<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE  SHEETS  AND INCOME  STATEMENTS  AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                 OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1999
<CASH>                                              11,630
<SECURITIES>                                        18,677
<RECEIVABLES>                                       37,721
<ALLOWANCES>                                         1,174
<INVENTORY>                                              0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   102,346
<PP&E>                                              95,744
<DEPRECIATION>                                      53,887
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     209,201
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               37,075
<BONDS>                                                253
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                               144
<OTHER-SE>                                         166,190
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       209,201
<SALES>                                                  0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                    70,094
<CGS>                                                    0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       29,117
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    20,629
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                        33
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                      14
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      8,406
<INCOME-TAX>                                         3,472
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  4,934
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                         4,934
<EPS-BASIC>                                           0.35
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         0.34