Ribbit LEAP Limited 10-K 6 Mar 14 2013 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Feb. 18, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'LEAP WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL INC	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001065049	'	'
Document Type	'10-K	'	'
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-13	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'FY	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'No	'	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Accelerated Filer	'	'
Entity Public Float	'	'	$367,047,632
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	79,780,364	'

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets	'		'
Cash and cash equivalents	$531,245		$515,550
Short-term investments	385,783		159,426
Inventories	73,035		121,601
Deferred charges	38,293		60,963
Other current assets	159,581		139,242
Total current assets	1,187,937		996,782
Property and equipment, net	1,266,373	[1]	1,762,090	[1]
Wireless licenses	2,091,261		1,947,333
Assets held for sale (Note 7)	0		136,222
Goodwill	31,886		31,886
Intangible assets, net	14,043		24,663
Other assets	71,388		68,284
Total assets	4,662,888		4,967,260
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	'		'
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	365,479		396,110
Current maturities of long-term debt	266,454		4,000
Other current liabilities	209,068		216,880
Total current liabilities	841,001		616,990
Long-term debt, net	3,364,567		3,298,463
Deferred tax liabilities	424,446		385,111
Other long-term liabilities	158,010		169,047
Total liabilities	4,788,024		4,469,611
Redeemable non-controlling interests	68,535		64,517
Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)	'		'
Stockholders' equity:	'		'
Preferred stock - authorized 10,000,000 shares, $.0001 par value; no shares issued and outstanding	0		0
Common stock - authorized 160,000,000 shares, $.0001 par value; 79,726,348 and 79,194,750 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	8		8
Additional paid-in capital	2,159,171		2,182,503
Accumulated deficit	-2,352,147		-1,748,694
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-703		-685
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	-193,671		433,132
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$4,662,888		$4,967,260
[1]	As of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, approximately $48.7 million and $45.8 million of assets were held by the Company under capital lease arrangements, respectively. Accumulated amortization relating to these assets totaled $28.1 million and $22.9 million as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]	'	'
Preferred stock - par value per share	$0.00	$0.00
Preferred stock - authorized shares	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock - shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock - shares outstanding	0	0
Common stock - par value per share	$0.00	$0.00
Common stock - shares authorized	160,000,000	160,000,000
Common stock - shares issued	79,726,348	79,194,750
Common stock - shares outstanding	79,726,348	79,194,750

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenues:	'	'	'
Service revenues	$2,630,554	$2,947,457	$2,829,281
Equipment revenues	267,518	194,884	241,850
Total revenues	2,898,072	3,142,341	3,071,131
Operating expenses:	'	'	'
Cost of service (exclusive of items shown separately below)	999,965	1,034,167	981,203
Cost of equipment	871,399	816,226	817,920
Selling and marketing	276,604	349,970	369,257
General and administrative	357,323	348,934	355,529
Depreciation and amortization	594,341	625,596	548,426
Impairments and other charges (Note 8)	28,783	39,399	26,770
Total operating expenses	3,128,415	3,214,292	3,099,105
Gain on sale, exchange or disposal of assets, net	5,427	229,714	2,622
Operating income (loss)	-224,916	157,763	-25,352
Equity in net loss of investees, net	-10,558	-464	2,984
Interest income	362	194	245
Interest expense	-249,784	-268,232	-256,175
Other expense, net	0	0	-2
Loss on extinguishment of debt	-72,988	-18,634	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	-557,884	-129,373	-278,300
Income tax benefit (expense)	-45,569	-57,904	-39,377
Net income (loss)	-603,453	-187,277	-317,677
Accretion of redeemable non-controlling interests and distributions, net of tax	-37,355	-2,015	3,050
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	-640,808	-189,292	-314,627
Income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders:	'	'	'
Basic (usd per share)	($8.20)	($2.45)	($4.11)
Diluted (usd per share)	($8.20)	($2.45)	($4.11)
Shares used in per share calculations:	'	'	'
Basic (shares)	78,136	77,283	76,534
Diluted (shares)	78,136	77,283	76,534
Other comprehensive income (loss):	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	-603,453	-187,277	-317,677
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on investments and other	-18	27	-14
Comprehensive income (loss)	($603,471)	($187,250)	($317,691)

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Operating activities:	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	($603,453)	($187,277)	($317,677)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'	'
Share-based compensation expense	15,438	8,122	15,328
Depreciation and amortization	594,341	625,596	548,426
Accretion of asset retirement obligations	3,356	3,208	3,061
Non-cash interest items, net	10,608	13,514	13,178
Non-cash loss on extinguishment of debt	30,510	3,528	0
Deferred income tax expense	41,716	53,845	35,316
Impairments and other charges, net	15,447	13,640	377
Gain on sale, exchange or disposal of assets, net	-5,427	-229,714	-2,732
Equity in net loss of investees, net of cash dividends	10,558	464	3,628
Changes in assets and liabilities:	'	'	'
Inventories and deferred charges	71,236	-7,628	-23,352
Other assets	-29,113	-9,735	-40,970
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	-3,030	-6,136	38,224
Other liabilities	-14,286	-53,989	43,212
Impairments and other charges, to be settled in cash	-9,099	12,950	22,046
Net cash provided by operating activities	128,802	240,388	338,065
Investing activities:	'	'	'
Acquisition of a business	0	0	-850
Purchases of property and equipment	-133,067	-487,921	-395,343
Change in prepayments for purchases of property and equipment	4,975	6,357	6,813
Purchases of wireless licenses and spectrum clearing costs	3,289	5,596	4,880
Proceeds from sales of wireless licenses and operating assets, net	9,665	154,068	5,070
Purchases of investments	-770,803	-367,487	-826,233
Sales and maturities of investments	543,773	613,632	487,860
Dividend received from equity investee	0	0	11,606
Change in restricted cash	-63	239	-948
Net cash used in investing activities	-358,759	-99,422	-730,531
Financing activities:	'	'	'
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	1,414,313	396,000	396,772
Repayment of long-term debt	-1,112,922	-321,911	-23,589
Payment of debt issuance costs	-15,800	-5,645	-7,269
Purchase of non-controlling interest	0	-5,250	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	555	959	1,346
Proceeds from sale lease-back financing	0	0	25,815
Payments made to joint venture partners	-33,338	-29,407	-3,108
Other	-7,156	-5,405	-3,048
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	245,652	29,341	386,919
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	15,695	170,307	-5,547
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	515,550	345,243	350,790
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$531,245	$515,550	$345,243

Consolidated_Statement_of_Stoc

Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity Statement (USD $)	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
In Thousands, except Share data
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$911,282	$8	$2,155,712	($1,243,740)	($698)
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2010	'	78,437,309	'	'	'
Net loss	-317,677	'	'	-317,677	'
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on investments and other	-14	'	'	'	-14
Comprehensive loss	-317,691	'	'	'	'
Share-based compensation expense	15,328	'	15,328	'	'
Accretion of redeemable non-controlling interests, net of tax	5,124	'	5,124	'	'
Issuance of common stock under share-based compensation plans, net of repurchases, shares	'	486,740	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock under share-based compensation plans, net of repurchases	1,346	'	1,346	'	'
Distributions to joint venture partners	-2,074	'	-2,074	'	'
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2011	613,315	8	2,175,436	-1,561,417	-712
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011	'	78,924,049	'	'	'
Net loss	-187,277	'	'	-187,277	'
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on investments and other	27	'	'	'	27
Comprehensive loss	-187,250	'	'	'	'
Share-based compensation expense	8,122	'	8,122	'	'
Accretion of redeemable non-controlling interests, net of tax	2,126	'	2,126	'	'
Issuance of common stock under share-based compensation plans, net of repurchases, shares	'	270,701	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock under share-based compensation plans, net of repurchases	960	'	960	'	'
Distributions to joint venture partners	-4,141	'	-4,141	'	'
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2012	433,132	8	2,182,503	-1,748,694	-685
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012	'	79,194,750	'	'	'
Net loss	-603,453	'	'	-603,453	'
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on investments and other	-18	'	'	'	-18
Comprehensive loss	-603,471	'	'	'	'
Share-based compensation expense	13,470	'	13,470	'	'
Accretion of redeemable non-controlling interests, net of tax	-29,071	'	-29,071	'	'
Issuance of common stock under share-based compensation plans, net of repurchases, shares	'	531,598	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock under share-based compensation plans, net of repurchases	553	'	553	'	'
Distributions to joint venture partners	-8,284	'	-8,284	'	'
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	($193,671)	$8	$2,159,171	($2,352,147)	($703)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013	'	79,726,348	'	'	'

The_Company

The Company	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
The Company	'
	The Company
	Leap Wireless International, Inc. ("Leap"), a Delaware corporation, together with its subsidiaries and consolidated joint ventures, is a wireless communications carrier that offers digital wireless services in the United States under the "Cricket®" brand. Cricket service offerings provide customers with unlimited nationwide wireless services for a flat rate without requiring a fixed-term contract or a credit check. The Company's primary service is Cricket Wireless, which offers customers unlimited nationwide voice and data services for a flat monthly rate. Leap conducts operations through its subsidiaries and has no independent operations or sources of income other than through interest income and dividends, if any, from its subsidiaries.
	Cricket service is offered by Cricket Communications, Inc. ("Cricket"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leap. Cricket service is also offered in South Texas by STX Wireless Operations, LLC ("STX Operations"), which Cricket controls through a 75.75% membership interest in STX Wireless, LLC ("STX Wireless"), the parent company of STX Operations. For more information regarding this joint venture, see "Note 8. Arrangement with Joint Venture."
	Leap, Cricket and their subsidiaries and consolidated joint ventures are collectively referred to herein as the "Company."

Proposed_Merger_Proposed_Merge

Proposed Merger Proposed Merger	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
Proposed Merger	'
	Proposed Merger
	On July 12, 2013, Leap entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 12, 2013 (the "Merger Agreement"), with AT&T Inc. ("AT&T"), Mariner Acquisition Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of AT&T ("Merger Sub"), and Laser, Inc., a Delaware corporation (which will act as the stockholders' representative for certain purposes under the Merger Agreement), pursuant to which, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, AT&T will acquire Leap in a transaction in which Leap stockholders would receive $15.00 in cash for each outstanding share of Leap's common stock, plus one non-transferable contingent value right ("CVR") per share (together, the "Merger Consideration"). The CVR will entitle each Leap stockholder to a pro rata share of the net proceeds, if any, resulting from the future sale of the Company's 700 MHz A block license in Chicago (the "700 MHz License"). The Merger Agreement provides that, on the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, Merger Sub will be merged with and into Leap, with Leap continuing as the surviving corporation (the "Merger"), and each outstanding share of common stock of Leap (other than excluded shares) will cease to be outstanding and will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to closing, the Company expects to complete the proposed Merger with AT&T no later than the end of the first quarter of 2014.
	Each outstanding stock option, whether vested or unvested, that was granted under one of Leap's stock plans and that has an exercise price equal to or below the $15.00 per share cash merger consideration will be cancelled at the effective time of the Merger and will entitle the holder to receive (1) cash equal to the product of the total number of shares underlying the stock option multiplied by the difference, if any, of the per share cash merger consideration and the exercise price per share underlying each stock option, less any applicable withholding taxes and (2) one CVR for each share underlying the stock option. Holders of an outstanding stock option, whether vested or unvested, with an exercise price greater than the per share cash merger consideration, will have the opportunity to exercise such stock option prior to the effective time of the Merger by providing Leap with a notice of exercise and, for each share underlying the stock option, a cash amount equal to the difference of the exercise price underlying the stock option less the per share cash merger consideration. Each stock option that is so exercised will be settled at the effective time of the Merger and the holder will receive one CVR in respect of each share underlying the stock option and, to the extent the stock option is not exercised prior to the effective time of the Merger, the stock option will be cancelled at the effective time of the Merger for no consideration to the holder. Each outstanding share of restricted stock granted under Leap's stock plans will be cancelled at the effective time of the Merger and the holder will receive the per share cash merger consideration, less any applicable withholding taxes, plus one CVR in respect of such share of restricted stock. Each outstanding stock unit granted under Leap's stock plans (including performance stock units, deferred stock units and deferred cash units but excluding any cash award with a value that is not determined based on the price of Leap common stock), whether vested or unvested, will be cancelled and will entitle the holder to receive an amount in cash equal to the product of the number of shares covered by the unit (assuming target level of performance for any incomplete performance periods) multiplied by the per share cash merger consideration, less any applicable withholding taxes, plus one CVR in respect of such unit.
	Leap has made customary representations, warranties and covenants in the Merger Agreement, including, among others, covenants not to solicit proposals relating to alternative transactions or enter into discussions concerning or provide information in connection with alternative transactions. On October 30, 2013, the Merger Agreement was adopted and approved by the requisite vote of Leap's stockholders at the special meeting of stockholders.
	Consummation of the Merger is subject to various customary conditions, including, among others, expiration of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended; approval of the transaction by the Federal Communications Commission (the "FCC"); and approval of the transaction by applicable state public utility commissions. The parties have agreed to use their respective reasonable best efforts to obtain all necessary regulatory approvals for the Merger, provided that AT&T will not be obligated to agree to divestitures or other restrictions that would have any effect on AT&T or to divestitures or other restrictions that would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Leap and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. It is a condition to AT&T's obligation to consummate the Merger that the FCC approval has been obtained by final order and that other regulatory approvals have been obtained, in each case without the imposition of an adverse regulatory condition.
	The Merger Agreement also provides for certain termination rights, including the right of either party to terminate the Merger Agreement if the Merger is not consummated by July 11, 2014 (the "Termination Date," as it may be extended in certain circumstances to January 11, 2015).
	If the Merger Agreement is terminated because the Termination Date has been reached because there is an order of a governmental entity permanently preventing completion of the transaction or as a result of a breach by AT&T and AT&T's breach materially contributed to the failure to receive regulatory approval, and, at the time of such termination, all regulatory approvals have not been received or the transaction has been enjoined, Leap, subject to certain exceptions, will have the option within 30 days of termination of the Merger Agreement to enter into a three-year LTE data roaming agreement with AT&T, which will provide coverage in certain of Leap's markets not covered by Leap's LTE network. If Leap enters into the roaming agreement, AT&T will then have the option within 30 days after entry into the roaming agreement to purchase certain of Leap's spectrum assets. If AT&T does not exercise its right to purchase all of the specified spectrum assets, Leap may, within 60 days after expiration of AT&T's option, require AT&T to purchase all of the specified assets.
	More information regarding the Merger, including the CVR, is available in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including the definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on September 17, 2013 and the additional soliciting materials filed with the SEC on October 18, 2013.

Basis_of_Presentation_and_Sign

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies	'
	Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
	Basis of Presentation
	The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. By their nature, estimates are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty. Actual results could differ from management's estimates.
	Principles of Consolidation
	The consolidated financial statements include the operating results and financial position of Leap and its wholly-owned subsidiaries as well as the operating results and financial position of STX Wireless and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company consolidates STX Wireless in accordance with the authoritative guidance for consolidations based on the voting interest model. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.
	Segment and Geographic Data
	The Company operates in a single operating segment and a single reporting unit as a wireless communications carrier that offers digital wireless services almost entirely in the United States. As of and for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, substantially all of the Company's revenues and long-lived assets related to operations in the United States.
	Revenues
	The Company's business revenues principally arise from the sale of wireless services, devices (handsets and broadband modems) and accessories. Wireless services are provided primarily on a month-to-month basis. The Company's customers are required to pay for their service in advance and the Company does not require customers to sign fixed-term contracts or pass a credit check. Service revenues are recognized only after payment has been received and services have been rendered.
	When the Company activates service for a new customer, it often sells that customer a device along with a period of service. In accordance with the authoritative guidance for revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables, the sale of a device along with service constitutes a multiple element arrangement. Under this guidance, once a company has determined the best estimate of selling price of the elements in the sales transaction, the total consideration received from the customer must be allocated among those elements on a relative selling price basis. Applying the guidance to these transactions results in the Company recognizing the total consideration received, less amounts allocated to the wireless service period (generally the customer's monthly service plan), as equipment revenue.
	Amounts allocated to equipment revenues and related costs from the sale of devices are recognized when service is activated by new customers. Revenues and related costs from the sale of devices and accessories to existing customers are recognized at the point of sale. The costs of devices and accessories sold are recorded in cost of equipment. In addition to devices that the Company sells directly to its customers at Cricket-owned stores, the Company sells devices to third-party dealers, including nationwide retailers. These dealers then sell the devices to the ultimate Cricket customer, similar to the sale made at a Cricket-owned store. Sales of devices to third-party dealers are recognized as equipment revenues only when service is activated by customers, since the level of price reductions and commissions ultimately available to such dealers is not reliably estimable until the devices are sold by such dealers to customers. Thus, revenues from devices sold to third-party dealers are recorded as deferred equipment revenue and the related costs of the devices are recorded as deferred charges upon shipment of the devices by the Company. The deferred charges are recognized as equipment costs when the related equipment revenue is recognized, which occurs when service is activated by the customer.
	Through a third-party provider, the Company's customers may elect to participate in an extended warranty program for devices they purchase. The Company recognizes revenue on replacement devices sold to its customers under the program when the customer purchases the device.
	The Company participates in the federal government's Lifeline program and is designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier in certain states in which it provides wireless services. Under this program, the Company offers discounted wireless services to qualified customers and generally receives reimbursement for a portion of the subsidized services. The Company recognizes revenue under this program only after amounts eligible for reimbursement have been determined and services have been rendered.
	Sales incentives offered to customers and commissions and sales incentives offered to the Company's third-party dealers are recognized as a reduction of revenue when the related service or equipment revenue is recognized. Customers have limited rights to return devices and accessories based on time and/or usage, and customer returns of devices and accessories have historically been insignificant.
	Amounts billed by the Company in advance of customers' wireless service periods are not reflected in accounts receivable or deferred revenue since collectability of such amounts is not reasonably assured. Deferred revenue consists primarily of cash received from customers in advance of their service period and deferred equipment revenue related to devices sold to third-party dealers, including nationwide retailers.
	Universal Service Fund, E-911 and other telecommunications-related regulatory fees are assessed by various federal and state governmental agencies in connection with the services that the Company provides to its customers. The service plans the Company currently offers are "all-inclusive" of telecommunications and regulatory fees, in that the Company does not separately bill and collect amounts owed and remitted to government agencies from its customers. For the Company's legacy service plans, which are not "all-inclusive," the Company separately bills and collects from its customers amounts owed and remitted to government agencies. Regulatory fees and telecommunications taxes separately billed and collected from the Company's customers are recorded in service revenues. Amounts owed to government agencies are recorded in cost of service. During the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 the total amount of regulatory fees and telecommunications taxes separately billed and collected from customers and recorded in service revenues was $2.6 million, $9.4 million and $32.6 million, respectively. Sales, use and excise taxes for all service plans are reported on a net basis.
	Costs and Expenses
	The Company's costs and expenses include:
	Cost of Service. The major components of cost of service are: charges from other communications companies for long distance, roaming and content download services provided to the Company's customers; charges from other communications companies for their transport and termination of calls originated by the Company's customers and destined for customers of other networks; expenses for tower and network facility rent, engineering operations, field technicians and utility and maintenance charges; amounts paid to publishers and label partners in support of our Muve Music service, and salary and overhead charges associated with these functions; and regulatory fees and telecommunications taxes, including Universal Service Fund and E-911 fees.
	Cost of Equipment. Cost of equipment primarily includes the cost of devices and accessories purchased from third-party vendors and resold to the Company's customers in connection with its services, as well as the lower of cost or market write-downs associated with excess or obsolete devices and accessories.
	Selling and Marketing. Selling and marketing expenses primarily include advertising expenses, promotional and public relations costs associated with acquiring new customers, store operating costs (such as retail associates' salaries and rent), and salary and overhead charges associated with selling and marketing functions.
	General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses primarily include call center and other customer care program costs and salary, overhead and outside consulting costs associated with the Company's customer care, billing, information technology, finance, human resources, accounting, legal and executive functions.
	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity at the time of purchase of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company invests its cash with major financial institutions in money market funds, short-term U.S. Treasury securities and other securities such as prime-rated short-term commercial paper. The Company has not experienced any significant losses on its cash and cash equivalents.
	Short-Term Investments
	Short-term investments generally consist of highly liquid, fixed-income investments with an original maturity at the time of purchase of greater than three months. Such investments consist of commercial paper, asset-backed commercial paper and obligations of the U.S. government and government agencies.
	Investments are classified as available-for-sale and stated at fair value. The net unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale securities are reported as a component of other comprehensive income (loss). The specific identification method is used to compute the realized gains and losses on investments. Investments are periodically reviewed for impairment. If the carrying value of an investment exceeds its fair value and the decline in value is determined to be other-than-temporary, an impairment loss is recognized in earnings (or net loss) for the difference.
	Restricted Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
	The Company has set aside certain amounts of cash, cash equivalents and short term investments to satisfy certain contractual obligations and has classified such amounts as restricted in its consolidated balance sheets. Restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments are included in either other current assets or other assets, depending on the nature of the underlying contractual obligation. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had approximately $0.9 million and $11.3 million of restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments included in other current assets and other assets, respectively. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had approximately $0.7 million and $11.4 million of restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments included in other current assets and other assets, respectively.
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	The authoritative guidance for fair value measurements defines fair value for accounting purposes, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and provides disclosure requirements regarding fair value measurements. The guidance defines fair value as an exit price, which is the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid upon transfer of a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The degree of judgment utilized in measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities generally correlates to the level of pricing observability. Assets and liabilities with readily available, actively quoted prices or for which fair value can be measured from actively quoted prices in active markets generally have more pricing observability and require less judgment in measuring fair value. Conversely, assets and liabilities that are rarely traded or not quoted have less pricing observability and are generally measured at fair value using valuation models that require more judgment. These valuation techniques involve some level of management estimation and judgment, the degree of which is dependent on the price transparency of the asset, liability or market and the nature of the asset or liability. The Company has categorized its assets and liabilities measured at fair value into a three-level hierarchy in accordance with this guidance. See "Note 4. Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Non-Financial Assets" for further discussion regarding the Company's measurement of assets and liabilities at fair value.
	Inventories and Deferred Charges
	Inventories consist of devices and accessories not yet placed into service and units designated for the replacement of damaged customer devices, and are stated at the lower of cost or market using the average cost method. Devices sold to third party dealers and nationwide retailers are recorded as deferred charges upon shipment of the devices by the Company. The deferred charges are recognized as cost of equipment when service is activated by the customer.
	Property and Equipment
	Property and equipment are initially recorded at cost. Additions and improvements are capitalized, while expenditures that do not enhance the asset or extend its useful life are charged to operating expenses as incurred. Depreciation is applied using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets once the assets are placed in service.
	The following table summarizes the depreciable lives for property and equipment (in years):
		Depreciable Life
	Network equipment:
	Switches	10-May
	Switch power equipment	15
	Cell site equipment and site improvements	7-May
	Towers	15
	Antennae	5
	Computer hardware and software	5-Mar
	Furniture, fixtures retail and office equipment	7-Mar
	The Company's network construction expenditures are recorded as construction-in-progress until the network or other asset is placed in service, at which time the asset is transferred to the appropriate property or equipment category and depreciation commences. The Company capitalizes salaries and related costs of engineering and technical operations employees as components of construction-in-progress during the construction period to the extent time and expense are attributed to the construction effort. The Company also capitalizes certain telecommunications and other related costs as construction-in-progress during the construction period to the extent they are incremental and directly related to the network under construction.
	In accordance with the authoritative guidance for accounting for costs of computer software developed or obtained for internal use, certain costs related to the development of internal use software are capitalized and amortized over the estimated useful life of the software. During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company capitalized internal use software costs of $41.5 million and $74.4 million, respectively, to property and equipment, and amortized internal use software costs of $84.6 million and $76.7 million, respectively.
	Long-Lived Intangible Assets
	The Company's long-lived intangible assets consist of trademarks and customer relationships. The Company's trademarks were recorded upon adoption of fresh-start reporting and are being amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of fourteen years. Customer relationships acquired in connection with the Company's formation of the STX Wireless joint venture in the fourth quarter of 2010 are amortized on an accelerated basis over a useful life of up to four years. Amortization expense for other intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $10.6 million, $16.8 million and $23.4 million, respectively. Estimated amortization expense for other intangible assets is $4.6 million for 2014, $2.6 million for 2015, $2.6 million for 2016, $2.6 million for 2017, $1.5 million for 2018 and zero thereafter.
	Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
	The Company assesses potential impairments to its long-lived assets, including property and equipment and long-lived intangible assets, when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances indicate that their respective carrying values may not be recoverable. An impairment loss may be required to be recognized when the undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by a long-lived asset (or group of such assets) are less than its carrying value. Any required impairment loss would be measured as the amount by which the asset’s carrying value exceeds its fair value and would be recorded as a reduction in the carrying value of the related asset and charged to results of operations.
	During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company determined that certain amounts capitalized were no longer recoverable, and as such, recorded impairment charges of approximately $19.8 million and $13.6 million, respectively, reducing the carrying value of those capitalized amounts to zero. There were no other events or circumstances that occurred during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 that indicated the carrying value of any long-lived assets may not be recoverable.
	Impairment of Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets
	The Company assesses potential impairments to its indefinite-lived intangible assets, including wireless licenses and goodwill, on an annual basis or when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances indicate an impairment condition may exist. The Company's annual impairment test is conducted each year during the third quarter as further discussed in Note 6. The Company adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2012-02, "Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment" ("ASU 2012-02") in the first quarter of 2013. ASU 2012-02 simplified the requirements for testing indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment and permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative fair value test.
	Wireless Licenses
	The Company holds Personal Communications Services ("PCS"), Advanced Wireless Services ("AWS") and 700 MHz wireless licenses granted by the FCC that are specific to a particular geographic area on spectrum that has been allocated by the FCC for such services. Wireless licenses are recorded at cost when acquired and are not amortized. Although FCC licenses are issued with a stated term (ten years in the case of PCS and 700 MHz licenses and fifteen years in the case of AWS licenses), wireless licenses are considered to be indefinite-lived intangible assets because the Company expects to provide wireless service using the relevant licenses for the foreseeable future. PCS, AWS and 700 MHz licenses are routinely renewed for either no or a nominal fee and management has determined that no legal, regulatory, contractual, competitive, economic or other factors currently exist that limit the useful lives of the Company's wireless licenses. On a quarterly basis, the Company evaluates the remaining useful lives of its indefinite-lived wireless licenses to determine whether events and circumstances, such as legal, regulatory, contractual, competitive, economic or other factors, continue to support an indefinite useful life. If a wireless license is subsequently determined to have a finite useful life, the Company would first test the wireless license for impairment and the wireless license would then be amortized prospectively over its estimated remaining useful life. In addition, on a quarterly basis, the Company evaluates the triggering event criteria outlined in the authoritative guidance for intangible assets to determine whether events or changes in circumstances indicate that an impairment condition may exist. The Company also tests its wireless licenses for impairment on an annual basis in accordance with the authoritative guidance for intangible assets. The Company's annual impairment test is conducted each year during the third quarter. Refer to "Note 6. Wireless Licenses and Goodwill" for further discussion regarding the Company's impairment evaluation of wireless licenses.
	Goodwill
	The Company records the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired in a business combination as goodwill. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, goodwill of $31.9 million primarily represented the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the assets acquired (net of liabilities assumed, including the related deferred tax effects) by STX Wireless in connection with the formation of the joint venture. Goodwill is tested for impairment annually as well as when an event or change in circumstance indicates an impairment may have occurred. The Company's annual impairment test is conducted each year during the third quarter. In addition, on a quarterly basis, the Company evaluates the triggering event criteria outlined in the authoritative guidance for intangible assets to determine whether events or changes in circumstances indicate that an impairment condition may exist. Refer to "Note 6. Wireless Licenses and Goodwill" for further discussion regarding the Company's goodwill impairment evaluation.
	Investments in Other Entities
	The Company uses the equity method to account for investments in common stock of corporations in which it has a voting interest of between 20% and 50% or in which the Company otherwise has the ability to exercise significant influence, and for investments in limited liability companies that maintain specific ownership accounts in which it has more than a minor but not greater than a 50% ownership interest. Under the equity method, the investment is originally recorded at cost and is adjusted to recognize the Company's share of net earnings or losses of the investee. The Company's ownership interest in equity method investees ranges from approximately 4.0% to 20.7% of outstanding membership units. The carrying value of the Company's investments in its equity method investees was zero and $10.6 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company's share of earnings (losses) in its equity method investees (net of its share of their losses) was $(1.4) million, $(0.5) million and $3.0 million, respectively.
	On June 30, 2011, one of the Company's equity method investees declared a cash dividend and paid the dividend with funds borrowed under a third-party line of credit. The Company's share of the dividend based on its ownership percentage was $18.2 million and was received in full on July 1, 2011. In the consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company presented the portion of the dividend equal to its share of accumulated profits (approximately $6.6 million) as cash from operating activities and the remainder (approximately $11.6 million) as cash from investing activities, as it represented a return of the Company's original investment.
	The Company reviews its investments accounted for under the equity method for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the investments may not be fully recoverable. The Merger Agreement with AT&T requires that the Company sell its investments in its equity method investees, and in the third quarter of 2013 we commenced a plan to sell those investments. As the investments met all of the criteria under the authoritative guidance to be classified as assets held for sale, the Company reclassified the investments to assets held for sale as of September 30, 2013. The Company is required to assess the fair value of its investments at each period end and determined that an other-than-temporary impairment existed at December 31, 2013. As a result, the Company recorded impairment charges totaling $9.2 million to reduce the carrying value of one of its equity method investments to zero at December 31, 2013. In March 2014, the Company completed the sale of its investment in one of its equity method investees for a contingent fee of up to $5.0 million.
	Concentrations
The Company generally relies on one key vendor for billing and Muve Music royalty services, a limited number of vendors for device logistics, a limited number of vendors for its voice and data communications transport services and a limited number of vendors for payment processing services. Loss or disruption of these services could materially adversely affect the Company's business.
The networks the Company operates do not, by themselves, provide national coverage and it must pay fees to other carriers who provide roaming or wholesale services to the Company. The Company currently relies on roaming agreements with several carriers for the majority of its voice services and generally on one key carrier for its data roaming services. The Company has also entered into a wholesale agreement, which the Company uses to offer Cricket services in a limited number of nationwide retailers outside of its current network footprint. If the Company were unable to obtain or maintain cost-effective roaming or wholesale services for its customers in geographically desirable service areas, the Company's competitive position, business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
Operating Leases
Rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the initial lease term and those renewal periods that are reasonably assured as determined at lease inception. The difference between rent expense and rent paid is recorded as deferred rent and is included in other current or long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. Rent expense totaled $252.6 million, $256.3 million and $260.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Asset Retirement Obligations
The Company recognizes an asset retirement obligation and an associated asset retirement cost when it has a legal obligation in connection with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets. These obligations arise from certain of the Company's leases and relate primarily to the cost of removing its equipment from such lease sites and restoring the sites to their original condition. When the liability is initially recorded, the Company capitalizes the cost of the asset retirement obligation by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. The liability is initially recorded at its present value and is accreted to its then present value each period, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. Accretion expense is recorded in cost of service in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Upon settlement of the obligation, any difference between the cost to retire the asset and the liability recorded is recognized in operating expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
The following table summarizes the Company's asset retirement obligations as of and for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):
	Year Ended December 31,
	2013			2012
Asset retirement obligations, beginning of year	$	36,230		$	32,919
Liabilities incurred	118			815
Accretion expense	3,356			3,208
Decommissioned sites	(320		)	(712		)
Other	(3,155		)	—
Asset retirement obligations, end of year	$	36,229		$	36,230
Debt Issuance Costs
Debt issuance costs are amortized and recognized as interest expense using the effective interest method over the expected term of the related debt. Unamortized debt issuance costs related to extinguished debt are expensed at the time the debt is extinguished and recorded in loss on extinguishment of debt in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Unamortized debt issuance costs are recorded in other assets or as a reduction of the respective debt balance, as applicable, in the consolidated balance sheets.
Advertising Costs
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs totaled $85.5 million, $131.2 million and $115.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Share-based Compensation
The Company accounts for share-based awards exchanged for employee services in accordance with the authoritative guidance for share-based payments. Under the guidance, share-based compensation expense is measured at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense, net of estimated forfeitures, over the employee's requisite service period. Compensation expense is amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award, which is generally the vesting period of the award. No share-based compensation was capitalized as part of inventory or fixed assets prior to or during 2013.
Income Taxes
The Company calculates income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which it operates. This process involves calculating the current tax expense or benefit and any deferred income tax expense or benefit resulting from temporary differences arising from differing treatments of items for tax and accounting purposes. These temporary differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets are also established for the expected future tax benefits to be derived from net operating loss ("NOL") carryforwards, capital loss carryforwards and income tax credits.
The Company periodically assesses the likelihood that its deferred tax assets will be recoverable from future taxable income. To the extent the Company believes it is more likely than not that its deferred tax assets will not be recovered, it must establish a valuation allowance. As part of this periodic assessment for the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company weighed the positive and negative factors and, at this time, does not believe there is sufficient positive evidence to support a conclusion that it is more likely than not that all or a portion of its deferred tax assets will be realized, except with respect to the realization of a $1.8 million Texas Margins Tax ("TMT") credit. Accordingly, at December 31, 2013, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company recorded a valuation allowance offsetting substantially all of its deferred tax assets. The Company will continue to monitor the positive and negative factors to assess whether it is required to continue to maintain a valuation allowance. At such time as the Company determines that it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets are realizable, the valuation allowance will be reduced or released in its entirety, with the corresponding benefit reflected in the Company's tax provision. Deferred tax liabilities associated with wireless licenses and investments in certain joint ventures cannot be considered a source of taxable income to support the realization of deferred tax assets because these deferred tax liabilities will not reverse until some indefinite future period when these assets are either sold or impaired for book purposes.
The Company has substantial federal and state NOLs for income tax purposes. Subject to certain requirements, the Company may "carry forward" its federal NOLs for up to 20 years to offset future taxable income and reduce its income tax liability. For state income tax purposes, the NOL carryforward period ranges from five to 20 years. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had federal and state NOLs of approximately $3.1 billion and $2.3 billion, respectively, which begin to expire in 2022 for federal income tax purposes and of which $92.8 million will expire at the end of 2014 for state income tax purposes. While these NOL carryforwards have a potential to be used to offset future ordinary taxable income and reduce future cash tax liabilities by approximately $1.2 billion, the Company's ability to utilize these NOLs will depend upon the availability of future taxable income during the carryforward period and, as such, there is no assurance the Company will be able to realize such tax savings.
The Company's ability to utilize NOLs could be further limited if it were to experience an "ownership change," as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code and similar state provisions. In general terms, an ownership change can occur whenever there is a collective shift in the ownership of a company by more than 50 percentage points by one or more "5% stockholders" within a three-year period. The occurrence of such a change generally limits the amount of NOL carryforwards a company could utilize in a given year to the aggregate fair market value of the company's common stock immediately prior to the ownership change, multiplied by the long-term tax-exempt interest rate in effect for the month of the ownership change.
The determination of whether an ownership change has occurred for purposes of Section 382 is complex and requires significant judgment. The occurrence of such an ownership change would accelerate cash tax payments the Company would be required to make and likely result in a substantial portion of its NOLs expiring before the Company could fully utilize them. As a result, any restriction on the Company's ability to utilize these NOL carryforwards could have a material adverse impact on its business, financial condition and future cash flows.
On August 30, 2011, the Company's board of directors adopted a Tax Benefit Preservation Plan to help deter acquisitions of Leap common stock that could result in an ownership change under Section 382 and thus help preserve the Company's ability to use its NOL carryforwards. The Tax Benefit Preservation Plan is designed to deter acquisitions of Leap common stock that would result in a stockholder owning 4.99% or more of Leap common stock (as calculated under Section 382), or any existing holder of 4.99% or more of Leap common stock acquiring additional shares, by substantially diluting the ownership interest of any such stockholder unless the stockholder obtains an exemption from the Company's board of directors.
None of the Company's NOL carryforwards are being considered as an uncertain tax position or disclosed as an unrecognized tax benefit. Any carryforwards that expire prior to utilization as a result of a Section 382 limitation will be removed from deferred tax assets with a corresponding reduction to the valuation allowance. Since the Company currently maintains a full valuation allowance against its federal and state NOL carryforwards, it is not expected that any possible limitation would have a current impact on its results of operations.
In accordance with the authoritative guidance for business combinations, which became effective for the Company on January 1, 2009, any reduction in the valuation allowance, including the valuation allowance established in fresh-start reporting, will be accounted for as a reduction of income tax expense.
The Company's unrecognized income tax benefits and uncertain tax positions, as well as any associated interest and penalties, are recorded through income tax expense; however, such amounts have not been significant in any period. All of the Company's tax years from 1998 to 2012 remain open to examination by federal and state taxing authorities. In July 2009, the federal examination of the Company's 2005 tax year, which was limited in scope, was concluded and the results did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
Basic and Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share
Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the sum of the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period and the weighted-average number of dilutive common share equivalents outstanding during the period, using the treasury stock method and the if-converted method, where applicable. Dilutive common share equivalents are comprised of stock options, restricted stock awards, employee stock purchase rights and convertible senior notes. Since the Company incurred losses for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, 8.7 million, 8.4 million and 7.8 million common share equivalents were excluded in the computation of diluted loss per share for those periods, respectively.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In July 2012, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued ASU 2012-02 which simplified the requirements for testing for indefinite-lived intangible assets and permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative fair value test. The new guidance was adopted by the Company in the first quarter of 2013 and did not have a material impact on the Company or its consolidated financial statements.
In February 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-02, "Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income" ("ASU 2013-02"). ASU 2013-02 requires companies to present information about significant items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or as a separate disclosure in the notes to the financial statements. This new guidance became effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2013 and did not have a material impact on the Company or its consolidated financial statements.

