| **Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental Disclosures (Tables)**   | 6 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
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| **Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental Disclosures [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| Cash Flow, Operating Capital [Table Text Block]                               |  Six Months Ended June 30, 2013 2012   Increase in accounts receivable, net$ (19,241)  (24,272)   Increase in prepaid expenses  (2,531)  (1,403)   (Increase) decrease in inventories  3,333  (8,501)   Decrease in other current assets  1,185  265   (Increase) decrease in other assets  (1,294)  2,768   Increase (decrease) in accounts payable  1,044  (7,084)   Increase in deferred revenues  207  3,015   Increase (decrease) in accrued payroll and  payroll related obligations  3,732  (889)   Increase in accrued liabilities  2,881  4,304   Increase (decrease) in accrued interest  (25)  73   Increase in subscriber deposits  133  96   Increase (decrease) in long-term deferred revenue  (927)  4,274   Decrease in components of other  long-term liabilities  (901)  (1,700)     Total change in operating assets and liabilities$ (12,404)  (29,054)  |
| Cash Payments for Interest [Table Text Block]                                 |  Net cash paid or received: 2013 2012   Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized$ 35,139  34,671                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Schedule of Other Significant Noncash Transactions [Table Text Block]         |    2013 2012  Non-cash additions for purchases of property and  equipment$ 13,740  12,680  Asset retirement obligation additions to property and  equipment $ 1,066  132  Deferred compensation distribution denominated in  shares$ 621  511                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |

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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.
+ References
No definition available.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of supplemental cash flow information for the periods presented.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_ScheduleOfCashFlowSupplementalDisclosuresTableTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**nonnum:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
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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.
+ References
Reference 1: 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 2: 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 3: 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.Reference 4: 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=d3e4332-108586
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| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_SupplementalCashFlowElementsAbstract**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |