Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Period End Date Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Type Accounts receivable, net Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current Accrued liabilities and other [Member] Accrued compensation Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Gains and (Losses) on Cash Flow Hedges [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract] Less accumulated amortization and depreciation Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Accumulated other comprehensive income Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total Amortization Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Net excess tax benefit from stock options exercised Stock based compensation Other [Member] All Other Segments [Member] Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted earnings per share (in shares) Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items] Antidilutive Securities, Name [Domain] Antidilutive Securities [Axis] Asset retirement obligations Plant under Construction [Member] Asset under Construction [Member] Current Assets ASSETS Assets by segment [Abstract] Total current assets Assets, Current Total assets Assets Balance Sheet Location [Axis] Balance Sheet Location [Domain] Capital expenditures Amount reclassified as an increase to interest expense during next twelve months Beginning Ending Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Cash and cash equivalents: Changes in fair value recorded in interest expense Commitments and Contingencies Common Stock [Member] Balance (in shares) Balance (in shares) Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Common stock Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share) Comprehensive income Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below Advanced billings and customer deposits Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Deferred charges and other assets, net Deferred income taxes Deferred lease payable Deferred Rent Credit Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance, Current Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent Depreciation and amortization Depreciation and amortization Depreciation Derivative Instrument Risk [Axis] Derivative Assets, Fair Value Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net Derivative Instruments, Hedging Activities and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Amount of notional principal interest rate swap Derivatives Liabilities, Fair Value Derivative, expiry date Derivative Instruments, Hedging Activities and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Derivative Contract Type [Domain] Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) by Hedging Relationship, by Income Statement Location, by Derivative Instrument Risk [Table] Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] Dividends declared Dividends, Common Stock, Cash Earnings per share: Basic and diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share) Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted Earnings per share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Earnings per share [Abstract] Equity Component [Domain] Excess tax benefits on stock awards Excess tax benefits on stock awards Excess Tax Benefit (Tax Deficiency) from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities Investments Carried at Fair Value [Abstract] Investments Carried at Fair Value Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Fair Values Derivatives, Balance Sheet Location, by Derivative Contract Type [Table] Financial Instruments Financial Instruments Disclosure [Text Block] Net (gain) loss on disposal of equipment Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment Realized (gain) loss on disposal of investments Gain (Loss) on Sale of Investments Hedging Designation [Axis] Hedging Designation [Domain] Eliminations [Member] Intersegment Elimination [Member] UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME [Abstract] Income Statement Location [Axis] Income Taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Income Taxes [Abstract] Income before income taxes Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest Income Statement Location [Domain] Net gains from patronage and equity investments Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Income tax expense Income taxes receivable Income taxes (refunded) paid, net Accounts payable Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Materials and supplies Increase (Decrease) in Materials and Supplies Deferred lease payable Changes in assets and liabilities: Income taxes receivable Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Receivable Increase (decrease) in: Other prepaids, deferrals and accruals (Increase) decrease in: Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] Intangible assets, net Interest expense Interest expense Interest Expense Interest Interest Rate Swap [Member] Interest Expense [Member] Materials and supplies Gain (loss) on investments, net Investment Income, Net Dividend and interest income from investments Financial Instruments [Abstract] Investments at fair value Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current Total other liabilities Liabilities, Noncurrent Current Liabilities LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Total liabilities and shareholders' equity Liabilities and Equity Investments, including $2,544 and $2,528 carried at fair value Current maturities of long-term debt Long-term debt, less current maturities Cash Flows from Financing Activities Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net cash used in financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Cash Flows from Investing Activities Cash Flows from Operating Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Net income Net income Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Non-operating income, net Other income (expense): Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] Notional amount of cash flow hedges Number of reportable segments Number of Reportable Segments Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Operating expenses: Operating expenses [Abstract] Total operating expenses Operating Expenses Operating income Operating income (loss) Total consolidated operating income Basis of Presentation [Abstract] Basis of Presentation Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] Net current period other comprehensive income before tax Net current period other comprehensive income, net of tax Net other assets Other Assets, Noncurrent Other Assets Other Assets, Noncurrent [Abstract] Net current period other comprehensive income, tax Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate hedge, net of tax Other cash flow information: Other liabilities Other Plant in Service [Member] Other Plant in Service [Member] Other comprehensive income: Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Accrued liabilities and other Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent Repurchases of stock Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Purchase and construction of property, plant and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Purchase of investment securities Payments to Acquire Investments Prepaid expenses and other Proceeds from sale of stock Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock Cash received from sales of equipment Proceeds from Sale of Machinery and Equipment Proceeds from sales of assets Proceeds from sale of investment securities Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Domain] Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract] Property, plant and equipment [Abstract] Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract] Property, plant and equipment, net Property, plant and equipment, net Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] Total