WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS INC
8-K, 1997-12-24
TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIOTELEPHONE)
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                 --------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)         December 17, 1997
                                                         --------------


                          WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)



         Delaware                    1-10726                    13-3585278
- ----------------------------       -----------              ----------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction       (Commission                (IRS Employer
    of Incorporation)               File Number)            Identification No.)




230 Park Avenue, New York, New York                               10169
- ----------------------------------------                        ----------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                        (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code    (212) 584-4000



                                 Not Applicable
          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)





                              Exhibit Index -- Page 6

                                Page 1 of 6 Pages




<PAGE>



Item 5.           Other Events.

         On December 17, 1997, WinStar Communications,  Inc. (the "Company") and
its wholly owned  subsidiary  WinStar  Credit Corp.  ("WCC" and,  together  with
WinStar  Communications,  Inc., the "Sellers") entered into a Purchase Agreement
("Purchase  Agreement") with Salomon Brothers Inc and Credit Suisse First Boston
Corporation ("Initial Purchasers"), pursuant to which the Company and WCC agreed
to sell to the Initial  Purchasers  an  aggregate  of 165,000  shares and 10,000
shares,  respectively  of the  Company's  Series  C 14  1/4%  Senior  Cumulative
Exchangeable  Preferred Stock ("Exchangeable  Preferred Stock") for an aggregate
purchase price of $175 million.  The sale of the  Securities was  consummated on
December  22,  1997  ("Closing  Date").   The  Initial   Purchasers  resold  the
Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock in a Rule 144A  institutional  private  placement
("Preferred Stock Placement").

         A portion of the net proceeds of the Preferred Stock Placement was used
to prepay $62.25 million of indebtedness (plus interest thereon) incurred by the
Company  in  connection  with  its  recent  acquisition  of  assets  from US ONE
Communications Corp. in October 1997. The balance of the proceeds is intended to
be used to  acquire  substantially  all of the  assets  and  business  of MIDCOM
Communications  Inc.  and certain of its  subsidiaries  for a purchase  price of
approximately  $92 million,  assuming such acquisition is consummated,  of which
there is no assurance, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

         Dividends on the Exchangeable Preferred Stock will accrue from the date
of issuance at the rate of 14 1/4% of the Accumulated  Amount (as defined in the
Certificate of Designation  authorizing the  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock) per
annum,  compounded semiannually on each June 15 and December 15, but will not be
payable in cash,  except as set forth in the next  sentence.  Commencing  on the
first June 15 or December 15 (each a "Dividend  Payment Date") which is at least
six months after the later of December 15,  2002,  and the date all  obligations
under each of the Company's outstanding  indentures shall have been satisfied in
full (the  "Specified  Debt  Satisfaction  Date")  (the  "Cash  Payment  Date"),
dividends on the Exchangeable  Preferred Stock will be payable in cash at a rate
per annum equal to 14 1/4% of the Accumulated  Amount as of the Dividend Payment
Date preceding such date. In the event that the Specified Debt Satisfaction Date
shall not have occurred before December 15, 2002, the rate otherwise  applicable
to the Exchangeable  Preferred Stock shall be increased by 150 basis points from
December  15,  2002,  until the  Dividend  Payment  Date falling on or after the
Specified Debt Satisfaction Date.

         The  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  will  not be  redeemable  prior to
December 15, 2002. On or after  December 15, 2002,  the  Exchangeable  Preferred
Stock is  redeemable at the option of the Company,  at the following  redemption
prices  (expressed as  percentages  of the  Accumulated  Amount  thereof),  plus
accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any (including an amount in cash equal to a
prorated dividend for any partial dividend period),  on such Accumulated  Amount
if redeemed  during the 12-month  period  commencing on December 15 of the years
set forth below:

  Period                                                        Redemption
                                                                  Price
  --------                                                     ------------
   2002..........................................................107.125%
   2003..........................................................105.344%
   2004..........................................................103.563%
   2005..........................................................101.781%
   2006 and thereafter...........................................100.000%

         The Company is required to redeem the  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock on
December 15, 2007, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the Accumulated Amount
thereof  plus  accumulated  and  unpaid  dividends,  if  any,  to  the  date  of
redemption.




                                        2


<PAGE>



         On any scheduled  Dividend  Payment Date  following the Specified  Debt
Satisfaction  Date,  the Company  may, at its option,  exchange all but not less
than all of the shares of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock then outstanding for the
Company's  14 1/4% Senior  Subordinated  Deferred  Interest  Notes Due 2007 (the
"Exchange   Debentures")  in  an  Accumulated  Amount  equal  to  the  aggregate
Accumulated Amount of the shares of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock outstanding at
the time of such exchange,  plus accumulated and unpaid dividends to the date of
exchange.  Until the Cash Payment Date, interest on the Exchange Debentures will
accrue  at a rate of 14 1/4% of the  Accumulated  Amount  per  annum and will be
compounded  semiannually  on each  June 15 and  December  15 (each an  "Interest
Payment  Date") but will not be payable in cash  except as set forth in the next
sentence.  Commencing on the first Interest  Payment Date following the later of
the date the Company  exchanges the  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock for Exchange
Debentures  (the  "Exchange  Date") or the Cash Payment  Date,  interest will be
payable in cash at a rate per annum equal to 14 1/4% of the  Accumulated  Amount
as of the Exchange  Date.  Interest on the  Accumulated  Amount of each Exchange
Debenture as of the Exchange Date will be paid  semiannually on each June 15 and
December 15 of each year, after the Exchange Date. The Exchange Debentures will,
if  issued,  be  unsecured,  senior  subordinated  obligations  of the  Company,
subordinated  in right of payment to all Senior  Indebtedness of the Company and
to all  indebtedness  and other  liabilities  (including  trade payables) of the
Company's subsidiaries.

         The Company and the Initial Purchasers also entered into a Registration
Rights  Agreement,  dated  December 17,  1997,  pursuant to which the Company is
obligated to file a registration  statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended  (the "Act"),  or, under  certain  circumstances,  a shelf  registration
statement,   registering  additional  shares  of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock
("Exchange  Securities")  to be exchanged for the  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock
issued in the Preferred Stock Placement  ("Registered  Exchange Offer"),  and to
use its best efforts to have such registration  statement  declared effective by
the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on or prior to June 20, 1998.

         In the  event  that  applicable  interpretations  of the  staff  of the
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (the  "SEC") do not permit the Company to
effect the Registered Exchange Offer, or if for any other reason such Registered
Exchange  Offer  is  not  consummated  within  180  days  of  the  date  of  the
Registration  Rights  Agreement,  or if the Initial  Purchasers  so request with
respect to  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock,  not  eligible to be  exchanged  for
Exchange  Securities  in such  Registered  Exchange  Offer,  or if any holder of
Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock is not eligible to participate in such Registered
Exchange Offer or does not receive freely tradeable Exchange  Securities in such
Registered  Exchange  Offer,  the Company will, at its cost,  (a) as promptly as
practicable,   file  a  shelf  registration  statement  (a  "Shelf  Registration
Statement")  covering  resales of the  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock or Exchange
Securities,  as the case may be,  (b) use its best  efforts  to cause  the Shelf
Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act and (c)
keep  the  Shelf  Registration  Statement  effective  until  the  time  when the
Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  or  Exchange  Securities  covered  by the  Shelf
Registration Statement can be sold pursuant to Rule 144A without any limitations
under clauses (c), (e), (f) and (h) of Rule 144.

         If (i) by February 5, 1998,  neither the  Exchange  Offer  Registration
Statement nor the Shelf Registration Statement has been filed with the SEC; (ii)
by June 20, 1998,  neither the Registered  Exchange Offer is consummated nor the
Shelf Registration  Statement is declared  effective;  or (iii) after either the
Exchange Offer  Registration  Statement or the Shelf  Registration  Statement is
declared  effective,   such  Registration  Statement  thereafter  ceases  to  be
effective or such Registration  Statement or the related prospectus ceases to be
useable  (subject  to certain  exceptions)  in  connection  with  resales of the
Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock or  Exchange  Securities,  as the case may be, in
accordance  with and during the periods  specified  in the  Registration  Rights
Agreement  (each  such  event  referred  to  in  clauses  (i)  through  (iii)  a
"Registration  Default"),  additional dividends or interest, as the case may be,
will accrue on the Exchangeable  Preferred Stock or the Exchange Securities from
and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but
excluding the date on which all Registration



                                        3


<PAGE>



Defaults have been cured. Such additional dividends or interest will accrue at a
rate per annum  equal to .50% of the  Accumulated  Amount  of such  Exchangeable
Preferred Stock or Exchange Securities.

         On December 17, 1997, the Company issued a press release announcing the
execution of the Purchase Agreement and the transactions  contemplated  thereby.
On  December  22,  1997,  the  Company  issued a press  release  announcing  the
consummation of the Preferred Stock Placement. Copies of such press releases are
annexed hereto as exhibits.





                                        4


<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES



                  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 hereunto duly authorized.


Dated: December 22, 1997                      WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                                              ----------------------------
                                                     (Registrant)


                                               /s/ Frederic E. Rubin
                                                   Frederic E. Rubin
                                                   Vice President and Treasurer




                                        5


<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number                      Description

         10.1                       Purchase Agreement

         10.2                       Amendment to the Purchase Agreement

         10.3                       Certificate of Designations, Rights and 
                                    Preferences of 14 1/4% Series C Senior
                                    Cumulative Exchangeable Preferred Stock 
                                    Due 2007 with Form of Exchangeable Preferred
                                    Stock Certificate annexed thereto

         10.4                       Registration Rights Agreement

         99.1                       Press Release, dated December 17, 1997

         99.2                       Press Release, dated December 22, 1997



                                        6






                                                               EXECUTION COPY










                          WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

    Series C 14-1/4% Senior Cumulative Exchangeable Preferred Stock Due 2007
                (Initial Liquidation Preference $1,000 Per Share)


                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT


                                December 17, 1997


Salomon Smith Barney
Salomon Brothers Inc
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
   c/o Salomon Brothers Inc
  Seven World Trade Center
   New York, N.Y. 10048


Ladies and Gentlemen:

         1. Introductory.  WinStar Communications,  Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the  "Issuer"),  and WinStar Credit Corp., a Delaware  corporation and a wholly
owned  subsidiary  of the  Issuer  ("WCC"  and  together  with the  Issuer,  the
"Sellers"),  have agreed,  subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to
issue and sell to the several initial purchasers named in Schedule A hereto (the
"Purchasers")  157,500 shares and 17,500 shares,  respectively,  of the Issuer's
Series  C  14-1/4%  Senior  Cumulative  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  Due 2007
(initial liquidation  preference $1,000 per share) (the "Exchangeable  Preferred
Stock").  The Company may, at its option, on any Scheduled Dividend Payment Date
following the Specified Debt Satisfaction Date (as such terms are defined in the
Offering Document  described  below),  exchange all but not less than all of the
Exchangeable  Preferred Stock then outstanding for Senior Subordinated  Deferred
Interest  Notes  Due  2007  (the  "Exchange  Debentures"),  and each  holder  of
outstanding  shares of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive
$1.00  Accumulated  Amount (as  defined in the  Offering  Document)  of Exchange
Debentures  for each $1.00  Liquidation  Preference  (as defined in the Offering
Document)  of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock held by such holder at the time of
such exchange.  The  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock and the Exchange  Debentures
issuable upon the exchange of the Exchangeable  Preferred Stock are collectively
herein  referred  to as the  "Offered  Securities".  Holders  of  shares  of the
Exchangeable  Preferred Stock or Exchange  Debentures will have the registration
rights set forth in the  Registration  Rights  Agreement  dated the date  hereof
among the Company and the Purchasers.  The United States  Securities Act of 1933
is herein referred to as the  "Securities  Act." For purposes of this Agreement,
"Salomon Smith Barney" shall mean Salomon Brothers Inc.



<PAGE>



         The Sellers hereby agree with the several Purchasers as follows:

         2.  Representations and Warranties of the Issuer. The Sellers represent
and warrant to, and agree with, the several Purchasers that:

         (a) A preliminary  offering  circular and an offering circular relating
to the Offered  Securities  being purchased by the Purchasers have been prepared
by the Issuer for use by the  Purchasers  in  connection  with the resale of the
Offered Securities. Such preliminary offering circular and offering circular, as
supplemented as of the date of this Agreement,  together with any other document
approved by the Issuer for use in connection with the contemplated resale of the
Offered  Securities are  hereinafter  collectively  referred to as the "Offering
Document." On the date of this Agreement, the Offering Document does not, and at
the Closing Date (as defined below) the Offering  Document will not, include any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.  The preceding sen tence does not apply to
statements  in or  omissions  from the  Offering  Document  based  upon  written
information  furnished  to the Issuer by any  Purchaser  through  Salomon  Smith
Barney  specifically  for use therein,  it being  understood and agreed that the
only such  information  is that  described as such in Section 7(b). The Issuer's
Annual Report on Form 10-K most recently  filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the  "Commission")  and all subsequent  reports  (collectively,  the
"Exchange Act Reports")  which have been filed by the Issuer with the Commission
or sent to  stockholders  pursu ant to the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 (the
"Exchange  Act"),  when they were filed with the  Commission,  conformed  in all
material  respects to the  requirements  of the  Exchange  Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder.

         (b)  The  Issuer  has  been  duly   incorporated  and  is  an  existing
corporation  in good  standing  under  the laws of the State of  Delaware,  with
corporate  power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as
described  in the  Offering  Document;  and the Issuer is duly  qualified  to do
business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in
which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires
such qualification,  except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or
be in good standing  would not have a material  adverse  effect on the condition
(financial  or other),  business,  properties  or results of  operations  of the
Issuer and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a "Material Adverse Effect"). The
Issuer is qualified to do business as a foreign  corporation in the State of New
York.

         (c) Each  subsidiary  of the  Issuer,  including  WCC,  has  been  duly
incorporated  and is an existing  corporation in good standing under the laws of
the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with corporate power and authority to own
its properties  and conduct its business as described in the Offering  Document;
and each  subsidiary of the Issuer is duly qualified to do business as a foreign
corporation in good standing in all other  jurisdictions  in which its ownership
or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification,
except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good  standing
would not have a Material  Adverse  Effect;  all of the issued and out  standing
capital  stock of each  subsidiary  of the Issuer has been duly  authorized  and
validly  issued and is fully paid and  nonassessable;  and the capital  stock of
each subsidi ary owned by the Issuer, directly or through subsidiaries, is owned
free from liens, encumbrances and defects.

         (d) The  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock has been duly authorized by the
Issuer;  and when the  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock has been  delivered by the
Sellers and paid for pursuant to this  Agreement on the Closing Date (as defined
below), such Exchangeable Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable  and will conform,  in all material  respects,  to the description
thereof  contained  in the  Offering  Document;  and the issuance of the Offered
Securities is not subject to preemptive  or other  similar  rights.  Each of the
indenture  between the Issuer and United  States  Trust  Company of New York (in
such capacity, the "Trustee") that will


<PAGE>



govern the Exchange Debentures (the "Indenture") and the Exchange Debentures has
been  duly  authorized;  and  when the  Indenture  has been  duly  executed  and
delivered and the Exchange  Debentures have been executed and  authenticated  in
accordance  with the Indenture  and  delivered in exchange for the  Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock,  the Exchange  Debentures will  constitute,  valid and legally
binding  obligations of the Issuer,  enforceable in accordance with their terms,
subject  to  bankruptcy,   insolvency,   fraudulent  transfer,   reorganization,
moratorium,  and similar laws of general applicability  relating to or affecting
creditors' rights and the general equity principles; and the Exchange Debentures
conform,  in all material respects,  to the description thereof contained in the
Offering Document.

         (e) The Registration Rights Agreement (as defined herein) has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered;  Registration Rights Agreement constitutes a
valid and legally  binding  obligation of the Issuer,  enforceable in accordance
with  its  terms,  subject  to  bankruptcy,   insolvency,  fraudulent  transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to
or affecting  creditors'  rights and to general equity  principles;  except that
rights to  indemnity  and  contribution  may be  limited  by  federal  and state
securities laws and public policy considerations.

         (f) Except as  contemplated  by this  Agreement  or as disclosed in the
Offering Document, there are no contracts,  agreements or understandings between
the Sellers  and any person  that would give rise to a valid  claim  against the
Sellers or any Purchaser for a brokerage commission,  finder's fee or other like
payment in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

<PAGE>


         (g) No consent, approval,  authorization,  or order of, or filing with,
any governmental agency or body or any court is required for the consummation of
the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement in connection with the issuance
and sale of the Offered Securities by the Sellers, other than as may be required
under  the  Securities  Act and the  Rules  and  Regulations  of the  Commission
thereunder with respect to the  Registration  Rights  Agreement among the Issuer
and the Purchasers dated the date hereof (the  "Registration  Rights Agreement")
and the  transactions  contemplated  thereunder,  and such as may be required by
securities  or blue sky laws of any state of the United States or of any foreign
jurisdiction in connection with the offer and sale of the Offered Securities.

         (h) The execution,  delivery and performance of the Registration Rights
Agreement  and  this  Agreement,  and  the  issuance  and  sale  of the  Offered
Securities and compliance with the terms and provisions  thereof will not result
in a breach or violation of any of the terms and  provisions of, or constitute a
default under,  (i) any statute,  rule,  regulation or order of any governmental
agency or body or any court,  domestic or foreign,  having jurisdiction over the
Sellers or any  subsidiary  of the Issuer or any of their  properties,  (ii) any
agreement or instrument to which the Sellers or any  subsidiary of the Issuer is
a party or by which the Sellers or any  subsidiary  of the Issuer is bound or to
which any of the  properties  of the Sellers or any  subsidiary of the Issuer is
subject,  or (iii) the charters or by-laws of the Sellers or any  subsidiary  of
the Issuer, except, in the case of clause (i) or (ii), such breaches, violations
or defaults  that  individually  or in the  aggregate  would not have a Material
Adverse  Effect;  and the  Issuer  has full  corporate  power and  authority  to
authorize,  issue and sell the Offered  Securities  to be sold by the Issuer and
WCC as contemplated by this Agreement.

         (i)  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Sellers.

         (j) Except as disclosed in the  Offering  Document,  the Issuer and its
subsidi  aries have good and  marketable  title to all real  properties  and all
other  properties  and  assets  owned by them,  in each case  free  from  liens,
encumbrances  and  defects  that would  materially  affect the value  thereof or
materially  interfere  with the use  made or to be made  thereof  by them;  and,
except as disclosed in the Offering  Document,  the Issuer and its  subsidiaries
hold any leased real or personal  property  under valid and enforce  able leases
with no exceptions  that would  materially  interfere with the use made or to be
made thereof by them.

         (k) The  Issuer and its  subsidiaries  possess  adequate  certificates,
authorities  or permits issued by  appropriate  governmental  agencies or bodies
necessary to conduct the business now operated by them and have not received any
notice of proceedings  relat ing to the revocation or  modification  of any such
certificate,  authority or permit that, individually or in the aggregate,  could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

<PAGE>

         (l) No labor  dispute  with the  employees  of the Issuer or any of its
subsidiaries  exists or, to the knowledge of the Issuer,  is imminent that could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (m) The  Issuer and its  subsidiaries  own,  possess or can  acquire on
reasonable  terms,  adequate  trademarks,   trade  names  and  other  rights  to
inventions,  know-how, patents,  copyrights,  confidential information and other
intellectual property (collec tively,  "intellectual property rights") necessary
to conduct the business as now  operated by them,  or used in the conduct of the
business as now  operated by them,  except to the extent that the failure to own
or possess or the inability to acquire such  intellectual  property rights would
not  individually or in the aggregate have a Material  Adverse  Effect;  and the
Issuer has not received any notice of  infringement of or conflict with asserted
rights of others with respect to any intellectual property rights that, if deter
mined adversely to the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries,  would individually or
in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (n) Except as disclosed in the  Offering  Document,  neither the Issuer
nor any of its  subsidiaries is in violation of any statute,  rule,  regulation,
decision or order of any governmental  agency or body or any court,  domestic or
foreign,  relating  to the  use,  disposal  or  release  of  hazardous  or toxic
substances or relating to the protection or  restoration  of the  environment or
human exposure to hazardous or toxic  substances  (collectively,  "environmental
laws"), owns or operates any real property  contaminated with any substance that
is subject to any  environmental  laws,  is liable for any off-site  disposal or
contamination  pursuant to any  environmental  laws,  or is subject to any claim
relating to any environmental laws, which violation, contamination, liability or
claim would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and
the Issuer is not aware of any pending  investigation which might lead to such a
claim.

<PAGE>

         (o) Except as disclosed in the Offering Document,  there are no pending
actions,  suits or  proceedings  against or  affecting  the  Issuer,  any of its
subsidiaries or any of their respective properties that,  individually or in the
aggregate,  could reason ably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect,  or
to  materially  and  adversely  affect the  ability of the Issuer to perform its
obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement or this Agreement,  or which
are  otherwise  material in the  context of the sale of the Offered  Securities;
and, to the  Issuer's  knowledge,  no such  actions,  suits or  proceedings  are
threatened or contemplated.

         (p) The financial  statements included in the Offering Document present
fairly the financial position of the Issuer and its consolidated subsidiaries as
of the dates  shown and  their  results  of  operations  and cash  flows for the
periods shown,  and such financial  statements  have been prepared in conformity
with generally accepted account ing principles in the United States applied on a
consistent  basis; and the assumptions used in preparing the pro forma financial
statements  included in the Offering  Document  provide a  reasonable  basis for
presenting the significant effects directly  attributable to the transactions or
events  described  therein,  the related pro forma  adjustments give appropriate
effect to those  assumptions,  and the pro forma  columns  therein  reflect  the
proper  application  of  those  adjustments  to  the  corresponding   historical
financial state ment amounts.



<PAGE>



         (q) Except as disclosed in the Offering Document, since the date of the
latest audited financial statements included in the Offering Document, there has
been no  material  adverse  change,  nor any  development  or event  involving a
prospective  material  adverse  change,  in the condition  (financial or other),
business,  properties  or results of  operations of either of the Issuer and its
subsidiaries  taken as a whole  (it being  understood  that the  acquisition  of
certain assets from US ONE  Communications  Corp., the acquisition from Telesoft
Corp. of its Internet  services  subsidiary and the execution of an agreement by
the Issuer to acquire substantially all the assets (the "MIDCOM Acquisition") of
MIDCOM Communications, Inc. ("MIDCOM") (or the termination of such agreement), a
change in the  Issuer's  stock price or the  continuation  of  operating  losses
consistent  with the Issuer's  historical  results shall be deemed not to be, in
and of themselves,  such a material adverse change), and, except as disclosed in
or  contemplated  by the  Offering  Document,  there  has  been no  dividend  or
distribution  of any kind  declared,  paid or made by the Issuer on any class of
its capital stock.

         (r) The Issuer is not an open-end investment  company,  unit investment
trust or face-amount certificate company that is or is required to be registered
under  Section  8 of the  United  States  Investment  Company  Act of 1940  (the
"Investment Company Act"), nor is it a closed-end investment company required to
be registered, but not registered,  thereunder; and the Issuer is not and, after
giving  effect  to the  offering  and  sale of the  Offered  Securities  and the
application  of the proceeds  thereof,  will not be an  "investment  company" as
defined in the Investment Company Act.

         (s) No  securities  of the  same  class  (within  the  meaning  of Rule
144A(d)(3) under the Securities Act) as the Offered Securities are listed on any
national  securities  exchange registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or
quoted in a U.S. auto mated inter-dealer quotation system.

         (t) Assuming the accuracy of the  representations and warranties of the
Purchasers contained herein, the offer and sale of the Offered Securities in the
manner  contemplated  by this  Agreement  will be exempt  from the  registration
requirements  of the  Securities  Act;  and it is not  necessary  to  qualify an
indenture  in respect of the Offered  Securities  under the United  States Trust
Indenture Act of 1939,  as amended (the "Trust  Indenture  Act"),  other than in
connection  with  the  Issuer's   obligations  under  the  Registration   Rights
Agreement.

         (u) Except for sales to or through the  Purchasers,  neither the Issuer
nor any of its affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf (i) has,
within the  six-month  period prior to the date  hereof,  offered or sold in the
United  States or to any U.S.  person (as such terms are defined in Regulation S
under the  Securities  Act) the Offered  Securities  or any security of the same
class or series as the Offered  Securities  or (ii) has offered or will offer or
sell the  Offered  Securities  (A) in the United  States by means of any form of
general  solicitation or general  advertising  within the meaning of Rule 502(c)
under the  Securities  Act or (B) with  respect to any such  securities  sold in
reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S ("Regulation  S") under the Securities Act,
by means of any directed  selling  efforts  within the meaning of Rule 902(b) of
Regulation S. The Issuer,  its  affiliates and any person acting on their behalf
have  complied and will comply with the  offering  restrictions  requirement  of
Regulation S. The Issuer has not entered and will not enter into any contractual
arrangement  with respect to the distribution of the Offered  Securities  except
for this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.

         (v)  The  Issuer is subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

         (w) The Issuer and its  subsidiaries  are in compliance in all material
respects   with   the   Communications   Act  of  1934   (as   amended   by  the
Telecommunications   Act  of  1996,  the  "Communications  Act")  and  with  all
applicable  rules,  regulations  and  poli  cies of the  Federal  Communications
Commission (the "FCC").



<PAGE>



         (x) The Issuer has  provided to the  Purchasers a complete and accurate
list of all  licenses  granted to the Issuer and its  subsidiaries  (other  than
experimental  licenses in the 31 GHz and 38 GHz  portions of the radio  spectrum
and licenses acquired from Local Area  Telecommunications,  Inc. that are not in
the 38 GHz portion of the radio  spectrum) by the FCC (the  "Licenses").  All of
the  Licenses  are  currently  valid and in full force and  effect.  Neither the
Issuer nor any of its  subsidiaries  have any  knowledge  of any  investigation,
notice of apparent liability,  violation, forfeiture or other order or complaint
issued by or before any court or regulatory  body,  including the FCC, or of any
other   proceedings   (other  than   proceedings   relating   to  the   wireless
communications  industries  generally)  which  could  in any  manner  materially
threaten or adversely  affect the validity or continued  effectiveness of any of
the Licenses.

         (y) No event has  occurred  which (i)  results  in, or after  notice or
lapse  of  time  or  both  would  result  in,  revocation,  suspension,  adverse
modification,  non-renewal,  impairment, restriction or termination of, or order
of  forfeiture  with respect to, any License or (ii)  materially  and  adversely
affects or could reasonably be expected in the


<PAGE>



future to materially adversely  affect any of the rights of the Issuer or any of
its subsidiaries thereunder.

         (z) The Issuer and its subsidiaries  have duly filed in a timely manner
all  mate  rial  filings,  reports,  applications,  documents,  instruments  and
information  required to be filed by them under the Communications  Act, and all
such filings are true, correct and complete in all material respects.

         (aa) Neither the Issuer nor any of its subsidiaries  have any reason to
believe that any of the Licenses will not be renewed in the ordinary course.

         3.  Purchase,  Sale and  Delivery  of  Offered  Securities;  Payment of
Underwriting  Discount.  On the  basis of the  representations,  warranties  and
agreements herein con tained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth,  the Sellers hereby agree to sell to the  Purchasers,  and the Purchasers
hereby  agree,  severally  and not jointly,  to purchase  from the Sellers,  the
number of shares of Exchangeable Preferred Stock set forth opposite the names of
the  Purchasers in Schedule A hereto,  at a purchase  price of $962.50 per share
plus accrued  dividends  (if any) from December 22, 1997 to the Closing Date (as
hereinafter defined).

         The Issuer  hereby  agrees to deliver  against  payment of the purchase
price  the  Offered  Securities  in the  form  of one or more  permanent  global
securities in definitive  form (the "Global  Securities")  deposited with United
States Trust Company of New York (in such  capacity,  the  "Transfer  Agent") as
custodian for The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") and registered in the name of
Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC.  Interests in any  permanent  Global  Securities
will  be  held  only  in  book-entry   form  through  DTC,   except  in  limited
circumstances  (which are described in the Offering  Document).  Payment for the
Offered  Securities  shall be made by the Purchasers in Federal (same day) funds
by wire transfer to an account previously  designated to Salomon Smith Barney by
the  Issuer at a bank  acceptable  to  Salomon  Smith  Barney,  at the office of
Cravath,  Swaine & Moore,  Worldwide  Plaza,  825 Eighth Avenue,  New York, N.Y.
10019-7475  at 10:00 A.M.  (New York time),  on December 22, 1997 (the  "Closing
Date"),  against  delivery to the  Transfer  Agent as  custodian  for DTC of the
Global Securities representing all of the Offered Securities.

         4.  Representations and Agreements by Purchasers; Resale by Purchasers.

         (a) Each Purchaser severally represents and warrants to the Issuer that
it is an  "accredited  investor"  within the meaning of  Regulation  D under the
Securities Act.

         (b) Each Purchaser  severally  acknowledges that the Offered Securities
have not been registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold
within the United  States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S.  persons
except in  accordance  with  Regulation S or pursuant to an  exemption  from the
registration  requirements  of the  Securities  Act.  Each  Purchaser  severally
represents and agrees that it has offered and sold the Offered  Securities,  and
will offer and sell the Offered  Securities (i) as part of its  distribution  at
any time and (ii)  otherwise  until 40 days after the later of the com mencement
of the offering and the Closing Date,  only in accordance  with Rule 903 or Rule
144A under the Securities Act ("Rule 144A"). Accordingly, neither such Purchaser
nor its affiliates,  nor any persons acting on its or their behalf, have engaged
or will  engage in any  directed  selling  efforts  with  respect to the Offered
Securities, and


<PAGE>



such  Purchaser,  its  affiliates  and all persons acting on its or their behalf
have  complied and will comply with the  offering  restrictions  requirement  of
Regulation S. Each Purchaser  severally agrees that, at or prior to confirmation
of sale of the Offered Securities, other than a sale pursuant to Rule 144A, such
Purchaser  will have sent to each  distributor,  dealer  or person  receiving  a
selling  concession,  fee or other  remunera  tion that  purchases  the  Offered
Securities  from it during the  restricted  period a  confirmation  or notice to
substantially the following effect:

         "The Securities  covered hereby have not been registered under the U.S.
         Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and may not be offered or
         sold within the United  States or to, or for the account or benefit of,
         U.S.  persons  (i) as part of  their  distribution  at any time or (ii)
         otherwise until 40 days after the later of the date of the commencement
         of the  offering  and  the  closing  date,  except  in  either  case in
         accordance  with  Regulation  S (or Rule 144A if avail  able) under the
         Securities Act."

Unless  otherwise  defined  herein,  terms used in this  subsection (b) have the
meanings given to them by Regulation S.

         (c) Each Purchaser  severally agrees that it and each of its affiliates
has not entered and will not enter into any contractual arrangement with respect
to the dis tribution of the Offered  Securities except for any such arrangements
with the other  Purchaser or affiliates of the other Purchaser or with the prior
written consent of the Issuer.

         (d) Each Purchaser  severally agrees that it and each of its affiliates
has not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell,  the Offered  Securities in
the  United  States  by means of any form of  general  solicitation  or  general
advertising  within  the  meaning  of Rule  502(c)  under  the  Securities  Act,
including,  but not limited to (i) any advertise ment, article,  notice or other
communication published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast
over  television or radio,  or (ii) any seminar or meeting whose  attendees have
been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising.  Each Purchaser
severally  agrees,  with respect to resales made in reliance on Rule 144A of any
of the  Offered  Securities,  to deliver  either with the  confirmation  of such
resale or otherwise  prior to  settlement  of such resale a notice to the effect
that the resale of such Offered  Securities  has been made in reliance  upon the
exemption from the  registration  requirements of the Securities Act provided by
Rule 144A.

         (e) Each of the Purchasers  severally represents and agrees that (i) it
has not offered or sold and prior to the date six months after the date of issue
of the  Offered  Securities  will not offer or sell any  Offered  Securities  to
persons  in the  United  Kingdom  except to persons  whose  ordinary  activities
involve them in acquiring,  hold ing,  managing or disposing of investments  (as
principal  or agent)  for the  purposes  of their  businesses  or  otherwise  in
circumstances  which  have not  resulted  and will not result in an offer to the
public  in the  United  Kingdom  within  the  meaning  of the  Public  Offers of
Securities  Regulations  1995;  (ii) it has  complied  and will  comply with all
applicable  provisions  of the  Financial  Services  Act 1986  with  respect  to
anything done by it in relation to the Offered  Securities in, from or otherwise
involving the United Kingdom; and (iii) it has only issued or passed on and will
only issue or pass on in the  United  Kingdom  any  document  received  by it in
connection with the issue of the Offered Securities to a person who is of a kind
described in Article 11(3) of the


<PAGE>



Financial Services Act 1986 (Investment Advertisements)  (Exemptions) Order 1996
or is a person to whom such document may otherwise  lawfully be issued or passed
on.

         (f) Each Purchaser agrees that promptly following the completion of its
initial  resale  of all the  Offered  Securities  purchased  by  such  Purchaser
pursuant to this Agreement, it will notify the Issuer in writing thereof.

         5.  Certain  Agreements of  the Issuer.  The  Issuer  agrees  with  the
several Purchasers that:

         (a) The  Issuer  will  advise  Salomon  Smith  Barney  promptly  of any
proposal to amend or supplement  the Offering  Document and will not effect such
amendment or  supplementation  without  Salomon Smith  Barney's  consent  (which
consent  shall  not be  unreasonably  withheld).  If,  at any time  prior to the
completion of the resale of the Offered Securities by the Purchasers,  any event
occurs  as  a  result  of  which  the  Offering  Document  as  then  amended  or
supplemented  would  include an untrue  statement of a material  fact or omit to
state any material fact  necessary in order to make the statements  therein,  in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if
it is necessary at any such time to amend or supplement the Offering Document to
comply with any  applicable  law, the Issuer  promptly will notify Salomon Smith
Barney of such event and promptly will prepare, at its own expense, an amendment
or  supplement  which will  correct  such  statement  or omission or effect such
compliance.  Neither  Salomon  Smith  Barney's  consent to, nor the  Purchasers'
delivery to offerees or investors  of, any such  amendment or  supplement  shall
constitute a waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section 6.

         (b) The  Issuer  will  furnish to Salomon  Smith  Barney  copies of the
Offering  Document and all amendments and supplements to such document,  in each
case  as soon as  available  and in such  quantities  as  Salomon  Smith  Barney
reasonably requests, and the Issuer will furnish to Salomon Smith Barney as soon
as available  three copies of the Offering  Document signed by a duly authorized
officer of the Issuer,  one of which will include the  independent  accountants'
reports therein  manually signed by such indepen dent  accountants.  At any time
when the Issuer is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange  Act, such
Issuer will  promptly  furnish or cause to be furnished to Salomon  Smith Barney
(and,  upon  request,  to each of the other  Purchasers)  and,  upon  request of
holders and prospective  purchasers of the Offered  Securities,  to such holders
and purchasers,  copies of the  information  required to be delivered to holders
and  pro  spective  purchasers  of  the  Offered  Securities  pursuant  to  Rule
144A(d)(4)  under the  Securities  Act (or any successor  provision  thereto) in
order to permit  compliance  with Rule 144A in  connection  with resales by such
holders of the Offered Securities.  The Issuer will pay the expenses of printing
and distributing to the Purchasers all such docu ments.

         (c)  The  Issuer  will  use  its  best   efforts  to  arrange  for  the
qualification of the Offered  Securities for sale and the determination of their
eligibility for investment  under the laws of such  jurisdictions  in the United
States  and  Canada as  Salomon  Smith  Barney  reasonably  designates  and will
continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the resale of the
Offered Securities by the Purchasers;  provided,  however,  that the Issuer will
not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent
to service of process in any such state.



