<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND RELATED NOTES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                          68,348
<SECURITIES>                                    57,079
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,218,311
<ALLOWANCES>                                  (108,831)
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,630,592
<PP&E>                                       4,741,836
<DEPRECIATION>                                (481,040)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              19,595,269
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,781,877
<BONDS>                                      4,617,431
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                        128
<COMMON>                                         8,913
<OTHER-SE>                                  13,021,153
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                19,595,269
<SALES>                                      1,677,239
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,677,239
<CGS>                                          911,469
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,506,719
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                (8,401)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                24,965
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              75,455
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                103,466
<INCOME-TAX>                                    53,802
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             49,664
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    43,054
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.05
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.05