Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Principles (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Schedule of Calculation of Numerator and Denominator in Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block]

				Year Ended
				December 31, 2012
				Class A	Class B
Basic net income per share:
Numerator:
	Allocation of undistributed earnings			$ 8,938	735
Denominator:
	Weighted average common shares outstanding			38,560	3,170
			Basic net income attributable to GCI common stockholders per common share	$ 0.23	0.23
Diluted net income per share:
Numerator:
	Allocation of undistributed earnings for basic computation			$ 8,938	735
	Reallocation of undistributed earnings as a result of conversion of Class B to Class A shares			735	-
	Reallocation of undistributed earnings as a result of conversion of dilutive securities			-	(8)
	Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares			(13)	-
		Net income adjusted for allocation of undistributed earnings		$ 9,660	727
Denominator:
	Number of shares used in basic computation			38,560	3,170
	Conversion of Class B to Class A common shares outstanding			3,170	-
	Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash
		or shares		158	-
	Unexercised stock options			231	-
		Number of shares used in per share computation		42,119	3,170
			Diluted net income attributable to GCI common stockholders per common share	$ 0.23	0.23

				Years Ended December 31,
				2011		2010
				Class A	Class B	Class A	Class B
Basic net income per share:
Numerator:
	Allocation of undistributed earnings			$ 5,323	401	$ 8,095	515
Denominator:
	Weighted average common shares outstanding			42,175	3,175	50,076	3,183
			Basic net income attributable to GCI common stockholders per common share	$ 0.13	0.13	$ 0.16	0.16
Diluted net income per share:
Numerator:
	Allocation of undistributed earnings for basic computation			$ 5,323	401	$ 8,095	515
	Reallocation of undistributed earnings as a result of conversion of Class B to Class A shares			401	-	515	-
	Reallocation of undistributed earnings as a result of conversion of dilutive securities			-	(30)	-	(2)
	Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares			(367)	-	-	-
		Net income adjusted for allocation of undistributed earnings and effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares		$ 5,357	371	$ 8,610	513
Denominator:
	Number of shares used in basic computation			42,175	3,175	50,076	3,183
	Conversion of Class B to Class A common shares outstanding			3,175	-	3,183	-
	Unexercised stock options			322	-	167	-
	Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares			217	-	-	-
Number of shares used in per share computation				45,889	3,175	53,426	3,183
			Diluted net income attributable to GCI common stockholders per common share	$ 0.12	0.12	$ 0.16	0.16

Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block]

	Years Ended December 31,
	2012		2011	2010
Shares associated with anti-dilutive unexercised stock options		88	38	460
Share-based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares, the effect of which is anti-dilutive		-	-	217

Schedule Of Contingent Awards [Table Text Block]

	Years Ended December 31,
	2012		2011	2010
Shares associated with contingent awards		58	34	50

Schedule of Stock by Class [Table Text Block]

		Class A	Class B
Balances at January 1, 2010		51,899	3,186
Class B shares converted to Class A		8	(8)
Shares issued upon stock option exercises		116	-
Share awards issued		336	-
Shares retired		(8,012)	-
Shares acquired to settle minimum statutory tax withholding requirements		(2)	-
Other		(132)	-
	Balances at December 31, 2010	44,213	3,178
Class B shares converted to Class A		7	(7)
Shares issued upon stock option exercises		163	-
Share awards issued		460	-
Shares retired		(5,244)	-
Shares acquired to settle minimum statutory tax withholding requirements		(287)	-
Other		(16)	-
	Balances at December 31, 2011	39,296	3,171
Class B shares converted to Class A		2	(2)
Shares issued upon stock option exercises		320	-
Share awards issued		731	-
Shares retired		(1,469)	-
Shares acquired to settle minimum statutory tax withholding requirements		(337)	-
Other		(9)	-
	Balances at December 31, 2012	38,534	3,169

Property Plant And Equipment Useful Life [Table Text Block]

