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		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Net income attributable to Alaska Communications	$ 2,440	$ 35	$ 4,827	$ 262
Basic shares (in shares)	53,976	53,799	53,799	53,591
Effect of stock-based compensation (in shares)	366	770	496	1,008
Diluted shares (in shares)	54,342	54,569	54,295	54,599
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.05	$ 0.00	$ 0.09	$ 0.00
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.04	$ 0.00	$ 0.09	$ 0.00