Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net income	$ 132,893	$ 115,478	$ 153,314
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,138,942	1,169,500	1,266,807
Losses on early extinguishment of debt		159,780	90,363
Pension settlement costs		44,163
Pension/OPEB costs	(18,026)	37,243	28,087
Stock based compensation expense	23,462	16,932	16,775
Gains on sale of assets	(37,041)	(14,601)
Other non-cash adjustments	32,129	11,065	10,319
Deferred income taxes	(77,876)	(7,510)	80,501
Change in accounts receivable	(61,528)	50,487	43,813
Change in accounts payable and other liabilities	89,666	(6,507)	(148,906)
Change in prepaid expenses, income taxes and other current assets	47,451	(80,403)	11,400
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,270,072	1,495,627	1,552,473
Cash flows provided from (used by) investing activities:
Cash paid for the Connecticut Acquisition	(2,017,787)
Capital expenditures - Business operations	(572,443)	(634,685)	(748,407)
Capital expenditures - Integration activities	(115,653)		(54,097)
Network expansion funded by Connect America Fund	(56,453)	(32,748)	(4,830)
Grant funds received for network expansion from Connect America Fund	3,748	63,636	65,981
Proceeds on sale of assets	38,636	17,755
Cash transferred from escrow	11,411	31,249	102,020
Other	32,820	12,300	4,394
Net cash used by investing activities	(2,675,721)	(542,493)	(634,939)
Cash flows provided from (used by) financing activities:
Long-term debt borrowings	1,911,125	750,000	1,360,625
Financing costs paid	(40,496)	(19,360)	(27,852)
Long-term debt payments	(259,935)	(1,563,022)	(756,953)
Premium paid to retire debt		(159,429)	(72,290)
Dividends paid	(400,892)	(399,768)	(399,390)
Other	(2,058)	(8,048)	(21,236)
Net cash provided from (used by) financing activities	1,207,744	(1,399,627)	82,904
(Decrease)/Increase in cash and cash equivalents	(197,905)	(446,493)	1,000,438
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1,	880,039	1,326,532	326,094
Cash and cash equivalents at December 31,	682,134	880,039	1,326,532
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest	655,531	667,753	636,485
Income taxes, net	70,390	94,161	4,715
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Capital lease obligations			26,596
Financing obligation for contribution of real property to pension plan		23,422
Reduction of pension obligation		(23,422)
Increase (decrease) in capital expenditures due to change in accounts payable	$ (15,271)	$ 39,847	$ 9,802