Supplementary Financial Information - Cash Flow Disclosure (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash paid for interest	$ (268,186)	$ (229,034)	$ (244,123)
Cash paid for income taxes	(4,043)	(3,079)	(2,810)
Supplementary disclosure of non-cash investing activities:
Contribution of wireless licenses	0	0	2,381
Net wireless licenses received in exchange transaction	(106,877)	(20,649)	0
Noncash or Part Noncash Acquisition, Fixed Assets Acquired	(13,829)	(1,749)	0
Pocket Wireless [Member]
Supplementary disclosure of non-cash investing activities:
Consideration provided for the acquisition of Pocket's business	0	0	(99,894)
Denali [Member]
Supplementary disclosure of non-cash financing activities:
Note issued as consideration for purchase of remaining interest in Denali Spectrum, LLC	$ 0	$ 0	$ 45,500