<PAGE>



         (d) During the period of five years after the Closing Date,  the Issuer
will furnish to Salomon  Smith Barney and,  upon  request,  to each of the other
Purchasers,  as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, a copy of
the Issuer's  annual report to  stockholders  for such year; and the Issuer will
furnish  to  Salomon  Smith  Barney  and,  upon  request,  to each of the  other
Purchasers  (i) as soon as available,  a copy of each report and any  definitive
proxy  statement of the Issuer filed with the Commission  under the Exchange Act
or  mailed to  stockholders  and (ii) from  time to time,  such  other  publicly
available  information  concerning  the  Issuer  as  Salomon  Smith  Barney  may
reasonably request.

         (e) During the period of two years after the Closing  Date,  the Issuer
will,  upon  request,  furnish  to the  Purchasers  and any  holder  of  Offered
Securities  a copy of the  restrictions  on transfer  applicable  to the Offered
Securities.

         (f) During the period of two years after the Closing  Date,  the Issuer
will not,  and will not permit  any of its  affiliates  (as  defined in Rule 144
under the  Securities  Act) to, resell any of the Offered  Securities  that have
been reacquired by any of them.

         (g) During the period of two years after the Closing  Date,  the Issuer
will not be or become, an open-end investment company,  unit investment trust or
face-amount  certificate  company that is or is required to be registered  under
Section 8 of the  Investment  Company Act, and the Issuer is not, or will not be
or become, a closed-end  investment  company required to be registered,  but not
registered, under the Investment Company Act.

         (h) The Issuer will pay all expenses  incidental to the  performance of
the Issuer's  obligations under this Agreement and the Indenture,  including (i)
the fees and expenses of the Transfer  Agent and the Trustee,  (ii) all expenses
in connection with the execution, issue,  authentication,  packaging and initial
delivery  of the  Offered  Securities,  the  preparation  and  printing  of this
Agreement,  the Offered  Securities,  the Indenture,  the Offering  Document and
amendments  and  supplements  thereto,  and any other  document  relating to the
issuance,  offer, sale and delivery of the Offered Securities;  (ii) the cost of
qualifying the Offered Securities for trading in The Private  Offerings,  Resale
and  Trading  through  Automated  Linkages  (PORTAL)  market  and  any  expenses
incidental thereto;  (iii) the cost of any advertising approved by the Issuer in
connection  with  the  issue  of  the  Offered  Securities;  (iv)  any  expenses
(including  fees and  disbursements  of  counsel)  incurred in  connection  with
qualification  of the  Offered  Securities  for  sale  under  the  laws  of such
jurisdictions in the United States and Canada as Salomon Smith Barney designates
and the  printing  of  memoranda  relating  thereto;  (v) any  fees  charged  by
investment  rating agencies for the rating of the Offered  Securities;  and (vi)
all expenses  incurred in  distributing  the Offering  Document  (includ ing any
amendments and supplements thereto) to the Purchasers.

         (i) In connection  with the offering,  until Salomon Smith Barney shall
have  notified  the Issuer and the other  Purchasers  of the  completion  of the
resale of the Offered  Securities,  neither the Issuer nor any of its affiliates
has or will  (unless  required  by the  terms of the  indenture  governing  such
Offered Securities),  either alone or with one or more other persons, bid for or
purchase for any account in which it or any of its  affiliates  has a beneficial
interest any Offered  Securities or attempt to induce any person to purchase any
Offered Securities; and neither they nor any of their


<PAGE>



affiliates  will make bids or purchases for the purpose of creating  actual,  or
apparent, active trading in, or of raising the price of, the Offered Securities.

         (j) The Issuer  will not at any time  offer,  sell,  contract  to sell,
pledge or other wise dispose of,  directly or indirectly,  any securities  under
circumstances  where such offer,  sale,  pledge,  contract or disposition  would
cause the exemption  afforded by Section 4(2) of the  Securities Act or the safe
harbor of  Regulation S thereunder  to cease to be  applicable  to the offer and
sale of the Offered Securities.

         (k) The Issuer will cause each Offered  Security to bear the legend set
forth in the form of  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock attached as Exhibit A to the
Certificate of Designation  relating to the Exchangeable  Preferred Stock and as
Exhibit 1 to the Rule  144A/Regulation  S Appendix to the  Indenture  until such
legend shall no longer be necessary or advisable because the Offered  Securities
are no longer subject to the restrictions on transfer described therein.

         6. Conditions of the Obligations of the Purchasers.  The obligations of
the several  Purchasers to purchase and pay for the Offered  Securities  will be
subject to  performance  by the Issuer of its  obligations  hereunder and to the
following additional conditions precedent:

         (a) The  Purchasers  shall have  received  opinions,  dated the Closing
Date, of (i) Graubard Mollen & Miller,  counsel for the Issuer, and (ii) Willkie
Farr  &  Gallagher,  counsel  for  the  Issuer  on FCC  matters,  in  each  case
substantially to the effect set forth in Annex I and Annex II, respectively.

         (b) The  Purchasers  shall have received from Cravath,  Swaine & Moore,
counsel for the  Purchasers  (or,  if such  counsel  shall fail to deliver  such
opinion, other counsel reasonably acceptable to the Purchasers), such opinion or
opinions,  dated the Closing  Date,  with  respect to the  incorporation  of the
Issuer, the validity of the Offered Securities,  the exemption from registration
for the offer and sale of the  Offered  Securities  by the Issuer to the several
Purchasers and the resales by the several Purchasers as contemplated  hereby and
other related  matters as Salomon Smith Barney may reasonably  require,  and the
Issuer shall have  furnished to such counsel such docu ments as they  reasonably
request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

         (c) The Purchasers shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing
Date, of the Chief Executive  Officer or any Vice President and the Treasurer or
a  principal  financial  or  accounting  officer  of the  Issuer  in which  such
officers, to the best of their knowledge after reasonable  investigation,  shall
state  that the  Issuer has  complied  with all  agreements  and  satisfied  all
conditions  on its part to be performed  or satisfied  here under at or prior to
the Closing Date.

         (d) The  Company  shall have filed with the  Secretary  of State of the
State of Delaware the Certificate of Designation for the Exchangeable  Preferred
Stock.

         (e) The  Purchasers  shall have  received  upon the  execution  of this
Agreement  and at the Closing  Date,  letters  from Grant  Thornton  LLP,  dated
respectively  as of the date  hereof  and as of the  Closing  Date,  in form and
substance  satisfactory to the Purchasers,  confirming that they are independent
accountants within the meaning of the


<PAGE>



Securities Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder and
that  they  have  performed  a review of the  unaudited  condensed  consolidated
balance sheet as of September 30, 1997,  and  unaudited  condensed  consolidated
statements of operations and cash flows of the Issuer for the nine-month periods
ended  September  30, 1996 and 1997 in  accordance  with  Statement  on Auditing
Standards No. 71, and stating in effect that:

                  (i) in their opinion the audited financial statements included
         in the  Offering  Document and reported on by them comply as to form in
         all material  respects with the applicable  accounting  requirements of
         the Securities Act and the related published rules and regulations;

                  (ii)  on  the  basis  of a  reading  of the  latest  unaudited
         financial statements made available by the Issuer and its subsidiaries;
         their limited review,  in accor dance with standards  established under
         Statement  on Auditing  Standards  No. 71, of the  unaudited  condensed
         consolidated  balance  sheet as of September  30, 1997,  and  unaudited
         condensed  consolidated  statements of operations and cash flows of the
         Issuer for the  nine-month  period ended  September  30, 1996 and 1997;
         carrying out certain  specified  procedures  (but not an examination in
         accordance with generally accepted auditing  standards) which would not
         neces  sarily  reveal  matters  of  significance  with  respect  to the
         comments  set forth in such  letter;  a reading  of the  minutes of the
         meetings of the  stockholders,  directors  and  executive,  finance and
         audit committees of the Issuer and its sub sidiaries;  and inquiries of
         certain officials of the Issuer who have  responsibility  for financial
         and accounting  matters of the Issuer and its  subsidiaries as to trans
         actions and events  subsequent to September  30, 1997,  nothing came to
         their attention which caused them to believe that:

                           (1) any unaudited  financial  statements  included in
                  the Offering Document do not comply as to form in all material
                  respects  with  appli  cable  accounting  requirements  of the
                  Securities  Act and with the pub lished rules and  regulations
                  of  the  Commission  with  respect  to  financial   statements
                  included or  incorporated  in  quarterly  reports on Form 10-Q
                  under  the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934;  or  that  any
                  material  modifi  cations  should  be made  to such  unaudited
                  financial  statements  for  them  to  be  in  conformity  with
                  generally  accepted  accounting  principles applied on a basis
                  substantially  consistent  with that of the audited  financial
                  state ments included or incorporated in the Offering Document;
                  and

                           (2)  with  respect  to  the  period   subsequent   to
                  September  30, 1997,  there were any  changes,  at a specified
                  date not more than five days prior to the date of the  letter,
                  in the capital stock or paid-in capital, increase in long-term
                  debt,   less   current   portion  or  any   decreases  in  the
                  consolidated net current assets or stockholders' equity of the
                  Issuer and its  subsidi  aries as  compared  with the  amounts
                  shown on the  September 30, 1997,  consolidated  balance sheet
                  included  in the  Offering  Document,  or for the period  from
                  October  1,  1997,  to such  specified  date  there  were  any
                  decreases,  as compared with the  corresponding  period in the
                  previous year in consolidated  operating revenues or increases
                  in total or per share  amounts  of net loss of the  Issuer and
                  its  subsidiaries  except  in all  instances  for  changes  or
                  decreases set forth in such letter, in which case


<PAGE>



                  the  letter  shall be  accompanied  by an  explanation  by the
                  Issuer as to the significance  thereof unless said explanation
                  is not deemed necessary by the Purchaser.

                  (iii) they have performed  certain other specified  procedures
         as a result of which they  determined  that certain  information  of an
         accounting,  financial  or  statistical  nature  (which is  limited  to
         accounting,  financial  or  statistical  informa  tion derived from the
         general  accounting  records of the Issuer and its  subsidi  aries) set
         forth in the Offering  Document,  including the  information  set forth
         under the captions "Offering Circular Summary", "Risk Factors", "Use of
         Proceeds",  "Capitalization",  "Selected  Historical  Financial  Data",
         "Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and
         Results of Operations"  and "Business" in the Offering  Document agrees
         with the  account  ing  records of the  Company  and its  subsidiaries,
         excluding any questions of legal interpretation; and

                  (iv) they have performed certain agreed-upon procedures on the
         unaudited  pro forma  financial  statements  included  in the  Offering
         Document (the "pro forma  financial  statements");  inquired of certain
         officials  of the  Issuer who have  responsibility  for  financial  and
         accounting  matters;  proven the arithmetic accuracy of the application
         of the pro forma adjustments to the historical amounts in the pro forma
         financial statements; and stated their findings.

         References to the Offering  Document in this  paragraph (e) include any
         supplement thereto at the date of the letter.

         (f) Subsequent to the date hereof or, if earlier, the dates as of which
information  is given in the  Offering  Document  (exclusive  of any  supplement
thereto),  there shall not have been (i) any change or decrease specified in the
letter or letters  referred to in  paragraph  (e) of this  Section 6 or (ii) any
change, or any development  involving a prospective  change, in or affecting the
condition  (financial  or  otherwise),  earnings,  business or properties of the
Issuer  and its  subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,  whether or not  arising  from
transactions  in the  ordinary  course  of  business,  except as set forth in or
contemplated in the Offering Document  (exclusive of any supplement thereto) and
except for a termination of the asset purchase  agreement relating to the MIDCOM
Acquisition,  the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii)
above, is, in the sole judgment of the Purchasers, so material and adverse as to
make it  impractical  or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of
the Offered  Securities as contemplated by the Offering  Document  (exclusive of
any amendment thereof).

         (g) The Issuer shall have issued a press release  concerning the MIDCOM
Acquisition  as soon as  practicable  on December 17,  1997,  but in any case no
later than 5:00 p.m. EST on December 17, 1997; provided,  however,  that no such
press  release  need be  issued  if the  Issuer  determines  by such time not to
proceed with the MIDCOM Acquisition.

         (h) In the event the Issuer  determines  not to proceed with the MIDCOM
Acquisition,  the Chief  Executive  Officer of the Issuer shall have conducted a
conference  call no later than the Closing  Date with the  investors to whom the
Purchasers are initially reselling the Exchangeable Preferred Stock.


<PAGE>



         The Issuer will furnish the Purchasers  with such  conformed  copies of
such opinions, certificates,  letters and documents as the Purchasers reasonably
request.  Salomon Smith Barney may in its sole discretion waive on behalf of the
Purchasers  compliance  with any conditions to the obligations of the Purchasers
hereunder, whether in respect of the Closing Date or otherwise.

         7. Indemnification and Contribution.  (a) The Issuer will indemnify and
hold harmless each Purchaser against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities,
joint or  several,  to which  such  Purchaser  may  become  subject,  under  the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon any  breach of any of the  representations  and  warranties  of the  Issuer
contained  herein or any untrue  statement  or alleged  untrue  statement of any
material fact contained in the Offering Document, or any amendment or supplement
thereto,  or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged  omission to
state  therein  a  material  fact  necessary  in order to make the  state  ments
therein,  in the light of the circumstances  under which they were made, not mis
leading,  and will  reimburse  each  Purchaser  for any legal or other  expenses
reasonably  incurred by such  Purchaser  in  connection  with  investigating  or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are
incurred; provided, however, that the Issuer will not be liable in any such case
to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is
based upon an untrue  statement  or alleged  untrue  statement in or omission or
alleged  omission from any of such  documents in reliance upon and in conformity
with  written  information  furnished  to the  Issuer by any  Purchaser  through
Salomon  Smith Barney  specifically  for use  therein,  it being under stood and
agreed that the only such information  consists of the information  described as
such in subsection (b) below.

         (b) Each Purchaser  will  severally and not jointly  indemnify and hold
harmless the Issuer against any losses,  claims, damages or liabilities to which
the Issuer may become  subject,  under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect  thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Offering Document, or any
amendment or supplement  thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission
or the alleged  omission to state therein a material fact  necessary in order to
make the statements  therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading,  in each case to the extent,  but only to the extent,
that such untrue  statement or alleged  untrue  statement or omission or alleged
omission was made in reliance  upon and in conformity  with written  information
furnished  to  the  Issuer  by  such  Purchaser  through  Salomon  Smith  Barney
specifically  for use therein (it being understood and agreed that the only such
information  consists of the  statements  set forth in the last paragraph of the
cover  page and  under  the  heading  "Plan  of  Distribution"  in the  Offering
Document), and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
the Issuer in connection with  investigating or defending any such loss,  claim,
damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred.

         (c) Promptly after receipt by an  indemnified  party under this Section
of notice of the commencement of any action,  such indemnified  party will, if a
claim in respect  thereof is to be made  against  the  indemnifying  party under
subsection (a) or (b) above,  notify the indemnifying  party of the commencement
thereof;  but the omission so to notify the indemnifying  party will not relieve
it from any liability which it may have to


<PAGE>



any indemnified  party otherwise than under subsection (a) or (b) above. In case
any such action is brought  against any  indemnified  party and it notifies  the
indemnifying party of the commencement  thereof,  the indemnifying party will be
entitled to partici pate  therein  and, to the extent that it may wish,  jointly
with any other  indemnifying  party  similarly  notified,  to assume the defense
thereof,  with counsel  reasonably satis factory to such indemnified  party (who
shall not,  except with the consent of the indem  nified  party  (which  consent
shall not be unreasonably  withheld), be counsel to the indemnifying party), and
after  notice  from  the  indemnifying  party to such  indemnified  party of its
election so to assume the defense thereof,  the  indemnifying  party will not be
liable to such  indemnified  party  under  this  Section  for any legal or other
expenses  subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the
defense thereof other than reasonable  costs of  investigation.  No indemnifying
party shall,  without the prior written consent of the indemnified  party (which
consent  shall not be  unreasonably  withheld),  effect  any  settlement  of any
pending or  threatened  action in respect of which any  indemnified  party is or
could have been a party and indemnity  could have been sought  hereunder by such
indemnified  party unless such settlement  includes an uncondi tional release of
such  indemnified  party from all  liability  on any claims that are the subject
matter of such action.

         (d) If the indemnification  provided for in this Section is unavailable
or insuf ficient to hold harmless an indemnified  party under  subsection (a) or
(b) above, then each  indemnifying  party shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such indem nified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or
liabilities  referred to in sub section (a) or (b) above (i) in such  proportion
as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Issuer on the
one hand and the  Purchasers  on the  other  from the  offering  of the  Offered
Securities  or (ii) if the  allocation  provided  by  clause  (i)  above  is not
permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not
only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative
fault  of the  Issuer  on the  one  hand  and the  Purchasers  on the  other  in
connection  with the  statements  or  omissions  which  resulted in such losses,
claims,  damages  or  liabilities  as  well  as  any  other  relevant  equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Issuer on the one hand and
the Purchasers on the other shall be deemed to be in the same  proportion as the
total net  proceeds  from the  offering  (before  deducting  expenses  but after
deducting the Purchasers' discounts and commissions) received by the Issuer bear
to the total  discounts  and  commissions  received by the  Purchasers  from the
Issuer under this Agreement. The relative fault shall be determined by reference
to,  among other  things,  whether the untrue or alleged  untrue  statement of a
material  fact or the  omission  or alleged  omission  to state a material  fact
relates to information supplied by the Issuer or the Purchasers and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to infor mation and opportunity to correct or
prevent such untrue  statement or  omission.  The amount paid by an  indemnified
party as a result of the losses,  claims,  damages or liabilities referred to in
the first  sentence of this  subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal
or other expenses  reasonably  incurred by such indemnified  party in connection
with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this
subsection  (d).  Notwithstanding  the  provisions  of this  subsection  (d), no
Purchaser  shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by
which  the total  price at which the  Offered  Securities  purchased  by it were
resold exceeds the amount of any damages which such Purchaser has otherwise been
required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged  omission.  The  Purchasers'  obligations  in this  subsection (d) to
contribute are several in proportion to their  respective  purchase  obligations
and not joint.


<PAGE>



         (e) The  obligations  of the  Issuer  under  this  Section  shall be in
addition to any liability  which the Issuer may otherwise have and shall extend,
upon the same terms and  conditions,  to each  person,  if any, who controls any
Purchaser  within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act; and the
obligations  of the  Purchasers  under this Section  shall be in addition to any
liability  which the respective  Purchasers may otherwise have and shall extend,
upon the same terms and  conditions,  to each  person,  if any, who controls the
Issuer within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

         8.  Termination.  This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the
absolute  discretion of the  Purchasers,  by notice given to the Issuer prior to
delivery of and pay ment for the Offered  Securities,  if prior to such time (i)
trading  in any of the  Issuer's  securities  shall have been  suspended  by the
Commission or the Nasdaq National  Market or trading in securities  generally on
the  Nasdaq  National  Market or the New York  Stock  Exchange  shall  have been
suspended  or limited  or minimum  prices  shall have been  established  on such
Market or Exchange, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by
Federal or New York State  authorities  or (iii) there shall have  occurred  any
outbreak or escalation  of  hostilities,  declaration  by the United States of a
national  emergency  or war or other  calamity  or crisis the effect of which on
financial  markets  is such as to make it, in the  judgment  of the  Purchasers,
impracticable  or inad  visable to proceed  with the offering or delivery of the
Offered Securities as contem plated by the Offering Document.

         9. Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations.  The respective
indem nities,  agreements,  representations,  warranties and other statements of
the Issuer or their officers and of the several  Purchasers set forth in or made
pursuant to this Agreement  will remain in full force and effect,  regardless of
any investigation,  or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf
of  any  Purchaser,  the  Issuer  or any of  their  respective  representatives,
officers or directors or any controlling  person,  and will survive  delivery of
and payment for the Offered Securities.

         10. Notices.  All  communications  hereunder will be in writing and, if
sent to the Purchasers will be mailed,  delivered or electronically  transmitted
and confirmed to the  Purchasers,  c/o Salomon Smith Barney General Counsel (fax
no.: (212) 783-2274) and confirmed to the General Counsel,  Salomon Smith Barney
at Seven World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, or, if sent to the Issuer
will be mailed,  delivered or  electronically  transmitted  and confirmed to 230
Park Avenue,  New York, NY 10169 (fax no.: (212) 922-1637),  Attention:  Timothy
Graham; provided,  however, that any notice to a Purchaser pursuant to Section 7
will be mailed,  delivered or  electronically  transmitted and confirmed to such
Purchaser.

         11.  Successors.  This  Agreement  will inure to the  benefit of and be
binding  upon  the  parties  hereto  and  their  respective  successors  and the
controlling  persons referred to in Section 7, and no other person will have any
right or obligation here under,  except that holders of Offered Securities shall
be entitled to enforce the agree ments for their benefit contained in the second
and third sentences of Section 5(b) hereof against the Issuer as if such holders
were parties thereto.

         12.  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be  executed  in any number of
counter  parts,  each of which shall be deemed to be an  original,  but all such
counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.


<PAGE>



         13.  Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed
in  accordance  with,  the  law of the  State  of New  York  without  regard  to
principles of conflicts of laws.

         The Issuer  hereby  submits to the  non-exclusive  jurisdiction  of the
Federal and state  courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in
any suit or  proceeding  arising  out of or relating  to this  Agreement  or the
transactions contemplated hereby.



<PAGE>



         If the foregoing is in accordance with the Purchasers' understanding of
our  agreement,  kindly  sign and return to us one of the  counterparts  hereof,
whereupon  it will become a binding  agreement  among the Issuer and the several
Purchasers in accordance with its terms.

                                    Very truly yours,


                                    WinStar Communications, Inc.



                                    By________________________________
                                      Name:
                                      Title:


                                    WinStar Credit Corp.


                                    By________________________________
                                      Name:
                                      Title:


The foregoing Purchase Agreement 
is hereby confirmed and accepted 
as of the date first above written.

Salomon Brothers Inc
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation

By Salomon Brothers Inc


By_____________________________________
   Name:
   Title:



<PAGE>









                                   SCHEDULE A








                                                         Number of Shares
                                                          of Exchangeable
Purchaser                                                 Preferred Stock
- ---------------------                                    ----------------
Salomon Brothers Inc                                          105,000

Credit Suisse First
 Boston Corporation                                           70,000
                                                         ----------------


                                                             175,000
                                                         ================


                                       A-1

<PAGE>



                                ANNEX I


                  The  opinion  of  Graubard  Mollen & Miller,  to be  delivered
pursuant to Section 6(a) of the Purchase Agreement, shall be to the effect that:

                  1. Each of the Issuer and WCC has been duly  incorporated  and
is an  existing  corporation  in good  standing  under  the laws of the State of
Delaware,  with corporate  power and authority to own its properties and conduct
its business as described in the Offering Document.

                  2.  Each of the  Indenture,  the  Offered  Securities  and the
Registration  Rights  Agreement has been duly  authorized,  and the Registration
Rights  Agreement  has been duly  executed  and  delivered  and  conforms in all
material respects to the description thereof contained in the Offering Document;
and the  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock and the  Registration  Rights  Agreement
constitute  valid and legally binding  obligations of the Issuer  enforceable in
accordance  with their  terms,  subject to  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  fraudulent
transfer,  reorganization,  moratorium and similar laws of general applicability
relating to or affecting  creditors'  rights and to general  equity  principles;
and, with respect to the Registration  Rights  Agreement,  except that rights to
indemnity and  contribution  may be limited by federal and state securities laws
and public policy considerations.

                  3. The Issuer is not, and, after giving effect to the offering
and sale of the Offered  Securities and the application of the proceeds  thereof
as described in the Offering  Document,  will not be an "investment  company" as
defined in the Investment Company Act.

                  4. No consent, approval,  authorization or order of, or filing
with,  any  governmental  agency  or  body  or any  court  is  required  for the
consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement in connection
with the  issuance or sale of the Offered  Securities  by the Issuer and WCC and
the consummation of the transactions  under the Registration  Rights  Agreement,
other  than as may be  required  under  the  Securities  Act and the  Rules  and
Regulations of the Commission thereunder with respect to the Registration Rights
Agreement  and the  transactions  contemplated  there  under  and such as may be
required  by  securities  or blue sky laws of the  various  states of the United
States and of foreign jurisdictions in connection with the offer and sale of the
Offered Securities.

                  5. The execution, delivery and performance of the Registration
Rights  Agreement and this  Agreement,  and the issuance and sale of the Offered
Securities and compliance with the terms and provisions  thereof will not result
in a breach or violation of any of the terms and  provisions of, or constitute a
default  under,  (A) any statute,  rule or regulation or any order known to such
counsel of any governmental agency or body or any court having jurisdiction over
either  of  the  Sellers  or  any  subsidiary  of the  Issuer  or  any of  their
properties,  (B) any agreement or  instrument  listed as an exhibit to WinStar's
Annual Report on Form 10-K most recently  filed with the Commission or listed as
an exhibit to or filed with any  subsequent  reports  filed by WinStar under the
Exchange  Act  through  September  30,  1997,  to which  the  Issuer or any such
subsidiary is a party or by which the Issuer or any such  subsidiary is bound or
to which any of the properties of the Issuer or any such  subsidiary is subject,
or (C) the charter or by-laws


<PAGE>


                                                                            2

of the Issuer or any such subsidiary,  except, in the case of clause (A) or (B),
breaches, violations or defaults that individually or in the aggregate would not
have a Material  Adverse  Effect;  and the  Issuer has full power and  corporate
authority to authorize, issue and sell the Offered Securities to be sold by such
Issuer as contemplated by this Agreement.

                  6. The  descriptions  in the  Offering  Document of  statutes,
legal  and  governmental  proceedings  and  contracts  and other  documents  are
accurate in all mate rial respects and fairly present the information  purported
to be described therein.

                  7. This  Agreement  has been  duly  authorized,  executed  and
delivered by each of the Issuer and WCC.

                  8.  Based  upon  the  accuracy  of  the   representations  and
warranties of the Issuer set forth in Section 2(u) of this  Agreement and of the
Purchasers in Section 4 hereof,  it is not necessary in connection  with (i) the
offer, sale and delivery of the Offered  Securities by the Issuer to the several
Purchasers  pursuant  to this  Agreement  or (ii)  the  resales  of the  Offered
Securities  by the  several  Purchasers  in the  manner  con  templated  by this
Agreement,  to register the Offered  Securities  under the  Securities Act or to
qualify an indenture in respect  thereof under the Trust  Indenture  Act,  other
than in connection with the Issuer's  obligations under the Registration  Rights
Agreement.

                  In addition,  such counsel  shall state that such counsel have
no reason to believe that the Offering Document,  or any amendment or supplement
thereto, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date,  contained any untrue
statement or a material  fact or omitted to state any material  fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements  therein,  in light of the
circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading;  it being  understood
that such  counsel  need express no opinion as to the  financial  statements  or
other  financial  data  contained  in  the  Offering  Document.  Insofar  as the
preceding  sentence  relates to MIDCOM or its assets,  business,  operations  or
affairs,  it is based solely on such counsel's review of MIDCOM's filing on Form
10-K dated  December 31, 1996,  and its filing on Form 10-Q dated  September 30,
1997, and discussions  with personnel of the Issuer  responsible for negotiating
the asset purchase agreement relating to the MIDCOM Acquisition.





<PAGE>


                                                                             1





                              ANNEX II


                  The  opinion  of Willkie  Farr &  Gallagher,  to be  delivered
pursuant to Section 6(a) of the Purchase Agreement, shall be to the effect that:

                  1. No prior or subsequent consent, approval,  authorization or
order of the FCC is required to be obtained,  and no prior or subsequent  notice
to or  filing  with the FCC is  required  to be  made,  in  connection  with the
offering of Offered Securities.

                  2. To the best of such counsel's knowledge, the Issuer and its
subsidi aries are in compliance in all material respects with all material terms
and conditions of each License.

                  3. We are not  aware of any  event or  instance  in which  the
Issuer is not in compliance with all applicable and material rules,  regulations
and policies of the FCC pertaining to the Licenses.

                  4.  To  the  best  of  such  counsel's  knowledge,  all of the
Licenses  are  currently  valid and in full  force and  effect,  and there is no
investigation,  notice of apparent  liability,  violation,  forfeiture  or other
order or complaint issued by or before any court or regulatory  body,  including
the FCC, or of any other  proceedings  (other than  proceedings  relating to the
wireless  communications   industries  generally)  which  could  in  any  manner
materially threaten or adversely affect the validity or continued  effectiveness
of any of the Licenses.

                  5. We are not aware of any  event  which  (i)  results  in, or
after notice or lapse of time or both would result in,  revocation,  suspension,
adverse modification, non-renewal, impairment, restriction or termination of, or
order of  forfeiture  with  respect  to,  any  License  or (ii)  materially  and
adversely  affects or could  reasonably  be expected in the future to materially
adversely  affect  any of the  rights of the  Issuer or any of its  subsidiaries
thereunder.

                  6. To the best of such counsel's knowledge, the Issuer and its
subsidi aries have duly filed in a timely manner all material filings,  reports,
applications,  documents,  instruments and  information  required to be filed by
them under the Communications Act pertaining to the Licenses.

                  7. We are not aware of any reason to  believe  that any of the
Licenses will not be renewed in the ordinary course.

                  8. The FCC has the authority, under certain circumstances,  to
modify radio licenses that it has issued. The FCC may propose and/or adopt rules
to auction  portions of the 38.6 GHz - 40.0 GHz and  surrounding  radio spectrum
available  for  commercial  use. The FCC may also propose  and/or adopt rules to
segment portions of the 38.6 GHz - 40.0 GHz and surrounding  radio spectrum.  In
that event, the FCC may adopt changes to the existing  regulations  governing 38
GHz  licensees,  which could have an impact on the scope of the Licenses and the
operations of WCI and its  subsidiaries.  As of the date of this letter,  we are
not aware of any official FCC action that may permit or is likely to lead to the
revocation, nonrenewal, modification,


<PAGE>


                                                                           2
impairment, restriction, or suspension of any License or any right of authority
thereunder in whole or in part.


<PAGE>

                                                                             1






                          WinStar Communications, Inc.
                                 230 Park Avenue
                               New York, NY 10169






                                           December 18, 1997


Dear Sirs:

                  Reference is made to the Purchase Agreement dated December 17,
1997, among WinStar Communications, Inc., WinStar Credit Corp., Salomon Brothers
Inc and Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation (the "Purchase  Agreement").  The
parties  hereto  hereby agree that the Purchase  Agreement is hereby  amended as
follows:

                  1. Paragraph 1 of the Purchase  Agreement is hereby amended by
(i) deleting the number  "157,500"  from the fifth line thereof and inserting in
place thereof the number  "165,000"  and (ii) deleting the number  "17,500" from
the sixth line thereof and inserting in place thereof the number "10,000."

                  2. Paragraph 3 of the Purchase  Agreement is hereby amended by
deleting the words "United States Trust Company of New York" from the third line
of the  second  paragraph  thereof  and  inserting  in place  thereof  the words
"Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company."

                  Except as  amended  by this  letter  agreement,  the  Purchase
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.  This letter agreement shall be
governed by, and construed in accordance  with, the law of the State of New York
without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.

                  If the foregoing is in accordance with your
understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to us


<PAGE>

                                                                         2

one of the counterparts hereof, whereupon it will become a
binding agreement among us.

                                   Very truly yours,


                                   Winstar Communications, Inc.


                                    by
                                      --------------------------
                                      Name:
                                      Title:

                                   WinStar Credit Corp.


                                    by
                                      --------------------------
                                      Name:
                                      Title:

Accepted and agreed to as
of the date first above
written:

Salomon Brothers Inc
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation

  by Salomon Brothers Inc

    by
      -------------------------
      Name:
      Title:

<PAGE>


                                                               1



                          WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                    CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF THE POWERS,
              PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE, PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL AND
           OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF SERIES C 14 1/4% SENIOR CUMULATIVE
           EXCHANGEABLE PREFERRED STOCK DUE 2007 AND QUALIFICATIONS,
                      LIMITATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS THEREOF



- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Pursuant to Section 151 of the
                General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                  WinStar  Communications,  Inc. (the "Company"),  a corporation
organized  and  existing  under  the  General  Corporation  Law of the  State of
Delaware,  does hereby  certify that  pursuant to authority  conferred  upon the
board of  directors of the Company  (the "Board of  Directors")  by its Restated
Certificate  of  Incorporation   (hereinafter   referred  to  as  the  "Restated
Certificate  of  Incorporation"),  and  pursuant to the  provisions  of Sections
141(c)(2) and 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware,  said
Board of Directors is authorized to issue  Preferred Stock of the Company in one
or more series and has duly  approved and adopted the  following  resolution  on
December 16, 1997 (the "Resolution"):

                  RESOLVED that,  pursuant to the authority  vested in the Board
         of Directors by its Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of
         Directors does hereby create, authorize and provide for the issuance of
         Series C 14 1/4% Senior  Cumulative  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock Due
         2007, par value $.01 per share, with an Initial Liquidation  Preference
         of $1,000 per share,  initially consisting of up to 350,000 shares (the
         "Exchangeable  Preferred Stock") having the designations,  preferences,
         relative,  participating,  optional  and other  special  rights and the
         qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof that are set forth
         in the Restated  Certificate of Incorporation and in this Resolution as
         follows:

                  (a) Designation. There is hereby created out of the authorized
and  unissued  shares of  Preferred  Stock of the Company a series of  Preferred
Stock  designated as the "Series C 14 1/4% Senior  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock
Due  2007"  (the  "Exchangeable   Preferred   Stock").   The  number  of  shares
constituting the Exchangeable  Preferred Stock shall be 350,000 of which 175,000
shares (the "Initial Exchangeable Preferred Stock") shall be issuable initially


<PAGE>
                                                                           2

and of which 175,000 shares (the  "Registerable  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock")
shall be issuable  in exchange  for the  Initial  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock
pursuant  to  the  Registration  Rights  Agreement.   The  Initial  Exchangeable
Preferred Stock and the Registerable  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock are referred
to collectively as the "Exchangeable Preferred Stock".

                  (b) Rank. The Exchangeable  Preferred Stock will, with respect
to dividend rights and rights on liquidation,  winding-up and dissolution,  rank
(i) senior to all classes of Common Stock of the Company and to the Company's 6%
Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Series A Preferred Stock")
and to each other class of Capital  Stock of the Company or series of  Preferred
Stock of the Company  established  hereafter  by the Board of  Directors  of the
Company, the terms of which do not expressly provide that it ranks senior to, or
on a parity with, the  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock as to dividend  rights and
rights on liquidation,  winding-up and dissolution of the Company  (collectively
referred  to,  together  with all  classes of Common  Stock of the  Company,  as
"Junior  Stock");  (ii) on a parity  with  each  class of  Capital  Stock of the
Company or series of Preferred Stock of the Company established hereafter by the
Board of  Directors of the Company,  the terms of which  expressly  provide that
such class or series will rank on a parity with the Exchangeable Preferred Stock
as to dividend  rights and rights on  liquidation,  winding-up  and  dissolution
(collectively  referred to as "Parity Stock"); and (iii) junior to each class of
Capital  Stock of the  Company  or  series  of  Preferred  Stock of the  Company
established  hereafter by the Board of  Directors  of the Company,  the terms of
which  expressly  provide  that  such  class or series  will rank  senior to the
Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock as to dividend  rights or rights on  liquidation,
winding-up and dissolution of the Company  (collectively  referred to as "Senior
Stock").  All  claims  of the  holders  of  the  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock,
including  claims  with  respect  to  dividend  payments,  redemption  payments,
mandatory  repurchase  payments  or  rights  upon  liquidation,   winding-up  or
dissolution,  shall rank  junior to the claims of the holders of any debt of the
Company and all other creditors of the Company.

