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		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Net income attributable to Alaska Communications	$ 2,302	$ 2,022	$ 7,129	$ 2,284
Basic shares (in shares)	54,116	53,328	53,906	53,503
Effect of stock-based compensation (in shares)	456	663	487	902
Diluted shares (in shares)	54,572	53,991	54,393	54,405
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.04	$ 0.04	$ 0.13	$ 0.04
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.04	$ 0.04	$ 0.13	$ 0.04