Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Long-term debt, less current portion	$ 2,529.3				$ 2,517.4				$ 2,529.3	$ 2,517.4
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Revenue, Net	365.3	368.8	367.5	360.8	362.8	351.9	338.6	323.7	1,462.4	1,377.0	1,336.0
Operating costs and expenses									1,202.9	1,077.7	1,040.5
Operating Income (Loss)	9.2	86.3	77.6	86.4	64.5	82.6	69.8	82.4	259.5	299.3	295.5
Interest expense, net									215.0	185.2	130.7
Other expense (income), net									0.9	0.4	0.2
Income before income taxes									43.6	67.2	154.3
Income tax expense (benefit)									25.0	38.9	64.7
Net income	(30.4)	17.6	13.5	17.9	(18.6)	14.5	9.6	22.8	18.6	28.3	89.6
Preferred stock dividends									10.4	10.4	10.4
Net income applicable to common shareowners									8.2	17.9	79.2
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	73.7				77.3				73.7	77.3	23.0
Other current assets	2.7				0.9				2.7	0.9
Total current assets	321.0				322.9				321.0	322.9
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,400.5				1,264.4				1,400.5	1,264.4
Other noncurrent assets	62.2				66.4				62.2	66.4
Total assets	2,714.7				2,653.6				2,714.7	2,653.6	2,064.3
Current portion of long-term debt	13.0				16.5				13.0	16.5
Accounts payable	133.4				110.2				133.4	110.2
Other current liabilities	48.1				44.8				48.1	44.8
Total current liabilities	356.4				328.7				356.4	328.7
Long-term debt, less current portion	2,520.6				2,507.1				2,520.6	2,507.1
Other noncurrent liabilities	163.0				152.5				163.0	152.5
Total liabilities	3,429.9				3,321.4				3,429.9	3,321.4
Total shareowners' deficit	(715.2)				(667.8)				(715.2)	(667.8)	(654.6)	(709.3)
Total liabilities and shareowners' deficit	2,714.7				2,653.6				2,714.7	2,653.6
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash provided by operating activities									289.9	300.0	265.6
Capital expenditures									(255.5)	(149.7)	(195.1)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired									0	(526.7)	(3.4)
Proceeds from sale of assets									11.5	0	105.9
Other investing activities									(0.7)	0.9	(1.2)
Net cash used in investing activities									(244.7)	(675.5)	(93.8)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt									0	2,134.3	492.8
Increase (decrease) in corporate credit and receivables facilities									0.4	(85.9)	(42.1)
Repayment of debt									(11.5)	(1,554.5)	(506.5)
Common stock repurchase									(10.4)	(10.0)	(73.2)
Other financing activites, net									(16.1)	(1.1)	(0.8)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities									(48.8)	429.8	(155.5)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents									(3.6)	54.3	16.3
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year				77.3				23.0	77.3	23.0	6.7
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	73.7				77.3				73.7	77.3	23.0
Notes guaranteed by parent [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Revenue, Net									1,462.4	1,377.0	1,336.0
Operating costs and expenses									1,202.9	1,077.7	1,040.5
Operating Income (Loss)									259.5	299.3	295.5
Interest expense, net									215.0	185.2	130.7
Other expense (income), net									0.9	46.9	10.5
Income before income taxes									43.6	67.2	154.3
Income tax expense (benefit)									25.0	38.9	64.7
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries net of tax									0	0	0
Net income									18.6	28.3	89.6
Preferred stock dividends									10.4	10.4	10.4
Net income applicable to common shareowners									8.2	17.9	79.2
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	73.7				77.3				73.7	77.3	23.0
Receivables, net	179.4				184.2				179.4	184.2
Other current assets	67.9				61.4				67.9	61.4
Total current assets	321.0				322.9				321.0	322.9
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,400.5				1,264.4				1,400.5	1,264.4
Goodwill and intangibles net	507.5				577.7				507.5	577.7
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	0				0				0	0
Other noncurrent assets	485.7				488.6				485.7	488.6
Total assets	2,714.7				2,653.6				2,714.7	2,653.6
Current portion of long-term debt	13.0				16.5				13.0	16.5
Accounts payable	133.4				110.2				133.4	110.2
Other current liabilities	210.0				202.0				210.0	202.0
Total current liabilities	356.4				328.7				356.4	328.7
Long-term debt, less current portion	2,520.6				2,507.1				2,520.6	2,507.1