Asset Category	Asset Lives
Telephony transmission equipment and distribution facilities	5-20 years
Fiber optic cable systems	15-25 years
Cable transmission equipment and distribution facilities	5-30 years
Support equipment and systems	3-20 years
Transportation equipment	5-13 years
Property and equipment under capital leases	12-20 years
Buildings	25 years
Customer premise equipment	2-20 years

Schedule of Asset Retirement Obligations [Table Text Block]

	Balance at December 31, 2010	$	14,035
Liability incurred			613
Accretion expense			619
Liability settled			(44)
	Balance at December 31, 2011		15,223
Liability incurred			660
Accretion expense			508
Liability settled			(111)
	Balance at December 31, 2012	$	16,280

Excise And Sales Taxes [Table Text Block]

	Years Ended December 31,
		2012	2011	2010
Surcharges reported gross	$	5,401	5,408	5,201

Schedule of Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments [Table Text Block]

Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2011:		As Previously Reported	Adjustment	As Revised
Property and equipment in service, net of depreciation	$	851,705	(2,584)	849,121
Net property and equipment		894,623	(2,584)	892,039
Total assets		1,448,904	(2,584)	1,446,320
Deferred income taxes		115,296	(1,062)	114,234
Total liabilities		1,273,735	(1,062)	1,272,673
Retained earnings		99,433	(1,522)	97,911
Total GCI stockholders' equity		158,861	(1,522)	157,339
Total stockholders' equity		175,169	(1,522)	173,647
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		1,448,904	(2,584)	1,446,320
Consolidated Income Statement for the Year Ended December 31, 2011:
Depreciation and amortization expense		125,742	195	125,937
Operating income		90,719	(195)	90,524
Income before income tax expense		13,086	(195)	12,891
Income tax expense		7,485	(80)	7,405
Net income		5,601	(115)	5,486
Net income attributable to GCI		5,839	(115)	5,724
Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity for the Year Ended December 31, 2011:
Retained earnings, balance at January 1, 2011		93,607	(1,407)	92,200
Net income		5,601	(115)	5,486
Retained earnings, balance at December 31, 2011		99,433	(1,522)	97,911
Total stockholders' equity, balance at January 1, 2011		200,506	(1,407)	199,099
Total stockholders' equity, balance at December 31, 2011		175,169	(1,522)	173,647
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the
Year Ended December 31, 2011:
Net income		5,601	(115)	5,486
Depreciation and amortization expense		125,742	195	125,937
Income tax expense		7,485	(80)	7,405
Consolidated Income Statement for the Year Ended December 31, 2010:
Depreciation and amortization expense		126,114	585	126,699
Operating income		88,511	(585)	87,926
Income before income tax expense		18,443	(585)	17,858
Income tax expense		9,488	(240)	9,248
Net income		8,955	(345)	8,610
Net income attributable to GCI		8,955	(345)	8,610
Basic net income attributable to General Communication, Inc. common stockholders per Class A common share		0.17	(0.01)	0.16
Basic net income attributable to General Communication, Inc. common stockholders per Class B common share		0.17	(0.01)	0.16
Diluted net income attributable to General Communication, Inc. common stockholders per Class A common share		0.17	(0.01)	0.16
Diluted net income attributable to General Communication, Inc. common stockholders per Class B common share		0.17	(0.01)	0.16
Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity for the Year Ended December 31, 2010:
Retained earnings, balance at January 1, 2010		84,651	(1,062)	83,589
Net income		8,955	(345)	8,610
Retained earnings, balance at December 31, 2010		93,607	(1,407)	92,200
Total stockholders' equity, balance at January 1, 2010		266,317	(1,062)	265,255
Total stockholders' equity, balance at December 31, 2010		200,506	(1,407)	199,099
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the
Year Ended December 31, 2010:
Net income		8,955	(345)	8,610
Depreciation and amortization expense		126,114	585	126,699
Income tax expense		9,488	(240)	9,248