EXHIBIT 4.12

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT



         This  REGISTRATION  RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this  "Agreement") is dated as of

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January  24,  1997,  and is  being  made and  entered  into by and  among  AVERY

COMMUNICATIONS  INC., a Delaware  corporation  ("ACI"), and THOMAS A. MONTGOMERY

                                                 ---

(the "Holder"), with reference to the following RECITALS:

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                                R E C I T A L S:



         A. ACI has issued  the Holder a warrant  (the  "Warrant")  to  purchase

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90,000  shares (the  "Shares") of common  stock,  par value $0.01 per share (the

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"Common Stock"), of ACI.

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         B. To provide  the Holder  with  greater  liquidity  in the future with

respect to the Registrable  Stock (as defined below),  the Holder wishes to have

certain registration rights and ACI wishes to grant such rights to the Holder.



         NOW, THEREFORE,  in consideration of the recitals and of the respective

covenants,  representations,  warranties and agreements  herein  contained,  and

intending  to be legally  bound  hereby,  the  parties  hereto  hereby  agree as

follows:



                                    ARTICLE 1



                               REGISTRATION RIGHTS



         SECTION 1.1  INCIDENTAL REGISTRATION.



                  1.1.1 PIGGYBACK RIGHTS OF HOLDER. If at any time or times from

         and after the first anniversary of the date hereof, ACI intends to file

         prior to the Expiration Date a Registration  Statement on Form S-1, S-2

         or S-3 (or other appropriate form) for the registration of Common Stock

         with the Commission  (other than a (i)  Registration  Statement on Form

         S-4 (or any successor form) relating to a corporate  reorganization  or

         other transaction under Rule 145, (ii) Registration  Statement relating

         to securities  issued pursuant to, or interests in, an employee benefit

         plan for the employees of ACI or its  affiliates or (iii)  Registration

         Statement on a form which does not permit the  inclusion of  securities

         sold in a  secondary  offering),  then ACI shall  notify  the Holder at

         least 30 days prior to each such filing of ACI's intention to file such

         a Registration  Statement.  Such notice shall state the amount and type

         of  securities  proposed  to be  registered  thereby.  Upon the written

         request of the Holder (a "Holder  Request")  given within 20 days after

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         receipt of any such notice  stating the number of shares of Registrable

         Stock to be  disposed  of by the  Holder  and the  intended  method  of

         disposition,  ACI will use reasonable efforts to cause the aggregate of

         the Registrable  Stock designated in the Holder Requests to be included

         in such  registration  so as to permit the  disposition  (in accordance

         with the methods  specified in the Holder  Request(s)) by the Holder of

         the  Registrable  Stock  so  registered,   subject  to  the  reductions

         specified in Sections 1.1.2 and 1.1.3, as applicable.  The Holder shall

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         be entitled, subject to such reductions, to participate in an unlimited

         number of such registrations.


                  1.1.2 REDUCTIONS OF REGISTRABLE  STOCK TO BE INCLUDED.  If the

         registration  proposed by ACI involves an underwritten  offering of the

         Common  Stock,  whether or not for sale for the  account of ACI,  to be

         distributed (on a best efforts or firm commitment  basis) by or through

         one  or  more  underwriters,  and  the  managing  underwriter  of  such

         underwritten offering shall advise ACI in writing that, in its opinion,

         the  registration  of all or a specified  portion of Registrable  Stock

         concurrently   with  the  Common  Stock  will   adversely   affect  the

         distribution  of such Common Stock by such  underwriters,  then ACI may

         require,  by written notice to the Holder, that the distribution of all

         or a specified  portion of the Registrable  Stock be excluded from such

         registration in accordance with Section 1.6.

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                  1.1.3  WITHDRAWALS.  ACI may in its  discretion  withdraw  any

         Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 1.1 subsequent to

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         its filing and prior to its  effective  date  without  liability to the

         Holder, other than to pay expenses pursuant to Section 1.4.

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         SECTION 1.2   INDEMNITY.



                  (a) ACI  will,  and  hereby  does,  indemnify,  to the  extent

         permitted by law, each Holder, its officers and directors,  if any, and

         each Person,  if any,  who  controls  the Holder  within the meaning of

         Section 15 of the Securities Act, against all losses, claims,  damages,

         liabilities (or proceedings in respect thereof) and expenses (under the

         Securities Act or common law or otherwise), joint or several, caused by

         any untrue or  misleading  statement  or alleged  untrue or  misleading

         statement of a material fact  contained in any  Registration  Statement

         (as declared effective) or prospectus filed under Rule 424(b) under the

         Securities  Act (and as  amended  or  supplemented  if ACI  shall  have

         furnished any  amendments or  supplements  thereto) or any  preliminary

         prospectus  or caused by any  omission  or  alleged  omission  to state

         therein a material fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary to

         make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as:



                           (i) such losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities  (or

                  proceedings in respect  thereof) or expenses are caused by any

                  untrue  statement or alleged untrue statement made in reliance

                  on or in conformity with any information  furnished in writing

                  to ACI by the Holder expressly for use therein; or



                           (ii) in the case of any  registration  that is not an

                  underwritten   offering,   such   losses,   claims,   damages,

                  liabilities  (or  proceedings in respect  thereof) or expenses

                  result from the Holder selling  Registrable  Stock to a Person

                  asserting the  existence of an untrue or misleading  statement

                  or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission in

                  a  preliminary  prospectus  and to whom there was not given or

                  sent, at or prior to the written  confirmation  of the sale of

                  the Registrable  Stock, a copy of the final  prospectus or the

                  final  prospectus as then amended or supplemented  but only if

                  such  statement  or  omission  was  corrected  in  such  final

                  prospectus or amended or supplemented  final  prospectus prior

                  to



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                  such  written  confirmation  and the Holder was given  notice,

                  prior to such written confirmation, of the availability of, or

                  that ACI was  preparing,  such final  prospectus or amended or

                  supplemented final prospectus.



         If the offering  pursuant to any  Registration  Statement  provided for

         under this Agreement is made through underwriters, no action or failure

         to  act  on  the  part  of  such  underwriters  (whether  or  not  such

         underwriter   is  an  Affiliate  of  any  Holder)  shall  affect  ACI's

         obligations to indemnify the Holder or any other Person pursuant to the

         preceding sentence. It is agreed that the indemnity agreement contained

         in this Section 1.2(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of

         any such loss, claim, damage,  liability,  or action if such settlement

         is  effected  without  the  consent of ACI (which  consent has not been

         unreasonably withheld).



                  (b) In connection with any Registration Statement in which the

         Holder is  participating,  the  Holder  will  indemnify,  to the extent

         permitted  by  law,  ACI,  its  officers,  directors,  partners,  legal

         counsel,  and  accountants,  and  each  underwriter,  if  any,  of  ACI

         Securities covered by such Registration Statement,  and each Person, if

         any,  who controls  ACI or any such  underwriter  within the meaning of

         Section 15 of the Securities  Act, and each of the Other  Stockholders,

         and each of their respective  officers,  directors,  and partners,  and

         each  Person  controlling  any of the Other  Stockholders  against  any

         losses,  claims,  damages,   liabilities  (or  proceedings  in  respect

         thereof)  and  expenses  (under  the  Securities  Act or common  law or

         otherwise)  resulting  from any  untrue  statement  or  alleged  untrue

         statement of a material  fact or any omission or alleged  omission of a

         material fact required to be stated in the  Registration  Statement (as

         declared  effective)  or  prospectus  filed under Rule 424(b) under the

         Securities  Act or preliminary  prospectus or any amendment  thereof or

         supplement  thereto,  or necessary to make the  statements  therein not

         misleading, but only to the extent that:



                           (i) such untrue  statement  is made in reliance on or

                  in conformity with any information furnished in writing by the

                  Holder expressly for use therein; or



                           (ii) in the case of any  registration  that is not an

                  underwritten   offering,   such   losses,   claims,   damages,

                  liabilities  (or  proceedings in respect  thereof) or expenses

                  resulting  from  the  Holder  selling  Registrable  Stock to a

                  Person  asserting  the  existence  of an untrue  statement  or

                  alleged untrue  statement or omission or alleged omission in a

                  preliminary  prospectus  and to whom  there  was not  given or

                  sent, at or prior to the written  confirmation  of the sale of

                  the  Registrable  Stock, a copy of the final  prospectus or of

                  the final  prospectus as then amended or supplemented but only

                  if such  statement  or omission  was  corrected  in such final

                  prospectus or amended or supplemented  final  prospectus prior

                  to such written  confirmation and the Holder was given notice,

                  prior to such written confirmation, of the availability of, or

                  that ACI was  preparing,  such final  prospectus or amended or

                  supplemented final prospectus;





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         provided,  however,  that the obligations of the Holder hereunder shall

         not apply to amounts paid in  settlement  of any such  claims,  losses,

         damages,  or  liabilities  (or  actions  in  respect  thereof)  if such

         settlement is effected without the consent of the Holder (which consent

         has not been  unreasonably  withheld);  and  provided  further that the

         Holder's  obligations under this Section 1.2.(b) shall be limited to an

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         amount  equal to the gross  proceeds  to the Holder of the  Registrable

         Stock sold pursuant to such Registration Statement.



                  (c)  Any  Person   entitled  to   indemnification   under  the

         provisions  of Section  1.2.(a) or (b) shall (i) give prompt  notice to

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         the  indemnifying  party of any claim  with  respect  to which it seeks

         indemnification,  and (ii) unless in the opinion of counsel  reasonably

         satisfactory to the  indemnifying  party a conflict of interest between

         such indemnified and indemnifying  parties may exist in respect of such

         claim,  permit  such  indemnifying  party to assume the defense of such

         claim,  with counsel  reasonably  satisfactory to the indemnified party

         (who shall not,  except with the consent of the  indemnified  party, be

         counsel to the indemnifying  party); and if such defense is so assumed,

         such indemnifying party shall not enter into any settlement without the

         consent  of  the  indemnified  party  if  such  settlement   attributes

         liability to the indemnified  party and such  indemnifying  party shall

         not be subject to any  liability  for any  settlement  made without its

         consent   (which  shall  not  be   unreasonably   withheld);   and  any

         underwriting  agreement  entered into with respect to any  Registration

         Statement  provided for under this Agreement  shall so provide.  In the

         event an  indemnifying  party shall not be entitled,  or elects not, to

         assume the  defense of a claim,  such  indemnifying  party shall not be

         obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel or firm

         of counsel for all parties  indemnified by such  indemnifying  party in

         respect of such claim.  Such  indemnity  shall remain in full force and

         effect  regardless  of any  investigation  made  by or on  behalf  of a

         participating  Holder,  its officers,  directors or any Person, if any,

         who controls the Holder as aforesaid, and shall survive the transfer of

         such securities by the Holder.



                  (d) If for any reason the foregoing  indemnity is unavailable,

         then the  indemnifying  party  shall  contribute  to the amount paid or

         payable by the  indemnified  party as a result of such losses,  claims,

         damages,   liabilities  or  expenses  (i)  in  such  proportion  as  is

         appropriate   to  reflect  the  relative   benefits   received  by  the

         indemnifying  party on the one hand  and the  indemnified  party on the

         other or (ii) if the  allocation  provided  by clause  (i) above is not

         permitted by applicable law or provides a lesser sum to the indemnified

         party than the amount hereinafter calculated,  in such proportion as is

         appropriate to reflect not only the relative  benefits  received by the

         indemnifying  party on the one hand  and the  indemnified  party on the

         other but also the  relative  fault of the  indemnifying  party and the

         indemnified   party   as  well   as  any   other   relevant   equitable

         considerations.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  no  Holder  shall be

         required  to  contribute  any amount in excess of the amount the Holder

         would  have  been  required  to  pay  to an  indemnified  party  if the

         indemnity under Section  1.2.(a) or (b), as applicable,  was available.

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         No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of



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         Section 11(f) of the Securities  Act) shall be entitled to contribution

         from   any   Person   who   was   not   guilty   of   such   fraudulent

         misrepresentation.  The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of

         the indemnified  party shall be determined by reference to, among other

         things,  whether the untrue or alleged  untrue  statement of a material

         fact or the omission to state a material  fact  relates to  information

         supplied by the indemnifying  party or by the indemnified party and the

         parties'  relative  intent,  knowledge,  access  to  information,   and

         opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.



                  (e) An  indemnifying  party shall make payments of all amounts

         required  to be  made  pursuant  to the  foregoing  provisions  of this

         Section 1.2 to or for the account of the indemnified party from time to

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         time  promptly  upon receipt of bills or invoices  relating  thereto or

         when otherwise due and payable.



                  (f)  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  to the extent  that the

         provisions  on  indemnification  and  contribution   contained  in  the

         underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the underwritten

         public  offering are in conflict  with the  foregoing  provisions,  the

         provisions in the underwriting agreement shall control.



         SECTION 1.3   REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.



                  (a)  Whenever  the  Holder  has  properly  requested  that any

         Registrable  Stock be registered  pursuant to Section 1.1, ACI will use

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         reasonable  efforts to effect the  registration  in  furtherance of the

         sale of the Registrable Stock in accordance with the intended method of

         disposition thereof, and in connection with any such request ACI will:



                           (i)  prepare  and  file  with  the  Commission   such

                  amendments and supplements to such Registration  Statement and

                  the  prospectus  used  in  connection   therewith  as  may  be

                  necessary to keep such  Registration  Statement  effective for

                  such period (not to exceed 90 days) as will terminate when all

                  Registrable Stock covered by such Registration  Statement have

                  been sold and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act

                  with respect to the  disposition of all securities  covered by

                  such  Registration  Statement during such period in accordance

                  with  the  intended  methods  of  disposition  by the  sellers

                  thereof set forth in such Registration Statement;



                           (ii) furnish to each seller of Registrable Stock such

                  number  of  copies  of  such  Registration   Statement,   each

                  amendment and  supplement  thereto (in each case including all

                  exhibits   thereto),   the   prospectus   included   in   such

                  Registration    Statement    (including    each    preliminary

                  prospectus),  each amendment and  supplement  thereto and such

                  other documents as such seller may reasonably request in order

                  to facilitate the disposition of the  Registrable  Stock owned

                  by such seller;





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                           (iii) use  reasonable  efforts to register or qualify

                  the Registrable  Stock under such other securities or blue sky

                  laws of such  jurisdictions as any seller reasonably  requests

                  and  do any  and  all  other  acts  and  things  which  may be

                  reasonably  necessary  or  advisable  to enable such seller to

                  consummate  the  disposition  in  such  jurisdictions  of  the

                  Registrable  Stock owned by such  seller;  provided,  however,

                  that ACI will not be required to (A) qualify  generally  to do

                  business or subject  itself to  taxation  in any  jurisdiction

                  where it would not  otherwise  be  required  to  qualify or be

                  subject  but for this  subparagraph  (iii),  or (B) consent to

                  general service of process in any such jurisdiction;



                           (iv) use reasonable  efforts to cause the Registrable

                  Stock covered by such Registration  Statement to be registered

                  with or approved by such other Governmental Authorities as may

                  be  reasonably   necessary  by  virtue  of  the  business  and

                  operations  of ACI to enable the seller or sellers  thereof to

                  consummate the disposition of the Registrable Stock;



                            (v) (A) notify each seller of the Registrable Stock,

                  at any time when a prospectus  relating thereto is required to

                  be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any

                  event as a result of which  the  prospectus  included  in such

                  Registration  Statement  contains  an  untrue  statement  of a

                  material  fact or omits to state any material fact required to

                  be stated therein or necessary to make the statements  therein

                  not  misleading,  and (B) prepare a supplement or amendment to

                  such  prospectus  so  that,  as  thereafter  delivered  to the

                  purchasers of the Registrable  Stock, such 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 not misleading;



                           (vi)  (A)  use   reasonable   efforts  to  cause  all

                  Registrable Stock to be listed on each securities  exchange or

                  stock  market  on which  the  Common  Stock is then  listed or

                  quoted,  and (B) unless  the same  already  exists,  provide a

                  transfer agent, registrar and CUSIP number for all Registrable

                  Stock not later than the  effective  date of the  Registration

                  Statement;



                          (vii) make  available for inspection at the offices of

                  ACI during regular business hours by any seller of Registrable

                  Stock,  any  underwriter   participating  in  any  disposition

                  pursuant  to such  Registration  Statement  and any  attorney,

                  accountant  or other  agent  retained  by any such  seller  or

                  underwriter,  such  financial  and  other  records,  pertinent

                  corporate   documents  and  properties  of  ACI  as  shall  be

                  reasonably  requested  by them and be necessary to enable them

                  to exercise its due diligence responsibility; and



                           (viii) use its reasonable efforts to otherwise comply

                  with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission.





