Name:	ftr_AggregateAmountOfCashInEscrowAccountsForServiceQualityInitiativesInMarketServed
Namespace Prefix:	ftr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Aggregate amount placed into a cash escrow account for capital investment commitments required by state regulatory commissions.

No definition available.

Name:	ftr_AggregateAmountPlacedIntoCashEscrowAccountForCapitalInvestmentCommitmentsRequiredByStateRegulatoryCommissions
Namespace Prefix:	ftr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Name:	ftr_CapitalExpendituresAnticipatedAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	ftr_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The designation of funds furnished by a borrower to a lender to assure future payments of the borrower's real estate taxes and insurance obligations with respect to a mortgaged property. Escrow deposits may be made for a variety of other purposes such as earnest money and contingent payments. This element represents the escrow deposit for service quality initiatives in the markets served.

No definition available.

Name:	ftr_CashBalanceInEscrowAccountsForServiceQualityInitiativesInMarketServed
Namespace Prefix:	ftr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Letter of Credit, Expired

No definition available.

Name:	ftr_LetterOfCreditExpired
Namespace Prefix:	ftr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of letter of credit obtained for capital investment commitments required by state regulatory commissions as of the reporting period.

No definition available.

Name:	ftr_LetterOfCreditObtainedForCapitalInvestmentCommitmentsRequiredByStateRegulatoryCommissions
Namespace Prefix:	ftr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Minimum lease commitment in years.

No definition available.

Name:	ftr_MinimumLeaseCommitmentInYears
Namespace Prefix:	ftr_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of state regulatory commissions requiring capital investment commitments.

No definition available.

Name:	ftr_NumberOfStateRegulatoryCommissionsRequiringCapitalInvestmentCommitments
Namespace Prefix:	ftr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Number of utilities forming the Vermont Joint Owners consortium with a power purchase agreement with a utility.

No definition available.

Name:	ftr_NumberOfUtilitiesFormingVermontJointOwnersConsortium
Namespace Prefix:	ftr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Number of vehicles accepted by the company for delivery.

No definition available.

Name:	ftr_NumberOfVehiclesAcceptedByCompanyForDelivery
Namespace Prefix:	ftr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Number of years assumed if members of the consortium remained in default for the duration of the contract.

No definition available.

Name:	ftr_NumberOfYearsAssumedIfMembersOfConsortiumRemainedInDefault
Namespace Prefix:	ftr_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage of expected vehicles to be leased under the program (in hundredths).

No definition available.

Name:	ftr_PercentageOfExpectedVehiclesToBeLeasedUnderProgramInHundredths
Namespace Prefix:	ftr_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Percentage of households in markets served to have broadband availability and speeds.

No definition available.

Name:	ftr_PercentageOfHouseholdsInMarketsServedToHaveBroadbandAvailability
Namespace Prefix:	ftr_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Percentage of households throughout the acquired Territories with broadband availability in excess of 3 Mbps.

No definition available.

Name:	ftr_PercentageOfHouseholdsThroughoutAcquiredTerritoriesWithBroadbandAvailabilityInExcessOf3Mbps
Namespace Prefix:	ftr_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Percentage of households throughout the acquired Territories with broadband availability in excess of 4 Mbps.

No definition available.

Name:	ftr_PercentageOfHouseholdsThroughoutAcquiredTerritoriesWithBroadbandAvailabilityInExcessOf4Mbps
Namespace Prefix:	ftr_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Percentage of the entity's pro-rata share of a power purchase obligation of a party in default of its obligation to purchase power.

No definition available.

Name:	ftr_PurchasePowerObligation
Namespace Prefix:	ftr_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Maximum of the range of capital expenditures anticipated for legacy and acquired properties.

No definition available.

Name:	ftr_RangeOfCapitalExpendituresAnticipatedForLegacyAndAcquiredPropertiesMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	ftr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Minimum of the range of capital expenditures anticipated for legacy and acquired properties.

No definition available.

Name:	ftr_RangeOfCapitalExpendituresAnticipatedForLegacyAndAcquiredPropertiesMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	ftr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Targeted minimum megabits per second planned for acquired markets by year 2015.

No definition available.

Name:	ftr_TargetedMinimumMegabitsPerSecondInMarketsAcquiredBy2015
Namespace Prefix:	ftr_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Targeted minimum megabits per second planned for acquired markets by year 2013.

No definition available.

Name:	ftr_TargetedMinimumMegabitsPerSecondInMarketsAcquiredByYear2013
Namespace Prefix:	ftr_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Total annual lease expense for all new vehicles expected.

No definition available.

Name:	ftr_TotalAnnualLeaseExpenseForAllNewVehiclesExpected
Namespace Prefix:	ftr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Undiscounted purchase obligation if members of the consortium remained in default for the duration of the contract.

No definition available.

Name:	ftr_UndiscountedPurchaseObligationIfMembersOfConsortiumRemainedInDefault
Namespace Prefix:	ftr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Name:	ftr_VermontJointOwnersConsortiumRelatedCommitmentsAndContingenciesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	ftr_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The designation of funds furnished by a borrower to a lender to assure future payments of the borrower's real estate taxes and insurance obligations with respect to a mortgaged property. Escrow deposits may be made for a variety of other purposes such as earnest money and contingent payments. This element excludes replacement reserves which are an escrow separately provided for within the US GAAP taxonomy.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.10)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Name:	us-gaap_EscrowDeposit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The net cash inflow or outflow for the increase (decrease) associated with funds that are not available for withdrawal or use (such as funds held in escrow) and are associated with underlying transactions that are classified as operating activities. This may include cash restricted for regulatory purposes.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

Name:	us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCashForOperatingActivities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_LeasesOperatingAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of the recorded unconditional purchase obligation maturing in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 440

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 6

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394976&loc=d3e25383-109308

Name:	us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueInSecondYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of the recorded unconditional purchase obligation maturing in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

Name:	us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueInThirdYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of the recorded unconditional purchase obligation maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

Name:	us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueWithinOneYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant