CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 12,395	$ 9,599
Accounts receivable, net	120,016	133,136
Income taxes receivable	2,669	11,072
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	41,787	44,336
Total current assets	176,867	198,143
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,835,878	1,927,126
Intangibles and other assets:
Investments	112,717	110,853
Goodwill	1,035,274	1,035,274
Customer relationships, net	164,069	228,959
Other intangible assets	10,557	11,483
Other assets	54,915	23,423
Total assets	3,390,277	3,535,261
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	30,936	32,502
Advance billings and customer deposits	45,710	47,724
Dividends payable		27,579
Accrued compensation	57,069	64,459
Accrued interest	7,874	9,232
Accrued expense	75,406	71,650
Current portion of long term debt and finance lease obligations	27,301	30,468
Total current liabilities	244,296	283,614
Long-term debt and finance lease obligations	2,250,677	2,303,585
Deferred income taxes	173,027	188,129
Pension and postretirement benefit obligations	302,296	314,134
Other long-term liabilities	72,730	30,145
Total liabilities	3,043,026	3,119,607
Shareholders' equity:
Common Stock	720	712
Other shareholders' equity	340,161	409,024
Total Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. shareholders' equity	340,881	409,736
Noncontrolling interest	6,370	5,918
Total shareholders' equity	347,251	415,654	$ 573,942	$ 176,255
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	3,390,277	3,535,261
Eliminations
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		(18)
Accounts receivable, net		(37)
Total current assets		(55)
Intangibles and other assets:
Investments in subsidiaries	(7,084,977)	(7,109,038)
Advances due to/from affiliates, net	(3,296,300)	(3,237,287)
Deferred income taxes	(92,108)	(76,758)
Other assets		3,011
Total assets	(10,473,385)	(10,420,127)
Current liabilities:
Accrued expense		(55)
Total current liabilities		(55)
Advances due to/from affiliates, net	(3,296,300)	(3,237,287)
Deferred income taxes	(92,108)	(73,747)
Total liabilities	(3,388,408)	(3,311,089)
Shareholders' equity:
Common Stock	(47,411)	(47,411)
Other shareholders' equity	(7,037,566)	(7,061,627)
Total Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. shareholders' equity	(7,084,977)	(7,109,038)
Total shareholders' equity	(7,084,977)	(7,109,038)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	(10,473,385)	(10,420,127)
Parent | Reportable legal entity
Current assets:
Income taxes receivable	1,812	10,272
Total current assets	1,812	10,272
Intangibles and other assets:
Investments in subsidiaries	3,547,466	3,587,612
Deferred income taxes	86,447	76,758
Other assets	1,506
Total assets	3,637,231	3,674,642
Current liabilities:
Dividends payable		27,579
Accrued expense	50	40
Total current liabilities	50	27,619
Advances due to/from affiliates, net	3,296,300	3,237,287
Total liabilities	3,296,350	3,264,906
Shareholders' equity:
Common Stock	720	712
Other shareholders' equity	340,161	409,024
Total Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. shareholders' equity	340,881	409,736
Total shareholders' equity	340,881	409,736
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	3,637,231	3,674,642
Subsidiary Issuer | Reportable legal entity
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	12,387	9,616
Accounts receivable, net	78
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		2,465
Total current assets	12,465	12,081
Intangibles and other assets:
Investments	8,863	8,673
Investments in subsidiaries	3,520,346	3,505,477
Advances due to/from affiliates, net	2,289,433	2,379,079
Deferred income taxes	5,661
Other assets		1,524
Total assets	5,836,768	5,906,834
Current liabilities:
Accrued interest	7,523	8,430
Accrued expense	2,565	37
Current portion of long term debt and finance lease obligations	18,350	18,350
Total current liabilities	28,438	26,817
Long-term debt and finance lease obligations	2,235,609	2,285,341
Deferred income taxes		122
Other long-term liabilities	25,255	6,942
Total liabilities	2,289,302	2,319,222
Shareholders' equity:
Other shareholders' equity	3,547,466	3,587,612
Total Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. shareholders' equity	3,547,466	3,587,612
Total shareholders' equity	3,547,466	3,587,612
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 5,836,768	5,906,834
Guarantors
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
Ownership interest (as a percent)	100.00%
Guarantors | Reportable legal entity
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 8
Accounts receivable, net	112,415	122,743
Income taxes receivable	791	790
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	41,431	41,547
Total current assets	154,645	165,080
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,770,187	1,861,009
Intangibles and other assets:
Investments	103,854	102,180
Investments in subsidiaries	17,165	15,949
Goodwill	969,093	969,093
Customer relationships, net	164,069	228,959
Other intangible assets	1,470	2,396
Advances due to/from affiliates, net	893,394	760,310
Other assets	52,887	18,237
Total assets	4,126,764	4,123,213
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	30,936	32,502
Advance billings and customer deposits	44,436	46,316
Accrued compensation	56,356	63,688
Accrued interest	351	802
Accrued expense	71,659	70,365
Current portion of long term debt and finance lease obligations	8,808	11,968
Total current liabilities	212,546	225,641
Long-term debt and finance lease obligations	15,001	17,988
Deferred income taxes	240,983	239,880
Pension and postretirement benefit obligations	285,832	295,815
Other long-term liabilities	46,656	22,305
Total liabilities	801,018	801,629
Shareholders' equity:
Common Stock	17,411	17,411
Other shareholders' equity	3,301,965	3,298,255
Total Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. shareholders' equity	3,319,376	3,315,666
Noncontrolling interest	6,370	5,918
Total shareholders' equity	3,325,746	3,321,584
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	4,126,764	4,123,213
Non-Guarantors | Reportable legal entity
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		1
Accounts receivable, net	7,523	10,430
Income taxes receivable	66	10
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	356	324
Total current assets	7,945	10,765
Property, plant and equipment, net	65,691	66,117
Intangibles and other assets:
Goodwill	66,181	66,181
Other intangible assets	9,087	9,087
Advances due to/from affiliates, net	113,473	97,898
Other assets	522	651
Total assets	262,899	250,699
Current liabilities:
Advance billings and customer deposits	1,274	1,408
Accrued compensation	713	771
Accrued expense	1,132	1,263
Current portion of long term debt and finance lease obligations	143	150
Total current liabilities	3,262	3,592
Long-term debt and finance lease obligations	67	256
Deferred income taxes	24,152	21,874
Pension and postretirement benefit obligations	16,464	18,319
Other long-term liabilities	819	898
Total liabilities	44,764	44,939
Shareholders' equity:
Common Stock	30,000	30,000
Other shareholders' equity	188,135	175,760
Total Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. shareholders' equity	218,135	205,760
Total shareholders' equity	218,135	205,760
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 262,899	$ 250,699