<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
      THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
      CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
      AND  THE  CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE  SHEET  AS OF  DECEMBER  31,  1996  AND IS
      QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000808461
<NAME>                        GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                         13,349
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  27,953
<ALLOWANCES>                                   597
<INVENTORY>                                    1,589
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               47,102
<PP&E>                                         178,248
<DEPRECIATION>                                 41,497
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 447,335
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          69,877
<BONDS>                                        191,948
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       115,843
<OTHER-SE>                                     33,711
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   447,335
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               164,894
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  92,664
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               23,421
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               1,736
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             4,199
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                12,690
<INCOME-TAX>                                   5,228
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            7,462
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   7,462
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .27
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .27