EXHIBIT 10.5

                                                                  CONFORMED COPY


                                    PLEDGE AGREEMENT dated as of March 13, 1996,
                           among SHARED  TECHNOLOGIES  FAIRCHILD  COMMUNICATIONS
                           CORP.,  a  Delaware   corporation  (the  "Borrower"),
                           SHARED   TECHNOLOGIES   FAIRCHILD  INC.,  a  Delaware
                           corporation  ("STFI",  which  term  shall,  after the
                           Merger referred to in the Credit  Agreement  referred
                           to below,  include the surviving  corporation in such
                           Merger),  each  Subsidiary of the Borrower  listed on
                           Schedule I hereto (each such Subsidiary  individually
                           a   "Subsidiary   Pledgor"  and   collectively,   the
                           "Subsidiary  Pledgors";  the  Borrower,  STFI and the
                           Subsidiary  Pledgors  are  referred  to  collectively
                           herein as the "Pledgors")  and CREDIT SUISSE,  a bank
                           organized  under  the  laws  of  Switzerland,  acting
                           through its New York  branch  ("Credit  Suisse"),  as
                           collateral  agent (in such capacity,  the "Collateral
                           Agent")  for the  Secured  Parties (as defined in the
                           Credit Agreement referred to below).

                  Reference  is made to (a) the  Credit  Agreement  dated  as of
March 12, 1996 (as  amended,  supplemented  or otherwise  modified  from time to
time, the "Credit Agreement"),  among the Borrower,  STFI, the lenders from time
to time party thereto (the "Lenders"),  Credit Suisse, as  administrative  agent
(in such capacity, the "Administrative  Agent") and as collateral agent (in such
capacity,  the "Collateral Agent") for the Lenders, the fronting banks listed on
Schedule 2.20  (the  "Fronting  Banks"),  and each of  Citicorp  USA,  Inc.  and
NationsBank, N.A., as documentation agent (individually and collectively in such
capacity,  the "Documentation  Agent"), (b) the Parent Guarantee Agreement dated
as of March 12, 1996 (as amended,  supplemented or otherwise  modified from time
to time,  the "Parent  Guarantee  Agreement"),  between STFI and the  Collateral
Agent and (c) the Subsidiary  Guarantee Agreement dated as of March 12, 1996 (as
amended,  supplemented or otherwise  modified from time to time, the "Subsidiary
Guarantee Agreement"; and, collectively with the Parent Guarantee Agreement, the
"Guarantee Agreements") among the Subsidiary Pledgors and the Collateral Agent.

                  The Lenders  have agreed to make Loans to the Borrower and the
Fronting  Banks have  agreed to issue  Letters of Credit for the  account of the
Borrower,  pursuant  to,  and upon  the  terms  and  subject  to the  conditions
specified in, the Credit  Agreement.  STFI and the  Subsidiary  Guarantors  have
agreed to guarantee,  among other things,  all the  obligations  of the Borrower
under the Credit Agreement.  The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of
the Fronting Banks to issue Letters of Credit are conditioned  upon, among other
things,  the execution and delivery by the Pledgors of a Pledge Agreement in the
form hereof to secure (a) the due and  punctual  payment by the  Borrower of (i)
the principal of and premium,  if any, and interest (including interest accruing
during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar
proceeding,  regardless of whether  allowed or allowable in such  proceeding) on
the Loans,  when and as due, whether at maturity,  by acceleration,  upon one or
more dates set for  prepayment  or otherwise,  (ii) each payment  required to be
made by the  Borrower  under the  Credit  Agreement  in respect of any Letter of
Credit,  when and as due,  including  payments  in respect of  reimbursement  of
disbursements,  interest  thereon and obligations to provide cash collateral and
(iii) all  other  monetary  obligations,  including  fees,  costs,  expenses and
indemnities,  whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise
(including monetary  obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy,
insolvency,  receivership  or other  similar  proceeding,  regardless of whether
allowed or allowable in such proceeding), of the Borrower to the Secured Parties
under  the  Credit  Agreement  and the  other  Loan  Documents,  (b) the due and
punctual performance of all covenants,  agreements,  obligations and liabilities
of the  Borrower  under or pursuant to the Credit  Agreement  and the other Loan
Documents,  (c)  the  due  and  punctual  payment  and  performance  of all





the covenants, agreements, obligations and liabilities of STFI under or pursuant
to the Parent Guarantee  Agreement or the other Loan Documents,  (d) the due and
punctual payment and performance of all the covenants,  agreements,  obligations
and liabilities of each  Subsidiary  Pledgor under or pursuant to the Subsidiary
Guarantee  Agreement  or the other Loan  Documents  and (e) the due and punctual
payment and  performance of all  obligations of the Borrower under each Interest
Rate Protection  Agreement  entered into with any counterparty that was a Lender
at the time such  Interest Rate  Protection  Agreement was entered into (all the
monetary and other obligations  referred to in the preceding clauses (a) through
(e) being referred to collectively as the "Obligations"). Capitalized terms used
herein and not defined herein shall have meanings  assigned to such terms in the
Credit Agreement.

                  Accordingly,  the Pledgors and the Collateral Agent, on behalf
of itself and each Secured  Party (and each of their  respective  successors  or
assigns), hereby agree as follows:

                  SECTION  1.   Pledge.   As   security   for  the  payment  and
performance, as the case may be, in full of the Obligations, each Pledgor hereby
transfers,  grants, bargains, sells, conveys,  hypothecates,  pledges, sets over
and delivers unto the Collateral  Agent, its successors and assigns,  and hereby
grants to the Collateral  Agent,  its  successors  and assigns,  for the ratable
benefit of the Secured  Parties,  a security  interest  in all of the  Pledgor's
right, title and interest in, to and under (a) the shares of capital stock owned
by it and listed on Schedule II  hereto and any shares of capital stock obtained
in the future by the Pledgor and the  certificates  representing all such shares
(the "Pledged Stock"); provided that the Pledged Stock shall not include, to the
extent that  applicable  law  requires  that a subsidiary  of the Pledgor  issue
directors' qualifying shares, such qualifying shares; (b)(i) the debt securities
listed  opposite the name of the Pledgor on  Schedule II  hereto,  (ii) any debt
securities  in the future issued to the Pledgor and (iii) the  promissory  notes
and any other  instruments  evidencing  such debt  securities (the "Pledged Debt
Securities");  (c) all  other  property that may be delivered to and held by the
Collateral  Agent pursuant to the terms hereof;  (d) subject  to Section 5,  all
payments of  principal  or  interest,  dividends,  cash,  instruments  and other
property from time to time  received,  receivable or otherwise  distributed,  in
respect of, in exchange for or upon the conversion of the securities referred to
in  clauses (a)  and (b)  above;   (e) subject  to  Section 5,  all  rights  and
privileges  of the Pledgor with  respect to the  securities  and other  property
referred to in clauses (a),  (b), (c) and (d) above; and (f) all proceeds of any
of the foregoing (the items referred to in clauses (a)  through  (f) above being
collectively  referred to as the "Collateral").  Upon delivery to the Collateral
Agent,  (a) any stock  certificates,  notes or other securities now or hereafter
included in the Collateral  (the "Pledged  Securities")  shall be accompanied by
undated  stock powers duly  executed in blank or other  instruments  of transfer
satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and by such other instruments and documents
as the  Collateral  Agent may  reasonably  request  and (b) all  other  property
comprising part of the Collateral shall be accompanied by proper  instruments of
assignment duly executed by the applicable Pledgor and such other instruments or
documents as the  Collateral  Agent may  reasonably  request.  Each  delivery of
Pledged Securities shall be accompanied by a schedule  describing the securities
theretofore and then being pledged  hereunder,  which schedule shall be attached
hereto as Schedule II  and made a part hereof.  Each schedule so delivered shall
supersede any prior schedules so delivered.

