<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                  5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE  SHEETS AT  DECEMBER  31,  1998 AND 1997 AND  CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS  OF OPERATIONS  FOR THE YEAR ENDED  DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>               1,000
       
<S>                                          <C>                    <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                12-MOS                 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1998            DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                               JAN-01-1998            JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                 DEC-31-1998            DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                            75,475                 16,317
<SECURITIES>                                           0                      0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    167,592                315,258
<ALLOWANCES>                                      35,564                 58,413
<INVENTORY>                                       16,617                 26,082
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 229,037                311,573
<PP&E>                                           486,691                600,639
<DEPRECIATION>                                   304,043                328,352
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   496,598                757,170
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            214,108                142,483
<BONDS>                                          414,147                540,220
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0                      0
<PREFERRED>                                            0                      0
<COMMON>                                              52                     51
<OTHER-SE>                                     (131,709)                 74,416
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     496,598                757,170
<SALES>                                          933,793              1,180,694
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 933,793              1,180,694
<CGS>                                            330,695                451,182
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    330,695                451,182
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       0                      0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                  75,319                121,908
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                46,916                 50,393
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (204,938)              (236,058)
<INCOME-TAX>                                       3,000                 36,550
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (207,938)              (272,608)
<DISCONTINUED>                                         0                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0                      0
<CHANGES>                                              0                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (207,938)              (272,608)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     (4.02)                 (5.30)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     (4.02)                 (5.30)
        

</TABLE>