<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 1997 and consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 included in the Company's Form 10-Q, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 186,731 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 69,138 <ALLOWANCES> 4,419 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 438,435 <PP&E> 481,099 <DEPRECIATION> 36,283 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 908,478 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 217,374 <BONDS> 250,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,033 <OTHER-SE> 412,005 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 908,478 <SALES> 490,321 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 490,321 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 490,203 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (13,222) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 8,886 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,454 <INCOME-TAX> 2,191 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,263 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,263 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.02 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.02