                  TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the  Collateral,  together with all right,
title,  interest,  powers,  privileges and preferences  pertaining or incidental
thereto,  unto the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable
benefit  of the  Secured  Parties,  forever;  subject,  however,  to the  terms,
covenants and conditions hereinafter set forth.

                  SECTION 2. Delivery of the Collateral. (a) Each Pledgor agrees
promptly to deliver


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or cause to be delivered to the Collateral Agent any and all Pledged Securities,
and any and all certificates or other instruments or documents  representing the
Collateral.

                  (b) Each  Pledgor  will cause any  Indebtedness  for  borrowed
money  owed to the  Pledgor  by any person to be  evidenced  by a duly  executed
promissory  note that is pledged and delivered to the Collateral  Agent pursuant
to the terms thereof.

                  SECTION 3.  Representations,  Warranties and  Covenants.  Each
Pledgor  hereby  represents,  warrants  and  covenants,  as to  itself  and  the
Collateral pledged by it hereunder, to and with the Collateral Agent that:

                  (a) the Pledged Stock  represents that percentage as set forth
         on  Schedule II of the issued and  outstanding  shares of each class of
         the capital stock of the issuer with respect thereto;

                  (b) except for the security  interest granted  hereunder,  the
         Pledgor  (i) is and will at all times  continue to be the direct owner,
         beneficially  and of record,  of the Pledged  Securities  indicated  on
         Schedule  II,  (ii) holds  the  same  free  and  clear  of  all  Liens,
         (iii) will make no assignment, pledge, hypothecation or transfer of, or
         create or permit to exist any  security  interest  in or other Lien on,
         the  Collateral,  other  than  pursuant  hereto,  and  (iv) subject  to
         Section 5, will cause any and all Collateral, whether for value paid by
         the Pledgor or otherwise, to be forthwith deposited with the Collateral
         Agent and pledged or assigned hereunder;

                  (c) the Pledgor  (i) has the power and authority to pledge the
         Collateral  in the manner  hereby done or  contemplated  and  (ii) will
         defend its title or  interest  thereto or therein  against  any and all
         Liens (other than the Lien created by this Agreement), however arising,
         of all persons whomsoever;

                  (d) no consent of any other person (including  stockholders or
         creditors   of  any   Pledgor)  and  no  consent  or  approval  of  any
         Governmental  Authority or any securities  exchange was or is necessary
         to the validity of the pledge effected hereby;

                  (e) by virtue of the execution and delivery by the Pledgors of
         this  Agreement,  when the Pledged  Securities,  certificates  or other
         documents  representing  or evidencing  the Collateral are delivered to
         the Collateral Agent in accordance with this Agreement,  the Collateral
         Agent will obtain a valid and  perfected  first lien upon and  security
         interest in such  Pledged  Securities  as security  for the payment and
         performance of the Obligations;

                  (f) the pledge  effected  hereby is  effective  to vest in the
         Collateral  Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties,  the rights of the
         Collateral Agent in the Collateral as set forth herein;

                  (g) all of the  Pledged  Stock  has been duly  authorized  and
         validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable;

                  (h) all  information  set forth herein relating to the Pledged
         Stock is accurate and complete in all material  respects as of the date
         hereof; and


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                  (i) the pledge of the Pledged Stock pursuant to this Agreement
         does not violate  Regulation G,  T, U or X of the Federal Reserve Board
         or any successor thereto as of the date hereof.

                  SECTION 4.  Registration in Nominee Name;  Denominations.  The
Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall have the right (in its
sole and absolute  discretion) to hold the Pledged Securities in its own name as
pledgee, the name of its nominee (as pledgee or as sub-agent) or the name of the
Pledgors,  endorsed or assigned  in blank or in favor of the  Collateral  Agent.
Each Pledgor will promptly give to the Collateral Agent copies of any notices or
other  communications   received  by  it  with  respect  to  Pledged  Securities
registered in the name of such Pledgor.  The Collateral Agent shall at all times
have the right to exchange the certificates  representing Pledged Securities for
certificates of smaller or larger  denominations for any purpose consistent with
this Agreement.

                  SECTION   5.   Voting   Rights;    Dividends   and   Interest,
etc. (a)   Unless  and until an Event of  Default  shall  have  occurred  and be
continuing:

                  (i) Each  Pledgor  shall be entitled  to exercise  any and all
         voting and/or other consensual rights and powers inuring to an owner of
         Pledged  Securities or any part thereof for any purpose consistent with
         the terms of this  Agreement,  the Credit  Agreement and the other Loan
         Documents; provided, however, that such Pledgor will not be entitled to
         exercise  any such right if the result  thereof  could  materially  and
         adversely  affect  the  rights  inuring  to a  holder  of  the  Pledged
         Securities  or the rights and  remedies of any of the  Secured  Parties
         under this Agreement or the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document
         or the ability of the Secured Parties to exercise the same.

                  (ii) The  Collateral  Agent shall  execute and deliver to each
         Pledgor,  or cause to be executed and  delivered to each  Pledgor,  all
         such proxies,  powers of attorney and other instruments as such Pledgor
         may  reasonably  request for the purpose of  enabling  such  Pledgor to
         exercise the voting and/or  consensual rights and powers it is entitled
         to exercise pursuant to subparagraph (i)  above and to receive the cash
         dividends  it is entitled to receive  pursuant  to  subparagraph  (iii)
         below.

