EQUITY (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) subsidiary	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Stockholders' equity
Equity, beginning of period			$ 761,724	$ 738,182
Stock-based compensation			5,034	3,832
Comprehensive income:
Net income	$ 11,694	$ 11,648	20,606	26,174
Other comprehensive income
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(164)	1	(200)	29
Comprehensive income	11,530	11,649	20,406	26,203
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options			1,371	2,073
Dividends declared on common stock			(15,838)	(14,442)
Distributions to non-controlling interests			(7,828)	(11,513)
Investment made by non-controlling interests			22,409	905
Acquisition from non-controlling interests			(576)
Sale of non-controlling interests				20,013
Acquisition of non-controlling interest in subsidiary			(7,045)
Purchase of treasury stock			(4,755)	(1,955)
Equity, end of period	807,840	763,298	807,840	763,298
Keytech
Other comprehensive income
Acquisition			32,717
Innovative
Other comprehensive income
Acquisition			221
Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc.
Stockholders' equity
Equity, beginning of period			680,299	677,222
Stock-based compensation			5,034	3,832
Comprehensive income:
Net income			10,206	12,757
Other comprehensive income
Foreign currency translation adjustment			(200)	29
Comprehensive income			10,006	12,786
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options			1,371	2,073
Dividends declared on common stock			(15,838)	(14,442)
Investment made by non-controlling interests			(21,700)
Acquisition from non-controlling interests			(306)
Acquisition of non-controlling interest in subsidiary			(4,105)
Purchase of treasury stock			(4,755)	(1,955)
Equity, end of period	671,706	679,516	$ 671,706	679,516
Number of subsidiaries | subsidiary			1
Non-Controlling Interests
Stockholders' equity
Equity, beginning of period			$ 81,425	60,960
Comprehensive income:
Net income			10,400	13,417
Other comprehensive income
Comprehensive income			10,400	13,417
Distributions to non-controlling interests			(7,828)	(11,513)
Investment made by non-controlling interests			22,409	905
Acquisition from non-controlling interests			(270)
Sale of non-controlling interests				20,013
Acquisition of non-controlling interest in subsidiary			(2,940)
Equity, end of period	$ 136,134	$ 83,782	136,134	$ 83,782
Non-Controlling Interests | Keytech
Other comprehensive income
Acquisition			32,717
Non-Controlling Interests | Innovative
Other comprehensive income
Acquisition			$ 221