<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY> US DOLLAR

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                      12,397,000
<SECURITIES>                                24,599,000
<RECEIVABLES>                              456,539,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                86,067,000
<INVENTORY>                                 63,369,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           517,801,000
<PP&E>                                     764,073,000
<DEPRECIATION>                             151,772,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           2,429,914,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      282,097,000
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            6,000
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       723,000
<OTHER-SE>                                 587,161,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             2,429,914,000
<SALES>                                  1,866,426,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                         1,866,426,000
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                            1,780,547,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         119,220,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                          (332,661,000)
<INCOME-TAX>                              (44,711,000)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                            (2,100,000)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                             (290,050,000)
<EPS-BASIC>                                   (8.11)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (8.17)