                  (iii) Each Pledgor shall be entitled to receive and retain any
         and all cash  dividends,  interest  and  principal  paid on the Pledged
         Securities  to the  extent  and  only  to the  extent  that  such  cash
         dividends,  interest and principal are permitted by, and otherwise paid
         in accordance  with, the terms and conditions of the Credit  Agreement,
         the other Loan  Documents and applicable  laws. All noncash  dividends,
         interest and principal, and all dividends,  interest and principal paid
         or payable in cash or otherwise in  connection  with a partial or total
         liquidation  or  dissolution,  return of  capital,  capital  surplus or
         paid-in surplus,  and all other distributions (other than distributions
         referred  to in the  preceding  sentence)  made on or in respect of the
         Pledged  Securities,  whether  paid or  payable  in cash or  otherwise,
         whether resulting from a subdivision,  combination or  reclassification
         of  the  outstanding  capital  stock  of  the  issuer  of  any  Pledged
         Securities  or received in exchange for Pledged  Securities or any part
         thereof,  or in  redemption  thereof,  or as a  result  of any  merger,
         consolidation,  acquisition  or other  exchange of assets to which such
         issuer may be a party or  otherwise,  shall be and  become  part of the
         Collateral, and, if received by any Pledgor, shall not be commingled by
         such  Pledgor with any of its other funds or property but shall be held
         separate and apart therefrom, shall be held in trust for the benefit of
         the Collateral


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         Agent and shall be forthwith delivered to the Collateral Agent in the 
         same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement).

                  (b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event
of Default,  all rights of any Pledgor to dividends,  interest or principal that
such Pledgor is authorized to receive pursuant to paragraph (a)(iii) above shall
cease,  and all such rights  shall  thereupon  become  vested in the  Collateral
Agent,  which shall have the sole and  exclusive  right and authority to receive
and retain such  dividends,  interest or principal.  All dividends,  interest or
principal  received by the Pledgor  contrary to the provisions of this Section 5
shall  be held in  trust  for the  benefit  of the  Collateral  Agent,  shall be
segregated  from other  property or funds of such Pledgor and shall be forthwith
delivered  to the  Collateral  Agent upon demand in the same form as so received
(with any necessary endorsement). Any and all money and other property paid over
to or received  by the  Collateral  Agent  pursuant  to the  provisions  of this
paragraph (b)  shall be  retained  by the  Collateral  Agent in an account to be
established by the Collateral Agent upon receipt of such money or other property
and shall be applied in accordance  with the provisions of Section 7.  After all
Events of Default have been cured or waived, the Collateral Agent shall,  within
five  Business  Days after all such Events of Default have been cured or waived,
repay to each  Pledgor  all  cash  dividends,  interest  or  principal  (without
interest),  that such Pledgor would otherwise be permitted to retain pursuant to
the terms of paragraph (a)(iii) above and which remain in such account.

                  (c) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event
of  Default,  all rights of any Pledgor to  exercise  the voting and  consensual
rights and powers it is  entitled to exercise  pursuant to  paragraph (a)(i)  of
this   Section 5,   and  the   obligations   of  the   Collateral   Agent  under
paragraph (a)(ii)  of this  Section 5,  shall  cease,  and all such rights shall
thereupon become vested in the Collateral  Agent,  which shall have the sole and
exclusive right and authority to exercise such voting and consensual  rights and
powers;  provided that, unless otherwise  directed by the Required Lenders,  the
Collateral Agent shall have the right from time to time following and during the
continuance  of an Event of Default  to permit the  Pledgors  to  exercise  such
rights;  provided further that,  notwithstanding  the foregoing,  all voting and
consensual  rights and powers shall remain with the Pledgor  pending  receipt of
any necessary approval of the Federal  Communications  Commission ("FCC") of any
assignment  of transfer of control of the FCC  licenses  held by the Borrower or
any  Subsidiary.  After all  Events of Default  have been cured or waived,  such
Pledgor  will have the right to exercise  the voting and  consensual  rights and
powers that it would otherwise be entitled to exercise  pursuant to the terms of
paragraph (a)(i) above.

                  SECTION 6.  Remedies  upon Default.  Upon the  occurrence  and
during the continuance of an Event of Default,  subject to applicable regulatory
and legal  requirements,  the Collateral  Agent may sell the Collateral,  or any
part  thereof,  at public or  private  sale or at any  broker's  board or on any
securities  exchange,  for cash,  upon  credit  or for  future  delivery  as the
Collateral  Agent  shall  deem  appropriate.   The  Collateral  Agent  shall  be
authorized  at any such sale (if it deems it advisable to do so) to restrict the
prospective  bidders or purchasers to persons who will  represent and agree that
they are  purchasing the Collateral for their own account for investment and not
with a view to the  distribution or sale thereof,  and upon  consummation of any
such sale the  Collateral  Agent  shall have the right to assign,  transfer  and
deliver to the purchaser or purchasers thereof the Collateral so sold. Each such
purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property sold absolutely free from any
claim or right on the part of any  Pledgor,  and,  to the  extent  permitted  by
applicable  law,  the  Pledgors  hereby  waive all rights of  redemption,  stay,
valuation  and  appraisal  any  Pledgor now has or may at any time in the future
have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted.


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                  The  Collateral  Agent  shall  give a Pledgor  10 days'  prior
written  notice  (which each  Pledgor  agrees is  reasonable  notice  within the
meaning of  Section 9-504(3)  of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the
State of New York or its  equivalent in other  jurisdictions)  of the Collateral
Agent's intention to make any sale of such Pledgor's Collateral. Such notice, in
the case of a public sale,  shall state the time and place for such sale and, in
the case of a sale at a broker's board or on a securities exchange,  shall state
the board or  exchange at which such sale is to be made and the day on which the
Collateral,  or portion thereof, will first be offered for sale at such board or
exchange.  Any  such  public  sale  shall be held at such  time or times  within
ordinary  business hours and at such place or places as the Collateral Agent may
fix and state in the notice of such sale. At any such sale, the  Collateral,  or
portion thereof, to be sold may be sold in one lot as an entirety or in separate
parcels,  as the  Collateral  Agent  may (in its sole and  absolute  discretion)
determine.  The Collateral  Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of any
Collateral  if it shall  determine  not to do so,  regardless  of the fact  that
notice of sale of such Collateral  shall have been given.  The Collateral  Agent
may, without notice or publication,  adjourn any public or private sale or cause
the same to be adjourned from time to time by announcement at the time and place
fixed for sale, and such sale may,  without further notice,  be made at the time
and  place to which  the same was so  adjourned.  In case any sale of all or any
part of the Collateral is made on credit or for future delivery,  the Collateral
so sold may be retained by the Collateral  Agent until the sale price is paid in
full by the purchaser or purchasers thereof,  but the Collateral Agent shall not
incur any liability in case any such purchaser or purchasers  shall fail to take
up and pay for the  Collateral  so sold and, in case of any such  failure,  such
Collateral may be sold again upon like notice.  At any public (or, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, private) sale made pursuant to this Section 6,  any
Secured Party may bid for or purchase,  free from any right of redemption,  stay
or  appraisal  on the part of any  Pledgor  (all said  rights  being also hereby
waived and released),  the  Collateral or any part thereof  offered for sale and
may make  payment on account  thereof by using any claim then due and payable to
it from such Pledgor as a credit  against the purchase  price,  and it may, upon
compliance  with the terms of sale,  hold,  retain and dispose of such  property
without further  accountability to such Pledgor  therefor.  For purposes hereof,
(a) a written agreement to purchase the Collateral or any portion thereof shall
be treated as a sale thereof,  (b) the  Collateral  Agent shall be free to carry
out such sale  pursuant  to such  agreement  and (c) such  Pledgor  shall not be
entitled to the return of the Collateral or any portion thereof subject thereto,
notwithstanding the fact that after the Collateral Agent shall have entered into
such an  agreement  all  Events of  Default  shall  have been  remedied  and the
Obligations  paid in full. As an  alternative  to  exercising  the power of sale
herein conferred upon it, the Collateral Agent may proceed by a suit or suits at
law or in equity to foreclose  upon the Collateral and to sell the Collateral or
any portion thereof pursuant to a judgment or decree of a court or courts having
competent  jurisdiction  or  pursuant  to  a  proceeding  by  a  court-appointed
receiver.  Any sale pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6 shall be deemed
to  conform  to  the   commercially   reasonable   standards   as   provided  in
Section 9-504(3) of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New
York or its equivalent in other jurisdictions.

