Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	$ 32,133		$ 30,613
Privately held debt and equity securities	2,475		2,475
Interest rate Cap	3
Liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	5,316		5,617
Derivative Liability, Number of Instruments Held	4
Derivative Asset, Number of Instruments Held	1
Recognized realized losses on sale of marketable securities		(22)
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	4,752,127		4,836,028
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, Date	Oct. 01, 2028
Net Present Value Percent Used To Calculate Fair Value Of Available For Sale Securities	7.00%
Discount Percentage Used To Calculate Fair Value Of Available For Sale Securities	5.00%
Assumed Growth Rate Used To Determine Fair Value Of Available For Sale Security	5.00%
Assumed Reduction In Cash Flows Used To Calculate Fair Value Of Cost Method Investment	0% to 10%
Assumed Capitalization Rate Range Used To Determine Fair Value	10% to 12%
Discount Rate Used To Calculate Fair Value Of Privately Held Debt And Equity Securities	20.00%
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	20,304		18,784
Privately held debt and equity securities	0		0
Interest rate Cap	0
Liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	0		0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	0		0
Privately held debt and equity securities	0		0
Interest rate Cap	3
Liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	5,316		5,617
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	11,829		11,829
Privately held debt and equity securities	2,475		2,475
Interest rate Cap	0
Liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	$ 0		$ 0

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- Definition

Assumed Growth Rate Used To Determine Fair Value Of Available For Sale Security

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- Definition

Assumed Reduction In Cash Flows Used To Calculate Fair Value Of Cost Method Investment

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- Definition

Discount Percentage Used To Calculate Fair Value Of Available For Sale Securities

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- Definition

Discount Rate Used To Calculate Fair Value Of Privately Held Debt And Equity Securities

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Net Present Value Percent Used To Calculate Fair Value Of Available For Sale Securities

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- Definition

This element represents privately held debt and equity securities, valued at fair value by the entity

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Date of maturity of a debt security categorized as neither trading nor held-to-maturity.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents Available-for-sale Securities which consist of all investments in certain debt and equity securities neither classified as trading or held-to-maturity securities. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized as Available-for-sale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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- Definition

The number of derivative instruments of a particular derivative asset or group of derivative assets held by the entity.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

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The number of derivative instruments of a particular derivative liability or group of derivative liabilities held by the entity.

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- Definition

Fair value as of the balance sheet date of interest rate derivative assets, which includes all such derivative instruments in hedging and nonhedging relationships that are recognized as assets.

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-Publisher FASB

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

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Fair value as of the balance sheet date of interest rate derivative liabilities, which includes all such derivative instruments in hedging and nonhedging relationships that are recognized as liabilities.

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- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

This item represents the total realized gain (loss) included in earnings for the period as a result of selling marketable securities categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity. Additionally, this item would include any losses recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of the subject investments in debt and equity securities.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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