Supplementary Balance Sheet Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	Sep. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Other current assets:
Accounts receivable, net	$ 83,807	[1]	$ 50,750	[1]
Prepaid expenses	39,366		27,493
Other current assets	20,480		12,767
Total Other Current Assets	143,653		91,010
Property and equipment, net:
Network equipment	3,213,775		3,095,793
Computer hardware and software	510,194		342,972
Construction-in-progress	74,778		146,973
Other	120,129		108,273
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	3,918,876		3,694,011
Accumulated depreciation	(1,989,378)		(1,657,366)
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	1,929,498		2,036,645
Intangible assets, net:
Customer relationships	57,782		57,782
Trademarks	37,000		37,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	94,782		94,782
Intangible assets, net	46,689		64,843
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	158,735		205,824
Accrued payroll and related benefits	72,124		55,290
Other accrued liabilities	95,068		85,755
Total Current Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities	325,927		346,869
Other current liabilities:
Accrued sales, telecommunications, property and other taxes payable	32,889		44,942
Accrued interest	98,006		40,804
Other	16,296		11,088
Other current liabilities	290,867		221,077
Nonsoftware Service, Support and Maintenance Arrangement [Member]
Other current liabilities:
Deferred service revenue	107,075	[2]	97,679	[2]
Distributor Arrangement [Member]
Other current liabilities:
Deferred service revenue	36,601	[3]	26,564	[3]
Customer Relationships [Member]
Intangible assets, net:
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets	(29,152)		(12,980)
Trademarks [Member]
Intangible assets, net:
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets	$ (18,941)		$ (16,959)

[1] Accounts receivable, net, consists primarily of amounts billed to third-party dealers for devices and accessories and amounts due from service providers related to interconnect and roaming agreements, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts.

[2] Deferred service revenue consists primarily of cash received from customers in advance of their service period.

[3] Deferred equipment revenue relates to devices sold to third-party dealers which have not yet been purchased and activated by customers.