Note 13 - Earnings Per Share - Calculation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Net income attributable to Alaska Communications	$ 227	$ 2,101
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic shares (in shares)	53,382	52,681
Effect of stock-based compensation (in shares)	1,223	1,176
Diluted shares (in shares)	54,605	53,857
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0.04
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0.04