                  (c)  Dividends.  (i) The  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  will
accumulate  cumulative  preferential  dividends  from  the  Issue  Date  of  the
Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  accruing at the rate of 14 1/4% per annum of the
Accumulated Amount with respect to the Exchangeable Preferred Stock, compounded


<PAGE>


                                                                            3

semiannually on each SemiAnnual  Dividend  Accrual Date, but, except as provided
for below,  dividends on the Exchangeable Preferred Stock will not be payable in
cash.  Notwithstanding  anything  herein to the contrary,  if the Specified Debt
Satisfaction  Date shall not have occurred  before  December 15, 2002,  the rate
otherwise  applicable to the Exchangeable  Preferred Stock shall be increased by
150 basis points from December 15, 2002, until the Dividend Payment Date falling
on or after the Specified Debt Satisfaction Date.

                  In  addition  to the  dividends  described  in  the  preceding
paragraph, the Exchangeable Preferred Stock will accumulate additional dividends
(the  "Additional  Dividends")  as follows if any of the following  events occur
(each  such  event in  clauses  (A),  (B) and (C) below  being  herein  called a
"Registration  Default"): (A) if by February 5, 1998, neither the Exchange Offer
Registration  Statement nor the Shelf Registration Statement has been filed with
the SEC;  (B) if by June 20,  1998,  neither the  Registered  Exchange  Offer is
consummated nor the Shelf Registration  Statement declared effective by the SEC;
or (C) if after June 20, 1998, and after either the Exchange Offer  Registration
Statement  or the Shelf  Registration  Statement  is  declared  effective,  such
Registration  Statement  thereafter  ceases to be effective or such Registration
Statement or the related  prospectus ceases to be usable (in each case except as
permitted  below) in connection with resales of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock in
accordance  with and during the periods  specified  in the  Registration  Rights
Agreement.  Additional  Dividends  shall  accrue on the  shares of  Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock  from and  including  the date on which  any such  Registration
Default shall occur,  to but  excluding the date on which all such  Registration
Defaults have been cured, at a rate of .50% per annum of the Accumulated  Amount
of such Exchangeable Preferred Stock.

                  A Registration  Default referred to in clause (C) of paragraph
(c)(i) shall be deemed not to have  occurred and be  continuing in relation to a
Registration  Statement  or the  related  prospectus  if (i)  such  Registration
Default has  occurred  solely as a result of (x) the filing of a  post-effective
amendment to the Registration  Statement to incorporate annual audited financial
information with respect to the Company where such  post-effective  amendment is
not yet  effective and needs to be declared  effective to permit  Holders to use
the related  prospectus or (y) other material events with respect to the Company
that would need to be  described  in the  Registration  Statement or the related
prospectus and (ii) in the case of clause (y), the Company proceeds promptly and
in good faith to amend or supplement


<PAGE>


                                                                             4

the Registration Statement and related prospectus to describe such events unless
the  Company  has  determined  in good faith that  there are  material  legal or
commercial impediments in doing so; provided,  however, that in any case if such
Registration  Default  occurs  for a  continuous  period  in  excess of 45 days,
Additional  Dividends  shall be  payable  in  accordance  with  the  immediately
preceding  paragraphs of this  paragraph  (c)(i) from the day such  Registration
Default initially occurs until such Registration Default is cured.

                  Any amounts of  Additional  Dividends  due pursuant to clauses
(A), (B) or (C) of this paragraph (c)(i) or pursuant to the proviso contained in
the  preceding  sentence will be payable on the regular  dividend  payment dates
with respect to the  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock and will accrue and compound
and be  payable  on the  same  terms  and  conditions  and  subject  to the same
limitations  as pertain at such time for the payment of regular  dividends.  The
amount of Additional  Dividends for each share of  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock
will  be  determined  by  multiplying  the  Additional  Dividends  rate  by  the
Accumulated  Amount with respect to such share,  multiplied  by a fraction,  the
numerator  of which is the  number of days  such  Additional  Dividend  rate was
applicable  during  such  period  (determined  on the  basis of a  360-day  year
comprised of twelve 30-day months), and the denominator of which is 360.

                  (ii)  All  dividends  on  the  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock,
including Additional Dividends,  to the extent accrued, shall be cumulative on a
daily basis. Until such time as the Accumulated Amount becomes a fixed and final
amount pursuant to the first proviso to the definition of "Accumulated  Amount",
the dividends  accruing on the Exchangeable  Preferred Stock will be deemed paid
by the periodic adjustments  provided for in such definition.  Commencing on the
first June 15 or December 15 (each, a "Dividend Payment Date") which is at least
six  months  after  the  later  of  December  15,  2002 and the  Specified  Debt
Satisfaction  Date (the "Cash Payment Date"),  regular dividends will be payable
in cash in respect of the Exchangeable Preferred Stock at a rate per annum equal
to 14 1/4% of the Accumulated  Amount as of the Dividend  Payment Date preceding
the Cash Payment Date. Thereafter, dividends on the Exchangeable Preferred Stock
will be payable semiannually in arrears on each Dividend Payment Date or, if any
such date is not a Business  Day, on the next  succeeding  Business  Day, to the
holders of record of the  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock as of the next preceding
June 1 and December 1. All cash  dividends  are payable when, as and if declared
by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor.


<PAGE>


                                                                           5

                  (iii)  All  dividends  paid  with  respect  to  shares  of the
Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  pursuant to this paragraph (c) shall be paid pro
rata to the holders entitled thereto.

                  (iv) No dividend may be declared or paid upon,  or any sum set
apart  for  the  payment  of  dividends  upon,  any  outstanding  share  of  the
Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock with  respect to any Dividend  Period  unless all
dividends  for all  preceding  Dividend  Periods have been  declared and paid or
declared and a sufficient sum set apart for the payment of such  dividend,  upon
all outstanding shares of Exchangeable Preferred Stock.

                  (v) The Company will not (A)  declare,  pay or set apart funds
for the payment of any dividend or other distribution with respect to any Junior
Stock or (B) redeem,  purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any Junior
Stock  through a sinking  fund or  otherwise,  unless (1) all accrued and unpaid
dividends with respect to the Exchangeable  Preferred Stock and any Parity Stock
at the time such  dividends  are  payable  have been paid or funds have been set
apart for payment of such dividends and (2)  sufficient  funds have been paid or
set apart for the payment of the dividend for the current  Dividend  Period with
respect to the  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock and any Parity Stock. No dividend
may be declared or paid or set apart for the payment of dividends by the Company
on any Parity Stock for any period unless full  cumulative  dividends in respect
of each  Dividend  Period  ending on or before  such  period  shall have been or
contemporaneously  are  declared  and paid (or are deemed  declared and paid) in
full or declared  and,  if payable in cash,  a sum in cash  sufficient  for such
payment  set  apart  for  such  payment  on the  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock;
provided, however, that if accrued dividends on the Exchangeable Preferred Stock
for all prior  Dividend  Periods  have not been  paid in full then any  dividend
declared on the Exchangeable  Preferred Stock for any Dividend Period and on any
Parity  Stock will be  declared  ratably  in  proportion  to accrued  and unpaid
dividends on the Exchangeable Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock.

                  (vi)  Notwithstanding  anything  herein to the  contrary,  the
Company may declare and pay  dividends on Parity Stock or Junior Stock which are
payable  solely in  additional  shares of or by the increase in the  liquidation
value of Parity Stock or Junior Stock, as applicable,  or repurchase,  redeem or
otherwise  acquire Junior Stock in exchange for Junior Stock and Parity Stock in
exchange for Parity Stock or Junior Stock.



<PAGE>


                                                                          6

                  (vii)  Dividends  on account of arrears for any past  Dividend
Period and dividends in connection with any optional  redemption may be declared
and paid at any time, without reference to any regular Dividend Payment Date, to
holders  of record on such  date,  not more  than 45 days  prior to the  payment
thereof, as may be fixed by the Board of Directors of the Company.

                  (viii) Dividends  payable on the Exchangeable  Preferred Stock
shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day  year  consisting  of twelve  30-day
months.

                  (d)  Liquidation   Preference.   (i)  Upon  any  voluntary  or
involuntary  liquidation,  dissolution or winding-up of the Company,  holders of
Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock will be entitled to be paid, out of the assets of
the Company  available for  distribution  to its  stockholders,  the Liquidation
Preference of the outstanding  shares of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock,  plus,
without  duplication,  an amount in cash  equal to all  accumulated  and  unpaid
dividends (whether or not earned or declared and including Additional Dividends,
if any,) thereon to the date fixed for  liquidation,  dissolution  or winding-up
(including  an amount equal to a prorated  dividend for the period from the last
Dividend  Payment  Date  to the  date  fixed  for  liquidation,  dissolution  or
winding-up  that would have been payable had the  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock
been the subject of a redemption  pursuant to paragraph (e) on such date) before
any  distribution  is made on any  Junior  Stock.  If,  upon  any  voluntary  or
involuntary  liquidation,  dissolution or winding up of the Company, the amounts
payable with respect to the  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock and all Parity Stock
are not paid in full, the Exchangeable Preferred Stock and the Parity Stock will
share equally and ratably (in proportion to the respective amounts that would be
payable on such shares of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock and the Parity  Stock,
respectively,  if all  amounts  payable  thereon  had been  paid in full) in any
distribution  of assets of the Company to which each is entitled.  After payment
of the full amount of the Liquidation  Preference of the  outstanding  shares of
Exchangeable Preferred Stock (and, if applicable,  an amount equal to a prorated
dividend),  the holders of shares of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock will not be
entitled  to any  further  participation  in any  distribution  of assets of the
Company.

                  (ii) For the purposes of this paragraph (d), neither the sale,
conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other
consideration)  of all or  substantially  all of the  property  or assets of the
Company nor the consolidation or merger of the Company with


<PAGE>

                                                                          7

or into  one or  more  other  entities  shall  be  deemed  to be a  liquidation,
dissolution or winding-up of the Company.

                  (e) Redemption.  (i) Optional Redemption. (A) The Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock shall not be  redeemable  at the option of the Company prior to
December 15, 2002. On or after December 15, 2002, each share of the Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock may be  redeemed  (subject to the legal  availability  of funds
therefor) at any time, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, at the
redemption prices  (expressed as a percentage of the Accumulated  Amount of such
share)  set forth  below,  plus,  without  duplication,  accumulated  and unpaid
dividends to the date fixed for  redemption  (the  "Optional  Redemption  Date")
(including  an amount in cash equal to a prorated  dividend  for the period from
the Dividend  Payment Date  immediately  prior to the Optional  Redemption Date)
(the "Optional Redemption Price"), of such Accumulated Amount if redeemed during
the 12-month period beginning December 15 of each of the years set forth below:


Year in which redemption                                    Percentage
occurs
- --------------------------                                  -----------

2002..................................................       107.125%
2003..................................................       105.344%
2004..................................................       103.563%
2005..................................................       101.781%
2006 and thereafter...................................       100.000%



                  (B) In the event of a redemption of only a portion of the then
outstanding  shares of Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock,  the Company shall effect
such  redemption in compliance with the  requirements of the principal  national
securities  exchange,  if any,  on which  the  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock is
listed,  or if the  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock is not  listed on a  national
securities  exchange,  on a pro rata basis,  by lot or such other  method as the
Company,  in its sole  discretion,  shall deem fair and  appropriate;  provided,
however,  that the Company may redeem all of the shares held by holders of fewer
than 100 shares (or all of the shares  held by holders  who would hold less than
100 shares as a result of such redemption), as may be determined by the Company.

                  (ii)  Mandatory  Redemption.  Each  share of the  Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock  (if not  earlier  redeemed)  shall  be  subject  to  mandatory
redemption  in whole (to the extent of lawfully  available  funds  therefor)  on
December 15, 2007 (the "Mandatory Redemption Date") at a price equal to 100%


<PAGE>


                                                                            8

of the Liquidation  Preference of such share,  plus,  without  duplication,  all
accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon (including an amount in cash equal to a
prorated dividend thereon from the immediately  preceding  Dividend Payment Date
to the Mandatory Redemption Date), if any, to the Mandatory Redemption Date (the
"Mandatory Redemption Price").

                  The Company  shall take all actions  required or  permitted by
Delaware law to permit the redemption described in this paragraph (e)(ii).

                  (iii) Procedure for Redemption.  (A) On and after the Optional
Redemption  Date or the  Mandatory  Redemption  Date,  as the  case  may be (the
"Redemption Date"), unless the Company defaults in the payment of the applicable
redemption  price,  dividends will cease to accumulate on shares of Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock called for  redemption and all rights of holders of such shares
will terminate except for the right to receive the Optional  Redemption Price or
the Mandatory Redemption Price, as the case may be, without interest;  provided,
however,  that if a notice of  redemption  shall have been given as  provided in
subparagraph  (iii)(B) and the funds  necessary  for  redemption  (including  an
amount in respect of all  dividends  that will  accrue to the  Redemption  Date)
shall have been segregated and  irrevocably  set apart by the Company,  in trust
for the  benefit  of the  holders  of the shares  called  for  redemption,  then
dividends  shall cease to accumulate on the Redemption  Date on the shares to be
redeemed  and,  at the  close of  business  on the day on which  such  funds are
segregated and set apart,  the holders of the shares to be redeemed shall,  with
respect to the shares to be redeemed,  cease to be  stockholders  of the Company
and shall be  entitled  only to receive  the  Optional  Redemption  Price or the
Mandatory Redemption Price, as the case may be, for such shares without interest
from the Redemption Date.

                  (B) With respect to a redemption  pursuant to paragraph (e)(i)
or (e)(ii),  the Company will send a written notice of redemption by first class
mail to each holder of record of shares of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock,  not
fewer  than 30 days nor more than 60 days  prior to the  Redemption  Date at its
registered address (the "Redemption Notice"); provided, however, that no failure
to give such notice nor any deficiency  therein shall affect the validity of the
procedure for the redemption of any shares of Exchangeable Preferred Stock to be
redeemed  except as to the holder or holders to whom the  Company  has failed to
give said notice


<PAGE>


                                                                        9

or except as to the holder or holders whose notice was
defective.  The Redemption Notice shall state:

                  (1) whether the redemption is pursuant to
         paragraph (e)(i) or (e)(ii) hereof;

                  (2) the Optional Redemption Price or the Mandatory  Redemption
         Price, as the case may be;

                  (3) whether all or less than all the outstanding shares of the
         Exchangeable Preferred Stock are to be redeemed and the total number of
         shares of the Exchangeable Preferred Stock being redeemed;

                  (4) the Redemption Date;

                  (5) that the holder is to  surrender  to the  Company,  in the
         manner,  at the  place  or  places  and at the  price  designated,  his
         certificate or  certificates  representing  the shares of  Exchangeable
         Preferred Stock to be redeemed; and

                  (6) that dividends on the shares of the Exchangeable Preferred
         Stock to be redeemed shall cease to accumulate on such  Redemption Date
         unless the Company  defaults in the payment of the Optional  Redemption
         Price or the Mandatory Redemption Price, as
         the case may be.

                  (C)  Each  holder  of   Exchangeable   Preferred  Stock  shall
surrender  the   certificate  or  certificates   representing   such  shares  of
Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock to the Company,  duly  endorsed (or  otherwise in
proper form for transfer,  as  determined by the Company),  in the manner and at
the place  designated in the Redemption  Notice,  and on the Redemption Date the
full Optional  Redemption Price or Mandatory  Redemption  Price, as the case may
be, for such shares shall be payable in cash to the person whose name appears on
such  certificate or  certificates  as the owner thereof,  and each  surrendered
certificate  shall be canceled and  retired.  In the event that less than all of
the shares  represented by any such certificate are redeemed,  a new certificate
shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares.

                  (f) Voting Rights.  (i) The holders of Exchangeable  Preferred
Stock,  except  as  otherwise  required  under  Delaware  law or as set forth in
paragraphs  (ii) and (iii)  below,  shall not be  entitled to vote on any matter
required or permitted to be voted upon by the stockholders of the Company.



<PAGE>


                                                                          10

                  (ii) (A) If (1) dividends on the Exchangeable  Preferred Stock
are in arrears  and  unpaid for six or more  Dividend  Periods  (whether  or not
consecutive)  (a  "Dividend  Default");  (2) the  Company  fails to  redeem  the
Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock on  December  15,  2007,  or  fails to  otherwise
discharge any redemption  obligation with respect to the Exchangeable  Preferred
Stock;  (3) a breach or  violation  of any of the  provisions  set  forth  under
paragraph (l) below ("Certain  Additional  Provisions") occurs and the breach or
violation  continues for a period of 30 days or more after the Company  receives
notice  thereof  specifying  the default from the holders of at least 25% of the
shares of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock then  outstanding;  or (4) the Company
fails to pay at final maturity  (giving  effect to any applicable  grace period)
the  principal  amount of any  Indebtedness  of the  Company or any  Significant
Subsidiary or the final maturity of any such Indebtedness is accelerated because
of a default and the total  amount of such  Indebtedness  unpaid or  accelerated
exceeds $25.0 million,  then the number of directors  constituting  the Board of
Directors of the Company will, subject to paragraph (f)(ii)(E),  be increased by
two directors  and the Holders of the then  outstanding  shares of  Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock  (together  with the  holders  of Parity  Stock upon which like
rights have been  conferred and are  exercisable),  voting  separately  and as a
class,  shall  have the  right  and  power to elect  the  lesser of (x) such two
additional  directors or (y) that number of directors  constituting at least 25%
of the members of the Board of Directors.  Each such event  described in clauses
(1),(2),(3) or (4) above is a "Voting Rights Triggering Event".

                  (B) The voting rights set forth in paragraph  (f)(ii)(A) above
will  continue  until  such time as (x) in the case of a Dividend  Default,  all
dividends  in arrears on the  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock are paid in full in
cash or (y) in all other cases,  any failure,  breach or default  giving rise to
such Voting Rights  Triggering Event is remedied by the Company or waived by the
Holders  of at  least a  majority  of the  outstanding  shares  of  Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock  then  outstanding,  at which  time  the term of any  directors
elected pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (f)(ii)(A) above (subject to the
right  of  holders  of any  other  preferred  stock to  elect  directors)  shall
terminate  forthwith  and the  number  of  directors  constituting  the Board of
Directors  shall be decreased  by two (until the  occurrence  of any  subsequent
Voting  Rights  Triggering  Event).  At any  time  after  voting  power to elect
directors  shall  have  become  vested  and  be  continuing  in the  holders  of
Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  (together  with the holders of Parity Stock upon
which like rights have been conferred and


<PAGE>


                                                                           11

are exercisable)  pursuant to paragraph (f)(ii)(A) hereof, or if vacancies shall
exist in the offices of directors  elected by such holders,  a proper officer of
the Company  may,  and upon the  written  request of the holders of record of at
least 25% of the shares of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock then outstanding or the
holders of 25% of the shares of Parity  Stock then  outstanding  upon which like
rights have been confirmed and are exercisable addressed to the secretary of the
Company shall,  call a special meeting of the Holders of Exchangeable  Preferred
Stock and the  holders of such  Parity  Stock for the  purpose of  electing  the
directors which such holders are entitled to elect pursuant to the terms hereof;
provided,  however,  that no such  special  meeting  shall be called if the next
annual meeting of stockholders of the Company is to be held within 60 days after
the voting power to elect directors shall have become vested, in which case such
meeting  shall be deemed to have been  called for such next annual  meeting.  If
such meeting  shall not be called by a proper  officer of the Company  within 20
days after  personal  service to the  secretary of the Company at its  principal
executive offices, then the Holders of record of at least 25% of the outstanding
shares of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock or the holders of 25% of the shares of
Parity Stock upon which like rights have been confirmed and are  exercisable may
designate in writing one of their members to call such meeting at the expense of
the Company, and such meeting may be called by the person so designated upon the
notice required for the annual meetings of stockholders of the Company and shall
be held at the place for holding the annual meetings of stockholders. Any holder
of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock or such Parity Stock so designated  shall have,
and the Company shall  provide,  access to the lists of holders of  Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock and the holders of such Parity  Stock to be called  pursuant to
the  provisions  hereof.  If no special  meeting of the Holders of  Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock and the holders of such  Parity  Stock is called as provided in
this  paragraph  (f)(ii),  then such meeting shall be deemed to have been called
for the next annual meeting of stockholders of the Company or special meeting of
the holders of any other capital stock of the Company.

                  (C) At any meeting held for the purposes of electing directors
at which the Holders of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock (together with the holders
of Parity Stock upon which like rights have been conferred and are  exercisable)
shall have the right, voting together as a separate class, to elect directors as
aforesaid,  the  presence  in  person or by proxy of the  holders  of at least a
majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of


<PAGE>


                                                                            12

Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock (and such  Parity  Stock)  shall be  required  to
constitute a quorum thereof.

                  (D) Any vacancy  occurring in the office of a director elected
by the Holders of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock (and such Parity Stock) may be
filled  by the  remaining  director  elected  by  the  Holders  of  Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock (and such Parity  Stock) unless and until such vacancy shall be
filled by the Holders of Exchangeable Preferred Stock (and such Parity Stock).

                  (E) In the  event  that an  event  occurs  at any  time  which
results  in the  holders  of any  Parity  Stock  having  voting  rights to elect
directors to the Board of Directors,  holders of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock
shall,  whether  or  not  such  event  otherwise  constitutes  a  Voting  Rights
Triggering  Event pursuant to paragraph  (f)(ii)(A),  have the voting rights set
forth in paragraphs  (f)(ii)(A) and  (f)(ii)(B),  and such event shall be deemed
(for  purposes  of this  paragraph  (f)  only) to  constitute  a  Voting  Rights
Triggering  Event.  In  addition,  in the  event  that  during  a time in  which
directors  elected by the holders of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock pursuant to
this  paragraph  (f)(ii)  are  serving on the Board of  Directors  ("Previously-
Elected  Directors")  an event occurs  which  results in holders of Parity Stock
having voting rights to elect (voting  together with the holders of Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock) at least two directors to the Board of Directors,  the holders
of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock shall vote  together with the holders of such
Parity  Stock to elect  such new  directors,  and upon the  election  of the new
directors  the  Previously-Elected  Directors  shall  (unless  such  Previously-
Elected  Directors are elected as new directors)  cease to serve on the Board of
Directors.

                  (iii) (A) So long as any shares of the Exchangeable  Preferred
Stock are  outstanding,  the Company will not authorize,  create or increase the
authorized amount of any class or series of (1) Senior Stock or (2) Parity Stock
that has a mandatory  redemption  earlier, or an Average Life less, than that of
the  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock, in each case without the affirmative vote or
consent  of  holders  of at  least  two-thirds  of the  shares  of  Exchangeable
Preferred Stock then outstanding,  voting or consenting,  as the case may be, as
one  class,  given in person or by proxy,  either in  writing  or by  resolution
adopted at an annual or special meeting.

                  (B) So long as any shares of the Exchangeable  Preferred Stock
are  outstanding,  the Company will not amend this Certificate of Designation so
as to affect adversely


<PAGE>


                                                                         13

the  specified  rights,  preferences,  privileges or voting rights of Holders of
shares of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock or to  authorize  the  issuance of any
additional  shares of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock without the affirmative vote
or  consent of  Holders  of at least a  majority  of the issued and  outstanding
shares of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock,  voting or consenting,  as the case may
be,  as one  class,  given in  person  or by  proxy,  either  in  writing  or by
resolution adopted at an annual or special meeting.

                  (C) Except as set forth in paragraph (f)(iii)(A) or (B) above,
(x) the creation, authorization or issuance of any shares of any Junior Stock or
Parity Stock,  including the designation of a series of  Exchangeable  Preferred
Stock,  or (y) the  increase or decrease in the amount of  authorized  Preferred
Stock, shall not require the consent of Holders of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock
and shall not be deemed to affect adversely the rights, preferences,  privileges
or voting rights of shares of Exchangeable Preferred Stock.

                  (D) Prior to the exchange of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock for
Exchange  Debentures,  the  Company  shall  not  amend or  modify  the  Exchange
Indenture (except as expressly provided therein in respect of amendments without
the consent of holders of Exchange  Debentures)  without the affirmative vote or
consent  of  holders  of at  least a  majority  of the  shares  of  Exchangeable
Preferred Stock then outstanding,  voting or consenting,  as the case may be, as
one  class,  given in person or by proxy,  either in  writing  or by  resolution
adopted at an annual or special meeting.

                  (iv)  In  any  case  in  which  the  Holders  of  Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock  shall be entitled to vote  pursuant to this  paragraph  (f) or
pursuant to Delaware law, each Holder of  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock entitled
to vote with  respect to such  matters  shall be  entitled  to one vote for each
share of Exchangeable Preferred Stock held.

                  (g)  Exchange.  (i) Exchange for  Debentures.  (A) The Company
may, at its  option,  on any  scheduled  Dividend  Payment  Date  following  the
Specified Debt Satisfaction Date, exchange the Exchangeable  Preferred Stock, in
whole but not in part, for the Exchange Debentures;  provided however,  that (1)
on the date of such exchange  there are no accumulated  and unpaid  dividends on
the Exchangeable  Preferred Stock (including the dividends payable on such date)
or other  contractual  impediment  to such  exchange;  (2) there  shall be funds
legally available sufficient therefor;  and (3) the Company shall have delivered
to the Trustee under the Exchange Indenture an


<PAGE>


                                                                          14

opinion of counsel with respect to the due authorization and
issuance of the Exchange Debentures.

                  (B) Upon  any  exchange  pursuant  to this  paragraph  (g)(i),
holders of outstanding  shares of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock will be entitled
to receive $1.00  Accumulated  Amount of Exchange  Debentures  for each $1.00 of
Accumulated  Amount of  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock held by them. The Exchange
Debentures  will  be  issued  in  registered  form,  without  coupons.  Exchange
Debentures issued in exchange for Exchangeable Preferred Stock will be issued in
principal  amounts  of $1,000  and  integral  multiples  thereof  to the  extent
possible,  and will also be issued in principal amounts less than $1,000 so that
each  holder  of  Exchangeable   Preferred   Stock  will  receive   certificates
representing  the entire  amount of Exchange  Debentures  to which such holder's
shares of Exchangeable Preferred Stock entitle such holder;  provided,  however,
that the  Company  may pay cash in lieu of issuing an  Exchange  Debenture  in a
principal amount less than $1,000.

                  (ii) Procedures. (A) The Company will send a written notice of
exchange (the  "Exchange  Notice") by mail to each holder of record of shares of
Exchangeable Preferred Stock not fewer than 30 days nor more than 60 days before
the date fixed for such exchange (the "Exchange Date"); provided,  however, that
neither failure to give such notice nor any deficiency  therein shall affect the
validity  of the  procedure  for the  exchange  of any  shares  of  Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock to be exchanged  except as to the holder or holders to whom the
Company  has  failed to give said  notice or except as to the  holder or holders
whose notice was defective. The Exchange Notice shall state:

                  (1) the Exchange Date;

                  (2) that the holder is to  surrender  to the  Company,  in the
         manner  and at the  place or  places  designated,  his  certificate  or
         certificates representing the shares of Exchangeable Preferred Stock to
         be exchanged;

                  (3) that  dividends  on the shares of  Exchangeable  Preferred
         Stock to be  exchanged  shall  cease to  accrue on such  Exchange  Date
         whether or not certificates for shares of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock
         are  surrendered  for exchange on such Exchange Date unless the Company
         shall default in the delivery of Exchange Debentures; and



<PAGE>


                                                                            15

                  (4) that interest on the Exchange Debentures shall accrue from
         the  Exchange   Date  whether  or  not   certificates   for  shares  of
         Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock are  surrendered  for  exchange  on such
         Exchange Date.

                  (B) On and after the Exchange  Date,  dividends  will cease to
accrue on the outstanding shares of Exchangeable Preferred Stock, and all rights
of the  holders of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  (except the right to receive
Exchange Debentures,  an amount in cash, to the extent applicable,  equal to the
accumulated  and unpaid  dividends to the  Exchange  Date and, if the Company so
elects,  cash in lieu of any Exchange  Debenture  that is in a principal  amount
that is not an integral multiple of $1,000) will terminate.  The person entitled
to receive the Exchange  Debentures  issuable upon such exchange will be treated
for all purposes as the registered holder of such Exchange Debentures.

                  (C)  On  or  before  the   Exchange   Date,   each  holder  of
Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock shall  surrender the  certificate or certificates
representing  such shares of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock, in the manner and at
the place  designated  in the  Exchange  Notice.  The  Company  shall  cause the
Exchange  Debentures to be executed on the Exchange Date and, upon  surrender in
accordance  with the  Exchange  Notice  of the  certificates  for any  shares of
Exchangeable Preferred Stock so exchanged, duly endorsed (or otherwise in proper
form for transfer, as determined by the Company), such shares shall be exchanged
by the Company into Exchange  Debentures.  The Company shall pay interest on the
Exchange  Debentures  at the rate and on the dates  specified  therein  from the
Exchange Date.

                  (iii)  No  Exchange  in  Certain  Cases.  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing provisions of this paragraph (g), the Company shall not be entitled to
exchange  the  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock for  Exchange  Debentures  if such
exchange,  or any term or provision  of the  Exchange  Indenture or the Exchange
Debentures,  or the performance of the Company's  obligations under the Exchange
Indenture or the Exchange Debentures,  shall materially violate or conflict with
any applicable law or agreement or instrument then binding on the Company or if,
at the  time of such  exchange,  the  Company  is  insolvent  or if it  would be
rendered insolvent by such exchange.

                  (h) Change of Control.  (i) Upon the occurrence of a Change of
Control (the date of such occurrence  being the "Change of Control  Date"),  the
Company  shall  commence  and  consummate  an offer to  purchase  each  holder's
Exchangeable Preferred Stock in cash pursuant to the offer


<PAGE>


                                                                           16

described  in paragraph  (h)(iv)  (the "Change of Control  Offer") at a purchase
price  equal  to  101%  of  the  Accumulated   Amount  thereof,   plus,  without
duplication,  all accrued  and unpaid  dividends,  if any,  on such  Accumulated
Amount to the Change of Control Payment Date,  including an amount in cash equal
to a prorated dividend for the period from the Dividend Payment Date immediately
prior to the Change of  Control  Payment  Date to the Change of Control  Payment
Date.

                  (ii)  Prior  to the  mailing  of  the  notice  referred  to in
paragraph  (h)(iv),  but in any event within 30 days following the date on which
the Company knows or  reasonably  should have known that a Change in Control has
occurred, the Company covenants that it shall promptly determine if the purchase
of the Exchangeable  Preferred Stock would violate or constitute a default under
the  indebtedness of the Company and (A) repay in full all such  indebtedness of
the Company that would  prohibit the  repurchase of the  Exchangeable  Preferred
Stock pursuant to a Change of Control Offer or (B) obtain any requisite consents
under  instruments  governing  any such  indebtedness  of the  Company to permit
repurchase of the  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock. The Company shall first comply
with this paragraph (ii) before it shall repurchase Exchangeable Preferred Stock
pursuant to this paragraph (h).

                  (iii) If the Company is unable to repay or cause  repayment of
all of its indebtedness or to obtain the consents of the holders of indebtedness
as  described  in  paragraph   (h)(ii)  or  otherwise   fails  to  purchase  any
Exchangeable  Preferred Stock validly tendered as described in paragraph (h)(i),
then the Company will have  breached the covenant set forth in paragraph  (h)(i)
or (h)(ii),  as the case may be,  which breach will  constitute,  in the case of
(h)(ii),  a Voting  Rights  Triggering  Event if it continues for a period of 30
consecutive  days after written notice is given to the Company by the Holders of
at  least  25%  in  aggregate  amount  of  the   Exchangeable   Preferred  Stock
outstanding,  and, in the case of (h)(i),  a breach of the covenant  without any
waiting period or notice requirements.

                  (iv)  Within 30 days  following  the date on which the Company
knows or reasonably should have known that a Change in Control has occurred, the
Company must send, by first-class mail, postage prepaid, a notice to each holder
of Exchangeable Preferred Stock. Such notice shall state whether the Company has
elected to make an offer to purchase shares of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock and
if it has so elected,  such notice shall contain all  instructions and materials
necessary to enable such holders to tender Exchangeable Preferred Stock pursuant
to the Change of


<PAGE>


                                                                          17

Control Offer.  If the Company makes a Change of Control
Offer, such notice shall state:

                  (A) that a Change of Control  has  occurred,  that a Change of
         Control Offer is being made pursuant to this paragraph (h) and that all
         Exchangeable Preferred Stock validly tendered and not withdrawn will be
         accepted for payment;

                  (B) the  purchase  price  (including  the  amount  of  accrued
         dividends, if any) and the purchase date (which must be no earlier than
         30 days nor later  than 60 days from the date  such  notice is  mailed,
         other than as may be required by law) (the  "Change of Control  Payment
         Date");

                  (C)  that any  shares  of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  not
         tendered will continue to accrue dividends;

                  (D) that,  unless  the  Company  defaults  in  making  payment
         therefor,  any  share of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  accepted  for
         payment  pursuant to the Change of Control  Offer shall cease to accrue
         dividends after the Change of Control Payment Date;

                  (E) that holders  electing to have any shares of  Exchangeable
         Preferred Stock purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be
         required to surrender stock  certificates  representing  such shares of
         Exchangeable Preferred Stock, properly endorsed for transfer,  together
         with such other  customary  documents  as the Company and the  Transfer
         Agent may  reasonably  request to the Transfer  Agent and registrar for
         the Exchangeable Preferred Stock at the address specified in the notice
         prior to the close of business on the  Business Day prior to the Change
         of Control Payment Date;

                  (F) that holders will be entitled to withdraw  their  election
         if the Company receives, not later than five Business Days prior to the
         Change  of  Control  Payment  Date,  a  telegram,  a  telex,  facsimile
         transmission or letter setting forth the name of the holder, the number
         of shares of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock the holder  delivered  for
         purchase and a statement that such holder is  withdrawing  his election
         to have such shares of Exchangeable Preferred Stock purchased;

                  (G) that holders whose shares of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock
         are purchased only in part will be


<PAGE>


                                                                           18

         issued a new certificate representing the unpurchased
         shares of Exchangeable Preferred Stock; and

                  (H) the circumstances and relevant facts regarding such Change
         of Control (including  information with respect to pro forma historical
         income, cash flow and capitalization after giving effect to such Change
         of Control).

                  (iv) The Company will comply with any tender offer rules under
the Exchange Act which then may be applicable,  including Rules 13e-4 and 14e-1,
in  connection  with any offer made by the Company to  repurchase  the shares of
Exchangeable  Preferred Stock as a result of a Change of Control.  To the extent
that  the  provisions  of any  securities  laws  or  regulations  conflict  with
provisions of this Certificate of Designation, the Company shall comply with the
applicable  securities  laws and  regulations  and  shall  not be deemed to have
breached  its  obligations  under  this  Certificate  of  Designation  by virtue
thereof.

                  (v) On the Change of Control  Payment  Date the Company  shall
(A) accept  for  payment  the shares of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  validly
tendered  pursuant  to the Change of Control  Offer,  (B) pay to the  holders of
shares so  accepted  the  purchase  price  therefor  in cash and (C) cancel each
surrendered  certificate and retire the shares represented  thereby.  Unless the
Company  defaults in the payment for the shares of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock
tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, dividends will cease to accrue
with  respect to the shares of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  tendered and all
rights of holders of such tendered shares will  terminate,  except for the right
to receive payment therefor, on the Change of Control Payment Date.

                  (vi) To accept the Change of  Control  Offer,  the holder of a
share of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock shall deliver,  on or before the 10th day
prior to the Change of Control  Payment Date,  written notice to the Company (or
an  agent  designated  by  the  Company  for  such  purpose)  of  such  holder's
acceptance,  together with  certificates  evidencing the shares of  Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock with  respect  to which the  Change of  Control  Offer is being
accepted, duly endorsed for transfer.

