HANCOCK JOHN VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT I
485APOS, EX-99.3(B), 2000-11-17
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                      [LOGO OF SIGNATOR FINANCIAL NETWORK]

                            SIGNATOR INVESTORS, INC.
                            ------------------------
                                MEMBER NASD, SIPC


                               VARIABLE CONTRACTS

                                SELLING AGREEMENT
                                    (RETAIL)



     Signator Investors, Inc. ("Signator"), as the distributor and principal
underwriter, and AnnuityNet Insurance Agency, Inc. (hereinafter called
                 ---------------------------------
"Broker/Dealer"), enter into this agreement effective with its execution by
Broker/Dealer for the purpose of authorizing Broker/Dealer to solicit
applications for variable life insurance and variable annuity contracts
("Contracts") distributed by Signator on behalf of John Hancock Life Insurance
Company ("JHLICO") and John Hancock Variable Life Insurance Company ("JHVLICO"),
a subsidiary of JHLICO. The parties represent as follows:

     1.) Each of JHLICO and JHVLICO is engaged in the issuance of variable life
     insurance contracts and variable annuity contracts, both in accordance with
     Federal securities laws and the applicable laws of those states in which
     the Contracts have been qualified for sale. The Contracts are considered
     securities under the Securities Act of 1933; therefore, distribution of the
     Contracts is made through Signator as a registered broker/dealer under the
     Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and as a member of the National Association
     of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD").

     2.) Broker/Dealer certifies that it is a registered broker/dealer under the
     Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and a member of the NASD. Broker/Dealer
     agrees to abide by all rules and regulations of the NASD, including its
     Conduct Rules, and to comply with all applicable state and Federal laws and
     the rules and regulations of authorized regulatory agencies affecting the
     sale of the Contracts.

     3.) Broker/Dealer will select persons to be registered and supervised by it
     who will be trained and qualified to solicit applications for the Contracts
     in conformance with applicable state and Federal laws and regulations.
     Persons so trained and qualified will be Registered Representatives of
     Broker/Dealer in accordance with the rules of the NASD and they will be
     properly licensed to represent JHLICO or JHVLICO or both in accordance with
     the state insurance laws of those jurisdictions in which the Contracts may
     lawfully be distributed and in which they solicit applications for such
     Contracts.
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     4.) If a recommendation to an applicant to purchase a Contract is made by a
     Registered Representative Broker/Dealer will take reasonable steps to
     ensure that, after due inquiry, Broker/Dealer has reasonable grounds to
     believe the purchase of each Contract is suitable for the applicant. In any
     event, Broker/Dealer shall review all proposals for Contracts for
     completeness and correctness as to form and will promptly forward to
     Signator all applications, together with any payments received with the
     applications, without deduction or reduction. Signator reserves the right
     to reject any Contract application and return any payment made in
     connection with an application which is rejected. Contracts issued on
     applications accepted by JHLICO or JHVLICO will be forwarded to the
     Registered Representative of Broker/Dealer for delivery to the Contract
     owner.

     5.) Broker/Dealer will perform the selling functions required by this
     agreement only in accordance with the terms and conditions of the then
     current prospectus applicable to the Contracts and will make no
     representations not included in the prospectus or in any authorized
     supplemental material.

     6.) Signator will provide Broker/Dealer with prospectuses, and any
     supplements or amendments thereto, describing the Contracts subject to this
     Agreement. Signator is responsible for maintaining in effect in accordance
     with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission each
     Registration Statement of which the prospectus is part. Signator will
     immediately notify Broker/Dealer of the issuance of any stop order or any
     Federal or state regulatory proceeding which would prevent the sale of
     Contracts in any state or jurisdiction.

     7.) Compensation payable on sales of the Contracts solicited by
     Broker/Dealer will be paid to Broker/Dealer by Signator in accordance with
     the compensation schedules defined under the AnnuityNet "Marketing
     Agreement" related thereto, as in effect at the time the contract premiums
     or considerations are received by JHLICO or JHVLICO, or such alternative
     compensation agreement as may be agreed to by Broker/Dealer. Compensation
     to the Registered Representative for Contracts solicited by the Registered
     Representative will be governed by an agreement between Broker/Dealer and
     its Registered Representative.

     8.) In the event of any surrender of a Contract within the 10 day "free
     look" period or, in the case of a variable life insurance policy, within 10
     days after the mailing of the Notice of Withdrawal Right, any compensation
     payable to Broker/Dealer or its Registered Representatives will not be
     payable or will be refunded by Broker/Dealer if previously paid, in
     accordance with the terms of the Independent Producer's Commission
     Agreement.

     9.) This agreement may not be assigned except by mutual consent and will
     continue for an indefinite term, subject to the termination by either party
     by ten days advance written notice to the other party, except that in the
     event Signator or Broker/Dealer ceases to be a registered broker/dealer or
     a member of the NASD, this agreement will immediately terminate. Upon its
     termination, all authorizations, rights and obligations shall cease, except
     the agreement in Section 11, the indemnifications in Section 12 and the
     payment of any accrued but unpaid compensation to Broker/Dealer.

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<PAGE>

     10.) For the purpose of compliance with any applicable Federal or state
     securities laws or regulations, Broker/Dealer acknowledges and agrees that,
     in performing the services covered by this agreement, it is acting in the
     capacity of an independent "broker" or "dealer" as defined by the By-Laws
     of the NASD and not as an agent or employee of Signator, JHLICO or JHVLICO
     or any registered investment company. In furtherance of its
     responsibilities as a broker or dealer, Broker/Dealer acknowledges that it
     is responsible for statutory and regulatory compliance in securities
     transactions involving any business produced by its Registered
     Representatives concerning the Contracts.

     For the purpose of compliance with any applicable state insurance laws or
     regulations, Broker/Dealer acknowledges and agrees that only while
     performing the insurance-selling functions reflected by this agreement are
     Broker/Dealer's Registered Representatives acting as the licensed insurance
     agents of JHLICO or JHVLICO or both and in that capacity are authorized
     only to solicit applications for the Contracts which will not become
     effective until acceptance by JHLICO or JHVLICO.

     11.) Broker/Dealer and Signator jointly agree to cooperate fully in any
     insurance or securities regulatory investigation or proceeding or judicial
     proceeding arising in connection with any Contract. Without limiting the
     foregoing:

          (a) Broker/Dealer will be notified promptly of any customer complaint
          or notice of any regulatory authority investigation or proceeding or
          judicial proceeding received by Signator with respect to any Contract.

          (b) Broker/Dealer will promptly notify Signator of any customer
          complaint or notice of any regulatory authority investigation or
          proceeding or judicial proceeding received by Broker/Dealer with
          respect to any Contract.

     12.) (a) Signator agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Broker/Dealer and
     each person who controls or is associated with Broker/Dealer against any
     losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which
     Broker/Dealer or such controlling or associated person may become subject
     under the Securities Act of 1933 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 a
     material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
     statements therein not misleading contained (i) in any Registration
     Statement, any prospectus or any document executed by Signator, JHLICO or
     JHVLICO specifically for the purpose of qualifying a Contract for sale
     under the laws of any jurisdiction or (ii) in any written information or
     sales material authorized for and supplied or furnished to Broker/Dealer
     and its agents or representatives by Signator, its employees or agents, in
     connection with the sale of the Contract, and Signator will reimburse
     Broker/Dealer and each such controlling person for legal or other expenses
     reasonably incurred by Broker/Dealer or such controlling person in
     connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
     liability or action.

     (b) Broker/Dealer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Signator, JHLICO
     and JHVLICO and each of their directors and officers against any losses,
     claims, damages or liabilities to which Signator, JHLICO and JHVLICO and
     any such director or officer may

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     become subject under the Securities Act of 1933 and state insurance laws or
     otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
     actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon:

          (i) any unauthorized use of sales materials or any verbal or written
          misrepresentations or any unlawful sale practices concerning a
          Contract by Broker/Dealer or

          (ii) claims by agents or representatives or employees of Broker/Dealer
          for commissions or other compensation or remuneration of any type or

          (iii) failure by agents, representatives or employees of Broker/Dealer
          to comply with all applicable state insurance laws and regulations
          including but not limited to state licensing requirements, rebate
          statutes and replacement regulations, and the provisions of this
          Agreement; and Broker/Dealer will reimburse Signator, JHLICO and
          JHVLICO and any director or officer thereof for any legal or other
          expenses reasonably incurred by Signator, JHLICO and JHVLICO or such
          director or officer in connection with investigating or defending any
          such loss, claim, damage, liability or action.

     (c) After receipt by a party entitled to indemnification of notice of the
     commencement of any action, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made
     against any person obligated to provide indemnification, such indemnified
     party will notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement
     thereof as soon as practicable thereafter, and the omission so to notify
     the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability, except to
     the extent that the omission results in a failure of actual notice to the
     indemnifying party and such indemnifying party is damaged solely as a
     result of the failure to give such notice.

     13.) All notices to Signator should be mailed to:

                          David C. Wright
                          Vice President, Counsel and Corporate Secretary
                          Signator Investors, Inc.
                          200 Clarendon Street, T-10
                          Boston, MA 02117





          All notices to Broker/Dealer will be duly given and mailed to the
          address shown below.

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                          Jeffrey Hahn
                          General Counsel
                          AnnuityNet Insurance Agency, Inc.
                          108-G South Street
                          Leesburg, VA 20175


          14.) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
          with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

          15.) This Agreement shall be effective as of _____________________,
          2000.


          In reliance on the representations set forth and in consideration of
          the undertakings described, the parties represented below do hereby
          contract and agree.






SIGNATOR INVESTORS, INC.                ANNUITYNET INASURANCE AGENCY, INC.




By:                                     By:
   --------------------------------        --------------------------------
   Signature                               Signature



            David C. Wright                          June Boynton
   --------------------------------        --------------------------------
Print Name                                 Print Name


Title:    Vice President                   Title:
      -----------------------------
            President


    Counsel and Corporate Secretary
--------------------------------------    --------------------------------------

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