EXHIBIT 1

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                                                     PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL


                             AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER



                                        Among



                           INTERMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS INC.,



                             MOONLIGHT ACQUISITION CORP.



                                         and



                          SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD INC.



                               Dated November 20, 1997

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                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                            PAGE

I.  THE OFFER...............................................................1
       I.1.   The Offer.....................................................1
       I.2.   Company Action................................................2
       I.3.   Voting of Shares Acquired by Purchaser........................4
II. THE MERGER..............................................................4
       II.1.  Merger; Surviving Corporation.................................4
       II.2.  Certificate of Incorporation..................................4
       II.3.  Bylaws........................................................5
       II.4.  Directors and Officers........................................5
       II.5.  Effective Time................................................5
       II.6.  Conversion of Shares..........................................5
       II.7.  Purchaser Common Stock........................................7
       II.8.  Surrender of Shares...........................................7
       II.9.  Company Stock Options and Warrants............................9
       II.10. Good Faith Deposit............................................9
       II.11. Termination of the Pledge Agreement...........................9
III.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF 
         COMPANY............................................................9
       III.1. Organization and Qualification................................9
       III.2. Capital Stock of Subsidiaries................................10
       III.3. Capitalization...............................................10
       III.4. Authority Relative to this Agreement.........................11
       III.5. No Violations, Etc...........................................12
       III.6. Commission Filings; Financial Statements.....................13
       III.7. Absence of Changes or Events.................................13
       III.8. Proxy Statement..............................................14
       III.9. Litigation...................................................14
       III.10.Title to and Condition of Properties.........................14
       III.11.Contracts and Commitments....................................15
       III.12.Labor Matters................................................15
       III.13.Compliance with Law..........................................15
       III.14.Board Recommendation.........................................16
       III.15.Patents and Trademarks.......................................16
       III.16.Taxes........................................................16
       III.17.Employee Benefit Plans; Erisa................................17
       III.18.Environmental Matters........................................21
       III.19.Disclosure...................................................22
       III.20.Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities...........................22
       III.21.Finders or Brokers...........................................22
       III.22.State Antitakeover Statutes..................................22
       III.23.Opinion of Financial Advisor.................................23
       III.24.Insurance....................................................23
       III.25.Employment and Labor Contracts...............................23
       III.26.Pending Transactions.........................................23
       III.27.Indemnification Agreements...................................23
       III.28.Indemnified Liabilities......................................24
       III.29.Commercial Arrangements with Tel-save Holdings, Inc..........24

                                         -i-


                                                                            PAGE

IV.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND
         PURCHASER.........................................................24
       IV.1.  Organization and Qualification...............................24
       IV.2.  Authority Relative to this Agreement.........................25
       IV.3.  No Violations, Etc.  ........................................25
       IV.4.  Proxy Statement..............................................26
       IV.5.  Finders or Brokers...........................................26
       IV.6.  Offer Documents..............................................27
V.     COVENANTS...........................................................27
       V.1.   Conduct of Business of Company Pending the Merger............27
       V.2.   Preparation of the Proxy Statement; Stockholders Meetings....30
       V.3.   Additional Agreements; Cooperation...........................31
       V.4.   Publicity....................................................32
       V.5.   No Solicitation..............................................32
       V.6.   Access to Information........................................34
       V.7.   Notification of Certain Matters..............................34
       V.8.   Resignation of Directors.....................................35
       V.9.   Indemnification..............................................35
       V.10.  Fees and Expenses............................................36
       V.11.  Stockholder Litigation.......................................36
VI.    CONDITIONS..........................................................36
       VI.1.  Conditions to the Merger.....................................36
       VI.2.  Conditions to Obligations of Parent..........................37
       VI.3.  Conditions to Obligations of Company.........................37
VII.   TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND
         WAIVER............................................................38
       VII.1. Termination..................................................38
       ViI.2. Effect of Termination........................................39
       VII.3. Termination Payment.  .......................................39
       VII.4  Proceeds of the Good Faith Deposit...........................40
       VII.5  Amendment....................................................40
       VII.6  Waiver.......................................................41
VIII.  GENERAL
         PROVISIONS........................................................41
       VIII.1.Definitions..................................................41
       VIII.2.Non-survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements...44
       VIII.3.Notices......................................................44
       VIII.4.Severability.................................................45
       VIII.5.Miscellaneous................................................46
       VIII.6.Specific Performance.........................................46
       VIII.7.Waiver of Jury Trial.........................................46


                                         -ii-



                             AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                    AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (the "AGREEMENT") being made 
and entered into as of this 20th day of November, 1997 by and among 
INTERMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS INC., a Delaware corporation ("PARENT"), MOONLIGHT 
ACQUISITION CORP., a Delaware corporation which is wholly owned by Parent 
("PURCHASER"), and SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD INC., a Delaware corporation 
("COMPANY").

                    WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of Parent, Purchaser and 
Company have each determined that it is in the best interests of their 
respective stockholders for Parent to acquire Company upon the terms and 
subject to the conditions set forth herein; and

                    WHEREAS, in furtherance of such acquisition, it is 
proposed that Purchaser shall make a cash tender offer (the "OFFER") to 
acquire 4,000,000 of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, par 
value $.004 per share, of Company ("COMPANY COMMON STOCK") (shares of Company 
Common Stock being hereinafter collectively referred to as "SHARES") for 
$15.00 per Share (such amount being hereinafter referred to as the "PER SHARE 
OFFER AMOUNT") net to the seller in cash, upon the terms and subject to the 
conditions of this Agreement and the Offer; and

                    WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Company (the "BOARD") 
has unanimously approved the making of the Offer and resolved and agreed to 
recommend that holders of Shares tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer; 
and

                    WHEREAS, also in furtherance of such acquisition, the 
Boards of Directors of Parent, Purchaser and Company have each approved the 
merger (the "MERGER") of Purchaser with and into Company in accordance with 
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "GCL") and upon the 
terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

                    NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                     I. THE OFFER

                    I.1. THE OFFER.  (a)  Provided that this Agreement shall 
not have been terminated in accordance with Section 7.1 and none of the 
events set forth in Annex A hereto shall have occurred or be existing, 
Purchaser shall commence the Offer as promptly as reasonably practicable 
after the date hereof, but in no event later than five business days after 
the initial public announcement of Purchaser's intention to commence the 
Offer.  The Offer shall, unless extended as provided below, expire 20 
business days after the commencement of the Offer.  The 



obligation of Purchaser to accept for payment and pay for Shares tendered 
pursuant to the Offer shall be subject to the satisfaction of the conditions 
set forth in Annex A hereto.  The number of Shares that Purchaser will accept 
in the Offer shall be 4,000,000 Shares.  Purchaser expressly reserves the 
right to waive any such condition, to increase the price per Share payable in 
the Offer, to increase the maximum number of Shares to be purchased in the 
Offer and to make any other changes in the terms and conditions of the Offer; 
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, without the consent of Company, no change may be 
made which decreases the price per Share payable in the Offer, which reduces 
the maximum number of Shares to be purchased in the Offer or which imposes 
conditions to the Offer in addition to those set forth in Annex A hereto or 
modifies such conditions, or which changes the form of consideration payable 
in the Offer.  The Per Share Offer Amount shall, subject to applicable 
withholding of taxes, be net to the seller in cash, upon the terms and 
subject to the conditions of the Offer.  Subject to the terms and conditions 
of the Offer, Purchaser shall pay, as promptly as practicable after 
expiration of the Offer, for all Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn.  
The Offer may not be extended for more than 20 days beyond its original 
scheduled expiration date unless any of the conditions to the Offer shall not 
have been satisfied, in which case the Offer shall remain open until such 
time as all of the conditions to the Offer have been satisfied; PROVIDED, 
HOWEVER, in no event will Purchaser be required to extend the Offer beyond 
February 28, 1998.

                    (b)  As soon as reasonably practicable on the date of 
commencement of the Offer, Purchaser shall file with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule 14D-1 
(together with all amendments and supplements thereto, the "SCHEDULE 14D-1") 
with respect to the Offer.  The Schedule 14D-1 shall contain or shall 
incorporate by reference an offer to purchase (the "OFFER TO PURCHASE") and 
forms of the related letter of transmittal and any related summary 
advertisement (the Schedule 14D-1, the Offer to Purchase and such other 
documents, together with all supplements and amendments thereto, being 
referred to herein collectively as the "OFFER DOCUMENTS").  Company and its 
counsel shall be given an opportunity to review the Offer Documents prior to 
their filing with the SEC.  Parent, Purchaser and Company agree to correct 
promptly any information provided by any of them for use in the Offer 
Documents which shall have become false or misleading, and Parent and 
Purchaser further agree to take all steps necessary to cause the Schedule 
14D-1 as so corrected to be filed with the SEC and the other Offer Documents 
as so corrected to be disseminated to holders of Shares, in each case as and 
to the extent required by applicable federal securities laws.

                                         -2-


                    I.2. COMPANY ACTION.  (a)  Company hereby approves of and 
consents to the Offer and represents that (i) the Board, at a meeting duly 
called and held on November 20, 1997, has unanimously (A) determined that 
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including each of 
the Offer and the Merger, are fair to and in the best interests of the 
holders of Shares, (B) approved and adopted this Agreement and the 
transactions contemplated hereby and (C) recommended that the stockholders of 
Company accept the Offer and approve and adopt this Agreement and the 
transactions contemplated hereby, and (ii) Credit Suisse First Boston 
Corporation ("FIRST BOSTON") has rendered to the Board its opinion that the 
consideration to be received by the holders of Shares pursuant to each of the 
Offer and the Merger is fair to the holders of Shares from a financial point 
of view, subject to the assumptions and qualifications contained in such 
opinion, and which shall be confirmed promptly in writing.  Company hereby 
consents to the inclusion in the Offer Documents of the recommendation of the 
Board described in the immediately preceding sentence.  Assuming that neither 
Parent nor Purchaser are Interested Stockholders (as such term is defined in 
Section 203 of the GCL) immediately prior to the Board taking the action 
described in this Section 1.2, the approval set forth in clause (a)(i) shall, 
among other things, satisfy the restrictions on business combinations 
contained in Section 203 of the GCL with respect to the transactions 
contemplated hereby.  Company has been advised by each of its directors and 
executive officers that they intend to vote all Shares beneficially owned by 
them in favor of the approval and adoption by the stockholders of Company of 
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

                    (b)  As soon as reasonably practicable on or after the 
date of commencement of the Offer, Company shall file with the SEC a 
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (together with all 
amendments and supplements thereto, the "SCHEDULE 14D-9") containing the 
recommendation of the Board described in Section 1.2(a) and shall disseminate 
the Schedule 14D-9 to the extent required by Rule 14d-9 promulgated under the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT"), and any 
other applicable federal securities laws.  Company, Parent and Purchaser 
agree to correct promptly any information provided by any of them for use in 
the Schedule 14D-9 which shall have become false or misleading, and Company 
further agrees to take all steps reasonably necessary to cause the Schedule 
14D-9 as so corrected to be filed with the SEC and disseminated to holders of 
Shares, in each case as and to the extent required by applicable federal 
securities laws.

                    (c)  Company shall promptly furnish Purchaser with 
mailing labels containing the names and addresses of all record holders of 
Shares and with security position listings of Shares held in stock 
depositories, each as of a recent date, together 

                                         -3-


with all other available listings and computer files containing names, 
addresses and security position listings of record holders and beneficial 
owners of Shares.  Company shall furnish Purchaser with such additional 
information, including, without limitation, updated listings and computer 
files of stockholders, mailing labels and security position listings, and 
such other assistance as Parent, Purchaser or their agents may reasonably 
request.  Subject to the requirements of applicable law, and except for such 
steps as are necessary to disseminate the Offer Documents and any other 
documents necessary to consummate the Offer or the Merger, Parent and 
Purchaser shall hold in confidence the information contained in such labels, 
listings and files, shall use such information only in connection with the 
Offer and the Merger, and, if this Agreement shall be terminated in 
accordance with Section 7.1, shall deliver to Company all copies of such 
information then in their or their agents' possession.

                    I.3. VOTING OF SHARES ACQUIRED BY PURCHASER.  During the 
period beginning on the date on which the Offer is consummated and ending on 
the later of (a) the date on which this Agreement is terminated, and (b) the 
date on which Purchaser receives any regulatory approvals necessary to 
consummate the Merger (as more fully described in Section 6.2(c)), Purchaser 
hereby agrees to exercise its voting rights in respect of any Shares it owns 
for the election of directors to the Board in the same proportion as the 
voting rights of any Shares not owned by Purchaser have been exercised.

                                    II. THE MERGER

                    II.1.     MERGER; SURVIVING CORPORATION.  In accordance 
with the provisions of this Agreement and the GCL, at the Effective Time (as 
such term is defined in Section 2.5; other capitalized terms used herein 
without definition are defined in Section 8.1), Purchaser shall be merged 
with and into Company, and Company shall be the surviving corporation 
(hereinafter sometimes called the "SURVIVING CORPORATION") and shall continue 
its corporate existence under the laws of the State of Delaware.  At the 
Effective Time the separate corporate existence of Purchaser shall cease.  
All properties, franchises and rights belonging to Company and Purchaser, by 
virtue of the Merger and without further act or deed, shall be deemed to be 
vested in the Surviving Corporation, which shall thenceforth be responsible 
for all the liabilities and obligations of each of Purchaser and Company.

                    II.2.     CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION.  At the Effective 
Time, the Certificate of Incorporation of Company shall be the Certificate of 
Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, at the 
Effective Time, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation 
shall be amended 

                                         -4-


in its entirety so that it will read as Purchaser's Certificate of 
Incorporation, except that the name of the Surviving Corporation shall be 
"SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD INC.".  As so amended, the Certificate of 
Incorporation of Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time 
shall thereafter continue in full force and effect as the Certificate of 
Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until further altered or amended 
as provided therein or by law.

                    II.3.     BYLAWS.  The Bylaws of Purchaser in effect 
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving 
Corporation until altered, amended or repealed as provided therein and in the 
Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation.

                    II.4.     DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.  The Directors of 
Purchaser prior to the Effective Time shall be the directors of the Surviving 
Corporation.  The officers of Company immediately prior to the Effective Time 
shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation. Each of such directors 
and officers shall hold office in accordance with the Certificate of 
Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.

                    II.5.     EFFECTIVE TIME.  The Merger shall become 
effective at the time of filing of a certificate of merger with the Secretary 
of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the provisions of 
Sections 251 or 253, as the case may be, of the GCL (the "CERTIFICATE OF 
MERGER"), or at a later time specified as the effective time in the 
Certificate of Merger, which Certificate of Merger shall be so filed as soon 
as practicable after the meeting of stockholders contemplated in Section 5.2 
and the satisfaction or, if permissible, waiver of the conditions set forth 
in Article VI.  The date and time when the Merger shall become effective are 
referred to herein as the "EFFECTIVE TIME."  Contemporaneously with such 
filing, a closing shall be held at the offices of Kronish, Lieb, Weiner & 
Hellman LLP, 1114 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036, or such 
other place as shall be agreed to by the parties, for the purpose of 
confirming the satisfaction or waiver, as the case may be, of the conditions 
set forth in Article VI.

                    II.6.     CONVERSION OF SHARES.  (a)  Each issued and 
outstanding share of Company Common Stock immediately prior to the Effective 
Time (other than shares of Company Common Stock to be cancelled as set forth 
in Section 2.6(b) and 2.6(c)) shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any 
action on the part of the holder thereof, be converted into, exchanged for 
and represent the right to receive an amount equal to $15.00 per Share (the 
"PER SHARE AMOUNT") in cash (the "SHARES CONSIDERATION"), payable, without 
interest, to the holder of such Share, upon surrender, in the manner 
described below, of the certificate that formerly evidenced such Share.

                                         -5-


                    (b)  Each Share and Preferred Share (as defined below) 
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time which is then 
owned beneficially or of record by Parent or any Subsidiary of Parent shall, 
by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder 
thereof, be cancelled and retired and cease to exist, without any conversion 
thereof.

                    (c)  Each Share and Preferred Share (as defined below) 
held in Company's treasury immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, by 
virtue of the Merger, be cancelled and retired and cease to exist, without 
any conversion thereof.

                    (d)  Each issued and outstanding share of Series D 
Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "SERIES D STOCK"), Series I 6% 
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the 
"CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK"), and Series J Special Preferred Stock, par 
value $.01 per share (the "SPECIAL PREFERRED STOCK"), of Company (all such 
shares of Preferred Stock being hereafter collectively referred to as the 
"PREFERRED SHARES") immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than the 
Preferred Shares to be cancelled as set forth in Section 2.6(b) and 2.6(c)) 
shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the 
holder thereof, be converted into, exchanged for and represent the right to 
receive an amount equal to $15.00 per share of the Series D Stock, $251.21 
per share of the Convertible Preferred Stock and $109.44 per share of the 
Special Preferred Stock (all such amounts collectively, the "PREFERRED PER 
SHARE AMOUNT") in cash (the "PREFERRED SHARES CONSIDERATION"; the Shares 
Consideration and the Preferred Shares Consideration collectively, the 
"MERGER CONSIDERATION"), payable, without interest, to the holder of such 
Preferred Share, upon surrender in the manner described above of the 
certificate that formerly evidenced such Preferred Share.

                    (e)  Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.6 to the 
contrary, Shares which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the 
Effective Time and which are held by any stockholder of Company who has not 
voted such shares in favor of the Merger and who shall have properly 
exercised its rights of appraisal for such shares in the manner provided by 
the GCL (the "DISSENTING SHARES") shall not be converted into or be 
exchangeable for the right to receive the Merger Consideration, unless and 
until such holder shall have failed to perfect or shall have effectively 
withdrawn or lost his right to appraisal and payment, as the case may be.  If 
such holder shall have so failed to perfect or shall have effectively 
withdrawn or lost such right, his shares shall thereupon be deemed to have 
been converted into and to have become exchangeable for, at the Effective 
Time, the right to receive the Merger Consideration, without any interest 
thereon.  Company shall give Parent prompt 

                                         -6-


notice of any Dissenting Shares (and shall also give Parent prompt notice of 
any withdrawals of such demands for appraisal rights) and Parent shall have 
the right to direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to any such 
demands.  Neither Company nor the Surviving Corporation shall, except with 
the prior written consent of Parent, voluntarily make any payment with 
respect to, or settle or offer to settle, any such demand for appraisal 
rights. Stockholders of Company who shall have perfected their right of 
appraisal and not withdrawn or otherwise lost such right of appraisal, shall 
be entitled to receive payment of the appraised value of the shares of 
Company Common Stock held by them in accordance with the provisions of 
Section 262 of the GCL.

                    II.7.     PURCHASER COMMON STOCK.  Each share of common 
stock of Purchaser issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective 
Time shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of 
Purchaser or the holder thereof, be converted into and become one fully paid 
and nonassessable share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation.  From 
and after the Effective Time, each outstanding certificate theretofore 
representing shares of Purchaser common stock shall be deemed for all 
purposes to evidence ownership of and to represent the number of shares of 
Surviving Corporation common stock into which such shares of Purchaser common 
stock shall have been converted.  Promptly after the Effective Time, the 
Surviving Corporation shall issue to Parent a stock certificate or 
certificates representing 100 shares of Surviving Corporation common stock in 
exchange for the certificate or certificates that formerly represented shares 
of Purchaser common stock, which shall be surrendered by Parent and cancelled.

                    II.8.     SURRENDER OF SHARES.  (a)  Prior to the 
Effective Time, Parent shall make available, by transferring to the Exchange 
Agent for the benefit of the stockholders of Company, such amount of cash as 
shall be payable in exchange for outstanding Shares or Preferred Shares 
pursuant to Section 2.6 hereof.  Such funds shall be invested by the Exchange 
Agent as directed by Parent, PROVIDED that such investments shall be in 
obligations of or guaranteed by the United States of America or of any agency 
thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of 
America, or in deposit accounts, certificates of deposit or banker's 
acceptances of, repurchase or reverse repurchase agreements with, or 
Eurodollar time deposits purchased from, commercial banks with capital, 
surplus and undivided profits aggregating in excess of $50 million (based on 
the most recent financial statements of such bank which are then publicly 
available at the SEC or otherwise).

                    (b)  As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, the 
Exchange Agent shall mail to each holder of record (other than to holders of 
Shares or Preferred Shares to be cancelled 

                                         -7-


as set forth in Section 2.6(b) or 2.6(c) or Dissenting Shares) of a 
certificate or certificates that immediately prior to the Effective Time 
represented outstanding Shares or Preferred Shares (the "CERTIFICATES") (I) a 
form letter of transmittal (which shall be in customary form and shall 
specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the 
Certificates shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates to the 
Exchange Agent) and (II) instructions for effecting the surrender of the 
Certificates in exchange for the Merger Consideration.

                    (c)  Upon surrender of a Certificate for cancellation to 
the Exchange Agent, together with such letter of transmittal, duly executed, 
and such other agreements as the Exchange Agent shall reasonably request, the 
holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor 
the Merger Consideration, and the Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith 
be cancelled. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 2.8, each 
Certificate shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent 
only the right to receive the Merger Consideration with respect to the Shares 
or Preferred Shares formerly represented thereby.  No interest shall accrue 
or be paid on the Merger Consideration payable upon the surrender of any 
Certificate.

                    (d)  Any amounts of cash delivered or made available to 
the Exchange Agent pursuant to this Section 2.8 and not exchanged for 
Certificates within six months after the Effective Time pursuant to this 
Section 2.8 shall be returned by the Exchange Agent to Parent, which 
thereafter shall act as Exchange Agent subject to the rights of holders of 
unsurrendered Certificates under this Article II.  Thereafter such holders 
shall be entitled to look to the Surviving Corporation (subject to abandoned 
property, escheat and other similar laws) only as general creditors thereof 
with respect to any Merger Consideration that may be payable upon due 
surrender of the Certificates held by them.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, 
neither the Surviving Corporation nor the Exchange Agent shall be liable to 
any holder of Shares or Preferred Shares for any Merger Consideration 
delivered in respect of such Share or Preferred Share to a public official 
pursuant to any abandoned property, escheat or other similar law.

                    (e)  If any payment of the Merger Consideration is to be 
made to a person other than that in which the Certificate surrendered is 
registered, it shall be a condition of payment that the Certificate so 
surrendered shall be properly endorsed or otherwise in proper form for 
transfer and that the person requesting such payment shall pay any transfer 
or other taxes required by reason of the payment to a person other than the 
registered holder of the Certificate surrendered or establish 

                                         -8-


to the satisfaction of the Surviving Corporation that such tax has been paid 
or is not applicable.

                    (f)  After the Effective Time, there shall be no further 
registration of transfers on the stock transfer books of the Surviving 
Corporation of the Shares or Preferred Shares which were outstanding 
immediately prior to the Effective Time.  If, after the Effective Time, 
Certificates representing such shares are presented to the Surviving 
Corporation, they shall be cancelled and exchanged for the Merger 
Consideration as provided in this Article II.

                    II.9.     COMPANY STOCK OPTIONS AND WARRANTS.  Prior to 
the Effective Time, Company shall take all actions necessary (and Parent and 
Purchaser consent to the taking of such actions) so that all options and 
warrants outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time under any option 
plan or warrant including, without limitation, the 1994 Director's Option 
Plan (with respect to which the term of office of each director shall be 
deemed to have been terminated on May 1, 1998), the 1996 Equity Incentive 
Plan and Shared Technologies, Inc.'s 1987 Stock Option Plan (all such 
warrants and options collectively, the "COMPANY STOCK OPTION PLANS") shall be 
cancelled and terminated at the Effective Time and that each holder of such 
options and warrants shall receive in the Merger a cash payment equal to the 
difference between (A) the Per Share Amount times the number of Shares 
subject to such outstanding options or warrants (to the extent then 
exercisable at prices not in excess of the Per Share Amount) and (B) the 
aggregate exercise price of all such outstanding options and warrants.  From 
and after the date hereof, no additional options or warrants shall be granted 
under the Company Stock Option Plans.

                    II.10.    GOOD FAITH DEPOSIT.  Concurrently with the 
execution and delivery of this Agreement, Purchaser shall pay to Company 
$26,250,000 (the "GOOD FAITH DEPOSIT").  The proceeds of the Good Faith 
Deposit shall be disbursed in accordance with Section 7.4.

                    II.11.    TERMINATION OF THE PLEDGE AGREEMENT.  If the 
Merger is consummated, then Parent and Purchaser shall terminate the Pledge 
Agreement, and the Pledge Agent shall return to RHI any collateral which has 
been pledged pursuant to the Pledge Agreement.

                    III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY

                    Company hereby makes the following representations and 
warranties to Parent and Purchaser, which representations and warranties 
(except for those contained in Sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.10, 3.14, 3.21, 
3.22, 3.23 and 3.29) shall be deemed to have been made on July 16, 1997:

                                         -9-


                    III.1.    ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION.  Each of 
Company and its subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly 
existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its 
incorporation and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, 
lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being 
conducted.  Each of Company and its subsidiaries is duly qualified as a 
foreign corporation to do business, and is in good standing, in each 
jurisdiction where the character of its properties owned or leased or the 
nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except for 
failures to be so qualified or in good standing which would not, individually 
or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the general affairs, 
management, business, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or 
prospects of Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a "COMPANY 
MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT").  Section 3.1 of the Disclosure Statement sets 
forth, with respect to Company and each of its subsidiaries, the 
jurisdictions in which they are qualified or otherwise licensed as a foreign 
corporation to do business.  Neither Company nor any of its subsidiaries is 
in violation of any of the provisions of its Certificate of Incorporation (or 
other applicable charter document) or Bylaws.  Company has delivered to 
Parent accurate and complete copies of the Certificate of Incorporation (or 
other applicable charter document) and Bylaws, as currently in effect, of 
each of Company and its subsidiaries.

                    III.2.    CAPITAL STOCK OF SUBSIDIARIES.  The only direct 
or indirect subsidiaries of Company are those listed in Section 3.2 of the 
Disclosure Statement previously delivered by Company to Parent (the 
"DISCLOSURE STATEMENT").  Company is directly or indirectly the record 
(except for directors' qualifying shares) and beneficial owner (including all 
qualifying shares owned by directors of such subsidiaries as reflected in 
Section 3.2 of the Disclosure Statement) of all the outstanding shares of 
capital stock of each of its subsidiaries, there are no proxies with respect 
to such shares, and no equity securities of any of such subsidiaries are or 
may be required to be issued by reason of any options, warrants, scrip, 
rights to subscribe for, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever 
relating to, or securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for, 
shares of any capital stock of any such subsidiary, and there are no 
contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which any such 
subsidiary is bound to issue additional shares of its capital stock or 
securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares.  Other than as 
set forth in Section 3.2 of the Disclosure Statement, all of such shares so 
owned by Company are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and are 
owned by it free and clear of any claim, lien or encumbrance of any kind with 
respect thereto.  Except as disclosed in Section 3.2 of the Disclosure 
Statement, Company does not directly or indirectly own any interest in any 

                                         -10-


corporation, partnership, joint venture or other business association or entity.

                    III.3.    CAPITALIZATION.  The authorized capital stock 
of Company consists of 50,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock, and 
25,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $.01 par value per share, of which 
1,000,000 shares have been designated Series D Stock,  250,000 shares have 
been designated Convertible Preferred Stock, and 200,000 shares have been 
designated Special Preferred Stock.  As of the close of business on November 
20, 1997, 17,187,605 shares of Company Common Stock were issued and 
outstanding.  All of such issued and outstanding shares are validly issued, 
fully paid and nonassessable and free of preemptive rights.  As of November 
20, 1997, (x) 2,051,364 shares of Company Common Stock were reserved for 
issuance upon exercise of outstanding options and 4,244,740 shares of Company 
Common Stock were reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding 
convertible preferred securities and (y) 1,873,550 shares of Company Common 
Stock were reserved for issuance upon exercise of the warrants, all of which 
warrants, options and Company Stock Option Plans are listed and described in 
Section 3.3 of the Disclosure Statement.  Other than the Company Stock Option 
Plans and the warrants, Company has no other plan which provides for the 
grant of options or warrants to purchase shares of capital stock, stock 
appreciation or similar rights or stock awards.  Except as set forth above, 
there are not now, and at the Effective Time, except for shares of Company 
Common Stock issued after the date hereof upon the conversion of convertible 
securities and the exercise of warrants and options outstanding on the date 
hereof or pursuant to Company's 401(k) Plan, there will not be, any shares of 
capital stock of Company issued or outstanding or any subscriptions, options, 
warrants, calls, claims, rights (including without limitation any stock 
appreciation or similar rights), convertible securities or other agreements 
or commitments of any character obligating Company to issue, transfer or sell 
any of its securities.  Company has paid all dividends payable through 
November 28, 1997 in respect of each of the Series D Preferred Stock and the 
Convertible Preferred Stock.

                    III.4.    AUTHORITY RELATIVE TO THIS AGREEMENT.  Company 
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under 
the laws of Delaware.  Company has full corporate power and authority to 
execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the Merger and other 
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.  The execution and delivery of 
this Agreement and the consummation of the Merger and other transactions 
contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly and validly authorized by the 
Board of Directors of Company and no other corporate proceedings on the part 
of Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the 
Merger or other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (other than, 

                                         -11-


with respect to the Merger, the approval of Company's stockholders pursuant 
to Section 251(c) of the GCL).  This Agreement has been duly and validly 
executed and delivered by Company and, assuming the due authorization, 
execution and delivery hereof by Parent and Purchaser, constitutes a valid 
and binding agreement of Company, enforceable against Company in accordance 
with its terms, except to the extent that its enforceability may be limited 
by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other 
laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally or by general 
equitable or fiduciary principles.

                    III.5.    NO VIOLATIONS, ETC.  (a)  Assuming that all 
filings, permits, authorizations, consents and approvals or waivers thereof 
have been duly made or obtained as contemplated by Section 3.5(b) hereof, 
except as listed in Section 3.5 of the Disclosure Statement, neither the 
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Company nor the consummation of 
the Merger or other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby nor 
compliance by Company with any of the provisions hereof will (i) violate, 
conflict with, or result in a breach of any provisions of, or constitute a 
default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would 
constitute a default) under, or result in the termination or suspension of, 
or accelerate the performance required by, or result in a right of 
termination or acceleration under, or result in the creation of any lien, 
security interest, charge or encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets 
of Company or any of its subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions or 
provisions of (x) their respective charters or bylaws, (y) except as set 
forth in Section 3.5 of the Disclosure Statement, any note, bond, mortgage, 
indenture or deed of trust, or (z) any license, lease, agreement or other 
instrument or obligation to which Company or any such subsidiary is a party 
or to which they or any of their respective properties or assets may be 
subject, or (ii) subject to compliance with the statutes and regulations 
referred to in the next paragraph, violate any judgment, ruling, order, writ, 
injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to Company or any 
of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, except, 
in the case of clauses (i), (z) and (ii) above, for such violations, 
conflicts, breaches, defaults, terminations, suspensions, accelerations, 
rights of termination or acceleration or creations of liens, securities 
interests, charges or encumbrances which would not, individually or in the 
aggregate, either have a Company Material Adverse Effect or materially impair 
Company's ability to consummate the Merger or other transactions contemplated 
hereby.

                    (b)  No filing or registration with, notification to and 
no permit, authorization, consent or approval of any governmental entity 
(including, without limitation, any federal, state or local regulatory 
authority or agency) is required by 

                                         -12-


Company in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or 
the consummation by Company of the Merger or other transactions contemplated 
hereby or thereby, except (i) in connection with the applicable requirements 
of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the 
"HSR ACT"), (ii) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary 
of State of the State of Delaware, (iii) the approval of Company's 
stockholders pursuant to the GCL, (iv) filings with applicable state public 
utility commissions identified in Section 2.5 of the Disclosure Statement, 
(v) filings with the SEC and (vi) such other filings, registrations, 
notifications, permits, authorizations, consents or approvals the failure of 
which to be obtained, made or given would not, individually or in the 
aggregate, either have a Company Material Adverse Effect or materially impair 
Company's ability to consummate the Merger or other transactions contemplated 
hereby or thereby.

                    (c)  Company and its subsidiaries are not in violation of 
or default under, except as set forth in Section 3.5 of the Disclosure 
Statement, (x) any note, bond, mortgage, indenture or deed of trust, or (y) 
and license, lease, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which 
Company or any such subsidiary is a party or to which they or any of their 
respective properties or assets may be subject, except, in the case of 
clauses (x) and (y) above, for such violations or defaults which would not, 
individually or in the aggregate, either have a Company Material Adverse 
Effect or materially impair Company's ability to consummate the Merger or 
other transactions contemplated hereby.  It is understood that Company has 
certain covenants in its bank facilities which Company from time to time may 
violate and that such violations shall not be deemed a breach so long as 
Company promptly seeks, and in a reasonable period time obtains, waivers of 
such violations from the lenders under such facilities (unless such lenders 
have accelerated the indebtedness under such facilities).

                    III.6.    COMMISSION FILINGS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.  
Company has filed all forms, reports, schedules, statements and other 
documents required to be filed by it since December 31, 1994 (as supplemented 
and amended since the time of filing collectively, the "SEC REPORTS") with 
the SEC, each of which complied when filed in all material respects with all 
applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the 
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the "SECURITIES ACT") and the 
Exchange Act.  The audited consolidated financial statements and unaudited 
consolidated interim financial statements of Company and its subsidiaries 
included or incorporated by reference in such SEC Reports have been prepared 
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a 
consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in 
the notes thereto) and present fairly, in all material respects, the 
financial position and results of 

                                         -13-


operations and cash flows of Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated 
basis at the respective dates and for the respective periods indicated (and 
in the case of all such financial statements that are interim financial 
statements, contain all adjustments so to present fairly).  None of the SEC 
Reports contained at the time filed any untrue statement of a material fact 
or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or 
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the 
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

                    III.7.    ABSENCE OF CHANGES OR EVENTS.  Except as set 
forth in Section 3.7 of the Disclosure Statement and in Company's Form 10-K 
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, as filed with the SEC, since 
December 31, 1996, Company and its subsidiaries have not incurred any 
material liability, except in the ordinary course of their businesses 
consistent with their past practices, and there has not been any change, or 
any event involving a prospective change, in the business, financial 
condition or results of operations of Company or any of its subsidiaries 
which has had, or is reasonably likely to have, a Company Material Adverse 
Effect and Company and its subsidiaries have conducted their respective 
businesses in the ordinary course consistent with their past practices.

                    III.8.    PROXY STATEMENT.  None of the information 
supplied or to be supplied by or on behalf of Company for inclusion or 
incorporation by reference in the proxy statement, in definitive form, 
relating to Company Stockholder Meeting (as hereinafter defined), or in the 
related proxy and notice of meeting, or soliciting material used in 
connection therewith (referred to herein collectively as the "PROXY 
STATEMENT") will, at the dates mailed to stockholders and at the time of 
Company Stockholder Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact 
or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary 
in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under 
which they are made, not misleading.  The Proxy Statement (except for 
information relating solely to Parent and Purchaser) will comply as to form 
in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the 
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                    III.9.    LITIGATION.  Except as set forth in Section 3.9 
of the Disclosure Statement, there is no (i) claim, action, suit or 
proceeding pending or, to the best knowledge of Company or any of its 
subsidiaries, threatened against or relating to Company or any of its 
subsidiaries before any court or governmental or regulatory authority or body 
or arbitration tribunal, or (ii) outstanding judgment, order, writ, 
injunction or decree, or application, request or motion therefor, of any 
court, governmental agency or arbitration tribunal in a proceeding to 

                                         -14-


which Company, any subsidiary of Company or any of their respective assets 
was or is a party except, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, such as 
would not, individually or in the aggregate, either have a Company Material 
Adverse Effect or materially impair Company's ability to consummate the 
Merger.

                    III.10.   TITLE TO AND CONDITION OF PROPERTIES.  Except 
as set forth in Section 3.10 of the Disclosure Statement, Company and its 
subsidiaries have good title to all of the real property and own outright all 
of the personal property (except for leased property or assets) which is 
reflected on Company's and its subsidiaries' December 31, 1996 audited 
consolidated balance sheet contained in Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal 
year ended December 31, 1996 filed with the SEC except for property since 
sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business and 
consistent with past practice.

                    III.11.   CONTRACTS AND COMMITMENTS.  Other than as 
disclosed in Section 3.11 of the Disclosure Statement, no existing material 
contract or material commitment of Company or any of its subsidiaries, or as 
to which any thereof is a party or their respective assets are bound, 
contains an agreement with respect to any change of control that would be 
triggered by the Merger. Other than as set forth in Section 3.11 of the 
Disclosure Statement, neither this Agreement, the Merger nor the other 
transactions contemplated hereby will result in any outstanding loans or 
borrowings by Company or any subsidiary of Company becoming due, going into 
default or giving the lenders or other holders of debt instruments the right 
to require Company or any of its subsidiaries to repay all or a portion of 
such loans or borrowings; provided that it is expressly understood and agreed 
that Company is not making any representations or warranties with respect to 
the effect of the financial condition or results of operation of Parent and 
Purchaser.

                    III.12.   LABOR MATTERS.  Each of Company and its 
subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable 
laws respecting employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of 
employment and wages and hours, and neither Company nor any of its 
subsidiaries is engaged in any unfair labor practice.  There is no labor 
strike, slowdown or stoppage pending (or, to the best knowledge of Company, 
any labor strike or stoppage threatened) against or affecting Company or any 
of its subsidiaries.  No petition for certification has been filed and is 
pending before the National Labor Relations Board with respect to any 
employees of Company or any of its subsidiaries who are not currently 
organized.

                    III.13.   COMPLIANCE WITH LAW.  Except for matters set 
forth in Section 3.13 of the Disclosure Statement, neither Company nor any of 
its subsidiaries has violated or failed to 

                                         -15-


comply with any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule or order of any 
foreign, federal, state or local government or any other governmental 
department or agency, or any judgment, decree or order of any court, 
applicable to its business or operations, except where any such violation or 
failure to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company 
Material Adverse Effect; the conduct of the business of Company and its 
subsidiaries is in conformity with all foreign, federal, state and local 
energy, public utility and health requirements, and all other foreign, 
federal, state and local governmental and regulatory requirements, except 
where non-conformities would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a 
Company Material Adverse Effect. Company and its subsidiaries have all 
permits, licenses and franchises from governmental agencies required to 
conduct their businesses as now being conducted, except for such permits, 
licenses and franchises the absence of which would not, individually or in 
the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

                    III.14.   BOARD RECOMMENDATION.  The Board of Directors 
of Company has, by a majority vote at a meeting of such Board duly held on 
November 20, 1997, approved and adopted this Agreement, the Merger and the 
other transactions contemplated hereby, determined that the Merger is fair to 
the stockholders of Company and recommended that the stockholders of Company 
approve and adopt this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions 
contemplated hereby.

                    III.15.   PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS.  Company and its 
subsidiaries own or have the right to use all patents, patent applications, 
trademarks, trademark applications, trade names, inventions, processes, 
know-how and trade secrets necessary to the conduct of their respective 
businesses, except for those which the failure to own or have the right to 
use would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material 
Adverse Effect.

                    III.16.   TAXES.  "TAX" or "TAXES" shall mean all 
federal, state, local and foreign taxes, duties, levies, charges and 
assessments of any nature, including social security payments and deductibles 
relating to wages, salaries and benefits and payments to subcontractors (to 
the extent required under applicable Tax law), and also including all 
interest penalties and additions imposed with respect to such amounts.  
Except as set forth in Section 3.16 of the Disclosure Statement:  (i) Company 
and its subsidiaries have prepared and timely filed or will timely file with 
the appropriate governmental agencies all franchise, income and all other 
material Tax returns and reports required to be filed for any period ending 
on or before the Effective Time, taking into account any extension of time to 
file granted to or obtained on behalf of Company and/or its subsidiaries; 
(ii) all material Taxes of Company and its 

                                         -16-


subsidiaries in respect of the pre-Merger period have been paid in full to 
the proper authorities, other than such Taxes as are being contested in good 
faith by appropriate proceedings and/or are adequately reserved for in 
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (iii) all 
deficiencies resulting from Tax examinations of federal, state and foreign 
income, sales and franchise and all other material Tax returns filed by 
Company and its subsidiaries have either been paid or are being contested in 
good faith by appropriate proceedings; (iv) to the best knowledge of Company, 
no deficiency has been asserted or assessed against Company or any of its 
subsidiaries, and no examination of Company or any of its subsidiaries is 
pending or threatened for any material amount of Tax by any taxing authority; 
(v) no extension of the period for assessment or collection of any material 
Tax is currently in effect and no extension of time within which to file any 
material Tax return has been requested, which Tax return has not since been 
filed; (vi) no material Tax liens have been filed with respect to any Taxes; 
(vii) Company and each of its subsidiaries will not make any voluntary 
adjustment by reason of a change in their accounting methods for any 
pre-Merger period that would affect the taxable income or deductions of 
Company or any of its subsidiaries for any period ending after the Effective 
Date; (viii) Company and its subsidiaries have made timely payments of the 
Taxes required to be deducted and withheld from the wages paid to their 
employees; and (ix) Company and its subsidiaries are not parties to any tax 
sharing or tax matters agreement other than the tax sharing agreement dated 
March 13, 1996 by and among TFC, RHI and Company.

                    III.17.   EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS; ERISA.  Except as set 
forth in Section 3.17 of the Disclosure Statement:

                    (a) There are no "employee pension benefit plans" as 
defined in Section 3(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 
1974, as amended ("ERISA"), maintained or contributed to by Company or any of 
its subsidiaries, or with respect to which Company or any of its subsidiaries 
contributes or is obligated to make payments thereunder or otherwise may have 
any liability ("PENSION BENEFITS PLANS").

                    (b)  Company has furnished Purchaser with a true and 
complete schedule of all "welfare benefit plans" (as defined in Section 3(1) 
of ERISA), maintained or contributed to by Company or any of its subsidiaries 
or with respect to which Company or any of its subsidiaries otherwise may 
have any liability ("WELFARE PLANS"), all multiemployer plans as defined in 
Section 3(37) of ERISA covering employees employed in the United States to 
which Company or any of its subsidiaries is required to make contributions or 
otherwise may have any liability, all stock bonus, stock option, restricted 
stock, stock appreciation right, stock purchase, bonus, incentive, deferred 
compensation, 

                                         -17-


severance and vacation or other employee benefit plans, programs or 
arrangements that are not Pension Benefit Plans or Welfare Plans maintained 
or contributed to by Company or a subsidiary or with respect to which Company 
or any subsidiary otherwise may have any liability ("OTHER PLANS").

                    (c)  Company and each of its subsidiaries, and each of 
the Pension Benefit Plans, Welfare Plans and Other Plans (collectively, the 
"PLANS"), are in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code 
and other applicable laws except where the failure to comply would not, 
individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

                    (d)  All contributions to, and payments from, the Plans 
which are required to have been made in accordance with the Plans and, when 
applicable, Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, have been timely 
made except where the failure to make such contributions or payments on a 
timely basis would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company 
Material Adverse Effect. All contributions required to have been made in 
accordance with Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code to any 
employee pension benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) 
maintained by Company or any ERISA Affiliate have been timely made except 
where the failure to make such contributions on a timely basis would not 
individually or in the aggregate have a Company Material Adverse Effect.  For 
purposes of this Agreement, "ERISA AFFILIATE" shall mean any person (as 
defined in Section 3(9) of ERISA) that is a member of any group of persons 
described in Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code of which Company or 
a subsidiary of Company is a member.

                    (e)  The Pension Benefit Plans intended to qualify under 
Section 401 of the Code are so qualified and have been determined by the 
Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") to be so qualified and nothing has occurred 
with respect to the operation of such Pension Benefit Plans which would cause 
the loss of such qualification or exemption or the imposition of any material 
liability, penalty or tax under ERISA or the Code.  Such plans have been or 
will be, on a timely basis, (i) amended to comply with changes to the Code 
made by the Tax Reform Act of 1986, the Unemployment Compensation Amendments 
of 1992, the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, and other applicable 
legislative, regulatory or administrative requirements; and (ii) submitted to 
the Internal Revenue Service for a determination of their tax qualification, 
as so amended; and no such amendment will adversely affect the qualification 
of such plans.

                    (f)  Each Welfare Plan that is intended to qualify for 
exclusion of benefits thereunder from the income of participants or for any 
other tax-favored treatment under any 

                                         -18-


provisions of the Code (including, without limitation, Sections 79, 105, 106, 
125 or 129 of the Code) is and has been maintained in compliance in all 
material respects with all pertinent provisions of the Code and Treasury 
Regulations thereunder.

                    (g)  Except as disclosed in Company's Form 10-K for the 
fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, there are (i) no investigations, audits 
or examinations pending, or to the best knowledge of Company, threatened by 
any governmental entity involving any of the Plans, (ii) no termination 
proceedings involving the Plans and (iii) no pending or, to the best of 
Company's knowledge, threatened claims (other than routine claims for 
benefits), suits or proceedings against any Plan, against the assets of any 
of the trusts under any Plan or against any fiduciary of any Plan with 
respect to the operation of such plan or asserting any rights or claims to 
benefits under any Plan or against the assets of any trust under such plan, 
which would, in the case of clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph (g), 
give rise to any liability which would, individually or in the aggregate, 
have a Company Material Adverse Effect, nor, to the best of Company's 
knowledge, are there any facts which would give rise to any liability which 
would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse 
Effect in the event of any such investigation, audit, examination, claim, 
suit or proceeding.

                    (h)  None of Company, any of its subsidiaries or any 
employee of the foregoing, nor any trustee, administrator, other fiduciary or 
any other "party in interest" or "disqualified person" with respect to the 
Pension Benefit Plans or Welfare Plans, has engaged in a "prohibited 
transaction" (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 
of ERISA) which presents a material risk of resulting in a tax or penalty on 
Company or any of its subsidiaries under Section 4975 of the Code or Section 
502(i) of ERISA which would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company 
Material Adverse Effect.

                    (i)  Neither the Pension Benefit Plans subject to Title 
IV of ERISA nor any trust created thereunder has been terminated nor have 
there been any "reportable events" (as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA and 
the regulations thereunder) with respect to either thereof which would, 
individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect nor 
has there been any event with respect to any Pension Benefit Plan requiring 
disclosure under Section 4063(a) of ERISA or any event with respect to any 
Pension Benefit Plan requiring disclosure under Section 4041(c)(3)(C) of 
ERISA which would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material 
Adverse Effect.

                                         -19-


                    (j)  Neither Company nor any ERISA Affiliate of Company 
has incurred any currently outstanding liability to the Pension Benefit 
Guaranty Corporation (the "PBGC") or to a trustee appointed under Section 
4042(b) or (c) of ERISA other than for the payment of premiums, all of which 
have been paid when due. No Pension Benefit Plan has applied for, or 
received, a waiver of the minimum funding standards imposed by Section 412 of 
the Code.  The information supplied to the actuary by Company or any of its 
subsidiaries for use in preparing the most recent actuarial report for 
Pension Benefit Plans is complete and accurate in all material respects.

                    (k)  Neither Company, any of its subsidiaries nor any of 
their ERISA Affiliates has any liability (including any contingent liability 
under Section 4204 of ERISA) with respect to any multiemployer plan, within 
the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA (a "MULTIEMPLOYER PLAN"), covering 
employees employed in the United States.

                    (l)  With respect to each of the Plans, true, correct and 
complete copies of the following documents have been made available to Parent 
(i) the current plans and related trust documents, including amendments 
thereto, (ii) any current summary plan descriptions, (iii) the most recent 
Forms 5500 (if any) filed with respect to each such Plan, (iv) the three most 
recent financial statements and actuarial reports, if applicable (v) the most 
recent IRS determination letter, if applicable, (vi) if any application for 
an IRS determination letter is pending, copies of all such applications for 
determination including attachments, exhibits and schedules thereto, (vii) 
all material agreements (including settlement agreements or other similar 
agreements relating to any Plan); and (viii) all material correspondence 
between Company and any of its subsidiaries and the IRS, PBGC, Department of 
Labor or any other governmental entity relating to any of the Plans.

                    (m)  Neither Company, any of its subsidiaries, any 
organization to which Company is a successor or parent corporation, within 
the meaning of Section 4069(b) of ERISA, nor any of their ERISA Affiliates 
has engaged in any transaction described in Section 4069(a) of ERISA, the 
liability for which would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company 
Material Adverse Effect.

                    (n)  Except as disclosed in Section 2.17 of the 
Disclosure Statement, none of the Welfare Plans maintained by Company or any 
of its subsidiaries are retiree life or retiree health insurance plans which 
provide for continuing benefits or coverage for any participant or any 
beneficiary of a participant following termination of employment, except as 
may be required under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 
1985, as amended ("COBRA"), or except where the full expense 

                                         -20-


of such coverage or benefits is paid by the participant or the participant's 
beneficiary.  Company and each of its subsidiaries which maintain a "group 
health plan" within the meaning of Section 5000(b)(1) of the Code have 
complied with the notice and continuation requirements of Section 4980B of 
the Code, COBRA, Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA and the regulations 
thereunder except where the failure to comply would not, individually or in 
the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

                    (o)  No liability under any Plan has been funded nor has 
any such obligation been satisfied with the purchase of a contract from an 
insurance company as to which Company or any of its subsidiaries has received 
notice that such insurance company is in rehabilitation.

                    (p)  The consummation of the transactions contemplated by 
this Agreement will not either alone or in connection with an employee's 
termination of employment or other event result in an increase in the amount 
of compensation or benefits or accelerate the vesting or timing of payment of 
any benefits or compensation payable to or in respect of any employee of 
Company or any of its subsidiaries.

                    III.18.   ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.  Except as set forth in 
Section 3.18 of the Disclosure Statement and except for such matters as would 
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect:

                    (a) Company and its subsidiaries have obtained all 
Environmental Permits and all licenses and other authorizations and have made 
all registrations and given all notifications that are required under any 
applicable Environmental Law.

                    (b)  Except as set forth in Section 3.18 of the 
Disclosure Statement, there is no Environmental Claim pending against Company 
and its subsidiaries under an Environmental Law.

                    (c)  Except as set forth in Section 3.18 of the 
Disclosure Statement, Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with all 
terms and conditions of their Environmental Permits, and are in compliance 
with all applicable Environmental Laws.

                    (d)  Except as set forth in Section 3.18 of the 
Disclosure Statement, Company and its subsidiaries did not generate, treat, 
store, transport, discharge, dispose of or release any Hazardous Materials on 
or from any property now or previously owned, leased or used by Company and 
its subsidiaries.

                    (e)  For purposes of Section 3.18(a):

                                         -21-


      (i)   "Environment" shall mean any surface water, ground water, or 
drinking water supply, land surface or subsurface strata, or ambient air and 
includes, without limitation, any indoor location;

      (ii)  "Environmental Claim" means any written notice or written claim 
by any person alleging potential liability (including, without limitation, 
potential liability for investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental 
costs, or harm injuries or damages to any person, property or natural 
resources, and any fines or penalties) arising out of, based upon, resulting 
from or relating to (1) the emission, discharge, disposal or other release or 
threatened release in or into the Environment of any Hazardous Materials or 
(2) circumstances forming the basis of any violation, or alleged violation, 
of any applicable Environmental Law;

      (iii) "Environmental Laws" means any federal, state, and local laws, 
codes, and regulations as now or previously in effect relating to pollution, 
the protection of human health, the protection of the Environment or the 
emission, discharge, disposal or other release or threatened release of 
Hazardous Materials in or into the Environment;

      (iv)  "Environmental Permit" shall mean a permit, identification 
number, license or other written authorization required under any applicable 
Environmental Law; and

      (v)   "Hazardous Materials" shall mean all pollutants, contaminants, or 
chemical, hazardous or toxic materials, substances, constituents or wastes, 
including, without limitation, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, 
polychlorinated biphenyls and petroleum, oil, or petroleum or oil derivatives 
or constituents, including, without limitation, crude oil or any fraction 
thereof.

     III.19.   DISCLOSURE.  All of the facts and circumstances not required 
to be disclosed as exceptions under or to any of the foregoing 
representations and warranties made by Company, in this Article III by reason 
of any minimum disclosure requirement in any such representation and warranty 
would not, in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

     III.20.   ABSENCE OF UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES.  Except as set forth in 
Section 3.20 of the Disclosure Statement, neither Company nor any of its 
subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations of any nature, whether 
absolute, accrued, unmatured, contingent or otherwise, or any unsatisfied 
judgments or any leases of personality or realty or unusual or extraordinary 
commitments, except the liabilities recorded on Company's consolidated 
balance sheet at December 31, 1996 included in the financial statements 
referred in Section 3.6 and the notes 

                                         -22-


thereto, and except for liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary 
course of business and consistent with past practice since December 31, 1996 
that would not individually or in the aggregate have a Company Material 
Adverse Effect.

          III.21.   FINDERS OR BROKERS.  Except as set forth in Section 3.21 
of the Disclosure Statement, none of Company, the subsidiaries of Company, 
the Board of Directors of Company or any member of the Board of Directors of 
Company has employed any investment banker, broker, finder or intermediary in 
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby who might be entitled to 
a fee or any commission in connection with the Merger, and Section 3.21 of 
the Disclosure Statement sets forth the maximum consideration (present and 
future) agreed to be paid to each such party.

          III.22.   STATE ANTITAKEOVER STATUTES.  Company has granted all 
approvals and taken all other steps necessary to exempt the Merger and the 
other transactions contemplated hereby from the requirements and provisions 
of Section 203 of the GCL and any other applicable state antitakeover statute 
or regulation such that none of the provisions of such Section 203 or any 
other "business combination," "moratorium," "control share" or other state 
antitakeover statute or regulation (x) prohibits or restricts Company's 
ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement or its ability to 
consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, (y) 
would have the effect of invalidating or voiding this Agreement or any 
provision hereof, or (z) would subject Parent to any material impediment or 
condition in connection with the exercise of any of its rights under this 
Agreement.

          III.23.   OPINION OF FINANCIAL ADVISOR.  Company has received the 
opinion of First Boston dated the date of this Agreement, to the effect that, 
as of such date, the Merger Consideration is fair from a financial point of 
view to the holders of shares of Company Common Stock.


          III.24.   INSURANCE.  Section 3.24 of the Disclosure Statement 
lists all insurance policies in force on the date hereof covering the 
businesses, properties and assets of Company and its subsidiaries, and all 
such policies are currently in effect.

          III.25.   EMPLOYMENT AND LABOR CONTRACTS.  Neither Company nor any 
of its subsidiaries is a party to any employment contract or other similar 
contract or any other contract for the provision of management or consulting 
services to Company or any of its subsidiaries with any past or present 
officer, director, employee or, to the best of Company's knowledge, any 
entity affiliated with any past or present officer, 

                                         -23-


director or employee other than the agreements executed by employees 
generally, the forms of which have been delivered to Parent.

          III.26.   PENDING TRANSACTIONS.  Section 3.26 of the Disclosure 
Statement lists the status of the Pending Transactions.

          III.27.   INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENTS.  Each of the RHI 
Indemnification Agreement, the FHC Indemnification Agreement and the Pledge 
Agreement is a valid and binding agreement of Company and, to the knowledge 
of Company, each of such agreements is enforceable against RHI Holdings, Inc. 
("RHI") and The Fairchild Corporation ("TFC"), Fairchild Holding Corp. 
("FHC"), and RHI, respectively, except to the extent that such enforceability 
may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, 
moratorium or other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights 
generally or by general equitable or fiduciary principles.  Each of the RHI 
Indemnification Agreement, the FHC Indemnification Agreement and the Pledge 
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Surviving Corporation and shall 
be enforceable by the Surviving Corporation except to the extent that such 
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, 
reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting the enforcement of 
creditors' rights generally or by general equitable or fiduciary principles. 
As of the date hereof, Company has no knowledge of any liabilities or claims 
for which Company is indemnified under the RHI Indemnification Agreement and 
FHI Indemnification Agreement (other than (i) the contingent liabilities 
related to a dispute with the United States Government under government 
contract accounts rules concerning potential liability arising out of the use 
of and accounting for approximately $50.0 million in excess pension funds 
relating to certain government contracts in the discontinued aerospace 
business of Fairchild Industries, Inc. ("FII"), the nonsurviving constituent 
corporation in their merger of March 13, 1996, with Shared Technologies, 
Inc.; (ii) all non-telecommunications environmental liabilities of FII; and 
(iii) approximately $50.0 million (at June 30, 1995 of costs associated with 
post-retirement healthcare benefits of FII) as such items are described in 
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996) 
that would (were the indemnification under the RHI Indemnification Agreement 
and FHI Indemnification Agreement not available), individually or in the 
aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

          III.28.   INDEMNIFIED LIABILITIES.  Notwithstanding all of the 
representations and warranties contained in this Article III (except for 
Section 3.27), it is hereby agreed that Company need not disclose as 
exceptions to any of the foregoing representations and warranties any losses, 
liabilities and damages or actions or claims for which Company is indemnified 

                                         -24-



under each of the FHI Indemnification Agreement and the RHI Indemnification 
Agreement.

          III.29.   COMMERCIAL ARRANGEMENTS WITH TEL-SAVE HOLDINGS, INC.  
Except as disclosed in Schedule A attached hereto, neither Company nor any of 
its subsidiaries or affiliates has entered into, or is a party to, any 
commercial contracts, agreements, leases, plans, instruments, registrations, 
licenses, permits, commitments, arrangements or undertakings with Tel-Save 
Holdings, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, whether written or 
oral.

IV.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND PURCHASER

          Each of Parent and Purchaser jointly and severally  represents and 
warrants to Company as follows:

          IV.1.     ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION.  Each of Parent and 
Purchaser is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good 
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has all 
requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its 
properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted.  Each of 
Parent and Purchaser is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do 
business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character 
of its properties owned or leased or the nature of its activities makes such 
qualification necessary, except for failures to be so qualified or in good 
standing which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material 
adverse effect on Parent's or Purchaser's ability to consummate the Offer, 
the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby (a "PARENT MATERIAL 
ADVERSE EFFECT").  Neither Parent nor Purchaser is in violation of any of the 
provisions of its Certificate of Incorporation (or other applicable charter 
document) or Bylaws.

          IV.2.     AUTHORITY RELATIVE TO THIS AGREEMENT.  Each of Parent and 
Purchaser has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this 
Agreement and to consummate the Offer, the Merger and other transactions 
contemplated hereby.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the 
consummation of the Offer, the Merger and other transactions contemplated 
hereby have been duly and validly authorized by the Board of Directors of 
Parent and Purchaser and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Parent 
and Purchaser are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the 
Offer, the Merger or other transactions contemplated hereby.  This Agreement 
has been duly and validly executed and delivered by each of Parent and 
Purchaser and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof 
by Company, constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Parent and 
Purchaser, enforceable against Parent and Purchaser in accordance with its 
terms, except to the 

                                         -25-


extent that its enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, 
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting the 
enforcement of creditors' rights generally or by general equitable or 
fiduciary principles.

          IV.3.     NO VIOLATIONS, ETC.  (a)  Assuming that all filings, 
permits, authorizations, consents and approvals or waivers thereof have been 
duly made or obtained as contemplated by Section 4.3(b) hereof, neither the 
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Purchaser nor the 
consummation of the Offer, the Merger or other transactions contemplated 
hereby nor compliance by Parent and Purchaser with any of the provisions 
hereof will (i) violate, conflict with, or result in a breach of any 
provision of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or 
lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the 
termination or suspension of, or accelerate the performance required by, or 
result in a right of termination or acceleration under, or result in the 
creation of any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance upon any of 
the properties or assets of Parent and Purchaser under, any of the terms, 
conditions or provisions of (x) their respective charters or bylaws or (y) 
any note, bond, mortgage, indenture or deed of trust, or (ii) subject to 
compliance with the statutes and regulations referred to in the next 
paragraph, violate any judgment, ruling, order, writ, injunction, decree, 
statute, rule or regulation applicable to Parent or Purchaser or any of their 
respective properties or assets, except, in the case of clause (ii) above, 
for such violations, conflicts, breaches, defaults, terminations, 
suspensions, accelerations, rights of termination or acceleration or 
creations of liens, security interests, charges or encumbrances which would 
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

          (b)  No filing or registration with, notification to and no permit, 
authorization, consent or approval of any governmental entity is required by 
Parent or Purchaser in connection with the execution and delivery of this 
Agreement or the consummation by Parent and Purchaser of the Offer, the 
Merger or other transactions contemplated hereby, except (i) in connection 
with the applicable requirements of the HSR Act, (ii) the filing of the 
Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, 
(iii) filings with the SEC and state securities administrators, (iv) filings 
with the Federal Communications Commission or any applicable state public 
utility commissions or applicable state or local regulatory agency or 
authority, and (v) such other filings, registrations, notifications, permits, 
authorizations, consents or approvals the failure of which to be obtained, 
made or given would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent 
Material Adverse Effect.

                                         -26-


          (c)  As of the date hereof (x) Parent and Purchaser are not in
violation of or default under any note, bond, mortgage, indenture or deed of
trust, or (y) any license, lease, agreement or other instrument or obligation to
which Parent is a party or to which they or any of their respective properties
or assets may be subject, except, in the case of clauses (x) and (y) above, for
such violations or defaults which would not, individually or in the aggregate,
have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

          IV.4.     PROXY STATEMENT.  None of the information supplied or to be
supplied by or on behalf of Parent and Purchaser for inclusion or incorporation
by reference in the Proxy Statement will, at the dates mailed to stockholders
and at the time of Company Stockholder Meeting, contain any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

          IV.5.     FINDERS OR BROKERS.  None of Parent, Purchaser, the Board of
Directors of Parent or Purchaser or any member of the Board of Directors of
Parent or Purchaser has employed any investment banker, broker, finder or
intermediary in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby who might
be entitled to a fee or any commission in connection with the Offer or the
Merger other than Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc., whose fees shall be paid by Parent.

          IV.6.     OFFER DOCUMENTS.  The Offer Documents will not, at the time
the Offer Documents are filed with the SEC or are first published, sent or given
to stockholders of Company, as the case may be, contain any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Parent and Purchaser make no representation or warranty with respect
to any information supplied by Company or any of its representatives which is
contained in any of the foregoing documents or the Offer Documents.  The Offer
Documents shall comply in all material respects as to form with the requirements
of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

                                    V.  COVENANTS

          V.1. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS OF COMPANY PENDING THE MERGER.  Except as
contemplated by this Agreement or as expressly agreed to in writing by Parent,
during the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, each of
Company and its subsidiaries will conduct their respective operations according
to its ordinary course of business consistent 

                                         -27-



with past practice, and will use all commercially reasonable efforts to preserve
intact its business organization, to keep available the services of its officers
and employees and to maintain satisfactory relationships with suppliers,
distributors, customers and others having business relationships with it and
will take no action which would materially adversely affect the ability of the
parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, and except as otherwise expressly
provided in this Agreement, prior to the Effective Time, Company will not, nor
will it permit any of its subsidiaries to, without the prior written consent of
Parent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld:

          (a)  amend its certificate of incorporation or bylaws;

          (b)  authorize for issuance, issue, sell, deliver, grant any options
for, or otherwise agree or commit to issue, sell or deliver any shares of any
class of its capital stock or any securities convertible into shares of any
class of its capital stock, except (i) pursuant to and in accordance with the
terms of currently outstanding convertible securities, warrants and options, and
(ii) shares granted to employees as matching contributions pursuant to Company's
401(k) Plan in an aggregate amount not to exceed 40,000 shares;

          (c)  split, combine or reclassify any shares of its capital stock,
declare, set aside or pay any dividend (other than a dividend of stock of Shared
Technologies Cellular, Inc. owned by Company) or other distribution (whether in
cash, stock or property or any combination thereof) in respect of its capital
stock or purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of its own capital
stock or of any of its subsidiaries, except as otherwise expressly provided in
this Agreement;

          (d)  (i) create, incur, assume, maintain or permit to exist any debt
for borrowed money other than under existing lines of credit in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice; (ii) assume, guarantee,
endorse or otherwise become liable or responsible (whether directly,
contingently or otherwise) for the obligations of any other person except for
(a) its wholly owned subsidiaries, and (b) STF Canada, Inc. in the ordinary
course of business and consistent with past practices; or (iii) make any loans,
advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other person except
for STF Canada, Inc. in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000;

          (e)  (i) increase in any manner the compensation of (x) any employee
except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or (y)
any of its directors or 

                                         -28-


officers; (ii) pay or agree to pay any pension, retirement allowance or other
employee benefit not required, or enter into or agree to enter into any
agreement or arrangement with any director or officer or employee, whether past
or present, relating to any such pension, retirement allowance or other employee
benefit, except as required under currently existing agreements, plans or
arrangements; (iii) grant any severance or termination pay to, or enter into any
employment or severance agreement with, (x) any employee except in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice or (y) any of its directors or
officers except for honorarium payments to outside directors of Company in an
amount not to exceed $300,000 in the aggregate; or (iv) except as may be
required to comply with applicable law, become obligated (other than pursuant to
any new or renewed collective bargaining agreement) under any new pension plan,
welfare plan, multiemployer plan, employee benefit plan, benefit arrangement, or
similar plan or arrangement, which was not in existence on the date hereof,
including any bonus, incentive, deferred compensation, stock purchase, stock
option, stock appreciation right, group insurance, severance pay, retirement or
other benefit plan, agreement or arrangement, or employment or consulting
agreement with or for the benefit of any person, or amend any of such plans or
any of such agreements in existence on the date hereof; provided, however, that
this clause (iv) shall not prohibit Company from renewing any such plan,
agreement or arrangement already in existence on terms no more favorable to the
parties to such plan, agreement or arrangement;

          (f)  except as otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement,
enter into any other agreements, commitments or contracts, except agreements,
commitments or contracts for the purchase, sale or lease of goods or services
involving payments or receipts by Company or its subsidiaries not in excess of
$50,000, other than (i) customer agreements, (ii) leases for rental space in an
amount not to exceed $250,000 for any lease or (iii) developer agreements in an
amount not to exceed $250,000 for any agreement; provided, however, that Company
will not enter into agreements with any local exchange carriers, competitive
local exchange carriers or incumbent local exchange companies which require a
financial commitment by Company or any of its subsidiaries or which limit the
ability of Company or any of its subsidiaries to conduct their respective
business;

          (g)  authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to
authorize, recommend or propose, or enter into any agreement in principle or an
agreement with respect to, any plan of liquidation or dissolution, any
acquisition of a material amount of assets or securities, any sale, transfer,
lease, license, pledge, mortgage, or other disposition or encumbrance of a
material amount of assets or securities or any material 

                                         -29-



change in its capitalization, or any entry into a material contract or any
amendment or modification of any material contract or any release or
relinquishment of any material contract rights;

          (h)  authorize or commit to make capital expenditures in excess of
$200,000 for any one order in Company's service business (other than purchases
by Company's systems business in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice);

          (i)  make any change in the accounting methods or accounting practices
followed by Company;

          (j)  settle any action, suit, claim, investigation or proceeding
(legal, administrative or arbitrative) in excess of $50,000 without the consent
of the Parent; provided, however, that Company may settle the matter set forth
in item 2 of Section 3.9 of the Disclosure Statement as previously discussed
with Parent;

          make any election under the Code which would have a Company Material 
Adverse Effect;

          (l)  amend, change or alter in any respect any of the RHI
Indemnification Agreement, the FHC Indemnification Agreement or the Pledge
Agreement (except as specifically contemplated by this Agreement); or

          (m)  agree to do any of the foregoing.

          Promptly following execution and delivery of this Agreement, Parent
shall appoint a senior executive (the "CONSULTANT") to act as a management
consultant and advisor to the Company relative to the conduct of its business in
the ordinary course, including the activities described in clauses (d)-(j) of
this Section 5.1.  The Consultant shall liaise directly with the chief executive
officer and chief operating officer of the Company and shall be informed of, and
participate as a consultant in, all management decisions made by such officers. 
In the event that the Company determines to implement management decisions
contrary to the advice of the Consultant, and the Consultant determines in his
good faith judgment, that such management decisions either alone or taken
together with other management decisions implemented against the advice of the
Consultant, could lead to a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Consultant
shall promptly notify the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the
Company in writing of his determination and his contrary recommendation (the
"CONSULTANT NOTICE").  In the event the Executive Committee of the Board of
Directors does not cause management of the Company to act in accordance with the
recommendations of the Consultant set forth in the Consultant Notice by
directing management so 

                                         -30-


to act in writing within five days of receipt of the Consultant Notice, Parent
and Purchaser may, by delivery of written notice to the Company within 30 days
following the expiration of such five day period, terminate this Agreement in
accordance with the provisions of Section 7.1(i) hereof.  The written consent or
recommendation of the Consultant with respect to any matter shall be deemed to
be the consent of Parent thereto.

          V.2. PREPARATION OF THE PROXY STATEMENT; STOCKHOLDERS MEETINGS.

          (a)  As soon as practicable following the date hereof, Company shall
prepare and file the Proxy Statement with the SEC under the Exchange Act, and
shall use its reasonable best efforts to have the Proxy Statement cleared by the
SEC.  Parent, Purchaser and Company shall cooperate with each other in the
preparation of the Proxy Statement, and Company shall notify Parent of the
receipt of any comments of the SEC with respect to the Proxy Statement and of
any requests by the SEC for any amendment or supplement thereto or for
additional information and shall provide to Parent promptly copies of all
correspondence between Company or any representative of Company and the SEC. 
Company shall give Parent and its counsel the opportunity to review the Proxy
Statement prior to its being filed with the SEC and shall give Parent and its
counsel the opportunity to review all amendments and supplements to the Proxy
Statement and all responses to requests for additional information and replies
to comments prior to their being filed with, or sent to, the SEC, and prior to
the filing of the Proxy Statement, any amendments or supplements to the Proxy
Statement or any other correspondence to the SEC (collectively, the "PROXY
FILINGS"), the Proxy Filings shall be reasonably satisfactory to Parent.  Each
of Company, Parent and Purchaser agrees to use its reasonable best efforts,
after consultation with the other parties hereto, to respond promptly to all
such comments of and requests by the SEC and to cause the Proxy Statement and
all required amendments and supplements thereto to be mailed to the holders of
Shares entitled to vote at the Stockholders' Meeting at the earliest practicable
time.

          (b)  Company shall, as soon as practicable after the date hereof, duly
call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its stockholders (the
"COMPANY STOCKHOLDER MEETING"), as promptly as practicable after the date
hereof, for the purpose of obtaining the approval (the "COMPANY STOCKHOLDER
APPROVAL") of a majority of the stockholders of Company of this Agreement and
shall, through its Board of Directors, recommend to its stockholders the
approval and adoption of this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby, and shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to
solicit from its stockholders proxies in favor of approval and adoption of this
Agreement; provided, however, that such 

                                         -31-


recommendation is subject to any action required by the fiduciary duties of the
Board of Directors.


          V.3. ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS; COOPERATION.  (a)      Subject to the
terms and conditions herein provided, each of the parties hereto agrees to use
its best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all action and to do, or cause
to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make
effective as promptly as practicable the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, and to cooperate with each other in connection with the foregoing,
including using its best efforts (i) to obtain all necessary waivers, consents
and approvals from other parties to loan agreements, material leases and other
material contracts that are specified on Schedule 5.3 to the Disclosure
Statement, (ii) to obtain all necessary consents, approvals and authorizations
as are required to be obtained under any federal, state or foreign law or
regulations, (iii) to defend all lawsuits or other legal proceedings challenging
this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, (iv)
to lift or rescind any injunction or restraining order or other order adversely
affecting the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby, (v) to effect all necessary registrations and filings, including, but
not limited to, filings under the HSR Act and submissions of information
requested by governmental authorities, (vi) provide all necessary information
for the Proxy Statement and (vii) to fulfill all conditions to this Agreement.

          (b)  Each of the parties hereto agrees to furnish to the other party
hereto such necessary information and reasonable assistance as such other party
may request in connection with its preparation of necessary filings or
submissions to any regulatory or governmental agency or authority, including,
without limitation, any filing necessary under the provisions of the HSR Act or
any other applicable Federal or state statute.  At any time upon the written
request of Parent, Company shall advise Parent of the number of shares of
Company Common Stock or any series of Preferred Stock outstanding on such date.

          V.4. PUBLICITY.  Company, Parent and Purchaser agree to consult with
each other in issuing any press release and with respect to the general content
of other public statements with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby,
and shall not issue any such press release prior to such consultation, except as
may be required by law.

          V.5.  NO SOLICITATION. (a)  Company shall not, nor shall it permit any
of its subsidiaries to, nor shall it authorize or permit any of its officers,
directors or employees or any investment banker, financial advisor, attorney,
accountant 

                                         -32-


or other representative retained by it or any of its subsidiaries to, directly
or indirectly, (i) solicit any Company Takeover Proposal (as hereinafter
defined) or (ii) participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding any
Company Takeover Proposal; provided, however, that if, at any time prior to
Company Stockholders Meeting, the Board of Directors of Company determines in
good faith, after consultation with outside counsel, that it is necessary to do
so in order to comply with its fiduciary duties to Company's stockholders under
applicable law the Company may, in response to a Company Takeover Proposal that
was not solicited, and subject to compliance with Section 5.5(c), (x) furnish
information with respect to Company to any person pursuant to a customary
confidentiality agreement (as determined by Company after consultation with its
outside counsel) and (y) participate in negotiations regarding such Company
Takeover Proposal.  Without limiting the foregoing, it is understood that any
violation of the restrictions set forth in the preceding sentence by any
director or executive officer of Company or any of its subsidiaries, whether or
not such person is purporting to act on behalf of Company or any of its
subsidiaries or otherwise, shall be deemed to be a breach of this Section 5.5(a)
by Company.  For purposes of this Agreement, "COMPANY TAKEOVER PROPOSAL" means
any inquiry, proposal or offer from any person relating to any direct or
indirect acquisition or purchase of 20% or more of the assets of Company or its
subsidiaries or 20% or more of any class of equity securities of Company or any
of its subsidiaries, any tender offer or exchange offer that if consummated
would result in any person beneficially owning 20% or more of any class of
equity securities of Company or any of its subsidiaries, any merger,
consolidation, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution
or similar transaction involving Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or any other transaction the
consummation of which would reasonably be expected to impede, interfere with,
prevent or materially delay the Merger or which would reasonably be expected to
dilute materially the benefits to Parent of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.

          (b)  Except as set forth in this Section 5.5, neither the Board of
Directors of Company nor any committee thereof shall (i) withdraw or modify, or
propose publicly to withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse to Parent, the
approval or recommendation by such Board of Directors or such committee of the
Merger or this Agreement, (ii) approve or recommend, or propose publicly to
approve to recommend, any Company Takeover Proposal or (iii) cause Company to
enter into any letter of intent, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement
or other similar agreement (each, a "COMPANY ACQUISITION AGREEMENT") related to
any Company Takeover Proposal.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that
prior to the Company Stockholders Meeting the Board of Directors of Company
determines in good faith, after 

                                         -33-


consultation with outside counsel, that it is necessary to do so in order to
comply with its fiduciary duties to Company's stockholders under applicable law,
the Board of Directors of Company may (subject to this and the following
sentences) (x) withdraw or modify its approval or recommendation of the Merger
and this Agreement or (y) approve or recommend a Company Superior Proposal (as
defined below) or terminate this Agreement (and concurrently with or after such
termination, if it so chooses, cause Company to enter into any Company
Acquisition Agreement with respect to any Company Superior Proposal) but in each
of the cases set forth in this clause (y), no action shall be taken by Company
pursuant to clause (y) until a time that is after the fifth business day
following Parent's receipt of written notice advising Parent that the Board of
Directors of Company has received a Company Superior Proposal, specifying the
material terms and conditions of such Company Superior Proposal and identifying
the person making such Company Superior Proposal, to the extent such
identification of the person making such proposal does not breach the fiduciary
duties of the Board of Directors as advised by outside legal counsel.  For
purposes of this Agreement, a "COMPANY SUPERIOR PROPOSAL" means any bona fide
proposal made by a third party to acquire, directly or indirectly, for
consideration consisting of cash and/or securities, more than 50% of the
combined voting power of the shares of Company Common Stock and Company
Preferred Stock then outstanding or all or substantially all the assets of
Company and otherwise on terms that the Board of Directors of Company determines
in its good faith judgment (based on the advice of a financial advisor of
nationally recognized reputation) to be more favorable to Company's stockholders
than the Merger.

