Document and Entity Information Cost of services and products (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below) Cost of Revenue Excluding Depreciation and Amortization The aggregate cost of goods produced and sold and services rendered during the reporting period, excluding depreciation and amortization. Investment income Nonoperating Investment Income The aggregate amount of income from investments which includes the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investees (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied, cash distributions received from investments accounted for under both the cost and equity method of accounting, and the increase (decrease) in the cash surrender value of life insurance policies in which the entity is the beneficiary. Deferred debt issuance costs, net and other assets This element represents the net amount of long-term deferred finance costs capitalized at the end of the reporting period and the aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of noncurrent assets not separately disclosed in the balance sheet due to materiality considerations which are expected to be realized or consumed after one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer). Deferred Debt Issuance Costs, Net and Other Assets Noncurrent Other long-term liabilities Other Liabilities and Derivative Liabilities, Noncurrent Fair values as of the balance sheet date of all liabilities resulting from contracts that meet the criteria of being accounted for as derivative instruments, and which are expected to be extinguished or otherwise disposed of after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer, net of the effects of master netting arrangements. This element also includes the aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of noncurrent obligations not separately disclosed in the balance sheet due to materiality considerations. Noncurrent liabilities are expected to be paid after one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer). Cash distributions from wireless partnerships in excess of (less than) earnings Cash Distributions from Wireless Partnerships in Excess of (Less than) Current Earnings This item represents disclosure of the amount of dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporations in excess of (less than) current earnings. Cash Distributions from Partnerships in Excess of Accumulated Earnings Distributions that constitute a return of investment. Wireless partnership cash distributions in excess of accumulated earnings Prepaid and Other Current Assets Disclosure [Text Block] The entire disclosure of claims held for amounts due a company. Prepaid and other current assets Investments Investments Equity Cost Method and Life Insurance Investments Disclosure [Text Block] This element may be used to capture the complete disclosure pertaining to the entity's investments in other entities accounted for under both the equity and cost method basis of accounting along with its investments in life insurance policies for which the entity is the beneficiary. Amendment Description Deferred Debt Issuance Costs, Net and Other Assets Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] Accrued Expenses Amendment Flag This element may be used to capture the complete disclosure pertaining to an entity's net amount of long-term deferred finance costs capitalized at the end of the reporting period and aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of noncurrent assets not separately disclosed in the balance sheet due to materiality considerations. Deferred Debt Issuance Costs, Net and Other Assets [Text Block] Deferred Debt Issuance Costs, Net and Other Assets Interest Expense, Net of Interest Income Interest Expense Disclosure [Text Block] This element may be used to capture the complete disclosure pertaining to an entity's cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest, net payments on swap liabilities, and amortization of deferred financing fees that were charged against earnings during the period. Interest Expense, Net of Interest Income Interest expense, net of interest income Retirement and Pension Plans Postretirement Benefits Excluding Medical Benefits and Life Insurance Disclosure [Text Block] Description containing the entire pension and other postretirement benefits disclosure, excluding medical benefits and life insurance, as a single block of text. Current Fiscal Year End Date Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,747 in 2012 and $2,547 in 2011 Document Period End Date Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Type Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Additional paid-in capital Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts (in dollars) Amortization of Financing Costs Amortization of deferred financing costs Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets Earnings Per Share, Basic Net income per common share-basic (in dollars per share) Capital Lease Obligations, Current Current portion of capital lease obligations Capital Lease Obligations, Noncurrent Long-term portion of capital lease obligation Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents Cash and equivalents at beginning of year Cash and equivalents at end of period Interest paid Interest Paid Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable, net Income tax receivable Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Receivable Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable Accounts payable Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Liabilities Accrued expenses and other liabilities Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Litigation and Contingencies Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares, Issued Balance (in shares) Balance (in shares) Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Common stock, shares outstanding Balance (in shares) Balance (in shares) Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 29,951,282 and 29,869,512, shares outstanding as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively Comprehensive Income (Loss) Note [Text Block] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Current liabilities: Customer Advances and Deposits, Current Advance billings and customer deposits Debt Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Financing and other transaction costs Debt Related Commitment Fees and Debt Issuance Costs Payments of Debt Restructuring Costs Fees paid for the modification of debt Postemployment Benefits Liability, Noncurrent Pension and other postretirement obligations Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Liabilities, Noncurrent Deferred income taxes Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Derivatives Derivative Liabilities, Current Current portion of derivative liability Earnings Per Share, Diluted Net income per common share-diluted (in dollars per share) Postemployment Benefits Disclosure [Text Block] Postretirement Benefit Obligation Share-based Compensation Stock-based compensation expense Environmental Loss Contingency Disclosure [Text Block] Environmental Remediation Liabilities Payment of financing cost Payments of Financing Costs Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment Loss on disposal of assets Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt Loss on early extinguishment of debt Loss on extinguishment of debt Income (Loss) from Operations before Extraordinary Items, Per Diluted Share Income per common share before extraordinary item (in dollars per share) Income (Loss) from Operations before Extraordinary Items, Per Basic Share Income per common share before extraordinary item (in dollars per share) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations Income (Loss) from Extraordinary Items, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share Extraordinary item per share (in dollars per share) Income (Loss) from Extraordinary Items, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share Extraordinary item per share (in dollars per share) Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Income Taxes Income Taxes Receivable Income tax receivable Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Other assets Customer lists, net Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net Goodwill Goodwill Indefinite-Lived Trade Names Tradenames Interest Expense Interest expense, net of interest income Interest expense, net of interest income Inventory, Net Inventories Liabilities Total liabilities Liabilities and Equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Liabilities and Equity [Abstract] Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Long-term Debt, Current Maturities Current portion of senior secured term debt Senior secured long-term debt Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities Long-term Investments Investments Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling interest Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders Distributions to non-controlling interests Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations Operating Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Net income attributable to common stockholders Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Recent Accounting Pronouncements Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] Other income (expense): Operating Income (Loss) Operating income Revenues Net revenues Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] Nature of Operations Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax Change in prior service cost and net loss, net of tax of $287 Change in prior service cost and net loss, net of tax of $272 and $287 for March 31, 2012 and 2011 Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax Change in fair value of cash flow hedges, net of tax of $1,703 Change in fair value of cash flow hedges, net of tax of $585 and $1,704 for March 31, 2012 and 2011 Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities Other Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) Other, net Payments of Dividends, Common Stock Dividends on common stock Proceeds from Life Insurance Policies Cash value from termination of life insurance policy Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt Proceeds from long-term obligations Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets Proceeds from the sale of assets Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Property, plant and equipment, net Property, plant and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Purchases of property, plant and equipment Affiliated Transactions Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block] Repayments of Long-term Capital Lease Obligations Payment of capital lease obligation Payment on long term debt Repayments of Long-term Debt Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Repurchase and retirement of common stock Distributions to noncontrolling interest Payments to Noncontrolling Interests Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Retained earnings Proceeds from Sale, Maturity and Collection of Investments Proceeds from the sale of investments Schedule II-Valuation Reserves Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Text Block] Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Business Segments Selling, General and Administrative Expense Selling, general and administrative expenses Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Supplemental disclosure of cash flow: Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Extraordinary item income tax Tax Effect of Extraordinary Item, Gain (Loss) Income taxes paid Income Taxes Paid Assets, Current Total current assets Assets, Current [Abstract] Current assets: Decrease in uncertain tax positions Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Decreases Resulting from Current Period Tax Positions Common Stock [Member] Common Stock Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Property, plant and equipment Assets Total assets Investment Income, Interest Interest income Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Stock-based Compensation Plans Scenario, Unspecified [Domain] Statement [Table] Statement, Scenario [Axis] Assets [Abstract] Assets Statement [Line Items] Statement Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Fair Value Measurements Quarterly Financial Information (unaudited) Quarterly Financial Information [Text Block] Investing Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Financing Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Net cash used for investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations Net cash used for financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity Stockholders' Equity, Period Increase (Decrease) Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract] Net income per common share-basic: Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract] Net income per common share-diluted: Net Income per Common Share Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Tax Effect Change in fair value of cash flow hedges, tax Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Tax Change in prior service cost and net loss, tax Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income tax expense Extraordinary Item, Gain (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Extraordinary item (net of income tax of $4,154) Extraordinary item, net of tax Income (Loss) from Operations before Extraordinary Items Income before extraordinary item Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid Cash dividends per common share (in dollars per share) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital Retained Earnings [Member] Retained Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, net Equity Component [Domain] Stock Issued During Period, Value, Employee Stock Purchase Plan Shares issued under employee plan, net of forfeitures Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value Purchase and retirement of common stock Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Employee Stock Purchase Plans Shares issued under employee plan, net of forfeitures (in shares) Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares Purchase and retirement of common stock (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Period Increase (Decrease) Other Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] Other Long-term Liabilities Comprehensive Income [Member] Comprehensive Income Costs and Expenses [Abstract] Operating expense: Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Net Income per Common Share Postemployment Benefits Liability, Current Current portion of pension and postretirement benefit obligations Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net income Net income Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Depreciation and amortization Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Comprehensive income: Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Comprehensive income Comprehensive income Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Stockholders' equity: Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Total stockholders' equity Balance Balance Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Non-controlling Interest Dividends, Common Stock, Cash Dividends on common stock Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Accounts Payable, Current Accounts payable Accrued Liabilities, Current Accrued expense Dividends Payable, Current Dividends payable Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition Non-cash, stock-based compensation Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest Income before income taxes Prepaid expenses and other current assets Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current Description of New Accounting Pronouncements Not yet Adopted [Text Block] Recent Accounting Pronouncements Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Other Pension tax adjustment Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Continuing Operations Net increase/(decrease) in cash and equivalents Adjustment to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Effect from Share-based Compensation, Net Tax on restricted stock vesting Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Organization, Consolidation, Basis of Presentation, Business Description and Accounting Policies [Text Block] Prepaid and other current assets Interest Income (Expense), Nonoperating, Net Interest expense, net of interest income Accrued Expenses Nature of Operations Litigation and Contingencies Income Taxes Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Fair Value Measurements Subsequent Events Subsequent Events [Text Block] Debt Other Long-term Liabilities Retirement and Pension Plans Quarterly Financial Information (unaudited) Derivatives Stock-based Compensation Plans Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment Intangible asset impairment Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Environmental Remediation Liabilities Postretirement Benefit Obligation Business Segments Affiliated Transactions Subsequent Events Schedule II-Valuation Reserves Shares forfeitures Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Forfeited Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Forfeited Shares forfeitures (in shares) Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Total comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Agreement and Plan of Merger with SureWest Communications Agreement and Plan of Merger with SureWest Communications Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block] Capital Leases Leases of Lessee Disclosure [Text Block] Capital Leases