Long Term Debt (Schedule of Long Term Debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Feb. 02, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt, gross | $ 1,372,113 | $ 1,038,796 | ||||||||||||||
| Less current portion of long-term debt | 3,342 | 622 | ||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt, net | 1,344,764 | 1,036,056 | ||||||||||||||
| Senior Credit Facility | Medium-term Notes [Member] | ||||||||||||||||
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt, gross | [1] | 512,937 | 279,000 | |||||||||||||
| 2025 Notes | Senior Notes [Member] | ||||||||||||||||
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt, gross | [2] | 450,000 | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Less unamortized discount | 3,817 | |||||||||||||||
| 2021 Notes | Senior Notes [Member] | ||||||||||||||||
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt, gross | [3] | 325,000 | 325,000 | |||||||||||||
| Searchlight ALX, LP Promissory Note [Member] | Unsecured Debt [Member] | ||||||||||||||||
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt, gross | [4] | 75,000 | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Less unamortized discount | 20,190 | $ 21,700 | ||||||||||||||
| Wells Fargo Note | Notes Payable to Banks | ||||||||||||||||
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt, gross | [5] | 9,176 | 9,767 | |||||||||||||
| 2019 Notes | Senior Notes [Member] | ||||||||||||||||
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt, gross | [2] | 0 | 425,000 | |||||||||||||
| Less unamortized discount | 2,118 | |||||||||||||||
| Rural Utilities Service (RUS) debt | Notes Payable to Banks | ||||||||||||||||
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt, gross | [6] | $ 0 | $ 29 | |||||||||||||
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