Acquisitions - Sprint Territory Expansion (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			12 Months Ended
	Feb. 01, 2018	May 06, 2016	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net carrying value, intangible assets	$ 52,000		$ 301,554	$ 316,504
Maximum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Additional payment for expansion of service area	$ 5,000
Affiliate contract expansion
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Useful life, finite-lived intangible assets	12 years
Net carrying value, intangible assets	$ 45,148		$ 287,475	304,193
Affiliate contract expansion | Maximum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Useful life, finite-lived intangible assets			14 years
Prepayment of tangible assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net carrying value, intangible assets	$ 6,497
Off-market leases - favorable
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Useful life, finite-lived intangible assets	16 years 6 months
Net carrying value, intangible assets	$ 3,665		$ 13,824	$ 11,881
Off-market leases - favorable | Maximum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Useful life, finite-lived intangible assets			28 years
Off-market leases - unfavorable
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Useful life, finite-lived intangible assets	4 years 2 months 12 days
Net carrying value, intangible assets	$ 3,310
Off-market leases - unfavorable | Maximum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Useful life, finite-lived intangible assets			28 years
Ntelos Holding, Corp
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payment required for the right of service	$ 52,000	$ 255,600