<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   12-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                          20,051                  28,724                  78,137
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  209,769                 141,268                  83,452
<ALLOWANCES>                                     8,303                   6,195                   3,950
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               254,313                 197,587                 166,602
<PP&E>                                         336,202                 238,015                 145,405
<DEPRECIATION>                                  55,153                  31,206                  13,917
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,420,708               2,601,878               1,704,942
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          163,400                 118,249                  55,532
<BONDS>                                      1,595,776               1,112,800                 788,682
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                           512                     457                     313
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,202,554                 915,894                 486,623
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 3,420,708               2,601,878               1,704,942
<SALES>                                              0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               850,720                 595,229                 250,461
<CGS>                                                0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  594,113                 421,438                 177,765
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               140,076                  92,578                  33,336
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 2,108                   1,155                   1,870
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             107,295                  82,315                  32,244
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 29,042                  13,004                  15,371
<INCOME-TAX>                                    28,100                   9,600                   7,300
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                942                   3,404                   8,071
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                   7,456                   2,966
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                       942                 (4,052)                   5,105
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .02                   (.10)                     .20
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .02                   (.10)                     .19
        

</TABLE>