<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                          23,682
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   28,930
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,924
<INVENTORY>                                      3,288
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                59,970
<PP&E>                                         216,631
<DEPRECIATION>                                  71,749
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 366,892
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           30,230
<BONDS>                                        264,193
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       166,295
<OTHER-SE>                                   (103,103)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   366,892
<SALES>                                         39,344<F1>
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                39,344
<CGS>                                            9,751
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   31,343
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 (324)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   872
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               7,325
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  1,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.07
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F2>
<FN>
<F1>Includes cellular, paging and equipment revenues.
<F2>Not reported as the Company has no potentially dilutive securities.
</FN>