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru

Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Non-Financial Assets	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Non-Financial Assets	'
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Non-Financial Assets
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	The authoritative guidance for fair value measurements defines fair value for accounting purposes, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and provides disclosure requirements regarding fair value measurements. The guidance defines fair value as an exit price, which is the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid upon the transfer of a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The degree of judgment utilized in measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities generally correlates to the level of pricing observability. Assets and liabilities with readily available, actively quoted prices or for which fair value can be measured from actively quoted prices in active markets generally have more pricing observability and require less judgment in measuring fair value. Conversely, assets and liabilities that are rarely traded or not quoted have less pricing observability and are generally measured at fair value using valuation models that require more judgment. These valuation techniques involve some level of management estimation and judgment, the degree of which is dependent on the price transparency of the asset, liability or market and the nature of the asset or liability.
	The Company has categorized its assets and liabilities measured at fair value into a three-level hierarchy in accordance with the authoritative guidance for fair value measurements. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities are generally categorized as Level 1; assets and liabilities measured at fair value using observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data for similar assets or liabilities are generally categorized as Level 2; and assets and liabilities measured at fair value using unobservable inputs that cannot be corroborated by market data are generally categorized as Level 3. Assets and liabilities presented at fair value in the Company's consolidated balance sheets are generally categorized as follows:
	Level 1:	Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. The Company did not have any Level 1 assets or liabilities as of December 31, 2013 or December 31, 2012.
	Level 2:	Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. The Company's Level 2 assets as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 included its cash equivalents, its short-term investments in obligations of the U.S. government and government agencies and its short-term investments in commercial paper.
	Level 3:	Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Such assets and liabilities may have values determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, and include instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation. The Company did not have any Level 3 assets or liabilities as of December 31, 2013 or December 31, 2012, other than the non-financial assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis discussed below.
	The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the Company's assets and liabilities that were recorded at fair value as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 (in thousands). As required by the guidance for fair value measurements, financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Thus, assets and liabilities categorized as Level 3 may be measured at fair value using inputs that are observable (Levels 1 and 2) and unobservable (Level 3). Management's assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, which may affect the valuation of assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels.
		At Fair Value as of December 31, 2013
		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	Assets:
	Money market funds	$	—	$	12,144	$	—	$	12,144
	Commercial paper	—		191,989		—		191,989
	U.S. government or government agency securities	—		306,808		—		306,808
	Total	$	—	$	510,941	$	—	$	510,941
		At Fair Value as of December 31, 2012
		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	Assets:
	Money market funds	$	—	$	126,617	$	—	$	126,617
	Commercial paper	—		82,346		—		82,346
	U.S. government or government agency securities	—		135,861		—		135,861
	Total	$	—	$	344,824	$	—	$	344,824
	Assets in the tables above are reported on the consolidated balance sheets as components of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, other current assets and other assets.
	Unrealized gains (losses) are presented in accumulated other comprehensive loss within stockholders' equity in the consolidated balance sheets. Realized gains (losses) are presented in other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
	Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
	As of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, all of the Company's short-term investments were debt securities with contractual maturities of less than one year and were classified as available-for-sale. The fair value of the Company's cash equivalents, short-term investments in obligations of the U.S. government and government agencies and its short-term investments in commercial paper is determined using observable market-based inputs for similar assets, which primarily include yield curves and time-to-maturity factors. Such investments are therefore considered to be Level 2 items.
	Available-for-sale securities were comprised as follows as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
		As of December 31, 2013
		Cost		Fair Value
	Money market funds	$	12,144	$	12,144
	Commercial paper	191,989		191,989
	U.S. government or government agency securities	306,813		306,808
		$	510,946	$	510,941
		As of December 31, 2012
		Cost		Fair Value
	Money market funds	$	126,617	$	126,617
	Commercial paper	82,345		82,346
	U.S. government or government agency securities	135,848		135,861
		$	344,810	$	344,824
	Long-Term Debt
	The Company reports its long-term debt obligations at amortized cost; however, for disclosure purposes, the Company is required to measure the fair value of outstanding debt on a recurring basis. The fair value of the Company's outstanding long-term debt is determined primarily by using quoted prices in active markets and was $3,906.0 million and $3,421.5 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company's debt was considered to be a Level 1 item for disclosure purposes.
	Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
	As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, non-financial assets with a carrying value of $19.8 million and $13.6 million, respectively, accumulated in construction-in-progress had been reduced to a fair value of zero, resulting in an impairment charge of $19.8 million and $13.6 million, respectively.
	The Company reviews its investments accounted for under the equity method for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the investment may not be fully recoverable. The Merger Agreement with AT&T requires that the Company sell its investments in certain regional wireless service providers, which investments the Company has accounted for under the equity method. During the third quarter of 2013, the Company commenced its plan to sell those investments. As the investments met all of the criteria under the authoritative guidance to be classified as assets held for sale, the Company reclassified the investments to assets held for sale as of September 30, 2013. The Company was required to assess the fair value of the investments and determined that an other-than-temporary impairment existed as of December 31, 2013. As a result, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $9.2 million to reduce the carrying value of one of its equity method investments to its estimated fair value of zero as of December 31, 2013. In March 2014, the Company completed the sale of its investment in one of its equity method investees for a contingent fee of up to $5.0 million.
	There were no other non-financial or financial assets that were measured and recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.

Supplementary_Financial_Inform

Supplementary Financial Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Supplementary Balance Sheet Information [Abstract]	'
Supplementary Balance Sheet Information	'
	Supplementary Financial Information
	Supplementary Balance Sheet Information (in thousands):
		December 31,				December 31,
		2013				2012
	Other current assets:
	Accounts receivable, net of allowances for bad debt of $1.3 million and $1.3 million, respectively(1)	$	102,702			$	86,467
	Prepaid expenses	32,762				40,237
	Other	24,117				12,538
		$	159,581			$	139,242
	Property and equipment, net(2):
	Network equipment	$	3,333,173			$	3,348,122
	Computer hardware and software	571,646				526,348
	Construction-in-progress(3)	14,339				54,945
	Other	97,054				109,400
		4,016,212				4,038,815
	Accumulated depreciation	(2,749,839		)		(2,276,725		)
		$	1,266,373			$	1,762,090
	Intangible assets, net:
	Customer relationships	$	50,435			$	50,435
	Trademarks	37,000				37,000
		87,435				87,435
	Accumulated amortization of customer relationships	(48,505		)		(40,528		)
	Accumulated amortization of trademarks	(24,887		)		(22,244		)
		$	14,043			$	24,663
	Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:
	Trade accounts payable	$	192,947			$	143,931
	Accrued payroll and related benefits	59,762				67,539
	Other accrued liabilities	112,770				184,640
		$	365,479			$	396,110
	Other current liabilities:
	Deferred service revenue(4)	$	93,347			$	100,276
	Deferred equipment revenue(5)	23,876				36,471
	Accrued sales, telecommunications, property and other taxes payable	15,889				4,267
	Accrued interest	31,567				44,653
	Other	44,389				31,213
		$	209,068			$	216,880
	____________
	-1	Accounts receivable, net, consists primarily of (i) amounts billed to third-party dealers for devices and accessories, (ii) amounts due from the federal government in connection with the Lifeline program and other regulatory programs, and (iii) amounts due from service providers related to interconnect and roaming agreements.
	-2	As of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, approximately $48.7 million and $45.8 million of assets were held by the Company under capital lease arrangements, respectively. Accumulated amortization relating to these assets totaled $28.1 million and $22.9 million as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.
	-3	See "Note 11. Impairments and Other Charges" for information regarding the impairment of certain amounts accumulated in construction-in-progress.
	-4	Deferred service revenue consists primarily of cash received from customers in advance of their service period.
	-5	Deferred equipment revenue relates to devices sold to third-party dealers and nationwide retailers, which have not yet been purchased and activated by customers.
	Supplementary Cash Flow Information (in thousands):
			December 31,
			2013				2012			2011
	Cash paid for interest		$	(251,883	)		$	(268,186	)	$	(229,034	)
	Cash paid for income taxes		$	(4,276	)		$	(4,043	)	$	(3,079	)
	Supplementary disclosure of non-cash investing activities:
	Net wireless licenses received in exchange transaction		$	6,809			$	106,877		$	20,649
	Assets acquired through capital leases		$	807			$	13,829		$	1,749
	Acquisition of property and equipment		$	27,548			$	43,220		$	117,042

Wireless_Licenses_and_Goodwill

Wireless Licenses and Goodwill	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Wireless Licenses and Goodwill	'
	Wireless Licenses and Goodwill
	Wireless Licenses
	As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the carrying value of the Company's wireless licenses (excluding assets held for sale) was $2.1 billion and $1.9 billion, respectively. Wireless licenses to be disposed of by sale are carried at the lower of their carrying value or fair value less costs to sell. As of December 31, 2013, no wireless licenses were classified as assets held for sale. As of December 31, 2012, wireless licenses with carrying values and fair values of $136.2 million and $143.0 million, respectively, were classified as assets held for sale.
	For purposes of testing impairment, the Company's wireless licenses in its operating markets are combined into a single unit of account because management believes that utilizing these wireless licenses as a group represents the highest and best use of the assets, and the value of the wireless licenses would not be significantly impacted by a sale of one or a portion of the wireless licenses, among other factors. The Company's non-operating licenses are tested for impairment on an individual basis because these licenses are not functioning as part of a group with licenses in the Company's operating markets. As of December 31, 2013, the carrying values of the Company's operating and non-operating wireless licenses were $2,047.4 million and $43.9 million, respectively.
	In accordance with ASU 2012-02, for the 2013 annual impairment test, the Company elected to perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it would be more likely than not that its wireless licenses were impaired. The Company considered a variety of relevant events and circumstances that could affect the significant inputs used to determine fair value, most specifically, how the values of wireless licenses have generally increased over time. No adverse events or circumstances were identified that would significantly affect the fair values of the Company's wireless licenses. As a result, the Company determined that it was more likely than not that its wireless licenses were not impaired, and therefore, the Company concluded that a quantitative impairment test was not necessary.
	Subsequent to the 2013 annual impairment test of its wireless licenses, the Company evaluated whether any triggering events or changes in circumstances occurred that indicated that an impairment condition may exist. This evaluation included consideration of whether there had been any significant adverse change in legal factors or in the Company's business climate, any adverse action or assessment by a regulator, unanticipated competition, loss of key personal or likely sale or disposal of all or a significant portion of an asset group. Based upon this evaluation, the Company concluded that no triggering events or changes in circumstances had occurred.
	In connection with the Company's 2012 annual impairment test, the aggregate fair value and carrying value of its operating wireless licenses (excluding assets held for sale) were $2,415.0 million and $1,745.7 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2012. No impairment charges were recorded during the years ended December 31, 2012 or 2011 with respect to the Company's operating wireless licenses as the aggregate fair value of these licenses exceeded their aggregate carrying value as of such dates. If the fair value of the Company's operating wireless licenses had declined by 10%, the Company would not have recognized any impairment loss.
	In connection with the Company's 2012 annual impairment test, the aggregate fair value and carrying value of its non-operating wireless licenses (excluding assets held for sale) were $77.9 million and $42.6 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2012. The Company did not record any impairment charges during the year ended December 31, 2012 to reduce the carrying value of any non-operating wireless license to its estimated fair value. If the fair value of the Company's non-operating wireless licenses had each declined by 10%, it would have recognized an impairment loss of approximately $0.1 million.
	The Company recorded an impairment charge of $0.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2011 to reduce the carrying values of certain non-operating wireless licenses to their estimated fair values.
	Goodwill
	The Company records the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired in a business combination as goodwill. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, goodwill of $31.9 million primarily represented the excess of the purchase price over the fair values of the assets acquired (net of liabilities assumed, including the related deferred tax effects) by STX Wireless from Pocket in connection with the formation of the joint venture.
	During the third quarter of each year, the Company assesses its goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level by applying a fair value test. This fair value test involves a two-step process. The first step is to compare the carrying value of the Company's net assets to their fair value. If the fair value is determined to be less than carrying value, a second step is performed to measure the amount of the impairment, if any.
	In connection with the Company's annual impairment testing of goodwill in 2013, management based the determination of fair value primarily upon its average market capitalization for the month of August 2013, which inherently included an assumed control premium due to the proposed Merger with AT&T. Average market capitalization is calculated based upon the average number of shares of Leap common stock outstanding during such month and the average closing price of Leap common stock during such month. The Company considered the month of August to be an appropriate period over which to measure average market capitalization in 2013 because trading prices during that period reflected market reaction to the Company's most recently announced financial and operating results, as well as the proposed Merger.
	As of December 31, 2013, the carrying value of the Company's goodwill was $31.9 million. Based upon the Company's annual impairment test conducted during the third quarter of 2013, the value of the Company's net assets as of August 31, 2013 was $58.4 million and the fair value of the Company, based upon its average market capitalization during the month of August, was $1,267.1 million. As such, the Company determined that no impairment condition existed and that it was not required to perform the second step of the goodwill impairment test.
	In the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company evaluated whether any triggering events or changes in circumstances had occurred subsequent to the annual impairment test conducted in the third quarter of 2013. As part of this evaluation, the Company considered whether there had been any events or circumstances that would indicate it was more likely than not that the Company’s carrying value exceeded its fair value. Based on this evaluation, the Company determined that there had not been any triggering events or changes in circumstances that indicated an impairment condition existed as of December 31, 2013. Had the Company concluded that a triggering event had occurred as of such date, the first step of the goodwill impairment test would have resulted in a determination that the fair value of the Company (based upon its average market capitalization in the month of December, which included an assumed control premium due to the proposed Merger) exceeded the carrying value of its net assets, and thus, the Company would not have been required to perform any further impairment evaluation.
	Based upon the Company’s annual impairment test conducted during the third quarter of 2012, the value of its net assets as of August 31, 2012 was $527.5 million and the fair value of the Company, based upon its average market capitalization during the month of August and an assumed control premium of 30%, was $573.5 million. The Company believes that consideration of a control premium is customary in determining fair value and is contemplated by the applicable accounting guidance. The Company believes that its consideration of a control premium was appropriate because it believes that its market capitalization did not fully capture the fair value of its business as a whole or the additional amount an assumed purchaser would pay to obtain a controlling interest in the Company. The Company determined the amount of the control premium as part of its third quarter 2012 testing based upon relevant transactional experience and an assessment of market, economic and other factors. As such, the Company determined that no impairment condition existed and that it was not required to perform the second step of the goodwill impairment test.

Significant_Acquisitions_and_O

Significant Acquisitions and Other Transactions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
Significant Acquisitions and Other Transactions	'
	Significant Acquisitions and Other Transactions
	Other Transactions
	On September 24, 2013, the Company completed the sale of its 10 MHz PCS wireless license in Biloxi, Mississippi to Cellular South Licenses, LLC for $6.0 million. The wireless license sold had a carrying value of $1.8 million and the Company recognized a gain of $4.2 million in connection with the sale.
	On March 25, 2013, the Company completed an intra-market license exchange with a subsidiary of T-Mobile USA, Inc. ("T-Mobile") and Cellco Partnership dba Verizon Wireless ("Verizon Wireless") involving various markets in Philadelphia, Wilmington and Atlantic City. The licenses involved in the exchange, which were classified as assets held for sale as of December 31, 2012, had a carrying value of $136.2 million, and the Company recognized a gain of $6.8 million in connection with the transaction.
	On October 1, 2012, the Company assigned to various entities affiliated with T-Mobile spectrum in various markets in Alabama, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota and Wisconsin in exchange for 10 MHz of additional AWS spectrum in Phoenix, Houston and two other Texas markets. The transactions also included intra-market exchanges between the Company and T-Mobile in Philadelphia, Wilmington, Atlantic City and various markets in Texas and New Mexico. The Company recognized a non-cash gain on the transaction of approximately $106.4 million related to the excess of the fair value over carrying value of the spectrum exchanged by it in the transaction.
	On August 28, 2012, the Company acquired the 700 MHz License from Verizon Wireless for $204 million and the Company and Savary Island Wireless, LLC ("Savary Island"), a former designated entity of the Company, sold to Verizon Wireless excess PCS and AWS spectrum in various markets across the U.S. for $360 million. The Company recognized a net gain of $130.4 million in connection with these transactions.

Arrangements_with_Joint_Ventur

Arrangements with Joint Venture	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Arrangements with Variable Interest Entities and Joint Ventures [Abstract]	'
Arrangements with Joint Venture	'
	Arrangement with Joint Venture
	Cricket service is offered in South Texas by STX Operations, which Cricket controls through a 75.75% membership interest in STX Wireless, the parent company of STX Operations. The joint venture was created in October 2010 through the contribution by the Company and various entities doing business as Pocket Communications ("Pocket") of substantially all of their respective wireless spectrum and operating assets in the South Texas region. In exchange for such contributions, Cricket received a 75.75% controlling membership interest in STX Wireless and Pocket received a 24.25% non-controlling membership interest. Additionally, in connection with the transaction, the Company made payments to Pocket of $40.7 million in cash.
	Cricket controls and manages the joint venture under the terms of the amended and restated limited liability company agreement (the "STX LLC Agreement"). Under the STX LLC Agreement, Pocket has the right to put, and the Company has the right to call, all of Pocket's membership interests in STX Wireless, which rights are generally exercisable on or after April 1, 2014. In addition, in the event of a change of control of Leap (including as a result of the consummation of the Merger), Pocket is obligated to sell to the Company all of its membership interests in STX Wireless. The purchase price for Pocket's membership interests would be equal to 24.25% of the product of Leap's enterprise value-to-revenue multiple for the four most recently completed fiscal quarters multiplied by the total revenues of STX Wireless and its subsidiaries over that same period, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. The purchase price will be reduced by the total amount of optional cash distributions that have been made to Pocket pursuant to the STX LLC Agreement plus an amount equal to an 8% per annum return on each such distribution from the date it was made. The purchase price is payable in either cash, Leap common stock or a combination thereof, as determined by Cricket in its discretion (provided that, if permitted by Cricket's debt instruments, at least $25.0 million of the purchase price must be paid in cash). The Company has the right to deduct from or set off against the purchase price any obligations owed to the Company by Pocket. Under the STX LLC Agreement, Cricket is permitted to purchase Pocket's membership interests in STX Wireless over multiple closings in the event that the block of shares of Leap common stock issuable to Pocket at the closing of the purchase would be greater than 9.9% of the total number of shares of Leap common stock then issued and outstanding.
	To the extent the redemption price for Pocket's non-controlling membership interest varies from the value of Pocket's net interest in STX Wireless at any period (after the attribution of profits or losses), the value of such interest is accreted to the redemption price for such interest with a corresponding adjustment to additional paid-in capital. For the year ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company recorded net accretion expense of $32.0 million and net accretion benefit of $0.7 million, respectively, to bring the carrying value of Pocket's membership interests in STX Wireless to its estimated redemption value. The net accretion expense for the year ended December 31, 2013 has been calculated using a Leap enterprise value-to-revenue multiple based on a share price of $17.34 per share of Leap common stock, which was the trailing average share price for the ten trading days ended on December 31, 2013.
	In accordance with the STX LLC Agreement, STX Wireless made pro-rata tax distributions of $25.9 million and $8.3 million to Cricket and Pocket, respectively, in connection with their estimated tax liabilities resulting from STX Wireless' earnings for the year ended December 31, 2013. During the year ended December 31, 2012, STX Wireless made pro-rata tax distributions of $9.1 million and $3.0 million to Cricket and Pocket, respectively. The Company recorded the tax distributions to Pocket as adjustments to additional paid-in-capital in the consolidated balance sheets and as a component of accretion of redeemable non-controlling interests and distributions, net of tax, in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. The distributions made to Cricket were eliminated in consolidation.
	During the year ended December 31, 2013, STX Wireless made optional pro-rata cash distributions of $57.3 million and $18.3 million to Cricket and Pocket, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2012, STX Wireless made optional pro-rata cash distributions of $50.7 million and $16.2 million to Cricket and Pocket, respectively. Under the STX LLC Agreement, optional distributions to Pocket (plus an annual return, as discussed above), reduce the purchase price payable to Pocket in the event of a put, call or mandatory buyout following a change of control of Leap.
	At the closing of the formation of the joint venture, STX Wireless entered into a loan and security agreement with Pocket pursuant to which, commencing in April 2012, STX Wireless agreed to make quarterly limited-recourse loans to Pocket out of excess cash in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $30 million, which loans are secured by Pocket's membership interests in STX Wireless. As of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, Pocket had $15.5 million and $8.3 million in aggregate principal amount of outstanding borrowings under the loan and security agreement, respectively. Borrowings under the loan and security agreement bear interest at 8.0% per annum, compounded annually, and will mature on the earlier of October 2020 and the date on which Pocket ceases to hold any membership interests in STX Wireless. Cricket has the right to set off all outstanding principal and interest under this loan and security agreement against the payment of the purchase price for Pocket's membership interests in STX Wireless in the event of a put, call or mandatory buyout following a change of control of Leap. Accordingly, outstanding borrowings and accrued interest under the loan and security agreement have been recorded as a deduction from the purchase price payable to Pocket as discussed above in the consolidated balance sheets and as a component of accretion of redeemable non-controlling interests and distributions, net of tax, in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. The offset of the outstanding borrowings and accrued interest against the purchase price for Pocket's membership interest, coupled with the net accretion (expense) benefit recorded to adjust the redemption value of Pocket's net interest in STX Wireless, brought the carrying value of Pocket's membership interests in STX Wireless to an estimated redemption value of $68.5 million and $64.5 million as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.
	As described in Note 3, the Company consolidates its controlling membership interest in STX Wireless in accordance with the authoritative guidance for consolidations based on the voting interest model. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.
	The following table provides a summary of the changes in value of the Company's redeemable non-controlling interests (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012
	Beginning balance, January 1,	$	64,517		$	95,910
	Accretion of redeemable non-controlling interests, before tax	31,970			28
	Purchases of membership units of non-controlling interests	—			(5,250		)
	Loans made to joint venture partner	(6,716		)	(8,255		)
	Optional distributions made to joint venture partner	(18,338		)	(16,243		)
	Other	(2,898		)	(1,673		)
	Ending balance, December 31,	$	68,535		$	64,517

Unrestricted_Subsidiaries

Unrestricted Subsidiaries	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Unrestricted Subsidiaries [Abstract]	'
Unrestricted Subsidiaries	'
	Unrestricted Subsidiaries
	In July 2011, the Company's board of directors designated Cricket Music and Cricket Music's wholly-owned subsidiary Muve USA, LLC ("Muve USA") as "Unrestricted Subsidiaries" under the indentures governing Cricket's senior notes. Cricket Music, Muve USA and their subsidiaries are also designated as "Unrestricted Subsidiaries" under the Credit Agreement. Muve USA holds certain hardware, software and intellectual property relating to Cricket's Muve Music service. The financial position and results of operations of Cricket Music and Muve USA are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements included in this report. Together with STX Wireless, Cricket Music and Muve USA and their subsidiaries are presented as "Non-Guarantors" within the Company's condensed consolidating financial statements included in Note 16.
	As required by the Credit Agreement and the indenture governing Cricket's senior notes, the Company is presenting the aggregate carrying amount and classification of the components of the financial position as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 and results of operations of Cricket Music and Muve USA for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 in the following tables separately (in thousands):
		December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	902		$	1
	Other current assets	12			—
	Property and equipment, net	440			4,937
	Total assets	$	1,354		$	4,938
	Liabilities and stockholders' equity
	Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	31		$	—
	Other current liabilities	502			5
	Other long-term liabilities	84			—
	Stockholders' equity	737			4,933
	Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	1,354		$	4,938
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Revenues	$	410		$	—		$	—
	Operating expenses:
	Depreciation and amortization	4,497			4,497			2,225
	Other	16			14			1
	Total operating expenses	4,513			4,511			2,226
	Operating loss	(4,103		)	(4,511		)	(2,226		)
	Income tax expense	(82		)	—			—
	Net loss	$	(4,185	)	$	(4,511	)	$	(2,226	)

Impairment_and_Other_Charges

Impairment and Other Charges	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Asset Impairment Charges [Abstract]	'
Impairments and Other Charges	'
	Impairments and Other Charges
	Impairments and other charges consisted of the following (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Wireless license impairment (Note 6)	$	—		$	—		$	377
	Property and equipment impairment (Note 4)	19,847			13,640			—
	Severance	(1,501		)	14,753			—
	Restructuring activities	10,437			11,006			—
	Post-acquisition charges	—			—			26,393
	Impairments and other charges	$	28,783		$	39,399		$	26,770
	During 2013, the Company determined that certain amounts accumulated in construction-in-progress were no longer recoverable, and as such, recorded an impairment charge of approximately $19.8 million, reducing the carrying value of those capitalized amounts to zero. There were no other events or circumstances that occurred during the year ended December 31, 2013 that indicated that the carrying value of any long-lived assets may not be recoverable. During 2013, the Company also recognized additional restructuring charges of $10.4 million, primarily related to contract terminations and lease exit costs.
	During 2012, the Company developed plans to reduce administrative and corporate support costs through a reduction in personnel and to reduce previously planned network expansion activities and capital expenditures. As a result, the Company recorded a liability of $14.8 million representing severance expense and related costs and restructuring charges of $11.0 million, primarily related to lease exit costs associated with cellular sites that were no longer being developed or utilized.
	During 2011, the Company recognized $26.4 million of post-acquisition charges associated with the integration of certain operating assets in South Texas.
	The following table provides a rollforward of the impairments and other charges recorded as a component of accounts payable and accrued liabilities within the consolidated balance sheets:
			December 31, 2012			Accruals			Payments			December 31, 2013
	Post-acquisition charges		$	14,726		$	—		$	(3,418	)	$	11,308
	Severance		9,877			-1,501			(8,371		)	5
	Restructuring activities		10,393			14,836			(10,645		)	14,584
	Total impairments and other charges, to be settled in cash		$	34,996		$	13,335		$	(22,434	)	$	25,897

LongTerm_Debt_Net

Long-Term Debt, Net	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Long-Term Debt, Net	'
	Long-Term Debt, Net
	Long-term debt, net as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was comprised of the following (in thousands):
		December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Convertible senior notes due 2014	$	248,204		$	250,000
	Senior secured notes due 2016	—			1,100,000
	Unamortized discount on $1,100 million senior secured notes due 2016	—			(23,767		)
	Term loans under Credit Agreement	1,813,875			400,000
	Unamortized discount on term loans under Credit Agreement	(13,096		)	(3,892		)
	Unsecured senior notes due 2020	1,600,000			1,600,000
	Unamortized discount on $1,600 million unsecured senior notes due 2020	(17,962		)	(19,878		)
		3,631,021			3,302,463
	Current maturities of long-term debt	(266,454		)	(4,000		)
		$	3,364,567		$	3,298,463
	Credit Agreement
	On October 10, 2012, Cricket entered into a credit agreement (as amended, the "Credit Agreement") with respect to a $400 million senior secured B term loan facility, which was fully drawn in October 2012 and matures in October 2019. B term loan borrowings under the Credit Agreement must be repaid in 27 quarterly installments of $1.0 million each, which commenced on March 31, 2013, followed by a final installment of $373.0 million at maturity.
	On March 8, 2013, Cricket amended the Credit Agreement to provide for an incremental $1,425 million senior secured C term loan facility, which was fully drawn on April 15, 2013 and matures in March 2020. C term loan borrowings under the Credit Agreement must be repaid in 26 quarterly installments of $3.6 million each, which commenced on September 30, 2013, followed by a final installment of $1,332.4 million at maturity. Approximately $1,185 million of the net proceeds from the C term loan facility were used to fund the redemption of all of Cricket's $1,100 million of 7.75% senior secured notes due 2016 (including accrued interest), as more fully described below. Remaining net proceeds may be used for general corporate purposes.
	As of December 31, 2013, the Company had $1,814 million in outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement. Outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus 3.5% (subject to a LIBOR floor of 1.25% per annum) or at the bank base rate plus 2.5% (subject to a base rate floor of 2.25% per annum), as selected by Cricket. At December 31, 2013, the weighted average effective interest rate on outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement was 4.8%.
	Borrowings under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by Leap and each of its existing and future wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries (other than Cricket, which is the borrower) that guarantees any indebtedness of Leap, Cricket or any subsidiary guarantor or that constitutes a "significant subsidiary" as defined in Regulation S-X under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (subject to certain exceptions).
	Borrowings under the Credit Agreement are effectively senior to all of Leap's, Cricket's and the guarantors' existing and future unsecured indebtedness (including Cricket's $1,600 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes and, in the case of Leap, Leap's $248.2 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes), as well as to all of Leap's, Cricket's and the guarantors' obligations under any permitted junior lien debt that may be incurred in the future, in each case to the extent of the value of the collateral securing the obligations under the Credit Agreement.
	Borrowings under the Credit Agreement are secured on a first-priority basis, equally and ratably with any future parity lien debt that Leap, Cricket or the guarantors may incur, by liens on substantially all of the present and future personal property of Leap, Cricket and the guarantors, except for certain excluded assets and subject to permitted liens (including liens on the collateral securing any future permitted priority debt). Under the Credit Agreement, Leap, Cricket and the guarantors are permitted to incur liens securing indebtedness for borrowed money in an aggregate principal amount outstanding (including the aggregate principal amount outstanding under the Credit Agreement) of up to the greater of $1,750 million and 3.5 times Leap's consolidated cash flow (excluding the consolidated cash flow of Cricket Music Holdco, LLC ("Cricket Music") (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cricket that holds certain hardware, software and intellectual property relating to Cricket's Muve Music® service)) for the prior four fiscal quarters.
	Borrowings under the Credit Agreement are effectively junior to all of Leap's, Cricket's and the guarantors' obligations under any permitted priority debt that may be incurred in the future (up to the lesser of 0.30 times Leap's consolidated cash flow (excluding the consolidated cash flow of STX Wireless and Cricket Music) for the prior four fiscal quarters and $300 million in aggregate principal amount outstanding), to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such permitted priority debt, as well as to existing and future liabilities of Leap's and Cricket's subsidiaries that are not guarantors (including STX Wireless and Cricket Music and their respective subsidiaries). In addition, borrowings under the Credit Agreement are senior in right of payment to any of Leap's, Cricket's and the guarantors' future subordinated indebtedness.
	Cricket has the right to prepay borrowings under the Credit Agreement, in whole or in part, at any time without premium or penalty, except that prepayments of C term loans in connection with a repricing transaction occurring on or prior to March 8, 2014 are subject to a prepayment premium of 1.00% of the principal amount of the borrowings so prepaid.
	Under the Credit Agreement, Leap and its restricted subsidiaries are subject to certain limitations, including limitations on their ability to: incur additional debt or sell assets, make certain investments, grant liens and pay dividends and make certain other restricted payments. In addition, Cricket will be required to pay down the facility under certain circumstances if Leap and its restricted subsidiaries issue debt, sell assets or property, receive certain extraordinary receipts or generate excess cash flow (as defined in the Credit Agreement).
	The Credit Agreement also provides for an event of default upon the occurrence of a change of control, which is defined to include the acquisition of beneficial ownership of 35% or more of Leap's equity securities (except for a transaction where immediately after such transaction Leap will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of a person of which no person or group is the beneficial owner of 35% or more of such person's voting stock), a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Leap and its restricted subsidiaries and a change in a majority of the members of Leap's board of directors that is not approved by the board. The change in control resulting from the Merger would not constitute a "change of control" as defined in the Credit Agreement because immediately after the transaction Leap would be a wholly-owned subsidiary of a person of which no person or group is the beneficial owner of 35% or more of such person's voting stock. If the indebtedness under the Credit Agreement was accelerated prior to maturity as a result of such change of control, this would give rise to an event of default under the indentures governing the Company's senior notes and convertible notes.
	Senior Notes
	Discharge of Indenture and Loss on Extinguishment of Debt
	On April 15, 2013, in connection with the borrowing of C term loans under the Credit Agreement, Cricket issued a notice of redemption to redeem all of its $1,100 million of 7.75% senior secured notes due 2016 in accordance with the optional redemption provisions governing the notes at a redemption price of 103.875% of the principal amount of outstanding notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date of May 15, 2013. Also on April 15, 2013, Cricket deposited approximately $1,185 million with the trustee for the notes to fund the redemption price (including accrued interest) and the indenture governing the notes was satisfied and discharged in accordance with its terms. As a result of this redemption, the Company recognized a loss on extinguishment of debt of $72.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2013, which was comprised of $42.6 million in redemption premium, $22.0 million in unamortized debt discount and $8.2 million in unamortized debt issuance costs.
	Convertible Senior Notes Due 2014
	In June 2008, Leap issued $250 million of 4.50% convertible senior notes due 2014 in a private placement to institutional buyers. The notes bear interest at the rate of 4.50% per year, payable semi-annually in cash in arrears, which interest payments commenced in January 2009. The notes are Leap's general unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of Leap's existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness and senior in right of payment to all indebtedness that is contractually subordinated to the notes. The notes are structurally subordinated to the existing and future claims of Leap's subsidiaries' creditors, including under the Credit Agreement and the senior notes described below. The notes are effectively junior to all of Leap's existing and future secured obligations, including those under the Credit Agreement, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such obligations.
	Holders may convert their notes into shares of Leap common stock at any time on or prior to the third scheduled trading day prior to the maturity date of the notes, July 15, 2014. If, at the time of conversion, the applicable stock price of Leap common stock is less than or equal to approximately $93.21 per share, the notes will be convertible into 10.7290 shares of Leap common stock per $1,000 principal amount of the notes (referred to as the "base conversion rate"), subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events. If, at the time of conversion, the applicable stock price of Leap common stock exceeds approximately $93.21 per share, the conversion rate will be determined pursuant to a formula based on the base conversion rate and an incremental share factor of 8.3150 shares per $1,000 principal amount of the notes, subject to adjustment. As set forth in the indenture governing the notes, following the consummation of the Merger, holders would receive cash and CVRs upon conversion in lieu of shares of Leap common stock.
	Leap may be required to repurchase all outstanding notes in cash at a repurchase price of 100% of the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to the repurchase date if (1) any person acquires beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of shares of Leap's capital stock that would entitle the person to exercise 50% or more of the total voting power of all of Leap's capital stock entitled to vote in the election of directors, (2) Leap (i) merges or consolidates with or into any other person, another person merges with or into Leap, or Leap conveys, sells, transfers or leases all or substantially all of its assets to another person or (ii) engages in any recapitalization, reclassification or other transaction in which all or substantially all of Leap common stock is exchanged for or converted into cash, securities or other property, in each case subject to limitations and excluding in the case of (1) and (2) any merger or consolidation where at least 90% of the consideration consists of shares of common stock traded on NYSE, ASE or NASDAQ, (3) a majority of the members of Leap's board of directors ceases to consist of individuals who were directors on the date of original issuance of the notes or whose election or nomination for election was previously approved by the board of directors, (4) Leap is liquidated or dissolved or holders of common stock approve any plan or proposal for its liquidation or dissolution or (5) shares of Leap common stock are not listed for trading on any of the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Market or the NASDAQ Global Select Market (or any of their respective successors). Leap may not redeem the notes at its option. The consummation of the Merger would trigger the right of holders of Leap's 4.50% convertible senior notes due 2014 to require Leap to repurchase holders' notes at a repurchase price of 100% of the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to the repurchase date.
	On March 26, 2013, Leap launched a tender offer to purchase, for cash, any and all of its $250 million of 4.50% convertible senior notes due 2014 at a purchase price of $1,005 per $1,000 principal amount of notes tendered plus accrued interest. On April 23, 2013, the Company purchased $1.8 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.50% convertible senior notes due 2014 pursuant to the tender offer, which resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.2 million. The Company may from time to time seek to purchase outstanding 4.50% convertible senior notes due 2014 through open-market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Such purchases, if any, will depend on the consent of AT&T, prevailing market conditions, the Company's liquidity requirements and other factors.
	Unsecured Senior Notes Due 2020
	In November 2010, Cricket issued $1,200 million of 7.75% senior notes due 2020 in a private placement to institutional buyers at an issue price of 98.323% of the principal amount, which were exchanged in January 2011 for identical notes that had been registered with the SEC. The $20.1 million discount to the net proceeds the Company received in connection with the issuance of the notes has been recorded in long-term debt, net in the consolidated financial statements and is being accreted as an increase to interest expense over the term of the notes. In May 2011, Cricket issued an additional $400 million of 7.75% senior notes due 2020 in a private placement to institutional buyers at an issue price of 99.193% of the principal amount, which were exchanged in November 2011 for identical notes that had been registered with the SEC. The $3.2 million discount to the net proceeds the Company received in connection with the issuance of the additional notes was recorded in long-term debt, net in the consolidated financial statements and is being accreted as an increase to interest expense over the term of the notes. At December 31, 2013, the effective interest rates on the initial $1,200 million tranche and the additional $400 million tranche of the notes were 7.85% and 7.80%, respectively, both of which include the effect of the discount accretion.
	The notes bear interest at the rate of 7.75% per year, payable semi-annually in cash in arrears, which interest payments commenced in April 2011. The notes are guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis by Leap and each of its existing and future domestic subsidiaries (other than Cricket, which is the issuer of the notes) that guarantees indebtedness of Leap, Cricket or any subsidiary guarantor. The notes and the guarantees are Leap's, Cricket's and the guarantors' general senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of Leap's, Cricket's and the guarantors' existing and future unsubordinated unsecured indebtedness. The notes and the guarantees are effectively junior to Leap's, Cricket's and the guarantors' existing and future secured obligations, including those under the Credit Agreement, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such obligations, as well as to existing and future liabilities of Leap's and Cricket's subsidiaries that are not guarantors (including STX Wireless and Cricket Music and their respective subsidiaries). In addition, the notes and the guarantees are senior in right of payment to any of Leap's, Cricket's and the guarantors' future subordinated indebtedness.
	Prior to October 15, 2015, Cricket may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus the applicable premium and any accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to the redemption date. The applicable premium is calculated as the greater of (i) 1.0% of the principal amount of such notes and (ii) the excess of (a) the present value at such date of redemption of (1) the redemption price of such notes at October 15, 2015 plus (2) all remaining required interest payments due on such notes through October 15, 2015 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the date of redemption), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, over (b) the principal amount of such notes. The notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time on or after October 15, 2015, at a redemption price of 103.875%, 102.583% and 101.292% of the principal amount thereof if redeemed during the twelve months beginning on October 15, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively, or at 100% of the principal amount if redeemed during the twelve months beginning on October 15, 2018 or thereafter, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to the redemption date.
	If a "change of control" occurs (which is defined to include the acquisition of beneficial ownership of 35% or more of Leap's equity securities (except for a transaction where immediately after such transaction Leap will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of a person of which no person or group is the beneficial owner of 35% or more of such person's voting stock), a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Leap and its restricted subsidiaries and a change in a majority of the members of Leap's board of directors that is not approved by the board), each holder of the notes may require Cricket to repurchase all of such holder's notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to the repurchase date. The change in control resulting from the Merger would not constitute a "change of control" as defined in the indenture governing the notes because immediately after the transaction Leap would be a wholly-owned subsidiary of a person of which no person or group is the beneficial owner of 35% or more of such person's voting stock.
	Maturities of Long-Term Debt
	The aggregate maturities of the Company's long-term debt obligations, excluding the effects of discount accretion on its $1,600 million of 7.75% unsecured notes due 2020 and its $1,814 million of secured term loans under the Credit Agreement are as follows (in thousands):
	Years Ended December 31:
	2014		$	266,454
	2015		18,250
	2016		18,250
	2017		18,250
	2018		18,250
	Thereafter		3,322,625
			$	3,662,079

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes
	The components of the Company's income tax provision are summarized as follows (in thousands):
		December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Current provision:
	State	$	3,772		$	4,059		$	3,595
	Foreign	81			—			466
		3,853			4,059			4,061
	Deferred provision:
	Federal	39,537			50,544			32,229
	State	2,179			3,301			3,087
		41,716			53,845			35,316
		$	45,569		$	57,904		$	39,377
	A reconciliation of the amounts computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to income before income taxes to the amounts recorded in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income is summarized as follows (in thousands):
		December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Amounts computed at statutory federal rate	$	(195,259	)	$	(45,280	)	$	(97,405	)
	Non-deductible expenses	282			477			376
	State income tax expense, net of federal income tax impact	4,684			5,944			5,708
	Net tax benefit related to joint ventures	(1,496		)	(6,737		)	(2,856		)
	Non-deductible share-based compensation	3,637			5,776			6,623
	Other	—			—			(2,936		)
	Change in valuation allowance	233,721			97,724			129,867
		$	45,569		$	57,904		$	39,377
	The components of the Company's deferred tax assets (liabilities) are summarized as follows (in thousands):
		As of December 31,
		2013			2012
	Deferred tax assets:
	Net operating loss carryforwards	$	1,197,188		$	1,008,492
	Wireless licenses	8,492			13,291
	Capital loss carryforwards	14			—
	Reserves and allowances	8,563			13,990
	Share-based compensation	27,423			29,698
	Deferred charges	54,026			49,898
	Investments and deferred tax on unrealized losses	19,147			395
	Intangible assets	12,473			15,502
	Goodwill	26,245			28,546
	Other	2,083			2,156
	Gross deferred tax assets	1,355,654			1,161,968
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Property and equipment	(148,214		)	(222,260		)
	Other	(5,067		)	(242		)
	Net deferred tax assets	1,202,373			939,466
	Valuation allowance	(1,200,585		)	(937,568		)
	Other deferred tax liabilities:
	Wireless licenses	(422,202		)	(378,876		)
	Investment in joint ventures	—			(1,653		)
	Net deferred tax liabilities	$	(420,414	)	$	(378,631	)
	Deferred tax assets (liabilities) are reflected in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as follows (in thousands):
		As of December 31,
		2013			2012
	Current deferred tax assets (included in other current assets)	$	4,032		$	6,480
	Long-term deferred tax liabilities	(424,446		)	(385,111		)
		$	(420,414	)	$	(378,631	)
	Except with respect to the $1.8 million and $1.9 million TMT credit outstanding as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, the Company established a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets due to the uncertainty surrounding the realization of such assets. The valuation allowance is based on available evidence, including the Company's historical operating losses. Deferred tax liabilities associated with wireless licenses and investments in certain joint ventures cannot be considered a source of taxable income to support the realization of deferred tax assets because these deferred tax liabilities will not reverse until some indefinite future period. Since it has recorded a valuation allowance against substantially all of its deferred tax assets, the Company carries a net deferred tax liability on its balance sheet. During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company recorded a $263.0 million increase to its valuation allowance, which primarily consisted of $232.0 million and $19.9 million related to changes in the federal and state net operating loss carryforwards, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company recorded a $90.2 million increase to its valuation allowance, which primarily consisted of $84.3 million and $5.9 million related to changes in the federal and state net operating loss carryforwards, respectively.
	At December 31, 2013, the Company estimated it had federal and state NOL carryforwards of approximately $3.1 billion and $2.3 billion, respectively (which begin to expire in 2022 for federal income tax purposes and of which $92.8 million will expire at the end of 2014 for state income tax purposes). During the year ended December 31, 2013, $69.8 million of the Company's state NOLs expired. Included in the Company's federal and state net operating loss carryforwards are $32.0 million of losses which, when utilized, will increase additional paid-in capital by approximately $12.1 million.
	The Company's ability to utilize NOLs could be limited if it were to experience an "ownership change," as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code and similar state provisions. In general terms, an ownership change can occur whenever there is a cumulative shift in the ownership of a company by more than 50 percentage points by one or more "5% stockholders" within a three-year period. The occurrence of such a change in the Company's ownership would limit the amount of NOL carryforwards it could utilize in a given year. This limitation would accelerate cash tax payments the Company would be required to make and likely result in a substantial portion of its NOLs expiring before the Company could fully utilize them.
	In 2011, trading in Leap common stock increased the risk of an ownership change under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, on August 30, 2011, the Company’s board of directors adopted a Tax Benefit Preservation Plan to help deter acquisitions of Leap common stock that could result in an ownership change under Section 382 and thus help preserve the Company’s ability to use its NOL carryforwards. The Tax Benefit Preservation Plan is designed to deter acquisitions of Leap common stock that would result in a stockholder owning 4.99% or more of Leap common stock (as calculated under Section 382), or any existing holder of 4.99% or more of Leap common stock acquiring additional shares, by substantially diluting the ownership interest of any such stockholder unless the stockholder obtains an exemption from the Company’s board of directors.
	None of the Company's NOL carryforwards are being considered as an uncertain tax position or disclosed as an unrecognized tax benefit. Any carryforwards that expire prior to utilization as a result of a Section 382 limitation will be removed from deferred tax assets with a corresponding reduction to the valuation allowance. Since the Company currently maintains a full valuation allowance against its federal and state NOL carryforwards, it does not expect that any possible limitation would have a current impact on its results of operations.
	In accordance with the authoritative guidance for business combinations, which became effective for the Company on January 1, 2009, any reduction in the valuation allowance, including the valuation allowance established in fresh-start reporting, will be accounted for as a reduction of income tax expense.
	The Company's unrecognized income tax benefits and uncertain tax positions, as well as any associated interest and penalties, are recorded through income tax expense; however, such amounts have not been significant in any period. All of the Company's tax years from 1998 to 2012 remain open to examination by federal and state taxing authorities. In July 2009, the federal examination of the Company's 2005 tax year, which was limited in scope, was concluded and the results did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Sharebased_Compensation

Share-based Compensation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'
Share-based Compensation	'
	Share-based Compensation
	The Company allows for the grant of stock options, restricted stock awards and deferred stock units to employees, independent directors and consultants under its 2004 Stock Option, Restricted Stock and Deferred Stock Unit Plan (the "2004 Plan") and its 2009 Employment Inducement Equity Incentive Plan (the "2009 Plan"). In addition, during 2013 the Company granted deferred cash units to certain employees. As of December 31, 2013, a total of 11,375,000 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under the 2004 Plan and 2009 Plan, of which 1,431,172 shares of common stock were available for future awards. The Company has granted stock options, restricted stock awards, deferred stock units and deferred cash units that vest periodically over a fixed term, usually four years, which awards do not contain any performance conditions. The Company has also granted deferred stock units that contain a service condition and, in some cases, a performance condition that provides for the possibility of the issuance of underlying shares if the Company achieves specified performance targets. The shares underlying the deferred stock units generally vest in full three to four years from the grant date. Share-based awards also generally provide for accelerated vesting if there is a termination of service following the occurrence of a change in control (as defined in the 2004 Plan and the 2009 Plan). The stock options are exercisable for up to ten years from the grant date. Compensation expense is amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award, which is generally the vesting period of the award, and if necessary, is adjusted to ensure that the amount recognized is at least equal to the vested (earned) compensation. No share-based compensation expense has been capitalized as part of inventory or fixed assets.
	Under the terms of the Merger Agreement with AT&T, each outstanding stock option, share of restricted stock and stock unit granted under the Company's stock plans (including performance stock units, deferred stock units and deferred cash units but excluding any cash awards with a value that is not determined based on the price of Leap common stock), whether vested or unvested, will be cancelled on the effective date of the Merger and will entitle each holder to receive certain Merger consideration. For more information, see Note 2. "Proposed Merger."
	Stock Options
	The estimated fair value of the Company's stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes model. All stock options were granted with an exercise price equal to the fair value of the common stock on the grant date. The weighted-average grant date fair value of employee stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 was $5.05 and $4.95 per share, respectively, which was estimated using the following weighted-average assumptions:
		As of December 31,
		2013			2012
	Expected volatility	74	%		71	%
	Expected term (in years)	5.75			5.75
	Risk-free interest rate	1.2	%		0.9	%
	Expected dividend yield	—			—
	The determination of the fair value of stock options using an option valuation model is affected by the Company's stock price, as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. The Company calculates expected volatility through an analysis of its historical trading volatility. The expected term of employee stock options represents the weighted-average period the stock options are expected to remain outstanding. The expected term assumption is estimated based primarily on the options' vesting terms and remaining contractual life and employees' expected exercise and post-vesting employment termination behavior. The risk-free interest rate assumption is based upon observed interest rates at the end of the period in which the grant occurred appropriate for the term of the employee stock options. The dividend yield assumption is based on the expectation of no future dividend payouts by the Company.
	A summary of the Company's stock option award activity as of and for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 is as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
			Number of Shares			Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share		Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (In Years)		Aggregate Intrinsic Value
	Options outstanding at December 31, 2011		3,146			$	25.93	6.89		$	1,012
	Options exercisable at December 31, 2011		1,466			$	34.71	4.79		$	—
	Options granted		1,453			$	8.22
	Options forfeited		(1,234	)		36.59
	Options exercised		—			—
	Options outstanding at December 31, 2012		3,365			$	14.38	6.82		$	433
	Options exercisable at December 31, 2012		1,222			$	23.3	4.23		$	—
	Options granted		226			$	8.06
	Options forfeited		(677	)		15.49
	Options exercised		(828	)		8.99
	Options outstanding at December 31, 2013		2,086			$	15.47	5.93		$	11,786
	Options exercisable at December 31, 2013		852			$	25.31	3.1		$	—
	As share-based compensation expense under the authoritative guidance for share-based payments is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, it is reduced for estimated forfeitures. The guidance requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.
	At December 31, 2013, total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options was $6.2 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.28 years.
	Upon option exercise, the Company issues new shares of common stock. Cash received from stock option exercises was $4.6 million and zero during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company did not recognize any income tax benefits from stock option exercises as it continues to record a valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets, as more fully described in Note 12.
	On October 11, 2012, the Company entered into option surrender agreements ("Surrender Agreements") with certain of its executive officers, each of whom held options to purchase shares of Leap common stock with exercise prices greater than $50 per share previously granted to them pursuant to the 2004 Plan, but who were ineligible to participate in the stock option exchange program offered by the Company during the third quarter of 2011. Pursuant to the Surrender Agreements, the executive officers surrendered to the Company, for no consideration, options to purchase an aggregate of 415,000 shares of Leap common stock, with exercise prices per share ranging between $51.50 and $79.00. Such surrendered shares are available for future grant or sale under the 2004 Plan.
	Restricted Stock
	Under guidance for share-based compensation, the fair value of the Company's restricted stock awards is based on the grant date fair value of the Company's common stock. During 2013 and 2012, all restricted stock awards were granted with no purchase price. The weighted-average grant date fair value of the restricted stock awards was $6.24 and $7.48 per share during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	A summary of the Company's restricted stock award activity as of and for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 is as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
			Number of Shares			Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share
	Restricted stock awards outstanding at December 31, 2011		1,965			$	20.68
	Shares issued		955			$	7.48
	Shares forfeited		(608	)		$	17.13
	Shares vested		(499	)		$	29.44
	Restricted stock awards outstanding at December 31, 2012		1,813			$	12.68
	Shares issued		1,142			$	6.24
	Shares forfeited		(212	)		$	10.35
	Shares vested		(731	)		$	17.16
	Restricted stock awards outstanding at December 31, 2013		2,012			$	7.52
	The following table summarizes information about restricted stock awards that vested during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013				2012		2011
	Fair value on vesting date of vested restricted stock awards	$	10,381			$	3,888	$	5,864
	At December 31, 2013, total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted stock awards was $9.5 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.56 years.
	Deferred Stock Units
	Under guidance for share-based compensation, the fair value of the Company's deferred stock units is based on the grant date fair value of the Company's common stock. All deferred stock units were granted with no purchase price. The Company issued 635,000 and 404,250 deferred stock units at a weighted-average grant date fair value of $6.18 and $9.24 per share during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. These deferred stock units contain performance conditions, which provide for the possible issuance of underlying shares if the Company achieves specified performance targets. Upon approval by the Company’s stockholders of a change in control of the Company, however, the number of shares to be issued are fixed at a target amount of units. The approval of the Merger Agreement with AT&T by the Company’s stockholders on October 30, 2013 satisfied this condition. In addition, during 2013, the Company granted certain deferred stock units which the Company has the option, but not the obligation, to settle in cash. As the Company has no historical practice of settling deferred stock units for cash, these awards have been are accounted for consistent with other deferred stock units.
	At December 31, 2013, total unrecognized compensation cost related to deferred stock units was $8.2 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.80 years.
	Deferred Cash Units
	During 2013, the Company granted 755,636 deferred cash units to certain employees at a weighted-average grant date fair value of $6.10 per share. The deferred cash units will vest and be paid out in cash over four years, contingent on continued employment with the Company. The amount payable per unit awarded is equal to the price per share of the Company's common stock at settlement of the award, and as such, the Company measures the value of the award each reporting period based on the current stock price. The effects of changes in the stock price during the service period are recognized as compensation cost over the service period. During 2013, the Company recognized $2.0 million in compensation expense related to the awards.
	Unrecognized compensation expense related to deferred cash units based on the stock price at December 31, 2013 totaled $10.6 million. This expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.37 years.
	Employee Stock Purchase Plan
	The Company's Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP") allows eligible employees to purchase shares of common stock during a specified offering period. The purchase price is 85% of the lower of the fair market value of such stock on the first or last day of the offering period. Employees may authorize the Company to withhold up to 15% of their compensation during any offering period for the purchase of shares under the ESPP, subject to certain limitations. As of December 31, 2013, a total of 1,200,000 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under the ESPP, and a total of 219,664 shares remained available for issuance under the ESPP. The most recent offering period under the ESPP was from July 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013. As required pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement with AT&T, the Company suspended participation in the ESPP, effective January 1, 2014, and the ESPP will be terminated in connection with the closing of the Merger.
	Allocation of Share-based Compensation Expense
	Total share-based compensation expense related to all of the Company's share-based awards for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 was allocated in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013				2012		2011
	Cost of service	$	724			$	254	$	1,734
	Selling and marketing expense	830				22		1,985
	General and administrative expense	13,884				7,846		11,609
Share-based compensation expense	$	15,438			$	8,122	$	15,328
Share-based compensation expense per share:
Basic	$	0.2			$	0.11	$	0.2
Diluted	$	0.2			$	0.11	$	0.2

