CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 5,011,853	$ 5,243,043	$ 3,797,675
Operating expenses:
Network access expenses	441,588	518,682	383,679
Other operating expenses	2,234,553	2,278,419	1,611,137
Depreciation and amortization	1,266,807	1,403,175	893,719
Acquisition and integration costs	81,737	143,146	137,142
Total operating expenses	4,024,685	4,343,422	3,025,677
Operating income	987,168	899,621	771,998
Investment income	13,011	2,391	6,848
Loss on extinguishment of debt,	(90,363)	0	0
Other income, net	7,121	9,135	13,690
Interest expense	687,985	665,196	521,820
Income before income taxes	228,952	245,951	270,716
Income tax expense	75,638	88,343	114,999
Net income	153,314	157,608	155,717
Less: Income attributable to the noncontrolling interest in a partnership	16,678	7,994	3,044
Net income attributable to common shareholders of Frontier	$ 136,636	$ 149,614	$ 152,673
Basic net income per share attributable to common shareholders of Frontier (in dollars per share)	$ 0.14	$ 0.15	$ 0.23
Diluted net income per share attributable to common shareholders of Frontier (in dollars per share)	$ 0.13	$ 0.15	$ 0.23