Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value.

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Decrease for amounts of indebtedness forgiven by the holder of the debt instrument.

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Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

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Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium.

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Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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Amount of unamortized debt discount (premium) and debt issuance costs.

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Amount as of the balance sheet date of the unamortized adjustment to the carrying value of an interest-bearing hedged item made under an effective interest rate fair value hedge that is amortized upon discontinuation of the interest rate fair value hedge.

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Fixed interest rate related to the interest rate derivative.

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Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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Amount after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs of long-term debt classified as noncurrent and excluding amounts to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Debt (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Debt (Details) - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016	Jan. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt			$ 3,380,816,000		$ 2,951,822,000
Less: unamortized debt discount and issuance costs			29,078,000		23,617,000
Plus: unamortized interest rate swap proceeds			15,318,000		22,463,000
Total debt			3,367,056,000		2,950,668,000
Less: current portion long-term debt and notes payable			535,289,000		461,085,000
Long-term debt			2,831,767,000		$ 2,489,583,000
Repayments of long-term debt			$ 371,007,000	$ 404,952,000
Notes due January 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			4.75%		4.75%
Debt			$ 0		$ 370,914,000
Notes due September 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			5.75%		5.75%
Debt			$ 385,109,000		$ 385,109,000
Notes due March 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			5.60%		5.60%
Debt			$ 250,000,000		$ 250,000,000
Notes due May 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			4.75%		4.75%
Debt			$ 350,000,000		$ 350,000,000
Notes due March 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			6.25%		6.25%
Debt			$ 300,000,000		$ 300,000,000
Notes due October 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			3.375%		3.375%
Debt			$ 600,000,000		$ 0
Notes due March 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			4.625%		4.625%
Debt			$ 500,000,000		$ 500,000,000
Notes due January 2037
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			5.25%		5.25%
Debt			$ 115,041,000		$ 115,041,000
Notes due March 2043
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			6.70%		6.70%
Debt			$ 425,000,000		$ 425,000,000
Term loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt			450,000,000		150,000,000
Other debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt			$ 5,666,000		$ 15,758,000
Debt Due 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			4.75%
Repayments of long-term debt			$ 371,000,000
State of Connecticut DECD Loan - Development Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt forgiveness	$ 10,000,000
Term Loan \| Notes due December 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loan amount		$ 300,000,000	300,000,000
Effective interest rate		1.95%
Commercial Paper
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate					1.12%
Debt			0		$ 90,000,000
Eurodollar \| Term Loan \| Notes due December 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Spread on variable rate		1.25%
Cash Flow Hedge \| Interest rate swaps
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Derivative notional amount			$ 300,000,000
Fixed interest rate			0.8826%