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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 wwFdeBZoVXraNuRJHmznZQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001261736-03-000001.txt : 20030908
<SEC-HEADER>0001261736-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030908
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030908182735
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001261736-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030905
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030908

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DIAMOND VENTURES LLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001261736
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15279
		FILM NUMBER:		03886800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE AMERICAN CETNER STE 200
		STREET 2:		600 CONGRESS AVE
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78701

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GENERAL COMMUNICATION INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000808461
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIO TELEPHONE) [4813]
		IRS NUMBER:				920072737
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			AK
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2550 DENALI ST STE 1000
		CITY:			ANCHORAGE
		STATE:			AK
		ZIP:			99503
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9072655600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2550 DENALI STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1000
		CITY:			ANCHORAGE
		STATE:			AK
		ZIP:			99503
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-09-05</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000808461</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENERAL COMMUNICATION INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GNCMA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001261736</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DIAMOND VENTURES LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE AMERICAN CENTER STE 200</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>600 CONGRESS AVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>AUSTIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>78701</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>See Remarks</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>135367</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>As general partner</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1200</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5259</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pro rata distribution from the Partnership to its limited partners and to the Reporting Person as its general partner for no consideration.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The securities were owned directly by the Partnership and indirectly by the Reporting Person as the sole general partner of the Partnership.  The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of all such securities except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Distribution from the Partnership to the Reporting Person in its capacity as general partner of the Reporting Person for no consideration.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Because the president of the Reporting Person serves as a director of the Issuer, the Reporting Person may be deemed to be a director of the Issuer.  The Reporting Person is the sole general partner of Prime II Investments, L.P. (the &quot;Partnership&quot;).  The Reporting Person, for itself and in its capacity as general partner of the Partnership, does not admit that it has deputized any person to serve as a director on the Board of Directors of the Issuer, and nothing herein shall be deemed an admission of such deputization.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>William Glasgow, President of Diamond Ventures LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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