Commitments And Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014 entity state	Jun. 30, 2014 entity state	Dec. 31, 2010
Acquisition and integration costs	$ 19,851,000	$ 30,447,000
Acquisition costs		1,600,000
Integration costs		28,800,000
Capital Expenditures Integration Activities		41,575,000
Regulatory Commitments [Abstract]
Percentage of households to have broadband availability and speeds of 3 Mbps by year 2013 (in hundredths)	85.00%	85.00%
Targeted minimum megabits per second in markets acquired by year 2013 (in Mbps)	3	3
Targeted minimum megabits per second in markets acquired by year 2015 (in Mbps)	4	4
Percentage of households to have broadband availability and speeds of 4 Mbps by year 2013	75.00%
Percentage of households to have broadband availability and speeds of 4 Mbps by year 2014	80.00%
Percentage of households to have broadband availability and speeds of 4 Mbps by year 2015	85.00%
Percentage of households throughout acquired Territories with broadband availability in excess of 4 Mbps (in hundredths)	83.90%	83.90%
Number of state regulatory commissions requiring capital investment commitments	3	3
Aggregate amount placed into a cash escrow account for capital investment commitments required by state regulatory commissions			115,000,000
Amount of letter of credit obtained for capital investment commitments required by state regulatory commissions			190,000,000
Aggregate amount of cash in escrow accounts for service quality initiatives in the state of West Virginia			72,400,000
Amount released from escrow	184,500,000
Escrow Deposit	3,200,000	3,200,000
Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Abstract]
Commitment under the arrangement in 2014	145,500,000	145,500,000
Commitment under the arrangement in 2015	140,800,000	140,800,000
Vermont Joint Owners Consortium [Abstract]
Number of utilities forming the Vermont Joint Owners consortium	14	14
Purchase power obligation (in hundredths)	10.00%	10.00%
Number of years assumed if members of the consortium remained in default for the duration of the contract	2 years
Undiscounted purchase obligation if members of the consortium remained in default for the duration of the contract	287,400,000	287,400,000
Minimum [Member]
Estimated Future Capital Expenditures For Business Operations	575,000,000
Estimated Future Operating And Capital Expenditures For Acquired Business	225,000,000
Maximum [Member]
Estimated Future Capital Expenditures For Business Operations	625,000,000
Estimated Future Operating And Capital Expenditures For Acquired Business	$ 275,000,000