<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   12-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1995
<CASH>                                          28,724                  78,137                   7,437
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  141,268                  83,452                  26,868
<ALLOWANCES>                                     6,195                   3,950                   1,606
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               197,587                 166,602                  36,615
<PP&E>                                         238,015                 145,405                  38,524
<DEPRECIATION>                                  31,206                  13,917                   7,723
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,601,878               1,704,942                 208,839
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          118,249                  55,532                  12,180
<BONDS>                                      1,112,800                 788,682                  45,500
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                           457                     313                     182
<OTHER-SE>                                     915,894                 486,623                 138,891
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,601,878               1,704,942                 208,839
<SALES>                                              0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               595,229                 250,461                 133,103
<CGS>                                                0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  420,534                 177,765                 101,503
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                91,914                  33,336                  12,983
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 2,126                     978                   1,137
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              82,315                  32,244                   1,444
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 13,004                  15,371                  18,265
<INCOME-TAX>                                     9,600                   7,300                   7,300
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              3,404                   8,071                  10,965
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                  7,456                   2,966                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (4,052)                   5,105                  10,965
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.10)                     .20                     .58
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (.10)                     .19                     .53


</TABLE>