Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Nov. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2010
Capital expenditures anticipated [Abstract]
Anticipated capital expenditures for legacy and acquired properties, minimum						$ 750,000,000
Anticipated capital expenditures for legacy and acquired properties, maximum						775,000,000
Transactions related to commitments and contingencies [Abstract]
Number of states of acquired business converted onto legacy financial and human resources systems				13
Number of states with operating systems converted to legacy systems			9	4
Number of platforms resulting from network and systems integration			1
Operating expenses for integration costs		4,458,000			67,412,000	68,204,000	100,899,000
Capital expenditures related to integration activities						38,768,000	62,641,000
Anticipated operating expenses related to completion of integration and cost savings initiatives						80,000,000
Anticipated capital expenditures related to completion of integration and cost savings initiatives		50,000,000				50,000,000
Percentage of households in markets served to have broadband availability (in hundredths)		85.00%				85.00%
Targeted Mbps in markets to be acquired by end of year 2013, minimum (in Mbps)		3				3
Targeted Mbps in markets to be acquired by end of year 2015, minimum (in Mbps)		4				4
Percentage of households throughout acquired territories with broadband availability in excess of 1 Mbps (in hundredths)		84.00%				84.00%
Percentage of households throughout acquired Territories with broadband availability in excess of 3 Mbps (in hundredths)		80.00%				80.00%
Percentage of households throughout acquired Territories with broadband availability in excess of 4 Mbps (in hundredths)		78.00%				78.00%
Number of state regulatory commissions requiring capital investment commitments		3				3
Aggregate amount placed into a cash escrow account		115,000,000				115,000,000
Amount of letter of credit									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
Associated liability related to the cash in escrow account		47,600,000				47,600,000
Liability associated with cash in escrow accounts for service quality initiatives in the state of West Virginia		200,000				200,000
Restricted cash balance held in escrow accounts		97,300,000				97,300,000
Release of funds from the West Virginia escrow account		90,500,000				90,500,000		29,100,000
Amount released from escrow in state of Washington	25,600,000
Letter of Credit - reduced		40,000,000				40,000,000
Total commitment under the arrangement, Due in Next Twelve Months		74,800,000				74,800,000
Total commitment under the arrangement, Due in Second Year		132,000,000				132,000,000
Total commitment under the arrangement, Due in Third Year		141,800,000				141,800,000
Total commitment under the arrangement, Due in Fourth Year		140,800,000				140,800,000
Number of vehicles accepted by the company for delivery		679				679
Additional expected number of vehicles to accept the delivery by next year		3,000				3,000
Percentage of expected vehicles to be leased under the program (in hundredths)		50.00%				50.00%
Minimum lease commitment (in years)						1 year
Total annual lease expense for all new vehicles expected		30,000,000				30,000,000
Vermont Joint Owners consortium related commitments and contingencies [Abstract]
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)		4 years				4 years
Undiscounted purchase obligation in connection with default for the duration of the contract		$ 316,100,000				$ 316,100,000