<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999             DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1999             DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                           8,194                  20,051                  28,724
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  242,068                 209,769                 141,268
<ALLOWANCES>                                     8,346                   8,303                   6,195
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               280,431                 254,313                 197,587
<PP&E>                                         359,564                 336,202                 238,015
<DEPRECIATION>                                  25,545                  55,153                  31,206
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               7,509,017               3,420,708               2,601,878
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          199,747                 163,400                 118,249
<BONDS>                                      1,062,214               1,595,776               1,112,800
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                     512                     457
<OTHER-SE>                                   4,547,571               1,202,554                 915,894
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 7,509,017               3,420,708               2,601,878
<SALES>                                              0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,111,892                 850,720                 595,229
<CGS>                                                0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  745,822                 594,113                 421,438
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               310,584                 140,076                  92,578
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    42                   2,108                   1,155
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             110,715                 107,295                  82,315
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 69,632                  29,042                  13,004
<INCOME-TAX>                                    53,045                  28,100                   9,600
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             16,587                     942                   3,404
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                               (13,185)                       0                   7,456
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     3,402                     942                 (4,052)
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0                     .02                   (.10)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                     .02                   (.10)