Document And Entity Information
Note To Financial Statement Details Textual
us-gaap_InterestExpense
Interest expense
Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block]
statementsignificantaccountingpoliciespolicies
us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts
Amortization of deferred financing costs
statementnote3revenuestables
Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]
statementnote4propertyplantandequipmenttables
us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedIncomeTaxesPayable
Income taxes payable
statementnote5goodwillandintangibleassetstables
statementnote6longtermdebttables
statementnote7fairvaluemeasurementstables
statementnote9equitybasedcompensationtables
Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]
statementnote13netincomepersharetables
statementnote3revenuesrevenuesbyproductlinedetails
statementnote4propertyplantandequipmentscheduleofpropertyplantandequipmentdetails
statementnote5goodwillandintangibleassetsintangibleassetsdetails
statementnote6longtermdebtscheduleoflongtermdebtdetails
us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredRevenue
Deferred revenue
statementnote6longtermdebtfuturematuritiesdetails
statementnote7fairvaluemeasurementscarryingamountsandfairvaluesdetails
statementnote9equitybasedcompensationsummaryofrestrictedstockdetails
statementnote9equitybasedcompensationsummaryofstockappreciationrightsdetails
statementnote9equitybasedcompensationstockappreciationrightsfairvalueassumptionsdetails
us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
statementnote13netincomepersharecomputationofbasicanddilutedearningspersharedetails
Gross Carrying Amount
Notes To Financial Statements
Notes To Financial Statements [Abstract]
us-gaap_NumberOfStatesInWhichEntityOperates
Number of States in which Entity Operates
cabo_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
Outstanding, Beginning Balance, weighted average fair value (in dollars per share)
Outstanding, Ending Balance, weighted average fair value (in dollars per share)
The weighted average fair value of outstanding awards on equity-based plans excluding option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, revenue or profit achievement stock award plan) for which the employer is contingently obligated to issue equity instruments or transfer assets to an employee who has not yet satisfied service or performance criteria necessary to gain title to proceeds from the sale of the award or underlying shares or units.
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Stock including a provision that prohibits sale or substantive sale of an equity instrument and share instruments which are convertible to stock or an equivalent amount of cash for a specified period of time or until specified performance conditions are met.
us-gaap_PolicyTextBlockAbstract
Accounting Policies
Useful Life
us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax
Comprehensive income
us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)
us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesOutstanding
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding
Cash and cash equivalents
us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
Postemployment Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]
us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense
us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidExpense
Prepaid assets
us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue
Equity-based compensation
us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount
us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod
Repurchase of common stock
us-gaap_TreasuryStockValue
Treasury Stock, Value
Treasury stock, at cost (174,316 and 46,483 shares held as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)
Revenues
Total revenues
us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable
Accounts receivable, net
us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNet
Revenues
us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Deferred Expense, Compensation and Benefits, Share-based Compensation Cost
us-gaap_OtherSalesRevenueNet
Other
Issuance of common stock under restricted stock unit awards (in shares)
us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardForfeited
Forfeiture of restricted stock (in shares)
Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]
Issuance of common stock under restricted stock unit awards
us-gaap_AdvertisingRevenue
Advertising sales
us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensationGross
Equity-based compensation (in shares)
Base Rate [Member]
Postemployment Benefit Plans, Pre-Spin [Member]
Information pertaining to the pre-spin of the postemployment benefit plans.
Postemployment Benefit Plans, Post-Spin [Member]
Information pertaining to the post-spin of the postemployment benefit plans.
us-gaap_StockGrantedDuringPeriodValueSharebasedCompensationGross
Stock Granted, Value, Share-based Compensation, Gross
us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Defined Contribution Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan [Member]
Information pertaining to the Defined Contribution Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (DC SERP).
cabo_PaymentOfDividendsToParent
Dividends paid to GHC
Cash outflow in the form of capital distributions and dividends to the parent company.
Retained earnings
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Chief Executive Officer [Member]
us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased
Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased
Accrued Compensation and Related Benefits [Member]
Primary financial statement caption encompassing accrued compensation and related benefits.
us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount
us-gaap_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions
Tax Adjustments, Settlements, and Unusual Provisions
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
Money market investments
us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Deferred income taxes
Asset Class [Domain]
Asset Class [Axis]
401 (k) Plan [Member]
Represents 401 (k) Savings Plan
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Equity-based compensation
Other assets
us-gaap_PensionExpense
Pension Expense
Treasury stock, shares (in shares)
Common stock ($0.01 par value; 40,000,000 shares authorized; 5,886,889 and 5,879,925 shares issued, and 5,712,573 and 5,833,442 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)
us-gaap_TableTextBlock
Notes Tables
cabo_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsVestedAndDeferredNumber
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Vested and Deferred, Number
Number of equity instruments other than options that are vested and deferred as of the balance sheet date.
