Supplemental Guarantor Information - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		5 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 200,240	$ 173,634	$ 302,382	$ 563,488
Costs and Expenses:
Interest expense	70,522	66,511	115,307	204,607
Depreciation and amortization	96,723	87,271	151,715	275,448
General and administrative expense	10,191	4,229	7,390	23,619
Operating expense	15,704	5,148	8,889	30,322
Transaction related costs	9,315	804	877	24,435
Total costs and expenses	202,455	163,963	284,178	558,431
(Loss) income before income taxes	(2,215)	9,671	18,204	5,057
Income tax expense	128	268	500	899
Net (loss) income	(2,343)	9,403	17,704	4,158
Comprehensive (loss) income	(4,314)	(33,141)	3,711	(59,353)
Eliminations
Costs and Expenses:
Interest expense	(69,600)	(66,511)	(115,307)	(203,357)
Total costs and expenses	(69,600)	(66,511)	(115,307)	(203,357)
Earnings from consolidated subsidiaries	(141,232)	(153,386)	(268,256)	(423,548)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(71,632)	(86,875)	(152,949)	(220,191)
Net (loss) income	(71,632)	(86,875)	(152,949)	(220,191)
Comprehensive (loss) income	(69,661)	(44,331)	(138,956)	(156,680)
CS&L, Inc.
Costs and Expenses:
Interest expense	67,683	66,511	115,307	200,210
General and administrative expense	1,331	779	1,117	3,461
Transaction related costs	3,945			3,945
Total costs and expenses	72,959	67,290	116,424	207,616
Earnings from consolidated subsidiaries	70,616	76,693	134,128	211,774
(Loss) income before income taxes	(2,343)	9,403	17,704	4,158
Net (loss) income	(2,343)	9,403	17,704	4,158
Comprehensive (loss) income	(4,314)	(33,141)	3,711	(59,353)
CSL Capital, LLC
Costs and Expenses:
Interest expense	69,600	66,511	115,307	203,357
Total costs and expenses	69,600	66,511	115,307	203,357
Earnings from consolidated subsidiaries	70,616	76,693	134,128	211,774
(Loss) income before income taxes	1,016	10,182	18,821	8,417
Net (loss) income	1,016	10,182	18,821	8,417
Comprehensive (loss) income	(854)	(32,362)	4,828	(54,914)
Guarantors
Revenues:
Total revenues	190,513	166,914	291,086	541,086
Costs and Expenses:
Interest expense	2,741			4,312
Depreciation and amortization	72,584	63,257	110,001	206,727
General and administrative expense	8,124	3,450	6,273	19,222
Operating expense	9,791			15,273
Transaction related costs	5,370	804	877	20,490
Total costs and expenses	98,610	67,511	117,151	266,024
(Loss) income before income taxes	91,903	99,403	173,935	275,062
Income tax expense	148	101	195	532
Net (loss) income	91,755	99,302	173,740	274,530
Comprehensive (loss) income	91,755	99,302	173,740	274,530
Non-Guarantors
Revenues:
Total revenues	9,727	6,720	11,296	22,402
Costs and Expenses:
Interest expense	98			85
Depreciation and amortization	24,139	24,014	41,714	68,721
General and administrative expense	736			936
Operating expense	5,913	5,148	8,889	15,049
Total costs and expenses	30,886	29,162	50,603	84,791
(Loss) income before income taxes	(21,159)	(22,442)	(39,307)	(62,389)
Income tax expense	(20)	167	305	367
Net (loss) income	(21,139)	(22,609)	(39,612)	(62,756)
Comprehensive (loss) income	(21,240)	(22,609)	(39,612)	(62,936)
Leasing
Revenues:
Total revenues	169,525	166,959	291,131	507,216
Costs and Expenses:
Depreciation and amortization	86,208	86,307	150,108	257,557
Leasing | Guarantors
Revenues:
Total revenues	168,772	166,914	291,086	505,569
Leasing | Non-Guarantors
Revenues:
Total revenues	753	45	45	1,647
Fiber Infrastructure
Revenues:
Total revenues	25,219			38,995
Costs and Expenses:
Depreciation and amortization	9,701			15,448
Fiber Infrastructure | Guarantors
Revenues:
Total revenues	21,741			35,517
Fiber Infrastructure | Non-Guarantors
Revenues:
Total revenues	3,478			3,478
Consumer CLEC
Revenues:
Total revenues	5,496	6,675	11,251	17,277
Costs and Expenses:
Depreciation and amortization	814	964	1,607	2,443
Consumer CLEC | Non-Guarantors
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 5,496	$ 6,675	$ 11,251	$ 17,277