WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

  


<ARTICLE>                     5
<MULTIPLIER>                                       1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     US DOLLAR
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                              
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                      DEC-31-1997 
<PERIOD-START>                                         JAN-01-1998 
<PERIOD-END>                                           MAR-31-1998 
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                  1 
<CASH>                                                       6,855 
<SECURITIES>                                                     0 
<RECEIVABLES>                                               95,392 
<ALLOWANCES>                                                 2,947 
<INVENTORY>                                                      0 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                           390,815 
<PP&E>                                                     234,271 
<DEPRECIATION>                                              51,844 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                           2,374,833 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                      160,202 
<BONDS>                                                    600,000 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      200,000 
<PREFERRED>                                                     45 
<COMMON>                                                       395 
<OTHER-SE>                                                 538,610 
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                             2,374,833 
<SALES>                                                          0 
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                           123,838 
<CGS>                                                            0 
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                              100,159 
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                 0 
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                 0 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                          33,183 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                             (8,079)
<INCOME-TAX>                                                 4,800 
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                         (3,279) 
<DISCONTINUED>                                                   0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                  0 
<CHANGES>                                                        0 
<NET-INCOME>                                                (3,279) 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                (0.15)<a>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                (0.15)<a>
        

<FN>
a)   This  information  has been  prepared  in  accordance  with  SFAS No.  128,
     Earnings  Per  Share.  The basic and  diluted  EPS  calculations  have been
     entered in place of primary and diluted, respectively.
</FN>