Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share Earnings (Loss) Per Commong Share (Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Common Stock - Class A [Member]
Numerator [Abstract]
Undistributed income (loss) allocable to common stockholders for basic computation	$ 961	$ (17,723)
Reallocation of undistributed earnings (loss) as a result of conversion of Class B to Class A shares	90	(1,546)
Reallocation of undistributed earnings as a result of conversion of dilutive securities	117	0
Effect of derivative instruments that may be settled in cash or shares	(2,668)	0
Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares	(23)	0
Undistributed net income (loss) adjusted for allocation of undistributed earnings and effect of contracts that may be settled in cash or shares	$ (1,523)	$ (19,269)
Denominator [Abstract]
Number of shares used in basic computation	33,696	36,217
Conversion of Class B to Class A common shares outstanding	3,155	3,159
Effect of derivative instruments that may be settled in cash or shares	869	0
Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares	26	0
Number of shares used in per share computation	37,746	39,376
Diluted net loss attributable to GCI common stockholders per common share	$ (0.04)	$ (0.49)
Common Stock - Class B [Member]
Numerator [Abstract]
Undistributed income (loss) allocable to common stockholders for basic computation	$ 90	$ (1,546)
Reallocation of undistributed earnings (loss) as a result of conversion of Class B to Class A shares	0	0
Reallocation of undistributed earnings as a result of conversion of dilutive securities	(217)	0
Effect of derivative instruments that may be settled in cash or shares	0	0
Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares	0	0
Undistributed net income (loss) adjusted for allocation of undistributed earnings and effect of contracts that may be settled in cash or shares	$ (127)	$ (1,546)
Denominator [Abstract]
Number of shares used in basic computation	3,155	3,159
Conversion of Class B to Class A common shares outstanding	0	0
Effect of derivative instruments that may be settled in cash or shares	0	0
Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares	0	0
Number of shares used in per share computation	3,155	3,159
Diluted net loss attributable to GCI common stockholders per common share	$ (0.04)	$ (0.49)