CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 520,981	$ 506,592
Less: Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		(40,246)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	520,981	546,838
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	791,005	787,848
Impairment of long-lived assets		437,575
Realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investments	45,498	(207,592)
Non-cash, stock-based compensation	24,958	25,297
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	68,050	(4,887)
Other, net	142,067	47,355
Changes in current assets and current liabilities, net	194,121	36,846
Net cash flows from operating activities from continuing operations	1,786,680	1,669,280
Net cash flows from operating activities from discontinued operations, net	(30,007)	(36,964)
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Purchases of marketable investment securities	(3,796,993)	(5,009,859)
Sales and maturities of marketable investment securities	4,430,261	3,207,640
Purchases of derivative financial instruments		(702,833)
Settlement of derivative financial instruments		718,847
Purchases of property and equipment	(917,456)	(911,122)
Change in restricted cash and marketable investment securities	2,087	38,769
Purchases of FCC authorizations - H Block wireless spectrum licenses (Note 10)	(1,343,372)
Other, net	41,762	(94,621)
Net cash flows from investing activities from continuing operations	(1,583,711)	(2,753,179)
Net cash flows from investing activities from discontinued operations, net, including $0 and $1,782 of purchases of property and equipment, respectively	20,847	10,286
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		2,300,000
Proceeds from issuance of restricted debt		2,600,000
Redemption of restricted debt		(2,600,000)
Funding of restricted debt escrow		(2,596,750)
Release of restricted debt escrow		2,596,771
Repurchases of long-term debt	(199,999)	(48,552)
Repayment of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(23,500)	(29,399)
Net proceeds from Class A common stock options exercised and stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	37,352	66,598
Other	33,712	9,395
Net cash flows from financing activities from continuing operations	(152,435)	2,298,063
Net cash flows from financing activities from discontinued operations, net		(186)
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents from discontinued operations		13
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations	50,534	1,214,164
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period from continuing operations	4,700,022	3,573,742
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period from continuing operations	4,750,556	4,787,906
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents from discontinued operations	(9,160)	(26,851)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period from discontinued operations	9,160	32,398
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period from discontinued operations		$ 5,547