Guarantor Financial Information (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended							0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 24, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 25, 2013	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2013 Secured Debt [Member] Senior Notes Due In 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] Senior Notes Due In 2016 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Savary Island [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Savary Island [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Guarantor Parent Company [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Guarantor Parent Company [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Guarantor Parent Company [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Issuing Subsidiary [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Issuing Subsidiary [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Issuing Subsidiary [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Issuing Subsidiary [Member] Senior Notes [Member]	Mar. 25, 2013 Guarantor Subsidiary [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Guarantor Subsidiary [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Guarantor Subsidiary [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Guarantor Subsidiary [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Consolidating and Eliminating Adjustments [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Consolidating and Eliminating Adjustments [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Consolidating and Eliminating Adjustments [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Gross long-term debt									$ 0	$ 1,100,000,000									$ 1,600,000,000
Debt instrument, stated interest rate									7.75%
Ownership percentage by non controlling interest												85.00%
Ownership Interest, Percentage Acquired											15.00%
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		531,245,000		515,550,000		345,243,000							205,000	69,000	91,000	478,448,000	449,668,000	270,055,000			0	0	0	52,592,000	65,813,000	75,097,000	0	0	0
Short-term investments		385,783,000		159,426,000									0	0		385,783,000	159,426,000				0	0		0	0		0	0
Inventories		73,035,000		121,601,000									0	0		69,829,000	118,149,000				0	0		3,206,000	3,452,000		0	0
Deferred charges		38,293,000		60,963,000									0	0		38,287,000	60,933,000				0	0		6,000	30,000		0	0
Advances to affiliates and consolidated subsidiaries		0		0									251,803,000	11,182,000		32,109,000	23,592,000				21,113,000	49,407,000		0	0		(305,025,000)	(84,181,000)
Other current assets		159,581,000		139,242,000									1,499,000	707,000		152,421,000	129,346,000				0	0		5,836,000	13,519,000		(175,000)	(4,330,000)
Total current assets		1,187,937,000		996,782,000									253,507,000	11,958,000		1,156,877,000	941,114,000				21,113,000	49,407,000		61,640,000	82,814,000		(305,200,000)	(88,511,000)
Property and equipment, net		1,266,373,000	[1]	1,762,090,000	[1]								0	0		1,221,867,000	1,694,365,000				0	0		44,506,000	67,725,000		0	0
Investments in and advances to affiliates and consolidated subsidiaries		0		0									0	739,072,000		2,277,151,000	2,327,953,000				0	0		0	0		(2,277,151,000)	(3,067,025,000)
Wireless licenses		2,091,261,000		1,947,333,000			136,200,000						0	0		0	0				2,026,349,000	1,882,421,000		64,912,000	64,912,000		0	0
Assets held for sale				136,222,000										0			0					136,222,000			0			0
Goodwill		31,886,000		31,886,000									0	0		11,222,000	11,222,000				0	0		20,664,000	20,664,000		0	0
Intangible assets, net		14,043,000		24,663,000									0	0		12,113,000	14,756,000				0	0		1,930,000	9,907,000		0	0
Other assets		71,388,000		68,284,000									708,000	3,938,000		58,043,000	54,852,000				0	0		12,637,000	9,494,000		0	0
Total assets		4,662,888,000		4,967,260,000									254,215,000	754,968,000		4,737,273,000	5,044,262,000				2,047,462,000	2,068,050,000		206,289,000	255,516,000		(2,582,351,000)	(3,155,536,000)
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		365,479,000		396,110,000									3,354,000	40,000		359,781,000	389,951,000				0	0		2,489,000	6,119,000		(145,000)	0
Current maturities of long-term debt		266,454,000		4,000,000									248,204,000	0		18,250,000	4,000,000				0	0		0	0		0	0
Intercompany payables		0		0									0	0		272,916,000	60,589,000				0	0		32,109,000	23,592,000		(305,025,000)	(84,181,000)
Other current liabilities		209,068,000		216,880,000									5,169,000	5,247,000		186,272,000	202,740,000				0	0		17,657,000	13,223,000		(30,000)	(4,330,000)
Total current liabilities		841,001,000		616,990,000									256,727,000	5,287,000		837,219,000	657,280,000				0	0		52,255,000	42,934,000		(305,200,000)	(88,511,000)
Long-term debt, net		3,364,567,000		3,298,463,000									0	250,000,000		3,364,567,000	3,048,463,000				0	0		0	0		0	0
Deferred tax liabilities		424,446,000		385,111,000									0	0		424,446,000	385,111,000				0	0		0	0		0	0
Long-term intercompany payables				0										66,549,000			242,500,000					0			32,562,000			(341,611,000)
Accumulated losses in excess of investment and long-term intercompany payables		0											191,159,000			0					0			47,458,000			(238,617,000)
Other long-term liabilities		158,010,000		169,047,000									0	0		145,195,000	149,819,000				0	0		12,815,000	19,228,000		0	0
Total liabilities		4,788,024,000		4,469,611,000									447,886,000	321,836,000		4,771,427,000	4,483,173,000				0	0		112,528,000	94,724,000		(543,817,000)	(430,122,000)
Redeemable non-controlling interests		68,535,000		64,517,000									0	0		68,535,000	64,517,000				0	0		0	0		0	0
Stockholders' equity		(193,671,000)		433,132,000		613,315,000		911,282,000					(193,671,000)	433,132,000		(102,689,000)	496,572,000				2,047,462,000	2,068,050,000		93,761,000	160,792,000		(2,038,534,000)	(2,725,414,000)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		4,662,888,000		4,967,260,000									254,215,000	754,968,000		4,737,273,000	5,044,262,000				2,047,462,000	2,068,050,000		206,289,000	255,516,000		(2,582,351,000)	(3,155,536,000)
Revenues:
Service revenues		2,630,554,000		2,947,457,000		2,829,281,000							0	0	0	2,302,483,000	2,608,538,000	2,495,525,000			0	0	0	327,943,000	338,841,000	333,691,000	128,000	78,000	65,000
Equipment revenues		267,518,000		194,884,000		241,850,000							0	0	0	232,336,000	168,279,000	211,659,000			0	0	0	35,182,000	26,605,000	30,191,000	0	0	0
Other revenues		0		0		0							0	0	0	15,270,000	15,317,000	15,656,000			98,666,000	111,981,000	106,696,000	356,000	197,000	0	(114,292,000)	(127,495,000)	(122,352,000)
Total revenues		2,898,072,000		3,142,341,000		3,071,131,000							0	0	0	2,550,089,000	2,792,134,000	2,722,840,000			98,666,000	111,981,000	106,696,000	363,481,000	365,643,000	363,882,000	(114,164,000)	(127,417,000)	(122,287,000)
Operating expenses:
Cost of service (exclusive of items shown separately below)		999,965,000		1,034,167,000		981,203,000							0	0	0	1,014,443,000	1,057,210,000	995,215,000			0	0	0	84,417,000	89,057,000	92,332,000	(98,895,000)	(112,100,000)	(106,344,000)
Cost of equipment		871,399,000		816,226,000		817,920,000							0	0	0	755,320,000	721,957,000	716,461,000			0	0	0	116,079,000	94,269,000	101,459,000	0	0	0
Selling and marketing		276,604,000		349,970,000		369,257,000							0	0	0	244,068,000	311,410,000	316,228,000			0	0	0	32,536,000	38,560,000	53,029,000	0	0	0
General and administrative		357,323,000		348,934,000		355,529,000							25,882,000	10,556,000	14,351,000	298,864,000	306,206,000	303,602,000			763,000	762,000	751,000	47,083,000	46,727,000	52,768,000	(15,269,000)	(15,317,000)	(15,943,000)
Depreciation and amortization		594,341,000		625,596,000		548,426,000							0	0	0	562,308,000	578,827,000	494,967,000			0	0	0	32,033,000	46,769,000	53,459,000	0	0	0
Impairments and other charges		28,783,000		39,399,000		26,770,000							0	0	0	28,008,000	39,399,000	1,206,000			0	0	377,000	775,000	0	25,187,000	0	0	0
Total operating expenses		3,128,415,000		3,214,292,000		3,099,105,000							25,882,000	10,556,000	14,351,000	2,903,011,000	3,015,009,000	2,827,679,000			763,000	762,000	1,128,000	312,923,000	315,382,000	378,234,000	(114,164,000)	(127,417,000)	(122,287,000)