Other noncurrent liabilities	552.9				485.6				552.9	485.6
Intercompany payables	0				0				0	0
Total liabilities	3,429.9				3,321.4				3,429.9	3,321.4
Total shareowners' deficit	(715.2)				(667.8)				(715.2)	(667.8)
Total liabilities and shareowners' deficit	2,714.7				2,653.6				2,714.7	2,653.6
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash provided by operating activities									289.9	300.0	265.6
Capital expenditures									(255.5)	(149.7)	(195.1)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired										(526.7)	3.4
Proceeds from sale of assets									11.5		105.9
Other investing activities									(0.7)	0.9	1.2
Net cash used in investing activities									(244.7)	(675.5)	(93.8)
Funding between Parent and subsidiaries net									0	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt										2,091.7	477.5
Increase (decrease) in corporate credit and receivables facilities									0.4	(85.9)	(42.1)
Repayment of debt									(11.5)	(1,554.5)	(506.5)
Common stock repurchase									(10.4)	(10.0)	(73.2)
Other financing activites, net									(27.3)	(11.5)	(11.2)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities									(48.8)	429.8	(155.5)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents									(3.6)	54.3	16.3
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year				77.3				23.0	77.3	23.0	6.7
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	73.7				77.3				73.7	77.3	23.0
Parent Company [Member] | Notes guaranteed by parent [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Revenue, Net									3.4	5.5	4.9
Operating costs and expenses									23.6	34.5	24.6
Operating Income (Loss)									(20.2)	(29.0)	(19.7)
Interest expense, net									161.8	137.9	100.1
Other expense (income), net									(0.9)	45.2	14.6
Income before income taxes									(181.1)	(212.1)	(134.4)
Income tax expense (benefit)									(56.4)	(61.3)	(40.9)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries net of tax									143.3	179.1	183.1
Net income									18.6	28.3	89.6
Preferred stock dividends									10.4	10.4	10.4
Net income applicable to common shareowners									8.2	17.9	79.2
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	69.6				69.8				69.6	69.8	20.1
Receivables, net	2.0				2.4				2.0	2.4
Other current assets	5.8				6.4				5.8	6.4
Total current assets	77.4				78.6				77.4	78.6
Property, plant and equipment, net	0.1				0.6				0.1	0.6
Goodwill and intangibles net	0				0.7				0	0.7
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	1,731.4				1,647.5				1,731.4	1,647.5
Other noncurrent assets	387.9				363.3				387.9	363.3
Total assets	2,196.8				2,090.7				2,196.8	2,090.7
Current portion of long-term debt	0				0				0	0
Accounts payable	1.0				2.2				1.0	2.2
Other current liabilities	93.2				89.1				93.2	89.1
Total current liabilities	94.2				91.3				94.2	91.3
Long-term debt, less current portion	2,182.0				2,181.4				2,182.0	2,181.4
Other noncurrent liabilities	404.3				344.7				404.3	344.7
Intercompany payables	231.5				141.1				231.5	141.1
Total liabilities	2,912.0				2,758.5				2,912.0	2,758.5
Total shareowners' deficit	(715.2)				(667.8)				(715.2)	(667.8)
Total liabilities and shareowners' deficit	2,196.8				2,090.7				2,196.8	2,090.7
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash provided by operating activities									(139.6)	(54.6)	(164.9)
Capital expenditures									0	0	(0.6)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired										0	0
Proceeds from sale of assets									11.5		0
Other investing activities									(0.7)	0	(0.4)
Net cash used in investing activities									10.8	0	(0.2)
Funding between Parent and subsidiaries net									150.3	(423.8)	321.1
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt										2,090.1	477.5
Increase (decrease) in corporate credit and receivables facilities									0	0	(53.0)
Repayment of debt									0	(1,540.5)	(480.5)
Common stock repurchase									(10.4)	(10.0)	(73.2)
Other financing activites, net									(11.3)	(11.5)	(11.2)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities									128.6	104.3	180.7
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents									(0.2)	49.7	15.6
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year				69.8				20.1	69.8	20.1	4.5
