Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Principles (Diluted EPS calculations) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Common Stock - Class A [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Allocation of undistributed earnings (loss) for basic computation	$ (14,330)	$ 5,156	$ (32,048)	$ 6,172
Reallocation of undistributed earnings (loss) as a result of conversion of Class B to Class A shares	(1,297)	451	(2,848)	541
Reallocation of undistributed earnings as a result of conversion of dilutive securities	0	2	0	1
Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares	0	(5)	0	(2)
Net income (loss) adjusted for allocation of undistributed earnings and effect of contracts that may be settled in cash or shares	$ (15,627)	$ 5,604	$ (34,896)	$ 6,712
Number of shares used in basic computation	34,887	36,143	35,548	36,112
Conversion of Class B to Class A common shares outstanding	3,159	3,162	3,159	3,163
Unexercised stock options	0	122	0	121
Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares	0	26	0	26
Number of shares used in per share computation	38,046	39,453	38,707	39,422
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to GCI common stockholders per common share	$ (0.41)	$ 0.14	$ (0.90)	$ 0.17
Common Stock - Class B [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Allocation of undistributed earnings (loss) for basic computation	$ (1,297)	$ 451	$ (2,848)	$ 541
Reallocation of undistributed earnings (loss) as a result of conversion of Class B to Class A shares	0	0	0	0
Reallocation of undistributed earnings as a result of conversion of dilutive securities	0	(2)	0	(2)
Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) adjusted for allocation of undistributed earnings and effect of contracts that may be settled in cash or shares	$ (1,297)	$ 449	$ (2,848)	$ 539
Number of shares used in basic computation	3,159	3,162	3,159	3,163
Conversion of Class B to Class A common shares outstanding	0	0	0	0
Unexercised stock options	0	0	0	0
Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares	0	0	0	0
Number of shares used in per share computation	3,159	3,162	3,159	3,163
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to GCI common stockholders per common share	$ (0.41)	$ 0.14	$ (0.90)	$ 0.17