Alaska Communications Systems 10-Q 8 Nov 13 2013 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Oct. 23, 2013
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-13	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'
Trading Symbol	'ALSK	'
Entity Registrant Name	'ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP INC	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001089511	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	48,577,654

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$53,295	$16,839
Restricted cash	482	3,875
Short-term investments	'	2,050
Accounts receivable-trade, net of allowance of $5,744 and $6,231	31,390	39,713
Materials and supplies	12,112	9,409
Prepayments and other current assets	7,672	5,566
Deferred income taxes	1,478	8,301
Total current assets	106,429	85,753
Property, plant and equipment	1,345,048	1,463,320
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	-1,005,035	-1,052,459
Property, plant and equipment, net	340,013	410,861
Goodwill	4,650	8,850
Intangible assets, net	'	24,118
Debt issuance costs	7,502	10,558
Deferred income taxes	48,337	69,049
Equity method investments	207,566	2,028
Other assets	400	3,510
Total assets	714,897	614,727
Current liabilities:	'	'
Current portion of long-term obligations	12,865	21,628
Accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities	61,033	56,378
Advance billings and customer deposits	8,837	8,970
Total current liabilities	82,735	86,976
Long-term obligations, net of current portion	444,782	533,772
Other long-term liabilities	93,571	28,662
Total liabilities	621,088	649,410
Commitments and contingencies	'	'
Stockholders' equity (deficit):	'	'
Common stock, $.01 par value; 145,000 authorized; 48,569 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2013; 45,765 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2012	486	458
Additional paid in capital	151,784	144,377
Accumulated deficit	-51,519	-170,279
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-6,942	-9,239
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	93,809	-34,683
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)	$714,897	$614,727

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance1

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$5,744	$6,231
Accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities	61,033	56,378
Common stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	145,000	145,000
Common stock, shares issued	48,569	45,765
Common stock, shares outstanding	48,569	45,765
Alaska Wireless Network, LLC [Member]	'	'
Accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities	$3,926	'

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Consolidated Statements Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	$83,841	$96,750	$272,657	$272,709
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'
Cost of services and sales	44,720	36,346	117,371	111,602
Selling, general and administrative	29,274	25,437	83,717	80,374
Depreciation and amortization	9,209	12,932	33,291	38,452
(Income) loss on disposal of assets, net	-132,109	-2,559	-131,483	-2,140
Earnings on equity method investments	-8,082	-45	-8,061	-45
AWN excess distribution	-2,867	'	-2,867	'
Total operating expenses (income)	-59,855	72,111	91,968	228,243
Operating income	143,696	24,639	180,689	44,466
Other income and expense:	'	'	'	'
Interest expense	-9,785	-10,268	-29,970	-29,203
Loss on extinguishment of debt	-2,094	'	-2,370	-323
Interest income	19	9	37	31
Other	'	'	-13	'
Total other income and expense	-11,860	-10,259	-32,316	-29,495
Income before income tax expense	131,836	14,380	148,373	14,971
Income tax expense	-54,238	-6,136	-29,613	-6,385
Net income	77,598	8,244	118,760	8,586
Other comprehensive income (loss):	'	'	'	'
Minimum pension liability adjustment	205	199	612	541
Income tax effect	-84	-82	-252	-222
Interest rate swap marked to fair value	1,348	314	3,290	-2,209
Income tax effect	-554	-129	-1,353	907
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	915	302	2,297	-983
Total comprehensive income	$78,513	$8,546	$121,057	$7,603
Net income per share:	'	'	'	'
Basic	$1.65	$0.18	$2.55	$0.19
Diluted	$1.33	$0.17	$2.09	$0.19
Weighted average shares outstanding:	'	'	'	'
Basic	47,159	45,664	46,592	45,511
Diluted	59,346	59,437	58,816	45,806
Cash dividends declared per common share	'	$0.05	'	$0.15

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme1

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Cost of services and sales	$44,720	$117,371
Alaska Wireless Network, LLC [Member]	'	'
Cost of services and sales	$11,228	$11,228

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme2

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) (USD $)	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
In Thousands
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	($34,683)	$458	$144,377	($170,279)	($9,239)
Beginning Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2012	'	45,765	'	'	'
Total comprehensive income	121,057	'	'	118,760	2,297
Stock compensation	2,268	'	2,268	'	'
Tax benefit of convertible note	302	'	302	'	'
Surrender of shares to cover withholding taxes on stock-based compensation	-632	'	-632	'	'
Issuance of common stock, $.01 par	5,497	28	5,469	'	'
Issuance of common stock, Shares	'	2,804	'	'	'
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	$93,809	$486	$151,784	($51,519)	($6,942)
Ending Balance, Shares at Sep. 30, 2013	'	48,569	'	'	'

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme3

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013
Common stock, par value	$0.01
Common Stock [Member]	'
Common stock, par value	$0.01
Additional Paid in Capital [Member]	'
Common stock, par value	$0.01

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:	'	'
Net income	$118,760	$8,586
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	33,291	38,452
Gain on sale/contribution of asset to AWN	-132,424	'
AWN excess distribution	-2,867	'
Gain on ineffective hedge adjustment	-785	'
Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discount	5,754	4,382
Amortization of ineffective hedge	1,948	'
Amortization of deferred AWN capacity revenue	-738	'
Stock-based compensation	2,268	2,662
Deferred income taxes	29,015	6,385
Provision for uncollectible accounts	805	1,836
Cash distribution from equity method investments	5,389	32
Earnings on equity method investments	-8,061	-45
Other non-cash expense, net	-1,710	-2,042
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	6,096	-4,038
Net cash provided by operating activities	56,741	56,210
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:	'	'
Capital expenditures	-27,314	-36,319
Capitalized interest	-1,291	-1,396
Change in unsettled capital expenditures	-3,276	-5,648
Proceeds on sale of assets	4,747	2,923
Proceeds on sale/contribution of asset to AWN	100,000	'
AWN excess distribution	2,867	'
Net change in short-term investments	2,037	'
Change in unsettled acquisition costs	-3,345	'
Net change in restricted accounts	3,393	-1,071
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	77,818	-41,511
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:	'	'
Repayments of long-term debt	-97,382	-9,255
Debt issuance costs	-206	'
Payment of cash dividend on common stock	'	-6,831
Payment of withholding taxes on stock-based compensation	-632	-243
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock	117	179
Net cash used by financing activities	-98,103	-16,150
Change in cash and cash equivalents	36,456	-1,451
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	16,839	20,490
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	53,295	19,039
Supplemental Cash Flow Data:	'	'
Interest paid	25,201	24,799
Extinguishment of hedging instrument	4,073	'
Income tax paid (refunded), net	'	-24
Supplemental Non-cash Transactions:	'	'
Property acquired (retired) under capital leases, net	-17	-24
Dividend declared, but not paid	'	2,286
Additions to ARO asset	180	78
Exchange of debt with common stock	$6,000	'

Description_of_Company_and_Sum

Description of Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Description of Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	'
	1	DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
	Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. (“we”, “our”, “us”, the “Company” and “ACS”), a Delaware corporation, through its operating subsidiaries, provides integrated communication services to business, wholesale and consumer customers in the State of Alaska and beyond using its statewide and interstate telecommunications network.
	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements represent the consolidated financial position, comprehensive income and cash flows of Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. and the following wholly-owned subsidiaries:
	•      Alaska Communications Systems		•      Crest Communications Corporation (“Crest”)
	Holdings, Inc. (“ACS Holdings”)
			•      WCI Cable, Inc.
	•      ACS of Alaska, LLC. (“ACSAK”)		•      WCIC Hillsboro, LLC.
	•      ACS of the Northland, LLC. (“ACSN”)		•      Alaska Northstar Communications, LLC.
	•      ACS of Fairbanks, LLC. (“ACSF”)		•      WCI Lightpoint, LLC.
	•      ACS of Anchorage, LLC. (“ACSA”)		•      Worldnet Communications, Inc.
	•      ACS Wireless, Inc. (“ACSW”)		•      Alaska Fiber Star, LLC.
	•      ACS Long Distance, LLC. (“ACSLD”)
	•      ACS Internet, LLC. (“ACSI”)
	•      ACS Messaging, Inc. (“ACSM”)
	•      ACS Cable Systems, LLC. (“ACSC”)
	In addition to the wholly-owned subsidiaries, the Company owns a 49% interest in TekMate, LLC (“TekMate”) and a 33% interest in Alaska Wireless Network, LLC (“AWN”) which are represented in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements as equity method investments. See Note 2 Equity Method Investments for additional information.
	Basis of Presentation
	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America (“U.S.”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Company believes the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.
	In the opinion of management, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all normal, recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, comprehensive income and cash flows for all periods presented. The comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, are not necessarily indicative of comprehensive income which might be expected for the entire year or any other interim periods. The balance sheet at December 31, 2012 has been derived from the audited financial statements as of that date but does not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes, including estimates of probable losses and expenses. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
	Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
	In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2013-02”). This ASU does not change the current requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income, but does require additional information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. An entity is required to present significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income if the amount reclassified is required under GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. ASU 2013-02 is effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012 and was adopted by the Company in the first quarter of 2013. The required disclosures are presented in Note 3 Fair Value Measurements.
	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
	As of September 30, 2013, there were no recently issued accounting standards the future adoption of which is expected to have a material effect on the Company’s future financial condition and results of operations.

Equity_Method_Investments

Equity Method Investments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity Method Investments And Joint Ventures [Abstract]	'
Equity Method Investments	'
	2	EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS
	The Company’s equity method investments consist of a 49% interest in TekMate and a 33% interest in AWN. The following table provides the Company’s ownership interest and investment in TekMate and AWN at the dates indicated:
			Ownership			September 30,		December 31,
			Interest			2013		2012
	TekMate, LLC			49	%	$	2,024	$	2,028
	Alaska Wireless Network, LLC			33	%		205,542		—
	TekMate
	In the nine-month period ended September 30, 2013, the Company’s interest in TekMate’s loss was $3 and TekMate made no cash distributions to the Company. At September 30, 2013, there were no undistributed earnings.
	AWN
	On July 22, 2013, the Company and General Communication, Inc. (“GCI”) completed the transactions contemplated by the June 4, 2012 Asset Purchase and Contribution Agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”) between themselves, two of their respective subsidiaries (the “ACS Member” and the “GCI Member”) and AWN for the purpose of combining their wireless networks into AWN.
	Pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, the ACS Member sold certain wireless assets to the GCI Member for a cash payment of $100,000. The GCI Member then contributed these assets, together with GCI’s wireless assets, to AWN in exchange for a two-thirds membership interest in AWN. The ACS Member contributed the Company’s wireless assets that were not sold to GCI to AWN in exchange for a one-third membership interest in AWN. A national valuation firm is engaged by ACS and GCI to assist in the determination of the enterprise fair value of AWN and the allocation of the purchase price to the assets and liabilities. We are in the process of finalizing this valuation which is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2013. The preliminary estimate of fair value of the Company’s interest in AWN is $200,000. The estimate may be adjusted upon finalization. The assets sold or contributed included spectrum licenses and wireless switching and transmission equipment having a carrying value on the Company’s books of $87,542. Additionally, the Company contributed certain network usage rights necessary to operate the combined Alaska state-wide network contributed to AWN.
	Contributed liabilities included certain asset retirement obligations and the obligations arising under the contributed contracts and direct third-party data circuit costs provided by tariff or purchase orders after the closing date.
	At the closing, the parties to the AWN transaction entered into the First Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of The Alaska Wireless Network, LLC (the “Operating Agreement”) and other related agreements which will govern the ongoing relationship among the parties. Under the terms of the Operating Agreement, AWN will generally be managed by its majority owner, GCI, subject to certain protective rights retained by the Company and representation of one of three seats on AWN’s Board. Accordingly, ACS has the ability to exercise significant influence over AWN and accounts for its investment under the equity method in accordance with ASC 323 Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures.
	The Operating Agreement provides that the ACS Member is entitled to a cumulative preferred cash distribution of up to $12,500 of Adjusted Free Cash Flow, as defined in the agreement, in each of the first eight quarters after closing and $11,250 in each of the eight quarters thereafter (ACS’ preference period). Such preferred cash distributions will be made on a monthly basis. GCI Member will receive distributions of the Adjusted Free Cash Flow in excess of the preferred distributions in each quarter during ACS’ preference period. The distributions to each member are subject to certain adjustments based on decreases in the number of ACS Member and GCI Member connections, with the aggregate adjustment capped at $21,800 for each member over the respective testing periods for each member. At the end of ACS’ preference period and payment of accumulated preference amounts, distributions will be made in accordance with membership interests.
