DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS - SALE OF U.S. RETAIL WIRELESS BUSINESS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 20, 2013 Alltel Sale AT&T Mobility LLC	Dec. 31, 2013 Alltel Sale AT&T Mobility LLC	Sep. 30, 2013 Alltel Sale AT&T Mobility LLC	Dec. 31, 2013 Alltel Sale AT&T Mobility LLC	Dec. 31, 2012 Alltel Sale AT&T Mobility LLC	Dec. 31, 2011 Alltel Sale AT&T Mobility LLC	Sep. 20, 2013 Alltel Sale AT&T Mobility LLC Trade names Alltel
SALE OF U.S. RETAIL WIRELESS BUSINESS
Consideration for sale of operations in all-cash transaction												$ 780,000,000
Proceeds:
Received												702,000,000
Escrowed												78,000,000
Working capital												16,828,000
Adjusted proceeds												796,828,000
Assets sold or impaired:
Current assets	472,003,000				578,258,000				472,003,000	578,258,000		51,597,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	254,632,000				238,324,000				254,632,000	238,324,000		190,970,000
Telecommunications licenses	39,687,000				39,905,000				39,687,000	39,905,000		50,553,000
Other intangible assets												37,434,000
Other assets	7,096,000				6,688,000				7,096,000	6,688,000		13,202,000
Liabilities sold:
Current liabilities	(121,073,000)				(170,277,000)				(121,073,000)	(170,277,000)		(40,674,000)
Other liabilities	(12,784,000)				(11,452,000)				(12,784,000)	(11,452,000)		(22,796,000)
Net assets sold or impaired												280,286,000
Less: Transaction related costs												(13,517,000)
Pre-tax gain												503,025,000
Less: Income taxes at effective rate												195,923,000
Net gain on sale	1,905,000	305,197,000							307,102,000			307,102,000	1,900,000	305,200,000
First release of amount of escrowed cash												19,500,000
Second release of amount of escrowed cash												19,500,000
Third release of amount of escrowed cash												39,000,000
Restricted cash												78,000,000
Restricted cash, current	39,000,000								39,000,000			39,000,000
Restricted cash, long-term	39,000,000								39,000,000			39,000,000
Impairment of intangible assets									0	3,400,000								11,900,000
Minority shareholders' interests in sale of operations	200,000	28,699,000							28,899,000			28,900,000
Amount distributed to minority shareholders									26,155,000	2,458,000	2,018,000				18,900,000
Amount included in non-controlling interests	56,525,000				60,094,000				56,525,000	60,094,000			10,000,000		10,000,000
Assets and liabilities of discontinued operations
Accounts receivable, net																34,225,000
Materials and supplies																19,047,000
Prepayments and other current assets													4,748,000		4,748,000	5,386,000
Property, plant and equipment, net																212,222,000
Telecommunications licenses																50,553,000
Other intangible assets																42,746,000
Other assets																16,586,000
Assets of discontinued operations													4,748,000		4,748,000	380,765,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities													11,187,000		11,187,000	20,486,000
Accrued taxes																3,475,000
Advance payments and deposits																11,435,000
Other current liabilities																27,440,000
Other liabilities																11,074,000
Liabilities of discontinued operations													11,187,000		11,187,000	73,910,000
Revenues and income from discontinued operations
Revenue from discontinued operations															299,519,000	464,382,000	496,390,000
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax expense (benefit)		(1,960,000)	3,092,000	4,034,000	5,775,000	8,922,000	7,942,000	6,563,000	5,166,000	29,202,000	10,222,000				5,166,000	29,202,000	10,222,000
Income from discontinued operations, tax expense (benefit)															$ 2,512,000	$ 13,816,000	$ 1,967,000