<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 JUN-30-1997 <CASH> 84,617,116 6,109,418 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 13,202,982 11,439,306 <ALLOWANCES> 874,215 508,268 <INVENTORY> 0 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 99,877,779 18,141,413 <PP&E> 79,323,719 17,162,632 <DEPRECIATION> 2,093,115 717,624 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 191,130,858 44,797,404 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 15,177,479 18,124,703 <BONDS> 156,245,960 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 32,133,333 30,983,333 <COMMON> 88,777 80,750 <OTHER-SE> 112,014 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 191,130,858 44,797,404 <SALES> 28,462,666 24,542,183 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 28,462,666 24,542,183 <CGS> 21,229,132 17,165,101 <TOTAL-COSTS> 21,229,132 17,165,101 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 6,330,975 35,773 <INCOME-PRETAX> (6,934,458) 1,853,267 <INCOME-TAX> 612,229 3,740,601 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (7,546,687) 1,887,334 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> (7,546,687) 1,887,334 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 0