<ARTICLE>                     5
<CIK>                         0000068622
<NAME>                        U S WEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                         289
<SECURITIES>                                     0
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,553
<ALLOWANCES>                                     0
<INVENTORY>                                    144
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             2,229
<PP&E>                                      33,447
<DEPRECIATION>                              19,362
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              17,124
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        3,881
<BONDS>                                      4,931
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            0
<PREFERRED>                                      0
<COMMON>                                     8,017
<OTHER-SE>                                  (3,617)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                17,124
<SALES>                                      2,669
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             2,669
<CGS>                                            0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             1,944
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              91
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                607
<INCOME-TAX>                                   233
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            374
<DISCONTINUED>                                   0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                  0
<CHANGES>                                        0
<NET-INCOME>                                   374
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0