Arrangements with Variable Interest Entities and Joint Ventures (Details) (Savary Island [Member], USD $) In Thousands	Jun. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Assets	$ 164,363		$ 161,305
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Liabilities	0		0
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Assets	8,308		5,250
Indefinite Lived Licensing Agreements [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Assets	129,754		156,055
Assets Held-for-sale [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Assets	$ 26,301	[1]	$ 0	[1]

[1] wireless licenses to be assigned and transferred to T-Mobile and its affiliates at the closing under the license exchange agreement discussed in Note 9, "Significant Acquisitions and Other Transactions."