Supplemental Guarantor Information - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Revenue	$ 288.9	$ 292.9
Operating costs and expenses	259.3	255.8
Operating income (loss)	29.6	37.1
Interest expense (income), net	20.3	32.7
Other expense (income), net	0.0	3.5
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries and income taxes	11.7	0.9
Income tax expense (benefit)	4.7	0.6
Income (loss) from continuing operations	7.0	0.3
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0.0	48.9
Net income (loss)	7.0	49.2
Total comprehensive income (loss)	8.5	50.6
Preferred stock dividends	2.6	2.6
Net income (loss) applicable to common shareowners	4.4	46.6
Notes guaranteed by parent [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Revenue	288.9	292.9
Operating costs and expenses	259.3	255.8
Operating income (loss)	29.6	37.1
Interest expense (income), net	20.3	32.7
Other expense (income), net	(2.4)	3.5
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries and income taxes	11.7	0.9
Income tax expense (benefit)	4.7	0.6
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	0.0	0.0
Income (loss) from continuing operations		0.3
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		48.9
Net income (loss)	7.0	49.2
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1.5	1.4
Total comprehensive income (loss)	8.5	50.6
Preferred stock dividends	2.6	2.6
Net income (loss) applicable to common shareowners	4.4	46.6
Notes guaranteed by parent [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Revenue	0.0	0.0
Operating costs and expenses	5.2	5.3
Operating income (loss)	(5.2)	(5.3)
Interest expense (income), net	24.1	33.9
Other expense (income), net	(0.3)	(0.4)
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries and income taxes	(29.0)	(38.8)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(10.0)	(14.1)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	26.0	73.9
Income (loss) from continuing operations		49.2
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		0.0
Net income (loss)	7.0	49.2
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1.6	1.7
Total comprehensive income (loss)	8.6	50.9
Preferred stock dividends	2.6	2.6
Net income (loss) applicable to common shareowners	4.4	46.6
Notes guaranteed by parent [Member] | Cincinnati Bell Telephone Company [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Revenue	167.7	167.6
Operating costs and expenses	142.1	128.9
Operating income (loss)	25.6	38.7
Interest expense (income), net	0.8	(0.8)
Other expense (income), net	(0.2)	1.9
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries and income taxes	25.0	37.6
Income tax expense (benefit)	8.9	13.8
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	0.0	0.0
Income (loss) from continuing operations		23.8
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		0.0
Net income (loss)	16.1	23.8
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0.0	0.0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	16.1	23.8
Preferred stock dividends	0.0	0.0
Net income (loss) applicable to common shareowners	16.1	23.8
Notes guaranteed by parent [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Revenue	131.6	135.0
Operating costs and expenses	122.4	131.3
Operating income (loss)	9.2	3.7
Interest expense (income), net	(4.6)	(0.4)
Other expense (income), net	(1.9)	2.0
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries and income taxes	15.7	2.1
Income tax expense (benefit)	5.8	0.9
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	0.0	0.0
Income (loss) from continuing operations		1.2
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		48.9
Net income (loss)	9.9	50.1
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(0.1)	(0.3)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	9.8	49.8
Preferred stock dividends	0.0	0.0
Net income (loss) applicable to common shareowners	9.9	50.1
Notes guaranteed by parent [Member] | Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Revenue	(10.4)	(9.7)
Operating costs and expenses	(10.4)	(9.7)
Operating income (loss)	0.0	0.0
Interest expense (income), net	0.0	0.0
Other expense (income), net	0.0	0.0
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries and income taxes	0.0	0.0
Income tax expense (benefit)	0.0	0.0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	(26.0)	(73.9)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		(73.9)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		0.0
Net income (loss)	(26.0)	(73.9)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0.0	0.0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(26.0)	(73.9)
Preferred stock dividends	0.0	0.0
Net income (loss) applicable to common shareowners	(26.0)	(73.9)
Notes guaranteed by subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Revenue	288.9	292.9
Operating costs and expenses	259.3	255.8
Operating income (loss)	29.6	37.1
Interest expense (income), net	20.3	32.7
Other expense (income), net	(2.4)	3.5
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries and income taxes	11.7	0.9
Income tax expense (benefit)	4.7	0.6
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	0.0	0.0
Income (loss) from continuing operations		0.3
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		48.9
Net income (loss)	7.0	49.2
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1.5	1.4
Total comprehensive income (loss)	8.5	50.6
Preferred stock dividends	2.6	2.6
Net income (loss) applicable to common shareowners	4.4	46.6
Notes guaranteed by subsidiaries [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Revenue	0.0	0.0
Operating costs and expenses	5.2	5.3
Operating income (loss)	(5.2)	(5.3)
Interest expense (income), net	24.1	33.9
Other expense (income), net	(0.3)	(0.4)
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries and income taxes	(29.0)	(38.8)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(10.0)	(14.1)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	26.0	73.9
Income (loss) from continuing operations		49.2
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		0.0
Net income (loss)	7.0	49.2
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1.6	1.7
Total comprehensive income (loss)	8.6	50.9
Preferred stock dividends	2.6	2.6
Net income (loss) applicable to common shareowners	4.4	46.6
Notes guaranteed by subsidiaries [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Revenue	153.7	152.9
Operating costs and expenses	136.9	147.3
Operating income (loss)	16.8	5.6
Interest expense (income), net	(5.0)	(0.7)
Other expense (income), net	2.9	6.1
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries and income taxes	18.9	0.2
Income tax expense (benefit)	7.0	0.0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	0.0	0.0
Income (loss) from continuing operations		0.2
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		48.9
Net income (loss)	11.9	49.1
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0.0	0.0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	11.9	49.1
Preferred stock dividends	0.0	0.0
Net income (loss) applicable to common shareowners	11.9	49.1
Notes guaranteed by subsidiaries [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Revenue	145.6	149.7
Operating costs and expenses	127.6	112.9
Operating income (loss)	18.0	36.8
Interest expense (income), net	1.2	(0.5)
Other expense (income), net	(5.0)	(2.2)
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries and income taxes	21.8	39.5
Income tax expense (benefit)	7.7	14.7
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	0.0	0.0
Income (loss) from continuing operations		24.8
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		0.0
Net income (loss)	14.1	24.8
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(0.1)	(0.3)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	14.0	24.5
Preferred stock dividends	0.0	0.0
Net income (loss) applicable to common shareowners	14.1	24.8
Notes guaranteed by subsidiaries [Member] | Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Revenue	(10.4)	(9.7)
Operating costs and expenses	(10.4)	(9.7)
Operating income (loss)	0.0	0.0
Interest expense (income), net	0.0	0.0
Other expense (income), net	0.0	0.0
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries and income taxes	0.0	0.0
Income tax expense (benefit)	0.0	0.0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	(26.0)	(73.9)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		(73.9)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		0.0
Net income (loss)	(26.0)	(73.9)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0.0	0.0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(26.0)	(73.9)
Preferred stock dividends	0.0	0.0
Net income (loss) applicable to common shareowners	$ (26.0)	$ (73.9)