[ARTICLE] 5
[CIK] 0000732718
[NAME] U S WEST, INC.
[MULTIPLIER] 1,000,000

                                                  
[PERIOD-TYPE]                   3-MOS                   6-MOS
[FISCAL-YEAR-END]                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996
[PERIOD-END]                               JUN-30-1996             JUN-30-1996
[CASH]                                             127                     127
[SECURITIES]                                         0                       0
[RECEIVABLES]                                    1,872                   1,872
[ALLOWANCES]                                         0                       0
[INVENTORY]                                        220                     220
[CURRENT-ASSETS]                                 2,835                   2,835
[PP&E]                                          33,623                  33,623
[DEPRECIATION]                                  18,634                  18,634
[TOTAL-ASSETS]                                  25,289                  25,289
[CURRENT-LIABILITIES]                            4,679                   4,679
[BONDS]                                          7,360                   7,360
[PREFERRED-MANDATORY]                              651                     651
[PREFERRED]                                          0                       0
[COMMON]                                         8,373                   8,373
[OTHER-SE]                                       (156)                   (156)
[TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY]                    25,289                  25,289
[SALES]                                          3,124                   6,174
[TOTAL-REVENUES]                                 3,124                   6,174
[CGS]                                                0                       0
[TOTAL-COSTS]                                        0                       0
[OTHER-EXPENSES]                                 2,406                   4,731
[LOSS-PROVISION]                                     0                       0
[INTEREST-EXPENSE]                                 136                     271
[INCOME-PRETAX]                                    519                   1,008
[INCOME-TAX]                                       206                     398
[INCOME-CONTINUING]                                313                     610
[DISCONTINUED]                                       0                       0
[EXTRAORDINARY]                                      0                       0
[CHANGES]                                            0                      34
[NET-INCOME]                                       313                     644
[EPS-PRIMARY]                                      .68                    1.37
[EPS-DILUTED]                                      .68                    1.37