Employee_Savings_and_Retiremen

Employee Savings and Retirement Plan	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Employee Savings and Retirement Plan	'
	Employee Savings and Retirement Plan
	The Company's 401(k) plan allows eligible employees to contribute up to 30% of their salary, subject to annual limits. The Company matches a portion of the employee contributions and may, at its discretion, make additional contributions based upon earnings. The Company's contributions were approximately $4.3 million, $5.3 million, and $5.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	Commitments and Contingencies
	From time to time, the Company is involved in a variety of legal proceedings, including lawsuits, claims, investigations and other proceedings concerning intellectual property, commercial disputes, business practices and other matters. Over the past several years, the Company has become subject to an increased number of these proceedings, including disputes alleging intellectual property infringement. These matters may seek monetary damages and other relief.
	The Company believes that any damage amounts alleged by plaintiffs in matters that may arise are not necessarily meaningful indicators of its potential liability. The Company determines whether it should accrue an estimated loss for a contingency in a particular legal proceeding by assessing whether a loss is deemed probable and whether the amount can be reasonably estimated. The Company reassesses its views on estimated losses on a quarterly basis to reflect the impact of any developments in the matters in which it is involved.
	Legal proceedings are inherently unpredictable, and the matters in which the Company is involved often present complex legal and factual issues. The Company vigorously pursues defenses in legal proceedings and engages in discussions where possible to resolve these matters on favorable terms. The Company's policy is to recognize legal costs as incurred. It is possible, however, that the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations in future periods could be materially adversely affected by increased litigation expenses, significant settlement costs and/or unfavorable damage awards.
	Merger-Related Litigation
	On July 15, 2013, following the announcement of the Merger, a lawsuit was filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery challenging the proposed Merger. The action is captioned Booth Family Trust v. Leap Wireless International, Inc. et al., C.A. No. 8730-VCN. It is a putative class action filed on behalf of purported stockholders of Leap, and it names Leap and its directors as defendants. The complaint alleges that the directors of Leap breached their fiduciary duties to Leap stockholders by engaging in a flawed sales process, by agreeing to sell Leap for inadequate consideration and by agreeing to improper deal protection terms in the Merger Agreement. The complaint seeks, among other relief, declaratory and injunctive relief against the Merger and costs and fees.
	On July 19, 2013, July 24, 2013 and July 26, 2013, additional lawsuits were filed in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Diego challenging the proposed Merger. The action filed on July 19, 2013 is captioned John Kim v. Leap Wireless International, Inc. et al., Case No. 37-2013-00058491-CU-BT-CTL; the actions filed on July 24, 2013 are captioned Wesley Decker v. Leap Wireless International, Inc. et al, Case No. 37-2013-00059095-CU-SL-CTL and Roxane Andrews v. Leap Wireless International, Inc. et al, Case No. 37-2013-00059141-CU-BT-CTL; and the action filed on July 26, 2013 is captioned Joseph Marino v. Leap Wireless International Inc. et al, Case No. 37-2013-00059565-CU-BT-CTL. Each lawsuit is a putative class action filed on behalf of purported stockholders of Leap and names Leap, its directors as well as AT&T and Merger Sub as defendants. The California complaints allege that Leap and its directors breached their fiduciary duties to Leap stockholders, and that AT&T and Merger Sub aided and abetted such breaches, by agreeing to improper deal protection terms in the Merger Agreement. The Decker, Andrews and Marino complaints further allege that Leap and its directors breached their fiduciary duties, and that AT&T and Merger Sub aided and abetted such breaches, by engaging in a flawed sales process and by agreeing to sell Leap for inadequate consideration. The Kim complaint seeks, among other relief, declaratory and injunctive relief against the Merger, imposition of a constructive trust and costs and fees. The Decker, Andrews and Marino complaints seek, among other relief, declaratory and injunctive relief against the Merger and costs and fees.
	On August 15, 2013, the Superior Court of the State of California entered an order consolidating the four California actions under the caption In re Leap Wireless International, Inc. Shareholder Litigation, Lead Case No. 37-2013-00058491-CU-BT-CTL. On August 19, 2013, plaintiffs in the consolidated Superior Court action filed a consolidated amended complaint against Leap, its directors, AT&T, and Merger Sub. Generally, the complaint alleges that the Leap directors breached their fiduciary duties by agreeing to the Merger Agreement for insufficient consideration, on improper terms, and with inadequate disclosure, and it alleges that these purported breaches were aided by AT&T and Merger Sub. The complaint seeks, among other relief, an injunction against the proposed Merger and damages.
	On August 30, 2013, the Delaware Court of Chancery entered an order staying the Delaware action pending resolution of the consolidated action in California.
	On October 17, 2013, following stipulated expedited discovery and negotiations among counsel to the parties, the parties entered into a memorandum of understanding regarding the settlement of the putative class actions (the "MOU"). Although the defendants believe that no further disclosure was required to supplement the proxy statement for the Merger and deny that they acted improperly and that the process by which the proposed transaction was negotiated or is being implemented was insufficient in any way, the defendants agreed to enter into the MOU to avoid the risk that the putative stockholder class actions may delay or otherwise adversely affect the consummation of the Merger and to minimize the expense of defending such actions. Pursuant to the MOU Leap agreed to make certain supplemental disclosures related to the Merger. In addition, AT&T agreed to forbear from asserting its right to prevent termination of the voting agreement, dated July 12, 2013, among Leap, AT&T and MHR if a "Change of Recommendation" (as defined in the Merger Agreement) was made by Leap as a result of a "Superior Proposal" (as defined in the Merger Agreement) as permitted by Section 6.2(f)(i) of the Merger Agreement, and to forbear from asserting its right to prevent a Change of Recommendation by Leap under Sections 6.2(f)(ii)(A), (B), (C), and (E) of the Merger Agreement.
	The MOU contemplates that the parties will enter into a stipulation of settlement. The stipulation of settlement will be subject to customary conditions, including completion of the Merger and court approval following notice to Leap’s stockholders. In the event that the parties enter into a stipulation of settlement, a hearing will be scheduled at which the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Diego will consider the fairness, reasonableness, and adequacy of the settlement. If the settlement is finally approved by the court, it will resolve and release all claims in all actions that were or could have been brought challenging any aspect of the proposed Merger, the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, and any disclosure made in connection therewith (but excluding claims for appraisal under Section 262 of the Delaware General Corporation Law), among other claims. In addition, in connection with the settlement, the parties contemplate that plaintiffs’ counsel will file a petition in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Diego for an award of attorneys’ fees and expenses to be paid by Leap, its successor, or its insurer. The MOU also contemplates that Leap, its successor, or its insurer will pay or cause to be paid any attorneys’ fees and expenses, in an amount up to $990,000, awarded by the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Diego.
	There can be no assurance that the parties will ultimately enter into a stipulation of settlement or that the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Diego will approve the settlement even if the parties were to enter into such stipulation. In such event, the proposed settlement as contemplated by the MOU may be terminated. In the event that the parties do not enter into a stipulation of settlement or the MOU is terminated, the outcome of these lawsuits would be uncertain. An adverse monetary judgment could have a material adverse effect on the operations and liquidity of Leap, a preliminary injunction could delay or jeopardize the completion of the Merger, and an adverse judgment granting permanent injunctive relief could indefinitely enjoin completion of the Merger. Leap believes these lawsuits are meritless.
	Flat Wireless
	On January 5, 2014, the Company filed an action against Flat Wireless, LLC ("Flat") in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California (the "California Action"). In the California Action, Cricket sought declaratory relief that it was entitled to sell its approximately 4% membership interest in Flat to a third party, subject to Cricket’s complying with the right of right refusal provisions set forth in the Amended and Restated Company Agreement of Flat Wireless, LLC, as amended (the "Flat LLC Agreement"). On January 9, 2014, Flat filed suit against the Company in the District Court of Lubbock County, Texas (the "Texas Action"), seeking to prohibit Cricket from transferring its membership interest in Flat on the grounds that the third-party offer is allegedly not "bona fide." On that same date, Flat obtained, on an ex parte basis without any notice to the Company, a temporary restraining order ("TRO"), which prohibited Cricket from any further action or attempts to transfer its membership interest pending further order of the court or expiration of the TRO. The TRO was subsequently extended, again ex parte, to February 6, 2014. On February 3, 2014, following a hearing, the Texas court (i) dissolved the TRO, (ii) denied Flat’s request for a temporary injunction, (iii) compelled Flat’s claims to arbitration (the "Arbitration Proceeding"), and (iv) stayed the case. Flat has appealed the denial of the temporary injunction, and that appeal remains pending. In addition, Flat filed a motion for temporary injunction with the Court of Appeal, which was denied on February 24, 2014, and a motion for preliminary injunction in the Arbitration Proceeding. In light of the Arbitration Proceeding, the parties have agreed that the California Action should be dismissed. On February 26, 2014, the arbitrator issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting Cricket from transferring the units to the prospective third party purchaser pending the final outcome of the Arbitration Proceeding, which is expected in April 2014. The disposition of Cricket’s membership interest in Flat is one of the conditions to the completion of the Merger with AT&T. On March 3, 2014, AT&T waived the condition. The Company believes that Flat’s claims in the appeal of the Texas Action and in the Arbitration Proceeding are without merit, and the Company will continue to defend vigorously its position in both proceedings.
	M Seven
	The Company is party to a civil action brought in June 2012 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California by M Seven System Limited ("M Seven") against the Company, a third-party handset design firm and two employees of that design firm (one of whom is a former employee of the Company). M Seven alleges that the Company, the third-party firm and its employees engaged in trade secret misappropriation, copyright infringement and violations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in the design and distribution of the handsets. M Seven seeks compensatory damages in the form of lost profits or a reasonable royalty, disgorgement of defendants' profits, statutory damages, exemplary and/or punitive damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, attorneys' fees and costs and injunctive relief. On October 8, 2013, the District Court set a final pretrial conference of February 27, 2015, with a trial date to follow thereafter. M Seven previously filed civil and criminal actions in South Korea with similar allegations against the former Company employee, the handset design firm and its subcontractors. The handset design firm and its subcontractors were found liable in the civil matter and the subcontractors were found liable in the criminal action in South Korea. The Company, however, was not party to those actions and those judgments are not binding upon the Company or the District Court in the current matter.
	Indemnification Agreements
	From time to time, the Company enters into indemnification agreements with certain parties in the ordinary course of business, including agreements with manufacturers, licensors and suppliers who provide it with equipment, software and technology that it uses in its business, as well as with purchasers of assets, lenders, lessors and other vendors. Indemnification agreements are generally entered into in commercial and other transactions in an attempt to allocate potential risk of loss.
	iPhone Purchase Commitment
	In May 2012, the Company entered into a three-year iPhone purchase commitment with Apple. The commitment began upon the Company's launch of sales of the iPhone in June 2012. Based on the Company's current handset purchase and sales mix and current iPhone device pricing, the Company estimates that the commitment would require it to purchase approximately $800 million of iPhones, with annual commitments during the three-year period that increase moderately in the second and third years.
	The Company purchased approximately one-half of its first-year minimum purchase commitment through June 2013, which purchases were approximately $100 million below its first-year minimum purchase commitment. Due to the Company's efforts to expand sales volume for the iPhone, the Company has not been required to purchase additional handsets to meet its first-year minimum purchase commitment. Based on the Company's current network footprint and product offerings, the Company currently projects that its iPhone purchases for the second year would be approximately $200 million below its second-year minimum purchase commitment and its purchases for the third year would be approximately $300 million below its third-year minimum purchase commitment. Similar to other carriers, the Company's iPhone purchase rate slowed during the second year in advance of Apple’s recent launch of new devices. During the third quarter of 2013, the Company introduced new device financing programs and the Company is continuing to work with Apple to increase the Company's advertising and promotional programs to increase awareness of the Company's iPhone offering. In addition, Apple recently released an AWS-compatible version of the iPhone, which the Company began offering in late October 2013 in additional markets where the Company did not previously sell the iPhone, which markets represent approximately 40% of the Company's covered POPs. If requested to do so, the Company believes that it would be able to increase its current iPhone sales rate and purchase and sell the total required number of devices over the three-year period of the commitment and for a subsequent inventory sell-through period of 12 to 18 months. The actual amount that the Company spends and the number of devices that it purchases over the term of the commitment will depend on many factors, including customer acceptance and availability of current and future versions of the device, future costs for the device, the success of the Company's marketing and advertising efforts, customer demand for devices offered by other manufacturers and other factors. The Company could also seek to amend the requirements under, or extend the term of, the purchase commitment, although the Company's current capital and liquidity projections do not assume that such a modification will occur.
	Wholesale Agreement
	In August 2010, the Company entered into a wholesale agreement with an affiliate of Sprint, which the Company uses to offer Cricket services in a limited number of nationwide retailers outside of its current network footprint. The initial term of the wholesale agreement runs until December 31, 2015, and automatically renews for successive one-year periods unless either party provides 180-day advance notice to the other. Under the agreement, the Company pays Sprint a specified amount per month for each subscriber activated on its network, subject to periodic market-based adjustments. The Company has agreed, among other things, to purchase a minimum of $300 million of wholesale services over the initial five-year term of the agreement with the following annual minimum purchase commitments: $20 million in 2011; $75 million in 2012; $80 million in 2013; $75 million in 2014; and $50 million in 2015. The Company entered into an amendment to the wholesale agreement in February 2013 to enable the Company to purchase 4G LTE services. In addition, under the amendment, the Company can credit up to $162 million of revenue it provides Sprint under other existing commercial arrangements against the minimum purchase commitment. Any wholesale revenue provided to Sprint in a given year above the minimum purchase commitment for that particular year is credited to the next succeeding year. However, to the extent the Company's revenues were to fall beneath the applicable commitment amount for any given year, excess revenues from a subsequent year could not be carried back to offset such shortfall.
	In addition, in the event Leap is involved in a change-of-control transaction with another facilities-based wireless carrier with annual revenues of at least $500 million in the fiscal year preceding the date of the change of control agreement (other than T-Mobile US, Inc., as successor to MetroPCS Communications, Inc., or its affiliates ("T-Mobile US")), either the Company (or the Company's successor in interest) or Sprint may terminate the wholesale agreement within 60 days following the closing of such a transaction. In connection with any such termination, the Company (or its successor in interest) would be required to pay to Sprint a specified percentage of the remaining aggregate minimum purchase commitment, with the percentage to be paid depending on the year in which the change of control agreement was entered into, being 20% for any such agreement entered into in 2013 and 10% for any such agreement entered into in 2014 or 2015. This termination right would be triggered by the Merger, if consummated.
	In the event that Leap was involved in a change-of-control transaction with T-Mobile US during the term of the wholesale agreement, then the agreement would continue in full force and effect, subject to certain revisions, including, without limitation, an increase to the total minimum purchase commitment to $350 million, taking into account any revenue contributed by Cricket prior to the date thereof. In the event Sprint is involved in a change-of-control transaction, the agreement would bind Sprint's successor-in-interest.
	Capital and Operating Leases
	The Company has entered into non-cancelable operating lease agreements to lease its administrative and retail facilities, and sites for towers, equipment and antennae required for the operation of its wireless network. These leases typically include renewal options and escalation clauses, some of which escalation clauses are based on the consumer price index. In general, site leases have 5- to 10-year initial terms with four 5-year renewal options.
	The following table summarizes the approximate future minimum rentals under non-cancelable operating leases, including renewals that are reasonably assured, and future minimum capital lease payments in effect at December 31, 2013 (in thousands):
	Years Ended December 31:	Capital Leases			Operating Leases
	2014	$	10,056		$	268,453
	2015	9,111			260,950
	2016	7,594			213,707
	2017	5,815			175,826
	2018	4,309			135,801
	Thereafter	10,145			198,999
	Total minimum lease payments	$	47,030		$	1,253,736
	Less amounts representing capital interest	(10,485		)
	Present value of minimum lease payments	$	36,545

Guarantor_Financial_Informatio

Guarantor Financial Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Guarantor Financial Information	'
	Guarantor Financial Information
	At December 31, 2013, all of the $1,600 million of senior notes issued by Cricket (the "Issuing Subsidiary") were comprised of 7.75% senior notes due 2020, which are jointly and severally guaranteed on a full and unconditional basis by Leap (the "Guarantor Parent Company") and Cricket License Company, LLC, a 100%-owned subsidiary of Cricket (the "Guarantor Subsidiary").
	The indenture governing the senior notes limits, among other things, the Guarantor Parent Company's, Cricket's and the Guarantor Subsidiary's ability to: incur additional debt; create liens or other encumbrances; place limitations on distributions from restricted subsidiaries; pay dividends; make investments; prepay subordinated indebtedness or make other restricted payments; issue or sell capital stock of restricted subsidiaries; issue guarantees; sell assets; enter into transactions with affiliates; and make acquisitions or merge or consolidate with another entity.
	Condensed consolidating financial information of the Guarantor Parent Company, the Issuing Subsidiary, the Guarantor Subsidiary, Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries (STX Wireless, Cricket Music and their respective subsidiaries) and total consolidated Leap and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 and for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 are presented below. The equity method of accounting is used to account for ownership interests in subsidiaries, where applicable.
	Cricket formerly owned an 85% non-controlling membership interest in Savary Island, which held wireless spectrum in the upper Midwest portion of the U.S. and which leased a portion of that spectrum to Cricket. In October 2012, Cricket acquired the remaining 15% controlling interest for $5.3 million in cash. In December 2012, Savary Island and its subsidiaries were merged with and into Cricket, with Cricket as the surviving entity. As a result of these transactions, the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of these entities have been consolidated into the Issuing Subsidiary. All prior period consolidating financial statements have been revised to reflect this reorganization.
	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2013 (in thousands):
		Guarantor			Issuing			Guarantor		Non-Guarantor			Consolidating			Consolidated
		Parent			Subsidiary			Subsidiary		Subsidiaries			and
		Company											Eliminating
													Adjustments
	Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	205		$	478,448		$	—	$	52,592		$	—		$	531,245
	Short-term investments	—			385,783			—		—			—			385,783
	Inventories	—			69,829			—		3,206			—			73,035
	Deferred charges	—			38,287			—		6			—			38,293
	Advances to affiliates and consolidated subsidiaries	251,803			32,109			21,113		—			(305,025		)	—
	Other current assets	1,499			152,421			—		5,836			(175		)	159,581
	Total current assets	253,507			1,156,877			21,113		61,640			(305,200		)	1,187,937
	Property and equipment, net	—			1,221,867			—		44,506			—			1,266,373
	Investments in and advances to affiliates and consolidated subsidiaries	—			2,277,151			—		—			(2,277,151		)	—
	Wireless licenses	—			—			2,026,349		64,912			—			2,091,261
	Goodwill	—			11,222			—		20,664			—			31,886
	Intangible assets, net	—			12,113			—		1,930			—			14,043
	Other assets	708			58,043			—		12,637			—			71,388
	Total assets	$	254,215		$	4,737,273		$	2,047,462	$	206,289		$	(2,582,351	)	$	4,662,888
	Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
	Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	3,354		$	359,781		$	—	$	2,489		$	(145	)	$	365,479
	Current maturities of long-term debt	248,204			18,250			—		—			—			266,454
	Intercompany payables	—			272,916			—		32,109			(305,025		)	—
	Other current liabilities	5,169			186,272			—		17,657			(30		)	209,068
	Total current liabilities	256,727			837,219			—		52,255			(305,200		)	841,001
	Long-term debt, net	—			3,364,567			—		—			—			3,364,567
	Deferred tax liabilities	—			424,446			—		—			—			424,446
	Accumulated losses in excess of investment and long-term intercompany payables	191,159			—			—		47,458			(238,617		)	—
	Other long-term liabilities	—			145,195			—		12,815			—			158,010
	Total liabilities	447,886			4,771,427			—		112,528			(543,817		)	4,788,024
	Redeemable non-controlling interests	—			68,535			—		—			—			68,535
	Stockholders' equity (deficit)	(193,671		)	(102,689		)	2,047,462		93,761			(2,038,534		)	(193,671		)
	Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	254,215		$	4,737,273		$	2,047,462	$	206,289		$	(2,582,351	)	$	4,662,888
	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
		Guarantor			Issuing			Guarantor		Non-Guarantor			Consolidating			Consolidated
		Parent			Subsidiary			Subsidiary		Subsidiaries			and
		Company											Eliminating
													Adjustments
	Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	69		$	449,668		$	—	$	65,813		$	—		$	515,550
	Short-term investments	—			159,426			—		—			—			159,426
	Inventories	—			118,149			—		3,452			—			121,601
	Deferred charges	—			60,933			—		30			—			60,963
	Advances to affiliates and consolidated subsidiaries	11,182			23,592			49,407		—			(84,181		)	—
	Other current assets	707			129,346			—		13,519			(4,330		)	139,242
	Total current assets	11,958			941,114			49,407		82,814			(88,511		)	996,782
	Property and equipment, net	—			1,694,365			—		67,725			—			1,762,090
	Investments in and advances to affiliates and consolidated subsidiaries	739,072			2,327,953			—		—			(3,067,025		)	—
	Wireless licenses	—			—			1,882,421		64,912			—			1,947,333
	Assets held for sale	—			—			136,222		—			—			136,222
	Goodwill	—			11,222			—		20,664			—			31,886
	Intangible assets, net	—			14,756			—		9,907			—			24,663
	Other assets	3,938			54,852			—		9,494			—			68,284
	Total assets	$	754,968		$	5,044,262		$	2,068,050	$	255,516		$	(3,155,536	)	$	4,967,260
	Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
	Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	40		$	389,951		$	—	$	6,119		$	—		$	396,110
	Current maturities of long-term debt	—			4,000			—		—			—			4,000
Intercompany payables	—			60,589			—		23,592			(84,181		)	—
Other current liabilities	5,247			202,740			—		13,223			(4,330		)	216,880
Total current liabilities	5,287			657,280			—		42,934			(88,511		)	616,990
Long-term debt, net	250,000			3,048,463			—		—			—			3,298,463
Deferred tax liabilities	—			385,111			—		—			—			385,111
Long-term intercompany payables	66,549			242,500			—		32,562			(341,611		)	—
Other long-term liabilities	—			149,819			—		19,228			—			169,047
Total liabilities	321,836			4,483,173			—		94,724			(430,122		)	4,469,611
Redeemable non-controlling interests	—			64,517			—		—			—			64,517
Stockholders' equity	433,132			496,572			2,068,050		160,792			(2,725,414		)	433,132
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	754,968		$	5,044,262		$	2,068,050	$	255,516		$	(3,155,536	)	$	4,967,260
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income for the Year Ended December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
	Guarantor			Issuing			Guarantor		Non-Guarantor			Consolidating			Consolidated
	Parent			Subsidiary			Subsidiary		Subsidiaries			and
	Company											Eliminating
												Adjustments
Revenues:
Service revenues	$	—		$	2,608,538		$	—	$	338,841		$	78		$	2,947,457
Equipment revenues	—			168,279			—		26,605			—			194,884
Other revenues	—			15,317			111,981		197			(127,495		)	—
Total revenues	—			2,792,134			111,981		365,643			(127,417		)	3,142,341
Operating expenses:
Cost of service (exclusive of items shown separately below)	—			1,057,210			—		89,057			(112,100		)	1,034,167
Cost of equipment	—			721,957			—		94,269			—			816,226
Selling and marketing	—			311,410			—		38,560			—			349,970
General and administrative	10,556			306,206			762		46,727			(15,317		)	348,934
Depreciation and amortization	—			578,827			—		46,769			—			625,596
Impairments and other charges	—			39,399			—		—			—			39,399
Total operating expenses	10,556			3,015,009			762		315,382			(127,417		)	3,214,292
Gain on sale, exchange or disposal of assets, net	—			84,939			143,904		871			—			229,714
Operating income (loss)	(10,556		)	(137,936		)	255,123		51,132			—			157,763
Equity in net income (loss) of consolidated subsidiaries	(190,241		)	306,260			—		—			(116,019		)	—
Equity in net loss of investees, net	—			(464		)	—		—			—			(464		)
Interest income	24,252			187			—		5			(24,250		)	194
Interest expense	(12,747		)	(279,735		)	—		—			24,250			(268,232		)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	—			(18,634		)	—		—			—			(18,634		)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(189,292		)	(130,322		)	255,123		51,137			(116,019		)	(129,373		)
Income tax expense	—			(57,904		)	—		—			—			(57,904		)
Net income (loss)	(189,292		)	(188,226		)	255,123		51,137			(116,019		)	(187,277		)
Accretion of redeemable non-controlling interests and distributions, net of tax	—			(2,015		)	—		—			—			(2,015		)
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	$	(189,292	)	$	(190,241	)	$	255,123	$	51,137		$	(116,019	)	$	(189,292	)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)	$	(189,292	)	$	(188,226	)	$	255,123	$	51,137		$	(116,019	)	$	(187,277	)
Net unrealized holding gains on investments and other	27			27			—		—			(27		)	27
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	(189,265	)	$	(188,199	)	$	255,123	$	51,137		$	(116,046	)	$	(187,250	)
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income for the Year Ended December 31, 2011 (in thousands):
	Guarantor			Issuing			Guarantor		Non-Guarantor			Consolidating			Consolidated
	Parent			Subsidiary			Subsidiary		Subsidiaries			and
	Company											Eliminating
												Adjustments
Revenues:
Service revenues	$	—		$	2,495,525		$	—	$	333,691		$	65		$	2,829,281
Equipment revenues	—			211,659			—		30,191			—			241,850
Other revenues	—			15,656			106,696		—			(122,352		)	—
Total revenues	—			2,722,840			106,696		363,882			(122,287		)	3,071,131
Operating expenses:
Cost of service (exclusive of items shown separately below)	—			995,215			—		92,332			(106,344		)	981,203
Cost of equipment	—			716,461			—		101,459			—			817,920
Selling and marketing	—			316,228			—		53,029			—			369,257
General and administrative	14,351			303,602			751		52,768			(15,943		)	355,529
Depreciation and amortization	—			494,967			—		53,459			—			548,426
Impairments and other charges	—			1,206			377		25,187			—			26,770
Total operating expenses	14,351			2,827,679			1,128		378,234			(122,287		)	3,099,105
Gain (loss) on sale, exchange or disposal of assets, net	—			(12,947		)	20,538		(4,969		)	—			2,622
Operating income (loss)	(14,351		)	(117,786		)	126,106		(19,321		)	—			(25,352		)
Equity in net income (loss) of consolidated subsidiaries	(311,856		)	106,318			—		—			205,538			—
Equity in net income of investees, net	—			2,984			—		—			—			2,984
Interest income	24,251			254			—		5			(24,265		)	245
Interest expense	(12,671		)	(267,297		)	—		(472		)	24,265			(256,175		)
Other expense	—			(2		)	—		—			—			(2		)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(314,627		)	(275,529		)	126,106		(19,788		)	205,538			(278,300		)
Income tax expense	—			(39,377		)	—		—			—			(39,377		)
Net income (loss)	(314,627		)	(314,906		)	126,106		(19,788		)	205,538			(317,677		)
Accretion of redeemable non-controlling interests and distributions, net of tax	—			3,050			—		—			—			3,050
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	$	(314,627	)	$	(311,856	)	$	126,106	$	(19,788	)	$	205,538		$	(314,627	)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)	$	(314,627	)	$	(314,906	)	$	126,106	$	(19,788	)	$	205,538		$	(317,677	)
Net unrealized holding losses on investments and other	(14		)	(14		)	—		—			14			(14		)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	(314,641	)	$	(314,920	)	$	126,106	$	(19,788	)	$	205,552		$	(317,691	)
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, 2013 (in thousands):
	Guarantor			Issuing			Guarantor		Non-Guarantor			Consolidating			Consolidated
	Parent			Subsidiary			Subsidiary		Subsidiaries			and
	Company											Eliminating
												Adjustments
Operating activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	136		$	25,615		$	—	$	107,972		$	(4,921	)	$	128,802
Investing activities:
Purchases of and change in prepayments for purchases of property and equipment	—			(133,320		)	—		(4,837		)	115			(138,042		)
Purchases of wireless licenses and spectrum clearing costs	—			(3,289		)	—		—			—			(3,289		)
Proceeds from sales of wireless licenses and operating assets	—			9,639			—		141			(115		)	9,665
Purchases of investments	—			(770,803		)	—		—			—			(770,803		)
Sales and maturities of investments	—			543,773			—		—			—			543,773
Payments received from joint venture	—			78,238			—		—			(78,238		)	—
Investments in and advances to affiliates and consolidated subsidiaries	(555		)	—			—		—			555			—
Change in restricted cash	—			(63		)	—		—			—			(63		)
Net cash used in investing activities	(555		)	(275,825		)	—		(4,696		)	(77,683		)	(358,759		)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	—			1,414,313			—		—			—			1,414,313
Repayment of long-term debt	—			(1,112,922		)	—		—			—			(1,112,922		)
Payment of debt issuance costs	—			(15,800		)	—		—			—			(15,800		)
Capital contributions, net	—			555			—		—			(555		)	—
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net	555			—			—		—			—			555
Payments made to joint venture partners	—			—			—		(116,497		)	83,159			(33,338		)
Other	—			(7,156		)	—		—			—			(7,156		)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	555			278,990			—		(116,497		)	82,604			245,652
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	136			28,780			—		(13,221		)	—			15,695
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	69			449,668			—		65,813			—			515,550
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	205		$	478,448		$	—	$	52,592		$	—		$	531,245
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
	Guarantor			Issuing			Guarantor		Non-Guarantor			Consolidating			Consolidated
	Parent			Subsidiary			Subsidiary		Subsidiaries			and
	Company											Eliminating
												Adjustments
Operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$	(22	)	$	164,223		$	—	$	99,550		$	(23,363	)	$	240,388
Investing activities:
Purchases of and change in prepayments for purchases of property and equipment	—			(471,892		)	—		(30,496		)	8,110			(494,278		)
Purchases of wireless licenses and spectrum clearing costs	—			(5,596		)	—		—			—			(5,596		)
Proceeds from sales of wireless licenses and operating assets	—			153,226			—		8,952			(8,110		)	154,068
Purchases of investments	—			(367,487		)	—		—			—			(367,487		)
Sales and maturities of investments	—			613,632			—		—			—			613,632
Payments received from joint venture	—			36,435			—		—			(36,435		)	—
Investments in and advances to affiliates and consolidated subsidiaries	(959		)	—			—		—			959			—
Change in restricted cash	—			239			—		—			—			239
Net cash used in investing activities	(959		)	(41,443		)	—		(21,544		)	(35,476		)	(99,422		)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	—			396,000			—		—			—			396,000
Repayment of long-term debt	—			(321,911		)	—		—			—			(321,911		)
Payment of debt issuance costs	—			(5,645		)	—		—			—			(5,645		)
Capital contributions, net	—			959			—		—			(959		)	—
Purchase of non-controlling interest	—			(5,250		)	—		—			—			(5,250		)
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock, net	959			—			—		—			—			959
Payments made to joint venture partners	—			(1,915		)	—		(87,290		)	59,798			(29,407		)
Other	—			(5,405		)	—		—			—			(5,405		)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	959			56,833			—		(87,290		)	58,839			29,341
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(22		)	179,613			—		(9,284		)	—			170,307
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	91			270,055			—		75,097			—			345,243
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	69		$	449,668		$	—	$	65,813		$	—		$	515,550
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, 2011 (in thousands):
	Guarantor			Issuing			Guarantor		Non-Guarantor			Consolidating			Consolidated
	Parent			Subsidiary			Subsidiary		Subsidiaries			and
	Company											Eliminating
												Adjustments
Operating activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	6		$	309,549		$	—	$	34,256		$	(5,746	)	$	338,065
Investing activities:
Acquisition of a business	—			(850		)	—		—			—			(850		)
Purchases of and change in prepayments for purchases of property and equipment	—			(379,360		)	—		(22,796		)	—			(402,156		)
Purchases of wireless licenses and spectrum clearing costs	—			(4,880		)	—		—			—			(4,880		)
Proceeds from sales of wireless licenses and operating assets	—			4,558			—		512			—			5,070
Purchases of investments	—			(826,233		)	—		—			—			(826,233		)
Sales and maturities of investments	—			487,860			—		—			—			487,860
Investments in and advances to affiliates and consolidated subsidiaries	(1,346		)	—			—		—			1,346			—
Dividend received from equity investee	—			11,606			—		—			—			11,606
Change in restricted cash	—			(248		)	—		(700		)	—			(948		)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,346		)	(707,547		)	—		(22,984		)	1,346			(730,531		)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	—			396,772			—		—			—			396,772
Repayment of long-term debt	—			(18,589		)	—		(5,000		)	—			(23,589		)
Payment of debt issuance costs	—			(7,269		)	—		—			—			(7,269		)
Capital contributions, net	—			1,346			—		—			(1,346		)	—
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock, net	1,346			—			—		—			—			1,346
Proceeds from sale lease-back financing	—			25,815			—		—			—			25,815
Payments made to joint venture partners	—			(1,364		)	—		(7,490		)	5,746			(3,108		)
Other	—			(3,048		)	—		—			—			(3,048		)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,346			393,663			—		(12,490		)	4,400			386,919
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	6			(4,335		)	—		(1,218		)	—			(5,547		)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	85			274,390			—		76,315			—			350,790
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	91		$	270,055		$	—	$	75,097		$	—		$	345,243

Basis_of_Presentation_and_Sign1

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Principles of Consolidation	'
	Principles of Consolidation
	The consolidated financial statements include the operating results and financial position of Leap and its wholly-owned subsidiaries as well as the operating results and financial position of STX Wireless and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company consolidates STX Wireless in accordance with the authoritative guidance for consolidations based on the voting interest model. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.
Segment and Geographic Data	'
	Segment and Geographic Data
	The Company operates in a single operating segment and a single reporting unit as a wireless communications carrier that offers digital wireless services almost entirely in the United States. As of and for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, substantially all of the Company's revenues and long-lived assets related to operations in the United States.
Revenues	'
	Revenues
	The Company's business revenues principally arise from the sale of wireless services, devices (handsets and broadband modems) and accessories. Wireless services are provided primarily on a month-to-month basis. The Company's customers are required to pay for their service in advance and the Company does not require customers to sign fixed-term contracts or pass a credit check. Service revenues are recognized only after payment has been received and services have been rendered.
	When the Company activates service for a new customer, it often sells that customer a device along with a period of service. In accordance with the authoritative guidance for revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables, the sale of a device along with service constitutes a multiple element arrangement. Under this guidance, once a company has determined the best estimate of selling price of the elements in the sales transaction, the total consideration received from the customer must be allocated among those elements on a relative selling price basis. Applying the guidance to these transactions results in the Company recognizing the total consideration received, less amounts allocated to the wireless service period (generally the customer's monthly service plan), as equipment revenue.
	Amounts allocated to equipment revenues and related costs from the sale of devices are recognized when service is activated by new customers. Revenues and related costs from the sale of devices and accessories to existing customers are recognized at the point of sale. The costs of devices and accessories sold are recorded in cost of equipment. In addition to devices that the Company sells directly to its customers at Cricket-owned stores, the Company sells devices to third-party dealers, including nationwide retailers. These dealers then sell the devices to the ultimate Cricket customer, similar to the sale made at a Cricket-owned store. Sales of devices to third-party dealers are recognized as equipment revenues only when service is activated by customers, since the level of price reductions and commissions ultimately available to such dealers is not reliably estimable until the devices are sold by such dealers to customers. Thus, revenues from devices sold to third-party dealers are recorded as deferred equipment revenue and the related costs of the devices are recorded as deferred charges upon shipment of the devices by the Company. The deferred charges are recognized as equipment costs when the related equipment revenue is recognized, which occurs when service is activated by the customer.
	Through a third-party provider, the Company's customers may elect to participate in an extended warranty program for devices they purchase. The Company recognizes revenue on replacement devices sold to its customers under the program when the customer purchases the device.
	The Company participates in the federal government's Lifeline program and is designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier in certain states in which it provides wireless services. Under this program, the Company offers discounted wireless services to qualified customers and generally receives reimbursement for a portion of the subsidized services. The Company recognizes revenue under this program only after amounts eligible for reimbursement have been determined and services have been rendered.
	Sales incentives offered to customers and commissions and sales incentives offered to the Company's third-party dealers are recognized as a reduction of revenue when the related service or equipment revenue is recognized. Customers have limited rights to return devices and accessories based on time and/or usage, and customer returns of devices and accessories have historically been insignificant.
	Amounts billed by the Company in advance of customers' wireless service periods are not reflected in accounts receivable or deferred revenue since collectability of such amounts is not reasonably assured. Deferred revenue consists primarily of cash received from customers in advance of their service period and deferred equipment revenue related to devices sold to third-party dealers, including nationwide retailers.
	Universal Service Fund, E-911 and other telecommunications-related regulatory fees are assessed by various federal and state governmental agencies in connection with the services that the Company provides to its customers. The service plans the Company currently offers are "all-inclusive" of telecommunications and regulatory fees, in that the Company does not separately bill and collect amounts owed and remitted to government agencies from its customers. For the Company's legacy service plans, which are not "all-inclusive," the Company separately bills and collects from its customers amounts owed and remitted to government agencies. Regulatory fees and telecommunications taxes separately billed and collected from the Company's customers are recorded in service revenues. Amounts owed to government agencies are recorded in cost of service.
Cost of Service	'
	Cost of Service. The major components of cost of service are: charges from other communications companies for long distance, roaming and content download services provided to the Company's customers; charges from other communications companies for their transport and termination of calls originated by the Company's customers and destined for customers of other networks; expenses for tower and network facility rent, engineering operations, field technicians and utility and maintenance charges; amounts paid to publishers and label partners in support of our Muve Music service, and salary and overhead charges associated with these functions; and regulatory fees and telecommunications taxes, including Universal Service Fund and E-911 fees.
Cost of Equipment	'
	Cost of Equipment. Cost of equipment primarily includes the cost of devices and accessories purchased from third-party vendors and resold to the Company's customers in connection with its services, as well as the lower of cost or market write-downs associated with excess or obsolete devices and accessories.
Selling and Marketing, General and Administrative Expenses	'
	Selling and Marketing. Selling and marketing expenses primarily include advertising expenses, promotional and public relations costs associated with acquiring new customers, store operating costs (such as retail associates' salaries and rent), and salary and overhead charges associated with selling and marketing functions.
	General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses primarily include call center and other customer care program costs and salary, overhead and outside consulting costs associated with the Company's customer care, billing, information technology, finance, human resources, accounting, legal and executive functions.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	'
	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity at the time of purchase of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company invests its cash with major financial institutions in money market funds, short-term U.S. Treasury securities and other securities such as prime-rated short-term commercial paper. The Company has not experienced any significant losses on its cash and cash equivalents.
Short-Term Investment	'
	Short-Term Investments
	Short-term investments generally consist of highly liquid, fixed-income investments with an original maturity at the time of purchase of greater than three months. Such investments consist of commercial paper, asset-backed commercial paper and obligations of the U.S. government and government agencies.
	Investments are classified as available-for-sale and stated at fair value. The net unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale securities are reported as a component of other comprehensive income (loss). The specific identification method is used to compute the realized gains and losses on investments. Investments are periodically reviewed for impairment. If the carrying value of an investment exceeds its fair value and the decline in value is determined to be other-than-temporary, an impairment loss is recognized in earnings (or net loss) for the difference.
Restricted Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments	'
	Restricted Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
	The Company has set aside certain amounts of cash, cash equivalents and short term investments to satisfy certain contractual obligations and has classified such amounts as restricted in its consolidated balance sheets. Restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments are included in either other current assets or other assets, depending on the nature of the underlying contractual obligation.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	The authoritative guidance for fair value measurements defines fair value for accounting purposes, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and provides disclosure requirements regarding fair value measurements. The guidance defines fair value as an exit price, which is the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid upon transfer of a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The degree of judgment utilized in measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities generally correlates to the level of pricing observability. Assets and liabilities with readily available, actively quoted prices or for which fair value can be measured from actively quoted prices in active markets generally have more pricing observability and require less judgment in measuring fair value. Conversely, assets and liabilities that are rarely traded or not quoted have less pricing observability and are generally measured at fair value using valuation models that require more judgment. These valuation techniques involve some level of management estimation and judgment, the degree of which is dependent on the price transparency of the asset, liability or market and the nature of the asset or liability. The Company has categorized its assets and liabilities measured at fair value into a three-level hierarchy in accordance with this guidance. See "Note 4. Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Non-Financial Assets" for further discussion regarding the Company's measurement of assets and liabilities at fair value.
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	The authoritative guidance for fair value measurements defines fair value for accounting purposes, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and provides disclosure requirements regarding fair value measurements. The guidance defines fair value as an exit price, which is the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid upon the transfer of a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The degree of judgment utilized in measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities generally correlates to the level of pricing observability. Assets and liabilities with readily available, actively quoted prices or for which fair value can be measured from actively quoted prices in active markets generally have more pricing observability and require less judgment in measuring fair value. Conversely, assets and liabilities that are rarely traded or not quoted have less pricing observability and are generally measured at fair value using valuation models that require more judgment. These valuation techniques involve some level of management estimation and judgment, the degree of which is dependent on the price transparency of the asset, liability or market and the nature of the asset or liability.
	The Company has categorized its assets and liabilities measured at fair value into a three-level hierarchy in accordance with the authoritative guidance for fair value measurements. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities are generally categorized as Level 1; assets and liabilities measured at fair value using observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data for similar assets or liabilities are generally categorized as Level 2; and assets and liabilities measured at fair value using unobservable inputs that cannot be corroborated by market data are generally categorized as Level 3. Assets and liabilities presented at fair value in the Company's consolidated balance sheets are generally categorized as follows:
	Level 1:	Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. The Company did not have any Level 1 assets or liabilities as of December 31, 2013 or December 31, 2012.
	Level 2:	Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. The Company's Level 2 assets as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 included its cash equivalents, its short-term investments in obligations of the U.S. government and government agencies and its short-term investments in commercial paper.
	Level 3:	Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Such assets and liabilities may have values determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, and include instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation. The Company did not have any Level 3 assets or liabilities as of December 31, 2013 or December 31, 2012, other than the non-financial assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis discussed below.
Inventories and Deferred Charges	'
	Inventories and Deferred Charges
	Inventories consist of devices and accessories not yet placed into service and units designated for the replacement of damaged customer devices, and are stated at the lower of cost or market using the average cost method. Devices sold to third party dealers and nationwide retailers are recorded as deferred charges upon shipment of the devices by the Company. The deferred charges are recognized as cost of equipment when service is activated by the customer.
Property and Equipment	'
	Property and Equipment
	Property and equipment are initially recorded at cost. Additions and improvements are capitalized, while expenditures that do not enhance the asset or extend its useful life are charged to operating expenses as incurred. Depreciation is applied using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets once the assets are placed in service.
	The following table summarizes the depreciable lives for property and equipment (in years):
			Depreciable Life
	Network equipment:
	Switches		10-May
	Switch power equipment		15
	Cell site equipment and site improvements		7-May
	Towers		15
	Antennae		5
	Computer hardware and software		5-Mar
	Furniture, fixtures retail and office equipment		7-Mar
	The Company's network construction expenditures are recorded as construction-in-progress until the network or other asset is placed in service, at which time the asset is transferred to the appropriate property or equipment category and depreciation commences. The Company capitalizes salaries and related costs of engineering and technical operations employees as components of construction-in-progress during the construction period to the extent time and expense are attributed to the construction effort. The Company also capitalizes certain telecommunications and other related costs as construction-in-progress during the construction period to the extent they are incremental and directly related to the network under construction.
	In accordance with the authoritative guidance for accounting for costs of computer software developed or obtained for internal use, certain costs related to the development of internal use software are capitalized and amortized over the estimated useful life of the software.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets	'
	Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
	The Company assesses potential impairments to its long-lived assets, including property and equipment and long-lived intangible assets, when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances indicate that their respective carrying values may not be recoverable. An impairment loss may be required to be recognized when the undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by a long-lived asset (or group of such assets) are less than its carrying value. Any required impairment loss would be measured as the amount by which the asset’s carrying value exceeds its fair value and would be recorded as a reduction in the carrying value of the related asset and charged to results of operations.
	During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company determined that certain amounts capitalized were no longer recoverable, and as such, recorded impairment charges of approximately $19.8 million and $13.6 million, respectively, reducing the carrying value of those capitalized amounts to zero. There were no other events or circumstances that occurred during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 that indicated the carrying value of any long-lived assets may not be recoverable.
Impairment of Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets	'
	Impairment of Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets
	The Company assesses potential impairments to its indefinite-lived intangible assets, including wireless licenses and goodwill, on an annual basis or when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances indicate an impairment condition may exist. The Company's annual impairment test is conducted each year during the third quarter as further discussed in Note 6. The Company adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2012-02, "Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment" ("ASU 2012-02") in the first quarter of 2013. ASU 2012-02 simplified the requirements for testing indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment and permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative fair value test.
Wireless Licenses	'
	Wireless Licenses
	The Company holds Personal Communications Services ("PCS"), Advanced Wireless Services ("AWS") and 700 MHz wireless licenses granted by the FCC that are specific to a particular geographic area on spectrum that has been allocated by the FCC for such services. Wireless licenses are recorded at cost when acquired and are not amortized. Although FCC licenses are issued with a stated term (ten years in the case of PCS and 700 MHz licenses and fifteen years in the case of AWS licenses), wireless licenses are considered to be indefinite-lived intangible assets because the Company expects to provide wireless service using the relevant licenses for the foreseeable future. PCS, AWS and 700 MHz licenses are routinely renewed for either no or a nominal fee and management has determined that no legal, regulatory, contractual, competitive, economic or other factors currently exist that limit the useful lives of the Company's wireless licenses. On a quarterly basis, the Company evaluates the remaining useful lives of its indefinite-lived wireless licenses to determine whether events and circumstances, such as legal, regulatory, contractual, competitive, economic or other factors, continue to support an indefinite useful life. If a wireless license is subsequently determined to have a finite useful life, the Company would first test the wireless license for impairment and the wireless license would then be amortized prospectively over its estimated remaining useful life. In addition, on a quarterly basis, the Company evaluates the triggering event criteria outlined in the authoritative guidance for intangible assets to determine whether events or changes in circumstances indicate that an impairment condition may exist. The Company also tests its wireless licenses for impairment on an annual basis in accordance with the authoritative guidance for intangible assets. The Company's annual impairment test is conducted each year during the third quarter. Refer to "Note 6. Wireless Licenses and Goodwill" for further discussion regarding the Company's impairment evaluation of wireless licenses.
Goodwill	'
	Goodwill
	The Company records the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired in a business combination as goodwill. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, goodwill of $31.9 million primarily represented the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the assets acquired (net of liabilities assumed, including the related deferred tax effects) by STX Wireless in connection with the formation of the joint venture. Goodwill is tested for impairment annually as well as when an event or change in circumstance indicates an impairment may have occurred. The Company's annual impairment test is conducted each year during the third quarter. In addition, on a quarterly basis, the Company evaluates the triggering event criteria outlined in the authoritative guidance for intangible assets to determine whether events or changes in circumstances indicate that an impairment condition may exist. Refer to "Note 6. Wireless Licenses and Goodwill" for further discussion regarding the Company's goodwill impairment evaluation.
Investments in Other Entities	'
	Investments in Other Entities
	The Company uses the equity method to account for investments in common stock of corporations in which it has a voting interest of between 20% and 50% or in which the Company otherwise has the ability to exercise significant influence, and for investments in limited liability companies that maintain specific ownership accounts in which it has more than a minor but not greater than a 50% ownership interest. Under the equity method, the investment is originally recorded at cost and is adjusted to recognize the Company's share of net earnings or losses of the investee. The Company's ownership interest in equity method investees ranges from approximately 4.0% to 20.7% of outstanding membership units. The carrying value of the Company's investments in its equity method investees was zero and $10.6 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company's share of earnings (losses) in its equity method investees (net of its share of their losses) was $(1.4) million, $(0.5) million and $3.0 million, respectively.
	On June 30, 2011, one of the Company's equity method investees declared a cash dividend and paid the dividend with funds borrowed under a third-party line of credit. The Company's share of the dividend based on its ownership percentage was $18.2 million and was received in full on July 1, 2011. In the consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company presented the portion of the dividend equal to its share of accumulated profits (approximately $6.6 million) as cash from operating activities and the remainder (approximately $11.6 million) as cash from investing activities, as it represented a return of the Company's original investment.
	The Company reviews its investments accounted for under the equity method for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the investments may not be fully recoverable. The Merger Agreement with AT&T requires that the Company sell its investments in its equity method investees, and in the third quarter of 2013 we commenced a plan to sell those investments. As the investments met all of the criteria under the authoritative guidance to be classified as assets held for sale, the Company reclassified the investments to assets held for sale as of September 30, 2013. The Company is required to assess the fair value of its investments at each period end and determined that an other-than-temporary impairment existed at December 31, 2013. As a result, the Company recorded impairment charges totaling $9.2 million to reduce the carrying value of one of its equity method investments to zero at December 31, 2013.
Concentrations	'
	Concentrations
	The Company generally relies on one key vendor for billing and Muve Music royalty services, a limited number of vendors for device logistics, a limited number of vendors for its voice and data communications transport services and a limited number of vendors for payment processing services. Loss or disruption of these services could materially adversely affect the Company's business.
	The networks the Company operates do not, by themselves, provide national coverage and it must pay fees to other carriers who provide roaming or wholesale services to the Company. The Company currently relies on roaming agreements with several carriers for the majority of its voice services and generally on one key carrier for its data roaming services. The Company has also entered into a wholesale agreement, which the Company uses to offer Cricket services in a limited number of nationwide retailers outside of its current network footprint. If the Company were unable to obtain or maintain cost-effective roaming or wholesale services for its customers in geographically desirable service areas, the Company's competitive position, business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
Operating Leases	'
	Operating Leases
	Rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the initial lease term and those renewal periods that are reasonably assured as determined at lease inception. The difference between rent expense and rent paid is recorded as deferred rent and is included in other current or long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
Asset Retirement Obligations	'
	Asset Retirement Obligations
	The Company recognizes an asset retirement obligation and an associated asset retirement cost when it has a legal obligation in connection with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets. These obligations arise from certain of the Company's leases and relate primarily to the cost of removing its equipment from such lease sites and restoring the sites to their original condition. When the liability is initially recorded, the Company capitalizes the cost of the asset retirement obligation by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. The liability is initially recorded at its present value and is accreted to its then present value each period, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. Accretion expense is recorded in cost of service in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Upon settlement of the obligation, any difference between the cost to retire the asset and the liability recorded is recognized in operating expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
Debt Issuance Costs	'
	Debt Issuance Costs
	Debt issuance costs are amortized and recognized as interest expense using the effective interest method over the expected term of the related debt. Unamortized debt issuance costs related to extinguished debt are expensed at the time the debt is extinguished and recorded in loss on extinguishment of debt in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Unamortized debt issuance costs are recorded in other assets or as a reduction of the respective debt balance, as applicable, in the consolidated balance sheets.
Advertising Costs	'
	Advertising Costs
	Advertising costs are expensed as incurred.
Share-based Compensation	'
	Share-based Compensation
	The Company accounts for share-based awards exchanged for employee services in accordance with the authoritative guidance for share-based payments. Under the guidance, share-based compensation expense is measured at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense, net of estimated forfeitures, over the employee's requisite service period. Compensation expense is amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award, which is generally the vesting period of the award.
Income Tax	'
	Income Taxes
	The Company calculates income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which it operates. This process involves calculating the current tax expense or benefit and any deferred income tax expense or benefit resulting from temporary differences arising from differing treatments of items for tax and accounting purposes. These temporary differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets are also established for the expected future tax benefits to be derived from net operating loss ("NOL") carryforwards, capital loss carryforwards and income tax credits.
	The Company periodically assesses the likelihood that its deferred tax assets will be recoverable from future taxable income. To the extent the Company believes it is more likely than not that its deferred tax assets will not be recovered, it must establish a valuation allowance. As part of this periodic assessment for the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company weighed the positive and negative factors and, at this time, does not believe there is sufficient positive evidence to support a conclusion that it is more likely than not that all or a portion of its deferred tax assets will be realized, except with respect to the realization of a $1.8 million Texas Margins Tax ("TMT") credit. Accordingly, at December 31, 2013, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company recorded a valuation allowance offsetting substantially all of its deferred tax assets. The Company will continue to monitor the positive and negative factors to assess whether it is required to continue to maintain a valuation allowance. At such time as the Company determines that it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets are realizable, the valuation allowance will be reduced or released in its entirety, with the corresponding benefit reflected in the Company's tax provision. Deferred tax liabilities associated with wireless licenses and investments in certain joint ventures cannot be considered a source of taxable income to support the realization of deferred tax assets because these deferred tax liabilities will not reverse until some indefinite future period when these assets are either sold or impaired for book purposes.
	The Company has substantial federal and state NOLs for income tax purposes. Subject to certain requirements, the Company may "carry forward" its federal NOLs for up to 20 years to offset future taxable income and reduce its income tax liability. For state income tax purposes, the NOL carryforward period ranges from five to 20 years. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had federal and state NOLs of approximately $3.1 billion and $2.3 billion, respectively, which begin to expire in 2022 for federal income tax purposes and of which $92.8 million will expire at the end of 2014 for state income tax purposes. While these NOL carryforwards have a potential to be used to offset future ordinary taxable income and reduce future cash tax liabilities by approximately $1.2 billion, the Company's ability to utilize these NOLs will depend upon the availability of future taxable income during the carryforward period and, as such, there is no assurance the Company will be able to realize such tax savings.
	The Company's ability to utilize NOLs could be further limited if it were to experience an "ownership change," as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code and similar state provisions. In general terms, an ownership change can occur whenever there is a collective shift in the ownership of a company by more than 50 percentage points by one or more "5% stockholders" within a three-year period. The occurrence of such a change generally limits the amount of NOL carryforwards a company could utilize in a given year to the aggregate fair market value of the company's common stock immediately prior to the ownership change, multiplied by the long-term tax-exempt interest rate in effect for the month of the ownership change.
	The determination of whether an ownership change has occurred for purposes of Section 382 is complex and requires significant judgment. The occurrence of such an ownership change would accelerate cash tax payments the Company would be required to make and likely result in a substantial portion of its NOLs expiring before the Company could fully utilize them. As a result, any restriction on the Company's ability to utilize these NOL carryforwards could have a material adverse impact on its business, financial condition and future cash flows.
	On August 30, 2011, the Company's board of directors adopted a Tax Benefit Preservation Plan to help deter acquisitions of Leap common stock that could result in an ownership change under Section 382 and thus help preserve the Company's ability to use its NOL carryforwards. The Tax Benefit Preservation Plan is designed to deter acquisitions of Leap common stock that would result in a stockholder owning 4.99% or more of Leap common stock (as calculated under Section 382), or any existing holder of 4.99% or more of Leap common stock acquiring additional shares, by substantially diluting the ownership interest of any such stockholder unless the stockholder obtains an exemption from the Company's board of directors.
	None of the Company's NOL carryforwards are being considered as an uncertain tax position or disclosed as an unrecognized tax benefit. Any carryforwards that expire prior to utilization as a result of a Section 382 limitation will be removed from deferred tax assets with a corresponding reduction to the valuation allowance. Since the Company currently maintains a full valuation allowance against its federal and state NOL carryforwards, it is not expected that any possible limitation would have a current impact on its results of operations.
	In accordance with the authoritative guidance for business combinations, which became effective for the Company on January 1, 2009, any reduction in the valuation allowance, including the valuation allowance established in fresh-start reporting, will be accounted for as a reduction of income tax expense.
	The Company's unrecognized income tax benefits and uncertain tax positions, as well as any associated interest and penalties, are recorded through income tax expense; however, such amounts have not been significant in any period. All of the Company's tax years from 1998 to 2012 remain open to examination by federal and state taxing authorities. In July 2009, the federal examination of the Company's 2005 tax year, which was limited in scope, was concluded and the results did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
Basic and Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share	'
	Basic and Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share
	Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the sum of the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period and the weighted-average number of dilutive common share equivalents outstanding during the period, using the treasury stock method and the if-converted method, where applicable. Dilutive common share equivalents are comprised of stock options, restricted stock awards, employee stock purchase rights and convertible senior notes.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	'
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In July 2012, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued ASU 2012-02 which simplified the requirements for testing for indefinite-lived intangible assets and permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative fair value test. The new guidance was adopted by the Company in the first quarter of 2013 and did not have a material impact on the Company or its consolidated financial statements.
	In February 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-02, "Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income" ("ASU 2013-02"). ASU 2013-02 requires companies to present information about significant items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or as a separate disclosure in the notes to the financial statements. This new guidance became effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2013 and did not have a material impact on the Company or its consolidated financial statements.

