Restricted Short-term Investments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Restricted Short-term Investments
Deposit with Rural Utilities Service in Cushion of Credit Account	$ 63,868	$ 106,676
Guaranteed interest rate on deposit with Rural Utilities Service (as a percent)	5.00%

The interest rate for investments that have an interest rate. For fixed rate investments, this indicates the fixed interest rate. If the investment has a variable interest rate, the rate stated here may be the rate that is currently relevant. In this case the "Investment, Interest Rate is Current Rate for Variable Rate Investment Flag", "Investment, Interest Rate is Discount Rate at Purchase Flag", "Investment, Interest Rate Reflects Current Yield Flag" should be used. If one of these flags are not appropriate to explain the interest rate that is indicated, then a new flag should be added or an explanation should be included in "Investment, Additional Information".

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 12

-Section 12

-Sentence Column A

Name:	invest_InvestmentInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	invest_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration