<ARTICLE> 5
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996             SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                         496,510             152,326,738
<SECURITIES>                                     7,791                   7,791
<RECEIVABLES>                               21,769,696              21,916,590
<ALLOWANCES>                                 3,034,000               3,758,000
<INVENTORY>                                    719,027                 571,971
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            24,036,990             178,741,215
<PP&E>                                      34,314,908              48,694,863
<DEPRECIATION>                              12,816,841              18,464,826
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              48,223,809             221,493,450
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       23,295,791              29,467,798
<BONDS>                                     22,457,985             251,006,100
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                        73,336                  36,668
<OTHER-SE>                                   2,301,062            (63,166,644)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                48,223,809             221,493,450
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           148,780,816             145,145,510
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               90,820,467             101,238,476
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            53,791,036              43,753,394
<LOSS-PROVISION>                             3,440,000               2,808,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           1,695,324               2,108,730
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              2,605,899             (1,955,090)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0               2,210,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          2,605,899             (4,165,090)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                 2,605,899             (4,165,090)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .08                   (.21)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .08                   (.21)