| **Consolidated Statement 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, 2012 2011   Increase in accounts receivable, net$ (24,272)  (27,245)   Increase in prepaid expenses  (1,403)  (3,191)   Increase in inventories  (8,501)  (719)   Decrease in other current assets  265  206   Decrease in other assets  2,768  1,857   Increase (decrease) in accounts payable  (7,084)  2,361   Increase in deferred revenues  3,015  864   Decrease in accrued payroll and  payroll related obligations  (889)  (1,559)   Increase in accrued liabilities  4,304  134   Increase (decrease) in accrued interest  73  (6,130)   Increase (decrease) in subscriber deposits  96  (49)   Increase in long-term deferred revenue  4,274  7,470   Decrease in components of other  long-term liabilities  (1,700)  (1,995)    $ (29,054)  (27,996)  |
| Cash Payments for Interest [Table Text Block]                                 |  Net cash paid or received: 2012 2011  Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized$ 34,671  40,614                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| Schedule of Other Significant Noncash Transactions [Table Text Block]         |    2012 2011 Non-cash additions for purchases of property and  equipment$ 12,680  9,388 Deferred compensation distribution denominated in  shares$ 511  - Asset retirement obligation additions to property and  equipment $ 132  123 Asset retirement obligation reductions to property and  equipment for revisions to previous estimates$ -  294 Write-off of original issue discount on 2014 Notes$ -  1,530                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |

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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.
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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 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4332-108586Reference 2: 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 3: 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 4: 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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