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	69.6				69.8				69.6	69.8	20.1
Cincinnati Bell Telephone Company [Member] | Notes guaranteed by parent [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Revenue, Net									655.8	668.1	688.9
Operating costs and expenses									435.6	435.0	441.9
Operating Income (Loss)									220.2	233.1	247.0
Interest expense, net									3.4	9.8	14.4
Other expense (income), net									7.5	7.6	(0.8)
Income before income taxes									209.3	215.7	233.4
Income tax expense (benefit)									76.0	82.2	84.8
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries net of tax									0	0	0
Net income									133.3	133.5	148.6
Preferred stock dividends									0	0	0
Net income applicable to common shareowners									133.3	133.5	148.6
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	1.4				1.8				1.4	1.8	2.1
Receivables, net	0				0.9				0	0.9
Other current assets	31.8				22.5				31.8	22.5
Total current assets	33.2				25.2				33.2	25.2
Property, plant and equipment, net	642.5				623.7				642.5	623.7
Goodwill and intangibles net	2.4				2.6				2.4	2.6
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	237.3				146.5				237.3	146.5
Other noncurrent assets	7.6				9.5				7.6	9.5
Total assets	923.0				807.5				923.0	807.5
Current portion of long-term debt	3.1				2.2				3.1	2.2
Accounts payable	53.7				45.8				53.7	45.8
Other current liabilities	55.3				52.3				55.3	52.3
Total current liabilities	112.1				100.3				112.1	100.3
Long-term debt, less current portion	216.3				214.1				216.3	214.1
Other noncurrent liabilities	122.8				89.1				122.8	89.1
Intercompany payables	0				0				0	0
Total liabilities	451.2				403.5				451.2	403.5
Total shareowners' deficit	471.8				404.0				471.8	404.0
Total liabilities and shareowners' deficit	923.0				807.5				923.0	807.5
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash provided by operating activities									264.7	224.9	297.2
Capital expenditures									(106.3)	(88.7)	(126.5)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired										0	0.5
Proceeds from sale of assets									0		0
Other investing activities									0	0.3	(0.5)
Net cash used in investing activities									(106.3)	(88.4)	(126.5)
Funding between Parent and subsidiaries net									(156.5)	(137.0)	(152.8)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt										1.6	0
Increase (decrease) in corporate credit and receivables facilities									0	0	0
Repayment of debt									(2.3)	(1.4)	(17.6)
Common stock repurchase									0	0	0
Other financing activites, net									0	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities									(158.8)	(136.8)	(170.4)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents									(0.4)	(0.3)	0.3
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year				1.8				2.1	1.8	2.1	1.8
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	1.4				1.8				1.4	1.8	2.1
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Notes guaranteed by parent [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Revenue, Net									860.6	761.2	699.3
Operating costs and expenses									801.1	666.0	631.1
Operating Income (Loss)									59.5	95.2	68.2
Interest expense, net									49.8	37.5	16.2
Other expense (income), net									(5.7)	(5.9)	(3.3)
Income before income taxes									15.4	63.6	55.3
Income tax expense (benefit)									5.4	18.0	20.8
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries net of tax									0	0	0
Net income									10.0	45.6	34.5
Preferred stock dividends									0	0	0
Net income applicable to common shareowners									10.0	45.6	34.5
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	2.7				5.7				2.7	5.7	0.8
Receivables, net	177.4				180.9				177.4	180.9
Other current assets	31.7				39.0				31.7	39.0
Total current assets	211.8				225.6				211.8	225.6
Property, plant and equipment, net	757.9				640.1				757.9	640.1
Goodwill and intangibles net	505.1				574.4				505.1	574.4
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	0				0				0	0
Other noncurrent assets	234.0				218.2				234.0	218.2
Total assets	1,708.8				1,658.3				1,708.8	1,658.3
Current portion of long-term debt	9.9				14.3				9.9	14.3
Accounts payable	78.7				62.2				78.7	62.2
Other current liabilities	61.5				64.6				61.5	64.6
Total current liabilities	150.1				141.1				150.1	141.1