Basis_of_Presentation_and_Sign2

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Summary of Depreciable Lives for Property and Equipment	'
	The following table summarizes the depreciable lives for property and equipment (in years):
		Depreciable Life
	Network equipment:
	Switches	10-May
	Switch power equipment	15
	Cell site equipment and site improvements	7-May
	Towers	15
	Antennae	5
	Computer hardware and software	5-Mar
	Furniture, fixtures retail and office equipment	7-Mar
Summary of Asset Retirement Obligations	'
	The following table summarizes the Company's asset retirement obligations as of and for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012
	Asset retirement obligations, beginning of year	$	36,230		$	32,919
	Liabilities incurred	118			815
	Accretion expense	3,356			3,208
	Decommissioned sites	(320		)	(712		)
	Other	(3,155		)	—
	Asset retirement obligations, end of year	$	36,229		$	36,230

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru1

Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Non-Financial Assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Fair Value - Assets Measured on Recurring Basis	'
	The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the Company's assets and liabilities that were recorded at fair value as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 (in thousands). As required by the guidance for fair value measurements, financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Thus, assets and liabilities categorized as Level 3 may be measured at fair value using inputs that are observable (Levels 1 and 2) and unobservable (Level 3). Management's assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, which may affect the valuation of assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels.
		At Fair Value as of December 31, 2013
		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	Assets:
	Money market funds	$	—	$	12,144	$	—	$	12,144
	Commercial paper	—		191,989		—		191,989
	U.S. government or government agency securities	—		306,808		—		306,808
	Total	$	—	$	510,941	$	—	$	510,941
		At Fair Value as of December 31, 2012
		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	Assets:
	Money market funds	$	—	$	126,617	$	—	$	126,617
	Commercial paper	—		82,346		—		82,346
	U.S. government or government agency securities	—		135,861		—		135,861
	Total	$	—	$	344,824	$	—	$	344,824
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities	'
	Available-for-sale securities were comprised as follows as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
		As of December 31, 2013
		Cost		Fair Value
	Money market funds	$	12,144	$	12,144
	Commercial paper	191,989		191,989
	U.S. government or government agency securities	306,813		306,808
		$	510,946	$	510,941
		As of December 31, 2012
		Cost		Fair Value
	Money market funds	$	126,617	$	126,617
	Commercial paper	82,345		82,346
	U.S. government or government agency securities	135,848		135,861
		$	344,810	$	344,824

Supplementary_Financial_Inform1

Supplementary Financial Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Supplementary Balance Sheet Information [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Additional Balance Sheet Information	'
	Supplementary Balance Sheet Information (in thousands):
		December 31,				December 31,
		2013				2012
	Other current assets:
	Accounts receivable, net of allowances for bad debt of $1.3 million and $1.3 million, respectively(1)	$	102,702			$	86,467
	Prepaid expenses	32,762				40,237
	Other	24,117				12,538
		$	159,581			$	139,242
	Property and equipment, net(2):
	Network equipment	$	3,333,173			$	3,348,122
	Computer hardware and software	571,646				526,348
	Construction-in-progress(3)	14,339				54,945
	Other	97,054				109,400
		4,016,212				4,038,815
	Accumulated depreciation	(2,749,839		)		(2,276,725		)
		$	1,266,373			$	1,762,090
	Intangible assets, net:
	Customer relationships	$	50,435			$	50,435
	Trademarks	37,000				37,000
		87,435				87,435
	Accumulated amortization of customer relationships	(48,505		)		(40,528		)
	Accumulated amortization of trademarks	(24,887		)		(22,244		)
		$	14,043			$	24,663
	Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:
	Trade accounts payable	$	192,947			$	143,931
	Accrued payroll and related benefits	59,762				67,539
	Other accrued liabilities	112,770				184,640
		$	365,479			$	396,110
	Other current liabilities:
	Deferred service revenue(4)	$	93,347			$	100,276
	Deferred equipment revenue(5)	23,876				36,471
	Accrued sales, telecommunications, property and other taxes payable	15,889				4,267
	Accrued interest	31,567				44,653
	Other	44,389				31,213
		$	209,068			$	216,880
	____________
	-1	Accounts receivable, net, consists primarily of (i) amounts billed to third-party dealers for devices and accessories, (ii) amounts due from the federal government in connection with the Lifeline program and other regulatory programs, and (iii) amounts due from service providers related to interconnect and roaming agreements.
	-2	As of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, approximately $48.7 million and $45.8 million of assets were held by the Company under capital lease arrangements, respectively. Accumulated amortization relating to these assets totaled $28.1 million and $22.9 million as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.
	-3	See "Note 11. Impairments and Other Charges" for information regarding the impairment of certain amounts accumulated in construction-in-progress.
	-4	Deferred service revenue consists primarily of cash received from customers in advance of their service period.
	-5	Deferred equipment revenue relates to devices sold to third-party dealers and nationwide retailers, which have not yet been purchased and activated by customers.
Supplementary Cash Flow Information	'
	Supplementary Cash Flow Information (in thousands):
			December 31,
			2013				2012			2011
	Cash paid for interest		$	(251,883	)		$	(268,186	)	$	(229,034	)
	Cash paid for income taxes		$	(4,276	)		$	(4,043	)	$	(3,079	)
	Supplementary disclosure of non-cash investing activities:
	Net wireless licenses received in exchange transaction		$	6,809			$	106,877		$	20,649
	Assets acquired through capital leases		$	807			$	13,829		$	1,749
	Acquisition of property and equipment		$	27,548			$	43,220		$	117,042

Arrangements_with_Joint_Ventur1

Arrangements with Joint Venture (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Arrangements with Variable Interest Entities and Joint Ventures [Abstract]	'
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	'
	The following table provides a summary of the changes in value of the Company's redeemable non-controlling interests (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012
	Beginning balance, January 1,	$	64,517		$	95,910
	Accretion of redeemable non-controlling interests, before tax	31,970			28
	Purchases of membership units of non-controlling interests	—			(5,250		)
	Loans made to joint venture partner	(6,716		)	(8,255		)
	Optional distributions made to joint venture partner	(18,338		)	(16,243		)
	Other	(2,898		)	(1,673		)
	Ending balance, December 31,	$	68,535		$	64,517

Unrestricted_Subsidiaries_Tabl

Unrestricted Subsidiaries (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Unrestricted Subsidiaries [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Unrestricted Subsidiary Financial Information	'
	As required by the Credit Agreement and the indenture governing Cricket's senior notes, the Company is presenting the aggregate carrying amount and classification of the components of the financial position as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 and results of operations of Cricket Music and Muve USA for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 in the following tables separately (in thousands):
		December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	902		$	1
	Other current assets	12			—
	Property and equipment, net	440			4,937
	Total assets	$	1,354		$	4,938
	Liabilities and stockholders' equity
	Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	31		$	—
	Other current liabilities	502			5
	Other long-term liabilities	84			—
	Stockholders' equity	737			4,933
	Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	1,354		$	4,938
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Revenues	$	410		$	—		$	—
	Operating expenses:
	Depreciation and amortization	4,497			4,497			2,225
	Other	16			14			1
	Total operating expenses	4,513			4,511			2,226
	Operating loss	(4,103		)	(4,511		)	(2,226		)
	Income tax expense	(82		)	—			—
	Net loss	$	(4,185	)	$	(4,511	)	$	(2,226	)

Impairment_and_Other_charges_T

Impairment and Other charges (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Asset Impairment Charges [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Impairments and Other Charges	'
	Impairments and other charges consisted of the following (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Wireless license impairment (Note 6)	$	—		$	—		$	377
	Property and equipment impairment (Note 4)	19,847			13,640			—
	Severance	(1,501		)	14,753			—
	Restructuring activities	10,437			11,006			—
	Post-acquisition charges	—			—			26,393
	Impairments and other charges	$	28,783		$	39,399		$	26,770
Schedule of Post-Acquisition Charges	'
	The following table provides a rollforward of the impairments and other charges recorded as a component of accounts payable and accrued liabilities within the consolidated balance sheets:
			December 31, 2012			Accruals			Payments			December 31, 2013
	Post-acquisition charges		$	14,726		$	—		$	(3,418	)	$	11,308
	Severance		9,877			-1,501			(8,371		)	5
	Restructuring activities		10,393			14,836			(10,645		)	14,584
	Total impairments and other charges, to be settled in cash		$	34,996		$	13,335		$	(22,434	)	$	25,897

LongTerm_Debt_Net_Tables

Long-Term Debt, Net (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Debt	'
	Long-term debt, net as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was comprised of the following (in thousands):
		December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Convertible senior notes due 2014	$	248,204		$	250,000
	Senior secured notes due 2016	—			1,100,000
	Unamortized discount on $1,100 million senior secured notes due 2016	—			(23,767		)
	Term loans under Credit Agreement	1,813,875			400,000
	Unamortized discount on term loans under Credit Agreement	(13,096		)	(3,892		)
	Unsecured senior notes due 2020	1,600,000			1,600,000
	Unamortized discount on $1,600 million unsecured senior notes due 2020	(17,962		)	(19,878		)
		3,631,021			3,302,463
	Current maturities of long-term debt	(266,454		)	(4,000		)
		$	3,364,567		$	3,298,463
Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt	'
	The aggregate maturities of the Company's long-term debt obligations, excluding the effects of discount accretion on its $1,600 million of 7.75% unsecured notes due 2020 and its $1,814 million of secured term loans under the Credit Agreement are as follows (in thousands):
	Years Ended December 31:
	2014		$	266,454
	2015		18,250
	2016		18,250
	2017		18,250
	2018		18,250
	Thereafter		3,322,625
			$	3,662,079

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	'
	The components of the Company's income tax provision are summarized as follows (in thousands):
		December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Current provision:
	State	$	3,772		$	4,059		$	3,595
	Foreign	81			—			466
		3,853			4,059			4,061
	Deferred provision:
	Federal	39,537			50,544			32,229
	State	2,179			3,301			3,087
		41,716			53,845			35,316
		$	45,569		$	57,904		$	39,377
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation	'
	A reconciliation of the amounts computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to income before income taxes to the amounts recorded in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income is summarized as follows (in thousands):
		December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Amounts computed at statutory federal rate	$	(195,259	)	$	(45,280	)	$	(97,405	)
	Non-deductible expenses	282			477			376
	State income tax expense, net of federal income tax impact	4,684			5,944			5,708
	Net tax benefit related to joint ventures	(1,496		)	(6,737		)	(2,856		)
	Non-deductible share-based compensation	3,637			5,776			6,623
	Other	—			—			(2,936		)
	Change in valuation allowance	233,721			97,724			129,867
		$	45,569		$	57,904		$	39,377
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities	'
	The components of the Company's deferred tax assets (liabilities) are summarized as follows (in thousands):
		As of December 31,
		2013			2012
	Deferred tax assets:
	Net operating loss carryforwards	$	1,197,188		$	1,008,492
	Wireless licenses	8,492			13,291
	Capital loss carryforwards	14			—
	Reserves and allowances	8,563			13,990
	Share-based compensation	27,423			29,698
	Deferred charges	54,026			49,898
	Investments and deferred tax on unrealized losses	19,147			395
	Intangible assets	12,473			15,502
	Goodwill	26,245			28,546
	Other	2,083			2,156
	Gross deferred tax assets	1,355,654			1,161,968
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Property and equipment	(148,214		)	(222,260		)
	Other	(5,067		)	(242		)
	Net deferred tax assets	1,202,373			939,466
	Valuation allowance	(1,200,585		)	(937,568		)
	Other deferred tax liabilities:
	Wireless licenses	(422,202		)	(378,876		)
	Investment in joint ventures	—			(1,653		)
	Net deferred tax liabilities	$	(420,414	)	$	(378,631	)
	Deferred tax assets (liabilities) are reflected in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as follows (in thousands):
		As of December 31,
		2013			2012
	Current deferred tax assets (included in other current assets)	$	4,032		$	6,480
	Long-term deferred tax liabilities	(424,446		)	(385,111		)
		$	(420,414	)	$	(378,631	)

Sharebased_Compensation_Tables

Share-based Compensation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Weighted-Average Assumptions	'
	he weighted-average grant date fair value of employee stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 was $5.05 and $4.95 per share, respectively, which was estimated using the following weighted-average assumptions:
		As of December 31,
		2013			2012
	Expected volatility	74	%		71	%
	Expected term (in years)	5.75			5.75
	Risk-free interest rate	1.2	%		0.9	%
	Expected dividend yield	—			—
Schedule of Stock Option Award Activity	'
	A summary of the Company's stock option award activity as of and for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 is as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
			Number of Shares			Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share		Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (In Years)		Aggregate Intrinsic Value
	Options outstanding at December 31, 2011		3,146			$	25.93	6.89		$	1,012
	Options exercisable at December 31, 2011		1,466			$	34.71	4.79		$	—
	Options granted		1,453			$	8.22
	Options forfeited		(1,234	)		36.59
	Options exercised		—			—
	Options outstanding at December 31, 2012		3,365			$	14.38	6.82		$	433
	Options exercisable at December 31, 2012		1,222			$	23.3	4.23		$	—
	Options granted		226			$	8.06
	Options forfeited		(677	)		15.49
	Options exercised		(828	)		8.99
	Options outstanding at December 31, 2013		2,086			$	15.47	5.93		$	11,786
	Options exercisable at December 31, 2013		852			$	25.31	3.1		$	—
Schedule of Restricted Stock Awards Activity	'
	A summary of the Company's restricted stock award activity as of and for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 is as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
			Number of Shares			Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share
	Restricted stock awards outstanding at December 31, 2011		1,965			$	20.68
	Shares issued		955			$	7.48
	Shares forfeited		(608	)		$	17.13
	Shares vested		(499	)		$	29.44
	Restricted stock awards outstanding at December 31, 2012		1,813			$	12.68
	Shares issued		1,142			$	6.24
	Shares forfeited		(212	)		$	10.35
	Shares vested		(731	)		$	17.16
	Restricted stock awards outstanding at December 31, 2013		2,012			$	7.52
	The following table summarizes information about restricted stock awards that vested during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013				2012		2011
	Fair value on vesting date of vested restricted stock awards	$	10,381			$	3,888	$	5,864
Schedule of Share-based Compensation Expense	'
	Total share-based compensation expense related to all of the Company's share-based awards for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 was allocated in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013				2012		2011
	Cost of service	$	724			$	254	$	1,734
	Selling and marketing expense	830				22		1,985
	General and administrative expense	13,884				7,846		11,609
	Share-based compensation expense	$	15,438			$	8,122	$	15,328
	Share-based compensation expense per share:
	Basic	$	0.2			$	0.11	$	0.2
	Diluted	$	0.2			$	0.11	$	0.2

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Capital Leases and Operating Leases	'
	The following table summarizes the approximate future minimum rentals under non-cancelable operating leases, including renewals that are reasonably assured, and future minimum capital lease payments in effect at December 31, 2013 (in thousands):
	Years Ended December 31:	Capital Leases			Operating Leases
	2014	$	10,056		$	268,453
	2015	9,111			260,950
	2016	7,594			213,707
	2017	5,815			175,826
	2018	4,309			135,801
	Thereafter	10,145			198,999
	Total minimum lease payments	$	47,030		$	1,253,736
	Less amounts representing capital interest	(10,485		)
	Present value of minimum lease payments	$	36,545

Guarantor_Financial_Informatio1

Guarantor Financial Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements	'
	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2013 (in thousands):
		Guarantor			Issuing			Guarantor		Non-Guarantor			Consolidating			Consolidated
		Parent			Subsidiary			Subsidiary		Subsidiaries			and
		Company											Eliminating
													Adjustments
	Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	205		$	478,448		$	—	$	52,592		$	—		$	531,245
	Short-term investments	—			385,783			—		—			—			385,783
	Inventories	—			69,829			—		3,206			—			73,035
	Deferred charges	—			38,287			—		6			—			38,293
	Advances to affiliates and consolidated subsidiaries	251,803			32,109			21,113		—			(305,025		)	—
	Other current assets	1,499			152,421			—		5,836			(175		)	159,581
	Total current assets	253,507			1,156,877			21,113		61,640			(305,200		)	1,187,937
	Property and equipment, net	—			1,221,867			—		44,506			—			1,266,373
	Investments in and advances to affiliates and consolidated subsidiaries	—			2,277,151			—		—			(2,277,151		)	—
	Wireless licenses	—			—			2,026,349		64,912			—			2,091,261
	Goodwill	—			11,222			—		20,664			—			31,886
	Intangible assets, net	—			12,113			—		1,930			—			14,043
	Other assets	708			58,043			—		12,637			—			71,388
	Total assets	$	254,215		$	4,737,273		$	2,047,462	$	206,289		$	(2,582,351	)	$	4,662,888
	Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
	Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	3,354		$	359,781		$	—	$	2,489		$	(145	)	$	365,479
	Current maturities of long-term debt	248,204			18,250			—		—			—			266,454
	Intercompany payables	—			272,916			—		32,109			(305,025		)	—
	Other current liabilities	5,169			186,272			—		17,657			(30		)	209,068
	Total current liabilities	256,727			837,219			—		52,255			(305,200		)	841,001
	Long-term debt, net	—			3,364,567			—		—			—			3,364,567
	Deferred tax liabilities	—			424,446			—		—			—			424,446
	Accumulated losses in excess of investment and long-term intercompany payables	191,159			—			—		47,458			(238,617		)	—
	Other long-term liabilities	—			145,195			—		12,815			—			158,010
	Total liabilities	447,886			4,771,427			—		112,528			(543,817		)	4,788,024
	Redeemable non-controlling interests	—			68,535			—		—			—			68,535
	Stockholders' equity (deficit)	(193,671		)	(102,689		)	2,047,462		93,761			(2,038,534		)	(193,671		)
	Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	254,215		$	4,737,273		$	2,047,462	$	206,289		$	(2,582,351	)	$	4,662,888
	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
		Guarantor			Issuing			Guarantor		Non-Guarantor			Consolidating			Consolidated
		Parent			Subsidiary			Subsidiary		Subsidiaries			and
		Company											Eliminating
													Adjustments
	Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	69		$	449,668		$	—	$	65,813		$	—		$	515,550
	Short-term investments	—			159,426			—		—			—			159,426
	Inventories	—			118,149			—		3,452			—			121,601
	Deferred charges	—			60,933			—		30			—			60,963
	Advances to affiliates and consolidated subsidiaries	11,182			23,592			49,407		—			(84,181		)	—
	Other current assets	707			129,346			—		13,519			(4,330		)	139,242
	Total current assets	11,958			941,114			49,407		82,814			(88,511		)	996,782
	Property and equipment, net	—			1,694,365			—		67,725			—			1,762,090
	Investments in and advances to affiliates and consolidated subsidiaries	739,072			2,327,953			—		—			(3,067,025		)	—
	Wireless licenses	—			—			1,882,421		64,912			—			1,947,333
	Assets held for sale	—			—			136,222		—			—			136,222
	Goodwill	—			11,222			—		20,664			—			31,886
	Intangible assets, net	—			14,756			—		9,907			—			24,663
	Other assets	3,938			54,852			—		9,494			—			68,284
	Total assets	$	754,968		$	5,044,262		$	2,068,050	$	255,516		$	(3,155,536	)	$	4,967,260
	Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
	Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	40		$	389,951		$	—	$	6,119		$	—		$	396,110
	Current maturities of long-term debt	—			4,000			—		—			—			4,000
	Intercompany payables	—			60,589			—		23,592			(84,181		)	—
	Other current liabilities	5,247			202,740			—		13,223			(4,330		)	216,880
	Total current liabilities	5,287			657,280			—		42,934			(88,511		)	616,990
	Long-term debt, net	250,000			3,048,463			—		—			—			3,298,463
	Deferred tax liabilities	—			385,111			—		—			—			385,111
Long-term intercompany payables	66,549			242,500			—		32,562			(341,611		)	—
Other long-term liabilities	—			149,819			—		19,228			—			169,047
Total liabilities	321,836			4,483,173			—		94,724			(430,122		)	4,469,611
Redeemable non-controlling interests	—			64,517			—		—			—			64,517
Stockholders' equity	433,132			496,572			2,068,050		160,792			(2,725,414		)	433,132
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	754,968		$	5,044,262		$	2,068,050	$	255,516		$	(3,155,536	)	$	4,967,260
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income for the Year Ended December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
	Guarantor			Issuing			Guarantor		Non-Guarantor			Consolidating			Consolidated
	Parent			Subsidiary			Subsidiary		Subsidiaries			and
	Company											Eliminating
												Adjustments
Revenues:
Service revenues	$	—		$	2,608,538		$	—	$	338,841		$	78		$	2,947,457
Equipment revenues	—			168,279			—		26,605			—			194,884
Other revenues	—			15,317			111,981		197			(127,495		)	—
Total revenues	—			2,792,134			111,981		365,643			(127,417		)	3,142,341
Operating expenses:
Cost of service (exclusive of items shown separately below)	—			1,057,210			—		89,057			(112,100		)	1,034,167
Cost of equipment	—			721,957			—		94,269			—			816,226
Selling and marketing	—			311,410			—		38,560			—			349,970
General and administrative	10,556			306,206			762		46,727			(15,317		)	348,934
Depreciation and amortization	—			578,827			—		46,769			—			625,596
Impairments and other charges	—			39,399			—		—			—			39,399
Total operating expenses	10,556			3,015,009			762		315,382			(127,417		)	3,214,292
Gain on sale, exchange or disposal of assets, net	—			84,939			143,904		871			—			229,714
Operating income (loss)	(10,556		)	(137,936		)	255,123		51,132			—			157,763
Equity in net income (loss) of consolidated subsidiaries	(190,241		)	306,260			—		—			(116,019		)	—
Equity in net loss of investees, net	—			(464		)	—		—			—			(464		)
Interest income	24,252			187			—		5			(24,250		)	194
Interest expense	(12,747		)	(279,735		)	—		—			24,250			(268,232		)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	—			(18,634		)	—		—			—			(18,634		)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(189,292		)	(130,322		)	255,123		51,137			(116,019		)	(129,373		)
Income tax expense	—			(57,904		)	—		—			—			(57,904		)
Net income (loss)	(189,292		)	(188,226		)	255,123		51,137			(116,019		)	(187,277		)
Accretion of redeemable non-controlling interests and distributions, net of tax	—			(2,015		)	—		—			—			(2,015		)
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	$	(189,292	)	$	(190,241	)	$	255,123	$	51,137		$	(116,019	)	$	(189,292	)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)	$	(189,292	)	$	(188,226	)	$	255,123	$	51,137		$	(116,019	)	$	(187,277	)
Net unrealized holding gains on investments and other	27			27			—		—			(27		)	27
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	(189,265	)	$	(188,199	)	$	255,123	$	51,137		$	(116,046	)	$	(187,250	)
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income for the Year Ended December 31, 2011 (in thousands):
	Guarantor			Issuing			Guarantor		Non-Guarantor			Consolidating			Consolidated
	Parent			Subsidiary			Subsidiary		Subsidiaries			and
	Company											Eliminating
												Adjustments
Revenues:
Service revenues	$	—		$	2,495,525		$	—	$	333,691		$	65		$	2,829,281
Equipment revenues	—			211,659			—		30,191			—			241,850
Other revenues	—			15,656			106,696		—			(122,352		)	—
Total revenues	—			2,722,840			106,696		363,882			(122,287		)	3,071,131
Operating expenses:
Cost of service (exclusive of items shown separately below)	—			995,215			—		92,332			(106,344		)	981,203
Cost of equipment	—			716,461			—		101,459			—			817,920
Selling and marketing	—			316,228			—		53,029			—			369,257
General and administrative	14,351			303,602			751		52,768			(15,943		)	355,529
Depreciation and amortization	—			494,967			—		53,459			—			548,426
Impairments and other charges	—			1,206			377		25,187			—			26,770
Total operating expenses	14,351			2,827,679			1,128		378,234			(122,287		)	3,099,105
Gain (loss) on sale, exchange or disposal of assets, net	—			(12,947		)	20,538		(4,969		)	—			2,622
Operating income (loss)	(14,351		)	(117,786		)	126,106		(19,321		)	—			(25,352		)
Equity in net income (loss) of consolidated subsidiaries	(311,856		)	106,318			—		—			205,538			—
Equity in net income of investees, net	—			2,984			—		—			—			2,984
Interest income	24,251			254			—		5			(24,265		)	245
Interest expense	(12,671		)	(267,297		)	—		(472		)	24,265			(256,175		)
Other expense	—			(2		)	—		—			—			(2		)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(314,627		)	(275,529		)	126,106		(19,788		)	205,538			(278,300		)
Income tax expense	—			(39,377		)	—		—			—			(39,377		)
Net income (loss)	(314,627		)	(314,906		)	126,106		(19,788		)	205,538			(317,677		)
Accretion of redeemable non-controlling interests and distributions, net of tax	—			3,050			—		—			—			3,050
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	$	(314,627	)	$	(311,856	)	$	126,106	$	(19,788	)	$	205,538		$	(314,627	)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)	$	(314,627	)	$	(314,906	)	$	126,106	$	(19,788	)	$	205,538		$	(317,677	)
Net unrealized holding losses on investments and other	(14		)	(14		)	—		—			14			(14		)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	(314,641	)	$	(314,920	)	$	126,106	$	(19,788	)	$	205,552		$	(317,691	)
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, 2013 (in thousands):
	Guarantor			Issuing			Guarantor		Non-Guarantor			Consolidating			Consolidated
	Parent			Subsidiary			Subsidiary		Subsidiaries			and
	Company											Eliminating
												Adjustments
Operating activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	136		$	25,615		$	—	$	107,972		$	(4,921	)	$	128,802
Investing activities:
Purchases of and change in prepayments for purchases of property and equipment	—			(133,320		)	—		(4,837		)	115			(138,042		)
Purchases of wireless licenses and spectrum clearing costs	—			(3,289		)	—		—			—			(3,289		)
Proceeds from sales of wireless licenses and operating assets	—			9,639			—		141			(115		)	9,665
Purchases of investments	—			(770,803		)	—		—			—			(770,803		)
Sales and maturities of investments	—			543,773			—		—			—			543,773
Payments received from joint venture	—			78,238			—		—			(78,238		)	—
Investments in and advances to affiliates and consolidated subsidiaries	(555		)	—			—		—			555			—
Change in restricted cash	—			(63		)	—		—			—			(63		)
Net cash used in investing activities	(555		)	(275,825		)	—		(4,696		)	(77,683		)	(358,759		)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	—			1,414,313			—		—			—			1,414,313
Repayment of long-term debt	—			(1,112,922		)	—		—			—			(1,112,922		)
Payment of debt issuance costs	—			(15,800		)	—		—			—			(15,800		)
Capital contributions, net	—			555			—		—			(555		)	—
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net	555			—			—		—			—			555
Payments made to joint venture partners	—			—			—		(116,497		)	83,159			(33,338		)
Other	—			(7,156		)	—		—			—			(7,156		)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	555			278,990			—		(116,497		)	82,604			245,652
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	136			28,780			—		(13,221		)	—			15,695
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	69			449,668			—		65,813			—			515,550
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	205		$	478,448		$	—	$	52,592		$	—		$	531,245
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
	Guarantor			Issuing			Guarantor		Non-Guarantor			Consolidating			Consolidated
	Parent			Subsidiary			Subsidiary		Subsidiaries			and
	Company											Eliminating
												Adjustments
Operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$	(22	)	$	164,223		$	—	$	99,550		$	(23,363	)	$	240,388
Investing activities:
Purchases of and change in prepayments for purchases of property and equipment	—			(471,892		)	—		(30,496		)	8,110			(494,278		)
Purchases of wireless licenses and spectrum clearing costs	—			(5,596		)	—		—			—			(5,596		)
Proceeds from sales of wireless licenses and operating assets	—			153,226			—		8,952			(8,110		)	154,068
Purchases of investments	—			(367,487		)	—		—			—			(367,487		)
Sales and maturities of investments	—			613,632			—		—			—			613,632
Payments received from joint venture	—			36,435			—		—			(36,435		)	—
Investments in and advances to affiliates and consolidated subsidiaries	(959		)	—			—		—			959			—
Change in restricted cash	—			239			—		—			—			239
Net cash used in investing activities	(959		)	(41,443		)	—		(21,544		)	(35,476		)	(99,422		)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	—			396,000			—		—			—			396,000
Repayment of long-term debt	—			(321,911		)	—		—			—			(321,911		)
Payment of debt issuance costs	—			(5,645		)	—		—			—			(5,645		)
Capital contributions, net	—			959			—		—			(959		)	—
Purchase of non-controlling interest	—			(5,250		)	—		—			—			(5,250		)
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock, net	959			—			—		—			—			959
Payments made to joint venture partners	—			(1,915		)	—		(87,290		)	59,798			(29,407		)
Other	—			(5,405		)	—		—			—			(5,405		)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	959			56,833			—		(87,290		)	58,839			29,341
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(22		)	179,613			—		(9,284		)	—			170,307
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	91			270,055			—		75,097			—			345,243
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	69		$	449,668		$	—	$	65,813		$	—		$	515,550
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, 2011 (in thousands):
	Guarantor			Issuing			Guarantor		Non-Guarantor			Consolidating			Consolidated
	Parent			Subsidiary			Subsidiary		Subsidiaries			and
	Company											Eliminating
												Adjustments
Operating activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	6		$	309,549		$	—	$	34,256		$	(5,746	)	$	338,065
Investing activities:
Acquisition of a business	—			(850		)	—		—			—			(850		)
Purchases of and change in prepayments for purchases of property and equipment	—			(379,360		)	—		(22,796		)	—			(402,156		)
Purchases of wireless licenses and spectrum clearing costs	—			(4,880		)	—		—			—			(4,880		)
Proceeds from sales of wireless licenses and operating assets	—			4,558			—		512			—			5,070
Purchases of investments	—			(826,233		)	—		—			—			(826,233		)
Sales and maturities of investments	—			487,860			—		—			—			487,860
Investments in and advances to affiliates and consolidated subsidiaries	(1,346		)	—			—		—			1,346			—
Dividend received from equity investee	—			11,606			—		—			—			11,606
Change in restricted cash	—			(248		)	—		(700		)	—			(948		)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,346		)	(707,547		)	—		(22,984		)	1,346			(730,531		)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	—			396,772			—		—			—			396,772
Repayment of long-term debt	—			(18,589		)	—		(5,000		)	—			(23,589		)
Payment of debt issuance costs	—			(7,269		)	—		—			—			(7,269		)
Capital contributions, net	—			1,346			—		—			(1,346		)	—
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock, net	1,346			—			—		—			—			1,346
Proceeds from sale lease-back financing	—			25,815			—		—			—			25,815
Payments made to joint venture partners	—			(1,364		)	—		(7,490		)	5,746			(3,108		)
Other	—			(3,048		)	—		—			—			(3,048		)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,346			393,663			—		(12,490		)	4,400			386,919
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	6			(4,335		)	—		(1,218		)	—			(5,547		)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	85			274,390			—		76,315			—			350,790
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	91		$	270,055		$	—	$	75,097		$	—		$	345,243

