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The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

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Related Party Transactions - Narrative Part 2 (Details) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 01, 2017 item	Sep. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2017 item	Mar. 31, 2017	Jan. 31, 2012 item	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization						$ 125,016	$ 145,081	$ 382,970	$ 435,796
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized						171,246	187,784	517,633	578,286
Revenues						3,151,029	3,122,282	9,467,342	9,426,881
Service revenue
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenues						3,109,479	3,070,913	$ 9,357,713	9,285,915
100 Inverness Lease Agreement
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Required notice period for termination by the reporting entity	180 days
Nimiq 5 Agreement
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Agreement Renewal Option Term								1 year
Depreciation and amortization						9,000	3,000	$ 26,000	3,000
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized						3,000	1,000	11,000	1,000
Hughes Broadband Master Services Agreement [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Agreement term				5 years
Automatic renewal period				1 year
Required notice period for termination by the reporting entity				90 days
Hughes Broadband Master Services Agreement [Member] \| Service revenue
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenues						$ 4,000	$ 4,000	$ 13,000	$ 15,000
EchoStar \| El Paso Lease Agreement \| Dish Network
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of consecutive three year renewal options \| item					4
Agreement Renewal Option Term					3 years
EchoStar \| Professional Services Agreement \| Dish Network
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Agreement term										1 year
Automatic renewal period										1 year
Minimum notice period for termination of agreement										60 days
EchoStar \| 90 Inverness Lease Agreement \| Dish Network
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of consecutive three year renewal options \| item	4
Agreement Renewal Option Term	3 years
EchoStar \| Cheyenne Lease Agreement \| Dish Network
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of successive one year renewal options \| item	12
Agreement Renewal Option Term	1 year
Required notice period for termination by the reporting entity	180 days
EchoStar \| Gilbert Lease Agreement \| Dish Network
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Agreement Renewal Option Term	1 year
EchoStar \| Collocation And Antenna Space Agreements
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Required notice period for termination by the reporting entity	180 days
HNS \| Collocation And Antenna Space Agreements \| Dish Network
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Agreement Renewal Option Term		1 year	3 years
HNS \| Collocation And Antenna Space Agreements \| Dish Network \| Minimum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Required notice period for termination by the reporting entity		90 days
HNS \| Collocation And Antenna Space Agreements \| Dish Network \| Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Required notice period for termination by the reporting entity		120 days
HNS \| Collocation And Antenna Space Agreements \| Dish Network
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of consecutive three year renewal options \| item			4