| **Industry Segments Data (Tables)**                                                        | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
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| **Industry Segments Data [Abstract]**                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]                   |  Three months ended September 30, ConsumerNetwork AccessCommercialManaged BroadbandRegulated OperationsTotal Reportable Segments 2012        Revenues:         Intersegment$ (356) 45 1,417 - 47 1,153  External  86,807 27,475 36,208 22,685 5,319 178,494   Total revenues  86,451 27,520 37,625 22,685 5,366 179,647 Adjusted EBITDA$ 20,916 15,383 9,892 12,249 1,009 59,449            2011        Revenues:         Intersegment$ - - 1,382 - 4 1,386  External  89,267 29,467 35,572 17,407 5,990 177,703   Total revenues  89,267 29,467 36,954 17,407 5,994 179,089 Adjusted EBITDA$ 30,373 13,729 9,117 8,844 1,038 63,101                                  Nine months ended September 30, ConsumerNetwork AccessCommercialManaged BroadbandRegulated OperationsTotal Reportable Segments 2012        Revenues:         Intersegment$ - 210 4,228 - 145 4,583  External  263,114 78,680 105,015 63,431 16,265 526,505   Total revenues  263,114 78,890 109,243 63,431 16,410 531,088 Adjusted EBITDA$ 69,718 41,235 26,958 32,561 3,227 173,699            2011        Revenues:         Intersegment$ - - 4,207 - 117 4,324  External  266,238 79,715 101,617 46,041 16,958 510,569   Total revenues  266,238 79,715 105,824 46,041 17,075 514,893 Adjusted EBITDA$ 87,024 37,953 23,180 20,264 2,959 171,380 |
| Reconciliation of Revenue from Segments to Consolidated [Table Text Block]                 |     Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended    September 30, September 30,    20122011 20122011 Reportable segment revenues$ 179,647 179,089  531,088 514,893 Less intersegment revenues eliminated in   consolidation  1,153 1,386  4,583 4,324  Consolidated revenues$ 178,494 177,703  526,505 510,569                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Table Text Block] |              Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended    September 30, September 30,    20122011 20122011 Reportable segment Adjusted EBITDA$ 59,449 63,101  173,699 171,380 Less depreciation and amortization  expense  (32,120) (30,653)  (97,850) (93,298) Less share-based compensation  expense  (1,395) (384)  (3,990) (3,224) Less non-cash contribution  expense  - -  (960) - Less net loss attributable to  non-controlling interest  (177) -  (531) - Plus net loss (income) attributable to  equity investment  (164) 59  (117) 92 Less accretion expense  (201) (190)  (541) (456)  Consolidated operating income  25,392 31,933  69,710 74,494 Less other expense, net  (16,599) (16,715)  (50,743) (60,597)  Consolidated income before  income tax expense$ 8,793 15,218  18,967 13,897                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |

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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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