<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE SHEET AS OF DECEMBER 28, 1997 AND STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED DECEMBER 28, 1997 OF AMERILINK CORPORATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-29-1998 <PERIOD-START> MAR-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-28-1997 <CASH> 6,008,250 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 14,488,981 <ALLOWANCES> 170,000 <INVENTORY> 1,634,222 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 29,941,699 <PP&E> 7,717,636 <F1> <DEPRECIATION> 0 <F1> <TOTAL-ASSETS> 37,888,372 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 7,811,807 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 23,577,295 <OTHER-SE> 6,499,270 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 37,888,372 <SALES> 66,103,957 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 66,103,957 <CGS> 40,672,955 <TOTAL-COSTS> 59,492,332 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 288,122 <INCOME-PRETAX> 6,323,503 <INCOME-TAX> 2,542,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,781,503 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,781,503 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.03 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.95 <FN> <F1> Property plant and equipment is reported net of accumulated depreciation on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. </FN>