Represents the minimum amount for which the reporting entity is required enter into or obtain an interest rate hedge.

No definition available.

Name:	alsk_DebtInstrumentCovenantsMinimumBorrowing
Namespace Prefix:	alsk_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the final amount of a derivative instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	alsk_DerivativeFinalNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	alsk_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the weighted average life of a senior credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	alsk_WeightedAverageLifeOfSeniorCreditFacility
Namespace Prefix:	alsk_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of short-term and long-term debt and lease obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.13,16)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=119400593&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the interest rate derivative.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeBasisSpreadOnVariableRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fixed interest rate related to the interest rate derivative.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeFixedInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Date the derivative contract matures, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeMaturityDates
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of transfers of assets measured on a recurring basis out of Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy into Level 2.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (bb)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117815213&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssetsLevel1ToLevel2TransfersAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of transfers of assets measured on a recurring basis out of Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy into Level 1.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssetsLevel2ToLevel1TransfersAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=alsk_SeniorCreditFacilitiesAndOtherLongtermObligationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=alsk_The2019SeniorCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Note 4 - Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Financial Instruments (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 28, 2019	Jun. 24, 2017	Jun. 30, 2019	Jan. 15, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Jun. 14, 2017
Fair Value, Assets, Level 1 to Level 2 Transfers, Amount			$ 0
Fair Value, Assets, Level 2 to Level 1 Transfers, Amount			0
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivative, Final Notional Amount	$ 67,500			$ 90,000		$ 90,000
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate	6.1735%			6.49425%		6.49425%
Derivative, Maturity Date	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 28, 2019
Interest Rate Swap [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Derivative, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	4.50%			5.00%		5.00%
Senior Credit Facilities and Other Long-Term Obligations [Member]
Debt and Lease Obligation, Total			180,166		$ 172,494
The 2019 Senior Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument Covenants, Minimum Borrowing			$ 90,000
Weighted Average Life of Senior Credit Facility			2 years