MOBILITY FUND (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 item	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 U.S. Wireless	Sep. 30, 2012 U.S. Wireless	Sep. 30, 2013 U.S. Wireless	Sep. 30, 2012 U.S. Wireless	Jun. 30, 2013 Letters of credit	Aug. 31, 2013 Alltel Mobility Funds	Sep. 20, 2013 Alltel Mobility Funds Letters of credit	Aug. 31, 2013 Wholesale Mobility Funds	Sep. 30, 2013 Wholesale Mobility Funds U.S. Wireless	Sep. 30, 2013 Wholesale Mobility Funds U.S. Wireless Other current liabilities	Sep. 30, 2013 Wholesale Mobility Funds U.S. Wireless Other long-term liabilities
MOBILITY FUND
Number of new funds created by FCC			2
Mobility Funds approved by FCC										$ 47,000,000		$ 21,700,000
Letters of credit posted to USAC									29,900,000
Cash payment of penalty fees for default											4,600,000
Revenue	$ 79,350,000	$ 73,312,000	$ 215,807,000	$ 207,884,000	$ 33,057,000	$ 29,279,000	$ 81,367,000	$ 78,632,000					$ 7,300,000	$ 3,100,000	$ 4,200,000