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)
Common Stock, Shares, Issued
Non-employee Directors [Member
Represents information pertaining to non-employee directors.
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)
Commercial Paper [Member]
Amendment Flag
Employees and Non-employee Directors [Member]
Represents information pertaining to employees and non-employee directors.
us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
Depreciation and amortization
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)
us-gaap_Depreciation
Depreciation
us-gaap_AssetsCurrent
Total Current Assets
Other income, net
Spinoff [Member]
Type of Restructuring [Domain]
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Income Tax Authority [Domain]
Current Fiscal Year End Date
Restructuring Type [Axis]
Income Tax Authority [Axis]
us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesIssued
Preferred Stock, Shares Issued
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Document Fiscal Period Focus
Document Fiscal Year Focus
Document Period End Date
Document Type
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Income from operations
Long-term Debt [Member]
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Information [Table]
us-gaap_InterestPaid
Cash paid for interest expense
us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid
Cash paid for income taxes
Entity Filer Category
Entity Current Reporting Status
Other Capitalized Property Plant and Equipment [Member]
Entity Voluntary Filers
Software and Software Development Costs [Member]
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer
Construction in Progress [Member]
Prepaid assets
Furniture and Fixtures [Member]
us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFive
Thereafter
cabo_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantedWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term, Granted
Weighted average remaining contractual term for equity-based awards excluding options granted during the period, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.
us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalRemainderOfFiscalYear
2016
us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour
2019
us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFive
2020
Entity Central Index Key
us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo
2017
Entity Registrant Name
us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree
2018
cabo_CableSystemFranchisePassThroughRevenue
Cable System Franchise Pass Through Revenue
Represents Cable system franchise pass through revenue.
Entity [Domain]
Legal Entity [Axis]
Land [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Axis]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Domain]
Additional paid-in capital
Stockholders' Equity
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Statement [Line Items]
Trading Symbol
AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]
us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent
Accounts receivable, net
us-gaap_Liabilities
Total Liabilities
Commitments and contingencies (see Note 15)
Other comprehensive gain, net of tax
Changes in pension (net of tax)
Current Assets:
us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
Change in cash and cash equivalents
us-gaap_DeferredCompensationLiabilityCurrentAndNoncurrent
Deferred Compensation Liability, Current and Noncurrent
us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations
Net cash provided by operating activities
us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations
Net cash used in investing activities
Other
Type of Adoption [Domain]
Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncements [Axis]
us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
Dividends paid to stockholders
us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock
Repurchase of common stock
us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
Total Stockholders' Equity
Balance
Balance
Retained Earnings [Member]
Treasury Stock [Member]
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses
Total operating costs and expenses
Common Stock [Member]
Equity Components [Axis]
Equity Component [Domain]
Report Date [Axis]
Financial Statement Filing Date [Domain]
Expected dividend yield
Capital lease obligation
Risk-free interest rate
Long-term debt
Long-term Debt
Expected volatility
Other Assets [Member]
Expected term (in years)
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerms
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term, Outstanding
Outstanding, Beginning Balance, aggregate intrinsic value
Outstanding, Ending Balance, aggregate intrinsic value
Senior Credit Facilities
us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts
Payments of debt issuance costs
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
Unvested, restricted stock, weighted avergae grant date fair value (in dollars per share)
Unvested, restricted stock, weighted avergae grant date fair value (in dollars per share)
Granted, restricted stock, weighted avergae grant date fair value (in dollars per share)
Granted, weighted average fair value (in dollars per share)
Vested, restricted stock, weighted avergae grant date fair value (in dollars per share)
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
Unvested, restricted stock (in shares)
Unvested, restricted stock (in shares)
Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]
us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNet
Less unamortized debt issuance costs
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
Income before income taxes
Granted, stock appreciation rights (in shares)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
Vested, restricted stock (in shares)
Equipment [Member]
us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
Payments on long-term debt
Balance Sheet Location [Domain]
Balance Sheet Location [Axis]
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Credit Facility [Domain]
Secured Debt [Member]
Credit Facility [Axis]
us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of issuance costs
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsOutstandingNumber
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Outstanding, Number
Outstanding, Beginning Balance (in shares)
Outstanding, Ending Balance (in shares)
Income Statement Location [Domain]
Income Statement Location [Axis]
Maximum [Member]
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsForfeitures
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Forfeitures
Minimum [Member]
Range [Axis]
Range [Domain]
Franchise Rights [Member]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets, Major Class Name [Domain]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Axis]
Use Rights [Member]
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block]
us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAcceleratedVestingNumber
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Accelerated Vesting, Number
Treasury Stock [Text Block]
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPlanModificationIncrementalCompensationCost
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Plan Modification, Incremental Compensation Cost
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized
us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period
Products and Services [Domain]
Products and Services [Axis]
Plan Name [Axis]
Plan Name [Domain]
us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount
us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfBankOverdrafts
Cash overdraft
us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding
Diluted (in shares)
Weighted average common shares outstanding - Diluted (in shares)
us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition
cabo_ConversionOfHoldingCompanyStockToNewReportingEntityOutstandingNumber
Conversion of Holding Company Stock to new Reporting Entity, Outstanding Number
Represents the total number of outstanding shares of the holding company that were converted into the new reporting entity in the spinoff.
