PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 12,480,062	$ 12,243,201
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(9,454,315)	(9,264,848)
Total property, plant and equipment, net	3,025,747	2,978,353
Depreciation expense on property, plant and equipment, including capital leases	852,451	858,899	879,242
Impairments of property, plant and equipment	425	10,997	829
Equipment and Related Accumulated Amortization Recorded Under Capital Leases [Abstract]
Equipment	95,719	65,454
Less accumulated amortization	(39,951)	(31,138)
Total equipment under capital leases, net	55,768	34,316
Cable Television System Plant | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	10 years
Cable Television System Plant | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	25 years
Headend Facilities | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	4 years
Headend Facilities | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	25 years
New Connections for Residence Wiring
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	5 years
New Connections for Feeder Cable to the Home
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	12 years
Customer equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	1,954,512	2,104,305
Customer equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	3 years
Customer equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	5 years
Headends and related equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	1,437,681	1,276,819
Headends and related equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	4 years
Headends and related equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	25 years
Central office equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	811,320	758,691
Central office equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	5 years
Central office equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	10 years
Infrastructure
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	5,695,519	5,651,633
Infrastructure | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	3 years
Infrastructure | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	25 years
Equipment and software
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	1,507,500	1,386,848
Equipment and software | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	3 years
Equipment and software | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	10 years
Construction in progress (including materials and supplies)
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	97,955	113,260
Furniture and fixtures
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	94,265	92,631
Furniture and fixtures | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	5 years
Furniture and fixtures | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	12 years
Transportation equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	217,486	201,806
Transportation equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	5 years
Transportation equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	18 years
Buildings and building improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	303,344	279,614
Buildings and building improvements | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	10 years
Buildings and building improvements | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	40 years
Leasehold improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	Term of lease
Property, plant and equipment, gross	345,942	362,932
Land
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	14,538	14,662
Software Development
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Capitalized costs related to acquisition and development of internal use software	$ 153,675	$ 127,390