| **Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental Disclosures (Tables)** | 9 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):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 20,588 |
| Cash Payments for Interest                                                  | The 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 43,195                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| Schedule of Other Significant Noncash Transactions                          | The 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
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 noncash investing and financing activities, classified as other.
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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 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4332-108586Reference 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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| - References
No definition available.
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