Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ (603,453)	$ (187,277)	$ (317,677)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Share-based compensation expense	15,438	8,122	15,328
Depreciation and amortization	594,341	625,596	548,426
Accretion of asset retirement obligations	3,356	3,208	3,061
Non-cash interest items, net	10,608	13,514	13,178
Non-cash loss on extinguishment of debt	30,510	3,528	0
Deferred income tax expense	41,716	53,845	35,316
Impairments and other charges, net	15,447	13,640	377
Gain on sale, exchange or disposal of assets, net	(5,427)	(229,714)	(2,732)
Equity in net loss of investees, net of cash dividends	10,558	464	3,628
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Inventories and deferred charges	71,236	(7,628)	(23,352)
Other assets	(29,113)	(9,735)	(40,970)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(3,030)	(6,136)	38,224
Other liabilities	(14,286)	(53,989)	43,212
Impairments and other charges, to be settled in cash	(9,099)	12,950	22,046
Net cash provided by operating activities	128,802	240,388	338,065
Investing activities:
Acquisition of a business	0	0	(850)
Purchases of property and equipment	(133,067)	(487,921)	(395,343)
Change in prepayments for purchases of property and equipment	4,975	6,357	6,813
Purchases of wireless licenses and spectrum clearing costs	3,289	5,596	4,880
Proceeds from sales of wireless licenses and operating assets, net	9,665	154,068	5,070
Purchases of investments	(770,803)	(367,487)	(826,233)
Sales and maturities of investments	543,773	613,632	487,860
Dividend received from equity investee	0	0	11,606
Change in restricted cash	(63)	239	(948)
Net cash used in investing activities	(358,759)	(99,422)	(730,531)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	1,414,313	396,000	396,772
Repayment of long-term debt	(1,112,922)	(321,911)	(23,589)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(15,800)	(5,645)	(7,269)
Purchase of non-controlling interest	0	(5,250)	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	555	959	1,346
Proceeds from sale lease-back financing	0	0	25,815
Payments made to joint venture partners	(33,338)	(29,407)	(3,108)
Other	(7,156)	(5,405)	(3,048)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	245,652	29,341	386,919
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	15,695	170,307	(5,547)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	515,550	345,243	350,790
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 531,245	$ 515,550	$ 345,243