-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SS15/7LGRabl1sivQrSQ+2qGzVM+Y12kfE5pnTchW/WHmkFI2xWmCi//p5OmiP2z
 bO46sbd8eb0CKTkUIbucAg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001226412-04-000002.txt : 20040213
<SEC-HEADER>0001226412-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040213
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040213135714
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001226412-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040213

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GENERAL COMMUNICATION INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000808461
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIO TELEPHONE) [4813]
		IRS NUMBER:				920072737
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			AK
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2550 DENALI ST STE 1000
		CITY:			ANCHORAGE
		STATE:			AK
		ZIP:			99503
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9072655600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2550 DENALI STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1000
		CITY:			ANCHORAGE
		STATE:			AK
		ZIP:			99503

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LOWBER JOHN M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001226412

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15279
		FILM NUMBER:		04597212

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GCI ACCTG
		STREET 2:		2550 DENALL STREET STE 1000
		CITY:			ANCHORAGE
		STATE:			AK
		ZIP:			99503
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000808461</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENERAL COMMUNICATION INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GNCMA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001226412</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LOWBER JOHN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2550 DENALI STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1000</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ANCHORAGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AK</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>99503</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr VP, CFO, Secretary, Treas.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-31</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5615</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.124</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>54328</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>157658</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Purchases made on behalf of the reporting person by the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan during the period January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2003.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>JOHN M LOWBER</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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