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                                  EXHIBIT 99.16


       FORM OF WRITTEN COMPENSATION AGREEMENT FOR MESSRS. SADR AND WEISMAN

                             COMPENSATION AGREEMENT


               Agreement made as of the ___ day of February, 2000 by and
between ____________ ("Executive") and ACT Networks, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Corporation").

                               W I T N E S S E T H

               WHEREAS, Executive is an individual who is to provide valuable
services to the Corporation, and the Corporation wishes to provide an equity
incentive to Executive as an inducement for him to continue in the Corporation's
employ.

               NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above premises, the
parties hereto agree as follows:

               1.     On February __, 2000, Executive was granted an option to
                      purchase _______________shares of the Corporation's Common
                      Stock (the "Option") under the terms and conditions set
                      forth in the Notice of Grant of Stock Option and Stock
                      Option Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A.

               2.     Corporation and Executive acknowledge and agree that the
                      Option and the shares purchasable under such Option are
                      granted as compensation for services Executive is to
                      render the Corporation and not for any capital-raising
                      purposes or in connection with any capital-raising
                      activities.

               3.     This agreement is intended to constitute a written
                      compensation contract for purposes of the requirements of
                      the Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities
                      Act of 1933, as amended.

               4.     Nothing herein or in the Notice of Grant of Stock Option
                      or Stock Option Agreement is intended to impair the right
                      of the Corporation or Executive to terminate Executive's
                      employment with the Corporation at any time in accordance
                      with applicable law.

               IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
agreement as of the date first above written.


EXECUTIVE:                                        ACT NETWORKS, INC.


                                                  By:
---------------------------------                    ---------------------------

Printed Name:                                     Title:
             --------------------                       ------------------------

