Supplemental Guarantor Information - Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	8 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash flow from operating activities
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 293,208	$ 375,988
Cash flow from investing activities
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired		(488,788)
Consideration paid to Windstream Services, LLC	(1,035,029)
Acquisition of ground lease investments		(11,543)
Other capital expenditures	(44,413)	(34,900)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,079,442)	(535,231)
Cash flow from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of Term Loans	1,127,000
Principal payment on debt	(10,700)	(22,027)
Dividends paid	(156,854)	(367,830)
Proceeds from issuance of Notes		548,875
Borrowings under revolving credit facility		641,000
Payments under revolving credit facility		(641,000)
Capital lease payments		(1,549)
Deferred financing costs	(30,057)	(20,557)
Common stock issuance, net of costs	(543)	54,213
Net share settlement	(113)	(2,359)
Cash in-lieu of fractional shares	(19)
Net cash provided by financing activities	928,714	188,766
Common stock issuance costs	(543)
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents		(267)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	142,480	29,256
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	18	142,498
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	142,498	171,754
Eliminations
Cash flow from operating activities
Net cash provided by operating activities	(253,362)	(209,769)
Cash flow from financing activities
Intercompany transactions, net	253,362	209,769
Net cash provided by financing activities	253,362	209,769
CS&L, Inc.
Cash flow from operating activities
Net cash provided by operating activities	106,332	(59,076)
Cash flow from investing activities
Consideration paid to Windstream Services, LLC	(1,035,029)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,035,029)
Cash flow from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of Term Loans	1,127,000
Principal payment on debt	(10,700)	(22,027)
Dividends paid	(156,854)	(367,830)
Proceeds from issuance of Notes		548,875
Borrowings under revolving credit facility		641,000
Payments under revolving credit facility		(641,000)
Deferred financing costs	(30,057)	(20,557)
Common stock issuance, net of costs	(543)	54,213
Net share settlement	(113)	(2,359)
Intercompany transactions, net		(111)
Cash in-lieu of fractional shares	(19)
Net cash provided by financing activities	928,714	190,204
Common stock issuance costs	(543)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	17	131,128
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		17
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	17	131,145
Guarantors
Cash flow from operating activities
Net cash provided by operating activities	426,719	626,147
Cash flow from investing activities
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired		(315,494)
Other capital expenditures	(33,178)	(14,567)
Net cash used in investing activities	(33,178)	(330,061)
Cash flow from financing activities
Capital lease payments		(1,357)
Intercompany transactions, net	(253,362)	(402,500)
Net cash provided by financing activities	(253,362)	(403,857)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	140,179	(107,771)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	18	140,197
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	140,197	32,426
Non-Guarantors
Cash flow from operating activities
Net cash provided by operating activities	13,519	18,686
Cash flow from investing activities
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired		(173,294)
Acquisition of ground lease investments		(11,543)
Other capital expenditures	(11,235)	(20,333)
Net cash used in investing activities	(11,235)	(205,170)
Cash flow from financing activities
Capital lease payments		(192)
Intercompany transactions, net		192,842
Net cash provided by financing activities		192,650
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents		(267)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	2,284	5,899
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		2,284
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 2,284	$ 8,183