<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                      
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-01-1999
<CASH>                                           1,905
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   36,056
<ALLOWANCES>                                     4,456
<INVENTORY>                                      4,211
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                42,013
<PP&E>                                         277,330
<DEPRECIATION>                                 109,268
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 432,227
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           38,813
<BONDS>                                        727,536
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       307,276
<OTHER-SE>                                    (648,961)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   432,337
<SALES>                                        144,935<F1>
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               144,935
<CGS>                                           28,107
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  108,337
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                (1,287)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 3,431
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              43,896
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 (6,011)
<INCOME-TAX>                                       597
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             (6,608)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    (6,608)
<EPS-BASIC>                                      (0.29)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (0.29)
<FN>
<F1>INCLUDES CELLULAR, PAGING AND EQUIPMENT REVENUE
</FN>