CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 1,290,939	$ 1,402,968	$ 3,959,891	$ 2,438,954
Operating expenses:
Network access expenses	119,941	136,373	397,854	243,055
Other operating expenses	571,388	614,123	1,729,824	996,797
Depreciation and amortization	351,907	339,894	1,062,150	540,917
Acquisition and integration costs	67,412	78,533	100,899	125,867
Total operating expenses	1,110,648	1,168,923	3,290,727	1,906,636
Operating income	180,291	234,045	669,164	532,318
Investment income (loss)	(666)	397	2,624	6,394
Other income, net	1,502	2,207	7,415	13,497
Interest expense	165,755	166,607	500,034	354,362
Income before income taxes	15,372	70,042	179,169	197,847
Income tax expense (benefit)	(6,948)	40,358	66,809	88,752
Net income	22,320	29,684	112,360	109,095
Less: Income attributable to the noncontrolling interest in a partnership	1,925	689	4,993	2,414
Net income attributable to common shareholders of Frontier	$ 20,395	$ 28,995	$ 107,367	$ 106,681
Basic and diluted net income per common share attributable to common shareholders of Frontier (in dollars per share)	$ 0.02	$ 0.03	$ 0.11	$ 0.18