| **Subsequent Events**                                                        | 6 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
||
| **Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)** | Â                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Subsequent events Text Block                                                 | (10)       Subsequent Events

On July 22, 2011, Holdingsentered into an Add-On Term Loan Supplement No. 2 (“Supplement No. 2”) to our Senior Credit Facility. The Supplement No. 2 provided for an additional $25.0 million term loan with an initial interest rate of LIBOR plus 2.5%, payable in accordance with the terms of our Senior Credit Facility.  Holdings used $15.0 million to pay down outstanding revolving loans under our Senior Credit Facility, thus increasing availability under the revolving portion of our Senior Credit Facility.  The remaining $10.0 million was used for general corporate purposes.

 

On July 20, 2011, we borrowed an additional $5.4 million under the loan portion of the TERRA-SW RUS award and received an additional $5.4 million under the grant portion of the award.  After consideration of these transactions, we have $36.0 million and $35.8 million in loan and grant funds available, respectively.

  |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**gciinc_CondensedNotesToInterimConsolidatedFinancialStatementsUnaudited**Namespace Prefix:**gciinc**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Describes disclosed significant events or transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date, but before the issuance of the financial statements. Examples include: the sale of a capital stock issue, purchase of a business, settlement of litigation, losses resulting from fire or flood, losses on receivables, significant realized and unrealized gains and losses that result from changes in quoted market prices of securities, declines in market prices of inventory, changes in authorized or issued debt (SEC), significant foreign exchange rate changes, substantial loans to insiders or affiliates, significant long-term investments, and substantial dividends not in the ordinary course of business.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 11
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_ScheduleOfSubsequentEventsTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap**Data Type:**us-types:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |