| **Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental Disclosures** | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
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| **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 31,2016 2015(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable, net$(14,761) 7,859Increase in prepaid expenses(3,806) (308)Decrease in inventories887 2,495(Increase) decrease in other current assets(84) 7Increase in other assets(3,301) (1,250)Decrease in accounts payable(2,972) (2,470)Increase (decrease) in deferred revenues1,161 (2,256)Decrease in accrued payroll and payroll related obligations(3,191) (6,083)Increase in accrued liabilities552 3,891Increase in accrued interest9,031 17,611Decrease in subscriber deposits(49) (153)Increase (decrease) in long-term deferred revenue5,458 (251)Increase (decrease) in components of other long-term liabilities1,566 (255)Total change in operating assets and liabilities$(9,509) 18,837The following item is for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 (amounts in thousands):Net cash paid or received:2016 2015Interest paid including capitalized interest$11,580 3,382The following items are non-cash investing and financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 (amounts in thousands): 2016 2015Non-cash additions for purchases of property and equipment$13,395 17,817Asset retirement obligation additions to property and equipment$357 243Non-cash consideration for Wireless Acquisition$— 23,326 |

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| - 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 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 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4304-108586Reference 3: 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=d3e4332-108586
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| - References
No definition available.
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