Fairpoint Communications 10-K 6 Mar 17 2016 FY Annual report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Feb. 27, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	FAIRPOINT COMMUNICATIONS INC
Entity Central Index Key	1,062,613
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		27,266,570
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 384,049,851

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets:
Cash	$ 34,924	$ 26,560
Accounts receivable, net	62,395	60,136
Prepaid expenses	24,498	24,410
Other current assets	4,898	5,030
Total current assets	126,715	116,136
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,024,352	1,118,781
Intangible assets, net	75,913	83,879
Restricted cash	653	651
Other assets	3,202	3,079
Total assets	1,230,835	1,322,526
Liabilities and Stockholders' Deficit:
Current portion of long-term debt	6,400	6,400
Current portion of capital lease obligations	1,227	918
Accounts payable	27,598	28,157
Accrued interest payable	10,120	9,983
Accrued payroll and related expenses	26,187	24,753
Other accrued liabilities	47,918	50,018
Total current liabilities	119,450	120,229
Capital lease obligations	1,311	1,223
Accrued pension obligations	133,917	150,562
Accrued post-employment benefit obligations	87,629	94,042
Deferred income taxes, net	28,016	35,075
Other long-term liabilities	16,219	22,739
Long-term debt, net of current portion	898,370	900,145
Total long-term liabilities	1,165,462	1,203,786
Total liabilities	1,284,912	1,324,015
Commitments and contingencies (See Note 18)
Stockholders' deficit:
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 37,500,000 shares authorized, 27,074,398 and 26,921,066 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively	271	269
Additional paid-in capital	527,613	521,842
Accumulated deficit	(603,497)	(707,592)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	21,536	183,992
Total stockholders' deficit	(54,077)	(1,489)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	$ 1,230,835	$ 1,322,526

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Common stock, par value (usd per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	37,500,000	37,500,000
Common stock, shares issued	27,074,398	26,921,066
Common stock, shares outstanding	27,074,398	26,921,066

Consolidated Statements of Oper

Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 824,443	$ 859,465	$ 901,396
Operating expenses:
Cost of services and sales, excluding depreciation and amortization	389,316	430,308	440,979
Other post-employment benefit and pension (benefit)/expense	(213,760)	(170,338)	75,282
Selling, general and administrative expense, excluding depreciation and amortization	197,239	206,046	257,627
Depreciation and amortization	222,303	223,819	220,678
Reorganization related expense	0	38	104
Total operating expenses	595,098	689,873	994,670
Income/(loss) from operations	229,345	169,592	(93,274)
Other income/(expense):
Interest expense	(82,697)	(80,718)	(80,371)
Other, net	296	485	7,548
Total other expense	(82,401)	(80,233)	(72,823)
Income/(loss) before income taxes	146,944	89,359	(166,097)
Income tax (expense)/benefit	(42,849)	1,057	29,778
Net income/(loss)	$ 104,095	$ 90,416	$ (136,319)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	26,854,396	26,652,240	26,449,408
Diluted (in shares)	27,119,437	26,972,879	26,449,408
Income/(loss) per share, basic (USD per share)	$ 3.88	$ 3.39	$ (5.15)
Income/(loss) per share, diluted (USD per share)	$ 3.84	$ 3.35	$ (5.15)

Consolidated Statements of Comp

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income/(Loss) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income/(loss)	$ 104,095	$ 90,416	$ (136,319)
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of taxes:
Interest rate swaps (net of $0.7 million tax expense and $0.3 million and $0.7 million tax benefit, respectively)	1,106	(521)	(1,037)
Qualified pension and post-employment benefit plans (net of $49.8 million tax benefit, $10.0 million tax expense and $8.6 million tax benefit, respectively)	(163,562)	503,136	(157,807)
Total other comprehensive income/(loss)	(162,456)	502,615	(158,844)
Comprehensive income/(loss)	$ (58,361)	$ 593,031	$ (295,163)

Consolidated Statements of Com6

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income/(Loss) (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Tax benefit on interest rate swaps	$ (0.7)	$ 0.3	$ 0.7
Tax (expense) benefit on qualified pension and post-retirement healthcare plans	$ 49.8	$ (10)	$ 8.6

Consolidated Statements of Stoc

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Deficit - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common stock	Additional paid-in capital	Accumulated deficit	Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)
Beginning Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		26,481,000
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ (309,196)	$ 264	$ 512,008	$ (661,689)	$ (159,779)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income/(loss)	(136,319)			(136,319)
Stock-based compensation issued, net (shares)		230,000
Stock-based compensation issued, net	(199)	$ 3	(202)
Stock-based compensation expense	4,274		4,274
Interest rate swaps other comprehensive loss	(1,037)				(1,037)
Employee benefits other comprehensive loss before reclassifications	(166,673)				(166,673)
Employee benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	8,866				8,866
Ending Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		26,711,000
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	(600,284)	$ 267	516,080	(798,008)	(318,623)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income/(loss)	90,416			90,416
Stock-based compensation issued, net (shares)		210,000
Stock-based compensation issued, net	(593)	$ 2	(595)
Stock-based compensation expense	6,357		6,357
Interest rate swaps other comprehensive loss	(521)				(521)
Employee benefits other comprehensive loss before reclassifications	687,643				687,643
Employee benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ (184,507)				(184,507)
Ending Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	26,921,066	26,921,000
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ (1,489)	$ 269	521,842	(707,592)	183,992
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income/(loss)	104,095			104,095
Stock-based compensation issued, net (shares)		153,000
Stock-based compensation issued, net	(518)	$ 2	(520)
Stock-based compensation expense	6,291		6,291
Interest rate swaps other comprehensive loss before reclassifications	(361)				(361)
Interest rate swaps other comprehensive loss	1,106
Interest rate swaps reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	1,467				1,467
Employee benefits other comprehensive loss before reclassifications	8,029				8,029
Employee benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ (171,591)				(171,591)
Ending Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	27,074,398	27,074,000
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ (54,077)	$ 271	$ 527,613	$ (603,497)	$ 21,536

Consolidated Statements of Cash

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income/(loss)	$ 104,095	$ 90,416	$ (136,319)
Adjustments to reconcile net income/(loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Deferred income taxes	42,609	(1,260)	(29,864)
Provision for uncollectible revenue	577	5,793	9,218
Depreciation and amortization	222,303	223,819	220,678
Other post-employment benefits	(228,442)	(184,569)	51,337
Qualified pension	(6,508)	(5,534)	(10,129)
Stock-based compensation	6,291	6,357	4,274
Other non-cash items	5,265	4,211	2,137
Changes in assets and liabilities arising from operations:
Accounts receivable	(2,478)	5,615	8,485
Prepaid and other assets	198	1,327	(338)
Restricted cash	0	0	463
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(4,094)	(36,642)	5,068
Accrued interest payable	137	5	1
Other assets and liabilities, net	(5,701)	2,463	(3,948)
Total adjustments	30,157	21,585	257,382
Net cash provided by operating activities	134,252	112,001	121,063
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net capital additions	(117,050)	(116,159)	(119,489)
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired	(2,729)	0	0
Distributions from investments and proceeds from the sale of property and equipment	1,319	288	1,126
Net cash used in investing activities	(118,460)	(115,871)	(118,363)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of long-term debt	(6,400)	(6,400)	(6,400)
Restricted cash	(2)	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	12	13	32
Repayment of capital lease obligations	(1,038)	(770)	(1,445)
Net cash used in financing activities	(7,428)	(7,157)	(7,813)
Net change	8,364	(11,027)	(5,113)
Cash, beginning of period	26,560	37,587	42,700
Cash, end of period	34,924	26,560	37,587
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest	77,153	75,625	75,520
Income tax paid, net of refunds	1,346	1,021	2,363
Capital additions included in accounts payable	8,586	10,902	13,120
Acquisition of property and equipment by capital lease	$ 1,436	$ 1,320	$ 1,142

Organization and Principles of

Organization and Principles of Consolidation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization and Principles of Consolidation	Organization and Principles of Consolidation Organization FairPoint is a leading provider of advanced communications services to business, wholesale and residential customers within its service territories. FairPoint offers its customers a suite of advanced data services such as Ethernet, high capacity data transport and other IP-based services over an extensive fiber network with more than 22,000 miles of fiber optic cable, including approximately 18,000 miles of fiber optic cable in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, in addition to Internet access, high-speed data ("HSD") and local and long distance voice services. As of December 31, 2016 , FairPoint's service territory spanned 17 states where it is the incumbent communications provider, primarily serving rural communities and small urban markets. Many of its local exchange carriers ("LECs") have served their respective communities for more than 80 years. As of December 31, 2016 , the Company operated with approximately 306,600 broadband subscribers, approximately 15,700 Ethernet circuits and approximately 366,100 residential voice lines. Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include all majority-owned subsidiaries of the Company. Partially owned equity affiliates are accounted for under the cost method or equity method when the Company demonstrates significant influence, but does not have a controlling financial interest. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.

Significant Accounting Policies

Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Significant Accounting Policies	Significant Accounting Policies (a) Presentation and Use of Estimates The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"), which require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of results of operations and financial condition for the interim periods shown, including normal recurring accruals and other items. The Company reclassified "Claims payable and estimated claims accrual" to "Other accrued liabilities" in the December 31, 2015 consolidated balance sheet to be consistent with current period presentation. Examples of significant estimates include the allowance for doubtful accounts, revenue reserves, the depreciation of property, plant and equipment, valuation of intangible assets, qualified pension and other post-employment benefit plan assumptions, stock-based compensation and income taxes. (b) Revenue Recognition Revenues are recognized as services are rendered and are primarily derived from the usage of the Company's networks and facilities or under revenue-sharing arrangements with other communications carriers. Revenues are primarily derived from: voice services, access (including pooling), certain Connect America Fund ("CAF") receipts, Internet and broadband services and other miscellaneous services. Local access charges are billed to local end users under tariffs approved by each state's Public Utilities Commission ("PUC") or by rates, terms and conditions determined by the Company. Access revenues are derived for the intrastate jurisdiction by billing access charges to interexchange carriers and to other LECs. These charges are billed based on toll or access tariffs approved by the local state's PUC. Access charges for the interstate jurisdiction are billed in accordance with tariffs filed by the National Exchange Carrier Association ("NECA") or by the individual company and approved by the Federal Communications Commission (the "FCC"). On July 14, 2016, the FCC adopted a Declaratory Order that classifies switched access services provided by Incumbent LECs as non-dominant services. This change in classification will not impact rates or revenues as the rates continue to be subject to rules established for all access providers pursuant to the Intercarrier Compensation transition rules adopted in 2011. Revenues are determined on a bill-and-keep basis or a pooling basis. If on a bill-and-keep basis, the Company bills the charges to the customer and keeps the revenue. If the Company participates in a pooling environment (interstate or intrastate), the revenue from the covered services is contributed to a revenue pool. The revenue is then distributed to individual companies based on their company-specific revenue requirement or similar distribution methods. This distribution is based on individual state PUCs' (intrastate) or the FCC's (interstate) approved settlement mechanisms, separation rules and rates of return. Distribution from these pools can change relative to changes made to expenses, plant investment or rate-of-return. Some companies participate in federal and certain state universal service programs that are pooling in nature but are regulated by rules separate from those described above. These rules vary by state. Revenues earned through the various pooling arrangements are initially recorded based on the Company's estimates. On November 18, 2011, the FCC released its comprehensive landmark order to modify the nationwide system of universal support and the CAF/intercarrier compensation ("ICC") system (the "CAF/ICC Order"). Rule changes associated with the FCC's CAF/ICC Order impact the NECA interstate pooling, in that a portion of the Company's interstate Universal Service Fund ("USF") revenues, which are administered through the NECA pools and which prior to January 1, 2012 were based on costs, are now based on rules from the FCC's CAF/ICC Order, including CAF Phase II support where FairPoint accepted CAF Phase II support, continued CAF Phase I frozen support where FairPoint did not accept CAF Phase II support and CAF/ICC rules in states where FairPoint is eligible for such support under the ICC Transition Rules for price cap and rate-of-return carriers. FairPoint accepted CAF Phase II support in all states except Kansas and Colorado. The CAF Phase II revenue is being recognized on a straight-line basis, ratably over the six -year period in which the funding will be received. The accepted transition funding is being recognized monthly as received over the three-year transition period ending in July 2018. The Company is required to meet certain interim milestones over the six -year period of CAF Phase II and the Company performs a quarterly assessment of its progress. Revenue from long distance switched retail and wholesale services can be recurring due to coverage under an unlimited calling plan or can be usage sensitive. In either case, they are billed in arrears and recognized when earned. Internet and data services revenues are substantially all recurring revenues and are billed one month in advance and deferred until earned. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015 , unearned revenue of $18.2 million and $19.9 million , respectively, was included in other accrued liabilities and unearned revenue of $4.8 million and $7.6 million , respectively, was included in other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The majority of the Company's other miscellaneous services revenue is generated from ancillary special projects at the request of third parties, video services, directory services and late payment charges to end users and wholesale carriers. The Company generally requires customers to pay for ancillary special projects in advance. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015 , customer deposits of $3.3 million and $2.1 million , respectively, were included in other accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Once the ancillary special project is completed or substantially complete and all project costs have been accumulated for proper accounting recognition, the advance payment is recognized as revenue with any overpayments refunded to the customer, as appropriate. The Company recognizes revenue upon the provision of video services in certain markets by reselling DirecTV and providing cable and IP television video-over-digital subscriber line services. The Company also publishes telephone directories in some of its Telecom Group markets and recognizes revenues associated with these publications evenly over the time period covered by the directory, which is typically twelve months. The Company bills late payment fees to customers who have not paid their bills in a timely manner. In general, late payment fee revenue is recognized based on collection of these charges. Non-recurring customer activation fees, along with the related costs up to, but not exceeding, the activation fees, are deferred and amortized over the customer relationship period. Under the Maine Public Utilities Commission ("MPUC") rules (Chapter 201), which went into effect August 1, 2014, the MPUC may open an investigation regarding the failure to meet any of the established SQI benchmarks and has the authority to impose penalties. The MPUC opened an investigation into the Company's failure to meet some third quarter 2014 SQI benchmarks and subsequently opened an investigation into the fourth quarter of 2014 and then with respect to each of the quarterly periods in 2015. On March 29, 2016, the MPUC consolidated the investigations of the six quarters into one investigation. On September 14, 2016, a hearing examiner for the MPUC issued a report recommending that the MPUC find that FairPoint had failed to meet SQI benchmarks for the period under review and impose a $500,000 penalty as allowed by statute, and provided until October 7, 2016 for comments or exceptions to be filed by interested parties. This recommendation did not constitute MPUC action. The Company promptly filed a motion to implement adjudicatory procedures prior to entry of any final order. After the Company’s motion to implement adjudicatory procedures was briefed by the parties, the Hearing Examiner issued an order on November 30, 2016 granting the Company’s motion in part and permanently withdrawing the Examiner’s September 14, 2016 report. A case schedule was established by the Hearing Examiner, and a hearing is currently scheduled to begin May 11, 2017. Subsequent legislation in Maine has superseded the SQI benchmarks applied in the examiner’s report. Effective with the new legislation, the reporting of service quality will be required only in the areas of the state where Provider of Last Resort ("POLR") is still required and will be filed and treated as confidential. The number of SQI reporting metrics has been reduced and the benchmarks are less stringent than under previous Commission rules. The Company also adopted a separate performance assurance plan ("PAP") for certain services provided on a wholesale basis to competitive local exchange carriers ("CLECs") in each of the states of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Pursuant to the PAPs, FairPoint was required to provide service credits in the event the Company was unable to meet the provisions of the respective PAP. Effective June 1, 2015, the PAP was retired and the Company began measuring and reporting certain wholesale local service performance results pursuant to the terms of a simplified measurement plan. The new plan, called the Wholesale Performance Plan ("WPP"), was developed collaboratively with CLECs over several years and was approved by the Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont regulatory commissions. Under the WPP, the Company is subject to significantly fewer performance criteria and its annual service credit exposure was reduced. In evaluating the presentation of taxes and surcharges, such as USF charges, sales, use, value added and some excise taxes, the Company determines whether it is the primary obligor or principal taxpayer. In jurisdictions where the Company deems that it is the principal taxpayer, the Company records these taxes and surcharges on a gross basis and include them in its revenues and costs of services and sales. In jurisdictions where the Company determines that it is a pass through agent for the government authority, it records the taxes on a net basis through the consolidated balance sheets. Customer arrangements that include both equipment and services are evaluated to determine whether the elements are separable. If the elements are deemed separable and separate earnings processes exist, the revenue associated with each element is allocated to each element based on the relative estimated selling price of the separate elements. The Company has estimated the selling prices of each element by reference to vendor-specific objective evidence of selling prices when the elements are sold separately. The revenue associated with each element is then recognized as earned. Management makes estimated adjustments, as necessary, to revenue and accounts receivable for billing errors, including certain disputed amounts. (c) Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. (d) Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded as a contra-asset of accounts receivable and represents the Company's best estimate of probable credit losses in the Company's existing accounts receivable. The Company establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers, historical trends, and other information. Accounts receivable balances are reviewed on an aged basis and account balances are written off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. The following is activity in the Company's allowance for doubtful accounts receivable for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 (in thousands): Years Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Balance, beginning of period $ 8,333 $ 9,894 $ 13,142 Provision charged to expense 577 5,793 9,218 Provision charged to other accounts (a) — (18 ) (43 ) Amounts written off, net of recoveries (5,273 ) (7,336 ) (12,423 ) Balance, end of period $ 3,637 $ 8,333 $ 9,894 (a) Provision charged to other accounts includes accruals charged to accounts payable for anticipated uncollectible charges on purchase of accounts receivable from others which were billed by the Company. (e) Credit Risk The financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and gross accounts receivable existing at December 31, 2016 . The Company places its cash with high-quality financial institutions. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable are principally related to trade receivables from other interexchange carriers and are otherwise limited to the Company's large number of customers in several states. The Company sponsors qualified pension plans for certain employees. Plan assets associated with these qualified pension plans are held by third party trustees and investments are comprised principally of debt and equity securities. The fair value of these plan assets is dependent on the financial condition of those entities issuing the debt and equity securities. A significant decline in the fair value of plan assets could result in additional Company contributions to the qualified pension plans in order to meet funding requirements under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"). For additional information regarding the plan assets of the Company's qualified pension plans, including the December 31, 2016 balance at risk, see note (11) "Employee Benefit Plans" herein. (f) Property, Plant and Equipment Given that a majority of the Company's property, plant and equipment is plant used in the Company's wireline and fiber-based Ethernet networks, depreciation is principally based on the composite group remaining life method and straight-line composite rates. This methodology provides for the recognition of the cost of the remaining net investment in telephone plant, property and equipment less anticipated positive net salvage value, over the remaining asset lives. When depreciable telephone plant is replaced or retired, the carrying amount of such plant is deducted from the respective accounts and charged to accumulated depreciation. No gain or loss is generally recognized on disposition of assets. Use of this methodology requires the periodic revision of depreciation rates. In the evaluation of asset lives, multiple factors are considered, including, but not limited to, the ongoing network deployment, technology upgrades and enhancements, planned retirements and the adequacy of reserves. The Company utilizes straight-line depreciation for its non-telephone property, plant and equipment. Periodically, the Company reviews the estimated remaining useful lives of its group asset categories to address continuing changes in technology, competition and the Company’s overall reduction in capital spending and increased focus on more efficient utilization of its existing assets. Network software purchased or developed in connection with related plant assets is capitalized. The Company also capitalizes interest associated with the acquisition or construction of network related assets. Capitalized interest is reported as part of the cost of the network related assets and as a reduction in interest expense. See "(i) Computer Software and Interest Costs" herein for additional information. (g) Long-Lived Assets Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. An impairment charge is recognized for the amount, if any, by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its fair value. As of December 31, 2016 , the Company performed its routine review of impairment triggering events and concluded that it does not believe a triggering event has occurred with respect to property, plant and equipment and intangible assets subject to amortization. (h) Asset Retirement Obligations The Company records the estimated fair value of an asset retirement obligation when incurred. The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset and depreciated over the asset's estimated useful life. The Company has asset retirement obligations related to battery, fuel tank and chemically-treated pole disposal as well as soil remediation at leased facilities. Considerable management judgment is required in estimating these obligations. Important assumptions include estimates of retirement costs, the timing of the future retirement activities and the likelihood or retirement provisions being enforced. Changes in these assumptions based on future information could result in adjustments to estimated liabilities. (i) Computer Software and Interest Costs The Company capitalizes certain costs incurred in connection with developing or obtaining internal use software which has a useful life in excess of one year. Capitalized costs include direct development costs associated with internal use software, including direct labor costs and external costs of materials and services. Subsequent additions, modifications or upgrades to internal-use software are capitalized only to the extent that they allow the software to perform a task it previously did not perform. Software maintenance and training costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred. In addition, the Company capitalizes the interest cost associated with the period of time over which the Company's internal use software is developed or obtained. During the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , the Company recorded the following with regards to software costs (in thousands): Years Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Capitalized software costs $ 10,282 $ 22,768 $ 17,984 Capitalized interest costs $ 148 $ 99 $ 70 Amortization expense on capitalized software $ 16,610 $ 14,669 $ 11,415 A summary of capitalized software is shown below (in thousands): December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Gross carrying amount $ 167,986 $ 176,778 Less: accumulated amortization (128,758 ) (131,031 ) Net capitalized software $ 39,228 $ 45,747 Estimated future amortization on capitalized software for each of the five years subsequent to December 31, 2016 are as follows (in thousands): Year ending December 31, 2017 $ 14,856 2018 $ 11,670 2019 $ 7,731 2020 $ 4,528 2021 $ 443 (j) Impairment of Other Intangible Assets Indefinite-lived Intangible Asset. Non-amortizable intangible assets are assessed for impairment at least annually. The Company performs its annual impairment test as of the first day of the fourth fiscal quarter of each year and assesses the fair value of the trade name based on the relief from royalty method. If the carrying amount of the trade name exceeds its estimated fair value, the asset is considered impaired. For its non-amortizable intangible asset impairment assessments of the FairPoint trade name, the Company makes certain assumptions including an estimated royalty rate, a long-term growth rate, an effective tax rate and a discount rate, and applies these assumptions to projected future cash flows, exclusive of cash flows associated with wholesale revenues and other revenues not generated through brand recognition. As of October 1, 2016 , the estimated fair value exceeded the carrying value in the Company's quantitative analysis; therefore, an impairment was not necessary. However, future changes in one or more of the assumptions discussed above may result in the recognition of an impairment loss. Amortizable Intangible Assets. Amortizable intangible assets must be reviewed for impairment as part of long-lived assets whenever indicators of impairment exist. See "(g) Long-Lived Assets" herein for additional information. (k) Accounting for Income Taxes Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management determines its estimates of future taxable income based upon the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities and tax planning strategies. The Company establishes valuation allowances for deferred tax assets when it is estimated to be more likely than not that the tax assets will not be realized. FairPoint Communications files a consolidated income tax return with its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. (l) Stock-Based Compensation The Company accounts for employee awards which are expected to vest. Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which generally begins on the date the award is granted through the date the award vests. (m) Employee Benefit Plans The Company recognizes the overfunded or underfunded status of its qualified defined benefit plans and post-employment benefit plans as either an asset or liability, respectively, on the consolidated balance sheets. Actuarial gains and losses that arise during the year are recognized as a component of comprehensive income/(loss), net of applicable income taxes, and included in accumulated other comprehensive income. These gains and losses are amortized over future years as a component of the net periodic benefit cost. (n) Operating Segments Management views its business of providing data, video and voice communications services to residential, wholesale and business customers as one operating segment . The Company's services consist of retail and wholesale communications and data services, including voice and HSD in 17 states. The Company's chief operating decision maker assesses operating performance and allocates resources based on the consolidated results. (o) Other Liabilities Accrued Bonuses. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015 , accrued bonuses of $12.7 million and $12.6 million , respectively, were included in accrued payroll and related liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. (p) Advertising Costs Advertising costs are expensed as they are incurred. During the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , advertising costs were $6.5 million , $6.6 million and $9.8 million , respectively. (q) Interest Rate Swap Agreements In the third quarter of 2013, the Company entered into interest rate swap agreements. For further information regarding these interest rate swap agreements, see note (9) "Interest Rate Swap Agreements." The interest rate swap agreements, at their inception, qualified for and were designated as cash flow hedging instruments. The Company records its interest rate swaps on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. The effective portion of changes in fair value are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income and are subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. Any ineffective portion is recognized in earnings. Both at inception and on a quarterly basis, the Company performs an effectiveness test.

