Commitments And Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014 state entity	Sep. 30, 2014 state entity	Dec. 31, 2010
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]
Acquisition and integration costs	$ 41,611,000	$ 72,058,000
Acquisition costs		2,900,000
Integration costs		69,200,000
Capital Expenditures Integration Activities		82,251,000
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)	84.20%	84.20%
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
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

Acquisition-related costs and integration costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Acquisition costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees. Integration costs could include business integration costs, systems integration and conversion costs, and severance and other employee-related costs.

No definition available.