<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 28, 1997 AND STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE TWENTY-SIX WEEKS ENDED SEPTEMBER 28, 1997 OF AMERILINK CORPORATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-29-1998 <PERIOD-START> MAR-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-28-1997 <CASH> 88,524 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 14,653,018 <ALLOWANCES> 270,000 <INVENTORY> 1,722,858 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 22,470,565 <PP&E> 7,507,885<F1> <DEPRECIATION> 0<F1> <TOTAL-ASSETS> 30,177,324 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 9,306,979 <BONDS> 7,250,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 8,509,913 <OTHER-SE> 5,110,432 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 30,177,324 <SALES> 43,368,194 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 43,368,194 <CGS> 26,728,259 <TOTAL-COSTS> 39,070,440 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 296,089 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,001,665 <INCOME-TAX> 1,609,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,392,665 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,392,665 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.64 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.64 <FN> Property, plant and equipment is reported net of accumulated depreciation on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. </FN>