Property and Equipment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified							9 Months Ended				9 Months Ended				9 Months Ended				9 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Land	Dec. 31, 2012 Land	Sep. 30, 2013 Buildings and improvements	Dec. 31, 2012 Buildings and improvements	Sep. 30, 2013 Buildings and improvements Minimum	Sep. 30, 2013 Buildings and improvements Maximum	Sep. 30, 2013 Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other	Dec. 31, 2012 Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other	Sep. 30, 2013 Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other Minimum	Sep. 30, 2013 Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other Maximum	Sep. 30, 2013 Customer rental equipment	Dec. 31, 2012 Customer rental equipment	Sep. 30, 2013 Customer rental equipment Minimum	Sep. 30, 2013 Customer rental equipment Maximum	Sep. 30, 2013 Satellites - owned	Dec. 31, 2012 Satellites - owned	Sep. 30, 2013 Satellites - owned Minimum	Sep. 30, 2013 Satellites - owned Maximum	Sep. 30, 2013 Satellites acquired under capital leases	Dec. 31, 2012 Satellites acquired under capital leases	Sep. 30, 2013 Satellites acquired under capital leases Minimum	Sep. 30, 2013 Satellites acquired under capital leases Maximum	Sep. 30, 2013 Construction in progress	Dec. 31, 2012 Construction in progress
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 4,939,987	$ 4,873,983	$ 42,849	$ 42,312	$ 375,322	$ 363,338			$ 1,146,020	$ 1,064,071			$ 338,181	$ 251,708			$ 1,949,040	$ 1,762,264			$ 935,104	$ 935,104			$ 153,471	$ 455,186
Accumulated depreciation	(2,410,412)	(2,261,699)
Property and equipment, net	$ 2,529,575	$ 2,612,284
Depreciable Life							1 year	40 years			1 year	12 years			1 year	5 years			10 years	15 years			10 years	15 years