<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                                 5
<RESTATED>
<CIK>                                            0000863437
<NAME>                                   HECTOR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>                                              1
<CURRENCY>                                                U.S. DOLLARS

<S>                                             <C>               <C>               <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                             9-MOS             6-MOS             3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                    DEC-31-1997       DEC-31-1997       DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                       JAN-01-1997       JAN-01-1997       JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                         SEP-30-1997       JUN-30-1997       MAR-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                           1                 1                 1
<CASH>                                           10,582,914        12,443,174        11,330,385
<SECURITIES>                                        300,000           200,000         1,579,800
<RECEIVABLES>                                     4,616,348         4,030,864         3,641,093
<ALLOWANCES>                                              0                 0                 0
<INVENTORY>                                         984,703         1,054,932           500,096
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 16,768,411        17,916,918        17,257,737
<PP&E>                                           63,103,846        61,402,411        60,653,663
<DEPRECIATION>                                   17,511,418        16,290,877        15,033,255
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  137,046,747       137,188,970       138,472,206
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            13,336,285        14,299,829        14,348,946
<BONDS>                                          94,834,523        95,392,036        96,411,511
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                     0                 0                 0
<PREFERRED>                                         378,100           389,487           389,487
<COMMON>                                             19,079            18,923            18,839
<OTHER-SE>                                       11,189,943        10,210,413         9,904,681
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    137,046,747       137,188,970       138,472,206
<SALES>                                          21,711,979        13,737,304         6,882,091
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 21,711,979        13,737,304         6,882,091
<CGS>                                            14,298,650         9,567,461         4,902,684
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    14,298,650         9,567,461         4,902,684
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 (2,656,119)       (2,063,502)         (283,983)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                          0                 0                 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                5,478,030         3,598,465         1,746,943
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   4,591,418         2,634,880           516,447
<INCOME-TAX>                                      2,170,000         1,225,000           291,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               2,421,418         1,409,880           225,447
<DISCONTINUED>                                            0                 0                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                           0                 0                 0
<CHANGES>                                                 0                 0                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                      1,906,603         1,210,837           131,073
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                             1.01              0.65              0.07
<EPS-DILUTED>                                             0.67              0.43              0.06


</TABLE>