<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
      THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
      INTERIM CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE
      30, 1997 AND THE  CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE  SHEET AS OF JUNE 30, 1997 AND IS
      QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000808461
<NAME>                        GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                         7,225
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  32,979
<ALLOWANCES>                                   905
<INVENTORY>                                    3,237
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               46,894
<PP&E>                                         199,347
<DEPRECIATION>                                 49,606
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 457,409
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          40,777
<BONDS>                                        219,699
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       126,945
<OTHER-SE>                                     32,513
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   457,409
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               109,067
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  56,946
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               44,901
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               1,142
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             8,482
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (2,099)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (742)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (1,357)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (1,357)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (0.03)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (0.03)