<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000732718 <NAME> U S WEST, Inc. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 259 259 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 2,107 2,107 <ALLOWANCES> 0 0 <INVENTORY> 216 216 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 3,133 3,133 <PP&E> 39,149 39,149 <DEPRECIATION> 20,600 20,600 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 40,554 40,554 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 6,565 6,565 <BONDS> 13,422 13,422 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 1,180 1,180 <PREFERRED> 921 921 <COMMON> 10,800 10,800 <OTHER-SE> (199) (199) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 40,554 40,554 <SALES> 3,918 11,471 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 3,918 11,471 <CGS> 0 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 3,134 9,058 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 279 823 <INCOME-PRETAX> 333 1,148 <INCOME-TAX> 135 485 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 198 663 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (6) (3) <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 192 660 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.69 2.08 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.69 2.06