| **Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental Disclosures (Tables)** | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
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| **Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]**                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Cash Flow, Operating Capital                                                | Changes in operating assets and liabilities consist of (amounts in thousands):Year ended December 31,2013 2012 2011Increase in accounts receivable, net$(68,360) (9,386) (16,900)(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses672 (350) (1,949)(Increase) decrease in inventories1,751 (4,576) (1,718)Decrease in other current assets1,448 1,953 309(Increase) decrease in other assets(1,459) 1,236 907Increase (decrease) in accounts payable15,334 3,085 (1,373)Increase in deferred revenues2,368 3,215 4,707Increase (decrease) in accrued payroll and payroll related obligations10,263 (2,750) (102)Increase (decrease) in accrued liabilities(883) 3,043 (1,733)Increase (decrease) in accrued interest302 106 (6,776)Increase (decrease) in subscriber deposits(40) 116 (21)Decrease in long-term deferred revenue(3,554) (5,001) (2,413)Decrease in components of other long-term liabilities(20) (1,301) (1,618)Total change in operating assets and liabilities$(42,178) (10,610) (28,680) |
| Cash Payments for Interest                                                  | The following items are for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (amounts in thousands):Net cash paid or received:2013 2012 2011Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized$71,749 69,083 73,492                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Schedule of Other Significant Noncash Transactions                          | The following items are non-cash investing and financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (amounts in thousands): 2013 2012 2011Non-cash additions for purchases of property and equipment$17,230 9,010 7,233Asset retirement obligation additions to property and equipment$5,292 660 613Deferred compensation distribution denominated in shares$621 511 —Net assets acquired with equity in AWN (see Note 1(d))$267,642 — —                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |

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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.
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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 Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4313-108586Reference 3: 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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