| **Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental Disclosures** | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
||
| **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):Three Months Ended March 31,2015 2014Decrease in accounts receivable, net$7,859 8,295Increase in prepaid expenses(308) (3,581)Decrease in inventories2,495 3,653Decrease in other current assets7 26Increase in other assets(1,250) (142)Decrease in accounts payable(2,470) (8,594)Increase (decrease) in deferred revenues(2,256) 1,462Decrease in accrued payroll and payroll related obligations(6,083) (8,476)Increase in accrued liabilities3,891 1,015Increase in accrued interest17,611 14,363Decrease in subscriber deposits(153) (140)Decrease in long-term deferred revenue(251) (1,375)Increase (decrease) in components of other long-term liabilities(255) 645Total change in operating assets and liabilities$18,837 7,151The following item is for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 (amounts in thousands):Net cash paid or received:2015 2014Interest paid including capitalized interest$3,382 4,412The following items are non-cash investing and financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 (amounts in thousands): 2015 2014Non-cash consideration for Wireless Acquisition$19,446 —Non-cash additions for purchases of property and equipment$17,817 9,779Asset retirement obligation additions to property and equipment$243 361Net capital lease obligation$— 9,385Distribution to non-controlling interest$— 4,167Deferred compensation distribution denominated in shares$— 617 |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - 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 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
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_CashFlowSupplementalDisclosuresTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**nonnum:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                        |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_SupplementalCashFlowElementsAbstract**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |