which by the terms of any Loan Paper are required
to be performed by it as a Bank.




<PAGE>



         4.  Following  the  execution  of  this  Designation  Agreement  by the
Designor  and its  Designee,  it will be  delivered  to the  Agent  and  Auction
Administration  Agent for  acceptance.  The effective date for this  Designation
Agreement (the "Effective  Date") shall be the date of acceptance  hereof by the
Agent and  Auction  Administration  Agent,  unless  otherwise  specified  on the
signature page hereto.

         5. Upon such acceptance by the Agent and Auction  Administration Agent,
as of the Effective Date, the Designee shall be a party to the Credit  Agreement
with a  right  to  make  Competitive  Loans  as a Bank  pursuant  to the  Credit
Agreement and the rights and obligations of a Bank related thereto.

         6. This Designation Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the state of Texas.

         7. This  Designation  Agreement  may  be  executed  in any  number  of
counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate  counterparts,  each of
which when so executed  shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall  constitute one and the same  agreement.  Delivery of an executed
counterpart  of a signature  page to this  Designation  Agreement  by  facsimile
transmission  shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed  counterpart
of this Designation Agreement.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  Designor and the  Designee,  intending to be
legally  bound,  and the  Borrower,  intending  to indicate  his approval of the
Designee,  have  caused  this  Designation  Agreement  to be  executed  by their
officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.


Effective Date:****  _____________________, 199__



                                          [NAME OF DESIGNOR]     , as Designor
                                        ______________________________________

                                        By: __________________________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:


- --------
****     This  date  should be no  earlier  than five  Business  Days  after the
         delivery of this Designation Agreement to the Agent.


<PAGE>


                            [NAME OF DESIGNEE]     , as Designor
                       _________________________________________

                       By:
                       Name:
                       Title:



                       Applicable   Lending   Office   (and
                       address for notices):


                                                  [ADDRESS]


                       CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., as
                       Borrower


                       By:
                       Name:      R. Stewart Ewing, Jr.
                       Title:     Senior Vice President and
                                  Chief Financial Officer



ACCEPTED:

BANK ONE, TEXAS, N.A.,
as Agent and Auction Administration Agent


By:
Name:
Title:





<PAGE>




                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1
                                 
                                AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       to
                             Stock Option Agreement
                           (Dated as of May 24, 1990)


          AMENDMENT  NO.  1,  dated  as of May 22,  1995,  to the  Stock  Option
Agreement,  dated  May 24,  1990 (the  "Incentive  Agreement"),  by and  between
Century Telephone Enterprises,  Inc. (the "Company") and the undersigned officer
of the Company specified below:

                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS,  on May 22, 1995 the  Compensation  Committee  of the Board of
Directors of the Company  duly  authorized  management  of the Company to delete
from each incentive  compensation agreement between the Company and its officers
any provision that limits the benefits payable thereunder in any manner designed
to limit or avoid the  imposition  of excise taxes under Section 280G or 4999 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; and

         WHEREAS, the Incentive Agreement contains such a provision;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

         1. The force and effect of Section 8.02 of the Incentive  Agreement and
all rights and obligations  arising thereunder are hereby terminated and revoked
in their  entirety as of the date  hereof,  and all  references  to such section
contained elsewhere in the Incentive Agreement shall be disregarded.

         2.  Subject to  Section  1, all  remaining  sections  of the  Incentive
Agreement are, and shall continue to be, in full force and effect and are hereby
ratified and confirmed in all respects.


         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned have duly executed this Amendment
to take effect as of the date indicated above.

                                   CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.

                                   By:_________________________________
                                              Ray B. Finney 
                                      Vice President - Human Resources

                                      _________________________________



<PAGE>



                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.2

                                 AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       to
                             Stock Option Agreement
                         (Dated as of December 29, 1992)


          AMENDMENT  NO.  1,  dated  as of May 22,  1995,  to the  Stock  Option
Agreement  dated as of December 29, 1992, (the  "Incentive  Agreement"),  by and
between Century Telephone Enterprises,  Inc. (the "Company") and the undersigned
officer of the Company specified below:

                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS,  on May 22, 1995 the  Compensation  Committee  of the Board of
Directors of the Company  duly  authorized  management  of the Company to delete
from each incentive  compensation agreement between the Company and its officers
any provision that limits the benefits payable thereunder in any manner designed
to limit or avoid the  imposition  of excise taxes under Section 280G or 4999 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; and

         WHEREAS, the Incentive Agreement contains such a provision;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

         1. The force and effect of Section 6.02 of the Incentive  Agreement and
all rights and obligations  arising thereunder are hereby terminated and revoked
in their  entirety as of the date  hereof,  and all  references  to such section
contained elsewhere in the Incentive Agreement shall be disregarded.

         2.  Subject to  Section  1, all  remaining  sections  of the  Incentive
Agreement are, and shall continue to be, in full force and effect and are hereby
ratified and confirmed in all respects.


         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned have duly executed this Amendment
to take effect as of the date indicated above.

                                   CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.

                                   By:_________________________________
                                              Ray B. Finney 
                                      Vice President - Human Resources


                                      _________________________________



<PAGE>




                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.3

                                 AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       to
                           Performance Share Agreement
                   Under the 1990 Incentive Compensation Plan


         AMENDMENT  NO. 1, dated as of May 22, 1995,  to the  Performance  Share
Agreement under the 1990 Incentive  Compensation  Plan,  dated February 23, 1993
(the "Incentive Agreement"), by and between Century Telephone Enterprises,  Inc.
(the "Company") and the undersigned officer of the Company specified below:

                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS,  on May 22, 1995 the  Compensation  Committee  of the Board of
Directors of the Company  duly  authorized  management  of the Company to delete
from each incentive  compensation agreement between the Company and its officers
any provision that limits the benefits payable thereunder in any manner designed
to limit or avoid the  imposition  of excise taxes under Section 280G or 4999 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; and

         WHEREAS, the Incentive Agreement contains such a provision;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

         1. The force and effect of Section 4.2 of the  Incentive  Agreement and
all rights and obligations  arising thereunder are hereby terminated and revoked
in their  entirety as of the date  hereof,  and all  references  to such section
contained elsewhere in the Incentive Agreement shall be disregarded.

         2.  Subject to  Section  1, all  remaining  sections  of the  Incentive
Agreement are, and shall continue to be, in full force and effect and are hereby
ratified and confirmed in all respects.


         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned have duly executed this Amendment
to take effect as of the date indicated above.

                                   CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.

                                   By:_________________________________
                                              Ray B. Finney 
                                      Vice President - Human Resources


                                      _________________________________



<PAGE>


                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.4

                                 AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       to
                           Restricted Stock Agreement
                   Under the 1988 Incentive Compensation Plan


         AMENDMENT  NO. 1, dated as of May 22,  1995,  to the  Restricted  Stock
Agreement under the 1988 Incentive  Compensation  Plan,  dated February 23, 1993
(the "Incentive Agreement"), by and between Century Telephone Enterprises,  Inc.
(the "Company") and the undersigned officer of the Company specified below:

                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS,  on May 22, 1995 the  Compensation  Committee  of the Board of
Directors of the Company  duly  authorized  management  of the Company to delete
from each incentive  compensation agreement between the Company and its officers
any provision that limits the benefits payable thereunder in any manner designed
to limit or avoid the  imposition  of excise taxes under Section 280G or 4999 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; and

         WHEREAS, the Incentive Agreement contains such a provision;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

         1. The force and effect of Section 3 of the Incentive Agreement and all
rights and obligations  arising  thereunder are hereby terminated and revoked in
their  entirety  as of the  date  hereof,  and all  references  to such  section
contained elsewhere in the Incentive Agreement shall be disregarded.

         2. Section 2.3(d) of the Incentive Agreement is hereby amended so that
it reads in its entirety as follows:

             All  restrictions on the Restricted Stock shall immediately lapse
             and the shares shall vest
             *****
             (d) upon the occurrence of any event specified in Section 11.11 of
             the Program or pursuant to any other provision of the Program.

         3. Subject to Sections 1 and 2, all remaining sections of the Incentive
Agreement are, and shall continue to be, in full force and effect and are hereby
ratified and confirmed in all respects.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned have duly executed this Amendment
to take effect as of the date indicated above.

                                   CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.

                                   By:_________________________________
                                              Ray B. Finney 
                                      Vice President - Human Resources


                                      _________________________________






<PAGE>




                                                                      EXHIBIT 11

                       CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.
                       COMPUTATIONS OF EARNINGS PER SHARE
                                   (UNAUDITED)



                                           Three months           Nine months
                                        ended September 30    ended September 30
                                        ------------------    ------------------
                                          1995      1994        1995      1994
                                        --------  --------    --------  --------
                                               (Dollars, except per share
                                                  amounts, and shares
                                                 expressed in thousands)

Net income                              $31,880     24,613     85,047    65,299
Dividends applicable to
  preferred stock                           (29)       (30)       (86)      (73)
                                        -------    -------    -------   -------

Net income applicable to common
  stock                                  31,851     24,583     84,961    65,226
Dividends applicable to preferred
 stock                                       29         30         86        73
Interest on convertible securities,
  net of taxes                               47      1,157        573     3,449
                                        -------    -------    -------   -------

Net income as adjusted for purposes
  of computing fully diluted earnings
  per share                             $31,927     25,770     85,620    68,748
                                        =======    =======    =======   =======

Weighted average number of shares:
  Outstanding during period              58,681     53,399     57,642    53,016
  Common stock equivalent shares            425        601        528       551
  Employee Stock Ownership Plan
     shares not committed to be
     released                              (372)      (417)      (380)     (268)
                                        -------    -------    -------   -------

Number of shares for computing
  primary earnings per share             58,734     53,583     57,790    53,299

Incremental common shares
  attributable to additional
  dilutive effect of convertible
  securities                                459      4,749      1,022     4,717
                                        -------    -------    -------   -------

Number of shares as
  adjusted for purposes of
  computing fully diluted
  earnings per share                     59,193     58,332     58,812    58,016
                                        =======    =======    =======   =======


Earnings per average common share       $   .54        .46       1.47      1.23
                                        =======    =======    =======   =======

Primary earnings per share              $   .54        .46       1.47      1.22
                                        =======    =======    =======   =======

Fully diluted earnings per share        $   .54        .44       1.46      1.18
                                        =======    =======    =======   =======






<PAGE>




                                                                      EXHIBIT 12

                       CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.
                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                                   (UNAUDITED)



                                          Three months         Nine months
                                       ended September 30   ended September 30
                                       ------------------   -------------------
                                         1995      1994       1995       1994
                                       --------  --------   --------   --------
                                           (Dollars expressed in thousands)

Net income                             $31,880    24,613     85,047     65,299
Income taxes                            18,900    15,176     53,395     38,867
                                       -------   -------    -------    -------

Income before income taxes              50,780    39,789    138,442    104,166

Adjustments to earnings:

Fixed charges                           10,924    11,513     32,771     30,839
Capitalized interest                      (301)     (191)      (490)      (286)
Gross earnings from unconsolidated
  cellular partnerships                 (6,602)   (4,943)   (14,764)   (10,991)
Distributed earnings from uncon-
  solidated cellular partnerships        1,662     2,114      3,048      3,950
Gross losses from unconsolidated
  cellular partnerships                      -       339         64        412
Minority losses from majority-
  owned subsidiaries                       (80)      (80)      (208)      (220)
                                       -------   -------    -------    -------

Earnings as adjusted                   $56,383    48,541    158,863    127,870
                                       =======   =======    =======    =======

Fixed charges:

Interest expense                       $10,924    11,513     32,771     30,839
                                       =======   =======    =======    =======

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges        5.16      4.22       4.85       4.15
                                       =======   =======    =======    =======






<PAGE>




<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE UNAUDIT-
ED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC. & SUBSID-
IDIARIES AS OF SEPT. 30, 1995 & THE RELATED UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS
OF INCOME, STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY & CASH FLOWS FOR THE NINE-MONTH PERIOD THEN
ENDED & IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1995
<CASH>                                          10,026
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   51,447
<ALLOWANCES>                                     2,459
<INVENTORY>                                      5,961
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                93,997
<PP&E>                                       1,457,251
<DEPRECIATION>                                 432,115
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,814,641
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          182,962
<BONDS>                                        570,003
<COMMON>                                        59,026
                                0
                                      2,268
<OTHER-SE>                                     797,223
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,814,641
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               451,281
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  299,841
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              32,771
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                138,442
<INCOME-TAX>                                    53,395
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             85,047
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    85,047
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.47
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.46
        

</TABLE>


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