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                  (b) In connection with any registration  effected  pursuant to

         Section  1.1,  that the Holder has  requested  that its  securities  be

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         registered pursuant to such Registration Statement shall provide to ACI

         such  information as may be reasonably  requested by ACI to be required

         for inclusion in such Registration Statement pursuant to the Securities

         Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.



                  (c) Holder agrees by acquisition of the Registrable  Stock and

         the  registration  rights  thereunder  that, upon receipt of any notice

         from ACI of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section

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         1.3(a)(v),   the  Holder  will  forthwith  discontinue  disposition  of

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         Registrable Stock pursuant to the Registration  Statement  covering the

         Registrable  Stock  until the  Holder's  receipt  of the  copies of the

         supplemented  or  amended  prospectus   contemplated  by  such  Section

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         1.3(a)(v),  and, if so directed by ACI,  the Holder will deliver to ACI

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         (at ACI's expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in

         the Holder's  possession,  of the prospectus  covering the  Registrable

         Stock  current at the time of receipt of such notice.  In the event ACI

         shall give any such notice,  the period mentioned in Section  1.3(a)(i)

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         shall be  extended  by the number of days  during  the period  from and

         including  the date of the giving of such  notice  pursuant  to Section

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         1.3(a)(v)  to and  including  the date when each seller of  Registrable

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         Stock covered by such  Registration  Statement  shall have received the

         copies of the supplemented or amended  prospectus  contemplated by such

         Section 1.3(a)(v).

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         SECTION 1.4 EXPENSES.  All Registration  Expenses incurred in effecting

any registration, qualifications or compliance pursuant to this Agreement, shall

be  borne  by ACI.  All  Selling  Expenses  relating  to  Registrable  Stock  so

registered  shall  be  borne  by  the  Holder,  according  to  the  quantity  of

Registrable Stock included in such registration along with any other expenses in

connection  with the  registration  required  to be borne by the  Holder  of the

Registrable Stock.



         SECTION 1.5 LIMITATION ON REGISTRATION.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,

under no circumstances will ACI be obligated to cause any registration  effected

pursuant to this Agreement to remain  effective  after the Expiration Date or to

include  any  Registrable  Stock  in  a  Registration  Statement  which  becomes

effective after the Expiration Date.



         SECTION  1.6   ALLOCATION  OF   REGISTRATION   OPPORTUNITIES.   In  any

circumstance in which the Registrable Stock and other shares of ACI Common Stock

(including  shares of common stock issued or issuable upon  conversion of shares

of any currently  unissued series of preferred  stock of ACI) with  registration

rights (the "Other Shares") requested to be included in a registration on behalf

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

of the Holder or other selling stockholders ("Other  Stockholders") cannot be so

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included  as a result  of  limitations  of the  aggregate  number  of  shares of

Registrable Stock and Other Shares that may be so included, the number of shares

of Registrable Stock and Other Shares that may be so included shall be allocated

among the Holder and Other Stockholders  requesting inclusion of shares pro rata

on the basis of the number of shares of Registrable  Stock and Other Shares that

would  be  held by the  Holder  and  Other  Stockholders,  assuming  conversion;

provided, however that such allocation shall not operate to reduce the aggregate

number of shares of  Registrable  Stock and Other  Shares to be included in such

registration. If the Holder or any



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Other  Stockholder does not request inclusion of the maximum number of shares of

Registrable  Stock and Other  Shares  allocated  to such Person  pursuant to the

above-described procedure, the remaining portion of any such Person's allocation

shall be reallocated among those requesting Holder and Other  Stockholders whose

allocations  did not satisfy their  requests pro rata on the basis of the number

of shares of  Registrable  Stock and  Other  Shares  which  would be held by the

Holder and Other Stockholders,  assuming conversion, and this procedure shall be

repeated until all of the shares of Registrable Stock and Other Shares which may

be included in the  registration on behalf of the Holder and Other  Stockholders

have been so allocated.



