SUPPLEMENTAL CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Revenues:
Service revenues	$ 15,390	$ 12,627
Subscriber equipment sales	3,943	4,111
Total revenue	19,333	16,738
Operating expenses:
Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation, amortization, and accretion shown separately below)	7,527	7,262
Cost of subscriber equipment sales	2,940	2,723
Cost of subscriber equipment sales - reduction in the value of inventory		249
Reduction in the value of long-lived assets		79
Marketing, general, and administrative	6,924	6,620
Depreciation, amortization, and accretion	20,332	14,735
Total operating expenses	37,723	31,668
Loss from operations	(18,390)	(14,930)
Other income (expense):
Interest income and expense, net of amounts capitalized	(7,752)	(3,050)
Derivative gain (loss)	525	(6,520)
Other	642	132
Total other expense	(6,585)	(9,438)
Loss before income taxes	(24,975)	(24,368)
Income tax expense	103	157
Net loss	(25,078)	(24,525)
Comprehensive (loss) income	(25,648)	(24,066)
Parent Company [Member]
Revenues:
Service revenues	15,027	10,231
Subscriber equipment sales	105	161
Total revenue	15,132	10,392
Operating expenses:
Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation, amortization, and accretion shown separately below)	2,551	3,839
Cost of subscriber equipment sales		28
Cost of subscriber equipment sales - reduction in the value of inventory		2
Reduction in the value of long-lived assets		79
Marketing, general, and administrative	1,505	4,248
Depreciation, amortization, and accretion	15,477	9,185
Total operating expenses	19,533	17,381
Loss from operations	(4,401)	(6,989)
Other income (expense):
Interest income and expense, net of amounts capitalized	(7,423)	(2,590)
Derivative gain (loss)	525	(6,520)
Equity in subsidiary earnings	(14,499)	(8,281)
Other	776	(105)
Total other expense	(20,621)	(17,496)
Loss before income taxes	(25,022)	(24,485)
Income tax expense	56	40
Net loss	(25,078)	(24,525)
Comprehensive (loss) income	(25,078)	(24,525)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues:
Service revenues	3,587	4,034
Subscriber equipment sales	2,861	3,072
Total revenue	6,448	7,106
Operating expenses:
Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation, amortization, and accretion shown separately below)	2,487	837
Cost of subscriber equipment sales	2,326	2,241
Cost of subscriber equipment sales - reduction in the value of inventory		247
Reduction in the value of long-lived assets
Marketing, general, and administrative	3,564	838
Depreciation, amortization, and accretion	5,628	6,203
Total operating expenses	14,005	10,366
Loss from operations	(7,557)	(3,260)
Other income (expense):
Interest income and expense, net of amounts capitalized	(31)	(2)
Derivative gain (loss)
Equity in subsidiary earnings	(2,859)	1,871
Other	66	(131)
Total other expense	(2,824)	1,738
Loss before income taxes	(10,381)	(1,522)
Income tax expense	8	8
Net loss	(10,389)	(1,530)
Comprehensive (loss) income	(10,389)	(1,530)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues:
Service revenues	4,112	3,652
Subscriber equipment sales	1,998	1,370
Total revenue	6,110	5,022
Operating expenses:
Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation, amortization, and accretion shown separately below)	2,561	2,160
Cost of subscriber equipment sales	2,300	1,244
Cost of subscriber equipment sales - reduction in the value of inventory
Reduction in the value of long-lived assets
Marketing, general, and administrative	2,953	2,636
Depreciation, amortization, and accretion	4,993	3,695
Total operating expenses	12,807	9,735
Loss from operations	(6,697)	(4,713)
Other income (expense):
Interest income and expense, net of amounts capitalized	(294)	(458)
Derivative gain (loss)
Equity in subsidiary earnings
Other	(236)	406
Total other expense	(530)	(52)
Loss before income taxes	(7,227)	(4,765)
Income tax expense	39	109
Net loss	(7,266)	(4,874)
Comprehensive (loss) income	(7,836)	(4,415)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Revenues:
Service revenues	(7,336)	(5,290)
Subscriber equipment sales	(1,021)	(492)
Total revenue	(8,357)	(5,782)
Operating expenses:
Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation, amortization, and accretion shown separately below)	(72)	426
Cost of subscriber equipment sales	(1,686)	(790)
Cost of subscriber equipment sales - reduction in the value of inventory
Reduction in the value of long-lived assets
Marketing, general, and administrative	(1,098)	(1,102)
Depreciation, amortization, and accretion	(5,766)	(4,348)
Total operating expenses	(8,622)	(5,814)
Loss from operations	265	32
Other income (expense):
Interest income and expense, net of amounts capitalized	(4)
Derivative gain (loss)
Equity in subsidiary earnings	17,358	6,410
Other	36	(38)
Total other expense	17,390	6,372
Loss before income taxes	17,655	6,404
Income tax expense
Net loss	17,655	6,404
Comprehensive (loss) income	$ 17,655	$ 6,404