	In accordance with ASC 810-10, paragraph 40-6 Deconsolidation, the Contribution Agreement and the Operating Agreement cannot be bifurcated and are treated as a single transaction for accounting and financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the sale by ACS of certain wireless assets to GCI, the contribution by ACS of other certain wireless assets directly to AWN, and the acquisition of one-third interest in AWN by ACS are accounted for as a single transaction.
	In the third quarter 2013, the Company recorded a pre-tax gain of $132,424 representing the gain on the sale of wireless assets to GCI and the contribution of wireless to AWN. Approximately $83,200 of the pre-tax gain relates to ACS’ 1/3rd retained interest in its wireless assets sold/contributed to AWN.
	During the preference period, income from AWN will be bifurcated between equity in earnings ($8,064 for the third quarter) and AWN excess distribution ($2,867 for the third quarter, representing contingent consideration). In the nine-month period ended September 30, 2013, specifically July 22, 2013 through September 30, 2013, the Company’s share of AWN’s adjusted free cash flow was $9,556, of which $5,389 was received during the period and $4,167 was paid within the 12-day contractual period.
	AWN is accounting for the excess distribution as a form of redeemable preferred equity issued as part of the transaction and is presenting the estimated value as of September 30, 2013, of $66,800, as a component of equity in its financial statements. This accounting differs from our method of accounting for the excess distribution, in combination with the connection adjustments, as contingent consideration issued in connection with a business combination. The contingent consideration is treated as a gain contingency by us and recognized when realized or realizable. We intend to continue to work to resolve this discrepancy and expect to have this completed by the end of the year.
	Condensed financial information on AWN is as follows:
			September 30,
			2013
	Current Assets		$	76,857
	Total Assets			607,768
	Current Liabilities			26,136
	Total Liabilities			43,190
	Equity			564,578
			Inception to
			September 30,
			2013
	Operating Revenues		$	58,826
	Net Income			25,259
	Adjusted Free Cash Flow			20,068
	The excess of cost over the Company’s share of net assets in AWN, excluding amounts representing ACS’ excess preferred distributions, is estimated to be $35,501 at September 30, 2013. This equity-method goodwill represents the increase in basis of the GCI Member’s contribution to AWN, as AWN is accounting for the GCI member’s contribution at carryover basis and ACS is accounting for it at estimated fair value. Approximately 64.5% of this equity-method goodwill represents an increase in the basis of GCI’s contributed assets and will be amortized over the estimated remaining useful lives of these assets. The remaining portion of this equity-method goodwill is not amortized; however, the investment in AWN is analyzed for impairment. No impairment has been recorded on ACS’ investment of AWN to-date.
	Additionally on July 22, 2013, the Company made a $65,000 principal payment on the term loan under its 2010 Senior Secured Credit Facility (“Senior Credit Facility”). As a result of this incremental principal payment in the third quarter 2013, the Company terminated $192,500 of its $385,000 total notional floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps and paid charges of $4,073. Also in the third quarter 2013, the portion of unrealized losses on this swap recorded to accumulated other comprehensive loss, from the swap’s inception through the date hedge accounting treatment was discontinued (November 1, 2012), associated with the variable rate interest payments underlying the accelerated $65,000 principal payment, were reclassified to loss on extinguishment of debt. The amount of this reclassification was $707. The remaining balance of amounts recorded to accumulated other comprehensive loss associated with this hedge will be amortized to interest expense over the period of the remaining originally designated hedged variable rate interest payments.

