Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Capital expenditures anticipated [Abstract]
Range of capital expenditures anticipated for legacy and acquired properties - minimum	$ 750,000,000
Range of capital expenditures anticipated for legacy and acquired properties - maximum	780,000,000
Vermont Joint Owners consortium related commitments and contingencies [Abstract]
Number of utilities forming the Vermont Joint Owners consortium	14
Purchase power obligation (in hundredths)	10.00%
Number of years assumed if members of the consortium remained in default for the duration of the contract (in years)	5Y
Undiscounted purchase obligation if members of the consortium remained in default for the duration of the contract	474,200,000
The Transaction related commitments and contingencies [Abstract]
Phase number to effectuate the closing	1
Phase number to effectuate to complete conversions	2
Number of states converted from the systems of the Acquired Business to our legacy systems	4
Operating expenses anticipated for the full fiscal year related to the Transaction	120,000,000
Operating integration costs related to the Transaction	100,900,000
Capital expenditures anticipated to be incurred for the full fiscal year related to the Transaction	70,000,000
Capital expenditures incurred related to the phase 2 initiatives	62,641,000	77,936,000
Percentage of households in markets served to have broadband availability (in hundredths)	85.00%
Targeted minimum megabits per second in markets acquired by year 2013 (in Mbps)	3
Targeted minimum megabits per second in markets acquired by year 2015 (in Mbps)	4
Number of state regulatory commissions requiring capital investment commitments	3
Associated liability related to the cash in the escrow account	30,700,000
Aggregate amount of cash in escrow accounts for service quality initiatives in the state of West Virginia	72,400,000
Amount of letter of credit obtained for capital investment commitments required by state regulatory commissions	100,000,000		190,000,000
Aggregate amount placed into a cash escrow account for capital investment commitments required by state regulatory commissions			115,000,000
Liability associated with cash in escrow accounts for service quality initiatives in the state of West Virginia	62,800,000
Restricted cash balance held in escrow accounts	161,100,000
Release from the West Virginia escrow	$ 26,600,000