Goodwill and Other Intangibles (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill	$ 6,337,719,000		$ 6,337,719,000
Other Intangibles:
Other intangibles	2,938,067,000		2,937,717,000
Less: Accumulated amortization	(1,120,166,000)		(973,212,000)
Total other intangibles, net	1,817,901,000		1,964,505,000
Amortization expense	147,000,000	132,200,000
Acquisition of defined assets and liabilities of Verizon Communications Inc. [Member]
Other Intangibles:
Estimated fair value of intangible assets acquired in the Transaction	2,500,000,000
Acquisition of defined assets and liabilities of Verizon Communications Inc. [Member] | Residential customer list [Member]
Other Intangibles:
Estimated useful life (in years)	9
Acquisition of defined assets and liabilities of Verizon Communications Inc. [Member] | Business customer list [Member]
Other Intangibles:
Estimated useful life (in years)	12
Customer base [Member]
Other Intangibles:
Other intangibles	2,697,763,000		2,697,413,000
Customer base [Member] | Acquisition of defined assets and liabilities of Verizon Communications Inc. [Member]
Other Intangibles:
Amortization expense	136,500,000	118,100,000
Software licenses [Member]
Other Intangibles:
Other intangibles	105,019,000		105,019,000
Trade name and license [Member]
Other Intangibles:
Other intangibles	135,285,000		135,285,000
Customer base and trade name [Member] | Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, INC (Commonwealth) [Member]
Other Intangibles:
Amortization expense	$ 10,500,000	$ 14,100,000