<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER>1 <CURRENCY>U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 21,125,067 <SECURITIES> 4,024,206 <RECEIVABLES> 65,821,084 <ALLOWANCES> 7,053,954 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 90,302,331 <PP&E> 63,385,245 <DEPRECIATION> 11,283,201 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 184,126,310 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 62,529,480 <BONDS> 105,534,456 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 15,799,256 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 184,126,310 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 186,931,217 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 151,393,105 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 56,322,463 <LOSS-PROVISION> 4,310,258 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,864,669 <INCOME-PRETAX> (23,893,471) <INCOME-TAX> 243,738 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (24,137,209) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (24,137,209) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.74) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.74)