property, plant and equipment Property, Plant and Equipment Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Axis] Property, Plant and Equipment Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Provision for bad debt Financial data for each segment [Abstract] Reconciliation of Income from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Table Text Block] Assets by Segment Principal payments on long-term debt Repayments of Long-term Debt Retained earnings Retained Earnings [Member] Total external revenues Revenue from External Customers Internal revenues Operating revenues Total operating revenues Schedule of derivative financial instruments as well as its classification on the consolidated balance sheet Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Table] Schedule of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table] Selected Financial Data for Segments Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment [Table] Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] Segment Information [Abstract] Segment Information Segment [Domain] Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below Stock based compensation expense Shares and options outstanding (in shares) Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY [Abstract] UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS [Abstract] Business Segments [Axis] Equity Components [Axis] Statement, Equity Components [Axis] UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS [Abstract] Dividends reinvested in common stock Dividends reinvested in common stock (in shares) Options [Member] Common stock issued for share awards (in shares) Stock options exercised Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised Common stock issued for share awards Common stock issued Common stock repurchased Stock Repurchased During Period, Value Common stock issued (in shares) Common stock repurchased (in shares) Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares Stock options exercised (in shares) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period Shareholders' Equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Total shareholders' equity Balance Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Supplemental Disclosures of Cash flow Information Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Unrealized (gain) loss on investments Net unrealized losses recognized Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments Weighted average shares outstanding, basic (in shares) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Weighted average shares, diluted (in shares) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Cash payments for: [Abstract] Cash payments for: After one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer). Other Long Term Liabilities [Abstract] Other Long-Term Liabilities Disclosure of information about components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table] Line item in the statement of financial position in which the fair value amounts of the derivative instruments are included. Deferred charges and other assets, net [Member] Deferred charges, and other assets net [Member] Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax [Abstract] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract] Amount tax expense in accumulated in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax Amount of tax before reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss). Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Tax Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, tax Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax Reclassification From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Current Period Before Tax Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (to interest expense), before tax Amount after tax of reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss). Reclassification From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Current Period Net Of Tax Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (to interest expense), net of tax Amount before tax and reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss). Other Comprehensive Income Loss Before Reclassifications Before Tax Amount of tax for reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss). Reclassification From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Current Period Tax Amounts reclassified From accumulated other comprehensive income tax (to interest expense) Amount after tax, before reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss). Other Comprehensive Income Loss Before Reclassifications Net Of Tax Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, net of tax Amount before tax of increase (decrease) in accumulated in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. Excludes net income (loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners (distributions to owners). Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax1 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax The value of credits for equipment applied to the purchase of new equipment. Exchange of equipment for new equipment purchase Non Sprint-Nextel operations, number of states. Non Sprint Nextel operations, number of states Non Sprint-Nextel operations, number of states The Wireline segment provides regulated and unregulated voice services, dial-up and DSL internet access, and long distance access services throughout Shenandoah County and portions of northwestern Augusta County, Virginia, and leases fiber optic facilities throughout the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, northern Virginia and adjacent areas along the Interstate 81 corridor, including portions of West Virginia and Maryland. Wireline [Member] Wireline [Member] Represents the total segments before eliminations. Total Segments [Member] The Cable segment provides video, internet and voice services in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. It includes the operations acquired from Jet Broadband, LLC, since July 30, 2010, and the operations acquired from Suddenlink since November 30, 2010. Cable [Member] The Wireless segment provides digital wireless service to a portion of a four-state area covering the region from Harrisburg, York and Altoona, Pennsylvania, to Harrisonburg, Virginia, as a Sprint PCS Affiliate of Sprint Nextel. This segment also owns cell site towers built on leased land, and leases space on these towers to both affiliates and non-affiliated service providers. Wireless [Member] Entity Wide Information Revenue From External Customer [Abstract] External revenues [Abstract] Amount of service revenue from external customers for the reportable segment. Such disclosure is presented if the amount is: (a) included in the measure of segment profit or loss reviewed by the chief operating decision maker or (b) otherwise regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker, even if not included in that measure of segment profit or loss. Service Revenue from External Customers Service revenues Amount of other revenue from external customers for the reportable segment. Such disclosure is presented if the amount is: (a) included in the measure of segment profit or loss reviewed by the chief operating decision maker or (b) otherwise regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker, even if not included in that measure of segment profit or loss. Other Revenue from External Customers Other revenues Reconciliation of income from continuing operations from segments to consolidated [Abstract] The aggregate amount of income or expense from ancillary business-related activities (that is to say, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business). Nonoperating income expense net Non-operating income (expense), net Document and Entity Information [Abstract]