Marketable Investment Securities and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Fair value of marketable securities
Debt security	$ 4,075,835	$ 2,269,670
Total marketable investment securities	4,149,586	2,318,714
Transfer of investments from Level 1 to Level 2	0
Transfer of investments from Level 2 to Level 1	0
VRDNs
Fair value of marketable securities
Debt security	153,825	124,007
Other (including restricted)
Fair value of marketable securities
Debt security	3,981,712	2,181,064
Equity Securities
Fair value of marketable securities
Equity securities	14,049	13,643
Recurring basis \| Total
Fair value of marketable securities
Cash equivalents (including restricted)	3,517,520	3,014,946
Total marketable investment securities	4,149,586	2,318,714
Recurring basis \| Total \| VRDNs
Fair value of marketable securities
Debt security	153,825	124,007
Recurring basis \| Total \| Other (including restricted)
Fair value of marketable securities
Debt security	3,981,712	2,181,064
Recurring basis \| Total \| Equity Securities
Fair value of marketable securities
Equity securities	14,049	13,643
Recurring basis \| Level 1
Fair value of marketable securities
Cash equivalents (including restricted)	3,671	59,386
Total marketable investment securities	14,049	13,643
Recurring basis \| Level 1 \| Equity Securities
Fair value of marketable securities
Equity securities	14,049	13,643
Recurring basis \| Level 2
Fair value of marketable securities
Cash equivalents (including restricted)	3,513,849	2,955,560
Total marketable investment securities	4,135,537	2,305,071
Recurring basis \| Level 2 \| VRDNs
Fair value of marketable securities
Debt security	153,825	124,007
Recurring basis \| Level 2 \| Other (including restricted)
Fair value of marketable securities
Debt security	$ 3,981,712	$ 2,181,064

Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

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+ Details

- Definition

Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as trading securities nor held-to-maturity securities and intended be sold or mature one year or operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

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+ Details

- Definition

Amount of equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor as trading.

+ References

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+ Details

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item includes currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. It also includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits in that the Company may deposit additional funds at any time and also effectively may withdraw funds at any time without prior notice or penalty. Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities, include short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present minimal risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

Total debt and equity financial instruments including: (1) securities held-to-maturity, (2) trading securities, and (3) securities available-for-sale.

+ References+ Details