                  (i)  Conversion  or  Exchange.  Except as  otherwise  provided
herein, the holders of shares of Exchangeable Preferred Stock shall not have any
rights hereunder to convert such shares into or exchange such shares for shares


<PAGE>


                                                                          19

of any other class or classes or of any other  series of any class or classes of
Capital Stock of the Company.

                  (j)  Reissuance of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock.  Shares of
Exchangeable Preferred Stock that have been issued and reacquired in any manner,
including  shares  purchased or redeemed or exchanged,  shall not be reissued as
shares of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock and shall  (upon  compliance  with any
applicable provisions of the laws of Delaware) have the status of authorized and
unissued  shares  of  Preferred  Stock  undesignated  as to  series  and  may be
redesignated  and reissued as part of any series of Preferred  Stock;  provided,
however,  that  so  long as any  shares  of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  are
outstanding,  any issuance of such shares must be in  compliance  with the terms
hereof.

                  (k) Business Day. If any payment, redemption or exchange shall
be required by the terms hereof to be made on a day that is not a Business  Day,
such payment, redemption or exchange shall be made on the immediately succeeding
Business Day.

                  (l)  Certain Additional Provisions.  The Company
covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders as
follows:

                  (i) SEC  Reports.  Whether or not the  Company is  required to
file reports with the SEC, the Company  shall file with the SEC all such reports
and other  information  as it would be required to file with the SEC pursuant to
Sec tion 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange  Act. The Company shall supply each Holder,
without cost to such Holder, copies of such reports or other information.

                  (ii)  Limitation on  Indebtedness.  (A) The Company shall not,
and  shall  not  permit  any of  its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  to,  Incur,  any
Indebtedness  (other than  Indebtedness  existing on the Issue Date);  provided,
however,  that the Company may Incur Indebtedness if, after giving effect to the
Incurrence of such  Indebtedness and the receipt and application of the proceeds
therefrom,  the Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio would be greater than zero and less
than 5:1.

                  (B)  Notwithstanding  the foregoing paragraph (A), the Company
and any Restricted  Subsidiary  (except as specified below) may Incur any or all
of the following:

                  (1) Indebtedness of the Company outstanding at any
         time in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed
         $125.0 million, less any amount of Indebtedness


<PAGE>


                                                                           20

         Incurred pursuant to this clause (1) and permanently
         repaid as provided under paragraph (l)(ix);

                  (2)   Indebtedness   (I)  to  the  Company   evidenced  by  an
         unsubordinated  promissory  note  or  (II)  to any  of  its  Restricted
         Subsidiaries;  provided,  however,  that any event which results in any
         such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any
         subsequent  transfer of such Indebtedness (other than to the Company or
         another  Restricted  Subsidiary)  shall be  deemed,  in each  case,  to
         constitute  an Incurrence  of such  Indebtedness  not permitted by this
         clause (2);

                  (3)  Indebtedness  issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds
         of  which  are  used  to   refinance   or  refund,   then   outstanding
         Indebtedness,  other than Indebtedness  Incurred under clause (1), (2),
         (5),  (6) or (8) of this  paragraph  (l)(ii)(B),  and any  refinancings
         thereof in an amount not to exceed the amount so refinanced or refunded
         (plus  premiums,  accrued  interest,  fees  and  expenses);   provided,
         however,  that Indebtedness the proceeds of which are used to refinance
         or refund  Indebtedness  that would be pari passu with, or subordinated
         in right of payment to, the Exchange  Debentures  (when  issued)  shall
         only be permitted under this clause (3) if

                           (I) in case the Indebtedness to be refinanced is pari
                  passu with the Exchange Debentures, such new Indebtedness,  by
                  its  terms or by the  terms  of any  agreement  or  instrument
                  pursuant to which such new  Indebtedness  is  outstanding,  is
                  expressly  made pari passu with,  or  subordinate  in right of
                  payment to, the Exchange Debentures,

                           (II) in case the  Indebtedness  to be  refinanced  is
                  subordinated  in right of payment to the Exchange  Debentures,
                  such new  Indebtedness,  by its  terms or by the  terms of any
                  agreement   or   instrument   pursuant   to  which   such  new
                  Indebtedness is outstanding,  is expressly made subordinate in
                  right of payment to the  Exchange  Debentures  at least to the
                  extent that the  Indebtedness to be refinanced is subordinated
                  to the Exchange Debentures and

                           (III)  such new  Indebtedness,  determined  as of the
                  date of Incurrence of such new  Indebtedness,  does not mature
                  prior  to  the  Stated  Maturity  of  the  Indebtedness  to be
                  refinanced  or  refunded,  and the  Average  Life of such  new
                  Indebtedness is at


<PAGE>


                                                                           21

                  least equal to the remaining  Average Life of the Indebtedness
                  to be refinanced or refunded;  provided further, however, that
                  in no event may  Indebtedness  of the Company be refinanced by
                  means of any Indebtedness of any Restricted  Subsidiary of the
                  Company pursuant to this clause (3);

                  (4)  Indebtedness  (I) in  respect of  performance,  surety or
         appeal bonds  provided in the ordinary  course of business,  (II) under
         Currency  Agreements and Interest Rate Agreements;  provided,  however,
         that such  agreements do not increase the  Indebtedness  of the obligor
         outstanding  at any time  other  than as a result  of  fluctuations  in
         foreign currency exchange rates or interest rates or by reason of fees,
         indemnities and compensation payable thereunder, and (III) arising from
         agreements providing for indemnification,  adjustment of purchase price
         or similar obligations, or from Guarantees or letters of credit, surety
         bonds or performance  bonds securing any  obligations of the Company or
         any of the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to such agreements,  in any
         case  Incurred in  connection  with the  disposition  of any  business,
         assets or Restricted  Subsidiary of the Company (other than  Guarantees
         of Indebtedness  Incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of
         such business,  assets or Restricted  Subsidiary of the Company for the
         purpose of financing such  acquisition),  in a principal  amount not to
         exceed  the gross  proceeds  actually  received  by the  Company or any
         Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such disposition;

                  (5) Indebtedness of the Company not to exceed, at any one time
         outstanding,  two times the Net Cash  Proceeds  received by the Company
         from and after  October 23,  1995,  from the  issuance  and sale of its
         Capital Stock (other than  Redeemable  Stock and  Preferred  Stock that
         provides  for  the  payment  of  dividends  in  cash),   including  the
         Exchangeable Preferred Stock, provided, however, that such Indebtedness
         (x) does  not  mature  prior to the  Stated  Maturity  of the  Exchange
         Debentures and has an Average Life longer than the Exchange  Debentures
         and (y) is pari passu with or subordinated to the Exchange Debentures;

                  (6)  Indebtedness  of  any  Restricted   Subsidiary   Incurred
         pursuant  to any credit  agreement  of such  Restricted  Subsidiary  in
         effect on the Issue Date (and refinancings  thereof),  up to the amount
         of the commit ment under such credit agreement on the Issue Date;


<PAGE>


                                                                          22

                  (7) Indebtedness to the extent such Indebtedness is secured by
         Liens  which  are  purchase  money or other  Liens  upon  equipment  or
         inventory  acquired  or held by the  Company  or any of its  Restricted
         Subsidiaries  taken or  obtained  by (I) the  seller  or lessor of such
         equip ment or  inventory to secure all or a part of the pur chase price
         or lease  payments  therefor  or (II) the person who makes  advances or
         incurs obligations, thereby giving value to the Company to enable it to
         purchase or acquire  rights in such  equipment or inventory,  to secure
         the  repayment of all or a part of the advances so made or  obligations
         so  incurred;  provided,  however,  that such Liens do not extend to or
         cover  any  property  or  assets  of  the  Company  or  any  Restricted
         Subsidiary other than the equipment or inventory acquired;

                  (8)  Indebtedness of any Restricted  Subsidiary not to exceed,
         at any one time  outstanding,  80% of the  accounts  receivable  net of
         reserves and allowances for doubtful accounts, determined in accordance
         with  GAAP,  of  such   Restricted   Subsidiary   and  its   Restricted
         Subsidiaries  (without  duplication);   provided,  however,  that  such
         Indebtedness  is not Guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted
         Subsidiaries;

                  (9)  Indebtedness  of the Company,  to the extent the proceeds
         thereof  are  immediately  used to  purchase  1995  Notes or 1997 Notes
         tendered  in an  offer to  purchase  made as a  result  of a Change  of
         Control; and

                  (10) the Exchange Debentures.

                  (C)  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the  Company  shall not
Incur, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to Incur, any Guarantee of
Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary.

                  (D)  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the  Company  shall not
Incur, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to Incur, any Indebtedness
which restricts the Company's  ability to pay cash dividends on, or to redeem on
December 15, 2007, the Exchangeable Preferred Stock in
accordance with its terms.

                  (E) For purposes of determining compliance with this paragraph
(l)(ii),  in the event that an item of  Indebtedness  meets the criteria of more
than one of the types of Indebtedness  described above, the Company, in its sole
discretion, shall classify such item of Indebtedness


<PAGE>


                                                                           23

and only be required to include the amount and type of such
Indebtedness in one of the above clauses.

                  (F) For  purposes  of  determining  any  particular  amount of
Indebtedness under this paragraph (l)(ii), Guarantees, Liens or obligations with
respect to letters of credit supporting  Indebtedness  otherwise included in the
determination of such particular amount shall not be included.

                  (iii)  Limitation on Senior  Subordinated  Indebted  ness. The
Company  shall  not  (1)  Incur  any  Indebtedness,   other  than  the  Exchange
Debentures,  that is  expressly  made  subordinated  in right of  payment to any
Senior Indebtedness of the Company unless such Indebtedness, by its terms and by
the terms of any agreement or instrument  pursuant to which such Indebtedness is
outstanding  is  expressly  made pari passu  with,  or  subordinate  in right of
payment to, the Exchange Debentures pursuant to provisions substantially similar
to those  contained  in the  Exchange  Indenture;  provided,  however,  that the
foregoing  limitation  shall not apply to  distinctions  between  categories  of
Senior  Indebtedness that exist by reason of any Liens or Guarantees  arising or
created  in respect  of some but not all  Senior  Indebtedness  or (2) Incur any
Indebtedness  secured by a Lien if such Indebtedness is not Senior Indebtedness,
unless  contemporaneously  therewith  effective  provision is made to secure the
Exchange  Debentures  equally and ratably with such secured  Indebtedness for so
long as such secured Indebted ness is secured by a Lien.

                  (iv) Limitation on Restricted Payments.  (A) The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

                  (1) declare or pay any  dividend or make any  distribution  on
         its Capital Stock (other than (x) dividends or distributions in respect
         of the  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock or (y) dividends or distributions
         payable solely in shares of its or such Restricted Subsidiary's Capital
         Stock (other than Redeemable Stock) held by such holders or in options,
         warrants or other rights to acquire such shares of Capital Stock) other
         than such  Capital  Stock held by the Company or any of its  Restricted
         Subsidiaries  (and other than pro rata  dividends or  distributions  on
         Common Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries);

                  (2) repurchase,  redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value
         any shares of Capital  Stock  (other  than the  Exchangeable  Preferred
         Stock) of the Company


<PAGE>


                                                                           24

         (including options,  warrants or other rights to acquire such shares of
         Capital  Stock) held by Persons other than any Wholly Owned  Restricted
         Subsidiaries of the Company;

                  (3) make any  voluntary  or  optional  principal  payment,  or
         voluntary or optional  redemption,  repur chase,  defeasance,  or other
         acquisition or retirement  for value,  of  Indebtedness  of the Company
         that is sub  ordinated in right of payment to the Exchange  Debentures;
         or

                  (4) make any Investment, other than a Permitted Investment, in
         any Person (such payments or any other actions described in clauses (1)
         through (4) being collectively  "Restricted  Payments") if, at the time
         of, and after giving effect to, the proposed Restricted Payment:

                           (I) a Default shall have occurred and be
                  continuing,

                           (II) except  with  respect to any  Investment  (other
                  than  an  Investment   consisting  of  the  designation  of  a
                  Restricted  Subsidiary  as an  Unrestricted  Subsidiary),  the
                  Company could not Incur at least $1.00 of  Indebtedness  under
                  the first  paragraph  of the  "Limitation  on  Indebted  ness"
                  covenant, or

                           (III)  the   aggregate   amount   expended   for  all
                  Restricted Payments (the amount so expended,  if other than in
                  cash,  to  be  determined  in  good  faith  by  the  Board  of
                  Directors,   whose   determination  shall  be  conclusive  and
                  evidenced by a Board Resolution) after the Deemed Closing Date
                  shall exceed the sum of (x) 50% of the aggregate amount of the
                  Adjusted   Consolidated   Net  Income  (or,  if  the  Adjusted
                  Consolidated  Net Income is a loss, minus 100% of such amount)
                  (determined  by excluding  income  resulting from transfers of
                  assets  by  the  Company  or a  Restricted  Subsidiary  to  an
                  Unrestricted  Subsidiary) accrued on a cumulative basis during
                  the period (taken as one accounting  period)  beginning on the
                  first day of the  fiscal  quarter  immediately  following  the
                  Deemed  Closing  Date and  ending  on the last day of the last
                  fiscal  quarter  preceding  the  Transaction  Date  for  which
                  reports have been filed pursuant to paragraph  (l)(i) plus (y)
                  the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds  received by the Company after
                  the Deemed


<PAGE>


                                                                         25

                  Closing  Date from the  issuance  and sale  permitted  by this
                  Certificate  of  Designation  of its Capital Stock (other than
                  Junior Stock or Redeemable Stock),  including the Exchangeable
                  Preferred  Stock,  to a Person who is not a Subsidiary  of the
                  Company,  or  from  the  issuance  to a  Person  who  is not a
                  Subsidiary  of the Company of any  options,  warrants or other
                  rights to acquire  Capital Stock of the Company (in each case,
                  exclusive of any convertible Indebtedness, Redeemable Stock or
                  any options,  warrants or other rights that are  redeemable at
                  the option of the  holder,  or are  required  to be  redeemed,
                  prior to the Stated  Maturity of the 1997 Senior  Notes,  1997
                  Senior Subordinated Notes and the Exchange  Debentures),  plus
                  (z) an amount equal to the net reduction in Investments (other
                  than  reductions  in  Permitted  Investments  and  other  than
                  reductions in  Investments  made pursuant to clause (6) or (7)
                  of paragraph (l)(iv)(B)) in any Person resulting from payments
                  of interest on Indebtedness, dividends, repayments of loans or
                  advances,  or other  transfers of assets,  in each case to the
                  Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (except to the extent any
                  such  payment  is  included  in the  calculation  of  Adjusted
                  Consolidated   Net   Income),   or  from   redesignations   of
                  Unrestricted  Subsidiaries as Restricted  Subsidiaries (valued
                  in each case as provided in the definition of  "Investments"),
                  not to exceed the amount of Investments previously made by the
                  Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Person.

                  (B) The provisions of paragraph (l)(iv)(A) shall not prohibit:

                  (1) the payment of any dividend  within 60 days after the date
         of declaration  thereof if, at said date of  declaration,  such payment
         would comply with the foregoing paragraph;

                  (2)  the   redemption,   repurchase,   defeasance   or   other
         acquisition   or  retirement   for  value  of   Indebtedness   that  is
         subordinated in right of payment to the Exchange Debentures,  including
         premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, with the proceeds of,
         or in exchange for, Indebtedness Incurred under clause (3) of paragraph
         (l)(ii)(B);

                  (3) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisi
         tion of Capital Stock of the Company (or options,


<PAGE>


                                                                           26

         warrants or other  rights to acquire  such  Capital  Stock) in exchange
         for, or out of the  proceeds of a substan  tially  concurrent  sale of,
         shares  of  Capital  Stock or  options,  warrants  or other  rights  to
         purchase such Capital Stock (in each case other than Redeemable  Stock)
         of the Company;

                  (4)  the  making  of any  other  Restricted  Payment  made  by
         exchange  for, or out of the proceeds of, a sub  stantially  concurrent
         sale of shares  of the  Capital  Stock or  options,  warrants  or other
         rights  to  acquire  such  Capital  Stock  (in  each  case  other  than
         Redeemable Stock) of the Company;

                  (5) payments or  distributions,  in the nature of satisfaction
         of   dissenters'   rights,   pursuant  to  or  in  connection   with  a
         consolidation,  merger or  transfer of assets  that  complies  with the
         provisions of the Certificate of Designation applicable to mergers, con
         solidations and transfers of all or  substantially  all of the property
         and assets of the Company;

                  (6) Investments, not to exceed $15.0 million at
         any one time outstanding;

                  (7) Investments, not to exceed $15.0 million at
         any one time outstanding, in entities, substantially
         all of the assets of which consist of
         Telecommunications Assets;

                  (8) cash payments in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares
         of Common Stock upon conversion (including mandatory conversion) of the
         Convertible Notes as provided for in the Convertible Notes Indenture;

                  (9) cash payments in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares
         of  Common  Stock  of the  Company  upon  conversion  of any  class  of
         Preferred Stock of the Company; provided,  however, that this exception
         shall not be available  with respect to more than two such  conversions
         with  respect  to any  such  class  of  Preferred  Stock  by any  given
         Affiliate of the Company; and

                  (10)  Investments  in entities  that  directly (or  indirectly
         through  subsidiaries)  own  licenses  granted  by the FCC or any other
         governmental   entity  with   authority  to  grant   telecommunications
         licenses;  pro  vided,  however,  that,  in each case the  Company or a
         Restricted  Subsidiary  shall,  at the time of making such  Investment,
         have an active role in the management or


<PAGE>


                                                                          27

         operation of such entity and in the provision of tele
         communications services by such entity;

provided,  however, that, except in the case of clauses (1) and (3) of paragraph
(l)(iv)(B),  no Voting  Rights  Triggering  Event  shall  have  occurred  and be
continuing  or occur as a  consequence  of the  actions  or  payments  set forth
herein.  Any Investments made other than in cash shall be valued, in good faith,
by the Board of Directors.  Any Investment made pursuant to clause (6) or (7) of
paragraph  (l)(iv)(B) shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding (and repaid in
full)  if and  when the  Person  in which  such  Investment  is made  becomes  a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

                  (C) Each Restricted  Payment  permitted  pursuant to paragraph
(l)(iv)(B)  (other  than  the  Restricted  Payment  referred  to in  clause  (2)
thereof),  and the Net Cash Proceeds from any issuance and sale of Capital Stock
referred to in clauses (3) or (4) shall be included in  calculating  whether the
conditions  of  paragraph  (l)(iv)(A)(4)(III)  have been met with respect to any
subsequent Restricted Payments.

                  (D) In the event the proceeds of an issuance of Capital  Stock
of the Company are used for the redemption,  repurchase or other  acquisition of
Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Exchange  Debentures or Preferred Stock
that is on a parity  with the  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  then the Net Cash
Proceeds of such issuance shall be included in paragraph (l)(iv)(A)(4)(III) only
to the extent such proceeds are not so used for such  redemption,  repurchase or
other acquisition.

                  (v)  Limitation  on Dividend  and Other  Payment  Restrictions
Affecting Restricted  Subsidiaries.  The Company shall not, and shall not permit
any Restricted  Subsidiary  to, create or otherwise  cause or suffer to exist or
become  effective any  consensual  encumbrance or restriction of any kind on the
ability of any  Restricted  Subsidiary  to (A) pay  dividends  or make any other
distributions  permitted  by  applicable  law  on  any  Capital  Stock  of  such
Restricted


<PAGE>


                                                                            28

Subsidiary owned by the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary,  (B) pay any
Indebtedness  owed to the Company or any other Restricted  Subsidiary that owns,
directly or indirectly,  any Capital Stock of such  Restricted  Subsidiary,  (C)
make loans or advances to the Company or any other  Restricted  Subsidiary  that
owns, directly or indirectly, any Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary or
(D)  transfer  any  of its  property  or  assets  to the  Company  or any  other
Restricted  Subsidiary that owns,  directly or indirectly,  any Capital Stock of
such  Restricted  Subsidiary.  The foregoing  provisions  shall not prohibit any
encumbrances or restrictions:

                  (1)  existing  on  the  Issue  Date  in  this  Certificate  of
         Designation or any other agreement in effect on the Issue Date, and any
         extensions,  refinancings, renewals or replacements of such agreements;
         provided,  however,  that the encumbrances and restrictions in any such
         extensions,   refinancings,   renewals  or  replacements  are  no  less
         favorable  in any  material  respect  to the  holders  of  Exchangeable
         Preferred Stock than those  encumbrances or restrictions  that are then
         in effect and that are being extended, refinanced, renewed or replaced;

                  (2) existing under or by reason of applicable law;

                  (3)  existing  with  respect to any Person or the  property or
         assets  of  such  Person  acquired  by the  Company  or any  Restricted
         Subsidiary,  at the  time  of such  acquisition  and  not  incurred  in
         contemplation  thereof,  which  encumbrances  or  restrictions  are not
         applicable  to any Person or the property or assets of any Person other
         than such Person or the property or assets of such Person so acquired;

                  (4) in the case of clause (D) of paragraph (l)(v),

                           (I)  that   restrict  in  a   customary   manner  the
                  subletting,  assignment  or transfer of any  property or asset
                  that is a lease,  license,  conveyance  or contract or similar
                  property or asset,

                           (II) existing by virtue of any transfer of, agreement
                  to transfer,  option or right with respect to, or Lien on, any
                  property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
                  not otherwise prohibited by this Certificate of Designation or



<PAGE>


                                                                            29

                           (III) arising or agreed to in the ordinary  course of
                  business,  not relating to any Indebtedness,  and that do not,
                  individually  or in the  aggregate,  detract from the value of
                  property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
                  in any  manner  material  to  the  Company  or any  Restricted
                  Subsidiary; or

                  (5)  with  respect  to a  Restricted  Subsidiary  and  imposed
         pursuant to an  agreement  that has been  entered  into for the sale or
         disposition  of all or substan  tially all of the Capital  Stock of, or
         property and assets of, such Restricted Subsidiary.

                  (C) Nothing  contained in this paragraph  (l)(v) shall prevent
the Company or any Restricted  Subsidiary from (i) restricting the sale or other
disposition  of  property  or assets  of the  Company  or any of its  Restricted
Subsidiaries  that secure  Indebtedness  of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries  or (ii) creating,  incurring,  assum ing or suffering to exist any
Liens otherwise  permitted under Section 4.09 of the 1997 Senior Notes Indenture
as in effect on the Deemed Closing Date.

                  (vi)  Limitation  on the Issuance and Sale of Capital Stock of
Restricted  Subsidiaries.  The Company shall not sell,  and shall not permit any
Restricted Subsidiary,  directly or indirectly,  to issue or sell, any shares of
Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary  (including options,  warrants or other
rights to purchase  shares of such Capital Stock) except (1) to the Company or a
Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary;  (2) issuances or sales to foreign nationals
of shares of Capital  Stock of foreign  Restricted  Subsidiaries,  to the extent
required by  applicable  law; (3) if,  immediately  after giving  effect to such
issuance  or sale,  such  Restricted  Subsidiary  would no longer  constitute  a
Restricted  Subsidiary;  or (4) issuances or sales of Common Stock of Restricted
Subsidiaries,  other  than the  Telecommunications  Subsidiaries,  if within six
months of each such issuance or sale, the Company or such Restricted  Subsidiary
applies  an  amount  not less  than the Net Cash  Proceeds  thereof  (if any) in
accordance with clause (I) or (II) of paragraph (l)(ix)(A)(x).

                  (vii)  Limitation  on Issuances of  Guarantees  by  Restricted
Subsidiaries.  (A) The  Company  shall not  permit  any  Restricted  Subsidiary,
directly  or  indirectly,   to  Guarantee  any   Indebtedness   of  the  Company
("Guaranteed    Indebtedness"),    unless   (1)   such   Restricted   Subsidiary
simultaneously  executes  and  delivers  a  written  agreement  providing  for a
Guarantee (a "Subsidiary Guarantee") of


<PAGE>


                                                                            30

payment of the Exchangeable  Preferred Stock and the Exchange Debentures by such
Restricted  Subsidiary and (2) such Restricted Subsidiary waives and will not in
any manner  whatsoever  claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any rights of
reimbursement,  indemnity or subrogation or any other rights against the Company
or any other Restricted Subsidiary as a result of any payment by such Restricted
Subsidiary  under  its  Subsidiary  Guarantee;  provided,  how  ever,  that this
paragraph shall not be applicable to any Guarantee of any Restricted  Subsidiary
that (x) existed at the time such Person became a Restricted  Subsidiary and (y)
was not  Incurred  in  connection  with,  or in  contemplation  of,  such Person
becoming a Restricted  Subsidiary.  If the Guaranteed  Indebtedness  is (A) pari
passu  with the  Exchange  Debentures  then  the  Guarantee  of such  Guaranteed
Indebtedness  shall be pari passu  with,  or  subordinated  to,  the  Subsidiary
Guarantee or (B)  subordinated to the Exchange  Debentures then the Guarantee of
such Guaranteed  Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the Subsidiary  Guarantee
at least to the extent that the Guaranteed  Indebtedness  is subordinated to the
Exchange Debentures.

                  (B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Subsidiary Guarantee by
a  Restricted   Subsidiary   shall  provide  by  its  terms  that  it  shall  be
automatically  and  unconditionally  released and discharged  upon (1) any sale,
exchange or  transfer,  to any Person not an  Affiliate of the Company of all of
the  Company's  and each  Restricted  Subsidiary's  Capital  Stock in, or all or
substantially  all the  assets  of,  such  Restricted  Subsidiary  (which  sale,
exchange or transfer is not prohibited by this  Indenture) or (2) the release or
discharge of the  Guarantee  which  resulted in the creation of such  Subsidiary
Guarantee, except a discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such
Guarantee.

                  (viii)   Limitation  on  Transactions  with  Shareholders  and
Affiliates.  (A) The  Company  shall not,  and shall not  permit any  Restricted
Subsidiary  to,  directly  or  indirectly   enter  into,  renew  or  extend  any
transaction  (including,  without  limitation,  the  purchase,  sale,  lease  or
exchange of property or assets, or the rendering of any service) with any holder
(or any Affiliate of such holder) of 5% or more of any class of Capital Stock of
the Company or with any Affiliate of the Company or any  Restricted  Subsidiary,
except upon fair and  reasonable  terms no less favorable to the Company or such
Restricted  Subsidiary than could be obtained,  at the time of such  transaction
or, if such transaction is pursuant to a written  agreement,  at the time of the
execution of the  agreement  providing  therefor,  in a comparable  arm's-length
transaction with a Person that is not such a holder or an Affiliate.


<PAGE>


                                                                            31

                  (B) The  provisions  of the foregoing  paragraph  (l)(viii)(A)
shall  not  prohibit  (1)  transactions  (I)  approved  by  a  majority  of  the
disinterested members of the Board of Directors or (II) for which the Company or
a Restricted  Subsidiary  obtains a written  opinion of a nationally  recognized
investment  banking firm stating that the  transaction is fair to the Company or
such Restricted  Subsidiary from a financial point of view; (2) any trans action
solely between the Company and any of its Wholly Owned  Restricted  Subsidiaries
or solely  between  Wholly  Owned  Restricted  Subsidiaries;  (3) the payment of
reasonable  fees to  directors  of the  Company  who are  not  employees  of the
Company;  (4) any  payments or other  transactions  pursuant to any  tax-sharing
agreement  between the Company and any other Person with which the Company files
a  consolidated  tax return or with which the Company is part of a  consolidated
group for tax purposes;  or (5) any  Restricted  Payments not  prohibited  under
paragraph  (l)(iv)  (other than  pursuant to clause  (iv) of the  definition  of
"Permitted  Investment" or clause (6) of paragraph  (l)(viii)).  Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any transaction covered by paragraph (l)(viii)(A) and not covered
by clauses (2) through (4) of paragraph (l)(viii), the aggregate amount of which
exceeds  $250,000 in value,  must be approved  or  determined  to be fair in the
manner provided for in clause (1)(I) or (II) above.

                  (ix) Limitation on Asset Sales.  (A) The Company will not, and
will not permit any Restricted  Subsidiary to, consummate any Asset Sale, unless
(1) the consideration  received by the Company or such Restricted  Subsidiary is
at least  equal to the fair  market  value of the assets sold or disposed of and
(2) at least 85% of the  consideration  received  consists of cash or  Temporary
Cash  Investments.  In the event and to the  extent  that the Net Cash  Proceeds
received by the Company or its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  from one or more Asset
Sales  occurring  on or  after  the  Deemed  Closing  Date in any  period  of 12
consecutive  months  exceed 10% of Adjusted  Consolidated  Net  Tangible  Assets
(determined as of the date closest to the  commencement  of such 12-month period
for which a consolidated  balance sheet of the Company and its  Subsidiaries has
been  prepared),  then the Company shall or shall cause the relevant  Restricted
Subsidiary to (x) within six months after the date Net Cash Proceeds so received
exceed 10% of  Adjusted  Consolidated  Net  Tangible  Assets (I) apply an amount
equal to such excess Net Cash Proceeds to permanently repay  Indebtedness of the
Company that is not subordinated to the Exchange Debentures,  or Indebtedness of
any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case owing to a Person other than the Company
or any of its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  or (II) invest an equal amount,  or the
amount not so applied pursuant to clause (I) (or enter


<PAGE>


                                                                           32

into a definitive  agreement committing to so invest within six months after the
date of such  agreement),  in property or assets of a nature or type or that are
used in a business  (or in a company  having  property and assets of a nature or
type, or engaged in a business)  similar or related to the nature or type of the
property  and  assets of, or the busi ness of, the  Company  and its  Restricted
Subsidiaries  exist ing on the date of such  investment  (as  determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors,  whose  determination  shall be conclusive  and
evidenced  by a Board  Resolution)  and (y) apply (no later  than the end of the
six-month  period  referred to in clause (x)) such excess Net Cash  Proceeds (to
the extent not applied pursuant to clause (x)) as provided in paragraph (ix)(B).
The amount of such  excess Net Cash  Proceeds  required  to be applied (or to be
committed to be applied) during such six-month period as set forth in clause (i)
of the  preceding  sentence  and not  applied as so  required by the end of such
period shall constitute "Excess Proceeds."

                  (B)  If,  as of  the  first  day of any  calendar  month,  the
aggregate  amount of Excess  Proceeds  not thereto  fore  subject to an Offer to
Purchase  pursuant  to  paragraph  (ix)(B)  totals at least $10.0  million,  the
Company must commence,  not later than the 15th Business Day after the first day
of such  month,  and  consummate  an Offer to  Purchase  from the holders of the
Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  on a pro  rata  basis  a  number  of  shares  of
Exchangeable Preferred Stock having an aggregate Accumulated Amount equal to the
Excess  Proceeds  on such date,  at a purchase  price per share of  Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock  equal  to 101%  of such  Accumulated  Amount  on such  date of
purchase,  plus accrued and unpaid dividends (if any) on such Accumulated Amount
to the date of purchase;  provided,  however, that no Offer to Purchase shall be
required to be commenced with respect to the Exchangeable  Preferred Stock until
the  Business  Day  following  the payment  date with respect to the offer(s) to
purchase  any 1997  Notes  and  need not be  commenced  if the  Excess  Proceeds
remaining  after  application  to the  1997  Notes  purchased  in such  Offer to
Purchase  applicable  thereto  are less than $10.0  million;  provided  further,
however,  that  (i) no  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  may be  purchased  under
paragraph  (l)(ix)  unless  the  Company  shall  have  purchased  all 1997 Notes
tendered  pursuant to the  offer(s) to purchase  applicable  thereto and (ii) no
Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  shall be  required  to be  purchased  under this
covenant to the extent,  and for so long as, such purchase is  prohibited  under
any indebtedness of the Company.

                  (x)  When Company May Merge or Transfer Assets.
The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or


<PAGE>


                                                                          33

into,  or  sell,  convey,  transfer,  lease  or  otherwise  dispose  of  all  or
substantially all of its property and assets (as an entirety or substantially an
entirety, in one transaction or a series of related transactions) to, any Person
(other than a  consolidation  or merger with or into a Wholly  Owned  Restricted
Subsidiary  with a positive net worth;  provided,  however,  that, in connection
with any such merger or consolidation, no consideration (other than Common Stock
in the surviving  Person or the Company)  shall be issued or  distributed to the
stockholders  of the  Company)  or permit  any  Person to merge with or into the
Company unless:  (A) the Company shall be the continuing  Person,  or the Person
(if other  than the  Company)  formed by such  consolidation  or into  which the
Company is merged or that  acquired  or leased such  property  and assets of the
Company shall be a corporation  organized and validly existing under the laws of
the United  States of America or any  jurisdiction  thereof and shall  expressly
assume all of the obligations of the Company on the Exchangeable Preferred Stock
and under this Certificate of Designation;  (B) immediately  after giving effect
to such  transaction,  no Default  shall have  occurred  and be continu ing; (C)
immediately  after giving  effect to such  transaction  on a pro forma basis the
Company,  or any Person  becoming  the  successor  obligor  of the  Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock,  shall have a Consolidated  Net Worth equal to or greater than
the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company immediately prior to such transaction;
(D) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis the
Company,  or any Person  becoming  the  successor  obligor  of the  Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock,  could Incur at least $1.00 of  Indebtedness  under  paragraph
(l)(ii)(A);  and  (E)  the  Company  delivers  to each  Holder  of  Exchangeable
Preferred   Stock  an  Officers'   Certificate   (attaching   the   arithmetical
computations to demonstrate compliance with clauses (C) and, if applicable, (D))
and Opinion of Counsel, in each case stating that such consolidation,  merger or
transfer complies with this provision and that all conditions precedent provided
for herein  relating to such  transaction  have been  complied  with;  provided,
however,  that  clauses  (iii) and (iv) above do not apply if, in the good faith
determination  of the Board of  Directors of the  Company,  whose  determination
shall  be  evidenced  by a  Board  Resolution,  the  principal  purpose  of such
transaction  is to change the state of  incorporation  of the Company;  provided
further,  however,  that  any such  trans  action  shall  not have as one of its
purposes the evasion of the foregoing limitations.

                  (m)  Certificates.  (i)  Form and Dating.  The Exchangeable 
Preferred Stock and the Transfer Agent's certificate of authentication shall be
substantially in the form of Exhibit A, which is hereby incorporated in and


<PAGE>


                                                                           34

expressly  made a part of this  Certificate  of  Designation.  The  Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock  certificate  may  have  notations,  legends,  or  endorsements
required  by law,  stock  exchange  rule,  agreements  to which the  Company  is
subject,  if  any,  or  usage  (provided  that  any  such  notation,  legend  or
endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Company). Each Exchangeable Preferred
Stock  certificate shall be dated the date of its  authentication.  The terms of
the Exchangeable  Preferred Stock certificate set forth in Exhibit A are part of
the terms of this Certificate of Designation.

                  (A)  Global   Exchangeable   Preferred   Stock.   Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock shall be issued  initially in the form of one or more permanent
global  certificates  in  definitive,  fully  registered  form without  interest
coupons with the global securities  legend and restricted  securities legend set
forth in Exhibit A hereto (each, a "Global Security"),  which shall be deposited
on behalf of the  purchasers of the  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  represented
thereby  with  the  Securities  Custodian,  and  registered  in the  name of the
Depositary  or a nominee of the  Depositary,  duly  executed  by the Company and
authenticated  by the Transfer  Agent as  hereinafter  provided.  The  aggregate
number of shares of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  represented  by the  Global
Securities may from time to time be increased or decreased by  adjustments  made
on the  records  of the  Transfer  Agent and the  Depositary  or its  nominee as
hereinafter provided.

                  (B)  Book-Entry  Provisions.  This paragraph  (m)(i)(B)  shall
apply only to a Global Security deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary.

                  The Company  shall  execute and the Transfer  Agent shall,  in
accordance  with  this  paragraph  (m)(i)(B)  and  pursuant  to an  order of the
Company,  authenticate and deliver  initially one or more Global Securities that
(a) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary  for such Global  Security
or  Global  Securities  or the  nominee  of such  Depository  and (b)  shall  be
delivered  by the  Transfer  Agent  to  such  Depository  or  pursuant  to  such
Depository's instructions or held by the Transfer Agent as Securities Custodian.

                  Members  of,  or  participants  in,  the  Depositary   ("Agent
Members")  shall  have no rights  under this  Certificate  of  Designation  with
respect to any Global  Security held on their behalf by the Depositary or by the
Transfer Agent as the Securities  Custodian or under such Global  Security.  The
Depositary  may be treated by the Company,  the Transfer  Agent and any agent of
the Company or


<PAGE>


                                                                            35

the  Transfer  Agent as the  absolute  owner  of such  Global  Security  for all
purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent
the  Company,  the  Transfer  Agent or any agent of the Company or the  Transfer
Agent  from  giving  effect  to  any  written  certification,   proxy  or  other
authorization  furnished by the Depositary or impair,  as between the Depositary
and its Agent Members,  the operation of customary  practices of such Depository
govern ing the  exercise of the rights of a holder of a  beneficial  interest in
any Global Security.

                  (C)  Definitive   Exchangeable   Preferred  Stock.  Except  as
otherwise  provided by  applicable  law or as provided in paragraph  (m)(iii) or
paragraph (m)(iv),  owners of beneficial interests in Global Securities will not
be entitled to receive  physical  delivery of shares of  Exchangeable  Preferred
Stock in certificated form ("Certificated Exchangeable Preferred Stock").

                  (ii) Authentication. The Transfer Agent shall authenticate and
deliver: (1) 175,000 shares of Initial Exchangeable Preferred Stock for original
issue and (2) Exchange  Securities for issue only in a Registered Exchange Offer
or a Private Exchange pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement,  for a like
Accumulated Amount of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock, upon a written order of the
Company  signed  by two  Officers  or by an  Officer  and  either  an  Assistant
Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company. Such order shall specify the
amount of the Securities to be authenticated  and the date on which the original
issue of Securities is to be authenticated  and whether the Securities are to be
Initial Exchangeable Preferred Stock or Exchange Securities.

                  (iii)  Transfer  and  Exchange.  (A)  Transfer and Exchange of
Definitive  Securities.  When a Definitive Security is presented to the Transfer
Agent with a request to register the transfer of such Definitive  Security or to
exchange  such  Definitive  Security for an equal number of shares of Definitive
Security of other  authorized  denominations,  the Transfer Agent shall register
the transfer or make the exchange as  requested if its  reasonable  requirements
for such transaction are met; provided,  however,  that the Definitive  Security
surrendered for transfer or exchange:

                  (1)  shall  be  duly  endorsed  or  accompanied  by a  written
         instrument of transfer in form  reasonably  satisfactory to the Company
         and the  Transfer  Agent,  duly  executed by the Holder  thereof or its
         attorney duly authorized in writing; and


<PAGE>


                                                                           36

                  (2) is being transferred or exchanged pursuant to an effective
         registration  statement under the Securities Act, pursuant to paragraph
         (m)(iii)(B)  or  pursuant to clause (I),  (II) or (III)  below,  and is
         accompanied by the following additional information and
         documents, as applicable:

                           (I) if such Definitive Security is being delivered to
                  the Transfer Agent by a Holder for registration in the name of
                  such  Holder,  without  transfer,  a  certification  from such
                  Holder to that effect; or

                           (II) if such Definitive Security is being transferred
                  to the Company, a certification to that effect; or

                           (III)   if  such   Definitive   Security   is   being
                  transferred  pursuant to an  exemption  from  registration  in
                  accordance  with Rule 144 or Regulation S under the Securities
                  Act,  (i) a  certification  to  that  effect  and  (ii) if the
                  Company so requests,  an Opinion of Counsel or other  evidence
                  reasonably  satisfactory  to it as to the compliance  with the
                  restrictions  set forth in the legend  set forth in  paragraph
                  (m)(iii)(D)(i).

                  (B)  Restrictions  on Transfer of Definitive  Securities for a
Beneficial  Interest  in Global  Securities.  Definitive  Securities  may not be
exchanged  for  a  beneficial   interest  in  a  Global   Security  except  upon
satisfaction of the requirements  set forth below.  Upon receipt by the Transfer
Agent of  Definitive  Securities,  duly  endorsed  or  accompanied  by a written
instrument of transfer in form  reasonably  satisfactory  to the Company and the
Transfer Agent, together with:

                  (1)  certification  that  such  Definitive  Security  is being
         transferred  (I) to a QIB in accordance  with Rule 144A, (II) to an IAI
         that has  furnished to the Transfer  Agent a signed  letter  containing
         certain  representations  or (III)  outside  the  United  States  in an
         offshore  transaction  within  the  meaning  of  Regulation  S  and  in
         compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act; and

                  (2) written instructions directing the Transfer Agent to make,
         or to direct the  Securities  Custodian to make,  an  adjustment on its
         books and records with


<PAGE>


                                                                          37

         respect to such Global Security to reflect an increase in the number of
         shares  of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  represented  by the  Global
         Security,  such  instructions  to  contain  information  regarding  the
         Depositary account to be credited with such increase,

then the Transfer  Agent shall  cancel such  Definitive  Security and cause,  or
direct the  Securities  Custodian  to cause,  in  accordance  with the  standing
instructions  and procedures  existing between the Depositary and the Securities
Custodian,  the number of shares of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock represented by
the Global  Security to be increased  by the number of shares of the  Definitive
Securities  to be  exchanged  and shall  credit or cause to be  credited  to the
account of the Person  specified in such  instructions a beneficial  interest in
the Global Security equal to the number of shares  represented by the Definitive
Securities. If no Global Securities are then outstanding and the Global Security
has not been previously  exchanged  pursuant to paragraph  (m)(iv),  the Company
shall issue and the Transfer Agent shall authenticate, upon written order of the
Company  in  the  form  of  an  Officers'  Certificate,  a new  Global  Security
representing the appropriate number of shares.

                  (C) Transfer and Exchange of Global Securities.

                  (i)  The  transfer  and  exchange  of  Global   Securities  or
         beneficial  interests therein shall be effected through the Depositary,
         in  accordance   with  this   Certificate  of  Designation   (including
         applicable  restrictions on transfer set forth herein,  if any) and the
         procedures  of the  Depositary  therefor.  A transferor of a beneficial
         interest in a Global  Security  shall  deliver a written order given in
         accordance  with the  Depositary's  procedures  containing  information
         regarding the participant account of the Depositary to be credited with
         a beneficial  interest in the Global Security and such account shall be
         credited  in  accordance  with  such  instructions  with  a  beneficial
         interest in the Global  Security  and the account of the Person  making
         the  transfer  shall be  debited by an amount  equal to the  beneficial
         interest in the Global  Security  being  transferred.  In the case of a
         transfer of a beneficial  interest in a Global  Security to an IAI, the
         transferee   must  furnish  a  signed  letter  to  the  Transfer  Agent
         containing  certain  representations  and agreements (the form of which
         letter can be obtained from the Company).



<PAGE>


                                                                            38

                  (ii) If the  proposed  transfer is a transfer of a  beneficial
         interest  in one Global  Security to a  beneficial  interest in another
         Global  Security,  the  Transfer  Agent shall  reflect on its books and
         records the date and an increase in the number of shares represented by
         the Global  Security to which such interest is being  transferred in an
         amount  equal to the  number of shares  to be so  transferred,  and the
         Transfer  Agent  shall  reflect on its books and records the date and a
         corresponding  decrease in the number of shares  represented  by Global
         Security from which such interest is being transferred.

                  (iii)  Notwithstanding  any other provisions of this paragraph
         (m) (other  than the  provisions  set forth in  paragraph  (m)(iv)),  a
         Global  Security  may  not be  transferred  as a  whole  except  by the
         Depositary  to a  nominee  of the  Depositary  or by a  nominee  of the
         Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by
         the  Depositary  or any such  nominee to a  successor  Depository  or a
         nominee of such successor Depository.

                  (iv) In the event  that a Global  Security  is  exchanged  for
         Securities in definitive  registered form pursuant to paragraph (m)(iv)
         prior  to  the  consummation  of a  Registered  Exchange  Offer  or the
         effectiveness  of a Shelf  Registration  Statement with respect to such
         Securities,  such  Securities may be exchanged only in accordance  with
         such procedures as are substantially  consistent with the provisions of
         this paragraph (m)(iii)  (including the certification  requirements set
         forth  on the  reverse  of the  Initial  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock
         intended  to  ensure  that  such  transfers   comply  with  Rule  144A,
         Regulation S or such other applicable exemption from registration under
         the  Securities  Act, as the case may be) and such other  procedures as
         may from time to time be adopted by the Company.

                  (D)  Legend.

                  (i) Except as  permitted  by the  following  para graphs (ii),
         (iii), (iv) and (vi), each certificate evidencing the Global Securities
         and the Definitive  Securities  (and all Securities  issued in exchange
         therefor  or  in   substitution   thereof)   shall  bear  a  legend  in
         substantially the following form:

         "THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 
         1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES


<PAGE>


                                                                          39

         ACT"). THE HOLDER HEREOF,  BY PURCHASING THIS SECURITY,  AGREES FOR THE
         BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE RESOLD, PLEDGED OR
         OTHERWISE  TRANSFERRED  (X)  PRIOR  TO THE  SECOND  ANNIVERSARY  OF THE
         ISSUANCE HEREOF (OR A PREDECESSOR SECURITY HERETO) OR (Y) BY ANY HOLDER
         THAT WAS AN  AFFILIATE  OF THE  COMPANY  AT ANY TIME  DURING  THE THREE
         MONTHS  PRECEDING THE DATE OF SUCH TRANSFER,  IN EITHER CASE OTHER THAN
         (1) TO THE COMPANY, (2) SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE
         PURSUANT  TO RULE 144A UNDER THE  SECURITIES  ACT ("RULE  144A"),  TO A
         PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL
         BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR
         FOR THE  ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED  INSTITUTIONAL  BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS
         GIVEN  THAT THE  RESALE,  PLEDGE  OR OTHER  TRANSFER  IS BEING  MADE IN
         RELIANCE  ON  RULE  144A  (AS  INDICATED  BY  THE  BOX  CHECKED  BY THE
         TRANSFEROR  ON THE  CERTIFICATE  OF  TRANSFER  ON THE  REVERSE  OF THIS
         SECURITY), (3) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION
         S UNDER THE  SECURITIES  ACT (AS  INDICATED  BY THE BOX  CHECKED BY THE
         TRANSFEROR  ON THE  CERTIFICATE  OF  TRANSFER  ON THE  REVERSE  OF THIS
         SECURITY),  (4) TO AN INSTITUTION  THAT IS AN "ACCREDITED  INVESTOR" AS
         DEFINED IN RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (AS
         INDICATED BY THE BOX CHECKED BY THE  TRANSFEROR ON THE  CERTIFICATE  OF
         TRANSFER  ON THE  REVERSE  OF THIS  SECURITY)  THAT IS  ACQUIRING  THIS
         SECURITY  FOR  INVESTMENT  PURPOSES  AND  NOT FOR  DISTRIBUTION,  AND A
         CERTIFICATE  WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY IS DELIVERED BY THE
         TRANSFEREE  TO THE COMPANY AND THE TRANSFER  AGENT,  (5) PURSUANT TO AN
         EXEMPTION FROM  REGISTRATION  UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE
         144 (IF  APPLICABLE)  UNDER THE  SECURITIES  ACT, OR (6) PURSUANT TO AN
         EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH CASE
         IN ACCORDANCE  WITH ANY APPLICABLE  SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE
         UNITED  STATES.  AN  INSTITUTIONAL  ACCREDITED  INVESTOR  HOLDING  THIS
         SECURITY  AGREES IT WILL FURNISH TO THE COMPANY AND THE TRANSFER  AGENT
         SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS THEY MAY REASONABLY  REQUIRE
         TO CONFIRM THAT ANY TRANSFER BY IT OF THIS  SECURITY  COMPLIES WITH THE
         FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. THE HOLDER HEREOF, BY PURCHASING THIS SECURITY,
         REPRESENTS  AND AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY  THAT IT IS (1) A
         QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A OR (2) AN
         INSTITUTION  THAT  IS AN  "ACCREDITED  INVESTOR"  AS  DEFINED  IN  RULE
         501(a)(1),  (2),  (3) OR (7)  UNDER THE  SECURITIES  ACT AND THAT IT IS
         HOLDING THIS SECURITY FOR INVESTMENT  PURPOSES AND NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION
         OR (3) A NON-U.S.  PERSON  OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING
         OF (OR AN ACCOUNT SATISFYING THE REQUIREMENTS OF PARAGRAPH (o)(2) OF


<PAGE>


                                                                            40

         
         RULE 902 UNDER) REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT."

                  Each   Definitive   Security  will  also  bear  the  following
additional legend:

                  "IN CONNECTION  WITH ANY TRANSFER,  THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO
                  THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH  CERTIFICATES  AND OTHER
                  INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER  AGENT MAY REASONABLY  REQUIRE TO
                  CONFIRM  THAT  THE  TRANSFER   COMPLIES   WITH  THE  FOREGOING
                  RESTRICTIONS."

                  (ii)  Upon  any  sale or  transfer  of a  Transfer  Restricted
         Security (including any Transfer  Restricted Security  represented by a
         Global Security) pursuant to
         Rule 144 under the Securities Act:

                           (A) in the case of any Transfer  Restricted  Security
                  that is a Definitive Security,  the Registrar shall permit the
                  Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer  Restricted  Security
                  for a Definitive  Security  that does not bear the legends set
                  forth  above and rescind any  restriction  on the  transfer of
                  such Transfer Restricted Security; and

                           (B) in the case of any Transfer  Restricted  Security
                  that is represented by a Global Security,  the Registrar shall
                  permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted
                  Security  for a  Definitive  Security  that  does not bear the
                  legends set forth above and  rescind  any  restriction  on the
                  transfer of such Transfer Restricted Security,

in either case,  if the Holder  certifies in writing to the Transfer  Agent that
its  request  for  such  exchange  was  made  in  reliance  on  Rule  144  (such
certification  to be in the  form  set  forth  on  the  reverse  of the  Initial
Security).

                  (iii) After a transfer  of any  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock
         during  the  period  of  the  effectiveness  of  a  Shelf  Registration
         Statement  with  respect  to such  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock,  all
         requirements pertaining to legends on such Exchangeable Preferred Stock
         will  cease  to  apply,  the  requirements   requiring  that  any  such
         Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock be issued in global  form will  cease to
         apply, and Exchangeable  Preferred Stock in certificated or global form
         without  legends will be available to the  transferee  of the Holder of
         such Exchangeable Preferred Stock upon


<PAGE>


                                                                           41

         exchange  of  such  transferring  Holder's  certificated   Exchangeable
         Preferred  Stock.  Upon  the  occurrence  of any  of the  circumstances
         described  in this  paragraph,  the Company  will  deliver an Officers'
         Certificate to the Transfer Agent instructing the Transfer Agent to
         issue Securities without legends.

                  (iv) Upon the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer with
         respect to the  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock pursuant to which certain
         Holders  of such  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock are  offered  Exchange
         Securities  in exchange for their  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock,  all
         requirements  pertaining  to such  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  that
         Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock be issued in global  form will  cease to
         apply,   and  certificated   Exchangeable   Preferred  Stock  with  the
         restricted  securities  legend  set forth in  Exhibit A hereto  will be
         available to Holders of such  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock that do not
         exchange their Exchangeable Preferred Stock, and Exchange Securities in
         certificated  or global form will be available to Holders that exchange
         such  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock in such Registered  Exchange Offer.
         Upon  the  occurrence  of any of the  circumstances  described  in this
         paragraph,  the Company will deliver an  Officers'  Certificate  to the
         Transfer  Agent  instructing  the  Transfer  Agent to issue  Securities
         without legends.

                  (v) Upon the  consummation of a Private  Exchange with respect
         to the  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock pursuant to which Holders of such
         Exchangeable Preferred Stock are offered Private Exchange Securities in
         exchange  for their  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock,  all  requirements
         pertaining  to such  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  that  Exchangeable
         Preferred Stock issued to certain Holders be issued in global form will
         continue to apply, and Private Exchange  Securities in global form will
         be available to Holders that exchange such Exchangeable Preferred Stock
         in such Private Exchange.

                  (vi) Upon a sale or  transfer  of any  Exchangeable  Preferred
         Stock acquired pursuant to Regulation S, all requirements pertaining to
         legends on such  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock will cease to apply, the
         requirements  requiring any such Exchangeable Preferred Stock be issued
         in global form will cease to apply, and Exchangeable Preferred Stock in
         certificated or global form without the restricted security legend will
         be  available  to the  transferee  of the  Holder of such  Exchangeable
         Preferred Stock.



<PAGE>


                                                                            42

                  (E) Cancelation or Adjustment of Global Security. At such time
as all beneficial  interests in a Global Security have either been exchanged for
certificated or Definitive Securities,  redeemed,  repurchased or canceled, such
Global  Security  shall be returned by the  Depositary to the Transfer Agent for
cancelation or retained and canceled by the Transfer Agent. At any time prior to
such cancelation,  if any beneficial  interest in a Global Security is exchanged
for certificated or Definitive  Securities,  redeemed,  repurchased or canceled,
the number of shares of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock represented by such Global
Security  shall be  reduced  and an  adjustment  shall be made on the  books and
records of the Transfer Agent (if it is then the  Securities  Custodian for such
Global Security) with respect to such Global Security,  by the Transfer Agent or
the Securities Custodian, to reflect such reduction.

                  (F)  Obligations with Respect to Transfers and
Exchanges of Securities.

                  (i) To permit  registrations  of transfers and exchanges,  the
         Company  shall  execute  and  the  Transfer  Agent  shall  authenticate
         certificated Securities, Definitive Securities and Global Securities at
         the Transfer Agent's request.

                  (ii) No service charge shall be made for any  registration  of
         transfer  or  exchange,  the  Company  may  require  payment  of a  sum
         sufficient to cover any transfer tax,  assessments  or similar or other
         governmental  charge  payable in connection  with any  registration  of
         transfer or exchange of Exchangeable Preferred Stock.

                  (iii) The Transfer Agent shall not be required to register the
         transfer of or exchange of any Security for a period  beginning 15 days
         before the mailing of a notice of  redemption or an offer to repurchase
         Securities or 15 days before an interest payment date.

                  (iv)  Prior  to the  due  presentation  for  registra  tion of
         transfer of any  Security,  the  Company,  the  Transfer  Agent and the
         Paying  Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name a Security is
         registered  as the absolute  owner of such  Security for the purpose of
         receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Security and for
         all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security is overdue,
         and none of the Company,  the Trustee,  the Paying Agent,  the Transfer
         Agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.



<PAGE>


                                                                          43

                  (v) All  Securities  issued  upon  any  transfer  or  exchange
         pursuant  to the  terms of this  Certificate  of  Designation  shall be
         entitled to the same benefits under this  Certificate of Designation as
         the Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

                  (G)  No Obligation of the Transfer Agent.

                  (i)  The  Transfer  Agent  shall  have  no  responsibility  or
         obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global  Security,  a member of,
         or a participant  in the Depositary or any other Person with respect to
         the accuracy of the records of the  Depositary or its nominee or of any
         participant or member thereof,  with respect to any ownership  interest
         in the  Securities or with respect to the delivery to any  participant,
         member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of
         any notice  (including  any notice of redemption or  repurchase) or the
         payment of any amount,  under or with respect to such  Securities.  All
         notices and  communications to be given to the Holders and all payments
         to be made to Holders under the Securities  shall be given or made only
         to the registered Holders (which shall be the Depositary or its nominee
         in the case of a Global  Security).  The rights of beneficial owners in
         any Global  Security  shall be exercised  only  through the  Depositary
         subject to the applicable  rules and procedures of the Depositary.  The
         Transfer  Agent may rely and shall be fully  protected  in relying upon
         information  furnished by the  Depositary  with respect to its members,
         participants and any beneficial owners.

                  (ii) The Transfer  Agent shall have no  obligation  or duty to
         monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on
         transfer  imposed  under  this  Certificate  of  Designation  or  under
         applicable  law with  respect to any  transfer  of any  interest in any
         Security   (including  any  transfers   between  or  among   Depository
         participants,  members or  beneficial  owners in any  Global  Security)
         other  than  to  require  delivery  of  such   certificates  and  other
         documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if
         and when  expressly  required  by,  the  terms of this  Certificate  of
         Designation,   and  to  examine  the  same  to  determine   substantial
         compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

         (iv)  Certificated Securities

                  (A) A Global  Security  deposited  with the Depositary or with
the Transfer Agent as Securities


<PAGE>


                                                                            44

Custodian  pursuant to paragraph  (m)(i) shall be  transferred to the beneficial
owners thereof in the form of  certificated  Securities in a number of shares of
Exchangeable  Preferred Stock representing such Global Security, in exchange for
such Global Security, only if such transfer complies with paragraph (m)(iii) and
(i) the  Depositary  notifies  the  Company  that it is  unwilling  or unable to
continue  as a  Depository  for  such  Global  Security  or if at any  time  the
Depositary ceases to be a "clearing  agency"  registered under the Exchange Act,
and a successor  depositary  is not  appointed by the Company  within 90 days of
such  notice,  or (ii) a Voting  Rights  Triggering  Event has  occurred  and is
continuing or (iii) the Company,  in its sole discretion,  notifies the Transfer
Agent in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of certificated Securities
under this Certificate of Designation.

                  (B) Any Global Security that is transferable to the beneficial
owners thereof  pursuant to this  paragraph  (m)(iv) shall be surrendered by the
Depositary to the Transfer Agent, to be so transferred, in whole or from time to
time in part,  without  charge,  and the Transfer Agent shall  authenticate  and
deliver,  upon such transfer of each portion of such Global  Security,  an equal
amount of shares of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  represented by certificated
Securities  of  authorized  denominations.  Any  portion  of a  Global  Security
transferred  pursuant to this  paragraph  shall be executed,  authenticated  and
delivered only in denominations of $1,000 and any integral  multiple thereof and
registered  in  such  names  as  the  Depositary   shall  direct.   Certificated
Exchangeable Preferred Stock delivered in exchange for an interest in the Global
Security shall, except as otherwise provided by paragraph (m)(iii)(D),  bear the
restricted securities legend set forth in Exhibit 4 hereto.

                  (C) Subject to the  provisions  of paragraph  (m)(iv)(B),  the
registered Holder of a Global Security may grant proxies and otherwise authorize
any Person,  including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through
Agent Members,  to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this
Certificate of Designation or the Securities.

                  (D) In the event of the  occurrence  of  either of the  events
specified in paragraph  (m)(iv)(A)(ii)  or (iii), the Company will promptly make
available to the Transfer Agent a reasonable  supply of certificated  Securities
in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons.



<PAGE>


                                                                          45

                  (n)  Certain  Definitions.  As  used in  this  Certificate  of
Designation,  the  following  terms shall have the  following  meanings (and (1)
terms defined in the singular have  comparable  meanings when used in the plural
and vice versa, (2) "including" means including without limitation,  (3) "or" is
not exclusive and (4) an accounting  term not otherwise  defined has the meaning
assigned to it in accordance with United States  generally  accepted  accounting
principles as in effect on the Issue Date and all accounting  calculations  will
be determined in accordance with such principles),  unless the content otherwise
requires:

                  "1995 Notes" means the 1995 Senior Notes and the
Convertible Notes.

                  "1997  Notes"  means the 1997  Senior  Notes,  the 1997 Senior
Subordinated Notes and the Equipment Notes.

                  "1995 Senior  Notes" means the 14% Senior  Discount  Notes due
2005 of the Company.

                  "1997 Senior Notes" means the 14 1/2% Senior Deferred Interest
Notes Due 2005 of the Company.

                  "1997 Senior Notes  Indenture" means the Indenture dated March
1, 1997,  between the Company and United States Trust Company of New York,  with
respect to the 1997 Senior Notes.

                  "1997 Senior Subordinated Notes" means the 15%
Senior Subordinated Deferred Interest Notes Due 2007 of the
Company.

                  "Accumulated  Amount"  means,  as of any date (the  "Specified
Date"),   the  amount  provided  below  with  respect  to  each  $1,000  Initial
Liquidation Preference of Exchangeable
Preferred Stock:

                  (i) If the Specified Date occurs on one of the following dates
         (each, a "SemiAnnual  Dividend Accrual Date"),  the Accumulated  Amount
         will  equal the  amount set forth  below for such  SemiAnnual  Dividend
         Accrual Date:


SemiAnnual Dividend                                                 Accumulated
Accrual Date                                                        Amount
- ----------------------                                              -----------
June 15, 1998                                                       $1,068.387
December 15, 1998                                                    1,144.509
June 15, 1999                                                        1,226.055



<PAGE>

                                                                           46

SemiAnnual Dividend                                                 Accumulated
Accrual Date                                                        Amount
- ----------------------                                              -----------

December 15, 1999                                                    1,313.412
June 15, 2000                                                        1,406.992
December 15, 2000                                                    1,507.241
June 15, 2001                                                        1,614.632
December 15, 2001                                                    1,729.674
June 15, 2002                                                        1,852.913
December 15, 2002                                                    1,984.933
June 15, 2003                                                        2,141.247
December 15, 2003                                                    2,309.870
June 15, 2004                                                        2,491.772
December 15, 2004                                                    2,687.999
June 15, 2005                                                        2,899.679
December 15, 2005                                                    3,128.029
June 15, 2006                                                        3,374.361
December 15, 2006                                                    3,640.092
June 15, 2007                                                        3,926.750
December 15, 2007                                                    4,235.981

                  (ii) if the Specified Date occurs before the first  SemiAnnual
         Dividend Accrual Date, the Accumulated Amount will equal the sum of (A)
         the  Initial  Liquidation  Preference  and (B) an  amount  equal to the
         product of (1) the Accumulated Amount for the first SemiAnnual Dividend
         Accrual Date less the Initial Liquidation  Preference multiplied by (2)
         a fraction,  the  numerator of which is the number of days elapsed from
         the Issue Date to the  Specified  Date,  using a 360-day year of twelve
         30-day months,  and the denominator of which is the number of days from
         the Issue Date to the first  SemiAnnual  Dividend Accrual Date, using a
         360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

                  (iii) if the  Specified  Date occurs  between  two  SemiAnnual
         Dividend  Accrual Dates,  the Accumulated  Amount will equal the sum of
         (A) the  Accumulated  Amount for the SemiAnnual  Dividend  Accrual Date
         immediately  preceding  such  Specified Date and (B) an amount equal to
         the product of (1) the Accumulated Amount for the immediately following
         SemiAnnual  Dividend  Accrual Date less the Accumulated  Amount for the
         immediately pre ceding  SemiAnnual  Dividend Accrual Date multiplied by
         (2) a fraction,  the  numerator  of which is the number of days elapsed
         from the immediately  preceding SemiAnnual Dividend Accrual Date to the
         Specified Date,  using a 360-day year or twelve 30-day months,  and the
         denominator of which is 180; or

                  (iv) if the  Specified  Date occurs after the last  SemiAnnual
         Dividend   Accrual  Date,  the   Accumulated   Amount  will  equal  the
         Accumulated Amount as of the last
         SemiAnnual Dividend Accrual Date;


<PAGE>


                                                                          47

provided,  however,  that at all times on and after the  Dividend  Payment  Date
immediately  preceding the Cash Payment Date, the Accumulated Amount shall equal
the Accumulated Amount as of such Dividend Payment Date; and provided,  further,
that if the rate applicable to the Exchangeable  Preferred Stock shall have been
increased  pursuant to (1) paragraph  (c)(i),  the  Accumulated  Amount shall be
recal culated as if dividends with respect to the  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock
had been  accruing at a rate of 15 3/4% from  December 15, 2002, to the Dividend
Payment Date falling on or after the Specified Debt  Satisfaction Date or (2) as
a result of a Registration Default, the Accumulated Amount shall be recalculated
as if  dividends  with  respect  to the  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock had been
accruing at a rate of 14 3/4% from the date of such Registration  Default to but
excluding the date all Registration Defaults have been cured.

                  "Adjusted  Consolidated Net Income" means, for any period, the
aggregate  net income (or loss) of the Company and its  Restricted  Subsidiaries
for such period determined in conformity with GAAP; provided,  however, that the
following items shall be excluded in computing Adjusted  Consolidated Net Income
(without  duplication):  (i) the net income of any Person (other than net income
attributable  to a Restricted  Subsidiary)  in which any Person  (other than the
Company or any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries) has a joint interest and the net
income of any  Unrestricted  Subsidiary,  except to the  extent of the amount of
dividends  or other  distributions  actually  paid to the  Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries by such other Person, including,  without limitation, an
Unrestricted  Subsidiary  during such  period;  (ii) solely for the  purposes of
calculating  the amount of  Restricted  Payments  that may be made  pursuant  to
clause (4)(III) of paragraph  (l)(iv)(A) (and in such case, except to the extent
includable pursuant to clause (i) above), the net income (or loss) of any Person
accrued  prior to the date it becomes a Restricted  Subsidiary or is merged into
or consolidated with the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or all or
substantially  all of the property and assets of such Person are acquired by the
Company  or any of its  Restricted  Subsidiaries;  (iii)  the net  income of any
Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends
or similar distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary of such net income is not
at the time  permitted  by the  operation  of the  terms of its  charter  or any
agreement,  instrument,  judgment,  decree, order, statute, rule or governmental
regulation  applicable to such Restricted  Subsidiary;  (iv) any gains or losses
(on an after-tax basis)  attributable to Asset Sales; (v) except for purposes of
calculating the amount of Restricted


<PAGE>


                                                                            48

Payments that may be made pursuant to clause  (4)(III) of paragraph  (l)(iv)(A),
any amount paid as, or accrued for,  cash  dividends  on Preferred  Stock of the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary owned by Persons other than the Company and
any of its  Restricted  Subsidiaries;  and  (vi)  all  extraordinary  gains  and
extraordinary losses.

                  "Adjusted  Consolidated  Net Tangible  Assets" means the total
amount of assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (less applicable
depreciation,  amortization and other valuation reserves),  except to the extent
resulting from write-ups of capital  assets  (excluding  write-ups in connection
with  accounting for  acquisitions  in conformity  with GAAP),  after  deducting
therefrom  (i)  all  current  liabilities  of the  Company  and  its  Restricted
Subsidiaries (excluding intercompany items) and (ii) all goodwill,  trade names,
trademarks,  patents,  unamortized  debt  discount  and  expense  and other like
intangibles  (other than  licenses  issued by the FCC),  all as set forth on the
quarterly or annual consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries,  prepared in conformity with GAAP and most recently filed with the
SEC  pursuant to  paragraph  (l)(i);  provided,  however,  that the value of any
licenses  issued  by the FCC  shall,  in the  event of an  auction  for  similar
licenses,  be equal to the fair market value  ascribed  thereto in good faith by
the Board of Directors and evidenced by a Board Resolution.

                  "Affiliate"  means, as applied to any Person, any other Person
directly or indirectly  controlling,  controlled by, or under direct or indirect
common control with,  such Person.  For purposes of this  definition,  "control"
(includ ing, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlling," "controlled by"
and  "under  common  control  with"),  as  applied  to  any  Person,  means  the
possession,  directly  or  indirectly,  of the  power to  direct  or  cause  the
direction of the manage ment and policies of such  Person,  whether  through the
owner ship of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

                  "Asset  Acquisition" means (i) an investment by the Company or
any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries  in any other Person  pursuant to which such
Person shall become a  Restricted  Subsidiary  of the Company or shall be merged
into or consolidated  with the Company or any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries or
(ii) an acquisition by the Company or any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries of the
property  and  assets  of  any  Person  other  than  the  Company  or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries that constitute  substantially all of a division or line
of business of such Person.



<PAGE>


                                                                          49

                  "Asset  Sale" means any sale,  transfer  or other  disposition
(including by way of merger,  consolidation or  sale-leaseback  transactions) in
one transaction or a series of related transactions by the Company or any of its
Restricted  Subsidiaries  to any  Person  other  than the  Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries of (i) all or any of the Capital Stock of any Restricted
Subsidiary,  (ii) all or  substantially  all of the  property  and  assets of an
operating unit or business of the Company or any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries
or (iii) any other  property or assets of the  Company or any of its  Restricted
Subsidiaries  outside  the  ordinary  course of  business of the Company or such
Restricted  Subsidiary and, in each case, that is not governed by the provisions
of the Exchange Indenture  applicable to mergers,  consolidations,  and sales of
assets  of the  Company;  provided,  however,  that the  following  shall not be
included within the meaning of "Asset Sale": (A) sales or other  dispositions of
inventory, receivables and other current assets; (B) sales or other dispositions
of  equipment  that has  become  worn out,  obsolete  or  damaged  or  otherwise
unsuitable  for use in  connection  with  the  business  of the  Company  or its
Restricted  Subsidiaries and (C) a sub stantially simultaneous exchange of, or a
sale or disposi  tion (other than 85% or more for cash or cash  equivalents)  by
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of, licenses issued by the FCC
or  applications or bids therefor;  provided,  however,  that the  consideration
received by the Company or any such  Restricted  Subsidiary in  connection  with
such exchange,  sale or  disposition  shall be equal to the fair market value of
licenses  so  exchanged,  sold or  disposed  of, as  determined  by the Board of
Directors;  and (D) except for purposes of the  definition of  "Indebtedness  to
EBITDA Ratio",  any sale or other  disposition of securities of an  Unrestricted
Subsidiary.

                  "Average Life" means,  as of the date of determina  tion, with
respect to any  Indebtedness  or  Preferred  Stock,  the  quotient  obtained  by
dividing  (i) the sum of the  products  of the numbers of years from the date of
determination  to the dates of each successive  scheduled  principal  payment of
such  Indebtedness  or  redemption  or  similar  payment  with  respect  to such
Preferred Stock multi plied by the amount of such payment by (ii) the sum of all
such payments.

                  "Board  of  Directors"  means the  Board of  Directors  of the
Company or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such Board.

                  "Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution,
certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the


<PAGE>


                                                                            50

Company to have been duly  adopted by the Board of  Directors  and to be in full
force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Holders
of the Exchangeable Preferred Stock.

                  "Business  Day"  means any day  except a  Saturday,  Sunday or
other day on which  commercial  banks in The City of New York, are authorized by
law to close.

                  "Capital Stock" means, with respect to any Person, any and all
shares,  interests,  participations  or other equivalents  (however  designated,
whether voting or non-voting) in equity of such Person,  whether now outstanding
or  issued  after  the  date  of  the  Exchange  Indenture,  including,  without
limitation, all Common Stock and Preferred Stock.

                  "Capitalized Lease" means, as applied to any Person, any lease
of any  property  (whether  real,  personal  or mixed)  of which the  discounted
present value of the rental  obligations of such Person as lessee, in conformity
with GAAP,  is required to be  capitalized  on the balance sheet of such Person;
and "Capitalized  Lease  Obligations"  means the discounted present value of the
rental obligations under such lease.

                  "Change  of  Control"  means  such time as (i) a  "person"  or
"group"  (within the meaning of Sections  13(d) and  14(d)(2) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")), other than the Permitted
Investor,  becomes  the  ultimate  "beneficial  owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3
under the Exchange Act) of Voting Stock  representing more than 50% of the total
voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company on a fully diluted basis or (ii)
individuals  who on the Deemed  Closing Date consti tuted the Board of Directors
(together  with any new  directors  whose  election by the Board of Directors or
whose  nomination for election by the Company's  stockholders  was approved by a
vote of at least  two-thirds  of the members of the Board of  Directors  then in
office who either were members of the Board of  Directors on the Deemed  Closing
Date or whose  election or nomination  for election was  previously so approved)
cease for any reason to  constitute  a majority  of the  members of the Board of
Directors then in office.

                  "Common Stock" means, with respect to any Person,  any and all
shares,  interests,  participations  or other equivalents  (however  designated,
whether  voting or non-voting)  of such Person's  common stock,  whether now out
standing or issued after the date of the Exchange Indenture,  including, without
limitation, all series and classes of such common stock.


<PAGE>

                                                                           51

                  "Company" means the party named as such in this Certificate of
Designation until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

                  "Consolidated  EBITDA" means,  for any period,  the sum of the
amounts  for  such  period  of  (i)  Adjusted   Consolidated  Net  Income,  (ii)
Consolidated  Interest  Expense,  to the  extent  such  amount was  deducted  in
calculating Adjusted  Consolidated Net Income, (iii) income taxes, to the extent
such amount was deducted in calculating Adjusted  Consolidated Net Income (other
than income taxes (either  positive or negative)  attributable to  extraordinary
and non  recurring  gains or  losses or sales of  assets),  (iv)  depreci  ation
expense,  to the  extent  such  amount  was  deducted  in  calculating  Adjusted
Consolidated  Net Income,  (v) amortiza tion expense,  to the extent such amount
was deducted in calculating Adjusted Consolidated Net Income, and (vi) all other
noncash items reducing  Adjusted  Consolidated Net Income (other than items that
will  require  cash  payments  and for which an  accrual  or  reserve  is, or is
required  by GAAP to be,  made),  less all  noncash  items  increasing  Adjusted
Consolidated  Net Income,  all as  determined  on a  consolidated  basis for the
Company and its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  in  conformity  with GAAP;  provided,
however,  that, if any  Restricted  Subsidiary is not a Wholly Owned  Restricted
Subsidiary,  Consolidated  EBITDA shall be reduced (to the extent not  otherwise
reduced in  accordance  with  GAAP) by an amount  equal to (A) the amount of the
Adjusted  Consolidated  Net Income  attributable to such  Restricted  Subsidiary
multi  plied by (B) the  quotient  of (1) the  number of  shares of  outstanding
Common  Stock of such  Restricted  Subsidiary  not owned on the last day of such
period by the Company or any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries  divided by (2) the
total number of shares of outstanding Common Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary
on the last day of such period.

                  "Consolidated  Interest  Expense" means,  for any period,  the
aggregate amount of interest in respect of Indebtedness  (including amortization
of original issue discount on any  Indebtedness  and the interest portion of any
deferred  payment  obligation,  calculated  in  accordance  with  the  effective
interest  method of accounting;  all commis sions,  discounts and other fees and
charges  owed  with  respect  to  letters  of  credit  and  bankers'  acceptance
financing;  the  net  costs  associated  with  Interest  Rate  Agreements;   and
Indebtedness  that  is  Guaranteed  or  secured  by  the  Company  or any of its
Restricted  Subsidiaries)  and all but the  principal  component  of  rentals in
respect of Capitalized Lease  Obligations paid,  accrued or scheduled to be paid
or to be accrued by the  Company  and its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  during such
period; excluding, however, (i) any


<PAGE>


                                                                           52

amount of such interest of any  Restricted  Subsidiary if the net income of such
Restricted  Subsidiary is excluded in the  calculation of Adjusted  Consolidated
Net Income  pursuant to clause (iii) of the definition  thereof (but only in the
same proportion as the net income of such Restricted Subsidiary is excluded from
the calculation of Adjusted  Consolidated Net Income pursuant to clause (iii) of
the  definition  thereof)  and (ii) any  premiums,  fees and  expenses  (and any
amortization  thereof)  payable in connection  with the offering of the Exchange
Debentures  and the 1997  Notes  and the  Incurrence  of the WSAC  Loan,  all as
determined on a con solidated  basis (without  taking into account  Unrestricted
Subsidiaries) in conformity with GAAP.

                  "Consolidated  Net Worth" means, at any date of determination,
stockholders'  equity as set forth on the most recently  available  quarterly or
annual consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
(which  shall be as of a date not  more  than 90 days  prior to the date of such
computation,  and which shall not take into account Unrestricted  Subsidiaries),
less  any  amounts  attributable  to  Redeemable  Stock or any  equity  security
convertible  into or exchangeable for  Indebtedness,  the cost of treasury stock
and the principal amount of any promissory notes receivable from the sale of the
Capital Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, each item to
be determined in conformity with GAAP (excluding the effects of foreign currency
exchange  adjustments  under Financial  Accounting  Standards Board Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 52).

                  "Convertible Notes" means the 14% Convertible
Senior Subordinated Discount Notes due 2005 of the Company.

                  "Convertible  Notes Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of
October 23, 1995,  between the Company and United  States  Trust  Company of New
York pursuant to which the Convertible Notes were issued.

                  "Currency  Agreement"  means any  foreign  exchange  contract,
currency swap agreement or other similar  agreement or  arrangement  designed to
protect the Company or any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries  against fluctuations
in  currency  values to or under  which  the  Company  or any of its  Restricted
Subsidiaries  is a party or a  beneficiary  on the date of this  Certificate  of
Designation or becomes a party or a beneficiary hereafter.

                  "Deemed Closing Date" means March 18, 1997.



<PAGE>


                                                                            53

                  "Default"  means any event that is, or after notice or passage
of time or both would be, a Voting Rights Triggering Event.

                  "Definitive   Security"   means  a   certificated   share   of
Exchangeable  Preferred Stock or Exchange  Security  bearing,  if required,  the
restricted securities legend set
forth in paragraph (m)(iii)(D).

                  "Depositary" means The Depository Trust Company,  its nominees
and their respective successors.

                  "Dividend  Period" means each period  between two  consecutive
SemiAnnual  Dividend  Accrual  Dates and the  period  from the Issue Date to the
first SemiAnnual Dividend Accrual Date.

                  "DTC"  means The  Depository  Trust  Company or any  successor
depository for the Global Exchangeable Preferred Stock.

                  "Equipment   Notes"  means  the  $200.0  million  of  12  1/2%
Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes Due 2004 of WEC and the $50.0 million of 12 1/2%
Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes Due 2004 of WEC II.

                  "Equipment Note Guarantees" means the Company's
Guarantees of the Equipment Notes.

                  "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended.

                  "Exchange  Date"  means the date on which the  Securities  are
exchanged for the Exchangeable Preferred Stock.

                  "Exchange Debentures" means the debentures
issuable pursuant to the Exchange Indenture.

                  "Exchange Indenture" means the form of Indenture governing the
Exchange Debentures to be filed with the Secretary of the Company.

                  "Exchange Offer  Registration  Statement" means a registration
statement filed with the SEC with respect to a Registered Exchange Offer.

                  "Exchange  Securities"  means  the  Registerable  Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock to be issued  pursuant to this  Certificate  of  Designation in
connection with a Registered


<PAGE>


                                                                           54

Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange pursuant to a
Registration Rights Agreement.

                  "fair  market  value" means the price that would be paid in an
arm's-length  transaction  between  an  informed  and  willing  seller  under no
compulsion to sell and an informed and willing buyer under no compulsion to buy,
as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors (whose determination shall
be conclusive) and evidenced by a Board Resolution.

                  "FCC"   means  the  United   States   Federal   Communications
Commission  and any state or local tele  communications  authority,  department,
commission or agency (and any successors thereto).

                  "GAAP" means generally accepted  accounting prin ciples in the
United States of America as in effect as of the date of the Exchange  Indenture,
including,  without  limitation,  those set forth in the opinions and  pronounce
ments of the Accounting  Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified
Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting
Standards Board or in such other  statements by such other entity as approved by
a significant segment of the accounting profession.  All ratios and computations
contained in the Exchange  Indenture  shall be computed in conformity  with GAAP
applied on a con sistent basis,  except that  calculations  made for purposes of
determining compliance with the terms of the covenants and with other provisions
of this  Certificate of  Designation  and the Exchange  Indenture  shall be made
without giving effect to (i) the amortization of any expenses incurred in connec
tion with the offering of the Exchange Debentures and the WSAC Loan and the 1997
Notes and (ii) except as otherwise  provided,  the  amortization  of any amounts
required or permitted by Accounting Principles Board Opinion Nos. 16 and 17.

                  "Guarantee" means any obligation,  contingent or otherwise, of
any  Person  directly  or  indirectly  guaranteeing  any  Indebtedness  or other
obligation  of any other  Person and,  without  limiting the  generality  of the
foregoing, any obligation,  direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such
Person (i) to purchase or pay (or  advance or supply  funds for the  purchase or
payment of) such  Indebtedness or other obligation of such other Person (whether
arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to
purchase assets, goods, securities or ser vices, to take-or-pay,  or to maintain
financial  statement  conditions or otherwise) or (ii) entered into for purposes
of  assuring  in any other  manner  the  obligee of such  Indebtedness  or other
obligation of the payment thereof or


<PAGE>


                                                                           55

to protect such obligee  against loss in respect  thereof (in whole or in part);
provided,  however, that the term "Guarantee" shall not include endorsements for
collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.  The term  "Guarantee"
used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

                  "Holder"   means  the   Person  in  whose   name  a  share  of
Exchangeable Preferred Stock is registered on the Transfer Agent's books.

                  "IAI"  means  an   institutional   "accredited   investor"  as
described in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act.

                  "Incur"  means,  with respect to any  Indebtedness,  to incur,
create, issue, assume,  Guarantee or otherwise become liable for or with respect
to, or become responsible for, the payment of,  contingently or otherwise,  such
Indebtedness,  including,  with  respect  to  the  Company  and  its  Restricted
Subsidiaries,  an  "Incurrence" of Indebtedness by reason of a Person becoming a
Restricted  Subsidiary  of the  Company;  provided,  however,  that  neither the
accrual of interest  nor the  accretion  of  original  issue  discount  shall be
considered an Incurrence of Indebtedness.

                  "Indebtedness"  means,  with respect to any Person at any date
of determination (without duplication),  (i) all indebtedness of such Person for
borrowed  money,  (ii)  all  obligations  of such  Person  evidenced  by  bonds,
debentures,   notes  or  other  similar   instruments   (whether  negotiable  or
non-negotiable),  (iii) all  obligations of such Person in respect of letters of
credit or other similar instruments  (including  reimbursement  obligations with
respect  thereto),  (iv) all  obligations of such Person to pay the deferred and
unpaid purchase price of property or services,  which purchase price is due more
than six months  after the date of placing  such  property  in service or taking
delivery and title  thereto or the  completion  of such  services,  except trade
payables, (v) all obligations of such Person as lessee under Capitalized Leases,
(vi) all  Indebtedness  of other Persons  secured by a Lien on any asset of such
Person,  whether or not such  Indebtedness is assumed by such Person;  provided,
however,  that the  amount of such  Indebtedness  shall be the lesser of (A) the
fair market value of such asset at such date of determination and (B) the amount
of such Indebtedness, (vii) all Indebtedness of other Persons Guaranteed by such
Person to the extent such  Indebtedness  is Guaranteed by such Person and (viii)
to the extent not  otherwise  included  in this  definition,  obligations  under
Currency Agreements and Interest Rate Agreements.  The amount of Indebtedness of
any Person at any date shall be


<PAGE>


                                                                           56

the  outstanding  balance  at such  date  of all  unconditional  obligations  as
described above and, with respect to con tingent  obligations  that are included
in any of clauses (i) through (viii) above, the maximum liability upon the occur
rence of the contingency giving rise to the obligation;  provided, however, that
(A) the amount outstanding at any time of any Indebtedness  issued with original
issue discount is (1) for purposes of  determining  the  Indebtedness  to EBITDA
Ratio,  the face  amount of such  Indebtedness  less the  remaining  unamortized
portion of the  original  issue  discount of such  Indebtedness  at such time as
determined in conform ity with GAAP and (2) for all other  purposes,  the amount
determined in clause (1) on the date such  Indebtedness  is originally  Incurred
and (B) Indebtedness  shall not include any liability for federal,  state, local
or other taxes.

                  "Indebtedness  to  EBITDA  Ratio"  means,  as at any  date  of
determination,  the ratio of (i) the  aggregate  amount of  Indebtedness  of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidi aries on a consolidated basis  ("Consolidated
Indebtedness") as at the date of determination (the "Transaction  Date") to (ii)
the Consolidated EBITDA of the Company for the then most recent four full fiscal
quarters for which  reports have been filed  pursuant to paragraph  (l)(i) (such
four full fiscal  quarter  period being  referred to herein as the "Four Quarter
Period");  provided,  however,  that (x) pro forma  effect shall be given to any
Indebtedness  Incurred from the beginning of the Four Quarter Period through the
Transaction Date (including any Indebtedness  Incurred on the Transaction Date),
to the extent  outstanding  on the  Transaction  Date,  (y) if during the period
commencing on the first day of such Four Quarter Period through the  Transaction
Date (the "Reference Period"), the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries
shall have engaged in any Asset Sale,  Consolidated EBITDA for such period shall
be reduced by an amount  equal to the EBITDA (if  positive),  or increased by an
amount equal to the EBITDA (if negative),  directly  attributable  to the assets
which  are the  subject  of  such  Asset  Sale  and any  related  retirement  of
Indebtedness as if such Asset Sale and related  retirement of  Indebtedness  had
occurred  on the  first  day of such  Reference  Period  or (z) if  during  such
Reference  Period the Company or any of the Restricted  Subsidiaries  shall have
made  any  Asset  Acquisition,  Consolidated  EBITDA  of the  Company  shall  be
calculated on a pro forma basis as if such Asset  Acquisition and any Incurrence
of Indebtedness  to finance such Asset  Acquisition had taken place on the first
day of such Reference Period.

                  "Initial Liquidation Preference" per share of Exchangeable 
Preferred Stock means $1,000.


<PAGE>


                                                                           57

                  "Interest Rate  Agreement"  means any interest rate protection
agreement,  interest  rate future  agreement,  inter est rate option  agreement,
interest rate swap agreement,  interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar
agreement,   interest  rate  hedge  agreement  or  other  similar  agreement  or
arrangement   designed  to  protect  the  Company  or  any  of  its   Restricted
Subsidiaries  against  fluctuations in interest rates in respect of Indebtedness
to or under which the Company or any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries  is a party
or a beneficiary  on the date of the Exchange  Indenture or becomes a party or a
beneficiary  hereafter;  provided,  how ever, that the notional principal amount
thereof does not exceed the principal  amount of the Indebtedness of the Company
and its Restricted Subsidiaries that bears interest at floating rates.

                  "Investment"  in any  Person  means  any  direct  or  indirect
advance,  loan or other extension of credit (including,  without limitation,  by
way of Guarantee or similar arrangement;  but excluding advances to customers in
the ordinary course of business that are, in conformity  with GAAP,  recorded as
accounts  receivable  on the  balance  sheet of the  Company  or its  Restricted
Subsidiaries)  or capital  contribution  to (by means of any transfer of cash or
other property to others or any payment for property or services for the account
or use of others),  or any  purchase or  acquisition  of Capital  Stock,  bonds,
notes,  debentures or other similar instruments issued by, such Person and shall
include  (i) the  designation  of a  Restricted  Subsidiary  as an  Unrestricted
Subsidiary  and (ii) the fair  market  value of the  Capital  Stock  held by the
Company and the  Restricted  Subsidiaries  of any Person that has ceased to be a
Restricted  Subsidiary by reason of any  transaction  permitted by clause (3) of
paragraph (l)(vi).  For purposes of the definition of "Unrestricted  Subsidiary"
and paragraph  (l)(iv),  (i) "Investment" shall include the fair market value of
the assets (net of liabilities)  of any Restricted  Subsidiary of the Company at
the time that  such  Restricted  Subsidiary  of the  Company  is  designated  an
Unrestricted  Subsidiary  and shall  exclude the fair market value of the assets
(net of  liabilities)  of any  Unrestricted  Subsidiary  at the time  that  such
Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and
(ii) any property  transferred to or from an  Unrestricted  Subsidiary  shall be
valued at its fair market  value at the time of such  transfer,  in each case as
determined by the Board of Directors in good faith.

                  "Issue  Date"  means  the  date  on  which  the   Exchangeable
Preferred Stock is originally issued.



<PAGE>


                                                                           58

                  "Lien"  means  any  mortgage,   pledge,  security  inter  est,
encumbrance,  lien or charge of any kind  (including,  without  limitation,  any
conditional  sale or other  title  retention  agreement  or lease in the  nature
thereof,  any sale with  recourse  against  the seller or any  Affiliate  of the
seller, or any agreement to give any security interest).

                  "Liquidation  Preference" means the Accumulated  Amount of the
Exchangeable Preferred Stock from time to time.

                  "Net Cash Proceeds" means, (a) with respect to any Asset Sale,
the  proceeds  of  such  Asset  Sale in the  form  of cash or cash  equivalents,
including  payments in respect of deferred  payment  obligations  (to the extent
corresponding  to the  principal,  but not  interest,  component  thereof)  when
received  in the form of cash or cash  equivalents  (except to the  extent  such
obligations  are financed or sold with recourse to the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary  of the Company) and proceeds from the  conversion of other  property
received  when  converted  to  cash or cash  equivalents,  net of (i)  brokerage
commissions and other fees and expenses  (including fees and expenses of counsel
and  investment  bankers)  related to such Asset Sale,  (ii)  provisions for all
taxes  (whether  or not such taxes will  actually  be paid or are  payable) as a
result  of such  Asset  Sale  without  regard  to the  consolidated  results  of
operations  of the Company and its  Restricted  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,
(iii) pay ments made to repay  Indebtedness or any other obligation  outstanding
at the time of such  Asset  Sale that  either  (A) is  secured  by a Lien on the
property  or assets  sold or (B) is required to be paid as a result of such sale
and (iv)  appropriate  amounts to be provided  by the Company or any  Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company as a reserve against any  liabilities  associated with
such  Asset  Sale,  including,  without  limitation,  pension  and  other  post-
employment benefit liabilities, liabilities related to environmental matters and
liabilities  under any indemnifica tion  obligations  associated with such Asset
Sale,  all as  determined  in  conformity  with GAAP and (b) with respect to any
issuance or sale of Capital Stock,  the proceeds of such issuance or sale in the
form of cash or cash  equivalents,  including  payments  in respect of  deferred
payment  obliga tions (to the extent  corresponding  to the  principal,  but not
interest,  component  thereof)  when  received  in the  form  of  cash  or  cash
equivalents  (except to the extent such obliga  tions are  financed or sold with
recourse  to the  Company  or any  Restricted  Subsidiary  of the  Company)  and
proceeds from the conversion of other  property  received when converted to cash
or cash equivalents, net of attorneys' fees, accountants' fees, underwriters' or
placement agents' fees,


<PAGE>


                                                                          59

discounts or commissions  and  brokerage,  consultant and other fees incurred in
connection  with such  issuance  or sale and net of taxes paid or payable by the
Company or any of its subsidiaries as a result thereof.

                  "Offer to  Purchase"  means an offer to purchase  Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock by the Company from the Holders  required by  paragraph  (h) or
paragraph  (l)(ix)  and which is  commenced  by mailing a notice to each  Holder
stating: (i) the covenant pursuant to which the offer is being made and that all
shares of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock validly  tendered will be accepted for
payment on a pro rata basis; (ii) the purchase price and the Payment Date; (iii)
that any shares of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock not tendered will continue to
accrue  dividends  or interest  pursuant to their terms;  (iv) that,  unless the
Company   defaults  in  the  payment  of  the  purchase  price,  any  shares  of
Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  accepted  for  payment  pursuant to the Offer to
Purchase  shall cease to accrue  dividends  or interest on and after the Payment
Date; (v) that Holders  electing to have shares of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock
purchased  pursuant to the Offer to Purchase  will be required to surrender  the
applicable  security  together with the form  entitled  "Option of the Holder to
Elect  Purchase" on the reverse side thereof  completed,  to the Paying Agent at
the  address  specified  in the  notice  prior to the close of  business  on the
Business Day  immediately  preceding the Payment Date; (vi) that Holders will be
entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, not later than
the close of  business  on the third  Business  Day  immediately  preceding  the
Payment Date, a telegram,  facsimile  transmission  or letter  setting forth the
name of such  Holder,  the  number  of shares of  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock
delivered  for  purchase  and a statement  that such Holder is  withdrawing  his
election  to have such  securities  purchased;  and  (vii)  that  Holders  whose
Exchangeable Preferred Stock are being purchased only in part will be issued new
shares of  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock equal in amount (and accrued and unpaid
dividends or interest) to the unpurchased  portion thereof. On the Payment Date,
the Company  shall (i) accept for  payment on a pro rata basis any  Exchangeable
Preferred Stock or portions thereof  tendered  pursuant to an Offer to Purchase;
(ii) deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the purchase price of
all  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock or portions  thereof so accepted;  and (iii)
deliver,  or  cause  to be  delivered,  to the  Paying  Agent  all  Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock or portions  thereof so  accepted  together  with an  Officers'
Certificate  specifying the Securities or portions  thereof accepted for payment
by the  Company.  The Paying  Agent  shall  promptly  mail to the Holders of the
Exchangeable Preferred Stock so accepted for payment in an amount equal


<PAGE>


                                                                            60

to the  purchase  price.  The Company will  publicly  announce the results of an
Offer to Purchase as soon as  practicable  after the Payment Date.  The Transfer
Agent  shall  act as the  Paying  Agent  for an Offer to  Purchase  Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock. The Company will comply with Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act
and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws
and  regulations  are  applicable,  in the event that the Company is required to
repurchase Exchangeable Preferred Stock pursuant to an Offer to Purchase.

                  "Officer" means, with respect to the Company, (i) the Chairman
of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive  Officer,  the
President,  any  Vice  President,  the  Chief  Financial  Officer  and  (ii) the
Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or
any Assistant Secretary.

                  "Officers'  Certificate"  means a  certificate  signed  by one
Officer listed in clause (i) of the definition thereof and one Officer listed in
clause  (ii) of the  defini  tion  thereof;  provided,  however,  that  any such
certificate may be signed by any two of the Officers listed in clause (i) of the
definition  thereof in lieu of being signed by one Officer  listed in clause (i)
of the  definition  thereof and one Officer  listed in clause (ii) of the defini
tion thereof.

                  "Opinion of Counsel"  means a written  opinion signed by legal
counsel who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company.

                  "Payment  Date" means the date of  purchase,  which shall be a
Business  Day no  earlier  than 30 days nor  later  than 60 days from the date a
notice is mailed pursuant to an Offer to Purchase.

                  "Permitted Investment" means (i) an Investment in a Restricted
Subsidiary or a Person which will, upon the making of such Investment,  become a
Restricted  Subsidiary or be merged or consolidated  with or into or transfer or
convey all or  substantially  all its assets  to,  the  Company or a  Restricted
Subsidiary;  (ii) Temporary Cash Investments;  (iii) payroll, travel and similar
advances  to cover  matters  that  are  expected  at the  time of such  advances
ultimately  to be treated as expenses  in  accordance  with GAAP;  (iv) loans or
advances to  employees  in a principal  amount not to exceed $1.0 million at any
one time  outstanding;  (v)  stock,  obliga  tions  or  securities  received  in
satisfaction   of  judgments;   (vi)   Investments,   to  the  extent  that  the
consideration provided by the Company or any of its Restricted


<PAGE>


                                                                           61

Subsidiaries  consists solely of Capital Stock (other than Redeemable  Stock) of
the Company; (vii) notes payable to the Company that are received by the Company
as payment of the purchase price for Capital Stock (other than Redeemable Stock)
of the  Company;  and (viii)  acquisitions  of a  minority  equity  interest  in
entities engaged in the telecommunica tions business;  provided,  however,  that
(A) the  acquisition of a majority  equity  interest in such entities is not per
mitted  under  U.S.  law  without  FCC  consent,  (B) the  Company or one of its
Restricted  Subsidiaries  has the right to acquire Capital Stock  representing a
majority of the voting  power of the Voting Stock of such entity upon receipt of
FCC consent and (C) in the event that such consent has not been obtained  within
18 months of funding  such  Investment,  the  Company  or one of its  Restricted
Subsidiaries  has the right to sell such minority  equity interest in the seller
thereof for consideration consisting of the consideration originally paid by the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such minority equity interest.

                  "Permitted Investor" means William J. Rouhana, Jr.

                  "Person"  means any  individual,  corporation,  part  nership,
limited  liability  company,  joint venture,  associa tion, joint stock company,
trust,  unincorporated  organiza  tion,  government  or any agency or  political
subdivision thereof or any other entity.

                  "Preferred Stock" means,  with respect to any Person,  any and
all shares, interests,  participations or other equivalents (however designated,
whether voting or non-voting)  of such Person's  preferred or preference  stock,
whether  now  outstanding  or issued  after the Issue Date,  including,  without
limitation, all series and classes of such preferred or preference stock.

                  "Private Exchange" means the offer by the Company, pursuant to
Section 1 of the Registration Rights Agreement,  to issue and deliver to certain
purchasers,  in  exchange  for the  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  held by such
purchasers as part of their initial distribution,  a like Liquidation Preference
of Private Exchange Securities.

                  "Private Exchange Securities" means Registerable  Exchangeable
Preferred Stock of the Company identical in all material respects (including the
existence  of  restrictions  on  transfer  under  the  Securities  Act  and  the
securities laws of the several states of the United States) to the  Exchangeable
Preferred Stock.



<PAGE>


                                                                          62

                  "QIB" means a "qualified  institutional buyer" as described in
Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

                  "Redeemable  Stock" means any class or series of Capital Stock
of any Person  that by its terms or  otherwise  is (i)  required  to be redeemed
prior to the Stated Maturity of the Exchange Debentures,  (ii) redeemable at the
option of the holder of such class or series of Capital  Stock at any time prior
to the Stated Maturity of the Exchange  Debentures  (unless the redemption price
is, at the Company's option,  without  conditions  precedent,  payable solely in
Common Stock (other than Redeemable Stock) of the Company) or (iii) con vertible
into or  exchangeable  for Capital Stock referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above
or Indebtedness  having a scheduled maturity prior to the Stated Maturity of the
Exchange Debentures;  provided,  however,  that any Capital Stock that would not
constitute  Redeemable  Stock but for provisions  thereof giving holders thereof
the right to require such Person to repurchase or redeem such Capital Stock upon
the occurrence of an "asset sale" or "change of control"  occurring prior to the
Stated Maturity of the Exchange Debentures shall not constitute Redeemable Stock
if the "asset  sale" or  "change  of  control"  provisions  applica  ble to such
Capital  Stock are no more  favorable to the holders of such Capital  Stock than
the  provisions of paragraph  (h) and  paragraph  (l)(ix) and such Capital Stock
specifically  provides  that such Person will not  repurchase or redeem any such
stock  pursuant to such  provision  prior to the  Company's  repurchase  of such
Securities  as are  required to be  repurchased  pursuant to  paragraph  (h) and
paragraph (l)(ix).

                  "Registered  Exchange  Offer"  means the offer by the Company,
pursuant  to  the  Registration   Rights   Agreement,   to  holders  of  Initial
Exchangeable  Preferred Stock to issue and deliver to such holders,  in exchange
for the Initial  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock,  a like number of  Registerable
Exchangeable Preferred Stock registered under the Securities Act.

                  "Registration Rights Agreement" means the
Registration Rights Agreement dated December 17, 1997, among
the Company, Salomon Brothers Inc and Credit Suisse First
Boston Corporation.

                  "Restricted  Payment" with respect to any Person means (i) the
declaration or payment of any dividends or any other  distributions  of any sort
in respect of, in the case of the  Company,  any Junior Stock or, in the case of
any  Restricted  Subsidiary,   any  Capital  Stock  (including  any  payment  in
connection with any merger or consolidation


<PAGE>


                                                                          63

involving such Person) or similar  payment to the direct or indirect  holders of
such Stock (other than dividends or distributions payable solely in Junior Stock
(other than  Disqualified  Stock) and dividends or  distributions  to the extent
paid to the  Company  or a  Restricted  Subsidiary,  and  other  than  pro  rata
dividends or other distributions made by a Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned
Restricted  Subsidiary  to  minority  stockholders  (or owners of an  equivalent
interest  in  the  case  of  a  Subsidiary  that  is  an  entity  other  than  a
corporation)),  (ii) the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement
for value of any Junior  Stock of the Company or Capital  Stock of any direct or
indirect  parent of the  Company  or (iii) the making of any  Investment  in any
Person (other than a Permitted Investment).

                  "Restricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of
the Company other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

                  "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commis
sion.

                  "Securities"  means the Initial  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock
and the Exchange Securities, treated as a single class.

                  "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended.

                  "Securities  Custodian"  means the custodian with respect to a
Global  Security  (as  appointed by the  Depositary),  or any  successor  person
thereto who shall initially be the Transfer Agent.

                  "Senior  Indebtedness" means the following  obligations of the
Company,  whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred:  (i) all
Indebtedness  and all other  monetary  obligations of the Company under the 1995
Senior Notes, the 1997 Senior Notes and the Equipment Note Guarantees,  (ii) all
other  Indebtedness  of the Company  (other  than the 1997  Senior  Subordinated
Notes,  Exchange Debentures and the Convertible Notes),  including principal and
interest on such Indebtedness,  unless such Indebtedness, by its terms or by the
terms of any  agreement or  instrument  pursuant to which such  Indebtedness  is
issued, is pari passu with, or subordinated in right of payment to, the Exchange
Debentures and (iii) all fees,  expenses and  indemnities  payable in connection
with the 1995  Senior  Notes,  the 1997  Senior  Notes  and the  Equipment  Note
Guarantees  (including any  agreements  pursuant to which the 1995 Senior Notes,
the 1997 Senior Notes or Equipment Note Guarantees were issued);


<PAGE>


                                                                        64

provided, however, that the term "Senior Indebtedness" shall not include (a) any
Indebtedness  of the Company  that,  when  Incurred  and without  respect to any
election under Section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy  Code, was without  recourse to
the Company,  (b) any Indebtedness of the Company to a Subsidiary of the Company
or to a joint venture in which the Company has an interest, (c) any Indebtedness
of the Company,  to the extent not  permitted  pursuant to paragraph  (l)(ii) or
(l)(iii),  (d) any  repurchase,  redemption  or other  obligation  in respect of
Redeemable  Stock, (e) any Indebtedness to any employee of the Company or any of
its  Subsidiaries,  (f) any liability for federal,  state,  local or other taxes
owed or owing by the Company or (g) any trade  payables of the  Company.  Senior
Indebtedness of the Company will also include  interest  accruing  subsequent to
events of  bankruptcy of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  at the rate provided
for in the  document  governing  such Senior  Indebtedness,  whether or not such
interest is an allowed claim enforceable against the debtor in a bankruptcy case
under federal bankruptcy law.

                  "Shelf Registration  Statement" means a registration statement
filed with the SEC covering resales of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock as provided
for, under certain circumstances, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

                  "Significant  Subsidiary" means, at any date of determination,
any Restricted  Subsidiary of the Company that,  together with its Subsidiaries,
(i) for the most recent fiscal year of the Company,  accounted for more than 10%
of the consolidated  revenues of the Company and its Restricted  Subsidiaries or
(ii) as of the end of such  fiscal  year,  was the owner of more than 10% of the
consolidated assets of the Company and its Restricted  Subsidiaries,  all as set
forth on the most recently available  consolidated  financial  statements of the
Company for such fiscal year.

                  "Specified Debt Satisfaction Date" means the date on which all
obligations under each of the Specified  Indentures shall have been satisfied in
full.

                  "Specified  Indentures"  means the each of the following:  (i)
the Convertible Senior  Subordinated  Discount Notes Indenture dated October 23,
1995, governing the Company's 14% Convertible Senior Subordinated Discount Notes
due 2005;  (ii) the Senior  Discount  Notes  Indenture  dated  October 23, 1995,
governing  the Company's 14% Senior  Discount  Notes due 2005;  (iii) the Senior
Deferred  Interest  Notes  Indenture  dated as of March 1, 1997,  governing  the
Company's 14 1/2% Senior Deferred Interest Notes due 2005; (iv)


<PAGE>


                                                                            65

the  Guaranteed  Senior  Secured  Notes  Indenture  dated as of  March 1,  1997,
governing the 12 1/2% Senior Secured Notes of WinStar  Equipment Corp. due 2004;
(v) the Guaranteed  Senior Secured Notes Indenture of WinStar Equipment II Corp.
due 2004; and (vi) the Senior  Subordinated  Deferred  Interest Notes  Indenture
dated as of  October 1,  1997,  governing  the  Company's  15%  Senior  Deferred
Interest Notes due 2007.

                  "Stated   Maturity"  means,  (i)  with  respect  to  any  debt
security,  the date  specified in such debt  security as the fixed date on which
the final  installment of principal of such debt security is due and payable and
(ii) with respect to any  scheduled  installment  of principal of or interest on
any debt security, the date specified in such debt security as the fixed date on
which such installment is due and payable.

                  "Subsidiary"   means,   with   respect  to  any  Person,   any
corporation,  association  or  other  business  entity  of  which  Voting  Stock
representing  more than 50% of the voting power of the outstanding  Voting Stock
is  owned,  directly  or  indirectly,  by such  Person  and  one or  more  other
Subsidiaries of such Person.

                  "Telecommunications  Assets"  means any (i) entity or business
substantially  all  the  revenues  of  which  are  derived  from  (a)  providing
transmission of sound,  data or video; (b) the sale or provision of phone cards,
"800" services,  voice mail, switching,  enhanced  telecommunications  services,
telephone   directory   or   telephone   number   informa   tion   services   or
telecommunications  network  intelligence;  or (c)  any  business  ancillary  or
directly  related to the busi nesses  referred to in clause (a) or (b) above and
(ii) any assets  used  primarily  to effect  such  transmission  or provide  the
products  or services  referred  to in clause (a) or (b) above and any  directly
related or  ancillary  assets  includ  ing,  without  limitation,  licenses  and
applications, bids and agreements to acquire licenses, or other authority to pro
vide transmission services previously granted, or to be granted, by the FCC.

                  "Telecommunications Subsidiary" means (i) WCI Gateway, WinStar
Wireless,  Inc., WinStar  Telecommunications,  Inc.,  WinStar  Milliwave,  Inc.,
WinStar  Locate,  Inc., and WinStar  Wireless Fiber Corp. and, in each case, its
suc cessors and (ii) any other  Restricted  Subsidiary of the Company that holds
more than a de minimis amount of Telecommunications Assets.

                  "Temporary Cash Investment" means any of the
following:  (i) direct obligations of the United States or


<PAGE>


                                                                           66

any agency thereof or obligations  fully and  unconditionally  guaranteed by the
United States or any agency thereof; (ii) time deposit accounts, certificates of
deposit  and  money  market  deposits  maturing  within  180 days of the date of
acquisition  thereof issued by a bank or trust company which is organized  under
the  laws of the  United  States,  any  state  thereof  or any  foreign  country
recognized  by the United  States,  and which bank or trust company has capital,
surplus and  undivided  profits  aggregating  in excess of $50.0 million (or the
foreign currency equivalent thereof) and has outstanding  deposits or debt which
is rated  "A" (or such  similar  equivalent  rating)  or  higher by at least one
nationally  recognized  statistical rating  organization (as defined in Rule 436
under the  Securities  Act) or any  money-market  fund sponsored by a registered
broker dealer or mutual fund  distributor;  (iii) repurchase  obligations with a
term of not more than 30 days for underlying  securities of the types  described
in  clause  (i)  above  entered  into  with a bank  meeting  the  qualifications
described in clause (ii) above;  (iv) commercial  paper,  maturing not more than
six months after the date of  acquisition,  issued by a corpora tion (other than
an Affiliate of the Company)  organized  and in existence  under the laws of the
United States, any state thereof or any foreign country recognized by the United
States with a rating at the time as of which any  investment  therein is made of
"P-1" (or higher)  according  to Moody's  Investors  Service,  Inc. or "A-1" (or
higher)  according to Standard & Poor's Ratings Group;  and (v) securities  with
maturities  of six months or less from the date of acquisi  tion issued or fully
and  unconditionally  guaranteed by any state,  commonwealth or territory of the
United States, or by any political  subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and
rated at least "A" by  Standard  & Poor's  Ratings  Group or  Moody's  Investors
Service, Inc.

                  "Transaction  Date" means,  with respect to the  Incurrence of
any Indebtedness by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries,  the date
such Indebtedness is to be Incurred and, with respect to any Restricted Payment,
the date such Restricted Payment is to be made.

                  "Transfer  Agent"" means  Continental  Stock  Transfer & Trust
Company and any successor thereto.

                  "Transfer Restricted  Securities" means Definitive  Securities
and any other  Securities that bear or are required to bear the legend set forth
in paragraph (m)(iii)(D) hereto.



<PAGE>


                                                                           67

                  "Trustee"  means  the  party  named  as such  in the  Exchange
Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

                  "Uniform   Commercial   Code"  means  the  New  York   Uniform
Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.

                  "Unrestricted  Subsidiary"  means  (i) any  Subsidiary  of the
Company that at the time of  determination  shall be designated an  Unrestricted
Subsidiary by the Board of Directors in the manner  provided  below and (ii) any
Subsidiary of an Unrestricted  Subsidiary.  The Board of Directors may designate
any Restricted  Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly
formed Subsidiary of the Company), other than a guarantor of the Securities,  to
be an Unrestricted  Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary owns any Capital Stock of,
or owns or holds any Lien on any  property  of, the  Company  or any  Restricted
Subsidiary;  provided,  however,  that  neither the  Company nor its  Restricted
Subsidiaries   has  any  Guarantee  of  any   Indebtedness  of  such  Subsidiary
outstanding at the time of such  designation and either (A) the Subsidiary to be
so designated  has total assets of $1,000 or less or (B) if such  Subsidiary has
assets  greater  than $1,000,  that such desig  nation would be permitted  under
paragraph  (l)(iv).  Notwith  standing the foregoing,  WinStar New Media Company
Inc.,  Non  Fiction  Films Inc.  and WinStar  Global  Products,  Inc.  and their
Subsidiaries are Unrestricted Subsidiaries. The Board of Directors may designate
any  Unrestricted  Subsidiary  to be a  Restricted  Subsidiary  of the  Company;
provided,  however, that immediately after giving effect to such designation (x)
the  Company  could  Incur  $1.00 of  additional  Indebtedness  under  paragraph
(l)(ii)(A)  and (y) no Default shall have occurred and be  continuing.  Any such
designation by the Board of Directors shall be evidenced by promptly  delivering
to Holders of the  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock a copy of the Board  Resolution
giving effect to such designation and an Officers'  Certificate  certifying that
such  designation  complied  with  the  foregoing  provisions.  Anything  to the
contrary  contained  herein or in the Exchange  Indenture not  withstanding,  no
Telecommunications Subsidiary may be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

                  "Voting Stock" means with respect to any Person, Capital Stock
of any class or kind  ordinarily  having the power to vote for the  election  of
directors,  managers  or other  voting  members  of the  governing  body of such
Person.

                  "WEC" means WinStar Equipment Corp. and its successors.



<PAGE>


                                                                         68

                  "WEC II" means WinStar Equipment II Corp. and its
successors.

                  "WSAC" means WinStar Switch Acquisition Corp. and
its successors.

                  "WSAC Credit Agreement" means the Credit Agreement dated as of
October 17, 1997,  among WSAC,  the Lenders named  therein,  Credit Suisse First
Boston,  as documentation  agent, and Salomon Brothers Inc, as syndication agent
and collateral and administrative agent, as in effect from time to time.

                  "WSAC Loan" means all  Indebtedness  and other  obligations of
WSAC arising in connection with the WSAC Credit Agreement.

                  "WCI Gateway" means WinStar Gateway Network, Inc.
and its successors.

                  "Wholly  Owned" means,  with respect to any  Subsidiary of any
Person,  such  Subsidiary  if all of the  out  standing  Capital  Stock  in such
Subsidiary  (other  than any  director's  qualifying  shares or  Investments  by
foreign nationals  mandated by applicable law) is owned by such Person or one or
more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.



<PAGE>


                                                                          69

                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  said WinStar  Communications,  Inc., has
caused this  Certificate of Designation to be signed by Frederic Rubin, its Vice
President and Treasurer, this 22nd day of December, 1997.


                                            WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.,


                                            by _____________________________
                                               Name:
                                               Title:

<PAGE>

                                                                         1

                                                               EXHIBIT A


                      FORM OF EXCHANGEABLE PREFERRED STOCK


                                FACE OF SECURITY

         [THIS  SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN  REGISTERED  UNDER THE  SECURITIES  ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES  ACT"). THE HOLDER HEREOF,  BY PURCHASING THIS
SECURITY,  AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY  THAT THIS  SECURITY MAY NOT BE
RESOLD,  PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED (X) PRIOR TO THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF
THE ISSUANCE HEREOF (OR A PREDECESSOR SECURITY HERETO) OR (Y) BY ANY HOLDER THAT
WAS AN AFFILIATE  OF THE COMPANY AT ANY TIME DURING THE THREE  MONTHS  PRECEDENT
THE DATE OF SUCH TRANSFER,  IN EITHER CASE OTHER THAN (1) TO THE COMPANY, (2) SO
LONG AS THIS  SECURITY  IS ELIGIBLE  FOR RESALE  PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT ("RULE 144A"), TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS
A QUALIFIED  INSTITUTIONAL  BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A PURCHASING FOR
ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A  QUALIFIED  INSTITUTIONAL  BUYER TO WHOM
NOTICE IS GIVEN  THAT THE  RESALE,  PLEDGE OR OTHER  TRANSFER  IS BEING  MADE IN
RELIANCE ON RULE 144A (AS INDICATED BY THE BOX CHECKED BY THE  TRANSFEROR ON THE
CERTIFICATE  OF TRANSFER ON THE  REVERSE OF THIS  SECURITY),  (3) IN AN OFFSHORE
TRANSACTION  IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH  REGULATION  S UNDER  THE  SECURITIES  ACT (AS
INDICATED BY THE BOX CHECKED BY THE TRANSFEROR ON THE CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER ON
THE REVERSE OF THIS  SECURITY),  (4) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM  REGISTRATION
UNDER  THE  SECURITIES  ACT  PROVIDED  BY RULE  144 (IF  APPLICABLE)  UNDER  THE
SECURITIES ACT OR (5) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE  REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH CASE IN ACCORDANCE  WITH ANY APPLICABLE  SECURITIES LAWS
OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES.]*

         [THE HOLDER HEREOF, BY PURCHASING THIS SECURITY,  REPRESENTS AND AGREES
FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY  THAT IT IS (1) A QUALIFIED  INSTITUTIONAL  BUYER
WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A OR (2) A NON-US PERSON OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES
WITHIN THE MEANING OF (OR AN ACCOUNT  SATISFYING THE  REQUIREMENTS  OF PARAGRAPH
(o)(2) OF RULE 902 UNDER) REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.]*

                  [UNLESS  THIS   CERTIFICATE  IS  PRESENTED  BY  AN  AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION  ("DTC"),
NEW YORK,  NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR  REGISTRATION  OF TRANSFER,
EXCHANGE OF PAYMENT,  AND ANY  CERTIFICATE  ISSUED IS  REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF
CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF
DTC  (AND ANY  PAYMENT  IS MADE TO CEDE & CO.,  OR TO SUCH  OTHER  ENTITY  AS IS
REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC) ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR



<PAGE>


                                                                          2

OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH
AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO. HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]*

                  [TRANSFERS  OF  THIS  GLOBAL  SECURITY  SHALL  BE  LIMITED  TO
TRANSFERS  IN  WHOLE,  BUT NOT IN PART,  TO  NOMINEES  OF DTC OR TO A  SUCCESSOR
THEREOF OR SUCH  SUCCESSOR'S  NOMINEE AND  TRANSFERS  OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL
SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE  RESTRICTIONS
SET FORTH IN THE CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION REFERRED TO BELOW.]*


Certificate Number                       Number of Shares of Exchangeable
                                                           Preferred Stock
[   ]                                                               [     ]

                                                        CUSIP NO.:  [     ]


                     14 1/4% Senior Cumulative Exchangeable
                            Preferred Stock Due 2007
            (par value $0.01) (Initial Liquidation Preference $1,000
                                   per share)

                                       of

                          WinStar Communications, Inc.


                  WinStar  Communications,  Inc.,  a Delaware  corporation  (the
"Company"),  hereby certifies that [ ] (the "Holder") is the registered owner of
fully paid and non-assessable preferred securities of the Company designated the
Series C 14 1/4% Senior  Cumulative  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock Due 2007 (par
value  $0.01)  (liquidation  preference  $1,000  per share)  (the  "Exchangeable
Preferred Stock").  The shares of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock are transferable
on the books and  records of the  Registrar,  in person or by a duly  authorized
attorney,  upon surrender of this  certificate  duly endorsed and in proper form
for transfer. The designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and
other terms and  provisions  of the  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  represented
hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the  provisions of the
Certificate of  Designation  dated December 22, 1997, as the same may be amended
from time to time (the "Certificate of Designation"). Capitalized terms
- --------
 * Subject to removal if not a global security.

<PAGE>


                                                                          3

used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Certificate
of  Designation.  The  Company  will  provide  a  copy  of  the  Certificate  of
Designation to a Holder  without  charge upon written  request to the Company at
its principal place of business.

                  Reference  is  hereby  made  to  select   provisions   of  the
Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock  set  forth  on the  reverse  hereof,  and to the
Certificate  of  Designation,  which select  provisions  and the  Certificate of
Designation  shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this
place.

                  Upon receipt of this  certificate,  the Holder is bound by the
Certificate of Designation and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.

                  Unless the  Transfer  Agent's  Certificate  of  Authentication
hereon has been properly executed,  these shares of Exchangeable Preferred Stock
shall not be entitled to any benefit under the  Certificate of Designation or be
valid or obligatory for any purpose.


                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the Company has executed this certificate
this 22nd day of December, 1997.


                                      WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.,


                                      By: ______________________________
                                          Name:
                                          Title:

[Seal]

                                      By: ______________________________
                                          Name:
                                          Title:

<PAGE>


                                                                            4

                 TRANSFER AGENT'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

                  This is one of the Exchangeable Preferred Stock referred to in
the within mentioned Certificate of Designation.

Dated:   December 22, 1997


                                                 Continental Stock Transfer &
                                                     Trust Company
                                                       as Transfer Agent,


                                                 By:___________________________
                                                        Authorized Signatory




<PAGE>


                                                                           5

                               REVERSE OF SECURITY


                  Dividends on each share of Exchangeable  Preferred Stock shall
accrue at a rate per annum set forth in the face  hereof or as  provided  in the
Certificate of Designation (including Additional Dividends).

                  The shares of Exchangeable Preferred Stock shall be redeemable
as  provided  in the  Certificate  of  Designation.  The shares of  Exchangeable
Preferred  Stock  shall  be  exchangeable  into  the  Company's  14 1/4%  Senior
Subordinated Deferred Interest Notes Due 2007 in the manner and according to the
terms set forth in the Certificate of Designation.

                  As required  under  Delaware law, the Company shall furnish to
any Holder upon  request and without  charge,  a full  summary  statement of the
designations,  voting rights preferences,  limitations and special rights of the
shares of each class or series  authorized to be issued by the Company so far as
they have been fixed and  determined and the authority of the Board of Directors
to fix and determine the designations,  voting rights, preferences,  limitations
and special rights of the class and series of shares of the Company.



<PAGE>


                                                                          6
                                   ASSIGNMENT

                  FOR VALUE RECEIVED,  the undersigned assigns and transfers the
shares of Exchangeable Preferred Stock evidenced hereby to:__________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

(Insert assignee's social security or tax identification
number)

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
(Insert address and zip code of assignee)

and irrevocably appoints:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
agent to transfer the shares of Exchangeable Preferred Stock evidenced hereby on
the books of the Transfer Agent and Registrar.  The agent may substitute another
to act for him or her.

Date:

Signature:___________________________________________________________________
(Sign  exactly  as your  name  appears  on the other  side of this  Exchangeable
Preferred Stock Certificate)

Signature Guarantee:**________________________________________________________

- --------
          **  (Signature   must  be   guaranteed   by  an  "eligible   guarantor
institution"  that is, a bank,  stockbroker,  savings  and loan  association  or
credit union  meeting the  requirements  of the  Registrar,  which  requirements
include membership or participation in the Securities  Transfer Agents Medallion
Program  ("STAMP")  or  such  other  "signature  guarantee  program"  as  may be
determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution  for, STAMP,  all
in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.)

<PAGE>

                                                                           1
                                                           EXECUTION COPY


                          WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                 Series C 14-1/4% Senior Cumulative Exchangeable
                            Preferred Stock Due 2007


                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


                                                          December 17, 1997

Salomon Smith Barney
Salomon Brothers Inc
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
c/o Salomon Brothers Inc
         Seven World Trade Center
         New York, New York  10048

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         WinStar  Communications,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation (the "Issuer"),
and WinStar Credit Corp., a Delaware  corporation and a wholly owned  subsidiary
of the Issuer ("WCC" and together with the Issuer, the "Sellers") have agreed to
issue  and  sell  to  Salomon  Brothers  Inc  and  Credit  Suisse  First  Boston
Corporation (the "Initial  Purchasers"),  upon the terms set forth in a purchase
agreement of even date herewith (the "Purchase  Agreement"),  165,000 shares and
10,000 shares, respectively,  of the Issuer's Series C 14-1/4% Senior Cumulative
Exchangeable  Preferred Stock Due 2007 (the "Exchangeable  Preferred Stock"). As
an  inducement  to the Initial  Purchasers,  the Issuer  agrees with the Initial
Purchasers, for the benefit of the holders of the Initial Securities (as defined
below) (including,  without limitation,  the Initial  Purchasers),  the Exchange
Securities  (as defined below) and the Private  Exchange  Securities (as defined
below) (collectively the "Holders"), as follows:

         1. Registered  Exchange Offer.  The Issuer shall, at the Issuer's cost,
prepare  and, not later than 45 days after (or if the 45th day is not a business
day,  the first  business  day  thereafter)  the date of  original  issue of the
Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock (the "Issue Date"),  file with the Securities and
Exchange  Commission (the "Commission") a registration  statement (the "Exchange
Offer  Registration  Statement") on an appropriate form under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the  "Securities  Act"),  with respect to a proposed  offer
(the "Registered Exchange Offer") to the Holders of the Initial Securities,  who
are not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from  participating in
such a  Registered  Exchange  Offer,  to issue and deliver to such  Holders,  in
exchange for their respective shares of Exchangeable Preferred Stock or Exchange
Debentures  (as  defined  in the  Purchase  Agreement),  as the case may be (the
"Initial  Securities"),  a like aggregate liquidation preference of Exchangeable
Preferred Stock or a like aggregate principal amount of Exchange Debentures,  as
the  case  may be,  of the  Issuer  (collectively,  the  "Exchange  Securities")
identical in all  material  respects to the Initial  Securities  (except for the
transfer restrictions  relating to the Exchangeable  Preferred Stock or Exchange
Debentures), that would be registered under the Securities Act. The Issuer shall
use its best  efforts to cause such  Exchange  Offer  Registration  Statement to
become  effective  under the Securities Act within 150 days (or if the 150th day
is not a business day, the first business day  thereafter)  after the Issue Date
and shall keep the Exchange Offer Registration  Statement effective for not less
than 30 days (or longer, if required by


<PAGE>


                                                                            2

applicable law) after
the date notice of the Registered Exchange Offers is mailed to the Holders (such
period being called the "Exchange Offer Registration Period").

         If the Issuer effects the Registered Exchange Offer, the Issuer will be
entitled to close such Registered  Exchange Offer 30 days after the commencement
thereof  provided  that the  Issuer  has  accepted  all the  Initial  Securities
theretofore  validly  tendered in  accordance  with the terms of the  Registered
Exchange Offer.

         Following the  declaration of the  effectiveness  of the Exchange Offer
Registration  Statement,  the Issuer  shall  promptly  commence  the  Registered
Exchange  Offer,  it being the objective of such  Registered  Exchange  Offer to
enable each Holder of the Initial  Securities  electing to exchange such Initial
Securities  for  Exchange  Securities  (assuming  that  such  Holder  is  not an
affiliate of the Issuer within the meaning of the Securities  Act,  acquires the
Exchange  Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder's business and has no
arrangements  with any person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange
Securities  and is not  prohibited by any law or policy of the  Commission  from
participating  in  the  Registered   Exchange  Offer)  to  trade  such  Exchange
Securities  from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions
under the Securities Act and without material  restrictions under the securities
laws of the several states of the United States.

         The Issuer  acknowledges that,  pursuant to current  interpretations by
the Commission's  staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, in the absence of an
applicable  exemption  therefrom,  (i)  each  Holder  which  is a  broker-dealer
electing  to  exchange  Initial  Securities,  acquired  for its own account as a
result of market making  activities or other  trading  activities,  for Exchange
Securities  (an  "Exchanging  Dealer"),  is  required  to  deliver a  prospectus
containing the  information set forth in Annex A hereto on the cover, in Annex B
hereto in the  "Exchange  Offer  Procedures"  section  and the  "Purpose  of the
Exchange  Offer"  section,  and in Annex C hereto in the "Plan of  Distribution"
section  of such  prospectus  in  connection  with a sale of any  such  Exchange
Securities  received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to a Registered Exchange
Offer and (ii) an Initial  Purchaser  that  elects to sell  Exchange  Securities
acquired  in  exchange  for Initial  Securities  constituting  any portion of an
unsold allotment is required to deliver a prospectus  containing the information
required  by Items 507 or 508 of  Regulation  S-K under the  Securities  Act, as
applicable, in connection with such sale.

         The  Issuer  shall  use its best  efforts  to keep the  Exchange  Offer
Registration  Statement  effective and to amend and  supplement  the  prospectus
contained  therein,  in order to permit such prospectus to be lawfully delivered
by all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act for such period of time as such persons  must comply with such  requirements
in order to resell the Exchange Securities;  provided,  however, that (i) in the
case where such  prospectus  and any  amendment  or  supplement  thereto must be
delivered by an Exchanging Dealer or an Initial Purchaser,  such period shall be
the  lesser of 180 days and the date on which  all  Exchanging  Dealers  and the
Initial  Purchasers have sold all Exchange  Securities held by them (unless such
period is  extended  pursuant to Section  3(j) below) and (ii) the Issuer  shall
make such prospectus and any amendment or supplement  thereto,  available to any
broker-dealer  for use in connection with any resale of any Exchange  Securities
for a period  not less than 90 days  after the  consummation  of the  Registered
Exchange Offer.



<PAGE>


                                                                           3

         If, upon  consummation of the Registered  Exchange  Offer,  any Initial
Purchaser holds Exchangeable Preferred Stock or Exchangeable Debentures acquired
by it as part of its initial distribution,  the Issuer,  simultaneously with the
delivery of the Exchange  Securities  pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer,
shall issue and deliver to such Initial  Purchaser  upon the written  request of
such Initial Purchaser,  in exchange (the "Private Exchange") for the respective
Securities  held by such Initial  Purchaser,  a like  liquidation  preference of
Exchangeable  Preferred Stock or a like aggregate  principal  amount of Exchange
Debentures  of the Issuer  identical in all  material  respects  (including  the
existence  of  restrictions  on  transfer  under  the  Securities  Act  and  the
securities laws of the several states of the United States) to the  Exchangeable
Preferred Stock or the Exchange  Debentures,  as the case may be  (collectively,
the  "Private  Exchange  Securities").  The  Initial  Securities,  the  Exchange
Securities and the Private Exchange  Securities are herein  collectively  called
the "Securities".

         In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Issuer shall:

         (a) mail to each Holder a copy of the  prospectus  forming  part of the
Exchange Offer  Registration  Statement,  together with an appropriate letter of
transmittal and related documents;

         (b) keep the  Registered  Exchange Offer open for not less than 30 days
(or  longer,  if required by  applicable  law) after the date notice  thereof is
mailed to the Holders;

         (c) utilize the services of a depositary  for the  Registered  Exchange
Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan,  The City of New York,  which
may be the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee;

         (d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Initial  Securities at any time
prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last business day on which
the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and

         (e)  otherwise comply with all applicable laws.

         As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer
or Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Issuer shall:

         (x) accept for exchange all the Initial Securities validly tendered and
not withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange,
as the case may be (such  acceptance  constituting  the  "consummation"  of such
Registered  Exchange Offer  notwithstanding the fact that not all of the Initial
Securities may have been so tendered);

         (y)  deliver  to the  Company's  transfer  agent  for the  Exchangeable
Preferred Stock (the "Transfer  Agent") , in the case of Exchangeable  Preferred
Stock, or the trustee for the Exchange  Debentures (the "Trustee"),  in the case
of Exchange Debentures,  for cancellation all the Initial Securities so accepted
for exchange; and

         (z) cause the Transfer  Agent,  in the case of  Exchangeable  Preferred
Stock, or the Trustee, in the case of Exchange  Debentures,  to authenticate and
deliver  promptly to each Holder  which  validly  tendered  Initial  Securities,
Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, equal in
liquidation  preference  or  principal  amount,  as  applicable,  to the Initial
Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.


<PAGE>


                                                                            4

         The  Certificate of Designation  governing the  Exchangeable  Preferred
Stock  (the  "Certificate  of  Designation")  and the  Indenture  governing  the
Exchange  Debentures (the "Indenture") will provide that the Exchange Securities
subject to the  Certificate  of Designation or the Indenture will not be subject
to the transfer  restrictions set forth in the Certificate of Designation or the
Indenture.  The  Certificate of Designation  and the Indenture will also provide
that all the  Initial  Securities,  Exchange  Securities  and  Private  Exchange
Securities subject to such Certificate of Designation or Indenture will vote and
consent  together  on all  matters  as one class  and that  none of the  Initial
Securities,  Exchange  Securities or Private Exchange Securities subject to such
Certificate  of  Designation or Indenture will have the right to vote or consent
as a separate class from one another on any matter.

         Dividends or interest,  as  applicable,  on each  Exchange  Security or
Private  Exchange  Security  issued  pursuant to a Registered  Exchange Offer or
Private  Exchange will accrue from the last SemiAnnual  Dividend Accrual Date or
SemiAnnual  Interest  Accrual Date (as such terms are defined in the Certificate
of  Designation  and the  Indenture,  respectively),  as  applicable,  on  which
dividends  or  interest  was  accrued on the  Initial  Security  surrendered  in
exchange  therefor  or, if no  dividends  or interest  have been accrued on such
Initial Security, from the date of original issue of such Initial Security.

         Each Holder tendering Initial Securities in a Registered Exchange Offer
shall  be  required  to  represent  to  the  Issuer  that  at  the  time  of the
consummation  of such  Registered  Exchange  Offer (i) any  Exchange  Securities
received by such Holder will be  acquired in the  ordinary  course of  business,
(ii) such Holder will have no arrangements or  understanding  with any person to
participate  in the  distribution  of the  Initial  Securities  or the  Exchange
Securities within the meaning of the Securities Act, (iii) such Holder is not an
"affiliate,"  as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities  Act, of the Issuer or if
it is an affiliate, such Holder will comply with the registration and prospectus
delivery  requirements of the Securities Act to the extent  applicable,  (iv) if
such  Holder is not a  broker-dealer,  that it is not  engaged  in, and does not
intend to engage in, the distribution of the Exchange Securities and (v) if such
Holder is a broker-dealer,  that it will receive Exchange Securities for its own
account in exchange  for Initial  Securities  that were  acquired as a result of
market-making  activities  or  other  trading  activities  and  that  it will be
required to acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any
resale of such Exchange Securities.

         Notwithstanding  any other  provisions  hereof,  the Issuer will ensure
that (i) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and
any prospectus forming a part thereof and any supplement thereto complies in all
material  respects  with  the  Securities  Act and  the  rules  and  regulations
thereunder,  (ii) the Exchange  Offer  Registration  Statement and any amendment
thereto does not, when it becomes  effective,  contain an untrue  statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated  therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any prospectus
forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to
such prospectus, does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated  therein or necessary in order to
make the statements  therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.

         2.  Shelf  Registration.  If,  (i)  because  of any change in law or in
applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the Commission, the Issuer is
not  permitted to effect the  Registered  Exchange  Offer,  as  contemplated  by
Section 1 hereof, (ii) the Registered


<PAGE>


                                                                           5

Exchange Offer is not consummated  within 180 days of the Issue Date,  (iii) any
Initial  Purchaser so requests  with respect to the Initial  Securities  (or the
Private  Exchange   Securities)  not  eligible  to  be  exchanged  for  Exchange
Securities in a Registered Exchange Offer and held by it following  consummation
of the  Registered  Exchange  Offers or (iv) any  Holder of  Initial  Securities
(other  than  an  Exchanging  Dealer)  is not  eligible  to  participate  in the
Registered  Exchange  Offer  or,  in the  case  of any  Holder  (other  than  an
Exchanging  Dealer) that  participates in the Registered  Exchange  Offer,  such
Holder does not receive freely tradeable Exchange  Securities on the date of the
exchange, the Issuer shall take the following actions:

         (a) The Issuer shall,  at its cost, as promptly as practicable  (but in
no event more than 30 days  after so  required  or  requested  pursuant  to this
Section 2) file with the Commission and thereafter shall use its best efforts to
cause to be declared  effective a  registration  statement  or  statements  (the
"Shelf   Registration   Statement"   and,   together  with  the  Exchange  Offer
Registration Statement, a "Registration Statement") on an appropriate form under
the  Securities  Act relating to the offer and sale of the  Transfer  Restricted
Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof) by the Holders  thereof from time to
time in  accordance  with the  methods  of  distribution  set forth in the Shelf
Registration  Statement and Rule 415 under the Securities Act (hereinafter,  the
"Shelf Registration");  provided, however, that no Holder (other than an Initial
Purchaser)  shall be entitled to have the Securities  held by it covered by such
Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by
all the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder.

         (b)  The  Issuer   shall  use  its  best  efforts  to  keep  the  Shelf
Registration  Statement continuously effective in order to permit the prospectus
included  therein  to be  lawfully  delivered  by the  Holders  of the  relevant
Securities,  for a period of two years (or for such  longer  period if  extended
pursuant  to Section  3(j)  below)  from the date of its  effectiveness  or such
shorter period that will terminate when all the Securities  covered by the Shelf
Registration  Statement (i) have been sold pursuant thereto or (ii) are eligible
for sale under Rule 144(k) under the Securities  Act. The Issuer shall be deemed
not to have  used its best  efforts  to keep the  Shelf  Registration  Statement
effective during the requisite period if it voluntarily  takes any action (other
than any action permitted to be taken under this Agreement) that would result in
Holders  of  Securities  covered  thereby  not being able to offer and sell such
Securities during that period, unless such action is required by applicable law.

         (c)  Notwithstanding  any other  provisions  of this  Agreement  to the
contrary,  the  Issuer  shall  cause the Shelf  Registration  Statement  and the
related prospectus and any amendment or supplement  thereto, as of the effective
date of the Shelf Registration Statement, amendment or supplement, (i) to comply
in all material respects with the applicable  requirements of the Securities Act
and the rules and  regulations  of the  Commission  and (ii) not to contain  any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

         3. Registration  Procedures.  In connection with any Shelf Registration
contemplated by Section 2 hereof and, to the extent  applicable,  any Registered
Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 1 hereof, the following  provisions shall
apply:

         (a)  The Issuer shall (i) furnish to each Initial Purchaser, prior to 
the filing thereof


<PAGE>


                                                                          6

with the  Commission,  a copy of the  Registration  Statement and each amendment
thereof and each supplement,  if any, to the prospectus included therein and, in
the event that an Initial  Purchaser  (with  respect to any portion of an unsold
allotment  from  the  original  offering)  is  participating  in the  Registered
Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration,  shall use its best efforts to reflect
in each such document, when so filed with the Commission,  such comments as such
Initial  Purchaser   reasonably  and  timely  may  propose;   (ii)  include  the
information  set forth in Annex A hereto on the cover,  in Annex B hereto in the
"Exchange  Offer  Procedures"  section and the "Purpose of the  Exchange  Offer"
section  and in Annex C hereto  in the  "Plan of  Distribution"  section  of the
prospectus  forming a part of the  Exchange  Offer  Registration  Statement  and
include the information set forth in Annex D hereto in the Letter of Transmittal
delivered  pursuant to such Registered  Exchange Offer; (iii) if requested by an
Initial  Purchaser,  include  the  information  required  by Items 507 or 508 of
Regulation  S-K under the  Securities  Act,  as  applicable,  in the  prospectus
forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement; (iv) include within
the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration  Statement a section
entitled  "Plan  of   Distribution,"   reasonably   acceptable  to  the  Initial
Purchasers,  which shall contain a summary  statement of the positions  taken or
policies  made by the staff of the  Commission  with  respect  to the  potential
"underwriter"  status  of any  broker-dealer  that is the  beneficial  owner (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act")) of Exchange  Securities  received by such broker-dealer in such
Registered  Exchange  Offer  (a  "Participating  Broker-Dealer"),  whether  such
positions  or  policies  have  been  publicly  disseminated  by the staff of the
Commission  or such  positions or policies,  in the  reasonable  judgment of the
Initial Purchasers based upon advice of counsel (which may be in-house counsel),
represent the prevailing  views of the staff of the  Commission;  and (v) in the
case of a Shelf Registration,  include the names of the Holders,  who propose to
sell  Securities  pursuant  to the  Shelf  Registration  Statement,  as  selling
securityholders.

         (b) The Issuer shall give written notice to the Initial Purchasers, the
Holders of the  Securities  and any  Participating  Broker-Dealer  from whom the
Issuer  has  received  prior  written  notice  that it  will be a  Participating
Broker-Dealer  in a Registered  Exchange Offer (which notice pursuant to clauses
(ii)-(v) hereof shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the
prospectus until the requisite changes have been made):

         (i) when the Registration  Statement or any amendment  thereto has been
filed  with  the  Commission  and  when  the   Registration   Statement  or  any
post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;

         (ii)  of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to
the Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or for additional
information;

         (iii)  of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending 
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any 
proceedings for that purpose;

         (iv)  of  the  receipt  by  the  Issuer  or its  legal  counsel  of any
notification  with  respect  to  the  suspension  of  the  qualification  of the
Securities for sale in any  jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any
proceeding for such purpose; and

         (v) of the  happening  of any event  that  requires  the Issuer to make
changes  in the  Registration  Statement  or the  prospectus  in order  that the
Registration Statement or the


<PAGE>


                                                                           7

prospectus  does not contain an untrue  statement of a material fact nor omit to
state a material  fact  required to be stated  therein or  necessary to make the
statements therein (in the case of the prospectus, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made) not misleading.

         (c) The  Issuer  shall  make  every  reasonable  effort to  obtain  the
withdrawal  at  the  earliest   possible  time,  of  any  order  suspending  the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

         (d) The Issuer  shall  furnish to each  Holder of  Securities  included
within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, at least one copy
of the Shelf Registration  Statement and any  post-effective  amendment thereto,
including financial statements and schedules,  and, if the Holder so requests in
writing,  all  exhibits  thereto  (including  those,  if  any,  incorporated  by
reference).

         (e) The Issuer shall deliver to each Exchanging Dealer and each Initial
Purchaser, and to any other Holder who so requests, without charge, at least one
copy  of the  Exchange  Offer  Registration  Statement  and  any  post-effective
amendment thereto,  including  financial  statements and schedules,  and, if any
Initial Purchaser or any such Holder requests,  all exhibits thereto  (including
those incorporated by reference).

         (f) The Issuer shall, during the Shelf Registration Period,  deliver to
each  Holder  of   Securities   included   within  the  coverage  of  the  Shelf
Registration,  without charge, as many copies of the prospectus  (including each
preliminary  prospectus)  included in the Shelf  Registration  Statement and any
amendment  or  supplement  thereto as such person may  reasonably  request.  The
Issuer consents,  subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the
prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders
of the  Securities  in connection  with the offering and sale of the  Securities
covered by the prospectus,  or any amendment or supplement thereto,  included in
the Shelf Registration Statement.

         (g) The Issuer shall deliver to each Initial Purchaser,  any Exchanging
Dealer,  any  Participating  Broker-Dealer  and such other  persons  required to
deliver a prospectus  following the Registered Exchange Offers,  without charge,
as  many  copies  of  the  final  prospectus  included  in  the  Exchange  Offer
Registration  Statement and any amendment or supplement  thereto as such persons
may reasonably request.  The Issuer consents,  subject to the provisions of this
Agreement,  to the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement  thereto
by any Initial Purchaser, if necessary, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such
other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange
Offers in  connection  with the  offering  and sale of the  Exchange  Securities
covered by the prospectus,  or any amendment or supplement thereto,  included in
such Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

         (h) Prior to any public  offering  of the  Securities,  pursuant to any
Registration  Statement,  the Issuer shall register or qualify or cooperate with
the Holders of the Securities  included therein and their respective  counsel in
connection with the  registration or  qualification  of the Securities for offer
and sale under the  securities  or "blue sky" laws of such  states of the United
States as any Holder of the Securities reasonably requests in writing and do any
and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale
in such jurisdictions of the Securities covered by such Registration  Statement;
provided,  however,  that  the  Issuer  shall  not be  required  to (i)  qualify
generally to do


<PAGE>


                                                                            8

business in any jurisdiction  where it is not then so qualified or (ii) take any
action which would subject them to general  service of process or to taxation in
any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

         (i) The Issuer shall  cooperate  with the Holders of the  Securities to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates  representing the
Securities  to be  sold  pursuant  to any  Registration  Statement  free  of any
restrictive  legends and in such  denominations  and registered in such names as
the  Holders  may  request a  reasonable  period  of time  prior to sales of the
Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.

         (j) Upon the occurrence of any event  contemplated  by paragraphs  (ii)
through  (v) of  Section  3(b)  above  during the period for which the Issuer is
required to maintain  an  effective  Registration  Statement,  the Issuer  shall
promptly  prepare  and  file a  post-effective  amendment  to  the  Registration
Statement or a supplement (by way of incorporation by reference from an Exchange
Act  report or  otherwise)  to the  related  prospectus  and any other  required
document so that, as thereafter  delivered to Holders of the Initial  Securities
or purchasers of Securities, the prospectus will not contain an untrue statement
of a material  fact or omit to state any  material  fact  required  to be stated
therein  or  necessary  to  make  the  statements   therein,  in  light  of  the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Issuer notifies
the  Initial   Purchasers,   the  Holders  of  the   Securities  and  any  known
Participating  Broker-Dealer  in accordance  with paragraphs (ii) through (v) of
Section  3(b) above to suspend  the use of the  prospectus  until the  requisite
changes to the  prospectus  have been made,  then the  Initial  Purchasers,  the
Holders  of the  Securities  and any  such  Participating  Broker-Dealers  shall
suspend use of such  prospectus,  and the period of  effectiveness  of the Shelf
Registration  Statement provided for in Section 2(b) above (unless and until the
Securities  covered  thereby are  eligible  for sale under Rule 144(k) under the
Securities  Act) or the Exchange Offer  Registration  Statement  provided for in
Section 1 above,  as the case may be,  shall be  extended  by the number of days
from and  including  the date of the giving of such notice to and  including the
date when the Initial  Purchasers,  the Holders of the  Securities and any known
Participating  Broker-Dealer  shall have received  such amended or  supplemented
prospectus pursuant to this Section 3(j).

         (k) Not later than the effective  date of the  applicable  Registration
Statement, the Issuer will provide CUSIP numbers for the Initial Securities, the
Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities,  as the case may be, and
provide  the  Transfer  Agent  or  the  Trustee,  as  applicable,  with  printed
certificates for the Initial Securities,  the Exchange Securities or the Private
Exchange Securities,  as the case may be, in forms eligible for deposit with The
Depository Trust Company.

