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Debt: - Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
Debt: - Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jan. 03, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Aug. 02, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net discount on long-term debt		$ 0.0			$ (28.6)
Unamortized debt issuance costs		0.0			(57.6)
Carrying value		6,099.3			5,728.1
Less current portion		(500.0)			(5,728.1)
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, Debt		(5,599.3)			0.0
Total long-term debt		$ 0.0			$ 0.0
Weighted average interest rate		8.40%			7.10%
Senior secured credit facility, Tranche B6 – variable rates, due March 29, 2021 \| Secured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, percentage		10.50%
Senior notes		$ 1,180.5			$ 1,180.5
Senior secured credit facility, Tranche B7 – variable rates, due February 17, 2024 \| Secured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, percentage		9.75%
Senior notes		$ 568.4			568.4
Senior secured credit facility, Revolving line of credit – variable rates, due April 24, 2020 (b) \| Line of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term line of credit		$ 802.0			1,017.0
Senior First Lien Notes – 8.625%, due October 31, 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, percentage				8.625%
Senior First Lien Notes – 8.625%, due October 31, 2025 \| Unsecured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, percentage		8.625%
Notes payable		$ 600.0			600.0
New 2024 Notes \| Unsecured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, percentage		10.50%				10.50%
Notes payable		$ 414.9			414.9
Senior Second Lien Notes – 9.000%, due June 30, 2025 \| Unsecured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, percentage		9.00%				9.00%
Notes payable		$ 802.0			802.0
2020 Notes – 7.750%, due October 15, 2020 \| Unsecured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, percentage		7.75%
Notes payable		$ 78.1			78.1
2021 Notes – 7.750%, due October 1, 2021 \| Unsecured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, percentage		7.75%
Notes payable		$ 70.1			70.1
2022 Notes – 7.500%, due June 1, 2022 \| Unsecured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, percentage		7.50%
Notes payable		$ 36.2			36.2
2023 Notes – 7.500%, due April 1, 2023 \| Unsecured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, percentage		7.50%
Notes payable		$ 34.4			34.4
2023 Notes – 6.375%, due August 1, 2023 \| Unsecured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, percentage		6.375%
Notes payable		$ 806.9			806.9
2024 Notes – 8.750%, due December 15, 2024 \| Unsecured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, percentage		8.75%
Notes payable		$ 105.8			105.8
Windstream Holdings of the Midwest, Inc. – 6.75%, due April 1, 2028 \| Secured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, percentage		6.75%
Debentures and notes issued by subsidiaries		$ 100.0			100.0
DIP Facilities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, percentage		1.50%
Consumer and Small Business CLEC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments on line of credit	$ 312.0
Superpriority Revolving Credit Facility \| Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debtor-in-Possession Financing, Borrowings Outstanding		$ 0.0
Superpriority Term Loan Facility \| Term Loan Commitments
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debtor-in-Possession Financing, Borrowings Outstanding		$ 500.0	$ 500.0		$ 0.0
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) \| DIP Facilities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, percentage		2.50%
Debt instrument, variable rate		1.00%
Commitment fee percentage for unused capacity		0.50%