Proposed Merger with Consolidat

Proposed Merger with Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc.	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Proposed Merger with Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc.	Proposed Merger with Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. On December 3, 2016, FairPoint Communications entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. ("Consolidated"), a Delaware Corporation, and Falcon Merger Sub, Inc., a newly formed Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Consolidated (“Merger Sub”), which provides for, among other things, a business combination whereby Merger Sub will merge with and into FairPoint Communications, with FairPoint Communications as the surviving entity (the “Merger”). As a result of the Merger, the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease, and FairPoint Communications will survive as a wholly owned subsidiary of Consolidated. Consolidated is a leading business and broadband communications provider throughout its 11 -state service area. If the Merger is completed, under the terms of the Merger Agreement, stockholders of FairPoint Communications will receive 0.7300 shares of common stock of Consolidated for each share of FairPoint Communications common stock that they own immediately before this transaction. If the Merger is not completed, FairPoint Communications may be required to pay a termination fee of $18.9 million under certain circumstances set forth in the Merger Agreement. The Merger is expected to close around the middle of 2017 and is subject to standard closing conditions, including federal and state regulatory approvals and the approval of both Consolidated’s and FairPoint Communications’ stockholders. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company recognized $4.5 million of merger related expenses, primarily for legal and financial advisory costs included in selling, general and administrative expense, excluding depreciation and amortization, on the consolidated statement of operations. The award agreements granted under the FairPoint Communications, Inc. Amended and Restated 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan (the "Long Term Incentive Plan") provide that upon the occurrence of a change in control, unvested benefits will be accelerated and vest in full.

Recent Accounting Pronouncement

Recent Accounting Pronouncements	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which is designed to clarify the principles used to recognize revenue for entities. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, ASU 2014-09 requires enhanced disclosures about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. While ASU 2014-09 is primarily associated with guidance for revenue from contracts with customers, it also includes new accounting principles related to deferral and amortization of contract acquisition and fulfillment costs. In 2016, the Company performed an assessment of its revenues, acquisition and fulfillment costs from contracts to understand any potential differences to its current accounting policies and business processes. The Company expects to have an impact concerning the deferral of acquisition costs as its current policy is to expense these costs as incurred. At this time, the Company continues to assess and determine data and system requirements necessary to quantify the impacts of this standard as well as to develop and provide the enhanced disclosures required by the new guidance. In July 2015, the FASB approved a one-year deferral of the effective date of ASU 2014-09. Subsequently, the FASB has issued several additional ASUs to clarify the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations, identifying performance obligations, assessing collectability, presentation of sales taxes and other similar taxes collected from customers, non-cash considerations, contract modifications and completed contracts at transition. The new pronouncements will be effective for annual and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017. The Company intends to adopt the new standard effective January 1, 2018. The standard allows for two methods of adoption: (1) "full retrospective" adoption, meaning the standard is applied to all periods presented, or (2) "modified retrospective" adoption, meaning the cumulative effect of applying ASU 2014-09 is recognized as an adjustment to the fiscal year 2018 opening retained earnings balance. Currently, the Company is evaluating the available adoption methods and plans to select an adoption method in the second half of 2017. In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern, which requires management to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures in certain circumstances. ASU 2014-15 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company adopted this pronouncement for its year ended December 31, 2016 and it did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, whereby, lessees will be required to recognize for all leases at the commencement date a lease liability, which is a lessee‘s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. Under the new guidance, lessor accounting is largely unchanged. A modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements must be applied. The modified retrospective approach would not require any transition accounting for leases that expired before the earliest comparative period presented. Companies may not apply a full retrospective transition approach. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early application is permitted. The Company is evaluating the potential impact of this pronouncement. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions, including, but not limited to: (a) income tax consequences; (b) classification of awards as either equity or liabilities; and (c) classification on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company does not believe the adoption of this pronouncement will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows: Restricted Cash, which requires a statement of cash flows to explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years, and early adoption is permitted, including in an interim period. If early adopted in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. ASU 2016-18 is to be applied through a retrospective transition method to each period presented. The Company does not believe that the adoption of this pronouncement will have a significant impact on its consolidated statements of cash flows.

Dividends

Dividends	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Dividends [Abstract]
Dividends	Dividends The Company currently does not pay a dividend on its common stock and has no plans to pay dividends.

Other Intangible Assets

Other Intangible Assets	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Intangible Assets	Other Intangible Assets Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets At December 31, 2016 and 2015 , the Company's trade name is recorded at $39.2 million . In addition, the Company completed an immaterial business acquisition during 2016 and recorded goodwill of $2.5 million . On October 1, 2016 and October 1, 2015 , the Company performed its annual non-amortizable intangible asset quantitative analysis and concluded that there was no impairment at that time. As of December 31, 2016 , the Company performed its routine review of impairment indicators and concluded that it did not believe a triggering event had occurred. Other Amortizable Intangible Assets The Company's amortizable intangible assets are as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Customer lists (weighted average 9.0 years) : Gross carrying amount $ 99,410 $ 99,000 Less: accumulated amortization (65,312 ) (54,290 ) Net customer lists $ 34,098 $ 44,710 Other net amortizable intangible assets $ 184 $ — Total amortizable intangible assets $ 34,282 $ 44,710 Amortization expense of the Company's amortizable intangible assets was $11.0 million , $11.0 million and $11.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , respectively, and is expected to be approximately $11.1 million in 2017 , 2018 , 2019 , respectively, $0.8 million in 2020 and $0.1 million in 2021 .

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment	Property, Plant and Equipment A summary of property, plant and equipment is shown below (in thousands): Estimated Life December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 (in years) Land — $ 35,217 $ 35,632 Buildings 40 215,897 211,115 Central office equipment 7 – 10 662,042 635,208 Outside communications plant 15 – 35 1,191,142 1,161,042 Furniture, vehicles and other work equipment 5 – 15 257,337 258,749 Plant under construction — 99,568 81,096 Other — 16,029 17,144 Total property, plant and equipment 2,477,232 2,399,986 Less: Accumulated depreciation (1,452,880 ) (1,281,205 ) Net property, plant and equipment $ 1,024,352 $ 1,118,781 Depreciation expense, excluding amortization of intangible assets, for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 was $211.3 million , $212.8 million and $209.7 million , respectively. Depreciation expense includes amortization of assets recorded under capital leases. The Company recorded $0.6 million of asset retirement obligations during the year ended December 31, 2015 . Net accretion expense, revisions in cash flow estimates and liability settlements were insignificant during the year. The Company's asset retirement obligations are included as a component of other accrued liabilities or other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets based on the expected timing of the obligation. As of December 31, 2016 , the Company's asset retirement liability of $4.8 million consisted of $0.3 million in other accrued liabilities and $4.5 million in other long-term liabilities. As of December 31, 2015 , the Company's asset retirement liability of $4.9 million consisted of $0.8 million in other accrued liabilities and $4.1 million in other long-term liabilities.

Long-term Debt

Long-term Debt	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Long-term Debt	Long-term Debt Long-term debt for the Company at December 31, 2016 and 2015 is shown below (in thousands): December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Term Loan, due 2019 (weighted average rate of 7.50%) $ 616,000 $ 622,400 Discount on Term Loan (a) (7,834 ) (11,138 ) Debt issuance costs (3,396 ) (4,717 ) Notes, 8.75%, due 2019 300,000 300,000 Total long-term debt 904,770 906,545 Less: current portion (6,400 ) (6,400 ) Total long-term debt, net of current portion $ 898,370 $ 900,145 (a) The $7.8 million and $11.1 million discount on the Term Loan (as defined below) as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively, is being amortized using the effective interest method over the life of the Term Loan. As of December 31, 2016 , the Company had $61.1 million , net of $13.9 million outstanding letters of credit, available for additional borrowing under the Revolving Facility (as defined below). The approximate aggregate maturities of long-term debt, excluding the debt discount on the Term Loan, for each of the three years subsequent to December 31, 2016 are as follows (in thousands): Year ending December 31, Balance Due 2017 $ 6,400 2018 6,400 2019 903,200 Total long-term debt, including current portion $ 916,000 Refinancing. On February 14, 2013 (the "Refinancing Closing Date"), FairPoint Communications refinanced its old credit agreement (the "Refinancing"). In connection with the Refinancing, FairPoint Communications (i) issued $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 8.75% senior secured notes due 2019 (the "Notes") in a private offering exempt from registration under the Securities Act pursuant to an indenture (the "Indenture") that FairPoint Communications entered into on the Refinancing Closing Date with certain of its subsidiaries that guarantee the indebtedness under the Credit Agreement (as defined herein) (the "Subsidiary Guarantors") and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee and collateral agent, and (ii) entered into a credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement"), dated as of the Refinancing Closing Date, with the lenders party thereto from time to time and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as administrative agent and letter of credit issuer. The Credit Agreement provides for a $75.0 million revolving credit facility (the ''Revolving Facility''), which has a sub-facility providing for the issuance of up to $40.0 million in letters of credit, and a $640.0 million term loan facility (the ''Term Loan'' and, together with the Revolving Facility, the ''Credit Agreement Loans"). On the Refinancing Closing Date, FairPoint Communications used the proceeds of the Notes offering, together with $640.0 million of borrowings under the Term Loan and cash on hand to (i) repay principal of $946.5 million outstanding on the old term loan, plus approximately $7.7 million of accrued interest and (ii) pay approximately $32.6 million of fees, expenses and other costs related to the Refinancing. The Credit Agreement. The principal amount of the Term Loan and commitments under the Revolving Facility may be increased by an aggregate amount of up to $200.0 million , subject to certain terms and conditions specified in the Credit Agreement. The Term Loan will mature on February 14, 2019 and the Revolving Facility will mature on February 14, 2018, subject in each case to extensions pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement. Interest Rates and Fees . Interest on borrowings under the Credit Agreement Loans accrue at an annual rate equal to either a British Bankers Association London Inter-Bank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") or the base rate, in each case plus an applicable margin. LIBOR is a per annum rate for dollar deposits with an interest period of one, two, three or six months (at FairPoint Communication's election), subject to a minimum LIBOR floor of 1.25% for the Term Loan. The base rate is the per annum rate equal to the greatest of (x) the federal funds effective rate plus 0.50% , (y) the rate of interest publicly quoted from time to time by The Wall Street Journal as the United States ''Prime Rate'' and (z) LIBOR with an interest period of one month plus 1.00% . The applicable margin for the Term Loan is (a) 6.25% per annum with respect to term loans bearing interest based on LIBOR or (b) 5.25% per annum with respect to term loans bearing interest based on the base rate. The applicable interest rate for the Revolving Facility is, initially, (a) 5.50% with respect to revolving loans bearing interest based on LIBOR or (b) 4.50% per annum with respect to revolving loans bearing interest based on the base rate, in each case subject to adjustment based on FairPoint Communication's consolidated total leverage ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement. FairPoint Communications is required to pay a quarterly letter of credit fee on the average daily amount available to be drawn under letters of credit issued under the Revolving Facility equal to the applicable interest rate for revolving loans bearing interest based on LIBOR, plus a fronting fee of 0.125% per annum on the average daily amount available to be drawn under such letters of credit. In addition, FairPoint Communications is required to pay a quarterly commitment fee on the average daily unused portion of the New Revolving Facility, which is 0.50% initially, subject to reduction to 0.375% based on FairPoint Communication's consolidated total leverage ratio. Security/Guarantors. All obligations under the Credit Agreement, together with certain designated hedging obligations and cash management obligations, are unconditionally guaranteed on a senior secured basis by certain subsidiaries of FairPoint Communications (the "Subsidiary Guarantors") and secured by a first-priority lien on substantially all personal property of FairPoint Communications and the Subsidiary Guarantors, subject to certain exclusions set forth in the related security documents, pari passu with the lien securing the obligations under the Notes. Mandatory Repayments . FairPoint Communications is required to make quarterly repayments of the Term Loan in a principal amount of $1.6 million during the term of the Credit Agreement. In addition, mandatory repayments are required under the Credit Agreement with (i) a percentage, initially equal to 50% and subject to reduction to 25% based on FairPoint Communication's consolidated total leverage ratio, of FairPoint Communication's excess cash flow, as defined in the Credit Agreement, (ii) the net cash proceeds of certain asset dispositions, insurance proceeds and condemnation awards and (iii) issuances of debt not permitted to be incurred under the Credit Agreement. No premium is required in connection with prepayments. Covenants . The Credit Agreement contains customary representations and warranties and affirmative and negative covenants for a transaction of this type, including two financial maintenance covenants: (i) a consolidated interest coverage ratio and (ii) a consolidated total leverage ratio. The Credit Agreement also contains a covenant limiting the amount of capital expenditures that FairPoint Communications and its subsidiaries may make in any fiscal year. As of December 31, 2016 , FairPoint Communications was in compliance with all covenants under the Credit Agreement. Events of Default . The Credit Agreement also contains customary events of default. The Notes. On the Refinancing Closing Date, FairPoint Communications issued $300.0 million of the Notes pursuant to the Indenture in a private offering exempt from registration under the Securities Act. The terms of the Notes are governed by the Indenture. The Notes are senior secured obligations of FairPoint Communications and are guaranteed by the Subsidiary Guarantors. The Notes and the guarantees thereof are secured by a first-priority lien on substantially all personal property of FairPoint Communications and the Subsidiary Guarantors, subject to certain exclusions set forth in the related security documents, pari passu with the lien securing the obligations under the Credit Agreement. The Notes will mature on August 15, 2019 and accrue interest at a rate of 8.75% per annum, which is payable semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year. Notes redeemed after February 15, 2016 and prior to February 15, 2017 may be redeemed at 104.375% of the aggregate principal amount; Notes redeemed on or after February 15, 2017 and prior to February 15, 2018 may be redeemed at 102.188% of the aggregate principal amount; and Notes redeemed on or after February 15, 2018 may be redeemed at their par value. The holders of the Notes have the ability to require FairPoint Communications to repurchase all or any part of the Notes if FairPoint Communications experiences certain kinds of changes in control or engages in certain asset sales, in each case at the repurchase prices and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture. The Indenture contains certain covenants which are customary with respect to non-investment grade debt securities, including limitations on FairPoint Communication's ability to incur additional indebtedness, pay dividends on or make other distributions or repurchase FairPoint Communication's capital stock, make certain investments, enter into certain types of transactions with affiliates, create liens and sell certain assets or merge with or into other companies. These covenants are subject to a number of important limitations and exceptions. As of December 31, 2016 , FairPoint Communications was in compliance with all covenants under the Indenture. The Indenture also provides for customary events of default, including cross defaults to other specified debt of FairPoint Communications and certain of its subsidiaries.

Interest Rate Swap Agreements

Interest Rate Swap Agreements	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Interest Rate Swap Agreements	Interest Rate Swap Agreements The Company uses interest rate swap agreements to protect the Company against future adverse fluctuations in interest rates by reducing its exposure to variability in cash flows relating to interest payments on a portion of its outstanding debt. The Company's interest rate swaps, which are designated as cash flow hedges, involve the receipt of variable amounts from counterparties in exchange for the Company making fixed-rate payments over the effective term of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount. The Company does not hold or issue any derivative financial instruments for speculative trading purposes. In the third quarter of 2013, the Company entered into interest rate swap agreements with a combined notional amount of $170.0 million with three counterparties that are effective for a two year period. Such swaps became effective on September 30, 2015 and mature on September 30, 2017. Each respective swap agreement requires the Company to pay a fixed rate of 2.665% and provides that the Company will receive a variable rate based on the three month LIBOR rate subject to a minimum LIBOR floor of 1.25% . Amounts payable by or due to the Company are net settled with the respective counterparties on the last business day of each fiscal quarter. The effect of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements on the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2016 and 2015 is shown below (in thousands): As of December 31, 2016 Derivatives designated as hedging instruments: Balance Sheet Location Fair Value Interest rate swaps, Current Other accrued liabilities $ 1,762 As of December 31, 2015 Derivatives designated as hedging instruments: Balance Sheet Location Fair Value Interest rate swaps, Current Other accrued liabilities $ 2,375 Interest rate swaps, Long-term Other long-term liabilities $ 1,232 The gross effect of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income/(loss) for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 is shown below (in thousands): Amount Recognized in Interest Expense (Pre-Tax) Amount of Loss/(Gain) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income on Derivative (Effective Portion) (Pre-Tax) Year Ended December 31, 2016 Year Ended December 31, 2015 Year Ended December 31, 2014 Year Ended December 31, 2016 Year Ended December 31, 2015 Year Ended December 31, 2014 Interest rate swaps $ 2,446 $ — $ — $ (1,845 ) $ 865 $ 1,737 Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income related to interest rate swaps will be reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on the Term Loan. The Company estimates that approximately $1.8 million will be reclassified as an increase to interest expense in the next 12 months. Each interest rate swap agreement contains a provision whereby if the Company defaults on any of its indebtedness, the Company may also be declared in default under the interest rate swap agreements.

Fair Value Fair Value

Fair Value Fair Value	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value	Fair Value In determining fair value, the Company uses a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. The hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the reliability of inputs as follows: Level 1 - Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. Level 2 - Valuations based on quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 - Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. The Company's non-financial assets and liabilities, including its long-lived assets and indefinite-lived intangible assets, are measured and subsequently adjusted, if necessary, to fair value on a non-recurring basis. The Company periodically performs routine reviews of triggering events and/or an impairment test, as applicable. Based on these procedures, the Company did not require an adjustment to fair value to be recorded to these assets in 2016 or 2015 . The Company's financial instruments, other than interest rate swap agreements and long-term debt, consist primarily of cash, restricted cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable. The carrying amounts of these financial instruments are estimated to approximate fair value due to the relatively short period of time to maturity for these instruments. As of December 31, 2016 , interest rate swap agreements are carried at their fair value and measured on a recurring basis as follows (in thousands): Fair Value Measurements Using Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Interest rate swaps, Current (a) $ — $ 1,762 $ — As of December 31, 2015 , interest rate swap agreements are carried at their fair value and measured on a recurring basis as follows (in thousands): Fair Value Measurements Using Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Interest rate swaps, Current (a) $ — $ 2,375 $ — Interest rate swaps, Long-term (a) $ — $ 1,232 $ — (a) The fair value is determined using valuation models which rely on the expected LIBOR based yield curve and estimates of counterparty and the Company’s non-performance risk. Because each of these inputs are directly observable or can be corroborated by observable market data, the Company has categorized these interest rate swaps as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. The estimated fair values of the Company's long-term debt as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Carrying Amount Fair Value (a) Carrying Amount Fair Value (a) Term Loan, due 2019 (b) $ 608,166 $ 620,620 $ 611,262 $ 616,954 Notes, 8.75%, due 2019 300,000 312,375 300,000 295,500 Total $ 908,166 $ 932,995 $ 911,262 $ 912,454 (a) The Company estimated fair value based on market prices of the Company's debt securities at the balance sheet dates, which falls within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. (b) The carrying amount of the Term Loan is net of the unamortized discount of $7.8 million and $11.1 million as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. For a discussion of the fair value measurement of the Company's pension plan assets, see note (11) "Employee Benefit Plans—Plan Assets, Obligations and Funded Status—Qualified Pension Plan Assets".

Employee Benefit Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Employee Benefit Plans	Employee Benefit Plans The Company sponsors noncontributory qualified defined benefit pension plans ("qualified pension plans") and post-employment benefit plans which provide certain cash payments and medical, dental and life insurance benefits to eligible retired employees and their beneficiaries and covered dependents. The qualified pension plans and certain post-employment benefit plans were created as part of the acquisition of the Northern New England operations from Verizon and mirrored the prior Verizon plans. The qualified pension plan available to represented employees was closed to new participants and benefits under the prior formula were frozen as of October 14, 2014. For existing participants, future benefit accruals for service on and after February 22, 2015 are at 50% of prior rates and are capped at 30 years of total credited service. The qualified pension plan available to non-represented employees remains frozen. The post-employment benefit plan provides medical, dental and life insurance benefits to eligible non-represented employees and former represented employees and, in some instances, to their spouses and families. Effective August 28, 2014, active represented employees are no longer eligible for this post-employment benefit plan. Upon ratification of the collective bargaining agreements on February 22, 2015 and for 30 months thereafter, active represented employees who retire and meet the eligibility requirements and their spouses are eligible to receive certain monthly reimbursements of medical insurance premiums until the retired employee reaches age 65 or dies, at which time the benefit will cease for the spouse as well. The Company makes contributions to the qualified pension plans to meet minimum funding requirements under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), and has the ability to elect to make additional discretionary contributions. The other post-employment benefit plans are unfunded and the Company funds the benefits that are paid. Annually, and as necessary, the Company remeasures the net liabilities of its qualified pension and other post-employment benefit plans. Plan Assets, Obligations and Funded Status A summary of plan assets, projected benefit obligation and funded status of the plans are as follows for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands): Qualified Pension Plans Year Ended December 31, 2016 Year Ended December 31, 2015 Fair value of plan assets: Beginning fair value of plan assets $ 197,062 $ 195,410 Actual return on plan assets 15,745 (3,677 ) Plan settlements (2,510 ) (4,472 ) Employer contributions 16,501 14,980 Benefits paid (3,898 ) (5,179 ) Ending fair value of plan assets 222,900 197,062 Projected benefit obligation: Beginning projected benefit obligation $ 347,624 $ 408,216 Service cost 6,880 8,391 Interest cost 15,079 14,879 Plan amendment (a) — (40,049 ) Plan settlements (2,510 ) (4,472 ) Plan curtailment — (2,426 ) Benefits paid (3,898 ) (5,179 ) Actuarial loss (6,358 ) (31,736 ) Ending projected benefit obligation 356,817 347,624 Funded status $ (133,917 ) $ (150,562 ) Accumulated benefit obligation $ 356,807 $ 347,619 Net amount recognized in long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets $ (133,917 ) $ (150,562 ) Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income: Prior service credit $ 29,867 $ 32,909 Net actuarial loss (93,953 ) (106,704 ) Net amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income $ (64,086 ) $ (73,795 ) (a) In the first quarter of 2015, the Company recognized a prior service credit for a negative plan amendment at remeasurement of the represented employees pension plan related to the elimination of prospective future increase in pension bands that were reduced under the terms of the collective bargaining agreements. Post-employment Benefit Plans Year Ended December 31, 2016 Year Ended December 31, 2015 Fair value of plan assets: Beginning fair value of plan assets $ — $ — Employer contributions 5,715 5,597 Benefits paid (5,715 ) (5,597 ) Ending fair value of plan assets — — Projected benefit obligation: Beginning projected benefit obligation $ 100,154 $ 741,372 Service cost 121 4,541 Interest cost 3,927 7,688 Plan amendments (a) — (609,619 ) Plan curtailment — (5,409 ) Benefits paid (5,715 ) (5,597 ) Actuarial loss (3,720 ) (32,822 ) Ending projected benefit obligation 94,767 100,154 Funded status $ (94,767 ) $ (100,154 ) Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets: Current liabilities $ (7,138 ) $ (6,112 ) Long-term liabilities (87,629 ) (94,042 ) Net amount recognized in the consolidated balance sheets $ (94,767 ) $ (100,154 ) Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income: Net prior service credit $ 41,690 $ 350,322 Net actuarial loss $ (16,508 ) $ (102,085 ) Net amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income $ 25,182 $ 248,237 (a) In the first quarter of 2015, the Company recognized a net prior service credit for a negative plan amendment at remeasurement of the post-employment benefit plan for represented employees primarily related to the elimination of the post-employment benefits for active represented employees under the terms of the collective bargaining agreements. Qualified Pension Plan Assets. The investment objective for the qualified pension plan assets is to achieve a rate of return sufficient to match or exceed the long-term growth rate of the plan liability, using investment vehicles that are consistent with the duration of each plan's liability. The investment objective also targets minimizing the risk of loss of principal. The Company's strategy emphasizes a long-term equity orientation, global diversification and financial and operating risk controls. Both active and passive management investment approaches are employed depending on perceived market efficiencies and various other factors. Diversification targets of 65% equity securities and 35% fixed income securities for the represented employees plan seeks to minimize the concentration of market risk. For the qualified pension plan for the non-represented employees, the diversification target is 45% equity securities and 55% fixed income securities and is invested using primarily a liability driven investment strategy. The asset allocation at December 31, 2016 for the Company's qualified pension plan assets was as follows: Non-Represented Employees Plan Represented Employees Plan Total Qualified Pension Plans Cash and cash equivalents (a) 3.5 % 5.4 % 5.2 % Equity securities 42.0 % 60.3 % 58.3 % Fixed income securities 54.5 % 34.3 % 36.5 % Plan asset portfolio allocation at December 31, 2016 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % (a) Cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2016 include amounts pending settlement from the purchase or sale of equity or fixed income securities. The fair values for the qualified pension plan assets by asset category at December 31, 2016 are as follows (in thousands): Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Cash and cash equivalents $ 11,619 $ 11,619 $ — $ — Equity securities 129,937 129,937 — — Fixed income securities 81,344 53,206 28,138 — Fair value of plan assets at December 31, 2016 $ 222,900 $ 194,762 $ 28,138 $ — The fair values for the qualified pension plan assets by asset category at December 31, 2015 were as follows (in thousands): Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,223 $ 1,223 $ — $ — Equity securities 138,684 79,512 59,172 — Fixed income securities 57,155 30,856 26,299 — Fair value of plan assets at December 31, 2015 $ 197,062 $ 111,591 $ 85,471 $ — Cash and cash equivalents include short-term investment funds, primarily in diversified portfolios of investment grade money market instruments and are valued using quoted market prices, and thus classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy, as outlined in note (10) "Fair Value". Equity securities include direct holdings of equity securities and units held in mutual funds that invest in equity securities of domestic and international corporations in a variety of industry sectors. The direct holdings and units held in publicly traded mutual funds are valued using quoted market prices and are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Fair values for units held in mutual funds that invest in equity securities that are not publicly traded are based on observable prices and are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The fair values of hedged equity funds are estimated using net asset value per share of the investments. The Company has the ability to redeem these investments at net asset value on a limited basis and thus has classified hedged equity funds within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The Company liquidated its positions in all its hedged equity funds per the terms of its investment agreements with such hedge equity funds in 2015. Fixed income securities are investments in corporate bonds, treasury securities, other debt instruments and mutual funds that invest in these instruments. These securities are expected to provide significant diversification benefits, in terms of asset volatility and pension funding volatility, in the portfolio and a stable source of income. Units held in corporate bonds, treasury securities and publicly traded mutual funds that invest in fixed income securities are valued using quoted market prices and are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Fair values of mutual funds that invest in fixed income securities that are not publicly traded are based on observable prices and are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance of plan assets that are measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the year ended December 31, 2015 is as follows (in thousands): Hedged Equity Funds Balance at December 31, 2014 $ 351 Purchases, sales and settlements, net (351 ) Balance at December 31, 2015 $ — Net Periodic Benefit Cost. The Company capitalizes a portion of net periodic benefit cost in conjunction with its use of internal labor resources utilized on capital projects. During the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , the Company recognized settlement charges in the qualified pension plan that covers non-represented employees. The settlements were incurred when the cumulative amount of lump sums paid to participants in the respective years exceeded the expected service and interest cost for the respective years. Components of the net periodic benefit cost related to the Company's qualified pension plans and other post-employment benefit plans for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 are as follows (in thousands): Qualified Pension Plans Year Ended December 31, 2016 Year Ended December 31, 2015 Year Ended December 31, 2014 Service cost $ 6,880 $ 8,391 $ 14,760 Interest cost 15,079 14,879 15,367 Expected return on plan assets (15,363 ) (14,635 ) (13,525 ) Amortization of prior service credit (3,042 ) (2,933 ) — Amortization of actuarial loss 5,383 6,718 2,054 Plan curtailment (a) — (4,207 ) — Plan settlement 629 1,022 671 Net periodic benefit cost 9,566 9,235 19,327 Less capitalized portion (599 ) (600 ) (1,184 ) Other post-employment benefit and pension (benefit)/expense $ 8,967 $ 8,635 $ 18,143 (a) The Company recognized a curtailment gain as the result of a workforce reduction in July 2015. Post-employment Benefit Plans Year Ended December 31, 2016 Year Ended December 31, 2015 Year Ended December 31, 2014 Service cost $ 121 $ 4,541 $ 24,969 Interest cost 3,927 7,688 29,908 Amortization of prior service credit (308,632 ) (304,626 ) (948 ) Amortization of actuarial loss 81,857 113,424 6,654 Net periodic benefit cost (222,727 ) (178,973 ) 60,583 Less capitalized portion — — (3,444 ) Other post-employment benefit and pension (benefit)/expense $ (222,727 ) $ (178,973 ) $ 57,139 Other Comprehensive Income. Other pre-tax changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income are as follows for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , respectively, (in thousands): Qualified Pension Plans Year Ended December 31, 2016 Year Ended December 31, 2015 Year Ended December 31, 2014 Amounts recognized in other comprehensive income: Prior service credit $ — $ (40,049 ) $ — Net (gain)/loss arising during the period (6,739 ) (13,424 ) 72,670 Amortization of prior service credit 3,042 2,933 — Amortization of net actuarial loss (5,383 ) (6,718 ) (2,725 ) Plan curtailment — 1,781 — Plan settlement (629 ) (1,022 ) — Total amount recognized in other comprehensive income $ (9,709 ) $ (56,499 ) $ 69,945 Estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income in the next fiscal year: Prior service credit $ 3,042 Net actuarial loss (4,772 ) Total amount estimated to be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income in the next fiscal year $ (1,730 ) Post-employment Benefit Plans Year Ended December 31, 2016 Year Ended December 31, 2015 Year Ended December 31, 2014 Amounts recognized in other comprehensive income: Prior service credit $ — $ (619,454 ) $ (46,277 ) Prior service cost — 9,835 — Plan curtailment — (5,409 ) — Net (gain)/loss arising during the period (3,720 ) (32,822 ) 148,434 Amortization of prior service credit 308,632 304,626 948 Amortization of net actuarial loss (81,857 ) (113,424 ) (6,654 ) Total amount recognized in other comprehensive income $ 223,055 $ (456,648 ) $ 96,451 Estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income in the next fiscal year: Net prior service credit $ 1,819 Net actuarial loss (1,083 ) Total amount estimated to be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income in the next fiscal year $ 736 Assumptions The determination of the net liability and the net periodic benefit cost recognized for the qualified pension plans and post-employment benefit plans by the Company are, in part, based on assumptions made by management. These assumptions include, among others, the discount rate applied to estimated future cash flows of the plans, the expected return on assets held by the qualified pension plans, certain demographic characteristics of the participants, such as expected retirement and mortality rates, and future inflation in healthcare costs. The Company also has an assumption regarding increases in the amount of post-employment benefit plans expenditures to be paid by the Company, based upon the past practice of such increases being provided to participants. These assumptions are reviewed at least annually for changes with the Company's independent actuaries. Projected Benefit Obligation Assumptions. The weighted average assumptions used in determining projected benefit obligations are as follows: December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Qualified Pension Plans: Discount rate 4.49 % 4.44 % Rate of compensation increase (a) 3.00 % 3.00 % Post-employment Benefit Plans: Discount rate 4.20 % 4.15 % Rate of compensation increase (a) N/A N/A (a) The rate of future increases in compensation assumption only applies to the plans for represented employees as plans for non-represented employees are frozen. Net Periodic Benefit Cost Assumptions. The weighted average assumptions used in determining net periodic cost are as follows: Years Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Qualified Pension Plans: Discount rate 4.48 % 4.39 % 4.92 % Expected return on plan assets (a) 7.34 % 7.31 % 7.66 % Rate of compensation increase (b) 3.00 % 3.00 % 3.00 % Post-employment Benefit Plans: Discount rate 4.18 % 3.54 % 4.98 % Rate of compensation increase (b) N/A N/A 4.00 % Healthcare cost trend rate (c) 7.40 % 7.70 % 7.90 % Rate that the cost trend rates ultimately declines to 4.50 % 4.50 % 4.50 % Year that the rates reach the terminal rate 2037 2030 2030 (a) The expected return on plan assets is the long-term rate-of-return the Company expects to earn on the plan assets. In developing the expected return on plan asset assumption, the Company evaluated historical investment performance, the plans' asset allocation strategies and return forecasts for each asset class and input from its advisors. Projected returns by such advisors were based on broad equity and fixed income indices. The expected return on plan assets is reviewed annually in conjunction with other plan assumptions and, if considered necessary, revised to reflect changes in the financial markets and the investment strategy. The investment strategy and target allocations of the qualified pension plans previously disclosed in "—Plan Assets, Obligations and Funded Status—Qualified Pension Plan Assets" herein were utilized. (b) The rate of future increases in compensation assumption only applies to the plans for represented employees as plans for non-represented employees are frozen. (c) The rate of healthcare cost trend assumption for 2016 and 2015 applies to the other post-employment benefit plan for management and existing represented retirees. Post-employment Benefit Plans Sensitivity. A 1% change in the medical trend rate assumed for post-employment benefits at December 31, 2016 would have the following effects (in thousands): Increase (Decrease) 1% increase in the medical trend rate: Effect on total service cost and interest cost components $ 420 Effect on benefit obligation $ 10,122 1% decrease in the medical trend rate: Effect on total service cost and interest cost components $ (349 ) Effect on benefit obligation $ (8,423 ) Estimated Future Contributions and Benefit Payments Legislation enacted in 2014 changed the method in determining the discount rate used for calculating a qualified pension plan’s unfunded liability. This act contained a pension funding stabilization provision which allows pension plan sponsors to use higher interest rate assumptions when determining funded status and funding obligations. As a result, the Company's 2016 and 2015 minimum required pension plan contributions are significantly lower than it would have been in the absence of this stabilization provision. Estimated future employer contributions and benefit payments as of December 31, 2016 are as follows (in thousands): Qualified Pension Plans Post-employment Benefit Plans Expected employer contributions for fiscal year 2017 $ 18,431 $ 7,138 Expected benefit payments for fiscal years: 2017 $ 8,558 $ 7,138 2018 9,919 6,686 2019 11,473 6,637 2020 11,846 6,455 2021 13,135 6,267 2022-2026 84,859 27,230 401(k) Savings Plans As of December 31, 2016 , the Company and its subsidiaries sponsor a voluntary 401(k) savings plans that cover all eligible Telecom Group employees and northern New England management employees, and a voluntary 401(k) savings plan that covers all eligible northern New England represented employees (collectively, "the 401(k) Plans"). Each 401(k) Plan year, the Company contributes an amount of matching contributions to the 401(k) Plans determined by the Company at its discretion for management employees and based on collective bargaining agreements for all other employees. For the 401(k) Plan years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , the Company generally matched 100% of each employee's contribution up to 5% of compensation. Total Company contributions to all 401(k) Plans were $8.9 million , $8.8 million and $9.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , respectively.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes Income Tax (Expense)/Benefit Income tax (expense)/benefit for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 , 2014 , respectively, consists of the following components (in thousands): Years Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Current: Federal $ — $ — $ — State and local (240 ) (203 ) (86 ) Total current income tax expense (240 ) (203 ) (86 ) Deferred: Federal (35,179 ) (1,501 ) 25,081 State and local (7,430 ) 2,761 4,783 Total deferred income tax (expense)/benefit (42,609 ) 1,260 29,864 Total income tax (expense)/benefit $ (42,849 ) $ 1,057 $ 29,778 For the year ended December 31, 2016 , the tax expense on $146.9 million of pre-tax net income equates to an effective tax rate of 29.2% . The rate differs from the 35% federal statutory rate primarily due to a tax benefit associated with a decrease in the valuation allowance offset by a tax expense related to state taxes. For the year ended December 31, 2015 , the tax benefit on $89.4 million of pre-tax net income equates to an effective tax rate of (1.2)% . The rate differs from the 35% federal statutory rate primarily due to a tax benefit associated with a decrease in the valuation allowance as well as a tax benefit related to state taxes. For the year ended December 31, 2014 , the tax benefit on $166.1 million of pre-tax loss equates to an effective tax rate of 17.9% . The rate differs from the 35% federal statutory rate primarily due to tax expense associated with an increase in the valuation allowance offset by a tax benefit related to state taxes. A reconciliation of the Company's statutory tax rate to its effective tax rate is presented below (in percentages): Years Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Statutory federal income tax/(benefit) rate (1) 35.0 % 35.0 % (35.0 )% State income tax benefit, net of federal income tax 3.3 (1.9 ) (2.1 ) Other, net 0.7 0.2 0.3 Valuation allowance (benefit)/expense (9.8 ) (34.5 ) 18.9 Effective income tax rate 29.2 % (1.2 )% (17.9 )% (1) The statutory federal income tax is an expense in 2016 and 2015 due to pre-tax net income for those years and the statutory federal income tax is a benefit in 2014 due to pre-tax net losses for the year ended December 31, 2014 . The effective tax rate reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2016 is 23.2% . This effective tax rate is due to a tax benefit on other net comprehensive loss partially offset by tax expense associated with an increase in the valuation allowance. Deferred Income Taxes The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 are presented below (in thousands): December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Deferred tax assets: Federal and state tax loss carryforwards $ 106,928 $ 103,981 Employee benefits 107,152 115,531 Allowance for doubtful accounts 1,454 3,342 Alternative minimum tax and other state credits 4,299 5,094 Capitalized restructuring costs 2,326 2,739 Deferred revenue 3,636 4,414 Other, net 4,673 8,059 Total gross deferred tax assets 230,468 243,160 Deferred tax liabilities: Property, plant, and equipment 183,575 212,906 Goodwill and other intangible assets 26,184 29,588 Other, net 7,274 10,613 Total gross deferred tax liabilities 217,033 253,107 Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) before valuation allowance 13,435 (9,947 ) Valuation allowance (41,451 ) (25,128 ) Net deferred tax liabilities $ (28,016 ) $ (35,075 ) At December 31, 2016 , the Company had gross federal NOL carryforwards of $285.0 million . The Company's remaining federal NOL carryforwards will expire from 2019 to 2036 . At December 31, 2016 , the Company had a net, after attribute reduction, state NOL deferred tax asset of $11.6 million . The Company's remaining state NOL carryforwards will expire from 2017 to 2036 . The amount that expired in 2016 was negligible. At December 31, 2016 , the Company had a negligible alternative minimum tax credit carryover and had $4.3 million in state credit carryovers. Telecom Group completed an initial public offering on February 8, 2005, which resulted in an "ownership change" within the meaning of the United States of America federal income tax laws addressing NOL carryforwards, alternative minimum tax credits and other similar tax attributes. The Spinco Merger and the Company's emergence from Chapter 11 protection also resulted in ownership changes. As a result of these ownership changes, there are specific limitations on the Company's ability to use its NOL carryforwards and other tax attributes. The Company believes it can use the NOLs even with these restrictions in place. Valuation Allowance. At December 31, 2016 and 2015 , the Company established a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets of $41.5 million and $25.1 million , respectively, which consists of a $29.2 million and $14.7 million federal allowance, respectively, and a $12.3 million and $10.4 million state allowance, respectively. During 2016 , an increase in the Company's valuation allowance of $35.5 million was allocated to accumulated other comprehensive income in the consolidated balance sheet. During 2015 , a decrease in the Company's valuation allowance of $195.5 million was allocated to accumulated other comprehensive income in the consolidated balance sheet. During 2014, an increase in the Company's valuation allowance of $58.3 million was allocated to accumulated other comprehensive income in the consolidated balance sheet. The following is activity in the Company's valuation allowance for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , respectively (in thousands): Years Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Balance, beginning of period $ (25,128 ) $ (259,857 ) $ (166,773 ) (Increase) decrease allocated to other comprehensive income (35,511 ) 195,540 (58,254 ) (Increase) decrease allocated to continuing operations 19,188 39,189 (34,830 ) Balance, end of period $ (41,451 ) $ (25,128 ) $ (259,857 ) Unrecognized Tax Benefits. As of December 31, 2016 , the Company's total unrecognized tax benefits were $4.0 million , which were recorded as a reduction of the Company's federal and state NOL carryforwards. The total unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate were $3.8 million . The Company does not expect a significant increase or decrease in its unrecognized tax benefits during the next twelve months. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands): Balance as of December 31, 2014 $ 4,035 Additions for tax positions of prior years 12 Balance as of December 31, 2015 $ 4,047 Additions for tax positions of prior years — Balance as of December 31, 2016 $ 4,047 The Company recognizes any interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company made payments of interest and penalties in the amount of $0.1 million . During the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the Company did not make any payments of interest and penalties. There was no thing accrued in the consolidated balance sheets for the payment of interest and penalties at December 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively, as the remaining unrecognized tax benefits would only serve to reduce the Company's current federal and state NOL carryforwards, if ultimately recognized. Income Tax Returns The Company and its eligible subsidiaries file consolidated income tax returns in the United States of America federal jurisdiction and certain consolidated, combined and separate entity tax returns, as required, with various state and local governments. Based solely on statutes of limitations, the Company would not be subject to United States of America federal, state and local, or non-United States of America income tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2012. However, tax years prior to 2012 may be subject to examination by federal or state taxing authorities if the Company's NOL carryovers from those years are utilized in the future. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015 , the Company does not have any significant jurisdictional tax audits.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of income tax, were as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes: Fair value of interest rate swaps $ (1,054 ) $ (2,160 ) Qualified pension and other post-employment benefit plans 22,590 186,152 Total accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes $ 21,536 $ 183,992 Other comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively, includes changes in the fair value of the Company's cash flow hedges, actuarial losses and prior service credits related to the qualified pension and other post-employment benefit plans arising during the respective periods and amortization of these actuarial losses and prior service credits. For further detail of amounts recognized in other comprehensive income related to the cash flow hedges, see note (9) "Interest Rate Swap Agreements" herein. For further detail of amounts recognized in other comprehensive income related to the qualified pension and other post-employment benefit plans, see note (11) "Employee Benefit Plans—Plan Assets, Obligations and Funded Status—Other Comprehensive Income" herein. The following table provides a reconciliation of adjustments reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to the consolidated statement of operations (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2016 Employee benefits: Amortization of actuarial loss (.65 years to 11.47 years) (a) $ 87,240 Amortization of net prior service credit (.87 years to 23.91 years) (a) (311,674 ) Plan settlement (a) 629 Total employee benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (223,805 ) Tax benefit (b) 52,214 Total employee benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net $ (171,591 ) Interest rate swaps: Interest rate swaps reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (c) $ 2,446 Tax expense (b) $ (979 ) Total interest rate swaps reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net $ 1,467 Total amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net $ (170,124 ) (a) These accumulated other comprehensive income components are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost. See note (11) "Employee Benefit Plans" for details. (b) See note (12) "Income Taxes" for details. (c) These accumulated other comprehensive income components are included in interest expense. See note (9) "Interest Rate Swap Agreements" for details.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share	Earnings Per Share Basic earnings per share of the Company is computed by dividing net income/(loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Except when the effect would be anti-dilutive, the diluted earnings per share calculation using the treasury stock method includes the impact of stock units, shares of non-vested restricted stock and shares that could be issued under outstanding stock options. Weighted average number of common shares used for basic earnings per share excludes weighted average shares of non-vested restricted stock of 199,222 , 232,274 and 235,462 for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , respectively. Non-vested restricted stock is included in common shares issued and outstanding in the consolidated balance sheets. Potentially dilutive shares exclude warrants and stock options in accordance with the treasury stock method primarily due to exercise prices exceeding the average market value. Since the Company incurred a loss for the year ended December 31, 2014 , all potentially dilutive securities are anti-dilutive and, therefore, are excluded from the determination of diluted earnings per share. The following table provides a reconciliation of the common shares used for basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share: Years Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Weighted average number of common shares used for basic earnings per share 26,854,396 26,652,240 26,449,408 Effect of potential dilutive shares 265,041 320,639 — Weighted average number of common shares and potential dilutive shares used for diluted earnings per share 27,119,437 26,972,879 26,449,408 Weighted average number of anti-dilutive shares outstanding at period-end that are excluded from the above reconciliation 3,916,342 4,141,096 4,463,364

Stockholders' Deficit

Stockholders' Deficit	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]
Stockholders' Deficit	Stockholders' Deficit At December 31, 2016 , 37,500,000 shares of common stock were authorized and 27,074,398 shares of common stock (including shares of non-vested restricted stock) and 3,582,402 warrants, each eligible to purchase one share of common stock, were outstanding. The initial exercise price applicable to the warrants is $48.81 per share of common stock. The exercise price applicable to the warrants is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events described in the warrant agreement. The warrants may be exercised at any time on or before January 24, 2018.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Stock-Based Compensation	Stock-Based Compensation Stock-based compensation expense recognized in the financial statements is as follows (in thousands): Years Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Amounts charged against income, before income tax benefit $ 6,291 $ 6,357 $ 4,274 Amount of related income tax benefit recognized in income (2,516 ) (2,529 ) (1,714 ) Total net income/loss impact $ 3,775 $ 3,828 $ 2,560 At December 31, 2016 , the Company had $5.6 million of stock-based compensation cost related to non-vested awards that will be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.75 years, all of which is related to awards granted under the Long Term Incentive Plan. Long Term Incentive Plan The Long Term Incentive Plan provides for grants of up to 5,674,277 shares of common stock awards, of which stock options, restricted stock awards and performance share awards and other types of equity awards can be granted. As of December 31, 2016 , there are 1,423,409 shares available for grant under the Long Term Incentive Plan. Each stock option granted reduces the availability under the Long Term Incentive Plan by one share. Prior to the approval of the amendment and restatement of the Long Term Incentive Plan by the Company's stockholders on May 12, 2014, each restricted stock award granted reduced the availability under the Long Term Incentive Plan by one share and on or after May 12, 2014 each restricted stock award granted reduces the availability by 1.35 shares. Upon the exercise of each stock option or vesting of each restricted share award, one new share of common stock will be issued. For the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , the Company granted shares of restricted stock and stock options with one of the following vesting terms: (i) vest immediately; (ii) vest 100% on the first anniversary; (iii) vest over three equal annual installments, with one-third vesting on the first anniversary of the grant date and one-third on the second and third anniversaries thereafter or (iv) vest 25% immediately and 25% on the first, second and third anniversaries thereafter. In addition, for the year ended December 31, 2016 , the Company granted performance share awards that vest at the end of a three -year performance period based upon achievement of certain market (total shareholder return) and non-market (growth revenue) performance measures. Stock Options. Stock options have a term of 10 years from the date of grant; however, vested stock options will generally expire 90 days after an employee's termination with the Company, unless the Company is in a blackout period. Stock option activity under the Long Term Incentive Plan is summarized as follows: Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years) Outstanding at December 31, 2013 1,399,123 $ 16.74 Granted (a) 462,374 13.31 Exercised (51,050 ) 6.28 Forfeited (2,005 ) 4.31 Expired (33,597 ) 23.65 Outstanding at December 31, 2014 1,774,845 $ 16.03 Granted (a) 620,843 14.74 Exercised (b) (210,638 ) 10.07 Forfeited (83,495 ) 13.41 Expired (70,943 ) 24.07 Outstanding at December 31, 2015 2,030,612 $ 16.08 Granted (a) 531,975 14.57 Exercised (b) (178,650 ) 10.27 Forfeited (96,592 ) 14.35 Expired (115,875 ) 23.58 Outstanding at December 31, 2016 2,171,470 $ 15.87 6.5 Exercisable at December 31, 2016 (c) 1,492,405 $ 16.49 5.6 Vested and Expected to Vest at December 31, 2016 (d) 2,148,754 $ 15.88 6.5 (a) During the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , the weighted average grant date fair value of stock options granted was $4.3 million , $5.4 million and $3.2 million , respectively. For purposes of determining compensation expense, the grant date fair value per share of the stock options was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model which requires the use of various assumptions including the expected life of the option, expected dividend rate, expected volatility and risk-free interest rate. Key assumptions used for determining the fair value of stock options granted were as follows: Years Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Expected life (1) 5.5 - 6.5 years 5.5 - 6.5 years 5.5 - 6.5 years Expected dividend (2) — — — Expected volatility (3) 55.1 % 59.6 % 51.0 % Risk-free interest rate (4) 1.40% - 1.76% 1.35% - 2.02% 1.63% - 2.19% (1) The 5.5 -year and 6.5 -year expected lives (estimated period of time outstanding) of stock options granted were estimated using the ‘Simplified Method' which utilizes the midpoint between the vesting date and the end of the contractual term. This method was utilized for the stock options due to the lack of historical exercise behavior of the Company's employees. (2) For all stock options granted during 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , no dividends are planned to be paid over the contractual term of the stock options resulting in the use of a zero expected dividend rate. (3) The expected volatility rate is based on the observed historical volatilities of the Company's common stock and observed historical and implied volatilities of comparable companies, which were adjusted to account for the various differences between the comparable companies and the Company. (4) The risk-free interest rate is specific to the date of grant and is based on the United States Treasury constant maturity market yield in effect at the time of the grant. (b) During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 , the total intrinsic value of stock options that were exercised was $0.9 million and $1.7 million , respectively. (c) Based upon a fair market value of the common stock as of December 30, 2016 of $18.70 per share, the stock options that are exercisable have an aggregate intrinsic value (equal to the value of in-the-money stock options above their respective exercise price) of $6.5 million . (d) Based upon a fair market value of the common stock as of December 30, 2016 of $18.70 per share, the stock options that have vested and are expected to vest have an aggregate intrinsic value (equal to the value of in-the-money stock options above their respective exercise price) of $9.2 million . Based upon the respective grant fair value, the aggregate fair value of stock options that vested during the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 , and 2014 was $3.2 million , $2.7 million , and $2.9 million , respectively. Time-Based Restricted Stock Awards. Restricted stock award activity under the Long Term Incentive Plan is summarized as follows: Awards Outstanding Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share Non-vested at December 31, 2013 264,655 $ 12.64 Granted (a) 216,586 13.21 Vested (b) (249,205 ) 13.58 Non-vested at December 31, 2014 232,036 $ 12.15 Granted (a) 161,011 15.06 Vested (b) (156,445 ) 12.52 Forfeited (10,550 ) $ 12.21 Non-vested at December 31, 2015 226,052 $ 13.97 Granted (a) 175,735 14.68 Vested (b) (158,469 ) 13.89 Forfeited (47,350 ) 14.42 Non-vested at December 31, 2016 195,968 $ 14.56 (a) The grant date fair value per share of the restricted stock awards under the Long Term Incentive Plan was calculated as the fair market value per share of the common stock on the date of grant. During the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , the weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock awards granted was $2.6 million , $2.4 million , and $2.9 million , respectively. (b) Based upon the respective grant date fair value, the aggregate fair value of restricted stock which vested during the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 was $2.2 million , $2.0 million and $3.4 million , respectively. Performance Share Awards. Performance share awards activity under the Long Term Incentive Plan is summarized as follows: Awards Outstanding Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share Non-vested at December 31, 2014 — $ — Granted (a) 149,500 12.87 Forfeited (18,443 ) 12.82 Non-vested at December 31, 2015 131,057 $ 12.87 Granted (a) 126,000 11.88 Forfeited (38,278 ) 12.38 Non-vested at December 31, 2016 218,779 $ 12.39 (a) During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 , the weighted average grant date fair value of performance share awards granted was $1.5 million and $1.9 million , respectively. The grant date fair value of the non-market portion of the performance share awards was calculated as the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant. For purposes of determining compensation expense for the market portion of the performance share awards, the grant date fair value was estimated using the Monte Carlo valuation model.

Business Concentrations

Business Concentrations	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]
Business Concentrations	Business Concentrations Geographic As of December 31, 2016 , 83% of the Company's residential voice lines were located in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. As a result of this geographic concentration, the Company's financial results will depend significantly upon economic conditions in these markets. A deterioration or recession in any of these markets could result in a decrease in demand for the Company's services and a resulting loss of access line equivalents which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and/or the market price of the Company's outstanding securities. In addition, if state regulators in Maine, New Hampshire or Vermont were to take an action that is adverse to the Company's operations in those states, the Company could suffer greater harm from that action by state regulators than it would from action in other states because of the concentration of operations in those states. Labor As of December 31, 2016 , the Company employed approximately 2,500 employees, approximately 1,500 , or 60% , of whom were covered by 13 collective bargaining agreements.

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies (a) Leases The Company currently leases real estate and network equipment under capital and operating leases expiring through the year ending 2039. The Company accounts for leases using the straight-line method, which amortizes contracted total payments evenly over the lease term. Future minimum lease payments under capital leases and non-cancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2016 are as follows (in thousands): Capital Leases Operating Leases Year ending December 31: 2017 $ 1,279 $ 6,644 2018 921 4,607 2019 554 2,912 2020 224 1,895 2021 56 962 Thereafter — 739 Total minimum lease payments $ 3,034 $ 17,759 Less: interest and executory cost (496 ) Present value of minimum lease payments 2,538 Less: current installments (1,227 ) Long-term obligations at December 31, 2016 $ 1,311 Total rent expense primarily for real estate, vehicles and office equipment was $9.4 million , $9.4 million and $9.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , respectively. The Company does not have any leases with contingent rental payments or any leases with contingency renewal, purchase options, or escalation clauses. (b) Legal Proceedings From time to time, the Company is party to various other legal and regulatory proceedings in the ordinary course of business. The Company is a defendant in approximately 16 lawsuits filed by two long distance communications companies, who as plaintiffs have collectively filed over 60 lawsuits arising from switched access charges for calls originating and terminating within the same wireless major trading area. These cases have all been consolidated and transferred to federal district court (the "Court") in Dallas, Texas. The defendants filed joint motions to dismiss these actions. On November 17, 2015, the Court granted the defendants' motions dismissing the plaintiffs' federal law based claims with prejudice. The state law based claims were allowed to be amended and refiled. The Court denied the plaintiffs' request for an immediate appeal of the dismissal of the federal law based claims. Counterclaims against the plaintiffs for the failure to pay these access charges have been filed by the Company. The Company and some of the co-defendants have filed lawsuits against a third long distance communications company for the failure to pay this same type of access charge. These additional lawsuits have also been consolidated and transferred to the Court. Additional motions have been filed by the plaintiffs and defendants, which are still pending. At this time, an estimate of the impact, if any, of these claims cannot be made. See also "Class Action Complaint" under note (20) "Subsequent Events" herein. While management presently believes that the ultimate outcome of these proceedings, individually and in the aggregate, will not materially harm the Company’s financial position, cash flows, or overall trends in results of operations, legal proceedings are inherently uncertain, and unfavorable rulings could, individually or in aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, or operating results. (c) Restricted Cash As of December 31, 2016 and 2015 , the Company had $0.7 million and $0.7 million , respectively, of restricted cash, which is restricted for regulatory purposes and is included in long-term restricted cash on the consolidated balance sheets.

Quarterly Financial Information

Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)	Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) The quarterly information presented below represents selected quarterly financial results for the quarters ended March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands, except per share data). 2016 First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Revenue $ 206,816 $ 206,557 $ 207,141 $ 203,929 Other post-employment benefit and pension (benefit)/expense (1) (53,228 ) (53,486 ) (67,428 ) (39,618 ) Net income (2) 18,568 29,315 40,207 16,005 Income/(loss) per share: Basic $ 0.69 $ 1.09 $ 1.50 $ 0.60 Diluted $ 0.68 $ 1.08 $ 1.48 $ 0.59 2015 First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Revenue $ 213,974 $ 214,098 $ 221,569 $ 209,824 Other post-employment benefit and pension (benefit)/expense (1) (6,898 ) (52,460 ) (57,568 ) (53,412 ) Net income/(loss) (2) (45,213 ) 40,265 53,054 42,310 Loss per share: Basic $ (1.70 ) $ 1.51 $ 1.99 $ 1.59 Diluted $ (1.70 ) $ 1.49 $ 1.96 $ 1.56 (1) Presented for comparative purposes. (2) The Company generated net income beginning in the second quarter of 2015 largely due to the remeasurement of the employee benefit plans in the first quarter of 2015 as described further in note (11) "Employee Benefit Plans."

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events Class Action Complaint On February 7, 2017, an alleged class action complaint was filed by a purported stockholder of FairPoint Communications in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina (Case No. 3:17-cv-51) against FairPoint Communications, its directors, Consolidated and Merger Sub. Among other things, the complaint alleges that the disclosures in the Form S-4 Registration Statement filed by Consolidated with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 26, 2017 in connection with the Merger are materially incomplete and misleading in violation of Sections 14(a) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act. The plaintiff seeks to enjoin the defendants from consummating the Merger on the agreed-upon terms or alternatively, to rescind the Merger in the event the defendants consummate the Merger, in addition to damages and attorney fees and costs. FairPoint Communications and the other defendants have not yet filed an answer or other responsive pleading to the complaint.

Significant Accounting Polici29

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include all majority-owned subsidiaries of the Company. Partially owned equity affiliates are accounted for under the cost method or equity method when the Company demonstrates significant influence, but does not have a controlling financial interest. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.
Presentation and Use of Estimates	Presentation and Use of Estimates The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"), which require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of results of operations and financial condition for the interim periods shown, including normal recurring accruals and other items. The Company reclassified "Claims payable and estimated claims accrual" to "Other accrued liabilities" in the December 31, 2015 consolidated balance sheet to be consistent with current period presentation. Examples of significant estimates include the allowance for doubtful accounts, revenue reserves, the depreciation of property, plant and equipment, valuation of intangible assets, qualified pension and other post-employment benefit plan assumptions, stock-based compensation and income taxes.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition Revenues are recognized as services are rendered and are primarily derived from the usage of the Company's networks and facilities or under revenue-sharing arrangements with other communications carriers. Revenues are primarily derived from: voice services, access (including pooling), certain Connect America Fund ("CAF") receipts, Internet and broadband services and other miscellaneous services. Local access charges are billed to local end users under tariffs approved by each state's Public Utilities Commission ("PUC") or by rates, terms and conditions determined by the Company. Access revenues are derived for the intrastate jurisdiction by billing access charges to interexchange carriers and to other LECs. These charges are billed based on toll or access tariffs approved by the local state's PUC. Access charges for the interstate jurisdiction are billed in accordance with tariffs filed by the National Exchange Carrier Association ("NECA") or by the individual company and approved by the Federal Communications Commission (the "FCC"). On July 14, 2016, the FCC adopted a Declaratory Order that classifies switched access services provided by Incumbent LECs as non-dominant services. This change in classification will not impact rates or revenues as the rates continue to be subject to rules established for all access providers pursuant to the Intercarrier Compensation transition rules adopted in 2011. Revenues are determined on a bill-and-keep basis or a pooling basis. If on a bill-and-keep basis, the Company bills the charges to the customer and keeps the revenue. If the Company participates in a pooling environment (interstate or intrastate), the revenue from the covered services is contributed to a revenue pool. The revenue is then distributed to individual companies based on their company-specific revenue requirement or similar distribution methods. This distribution is based on individual state PUCs' (intrastate) or the FCC's (interstate) approved settlement mechanisms, separation rules and rates of return. Distribution from these pools can change relative to changes made to expenses, plant investment or rate-of-return. Some companies participate in federal and certain state universal service programs that are pooling in nature but are regulated by rules separate from those described above. These rules vary by state. Revenues earned through the various pooling arrangements are initially recorded based on the Company's estimates. On November 18, 2011, the FCC released its comprehensive landmark order to modify the nationwide system of universal support and the CAF/intercarrier compensation ("ICC") system (the "CAF/ICC Order"). Rule changes associated with the FCC's CAF/ICC Order impact the NECA interstate pooling, in that a portion of the Company's interstate Universal Service Fund ("USF") revenues, which are administered through the NECA pools and which prior to January 1, 2012 were based on costs, are now based on rules from the FCC's CAF/ICC Order, including CAF Phase II support where FairPoint accepted CAF Phase II support, continued CAF Phase I frozen support where FairPoint did not accept CAF Phase II support and CAF/ICC rules in states where FairPoint is eligible for such support under the ICC Transition Rules for price cap and rate-of-return carriers. FairPoint accepted CAF Phase II support in all states except Kansas and Colorado. The CAF Phase II revenue is being recognized on a straight-line basis, ratably over the six -year period in which the funding will be received. The accepted transition funding is being recognized monthly as received over the three-year transition period ending in July 2018. The Company is required to meet certain interim milestones over the six -year period of CAF Phase II and the Company performs a quarterly assessment of its progress. Revenue from long distance switched retail and wholesale services can be recurring due to coverage under an unlimited calling plan or can be usage sensitive. In either case, they are billed in arrears and recognized when earned. Internet and data services revenues are substantially all recurring revenues and are billed one month in advance and deferred until earned. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015 , unearned revenue of $18.2 million and $19.9 million , respectively, was included in other accrued liabilities and unearned revenue of $4.8 million and $7.6 million , respectively, was included in other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The majority of the Company's other miscellaneous services revenue is generated from ancillary special projects at the request of third parties, video services, directory services and late payment charges to end users and wholesale carriers. The Company generally requires customers to pay for ancillary special projects in advance. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015 , customer deposits of $3.3 million and $2.1 million , respectively, were included in other accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Once the ancillary special project is completed or substantially complete and all project costs have been accumulated for proper accounting recognition, the advance payment is recognized as revenue with any overpayments refunded to the customer, as appropriate. The Company recognizes revenue upon the provision of video services in certain markets by reselling DirecTV and providing cable and IP television video-over-digital subscriber line services. The Company also publishes telephone directories in some of its Telecom Group markets and recognizes revenues associated with these publications evenly over the time period covered by the directory, which is typically twelve months. The Company bills late payment fees to customers who have not paid their bills in a timely manner. In general, late payment fee revenue is recognized based on collection of these charges. Non-recurring customer activation fees, along with the related costs up to, but not exceeding, the activation fees, are deferred and amortized over the customer relationship period. Under the Maine Public Utilities Commission ("MPUC") rules (Chapter 201), which went into effect August 1, 2014, the MPUC may open an investigation regarding the failure to meet any of the established SQI benchmarks and has the authority to impose penalties. The MPUC opened an investigation into the Company's failure to meet some third quarter 2014 SQI benchmarks and subsequently opened an investigation into the fourth quarter of 2014 and then with respect to each of the quarterly periods in 2015. On March 29, 2016, the MPUC consolidated the investigations of the six quarters into one investigation. On September 14, 2016, a hearing examiner for the MPUC issued a report recommending that the MPUC find that FairPoint had failed to meet SQI benchmarks for the period under review and impose a $500,000 penalty as allowed by statute, and provided until October 7, 2016 for comments or exceptions to be filed by interested parties. This recommendation did not constitute MPUC action. The Company promptly filed a motion to implement adjudicatory procedures prior to entry of any final order. After the Company’s motion to implement adjudicatory procedures was briefed by the parties, the Hearing Examiner issued an order on November 30, 2016 granting the Company’s motion in part and permanently withdrawing the Examiner’s September 14, 2016 report. A case schedule was established by the Hearing Examiner, and a hearing is currently scheduled to begin May 11, 2017. Subsequent legislation in Maine has superseded the SQI benchmarks applied in the examiner’s report. Effective with the new legislation, the reporting of service quality will be required only in the areas of the state where Provider of Last Resort ("POLR") is still required and will be filed and treated as confidential. The number of SQI reporting metrics has been reduced and the benchmarks are less stringent than under previous Commission rules. The Company also adopted a separate performance assurance plan ("PAP") for certain services provided on a wholesale basis to competitive local exchange carriers ("CLECs") in each of the states of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Pursuant to the PAPs, FairPoint was required to provide service credits in the event the Company was unable to meet the provisions of the respective PAP. Effective June 1, 2015, the PAP was retired and the Company began measuring and reporting certain wholesale local service performance results pursuant to the terms of a simplified measurement plan. The new plan, called the Wholesale Performance Plan ("WPP"), was developed collaboratively with CLECs over several years and was approved by the Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont regulatory commissions. Under the WPP, the Company is subject to significantly fewer performance criteria and its annual service credit exposure was reduced. In evaluating the presentation of taxes and surcharges, such as USF charges, sales, use, value added and some excise taxes, the Company determines whether it is the primary obligor or principal taxpayer. In jurisdictions where the Company deems that it is the principal taxpayer, the Company records these taxes and surcharges on a gross basis and include them in its revenues and costs of services and sales. In jurisdictions where the Company determines that it is a pass through agent for the government authority, it records the taxes on a net basis through the consolidated balance sheets. Customer arrangements that include both equipment and services are evaluated to determine whether the elements are separable. If the elements are deemed separable and separate earnings processes exist, the revenue associated with each element is allocated to each element based on the relative estimated selling price of the separate elements. The Company has estimated the selling prices of each element by reference to vendor-specific objective evidence of selling prices when the elements are sold separately. The revenue associated with each element is then recognized as earned. Management makes estimated adjustments, as necessary, to revenue and accounts receivable for billing errors, including certain disputed amounts.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
Accounts Receivable	Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded as a contra-asset of accounts receivable and represents the Company's best estimate of probable credit losses in the Company's existing accounts receivable. The Company establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers, historical trends, and other information. Accounts receivable balances are reviewed on an aged basis and account balances are written off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote.
Credit Risk	Credit Risk The financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and gross accounts receivable existing at December 31, 2016 . The Company places its cash with high-quality financial institutions. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable are principally related to trade receivables from other interexchange carriers and are otherwise limited to the Company's large number of customers in several states. The Company sponsors qualified pension plans for certain employees. Plan assets associated with these qualified pension plans are held by third party trustees and investments are comprised principally of debt and equity securities. The fair value of these plan assets is dependent on the financial condition of those entities issuing the debt and equity securities. A significant decline in the fair value of plan assets could result in additional Company contributions to the qualified pension plans in order to meet funding requirements under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA").
Property, Plant and Equipment	Property, Plant and Equipment Given that a majority of the Company's property, plant and equipment is plant used in the Company's wireline and fiber-based Ethernet networks, depreciation is principally based on the composite group remaining life method and straight-line composite rates. This methodology provides for the recognition of the cost of the remaining net investment in telephone plant, property and equipment less anticipated positive net salvage value, over the remaining asset lives. When depreciable telephone plant is replaced or retired, the carrying amount of such plant is deducted from the respective accounts and charged to accumulated depreciation. No gain or loss is generally recognized on disposition of assets. Use of this methodology requires the periodic revision of depreciation rates. In the evaluation of asset lives, multiple factors are considered, including, but not limited to, the ongoing network deployment, technology upgrades and enhancements, planned retirements and the adequacy of reserves. The Company utilizes straight-line depreciation for its non-telephone property, plant and equipment. Periodically, the Company reviews the estimated remaining useful lives of its group asset categories to address continuing changes in technology, competition and the Company’s overall reduction in capital spending and increased focus on more efficient utilization of its existing assets. Network software purchased or developed in connection with related plant assets is capitalized. The Company also capitalizes interest associated with the acquisition or construction of network related assets. Capitalized interest is reported as part of the cost of the network related assets and as a reduction in interest expense.
Long-Lived Assets	Long-Lived Assets Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. An impairment charge is recognized for the amount, if any, by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its fair value. As of December 31, 2016 , the Company performed its routine review of impairment triggering events and concluded that it does not believe a triggering event has occurred with respect to property, plant and equipment and intangible assets subject to amortization.
Asset Retirement Obligations	Asset Retirement Obligations The Company records the estimated fair value of an asset retirement obligation when incurred. The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset and depreciated over the asset's estimated useful life. The Company has asset retirement obligations related to battery, fuel tank and chemically-treated pole disposal as well as soil remediation at leased facilities. Considerable management judgment is required in estimating these obligations. Important assumptions include estimates of retirement costs, the timing of the future retirement activities and the likelihood or retirement provisions being enforced. Changes in these assumptions based on future information could result in adjustments to estimated liabilities.
Computer Software and Interest Costs	Computer Software and Interest Costs The Company capitalizes certain costs incurred in connection with developing or obtaining internal use software which has a useful life in excess of one year. Capitalized costs include direct development costs associated with internal use software, including direct labor costs and external costs of materials and services. Subsequent additions, modifications or upgrades to internal-use software are capitalized only to the extent that they allow the software to perform a task it previously did not perform. Software maintenance and training costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred. In addition, the Company capitalizes the interest cost associated with the period of time over which the Company's internal use software is developed or obtained.
Impairment of Other Intangible Assets	Impairment of Other Intangible Assets Indefinite-lived Intangible Asset. Non-amortizable intangible assets are assessed for impairment at least annually. The Company performs its annual impairment test as of the first day of the fourth fiscal quarter of each year and assesses the fair value of the trade name based on the relief from royalty method. If the carrying amount of the trade name exceeds its estimated fair value, the asset is considered impaired. For its non-amortizable intangible asset impairment assessments of the FairPoint trade name, the Company makes certain assumptions including an estimated royalty rate, a long-term growth rate, an effective tax rate and a discount rate, and applies these assumptions to projected future cash flows, exclusive of cash flows associated with wholesale revenues and other revenues not generated through brand recognition. As of October 1, 2016 , the estimated fair value exceeded the carrying value in the Company's quantitative analysis; therefore, an impairment was not necessary. However, future changes in one or more of the assumptions discussed above may result in the recognition of an impairment loss. Amortizable Intangible Assets. Amortizable intangible assets must be reviewed for impairment as part of long-lived assets whenever indicators of impairment exist. See "(g) Long-Lived Assets" herein for additional information.
Accounting for Income Taxes	Accounting for Income Taxes Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management determines its estimates of future taxable income based upon the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities and tax planning strategies. The Company establishes valuation allowances for deferred tax assets when it is estimated to be more likely than not that the tax assets will not be realized. FairPoint Communications files a consolidated income tax return with its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.
Stock-Based Compensation	Stock-Based Compensation The Company accounts for employee awards which are expected to vest. Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which generally begins on the date the award is granted through the date the award vests.
Employee Benefit Plans	Employee Benefit Plans The Company recognizes the overfunded or underfunded status of its qualified defined benefit plans and post-employment benefit plans as either an asset or liability, respectively, on the consolidated balance sheets. Actuarial gains and losses that arise during the year are recognized as a component of comprehensive income/(loss), net of applicable income taxes, and included in accumulated other comprehensive income. These gains and losses are amortized over future years as a component of the net periodic benefit cost.
Operating Segments	Operating Segments Management views its business of providing data, video and voice communications services to residential, wholesale and business customers as one operating segment . The Company's services consist of retail and wholesale communications and data services, including voice and HSD in 17 states. The Company's chief operating decision maker assesses operating performance and allocates resources based on the consolidated results.
Other Liabilities	Other Liabilities Accrued Bonuses. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015 , accrued bonuses of $12.7 million and $12.6 million , respectively, were included in accrued payroll and related liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
Advertising Costs	Advertising Costs Advertising costs are expensed as they are incurred.
Interest Rate Swap Agreements	Interest Rate Swap Agreements In the third quarter of 2013, the Company entered into interest rate swap agreements. For further information regarding these interest rate swap agreements, see note (9) "Interest Rate Swap Agreements." The interest rate swap agreements, at their inception, qualified for and were designated as cash flow hedging instruments. The Company records its interest rate swaps on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. The effective portion of changes in fair value are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income and are subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. Any ineffective portion is recognized in earnings. Both at inception and on a quarterly basis, the Company performs an effectiveness test.
Fair Value	Fair Value In determining fair value, the Company uses a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. The hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the reliability of inputs as follows: Level 1 - Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. Level 2 - Valuations based on quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 - Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.

Significant Accounting Polici30

Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Allowance for Credit Losses on Financing Receivables	The following is activity in the Company's allowance for doubtful accounts receivable for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 (in thousands): Years Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Balance, beginning of period $ 8,333 $ 9,894 $ 13,142 Provision charged to expense 577 5,793 9,218 Provision charged to other accounts (a) — (18 ) (43 ) Amounts written off, net of recoveries (5,273 ) (7,336 ) (12,423 ) Balance, end of period $ 3,637 $ 8,333 $ 9,894 (a) Provision charged to other accounts includes accruals charged to accounts payable for anticipated uncollectible charges on purchase of accounts receivable from others which were billed by the Company.
Schedule Of Capitalized Software Costs	During the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , the Company recorded the following with regards to software costs (in thousands): Years Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Capitalized software costs $ 10,282 $ 22,768 $ 17,984 Capitalized interest costs $ 148 $ 99 $ 70 Amortization expense on capitalized software $ 16,610 $ 14,669 $ 11,415 A summary of capitalized software is shown below (in thousands): December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Gross carrying amount $ 167,986 $ 176,778 Less: accumulated amortization (128,758 ) (131,031 ) Net capitalized software $ 39,228 $ 45,747
Schedule Of Future Amortization Of Property, Plant and Equipment	Estimated future amortization on capitalized software for each of the five years subsequent to December 31, 2016 are as follows (in thousands): Year ending December 31, 2017 $ 14,856 2018 $ 11,670 2019 $ 7,731 2020 $ 4,528 2021 $ 443

Other Intangible Assets (Tables

Other Intangible Assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Intangible Assets and Goodwill	The Company's amortizable intangible assets are as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Customer lists (weighted average 9.0 years) : Gross carrying amount $ 99,410 $ 99,000 Less: accumulated amortization (65,312 ) (54,290 ) Net customer lists $ 34,098 $ 44,710 Other net amortizable intangible assets $ 184 $ — Total amortizable intangible assets $ 34,282 $ 44,710

Property, Plant and Equipment (

Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment	A summary of property, plant and equipment is shown below (in thousands): Estimated Life December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 (in years) Land — $ 35,217 $ 35,632 Buildings 40 215,897 211,115 Central office equipment 7 – 10 662,042 635,208 Outside communications plant 15 – 35 1,191,142 1,161,042 Furniture, vehicles and other work equipment 5 – 15 257,337 258,749 Plant under construction — 99,568 81,096 Other — 16,029 17,144 Total property, plant and equipment 2,477,232 2,399,986 Less: Accumulated depreciation (1,452,880 ) (1,281,205 ) Net property, plant and equipment $ 1,024,352 $ 1,118,781

Long-term Debt (Tables)

Long-term Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Long-term Debt Balances	Long-term debt for the Company at December 31, 2016 and 2015 is shown below (in thousands): December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Term Loan, due 2019 (weighted average rate of 7.50%) $ 616,000 $ 622,400 Discount on Term Loan (a) (7,834 ) (11,138 ) Debt issuance costs (3,396 ) (4,717 ) Notes, 8.75%, due 2019 300,000 300,000 Total long-term debt 904,770 906,545 Less: current portion (6,400 ) (6,400 ) Total long-term debt, net of current portion $ 898,370 $ 900,145 (a) The $7.8 million and $11.1 million discount on the Term Loan (as defined below) as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively, is being amortized using the effective interest method over the life of the Term Loan.
Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt	The approximate aggregate maturities of long-term debt, excluding the debt discount on the Term Loan, for each of the three years subsequent to December 31, 2016 are as follows (in thousands): Year ending December 31, Balance Due 2017 $ 6,400 2018 6,400 2019 903,200 Total long-term debt, including current portion $ 916,000

Interest Rate Swap Agreements (

Interest Rate Swap Agreements (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Interest Rate Derivatives	The effect of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements on the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2016 and 2015 is shown below (in thousands): As of December 31, 2016 Derivatives designated as hedging instruments: Balance Sheet Location Fair Value Interest rate swaps, Current Other accrued liabilities $ 1,762 As of December 31, 2015 Derivatives designated as hedging instruments: Balance Sheet Location Fair Value Interest rate swaps, Current Other accrued liabilities $ 2,375 Interest rate swaps, Long-term Other long-term liabilities $ 1,232
Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) in Statement of Financial Performance	The gross effect of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income/(loss) for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 is shown below (in thousands): Amount Recognized in Interest Expense (Pre-Tax) Amount of Loss/(Gain) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income on Derivative (Effective Portion) (Pre-Tax) Year Ended December 31, 2016 Year Ended December 31, 2015 Year Ended December 31, 2014 Year Ended December 31, 2016 Year Ended December 31, 2015 Year Ended December 31, 2014 Interest rate swaps $ 2,446 $ — $ — $ (1,845 ) $ 865 $ 1,737

Fair Value (Tables)

Fair Value (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring	The carrying amounts of these financial instruments are estimated to approximate fair value due to the relatively short period of time to maturity for these instruments. As of December 31, 2016 , interest rate swap agreements are carried at their fair value and measured on a recurring basis as follows (in thousands): Fair Value Measurements Using Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Interest rate swaps, Current (a) $ — $ 1,762 $ — As of December 31, 2015 , interest rate swap agreements are carried at their fair value and measured on a recurring basis as follows (in thousands): Fair Value Measurements Using Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Interest rate swaps, Current (a) $ — $ 2,375 $ — Interest rate swaps, Long-term (a) $ — $ 1,232 $ — (a) The fair value is determined using valuation models which rely on the expected LIBOR based yield curve and estimates of counterparty and the Company’s non-performance risk. Because each of these inputs are directly observable or can be corroborated by observable market data, the Company has categorized these interest rate swaps as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.
Schedule of Carrying Values and Estimated Fair Values of Debt Instruments	The estimated fair values of the Company's long-term debt as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Carrying Amount Fair Value (a) Carrying Amount Fair Value (a) Term Loan, due 2019 (b) $ 608,166 $ 620,620 $ 611,262 $ 616,954 Notes, 8.75%, due 2019 300,000 312,375 300,000 295,500 Total $ 908,166 $ 932,995 $ 911,262 $ 912,454 (a) The Company estimated fair value based on market prices of the Company's debt securities at the balance sheet dates, which falls within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. (b) The carrying amount of the Term Loan is net of the unamortized discount of $7.8 million and $11.1 million as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively.