The_Company_Details

The Company (Details) (STX Wireless [Member])	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
STX Wireless [Member]	'
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]	'
Controlling membership percentage	75.75%

Proposed_Merger_Details

Proposed Merger (Details) (AT&T Inc. [Member], USD $)	0 Months Ended
	Jul. 12, 2013
	right
AT&T Inc. [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Cash received per share	$15
Contingent value right received per share	1
Period to enter into roaming agreement upon termination of merger	'30 days
Roaming agreement, period	'3 years
Option to purchase Leap assets, period	'30 days
Period to require AT&T purchase assets	'60 days

Basis_of_Presentation_and_Sign3

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies - (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 04, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
					Subsequent Event [Member]	High [Member]	Low [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Regulatory fees and telecommunications taxes separately billed and collected from customers	'	$2,600,000	$9,400,000	$32,600,000	'	'	'
Restricted Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, included in other current assets	'	900,000	700,000	'	'	'	'
Restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, included in other assets	'	11,300,000	11,400,000	'	'	'	'
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	'	'	'	'	'	50.00%	20.00%
Equity method investment, ownership percentage, outstanding membership units, minimum	'	4.00%	'	'	'	'	'
Equity method investment, ownership percentage, outstanding membership units, maximum	'	20.70%	'	'	'	'	'
Equity method investments	'	0	10,600,000	'	'	'	'
Equity in net income (loss) of investees, net	'	-1,400,000	'	'	'	'	'
Equity in net income (loss) of investees, net	'	-10,558,000	-464,000	2,984,000	'	'	'
Dividends received from equity investee	18,200,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Equity method investment, dividends or distributions, operating activities	'	'	'	6,600,000	'	'	'
Dividends received from equity investee	'	'	'	11,606,000	'	'	'
Equity method investment, impairment	'	9,200,000	'	'	'	'	'
Contingent asset received from sale of equity method investment	'	'	'	'	5,000,000	'	'
Operating leases, rent expense	'	252,600,000	256,300,000	260,600,000	'	'	'
Advertising expense	'	$85,500,000	$131,200,000	$115,800,000	'	'	'
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share, amount	'	8.7	8.4	7.8	'	'	'

Basis_of_Presentation_and_Sign4

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies - Long-lived Assets (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'
Depreciable life	'10 years	'	'
Capitalized internal use software costs	$41,500,000	$74,400,000	'
Capitalized internal use software costs, amortization	84,600,000	76,700,000	'
Property and equipment, impairment loss	$19,847,000	$13,640,000	$0
Switch Power Equipment [Member]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'
Depreciable life	'15 years	'	'
Towers [Member]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'
Depreciable life	'15 years	'	'
Antenne [Member]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'
Depreciable life	'5 years	'	'
Minimum [Member] | Switches [Member]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'
Depreciable life	'5 years	'	'
Minimum [Member] | Cell Site Equipment and Site Improvements [Member]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'
Depreciable life	'5 years	'	'
Minimum [Member] | Computer Hardware and Software [Member]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'
Depreciable life	'3 years	'	'
Minimum [Member] | Furniture, Fixtures Retail and Office Equipment [Member]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'
Depreciable life	'3 years	'	'
Maximum [Member] | Switches [Member]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'
Depreciable life	'10 years	'	'
Maximum [Member] | Cell Site Equipment and Site Improvements [Member]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'
Depreciable life	'7 years	'	'
Maximum [Member] | Computer Hardware and Software [Member]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'
Depreciable life	'5 years	'	'
Maximum [Member] | Furniture, Fixtures Retail and Office Equipment [Member]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'
Depreciable life	'7 years	'	'

Basis_of_Presentation_and_Sign5

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies - Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Amortization of intangible assets	$10,600,000	$16,800,000	$23,400,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, amortization expense, 2013	4,600,000	'	'
Finite-lived intangible assets, amortization expense, 2014	2,600,000	'	'
Finite-lived intangible assets, amortization expense, 2015	2,600,000	'	'
Finite-lived intangible assets, amortization expense, 2016	2,600,000	'	'
Finite-lived intangible assets, amortization expense, 2017	1,500,000	'	'
Finite-lived intangible assets, amortization expense, thereafter	0	'	'
Impairments and other charges, net	19,847,000	13,640,000	0
Certain capitalized construction in progress, carrying value	0	'	'
Goodwill	$31,886,000	$31,886,000	'
Trademarks [Member]	'	'	'
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Finite-lived intangible asset, average useful life	'14 years	'	'
Customer Relationships [Member]	'	'	'
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Finite-lived intangible asset, average useful life	'4 years	'	'

Basis_of_Presentation_and_Sign6

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies - Asset Retirement Obligations (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Asset retirement obligations, beginning of year	$36,230	$32,919	'
Liabilities incurred	118	815	'
Acrretion expense	3,356	3,208	3,061
Decommissioned sites	320	712	'
Other	3,155	0	'
Asset retirement obligations, end of year	$36,229	$36,230	$32,919

Basis_of_Presentation_and_Sign7

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies - Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Other Tax Carryforward [Line Items]	'	'
Deferred tax assets, operating loss carryforwards	$1,197,188,000	$1,008,492,000
Operating loss carryforward limitations on use ownership change amount	50.00%	'
Operating loss carryforward limitations on use ownership change significant stockholder ownership percentage	5.00%	'
Net operating loss carryforward limitation on use, period for change in control	'3 years	'
Operating loss carryforward limitations on use ownership change ownership threshold for change in control	4.99%	'
Texas Margins Tax [Member]	'	'
Other Tax Carryforward [Line Items]	'	'
Deferred tax assets, operating loss carryforwards, tax effect	1,800,000	1,900,000
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]	'	'
Other Tax Carryforward [Line Items]	'	'
Operating loss carry forward periods	'20 years	'
Operating loss carryforwards	3,100,000,000	'
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]	'	'
Other Tax Carryforward [Line Items]	'	'
Operating loss carry forward periods	'five to 20 years	'
Operating loss carryforwards	2,300,000,000	'
Net operating loss carryforwards, amount expiring in current year	$92,800,000	'

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru2

Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Non-Financial Assets - Measured on a Nonrecurring Basis (Details) (Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member], USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Total Available-for-sale Debt Securities - Fair Value	$0	$0
Level 1 [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Money market funds	0	0
Level 1 [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Available-for-sale Securities	0	0
Level 1 [Member] | U.S. Government or Government Agency Securities [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Available-for-sale Securities	0	0
Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Total Available-for-sale Debt Securities - Fair Value	510,941	344,824
Level 2 [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Money market funds	12,144	126,617
Level 2 [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Available-for-sale Securities	191,989	82,346
Level 2 [Member] | U.S. Government or Government Agency Securities [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Available-for-sale Securities	306,808	135,861
Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Total Available-for-sale Debt Securities - Fair Value	0	0
Level 3 [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Money market funds	0	0
Level 3 [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Available-for-sale Securities	0	0
Level 3 [Member] | U.S. Government or Government Agency Securities [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Available-for-sale Securities	0	0
Fair Value [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Total Available-for-sale Debt Securities - Fair Value	510,941	344,824
Fair Value [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Money market funds	12,144	126,617
Fair Value [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Available-for-sale Securities	191,989	82,346
Fair Value [Member] | U.S. Government or Government Agency Securities [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Available-for-sale Securities	$306,808	$135,861

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru3

Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Non-Financial Assets - Available-for-sale Securities (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Money market funds - Cost	$531,245	$515,550	$345,243	$350,790
Available-for-sale securities - Cost	510,946	344,810	'	'
Money Market Funds [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Money market funds - Cost	12,144	126,617	'	'
Commercial Paper [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Available-for-sale securities - Cost	191,989	82,345	'	'
U.S. Government or Government Agency Securities [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Available-for-sale securities - Cost	306,813	135,848	'	'
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total Available-for-sale Debt Securities - Fair Value	510,941	344,824	'	'
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Money market funds - Fair Value	12,144	126,617	'	'
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Available-for-sale securities - Fair Value	191,989	82,346	'	'
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | U.S. Government or Government Agency Securities [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Available-for-sale securities - Fair Value	$306,808	$135,861	'	'

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru4

Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Non-Financial Assets - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 04, 2014
				Subsequent Event [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	$3,906,000,000	$3,421,500,000	'	'
Wireless licenses, fair value	19,800,000	13,600,000	'	'
Property and equipment, impairment loss	19,847,000	13,640,000	0	'
Certain capitalized construction in progress, carrying value	0	'	'	'
Impairments and other charges, net	15,447,000	13,640,000	377,000	'
Equity method investment, impairment	9,200,000	'	'	'
Equity method investments	0	10,600,000	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Contingent asset received from sale of equity method investment	'	'	'	$5,000,000

Supplementary_Financial_Inform2

Supplementary Financial Information (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Other current assets:	'		'
Accounts receivable, net of allowances for bad debt of $1.3 million and $1.3 million, respectively	$102,702	[1]	$86,467	[1]
Prepaid expenses	32,762		40,237
Other	24,117		12,538
Other current assets	159,581		139,242
Property and equipment, net:	'		'
Network equipment	3,333,173	[2]	3,348,122	[2]
Computer hardware and software	571,646	[2]	526,348	[2]
Construction-in-progress	14,339	[2],[3]	54,945	[2],[3]
Other	97,054	[2]	109,400	[2]
Property and equipment, gross	4,016,212	[2]	4,038,815	[2]
Accumulated depreciation	-2,749,839	[2]	-2,276,725	[2]
Property and equipment, net	1,266,373	[2]	1,762,090	[2]
Intangible assets, net:	'		'
Customer relationships	50,435		50,435
Trademarks	37,000		37,000
Intangible assets, gross	87,435		87,435
Intangible assets, net	14,043		24,663
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:	'		'
Trade accounts payable	192,947		143,931
Accrued payroll and related benefits	59,762		67,539
Other accrued liabilities	112,770		184,640
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	365,479		396,110
Other current liabilities:	'		'
Accrued sales, telecommunications, property and other taxes payable	15,889		4,267
Accrued interest	31,567		44,653
Other	44,389		31,213
Other current liabilities	209,068		216,880
Assets Held under Capital Leases [Member]	'		'
Property and equipment, net:	'		'
Property and equipment, gross	48,700		45,800
Accumulated depreciation	-28,100		-22,900
Nonsoftware Service, Support and Maintenance Arrangement [Member]	'		'
Other current liabilities:	'		'
Deferred revenue	93,347	[4]	100,276	[4]
Distributor Arrangement [Member]	'		'
Other current liabilities:	'		'
Deferred revenue	23,876	[5]	36,471	[5]
Customer Relationships [Member]	'		'
Intangible assets, net:	'		'
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets	-48,505		-40,528
Trademarks [Member]	'		'
Intangible assets, net:	'		'
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets	($24,887)		($22,244)
[1]	Accounts receivable, net, consists primarily of (i) amounts billed to third-party dealers for devices and accessories, (ii) amounts due from the federal government in connection with the Lifeline program and other regulatory programs, and (iii) amounts due from service providers related to interconnect and roaming agreements.
[2]	As of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, approximately $48.7 million and $45.8 million of assets were held by the Company under capital lease arrangements, respectively. Accumulated amortization relating to these assets totaled $28.1 million and $22.9 million as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.
[3]	See "Note 11. Impairments and Other Charges" for information regarding the impairment of certain amounts accumulated in construction-in-progress.
[4]	Deferred service revenue consists primarily of cash received from customers in advance of their service period.
[5]	Deferred equipment revenue relates to devices sold to third-party dealers and nationwide retailers, which have not yet been purchased and activated by customers.

Supplementary_Financial_Inform3

Supplementary Financial Information (Parenthetical) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Supplementary Balance Sheet Information [Abstract]	'	'
Allowances for bad debt	$1.30	$1.30

Supplementary_Financial_Inform4

Supplementary Financial Information - Cash Flow Disclosure (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Supplementary Balance Sheet Information [Abstract]	'	'	'
Cash paid for interest	($251,883)	($268,186)	($229,034)
Cash paid for income taxes	-4,276	-4,043	-3,079
Supplementary disclosure of non-cash investing activities:	'	'	'
Net wireless licenses received in exchange transaction	6,809	106,877	20,649
Assets acquired through capital leases	807	13,829	1,749
Acquisition of property and equipment	$27,548	$43,220	$117,042

Wireless_Licenses_and_Goodwill1

Wireless Licenses and Goodwill - (Details) (USD $)

1 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Aug. 31, 2013

Mar. 25, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Operating Wireless Licenses [Member]

Operating Wireless Licenses [Member]

Non-Operating Wireless Licenses [Member]

Non-Operating Wireless Licenses [Member]

Non-Operating Wireless Licenses [Member]

Non-Operating Wireless Licenses [Member]

Operating Wireless Licenses [Member]

Goodwill [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Indefinite-Lived License Agreements

'

$2,091,261,000

$1,947,333,000

'

'

$136,200,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Wireless licenses carrying value

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,047,400,000

1,745,700,000

43,900,000

42,600,000

'

'

'

Assets held for sale

'

0

136,222,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Assets held for sale, fair value

'

'

143,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Wireless licenses, fair value

'

19,800,000

13,600,000

'

'

'

'

2,415,000,000

'

77,900,000

'

'

'

Intangible assets, decline rate used for impairment testing (as a percent)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

10.00%

'

10.00%

Potential impairment loss

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

100,000

'

'

Impairments and other charges, net

'

15,447,000

13,640,000

377,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

400,000

'

Fair value of company, based on average market capitalization

30.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net assets

527,500,000

'

'

'

58,400,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Control premium

573,500,000

'

'

'

1,267,100,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Goodwill [Roll Forward]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Beginning balance

'

31,886,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Ending balance

'

$31,886,000

$31,886,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Share price (usd per share)

'

$17.34

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Significant_Acquisitions_and_O1

Significant Acquisitions and Other Transactions (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
	Sep. 24, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 25, 2013	Mar. 25, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 10, 2012	Aug. 28, 2012
						Guarantor Subsidiary [Member]	Guarantor Subsidiary [Member]	Guarantor Subsidiary [Member]	Guarantor Subsidiary [Member]	T-Mobile and Affiliates [Member]	Verizon Wireless [Member]
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Sales price of property held-for-sale	$6,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Wireless license held for sale	1,800,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Wireless licenses	'	2,091,261,000	1,947,333,000	'	136,200,000	'	2,026,349,000	1,882,421,000	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net wireless licenses received in exchange transaction	-4,200,000	-5,427,000	-229,714,000	-2,622,000	'	-6,800,000	-10,929,000	-143,904,000	-20,538,000	'	-130,400,000
License agreement, non-monetary net gain	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	106,400,000	'
Purchase agreement, value	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	204,000,000
Sales of excess capacity	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$360,000,000

Arrangements_with_Joint_Ventur2

Arrangements with Joint Venture - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]	'	'	'
Share price (usd per share)	$17.34	'	'
Cricket Communications [Member]	'	'	'
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]	'	'	'
Noncontrolling interest, pro rata distributions received	$25,900,000	$9,100,000	'
Noncontrolling Interest, Optional Pro Rata Distributions Received	57,300,000	50,700,000	'
Pocket Wireless [Member]	'	'	'
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]	'	'	'
Noncontrolling interest, pro rata distributions received	8,300,000	3,000,000	'
Noncontrolling Interest, Optional Pro Rata Distributions Received	18,300,000	16,200,000	'
STX Wireless Acquisition [Member]	'	'	'
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]	'	'	'
Redeemable noncontrolling interest redemption price minimum cash payment	25,000,000	'	'
Threshold of shares issuable in a redemption as a percentage of entity's common stock issued and outstanding over which multiple closing is permitted	9.90%	'	'
Noncontrolling interest, change in redemption value	-31,970,000	-28,000	'
Due to related parties	6,716,000	8,255,000	'
Redeemable noncontrolling interest, equity, carrying amount	68,535,000	64,517,000	95,910,000
STX Wireless Acquisition [Member] | Pocket Wireless [Member]	'	'	'
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]	'	'	'
Ownership percentage acquired	40,700,000	'	'
Noncontrolling interest, change in redemption value	-32,000,000	-700,000	'
STX Wireless Acquisition [Member] | Pocket Wireless [Member] | Loan and Security Agreement With Pocket [Member]	'	'	'
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]	'	'	'
Debt instrument, stated interest rate	8.00%	'	'
Maximum loan committed to joint venture partner	30,000,000	'	'
Due to related parties	$15,500,000	$8,300,000	'
STX Wireless [Member]	'	'	'
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]	'	'	'
Controlling membership percentage	75.75%	'	'
STX Wireless [Member] | Pocket Wireless [Member]	'	'	'
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]	'	'	'
Ownership percentage by non controlling interest	24.25%	'	'

Arrangements_with_Joint_Ventur3

Arrangements with Joint Venture - Noncontrolling Interest (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Change in Value of Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]	'	'
Purchases of membership units of non-controlling interests	$0	($5,250)
STX Wireless Acquisition [Member]	'	'
Change in Value of Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]	'	'
Beginning balance	64,517	95,910
Accretion of redeemable non-controlling interests, before tax	-31,970	-28
Loans made to joint venture partner	-6,716	-8,255
Optional distributions made to joint venture partner	-18,338	-16,243
Other	2,898	1,673
Ending balance	$68,535	$64,517

Unrestricted_Subsidiaries_Deta

Unrestricted Subsidiaries (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]	'		'		'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$531,245		$515,550		$345,243	$350,790
Other current assets	24,117		12,538		'	'
Property and equipment, net	1,266,373	[1]	1,762,090	[1]	'	'
Total assets	4,662,888		4,967,260		'	'
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	365,479		396,110		'	'
Other current liabilities	209,068		216,880		'	'
Other long-term liabilities	158,010		169,047		'	'
Stockholders' equity	-193,671		433,132		613,315	911,282
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	4,662,888		4,967,260		'	'
Income Statement [Abstract]	'		'		'	'
Revenues	2,898,072		3,142,341		3,071,131	'
Depreciation and amortization	594,341		625,596		548,426	'
Total operating expenses	3,128,415		3,214,292		3,099,105	'
Operating income (loss)	-224,916		157,763		-25,352	'
Income tax benefit (expense)	-45,569		-57,904		-39,377	'
Net income (loss)	-603,453		-187,277		-317,677	'
Cricket Music and Cricket Music Operations [Member]	'		'		'	'
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]	'		'		'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	902		1		'	'
Other current assets	12		0		'	'
Property and equipment, net	440		4,937		'	'
Total assets	1,354		4,938		'	'
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	31		0		'	'
Other current liabilities	502		5		'	'
Other long-term liabilities	84		0		'	'
Stockholders' equity	737		4,933		'	'
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	1,354		4,938		'	'
Income Statement [Abstract]	'		'		'	'
Revenues	410		0		0	'
Depreciation and amortization	4,497		4,497		2,225	'
Other	16		14		1	'
Total operating expenses	4,513		4,511		2,226	'
Operating income (loss)	-4,103		-4,511		-2,226	'
Income tax benefit (expense)	-82		0		0	'
Net income (loss)	($4,185)		($4,511)		($2,226)	'
[1]	As of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, approximately $48.7 million and $45.8 million of assets were held by the Company under capital lease arrangements, respectively. Accumulated amortization relating to these assets totaled $28.1 million and $22.9 million as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

Impairment_and_Other_Charges_D

Impairment and Other Charges (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Wireless license impairment	$0	$0	$377,000
Property and equipment, impairment loss	19,847,000	13,640,000	0
Post-acquisition charges	0	0	26,393,000
Impairments and other charges	28,783,000	39,399,000	26,770,000
Certain capitalized construction in progress, carrying value	0	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Accruals	-9,099,000	12,950,000	22,046,000
Post-acquisition charges [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Ending balance	'	14,800,000	'
Severance [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Accruals	-1,501,000	14,753,000	0
Restructuring activities [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restructuring activities	10,437,000	11,006,000	0
Accounts Payable And Accured Liabilities [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning balance	34,996,000	'	'
Accruals	13,335,000	'	'
Payments	-22,434,000	'	'
Ending balance	25,897,000	'	'
Accounts Payable And Accured Liabilities [Member] | Post-acquisition charges [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning balance	14,726,000	'	'
Accruals	0	'	'
Payments	-3,418,000	'	'
Ending balance	11,308,000	'	'
Accounts Payable And Accured Liabilities [Member] | Severance [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning balance	9,877,000	'	'
Accruals	-1,501,000	'	'
Payments	-8,371,000	'	'
Ending balance	5,000	'	'
Accounts Payable And Accured Liabilities [Member] | Restructuring activities [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning balance	10,393,000	'	'
Accruals	14,836,000	'	'
Payments	-10,645,000	'	'
Ending balance	$14,584,000	'	'

LongTerm_Debt_Net_Details

Long-Term Debt, Net (Details) (USD $)

0 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

Mar. 08, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Oct. 10, 2012

Oct. 10, 2012

Oct. 10, 2012

Oct. 10, 2012

Oct. 10, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Apr. 23, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Apr. 15, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Apr. 15, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Apr. 15, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Nov. 30, 2010

Dec. 31, 2013

31-May-11

Dec. 31, 2013

installment

Issuing Subsidiary [Member]

Issuing Subsidiary [Member]

Credit Agreement [Member]

Credit Agreement [Member]

Credit Agreement [Member]

Credit Agreement [Member]

Credit Agreement [Member]

Senior Notes [Member]

Senior Notes Due in 2014 [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Secured Debt [Member]

Secured Debt [Member]

Secured Debt [Member]

Secured Debt [Member]

Secured Debt [Member]

Term loans under Credit Agreement (2) [Member]

Term loans under Credit Agreement (2) [Member]

Term loans under Credit Agreement (2) [Member]

Unsecured Debt [Member]

Unsecured Debt [Member]

Unsecured Debt [Member]

Unsecured Debt [Member]

Unsecured Debt [Member]

Unsecured Debt [Member]

Unsecured Debt [Member]

Unsecured Debt [Member]

Unsecured Debt [Member]

Unsecured Debt [Member]

Unsecured Debt [Member]

Unsecured Debt [Member]

installment

LIBOR [Member]

LIBOR [Member]

Bank Base Rate [Member]

Bank Base Rate [Member]

Issuing Subsidiary [Member]

Senior Notes Due in 2014 [Member]

Senior Notes Due in 2014 [Member]

Senior Notes Due In 2016 [Member]

Senior Notes Due In 2016 [Member]

Senior Notes Due In 2016 [Member]

Senior Notes Due In 2016 [Member]

Senior Notes Due In 2016 [Member]

Senior Notes [Member]

Senior Notes Due in 2014 [Member]

Senior Notes Due In 2020 [Member]

Senior Notes Due In 2020 [Member]

Senior Notes Due In 2020 [Member]

Senior Notes Due In 2020 [Member]

Senior Notes Due In 2020 [Member]

Senior Notes Due In 2020 [Member]

Senior Notes Due in 2020 First Tranche [Member]

Senior Notes Due in 2020 First Tranche [Member]

Senior Notes Due in 2020 Second Tranche [Member]

Senior Notes Due in 2020 Second Tranche [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Redemption Period Two [Member]

Credit Agreement [Member]

Cricket Communications [Member]

Redemption Period One [Member]

Redemption Period Two [Member]

Redemption Period Three [Member]

Redemption Period Thereafter [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Gross long-term debt

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$1,600,000,000

'

$248,204,000

$250,000,000

'

$0

$1,100,000,000

'

'

'

$1,813,875,000

$400,000,000

$1,600,000,000

$250,000,000

'

$1,600,000,000

'

'

'

'

$1,200,000,000

'

$400,000,000

'

Unamortized discount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

-23,767,000

'

'

'

-13,096,000

-3,892,000

'

'

-17,962,000

-19,878,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Long-term debt

'

3,631,021,000

3,302,463,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Current maturities of long-term debt

'

-266,454,000

-4,000,000

'

-18,250,000

-4,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Long-term debt, excluding current maturities

'

3,364,567,000

3,298,463,000

'

3,364,567,000

3,048,463,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Senior secured term loan facility

'

'

'

'

'

'

400,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of quarterly installment payments

26

'

'

'

'

'

27

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Quarterly installment payment amount

3,600,000

'

'

'

'

'

1,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Final installment payment

1,332,400,000

'

'

'

'

'

373,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Increase, Additional Borrowings

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,425,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Payments for Deposits Applied to Debt Retirements

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,185,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Extinguishment of Debt, Amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,100,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument, stated interest rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

7.75%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4.50%

7.75%

'

'

'

'

'

'

7.75%

'

7.75%

Description of variable rate basis

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'LIBOR

'bank base rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Basis spread on variable rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3.50%

1.25%

2.50%

2.25%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Weighted average effective interest rate

'

4.80%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Aggregate principal amount of debt allowed under guarantee

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,750,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Cash flow multiple, allowed for calculation of total debt borrowings allowed under guarantee

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3.5

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Cash flow multiple for priority debt borrowings allowed under guarantees

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.3

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Aggregate principal amount for calculation of priority debt borrowings allowed under guarantees

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

300,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Prepayment premium fee (as a percentage)

'

1.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Prohibited change of control (as a percent)

'

'

'

'

'

'

35.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Redemption price percentage of principal

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

103.88%

'

'

'

'

'

'

101.00%

'

100.00%

103.88%

102.58%

101.29%

'

'

'

'

Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt

'

72,988,000

18,634,000

0

72,979,000

18,634,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

-200,000

'

'

'

-72,800,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt redemption premium

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

42,600,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Unamortized debt discount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

22,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Unamortized debt issuance cost

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

8,200,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Convertible debt instrument, stock price (in dollars per share)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$93.21

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Convertible debt instrument, incremental share factor

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

8.315

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Convertible debt instrument, shares convertible

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

10.729

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Convertible debt instrument, base conversion rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Convertible debt instrument, repurchase percent of principal

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

100.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Convertible debt instrument, voting power percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

50.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Convertible debt instrument, merger consideration of shares

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

90.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Redemption Price

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,005

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Repayments of convertible debt

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,800,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt issuance price (as a percentage)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

98.32%

'

99.19%

'

Debt discount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$20,100,000

'

$3,200,000

'

Effective interest rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

7.85%

'

7.80%

Applicable premium, as a percentage of principal amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Applicable premium, basis spread (in basis points)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5000.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Change of control threshold (as a percentage)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

35.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

LongTerm_Debt_Net_Summary_of_L

Long-Term Debt, Net - Summary of Long-Term Debt Obligations (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
2014	$266,454
2015	18,250
2016	18,250
2017	18,250
2018	18,250
Thereafter	3,322,625
Long-term debt	$3,662,079

Income_Taxes_Details

Income Taxes - (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current provision:	'	'	'
State	$3,772	$4,059	$3,595
Foreign	81	0	466
Current Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	3,853	4,059	4,061
Deferred provision:	'	'	'
Federal	39,537	50,544	32,229
State	2,179	3,301	3,087
Deferred income tax expense	41,716	53,845	35,316
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations	45,569	57,904	39,377
Reconciliation of statutory federal income tax rate to income before income taxes	'	'	'
Amounts computed at statutory federal rate	-195,259	-45,280	-97,405
Non-deductible expenses	282	477	376
State income tax expense, net of federal income tax impact	4,684	5,944	5,708
Net tax benefit related to joint ventures	-1,496	-6,737	-2,856
Non-deductible share-based compensation	3,637	5,776	6,623
Other	0	0	-2,936
Change in valuation allowance	233,721	97,724	129,867
Deferred tax assets:	'	'	'
Net operating loss carryforwards	1,197,188	1,008,492	'
Wireless licenses	8,492	13,291	'
Capital loss carryforwards	14	0	'
Reserves and allowances	8,563	13,990	'
Share-based compensation	27,423	29,698	'
Deferred charges	54,026	49,898	'
Investments and deferred tax on unrealized losses	19,147	395	'
Intangible assets	12,473	15,502	'
Goodwill	26,245	28,546	'
Other	2,083	2,156	'
Gross deferred tax assets	1,355,654	1,161,968	'
Deferred tax liabilities:	'	'	'
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Property, Plant and Equipment	-148,214	-222,260	'
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Other	-5,067	-242	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance	1,202,373	939,466	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	-1,200,585	-937,568	'
Other deferred tax liabilities:	'	'	'
Wireless licenses	-422,202	-378,876	'
Investment in joint ventures	0	-1,653	'
Net deferred tax liabilities	-420,414	-378,631	'
Current deferred tax assets (included in other current assets)	4,032	6,480	'
Long-term deferred tax liabilities	($424,446)	($385,111)	'

