| **Intangible Assets**                                                        | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
||
| **Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Intangible Assets Disclosure Text Block                                      | (3)       Intangible Assets

Amortization expense for amortizable intangible assets was as follows (amounts in thousands):

 
   Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended   September 30, September 30,   2011 2010 2011 2010 Amortization expense$ 1,517  1,557  4,673  4,854
Amortization expense for amortizable intangible assets for each of the five succeeding fiscal years is estimated to be (amounts in thousands): 

 
 Years Ending December 31,   2011$ 5,991 2012  4,341 2013  3,284 2014  2,424 2015  1,697 |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**gciinc_CondensedNotesToInterimConsolidatedFinancialStatementsUnaudited**Namespace Prefix:**gciinc**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This block of text may be used to disclose all or part of the information related to intangible assets.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph  44, 45, 46
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsDisclosureTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap**Data Type:**us-types:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |