Commitments And Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 state entity	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 state entity	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2010
Acquisition and integration costs	$ 9,700,000	$ 13,500,000	$ 4,500,000	$ 28,600,000	$ 35,100,000	$ 9,652,000	$ 81,737,000	$ 143,146,000
Regulatory Commitments [Abstract]
Percentage of households to have broadband availability and speeds of 3 Mbps by year 2013 (in hundredths)	85.00%					85.00%
Targeted minimum megabits per second in markets acquired by year 2013 (in Mbps)	3					3
Targeted minimum megabits per second in markets acquired by year 2015 (in Mbps)	4					4
Percentage of households to have broadband availability and speeds of 4 Mbps by year 2013						75.00%
Percentage of households to have broadband availability and speeds of 4 Mbps by year 2014						80.00%
Percentage of households to have broadband availability and speeds of 4 Mbps by year 2015						85.00%
Percentage of households throughout acquired Territories with broadband availability in excess of 3 Mbps (in hundredths)	85.40%					85.40%
Percentage of households throughout acquired Territories with broadband availability in excess of 4 Mbps (in hundredths)	83.50%					83.50%
Number of state regulatory commissions requiring capital investment commitments	3					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										190,000,000
Aggregate amount of cash in escrow accounts for service quality initiatives in the state of West Virginia										72,400,000
Amount released from escrow						176,300,000
Escrow Deposit	11,400,000					11,400,000
Expired letter of credit									20,000,000
Operating Leases [Abstract]
Term Of Lease Arrangements Lower Range						1 year
Term Of Lease Arrangements Upper Range						99 years
Rental expense						84,400,000	79,300,000	70,200,000
Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Abstract]
Commitment under the arrangement in 2014	145,500,000					145,500,000
Commitment under the arrangement in 2015	140,800,000					140,800,000
Vermont Joint Owners Consortium [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						2 years
Undiscounted purchase obligation if members of the consortium remained in default for the duration of the contract	287,400,000					287,400,000
Minimum [Member]
Estimated Future Capital Expenditures For Business Operations						575,000,000
Estimated Future Operating And Capital Expenditures For Acquired Business						225,000,000
Maximum [Member]
Estimated Future Capital Expenditures For Business Operations						625,000,000
Estimated Future Operating And Capital Expenditures For Acquired Business						$ 275,000,000