Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net income	$ 115,478	$ 153,314	$ 157,608
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	1,169,500	1,266,807	1,403,175
Losses on early extinguishment of debt	159,780	90,363
Pension settlement costs	44,163
Pension/OPEB costs	37,243	28,087	23,897
Stock based compensation expense	16,932	16,775	14,209
Gain on sale of Mohave partnership interest	(14,601)
Other non-cash adjustments	11,065	10,319	(28,036)
Deferred income taxes	(7,510)	80,501	87,411
Change in accounts receivable	50,487	43,813	(72,600)
Change in accounts payable and other liabilities	(6,507)	(148,906)	(84,689)
Change in prepaid expenses, income taxes and other current assets	(80,403)	11,400	71,706
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,495,627	1,552,473	1,572,681
Cash flows provided from (used by) investing activities:
Capital expenditures - Business operations	(634,685)	(748,407)	(748,361)
Capital expenditures - Integration activities		(54,097)	(76,478)
Network expansion funded by Connect America Fund	(32,748)	(4,830)
Grant funds received for network expansion from Connect America Fund	63,636	65,981
Proceeds on sale of Mohave partnership interest	17,755
Cash transferred from escrow	31,249	102,020	43,012
Other assets purchased and distributions received, net	12,300	4,394	19,155
Net cash used by investing activities	(542,493)	(634,939)	(762,672)
Cash flows provided from (used by) financing activities:
Long-term debt borrowing	750,000	1,360,625	575,000
Financing costs paid	(19,360)	(27,852)	(5,444)
Long-term debt payments	(1,563,022)	(756,953)	(552,394)
Premium paid to retire debt	(159,429)	(72,290)
Dividends paid	(399,768)	(399,390)	(746,387)
Repayment of customer advances for construction, distributions to noncontrolling interests and other	(8,048)	(21,236)	(5,953)
Net cash provided from (used by) financing activities	(1,399,627)	82,904	(735,178)
(Decrease)/Increase in cash and cash equivalents	(446,493)	1,000,438	74,831
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1,	1,326,532	326,094	251,263
Cash and cash equivalents at December 31,	880,039	1,326,532	326,094
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest	667,753	636,485	653,500
Income taxes	94,161	4,715	(33,072)
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Capital lease obligations	25,082	26,596
Financing obligation for contribution of real property to pension plan	23,422		58,100
Reduction of pension obligation	(23,422)		(58,100)
Increase in capital expenditures due to change in accounts payable	$ 39,847	$ 9,802	$ 1,338