Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Capital expenditures anticipated [Abstract]
Range of capital expenditures anticipated for legacy and acquired properties - minimum									$ 725,000,000
Range of capital expenditures anticipated for legacy and acquired properties - maximum									775,000,000
Phase number to effectuate the closing	1								1
Phase number to effectuate to complete conversions	2								2
Operating integration costs related to the Transaction	42,200,000	67,400,000	20,300,000	13,200,000	11,300,000	78,500,000	37,000,000	10,400,000	143,146,000	137,142,000	28,334,000
Capital expenditures anticipated to be incurred for the full fiscal year related to the Transaction									76,478,000	96,991,000	24,999,000
Anticipated operating integration costs related to Phase 2 initiatives	80,000,000								80,000,000
Anticipated capital expenditures related to Phase 2 initiatives	40,000,000								40,000,000
Percentage of households in markets served to have broadband availability (in hundredths)					85.00%					85.00%
Targeted minimum megabits per second in markets acquired by year 2013 (in Mbps)					3					3
Targeted minimum megabits per second in markets acquired by year 2015 (in Mbps)					4					4
Number of state regulatory commissions requiring capital investment commitments					3					3
Aggregate amount placed into a cash escrow account for capital investment commitments required by state regulatory commissions					115,000,000					115,000,000
Amount of letter of credit obtained for capital investment commitments required by state regulatory commissions	100,000,000				190,000,000				100,000,000	190,000,000
Aggregate amount of cash in escrow accounts for service quality initiatives in the state of West Virginia	72,400,000								72,400,000
Restricted cash balance held in escrow accounts	144,680,000				187,489,000				144,680,000	187,489,000
Operating Leases [Abstract]
Term of lease arrangements, lower range (in years)										1Y
Term of lease arrangements, upper range (in years)										99Y
Rental expense									70,200,000	48,500,000	25,900,000
Number of utilities forming the Vermont Joint Owners consortium					14					14
Purchase power obligation (in hundredths)					10.00%					10.00%
Number of years assumed if members of the consortium remained in default for the duration of the contract (in years)					4Y					4Y
Undiscounted purchase obligation if members of the consortium remained in default for the duration of the contract					316,100,000					316,100,000
Future minimum rental commitments [Abstract]
2012	66,000,000								66,000,000
2013	18,156,000								18,156,000
2014	15,861,000								15,861,000
2015	6,726,000								6,726,000
2016	4,325,000								4,325,000
Thereafter	17,434,000								17,434,000
Total minimum lease payments	128,502,000								128,502,000
Estimated future payments for obligations under long distance contracts and service agreements [Abstract]
2012	27,488,000								27,488,000
2013	24,739,000								24,739,000
2014	603,000								603,000
2015	603,000								603,000
2016	259,000								259,000
Thereafter	0								0
Total	53,692,000								53,692,000
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Outstanding performance letters of credit	145,156,000								145,156,000
Associated liability related to the cash in escrow account	14,300,000								14,300,000
Liability associated with cash in escrow accounts for service quality initiatives in the state of West Virginia	62,900,000								62,900,000
Amount released from escrow	43,000,000								43,000,000
Amount of letter of credit obtained for capital investment commitments	100,000,000				190,000,000				100,000,000	190,000,000
Public Service Commission of West Virginia [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Outstanding performance letters of credit	100,000,000								100,000,000
CNA [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Outstanding performance letters of credit	43,409,000								43,409,000
State of New York [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Outstanding performance letters of credit	1,042,000								1,042,000
Other Letters of Credit [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Outstanding performance letters of credit	$ 705,000								$ 705,000