Gain on sale, exchange or disposal of assets, net	4,200,000	5,427,000		229,714,000		2,622,000							0	0	0	(4,490,000)	84,939,000	(12,947,000)		6,800,000	10,929,000	143,904,000	20,538,000	(1,012,000)	871,000	(4,969,000)	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)		(224,916,000)		157,763,000		(25,352,000)							(25,882,000)	(10,556,000)	(14,351,000)	(357,412,000)	(137,936,000)	(117,786,000)			108,832,000	255,123,000	126,106,000	49,546,000	51,132,000	(19,321,000)	0	0	0
Equity in net income (loss) of consolidated subsidiaries		0		0		0							(626,259,000)	(190,241,000)	(311,856,000)	158,297,000	306,260,000	106,318,000			0	0	0	0	0	0	467,962,000	(116,019,000)	205,538,000
Equity in net income (loss) of investees, net		(10,558,000)		(464,000)		2,984,000							0	0	0	(10,558,000)	(464,000)	2,984,000			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Interest income		362,000		194,000		245,000							24,117,000	24,252,000	24,251,000	359,000	187,000	254,000			0	0	0	1,000	5,000	5,000	(24,115,000)	(24,250,000)	(24,265,000)
Interest expense		(249,784,000)		(268,232,000)		(256,175,000)							(12,775,000)	(12,747,000)	(12,671,000)	(261,124,000)	(279,735,000)	(267,297,000)			0	0	0	0	0	(472,000)	24,115,000	24,250,000	24,265,000
Other expense		0		0		(2,000)									0			(2,000)					0			0			0
Loss on extinguishment of debt		(72,988,000)		(18,634,000)		0			72,800,000				(9,000)	0		(72,979,000)	(18,634,000)				0	0		0	0		0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes		(557,884,000)		(129,373,000)		(278,300,000)							(640,808,000)	(189,292,000)	(314,627,000)	(543,417,000)	(130,322,000)	(275,529,000)			108,832,000	255,123,000	126,106,000	49,547,000	51,137,000	(19,788,000)	467,962,000	(116,019,000)	205,538,000
Income tax benefit (expense)		(45,569,000)		(57,904,000)		(39,377,000)							0	0	0	(45,487,000)	(57,904,000)	(39,377,000)			0	0	0	(82,000)	0	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)		(603,453,000)		(187,277,000)		(317,677,000)							(640,808,000)	(189,292,000)	(314,627,000)	(588,904,000)	(188,226,000)	(314,906,000)			108,832,000	255,123,000	126,106,000	49,465,000	51,137,000	(19,788,000)	467,962,000	(116,019,000)	205,538,000
Accretion of redeemable non-controlling interests, net of tax and preferred distributions to joint venture partners		37,355,000		2,015,000		(3,050,000)							0	0	0	37,355,000	2,015,000	(3,050,000)			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders		(640,808,000)		(189,292,000)		(314,627,000)							(640,808,000)	(189,292,000)	(314,627,000)	(626,259,000)	(190,241,000)	(311,856,000)			108,832,000	255,123,000	126,106,000	49,465,000	51,137,000	(19,788,000)	467,962,000	(116,019,000)	205,538,000
Other comprehensive (income) loss:
Net income (loss)		(603,453,000)		(187,277,000)		(317,677,000)							(640,808,000)	(189,292,000)	(314,627,000)	(588,904,000)	(188,226,000)	(314,906,000)			108,832,000	255,123,000	126,106,000	49,465,000	51,137,000	(19,788,000)	467,962,000	(116,019,000)	205,538,000
Net unrealized holding gains on investments and other		(18,000)		27,000		(14,000)							(18,000)	27,000	(14,000)	(18,000)	27,000	(14,000)			0	0	0	0	0	0	18,000	(27,000)	14,000
Comprehensive income (loss)		(603,471,000)		(187,250,000)		(317,691,000)							(640,826,000)	(189,265,000)	(314,641,000)	(588,922,000)	(188,199,000)	(314,920,000)			108,832,000	255,123,000	126,106,000	49,465,000	51,137,000	(19,788,000)	467,980,000	(116,046,000)	205,552,000
Operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		128,802,000		240,388,000		338,065,000							136,000	(22,000)	6,000	25,615,000	164,223,000	309,549,000			0	0	0	107,972,000	99,550,000	34,256,000	(4,921,000)	(23,363,000)	(5,746,000)
Investing activities:
Acquisition of a business		0		0		(850,000)									0			(850,000)					0			0			0
Purchases of and change in prepayments for purchases of property and equipment		(138,042,000)		(494,278,000)		(402,156,000)							0	0	0	(133,320,000)	(471,892,000)	(379,360,000)			0	0	0	(4,837,000)	(30,496,000)	(22,796,000)	115,000	8,110,000	0
