<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE OF AVTEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AS OF JUNE 30, 1997 AND THE RELATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE SIX MONTHS THEN ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <CASH> 4245 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 8469 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 17146 <PP&E> 1418 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 18702 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 9943 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 83 <OTHER-SE> 8097 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 18702 <SALES> 26841 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 26841 <CGS> 18393 <TOTAL-COSTS> 18393 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 8262 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 7 <INCOME-PRETAX> 299 <INCOME-TAX> 125 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 173 <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.02) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.02)