         SECTION 1.7 DELAY OF  REGISTRATION.  No Holder  shall have any right to

take any action to restrain,  enjoin, or otherwise delay any registration as the

result of any controversy that might arise with respect to the interpretation or

implementation of this Section 1.



                                    ARTICLE 2



                             UNDERWRITTEN OFFERINGS



         SECTION 2.1 UNDERWRITING ARRANGEMENTS.  If ACI or holders of securities

initially  requesting or demanding such  registration  have  determined to enter

into an underwriting agreement in connection therewith,  all shares constituting

Registrable Stock to be included in such  registration  shall be subject to such

underwriting agreement and no Person may participate in such registration unless

such Person agrees to sell such Person's securities on the basis provided in the

underwriting  arrangements  approved  by such  Persons so  determining  to enter

therein and completes and executes all questionnaires, indemnities, underwriting

agreements and other reasonable documents which must be executed under the terms

of such underwriting arrangements.



         If  requested  by the  underwriters  for any  underwritten  offering of

Registrable  Stock,  ACI will enter into an  underwriting  agreement  that shall

contain  such  representations  and  warranties  by ACI and such other terms and

provisions as are customarily contained in underwriting  agreements with respect

to secondary distributions.



         SECTION 2.2 SELECTION OF  UNDERWRITERS.  If ACI at any time proposes to

register any ACI Securities for sale for its own account and such securities are

to be distributed by or through one or more  underwriters,  the selection of the

underwriter(s),  including,  without  limitation,  the managing  underwriter(s),

shall be made by ACI.



         SECTION 2.3 HOLDBACK AGREEMENTS.  If any registration  pursuant to this

Agreement  shall be in connection  with an underwritten  public  offering,  each

Holder  agrees,  if so required by the managing  underwriter,  not to effect any

public sale or  distribution  of  Registrable  Stock (other than as part of such

underwritten public offering) within 30 days prior to the effective date of such

Registration   Statement  or  18  months  after  the  effective   date  of  such

Registration Statement.





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                                    ARTICLE 3



                           DEFINITION AND CONSTRUCTION



         SECTION 3.1       DEFINITION OF CERTAIN TERMS.



         Except as otherwise  expressly provided or unless the context otherwise

requires,  the terms defined in this Section , whenever used in this  Agreement,

shall have the  respective  meanings  assigned  to them in this  Section for all

purposes of this Agreement, and include the plural as well as the singular.



         As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings:



         ACI:  as defined in the first paragraph of this agreement.



         ACI SECURITIES:  securities issued by ACI.



         AGREEMENT: this instrument as originally executed, or as it may be from

         time to time  supplemented  or  amended by one or more  supplements  or

         amendments hereto entered pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof.



         COMMISSION:  the United States  Securities and Exchange  Commission and

         any successor federal agency having similar powers.



         COMMON STOCK:  as defined in the Recitals to this Agreement.



         EXPIRATION  DATE:  the earlier of (i) eight years from the date hereof,

         or (ii) the  earliest  date on which  any  Holder  may sell  shares  of

         Registrable  Stock  under  Section  (k) of Rule  144 (or any  successor

         provision).



         GOVERNMENTAL  AUTHORITY:  the United  States of  America,  any state or

         other  political   subdivision   thereof  and  any  entity   exercising

         executive,   legislative,   judicial,   regulatory  or   administrative

         functions of or pertaining to government within any such jurisdiction.



         HOLDER:  as defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement.



         HOLDER REQUEST:  as defined in Section 1.1.1.



         OPTION AGREEMENT:  as defined in the Recitals to this Agreement.



         OTHER SHARES:  as defined in Section 1.6.



         OTHER STOCKHOLDERS:  as defined in Section 1.6.





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         PERSON: any individual,  corporation (including a business trust) joint

         stock company,  partnership,  joint  venture,  trust,  estate,  limited

         liability   company,    unincorporated   association,    unincorporated

         organization, Governmental Authority or any other entity.



