<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 283,963,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 92,064,000 <ALLOWANCES> 12,702,000 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 3,978,000 <PP&E> 578,121,000 <DEPRECIATION> 101,429,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 889,873,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 158,045,000 <BONDS> 285,000,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 391,930,000 <PREFERRED> 12,550 <COMMON> 309,000 <OTHER-SE> (17,431,000) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 889,873,000 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 285,015,000 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 227,021,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 98,502,000 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 23,720,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> (75,517,000) <INCOME-TAX> 41,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (75,476,000) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (75,476,000) <EPS-PRIMARY> (2.76) <EPS-DILUTED> (2.76)