<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000357064 <NAME> TCI INTERNATIONAL, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997 <PERIOD-START> OCT-1-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 6,518 <SECURITIES> 13,038 <RECEIVABLES> 10,762 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 9,226 <DEPRECIATION> 7,619 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 40,930 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 14,486 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 11,780 <OTHER-SE> 14,664 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 40,930 <SALES> 10,668 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 10,668 <CGS> 7,065 <TOTAL-COSTS> 7,065 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 3,487 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 554 <INCOME-TAX> 177 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 377 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 377 <EPS-PRIMARY> .11 <EPS-DILUTED> .11