Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Components of property, plant and equipment

The components of property, plant and equipment at December 31, 2012 and 2011 are as follows:

	Estimated
($ in thousands)	Useful Lives		2012			2011
Land		N/A	$	126,483		$	128,855
Buildings and leasehold improvements	41 years			1,052,650			1,050,555
General support	5 to 17 years			988,707			914,777
Central office/electronic circuit equipment	5 to 11 years			4,965,099			4,582,296
Poles	49 years			507,922			471,561
Cable and wire	15 to 30 years			6,038,835			5,727,310
Conduit	60 years			354,777			342,868
Other	12 to 30 years			44,802			35,534
Construction work in progress				274,488			384,380
Property, plant and equipment				14,353,763			13,638,136
Less: Accumulated depreciation				(6,848,867	)		(6,090,613	)
Property, plant and equipment, net			$	7,504,896		$	7,547,523