ADVANCED SWITCHING COMMUNICATIONS INC
SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE OF GLEN
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<DESCRIPTION>SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE OF GLEN
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<P align="right"><B>Exhibit&nbsp;10.4</B>

<P align="center"><B>Separation Agreement and General Release</B>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This Separation Agreement and General Release (hereinafter &#147;Agreement&#148;) is
entered into by and between Advanced Switching Communications, Inc. (referred
to as &#147;the Company&#148;) and Glen Hunt (referred to as &#147;Employee&#148;), who are
collectively referred to herein as the &#147;Parties.&#148;

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;WHEREAS, the Parties now desire and agree to forever sever their
employment relationship and to fully and finally resolve any and all existing
or potential issues, claims, causes of action, grievances and disputes without
any admission of liability or finding or admission that any of Employee&#146;s
rights, under any statute, claim or otherwise, were in any way violated. In
consideration of the mutual promises contained herein, and other good and
valuable consideration as hereinafter recited, the receipt and adequacy of
which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree
as follows:

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.&nbsp;Employee hereby acknowledges that the Company has notified him on
August&nbsp;1, 2001 (the &#147;Notification Date&#148;) that his employment with the Company
will cease on August&nbsp;15, 2001 (the &#147;Termination Date&#148;). From the Notification
Date through the Termination Date, Employee shall be placed on paid
administrative leave. During this period of paid administrative leave,
Employee agrees to provide transitional services as they may be reasonably
requested by the Company.

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Employee&#146;s employment at the Company will end on the Termination Date.
Employee recognizes that for purposes of the continuation coverage requirements
of group health plans under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
of 1985 (COBRA), as amended, and the group health provisions of any applicable
state or local law, a &#147;qualifying event&#148; occurs on Employee&#146;s Termination Date.

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.&nbsp;In exchange for the promises made by Employee herein and if Employee
executes and does not revoke this Agreement, the Company agrees to pay to
Employee, in addition to the two weeks of paid administrative leave described
in Paragraph&nbsp;1 above, an amount equal to Employee&#146;s base pay (i.e., Employee&#146;s
bi-weekly salary) that Employee would have earned for nine (9)&nbsp;months, less all
lawful deductions, which shall be paid to Employee in accordance with the
Company&#146;s normal payroll schedule over the twenty-six (26)&nbsp;week period from
August&nbsp;16, 2001, to May&nbsp;15, 2002 (the &#147;Guaranteed Severance Period&#148;). The
Company agrees to begin making the Guaranteed Severance payments to Employee
within fourteen (14)&nbsp;days after the &#147;Effective Date,&#148; as defined in paragraph
16, except that, in the event Employee exercises his revocation rights under
paragraph 15, the Company has no obligation to make any of the severance
payments described in this paragraph.

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<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3.&nbsp;Employee agrees that upon the Termination Date, he will surrender to
the Company every item and every document in Employee&#146;s possession or control
that is the Company&#146;s property (including but not limited to keys, records,
computers, peripherals, computer files and disks, notes, memoranda, models,
inventory and equipment) or contains Company information, in whatever form.
Employee acknowledges and stipulates that all of the Company&#146;s electronic and
telephonic communication systems, computers and other business equipment
including, but not limited to, computer systems, data bases, phone mail,
modems, e-mail, Internet access, Web sites, fax machines, techniques,
processes, formulas, mask works, source codes, programs, semiconductor chips,
processors, memories, disc drives, tape heads, computer terminals, keyboards,
storage devices, printers and optical character recognition devices, and any
and all components, devices, techniques or circuitry incorporated in any of the
above and similar business devices (herein collectively referred to as
&#147;Electronic Equipment&#148; ), are the sole property of the Company, and that any
information transmitted by, received from, or stored in such Electronic
Equipment is also the Company&#146;s property. Employee agrees that, after his
separation of employment from the Company, he shall not, directly or
indirectly, for himself or for any other person or entity, use, access, copy,
or retrieve, or attempt to use, access, copy, or retrieve, any of the Company&#146;s
Electronic Equipment or any information on the Company&#146;s Electronic Equipment.

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4.&nbsp;All reference requests from Employee&#146;s prospective employers shall be
made in writing addressed to the attention of Laurie Foglesong, Director of
Human Resources. In response to such requests, the Department of Human
Resources will provide to prospective employers Employee&#146;s dates of employment
and job title. The Department of Human Resources will not provide any
additional information to prospective employers regarding Employee&#146;s employment
without Employee&#146;s written consent.