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures	A summary of plan assets, projected benefit obligation and funded status of the plans are as follows for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands): Qualified Pension Plans Year Ended December 31, 2016 Year Ended December 31, 2015 Fair value of plan assets: Beginning fair value of plan assets $ 197,062 $ 195,410 Actual return on plan assets 15,745 (3,677 ) Plan settlements (2,510 ) (4,472 ) Employer contributions 16,501 14,980 Benefits paid (3,898 ) (5,179 ) Ending fair value of plan assets 222,900 197,062 Projected benefit obligation: Beginning projected benefit obligation $ 347,624 $ 408,216 Service cost 6,880 8,391 Interest cost 15,079 14,879 Plan amendment (a) — (40,049 ) Plan settlements (2,510 ) (4,472 ) Plan curtailment — (2,426 ) Benefits paid (3,898 ) (5,179 ) Actuarial loss (6,358 ) (31,736 ) Ending projected benefit obligation 356,817 347,624 Funded status $ (133,917 ) $ (150,562 ) Accumulated benefit obligation $ 356,807 $ 347,619 Net amount recognized in long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets $ (133,917 ) $ (150,562 ) Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income: Prior service credit $ 29,867 $ 32,909 Net actuarial loss (93,953 ) (106,704 ) Net amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income $ (64,086 ) $ (73,795 ) (a) In the first quarter of 2015, the Company recognized a prior service credit for a negative plan amendment at remeasurement of the represented employees pension plan related to the elimination of prospective future increase in pension bands that were reduced under the terms of the collective bargaining agreements. Post-employment Benefit Plans Year Ended December 31, 2016 Year Ended December 31, 2015 Fair value of plan assets: Beginning fair value of plan assets $ — $ — Employer contributions 5,715 5,597 Benefits paid (5,715 ) (5,597 ) Ending fair value of plan assets — — Projected benefit obligation: Beginning projected benefit obligation $ 100,154 $ 741,372 Service cost 121 4,541 Interest cost 3,927 7,688 Plan amendments (a) — (609,619 ) Plan curtailment — (5,409 ) Benefits paid (5,715 ) (5,597 ) Actuarial loss (3,720 ) (32,822 ) Ending projected benefit obligation 94,767 100,154 Funded status $ (94,767 ) $ (100,154 ) Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets: Current liabilities $ (7,138 ) $ (6,112 ) Long-term liabilities (87,629 ) (94,042 ) Net amount recognized in the consolidated balance sheets $ (94,767 ) $ (100,154 ) Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income: Net prior service credit $ 41,690 $ 350,322 Net actuarial loss $ (16,508 ) $ (102,085 ) Net amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income $ 25,182 $ 248,237 (a) In the first quarter of 2015, the Company recognized a net prior service credit for a negative plan amendment at remeasurement of the post-employment benefit plan for represented employees primarily related to the elimination of the post-employment benefits for active represented employees under the terms of the collective bargaining agreements.
Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets	The asset allocation at December 31, 2016 for the Company's qualified pension plan assets was as follows: Non-Represented Employees Plan Represented Employees Plan Total Qualified Pension Plans Cash and cash equivalents (a) 3.5 % 5.4 % 5.2 % Equity securities 42.0 % 60.3 % 58.3 % Fixed income securities 54.5 % 34.3 % 36.5 % Plan asset portfolio allocation at December 31, 2016 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % (a) Cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2016 include amounts pending settlement from the purchase or sale of equity or fixed income securities. The fair values for the qualified pension plan assets by asset category at December 31, 2016 are as follows (in thousands): Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Cash and cash equivalents $ 11,619 $ 11,619 $ — $ — Equity securities 129,937 129,937 — — Fixed income securities 81,344 53,206 28,138 — Fair value of plan assets at December 31, 2016 $ 222,900 $ 194,762 $ 28,138 $ — The fair values for the qualified pension plan assets by asset category at December 31, 2015 were as follows (in thousands): Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,223 $ 1,223 $ — $ — Equity securities 138,684 79,512 59,172 — Fixed income securities 57,155 30,856 26,299 — Fair value of plan assets at December 31, 2015 $ 197,062 $ 111,591 $ 85,471 $ —
Schedule of Effect of Significant Unobservable Inputs, Changes in Plan Assets	A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance of plan assets that are measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the year ended December 31, 2015 is as follows (in thousands): Hedged Equity Funds Balance at December 31, 2014 $ 351 Purchases, sales and settlements, net (351 ) Balance at December 31, 2015 $ —
Schedule of Net Periodic Benefit Costs of Pension and Post-Retirement Healthcare	Components of the net periodic benefit cost related to the Company's qualified pension plans and other post-employment benefit plans for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 are as follows (in thousands): Qualified Pension Plans Year Ended December 31, 2016 Year Ended December 31, 2015 Year Ended December 31, 2014 Service cost $ 6,880 $ 8,391 $ 14,760 Interest cost 15,079 14,879 15,367 Expected return on plan assets (15,363 ) (14,635 ) (13,525 ) Amortization of prior service credit (3,042 ) (2,933 ) — Amortization of actuarial loss 5,383 6,718 2,054 Plan curtailment (a) — (4,207 ) — Plan settlement 629 1,022 671 Net periodic benefit cost 9,566 9,235 19,327 Less capitalized portion (599 ) (600 ) (1,184 ) Other post-employment benefit and pension (benefit)/expense $ 8,967 $ 8,635 $ 18,143 (a) The Company recognized a curtailment gain as the result of a workforce reduction in July 2015. Post-employment Benefit Plans Year Ended December 31, 2016 Year Ended December 31, 2015 Year Ended December 31, 2014 Service cost $ 121 $ 4,541 $ 24,969 Interest cost 3,927 7,688 29,908 Amortization of prior service credit (308,632 ) (304,626 ) (948 ) Amortization of actuarial loss 81,857 113,424 6,654 Net periodic benefit cost (222,727 ) (178,973 ) 60,583 Less capitalized portion — — (3,444 ) Other post-employment benefit and pension (benefit)/expense $ (222,727 ) $ (178,973 ) $ 57,139
Schedule of Defined Benefit Plan Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Other pre-tax changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income are as follows for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , respectively, (in thousands): Qualified Pension Plans Year Ended December 31, 2016 Year Ended December 31, 2015 Year Ended December 31, 2014 Amounts recognized in other comprehensive income: Prior service credit $ — $ (40,049 ) $ — Net (gain)/loss arising during the period (6,739 ) (13,424 ) 72,670 Amortization of prior service credit 3,042 2,933 — Amortization of net actuarial loss (5,383 ) (6,718 ) (2,725 ) Plan curtailment — 1,781 — Plan settlement (629 ) (1,022 ) — Total amount recognized in other comprehensive income $ (9,709 ) $ (56,499 ) $ 69,945 Estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income in the next fiscal year: Prior service credit $ 3,042 Net actuarial loss (4,772 ) Total amount estimated to be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income in the next fiscal year $ (1,730 ) Post-employment Benefit Plans Year Ended December 31, 2016 Year Ended December 31, 2015 Year Ended December 31, 2014 Amounts recognized in other comprehensive income: Prior service credit $ — $ (619,454 ) $ (46,277 ) Prior service cost — 9,835 — Plan curtailment — (5,409 ) — Net (gain)/loss arising during the period (3,720 ) (32,822 ) 148,434 Amortization of prior service credit 308,632 304,626 948 Amortization of net actuarial loss (81,857 ) (113,424 ) (6,654 ) Total amount recognized in other comprehensive income $ 223,055 $ (456,648 ) $ 96,451 Estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income in the next fiscal year: Net prior service credit $ 1,819 Net actuarial loss (1,083 ) Total amount estimated to be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income in the next fiscal year $ 736
Schedule of Assumptions Used	The weighted average assumptions used in determining projected benefit obligations are as follows: December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Qualified Pension Plans: Discount rate 4.49 % 4.44 % Rate of compensation increase (a) 3.00 % 3.00 % Post-employment Benefit Plans: Discount rate 4.20 % 4.15 % Rate of compensation increase (a) N/A N/A (a) The rate of future increases in compensation assumption only applies to the plans for represented employees as plans for non-represented employees are frozen. Net Periodic Benefit Cost Assumptions. The weighted average assumptions used in determining net periodic cost are as follows: Years Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Qualified Pension Plans: Discount rate 4.48 % 4.39 % 4.92 % Expected return on plan assets (a) 7.34 % 7.31 % 7.66 % Rate of compensation increase (b) 3.00 % 3.00 % 3.00 % Post-employment Benefit Plans: Discount rate 4.18 % 3.54 % 4.98 % Rate of compensation increase (b) N/A N/A 4.00 % Healthcare cost trend rate (c) 7.40 % 7.70 % 7.90 % Rate that the cost trend rates ultimately declines to 4.50 % 4.50 % 4.50 % Year that the rates reach the terminal rate 2037 2030 2030 (a) The expected return on plan assets is the long-term rate-of-return the Company expects to earn on the plan assets. In developing the expected return on plan asset assumption, the Company evaluated historical investment performance, the plans' asset allocation strategies and return forecasts for each asset class and input from its advisors. Projected returns by such advisors were based on broad equity and fixed income indices. The expected return on plan assets is reviewed annually in conjunction with other plan assumptions and, if considered necessary, revised to reflect changes in the financial markets and the investment strategy. The investment strategy and target allocations of the qualified pension plans previously disclosed in "—Plan Assets, Obligations and Funded Status—Qualified Pension Plan Assets" herein were utilized. (b) The rate of future increases in compensation assumption only applies to the plans for represented employees as plans for non-represented employees are frozen. (c) The rate of healthcare cost trend assumption for 2016 and 2015 applies to the other post-employment benefit plan for management and existing represented retirees.
Schedule of Effect of One-Percentage-Point Change in Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rate	Post-employment Benefit Plans Sensitivity. A 1% change in the medical trend rate assumed for post-employment benefits at December 31, 2016 would have the following effects (in thousands): Increase (Decrease) 1% increase in the medical trend rate: Effect on total service cost and interest cost components $ 420 Effect on benefit obligation $ 10,122 1% decrease in the medical trend rate: Effect on total service cost and interest cost components $ (349 ) Effect on benefit obligation $ (8,423 )
Schedule of Expected Benefit Payments	Estimated future employer contributions and benefit payments as of December 31, 2016 are as follows (in thousands): Qualified Pension Plans Post-employment Benefit Plans Expected employer contributions for fiscal year 2017 $ 18,431 $ 7,138 Expected benefit payments for fiscal years: 2017 $ 8,558 $ 7,138 2018 9,919 6,686 2019 11,473 6,637 2020 11,846 6,455 2021 13,135 6,267 2022-2026 84,859 27,230

Income Taxes (Tables)

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	Income tax (expense)/benefit for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 , 2014 , respectively, consists of the following components (in thousands): Years Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Current: Federal $ — $ — $ — State and local (240 ) (203 ) (86 ) Total current income tax expense (240 ) (203 ) (86 ) Deferred: Federal (35,179 ) (1,501 ) 25,081 State and local (7,430 ) 2,761 4,783 Total deferred income tax (expense)/benefit (42,609 ) 1,260 29,864 Total income tax (expense)/benefit $ (42,849 ) $ 1,057 $ 29,778
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation	A reconciliation of the Company's statutory tax rate to its effective tax rate is presented below (in percentages): Years Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Statutory federal income tax/(benefit) rate (1) 35.0 % 35.0 % (35.0 )% State income tax benefit, net of federal income tax 3.3 (1.9 ) (2.1 ) Other, net 0.7 0.2 0.3 Valuation allowance (benefit)/expense (9.8 ) (34.5 ) 18.9 Effective income tax rate 29.2 % (1.2 )% (17.9 )% (1) The statutory federal income tax is an expense in 2016 and 2015 due to pre-tax net income for those years and the statutory federal income tax is a benefit in 2014 due to pre-tax net losses for the year ended December 31, 2014 .
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities	The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 are presented below (in thousands): December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Deferred tax assets: Federal and state tax loss carryforwards $ 106,928 $ 103,981 Employee benefits 107,152 115,531 Allowance for doubtful accounts 1,454 3,342 Alternative minimum tax and other state credits 4,299 5,094 Capitalized restructuring costs 2,326 2,739 Deferred revenue 3,636 4,414 Other, net 4,673 8,059 Total gross deferred tax assets 230,468 243,160 Deferred tax liabilities: Property, plant, and equipment 183,575 212,906 Goodwill and other intangible assets 26,184 29,588 Other, net 7,274 10,613 Total gross deferred tax liabilities 217,033 253,107 Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) before valuation allowance 13,435 (9,947 ) Valuation allowance (41,451 ) (25,128 ) Net deferred tax liabilities $ (28,016 ) $ (35,075 )
Valuation Allowance Rollforward	The following is activity in the Company's valuation allowance for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , respectively (in thousands): Years Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Balance, beginning of period $ (25,128 ) $ (259,857 ) $ (166,773 ) (Increase) decrease allocated to other comprehensive income (35,511 ) 195,540 (58,254 ) (Increase) decrease allocated to continuing operations 19,188 39,189 (34,830 ) Balance, end of period $ (41,451 ) $ (25,128 ) $ (259,857 )
Schedule of Unrecognized Tax Benefits Roll Forward	A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands): Balance as of December 31, 2014 $ 4,035 Additions for tax positions of prior years 12 Balance as of December 31, 2015 $ 4,047 Additions for tax positions of prior years — Balance as of December 31, 2016 $ 4,047

Accumulated Other Comprehensi38

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Components of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of income tax, were as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes: Fair value of interest rate swaps $ (1,054 ) $ (2,160 ) Qualified pension and other post-employment benefit plans 22,590 186,152 Total accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes $ 21,536 $ 183,992
Reclassification Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	The following table provides a reconciliation of adjustments reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to the consolidated statement of operations (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2016 Employee benefits: Amortization of actuarial loss (.65 years to 11.47 years) (a) $ 87,240 Amortization of net prior service credit (.87 years to 23.91 years) (a) (311,674 ) Plan settlement (a) 629 Total employee benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (223,805 ) Tax benefit (b) 52,214 Total employee benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net $ (171,591 ) Interest rate swaps: Interest rate swaps reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (c) $ 2,446 Tax expense (b) $ (979 ) Total interest rate swaps reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net $ 1,467 Total amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net $ (170,124 ) (a) These accumulated other comprehensive income components are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost. See note (11) "Employee Benefit Plans" for details. (b) See note (12) "Income Taxes" for details. (c) These accumulated other comprehensive income components are included in interest expense. See note (9) "Interest Rate Swap Agreements" for details.

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Calculation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Common Share	The following table provides a reconciliation of the common shares used for basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share: Years Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Weighted average number of common shares used for basic earnings per share 26,854,396 26,652,240 26,449,408 Effect of potential dilutive shares 265,041 320,639 — Weighted average number of common shares and potential dilutive shares used for diluted earnings per share 27,119,437 26,972,879 26,449,408 Weighted average number of anti-dilutive shares outstanding at period-end that are excluded from the above reconciliation 3,916,342 4,141,096 4,463,364

Stock-Based Compensation (Table

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Schedule of Stock-based Compensation Expense Recognized	Stock-based compensation expense recognized in the financial statements is as follows (in thousands): Years Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Amounts charged against income, before income tax benefit $ 6,291 $ 6,357 $ 4,274 Amount of related income tax benefit recognized in income (2,516 ) (2,529 ) (1,714 ) Total net income/loss impact $ 3,775 $ 3,828 $ 2,560
Schedule of Stock Options Activity Under Long Term Incentive Plan	Stock option activity under the Long Term Incentive Plan is summarized as follows: Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years) Outstanding at December 31, 2013 1,399,123 $ 16.74 Granted (a) 462,374 13.31 Exercised (51,050 ) 6.28 Forfeited (2,005 ) 4.31 Expired (33,597 ) 23.65 Outstanding at December 31, 2014 1,774,845 $ 16.03 Granted (a) 620,843 14.74 Exercised (b) (210,638 ) 10.07 Forfeited (83,495 ) 13.41 Expired (70,943 ) 24.07 Outstanding at December 31, 2015 2,030,612 $ 16.08 Granted (a) 531,975 14.57 Exercised (b) (178,650 ) 10.27 Forfeited (96,592 ) 14.35 Expired (115,875 ) 23.58 Outstanding at December 31, 2016 2,171,470 $ 15.87 6.5 Exercisable at December 31, 2016 (c) 1,492,405 $ 16.49 5.6 Vested and Expected to Vest at December 31, 2016 (d) 2,148,754 $ 15.88 6.5 (a) During the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , the weighted average grant date fair value of stock options granted was $4.3 million , $5.4 million and $3.2 million , respectively. For purposes of determining compensation expense, the grant date fair value per share of the stock options was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model which requires the use of various assumptions including the expected life of the option, expected dividend rate, expected volatility and risk-free interest rate. Key assumptions used for determining the fair value of stock options granted were as follows: Years Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Expected life (1) 5.5 - 6.5 years 5.5 - 6.5 years 5.5 - 6.5 years Expected dividend (2) — — — Expected volatility (3) 55.1 % 59.6 % 51.0 % Risk-free interest rate (4) 1.40% - 1.76% 1.35% - 2.02% 1.63% - 2.19% (1) The 5.5 -year and 6.5 -year expected lives (estimated period of time outstanding) of stock options granted were estimated using the ‘Simplified Method' which utilizes the midpoint between the vesting date and the end of the contractual term. This method was utilized for the stock options due to the lack of historical exercise behavior of the Company's employees. (2) For all stock options granted during 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , no dividends are planned to be paid over the contractual term of the stock options resulting in the use of a zero expected dividend rate. (3) The expected volatility rate is based on the observed historical volatilities of the Company's common stock and observed historical and implied volatilities of comparable companies, which were adjusted to account for the various differences between the comparable companies and the Company. (4) The risk-free interest rate is specific to the date of grant and is based on the United States Treasury constant maturity market yield in effect at the time of the grant. (b) During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 , the total intrinsic value of stock options that were exercised was $0.9 million and $1.7 million , respectively. (c) Based upon a fair market value of the common stock as of December 30, 2016 of $18.70 per share, the stock options that are exercisable have an aggregate intrinsic value (equal to the value of in-the-money stock options above their respective exercise price) of $6.5 million . (d) Based upon a fair market value of the common stock as of December 30, 2016 of $18.70 per share, the stock options that have vested and are expected to vest have an aggregate intrinsic value (equal to the value of in-the-money stock options above their respective exercise price) of $9.2 million .
Restricted Stock Award Activity Under Long Term Incentive Plan	Performance Share Awards. Performance share awards activity under the Long Term Incentive Plan is summarized as follows: Awards Outstanding Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share Non-vested at December 31, 2014 — $ — Granted (a) 149,500 12.87 Forfeited (18,443 ) 12.82 Non-vested at December 31, 2015 131,057 $ 12.87 Granted (a) 126,000 11.88 Forfeited (38,278 ) 12.38 Non-vested at December 31, 2016 218,779 $ 12.39 (a) During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 , the weighted average grant date fair value of performance share awards granted was $1.5 million and $1.9 million , respectively. The grant date fair value of the non-market portion of the performance share awards was calculated as the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant. For purposes of determining compensation expense for the market portion of the performance share awards, the grant date fair value was estimated using the Monte Carlo valuation model. Restricted stock award activity under the Long Term Incentive Plan is summarized as follows: Awards Outstanding Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share Non-vested at December 31, 2013 264,655 $ 12.64 Granted (a) 216,586 13.21 Vested (b) (249,205 ) 13.58 Non-vested at December 31, 2014 232,036 $ 12.15 Granted (a) 161,011 15.06 Vested (b) (156,445 ) 12.52 Forfeited (10,550 ) $ 12.21 Non-vested at December 31, 2015 226,052 $ 13.97 Granted (a) 175,735 14.68 Vested (b) (158,469 ) 13.89 Forfeited (47,350 ) 14.42 Non-vested at December 31, 2016 195,968 $ 14.56 (a) The grant date fair value per share of the restricted stock awards under the Long Term Incentive Plan was calculated as the fair market value per share of the common stock on the date of grant. During the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , the weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock awards granted was $2.6 million , $2.4 million , and $2.9 million , respectively. (b) Based upon the respective grant date fair value, the aggregate fair value of restricted stock which vested during the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 was $2.2 million , $2.0 million and $3.4 million , respectively.

Commitments and Contingencies (

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Future Minimum Lease Payments for Capital Leases and Non-Cancelable Operating Leases	Future minimum lease payments under capital leases and non-cancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2016 are as follows (in thousands): Capital Leases Operating Leases Year ending December 31: 2017 $ 1,279 $ 6,644 2018 921 4,607 2019 554 2,912 2020 224 1,895 2021 56 962 Thereafter — 739 Total minimum lease payments $ 3,034 $ 17,759 Less: interest and executory cost (496 ) Present value of minimum lease payments 2,538 Less: current installments (1,227 ) Long-term obligations at December 31, 2016 $ 1,311

Quarterly Financial Informati42

Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information	The quarterly information presented below represents selected quarterly financial results for the quarters ended March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands, except per share data). 2016 First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Revenue $ 206,816 $ 206,557 $ 207,141 $ 203,929 Other post-employment benefit and pension (benefit)/expense (1) (53,228 ) (53,486 ) (67,428 ) (39,618 ) Net income (2) 18,568 29,315 40,207 16,005 Income/(loss) per share: Basic $ 0.69 $ 1.09 $ 1.50 $ 0.60 Diluted $ 0.68 $ 1.08 $ 1.48 $ 0.59 2015 First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Revenue $ 213,974 $ 214,098 $ 221,569 $ 209,824 Other post-employment benefit and pension (benefit)/expense (1) (6,898 ) (52,460 ) (57,568 ) (53,412 ) Net income/(loss) (2) (45,213 ) 40,265 53,054 42,310 Loss per share: Basic $ (1.70 ) $ 1.51 $ 1.99 $ 1.59 Diluted $ (1.70 ) $ 1.49 $ 1.96 $ 1.56 (1) Presented for comparative purposes. (2) The Company generated net income beginning in the second quarter of 2015 largely due to the remeasurement of the employee benefit plans in the first quarter of 2015 as described further in note (11) "Employee Benefit Plans."

Organization and Principles o43

Organization and Principles of Consolidation (Details) mi in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016subscriberstatemi
Product Information [Line Items]
Number of operating States | state	17
Communication Services
Product Information [Line Items]
Fiber network, route length | mi	22
Number of data subscribers	306,600
Number of Ethernet circuits	15,700
Number of residential voice lines	366,100
Communication Services | Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont
Product Information [Line Items]
Fiber network, route length | mi	18

Significant Accounting Polici44

Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)statesegment	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014USD ($)	Sep. 14, 2014USD ($)
Revenue Recognition [Abstract]
Revenue recognition period	6 years
Unearned revenue	$ 18,200,000	$ 19,900,000
Noncurrent deferred revenue	$ 4,800,000	7,600,000
Operating Segments [Abstract]
Number of operating segments | segment	1
Number of operating States | state	17
Advertising Costs [Abstract]
Advertising expense	$ 6,500,000	6,600,000	$ 9,800,000
Other Liabilities
Revenue Recognition [Abstract]
Customer deposits	3,300,000	2,100,000
Accrued Liabilities
Other Liabilities [Abstract]
Accrued bonuses	$ 12,700,000	$ 12,600,000
Maine Public Utilities Commission
Revenue Recognition [Abstract]
SQI regulatory examination, recommended penalty				$ 500,000

Significant Accounting Polici45

Significant Accounting Policies (Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period		$ 8,333	$ 9,894	$ 13,142
Provision charged to expense		577	5,793	9,218
Provision charged to other accounts	[1]	0	(18)	(43)
Amounts written off, net of recoveries		(5,273)	(7,336)	(12,423)
Balance, end of period		$ 3,637	$ 8,333	$ 9,894
[1]	Provision charged to other accounts includes accruals charged to accounts payable for anticipated uncollectible charges on purchase of accounts receivable from others which were billed by the Company.

Significant Accounting Polici46

Significant Accounting Policies (Property, Plant and Equipment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Capitalized Computer Software and Interest Costs [Abstract]
Capitalized software costs	$ 10,282	$ 22,768	$ 17,984
Capitalized interest costs	148	99	70
Amortization expense on capitalized software	16,610	14,669	$ 11,415
Net intangible assets	34,282	44,710
Computer Software, Intangible Asset
Capitalized Computer Software and Interest Costs [Abstract]
Gross carrying amount	167,986	176,778
Less: accumulated amortization	(128,758)	(131,031)
Net intangible assets	$ 39,228	$ 45,747

Significant Accounting Polici47

Significant Accounting Policies (Finite-Lived Intangible Assets) (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
2,017	$ 11,100
2,018	11,100
2,019	11,100
2,020	800
2,021	100
Computer Software, Intangible Asset
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
2,017	14,856
2,018	11,670
2,019	7,731
2,020	4,528
2,021	$ 443

Proposed Merger with Consolid48

Proposed Merger with Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)state	Dec. 03, 2016USD ($)state
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of operating States | state	17
FairPoint Communications [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of operating States | state		11
Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Potential fees for not completing transaction | $		$ 18.9
Transaction costs | $	$ 4.5
Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc | Common stock
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Conversion of stock, conversion ratio		0.7300

Other Intangible Assets (Narrat

Other Intangible Assets (Narrative and Finite and Indefinite-Lived) (Details) - USD ($)	Oct. 01, 2016	Oct. 01, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule Of Finite Lived And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Line Items [Line Items]
Goodwill, acquired during period			$ 2,500,000
Amortization of intangible assets			11,000,000	$ 11,000,000	$ 11,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Amortization Expense, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2,017			11,100,000
2,018			11,100,000
2,019			11,100,000
2,020			800,000
2,021			100,000
Goodwill, impairment loss	$ 0	$ 0
Trade Names
Schedule Of Finite Lived And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Line Items [Line Items]
Indefinite lived intangible assets, gross (excluding goodwill)			$ 39,200,000	$ 39,200,000

Other Intangible Assets (Other

Other Intangible Assets (Other Amortizable Intangible Assets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Net intangible assets	$ 34,282	$ 44,710
Customer Lists
Schedule Of Finite Lived And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Line Items [Line Items]
Useful Life	9 years
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Gross carrying amount	$ 99,410	99,000
Less accumulated amortization	(65,312)	(54,290)
Net intangible assets	34,098	44,710
Other net amortizable intangible assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Net intangible assets	$ 184	$ 0

Property, Plant and Equipment51

Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property, plant and equipment	$ 2,477,232	$ 2,399,986
Less: Accumulated depreciation	(1,452,880)	(1,281,205)
Net property, plant and equipment	1,024,352	1,118,781
Land
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property, plant and equipment	35,217	35,632
Buildings
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property, plant and equipment	$ 215,897	211,115
Buildings | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated Life	40 years
Central office equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property, plant and equipment	$ 662,042	635,208
Central office equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated Life	7 years
Central office equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated Life	10 years
Outside communications plant
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property, plant and equipment	$ 1,191,142	1,161,042
Outside communications plant | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated Life	15 years
Outside communications plant | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated Life	35 years
Furniture, vehicles and other work equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property, plant and equipment	$ 257,337	258,749
Furniture, vehicles and other work equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated Life	5 years
Furniture, vehicles and other work equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated Life	15 years
Plant under construction
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property, plant and equipment	$ 99,568	81,096
Other
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property, plant and equipment	$ 16,029	$ 17,144

Property, Plant and Equipment52

Property, Plant and Equipment (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Depreciation expense	$ 211.3	$ 212.8	$ 209.7
Asset Retirement Obligation, recorded in the period		0.6
Asset Retirement Obligation	4.8	4.9
Asset Retirement Obligation, current	0.3	0.8
Asset Retirement Obligations, noncurrent	$ 4.5	$ 4.1

Long-term Debt (Long-term debt)

Long-term Debt (Long-term debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Feb. 14, 2013
Long term debt for the Company
Total long-term debt		$ 904,770	$ 906,545
Less: current portion		(6,400)	(6,400)
Total long-term debt, net of current portion		898,370	900,145
New Term Loan, due 2019
Long term debt for the Company
Term Loan, due 2019		616,000	622,400
Discount on Term Loan	[1]	(7,834)	(11,138)
Debt issuance costs		$ (3,396)	$ (4,717)
Weighted average interest rate		7.50%	7.50%
Senior Notes
Long term debt for the Company
Notes, 8.75%, Due 2019		$ 300,000	$ 300,000
Interest rate on Notes		8.75%	8.75%	8.75%
[1]	The $7.8 million and $11.1 million discount on the Term Loan (as defined below) as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, is being amortized using the effective interest method over the life of the Term Loan.

Long-term Debt (Maturities of L

Long-term Debt (Maturities of Long-term debt) (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)
The approximate aggregate maturities of long-term debt
2,017	$ 6,400
2,018	6,400
2,019	903,200
Total long-term debt, including current portion	$ 916,000

Long-term Debt (Narrative) (Det

Long-term Debt (Narrative) (Details)	Feb. 14, 2013USD ($)covenants	Feb. 14, 2013USD ($)covenants	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available for borrowing under the Revolving Facility			$ 61,100,000
Outstanding letters of credit			13,900,000
Long-term debt			$ 904,770,000	$ 906,545,000
Repayments of debt		$ 946,500,000
Interest paid		7,700,000
Payments of debt issuance costs		32,600,000
Base interest rate under condition	LIBOR
Penalty for prepayment, amount	$ 0
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Point in addition to base interest rate under condition	1.00%
Federal Funds Effective Rate
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Point in addition to base interest rate under condition	0.50%
Senior Notes
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Face amount	$ 300,000,000	$ 300,000,000
Interest rate on Notes	8.75%	8.75%	8.75%	8.75%
Letter of Credit | Revolving Credit Facility
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Credit agreement outstanding	$ 40,000,000	$ 40,000,000
Line of Credit | Revolving Credit Facility
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Credit agreement outstanding	$ 75,000,000	$ 75,000,000
Line of Credit | Revolving Credit Facility | Maximum
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Interest rate on Notes	5.50%	5.50%
Line of Credit | Revolving Credit Facility | Minimum
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Interest rate on Notes	4.50%	4.50%
Fronting fee, percentage	0.125%	0.125%
Line of Credit | Revolving Credit Facility | Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio Covenant
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Number of restrictive covenants | covenants	2	2
Line of Credit | Revolving Credit Facility | Prior to March 31, 2013
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Percentage commitment fee on average daily unused portion of exit revolving facility	0.50%
Line of Credit | Revolving Credit Facility | After March 31, 2013
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Percentage commitment fee on average daily unused portion of exit revolving facility	0.375%
Notes Payable to Banks | Term Loan
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 640,000,000	$ 640,000,000
Increase, additional borrowings	640,000,000
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 200,000,000	$ 200,000,000
Notes Payable to Banks | Term Loan | Maximum
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Interest rate on Notes	6.25%	6.25%
Notes Payable to Banks | Term Loan | Minimum
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Interest rate on Notes	5.25%	5.25%
Notes, 8.75%, due 2019 | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Term Loan
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Point in addition to base interest rate under condition	1.25%
Notes, 8.75%, due 2019 | Senior Notes
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Face amount	$ 300,000,000	$ 300,000,000
Interest rate on Notes	8.75%	8.75%	8.75%
Notes, 8.75%, due 2019 | Senior Notes | After February 15, 2016 and Prior to February 15, 2017
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Redemption price	104.375%
Notes, 8.75%, due 2019 | Senior Notes | On or after February 15, 2017 and Prior to February 15, 2018
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Redemption price	102.188%
Notes, 8.75%, due 2019 | Notes Payable to Banks | Term Loan | After February 14, 2015, On or Prior to February 14, 2016
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Principal payment on the term loan	$ 1,600,000
Notes, 8.75%, due 2019 | Notes Payable to Banks | Term Loan | Beginning June 30, 2013
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Mandatory repayments percentage	50.00%	50.00%
Notes, 8.75%, due 2019 | Notes Payable to Banks | Term Loan | Fiscal Periods Subsequent to June 30, 2013
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Mandatory repayments percentage	25.00%	25.00%

Interest Rate Swap Agreements56

Interest Rate Swap Agreements (Narrative) (Details) - Interest Rate Swaps $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013USD ($)counterparty	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount	$ 170
Number of counterparties | counterparty	3
Derivative effective period	2 years
Fixed Interest rate	2.665%
Interest rate swaps to be reclassified in next 12 months		$ 1.8
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Derivative [Line Items]
Floor interest rate	1.25%

Interest Rate Swap Agreements57

Interest Rate Swap Agreements (Schedule of effect of Swaps on Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Interest Rate Swaps
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Amount Recognized in Interest Expense (Pre-Tax)		$ 2,446	$ 0	$ 0
Amount of Loss/(Gain) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income on Derivative (Effective Portion) (Pre-Tax)		(1,845)	865	$ 1,737
Recurring | Level 2 | Other accrued liabilities
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate swaps	[1]	$ 1,762	2,375
Recurring | Level 2 | Other long-term liabilities
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate swaps	[1]		$ 1,232
[1]	The fair value is determined using valuation models which rely on the expected LIBOR based yield curve and estimates of counterparty and the Company’s non-performance risk. Because each of these inputs are directly observable or can be corroborated by observable market data, the Company has categorized these interest rate swaps as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Fair Value (Details)

Fair Value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Feb. 14, 2013
Senior Notes
Long Term Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Interest rate on Notes		8.75%	8.75%	8.75%
New Term Loan, due 2019
Long Term Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Unamortized discount	[1]	$ (7,834)	$ (11,138)
Carrying Amount
Long Term Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Fair Value		908,166	911,262
Carrying Amount | New Term Loan, due 2019
Long Term Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Fair Value	[2]	608,166	611,262
Carrying Amount | Notes, 8.75%, due 2019
Long Term Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Fair Value		300,000	300,000
Fair Value
Long Term Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Fair Value	[3]	932,995	912,454
Fair Value | New Term Loan, due 2019
Long Term Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Fair Value	[2],[3]	620,620	616,954
Fair Value | Notes, 8.75%, due 2019
Long Term Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Fair Value	[3]	312,375	295,500
Recurring | Level 1 | Interest rate swaps, Current
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Interest rate swaps	[4]	0	0
Recurring | Level 1 | Interest rate swaps, Long-term
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Interest rate swaps	[4]		0
Recurring | Level 2 | Interest rate swaps, Current
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Interest rate swaps	[4]	1,762	2,375
Recurring | Level 2 | Interest rate swaps, Long-term
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Interest rate swaps	[4]		1,232
Recurring | Level 3 | Interest rate swaps, Current
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Interest rate swaps	[4]	$ 0	0
Recurring | Level 3 | Interest rate swaps, Long-term
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Interest rate swaps	[4]		$ 0
Notes, 8.75%, due 2019 | Senior Notes
Long Term Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Interest rate on Notes		8.75%		8.75%
[1]	The $7.8 million and $11.1 million discount on the Term Loan (as defined below) as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, is being amortized using the effective interest method over the life of the Term Loan.
[2]	The carrying amount of the Term Loan is net of the unamortized discount of $7.8 million and $11.1 million as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
[3]	The Company estimated fair value based on market prices of the Company's debt securities at the balance sheet dates, which falls within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
[4]	The fair value is determined using valuation models which rely on the expected LIBOR based yield curve and estimates of counterparty and the Company’s non-performance risk. Because each of these inputs are directly observable or can be corroborated by observable market data, the Company has categorized these interest rate swaps as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Employee Benefit Plans (Narrati

Employee Benefit Plans (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Oct. 14, 2014	Aug. 28, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
401(k) Savings Plan [Abstract]
Employer matching contribution percent			100.00%
Maximum employee annual contribution percent eligible for matching			5.00%
Company contribution amounts			$ 8.9	$ 8.8	$ 9.5
Represented Employees Plan | Qualified Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Benefit accrual rate as percent of prior rate	50.00%
Length of credited service cap	30 years
401(k) Savings Plan [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Period After Ratification For Which Employees Receive Monthly Reimbursements		30 months
Represented Employees Plan | Equity securities | Qualified Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target plan asset allocations			65.00%
Represented Employees Plan | Fixed income securities | Qualified Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target plan asset allocations			35.00%
Non-Represented Employees Plan | Equity securities | Qualified Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target plan asset allocations			45.00%
Non-Represented Employees Plan | Fixed income securities | Qualified Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target plan asset allocations			55.00%

Employee Benefit Plans (Plan As

Employee Benefit Plans (Plan Assets, Obligations and Funded Status) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income:
Total other comprehensive income/(loss)		$ (162,456)	$ 502,615	$ (158,844)
Qualified Pension Plans
Fair value of plan assets:
Beginning fair value of plan assets		197,062	195,410
Actual return on plan assets		15,745	(3,677)
Plan settlements		(2,510)	(4,472)
Employer contributions		16,501	14,980
Benefits paid		(3,898)	(5,179)
Ending fair value of plan assets		222,900	197,062	195,410
Projected benefit obligation:
Beginning projected benefit obligation		347,624	408,216
Service cost		6,880	8,391	14,760
Interest cost		15,079	14,879	15,367
Plan amendment	[1]	0	(40,049)
Plan settlements		(2,510)	(4,472)
Plan curtailment		0	(2,426)
Benefits paid		(3,898)	(5,179)
Actuarial loss		(6,358)	(31,736)
Ending projected benefit obligation		356,817	347,624	408,216
Funded status		(133,917)	(150,562)
Accumulated benefit obligation		356,807	347,619
Net amount recognized in long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets		(133,917)	(150,562)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income:
Total other comprehensive income/(loss)		(64,086)	(73,795)
Post-employment Benefit Plans
Fair value of plan assets:
Beginning fair value of plan assets		0	0
Employer contributions		5,715	5,597
Benefits paid		(5,715)	(5,597)
Ending fair value of plan assets		0	0	0
Projected benefit obligation:
Beginning projected benefit obligation		100,154	741,372
Service cost		121	4,541	24,969
Interest cost		3,927	7,688	29,908
Plan amendment	[2]	0	(609,619)
Plan curtailment		0	(5,409)
Benefits paid		(5,715)	(5,597)
Actuarial loss		(3,720)	(32,822)
Ending projected benefit obligation		94,767	100,154	$ 741,372
Funded status		(94,767)	(100,154)
Net amount recognized in long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets		(94,767)	(100,154)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets:
Current liabilities		(7,138)	(6,112)
Long-term liabilities		(87,629)	(94,042)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income:
Total other comprehensive income/(loss)		25,182	248,237
Prior service credit | Qualified Pension Plans
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income:
Total other comprehensive income/(loss)		29,867	32,909
Prior service credit | Post-employment Benefit Plans
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income:
Total other comprehensive income/(loss)		41,690	350,322
Net actuarial loss | Qualified Pension Plans
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income:
Total other comprehensive income/(loss)		(93,953)	(106,704)
Net actuarial loss | Post-employment Benefit Plans
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income:
Total other comprehensive income/(loss)		$ (16,508)	$ (102,085)
[1]	In the first quarter of 2015, the Company recognized a prior service credit for a negative plan amendment at remeasurement of the represented employees pension plan related to the elimination of prospective future increase in pension bands that were reduced under the terms of the collective bargaining agreements.
[2]	In the first quarter of 2015, the Company recognized a net prior service credit for a negative plan amendment at remeasurement of the post-employment benefit plan for represented employees primarily related to the elimination of the post-employment benefits for active represented employees under the terms of the collective bargaining agreements.

Employee Benefit Plans (Plan 61

Employee Benefit Plans (Plan Asset Portfolio Allocation) (Details) - Qualified Pension Plans	Dec. 31, 2016
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Asset allocation for Company's qualified plan assets	100.00%
Cash and cash equivalents
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Asset allocation for Company's qualified plan assets	5.20%	[1]
Equity securities
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Asset allocation for Company's qualified plan assets	58.30%
Fixed income securities
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Asset allocation for Company's qualified plan assets	36.50%
Represented Employees Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Asset allocation for Company's qualified plan assets	100.00%
Represented Employees Plan | Cash and cash equivalents
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Asset allocation for Company's qualified plan assets	5.40%	[1]
Represented Employees Plan | Equity securities
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Asset allocation for Company's qualified plan assets	60.30%
Represented Employees Plan | Fixed income securities
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Asset allocation for Company's qualified plan assets	34.30%
Non-Represented Employees Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Asset allocation for Company's qualified plan assets	100.00%
Non-Represented Employees Plan | Cash and cash equivalents
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Asset allocation for Company's qualified plan assets	3.50%	[1]
Non-Represented Employees Plan | Equity securities
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Asset allocation for Company's qualified plan assets	42.00%
Non-Represented Employees Plan | Fixed income securities
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Asset allocation for Company's qualified plan assets	54.50%
[1]	Cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2016 include amounts pending settlement from the purchase or sale of equity or fixed income securities.

Employee Benefit Plans (Fair Va

Employee Benefit Plans (Fair Value of Plan Assets) (Details) - Qualified Pension Plans - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets	$ 222,900	$ 197,062	$ 195,410
Level 1
Fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets	194,762	111,591
Level 2
Fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets	28,138	85,471
Level 3
Fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents
Fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets	11,619	1,223
Cash and cash equivalents | Level 1
Fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets	11,619	1,223
Cash and cash equivalents | Level 2
Fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents | Level 3
Fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Equity securities
Fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets	129,937	138,684
Equity securities | Level 1
Fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets	129,937	79,512
Equity securities | Level 2
Fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets	0	59,172
Equity securities | Level 3
Fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Fixed income securities
Fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets	81,344	57,155
Fixed income securities | Level 1
Fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets	53,206	30,856
Fixed income securities | Level 2
Fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets	28,138	26,299
Fixed income securities | Level 3
Fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets	$ 0	$ 0

Employee Benefit Plans (Reconci

Employee Benefit Plans (Reconciliation of Plan Assets) (Details) - Hedge funds - Level 3 $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)
Fair value of plan assets:
Beginning fair value of plan assets	$ 351
Purchases, sales and settlements, net	(351)
Ending fair value of plan assets	$ 0

Employee Benefit Plans (Net Per

Employee Benefit Plans (Net Periodic Benefit Cost) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	[1]	Sep. 30, 2016	[1]	Jun. 30, 2016	[1]	Mar. 31, 2016	[1]	Dec. 31, 2015	[1]	Sep. 30, 2015	[1]	Jun. 30, 2015	[1]	Mar. 31, 2015	[1]	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of net periodic benefit cost related to pension and post-retirement healthcare
Other post-employment benefit and pension (benefit)/expense		$ (39,618)		$ (67,428)		$ (53,486)		$ (53,228)		$ (53,412)		$ (57,568)		$ (52,460)		$ (6,898)		$ (213,760)	$ (170,338)	$ 75,282
Qualified Pension Plans
Schedule of net periodic benefit cost related to pension and post-retirement healthcare
Service cost																		6,880	8,391	14,760
Interest cost																		15,079	14,879	15,367
Expected return on plan assets																		(15,363)	(14,635)	(13,525)
Amortization of prior service credit																		(3,042)	(2,933)	0
Amortization of actuarial loss																		5,383	6,718	2,054
Plan curtailment	[2]																	0	(4,207)	0
Plan settlement																		629	1,022	671
Net periodic benefit cost																		9,566	9,235	19,327
Less capitalized portion																		(599)	(600)	(1,184)
Other post-employment benefit and pension (benefit)/expense																		8,967	8,635	18,143
Post-employment Benefit Plans
Schedule of net periodic benefit cost related to pension and post-retirement healthcare
Service cost																		121	4,541	24,969
Interest cost																		3,927	7,688	29,908
Amortization of prior service credit																		(308,632)	(304,626)	(948)
Amortization of actuarial loss																		81,857	113,424	6,654
Net periodic benefit cost																		(222,727)	(178,973)	60,583
Less capitalized portion																		0	0	(3,444)
Other post-employment benefit and pension (benefit)/expense																		$ (222,727)	$ (178,973)	$ 57,139
[1]	Presented for comparative purposes.
[2]	The Company recognized a curtailment gain as the result of a workforce reduction in July 2015.

Employee Benefit Plans (AOCI) (

Employee Benefit Plans (AOCI) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Qualified Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Prior service credit	$ 0	$ (40,049)	$ 0
Net (gain)/loss arising during the period	(6,739)	(13,424)	72,670
Amortization of prior service credit	3,042	2,933	0
Amortization of net actuarial loss	(5,383)	(6,718)	(2,725)
Plan curtailment	0	1,781	0
Plan settlement	(629)	(1,022)	0
Total amount recognized in other comprehensive income	(9,709)	(56,499)	69,945
Net prior service credit	3,042
Net actuarial loss	(4,772)
Total amount estimated to be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income in the next fiscal year	(1,730)
Post-employment Benefit Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Prior service credit	0	(619,454)	(46,277)
Prior service cost	0	9,835	0
Net (gain)/loss arising during the period	(3,720)	(32,822)	148,434
Amortization of prior service credit	308,632	304,626	948
Amortization of net actuarial loss	(81,857)	(113,424)	(6,654)
Plan curtailment	0	(5,409)	0
Total amount recognized in other comprehensive income	223,055	$ (456,648)	$ 96,451
Net prior service credit	1,819
Net actuarial loss	(1,083)
Total amount estimated to be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income in the next fiscal year	$ 736

Employee Benefit Plans (Weighte

Employee Benefit Plans (Weighted Average Assumptions Used in Calculating Benefit Obligation) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Qualified Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plan, Weighted Average Assumptions Used in Calculating Benefit Obligation [Abstract]
Discount rate		4.49%	4.44%
Rate of compensation increase	[1]	3.00%	3.00%
Defined Benefit Plan, Weighted Average Assumptions Used in Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Discount rate		4.48%	4.39%	4.92%
Expected return on plan assets	[2]	7.34%	7.31%	7.66%
Rate of compensation increase	[3]	3.00%	3.00%	3.00%
Post-employment Benefit Plans
Defined Benefit Plan, Weighted Average Assumptions Used in Calculating Benefit Obligation [Abstract]
Discount rate		4.20%	4.15%
Defined Benefit Plan, Weighted Average Assumptions Used in Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Discount rate		4.18%	3.54%	4.98%
Rate of compensation increase	[3]			4.00%
Healthcare cost trend rate	[4]	7.40%	7.70%	7.90%
Rate that the cost trend rates ultimately declines to		4.50%	4.50%	4.50%
Year that the rates reach the terminal rate		2,037	2,030	2,030
1% increase in the medical trend rate:
Effect on total service cost and interest cost components		$ 420
Effect on benefit obligation		10,122
1% decrease in the medical trend rate:
Effect on total service cost and interest cost components		(349)
Effect on benefit obligation		$ (8,423)
[1]	The rate of future increases in compensation assumption only applies to the plans for represented employees as plans for non-represented employees are frozen.
[2]	The expected return on plan assets is the long-term rate-of-return the Company expects to earn on the plan assets. In developing the expected return on plan asset assumption, the Company evaluated historical investment performance, the plans' asset allocation strategies and return forecasts for each asset class and input from its advisors. Projected returns by such advisors were based on broad equity and fixed income indices. The expected return on plan assets is reviewed annually in conjunction with other plan assumptions and, if considered necessary, revised to reflect changes in the financial markets and the investment strategy. The investment strategy and target allocations of the qualified pension plans previously disclosed in "—Plan Assets, Obligations and Funded Status—Qualified Pension Plan Assets" herein were utilized.
[3]	The rate of future increases in compensation assumption only applies to the plans for represented employees as plans for non-represented employees are frozen.
[4]	The rate of healthcare cost trend assumption for 2016 and 2015 applies to the other post-employment benefit plan for management and existing represented retirees.

Employee Benefit Plans (Expecte

Employee Benefit Plans (Expected Future Benefit Payments) (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)
Qualified Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Expected employer contributions for fiscal year 2017	$ 18,431
Expected benefit payments for fiscal years:
2,017	8,558
2,018	9,919
2,019	11,473
2,020	11,846
2,021	13,135
2022-2026	84,859
Post-employment Benefit Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Expected employer contributions for fiscal year 2017	7,138
Expected benefit payments for fiscal years:
2,017	7,138
2,018	6,686
2,019	6,637
2,020	6,455
2,021	6,267
2022-2026	$ 27,230

Income Taxes (Narrative) (Detai

Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Income/(loss) before income taxes		$ 146,944,000	$ 89,359,000	$ (166,097,000)
Effective tax expense (benefit) rate		29.20%	(1.20%)	17.90%
Federal statutory rate	[1]	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
NOL carryforwards		$ 285,000,000
State NOL deferred tax asset		11,600,000
Tax credit carryforwards		4,300,000
Tax valuation allowance		41,451,000	$ 25,128,000
Federal tax valuation allowance		29,200,000	14,700,000
State tax valuation allowance		12,300,000	10,400,000
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance		35,511,000	(195,540,000)	$ 58,254,000
Unrecognized tax benefits		4,047,000	4,047,000	4,035,000
Unrecognized tax benefits that would impact the effective tax rate		3,800,000
Income tax interest and penalties		0	0	100,000
Income tax penalties and interest accrued		0	0
Continuing Operations | Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance		$ 35,500,000	$ (195,500,000)	$ 58,300,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Effective tax expense (benefit) rate		23.20%
[1]	The statutory federal income tax is an expense in 2016 and 2015 due to pre-tax net income for those years and the statutory federal income tax is a benefit in 2014 due to pre-tax net losses for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Income Taxes (Income Tax Benefi

Income Taxes (Income Tax Benefit) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Current:
Federal	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
State and local	(240)	(203)	(86)
Total current income tax expense	(240)	(203)	(86)
Deferred:
Federal	(35,179)	(1,501)	25,081
State and local	(7,430)	2,761	4,783
Total deferred income tax (expense)/benefit	(42,609)	1,260	29,864
Total income tax (expense)/benefit	$ (42,849)	$ 1,057	$ 29,778

Income Taxes (Effective Rate Re

Income Taxes (Effective Rate Reconciliation) (Details)		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Statutory federal income tax/(benefit) rate	[1]	(35.00%)	(35.00%)	(35.00%)
State income tax benefit, net of federal income tax		(3.30%)	1.90%	(2.10%)
Other, net		(0.70%)	(0.20%)	0.30%
Valuation allowance (benefit)/expense		9.80%	34.50%	18.90%
Effective income tax rate		(29.20%)	1.20%	(17.90%)
[1]	The statutory federal income tax is an expense in 2016 and 2015 due to pre-tax net income for those years and the statutory federal income tax is a benefit in 2014 due to pre-tax net losses for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Income Taxes (Deferred Tax Asse

Income Taxes (Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Deferred tax assets:
Federal and state tax loss carryforwards	$ 106,928	$ 103,981
Employee benefits	107,152	115,531
Allowance for doubtful accounts	1,454	3,342
Alternative minimum tax and other state credits	4,299	5,094
Capitalized restructuring costs	2,326	2,739
Deferred revenue	3,636	4,414
Other, net	4,673	8,059
Total gross deferred tax assets	230,468	243,160
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant, and equipment	183,575	212,906
Goodwill and other intangible assets	26,184	29,588
Other, net	7,274	10,613
Total gross deferred tax liabilities	217,033	253,107
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) before valuation allowance	13,435	(9,947)
Valuation allowance	(41,451)	(25,128)
Net deferred tax liabilities	$ (28,016)	$ (35,075)

Income Taxes (Valuation Allowan

Income Taxes (Valuation Allowance Activity) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	$ (25,128)	$ (259,857)	$ (166,773)
(Increase) decrease allocated to other comprehensive income	(35,511)	195,540	(58,254)
(Increase) decrease allocated to continuing operations	19,188	39,189	(34,830)
Balance, end of period	$ (41,451)	$ (25,128)	$ (259,857)

Income Taxes (Unrecognized Tax

Income Taxes (Unrecognized Tax Benefits Activity) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 4,047	$ 4,035
Additions for tax positions of prior years	0	12
Ending Balance	$ 4,047	$ 4,047

Accumulated Other Comprehensi74

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Components of AOCI) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Fair value of interest rate swaps	$ (1,054)	$ (2,160)
Qualified pension and other post-employment benefit plans	22,590	186,152
Total accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes	$ 21,536	$ 183,992

Accumulated Other Comprehensi75

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Reconciliation of Adjustments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Employee Benefits [Abstract]
Total employee benefit amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss), net		$ (170,124)
Interest Rate Derivatives [Abstract]
Tax expense		(42,849)	$ 1,057	$ 29,778
Amortization of actuarial loss
Employee Benefits [Abstract]
Total employee benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	[1]	87,240
Amortization of net prior service credit
Employee Benefits [Abstract]
Total employee benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	[1]	(311,674)
Plan settlement
Employee Benefits [Abstract]
Total employee benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	[1]	629
Total employee benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income
Employee Benefits [Abstract]
Total employee benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income		(223,805)
Tax benefit	[2]	52,214
Total employee benefit amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss), net		$ (171,591)
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Total employee benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income | Minimum
Interest Rate Derivatives [Abstract]
Future amortization of gain (loss), amortization period		7 months 24 days
Prior service cost (credit), amortization period		10 months 13 days
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Total employee benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income | Maximum
Interest Rate Derivatives [Abstract]
Future amortization of gain (loss), amortization period		11 years 5 months 19 days
Prior service cost (credit), amortization period		23 years 10 months 28 days
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Interest rate swaps:
Interest Rate Derivatives [Abstract]
Tax expense	[2]	$ (979)
Total other comprehensive income/(loss)		1,467
Interest Rate Contract | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Interest rate swaps:
Interest Rate Derivatives [Abstract]
Interest rate swaps reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	[3]	$ 2,446
[1]	These accumulated other comprehensive income components are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost. See note (11) "Employee Benefit Plans" for details.
[2]	See note (12) "Income Taxes" for details.
[3]	These accumulated other comprehensive income components are included in interest expense. See note (9) "Interest Rate Swap Agreements" for details.

Earnings Per Share (Details)

Earnings Per Share (Details) - shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Weighted average number of common shares used for basic earnings per share (in shares)	26,854,396	26,652,240	26,449,408
Effect of potential dilutive shares (in shares)	265,041	320,639	0
Weighted average number of common shares and potential dilutive shares used for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	27,119,437	26,972,879	26,449,408
Weighted average number of anti-dilutive shares outstanding at period-end that are excluded from the above reconciliation (in shares)	3,916,342	4,141,096	4,463,364
Restricted stock
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Weighted average number of anti-dilutive shares outstanding at period-end that are excluded from the above reconciliation (in shares)	199,222	232,274	235,462

Stockholders' Deficit (Details)

Stockholders' Deficit (Details) - $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock, shares authorized	37,500,000	37,500,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	27,074,398	26,921,066
Number of securities called by each warrant or right	1
Common stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Warrants, outstanding	3,582,402
Initial exercise price of the warrants (per share)	$ 48.81

Stock-Based Compensation (Expen

Stock-Based Compensation (Expense Recognized) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Amounts charged against income, before income tax benefit		$ 6,291		$ 6,357		$ 4,274
Amount of related income tax benefit recognized in income		(2,516)		(2,529)		(1,714)
Total net income/loss impact		$ 3,775		$ 3,828		$ 2,560
Long Term Incentive Plan | Restricted stock
Awards Outstanding
Non-vested Awards Outstanding (shares)		226,052		232,036		264,655
Granted Awards Outstanding (shares)	[1]	175,735		161,011		216,586
Vested Awards Outstanding (shares)	[2]	(158,469)		(156,445)		(249,205)
Forfeited Awards Outstanding (shares)		(47,350)		(10,550)
Non-vested Awards Outstanding (shares)		195,968		226,052		232,036
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Per Share, Non-Vested, Outstanding (USD per share)		$ 13.97		$ 12.15		$ 12.64
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share, Granted (USD per share)	[1]	14.68		15.06		13.21
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share, Vested (USD per share)	[2]	13.89		12.52		13.58
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share, Forfeited (USD per share)		14.42		12.21
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Per Share, Non-Vested, Outstanding (USD per share)		$ 14.56		$ 13.97		$ 12.15
Weighted average grand date fair value		$ 2,600		$ 2,400		$ 2,900
Long Term Incentive Plan | Performance-Based Restricted Stock Awards
Awards Outstanding
Non-vested Awards Outstanding (shares)		131,057		0
Granted Awards Outstanding (shares)		126,000		149,500	[3]
Forfeited Awards Outstanding (shares)		(38,278)		(18,443)
Non-vested Awards Outstanding (shares)		218,779		131,057		0
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Per Share, Non-Vested, Outstanding (USD per share)		$ 12.87		$ 0
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share, Granted (USD per share)		11.88		12.87	[1]
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share, Forfeited (USD per share)		12.38		12.82
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Per Share, Non-Vested, Outstanding (USD per share)		$ 12.39		$ 12.87		$ 0
Weighted average grand date fair value		$ 1,500		$ 1,900
Long Term Incentive Plan | Common stock
Options Outstanding
Options Outstanding (shares)		2,030,612		1,774,845		1,399,123
Options, Granted (shares)	[4]	531,975		620,843		462,374
Options, Exercised (shares)		(178,650)	[5]	(210,638)		(51,050)
Options, Forfeited (shares)		(96,592)		(83,495)		(2,005)
Options, Expired (shares)		(115,875)		(70,943)		(33,597)
Options Outstanding (shares)		2,171,470		2,030,612		1,774,845
Options, Exercisable, (shares)	[6]	1,492,405
Options Outstanding, Vested and Expected to Vest (shares)	[7]	2,148,754
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Per Share, Outstanding (USD per share)		$ 16.08		$ 16.03		$ 16.74
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Per Share, Granted (USD per share)	[4]	14.57		14.74		13.31
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Per Share, Exercised (USD per share)		10.27	[5]	10.07		6.28
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Per Share, Forfeited (USD per share)		14.35		13.41		4.31
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Per Share, Expired (USD per share)		23.58		24.07		23.65
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Per Share, Outstanding (USD per share)		15.87		$ 16.08		$ 16.03
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Per Share, Exercisable (USD per share)	[6]	16.49
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Per Share, Vested and Expected to Vest (USD per share)	[7]	$ 15.88
Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term		6 years 6 months
Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	[6]	5 years 7 months 6 days
Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	[7]	6 years 6 months
[1]	The grant date fair value per share of the restricted stock awards under the Long Term Incentive Plan was calculated as the fair market value per share of the common stock on the date of grant. During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock awards granted was $2.6 million, $2.4 million, and $2.9 million, respectively
[2]	Based upon the respective grant date fair value, the aggregate fair value of restricted stock which vested during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 was $2.2 million, $2.0 million and $3.4 million, respectively.
[3]	During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the weighted average grant date fair value of performance share awards granted was $1.5 million and $1.9 million, respectively. The grant date fair value of the non-market portion of the performance share awards was calculated as the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant. For purposes of determining compensation expense for the market portion of the performance share awards, the grant date fair value was estimated using the Monte Carlo valuation model.
[4]	During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the weighted average grant date fair value of stock options granted was $4.3 million, $5.4 million and $3.2 million, respectively. For purposes of determining compensation expense, the grant date fair value per share of the stock options was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model which requires the use of various assumptions including the expected life of the option, expected dividend rate, expected volatility and risk-free interest rate. Key assumptions used for determining the fair value of stock options granted were as follows: Years Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Expected life (1)5.5 - 6.5 years 5.5 - 6.5 years 5.5 - 6.5 yearsExpected dividend (2)— — —Expected volatility (3)55.1% 59.6% 51.0%Risk-free interest rate (4)1.40% - 1.76% 1.35% - 2.02% 1.63% - 2.19%
[5]	During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the total intrinsic value of stock options that were exercised was $0.9 million and $1.7 million, respectively.
[6]	Based upon a fair market value of the common stock as of December 30, 2016 of $18.70 per share, the stock options that are exercisable have an aggregate intrinsic value (equal to the value of in-the-money stock options above their respective exercise price) of $6.5 million.
[7]	Based upon a fair market value of the common stock as of December 30, 2016 of $18.70 per share, the stock options that have vested and are expected to vest have an aggregate intrinsic value (equal to the value of in-the-money stock options above their respective exercise price) of $9.2 million.

Stock-Based Compensation (Narra

Stock-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details)		4 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		May 11, 2014shares	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)installment$ / sharesshares	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014USD ($)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options, exercises in period, intrinsic value			$ 900,000	$ 1,700,000
Periodic vesting, number of installments | installment			3
Fair value of options vested in the period			$ 3,200,000	2,700,000	$ 2,900,000
Restricted stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights, percent			100.00%
Long Term Incentive Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock compensation cost			$ 5,600,000
Weighted average period for recognition			1 year 9 months
Long Term Incentive Plan | Stock Options and Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Annual vesting percentage			25.00%
Long Term Incentive Plan | Performance Shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting period			3 years
Long Term Incentive Plan | Restricted stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Effect of each award grant on availability of shares (in shares) | shares		1	1.35
Weighted average grand date fair value			$ 2,600,000	2,400,000	2,900,000
Restricted stock vested, aggregate fair value			$ 2,200,000	2,000,000	3,400,000
Long Term Incentive Plan | Stock Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options term			10 years
Expiration term after employee termination			90 days
Stock options granted weighted average grant date fair value			$ 4,300,000	$ 5,400,000	$ 3,200,000
Expected dividend rate	[1]		0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Expected dividend payments			$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Fair value assumptions, expected volatility rate	[2]		55.10%	59.60%	51.00%
Long Term Incentive Plan | Stock Options | Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected life	[3]		5 years 6 months	5 years 6 months	5 years 6 months
Risk-free interest rate	[4]		1.40%	1.35%	1.63%
Long Term Incentive Plan | Stock Options | Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected life	[3]		6 years 6 months	6 years 6 months	6 years 6 months
Risk-free interest rate	[4]		1.76%	2.02%	2.19%
Long Term Incentive Plan | Performance-Based Restricted Stock Awards
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted average grand date fair value			$ 1,500,000	$ 1,900,000
Long Term Incentive Plan | Common stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
LTIP common stock awards available | shares			5,674,277
Shares available for grant | shares			1,423,409
Number of shares each award can be converted into | shares			1
Common stock value, outstanding (in USD per share) | $ / shares			$ 18.70
Intrinsic value of exercisable options			$ 6,500,000
Intrinsic value of outstanding options			$ 9,200,000
Vesting on the first anniversary | Restricted stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights			33.33%
Vesting on the second anniversary | Restricted stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights			33.33%
Vesting on the third anniversary | Restricted stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights			33.33%
[1]	For all stock options granted during 2016, 2015 and 2014, no dividends are planned to be paid over the contractual term of the stock options resulting in the use of a zero expected dividend rate.
[2]	The expected volatility rate is based on the observed historical volatilities of the Company's common stock and observed historical and implied volatilities of comparable companies, which were adjusted to account for the various differences between the comparable companies and the Company.
[3]	The 5.5-year and 6.5-year expected lives (estimated period of time outstanding) of stock options granted were estimated using the ‘Simplified Method' which utilizes the midpoint between the vesting date and the end of the contractual term. This method was utilized for the stock options due to the lack of historical exercise behavior of the Company's employees.
[4]	The risk-free interest rate is specific to the date of grant and is based on the United States Treasury constant maturity market yield in effect at the time of the grant.

Business Concentrations (Detail

Business Concentrations (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016employeecollective_bargaining_agreement
Geographic
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk	83.00%
Labor
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Number of employees	2,500
Collective bargaining agreements | collective_bargaining_agreement	13
Labor | Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk	60.00%
Number of employees	1,500

Commitments and Contingencies81

Commitments and Contingencies (Leases) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Capital Leases
2,017	$ 1,279
2,018	921
2,019	554
2,020	224
2,021	56
Thereafter	0
Total minimum lease payments	3,034
Less: interest and executory cost	(496)
Present value of minimum lease payments	2,538
Less: current installments	(1,227)	$ (918)
Long-term obligations at December 31, 2016	1,311	1,223
Operating Leases
2,017	6,644
2,018	4,607
2,019	2,912
2,020	1,895
2,021	962
Thereafter	739
Total minimum lease payments	17,759
Rent Expense	$ 9,400	$ 9,400	$ 9,800

Commitments and Contingencies82

Commitments and Contingencies (Legal Proceedings) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016lawsuitplaintiff
IntraMTA
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of plaintiffs | plaintiff	2
Pending litigation
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of pending claims	16
Pending litigation | IntraMTA
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of pending claims	60

Commitments and Contingencies83

Commitments and Contingencies (Restricted Cash) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Restricted Cash and Investments [Abstract]
Restricted cash	$ 0.7	$ 0.7

Quarterly Financial Informati84

Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016		Sep. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2016		Mar. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Sep. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2015		Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 203,929		$ 207,141		$ 206,557		$ 206,816		$ 209,824		$ 221,569		$ 214,098		$ 213,974		$ 824,443	$ 859,465	$ 901,396
Other post-employment benefit and pension (benefit)/expense	(39,618)	[1]	(67,428)	[1]	(53,486)	[1]	(53,228)	[1]	(53,412)	[1]	(57,568)	[1]	(52,460)	[1]	(6,898)	[1]	(213,760)	(170,338)	75,282
Net income/(loss)	$ 16,005	[2]	$ 40,207	[2]	$ 29,315	[2]	$ 18,568	[2]	$ 42,310	[2]	$ 53,054	[2]	$ 40,265	[2]	$ (45,213)	[2]	$ 104,095	$ 90,416	$ (136,319)
Income/(loss) per share:
Basic (USD per share)	$ 0.60		$ 1.50		$ 1.09		$ 0.69		$ 1.59		$ 1.99		$ 1.51		$ (1.70)		$ 3.88	$ 3.39	$ (5.15)
Diluted (USD per share)	$ 0.59		$ 1.48		$ 1.08		$ 0.68		$ 1.56		$ 1.96		$ 1.49		$ (1.70)		$ 3.84	$ 3.35	$ (5.15)
[1]	Presented for comparative purposes.
[2]	The Company generated net income beginning in the second quarter of 2015 largely due to the remeasurement of the employee benefit plans in the first quarter of 2015 as described further in note (11) "Employee Benefit Plans."