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Measurements	'
	3	FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
	The fair values of cash equivalents, restricted cash, other short-term monetary assets and liabilities and capital leases approximate carrying values due to their nature. The non-monetary consideration exchanged in the Company’s deconsolidation, related to the AWN transaction, has been valued using multiple valuation methods using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). The fair value of the Company’s Senior Credit Facility, convertible notes and other long-term obligations of $438,756 at September 30, 2013, were estimated based primarily on quoted market prices (Level 1). The carrying values of these liabilities totaled $457,647 at September 30, 2013.
	The Company has developed valuation techniques based upon observable and unobservable inputs to calculate the fair value of non-current monetary assets and liabilities. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources while unobservable inputs reflect internal market assumptions. These two types of inputs create the following fair value hierarchy:
		•		Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets
		•		Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable
		•		Level 3 - Significant inputs to the valuation model are unobservable
	Financial assets and liabilities are classified within the fair value hierarchy in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurements. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurements requires judgment and may affect the valuation of the assets and liabilities being measured, as well as their level within the fair value hierarchy.
	The following table presents the balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, at each hierarchical level:
			30-Sep-13											31-Dec-12
			Total			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3		Total			Level 1		Level 2			Level 3
	Other long-term liabilities:
	Interest rate swaps			(3,619	)		—			(3,619	)		—		(9,819	)		—		(9,819	)		—
	Fair Value of AWN
	As described in Note 2 Equity Method Investments, a national valuation firm was engaged by ACS and GCI to assist in the determination of the enterprise fair value of AWN and the allocation of the purchase price to the assets and liabilities. We are in the process of finalizing this valuation which is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2013. The preliminary estimate of fair value of the Company’s interest in AWN is $200,000 and the contributed network usage rights is $77,000. The estimates may be adjusted upon finalization. The deferred AWN capacity revenue ($3,852 in accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities and $72,485 in other long-term liabilities) represents the value of the capacity contributions and the operations and maintenance support of these facilities. The benefit of this deferred revenue will be recognized over 20 years.
	The following table represents certain valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of such instruments, and the significant unobservable inputs and values for those inputs:
			ACS’			Principal Valuation		Unobservable Inputs	Significant
			Estimated			Technique			Input Values
			Fair Value
	Investment in AWN		$	200,000		Discounted Cash Flow		Risk-free Rate		4	%
								Debt Yield		6.8	%
								Beta		1
								Market Risk Premium		5	%
								Small Stock Premium		5.5	%
								Company Specific Risk		2	%
								Industry Debt to Total		40	%
								Weighted Average Cost Capital		11.5	%
	Deferred Gain Right to Use		$	3,852		Cost		Historical Cost + Margin		Actual
				72,485				Discount Rate		8	%
								Trend Factor		1.7	%
								Term		1-10 years
								Cost Escalation Factor		2.4	%
	Derivative Financial Instruments
	Prior to the AWN transaction, the Company had three floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps to manage variable interest rate risk. The notional amount of these swaps was $192,500, $115,500 and $77,000 with interest rates of 6.963%, 6.970% and 6.975%, respectively, inclusive of a 4.5% LIBOR spread. The swaps began on June 30, 2012 and expire on September 30, 2015. At low LIBOR rates, payments under the swaps increased the Company’s cash interest expense.
	On November 1, 2012, the effective date of the amendment to the Company’s Senior Credit Facility, and as a result of the incremental $65,000 AWN transaction principal payment on the term loan required by this amendment, it was determined that the swap in the notional amount of $192,500 no longer met the hedge effectiveness criteria under ASC 815 Derivatives and Hedging. Accordingly, hedge accounting treatment was discontinued prospectively on this swap effective November 1, 2012, and subsequent changes in the fair value were recognized as interest expense. Amounts recorded to other comprehensive loss from the date of the swap’s inception through October 31, 2012 were amortized to interest expense over the period of the originally scheduled interest payments. On July 19, 2013, when the Company received final approval from the SEC regarding the investment company act, the AWN transaction moved from “possible” to “probable” and triggered the movement of $707 from other comprehensive loss to loss on the extinguishment of debt, representing the portion of the $192,500 swap that was over-hedged when the $65,000 payment was made. The remaining amount will be amortized from other comprehensive loss to interest expense over the life of the term loan. The $192,500 swap settled on August 1, 2013 for $4,073 in cash and, simultaneously, the marked-to-market resulted in an adjustment to interest expense of $231.
	In conjunction with the November 1, 2012 amendment, the notional amount of the two remaining swaps are $115,500 and $77,000 with interest rates of 7.220% and 7.225%, respectively, inclusive of a 4.75% LIBOR spread. The outstanding amount of the two remaining swaps as of period-end are reported on the balance sheet at fair value, represented by the estimated amount the Company would receive, or pay, to terminate the swaps. They are valued using models based on readily observable market parameters for all substantial terms of the contracts and are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
	The following table presents information about the floating-to-fixed interest rate swap in the notional amount of $192,500 as of and for the three and nine-month periods ending September 30, 2013:
			Three			Nine
			Months			Months
	Reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to interest expense		$	(1,082	)	$	(1,948	)
	Change in fair value credited to interest expense		$	(231	)	$	785
	Estimated amount of accumulated other comprehensive loss to be reclassified to interest expense within the next twelve months					$	(1,424	)

