CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 14,929	$ 4,896	$ 797
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	75,235	70,527	69,481
Amortization of debt discount and premium	1,105	171	1,976
Equity-based compensation expense (net of amounts capitalized)	10,735	11,515	9,571
Losses on debt extinguishment and redemption	587	10,144
Gains on capital lease termination		(11,643)
Gains - equipment transactions and other, net	(7,674)	(4,866)	(10,382)
Deferred income taxes	9,224	7,709	3,163
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(3,183)	1,119	(3,938)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(2,923)	(2,898)	(2,338)
Deposits and other assets	(336)	(221)	219
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities	10,268	(2,644)	4,497
Net cash provided by operating activities	107,967	83,809	73,046
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(45,234)	(35,582)	(60,032)
Proceeds from asset sales		111	90
Net cash used in investing activities	(45,234)	(35,471)	(59,942)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net proceeds from issuance of 2022 secured notes--net of debt costs of $1,202 and $1,397, respectively	124,267	248,603
Net proceeds from issuance of 2021 unsecured notes--net of debt costs of $4,176			195,824
Extinguishment of 2021 unsecured notes	(10,775)
Redemption of 2018 secured notes		(251,280)
Repayments of convertible notes			(91,978)
Dividends paid	(68,210)	(66,314)	(54,216)
Principal payments of capital lease obligations	(12,466)	(20,215)	(18,208)
Principal payments of installment payment agreement	(21,203)	(670)
Purchases of common stock	(4,492)	(39,394)	(58,582)
Proceeds from exercises of stock options	1,220	423	533
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	8,341	(128,847)	(26,627)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(346)	(3,690)	(3,553)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	70,728	(84,199)	(17,076)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	203,591	287,790
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	274,319	203,591	287,790
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	37,125	44,383	46,531
Cash paid for income taxes	143	577	1,896
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Capital lease obligations incurred	18,439	25,794	28,707
PP&E obtained for installment payment agreement	5,521	21,873
Fair value of equipment acquired in leases	2,110	595	174
Non-cash component of network equipment obtained in exchange transactions	$ 7,739	$ 8,156	$ 11,031