Exhibit 2.8 EARNOUT AGREEMENT, dated as of October 30, 1998, to the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated July 22, 1998 and the First Amendment to Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 18, 1998 (the "Stock Purchase Agreement") by and between AvTel Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("AvTel"), and Jeffrey Leventhal, Sarah Choi, Richard Reich, Matthew Blumenthal, Mark Sackstein, Neil Brenner, Andy Denton, Alliance Capital Investments Corp. ("Alliance Capital"), Leventhal Paget, LLC and Rosen & Tetelman. 1) Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein are used herein as set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement. 2) Jeffrey Leventhal, Sarah Choi, Richard Reich, Matthew Blumenthal, Neil Brenner and Andy Denton shall be defined herein as the "Employee Stockholders" and Mark Sackstein, Alliance Capital, Leventhal Paget, LLC and Rosen & Tetelman shall be defined herein as the "Non-Employee Stockholders". 3) At the Closing, AvTel will issue a total of 140,140 shares of AvTel Common Stock (the "ALTERNATE DELIVERED EARNOUT SHARES") to the following Stockholders: Jeffrey P. Leventhal, Sarah Choi, Rich Reich, Matt Blumenthal, Mark Sackstein, Neil Brenner, Andy Denton, Alliance Capital, Leventhal Paget, LLC and Rosen & Tetelman. The number of Alternate Delivered Earnout Shares has been determined as if RLI had already met the requirements set forth in Section 1.2.2(b)(2), using $10.00 as the divisor for the Employee Shareholders and $7.00 as the divisor for the Non-Employee Shareholders. For purposes of calculating the number of Alternate Delivered Earnout Shares to be received by each such named Stockholder, the numbers shall be rounded to the nearest whole share as required to avoid issuance of fractional shares. The parties hereto agree that the Alternate Delivered Earnout Shares are delivered to such named Stockholders in full satisfaction of any and all obligations of AvTel to deliver Earnout Shares to such named Stockholders and such Shares shall not be refundable. Thus, the Alternate Delivered Earnout Shares will be delivered at Closing as follows: Stockholder Alternate Delivered Earnout Shares - ----------- ---------------------------------- Jeffrey Leventhal 93,224 Sarah Choi 5,215 Richard Reich 5,215 Matthew Blumenthal 5,215 Alliance Capital 8,241 Leventhal Paget 8,851 Mark Sackstein 7,450 Rosen & Tetelman 533 Neil Brenner 3,098 Andy Denton 3,098 4) The Alternate Delivered Earnout Shares to be included in the definition of "Registrable Shares" under Section 5.2.2 (B) of the First Amendment to the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 18, 1998 (the "First Amendment") by and between AvTel, the Stockholders and RLI. 5) Except as amended hereby, the Stock Purchase Agreement shall continue unchanged and in full force and effect. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written. AVTEL COMMUNICATIONS,INC. By: /S/ JAMES P. PISANI ------------------- James P. Pisani Title: President /S/ JEFFREY P. LEVENTHAL ------------------------ Jeffrey P. Leventhal LEVENTHAL PAGET, LLC By:/S/ JEFFREY LEVENTHAL ------------------------ Jeffrey Leventhal /S/ SARAH CHOI /S/ MARK SACKSTEIN - -------------- ------------------ Sarah Choi Mark Sackstein /S/ RICHARD REICH /S/ NEIL BRENNER - ----------------- ---------------- Richard Reich Neil Brenner /S/MATTHEW BLUMENTHAL /S/ ANDY DENTON - --------------------- --------------- Matthew Blumenthal Andy Denton ALLIANCE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS CORP. By: /S/ STACIE GREENE ----------------- Stacie Greene Title: President ROSEN & TETELMAN By: /S/ TED D. ROSEN --------------------- Ted D. Rosen, Partner