CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 1,268,054	$ 1,346,697
Operating expenses:
Network access expenses	115,569	151,284
Other operating expenses	551,583	580,340
Depreciation and amortization	357,300	351,257
Integration costs	35,144	13,223
Total operating expenses	1,059,596	1,096,104
Operating income	208,458	250,593
Investment income	2,103	3,115
Other income, net	3,485	6,470
Interest expense	164,862	167,415
Income before income taxes	49,184	92,763
Income tax expense	18,694	36,567
Net income	30,490	56,196
Less: Income attributable to the noncontrolling interest in a partnership	3,722	1,485
Net income attributable to common shareholders of Frontier	$ 26,768	$ 54,711
Basic and diluted net income per common share attributable to common shareholders of Frontier (in dollars per share)	$ 0.03	$ 0.05