Earnings Per Share - Calculation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Alaska Communications	$ 354	$ 1,239	$ 757	$ 12,615
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic shares	51,340	50,399	51,105	50,191
Effect of stock-based compensation	1,114	1,189	1,025	1,055
Diluted shares	52,454	51,588	52,130	51,246
Net income per share attributable to Alaska Communications:
Basic	$ 0.01	$ 0.02	$ 0.01	$ 0.25
Diluted	$ 0.01	$ 0.02	$ 0.01	$ 0.25