<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
        THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
        INTERIM  CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE NINE MONTH
        PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1999 AND THE INTERIM  CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED
        BALANCE  SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 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>                                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                         13,476
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  44,358
<ALLOWANCES>                                   2,996
<INVENTORY>                                    2,628
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               63,664
<PP&E>                                         410,144
<DEPRECIATION>                                 103,614
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 640,516
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          47,280
<BONDS>                                        343,583
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          19,912
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       182,385
<OTHER-SE>                                     13,874
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   640,516
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               212,337
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  92,445
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               102,350
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               3,347
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             23,186
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (8,535)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (2,968)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (5,567)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      344
<NET-INCOME>                                   (5,911)
<EPS-BASIC>                                  (0.13)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (0.13)