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5.&nbsp;The parties acknowledge that Employee&#146;s entitlement to stock options of
the Company is governed by one or more stock option agreements (the &#147;Option
Agreements&#148;). The procedures and time restrictions for the exercise of vested
options are set forth in the Option Agreements. All unvested options
previously granted to Employee shall expire and terminate on the Termination
Date.

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6.&nbsp;Employee agrees that he is not otherwise entitled to the severance
payments from the Company described in Paragraph&nbsp;2 above during the Guaranteed
Severance Period. Employee understands that by signing this Agreement, he is
electing to receive those payments under the terms set forth in this Agreement.

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7.&nbsp;As of the date Employee signs this Agreement, Employee represents that
he has been paid for all hours worked through the date of his signature and has
not suffered any on-the-job injury as of the date of his signature for which he
has not already filed a claim. As a part of this Agreement, the Company agrees
that all vacation pay, commissions, or overtime pay (if applicable) that he is
owed will be paid on August&nbsp;15, 2001.
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<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8.&nbsp;Employee agrees that, in consideration of the additional severance
payments described in paragraph 2 herein, he will, and hereby does, forever and
irrevocably release and discharge the Company, and its past, present and
future, affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, divisions, predecessors, purchasers,
assigns, representatives and successors, and its and their officers, directors,
employees, independent contractors, agents, (herein collectively referred to as
the &#147;Releasees&#148;) from any and all claims, causes of action, damages, defenses,
promises, judgments, and liabilities, known or unknown, whatsoever which he now
has, has had, or may have, whether the same be at law, in equity, or mixed, in
any way arising from or relating to any act, occurrence, or transaction before
the date of this Agreement, including without limitation his employment and
separation of employment from the Company and any and all tax related
liabilities that may result from this Agreement. Employee expressly
acknowledges that this General Release includes, but is not limited to,
Employee&#146;s intent to release the Company from tort and contract claims,
wrongful discharge claims, statutory claims, compensation claims, and claims of
discrimination or harassment based on age, race, color, sex, religion,
handicap, disability, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status,
retaliation or any claim under the Age Discrimination In Employment Act (29
U.S.C. &#167;&#167; 626 et seq., &#147;ADEA&#148;), Title VII of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and
1991 as amended (42 U.S.C. &#167;&#167;&nbsp;2000e et seq.), Employee Retirement Income
Security Act (29 U.S.C. &#167;&#167; 1001 et seq.), the Consolidated Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1985 (29 U.S.C. &#167;&#167; 1161 et seq.), the Americans With
Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. &#167;&#167; 12101 et seq.), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
(29 U.S.C. &#167;&#167;&nbsp;701 et seq.), the Family and Medical Leave Act (29 U.S.C.
&#167;&#167;&nbsp;2601 et seq.), the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (29
U.S.C. &#167;&#167;&nbsp;2101 et seq), and any other federal, state or local law
prohibiting employment discrimination or relating to the employment
relationship. This release does not include any claims that cannot be waived
by law. It is agreed and understood that this release is a GENERAL RELEASE to
be construed in the broadest possible manner consistent with applicable law.

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9.&nbsp;Employee agrees not to make or file any lawsuits, complaints, or other
proceedings of any kind in any federal, state or municipal court against the
Company or any of the Releasees concerning any claim that he has released in
this Agreement. Provided that, this Agreement and covenant not to sue does not
restrict Employee&#146;s right to challenge the enforceability of this Agreement or
to file a charge with or participate in an investigation conducted by any
government agencies. Employee further agrees that no such lawsuits,
complaints, or other proceedings have already been made or filed by or on
behalf of Employee regarding any claims that have been released by this
Agreement. Employee further agrees and covenants not to assist or encourage
others in making or filing any lawsuits in any federal, state or municipal
court against the Company or any of the Releasees.

