October 14, 2004 Stephen C. Gray President McLeodUSA Incorporated McLeodUSA Technology Park 6400 C Street SW, P.O. Box 3177, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-31 Re: Employment Agreement, dated as of January 7, 2000 (as revised by the letter agreements dated as...

                                                                   Exhibit 10.2




                                                October 14, 2004

Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
President
McLeodUSA Incorporated
McLeodUSA Technology Park
 0000 X Xxxxxx XX, X.X. Xxx 0000,
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000-00


                  Re:  Employment Agreement, dated as of January 7, 2000 (as
                       revised by the letter agreements dated as of July 31,
                       2001 and April 22, 2002, the "Agreement")

         This letter confirms our understanding that, effective as of the date
hereof, the Agreement is reinstated in the same form as it existed prior to its
scheduled expiration on January 7, 2003 with the following revisions:

1.    Section 2 of the Agreement is amended to delete the phrase "the third
      anniversary of the Commencement Date" and replace it with the phrase
      "October 14, 2007."

2.    The first sentence of Section 3 of the Agreement is replaced with the
      following sentence:

        The Executive shall serve as President of the Company and as a
        member of the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") and of
        the Board's executive committee and shall have such
        responsibilities, duty and authority as may from time to time be
        assigned to the Executive by the Board that are consistent with such
        position.

3.    Section 5 of the Agreement is amended to revise paragraph (b) to replace
      two references to "50%" with references to "100%."

4.    Section 8 of the Agreement is amended to revise paragraph (d), clause
      (iv) to replace the phrase "the original three-year Term" with the phrase
      "the original Term (including any extension thereof)."

5.    Section 10 of the Agreement is amended to replace the two references to
      "the fourth anniversary of the Commencement Date" with references to
      "October 14, 2008."

         Except as specifically amended and modified above, the reinstated
Agreement is ratified and confirmed in all respects.


         Please confirm your agreement with the foregoing by signing and
returning to the undersigned a copy of this letter.

                                                   Very truly yours,

                                                   MCLEODUSA INCORPORATED


                                                      /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
                                                   By: ______________________
                                                          Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
                                                   Its:  Chairman and Chief
                                                         Executive Officer



Confirmed and Agreed as of
the date first written above:


/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
_______________________
   Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx