<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE SHEET OF AVTEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AS OF JUNE 30, 1997 AND THE RELATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS THEN ENDED AN IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <CASH> 431405 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 206871 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 743145 <PP&E> 597947 <DEPRECIATION> 74142 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1840063 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1183955 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 1000000 <COMMON> 7136 <OTHER-SE> (428917) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1840063 <SALES> 1600439 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1600439 <CGS> 401044 <TOTAL-COSTS> 401044 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1725175 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4426 <INCOME-PRETAX> (483324) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (483461) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.07) <EPS-DILUTED> 0