Property, Plant And Equipment (Property, Plant And Equipment, Net) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment	$ 14,850,697	$ 14,353,763
Construction work in progress	250,516	274,488
Less: Accumulated depreciation	(7,594,935)	(6,848,867)
Property, plant and equipment, net	7,255,762	7,504,896
Land [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment	126,483	126,483
Buildings and leasehold improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment	1,061,097	1,052,650
Estimated useful lives	41 years
General support [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment	977,941	988,707
General support [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	17 years
General support [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	5 years
Central office/electronic circuit equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment	5,222,928	4,965,099
Central office/electronic circuit equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	11 years
Central office/electronic circuit equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	5 years
Poles [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment	549,322	507,922
Estimated useful lives	49 years
Cable and wire [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment	6,259,292	6,038,835
Cable and wire [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	30 years
Cable and wire [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	15 years
Conduit [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment	359,974	354,777
Estimated useful lives	60 years
Other [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment	$ 43,144	$ 44,802
Other [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	30 years
Other [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	12 years