<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000808461 <NAME> GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 5,255 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 24,922 <ALLOWANCES> 298 <INVENTORY> 891 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 35,409 <PP&E> 109,010 <DEPRECIATION> 38,981 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 119,747 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 53,292 <BONDS> 6,558 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 16,521 <OTHER-SE> 32,677 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 119,747 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 115,832 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 66,350 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 14,437 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,413 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,219 <INCOME-PRETAX> 11,038 <INCOME-TAX> 4,610 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 6,428 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 6,428 <EPS-PRIMARY> .26 <EPS-DILUTED> .26