Supplemental Guarantor Information - Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Cash flow from operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 128,202	$ 121,701
Cash flow from investing activities
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	248	111
Acquisition of ground lease investments	(7,191)	(1,347)
NMS asset acquisition (Note 3)	(64,622)
Capital expenditures	(14,931)	(77)
Net cash used in investing activities	(86,496)	(1,313)
Cash flow from financing activities
Principal payment on debt	(5,270)	(6,044)
Dividends paid	(94,133)	(90,314)
Borrowings under revolving credit facility	25,000
Payments under revolving credit facility	(25,000)
Capital lease payments	(672)
Deferred financing costs	(24,418)
Common stock issuance, net of costs	(54)
Payments of contingent consideration	(18,791)
Net share settlement	(1,690)	(1,266)
Net cash used in financing activities	(145,028)	(97,624)
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	294	78
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(103,028)	22,842
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	171,754	142,498
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	68,726	165,340
Eliminations
Cash flow from operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(76,498)	(130,695)
Cash flow from financing activities
Intercompany transactions, net	76,498	130,695
Net cash used in financing activities	76,498	130,695
Uniti, Inc.
Cash flow from operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	49,390	97,665
Cash flow from financing activities
Principal payment on debt	(5,270)	(6,044)
Dividends paid	(94,133)	(90,314)
Borrowings under revolving credit facility	25,000
Payments under revolving credit facility	(25,000)
Deferred financing costs	(24,418)
Common stock issuance, net of costs	(54)
Payments of contingent consideration	(18,791)
Net share settlement	(1,690)	(1,266)
Net cash used in financing activities	(144,356)	(97,624)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(94,966)	41
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	131,145	17
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	36,179	58
Guarantors
Cash flow from operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	150,115	153,550
Cash flow from investing activities
Acquisition of ground lease investments	(7,191)	(1,347)
Capital expenditures	(5,641)	(77)
Net cash used in investing activities	(12,832)	(1,424)
Cash flow from financing activities
Capital lease payments	(520)
Intercompany transactions, net	(153,410)	(132,165)
Net cash used in financing activities	(153,930)	(132,165)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(16,647)	19,961
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	32,426	140,197
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	15,779	160,158
Non-Guarantors
Cash flow from operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	5,195	1,181
Cash flow from investing activities
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	248	111
NMS asset acquisition (Note 3)	(64,622)
Capital expenditures	(9,290)
Net cash used in investing activities	(73,664)	111
Cash flow from financing activities
Capital lease payments	(152)
Intercompany transactions, net	76,912	1,470
Net cash used in financing activities	76,760	1,470
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	294	78
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	8,585	2,840
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	8,183	2,284
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 16,768	$ 5,124