<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
      THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
      INTERIM  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT  OF  INCOME  FOR THE  NINE  MONTHS  ENDED
      SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND THE CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 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>                                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                         46,565
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  35,948
<ALLOWANCES>                                   909
<INVENTORY>                                    3,213
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               49,338
<PP&E>                                         218,943
<DEPRECIATION>                                 53,986
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 531,059
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          43,693
<BONDS>                                        243,006
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       172,719
<OTHER-SE>                                     31,675
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   531,059
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               167,023
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  85,814
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               69,178
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               2,167
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             12,765
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (2,901)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (1,049)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (1,852)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                433
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (2,285)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (0.05)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (0.05)