Marketable Investment Securities, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, and Other Investment Securities (Details 5) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair value of marketable securities
Debt securities	$ 3,748,839	$ 4,117,326
Total marketable investment securities	3,823,033	4,181,228
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 securities	20,538	105,854
Other (including restricted)
Fair value of marketable securities
Debt security	3,759,837	4,048,851
Equity securities
Fair value of marketable securities
Equity securities	42,658	26,523
Fair value measurements on recurring basis \| Total
Fair value of marketable securities
Cash equivalents (including restricted)	4,183,698	3,743,328
Total marketable investment securities	3,823,033	4,181,228
Fair value measurements on recurring basis \| Total \| VRDNs
Fair value of marketable securities
Debt securities	20,538	105,854
Fair value measurements on recurring basis \| Total \| Other (including restricted)
Fair value of marketable securities
Debt security	3,759,837	4,048,851
Fair value measurements on recurring basis \| Total \| Equity securities
Fair value of marketable securities
Equity securities	42,658	26,523
Fair value measurements on recurring basis \| Level 1
Fair value of marketable securities
Cash equivalents (including restricted)	67,535	275,277
Total marketable investment securities	42,658	26,523
Fair value measurements on recurring basis \| Level 1 \| Equity securities
Fair value of marketable securities
Equity securities	42,658	26,523
Fair value measurements on recurring basis \| Level 2
Fair value of marketable securities
Cash equivalents (including restricted)	4,116,163	3,468,051
Total marketable investment securities	3,780,375	4,154,705
Fair value measurements on recurring basis \| Level 2 \| VRDNs
Fair value of marketable securities
Debt securities	20,538	105,854
Fair value measurements on recurring basis \| Level 2 \| Other (including restricted)
Fair value of marketable securities
Debt security	$ 3,759,837	$ 4,048,851

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

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Fair value portion of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

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Amount of transfers of assets measured on a recurring basis out of Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy into Level 2.

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

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