Trade Accounts Receivable (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Trade Accounts Receivable
Total trade accounts receivable	$ 167,206,000us-gaap_AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent	$ 177,420,000us-gaap_AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(13,796,000)	(14,188,000)
Trade accounts receivable - DISH Network	275,209,000	251,669,000
Total trade accounts receivable, net	428,619,000us-gaap_ReceivablesNetCurrent	414,901,000us-gaap_ReceivablesNetCurrent
Progress billings offset against contracts in process	2,900,000us-gaap_BilledContractReceivables	2,500,000us-gaap_BilledContractReceivables
Trade accounts receivables
Trade Accounts Receivable
Total trade accounts receivable	142,706,000	160,886,000
Contracts in process, net
Trade Accounts Receivable
Total trade accounts receivable	$ 24,500,000	$ 16,534,000

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Amounts due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer) for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business.

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Amount of receivables arising from transactions with related parties due within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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- Definition

A valuation allowance for trade and other receivables due to an Entity within one year (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer) that are expected to be uncollectible.

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Amounts due for billed services rendered or to be rendered, actions taken or to be taken, or a promise to refrain from taking certain actions in accordance with the terms of a legally binding agreement between the Company and, at a minimum, one other party. An example would be amounts billed to customers under contracts or programs but not paid as of the balance sheet date.

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The total amount due to the entity within one year of the balance sheet date (or one operating cycle, if longer) from outside sources, including trade accounts receivable, notes and loans receivable, as well as any other types of receivables, net of allowances established for the purpose of reducing such receivables to an amount that approximates their net realizable value.

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