<ARTICLE> 5
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<CASH>                                      20,130,230
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                               18,250,419
<ALLOWANCES>                                 1,963,985
<INVENTORY>                                  3,744,593
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            40,161,257
<PP&E>                                     168,312,807
<DEPRECIATION>                              52,123,035
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             330,236,253
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       19,342,036
<BONDS>                                    247,459,836
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                   168,781,967
<OTHER-SE>                                 109,795,742
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               330,236,253
<SALES>                                     78,426,414<F1>
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            78,426,414
<CGS>                                       22,349,332
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               72,611,634
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            (6,505,063)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               793,675
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          21,376,215
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             (9,056,372)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         (9,056,372)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                (9,056,372)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F3>
<FN>
<F1>Includes both cellular and equipment revenue.
<F2>Primary earnings per share is not presented as the difference between basic
EPS and primary EPS is insignificant.
<F3>Fully diluted EPS is not presented as all CS equivalents are anti-dilutive.
</FN>