<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
       
<CAPTION>
<LEGEND>
                               USTN HOLDINGS, INC.
                             FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE

THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF USTN HOLDINGS, INC. AS OF DECEMBER 31,
1996, AND FOR THE THREE MONTHS THEN ENDED, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0001002119
<NAME>                        USTN Holdings, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                                          1
<CURRENCY>                                                 U.S. Dollars
<S>                                                                 <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                    12-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                           Dec-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                              Jan-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                Dec-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                       1
<CASH>                                                       12,514,507
<SECURITIES>                                                          0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                22,018,485
<ALLOWANCES>                                                   (438,000)
<INVENTORY>                                                           0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                             34,460,727
<PP&E>                                                       57,937,704
<DEPRECIATION>                                               26,560,848
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                               70,822,333
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                        28,002,223
<BONDS>                                                      21,060,061
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                 0
<PREFERRED>                                                          26
<COMMON>                                                         52,624
<OTHER-SE>                                                   21,707,399
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                 70,822,333
<SALES>                                                               0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                             37,887,878
<CGS>                                                                 0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                33,365,734
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                350,067
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                269,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                              838,174
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                               3,064,903
<INCOME-TAX>                                                    111,921
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                           2,952,982
<DISCONTINUED>                                                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                       0
<CHANGES>                                                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                                  2,952,982
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                      0.59
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                      0.57
        

</TABLE>