<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> US DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 58,915 <SECURITIES> 821,965 <RECEIVABLES> 424,769 <ALLOWANCES> 47,223 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,320,513 <PP&E> 948,120 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,228,080 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 339,595 <BONDS> 1,100,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 27 <OTHER-SE> 627,397 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 3,228,080 <SALES> 472,921 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 472,921 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 438,234 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 27,346 <INCOME-PRETAX> 33,876 <INCOME-TAX> 13,212 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 20,664 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 2384 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 18,280 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.73 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.65