Quarterly Segment Financial Summary (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information				3
Revenue from unaffiliated customers	$ 47,141		$ 43,857	$ 95,910	$ 90,801
Intersegment revenue	0		0	0	0
Total operating revenue	47,141		43,857	95,910	90,801
Asset Impairment Charges	5	633	0	638	0
Depreciation and amortization	7,252		6,732	14,261	12,926
Operating income	5,006		4,487	8,863	9,739
Interest expense	1,131		1,599	2,270	3,010
Income tax provision (benefit)	1,567		1,164	2,661	2,731
Net income (loss)	2,321		1,738	3,947	4,032
Total assets	265,390		264,586	265,390	264,586	268,304
Property, plant and equipment, net	180,605		174,150	180,605	174,150	182,959
Additions to property, plant and equipment	6,516		5,923	12,305	9,557
Fiber and Data Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from unaffiliated customers	16,779		15,177	33,250	28,396
Intersegment revenue	213		193	426	386
Total operating revenue	16,992		15,370	33,676	28,782
Asset Impairment Charges	5			638
Depreciation and amortization	2,922		2,551	5,718	4,517
Operating income	2,249		2,284	3,887	4,629
Interest expense	0		0	0	0
Income tax provision (benefit)	912		925	1,589	1,875
Net income (loss)	1,340		1,359	2,301	2,754
Total assets	112,582		103,611	112,582	103,611
Property, plant and equipment, net	93,964		84,216	93,964	84,216
Additions to property, plant and equipment	2,970		3,603	5,913	5,568
Equipment Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from unaffiliated customers	15,116		12,864	32,353	30,285
Intersegment revenue	0		0	0	0
Total operating revenue	15,116		12,864	32,353	30,285
Asset Impairment Charges	0			0
Depreciation and amortization	124		71	209	142
Operating income	934		399	1,755	1,219
Interest expense	0		0	0	0
Income tax provision (benefit)	378		160	715	494
Net income (loss)	555		239	1,040	725
Total assets	24,964		14,753	24,964	14,753
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,202		1,433	2,202	1,433
Additions to property, plant and equipment	403		117	961	190
Telecom Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from unaffiliated customers	15,246		15,816	30,307	32,120
Intersegment revenue	571		444	1,144	854
Total operating revenue	15,817		16,260	31,451	32,974
Asset Impairment Charges	0			0
Depreciation and amortization	4,198		4,085	8,319	8,218
Operating income	1,876		1,993	3,481	4,180
Interest expense	6		9	14	22
Income tax provision (benefit)	761		809	1,416	1,692
Net income (loss)	1,118		1,186	2,061	2,485
Total assets	116,313		121,064	116,313	121,064
Property, plant and equipment, net	84,340		88,424	84,340	88,424
Additions to property, plant and equipment	3,131		2,203	5,379	3,799
Telecom Segment [Member] | South Central Minnesota [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of communities serviced by incumbent local exchange carrier operations				13
Telecom Segment [Member] | Rural Northwest Iowa [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of communities serviced by incumbent local exchange carrier operations				13
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from unaffiliated customers	0		0	0	0
Intersegment revenue	(784)		(637)	(1,570)	(1,240)
Total operating revenue	(784)		(637)	(1,570)	(1,240)
Asset Impairment Charges	0			0
Depreciation and amortization	8		25	15	49
Operating income	(53)		(189)	(260)	(289)
Interest expense	1,125		1,590	2,256	2,988
Income tax provision (benefit)	(484)		(730)	(1,059)	(1,330)
Net income (loss)	(692)		(1,046)	(1,455)	(1,932)
Total assets	11,531		25,158	11,531	25,158
Property, plant and equipment, net	99		77	99	77
Additions to property, plant and equipment	$ 12		$ 0	$ 52	$ 0