CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net income	$ 124,115	$ 112,360
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	962,763	1,062,150
Stock based compensation expense	12,950	10,729
Pension/OPEB costs	24,220	22,515
Losses on early extinguishment of debt	71,063	0
Other non-cash adjustments	7,040	(3,320)
Deferred income taxes	59,794	20,219
Change in accounts receivable	19,941	16,162
Change in accounts payable and other liabilities	(131,027)	(36,458)
Change in prepaid expenses, income taxes and other current assets	9,426	68,297
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,160,285	1,272,654
Cash flows provided from (used by) investing activities:
Capital expenditures - Business operations	(571,107)	(636,569)
Capital expenditures - Integration activities	(38,768)	(62,641)
Network expansion funded by Connect America Fund	(854)	0
Grant funds received for network expansion from Connect America Fund	47,986	0
Cash transferred from escrow	47,356	26,586
Other assets purchased and distributions received, net	(12,251)	(4,350)
Net cash used by investing activities	(527,638)	(676,974)
Cash flows provided from (used by) financing activities:
Long-term debt borrowings	1,100,000	0
Financing costs paid	(22,754)	0
Long-term debt payments	(571,472)	(78,990)
Premium paid to retire debt	(52,560)	0
Dividends paid	(299,547)	(559,803)
Repayment of customer advances for construction, distributions to noncontrolling interests and other	(12,919)	(2,333)
Net cash provided from (used by) financing activities	140,748	(641,126)
Increase/(Decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	773,395	(45,446)
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1,	326,094	251,263
Cash and cash equivalents at September 30,	1,099,489	205,817
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest	445,121	447,645
Income taxes (refunds)	4,093	(16,247)
Non-cash investing and financing activites:
Financing obligation for contribution of real property to pension plan	0	58,100
Reduction of pension obligation	$ 0	$ (58,100)