<TABLE> <S> <C>

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

<S>                                             <C>               <C>               <C>                 <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                            12-MOS             9-MOS             6-MOS              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                    DEC-31-1996       DEC-31-1996       DEC-31-1996        DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                       JAN-01-1996       JAN-01-1996       JAN-01-1996        JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                         DEC-31-1996       SEP-30-1996       JUN-30-1996        MAR-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                           1                 1                 1                  1
<CASH>                                            9,571,879         4,268,839         4,560,306         11,234,952
<SECURITIES>                                      1,079,900         6,401,020         7,762,841                  0
<RECEIVABLES>                                     3,978,060         4,095,961         3,798,688            683,860
<ALLOWANCES>                                         12,306             6,346             4,529              5,680
<INVENTORY>                                         512,114         1,027,137           948,729            129,650
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 15,364,275        16,045,039        17,185,981         12,095,269
<PP&E>                                           61,700,777        59,004,978        57,232,948         24,861,649
<DEPRECIATION>                                   14,661,825        12,783,699        11,493,745         10,444,555
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  137,348,013       137,718,741       140,045,766         35,832,199
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            14,057,233        12,392,891        13,453,296          1,526,578
<BONDS>                                          96,127,379        98,401,641        98,908,768         22,388,101
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                     0                 0                 0                  0
<PREFERRED>                                         389,487           389,487           389,487            389,487
<COMMON>                                             18,839            18,839            18,803             18,803
<OTHER-SE>                                        9,537,512         9,120,809         9,511,719          8,225,756
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    137,348,013       137,718,741       140,045,766         35,832,199
<SALES>                                          20,657,521        14,048,917         6,831,196          1,665,918
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 20,657,521        14,048,917         6,831,196          1,665,918
<CGS>                                            14,065,868         9,581,669         4,861,371          1,293,474
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    14,065,868         9,581,669         4,861,371          1,293,474
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 (1,881,999)       (1,556,935)       (1,182,843)          (883,147)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                          0                 0                 0                  0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                5,399,617         3,742,723         1,881,938            434,782
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   3,074,035         2,281,460         1,270,730            820,809
<INCOME-TAX>                                      1,540,000         1,160,000           619,000            327,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               1,534,035         1,121,460           651,730            493,809
<DISCONTINUED>                                            0                 0                 0                  0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                           0                 0                 0                  0
<CHANGES>                                                 0                 0                 0                  0
<NET-INCOME>                                      1,208,670           897,036           603,528            493,809
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                               0.65              0.48              0.32               0.27
<EPS-DILUTED>                                               0.53              0.40              0.27               0.19


</TABLE>