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PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Property, plant and equipment, gross $ 12,642,363 $ 12,480,062  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization (9,625,348) (9,454,315)  
Total property, plant and equipment, net 3,017,015 3,025,747  
Depreciation expense on property, plant and equipment, including capital leases 857,440 852,451 $ 858,899
Impairments of property, plant and equipment   425 $ 10,997
Equipment and Related Accumulated Amortization Recorded Under Capital Leases [Abstract]      
Equipment 90,099 95,719  
Less accumulated amortization (28,119) (39,951)  
Total equipment under capital leases, net $ 61,980 55,768  
Cable Television System Plant | Minimum      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Estimated useful lives (years) 10 years    
Cable Television System Plant | Maximum      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Estimated useful lives (years) 25 years    
Headend Facilities | Minimum      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Estimated useful lives (years) 4 years    
Headend Facilities | Maximum      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Estimated useful lives (years) 25 years    
New Connections for Residence Wiring      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Estimated useful lives (years) 5 years    
New Connections for Feeder Cable to the Home      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Estimated useful lives (years) 12 years    
Customer equipment      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Property, plant and equipment, gross $ 1,952,336 1,954,512  
Customer equipment | Minimum      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Estimated useful lives (years) 3 years    
Customer equipment | Maximum      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Estimated useful lives (years) 5 years    
Headends and related equipment      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Property, plant and equipment, gross $ 1,571,750 1,437,681  
Headends and related equipment | Minimum      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Estimated useful lives (years) 4 years    
Headends and related equipment | Maximum      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Estimated useful lives (years) 25 years    
Central office equipment      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Property, plant and equipment, gross $ 816,539 811,320  
Central office equipment | Minimum      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Estimated useful lives (years) 5 years    
Central office equipment | Maximum      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Estimated useful lives (years) 10 years    
Infrastructure      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Property, plant and equipment, gross $ 5,639,226 5,695,519  
Infrastructure | Minimum      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Estimated useful lives (years) 3 years    
Infrastructure | Maximum      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Estimated useful lives (years) 25 years    
Equipment and software      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Property, plant and equipment, gross $ 1,577,616 1,507,500  
Equipment and software | Minimum      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Estimated useful lives (years) 3 years    
Equipment and software | Maximum      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Estimated useful lives (years) 10 years    
Construction in progress (including materials and supplies)      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Property, plant and equipment, gross $ 87,412 97,955  
Furniture and fixtures      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Property, plant and equipment, gross $ 96,561 94,265  
Furniture and fixtures | Minimum      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Estimated useful lives (years) 5 years    
Furniture and fixtures | Maximum      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Estimated useful lives (years) 12 years    
Transportation equipment      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Property, plant and equipment, gross $ 210,013 217,486  
Transportation equipment | Minimum      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Estimated useful lives (years) 5 years    
Transportation equipment | Maximum      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Estimated useful lives (years) 18 years    
Buildings and building improvements      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Property, plant and equipment, gross $ 322,267 303,344  
Buildings and building improvements | Minimum      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Estimated useful lives (years) 10 years    
Buildings and building improvements | Maximum      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Estimated useful lives (years) 40 years    
Leasehold improvements      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Estimated useful lives, description Term of lease    
Property, plant and equipment, gross $ 354,136 345,942  
Land      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Property, plant and equipment, gross 14,507 14,538  
Software Development      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Capitalized costs related to acquisition and development of internal use software $ 144,349 $ 153,675