GOVERNMENT GRANTS (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014 item
Upstate New York and parts of Pennsylvania and Vermont
GOVERNMENT GRANTS
Capital expenditures	$ 35.8
Federal stimulus grant	27.5
Number of new segments of fiber-optic, middle mile broadband infrastructure built	10
Navajo Nation across Arizona, New Mexico and Utah
GOVERNMENT GRANTS
Capital expenditures	7.6
Federal stimulus grant	5.3
Vermont
GOVERNMENT GRANTS
Capital expenditures	47.8
Federal stimulus grant	33.0
Expected amount of federal stimulus grants	$ 0
Vermont | Minimum
GOVERNMENT GRANTS
Number of community anchor institutions to whom broadband and transport services are provided	340