<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001054522 <NAME> U S WEST, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 36 373 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 1,700 1,616 <ALLOWANCES> 0 0 <INVENTORY> 236 179 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 2,536 2,751 <PP&E> 36,031 33,930 <DEPRECIATION> 20,933 19,679 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 18,709 17,851 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 4,849 4,350 <BONDS> 8,642 4,931 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 0 0 <OTHER-SE> 920 4,450 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 18,709 17,851 <SALES> 3,182 3,009 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 3,182 3,009 <CGS> 0 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 2,389 2,194 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 153 163 <INCOME-PRETAX> 639 627 <INCOME-TAX> 242 234 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 397 393 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 397 393 <EPS-PRIMARY> .79 .78 <EPS-DILUTED> .78 .78