Leases - Additional Information (Details)				12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 18, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 18, 2018 Lease	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Leases [Line Items]
Lessor, operating lease, existence of option to extend [true false]				true
Lessor, lease option to extend, description				options to extend or renew the leases for less than one year to 20 years
Lessor, operating lease, existence of option to terminate [true false]				true
Lessor, lease option to terminate, description				options to terminate the leases within one to six months
Lessee, operating lease, existence of option to extend [true false]				true
Lessee, lease option to extend, description				options to extend or renew the leases for less than one year to 20 years
Lessee, operating lease, existence of option to terminate [true false]				true
Lessee, option to terminate, description				options to terminate the leases within one to six months
Short term lease commitments				$ 2,000,000.0
Number of master leases | Lease			2
New lease, aggregate reimbursements made for certain growth capital improvements				110,900,000
Subsequent Event
Leases [Line Items]
New lease, aggregate reimbursements made for certain growth capital improvements	$ 26,200,000
Windstream
Leases [Line Items]
Lessor, initial lease term		19 years
New lease, aggregate reimbursements made for certain growth capital improvements				84,700,000
Growth Capital Improvements will exclude maintenance or repair expenditures except for costs incurred for fiber replacements to CLEC MLA leased property		$ 70,000,000
Future annual commitment payments for agreements due year two through five		225,000,000
Future annual commitment payments for agreements due year six		175,000,000
Future annual commitment payments for agreements due year seven		175,000,000
Future annual commitment payments for agreements due year eight through ten		125,000,000
Cumulative growth capital improvements annual reimbursement commitment amount limit in subsequent period		$ 250,000,000
Annual rent adjustment for Growth Capital Funding		8.00%
Rate used for rent percentage		100.50%
Windstream | Other Assets
Leases [Line Items]
Lease incentive				1,000,000.0
ILEC MLA
Leases [Line Items]
Lease expiration date			Apr. 30, 2030
CLEC MLA
Leases [Line Items]
Lease expiration date			Apr. 30, 2030
CLEC MLA | Windstream
Leases [Line Items]
Maximum funding rights allocated per year upon transfer of interests under Windstream lease		$ 20,000,000
Equipment Loan Agreement | Windstream
Leases [Line Items]
New lease, aggregate reimbursements made for certain growth capital improvements				$ 25,000,000
Accrued interest rate for borrowing				8.00%
Windstream lease, aggregate reimbursements made for certain growth capital improvements, loan amount				$ 0
Minimum
Leases [Line Items]
Lessor, initial lease term				1 year
Lessor, lease renewal term				1 year
Lessor operating lease, termination				1 month
Lessee, initial lease term				1 year
Lessee, lease renewal term				1 year
Lessee, lease option to terminate, description				1 month
Minimum | Windstream
Leases [Line Items]
Total leverage ratio				300.00%
Minimum | Windstream | Pro Forma
Leases [Line Items]
Total leverage ratio				350.00%
Maximum
Leases [Line Items]
Lessor, initial lease term				35 years
Lessor, lease renewal term				20 years
Lessor operating lease, termination				6 months
Lessee, initial lease term				30 years
Lessee, lease renewal term				20 years
Lessee, lease option to terminate, description				6 months
Total leverage ratio				650.00%
Maximum | Windstream
Leases [Line Items]
New lease, aggregate reimbursements made for certain growth capital improvements		$ 1,750,000,000		$ 1,750,000,000
Maximum | Windstream | Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility
Leases [Line Items]
Issuance senior notes, stated percentage				750,000,000
Maximum | Equipment Loan Agreement | Windstream
Leases [Line Items]
New lease, aggregate reimbursements made for certain growth capital improvements				$ 125,000,000