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, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Net income attributable to Alaska Communications	$ 2,387	$ 227
Basic shares (in shares)	53,186	53,382
Effect of stock-based compensation (in shares)	1,051	1,223
Diluted shares (in shares)	54,237	54,605
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.04	$ 0
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.04	$ 0