Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 Segment State	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Information [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments	3
Non Sprint-Nextel operations, number of states	4
External revenues [Abstract]
Service revenues	$ 65,345	$ 58,323
Other revenues	10,665	10,500
Total external revenues	76,010	68,823
Internal revenues	0	0
Total operating revenues	76,010	68,823
Operating expenses [Abstract]
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	30,700	29,029
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	16,129	15,170
Depreciation and amortization	13,972	15,807
Total operating expenses	60,801	60,006
Operating income (loss)	15,209	8,817
Reconciliation of income from continuing operations from segments to consolidated [Abstract]
Total consolidated operating income	15,209	8,817
Interest expense	(2,152)	(1,795)
Non-operating income (expense), net	668	659
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	13,725	7,681
Assets by segment [Abstract]
Assets	566,728		570,740
Wireless [Member]
External revenues [Abstract]
Service revenues	44,065	38,403
Other revenues	3,019	3,451
Total external revenues	47,084	41,854
Internal revenues	1,073	815
Total operating revenues	48,157	42,669
Operating expenses [Abstract]
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	17,530	16,393
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	8,771	7,994
Depreciation and amortization	6,028	7,757
Total operating expenses	32,329	32,144
Operating income (loss)	15,828	10,525
Reconciliation of income from continuing operations from segments to consolidated [Abstract]
Total consolidated operating income	15,828	10,525
Assets by segment [Abstract]
Assets	178,049		179,929
Cable [Member]
External revenues [Abstract]
Service revenues	17,380	16,052
Other revenues	2,476	2,456
Total external revenues	19,856	18,508
Internal revenues	49	75
Total operating revenues	19,905	18,583
Operating expenses [Abstract]
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	12,289	12,226
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	5,438	5,047
Depreciation and amortization	5,564	5,852
Total operating expenses	23,291	23,125
Operating income (loss)	(3,386)	(4,542)
Reconciliation of income from continuing operations from segments to consolidated [Abstract]
Total consolidated operating income	(3,386)	(4,542)
Assets by segment [Abstract]
Assets	198,820		202,436
Wireline [Member]
External revenues [Abstract]
Service revenues	3,900	3,868
Other revenues	5,170	4,593
Total external revenues	9,070	8,461
Internal revenues	4,639	4,449
Total operating revenues	13,709	12,910
Operating expenses [Abstract]
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	6,099	5,229
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	1,709	1,717
Depreciation and amortization	2,372	2,173
Total operating expenses	10,180	9,119
Operating income (loss)	3,529	3,791
Reconciliation of income from continuing operations from segments to consolidated [Abstract]
Total consolidated operating income	3,529	3,791
Assets by segment [Abstract]
Assets	86,469		88,776
Other [Member]
External revenues [Abstract]
Service revenues	0	0
Other revenues	0	0
Total external revenues	0	0
Internal revenues	0	0
Total operating revenues	0	0
Operating expenses [Abstract]
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	0	17
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	754	915
Depreciation and amortization	8	25
Total operating expenses	762	957
Operating income (loss)	(762)	(957)
Reconciliation of income from continuing operations from segments to consolidated [Abstract]
Total consolidated operating income	(762)	(957)
Assets by segment [Abstract]
Assets	462,428		458,650
Eliminations [Member]
External revenues [Abstract]
Service revenues	0	0
Other revenues	0	0
Total external revenues	0	0
Internal revenues	(5,761)	(5,339)
Total operating revenues	(5,761)	(5,339)
Operating expenses [Abstract]
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	(5,218)	(4,836)
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	(543)	(503)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
Total operating expenses	(5,761)	(5,339)
Operating income (loss)	0	0
Reconciliation of income from continuing operations from segments to consolidated [Abstract]
Total consolidated operating income	0	0
Assets by segment [Abstract]
Assets	(359,038)		(359,051)
Total Segments [Member]
Assets by segment [Abstract]
Assets	$ 925,766		$ 929,791