Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock Outstanding [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
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)		744
Purchases of common stock, $.01 par (in shares)		(1,000)
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019		53,012
Balance, beginning at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 169,750	$ 533	$ 0	$ 160,514	$ 10,439	$ (2,675)	$ 939
Issuance of common stock pursuant to stock plans, $.01 par		7		99
Purchases of common stock, $.01 par			(1,812)
Stock-based compensation				766
Surrender of shares to cover minimum withholding taxes on stock-based compensation				(448)
Net income attributable to Alaska Communications	2,284				2,284
Cash dividends declared, $0.09 per common share					0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,499					(709)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(76)						(76)
Balance, ending at Sep. 30, 2019	169,861	$ 540	(1,812)	160,931	12,723	(3,384)	863
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019		53,774
Issuance of common stock pursuant to stock plans, $.01 par (in shares)		119
Purchases of common stock, $.01 par (in shares)		(881)
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019		53,012
Balance, beginning at Jun. 30, 2019	169,804	$ 540	(205)	160,654	10,701	(2,772)	886
Issuance of common stock pursuant to stock plans, $.01 par		0		0
Purchases of common stock, $.01 par			(1,607)
Stock-based compensation				277
Surrender of shares to cover minimum withholding taxes on stock-based compensation				0
Net income attributable to Alaska Communications	2,022				2,022
Cash dividends declared, $0.09 per common share					0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,387					(612)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(23)						(23)
Balance, ending at Sep. 30, 2019	169,861	$ 540	(1,812)	160,931	12,723	(3,384)	863
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)		738
Purchases of common stock, $.01 par (in shares)		0
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2020		53,823
Balance, beginning at Dec. 31, 2019	173,509	$ 541	(1,812)	161,844	15,367	(3,277)	846
Issuance of common stock pursuant to stock plans, $.01 par		7		117
Purchases of common stock, $.01 par			0
Stock-based compensation				1,218
Surrender of shares to cover minimum withholding taxes on stock-based compensation				(439)
Net income attributable to Alaska Communications	7,129				7,129
Cash dividends declared, $0.09 per common share					(4,852)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	5,052					(2,013)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(64)						(64)
Balance, ending at Sep. 30, 2020	174,612	$ 548	(1,812)	162,740	17,644	(5,290)	782
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020		53,823
Issuance of common stock pursuant to stock plans, $.01 par (in shares)		0
Purchases of common stock, $.01 par (in shares)		0
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2020		53,823
Balance, beginning at Jun. 30, 2020	171,688	$ 548	(1,812)	162,240	15,342	(5,434)	804
Issuance of common stock pursuant to stock plans, $.01 par		0		0
Purchases of common stock, $.01 par			0
Stock-based compensation				500
Surrender of shares to cover minimum withholding taxes on stock-based compensation				0
Net income attributable to Alaska Communications	2,302				2,302
Cash dividends declared, $0.09 per common share					0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	2,424					144
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(22)						(22)
Balance, ending at Sep. 30, 2020	$ 174,612	$ 548	$ (1,812)	$ 162,740	$ 17,644	$ (5,290)	$ 782