<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the consolidated financial statements of McLeod, Inc. and subsidiaries for the three years ended December 31, 1995 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1995 DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1995 JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1995 MAR-31-1996 <CASH> 0 0 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 6,908,069 11,893,150 <ALLOWANCES> 219,000 272,000 <INVENTORY> 2,638,829 2,842,882 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 9,623,587 14,862,379 <PP&E> 17,222,849 21,608,508 <DEPRECIATION> 2,144,615 2,652,528 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 28,986,452 32,275,289 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 9,715,337 13,266,789 <BONDS> 3,600,000 11,300,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 320,130 320,364 <OTHER-SE> 14,637,812 10,822,399 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 28,986,452 38,275,289 <SALES> 28,997,880 12,487,519 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 28,997,880 12,487,519 <CGS> 19,667,138 9,249,981 <TOTAL-COSTS> 19,667,138 9,249,981 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 19,779,895 7,122,413 <LOSS-PROVISION> 108,663 191,108 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 909,814 265,370 <INCOME-PRETAX> (11,328,939) (4,340,304) <INCOME-TAX> 0 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (11,328,939) (4,340,304) <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> (11,328,939) (4,340,304) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.31) (0.12) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.31) (0.12)