Significant Contractual Relationship	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Significant Contractual Relationship [Abstract]
Significant Contractual Relationship	Note 7. Significant Contractual Relationship In 1999, the Company executed a Management Agreement (the "Agreement") with Sprint Nextel whereby the Company committed to construct and operate a PCS network using CDMA air interface technology. Under the Agreement, the Company was the exclusive PCS Affiliate of Sprint Nextel providing wireless mobility communications network products and services on the 1900 MHz band in its territory which extends from Altoona, York and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and south along the Interstate 81 corridor through Western Maryland, the panhandle of West Virginia, to Harrisonburg, Virginia. The Company is authorized to use the Sprint brand in its territory, and operate its network under Sprint Nextel radio spectrum licenses. As an exclusive PCS Affiliate of Sprint Nextel, the Company has the exclusive right to build, own and maintain its portion of Sprint Nextel's nationwide PCS network, in the aforementioned areas, to Sprint Nextel's specifications. The initial term of the Agreement was for 20 years and was automatically renewable for three 10-year options, unless terminated by either party under provisions outlined in the Agreement. The Agreement has been amended numerous times, most recently during 2012. Upon non-renewal by either party, the Company has either the right or the obligation to sell the business at 80% of "Entire Business Value" ("EBV") as defined in the Agreement. EBV is defined as i) the fair market value of a going concern paid by a willing buyer to a willing seller; ii) valued as if the business will continue to utilize existing brands and operate under existing agreements; and, iii) valued as if Manager (Shentel) owns the spectrum. Determination of EBV is made by an independent appraisal process. Under the Sprint Nextel agreements, Sprint Nextel provides the Company significant support services such as customer service, billing, collections, long distance, national network operations support, inventory logistics support, use of the Sprint Nextel brand names, national advertising, national distribution and product development. Cost of equipment transactions between the Company and Sprint Nextel relate to inventory purchased and subsidized costs of handsets. These costs also included transactions related to subsidized costs on handsets and commissions paid to Sprint Nextel for sales of handsets through Sprint Nextel's national distribution programs. In 2007, the Company and Sprint Nextel amended the Management Agreement to simplify the method that the companies used to settle certain postpaid revenues and expenses between them. The revenues and expenses for 2006 were used as the basis for the calculation. For 2006, the ratio of net expense due Sprint Nextel for each net revenue dollar (net of credits and bad debt) generated by the Company's wireless customers was 8.8%, known as the Net Service Fee. The Net Service Fee percentage was applied to future net revenues to compensate Sprint Nextel for the net expenses due. The amendment allowed either party to annually request a review of the Net Service Fee, with the percentage needing to change by 100 basis points or more in either direction before there would be a change in the Net Service Fee, with the maximum Net Service Fee not exceeding 12%. In the second quarter of 2010, Sprint Nextel for the first time exercised their option to review the postpaid Net Service Fee percentage, and effective June 2010, the Net Service Fee increased to 12%, the maximum then allowed by contract. On July 8, 2010, the Company acquired the right to receive a share of revenues from approximately 50,000 Virgin Mobile customers in our service area, and effective July 11, 2010, the Company began selling Virgin Mobile and Boost prepaid products and services in its PCS network coverage area. Prepaid revenues received from Sprint Nextel are reported gross of expenses passed through from Sprint Nextel. The Company pays handset subsidies to Sprint Nextel for the difference between the selling price of handsets and their cost, in the aggregate and as a net cost. Many of the revenue and expense components reported to us by Sprint Nextel are based on Sprint Nextel's national averages for prepaid services, rather than being specifically determined by customers homed in our geographic service areas. In December 2012, Sprint Nextel paid the Company $11.8 million to reimburse the Company for handset subsidies and other costs per gross add that had been calculated incorrectly by Sprint Nextel from inception of the prepaid program through September 30, 2012. The Company recognizes amortization on the $6.9 million capitalized purchase price of the acquired subscriber base for the 50,000 acquired Virgin Mobile subscribers. The amortization of the acquired subscriber base will approximate the life of the customers acquired, gradually decreasing over the expected four year life of this asset. On February 1, 2012, the Company signed Addendum XII to its Affiliate Agreement with Sprint Nextel that paved the way to building a 4G LTE network in the Company's service area. The Company is mirroring Sprint's Network Vision architecture using Alcatel Lucent equipment. During 2012, the Company upgraded 224 cell sites to the new technology, and all remaining sites are expected to be upgraded during 2013. In addition to adding 4G services to the Company's network, the Addendum gives the Company access to additional 1900 and 800 MHz spectrum, extends the initial term of the contract five years from 2019 to 2024 and increases the cap on the Net Service Fee from 12% to 14% on July 1, 2013. The Company's PCS subsidiary is dependent upon Sprint Nextel's ability to execute certain functions such as billing, customer care, collections and other operating activities under the Company's agreements with Sprint Nextel. Due to the high degree of integration within many of the Sprint Nextel systems, and the Company's dependency on these systems, in many cases it would be difficult for the Company to perform these services in-house or to outsource the services to another provider. If Sprint Nextel is unable to perform any such service, the change could result in increased operating expenses and have an adverse impact on the Company's operating results and cash flow. In addition, the Company's ability to attract and maintain a sufficient customer base is critical to generating positive cash flow from operations and profits for its PCS operation. Changes in technology, increased competition, or economic conditions in the wireless industry or the economy in general, individually and/or collectively, could have an adverse effect on the Company's financial position and results of operations. The Sprint Nextel agreements require the Company to maintain certain minimum network performance standards and to meet other performance requirements. The Company was in compliance in all material respects with these requirements as of December 31, 2012.

Note 7. Significant Contractual Relationship

In 1999, the Company executed a Management Agreement (the "Agreement") with Sprint Nextel whereby the Company committed to construct and operate a PCS network using CDMA air interface technology. Under the Agreement, the Company was the exclusive PCS Affiliate of Sprint Nextel providing wireless mobility communications network products and services on the 1900 MHz band in its territory which extends from Altoona, York and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and south along the Interstate 81 corridor through Western Maryland, the panhandle of West Virginia, to Harrisonburg, Virginia. The Company is authorized to use the Sprint brand in its territory, and operate its network under Sprint Nextel radio spectrum licenses. As an exclusive PCS Affiliate of Sprint Nextel, the Company has the exclusive right to build, own and maintain its portion of Sprint Nextel's nationwide PCS network, in the aforementioned areas, to Sprint Nextel's specifications. The initial term of the Agreement was for 20 years and was automatically renewable for three 10-year options, unless terminated by either party under provisions outlined in the Agreement. The Agreement has been amended numerous times, most recently during 2012. Upon non-renewal by either party, the Company has either the right or the obligation to sell the business at 80% of "Entire Business Value" ("EBV") as defined in the Agreement. EBV is defined as i) the fair market value of a going concern paid by a willing buyer to a willing seller; ii) valued as if the business will continue to utilize existing brands and operate under existing agreements; and, iii) valued as if Manager (Shentel) owns the spectrum. Determination of EBV is made by an independent appraisal process.

Under the Sprint Nextel agreements, Sprint Nextel provides the Company significant support services such as customer service, billing, collections, long distance, national network operations support, inventory logistics support, use of the Sprint Nextel brand names, national advertising, national distribution and product development. Cost of equipment transactions between the Company and Sprint Nextel relate to inventory purchased and subsidized costs of handsets. These costs also included transactions related to subsidized costs on handsets and commissions paid to Sprint Nextel for sales of handsets through Sprint Nextel's national distribution programs.

In 2007, the Company and Sprint Nextel amended the Management Agreement to simplify the method that the companies used to settle certain postpaid revenues and expenses between them. The revenues and expenses for 2006 were used as the basis for the calculation. For 2006, the ratio of net expense due Sprint Nextel for each net revenue dollar (net of credits and bad debt) generated by the Company's wireless customers was 8.8%, known as the Net Service Fee. The Net Service Fee percentage was applied to future net revenues to compensate Sprint Nextel for the net expenses due. The amendment allowed either party to annually request a review of the Net Service Fee, with the percentage needing to change by 100 basis points or more in either direction before there would be a change in the Net Service Fee, with the maximum Net Service Fee not exceeding 12%.

In the second quarter of 2010, Sprint Nextel for the first time exercised their option to review the postpaid Net Service Fee percentage, and effective June 2010, the Net Service Fee increased to 12%, the maximum then allowed by contract.

On July 8, 2010, the Company acquired the right to receive a share of revenues from approximately 50,000 Virgin Mobile customers in our service area, and effective July 11, 2010, the Company began selling Virgin Mobile and Boost prepaid products and services in its PCS network coverage area. Prepaid revenues received from Sprint Nextel are reported gross of expenses passed through from Sprint Nextel. The Company pays handset subsidies to Sprint Nextel for the difference between the selling price of handsets and their cost, in the aggregate and as a net cost. Many of the revenue and expense components reported to us by Sprint Nextel are based on Sprint Nextel's national averages for prepaid services, rather than being specifically determined by customers homed in our geographic service areas. In December 2012, Sprint Nextel paid the Company $11.8 million to reimburse the Company for handset subsidies and other costs per gross add that had been calculated incorrectly by Sprint Nextel from inception of the prepaid program through September 30, 2012.

The Company recognizes amortization on the $6.9 million capitalized purchase price of the acquired subscriber base for the 50,000 acquired Virgin Mobile subscribers. The amortization of the acquired subscriber base will approximate the life of the customers acquired, gradually decreasing over the expected four year life of this asset.

On February 1, 2012, the Company signed Addendum XII to its Affiliate Agreement with Sprint Nextel that paved the way to building a 4G LTE network in the Company's service area. The Company is mirroring Sprint's Network Vision architecture using Alcatel Lucent equipment. During 2012, the Company upgraded 224 cell sites to the new technology, and all remaining sites are expected to be upgraded during 2013.

In addition to adding 4G services to the Company's network, the Addendum gives the Company access to additional 1900 and 800 MHz spectrum, extends the initial term of the contract five years from 2019 to 2024 and increases the cap on the Net Service Fee from 12% to 14% on July 1, 2013.

The Company's PCS subsidiary is dependent upon Sprint Nextel's ability to execute certain functions such as billing, customer care, collections and other operating activities under the Company's agreements with Sprint Nextel. Due to the high degree of integration within many of the Sprint Nextel systems, and the Company's dependency on these systems, in many cases it would be difficult for the Company to perform these services in-house or to outsource the services to another provider. If Sprint Nextel is unable to perform any such service, the change could result in increased operating expenses and have an adverse impact on the Company's operating results and cash flow. In addition, the Company's ability to attract and maintain a sufficient customer base is critical to generating positive cash flow from operations and profits for its PCS operation. Changes in technology, increased competition, or economic conditions in the wireless industry or the economy in general, individually and/or collectively, could have an adverse effect on the Company's financial position and results of operations.

The Sprint Nextel agreements require the Company to maintain certain minimum network performance standards and to meet other performance requirements. The Company was in compliance in all material respects with these requirements as of December 31, 2012.