          (c)  In addition to the obligations of Company set forth in paragraphs
(a) and (b) of this Section 5.5, Company shall immediately advise Parent orally
and in writing of any request for information or of any Company Takeover
Proposal, the material terms and conditions of such request or Company Takeover
Proposal, and to the extent such disclosure is not a breach of the fiduciary
duties of the Board of Directors as advised by outside legal counsel, the
identity of the person making such request or Company Takeover Proposal.

          (d)  Nothing contained in this Section 5.5 shall prohibit Company from
taking and disclosing to its stockholders a position contemplated by Rule
14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act, or from making any disclosure to
Company's stockholders if, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors
of Company, after consultation with outside counsel, failure so to disclose
would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties to Company's stockholders under
applicable law; provided, however, neither Company nor its Board of Directors
nor any committee thereof shall, except as permitted by Section 5.5(b), 


                                         -34-


withdraw or modify, or propose publicly to withdraw or modify, its position with
respect to this Agreement or the Merger or approve or recommend, or propose
publicly to approve or recommend, a company Takeover Proposal.

          V.6. ACCESS TO INFORMATION.  From the date of this Agreement until the
Effective Time, Company shall provide Parent and its authorized representatives
(including counsel, environmental and other consultants, accountants and
auditors) full access during normal business hours to all facilities, personnel
and operations and to all books and records of it and its subsidiaries, will
permit Parent to make such inspections as it may reasonably require and will
cause its officers and those of its subsidiaries to furnish Parent with such
financial and operating data and with respect to its business and properties as
Parent may from time to time reasonably request.

          V.7. NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN MATTERS.  Company or Parent, as the case
may be, shall promptly notify the other of (i) its obtaining of actual knowledge
as to the matters set forth in clauses (x) and (y) below, or (ii) the
occurrence, or failure to occur, of any event, which occurrence or failure to
occur would be likely to cause (x) any representation or warranty contained in
Section 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.10, 3.14, 3.21, 3.22, 3.23 or 3.29 to be untrue or
inaccurate in any material respect at any time from the date hereof to the
Effective Time, or (y) any material failure of Company or Parent, as the case
may be, or of any officer, director, employee or agent thereof, to comply with
or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied
by its under this Agreement; provided, however, that no such notification shall
affect the representations or warranties of the parties or the conditions to the
obligations of the parties hereunder.

          V.8. RESIGNATION OF DIRECTORS.  At or prior to the Effective Time,
Company shall take all commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to Parent the
resignations of such directors of Company and its subsidiaries as Parent shall
specify, effective at the Effective Time.

          V.9. INDEMNIFICATION.  (a)  As of the date of this Agreement and for a
period of six years following the Effective Time of the Merger, Parent and the
Surviving Corporation will indemnify and hold harmless any persons who were
directors or officers of Company or a subsidiary of Company prior to the
Effective Time of the Merger (the "INDEMNIFIED PERSONS") to the fullest extent
such person could have been indemnified under the GCL or under the certificate
of incorporation or bylaws of Company or the certificate of incorporation or
bylaws of any subsidiary of Company in effect immediately prior to the Effective
Time of the Merger, with respect to any act or failure to 

                                         -35-


act by any such Indemnified Person prior to the Effective Time of the Merger.

          (b)  Any determination required to be made with respect to whether an
Indemnified Person's conduct complies with the standards set forth under the GCL
or other applicable corporate law shall be made by independent counsel selected
by the Indemnified Persons and reasonably acceptable to Parent and the Surviving
Corporation.  Parent or the Surviving Corporation shall pay such counsel's fees
and expenses (it being agreed that neither the Indemnified Persons, Parent nor
the Surviving Corporation shall challenge any such determination by such
independent counsel).

          (c)  The provisions of this Section 5.9 are for the benefit of the
Indemnified Persons, any of whom shall have all rights at law and in equity to
enforce the rights hereunder.

          (d)  In the event that Parent or the Surviving Corporation or any of
its successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other person
and Parent or the Surviving Corporation or such successor or assign is not the
continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger,
or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any
person, then, and in each case, proper provision shall be made so that such
person or the continuing or surviving corporation assumes the obligations set
forth in this Section 5.9.

          (e)  Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to maintain in
effect for not less than five years from the Effective Time the current policies
of directors' and officers' liability insurance maintained by Company and its
subsidiaries (provided that Parent may substitute therefor policies of at least
the same coverage containing terms and conditions which are no less advantageous
to the Indemnified Parties in all material respects so long as no lapse in
coverage occurs as a result of such substitution) with respect to all matters,
including the transactions contemplated hereby, occurring prior to, and
including the Effective Time, provided that, in the event that any claim is
asserted or made within such five year period, such insurance shall be continued
in respect of any such claim until final disposition of any and all such claims,
provided, further, that Parent shall not be obligated to make annual premium
payments for such insurance to the extent such premiums exceed 200% of the
premiums paid as of the date hereof by Company for such insurance.

          V.10.     FEES AND EXPENSES.  Whether or not the Merger is
consummated, Company and Parent shall bear their respective expenses incurred in
connection with the Merger, including, without limitation, the preparation,
execution and performance 

                                         -36-


of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, and all fees and
expenses of investment bankers, finders, brokers, agents, representatives,
counsel and accountants.

          V.11.     STOCKHOLDER LITIGATION.  Each of Company and Parent shall
give the other the reasonable opportunity to participate in the defense of any
stockholder litigation against or in the name of Company or Parent, as
applicable, and/or their respective directors relating to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

                                    VI. CONDITIONS

          VI.1.     CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER.  The obligations of each party to
effect the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction or waiver, at or prior to
the Effective Time, of each of the following conditions:

          (a)  The Merger and this Agreement shall have been validly approved
and adopted by the affirmative votes of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock entitled to vote thereon.

          (b)  The waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the
Merger under the HSR Act shall have been terminated or shall have expired.

          (c)  No judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or
regulation entered, enacted, promulgated, enforced or issued by any court or
other governmental entity of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or
prohibition shall be in effect preventing the consummation of the Offer or the
Merger.

          VI.2.     CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF PARENT.  The obligation of
Parent to effect the Merger is further subject to satisfaction or waiver of the
following conditions:

          (a)  All of the representations and warranties of Company set forth
herein shall be true and correct as of July 16, 1997, and the representations
and warranties set forth in Sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.10, 3.14, 3.21, 3.22, 3.23
and 3.29 shall be true and correct as of the date hereof and the Closing Date,
as if made at and as of such time, except where the failure of such
representations and warranties to be so true and correct (without giving effect
to any limitation as to "materiality" or "material adverse effect" set forth
therein) does not have, and is not likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect or cause any material increase in
the consideration required to be paid by Parent and Purchaser effectively to
consummate the Merger.

                                         -37-


          (b)  Company shall have performed in all material respects all
obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to
the Closing Date.

          (c)  All necessary consents and approvals of any federal, state or
local governmental authority or any other third party required for the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been
obtained except for such consents and approvals the failure to obtain which
individually or in the aggregate would not have material adverse effect on the
Surviving Corporation or a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

          VI.3.     CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF COMPANY.  The obligation of
Company to effect the Merger is further subject to satisfaction or waiver of the
following conditions:

          (a)  The representations and warranties of Parent and Purchaser set
forth herein shall be true and correct both when made and at and as of the
Closing Date, as if made at and as of such date, except whether the failure of
such representations and warranties to be so true and correct (without giving
effect to any limitation as to "materiality" or "material adverse effect" set
forth therein) does not have, and is not likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

          (b)  Parent and Purchaser shall have performed in all material
respects all obligations required to be performed by them under this Agreement
at or prior to the Closing Date.

                       VII.  TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

          VII.1.    TERMINATION.  This Agreement may be terminated at any time
prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after approval by the
stockholders of Company:

          (a)  by consent of the Boards of Directors of Company, Parent and
Purchaser;

          (b)  by Parent and Purchaser upon notice to Company if any material
default under or material breach of any covenant or agreement in this Agreement
by Company shall have occurred and shall not have been cured within ten days
after receipt of such notice, or any representation or warranty contained herein
on the part of Company shall not have been true and correct in any material
respect at and as of the date made;

          (c)  by Company upon notice to Parent and Purchaser if any material
default under or material breach of any covenant or agreement in this Agreement
by Parent or Purchaser shall have occurred and shall not have been cured within
ten 

                                         -38-


days after receipt of such notice, or any representation or warranty contained
herein on the part of Parent or Purchaser shall not have been true and correct
in any material respect at and as of the date made;

          (d)  by Parent and Purchaser, on the one hand, or Company, on the
other, upon notice to the other if the Merger shall not have become effective on
or before September 30, 1998, unless such date is extended by the consent of the
Boards of Directors of Company, Parent and Purchaser evidenced by appropriate
resolutions; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the right to terminate this Agreement under
this Section 7.1(d) shall not be available to any party whose failure to fulfill
any obligation under this Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in, the
failure of the Effective Time to occur on or before such date;

          (e)  by any of Parent, Purchaser and Company if the approval of the
stockholders of Company required for consummation of the Merger shall not have
been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the required vote at a duly
held meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof;

          (f)  by Parent or Purchaser, if Section 5.5 shall be breached by
Company or any of its officers, directors or employees or any investment banker,
financial advisor, attorney, accountant or other representative of Company, in
any material respect and Company shall have failed promptly to terminate the
activity giving rise to such breach and use best efforts to cure such breach
upon notice thereof from Parent or Purchaser, or Company shall breach Section
5.5 by failing to promptly notify Parent or Purchaser as required thereunder;

          (g)  by Parent or Purchaser if, at any time, (i) Company shall have
withdrawn or modified in any manner adverse to Parent or Purchaser its approval
or recommendation of this Agreement or the Merger or failed to reconfirm its
recommendation within 15 business days after a written request to do so, or
recommended any Company Takeover Proposal or (ii) the Board of Directors of
Company or any committee thereof shall have resolved to take any of the
foregoing actions;

          (h)  by the Company if it elects to terminate this Agreement in
accordance with Section 5.5(b); PROVIDED that it has complied with all
provisions thereof, including the notice provisions therein, and that it
complies with applicable requirements relating to the payment (including the
timing of the payment) of the termination fee required by Section 7.3; or

          (i)  by Parent or Purchaser in accordance with the provisions of the
last paragraph of Section 5.1 of this Agreement; provided that it has complied
with all provisions thereof, including the notice provisions therein.

                                         -39-


          VII.2.    EFFECT OF TERMINATION.  In the event of the termination of
this Agreement pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.1, the provisions of this
Agreement (other than Sections 5.10, 7.2, 7.3 and 7.4 hereof) shall become void
and have no effect, with no liability on the part of any party hereto or its
stockholders or directors or officers in respect thereof, except as set forth in
Sections 7.3 and 7.4, PROVIDED that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to
relieve any party of any liability it may have to any other party with respect
to a breach of its obligations under this Agreement.

          VII.3.    TERMINATION PAYMENT.  As compensation for entering into this
Agreement, taking action to consummate the transactions hereunder and incurring
the costs and expenses related thereto and other losses and damages, including
the foregoing of other opportunities, Company and Parent agree as follows:

          (a)  Company shall pay to Parent the sum of $10.0 million plus all
reasonably documented out-of-pocket expenses (including, but not limited to, the
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel and its other advisers) of Parent and
Purchaser incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (including the preparation and negotiation of this Agreement) promptly
after, but in no event later than two days following, whichever of the following
first occurs:


           (i)   Parent or Purchaser shall have exercised its right to
     terminate this Agreement pursuant to Sections 7.1(b), 7.1(f), 7.1(g) or
     7.1(i) hereof.

           (ii)  Company shall have exercised its right to terminate this
     Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(e) or Section 7.1(h).

          (c)  Company shall not be obligated to make any payment pursuant to
this Section 7.3, if at the time such payment becomes due Parent or Purchaser is
in material breach of its obligations under this Agreement.

          VII.4.    PROCEEDS OF THE GOOD FAITH DEPOSIT. (a)  Subject to Section
7.4(c), Company shall pay out from the proceeds of the Good Faith Deposit an
amount equal to $15,000,000 (the "TERMINATION FEE") to Tel-Save Holdings, Inc.
("TEL-SAVE") to satisfy termination fees arising from Company's termination of
that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of July 16, 1997 among
Tel-Save, TSHCo, Inc. and Company.

          (b)  Subject to Section 7.4(c), Company shall pay the Good Faith
Deposit (less the Termination Fee) to Tel-Save in exchange for the termination
of any options to purchase Company 

                                         -40-


Common Stock held by Tel-Save under that certain Option Agreement dated as of
July 16, 1997 by and between Tel-Save and Company.

          (c)  In the event that Parent or Purchaser terminates this Agreement
pursuant to Section 7.1(a), 7.1(b), 7.1(f), 7.1(g) or 7.1(i) or Company
terminates this Agreement other than pursuant to Section 7.1(c) or Section
7.1(d), then Company must repay to Purchaser the Good Faith Deposit (including
any Termination Fee which has been paid to Tel-Save).

          VII.5.    AMENDMENT.  This Agreement may be amended by the parties
hereto only in a writing signed on behalf of each of them, at any time before or
after approval of the Agreement by the stockholders of Company, but after such
approval no amendment shall be made which alters the Merger Consideration
without the further approval of the stockholders of Company other than Parent;
provided that no amendment or consent given or made on behalf of Company shall
be effective unless approved by a majority of the members of the Board as
constituted as of the date hereof (or of any successor directors duly elected by
such members).

          VII.6.    WAIVER.  Any term or provision of this Agreement (other than
the requirements for approval by the stockholders of Company) may be waived in
writing at any time by the party which is, or whose stockholders are, entitled
to the benefits thereof.

                              VIII.  GENERAL PROVISIONS

          VIII.1.   DEFINITIONS.  As used in the Agreement, the following terms
have the following respective meanings:

          AGREEMENT:  as defined in the recitals.

          BOARD:  as defined in the recitals.

          CERTIFICATE OF MERGER:  as defined in Section 2.5.

          CERTIFICATES:  as defined in Section 2.8(b).

          CLOSING DATE:  means the date on which the Effective Time occurs.

          COBRA:  as defined in Section 3.17(n).


          CODE:  means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

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

                                         -41-


          COMPANY ACQUISITION AGREEMENT:  as defined in Section 5.5(b).

          COMPANY COMMON STOCK:  means issued and outstanding shares of Common
Stock, par value $.004 per share, of Company.
          Company Material Adverse Effect:  as defined in Section 3.1.

          COMPANY STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL:  as defined in Section 5.2(b).

          COMPANY STOCKHOLDER MEETING:  as defined in Section 5.2(b).

          COMPANY STOCK OPTION PLANS:  as defined in Section 2.9.

          COMPANY SUPERIOR PROPOSAL:  as defined in Section 5.5(b).

          COMPANY TAKEOVER PROPOSAL:  as defined in Section 5.5(a).

          CONSULTANT:  as defined in Section 5.1.

          CONSULTANT NOTICE:  as defined in Section 5.1.

          CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK:  as defined in Section 2.6(d).

          DISCLOSURE STATEMENT:  as defined in Section 3.2.

          DISSENTING SHARES: as defined in Section 2.6(e).

          EFFECTIVE TIME:  as defined in Section 2.5.

          ERISA:  the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.

          ERISA AFFILIATE:  as defined in Section 3.17(d).

          EXCHANGE ACT:  as defined in Section 1.2(b).

          EXCHANGE AGENT: Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company or such
other a bank or trust company to be designated by Parent prior to the Effective
Time to act as exchange agent.

          FHC:  means Fairchild Holding Corp.

          FHC INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT:  means the Indemnification Agreement
between FHC and Company dated March 13, 1996.

                                         -42-


          FII:  as defined in Section 3.27.

          FIRST BOSTON:  as defined in Section 1.2(a).


          GCL:  as defined in the recitals.

          GOOD FAITH DEPOSIT:  as defined in Section 2.10.

          HSR ACT:  as defined in Section 3.5(b).

          INDEMNIFIED PERSONS:  as defined in Section 5.9(a).


          IRS: as defined in Section 3.17(e).

          MERGER:  as defined in the recitals.

          MERGER CONSIDERATION:  as defined in Section 2.6(d).

          MULTIEMPLOYER PLAN:  as defined in Section 3.17(k).

          OFFER DOCUMENTS:  as defined in Section 1.1(b).

          OFFER TO PURCHASE:  as defined in Section 1.1(b).

          OTHER PLANS:  as defined in Section 3.17(b).

          PARENT:  as defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
          Parent Material Adverse Event:  as defined in Section
          4.1.

          PBGC: as defined in Section 3.17(j).

          PENDING TRANSACTIONS:  means the pending transactions regarding ICS
Communications, Inc. and GE Capital-Rescum, L.L.P.

          PENSION BENEFIT PLANS:  as defined in Section 3.17(a).

          PER SHARE AMOUNT: as defined in Section 2.6(a).

          PER SHARE OFFER AMOUNT:  as defined in the recitals.

          PERSON:  an individual, partnership, joint venture, corporation,
trust, unincorporated organization and a government or any department or agency
thereof.

          PLANS:  as defined in Section 3.17(c).

                                         -43-


          PLEDGE AGENT:  shall mean Gadsby & Hannah.

          PLEDGE AGREEMENT:  means the Pledge Agreement dated as of March 13,
1996 by RHI in favor of Gadsby & Hannah as pledge agent.

          PREFERRED PER SHARE AMOUNT:  as defined in Section 2.6(d).

          PREFERRED SHARES:  as defined in Section 2.6(d).

          PROXY FILINGS:  as defined in Section 5.2(a).

          PROXY STATEMENT:  as defined in Section 3.8.

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

          RHI:  means RHI Holdings, Inc.

          RHI INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT:  means the Indemnification Agreement
dated March 13, 1996 by and among TFC, RHI and Company.

          SCHEDULE 14D-1:  as defined in Section 1.1(b).

          SCHEDULE 14D-9:  as defined in Section 1.2(b).

          SEC: as defined in Section 1.1(b).

          SEC REPORTS:  as defined in Section 3.6.

          SECURITIES ACT:  as defined in Section 3.6.

          SERIES D STOCK:  as defined in Section 2.6(d).

          SHARES:  means collectively, all shares of Company Common Stock.

          SHARES CONSIDERATION: as defined in Section 2.6(a).

          SPECIAL PREFERRED STOCK:  as defined in Section 2.6(d).

          SUBSIDIARY:  with respect to any Person, any corporation or other
business entity, a majority (by number of votes) of the shares of capital stock
(or other voting interests) of which at the time outstanding is owned by such
Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries.

          SURVIVING CORPORATION:  as defined in Section 2.1.

                                         -44-


          TEL-SAVE:  as defined in Section 7.4(a).

          TERMINATION FEE:  as defined in Section 7.4(a).

          TFC:  means The Fairchild Corporation.

          TAX or TAXES:  as defined in Section 3.16.

          WELFARE PLANS:  as defined in Section 3.17(b).

          VIII.2.   NON-SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS. 
No representations, warranties or agreements in this Agreement or in any
instrument delivered by Parent, Purchaser or Company pursuant to this Agreement
shall survive the Merger.

          VIII.3.   NOTICES.  All notices, requests, claims, demands, consents
and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given
if delivered personally or by fax or mailed by registered or certified mail
(return receipt requested) to the parties at the following addresses (or at such
other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

          if to Parent or Purchaser, a copy to:
               
               Intermedia Communications Inc.
               3625 Queen Palm Drive
               Tampa, Florida 33619
               Attention: Chief Financial Officer
               Telecopy: (813) 829-2470

          with a copy to:
               
               Kronish, Lieb, Weiner & Hellman LLP
               1114 Avenue of the Americas
               New York, NY 10036
               Attention:  Ralph J. Sutcliffe, Esq.
               Telecopy: (212) 479-6275

          if to Company, a copy to:
               
               Shared Technologies Fairchild Inc.
               100 Great Meadow Road, Suite 104
               Wethersfield, CT  06109
               Telecopy No.: (860) 258-2455
               Attention: Kenneth M. Dorros, Esq.

          with a copy to:
               
               Cahill Gordon & Reindel
               80 Pine Street

                                         -45-


               New York, NY  10005
               Telecopy No.: (212) 269-5420
               Attention: James J. Clark, Esq..

          and

               The Fairchild Corporation
               300 West Service Road
               P.O. Box 10803
               Chantilly, VA  22021
               Telecopy No.:  (703) 478-5775
               Attention:  Donald E. Miller, Esq.

          VIII.4.   SEVERABILITY.  If any term or other provision of this
Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law,
or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal
substance of the transactions contemplated thereby is not affected in any manner
materially adverse to any party.  Upon such determination that any term or other
provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto
shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the
original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable
manner in order that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement including
the Merger, be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent
possible.

          VIII.5.   MISCELLANEOUS.  This Agreement (including the exhibits,
documents and instruments referred to herein or therein) (A) constitutes the
entire agreement and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings,
both written and oral, among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the
subject matter hereof and thereof; (B) is not intended to confer upon any other
person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder; (C) shall
not be assigned by operation of law or otherwise, except that each of Parent and
Purchaser may assign its rights and obligations hereunder without the consent of
Company to one or more direct or indirect Subsidiaries of Parent (it being
recognized that such an assignment shall not release or discharge the assignor
from its obligations under this Agreement); and (D) shall be governed in all
respects, including validity, interpretation and effect, by the laws of the
State of Delaware.  The descriptive headings contained in this Agreement are
included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.  This Agreement may be executed in
two or more counterparts which together shall constitute a single instrument.

                                         -46-


          VIII.6.   SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE.  The parties agree that due to the
unique subject matter of this transaction, monetary damages will be insufficient
to compensate the non-breaching party in the event of a breach of any part of
this Agreement.   Accordingly, the parties agree that the non-breaching party
shall be entitled (without prejudice to any other right or remedy to which it
may be entitled) to an appropriate decree of specific performance, or an
injunction restraining any violation of this Agreement or other equitable
remedies to enforce this Agreement (without establishing the likelihood of
irreparable injury or posting bond or other security), and the breaching party
waives in any action or proceeding brought to enforce this Agreement the defense
that there exists an adequate remedy at law.

          VIII.7.   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY
WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM BROUGHT BY OR
AGAINST IT ON ANY MATTERS WHATSOEVER, IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT, ARISING OUT OF OR
IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THIS AGREEMENT.

                     [Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Purchaser and Company have caused this
Agreement to be executed by their respective duly authorized officers on the
date first above written.

                                   INTERMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS INC.
                              
                                   By:  _______________________
                                        Name:
                                        Title:
                              
                                   MOONLIGHT ACQUISITION CORP.
                              
                                   By:  _______________________
                                        Name:
                                        Title:
                              
                                   SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD INC.
                              
                                   By:  _______________________
                                   Name:  _____________________
                                   Title: _____________________
                              
                                         -47-

                                      SCHEDULE A

          Long Distance Services Agreement, dated November 13, 1997, between
Company and Tel-Save Holdings, Inc.



                                                                         ANNEX A
                               Conditions to the Offer

          Notwithstanding any other provision of the Offer, Purchaser shall not
be required to accept for payment or pay for any Shares tendered pursuant to the
Offer, and may terminate or amend the Offer and may postpone the acceptance for
payment of and payment for Shares tendered, if (i) any applicable waiting period
under the HSR Act shall not have expired or been terminated prior to the
expiration of the Offer, or (ii) at any time on or after the date of this
Agreement, and prior to the acceptance for payment of Shares, any of the
following conditions shall exist:

          (a)  any judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or
     regulation entered, enacted, promulgated, enforced or issued by any court
     or other governmental entity of competent jurisdiction or other legal
     restraint or prohibition shall be in effect preventing the consummation of
     the Offer;

          (b)  all necessary consents and approvals of any federal, state or
     local governmental authority or any other third party required for the
     consummation of the Offer and the transactions contemplated by this
     Agreement shall not have been obtained except for such consents and
     approvals the failure to obtain which individually or in the aggregate
     would not have a material adverse effect on the Surviving Corporation or a
     Parent Material Adverse Effect;

          (c)  any of the representations and warranties of Company set forth in
     the Agreement shall not be true and correct as of July 16, 1997 or any of
     the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.4,
     3.10, 3.14, 3.21, 3.22, 3.23 and 3.29 of the Agreement shall not be true as
     of the date Parent shall first accept Shares for payment, where the failure
     of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct (without
     giving effect to any limitation as to "materiality" or "material adverse
     effect" set forth therein) has, or is likely to have, individually or in
     the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect or cause any material
     increase in the consideration required to be paid by Parent and Purchaser
     effectively to consummate the Offer or the Merger;



          (d)  Company shall not have performed any obligation required to be
     performed by it under this Agreement as of the date Parent shall first
     accept Shares for payment, where the non-performance of such obligation
     has, or is likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
     Material Adverse Effect or cause any material increase in the consideration
     required to be paid by Parent and Purchaser effectively to consummate the
     Offer;

          (e)  the Merger Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance
     with its terms; or

          (f)  Purchaser and Company shall have agreed that Purchaser shall
     terminate the Offer or postpone the acceptance for payment of or payment
     for Shares thereunder;

which, in the reasonable judgment of Purchaser in any such case, and regardless
of the circumstances (including any action or inaction by Parent or any of its
affiliates) giving rise to any such condition, makes it inadvisable to proceed
with such acceptance for payment or payment.

          The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of Purchaser and
Parent and may be asserted by Purchaser or Parent regardless of the
circumstances giving rise to any such condition or may be waived by Purchaser or
Parent in whole or in part at any time and from time to time in their sole
discretion.  The failure by Parent or Purchaser at any time to exercise any of
the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any such right; the waiver
of any such right with respect to particular facts and other circumstances shall
not be deemed a waiver with respect to any other facts and circumstances; and
each such right shall be deemed an ongoing right that may be asserted at any
time and from time to time.

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