CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 45,876		$ 12,395
Accounts receivable, net	116,493		120,016
Income taxes receivable	4,374		2,669
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	41,164		41,787
Total current assets	207,907		176,867
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,793,340		1,835,878
Intangibles and other assets:
Investments	112,541		112,717
Goodwill	1,035,274		1,035,274
Customer relationships, net	138,744		164,069
Other intangible assets	10,557		10,557
Other assets	49,274		54,915
Total Assets	3,347,637		3,390,277
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	16,707		30,936
Advance billings and customer deposits	44,574		45,710
Accrued compensation	55,089		57,069
Accrued interest	7,793		7,874
Accrued expense	75,705		75,406
Current portion of long term debt and finance lease obligations	24,889		27,301
Total current liabilities	224,757		244,296
Long-term debt and finance lease obligations	2,198,003		2,250,677
Deferred income taxes	179,573		173,027
Pension and postretirement benefit obligations	285,253		302,296
Other long-term liabilities	87,843		72,730
Total liabilities	2,975,429		3,043,026
Shareholders' equity:
Common Stock	731		720
Other shareholders' equity	364,936		340,161
Total Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. shareholders' equity	365,667		340,881
Noncontrolling interest	6,541		6,370
Total shareholders' equity	372,208	$ 353,659	347,251	$ 359,173	$ 376,164	$ 415,654
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	3,347,637		3,390,277
Eliminations
Current assets:
Income taxes receivable	(17,168)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(126)
Total current assets	(17,294)
Intangibles and other assets:
Investments in subsidiaries	(7,167,184)		(7,084,977)
Advances due to/from affiliates, net	(3,297,104)		(3,296,300)
Deferred income taxes	(85,713)		(92,108)
Total Assets	(10,567,295)		(10,473,385)
Current liabilities:
Accrued expense	(126)
Income tax payable	(17,168)
Total current liabilities	(17,294)
Advances due to/from affiliates, net	(3,297,104)		(3,296,300)
Deferred income taxes	(85,713)		(92,108)
Total liabilities	(3,400,111)		(3,388,408)
Shareholders' equity:
Common Stock	(47,411)		(47,411)
Other shareholders' equity	(7,119,773)		(7,037,566)
Total Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. shareholders' equity	(7,167,184)		(7,084,977)
Total shareholders' equity	(7,167,184)		(7,084,977)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	(10,567,295)		(10,473,385)
Parent | Reportable legal entity
Current assets:
Income taxes receivable	13,686		1,812
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	126
Total current assets	13,812		1,812
Intangibles and other assets:
Investments in subsidiaries	3,571,803		3,547,466
Deferred income taxes	77,156		86,447
Other assets			1,506
Total Assets	3,662,771		3,637,231
Current liabilities:
Accrued expense			50
Total current liabilities			50
Advances due to/from affiliates, net	3,297,104		3,296,300
Total liabilities	3,297,104		3,296,350
Shareholders' equity:
Common Stock	731		720
Other shareholders' equity	364,936		340,161
Total Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. shareholders' equity	365,667		340,881
Total shareholders' equity	365,667		340,881
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	3,662,771		3,637,231
Subsidiary Issuer | Reportable legal entity
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	45,876		12,387
Accounts receivable, net	76		78
Income taxes receivable	7,856
Total current assets	53,808		12,465
Intangibles and other assets:
Investments	9,064		8,863
Investments in subsidiaries	3,577,749		3,520,346
Advances due to/from affiliates, net	2,171,272		2,289,433
Deferred income taxes	8,557		5,661
Total Assets	5,820,450		5,836,768
Current liabilities:
Accrued interest	7,358		7,523
Accrued expense	884		2,565
Current portion of long term debt and finance lease obligations	18,350		18,350
Total current liabilities	26,592		28,438
Long-term debt and finance lease obligations	2,184,397		2,235,609
Other long-term liabilities	37,657		25,255
Total liabilities	2,248,646		2,289,302
Shareholders' equity:
Other shareholders' equity	3,571,804		3,547,466
Total Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. shareholders' equity	3,571,804		3,547,466
Total shareholders' equity	3,571,804		3,547,466
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 5,820,450		5,836,768
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	$ 110,569		112,415
Income taxes receivable			791
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	40,869		41,431
Total current assets	151,438		154,645
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,728,249		1,770,187
Intangibles and other assets:
Investments	103,477		103,854
Investments in subsidiaries	17,632		17,165
Goodwill	969,093		969,093
Customer relationships, net	138,744		164,069
Other intangible assets	1,470		1,470
Advances due to/from affiliates, net	1,008,596		893,394
Other assets	48,843		52,887
Total Assets	4,167,542		4,126,764
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	16,707		30,936
Advance billings and customer deposits	43,258		44,436
Accrued compensation	54,369		56,356
Accrued interest	435		351
Accrued expense	73,663		71,659
Income tax payable	15,485
Current portion of long term debt and finance lease obligations	6,398		8,808
Total current liabilities	210,315		212,546
Long-term debt and finance lease obligations	13,606		15,001
Deferred income taxes	241,128		240,983
Pension and postretirement benefit obligations	274,819		285,832
Other long-term liabilities	49,439		46,656
Total liabilities	789,307		801,018
Shareholders' equity:
Common Stock	17,411		17,411
Other shareholders' equity	3,354,283		3,301,965
Total Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. shareholders' equity	3,371,694		3,319,376
Noncontrolling interest	6,541		6,370
Total shareholders' equity	3,378,235		3,325,746
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	4,167,542		4,126,764
Non-Guarantors | Reportable legal entity
Current assets:
Accounts receivable, net	5,848		7,523
Income taxes receivable			66
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	295		356
Total current assets	6,143		7,945
Property, plant and equipment, net	65,091		65,691
Intangibles and other assets:
Goodwill	66,181		66,181
Other intangible assets	9,087		9,087
Advances due to/from affiliates, net	117,236		113,473
Other assets	431		522
Total Assets	264,169		262,899
Current liabilities:
Advance billings and customer deposits	1,316		1,274
Accrued compensation	720		713
Accrued expense	1,284		1,132
Income tax payable	1,683
Current portion of long term debt and finance lease obligations	141		143
Total current liabilities	5,144		3,262
Long-term debt and finance lease obligations			67
Deferred income taxes	24,158		24,152
Pension and postretirement benefit obligations	10,434		16,464
Other long-term liabilities	747		819
Total liabilities	40,483		44,764
Shareholders' equity:
Common Stock	30,000		30,000
Other shareholders' equity	193,686		188,135
Total Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. shareholders' equity	223,686		218,135
Total shareholders' equity	223,686		218,135
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 264,169		$ 262,899