| **Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and Supplemental Disclosures**        | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
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| **Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental Disclosures [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental Disclosures [Text Block]   | (2)       Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental Disclosures

Changes in operating assets and liabilities consist of (amounts in thousands):
 Three Months Ended March 31, 2013 2012   Increase in accounts receivable, net$ (14,243)  (10,619)   Increase in prepaid expenses  (2,311)  (1,520)   Increase in inventories  (590)  (1,985)   Decrease in other current assets  516  104   (Increase) decrease in other assets  (107)  1,152   Decrease in accounts payable  (333)  (6,813)   Increase in deferred revenues  325  1,178   Increase (decrease) in accrued payroll and  payroll related obligations  1,210  (2,048)   Increase in accrued liabilities  667  3,120   Increase in accrued interest  14,722  14,686   Increase (decrease) in subscriber deposits  116  (44)   Increase (decrease) in long-term deferred revenue  265  (281)   Decrease in components of other  long-term liabilities  (951)  (832)     Total change in operating assets and liabilities$ (714)  (3,902) 
The following items are for the three months endedMarch 31, 2013 and2012(amounts in thousands):
 Net cash paid or received: 2013 2012   Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized$ 2,704  2,086         
The following items are non-cash investing and financing activities for the three months ended March 31,2013 and2012(amounts in thousands):
   2013 2012  Non-cash additions for purchases of property and  equipment$ 8,322  2,868  Asset retirement obligation additions to property and  equipment $ 989  92  Deferred compensation distribution denominated in  shares$ 621  511  |

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| - Definition
The entire disclosure for supplemental cash flow activities, including cash, noncash, and part noncash transactions, for the period. Noncash is defined as information about all investing and financing activities of an enterprise during a period that affect recognized assets or liabilities but that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.
+ References
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=d3e4304-108586Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 32 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.
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