LongTerm_Obligations

Long-Term Obligations	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Long-Term Obligations	'
	4	LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS
	Long-term obligations consist of the following at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively:
			2013			2012
	2010 senior credit facility term loan due 2016		$	347,725		$	431,200
	Debt discount - 2010 senior credit facility term loan due 2016			(1,838	)		(2,796	)
	6.25% convertible notes due 2018			114,000			120,000
	Debt discount - 6.25% convertible notes due 2018			(9,666	)		(11,602	)
	5.75% convertible notes due 2013			—			12,980
	Debt discount - 5.75% convertible notes due 2013			—			(114	)
	Revolving credit facility loan			—			—
	Capital leases and other long-term obligations			7,426			5,732
				457,647			555,400
	Less current portion			(12,865	)		(21,628	)
	Long-term obligations, net of current portion		$	444,782		$	533,772
	On July 22, 2013, the Company made a $65,000 principal payment on the term loan under its 2010 Senior Credit Facility (as explained above in Note 2 Equity Method Investments). The Board of Directors has authorized the issuance of up to 10% of the Company’s common shares (no more than 4,700 shares) for the purchase of its convertible notes. On August 29, 2013, the Company delivered and issued 698 common shares in exchange for the retirement of $2,500 aggregate principal amount of 6.25% convertible notes due 2018. On September 10, 2013, the Company delivered and issued 1,203 common shares in exchange for the retirement of $3,500 aggregate principal amount of 6.25% convertible notes due 2018.
	As of September 30, 2013, the aggregate maturities of long-term obligations for each of the five years and thereafter subsequent to September 30, 2013, were as follows:
	2013 (October 1 - December 31)		$	2,183
	2014 (January 1 - December 31)			14,253
	2015 (January 1 - December 31)			15,361
	2016 (January 1 - December 31)			318,730
	2017 (January 1 - December 31)			437
	2018 (January 1 - December 31)			114,288
	Thereafter			3,899
			$	469,151

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	'
	5	ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
	The following table summarizes the activity in accumulated other comprehensive loss for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2013:
			Defined			Interest			Total
			Benefit			Rate Swaps
			Pension
			Plans
	Balance, December 31, 2012		$	(3,491	)	$	(5,748	)	$	(9,239	)
	Other comprehensive income before reclassifications			—			790			790
	Reclassifications from accumulated comprehensive loss to net income			360			1,147			1,507
	Net other comprehensive income			360			1,937			2,297
	Balance, September 30, 2013		$	(3,131	)	$	(3,811	)	$	(6,942	)
	The following table summarizes the reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013:
			Three			Nine
			Months			Months
	Amortization of defined benefit plan pension items: (1)
	Amortization of loss (3)		$	205		$	612
	Income tax effect			(84	)		(252	)
	After tax			121			360
	Amortization of loss on ineffective interest rate swap: (2)
	Reclassification to interest expense			1,082			1,948
	Income tax effect			(445	)		(801	)
	After tax			637			1,147
	Total reclassifications net of income tax		$	758		$	1,507
	-1	See Note 8 Retirement Plans for additional information regarding the Company’s pension plans.
	-2	See Note 3 Fair Value Measurements for additional information regarding the plan to terminate this swap.
	-3	Included in cost of services and sales and selling, general and administrative expense.

