Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net income	$ 118,947	$ 47,723
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	815,767	887,225
Losses on early extinguishment of debt		159,780
Pension settlement costs		40,309
Pension/OPEB costs	(20,875)	22,558
Stock based compensation expense	18,350	12,561
Gains on sale of assets	(25,000)	(14,601)
Other non-cash adjustments	29,508	7,353
Deferred income taxes	(124,757)	(43,310)
Change in accounts receivable	16,911	57,474
Change in accounts payable and other liabilities	53,392	(91,322)
Change in prepaid expenses, income taxes and other current assets	59,823	(10,409)
Net cash provided by operating activities	942,066	1,075,341
Cash flows provided from (used by) investing activities:
Capital expenditures - Business operations	(413,041)	(484,082)
Capital expenditures - Integration activities	(82,251)
Network expansion funded by Connect America Fund	(40,934)	(21,042)
Grant funds received for network expansion from Connect America Fund	3,748	5,998
Proceeds on sale of assets	25,000	17,755
Cash transferred (to)/from escrow	(1,507,589)	21,788
Other assets purchased and distributions received, net	27,043	3,536
Net cash used by investing activities	(1,988,024)	(456,047)
Cash flows provided from (used by) financing activities:
Long-term debt borrowings	1,560,801	750,000
Financing costs paid	(39,271)	(19,360)
Long-term debt payments	(244,780)	(1,548,548)
Premium paid to retire debt		(159,429)
Dividends paid	(300,645)	(299,822)
Other financing activities	(1,668)	(7,670)
Net cash provided from (used by) financing activities	974,437	(1,284,829)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(71,521)	(665,535)
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1,	880,039	1,326,532
Cash and cash equivalents at September 30,	808,518	660,997
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest	464,334	493,427
Income taxes, net	36,086	82,675
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Financing obligation for contribution of real property to pension plan		18,216
Reduction of pension obligation		$ (18,216)