| **Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental Disclosures (Tables)** | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
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| **Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]**                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| Cash Flow, Operating Capital                                                | Changes in operating assets and liabilities consist of (amounts in thousands):Year ended December 31,2014 2013 2012(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable, net$15,357 (68,360) (9,386)(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses(4,454) 672 (350)(Increase) decrease in inventories(6,631) 1,751 (4,576)Decrease in other current assets88 1,448 1,953(Increase) decrease in other assets(878) (1,459) 1,236Increase (decrease) in accounts payable(4,648) 15,334 3,085Increase in deferred revenues1,728 2,368 3,215Increase (decrease) in accrued payroll and payroll related obligations2,997 10,263 (2,750)Increase (decrease) in accrued liabilities(242) (883) 3,043Increase (decrease) in accrued interest(434) 302 106Increase (decrease) in subscriber deposits(114) (40) 116Decrease in long-term deferred revenue(4,163) (3,554) (5,001)Increase (decrease) in components of other long-term liabilities1,714 (20) (1,301)Total change in operating assets and liabilities$320 (42,178) (10,610) |
| Cash Payments for Interest                                                  | The following items are for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 (amounts in thousands):Net cash paid or received:2014 2013 2012Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized$74,618 71,749 69,083                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| Schedule of Other Significant Noncash Transactions                          | The following items are non-cash investing and financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 (amounts in thousands): 2014 2013 2012Non-cash additions for purchases of property and equipment$42,958 17,230 9,010Capital lease obligation incurred$9,386 — —Asset retirement obligation additions to property and equipment$4,268 5,292 660Accrued distribution to non-controlling interest$4,167 4,167 —Deferred compensation distribution denominated in shares$617 621 511Net assets acquired with equity in AWN (see Note 1(d))$— 267,642 —                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |

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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the net increase (decrease) in operating capital in the operating section of the statement of cash flows, represents the entire footnote disclosure that provides details regarding the net change during the reporting period of all assets and liabilities used in operating activities.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of supplemental cash flow information for the periods presented.
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No definition available.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of all or some of the information related to other significant noncash investing and financing activities that occurred during the accounting period and are not otherwise listed in the existing taxonomy. Noncash is defined as transactions during a period that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of a transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.
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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4332-108586Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4313-108586Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4304-108586
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