us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedShareBasedAwardsOtherThanOptions
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Not yet Recognized, Share-based Awards Other than Options
Graham Holding Company [Member]
Represents the Graham holding company.
Award Type [Axis]
Equity Award [Domain]
Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2022 [Member]
Represents the senior unsecured notes due 2022.
us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Tax Benefit from Compensation Expense
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Axis]
us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted
Diluted (in dollars per share)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Major Class Name [Domain]
Scenario, Unspecified [Domain]
us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic
Basic (in shares)
Scenario [Axis]
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]
us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic
Basic (in dollars per share)
JPMorgan Chase Bank [Member]
Represents the legal entity, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
Senior Credit Facilities Due 2020 [Member]
Represents the senior credit facility due in 2020.
Statement [Table]
cabo_CreditFacilityMaximumAdditionalAmountAllowable
Credit Facility, Maximum Additional Amount Allowable
Represents the maximum amount of additional credit facilities the company can seek per the covenants in the current credit facility.
The 2015 Plan [Member]
Represents the 2015 equity-based compensation plan.
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]
cabo_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardMaximumNumberOfSharesAuthorizedForIncentiveStockOptions
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Maximum Number of Shares Authorized for Incentive Stock Options
Represents the Maximum number of shares authorized for the incentive stock options for the equity based compensation plan.
Other liabilities
Income Statement [Abstract]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Deferred income taxes
us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualDistributionsPaid
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Distributions Paid
us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualRecordedLiability
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Recorded Liability
us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualMaximumContractualTerm1
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Maximum Contractual Term
Letter of Credit [Member]
Title of Individual [Axis]
Relationship to Entity [Domain]
Schedule of Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Table Text Block]
Accrued compensation and related benefits
cabo_GainLossOnDispositionOfCableSystem
Gain on sale of cable system
Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of cable systems.
us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
Total debt
Proceeds from sale of cable system
The cash inflow from the sale of a cable system.
cabo_PaymentsToAcquireCableSystem
Acquisition of cable system
The cash outflow for purchase of cable system.
Senior Unsecured Notes
Dividends [Domain]
Provision for income taxes
Dividends [Axis]
Vested and exercisable (in shares)
Number of equity instruments other than options vested and exercisable.
Vested and exercisable, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)
Weighted average price at which grantees can acquire the shares vested and exercisable under the equity-based plans excluding option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, revenue or profit achievement stock award plan).
Vested and exercisable, weighted average fair value (in dollars per share)
The weighted average fair value of vested and exercisable awards on equity-based plans excluding option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, revenue or profit achievement stock award plan).
Vested and exercisable, aggregate intrinsic value
Intrinsic value of equity-based compensation awards vested and exercisable. Excludes stock and unit options.
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term, Vested and exercisable
Weighted average remaining contractual term for equity-based awards vested and exercisable, excluding options, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.
us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent
Total Current Liabilities
Common Class A [Member]
us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm
Debt Instrument, Term
Common Class B [Member]
Class of Stock [Axis]
Class of Stock [Domain]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]
Deferred revenue
Long-term debt - current portion
Less current portion long-term debt
cabo_DeferredCompensationArrangementCompensationExpenseIncome
Deferred Compensation Arrangement, Compensation Expense (Income)
Amount of expense (income) on deferred compensation arrangement during the period.
Multiemployer Plans, Postretirement Benefit [Member]
Multiemployer Plan Type [Axis]
Multiemployer Plans Type [Domain]
Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt [Table Text Block]
us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerDiscretionaryContributionAmount
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Discretionary Contribution Amount
Notes [Member]
Represents notes payable.
Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block]
Term Loan [Member]
Represents term loan.
