<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 5,706 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 33,611 <ALLOWANCES> 677 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 40,420 <PP&E> 19,463 <DEPRECIATION> 9,483 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 107,837 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 40,174 <BONDS> 25,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 255 <OTHER-SE> 37,116 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 107,837 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 92,508 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 54,345 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 14,862 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,390 <INCOME-PRETAX> (6,251) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (6,251) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (1,260) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (7,511) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.30)<F1> <EPS-DILUTED> 0 <FN> <F1>EPS is Basic EPS as common stock equivalents are antidilutive. </FN>