Income_Taxes_Operating_Loss_Ca

Income Taxes - Operating Loss Carryforwards (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'
Change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance	($263,000,000)	($90,200,000)
Operating loss carryforward, losses When utilized impact additional paid in capital	32,000,000	'
Adjustments to additional paid-in-capital from net operating losses	12,100,000	'
Operating loss carryforward limitations on use ownership change amount	50.00%	'
Operating loss carryforward limitations on use ownership change significant stockholder ownership percentage	5.00%	'
Net operating loss carryforward limitation on use, period for change in control	'3 years	'
Operating loss carryforward limitations on use ownership change ownership threshold for change in control	4.99%	'
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'
Change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance	232,000,000	-84,300,000
Operating loss carryforwards	3,100,000,000	'
Operating loss carryforwards, expiration date	'2022	'
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'
Change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance	19,900,000	-5,900,000
Operating loss carryforwards	2,300,000,000	'
Operating loss carryforwards, expiration date	'2014	'
Net operating loss carryforwards, amount expiring in current year	92,800,000	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Amount Expired	69,800,000	'
Texas Margins Tax [Member]	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'
Deferred tax assets, operating loss carryforwards, tax effect	$1,800,000	$1,900,000

Sharebased_Compensation_Stock_

Share-based Compensation - Stock Options (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended							3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Oct. 11, 2012
				Stock Options [Member]	Share-based Compensation, Past Plans [Member]	Share-based Compensation, Past Plans [Member]	Share-based Compensation, Past Plans [Member]	Surrender Agreements [Member]	Surrender Agreements [Member]
						Minimum [Member]	Maximum [Member]	Executive Officer [Member]	Executive Officer [Member]
									Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Shares of common stock reserved for future issuance	'	'	'	'	11,375,000	'	'	'	'
Shares of common stock available for issuance	'	'	'	'	1,431,172	'	'	'	'
Vesting period	'	'	'	'	'	'3 years	'4 years	'	'
Options exercisable term	'	'	'	'	'10 years	'	'	'	'
Options weighted average grant date fair value (in usd per share)	$5.05	$4.95	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Expected volatility	74.00%	71.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Expected term (in years)	'5 years 9 months	'5 years 9 months	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Risk-free interest rate	1.20%	0.90%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Expected dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Options outstanding, number of shares - beginning balance	3,365,000	3,146,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Options exercisable, number of shares - beginning balance	1,222,000	1,466,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Options granted, number of shares	226,000	1,453,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Options forfeited, number of shares	-677,000	-1,234,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Options exercised, number of shares	-828,000	0	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Options outstanding, number of shares - ending balance	2,086,000	3,365,000	3,146,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Options exercisable, number of shares - ending balance	852,000	1,222,000	1,466,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Options outstanding, weighted average exercise price per share - beginning balance (in usd per share)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$50
Options exercisable, weighted average exercise price per share - beginning balance (in usd per share)	$23.30	$34.71	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Options granted, weighted average exercise price per share (in usd per share)	$8.06	$8.22	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Options forfeited, weighted average exercise price per share (in usd per share)	$15.49	$36.59	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Options exercised, weighted average exercise price per share (in usd per share)	$8.99	$0	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Options outstanding, weighted average exercise price per share - ending balance (in usd per share)	$15.47	$14.38	$25.93	'	'	'	'	'	'
Options exercisable, weighted average exercise price per share - ending balance (in usd per share)	$25.31	$23.30	$34.71	'	'	'	'	'	'
Options outstanding, weighted average remaining term	'5 years 11 months 5 days	'6 years 9 months 26 days	'6 years 10 months 21 days	'	'	'	'	'	'
Options outstanding, aggregate intrinsic value	$11,786,000	$433,000	$1,012,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Options exercisable, weighted average remaining contractual term	'3 years 1 month 6 days	'4 years 2 months 23 days	'4 years 9 months 15 days	'	'	'	'	'	'
Options exercisable, aggregate intrinsic value	0	0	0	'	'	'	'	'	'
Unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested awards	'	'	'	6,200,000	'	'	'	'	'
Unrecognized compensation costs weighted average period for recognition	'	'	'	'2 years 3 months 11 days	'	'	'	'	'
Proceeds from stock options exercised	$4,600,000	$0	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Shares surrendered	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	415,000	'
Exercise price of shares surrendered, lower range	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$51.50	'
Exercise price of shares surrendered, upper range	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$79	'

Sharebased_Compensation_Restri

Share-based Compensation - Restricted Stock, Deferred Stock Units and Deferred Cash Units (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Share-based compensation expense	$15,438,000	$8,122,000	$15,328,000
Restricted Stock [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Restricted stock awards outstanding - beginning balance	1,813,000	1,965,000	'
Shares issued, number of shares	1,142,000	955,000	'
Shares forfeited, number of shares	-212,000	-608,000	'
Shares vested, number of shares	-731,000	-499,000	'
Restricted stock awards outstanding - ending balance	2,012,000	1,813,000	1,965,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Restricted stock awards outstanding, weighted average grant date fair value - beginning balance (in usd per share)	$12.68	$20.68	'
Restricted stock awards issued, weighted average grant date fair value (in usd per share)	$6.24	$7.48	'
Restricted stock awards forfeited, weighted average grant date fair value (in usd per share)	$10.35	$17.13	'
Restricted stock awards vested, weighted average grant date fair value (in usd per share)	$17.16	$29.44	'
Restricted stock awards outstanding, weighted average grant date fair value - ending balance (in usd per share)	$7.52	$12.68	$20.68
Fair value on vesting date of vested restricted stock awards	10,381,000	3,888,000	5,864,000
Unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested awards	9,500,000	'	'
Unrecognized compensation costs weighted average period for recognition	'2 years 6 months 22 days	'	'
Deferred Compensation, Share-based Payments [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Shares issued, number of shares	635,000	404,250	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Restricted stock awards issued, weighted average grant date fair value (in usd per share)	$6.18	$9.24	'
Unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested awards	8,200,000	'	'
Unrecognized compensation costs weighted average period for recognition	'1 year 9 months 18 days	'	'
Deferred Cash Units [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Shares issued, number of shares	755,636	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Restricted stock awards issued, weighted average grant date fair value (in usd per share)	$6.10	'	'
Unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested awards	10,600,000	'	'
Unrecognized compensation costs weighted average period for recognition	'3 years 4 months 13 days	'	'
Share-based compensation expense	$2,000,000	'	'

Sharebased_Compensation_Employ

Share-based Compensation - Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Details) (Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member])	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]	'
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures [Line Items]	'
Percent of market value purchase price	85.00%
Employee maximum witholding percentage	15.00%
Shares of common stock reserved for future issuance	1,200,000
Shares of common stock available for issuance	219,664

Sharebased_Compensation_Alloca

Share-based Compensation - Allocation of Share-based Compensation Expense and Additional Disclosures (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'
Allocated share-based compensation expense	$15,438	$8,122	$15,328
Share based compensation expense per share, basic (in usd per share)	$0.20	$0.11	$0.20
Share based compensation expense per share, diluted (in usd per share)	$0.20	$0.11	$0.20
Cost of Service [Member]	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'
Allocated share-based compensation expense	724	254	1,734
Selling and Marketing Expense [Member]	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'
Allocated share-based compensation expense	830	22	1,985
General and Administrative Expense [Member]	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'
Allocated share-based compensation expense	$13,884	$7,846	$11,609

Employee_Savings_and_Retiremen1

Employee Savings and Retirement Plan - (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'
Maximum percent of annual contribution per employee	30.00%	'	'
Employer contribution	$4.30	$5.30	$5.60

Commitments_and_Contingencies_1

Commitments and Contingencies - (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Oct. 17, 2013	31-May-12	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	31-May-12	Dec. 31, 2013	31-May-12	Dec. 31, 2013
			Apple Inc. [Member]	Apple Inc. [Member]	Wholesale Agreement With Sprint [Member]	Site Leases [Member]	Minimum [Member]	Minimum [Member]	Maximum [Member]	Maximum [Member]
						lease_renewal	Apple Inc. [Member]	Site Leases [Member]	Apple Inc. [Member]	Site Leases [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Possible attorney fees and expenses	'	$990,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Equity method investment, ownership percentage, outstanding membership units, minimum	4.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Wholesale agreement, renewal term	'	'	'	'	'1 year	'	'	'	'	'
Wholesale agreement, advance notice to terminate agreement	'	'	'	'	'180 days	'	'	'	'	'
Total minimum revenue under agreement	'	'	'	'	300,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Wholesale agreement, term	'	'	'	'	'5 years	'	'	'	'	'
Total minimum revenue under agreement in 2012	'	'	'	'	20,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Total minimum revenue under agreement in 2013	'	'	'	'	75,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Total minimum revenue under agreement in 2014	'	'	'	'	80,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Total minimum revenue under agreement in 2015	'	'	'	'	75,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Total minimum revenue under agreement in 2016	'	'	'	'	50,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Amount of service revenue which can be credited against minimum revenue requirement	'	'	'	'	162,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Minimum revenues of service provided in change of control transaction	'	'	'	'	500,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Termination period with Metro PCS	'	'	'	'	'60 days	'	'	'	'	'
Percentage of minimum revenue requirements to be paid after change of control in 2013	'	'	'	'	20.00%	'	'	'	'	'
Percentage of minimum revenue requirements to be paid after change of control in 2014 or 2015	'	'	'	'	10.00%	'	'	'	'	'
Total minimum revenue upon change of control with Metro PCS	'	'	'	'	350,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Purchase commitment period	'	'	'3 years	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Estimated purchase commitment	'	'	800,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Estimated increase in purchase obligation in 2013	'	'	'	100,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Estimated increase in purchase obligation in 2014	'	'	'	200,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Estimated increase in purchase obligation in 2015	'	'	'	300,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Purchase obligation, sell through period	'	'	'	'	'	'	'12 months	'	'18 months	'
Market coverage percentage	'	'	40.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Lease term	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'5 years	'	'10 years
Lease agreements, number of renewals	'	'	'	'	'	4	'	'	'	'
Lease agreements, renewal period	'	'	'	'	'	'5 years	'	'	'	'
Capital Leases:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Capital Leases, 2014	10,056,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Capital Leases, 2015	9,111,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Capital Leases, 2016	7,594,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Capital Leases, 2017	5,815,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Capital Leases, 2018	4,309,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Capital Leases, Thereafter	10,145,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Capital Leases, Total minimum lease payments	47,030,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Capital Leases, Less amounts representing interest	-10,485,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Capital Leases, Present value of minimum lease payments	36,545,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating Leases:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating Leases, 2014	268,453,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating Leases, 2015	260,950,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating Leases, 2016	213,707,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating Leases, 2017	175,826,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating Leases, 2018	135,801,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating Leases, Thereafter	198,999,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating Leases, Total minimum lease payments	$1,253,736,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'

Guarantor_Financial_Informatio2

Guarantor Financial Information (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended							0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 24, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 25, 2013	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 25, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
									Secured Debt [Member]	Secured Debt [Member]	Savary Island [Member]	Savary Island [Member]	Guarantor Parent Company [Member]	Guarantor Parent Company [Member]	Guarantor Parent Company [Member]	Issuing Subsidiary [Member]	Issuing Subsidiary [Member]	Issuing Subsidiary [Member]	Issuing Subsidiary [Member]	Guarantor Subsidiary [Member]	Guarantor Subsidiary [Member]	Guarantor Subsidiary [Member]	Guarantor Subsidiary [Member]	Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Consolidating and Eliminating Adjustments [Member]	Consolidating and Eliminating Adjustments [Member]	Consolidating and Eliminating Adjustments [Member]
									Senior Notes Due In 2016 [Member]	Senior Notes Due In 2016 [Member]									Senior Notes [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'		'		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Gross long-term debt	'	'		'		'	'	'	$0	$1,100,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$1,600,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt instrument, stated interest rate	'	'		'		'	'	'	7.75%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Ownership percentage by non controlling interest	'	'		'		'	'	'	'	'	'	85.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Ownership Interest, Percentage Acquired	'	'		'		'	'	'	'	'	15.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Assets	'	'		'		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	'	531,245,000		515,550,000		345,243,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	205,000	69,000	91,000	478,448,000	449,668,000	270,055,000	'	'	0	0	0	52,592,000	65,813,000	75,097,000	0	0	0
Short-term investments	'	385,783,000		159,426,000		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	'	385,783,000	159,426,000	'	'	'	0	0	'	0	0	'	0	0	'
Inventories	'	73,035,000		121,601,000		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	'	69,829,000	118,149,000	'	'	'	0	0	'	3,206,000	3,452,000	'	0	0	'
Deferred charges	'	38,293,000		60,963,000		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	'	38,287,000	60,933,000	'	'	'	0	0	'	6,000	30,000	'	0	0	'
Advances to affiliates and consolidated subsidiaries	'	0		0		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	251,803,000	11,182,000	'	32,109,000	23,592,000	'	'	'	21,113,000	49,407,000	'	0	0	'	-305,025,000	-84,181,000	'
Other current assets	'	159,581,000		139,242,000		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,499,000	707,000	'	152,421,000	129,346,000	'	'	'	0	0	'	5,836,000	13,519,000	'	-175,000	-4,330,000	'
Total current assets	'	1,187,937,000		996,782,000		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	253,507,000	11,958,000	'	1,156,877,000	941,114,000	'	'	'	21,113,000	49,407,000	'	61,640,000	82,814,000	'	-305,200,000	-88,511,000	'
Property and equipment, net	'	1,266,373,000	[1]	1,762,090,000	[1]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	'	1,221,867,000	1,694,365,000	'	'	'	0	0	'	44,506,000	67,725,000	'	0	0	'
Investments in and advances to affiliates and consolidated subsidiaries	'	0		0		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	739,072,000	'	2,277,151,000	2,327,953,000	'	'	'	0	0	'	0	0	'	-2,277,151,000	-3,067,025,000	'
Wireless licenses	'	2,091,261,000		1,947,333,000		'	136,200,000	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	'	0	0	'	'	'	2,026,349,000	1,882,421,000	'	64,912,000	64,912,000	'	0	0	'
Assets held for sale	'	'		136,222,000		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	'	'	0	'	'	'	'	136,222,000	'	'	0	'	'	0	'
Goodwill	'	31,886,000		31,886,000		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	'	11,222,000	11,222,000	'	'	'	0	0	'	20,664,000	20,664,000	'	0	0	'
Intangible assets, net	'	14,043,000		24,663,000		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	'	12,113,000	14,756,000	'	'	'	0	0	'	1,930,000	9,907,000	'	0	0	'
Other assets	'	71,388,000		68,284,000		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	708,000	3,938,000	'	58,043,000	54,852,000	'	'	'	0	0	'	12,637,000	9,494,000	'	0	0	'
Total assets	'	4,662,888,000		4,967,260,000		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	254,215,000	754,968,000	'	4,737,273,000	5,044,262,000	'	'	'	2,047,462,000	2,068,050,000	'	206,289,000	255,516,000	'	-2,582,351,000	-3,155,536,000	'
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	'	'		'		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	'	365,479,000		396,110,000		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	3,354,000	40,000	'	359,781,000	389,951,000	'	'	'	0	0	'	2,489,000	6,119,000	'	-145,000	0	'
Current maturities of long-term debt	'	266,454,000		4,000,000		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	248,204,000	0	'	18,250,000	4,000,000	'	'	'	0	0	'	0	0	'	0	0	'
Intercompany payables	'	0		0		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	'	272,916,000	60,589,000	'	'	'	0	0	'	32,109,000	23,592,000	'	-305,025,000	-84,181,000	'
Other current liabilities	'	209,068,000		216,880,000		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	5,169,000	5,247,000	'	186,272,000	202,740,000	'	'	'	0	0	'	17,657,000	13,223,000	'	-30,000	-4,330,000	'
Total current liabilities	'	841,001,000		616,990,000		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	256,727,000	5,287,000	'	837,219,000	657,280,000	'	'	'	0	0	'	52,255,000	42,934,000	'	-305,200,000	-88,511,000	'
Long-term debt, net	'	3,364,567,000		3,298,463,000		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	250,000,000	'	3,364,567,000	3,048,463,000	'	'	'	0	0	'	0	0	'	0	0	'
Deferred tax liabilities	'	424,446,000		385,111,000		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	'	424,446,000	385,111,000	'	'	'	0	0	'	0	0	'	0	0	'
Long-term intercompany payables	'	'		0		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	66,549,000	'	'	242,500,000	'	'	'	'	0	'	'	32,562,000	'	'	-341,611,000	'
Accumulated losses in excess of investment and long-term intercompany payables	'	0		'		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	191,159,000	'	'	0	'	'	'	'	0	'	'	47,458,000	'	'	-238,617,000	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	'	158,010,000		169,047,000		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	'	145,195,000	149,819,000	'	'	'	0	0	'	12,815,000	19,228,000	'	0	0	'
Total liabilities	'	4,788,024,000		4,469,611,000		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	447,886,000	321,836,000	'	4,771,427,000	4,483,173,000	'	'	'	0	0	'	112,528,000	94,724,000	'	-543,817,000	-430,122,000	'
Redeemable non-controlling interests	'	68,535,000		64,517,000		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	'	68,535,000	64,517,000	'	'	'	0	0	'	0	0	'	0	0	'
Stockholders' equity	'	-193,671,000		433,132,000		613,315,000	'	911,282,000	'	'	'	'	-193,671,000	433,132,000	'	-102,689,000	496,572,000	'	'	'	2,047,462,000	2,068,050,000	'	93,761,000	160,792,000	'	-2,038,534,000	-2,725,414,000	'
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	'	4,662,888,000		4,967,260,000		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	254,215,000	754,968,000	'	4,737,273,000	5,044,262,000	'	'	'	2,047,462,000	2,068,050,000	'	206,289,000	255,516,000	'	-2,582,351,000	-3,155,536,000	'
Revenues:	'	'		'		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Service revenues	'	2,630,554,000		2,947,457,000		2,829,281,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	2,302,483,000	2,608,538,000	2,495,525,000	'	'	0	0	0	327,943,000	338,841,000	333,691,000	128,000	78,000	65,000
Equipment revenues	'	267,518,000		194,884,000		241,850,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	232,336,000	168,279,000	211,659,000	'	'	0	0	0	35,182,000	26,605,000	30,191,000	0	0	0
Other revenues	'	0		0		0	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	15,270,000	15,317,000	15,656,000	'	'	98,666,000	111,981,000	106,696,000	356,000	197,000	0	-114,292,000	-127,495,000	-122,352,000
Total revenues	'	2,898,072,000		3,142,341,000		3,071,131,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	2,550,089,000	2,792,134,000	2,722,840,000	'	'	98,666,000	111,981,000	106,696,000	363,481,000	365,643,000	363,882,000	-114,164,000	-127,417,000	-122,287,000
Operating expenses:	'	'		'		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cost of service (exclusive of items shown separately below)	'	999,965,000		1,034,167,000		981,203,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	1,014,443,000	1,057,210,000	995,215,000	'	'	0	0	0	84,417,000	89,057,000	92,332,000	-98,895,000	-112,100,000	-106,344,000
Cost of equipment	'	871,399,000		816,226,000		817,920,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	755,320,000	721,957,000	716,461,000	'	'	0	0	0	116,079,000	94,269,000	101,459,000	0	0	0
Selling and marketing	'	276,604,000		349,970,000		369,257,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	244,068,000	311,410,000	316,228,000	'	'	0	0	0	32,536,000	38,560,000	53,029,000	0	0	0
General and administrative	'	357,323,000		348,934,000		355,529,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	25,882,000	10,556,000	14,351,000	298,864,000	306,206,000	303,602,000	'	'	763,000	762,000	751,000	47,083,000	46,727,000	52,768,000	-15,269,000	-15,317,000	-15,943,000
Depreciation and amortization	'	594,341,000		625,596,000		548,426,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	562,308,000	578,827,000	494,967,000	'	'	0	0	0	32,033,000	46,769,000	53,459,000	0	0	0
Impairments and other charges	'	28,783,000		39,399,000		26,770,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	28,008,000	39,399,000	1,206,000	'	'	0	0	377,000	775,000	0	25,187,000	0	0	0
Total operating expenses	'	3,128,415,000		3,214,292,000		3,099,105,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	25,882,000	10,556,000	14,351,000	2,903,011,000	3,015,009,000	2,827,679,000	'	'	763,000	762,000	1,128,000	312,923,000	315,382,000	378,234,000	-114,164,000	-127,417,000	-122,287,000
Gain on sale, exchange or disposal of assets, net	4,200,000	5,427,000		229,714,000		2,622,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	-4,490,000	84,939,000	-12,947,000	'	6,800,000	10,929,000	143,904,000	20,538,000	-1,012,000	871,000	-4,969,000	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)	'	-224,916,000		157,763,000		-25,352,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	-25,882,000	-10,556,000	-14,351,000	-357,412,000	-137,936,000	-117,786,000	'	'	108,832,000	255,123,000	126,106,000	49,546,000	51,132,000	-19,321,000	0	0	0
Equity in net income (loss) of consolidated subsidiaries	'	0		0		0	'	'	'	'	'	'	-626,259,000	-190,241,000	-311,856,000	158,297,000	306,260,000	106,318,000	'	'	0	0	0	0	0	0	467,962,000	-116,019,000	205,538,000
Equity in net income (loss) of investees, net	'	-10,558,000		-464,000		2,984,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	-10,558,000	-464,000	2,984,000	'	'	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Interest income	'	362,000		194,000		245,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	24,117,000	24,252,000	24,251,000	359,000	187,000	254,000	'	'	0	0	0	1,000	5,000	5,000	-24,115,000	-24,250,000	-24,265,000
Interest expense	'	-249,784,000		-268,232,000		-256,175,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	-12,775,000	-12,747,000	-12,671,000	-261,124,000	-279,735,000	-267,297,000	'	'	0	0	0	0	0	-472,000	24,115,000	24,250,000	24,265,000
Other expense	'	0		0		-2,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	'	'	-2,000	'	'	'	'	0	'	'	0	'	'	0
Loss on extinguishment of debt	'	-72,988,000		-18,634,000		0	'	'	72,800,000	'	'	'	-9,000	0	'	-72,979,000	-18,634,000	'	'	'	0	0	'	0	0	'	0	0	'
Income (loss) before income taxes	'	-557,884,000		-129,373,000		-278,300,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	-640,808,000	-189,292,000	-314,627,000	-543,417,000	-130,322,000	-275,529,000	'	'	108,832,000	255,123,000	126,106,000	49,547,000	51,137,000	-19,788,000	467,962,000	-116,019,000	205,538,000
Income tax benefit (expense)	'	-45,569,000		-57,904,000		-39,377,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	-45,487,000	-57,904,000	-39,377,000	'	'	0	0	0	-82,000	0	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	'	-603,453,000		-187,277,000		-317,677,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	-640,808,000	-189,292,000	-314,627,000	-588,904,000	-188,226,000	-314,906,000	'	'	108,832,000	255,123,000	126,106,000	49,465,000	51,137,000	-19,788,000	467,962,000	-116,019,000	205,538,000
Accretion of redeemable non-controlling interests, net of tax and preferred distributions to joint venture partners	'	37,355,000		2,015,000		-3,050,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	37,355,000	2,015,000	-3,050,000	'	'	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	'	-640,808,000		-189,292,000		-314,627,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	-640,808,000	-189,292,000	-314,627,000	-626,259,000	-190,241,000	-311,856,000	'	'	108,832,000	255,123,000	126,106,000	49,465,000	51,137,000	-19,788,000	467,962,000	-116,019,000	205,538,000
Other comprehensive (income) loss:	'	'		'		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	'	-603,453,000		-187,277,000		-317,677,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	-640,808,000	-189,292,000	-314,627,000	-588,904,000	-188,226,000	-314,906,000	'	'	108,832,000	255,123,000	126,106,000	49,465,000	51,137,000	-19,788,000	467,962,000	-116,019,000	205,538,000
Net unrealized holding gains on investments and other	'	-18,000		27,000		-14,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	-18,000	27,000	-14,000	-18,000	27,000	-14,000	'	'	0	0	0	0	0	0	18,000	-27,000	14,000
Comprehensive income (loss)	'	-603,471,000		-187,250,000		-317,691,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	-640,826,000	-189,265,000	-314,641,000	-588,922,000	-188,199,000	-314,920,000	'	'	108,832,000	255,123,000	126,106,000	49,465,000	51,137,000	-19,788,000	467,980,000	-116,046,000	205,552,000
Operating activities:	'	'		'		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	'	128,802,000		240,388,000		338,065,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	136,000	-22,000	6,000	25,615,000	164,223,000	309,549,000	'	'	0	0	0	107,972,000	99,550,000	34,256,000	-4,921,000	-23,363,000	-5,746,000
Investing activities:	'	'		'		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Acquisition of a business	'	0		0		-850,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	'	'	-850,000	'	'	'	'	0	'	'	0	'	'	0
Purchases of and change in prepayments for purchases of property and equipment	'	-138,042,000		-494,278,000		-402,156,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	-133,320,000	-471,892,000	-379,360,000	'	'	0	0	0	-4,837,000	-30,496,000	-22,796,000	115,000	8,110,000	0
Purchases of wireless licenses and spectrum clearing costs	'	-3,289,000		-5,596,000		-4,880,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	-3,289,000	-5,596,000	-4,880,000	'	'	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Proceeds from sales of wireless licenses and operating assets, net	'	9,665,000		154,068,000		5,070,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	9,639,000	153,226,000	4,558,000	'	'	0	0	0	141,000	8,952,000	512,000	-115,000	-8,110,000	0
Purchases of investments	'	-770,803,000		-367,487,000		-826,233,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	-770,803,000	-367,487,000	-826,233,000	'	'	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Sales and maturities of investments	'	543,773,000		613,632,000		487,860,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	543,773,000	613,632,000	487,860,000	'	'	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Payments received from joint venture	'	0		0		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	'	78,238,000	36,435,000	'	'	'	0	0	'	0	0	'	-78,238,000	-36,435,000	'
Investments in and advances to affiliates and consolidated subsidiaries	'	0		0		0	'	'	'	'	-5,300,000	'	-555,000	-959,000	-1,346,000	0	0	0	'	'	0	0	0	0	0	0	555,000	959,000	1,346,000
Dividend received from equity investee	'	'		'		11,606,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	'	'	11,606,000	'	'	'	'	0	'	'	0	'	'	0
Change in restricted cash	'	-63,000		239,000		-948,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	-63,000	239,000	-248,000	'	'	0	0	0	0	0	-700,000	0	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	'	-358,759,000		-99,422,000		-730,531,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	-555,000	-959,000	-1,346,000	-275,825,000	-41,443,000	-707,547,000	'	'	0	0	0	-4,696,000	-21,544,000	-22,984,000	-77,683,000	-35,476,000	1,346,000
Financing activities:	'	'		'		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	'	1,414,313,000		396,000,000		396,772,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	1,414,313,000	396,000,000	396,772,000	'	'	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Repayment of long-term debt	'	-1,112,922,000		-321,911,000		-23,589,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	-1,112,922,000	-321,911,000	-18,589,000	'	'	0	0	0	0	0	-5,000,000	0	0	0
Payment of debt issuance costs	'	-15,800,000		-5,645,000		-7,269,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	-15,800,000	-5,645,000	-7,269,000	'	'	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Capital contributions, net	'	0		0		0	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	555,000	959,000	1,346,000	'	'	0	0	0	0	0	0	-555,000	-959,000	-1,346,000
Purchase of non-controlling interest	'	0		-5,250,000		0	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	'	'	-5,250,000	'	'	'	'	0	'	'	0	'	'	0	'
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	'	555,000		959,000		1,346,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	555,000	959,000	1,346,000	0	0	0	'	'	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Proceeds from sale lease-back financing	'	0		0		25,815,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	'	'	25,815,000	'	'	'	'	0	'	'	0	'	'	0
Payments made to joint venture partners	'	-33,338,000		-29,407,000		-3,108,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	0	-1,915,000	-1,364,000	'	'	0	0	0	-116,497,000	-87,290,000	-7,490,000	83,159,000	59,798,000	5,746,000
Other	'	-7,156,000		-5,405,000		-3,048,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0	-7,156,000	-5,405,000	-3,048,000	'	'	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	'	245,652,000		29,341,000		386,919,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	555,000	959,000	1,346,000	278,990,000	56,833,000	393,663,000	'	'	0	0	0	-116,497,000	-87,290,000	-12,490,000	82,604,000	58,839,000	4,400,000
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	'	15,695,000		170,307,000		-5,547,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	136,000	-22,000	6,000	28,780,000	179,613,000	-4,335,000	'	'	0	0	0	-13,221,000	-9,284,000	-1,218,000	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	'	515,550,000		345,243,000		350,790,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	69,000	91,000	85,000	449,668,000	270,055,000	274,390,000	'	'	0	0	0	65,813,000	75,097,000	76,315,000	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	'	$531,245,000		$515,550,000		$345,243,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	$205,000	$69,000	$91,000	$478,448,000	$449,668,000	$270,055,000	'	'	$0	$0	$0	$52,592,000	$65,813,000	$75,097,000	$0	$0	$0
[1]	As of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, approximately $48.7 million and $45.8 million of assets were held by the Company under capital lease arrangements, respectively. Accumulated amortization relating to these assets totaled $28.1 million and $22.9 million as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.