| **Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Principles (Tables)**                                 | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
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| **Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]**                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Schedule of Calculation of Numerator and Denominator in Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block]          |      Three Months Ended March 31,     2013 2012     Class A Class B Class A Class B Basic net income per share:        Numerator:         Allocation of undistributed earnings $ 2,996  248 $ 1,321  108             Denominator:         Weighted average common shares  outstanding 38,264  3,167  38,741  3,171    Basic net income attributable to GCI  common stockholders per common share$ 0.08  0.08 $ 0.03  0.03             Diluted net income per share:        Numerator:         Allocation of undistributed earnings for  basic computation$ 2,996  248 $ 1,321  108  Reallocation of undistributed earnings as a  result of conversion of Class B to Class A  shares 248  -  108  -  Reallocation of undistributed earnings as a  result of conversion of dilutive securities -  (4)  -  (9)  Effect of share based compensation that  may be settled in cash or shares (34)  -  (100)  -   Net income adjusted for allocation of  undistributed earnings and effect of  share based compensation that may be settled  in cash or shares$ 3,210  244 $ 1,329  99             Denominator:         Number of shares used in basic computation 38,264  3,167  38,741  3,171  Conversion of Class B to Class A common  shares outstanding 3,167  -  3,171  -  Unexercised stock options 173  -  272  -  Effect of share based compensation that may  be settled in cash or shares 91  -  158  - Number of shares used in per share computation 41,695  3,167  42,342  3,171    Diluted net income attributable to GCI  common stockholders per common share$ 0.08  0.08 $ 0.03  0.03 |
| Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block] |      2013 2012  Shares associated with anti-dilutive unexercised  stock options  88  36                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| Schedule Of Contingent Awards [Table Text Block]                                                       |   2013 2012  Shares associated with contingent awards  58  8                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Schedule of Stock by Class [Table Text Block]                                                          |    Class A Class B   Balances at December 31, 2011 39,296  3,171  Shares issued upon stock option exercises 187  -  Share awards issued 316  -  Shares retired (862)  -  Shares acquired to settle minimum statutory tax  withholding requirements (289)  -   Balances at March 31, 2012 38,648  3,171          Balances at December 31, 2012 38,534  3,169  Class B shares converted to Class A 2  (2)  Shares issued upon stock option exercises 50  -  Share awards issued 621  -  Shares retired (795)  -  Shares acquired to settle minimum statutory tax  withholding requirements (14)  -  Other (2)  -   Balances at March 31, 2013 38,396  3,167                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Excise And Sales Taxes [Table Text Block]                                                              |   Three Months Ended March 31,   2013 2012  Surcharges reported gross$1,228 1,482                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |

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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the surcharges assessed by a governmental authority that are directly imposed on a revenue-producing transaction between us and a customer.
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| - Definition
Shares associated with contingent awards which have been excluded from the computations of diluted earnings per share because the contingencies of the awards have not been met.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because to do so would increase EPS amounts or decrease loss per share amounts for the period presented, by antidilutive securities.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the numerators and the denominators of the basic and diluted per-share (or per-unit) computations for income from continuing operations, including the effect that has been given to preferred dividends.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of an entity's stock, including par or stated value per share, number and dollar amount of share subscriptions, shares authorized, shares issued, shares outstanding, number and dollar amount of shares held in an employee trust, dividend per share, total dividends, share conversion features, par value plus additional paid in capital, the value of treasury stock and other information necessary to a fair presentation, and EPS information.  Stock by class includes common, convertible, and preferred stocks which are not redeemable or redeemable solely at the option of the issuer. Includes preferred stock with redemption features that are solely within the control of the issuer and mandatorily redeemable stock if redemption is required to occur only upon liquidation or termination of the reporting entity. If more than one issue is outstanding, state the title of each issue and the corresponding dollar amount; dollar amount of any shares subscribed but unissued and the deduction of subscriptions receivable there from; number of shares authorized, issued, and outstanding.
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