-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PikB16oKaLk9E1FC46zyVFWxMfnkSF7UmVMQnG5cxdPPVr8SZZx3DZjh5k4ZVTfD
 ItWrRSGzDVkCrXe7mkIFJg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000808461-06-000105.txt : 20060609
<SEC-HEADER>0000808461-06-000105.hdr.sgml : 20060609
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060609120233
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000808461-06-000105
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060607
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060609
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060609

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BEHNKE WILLIAM C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001226424

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15279
		FILM NUMBER:		06896070

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GCI ACCTG
		STREET 2:		2550 DENALL STREET STE 1000
		CITY:			ANCHORAGE
		STATE:			AK
		ZIP:			99503

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GENERAL COMMUNICATION INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000808461
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIO TELEPHONE) [4813]
		IRS NUMBER:				920072737
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			AK
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2550 DENALI ST STE 1000
		CITY:			ANCHORAGE
		STATE:			AK
		ZIP:			99503
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9072655600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2550 DENALI STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1000
		CITY:			ANCHORAGE
		STATE:			AK
		ZIP:			99503
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-06-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000808461</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENERAL COMMUNICATION INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GNCMA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001226424</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BEHNKE WILLIAM C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2550 DENALL STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1000</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ANCHORAGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AK</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>99503</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr VP</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-06-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.5</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2000-12-31</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-02-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.5</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-06-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-03-14</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-03-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Option exercisable as follows:  33,333 shares 12/31/00, 33,333 shares 12/31/01, and 33,333 shares 12/31/02.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option was cancelled by mutual agreement of the reporting person and the issuer.  The reporting person received $550,000 as consideration for the cancellation.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Option exercisable as follows:  20,000 shares 03/14/01, 20,000 shares 03/14/02, 20,000 shares 03/14/03, 20,000 shares 03/14/04, 20,000 shares 03/14/05.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The option was cancelled by mutual agreement of the reporting person and the issuer.  The reporting person received $600,000 as consideration for the cancellation.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>William C. Behnke</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-06-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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