<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
        THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
        INTERIM CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE THREE MONTH
        PERIOD  ENDED  MARCH 31,  1999 AND THE  INTERIM  CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED
        BALANCE  SHEET AS OF MARCH 31, 1999 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-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                         6,169
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  41,660
<ALLOWANCES>                                   1,384
<INVENTORY>                                    1,611
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               53,209
<PP&E>                                         412,067
<DEPRECIATION>                                 91,342
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 636,992
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          49,451
<BONDS>                                        355,874
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       179,555
<OTHER-SE>                                     15,637
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   636,992
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               61,338
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  27,870
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               32,757
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               1,079
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             7,080
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (7,328)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (3,052)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (4,521)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      (344)
<NET-INCOME>                                   (4,865)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (0.10)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (0.10)