<ARTICLE> 5
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997             SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                       6,822,462              14,112,457
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                8,361,982              16,999,327
<ALLOWANCES>                                    49,204                 389,723
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            17,140,868              38,881,867
<PP&E>                                      61,206,890             119,835,637
<DEPRECIATION>                               7,465,891              10,977,208
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             144,612,779             368,639,384
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       17,033,168              22,901,073
<BONDS>                                              0             200,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          130,164                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                         8,810                  18,110
<OTHER-SE>                                (10,947,588)              16,968,064
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               144,612,779             144,612,779
<SALES>                                     42,972,318              59,116,211
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            42,972,318              59,116,211
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               30,533,066              44,855,787
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                19,229                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           9,293,104              17,619,298
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              4,661,050             (2,008,798)
<INCOME-TAX>                                 1,875,634               (697,213)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          2,785,416             (1,311,585)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                              3,611,624               2,520,943
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                 (887,843)             (3,900,500)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.00                    0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.00                    0.00