                  SECTION 7.  Application  of Proceeds of Sale.  The proceeds of
any  sale of  Collateral  pursuant  to  Section 6,  as  well  as any  Collateral
consisting of cash, shall be applied by the Collateral Agent as follows:

                  FIRST,  to the payment of all costs and  expenses  incurred by
         the  Collateral  Agent in  connection  with such sale or  otherwise  in
         connection with this  Agreement,  any other Loan Document or any of the
         Obligations,  including  all court  costs and the  reasonable  fees and
         expenses of its agents and legal counsel, the repayment of all advances
         made by the Collateral Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document
         on behalf of any Pledgor  and any other 


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         costs or expenses incurred in connection with the exercise of any right
         or remedy  hereunder or under any other Loan Document;

                  SECOND, to the payment in full of the Obligations (the amounts
         so applied to be  distributed  among the  Secured  Parties  pro rata in
         accordance with the amounts of the Obligations owed to them on the date
         of any such distribution); and

                  THIRD, to the Pledgors,  their successors or assigns,  or as a
         court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.

                  The Collateral Agent shall have absolute  discretion as to the
time of application of any such proceeds,  moneys or balances in accordance with
this  Agreement.  Upon  any  sale  of the  Collateral  by the  Collateral  Agent
(including  pursuant  to a power of sale  granted by statute or under a judicial
proceeding), the receipt of the purchase money by the Collateral Agent or of the
officer  making the sale shall be a  sufficient  discharge  to the  purchaser or
purchasers of the Collateral so sold and such purchaser or purchasers  shall not
be obligated to see to the  application  of any part of the purchase  money paid
over to the Collateral Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for the
misapplication thereof.

                  SECTION  8.  Reimbursement  of  Collateral   Agent. (a)  Each
Pledgor agrees to pay upon demand to the Collateral  Agent the amount of any and
all  reasonable  expenses,  including  the  reasonable  fees,  other charges and
disbursements  of its counsel and of any experts or agents,  that the Collateral
Agent may incur in connection  with (i) the  administration  of this  Agreement,
(ii) the custody or preservation  of, or the sale of,  collection from, or other
realization  upon, any of the Collateral,  (iii) the  exercise or enforcement of
any of the rights of the Collateral  Agent hereunder or (iv) the failure by such
Pledgor to perform or observe any of the provisions hereof.

                  (b)  Without  limitation  of its  indemnification  obligations
under the other Loan Documents,  each Pledgor agrees to indemnify the Collateral
Agent and the Indemnitees  (as defined in Section 9.05 of the Credit  Agreement)
against,  and hold each  Indemnitee  harmless from, any and all losses,  claims,
damages,  liabilities and related expenses,  including  reasonable counsel fees,
other charges and disbursements,  incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee
arising out of, in any way connected  with, or as a result of (i) the  execution
or delivery of this  Agreement  or any other Loan  Document or any  agreement or
instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto
of  their  respective   obligations   thereunder  or  the  consummation  of  the
Transactions and the other transactions  contemplated thereby or (ii) any claim,
litigation,  investigation  or  proceeding  relating  to any  of the  foregoing,
whether or not any Indemnitee is a party  thereto,  provided that such indemnity
shall not, as to any  Indemnitee,  be  available to the extent that such losses,
claims,  damages,  liabilities or related  expenses are determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from
the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of such Indemnitee.

                  (c)  Any  amounts  payable  as  provided  hereunder  shall  be
additional  Obligations secured hereby and by the other Security Documents.  The
provisions of this Section 8 shall remain operative and in full force and effect
regardless  of the  termination  of  this  Agreement,  the  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated hereby, the repayment of any of the Obligations,  the
invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any
other Loan Document or any investigation  made by or on behalf of the Collateral
Agent or any other Secured Party.


                                       7



All amounts due under this Section 8 shall be payable on written demand therefor
and shall bear  interest  at the rate  specified  in Section  2.06 of the Credit
Agreement.

                  SECTION 9. Collateral Agent Appointed  Attorney-in-Fact.  Each
Pledgor  hereby  appoints  the  Collateral  Agent the  attorney-in-fact  of such
Pledgor for the purpose of carrying out the  provisions  of this  Agreement  and
taking any action and executing any  instrument  that the  Collateral  Agent may
deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes hereof, which appointment
is irrevocable and coupled with an interest.  Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing,  the Collateral  Agent shall have the right,  upon the occurrence
and  during  the  continuance  of an  Event  of  Default,  with  full  power  of
substitution  either  in the  Collateral  Agent's  name  or in the  name of such
Pledgor, to ask for, demand, sue for, collect,  receive and give acquittance for
any and all moneys  due or to become due under and by virtue of any  Collateral,
to endorse checks, drafts, orders and other instruments for the payment of money
payable  to  the  Pledgor   representing  any  interest  or  dividend  or  other
distribution  payable  in respect of the  Collateral  or any part  thereof or on
account thereof and to give full discharge for the same, to settle,  compromise,
prosecute or defend any action, claim or proceeding with respect thereto, and to
sell, assign, endorse, pledge, transfer and to make any agreement respecting, or
otherwise deal with, the same; provided,  however, that nothing herein contained
shall be construed as requiring or obligating the  Collateral  Agent to make any
commitment or to make any inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any payment
received by the Collateral  Agent, or to present or file any claim or notice, or
to take any action with  respect to the  Collateral  or any part  thereof or the
moneys due or to become due in respect thereof or any property  covered thereby.
The Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties shall be accountable only for
amounts  actually  received as a result of the exercise of the powers granted to
them herein, and neither they nor their officers, directors, employees or agents
shall be  responsible  to any Pledgor  for any act or failure to act  hereunder,
except for their own gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

