CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net income	$ 153,314	$ 157,608	$ 155,717
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	1,266,807	1,403,175	893,719
Stock based compensation expense	16,775	14,209	14,473
Pension/OPEB costs	28,087	23,897	40,050
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	90,363	0	0
Other non-cash adjustments	10,319	(28,036)	10,072
Deferred income taxes	80,501	87,411	85,432
Change in accounts receivable	43,813	(72,600)	(33,146)
Change in accounts payable and other liabilities	(148,906)	(84,689)	106,433
Change in prepaid expenses, income taxes and other current assets	11,400	71,706	(50,570)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,552,473	1,572,681	1,222,180
Cash flows provided from (used by) investing activities:
Capital expenditures - Business operations	(748,407)	(748,361)	(480,888)
Capital expenditures - Integration activities	(54,097)	(76,478)	(96,991)
Network expansion funded by Connect America Fund	(4,830)	0	0
Grant funds received for network expansion from Connect America Fund	65,981	0	0
Cash transferred from (to) escrow	102,020	43,012	(115,000)
Cash paid for the Acquired Business (net of cash acquired)	0	0	(82,560)
Other assets purchased and distributions received, net	4,394	19,155	1,484
Net cash used by investing activities	(634,939)	(762,672)	(773,955)
Cash flows provided from (used by) financing activities:
Long-term debt borrowings	1,360,625	575,000	0
Financing costs paid	(27,852)	(5,444)	(12,868)
Long-term debt payments	(756,953)	(552,394)	(7,236)
Premium paid to retire debt	(72,290)	0	0
Dividends paid	(399,390)	(746,387)	(529,389)
Repayment of customer advances for construction, distributions to noncontrolling interests and other	(21,236)	(5,953)	(6,162)
Net cash (used by) financing activities	82,904	(735,178)	(555,655)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,000,438	74,831	(107,430)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning balance	326,094	251,263	358,693
Cash and cash equivalents, ending balance	1,326,532	326,094	251,263
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest	636,485	653,500	511,354
Income taxes (refunds)	4,715	(33,072)	19,885
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Capital lease obligations	26,596	0	0
Financing obligation for contribution of real property to pension plan	0	58,100	0
Reduction of pension obligation	0	(58,100)	0
Shares issued for the Acquired Business	0	0	5,217,899
Assumed debt	0	0	3,456,782
Other acquired liabilities	0	0	987,510
Increase (decrease) in capital expenditures due to changes in accounts payable	$ 9,802	$ 1,338	$ (43,978)