         REGISTER, REGISTERED AND REGISTRATION: refer to a registration effected

         by filing a  Registration  Statement in compliance  with the Securities

         Act,  and  the  declaration  or  ordering  by  the  Commission  of  the

         effectiveness of such Registration Statement.



         REGISTRABLE  STOCK: the Shares held by the Holder from time to time and

         all shares of Common Stock issued by ACI in respect of such Shares.



         REGISTRATION   EXPENSES:   all  expenses   incurred  in  effecting  any

         registration pursuant to this Agreement, including, without limitation,

         all registration,  qualification,  and filing fees,  printing expenses,

         escrow fees, fees and  disbursements  of counsel for ACI, blue sky fees

         and expenses, and expenses of any regular or special audits incident to

         or required  by any such  registration,  but shall not include  Selling

         Expenses,  fees and  disbursements  of  counsel  for the Holder and the

         compensation  of regular  employees of ACI,  which shall be paid in any

         event by ACI.



         REGISTRATION   STATEMENT:  a  registration  statement  prepared  on  an

         appropriate form promulgated under the Securities Act.



         RULE 144: Rule 144 (or any successor  provision)  under the  Securities

         Act.



         RULE 145: Rule 145 (or any successor  provision)  under the  Securities

         Act.



         SECURITIES ACT:  the Securities Act of 1933.



         SELLING EXPENSES: all underwriting  discounts,  selling commissions and

         stock  transfer taxes  applicable to the sale of Registrable  Stock and

         fees and  disbursements  of counsel for any Holder (other than the fees

         and disbursements of counsel included in Registration Expenses).



         SHARES:  as defined in the Recitals to this Agreement.



         SECTION 3.2  RULES OF CONSTRUCTION



                  (a) "This  Agreement"  means  this  instrument  as  originally

         executed or as it may be from time to time  supplemented  or amended by

         one or more  supplements or amendments  hereto entered  pursuant to the

         applicable provisions hereof;



                  (b) "includes" and "including" are not limiting,  and, in each

         case,  shall  be  construed  as  if  followed  by  the  words  "without

         limitation," "but not limited to" or words of similar import;



                                      -10-


                  (c) "may not" is prohibitive, and not permissive;



                  (d) "shall" is mandatory, and not permissive;



                  (e) "or" is not exclusive  [i.e.,  if a party "may do (a), (b)

         or (c)," then the party may do all of,  any one of, or any  combination

         of, (a), (b) or (c)] unless the context expressly provides otherwise;



                  (f) all references in this instrument to designated  Articles,

         Sections,  Exhibits,  and  Schedules  are to the  designated  Articles,

         Sections,  Exhibits,  and  Schedules of this  instrument  as originally

         executed;



                  (g)  all  references   herein  to   constitutions,   treaties,

         statutes, laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, codes or orders include

         any successor  thereto or replacement  thereof,  include any amendment,

         modification or supplements  thereof or thereto from time to time, and,

         include all rules and  regulations  promulgated  thereunder or pursuant

         thereto;



                  (h) the words "herein," "hereof," "hereto" and "hereunder" and

         other words of similar  import  refer to this  Agreement as a whole and

         not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision; and



                  (i) all terms used herein which are defined in the  Securities

         Act,  the  Exchange  Act  or  the  rules  and  regulations  promulgated

         thereunder have the meanings  assigned to them therein unless otherwise

         defined herein.



                                    ARTICLE 4



                               GENERAL PROVISIONS



         SECTION 4.1 SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement, including

any  phrase,   sentence,   clause,  Section  or  subsection  is  inoperative  or

unenforceable for any reason,  such  circumstances  shall not have the effect of

rendering the provision in question  inoperative or  unenforceable  in any other

case or circumstance,  or of rendering any other provision or provisions  herein

contained invalid, inoperative, or unenforceable to any extent whatsoever.



         SECTION 4.2 NOTICES. All notices, requests,  demands, waivers and other

communications  required or permitted to be given under this Agreement  shall be

in  writing  and  shall be  deemed  to have  been  duly  given if (a)  delivered

personally,  (b) mailed by  first-class,  registered or certified  mail,  return

receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (c) sent by next-day or overnight mail or

delivery or (d) sent by telecopy or telegram.





