<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
        THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
        INTERIM  CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT  OF INCOME FOR THE SIX MONTH
        PERIOD  ENDED  JUNE 30,  1999  AND THE  INTERIM  CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED
        BALANCE  SHEET AS OF JUNE 30, 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>                                  6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1999
<CASH>                                         23,759
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  44,195
<ALLOWANCES>                                   2,483
<INVENTORY>                                    2,382
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               73,289
<PP&E>                                         410,360
<DEPRECIATION>                                 94,939
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 658,847
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          53,885
<BONDS>                                        345,037
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          19,922
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       180,866
<OTHER-SE>                                     17,839
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   658,847
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               144,997
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  62,212
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               68,202
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               2,296
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             16,070
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (2,833)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (803)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (2,030)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      344
<NET-INCOME>                                   (2,374)
<EPS-BASIC>                                  (.05)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (.05)