Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Common Stock Outstanding [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	53,268
Issuance of common stock pursuant to stock plans, $.01 par (in shares)	342
Purchases of common stock, $.01 par (in shares)
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019	53,610
Balance, beginning at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 533		$ 160,514	$ 10,439	$ (2,675)	$ 939	$ 169,750
Issuance of common stock pursuant to stock plans, $.01 par	3		(3)
Balance, ending at Mar. 31, 2019	$ 536		160,704	10,666	(2,746)	905	170,065
Purchases of common stock, $.01 par
Stock-based compensation			498
Surrender of shares to cover minimum withholding taxes on stock-based compensation			(305)
Net income attributable to Alaska Communications				227			227
Cash dividends declared, $0.09 per common share
Total comprehensive income					(71)		122
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest						(34)	(34)
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019	53,085
Issuance of common stock pursuant to stock plans, $.01 par (in shares)	476
Purchases of common stock, $.01 par (in shares)
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020	53,561
Balance, beginning at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 541	(1,812)	161,844	15,367	(3,277)	846	173,509
Issuance of common stock pursuant to stock plans, $.01 par	5		(5)
Balance, ending at Mar. 31, 2020	$ 546	(1,812)	161,709	12,902	(5,312)	828	168,861
Purchases of common stock, $.01 par
Stock-based compensation			309
Surrender of shares to cover minimum withholding taxes on stock-based compensation			$ (439)
Net income attributable to Alaska Communications				2,387			2,387
Cash dividends declared, $0.09 per common share				$ (4,852)			(4,852)
Total comprehensive income					$ (2,035)		334
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest						$ (18)	$ (18)