CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 1,252,469	$ 1,290,939	$ 3,779,300	$ 3,959,891
Operating expenses:
Network access expenses	102,051	119,941	333,053	397,854
Other operating expenses	572,348	571,388	1,663,842	1,729,824
Depreciation and amortization	298,416	351,907	962,763	1,062,150
Integration costs	4,458	67,412	68,204	100,899
Total operating expenses	977,273	1,110,648	3,027,862	3,290,727
Operating income	275,196	180,291	751,438	669,164
Investment income (loss)	323	(666)	12,417	2,624
Losses on early extinguishment of debt	(245)	0	(71,063)	0
Other income (loss), net	4,279	1,502	6,577	7,415
Interest expense	172,188	165,755	509,104	500,034
Income before income taxes	107,365	15,372	190,265	179,169
Income tax expense (benefit)	35,739	(6,948)	66,150	66,809
Net income	71,626	22,320	124,115	112,360
Less: Income attributable to the noncontrolling interest in a partnership	4,626	1,925	12,358	4,993
Net income attributable to common shareholders of Frontier	$ 67,000	$ 20,395	$ 111,757	$ 107,367
Basic and diluted net income per common share attributable to common shareholders of Frontier (in dollars per share)	$ 0.07	$ 0.02	$ 0.11	$ 0.11