<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
      THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
      INTERIM  CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT  OF INCOME  FOR THE SIX MONTHS
      ENDED JUNE 30, 1998 AND THE INTERIM CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE SHEET
      AS OF JUNE 30, 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>                                  6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                         274
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  46,853
<ALLOWANCES>                                   1,058
<INVENTORY>                                    2,857
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               54,020
<PP&E>                                         346,861
<DEPRECIATION>                                 71,272
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 597,947
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          50,227
<BONDS>                                        300,837
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       172,317
<OTHER-SE>                                     28,222
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   597,947
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               121,093
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  56,670
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               59,291
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               1,248
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             10,343
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (5,827)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (2,145)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (3,682)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (3,682)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (.08)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (.08)