Commitments and Contingencies - Part 3 (Details)		1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 23, 2016 USD ($)	May 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2009 item	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Loss contingencies
General and administrative expenses				$ 753,204,000	$ 745,366,000	$ 762,146,000
Do Not Call Litigation
Loss contingencies
Number of telemarketing calls | item				51,119
Litigation per call damages				$ 400
LightSquared transaction shareholder derivative actions
Loss contingencies
Number of shareholders who filed lawsuits | item				5
Lightsquared Harbinger Capital Partners LLC
Loss contingencies
Business days allowed to terminate existing agreements				3 days
Satellite transponder guarantees
Loss contingencies
Guarantees for payments				$ 190,000,000
Technology Development Licensing
Loss contingencies
Number of reexamination petitions pending before patent and trademark office | item			2
Hopper litigation | Maximum
Loss contingencies
Number of days to store HD primetime programs recordings		8 days
Do Not Call Litigation
Loss contingencies
Period of injunctive relief sought from placing any outbound telemarketing calls to market or promote its goods or services				5 years
Do Not Call Litigation | DISH Network L.L.C.
Loss contingencies
State, claim amount				$ 23,500,000,000
Federal, claim amount				900,000,000
Claim amount				270,000,000
Do Not Call Litigation | DISH Network L.L.C. | CALIFORNIA
Loss contingencies
Claim amount				100,000,000
Do Not Call Litigation | DISH Network L.L.C. | OHIO
Loss contingencies
Claim amount				$ 10,000,000
AWS 3 Auction | Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum | Vermont National Telephone Company [Member]
Loss contingencies
Percentage Of Bidding Credit	25.00%
Bidding Credit	$ 3,300,000,000
Loss Contingency Recovery Amount	10,000,000,000
AWS 3 Auction | Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum | Maximum | Vermont National Telephone Company [Member]
Loss contingencies
Claim amount	11,000
AWS 3 Auction | Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum | Minimum | Vermont National Telephone Company [Member]
Loss contingencies
Claim amount	$ 5,500