| **Industry Segments Data (Tables)**                                                        | 6 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
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| **Industry Segments Data [Abstract]**                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]                   |  Three months ended June 30, ConsumerNetwork AccessCommercialManaged BroadbandRegulated OperationsTotal Reportable Segments 2012        Revenues:         Intersegment$ (168) 82 1,426 - 59 1,399  External  88,495 26,017 34,466 21,717 5,409 176,104   Total revenues  88,327 26,099 35,892 21,717 5,468 177,503 Adjusted EBITDA$ 24,008 13,442 8,625 12,063 1,283 59,421            2011        Revenues:         Intersegment$ - - 1,416 - 44 1,460  External  88,554 25,151 34,216 14,639 5,529 168,089   Total revenues  88,554 25,151 35,632 14,639 5,573 169,549 Adjusted EBITDA$ 28,258 12,344 7,401 5,709 1,221 54,933                                  Six months ended June 30, ConsumerNetwork AccessCommercialManaged BroadbandRegulated OperationsTotal Reportable Segments 2012        Revenues:         Intersegment$ 356 165 2,811 - 98 3,430  External  176,307 51,205 68,807 40,746 10,946 348,011   Total revenues  176,663 51,370 71,618 40,746 11,044 351,441 Adjusted EBITDA$ 48,802 25,852 17,066 20,312 2,218 114,250            2011        Revenues:         Intersegment$ - - 2,825 - 113 2,938  External  176,971 50,248 66,045 28,634 10,968 332,866   Total revenues  176,971 50,248 68,870 28,634 11,081 335,804 Adjusted EBITDA$ 56,651 24,224 14,063 11,420 1,921 108,279 |
| Reconciliation of Revenue from Segments to Consolidated [Table Text Block]                 |     Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,    20122011 20122011 Reportable segment revenues$ 177,503 169,549  351,441 335,804 Less intersegment revenues eliminated in   consolidation  1,399 1,460  3,430 2,938  Consolidated revenues$ 176,104 168,089  348,011 332,866                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Table Text Block] |              Three Months Ended Six Months Ended    June 30, June 30,    20122011 20122011 Reportable segment Adjusted EBITDA$ 59,421 54,933  114,250 108,279 Less depreciation and amortization  expense  (33,350) (30,779)  (65,730) (62,645) Less share-based compensation  expense  (865) (1,670)  (2,595) (2,840) Less non-cash contribution  expense  (160) -  (960) - Less net loss attributable to  non-controlling interest  (177) -  (354) - Plus net loss (income) attributable to  equity investment  (84) 9  47 33 Less accretion expense  (152) (194)  (340) (266)  Consolidated operating income  24,633 22,299  44,318 42,561 Less other expense, net  (16,860) (26,410)  (34,144) (43,882)  Consolidated income (loss) before  income tax (expense) benefit$ 7,773 (4,111)  10,174 (1,321)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |

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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of  all significant reconciling items in the reconciliation of total profit or loss from reportable segments, to the entity's consolidated income before income taxes, extraordinary items, and discontinued operations.
+ References
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of all significant reconciling items in the reconciliation of total revenues from reportable segments to the entity's consolidated revenues.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the profit or loss and total assets for each reportable segment. An entity discloses certain information on each reportable segment if the amounts (a) are included in the measure of segment profit or loss reviewed by the chief operating decision maker or (b) are otherwise regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker, even if not included in that measure of segment profit or loss.
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