                  SECTION 10. Waivers;  Amendment. (a)  No  failure or delay of
the Collateral Agent in exercising any power or right hereunder shall operate as
a waiver thereof,  nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or
power, or any abandonment or  discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or
power,  preclude  any other or further  exercise  thereof or the exercise of any
other right or power.  The rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent hereunder
and of the other Secured  Parties under the other Loan  Documents are cumulative
and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would  otherwise have.
No waiver of any provisions of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any
Pledgor  therefrom  shall in any event be  effective  unless  the same  shall be
permitted  by  paragraph (b)  below,  and then such  waiver or consent  shall be
effective only in the specific  instance and for the purpose for which given. No
notice or demand on any Pledgor in any case shall  entitle  such  Pledgor to any
other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

                  (b) Neither this  Agreement  nor any  provision  hereof may be
waived,  amended or modified except pursuant to a written agreement entered into
between the  Collateral  Agent and the Pledgor or Pledgors with respect to which
such  waiver,  amendment  or  modification  is to apply,  subject to any consent
required in accordance with Section 9.08 of the Credit Agreement.

                  SECTION 11.  Securities  Act,  etc. In view of the position of
the Pledgors in relation to the Pledged Securities,  or because of other current
or future circumstances,  a question may arise under the Securities Act of 1933,
as now  or  hereafter  in  effect,  or any  similar  statute  hereafter  enacted
analogous in purpose or effect  (such Act and any such  similar  statute as from
time to time in effect


                                       8


being called the "Federal  Securities  Laws") with respect to any disposition of
the Pledged  Securities  permitted  hereunder.  Each  Pledgor  understands  that
compliance with the Federal Securities Laws might very strictly limit the course
of conduct of the Collateral  Agent if the  Collateral  Agent were to attempt to
dispose of all or any part of the Pledged  Securities,  and might also limit the
extent to which or the manner in which any subsequent  transferee of any Pledged
Securities  could  dispose  of the same.  Similarly,  there  may be other  legal
restrictions  or limitations  affecting the  Collateral  Agent in any attempt to
dispose of all or part of the Pledged  Securities  under  applicable Blue Sky or
other state securities laws or similar laws analogous in purpose or effect. Each
Pledgor  recognizes  that in  light of such  restrictions  and  limitations  the
Collateral Agent may, with respect to any sale of the Pledged Securities,  limit
the  purchasers  to those who will agree,  among other  things,  to acquire such
Pledged Securities for their own account, for investment, and not with a view to
the distribution or resale thereof. Each Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that in
light of such  restrictions and limitations,  the Collateral  Agent, in its sole
and  absolute  discretion,  (a) may proceed to make such a sale whether or not a
registration statement for the purpose of registering such Pledged Securities or
part thereof shall have been filed under the Federal Securities Laws and (b) may
approach and negotiate  with a single  potential  purchaser to effect such sale.
Each Pledgor  acknowledges  and agrees that any such sale might result in prices
and other  terms less  favorable  to the seller  than if such sale were a public
sale without such  restrictions.  In the event of any such sale,  the Collateral
Agent shall incur no  responsibility or liability for selling all or any part of
the Pledged  Securities at a price that the  Collateral  Agent,  in its sole and
absolute discretion,  may in good faith deem reasonable under the circumstances,
notwithstanding  the possibility  that a  substantially  higher price might have
been realized if the sale were deferred until after registration as aforesaid or
if more than a single purchaser were approached.  The provisions of this Section
11 will apply  notwithstanding  the existence of a public or private market upon
which the quotations or sales prices may exceed substantially the price at which
the Collateral Agent sells.

                  SECTION 12. Registration,  etc. Each Pledgor agrees that, upon
the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default  hereunder,  if
for  any  reason  the  Collateral  Agent  desires  to  sell  any of the  Pledged
Securities  of the Borrower at a public sale, it will, at any time and from time
to time, upon the written request of the Collateral  Agent, use its best efforts
to take or to cause the issuer of such  Pledged  Securities  to take such action
and prepare, distribute and/or file such documents, as are required or advisable
in the  reasonable  opinion of counsel  for the  Collateral  Agent to permit the
public  sale  of  such  Pledged  Securities.  Each  Pledgor  further  agrees  to
indemnify,  defend and hold harmless the  Collateral  Agent,  each other Secured
Party, any underwriter and their respective officers, directors,  affiliates and
controlling  persons from and against all loss,  liability,  expenses,  costs of
counsel  (including,  without  limitation,  reasonable  fees and expenses to the
Collateral  Agent  of  legal  counsel),  and  claims  (including  the  costs  of
investigation) that they may incur insofar as such loss,  liability,  expense or
claim arises out of or is based upon any alleged untrue  statement of a material
fact contained in any prospectus (or any amendment or supplement  thereto) or in
any  notification  or offering  circular,  or arises out of or is based upon any
alleged  omission  to state a material  fact  required  to be stated  therein or
necessary to make the statements in any thereof not  misleading,  except insofar
as the same may have been caused by any untrue  statement or omission based upon
information  furnished  in writing to such Pledgor or the issuer of such Pledged
Securities by the Collateral  Agent or any other Secured Party expressly for use
therein.  Each Pledgor  further agrees,  upon such written  request  referred to
above, to use its best efforts to qualify, file or register, or cause the issuer
of such Pledged  Securities  to qualify,  file or  register,  any of the Pledged
Securities  under the Blue Sky or other securities laws of such states as may be
requested  by the  Collateral  Agent  and  keep  effective,  or cause to be kept
effective, all such qualifications,  filings or registrations. Each Pledgor will
bear  all  costs  and


                                       9


expenses of carrying  out its  obligations  under this  Section 12. Each Pledgor
acknowledges that there is no adequate remedy at law for failure by it to comply
with the  provisions  of this  Section  12 and that  such  failure  would not be
adequately  compensable  in damages,  and therefore  agrees that its  agreements
contained in this Section 12 may be specifically enforced.

                  SECTION 13. Regulatory Approval.  Notwithstanding  anything to
the contrary  contained  herein,  the Collateral  Agent will not take any action
pursuant  to this  Pledge  Agreement  that  would  constitute  or  result in any
assignment  of an FCC  license or any change of  control  of the  Borrower,  any
Subsidiary,  any  Unrestricted  Subsidiary or any STFI  Unrestricted  Subsidiary
subject to regulation by the FCC if such  assignment of FCC license or change of
control would require under then existing law  (including  the written rules and
regulations  promulgated  by the FCC),  the prior  approval of the FCC,  without
first  obtaining  such  approval  of the FCC.  Each  Pledgor  agrees  after  the
occurrence of any Event of Default to take any action that the Collateral  Agent
may reasonably request in order to obtain and enjoy the full rights and benefits
granted  to the  Collateral  Agent  by this  Pledge  Agreement  and  each  other
agreement,  instrument  and  document  delivered  to  the  Collateral  Agent  in
connection herewith or in any document evidencing or securing the collateral for
any of the Obligations,  including  specifically,  at the Pledgor's own cost and
expense,  the use of Pledgor's  best efforts to assist in obtaining  approval of
the  FCC  or any  applicable  state  regulatory  authority  for  any  action  or
transaction  contemplated by this Pledge Agreement that is then required by law,
and specifically,  without limitation,  upon request, to prepare,  sign and file
with the FCC or such state  regulatory  authority the assignor's or transferor's
portion of any  application  or  applications  for consent to the  assignment of
license or transfer of control  necessary or appropriate under the FCC's or such
state  regulatory   authority's  rules  and  regulations  for  approval  of  any
Obligations secured hereby.

                  SECTION  14.  Security  Interest  Absolute.  All rights of the
Collateral Agent hereunder,  the grant of a security  interest in the Collateral
and  all  obligations  of  each  Pledgor   hereunder,   shall  be  absolute  and
unconditional  irrespective of (a) any lack of validity or enforceability of the
Credit Agreement,  any other Loan Document, any agreement with respect to any of
the  Obligations  or any other  agreement or  instrument  relating to any of the
foregoing,  (b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any
other term of, all or any of the  Obligations,  or any other amendment or waiver
of or any consent to any  departure  from the Credit  Agreement,  any other Loan
Document or any other agreement or instrument  relating to any of the foregoing,
(c) any  exchange,  release or  nonperfection  of any other  collateral,  or any
release or amendment or waiver of or consent to or departure  from any guaranty,
for all or any of the  Obligations  or  (d) any  other  circumstance  that might
otherwise  constitute a defense  available to, or a discharge of, any Pledgor in
respect  of the  Obligations  or in respect of this  Agreement  (other  than the
indefeasible payment in full of all the Obligations).

                  SECTION 15.  Termination or Release.  (a)  This  Agreement and
the security  interests  granted hereby shall terminate when all the Obligations
have been indefeasibly  paid in full and the Lenders have no further  commitment
to lend under the Credit  Agreement,  the  L/C Exposure has been reduced to zero
and the Fronting  Banks have no further  obligation  to issue  Letters of Credit
under the Credit Agreement.

                  (b)  Upon any sale or other  transfer  by any  Pledgor  of any
Collateral  that is permitted  under the Credit  Agreement to any person that is
not a Pledgor,  or, upon the effectiveness of any written consent to the release
of  the  security  interest  granted  hereby  in  any  Collateral   pursuant  to
Section 9.08(b)  of  the  Credit  Agreement,   the  security  interest  in  such
Collateral shall be automatically 


                                       10


released.

                  (c) In connection with any termination or release  pursuant to
paragraph (a)  or (b),  the  Collateral  Agent shall  execute and deliver to any
Pledgor,  at such  Pledgor's  expense,  all  documents  that such Pledgor  shall
reasonably  request to evidence such  termination or release.  Any execution and
delivery of documents  pursuant to this Section 14  shall be without recourse to
or warranty by the Collateral Agent.

                  SECTION 16. Notices.  All communications and notices hereunder
shall be in  writing  and  given  as  provided  in  Section 9.01  of the  Credit
Agreement.  All  communications  and notices hereunder to any Subsidiary Pledgor
shall be given to it at the  address for notices set forth on Schedule I, with a
copy to the Borrower.

                  SECTION 17. Further Assurances. Each Pledgor agrees to do such
further acts and things, and to execute and deliver such additional conveyances,
assignments, agreements and instruments, as the Collateral Agent may at any time
reasonably request in connection with the administration and enforcement of this
Agreement  or with  respect to the  Collateral  or any part  thereof or in order
better to assure and confirm unto the  Collateral  Agent its rights and remedies
hereunder.

                  SECTION 18. Binding Effect;  Several  Agreement;  Assignments.
Whenever  in this  Agreement  any of the  parties  hereto is  referred  to, such
reference  shall be deemed to include the  successors and assigns of such party;
and all  covenants,  promises and agreements by or on behalf of any Pledgor that
are  contained  in this  Agreement  shall  bind and inure to the  benefit of its
successors and assigns.  This Agreement shall become effective as to any Pledgor
when a  counterpart  hereof  executed on behalf of such Pledgor  shall have been
delivered  to the  Collateral  Agent and a  counterpart  hereof  shall have been
executed on behalf of the Collateral Agent, and thereafter shall be binding upon
such  Pledgor  and the  Collateral  Agent and their  respective  successors  and
assigns,  and shall inure to the benefit of such Pledgor,  the Collateral  Agent
and the other Secured  Parties,  and their  respective  successors  and assigns,
except that no Pledgor  shall have the right to assign its rights  hereunder  or
any interest  herein or in the  Collateral  (and any such  attempted  assignment
shall be void), except as expressly  contemplated by this Agreement or the other
Loan Documents. If all of the capital stock of a Pledgor is sold, transferred or
otherwise  disposed  of to a person  that is not an  Affiliate  of the  Borrower
pursuant to a transaction  permitted by  Section 6.05  of the Credit  Agreement,
such Pledgor shall be released from its obligations under this Agreement without
further action.  This Agreement shall be construed as a separate  agreement with
respect to each Pledgor and may be amended,  modified,  supplemented,  waived or
released  with respect to any Pledgor  without the approval of any other Pledgor
and without affecting the obligations of any other Pledgor hereunder

                  SECTION  19.  Survival of  Agreement;  Severability.  (a)  All
covenants,  agreements,  representations  and  warranties  made by each  Pledgor
herein and in the  certificates  or other  instruments  prepared or delivered in
connection  with or pursuant to this  Agreement or any other Loan Document shall
be  considered  to have been relied upon by the  Collateral  Agent and the other
Secured Parties and shall survive the making by the Lenders of the Loans and the
issuance  of the  Letters of Credit by the  Fronting  Banks,  regardless  of any
investigation made by the Secured Parties or on their behalf, and shall continue
in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued  interest on
any Loan or any other fee or amount  payable  under this  Agreement or any other
Loan Document is outstanding and unpaid or the L/C Exposure  does not equal zero
and as long as the Commitments and the L/C Commitments have not been terminated.


                                       11



                  (b) In the event any one or more of the  provisions  contained
in this  Agreement  should be held  invalid,  illegal  or  unenforceable  in any
respect,  the validity,  legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions
contained  herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby (it being
understood  that  the  invalidity  of a  particular  provision  in a  particular
jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the validity of such provision in
any other jurisdiction).  The parties shall endeavor in good-faith  negotiations
to  replace  the  invalid,   illegal  or  unenforceable  provisions  with  valid
provisions  the  economic  effect of which comes as close as possible to that of
the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

                  SECTION 20.  Governing Law. THIS  AGREEMENT  SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                  SECTION 21.  Counterparts.  This  Agreement may be executed in
two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of
which, when taken together, shall constitute a single contract, and shall become
effective as provided in Section 18.  Delivery of an executed  counterpart  of a
signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective
as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

                  SECTION   22.   Rules   of   Interpretation.   The   rules  of
interpretation  specified  in  Section 1.02  of the  Credit  Agreement  shall be
applicable to this Agreement.  Section  headings used herein are for convenience
of  reference  only,  are not part of this  Agreement  and are not to affect the
construction  of,  or  to be  taken  into  consideration  in  interpreting  this
Agreement.

                  SECTION 23.    Jurisdiction;    Consent    to    Service    of
Process.  (a)  Each  Pledgor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for
itself and its property, to the nonexclusive  jurisdiction of any New York State
court or Federal court of the United States of America sitting in New York City,
and any appellate  court from any thereof,  in any action or proceeding  arising
out of or  relating  to this  Agreement  or the  other  Loan  Documents,  or for
recognition  or  enforcement  of any  judgment,  and each of the parties  hereto
hereby irrevocably and  unconditionally  agrees that, to the extent permitted by
applicable  law, all claims in respect of any such action or  proceeding  may be
heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent  permitted by law,
in such Federal  court.  Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment
in any such  action or  proceeding  shall be  conclusive  and may be enforced in
other  jurisdictions  by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by
law.  Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the Collateral Agent
or any other Secured Party may otherwise  have to bring any action or proceeding
relating to this  Agreement or the other Loan  Documents  against any Pledgor or
its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

                  (b)  Each  Pledgor  hereby  irrevocably  and   unconditionally
waives,  to the  fullest  extent  it may  legally  and  effectively  do so,  any
objection  that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit,
action or proceeding  arising out of or relating to this  Agreement or the other
Loan  Documents  in any New York State or  Federal  court.  Each of the  parties
hereto hereby  irrevocably  waives,  to the fullest extent permitted by law, the
defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding
in any such court.

                  (c)  Each  party to this  Agreement  irrevocably  consents  to
service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 15.  Nothing in
this  Agreement  will affect the right of any party to this  Agreement  to serve
process in any other manner permitted by law.


                                       12


                  SECTION 24.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH PARTY  HERETO  HEREBY
WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE
TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION  DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY  ARISING
OUT  OF,  UNDER  OR  IN  CONNECTION  WITH  THIS  AGREEMENT.  EACH  PARTY  HERETO
(A) CERTIFIES THAT NO  REPRESENTATIVE,  AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS
REPRESENTED,  EXPRESSLY  OR  OTHERWISE,  THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE
EVENT OF LITIGATION,  SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND  (B) ACKNOWLEDGES
THAT IT AND THE OTHER  PARTIES  HERETO  HAVE  BEEN  INDUCED  TO ENTER  INTO THIS
AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS,  THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS
SECTION.

                  SECTION 25. Additional  Pledgors.  Pursuant to Section 5.11 of
the Credit  Agreement,  each  Subsidiary of STFI, the Borrower or any Subsidiary
that  was  not in  existence  or not a  Subsidiary  on the  date  of the  Credit
Agreement is required to enter in this  Agreement  as a Subsidiary  Pledgor upon
becoming a Subsidiary if such  Subsidiary  owns or possesses  property of a type
that would be considered  Collateral  hereunder.  Upon execution and delivery by
the  Collateral  Agent and a Subsidiary of an instrument in the form of Annex 1,
such Subsidiary shall become a Subsidiary  Pledgor hereunder with the same force
and effect as if originally named as a Subsidiary  Pledgor herein. The execution
and  delivery  of such  instrument  shall not require the consent of any Pledgor
hereunder.  The rights and obligations of each Pledgor hereunder shall remain in
full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Subsidiary Pledgor
as a party to this Agreement.


                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this
Agreement as of the day and year first above written.


                                           SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD INC.,

                                            by____________________________
                                                /s/  Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                Name:  Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                Title:  Authorized Officer


                                           SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD
                                           COMMUNICATIONS CORP.,

                                            by___________________________
                                                /s/  Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                Name:  Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                Title:  Authorized Officer


                                       13


                                            MULTI-TENANT SERVICES, INC.,

                                             by__________________________
                                                /s/  Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                Name:  Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                Title:  Authorized Officer


                                            BOSTON TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
                                            GROUP, INC.
                                            d/b/a BOSTON TELECOMMUNICATIONS
                                            COMPANY,

                                             by__________________________
                                                /s/  Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                Name:  Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                Title:  Authorized Officer


                                            FINANCIAL PLACE COMMUNICATIONS
                                            COMPANY,

                                             by__________________________
                                                /s/  Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                Name:  Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                Title:  Authorized Officer of
                                                        Shared Technologies 
                                                        Fairchild Inc., its
                                                        General Partner

                                            STI INTERNATIONAL, INC.,

                                             by__________________________
                                                /s/  Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                Name:  Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                Title:  Authorized Officer


                                            OFFICE TELEPHONE MANAGEMENT,

                                             by__________________________
                                                /s/  Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                Name:  Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                Title:  Authorized Officer


                                             VSI CORPORATION,
                                           
                                              by_________________________
                                                /s/  Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                Name:  Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                Title:  Authorized Officer



                                       14


                                             CREDIT SUISSE, as Collateral Agent,

                                              by_________________________
                                                /s/  Kathleen D. O'Brien
                                                Name:  Kathleen D. O'Brien
                                                Title:  Member of Senior 
                                                        Management

                                              by_________________________
                                                /s/  Will Ziglar
                                                Name:  Will Ziglar
                                                Title:  Associate
  
                                       15



                               SUBSIDIARY PLEDGORS


Name                                       Address




                                       16


                                  CAPITAL STOCK        Schedule II to the 
                                                       Pledge Agreement

              Number of        Registered     Number and Class    Percentage
Issuer        Certificate      Owner          of Shares           of Shares 
                                                                  





                                 DEBT SECURITIES


                    Principal           Date of            Maturity
 Issuer             Amount              Note               Date    
                                                 



                                       17



                                                                  Annex 1 to the
                                                                Pledge Agreement


                                    SUPPLEMENT  NO.  dated as of , to the PLEDGE
                           AGREEMENT  dated as of March 13,  1996,  among SHARED
                           TECHNOLOGIES   FAIRCHILD   COMMUNICATIONS   CORP.,  a
                           Delaware   corporation   (the   "Borrower"),   SHARED
                           TECHNOLOGIES  FAIRCHILD INC., a Delaware  corporation
                           ("STFI",  which term shall, after the Merger referred
                           to in the Credit Agreement referred to below, include
                           the  surviving  corporation  in  such  Merger),  each
                           Subsidiary  of the  Borrower  listed  on  Schedule  I
                           hereto   (each   such   Subsidiary   individually   a
                           "Subsidiary    Pledgor"   and    collectively,    the
                           "Subsidiary  Pledgors";  the  Borrower,  STFI and the
                           Subsidiary  Pledgors  are  referred  to  collectively
                           herein as the "Pledgors")  and CREDIT SUISSE,  a bank
                           organized  under  the  laws  of  Switzerland,  acting
                           through its New York  branch  ("Credit  Suisse"),  as
                           collateral  agent (in such capacity,  the "Collateral
                           Agent")  for the  Secured  Parties (as defined in the
                           Credit Agreement referred to below).

                  A. Reference is made to (a) the Credit  Agreement  dated as of
March 12, 1996 (as  amended,  supplemented  or otherwise  modified  from time to
time, the "Credit Agreement"),  among the Borrower,  STFI, the lenders from time
to time party thereto (the "Lenders"),  Credit Suisse, as  administrative  agent
(in such capacity, the "Administrative  Agent") and as collateral agent (in such
capacity,  the "Collateral Agent") for the Lenders, the fronting banks listed on
Schedule 2.20  (the  "Fronting  Banks"),  and each of  Citicorp  USA,  Inc.  and
NationsBank, N.A., as documentation agent (individually and collectively in such
capacity,  the "Documentation  Agent"), (b) the Parent Guarantee Agreement dated
as of March 12, 1996 (as amended,  supplemented or otherwise  modified from time
to time,  the "Parent  Guarantee  Agreement"),  between STFI and the  Collateral
Agent and (c) the Subsidiary  Guarantee Agreement dated as of March 12, 1996 (as
amended,  supplemented or otherwise  modified from time to time, the "Subsidiary
Guarantee Agreement"; and, collectively with the Parent Guarantee Agreement, the
"Guarantee Agreements") among the Subsidiary Pledgors and the Collateral Agent.

                  B.  Capitalized  terms used herein and not  otherwise  defined
herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

                  C. The  Pledgors  have  entered  into the Pledge  Agreement in
order to  induce  the  Lenders  to make  Loans and the  Fronting  Banks to issue
Letters  of Credit.  Pursuant  to Section  5.11 of the  Credit  Agreement,  each
Subsidiary of STFI, the Borrower or any Subsidiary  that was not in existence or
not a Subsidiary  on the date of the Credit  Agreement is required to enter into
the Pledge Agreement as a Subsidiary  Pledgor upon becoming a Subsidiary if such
Subsidiary  owns or  possesses  property  of a type  that  would  be  considered
Collateral  under the  Pledge  Agreement.  Section 25  of the  Pledge  Agreement
provides that such Subsidiaries may become Subsidiary  Pledgors under the Pledge
Agreement  by  execution  and  delivery  of an  instrument  in the  form of this
Supplement.  The  undersigned  Subsidiary  (the "New Pledgor") is executing this
Supplement in accordance with the requirements of the Credit Agreement to become
a Subsidiary  Pledgor under the Pledge  Agreement in order to induce the Lenders
to make additional Loans and the Fronting Banks to issue  additional  Letters of
Credit and as  consideration  for Loans  previously  made and  Letters of Credit
previously issued.

                  Accordingly, the Collateral Agent and the New Pledgor agree as
follows:

                  SECTION 1.   In  accordance  with  Section 25  of  the  Pledge
Agreement,  the New Pledgor by its  signature  below becomes a Pledgor under the
Pledge  Agreement with the same force and





effect as if originally  named  therein as a Pledgor and the New Pledgor  hereby
agrees (a) to all the terms and provisions of the Pledge Agreement applicable to
it  as  a  Pledgor   thereunder   and  (b)  represents  and  warrants  that  the
representations  and warranties made by it as a Pledgor  thereunder are true and
correct on and as of the date hereof.  In furtherance of the foregoing,  the New
Pledgor,  as security for the payment and performance in full of the Obligations
(as  defined  in the  Pledge  Agreement),  does  hereby  create and grant to the
Collateral  Agent,  its successors  and assigns,  for the benefit of the Secured
Parties, their successors and assigns, a security interest in and lien on all of
the New Pledgor's right, title and interest in and to the Collateral (as defined
in the Pledge  Agreement)  of the New Pledgor.  Each  reference to a "Subsidiary
Pledgor" or a "Pledgor" in the Pledge  Agreement  shall be deemed to include the
New Pledgor. The Pledge Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

                  SECTION 2. The New  Pledgor  represents  and  warrants  to the
Collateral  Agent and the other Secured  Parties that this  Supplement  has been
duly authorized,  executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal,  valid
and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

                  SECTION 3. This  Supplement  may be executed in  counterparts,
each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together
shall constitute a single contract.  This Supplement shall become effective when
the Collateral  Agent shall have received  counterparts of this Supplement that,
when taken  together,  bear the signatures of the New Pledgor and the Collateral
Agent.  Delivery of an executed  signature page to this  Supplement by facsimile
transmission  shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart
of this Supplement.

                  SECTION 4. The New Pledgor hereby represents and warrants that
set forth on Schedule I  attached  hereto is a true and correct  schedule of all
its Pledged Securities.

                  SECTION 5. Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Pledge
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

                  SECTION 6. THIS SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                  SECTION 7. In case any one or more of the provisions contained
in this  Supplement  should be held  invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable  in any
respect,  neither  party hereto shall be required to comply with such  provision
for so long as such provision is held to be invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable,
but the  validity,  legality  and  enforceability  of the  remaining  provisions
contained herein and in the Pledge Agreement shall not in any way be affected or
impaired.  The parties  hereto  shall  endeavor in  good-faith  negotiations  to
replace the invalid,  illegal or unenforceable  provisions with valid provisions
the economic  effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provisions.

                  SECTION 8. All  communications  and notices hereunder shall be
in writing and given as  provided in  Section 15  of the Pledge  Agreement.  All
communications  and notices hereunder to the New Pledgor shall be given to it at
the address set forth under its signature hereto, with a copy to the Borrower.


                                       2



                  SECTION 9. The New Pledgor  agrees to reimburse the Collateral
Agent  for  its  reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses  in  connection  with  this
Supplement,  including the reasonable fees,  other charges and  disbursements of
counsel for the Collateral Agent.


                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the New Pledgor and the Collateral Agent
have duly  executed this  Supplement  to the Pledge  Agreement as of the day and
year first above written.


                                            [Name of New Pledgor],

                                              by_____________________

                                                Name:
                                                Title:
                                                Address:


                                             CREDIT SUISSE, as Collateral Agent,

                                              by_____________________

                                                Name:
                                                Title:


                                              by_____________________

                                                Name:
                                                Title:

                                       3


                                                                   Schedule I to
                                                                  Supplement No.
                                                         to the Pledge Agreement




                      Pledged Securities of the New Pledgor


                                  CAPITAL STOCK


           Number of      Registered    Number and Class     Percentage
Issuer     Certificate    Owner         of Shares            of Shares 
                                                             
                          



                                 DEBT SECURITIES

                  Principal             Date of          Maturity 
Issuer            Amount                Note             Date