| **Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental Disclosures (Tables)**   | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
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| **Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental Disclosures [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Cash Flow, Operating Capital [Table Text Block]                               |  Three Months Ended March 31, 2013 2012   Increase in accounts receivable, net$ (14,243)  (10,619)   Increase in prepaid expenses  (2,311)  (1,520)   Increase in inventories  (590)  (1,985)   Decrease in other current assets  516  104   (Increase) decrease in other assets  (107)  1,152   Decrease in accounts payable  (333)  (6,813)   Increase in deferred revenues  325  1,178   Increase (decrease) in accrued payroll and  payroll related obligations  1,210  (2,048)   Increase in accrued liabilities  667  3,120   Increase in accrued interest  14,722  14,686   Increase (decrease) in subscriber deposits  116  (44)   Increase (decrease) in long-term deferred revenue  265  (281)   Decrease in components of other  long-term liabilities  (951)  (832)     Total change in operating assets and liabilities$ (714)  (3,902)  |
| Cash Payments for Interest [Table Text Block]                                 |  Net cash paid or received: 2013 2012   Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized$ 2,704  2,086                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| Schedule of Other Significant Noncash Transactions [Table Text Block]         |    2013 2012  Non-cash additions for purchases of property and  equipment$ 8,322  2,868  Asset retirement obligation additions to property and  equipment $ 989  92  Deferred compensation distribution denominated in  shares$ 621  511                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |

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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.
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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=d3e4304-108586Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 32 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.
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