Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Revenue Recognition We recognize revenue when (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery of the product has occurred or a service has been provided, (iii) the price is fixed or determinable and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured. Revenues are earned from our customers primarily through the connection to our networks, digital and commercial television programming, Internet services (high-speed broadband), and hosted and managed services. Revenues for these services are billed based on set rates for monthly service or based on the amount of time the customer is utilizing our facilities. The revenue for these services is recognized when the service is rendered. Revenues earned from interexchange carriers (IXC) accessing our network are based on the utilization of our network by these carriers as measured by minutes of use on the network or special access to the network by the individual carriers. Revenues are billed at tariffed access rates for both interstate and intrastate calls. Revenues for these services are recognized based on the period the access is provided. Interstate access rates are established by a nationwide pooling of companies known as the National Exchange Carriers Association (NECA). The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established NECA in 1983 to develop and administer interstate access service rates, terms and conditions. Revenues are pooled and redistributed on the basis of a company's actual or average costs. There has been a change in the composition of interstate access charges in recent years, shifting more of the charges to the end user and reducing the amount of access charges paid by the IXC’s. We believe this trend will continue. New Ulm Telecom’s and Sleepy Eye Telephone Company’s (SETC) settlements from the pools are based on their actual costs to provide service, while the settlements for NU Telecom subsidiaries – Western Telephone Company, Peoples Telephone Company and Hutchinson Telephone Company (HTC) are based on nationwide average schedules. Access revenues for New Ulm Telecom and SETC include an estimate of a cost study each year that is trued-up subsequent to the end of any given year. Our management believes the estimates included in our preliminary cost study are reasonable. We cannot predict the future impact that industry or regulatory changes will have on interstate access revenues. Intrastate access rates are filed with state regulatory commissions in Minnesota and Iowa. We derive revenues from the sale, installation and servicing of communication systems. In accordance with GAAP, these deliverables are accounted for separately. We recognize revenue from customer contracts for sales and installations using the completed-contract method, which recognizes income when the contract is substantially complete. We recognize rental revenues over the rental period.
Cost of Sales, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Cost of Services (excluding depreciation and amortization) Cost of services includes all costs related to delivery of communication services and products. These operating costs include all costs of performing services and providing related products including engineering, network monitoring and transport cost.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Selling, General and Administrative Expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses include direct and indirect selling expenses, customer service, billing and collections, advertising and all other general and administrative costs associated with the operations of the business.
Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization [Policy Text Block]	Depreciation and Amortization Expense We use the group life method (mass asset accounting) to depreciate the assets of our telephone companies. Telephone plant acquired in a given year is grouped into similar categories and depreciated over the remaining estimated useful life of the group. When an asset is retired, both the asset and the accumulated depreciation associated with that asset are removed from the books. Due to rapid changes in technology, selecting the estimated economic life of telecommunications plant and equipment requires a significant amount of judgment. We periodically review data on expected utilization of new equipment, asset retirement activity and net salvage values to determine adjustments to our depreciation rates. Depreciation expense was $5,291,724 and $4,802,690 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013. We amortize our definite-lived intangible assets over their estimated useful lives. Identifiable intangible assets that are subject to amortization are evaluated for impairment.
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Income Taxes The provision for income taxes consists of an amount for taxes currently payable and a provision for tax consequences deferred to future periods. Deferred income taxes are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities, and their respective tax basis. Significant components of our deferred taxes arise from differences (i) in the basis of property, plant and equipment due to the use of accelerated depreciation methods for tax purposes, as well as (ii) in partnership investments and intangible assets due to the difference between book and tax basis. Our effective income tax rate is normally higher than the United States tax rate due to state income taxes and permanent differences. We account for income taxes in accordance with GAAP. As required by GAAP, we recognize the financial statement benefit of tax positions only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more-likely-than-not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. As of September 30, 2014 and 2013 we had $259,739 and $143,866 of unrecognized tax benefits net of a federal tax benefit of $88,311 and $48,914, which if recognized would affect the effective tax rate. Currently, a petition related to Hector Communications Corporation’s (HCC) 2006 Minnesota tax return has been filed in Minnesota Tax Court. It is unknown when this matter will be resolved. We are primarily subject to United States, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa income taxes. Tax years subsequent to 2010 remain open to examination by federal and state tax authorities. Our policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters as income tax expense. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 we had $68,286 of accrued interest that related to income tax matters.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Recent Accounting Developments In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” and created a new topic in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification, Topic 606. The new standard provides a single comprehensive revenue recognition framework for all entities and supersedes nearly all existing United States GAAP revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The core principle of the revenue model is that an entity should recognize revenue in a manner that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The standard is designed to create greater comparability for financial statement users across industries and also requires enhanced disclosures. The amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within the reporting period. Early application is not permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact this guidance may have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In the first quarter of 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02 to improve the disclosure of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The Update requires an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. Also, an entity is required to present significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income (only if the amount reclassified is required under GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period) either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our disclosures or consolidated financial statements. We have reviewed all other significant newly issued accounting pronouncements and determined they are either not applicable to our business or that no material effect is expected on our financial position and results of operations.

Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue when (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery of the product has occurred or a service has been provided, (iii) the price is fixed or determinable and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.

Revenues are earned from our customers primarily through the connection to our networks, digital and commercial television programming, Internet services (high-speed broadband), and hosted and managed services. Revenues for these services are billed based on set rates for monthly service or based on the amount of time the customer is utilizing our facilities. The revenue for these services is recognized when the service is rendered.

Revenues earned from interexchange carriers (IXC) accessing our network are based on the utilization of our network by these carriers as measured by minutes of use on the network or special access to the network by the individual carriers. Revenues are billed at tariffed access rates for both interstate and intrastate calls. Revenues for these services are recognized based on the period the access is provided.

Interstate access rates are established by a nationwide pooling of companies known as the National Exchange Carriers Association (NECA). The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established NECA in 1983 to develop and administer interstate access service rates, terms and conditions. Revenues are pooled and redistributed on the basis of a company's actual or average costs. There has been a change in the composition of interstate access charges in recent years, shifting more of the charges to the end user and reducing the amount of access charges paid by the IXC’s. We believe this trend will continue.

New Ulm Telecom’s and Sleepy Eye Telephone Company’s (SETC) settlements from the pools are based on their actual costs to provide service, while the settlements for NU Telecom subsidiaries – Western Telephone Company, Peoples Telephone Company and Hutchinson Telephone Company (HTC) are based on nationwide average schedules. Access revenues for New Ulm Telecom and SETC include an estimate of a cost study each year that is trued-up subsequent to the end of any given year. Our management believes the estimates included in our preliminary cost study are reasonable. We cannot predict the future impact that industry or regulatory changes will have on interstate access revenues.

Intrastate access rates are filed with state regulatory commissions in Minnesota and Iowa.

We derive revenues from the sale, installation and servicing of communication systems. In accordance with GAAP, these deliverables are accounted for separately. We recognize revenue from customer contracts for sales and installations using the completed-contract method, which recognizes income when the contract is substantially complete. We recognize rental revenues over the rental period.

Cost of Sales, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cost of Services (excluding depreciation and amortization)

Cost of services includes all costs related to delivery of communication services and products. These operating costs include all costs of performing services and providing related products including engineering, network monitoring and transport cost.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses include direct and indirect selling expenses, customer service, billing and collections, advertising and all other general and administrative costs associated with the operations of the business.

Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization [Policy Text Block]

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

We use the group life method (mass asset accounting) to depreciate the assets of our telephone companies. Telephone plant acquired in a given year is grouped into similar categories and depreciated over the remaining estimated useful life of the group. When an asset is retired, both the asset and the accumulated depreciation associated with that asset are removed from the books. Due to rapid changes in technology, selecting the estimated economic life of telecommunications plant and equipment requires a significant amount of judgment. We periodically review data on expected utilization of new equipment, asset retirement activity and net salvage values to determine adjustments to our depreciation rates. Depreciation expense was $5,291,724 and $4,802,690 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013. We amortize our definite-lived intangible assets over their estimated useful lives. Identifiable intangible assets that are subject to amortization are evaluated for impairment.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes consists of an amount for taxes currently payable and a provision for tax consequences deferred to future periods. Deferred income taxes are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities, and their respective tax basis. Significant components of our deferred taxes arise from differences (i) in the basis of property, plant and equipment due to the use of accelerated depreciation methods for tax purposes, as well as (ii) in partnership investments and intangible assets due to the difference between book and tax basis. Our effective income tax rate is normally higher than the United States tax rate due to state income taxes and permanent differences.

We account for income taxes in accordance with GAAP. As required by GAAP, we recognize the financial statement benefit of tax positions only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more-likely-than-not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority.

As of September 30, 2014 and 2013 we had $259,739 and $143,866 of unrecognized tax benefits net of a federal tax benefit of $88,311 and $48,914, which if recognized would affect the effective tax rate. Currently, a petition related to Hector Communications Corporation’s (HCC) 2006 Minnesota tax return has been filed in Minnesota Tax Court. It is unknown when this matter will be resolved.

We are primarily subject to United States, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa income taxes. Tax years subsequent to 2010 remain open to examination by federal and state tax authorities. Our policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters as income tax expense. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 we had $68,286 of accrued interest that related to income tax matters.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recent Accounting Developments

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” and created a new topic in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification, Topic 606. The new standard provides a single comprehensive revenue recognition framework for all entities and supersedes nearly all existing United States GAAP revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The core principle of the revenue model is that an entity should recognize revenue in a manner that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The standard is designed to create greater comparability for financial statement users across industries and also requires enhanced disclosures. The amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within the reporting period. Early application is not permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact this guidance may have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In the first quarter of 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02 to improve the disclosure of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The Update requires an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. Also, an entity is required to present significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income (only if the amount reclassified is required under GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period) either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our disclosures or consolidated financial statements.

We have reviewed all other significant newly issued accounting pronouncements and determined they are either not applicable to our business or that no material effect is expected on our financial position and results of operations.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for recognition of costs in the period which correspond to the sales and revenue categories presented in the statement of operations. The accounting policy may include the amount and nature of costs incurred, provisions associated with inventories, purchase discounts, freight and other costs included in cost of sales incurred and recorded in the period. This disclosure also includes the nature of costs of sales incurred and recorded in the statement of operations for the period relating to transactions with related parties.

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- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for income taxes, which may include its accounting policies for recognizing and measuring deferred tax assets and liabilities and related valuation allowances, recognizing investment tax credits, operating loss carryforwards, tax credit carryforwards, and other carryforwards, methodologies for determining its effective income tax rate and the characterization of interest and penalties in the financial statements.

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- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for revenue recognition. If the entity has different policies for different types of revenue transactions, the policy for each material type of transaction is generally disclosed. If a sales transaction has multiple element arrangements (for example, delivery of multiple products, services or the rights to use assets) the disclosure may indicate the accounting policy for each unit of accounting as well as how units of accounting are determined and valued. The disclosure may encompass important judgment as to appropriateness of principles related to recognition of revenue. The disclosure also may indicate the entity's treatment of any unearned or deferred revenue that arises from the transaction.

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