         (l) The  Issuer  will  comply  with all  rules and  regulations  of the
Commission to the extent and so long as they are  applicable  to the  Registered
Exchange  Offers or the Shelf  Registration  and the Issuer will make  generally
available to the Issuer's  security holders (or otherwise  provide in accordance
with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) an earnings  statement  satisfying the
provisions of Section 11(a) of the  Securities  Act, no later than 45 days after
the end of a  12-month  period  (or 90 days,  if such  period is a fiscal  year)
beginning with the first month of the Issuer's  first fiscal quarter  commencing
after the effective date of the  Registration  Statement,  which statement shall
cover such 12-month period.



<PAGE>


                                                                            9
     (m) The Issuer shall cause any indenture  governing the Exchange Securities
(the  "Exchange  Indenture")  to be qualified  under the Trust  Indenture Act of
1939, as amended,  in a timely manner and  containing  such changes,  if any, as
shall be necessary for such qualification.  In the event that such qualification
would require the appointment of a new trustee under the Exchange Indenture, the
Issuer  shall  appoint  a new  trustee  thereunder  pursuant  to the  applicable
provisions of such Exchange Indenture.

         (n) The  Issuer  may  require  each  Holder  of  Securities  to be sold
pursuant  to the Shelf  Registration  Statement  to furnish  to the Issuer  such
information  regarding the Holder,  his or her  ownership of Securities  and the
distribution  of the  Securities as the Issuer may from time to time  reasonably
require for inclusion in the Shelf  Registration  Statement,  and the Issuer may
exclude  from such  registration  the  Securities  of any  Holder  that fails to
furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.

         (o) The Issuer shall enter into such customary agreements (including if
requested an  underwriting  agreement in customary form) and take all such other
action,  if any, as any Holder of the  Securities  shall  reasonably  request in
order to facilitate  the  disposition  of the  Securities  pursuant to any Shelf
Registration.

         (p) In the case of any Shelf  Registration,  the Issuer  shall (i) make
reasonably  available  for  inspection  by the  Holders of the  Securities,  any
underwriter  participating in any disposition pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Holders of
the Securities or any such underwriter all relevant financial and other records,
pertinent  corporate  documents and  properties of the Issuer and (ii) cause the
Issuer's officers, directors, employees,  accountants and auditors to supply all
relevant  information  reasonably  requested by the Holders of the Securities or
any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, in each case, as shall be reasonably necessary to enable
such  persons,  to conduct a  reasonable  investigation  within  the  meaning of
Section  11 of  the  Securities  Act;  provided,  however,  that  the  foregoing
inspection  and  information  gathering  shall be  coordinated  on behalf of the
Initial  Purchasers  by you and on behalf of the other  parties,  by one counsel
designated  by and on behalf of such  other  parties as  described  in Section 4
hereof;  provided,   further,  that  any  records,   documents,   properties  or
information  that are  designated by the Issuer as  confidential  at the time of
delivery of such records,  documents,  properties or  information  shall be kept
confidential by such persons, unless (i) such records, documents,  properties or
information  are in the public  domain or  otherwise  publicly  available,  (ii)
disclosure of such records, documents,  properties or information is required by
court or  administrative  order or (iii) disclosure of such records,  documents,
properties or information,  in the written opinion of counsel to such person, is
otherwise  required  by law  (including,  without  limitation,  pursuant  to the
requirements of the Securities Act).

         (q) In the case of any Shelf  Registration,  the Issuer if requested by
any Holder of Securities covered thereby, shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver
an opinion and updates  thereof  relating to the  Securities  in customary  form
addressed  to such Holders and the managing  underwriters,  if any,  thereof and
dated,  in the case of the initial  opinion,  the  effective  date of such Shelf
Registration  Statement  (it being agreed that the matters to be covered by such
opinion  shall  include,  without  limitation,  the due  incorporation  and good
standing of the Issuer and its subsidiaries;  the due  authorization,  execution
and delivery of the relevant  agreement of the type  referred to in Section 3(o)
hereof; the due authorization,  execution,  authentication and issuance, and the
validity  and  enforceability,  of the  applicable  Securities;  the  absence of
governmental approvals required to be obtained


<PAGE>


                                                                             10

in connection with the Shelf  Registration  Statement,  the offering and sale of
the applicable  Securities,  or any agreement of the type referred to in Section
3(o) hereof; the compliance as to form of such Shelf Registration  Statement and
any documents  incorporated by reference  therein and of the Exchange  Indenture
with  the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act and the  Trust  Indenture  Act,
respectively; and, as of the date of the opinion and as of the effective date of
the  Shelf  Registration  Statement  or  most  recent  post-effective  amendment
thereto, as the case may be, the absence from such Shelf Registration  Statement
and the prospectus included therein,  as then amended or supplemented,  and from
any  documents  incorporated  by reference  therein of an untrue  statement of a
material  fact or the omission to state  therein a material  fact required to be
stated  therein or necessary to make the  statements  therein not misleading (in
the case of any such documents,  in the light of the  circumstances  existing at
the time that such documents  were filed with the Commission  under the Exchange
Act);  (ii) its  officers to execute and deliver  all  customary  documents  and
certificates and updates thereof reasonably requested by any underwriters of the
applicable Securities and (iii) its independent public accountants to provide to
the selling Holders of the applicable  Securities and any underwriter therefor a
comfort  letter in customary form and covering  matters of the type  customarily
covered in comfort  letters in connection with primary  underwritten  offerings,
subject to receipt of appropriate  documentation  as  contemplated,  and only if
permitted, by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72.

         (r) In the case of the Registered  Exchange  Offer, if requested by any
Initial  Purchaser or any known  Participating  Broker-Dealer,  the Issuer shall
cause (i) its counsel to deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such Participating
Broker-Dealer  signed  opinions in the forms attached as Annex I and Annex II to
the Purchase Agreement with such changes as are customary in connection with the
preparation  of  a  Registration  Statement  and  (ii)  its  independent  public
accountants  to  deliver  to  such  Initial  Purchaser  or  such   Participating
Broker-Dealer a comfort letter,  in customary form,  meeting the requirements as
to the substance thereof as set forth in Section 6(f) of the Purchase Agreement,
with appropriate date changes.

         (s) If a  Registered  Exchange  Offer or a  Private  Exchange  is to be
consummated,  upon  delivery of the Initial  Securities by Holders to the Issuer
(or to such other Person as directed by the Issuer) in exchange for the Exchange
Securities or the Private  Exchange  Securities,  as the case may be, the Issuer
shall mark, or cause to be marked,  on the Initial  Securities so exchanged that
such  Initial  Securities  are  being  canceled  in  exchange  for the  Exchange
Securities or the Private Exchange  Securities,  as the case may be; in no event
shall the Initial Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.

         (t) The  Issuer  shall (a) if the  Initial  Securities  have been rated
prior to the initial  sale of such Initial  Securities,  use its best efforts to
confirm  such  ratings will apply to the  Securities  covered by a  Registration
Statement,  or (b) if the Initial  Securities  were not  previously  rated,  use
commercially   reasonable   efforts  to  cause  the  Securities   covered  by  a
Registration  Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating agencies,  if so
requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate  principal  amount of Securities
covered by such Registration Statement, or by the managing underwriters, if any.

         (u) In the event that any  broker-dealer  registered under the Exchange
Act  shall   underwrite  any  Securities  or  participate  as  a  member  of  an
underwriting  syndicate or selling group or "assist in the distribution" (within
the meaning of the  Conduct  Rules of the  National  Association  of  Securities
Dealers, Inc. ("NASD")) thereof, whether as a


<PAGE>


                                                                           11

Holder of such Securities or as an underwriter,  a placement or sales agent or a
broker or dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise,  the Issuer shall assist such
broker-dealer  in  complying  with  the  requirements  of  such  Conduct  Rules,
including,  without  limitation,  by (i) if Rule 2720 thereto  shall so require,
engaging  (solely,  except  in  the  case  of  an  Initial  Purchaser,  at  such
broker-dealer's  expense) a "qualified  independent  underwriter" (as defined in
Rule 2720) to  participate  in the  preparation  of the  Registration  Statement
relating to such  Securities,  to exercise  usual  standards of due diligence in
respect  thereto  and,  if any  portion  of the  offering  contemplated  by such
Registration  Statement  is an  underwritten  offering  or  is  made  through  a
placement  or sales  agent,  to  recommend  the yield of such  Securities,  (ii)
indemnifying  any such  qualified  independent  underwriter to the extent of the
indemnification of underwriters provided in Section 5 hereof and (iii) providing
such  information  to such  broker-dealer  as may be  required in order for such
broker-dealer  to comply with the  requirements of the Rules of Fair Practice of
the NASD.

         (v) The  Issuer  shall use its best  efforts  to take all  other  steps
necessary to effect the registration of the Securities covered by a Registration
Statement contemplated hereby.

         4. Registration  Expenses.  The Issuer shall bear all fees and expenses
incurred by the Issuer in connection  with the  performance  of its  obligations
under  Sections  1 through 3 hereof,  whether or not the  respective  Registered
Exchange Offer or a Shelf  Registration is filed or becomes  effective,  and, in
the event of a Shelf  Registration,  shall bear or reimburse  the Holders of the
Securities covered thereby for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm
of  counsel  designated  by the  Holders of a majority  in  principal  amount or
liquidation  preference of the Securities  covered thereby to act as counsel for
the  Holders of the  Securities  in  connection  therewith.  Each  Holder of the
Securities  shall pay all  underwriting  discounts,  if any, and commissions and
transfer  taxes,  if any,  relating to the sale or  disposition of such Holder's
Securities.

         5.  Indemnification.  (a) The  Issuer  agrees  to  indemnify  and  hold
harmless each Holder of the Securities, any Participating Broker-Dealer and each
person,  if any, who controls  such Holder or such  Participating  Broker-Dealer
within the meaning of the Securities  Act or the Exchange Act (each Holder,  any
Participating  Broker-Dealer  and  such  controlling  persons  are  referred  to
collectively as the "Indemnified  Parties") from and against any losses, claims,
damages or  liabilities,  joint or several,  or any  actions in respect  thereof
(including,  but not limited to, any losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities  or
actions  relating  to  purchases  and  sales of the  Securities)  to which  each
Indemnified  Party may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act
or otherwise,  insofar as such losses, claims,  damages,  liabilities or actions
arise out of or are based upon any untrue  statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary  prospectus  relating to a
Shelf Registration,  or arise out of, or are based upon, the omission or alleged
omission  to state  therein a material  fact  required  to be stated  therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse, as
incurred,  the  Indemnified  Parties for any legal or other expenses  reasonably
incurred by them in connection  with  investigating  or defending any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof;  provided,  however, that
(i) the  Issuer  shall not be liable  in any such case to the  extent  that such
loss,  claim,  damage or  liability  arises  out of or is based  upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue  statement or omission or alleged omission made in a
Registration  Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement  thereto
or in any preliminary  prospectus  relating to a Shelf  Registration in reliance
upon and in conformity  with written  information  pertaining to such Holder and
furnished to the Issuer by or on


<PAGE>


                                                                           12

behalf of such Holder  specifically for inclusion  therein and (ii) with respect
to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made
in any preliminary  prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration  Statement,  the
indemnity  agreement  contained  in this  subsection  (a) shall not inure to the
benefit  of any  Holder or  Participating  Broker-  Dealer  from whom the person
asserting  any  such  losses,  claims,  damages  or  liabilities  purchased  the
Securities  concerned,  to  the  extent  that  a  prospectus  relating  to  such
Securities  was  required  to be  delivered  by  such  Holder  or  Participating
Broker-Dealer  under the Securities Act in connection with such purchase and any
such  loss,  claim,   damage  or  liability  of  such  Holder  or  Participating
Broker-Dealer  results  from the fact  that  there was not sent or given to such
person,  at or prior to the written  confirmation of the sale of such Securities
to such  person,  a copy of the final  prospectus  if the Issuer had  previously
furnished copies thereof to such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer; provided
further,  however,  that this  indemnity  agreement  will be in  addition to any
liability  which the Issuer may otherwise have to such  Indemnified  Party.  The
Issuer shall also indemnify underwriters,  their officers and directors and each
person who controls such  underwriters  within the meaning of the Securities Act
or the  Exchange  Act to the same extent as provided  above with  respect to the
indemnification of the Holders of the Securities if requested by such Holders.

         (b) Each Holder of the  Securities,  severally  and not  jointly,  will
indemnify and hold harmless the Issuer and each person, if any, who controls the
Issuer  within the meaning of the  Securities  Act or the  Exchange Act from and
against any losses,  claims,  damages or  liabilities  or any actions in respect
thereof,  to which the Issuer or any such controlling  person may become subject
under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims,  damages,  liabilities  or  actions  arise out of or are based  upon any
untrue  statement or alleged untrue  statement of a material fact contained in a
Registration  Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement  thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration,  or arise out
of or are  based  upon the  omission  or  alleged  omission  to state  therein a
material fact necessary to make the statements  therein not  misleading,  but in
each case only to the extent  that the untrue  statement  or omission or alleged
untrue  statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in  conformity  with
written information  pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Issuer by or
on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; and, subject to the
limitation set forth  immediately  preceding this clause,  shall  reimburse,  as
incurred,  the Issuer for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the
Issuer  or any such  controlling  person in  connection  with  investigating  or
defending any loss, claim, damage,  liability or action in respect thereof. This
indemnity  agreement will be in addition to any liability  which such Holder may
otherwise have to the Issuer or any of its controlling persons.

         (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5
of  notice  of the  commencement  of  any  action  or  proceeding  (including  a
governmental investigation),  such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made  against  the  indemnifying  party  under this  Section 5,
notify the indemnifying party of the commencement  thereof;  but the omission so
to  notify  the  indemnifying  party  will  not,  in  any  event,   relieve  the
indemnifying  party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the
indemnification  obligation  provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. In case any
such  action is brought  against any  indemnified  party,  and it  notifies  the
indemnifying party of the commencement  thereof,  the indemnifying party will be
entitled to  participate  therein  and, to the extent that it may wish,  jointly
with any other  indemnifying  party  similarly  notified,  to assume the defense
thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to


<PAGE>


                                                                            13

such  indemnified  party  (who  shall  not,  except  with  the  consent  of  the
indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying  party), and after notice from
the indemnifying  party to such  indemnified  party of its election so to assume
the  defense  thereof  the  indemnifying  party  will  not  be  liable  to  such
indemnified  party under this Section 5 for any legal or other  expenses,  other
than  reasonable  costs  of   investigation,   subsequently   incurred  by  such
indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof.  No indemnifying party
shall,  without the prior written consent of the indemnified  party,  effect any
settlement  of any  pending  or  threatened  action  in  respect  of  which  any
indemnified  party is or could have been a party and  indemnity  could have been
sought  hereunder by such indemnified  party unless such settlement  includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims
that are the subject matter of such action.

         (d)  If  the  indemnification   provided  for  in  this  Section  5  is
unavailable  or  insufficient  to  hold  harmless  an  indemnified  party  under
subsections (a) or (b) above, then each  indemnifying  party shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such indemnified  party as a result of the losses,
claims,  damages or liabilities (or actions in respect  thereof)  referred to in
subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such  proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits  received by the indemnifying  party or parties on the one
hand and the indemnified  party on the other from the exchange of the respective
Initial Securities, pursuant to the relevant Registered Exchange Offers, or (ii)
if the  allocation  provided by the  foregoing  clause (i) is not  permitted  by
applicable  law, in such  proportion as is  appropriate  to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of
the indemnifying  party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified  party on
the other in connection  with the  statements or omissions that resulted in such
losses,  claims,  damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well
as any  other  relevant  equitable  considerations.  The  relative  fault of the
parties shall be  determined  by reference  to, among other things,  whether the
untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact relates to information  supplied by the Issuer
on the one hand or such Holder or such other indemnified  party, as the case may
be,  on the  other,  and the  parties'  relative  intent,  knowledge,  access to
information  and  opportunity  to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The  amount  paid by an  indemnified  party as a result of the  losses,  claims,
damages or liabilities  referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d)
shall be deemed to include any legal or other  expenses  reasonably  incurred by
such indemnified party in connection with  investigating or defending any action
or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d).  Notwithstanding any other
provision  of this  Section  5(d),  the Holders of the  Securities  shall not be
required  to  contribute  any  amount in  excess of the  amount by which the net
proceeds received by such Holders from the sale of the Securities  pursuant to a
Registration  Statement  exceeds the amount of damages  which such  Holders have
otherwise  been  required  to pay by reason of such  untrue  or  alleged  untrue
statement  or  omission  or alleged  omission.  No person  guilty of  fraudulent
misrepresentation  (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the  Securities  Act)
shall be  entitled  to  contribution  from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent  misrepresentation.  For purposes of this paragraph (d), each person,
if any, who controls such indemnified party within the meaning of the Securities
Act or the  Exchange  Act shall  have the same  rights to  contribution  as such
indemnified  party and each person,  if any, who controls the Issuer  within the
meaning of the  Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as the Issuer.

         (e) The  agreements  contained in this Section 5 shall survive the sale
of the Securities pursuant to a Registration  Statement and shall remain in full
force and effect,


<PAGE>


                                                                           14

regardless  of  any  termination  or  cancellation  of  this  Agreement  or  any
investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

         6.  Additional  Amounts Under  Certain  Circumstances.  (a)  Additional
dividends or interest, as applicable (the "Additional Amounts"), with respect to
the Securities shall be assessed as follows if any of the following events occur
(each such event in clauses (i) through (iii) below a "Registration Default"):

         (i) If by February 5, 1998,  neither the  Exchange  Offer  Registration
Statement  nor a  Shelf  Registration  Statement  relating  to  such  series  of
Securities has been filed with the Commission;

         (ii) If by  June  20,  1998,  neither  the  Registered  Exchange  Offer
relating to such series of  Securities is  consummated  nor, if required in lieu
thereof, a Shelf Registration Statement relating to such series of Securities is
declared effective by the Commission; or

         (iii) If,  after June 20, 1998,  and after  either the  Exchange  Offer
Registration  Statement  or the Shelf  Registration  Statement  relating to such
series of  Securities  is declared  effective  (A) such  Registration  Statement
thereafter ceases to be effective (except as permitted in paragraph (b)); or (B)
such  Registration  Statement  or the  related  prospectus  ceases  to be usable
(except as permitted in paragraph  (b)) in  connection  with resales of Transfer
Restricted Securities during the periods specified herein because either (1) any
event  occurs as a result of which the related  prospectus  forming part of such
Registration  Statement would include any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements  therein in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading,  or (2) it
shall be  necessary  to amend such  Registration  Statement  or  supplement  the
related prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the
respective  rules  thereunder (such period of time during which the Registration
Statement  is  not  effective  or the  Registration  Statement  or  the  related
prospectus is not useable being referred to as a "Blackout Period").

         Additional  Amounts  shall  accrue  on the  Securities  covered  by the
Registration  Statement to which the Registration Default relates over and above
the interest or  dividends  set forth in the title of such  Securities  from and
including  the date on which any such  Registration  Default  shall occur to but
excluding  the date on which  all such  Registration  Defaults  relating  to the
Securities  have  been  cured,  at a rate of 0.50% per  annum  (the  "Additional
Amounts Rate").

         (b) A Blackout Period referred to in Section  6(a)(iii) shall be deemed
not to be a Registration Default in relation to a Registration  Statement or the
related prospectus if (i) the Blackout Period has occurred solely as a result of
(x)  the  filing  of a  post-effective  amendment  to  such  Shelf  Registration
Statement to incorporate  annual audited  financial  information with respect to
the Issuer where such post-effective amendment is not yet effective and needs to
be declared effective to permit Holders to use the related prospectus or (y) the
occurrence of other  material  events with respect to the Issuer that would need
to be described in such  Registration  Statement or the related  prospectus  and
(ii) in the case of clause (y),  the Issuer is  proceeding  promptly and in good
faith to amend or  supplement  (including by way of filing  documents  under the
Exchange  Act  which  are   incorporated  by  reference  into  the  Registration
Statement) such Registration  Statement and related  prospectus to describe such
events; provided, however, that in any case if such Blackout Period occurs for a
continuous period in excess of 45 days, a Registration Default shall be


<PAGE>


                                                                          15

deemed to have occurred on the 46th day of such Blackout  Period and  Additional
Amounts shall be payable in  accordance  with the above  paragraph  from the day
such  Registration  Default occurs until such  Registration  Default is cured or
until the Company is no longer required  pursuant to this Agreement to keep such
Registration  Statement  effective or such Registration  Statement or Prospectus
useable.

         (c) Any Additional  Amounts due pursuant to clause  (a)(i),  (a)(ii) or
(a)(iii) of Section 6 above will accrue on each SemiAnnual Dividend Accrual Date
or SemiAnnual  Interest  Accrual Date, as the case may be,  commencing  with the
first  SemiAnnual  Dividend  Accrual Date or  SemiAnnual  Interest  Accrual Date
following  the  applicable  Registration  Default.  Additional  Amounts  will be
determined by multiplying the Additional  Amounts Rate by the Accumulated Amount
(as such term is defined  in the  Certificate  of  Designation  relating  to the
Exchangeable Preferred Stock and the Exchange Indenture,  as applicable) of such
Securities  on the  relevant  SemiAnnual  Dividend  Accrual  Date or  SemiAnnual
Interest Accrual Date, as applicable, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of
which is the number of days such Additional  Amounts Rate was applicable  during
such  period  (determined  on the basis of a 360-day  year  comprised  of twelve
30-day  months),  and the  denominator of which is 360.  Payments or accruals of
Additional  Amounts  on the  Securities  will  be made  to the  Holders  of such
Securities  on the  regular  record  date  immediately  preceding  the  relevant
SemiAnnual  Dividend  Accrual  Date or  SemiAnnual  Interest  Accrual  Date,  as
applicable.

         (d) "Transfer Restricted  Securities" means each Security until (i) the
date on  which  such  Security  has been  exchanged  by a  person  other  than a
broker-dealer  for a freely  transferrable  Exchange  Security in the Registered
Exchange Offer,  (ii) following the exchange by a broker-dealer  in a Registered
Exchange Offer of such Security for an Exchange Security, the date on which such
Exchange Security is sold to a purchaser who receives from such broker-dealer on
or prior  to the date of such  sale a copy of the  prospectus  contained  in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (iii) the date on which such Security has
been  effectively  registered  under  the  Securities  Act  and  disposed  of in
accordance with the Shelf Registration  Statement or (iv) the date on which such
Security is distributed to the public  pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities
Act or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act.

         7. Rules 144 and 144A.  The Issuer  shall use its best  efforts to file
the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act in a timely  manner and,  if at any time the Issuer is not  required to file
such  reports,  it will,  upon the request of any Holder of Transfer  Restricted
Securities,  make publicly  available other  information so long as necessary to
permit  sales of its  securities  pursuant  to Rules  144 and 144A.  The  Issuer
covenants  that it will  take such  further  action  as any  Holder of  Transfer
Restricted  Securities may reasonably  request,  all to the extent required from
time to time to  enable  such  Holder  to sell  Transfer  Restricted  Securities
without  registration  under the  Securities  Act within the  limitation  of the
exemptions  provided by Rules 144 and 144A  (including the  requirements of Rule
144A(d)(4)).  The Issuer will provide a copy of this  Agreement  to  prospective
purchasers of Initial Securities (or Private Exchange Securities)  identified to
the Issuer by the  Initial  Purchasers  upon  request.  Upon the  request of any
Holder of  Transfer  Restricted  Securities,  the Issuer  shall  deliver to such
Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  nothing  in this  Section 7 shall be deemed to
require the Issuer to register  any of its  securities  pursuant to the Exchange
Act.



<PAGE>


                                                                           16

         8.  Underwritten  Registrations.  If  any of  the  Transfer  Restricted
Securities  covered by any Shelf  Registration are to be sold in an underwritten
offering,  the investment  banker or investment  bankers and manager or managers
that will administer the offering ("Managing  Underwriters") will be selected by
the  Holders  of a  majority  in  aggregate  principal  amount of such  Transfer
Restricted Securities to be included in such offering.

         No person may participate in any  underwritten  registration  hereunder
unless  such  person  (i)  agrees  to sell  such  person's  Transfer  Restricted
Securities on the basis  reasonably  provided in any  underwriting  arrangements
approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii)
completes  and executes  all  questionnaires,  powers of attorney,  indemnities,
underwriting  agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms
of such underwriting arrangements.

         9.  Miscellaneous.

         (a) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be
amended,  modified or  supplemented,  and waivers or consents to departures from
the  provisions  hereof may not be given,  except by the Issuer and the  written
consent of the  Holders  of a majority  in  principal  amount of the  Securities
affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consents.

         (b)  Notices.  All notices  and other  communications  provided  for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail,
facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery:

                  (1) if to a Holder  of the  Securities,  at the  most  current
address given by such Holder to the Issuer in accordance  with the provisions of
this Section 9(b).

                  (2) if to the Initial Purchasers, at the following address:

                           Salomon Smith Barney
                           Seven World Trade Center
                           New York, NY 10048
                           Attention:  General Counsel

         with a copy to:

                           Cravath, Swaine & Moore
                           Worldwide Plaza
                           825 Eighth Avenue
                           New York, NY 10019-7475
                           Attention:  Kris F. Heinzelman

                  (3)      if to the Issuer, at the following address:

                           WinStar Communications, Inc.
                           230 Park Avenue
                           New York, NY 10169
                           Fax No.: (212) 922-1637
                           Attention:  Timothy Graham



<PAGE>


                                                                            17

         with a copy to:

                           Graubard Mollen & Miller
                           600 Third Avenue
                           New York, NY  10016
                           Attention:  David A. Miller

         All such notices and  communications  shall be deemed to have been duly
given:  at the time delivered by hand, if personally  delivered;  three business
days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt
is acknowledged by recipient's  facsimile machine operator, if sent by facsimile
transmission;  and on the  day  delivered,  if  sent by  overnight  air  courier
guaranteeing next day delivery.

         (c) No  Inconsistent  Agreements.  The Issuer  has not,  as of the date
hereof,  entered into, nor shall they, on or after the date hereof,  enter into,
any  agreement  with respect to its  securities  that is  inconsistent  with the
rights granted to the Holders herein or otherwise  conflicts with the provisions
hereof.

         (d)  Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall be binding upon the
Issuer and its successors and assigns.

         (e)  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be  executed  in any number of
counterparts and by the 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.

         (f) Headings.  The headings in this  Agreement are for  convenience  of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

         (g) Governing Law. THIS  AGREEMENT  SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH,  THE  LAW OF THE  STATE  OF NEW  YORK  WITHOUT  REGARD  TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.

         (h)  Severability.  If any  one or  more  of the  provisions  contained
herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal
or  unenforceable,  the  validity,  legality  and  enforceability  of  any  such
provision  in every other  respect  and of the  remaining  provisions  contained
herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

         (i) Securities Held by the Issuer.  Whenever the consent or approval of
Holders of a specified  percentage of principal amount of Securities is required
hereunder,  Securities  held  by  the  Issuer  or  its  affiliates  (other  than
subsequent  Holders of  Securities if such  subsequent  Holders are deemed to be
affiliates  solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities)  shall not be
counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders
of such required percentage.




<PAGE>


                                                                            18

         If the  foregoing  is in  accordance  with  your  understanding  of our
agreement,  please sign and return to the Issuer a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument,  along with all  counterparts,  will become a binding agreement
among the  several  Initial  Purchasers  and the Issuer in  accordance  with its
terms.

                                               Very truly yours,

                                               WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.,


                                               By:____________________________
                                                  Name:
                                                  Title:


                                               WINSTAR CREDIT CORP.,


                                               By:____________________________
                                                  Name:
                                                  Title:



The foregoing  Registration Rights 
Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as
of the date first above written.

SALOMON BROTHERS INC
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION

By:  SALOMON BROTHERS INC



         By:______________________
            Name:
            Title:



<PAGE>


                                                                          1

                                                              ANNEX A










         Each  broker-dealer  that  receives  Exchange  Securities  for  its own
account  pursuant to an Exchange Offer must  acknowledge  that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. The Letter
of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning  of the  Securities  Act.  This  Prospectus,  as it may  be  amended  or
supplemented  from time to time,  may be used by a  broker-dealer  in connection
with resales of Exchange  Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities
where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of
market-making  activities  or other  trading  activities.  The Issuer has agreed
that,  for a period of 180 days after the Expiration  Date (as defined  herein),
they  will  make  this  Prospectus  available  to any  broker-dealer  for use in
connection with any such resale. See "Plan of Distribution."

                                       A-1

<PAGE>


                                                                            1

                                                                    ANNEX B



         Each  broker-dealer  that  receives  Exchange  Securities  for  its own
account in exchange for Initial  Securities,  where such Initial Securities were
acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making  activities or other
trading  activities,  must  acknowledge  that it will  deliver a  prospectus  in
connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
See "Plan of Distribution."


                                       B-1

<PAGE>


                                                                           1

                                                               ANNEX C

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     Each  broker-dealer  that receives Exchange  Securities for its own account
pursuant to an Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus
in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.  This Prospectus,  as
it may be  amended  or  supplemented  from  time  to  time,  may  be  used  by a
broker-dealer  in  connection  with resales of Exchange  Securities  received in
exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired as a
result of market-making  activities or other trading activities.  The Issuer has
agreed that,  for a period of 180 days after the  Expiration  Date, it will make
this prospectus, as amended or supplemented,  available to any broker-dealer for
use in connection with any such resale.  In addition,  until         , 199 , all
dealers effecting  transactions in the Exchange  Securities may be required to
deliver a prospectus.
1/

     The  Issuer  will not  receive  any  proceeds  from  any  sale of  Exchange
Securities by broker-dealers. Exchange Securities received by broker-dealers for
their own account pursuant to an Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time in
one  or  more  transactions  in  the  over-the-counter   market,  in  negotiated
transactions,  through the writing of options on the  Exchange  Securities  or a
combination of such methods of resale,  at market prices  prevailing at the time
of resale,  at prices  related to such  prevailing  market  prices or negotiated
prices.  Any such  resale may be made  directly to  purchasers  or to or through
brokers or dealers who may receive  compensation  in the form of  commissions or
concessions  from any such  broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such Exchange
Securities.  Any  broker-dealer  that  resells  Exchange  Securities  that  were
received by it for its own account  pursuant to an Exchange Offer and any broker
or dealer that participates in a distribution of such Exchange Securities may be
deemed to be an  "underwriter"  within the meaning of the Securities Act and any
profit  on any  such  resale  of  Exchange  Securities  and  any  commission  or
concessions  received  by any such  persons  may be  deemed  to be  underwriting
compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that, by
acknowledging   that  it  will  deliver  and  by  delivering  a  prospectus,   a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act.

     For a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date the Issuer will promptly
send  additional  copies of this  Prospectus  and any amendment or supplement to
this Prospectus to any broker-dealer  that requests such documents in the Letter
of  Transmittal.  The Issuer has agreed to pay all  expenses  incidental  to the
Exchange  Offers  (including  the  reasonable  expenses  of one  counsel for the
Holders of the Securities)  other than commissions or concessions of any brokers
or dealers and will  indemnify  the  Holders of the  Securities  (including  any
broker-dealers)  against certain  liabilities,  including  liabilities under the
Securities Act.
- --------
     1/ In addition,  the legend  required by Item 502(e) of Regulation S-K will
appear on the back cover page of the Exchange Offer prospectus.

                                       C-1

<PAGE>


                                                                        1
                                                                 ANNEX D





|_|      CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE
         10 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY
         AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.

                  Name:___________________________________________________

                  Address:________________________________________________
                  ________________________________________________________


If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is
not  engaged  in, and does not intend to engage in, a  distribution  of Exchange
Securities.  If the  undersigned is a broker-dealer  that will receive  Exchange
Securities  for its own account in exchange  for  Initial  Securities  that were
acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it
acknowledges  that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such  Exchange  Securities;  however,  by so  acknowledging  and by delivering a
prospectus,  the  undersigned  will  not  be  deemed  to  admit  that  it  is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.

                                       D-1

<PAGE>


WINSTAR*
                                                             Exhibit 99.1


          CONTACTS:
       Financial Community                               Press
       Michelle Davis                                    David Walker
       Manager of Investor Relations                     (212) 584-4089
       (212) 584-4053                                    [email protected]


            WINSTAR TO RAISE $175 MILLION IN PREFERRED STOCK OFFERING

NEW YORK - DECEMBER 17, 1997, WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
(NASDAQ-WCII)  announced  today it has  signed  a  purchase  agreement  with two
investment banks to raise $175 million through a Rule 144A institutional private
placement of Senior  Cumulative  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock. The company will
use the proceeds of this offering, which is expected to close on December 22, to
fund  acquisitions,  for working  capital and general  corporate  purposes.  The
Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock is not  convertible and there is no common equity
associated with this offering.

The  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock carries an annual dividend rate of 14.25% and
must be  redeemed  by the company in 2007.  Dividends  will accrue and  compound
semiannually,  but will not be payable in cash until the  company's  outstanding
debt is  repaid.  If the  company  does  not make  cash  payments  of  dividends
beginning  December 15, 2002, the annual  dividend rate will increase to 15.75%.
WinStar may redeem the entire issue of Exchangeable Preferred Stock at a premium
on or  after  December  15,  2002.  In  addition,  subsequent  to the  company's
repayment of its  outstanding  debt,  the company may exchange all  Exchangeable
Preferred Stock for 14.25% Senior Subordinated Deferred Interest Notes due 2007.

The Exchangeable Preferred Stock will not be, and has not been, registered under
the  Securities  Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States
absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

WinStar Communications, Inc. is a national local communications company, serving
business  customers,  long-distance  carriers,  fiber-based  competitive  access
providers, mobile communications companies, local telephone companies, and other
customers with broadband local  communications  needs.  The company provides its
Wireless  Fiber(sm)  services  using its  licenses in the 38 GHz  spectrum.  The
company also provides long-distance, Internet and information services.

WinStar  is a  registered  trademark  and  Wireless  Fiber is a service  mark of
WinStar Communications, Inc.


                           WinStar Communications Inc.
                 230 Park Avenue, Suite 2700, New York, NY 10159
                        Tel 212 584-4000 Fax 212 867 1565
<PAGE>



WINSTAR*                                                       Exhibit 99.2


       CONTACTS:
       Financial Community                               Press
       Michelle Davis                                    Laura Abbott
       Manager of Investor Relations                     (212) 584-4076
       (212) 584-4053                                    [email protected]


                WINSTAR COMPLETES $175 MILLION PRIVATE PLACEMENT
                               OF PREFERRED STOCK

NEW YORK - DECEMBER 22, 1997, WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
(NASDAQ-WCII)  said today that it has completed its  previously  announced  $175
million  Rule  144A   institutional   private  placement  of  Senior  Cumulative
Exchangeable  Preferred Stock, as scheduled.  The offering was placed by Salomon
Smith Barney and Credit Suisse First Boston. The Exchangeable Preferred Stock is
not convertible and there is no common equity associated with this offering.

WinStar Communications, Inc. is a national local communications company, serving
business  customers,  long-distance  carriers,  fiber-based  competitive  access
providers, mobile communications companies, local telephone companies, and other
customers with broadband local  communications  needs.  The company provides its
Wireless  Fiber(sm)  services  using its  licenses in the 38 GHz  spectrum.  The
company also provides long-distance, Internet and information services.

WinStar  is a  registered  trademark  and  Wireless  Fiber is a service  mark of
WinStar Communications, Inc.










                           WinStar Communications Inc.
                 230 Park Avenue, Suite 2700, New York, NY 10159
                        Tel 212 584-4000 Fax 212 867 1565


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