Long-term debt, less current portion	122.3				111.6				122.3	111.6
Other noncurrent liabilities	171.0				156.7				171.0	156.7
Intercompany payables	595.8				612.6				595.8	612.6
Total liabilities	1,039.2				1,022.0				1,039.2	1,022.0
Total shareowners' deficit	669.6				636.3				669.6	636.3
Total liabilities and shareowners' deficit	1,708.8				1,658.3				1,708.8	1,658.3
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash provided by operating activities									164.8	129.7	133.3
Capital expenditures									(149.2)	(61.0)	(68.0)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired										(526.7)	2.9
Proceeds from sale of assets									0		105.9
Other investing activities									0	0.6	2.1
Net cash used in investing activities									(149.2)	(587.1)	32.9
Funding between Parent and subsidiaries net									6.2	560.8	(168.3)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt										0	0
Increase (decrease) in corporate credit and receivables facilities									0.4	(85.9)	10.9
Repayment of debt									(9.2)	(12.6)	(8.4)
Common stock repurchase									0	0	0
Other financing activites, net									(16.0)	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities									(18.6)	462.3	(165.8)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents									(3.0)	4.9	0.4
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year				5.7				0.8	5.7	0.8	0.4
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	2.7				5.7				2.7	5.7	0.8
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Notes guaranteed by parent [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Revenue, Net									(57.4)	(57.8)	(57.1)
Operating costs and expenses									(57.4)	(57.8)	(57.1)
Operating Income (Loss)									0	0	0
Interest expense, net									0	0	0
Other expense (income), net									0	0	0
Income before income taxes									0	0	0
Income tax expense (benefit)									0	0	0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries net of tax									(143.3)	(179.1)	(183.1)
Net income									(143.3)	(179.1)	(183.1)
Preferred stock dividends									0	0	0
Net income applicable to common shareowners									(143.3)	(179.1)	(183.1)
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	0				0				0	0	0
Receivables, net	0				0				0	0
Other current assets	(1.4)				(6.5)				(1.4)	(6.5)
Total current assets	(1.4)				(6.5)				(1.4)	(6.5)
Property, plant and equipment, net	0				0				0	0
Goodwill and intangibles net	0				0				0	0
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	(1,968.7)				(1,794.0)				(1,968.7)	(1,794.0)
Other noncurrent assets	(143.8)				(102.4)				(143.8)	(102.4)
Total assets	(2,113.9)				(1,902.9)				(2,113.9)	(1,902.9)
Current portion of long-term debt	0				0				0	0
Accounts payable	0				0				0	0
Other current liabilities	0				(4.0)				0	(4.0)
Total current liabilities	0				(4.0)				0	(4.0)
Long-term debt, less current portion	0				0				0	0
Other noncurrent liabilities	(145.2)				(104.9)				(145.2)	(104.9)
Intercompany payables	(827.3)				(753.7)				(827.3)	(753.7)
Total liabilities	(972.5)				(862.6)				(972.5)	(862.6)
Total shareowners' deficit	(1,141.4)				(1,040.3)				(1,141.4)	(1,040.3)
Total liabilities and shareowners' deficit	(2,113.9)				(1,902.9)				(2,113.9)	(1,902.9)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash provided by operating activities									0	0	0
Capital expenditures									0	0	0
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired										0	0
Proceeds from sale of assets									0		0
Other investing activities									0	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities									0	0	0
Funding between Parent and subsidiaries net									0	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt										0	0
Increase (decrease) in corporate credit and receivables facilities									0	0	0
Repayment of debt									0	0	0
Common stock repurchase									0	0	0
Other financing activites, net									0	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities									0	0	0
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents									0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year				0				0	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	0				0				0	0	0
Various Cincinnati Bell Telephone Notes [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Long-term debt, less current portion	$ 207.5				$ 207.5				$ 207.5	$ 207.5