<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
      THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
      INTERIM  CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE THREE MONTHS
      ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 AND THE INTERIM CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
      AS OF MARCH 31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000808461
<NAME>                        GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                         30,187
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  41,771
<ALLOWANCES>                                   1,185
<INVENTORY>                                    2,575
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               52,435
<PP&E>                                         280,172
<DEPRECIATION>                                 64,582
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 562,783
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          42,478
<BONDS>                                        272,982
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       172,870
<OTHER-SE>                                     30,198
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   562,783
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               58,152
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  27,315
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               27,863
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               537
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             5,472
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (2,507)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (891)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (1,616)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (1,616)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (0.03)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (0.03)