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units Activity [Table Text Block]
us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Appreciation Rights Award Activity [Table Text Block]
us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized
Defined Contribution Plan Name [Domain]
us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage
us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage
Defined Contribution Plan Name [Axis]
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Debt Instrument, Face Amount
Income taxes payable
us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsIncurred
Equipment financed with capital lease
Non-cash investing and financing activity:
us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment
Supplemental cash flow disclosures:
us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
Long-term debt, including current portion
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Axis]
Debt Instrument, Name [Domain]
Variable Rate [Axis]
Variable Rate [Domain]
Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table Text Block]
Business Description and Basis of Presentation [Text Block]
Liability Class [Axis]
Fair Value by Liability Class [Domain]
us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
Capital expenditures
us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment
Net loss on sales of property, plant and equipment
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Table Text Block]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Axis]
Defined Benefit Plan and Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Domain]
Current Liabilities:
cabo_NumberOfCustomers
Number of Customers
Represents the number of customers.
Video [Member]
Represents information about video services or groups of similar services that are sold by the entity.
us-gaap_Assets
Total Assets
Data [Member]
Represents information about data services or groups of similar services that are sold by the entity.
Voice [Member]
Represents information about voice services or groups of similar services that are sold by the entity.
Revenue Disclosure [Text Block]
Represents the entire disclosure of revenue by reporting categories and amounts of significant changes that occurred during the reporting period.
cabo_ChangeInAccruedExpensesRelatedToCapitalExpenditures
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures
The cash outflow from the change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures.
December 31, 2015 [Member]
Date the financial statement was made available and submitted.
Current Assets [Member]
Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are expected to be realized in cash, sold, or consumed within one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer). Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.
Long-term Debt [Text Block]
Reclassification of Deferred Financing Costs [Member]
Description of new accounting pronouncement.
Commercial [Member]
Represents information about the commercial subscribers.
Effect of dilutive equity awards (1) (in shares)
Building and Leasehold Improvements[Member]
Represents information about the facility held for productive use including, but not limited to, office, production, storage and distribution facilities and also, additions or improvements to assets held under a lease arrangement.
Related Party Transactions Disclosure and Parent Company Equity [Text Block]
The entire disclosure for related party transactions and parent company equity.
cabo_AllocationOfOverheadAndOtherExpensesFromParent
Allocation of Overhead and Other Expenses from Parent
Represents information about the allocation of overhead and other expenses from the Parent to the Company.
cabo_AnnualRetainer
Annual Retainer
Retainer amount paid each year to non-employee director under Director Compensation Program.
us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
Goodwill, Impairment Loss
us-gaap_SharesIssued
Balance (in shares)
Balance (in shares)
cabo_AdditionalAnnualRetainer
Additional Annual Retainer
Additional retainer amount paid each year to non-employee director under Director Compensation Program.
Dividends Paid to Shareholders [Member]
Represents dividends paid to shareholders.
us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercentage
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage
Depreciation and amortization
cabo_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Granted, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)
Weighted average per share amount at which grantees can acquire shares of common stock by exercise of other than stock (or unit) options (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).
cabo_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Outstanding, Beginning Balance, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)
Outstanding, Ending Balance, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)
Weighted average price at which grantees can acquire the shares reserved for issuance under the equity-based plans excluding option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, revenue or profit achievement stock award plan).
us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity
Multiemployer Plans, Savings [Member]
Savings plan to which two or more unrelated employers contribute where assets contributed by one participating employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.
Intangibles, net
Money Market Funds [Member]
Accumulated Amortization
Defined Benefit Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan [Member]
Information by Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan.
Net Carrying Amount
us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
Gross Carrying Amount
us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Net income
Net income
Lender Name [Axis]
Line of Credit Facility, Lender [Domain]
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) [Member]
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedBenefitObligation
Defined Benefit Plan, Accumulated Benefit Obligation
Goodwill
Goodwill
us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Less accumulated depreciation
Restricted Stock [Member]
Property, plant and equipment, net
Property, plant and equipment, net
cabo_DefinedContributionPlanBenefitObligation
Defined Contribution Plan, Benefit Obligation
The projected benefit obligation for a defined contribution plan.
Property, plant and equipment gross
Revenue from External Customers by Products and Services [Table Text Block]
Selling, general and administrative
us-gaap_Dividends
Dividends
us-gaap_DisclosureTextBlockAbstract
Notes to Financial Statements
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Cash flows from investing activities:
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Earnings Per Share [Text Block]
Operating (excluding depreciation and amortization)
Represents the total amount of operating costs and expenses excluding depreciation and amortization expenses.
us-gaap_PriorPeriodReclassificationAdjustment
Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment
cabo_ProceedsFromPaymentsToParent
Net transfers to GHC
The net cash inflow or outflow from parent.
Net income per common share:
us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet
Other assets and other liabilities, net
Costs and expenses