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10.&nbsp;Employee agrees that the additional severance payments provided for in
this Agreement shall not be construed as an admission of any wrongdoing or
liability on the part of the Company and that any such wrongdoing or liability
is expressly denied. Employee represents that he has not assigned or
transferred to any person or entity any
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<P> claim against the Company and that any such claim is not assignable or
transferable. The Parties agree that this Agreement shall be governed by
Virginia law, and that the state and/or federal courts in Virginia shall have
sole and exclusive jurisdiction and venue to hear any dispute concerning this
Agreement. If any terms of the provisions of this Agreement are found null,
void or inoperative, for any reason, the remaining provisions will remain in
full force and effect. The language of all parts of this Agreement shall in
all cases be construed as a whole, according to its fair meaning, and not
strictly for or against either of the Parties.

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Parties agree that this Agreement contains and comprises the entire
agreement and understanding of the Parties, that there are no additional
promises or terms of the Agreement among the Parties other than those contained
herein, and that this Agreement shall not be modified exception a writing
signed by each of the Parties hereto. This Agreement cancels and supersedes any
prior employment agreements or arrangements that Employee may have entered into
with the Company or any of the Releasees, except that the terms of paragraphs 6
and 7 of Employee&#146;s Key Employee Employment Agreement and the Option
Agreement(s) (to the extent applicable for vested options) entered into by
Employee and Company shall remain and continue in effect in accordance with the
terms thereof.

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;12.&nbsp;Employee agrees that he will not disclose or cause to be disclosed any
negative, adverse or derogatory comments or information about the Company,
about any product or service provided by the Company, or about the Company&#146;s
prospects for the future, except as required by law. Furthermore, Employee
hereby represents to the Company that he has made no such communication to any
public official, to any person associated with the media, or to any other
person or entity. Employee acknowledges that the Company relies upon this
representation in agreeing to enter into this Agreement.

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;13.&nbsp;Employee represents that he has read this Agreement, that he
understands all of its terms, that in executing this Agreement he does not rely
and has not relied upon any representation or statements made by any of the
Company&#146;s agents, representatives, or attorneys with regard to the subject
matter, basis, or effect of the Agreement, and that he enters into this
Agreement voluntarily, of his own free will, without any duress and with
knowledge of its meaning and effect. Employee acknowledges that he has been
and is advised by the Company to consult an attorney prior to executing the
Agreement.

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;14.&nbsp;Employee understands that he has twenty-one (21)&nbsp;days from the date of
his receipt of this Agreement, which was August&nbsp;1, 2001, to sign it, and that
he may unilaterally waive this period at his election. Employee&#146;s signature on
this Agreement constitutes an express waiver of the twenty-one (21)&nbsp;day period
if affixed prior to the expiration of that period. By signing this Agreement,
Employee expressly acknowledges that his decision to sign this Agreement was
knowing and voluntary and of his own free will. The Parties agree that any
revisions or modifications to this Agreement, whether material or immaterial,
will not and did not restart this time period.
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<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;15.&nbsp;Employee acknowledges that he may revoke this Agreement for up to and
including seven (7)&nbsp;days after his execution of this Agreement, and this
Agreement regarding his release of claims shall not become effective until the
Effective Date as defined in paragraph 16. Employee agrees that, in order to
be effective, his revocation pursuant to this Paragraph must be delivered in
writing to Sherry Rhodes before 5:00 p.m. on the seventh day following
Employee&#146;s execution of this Agreement.

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;16.&nbsp;This Agreement shall become effective on the eighth day following the
date on which Employee signs it, unless Employee revokes it (&#147;Effective Date&#148;).

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;17.&nbsp;Employee also acknowledges that the Company may require him to provide
assistance to the Company in the investigation and/or defense of potential or
actual claims, charges or legal actions against the Company and agrees to
provide the requested assistance, which may include, but is not limited to,
interview(s), affidavit(s) and/or in person testimony. Employee acknowledges
that such requests may come during and/or after his Guaranteed Severance Period
and agrees to provide the assistance as and when required. If Employee no
longer resides in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area when his assistance is
required and it is necessary that he be present in the metropolitan area to
provide that assistance, the Company will pay his reasonable travel and related
expenses for such period as his presence is required but will not pay for his
time spent either traveling or rendering such assistance or for any lost
income.

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as of
the day and year first written above.

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        <TD valign="top">Employee Signature/Printed Name<BR>/s/ GLEN A. HUNT</TD>
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Date<br>August 8, 2001</TD>
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        <TD valign="top">For:  Advanced Switching Communications, Inc.<br>/s/ SHERRY L. RHODES</TD>
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Date<br>July 31, 2001</TD>
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