CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net income	$ 50,783	$ 30,490
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	303,675	357,300
Stock based compensation expense	3,885	3,718
Pension/OPEB costs	5,018	12,403
Other non-cash adjustments	1,710	1,537
Deferred income taxes	(10,133)	15,764
Change in accounts receivable	48,951	59,905
Change in accounts payable and other liabilities	(84,756)	(102,042)
Change in prepaid expenses, income taxes and other current assets	40,159	3,438
Net cash provided by operating activities	359,292	382,513
Cash flows provided from (used by) investing activities:
Capital expenditures - Business operations	(189,009)	(208,522)
Capital expenditures - Integration activities	0	(15,731)
Network expansion funded by Connect America Fund	(1,815)	0
Grant funds received for network expansion from Connect America Fund	5,998	0
Cash transferred from (to) escrow	(11)	5,425
Other assets purchased and distributions received, net	528	(5,918)
Net cash used by investing activities	(184,309)	(224,746)
Cash flows provided from (used by) financing activities:
Long-term debt payments	(517,129)	(14,502)
Dividends paid	(99,812)	(99,851)
Repayment of customer advances for construction, distributions to noncontrolling interests and other	(7,279)	(3,694)
Net cash used by financing activities	(624,220)	(118,047)
Increase/(Decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(449,237)	39,720
Cash reclassed to assets held for sale	(1,386)	0
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1,	1,326,532	326,094
Cash and cash equivalents at March 31,	875,909	365,814
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest	168,095	118,524
Income taxes (refunds)	$ 947	$ (369)