Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
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
The Transaction related commitments and contingencies [Abstract]
Number of states of Acquired Business converted onto Company's legacy financial and human resources systems		13
Number of states of Acquired Business with operating systems converted to Company's legacy systems	9	4
Number of platforms resulting from network and systems integration	1
Operating integration costs related to the Transaction	35,144,000		13,223,000
CapitalExpendituresIntegrationActivities	15,731,000		5,578,000
Operating expenses anticipated for the full fiscal year related to the Transaction	80,000,000
Capital expenditures anticipated to be incurred for the full fiscal year related to the Transaction	40,000,000
Percentage of households in markets served to have broadband availability (in hundredths)	85.00%
Targeted minimum megabits per second in markets acquired by year 2013 (in Mbps)	3
Targeted minimum megabits per second in markets acquired by year 2015 (in Mbps)	4
Percentage of households throughout acquired Territories with broadband availability in excess of 1 Mbps (in hundredths)	81.00%
Percentage of households throughout acquired Territories with broadband availability in excess of 3 Mbps (in hundredths)	77.00%
Percentage of households throughout acquired Territories with broadband availability in excess of 4 Mbps (in hundredths)	67.00%
Number of state regulatory commissions requiring capital investment commitments	3
Aggregate amount placed into a cash escrow account for capital investment commitments required by state regulatory commissions				115,000,000
Amount of letter of credit obtained for capital investment commitments required by state regulatory commissions	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
Liability associated with cash in escrow accounts for service quality initiatives in the state of West Virginia	62,900,000
Associated liability related to the cash in escrow account	6,400,000
Restricted cash balance held in escrow accounts	139,255,000	144,680,000
Release from the West Virginia escrow	48,400,000
Vermont Joint Owners consortium related commitments and contingencies [Abstract]
Number of utilities forming the Vermont Joint Owners consortium	14
Purchase power obligation (in hundredths)	10.00%
Number of years assumed if members of the consortium remained in default for the duration of the contract (in years)	4Y
Undiscounted purchase obligation if members of the consortium remained in default for the duration of the contract	$ 316,100,000