Purchases of wireless licenses and spectrum clearing costs		(3,289,000)		(5,596,000)		(4,880,000)							0	0	0	(3,289,000)	(5,596,000)	(4,880,000)			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Proceeds from sales of wireless licenses and operating assets, net		9,665,000		154,068,000		5,070,000							0	0	0	9,639,000	153,226,000	4,558,000			0	0	0	141,000	8,952,000	512,000	(115,000)	(8,110,000)	0
Purchases of investments		(770,803,000)		(367,487,000)		(826,233,000)							0	0	0	(770,803,000)	(367,487,000)	(826,233,000)			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Sales and maturities of investments		543,773,000		613,632,000		487,860,000							0	0	0	543,773,000	613,632,000	487,860,000			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Payments received from joint venture		0		0									0	0		78,238,000	36,435,000				0	0		0	0		(78,238,000)	(36,435,000)
Investments in and advances to affiliates and consolidated subsidiaries		0		0		0					(5,300,000)		(555,000)	(959,000)	(1,346,000)	0	0	0			0	0	0	0	0	0	555,000	959,000	1,346,000
Dividend received from equity investee						11,606,000									0			11,606,000					0			0			0
Change in restricted cash		(63,000)		239,000		(948,000)							0	0	0	(63,000)	239,000	(248,000)			0	0	0	0	0	(700,000)	0	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities		(358,759,000)		(99,422,000)		(730,531,000)							(555,000)	(959,000)	(1,346,000)	(275,825,000)	(41,443,000)	(707,547,000)			0	0	0	(4,696,000)	(21,544,000)	(22,984,000)	(77,683,000)	(35,476,000)	1,346,000
Financing activities:
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt		1,414,313,000		396,000,000		396,772,000							0	0	0	1,414,313,000	396,000,000	396,772,000			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Repayment of long-term debt		(1,112,922,000)		(321,911,000)		(23,589,000)							0	0	0	(1,112,922,000)	(321,911,000)	(18,589,000)			0	0	0	0	0	(5,000,000)	0	0	0
Payment of debt issuance costs		(15,800,000)		(5,645,000)		(7,269,000)							0	0	0	(15,800,000)	(5,645,000)	(7,269,000)			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Capital contributions, net		0		0		0							0	0	0	555,000	959,000	1,346,000			0	0	0	0	0	0	(555,000)	(959,000)	(1,346,000)
Purchase of non-controlling interest		0		(5,250,000)		0								0			(5,250,000)					0			0			0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		555,000		959,000		1,346,000							555,000	959,000	1,346,000	0	0	0			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Proceeds from sale lease-back financing		0		0		25,815,000									0			25,815,000					0			0			0
Payments made to joint venture partners		(33,338,000)		(29,407,000)		(3,108,000)							0	0	0	0	(1,915,000)	(1,364,000)			0	0	0	(116,497,000)	(87,290,000)	(7,490,000)	83,159,000	59,798,000	5,746,000
Other		(7,156,000)		(5,405,000)		(3,048,000)							0	0	0	(7,156,000)	(5,405,000)	(3,048,000)			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		245,652,000		29,341,000		386,919,000							555,000	959,000	1,346,000	278,990,000	56,833,000	393,663,000			0	0	0	(116,497,000)	(87,290,000)	(12,490,000)	82,604,000	58,839,000	4,400,000
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		15,695,000		170,307,000		(5,547,000)							136,000	(22,000)	6,000	28,780,000	179,613,000	(4,335,000)			0	0	0	(13,221,000)	(9,284,000)	(1,218,000)	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		515,550,000		345,243,000		350,790,000							69,000	91,000	85,000	449,668,000	270,055,000	274,390,000			0	0	0	65,813,000	75,097,000	76,315,000	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$ 531,245,000		$ 515,550,000		$ 345,243,000							$ 205,000	$ 69,000	$ 91,000	$ 478,448,000	$ 449,668,000	$ 270,055,000			$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 52,592,000	$ 65,813,000	$ 75,097,000	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

[1] As of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, approximately $48.7 million and $45.8 million of assets were held by the Company under capital lease arrangements, respectively. Accumulated amortization relating to these assets totaled $28.1 million and $22.9 million as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.