<ARTICLE>                     5
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1000
<CURRENCY>                                     US DOLLARS
       
                                         
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                     3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                           DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                MAR-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                       1
<CASH>                                         $113,037
<SECURITIES>                                      4,042
<RECEIVABLES>                                   713,866
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (250,270)
<INVENTORY>                                      38,889
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                716,696
<PP&E>                                        1,604,365
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (308,673)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                3,002,452
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           294,452
<BONDS>                                       1,374,423
<COMMON>                                          1,533
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                 0
<PREFERRED>                                           0
<OTHER-SE>                                    1,229,428
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  3,002,452
<SALES>                                               0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                581,234
<CGS>                                                 0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   402,291
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 42,580
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 12,866
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               23,845
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  72,519
<INCOME-TAX>                                     23,297
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              37,851
<DISCONTINUED>                                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                       0
<CHANGES>                                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                     37,851
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      0.23
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      0.23