| **Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Principles (Income Statements Immaterial Error Correction) (Details) (USD $)In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified** | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|----------------|
||
| Depreciation and amortization expense                                                                                                                                                          | $ 32,120       | $ 30,653       | $ 97,850 | $ 93,298 |
| Operating income                                                                                                                                                                               | 25,392         | 31,933         | 69,710 | 74,494 |
| Income before income tax expense                                                                                                                                                               | 8,793          | 15,218         | 18,967 | 13,897 |
| Income tax expense                                                                                                                                                                             | (5,270)        | (7,979)        | (10,387) | (7,303) |
| Net income                                                                                                                                                                                     | 3,523          | 7,239          | 8,580 | 6,594 |
| Common Stock - Class A [Member]                                                                                                                                                                |           |           |   |   |
| Basic net income attributable to General Communication, Inc. common stockholders per common share                                                                                              | $ 0.09         | $ 0.16         | $ 0.22 | $ 0.14 |
| Diluted net income attributable to General Communication, Inc. common stockholders per common share                                                                                            | $ 0.09         | $ 0.15         | $ 0.22 | $ 0.13 |
| Common Stock - Class B [Member]                                                                                                                                                                |           |           |   |   |
| Basic net income attributable to General Communication, Inc. common stockholders per common share                                                                                              | $ 0.09         | $ 0.16         | $ 0.22 | $ 0.14 |
| Diluted net income attributable to General Communication, Inc. common stockholders per common share                                                                                            | $ 0.09         | $ 0.15         | $ 0.22 | $ 0.13 |
| Scenario As Previously Reported [Member]                                                                                                                                                       |           |           |   |   |
| Depreciation and amortization expense                                                                                                                                                          |           | 30,702         |   | 93,054 |
| Operating income                                                                                                                                                                               |           | 31,884         |   | 74,738 |
| Income before income tax expense                                                                                                                                                               |           | 15,169         |   | 14,141 |
| Income tax expense                                                                                                                                                                             |           | 7,959          |   | 7,403 |
| Net income                                                                                                                                                                                     |           | 7,210          |   | 6,738 |
| Scenario As Previously Reported [Member] | Common Stock - Class A [Member]                                                                                                                     |           |           |   |   |
| Basic net income attributable to General Communication, Inc. common stockholders per common share                                                                                              |           |           |   | $ 0.15 |
| Scenario As Previously Reported [Member] | Common Stock - Class B [Member]                                                                                                                     |           |           |   |   |
| Basic net income attributable to General Communication, Inc. common stockholders per common share                                                                                              |           |           |   | $ 0.15 |
| Adjustment [Member]                                                                                                                                                                            |           |           |   |   |
| Depreciation and amortization expense                                                                                                                                                          |           | (49)           |   | 244 |
| Operating income                                                                                                                                                                               |           | 49             |   | (244) |
| Income before income tax expense                                                                                                                                                               |           | 49             |   | (244) |
| Income tax expense                                                                                                                                                                             |           | 20             |   | (100) |
| Net income                                                                                                                                                                                     |           | $ 29           |   | $ (144) |
| Adjustment [Member] | Common Stock - Class A [Member]                                                                                                                                          |           |           |   |   |
| Basic net income attributable to General Communication, Inc. common stockholders per common share                                                                                              |           |           |   | $ (0.01) |
| Adjustment [Member] | Common Stock - Class B [Member]                                                                                                                                          |           |           |   |   |
| Basic net income attributable to General Communication, Inc. common stockholders per common share                                                                                              |           |           |   | $ (0.01) |

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|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.
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|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.
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|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The amount of net income (loss) for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.
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|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.
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|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The sum of the current income tax expense or benefit and the deferred income tax expense or benefit pertaining to continuing operations.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.
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No definition available.
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|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.
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