| **Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental Disclosures** | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
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| **Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]**                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental Disclosures     | Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental DisclosuresChanges in operating assets and liabilities consist of (amounts in thousands):Nine Months Ended September 30,2016 2015Decrease in accounts receivable, net$3,129 16,916Increase in prepaid expenses(3,636) (813)Decrease in inventories3,356 6,957(Increase) decrease in other current assets(44) 17Increase in other assets(3,990) (7,886)Increase (decrease) in accounts payable4,155 (8,095)Increase (decrease) in deferred revenues(1,013) 1,532Decrease in accrued payroll and payroll related obligations(2,227) (3,783)Increase (decrease) in accrued liabilities(5,758) 2,505Increase in accrued interest11,810 20,035Decrease in subscriber deposits(366) (590)Increase (decrease) in long-term deferred revenue18,178 (6,437)Increase in components of other long-term liabilities332 230Total change in operating assets and liabilities$23,926 20,588The following item is for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 (amounts in thousands):Net cash paid or received:2016 2015Interest paid including capitalized interest$50,789 43,195The following items are non-cash investing and financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 (amounts in thousands): 2016 2015Non-cash additions for purchases of property and equipment$11,372 17,683Net asset retirement obligation additions (deletions) to property and equipment$(2,279) 1,730Non-cash consideration for Wireless Acquisition$— 23,326 |

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| - Definition
The entire disclosure for supplemental cash flow activities, including cash, noncash, and part noncash transactions, for the period. Noncash is defined as information about all investing and financing activities of an enterprise during a period that affect recognized assets or liabilities but that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the 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 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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| - References
No definition available.
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