                                      -11-


                  (a) if to ACI, to,



                           Avery Communications, Inc.

                           190 S. LaSalle Street

                           Suite 1410

                           Chicago, Illinois   60603

                           Attention:  Patrick J. Haynes, III



                  (b) if to the Holder,  to its address  listed on the signature

         page,



or, in each case,  at such other  address as may be  specified in writing to the

other parties hereto.



         All such notices,  requests,  demands, waivers and other communications

shall be deemed to have been  received  (w) if by  personal  delivery on the day

after such  delivery,  (x) if by certified or  registered  mail,  on the seventh

business day after the mailing thereof,  (y) if by next-day or overnight mail or

delivery, on the day delivered,  (z) if by telecopy or telegram, on the next day

following the day on which such  telecopy or telegram was sent,  provided that a

copy is also sent by certified or registered mail.



         SECTION 4.3 HEADINGS.  The headings contained in this Agreement are for

purposes of convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or  interpretation

of this Agreement.



         SECTION 4.4 ENTIRE  AGREEMENT.  This Agreement  constitutes  the entire

agreement and supersede all prior  agreements and  understandings,  both written

and oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.



         SECTION 4.5  COUNTERPARTS.  This  Agreement  may be executed in several

counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed an original  and all of which shall

together constitute one and the same instrument.



         SECTION 4.6  GOVERNING  LAW.  This  Agreement  shall be governed in all

respects,  including as to validity,  interpretation and effect, by the internal

laws of the State of Texas,  without giving effect to the conflict of laws rules

thereof.



         SECTION 4.7 BINDING  EFFECT.  This Agreement  shall be binding upon and

inure  to  the  benefit  of the  parties  hereto  and  their  respective  heirs,

successors and permitted assigns.



         SECTION 4.8  ASSIGNMENT.  This  Agreement  shall not be  assignable  or

otherwise  transferable by any party hereto without the prior written consent of

the other parties hereto.



         SECTION 4.9 NO THIRD  PARTY  BENEFICIARIES.  Nothing in this  Agreement

shall confer any rights upon any person or entity other than the parties  hereto

and their respective heirs, successors and permitted assigns.





                                      -12-


         SECTION 4.10  AMENDMENT;  WAIVERS,  ETC. No amendment,  modification or

discharge of this Agreement, and no waiver hereunder,  shall be valid or binding

unless  set  forth in  writing  and duly  executed  by the  party  against  whom

enforcement of the amendment,  modification,  discharge or waiver is sought. Any

such waiver shall  constitute a waiver only with respect to the specific  matter

described  in such  writing  and shall in no way  impair the rights of the party

granting  such  waiver in any other  respect or at any other  time.  Neither the

waiver by any of the parties hereto of a breach of or a default under any of the

provisions of this Agreement,  nor the failure by any of the parties,  on one or

more  occasions,  to  enforce  any of the  provisions  of this  Agreement  or to

exercise any right or privilege hereunder, shall be construed as a waiver of any

other  breach  or  default  of a similar  nature,  or as a waiver of any of such

provisions,  rights or  privileges  hereunder.  The rights and  remedies  herein

provided are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that any

party may  otherwise  have at law or in equity.  The rights and  remedies of any

party based upon,  arising out of or otherwise in respect of any  inaccuracy  or

breach of any  representation,  warranty,  covenant or  agreement  or failure to

fulfill  any  condition  shall in no way be  limited  by the fact  that the act,

omission,  occurrence  or other  state of facts upon which any claim of any such

inaccuracy  or  breach  is based  may also be the  subject  matter  of any other

representation,  warranty,  covenant  or  agreement  as  to  which  there  is no

inaccuracy or breach.



                   [BALANCE OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]





                                      -13-


                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                                 SIGNATURE PAGE



         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as of

the date first above written.



                                    AVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC.





                                    By:________________________________

                                         Thomas M. Lyons

                                         President





                                    HOLDER





                                    ___________________________________

                                    Thomas A. Montgomery


                                     -14-