<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
      THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
      INTERIM  CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT  OF INCOME FOR THE NINE MONTHS
      ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND THE INTERIM  CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE
      SHEET  AS OF  SEPTEMBER  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>                                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                         7,499
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  40,692
<ALLOWANCES>                                   1,000
<INVENTORY>                                    2,397
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               57,627
<PP&E>                                         383,115
<DEPRECIATION>                                 77,805
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 630,014
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          48,118
<BONDS>                                        338,693
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       172,736
<OTHER-SE>                                     26,235
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   630,014
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               183,859
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  86,360
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               89,718
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               2,167
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             15,450
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (9,084)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (3,326)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (5,758)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (5,758)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (0.12)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (0.12)