<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 25,822 <SECURITIES> 2,785 <RECEIVABLES> 131,823 <ALLOWANCES> 44,970 <INVENTORY> 13,488 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 186,721 <PP&E> 434,645 <DEPRECIATION> 125,263 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 753,324 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 147,109 <BONDS> 494,449 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 224,472 <OTHER-SE> (173,874) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 753,324 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 502,407 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 205,041 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 203,162 <LOSS-PROVISION> 33,449 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 34,715 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,418 <INCOME-TAX> 1,129 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,289 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,289 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.04 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.04