Stock_Incentive_Plans

Stock Incentive Plans	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]	'
Stock Incentive Plans	'
	6	STOCK INCENTIVE PLANS
	Under the Company’s stock incentive plan, stock options, restricted stock, stock-settled stock appreciation rights (“SSARs”), performance share units and other awards may be granted to officers, employees, consultants, and non-employee directors.
	The following table summarizes the SSARs and stock option activity for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2013
			Number			Weighted		Weighted		Aggregate
			of Shares			Average		Average		Intrinsic
						Exercise		Remaining		Value
						Price		Life
	Outstanding at December 31, 2012			311		$	8.66
	Granted			—			—
	Exercised			—			—
	Canceled or expired			(12	)		5.36
	Outstanding at September 30, 2013			299			8.79		0.27	$	—
	Exercisable at September 30, 2013			299		$	8.79		0.27	$	—
	The following table summarizes the restricted stock unit, long-term incentive award and non-employee director stock compensation activity for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2013:
			Number			Weighted
			of Shares			Average
						Grant Date
						Fair Value
	Nonvested at December 31, 2012			1,292		$	5.38
	Granted			677			1.89
	Vested			(972	)		4.5
	Canceled or expired			(49	)		6.55
	Nonvested at September 30, 2013			948		$	3.67
	The following table summarizes the performance share unit activity for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2013:
			Number			Weighted
			of Shares			Average
						Grant Date
						Fair Value
	Nonvested at December 31, 2012			764		$	4.09
	Granted			843			1.65
	Vested			(282	)		2.67
	Canceled or expired			(130	)		1.96
	Nonvested at September 30, 2013			1,195		$	2.94
	The following table summarizes the assumptions used for valuation of equity instruments granted during the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012:
			Nine Months Ended
			September 30,
			2013		2012
	Restricted stock:
	Risk free rate		0.03% - 0.18%		0.18% - 0.21%
	Quarterly dividend per share		$—		$0.05
	Expected annual forfeiture rate		0% - 9%		9%
	The following table provides selected information about the Company’s share-based compensation for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012:
			Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
			September 30,					September 30,
			2013			2012		2013		2012
	Total compensation cost for share-based payments		$	550		$	969	$	2,268	$	2,662
	Weighted average grant-date fair value of equity instruments granted (per share)			2.57			2.25		1.76		2.68
	Total fair value of shares vested during the period			111			100		4,823		2,534
	Total intrinsic value of options exercised			—			—		—		—
	Unamortized share-based payments			2,132			2,839		2,132		2,839
	Weighted average period (in years) to be recognized as expense			1.9			1.3		1.9		1.3

Earnings_Per_Share

Earnings Per Share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Earnings Per Share	'
	7	EARNINGS PER SHARE
	Earnings per share are based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock and dilutive potential common share equivalents outstanding. Basic earnings per share includes no dilution and is computed by dividing net income or loss available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution of securities that could share in the earnings of the Company. Potential common share equivalents include options, restricted stock and SSARs granted to employees and deferred shares granted to directors. The Company includes dilutive stock options based on the treasury stock method. Excluded from the calculation were options and SSARs totaling 299 and 311 which were out-of-the-money and therefore anti-dilutive at September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Additionally, shares related to the Company’s convertible notes, which were anti-dilutive for the nine-months ended September 30, 2012, were excluded.
	The calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:
			Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
			September 30,				September 30,
			2013		2012		2013		2012
	Net income (loss) applicable to common shares		$	77,598	$	8,244	$	118,760	$	8,586
	Tax-effected interest expense attributable to convertible notes			1,485		1,808		4,409		—
	Net income assuming dilution		$	79,083	$	10,052	$	123,169	$	8,586
	Weighted average common shares outstanding:
	Basic shares			47,159		45,664		46,592		45,511
	Effect of stock-based compensation			674		422		605		295
	Effect of convertible notes			11,513		13,351		11,619		—
	Diluted shares			59,346		59,437		58,816		45,806
	Earnings (loss) per share:
	Basic		$	1.65	$	0.18	$	2.55	$	0.19
	Diluted		$	1.33	$	0.17	$	2.09	$	0.19

Retirement_Plans

Retirement Plans	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Retirement Plans	'
	8. RETIREMENT PLANS
	Multi-employer Defined Benefit Plan
	Pension benefits for substantially all of the Company’s Alaska-based employees are provided through the Alaska Electrical Pension Fund (“AEPF”). The Company pays a contractual hourly amount based on employee classification or base compensation to the AEPF. As a multi-employer defined benefit plan, the accumulated benefits and plan assets are not determined for, or allocated separately to, the individual employer. This plan is not fully funded under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”).
	Defined Benefit Plan
	The Company has a separate defined benefit plan that covers certain employees previously employed by Century Telephone Enterprise, Inc. (“CenturyTel Plan”). This plan was transferred to the Company in connection with the acquisition of CenturyTel, Inc.’s Alaska properties, whereby assets and liabilities of the CenturyTel Plan were transferred to the ACS Retirement Plan on September 1, 1999. This plan is not fully funded under ERISA as of September 30, 2013.
	For additional information regarding the funding status of our plans, please refer to the audited financial statements and footnotes therein included in our Form 10-K dated December 31, 2012.
	The following table presents the net periodic pension expense for the ACS Retirement Plan for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012:
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Interest cost	$	160		$	179		$	480		$	466
	Expected return on plan assets		(180	)		(174	)		(541	)		(440	)
	Amortization of loss		205			199			612			532
	Net periodic pension expense	$	185		$	204		$	551		$	558

Business_Segments

Business Segments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Business Segments	'
	9	BUSINESS SEGMENTS
	The Company operates its business under a single operating segment. The Company’s chief operating decision maker assesses the financial performance of the business as follows: (i) revenues are managed on the basis of specific customers and customer groups; (ii) costs are managed and assessed by function and generally support the organization across all customer groups or revenue streams; (iii) profitability is assessed at the consolidated level; and (iv) investment decisions and the assessment of existing assets are based on the support they provide to all revenue streams.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	10	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
	The Company enters into purchase commitments with vendors in the ordinary course of business, including minimum purchase agreements with certain suppliers of handsets. The Company also has long-term purchase contracts with vendors to support the on-going needs of its business. These purchase commitments and contracts have varying terms and in certain cases may require the Company to buy goods and services in the future at predetermined volumes and at fixed prices. The Company also has an obligation to spend up to $5,000 in capital expenditures to allow AWN to access certain components of the capacity contributed by the Company to AWN.
	The Company is involved in various claims, legal actions and regulatory proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business and has recorded litigation reserves of $925 at September 30, 2013 against certain current claims and legal actions. The Company’s estimated range of reasonably possible losses does not materially differ from what has been reserved. Accordingly, the Company believes that the disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, comprehensive income or cash flows. It is the Company’s policy to expense costs associated with loss contingencies, including any related legal fees, as they are incurred.

Description_of_Company_and_Sum1

Description of Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Basis of Presentation	'
	Basis of Presentation
	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America (“U.S.”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Company believes the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.
	In the opinion of management, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all normal, recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, comprehensive income and cash flows for all periods presented. The comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, are not necessarily indicative of comprehensive income which might be expected for the entire year or any other interim periods. The balance sheet at December 31, 2012 has been derived from the audited financial statements as of that date but does not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.
Use of Estimates	'
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes, including estimates of probable losses and expenses. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements	'
	Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
	In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2013-02”). This ASU does not change the current requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income, but does require additional information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. An entity is required to present significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income if the amount reclassified is required under GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. ASU 2013-02 is effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012 and was adopted by the Company in the first quarter of 2013. The required disclosures are presented in Note 3 Fair Value Measurements.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements	'
	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
	As of September 30, 2013, there were no recently issued accounting standards the future adoption of which is expected to have a material effect on the Company’s future financial condition and results of operations.

Equity_Method_Investments_Tabl

Equity Method Investments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity Method Investments And Joint Ventures [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Company's Ownership Interest and Investment in TekMate and AWN	'
	The following table provides the Company’s ownership interest and investment in TekMate and AWN at the dates indicated:
		Ownership			September 30,		December 31,
		Interest			2013		2012
	TekMate, LLC		49	%	$	2,024	$	2,028
	Alaska Wireless Network, LLC		33	%		205,542		—
Condensed Financial Information	'
	Condensed financial information on AWN is as follows:
		September 30,
		2013
	Current Assets	$	76,857
	Total Assets		607,768
	Current Liabilities		26,136
	Total Liabilities		43,190
	Equity		564,578
		Inception to
		September 30,
		2013
	Operating Revenues	$	58,826
	Net Income		25,259
	Adjusted Free Cash Flow		20,068

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Balances of Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis	'
	The following table presents the balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, at each hierarchical level:
		September 30, 2013											December 31, 2012
		Total			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3		Total			Level 1		Level 2			Level 3
	Other long-term liabilities:
	Interest rate swaps		(3,619	)		—			(3,619	)		—		(9,819	)		—		(9,819	)		—
Schedule of Valuation Techniques to Measure Fair Value of Instruments and Significant Unobservable Inputs and Values	'
	The following table represents certain valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of such instruments, and the significant unobservable inputs and values for those inputs:
		ACS’			Principal Valuation		Unobservable Inputs	Significant
		Estimated			Technique			Input Values
		Fair Value
	Investment in AWN	$	200,000		Discounted Cash Flow		Risk-free Rate		4	%
							Debt Yield		6.8	%
							Beta		1
							Market Risk Premium		5	%
							Small Stock Premium		5.5	%
							Company Specific Risk		2	%
							Industry Debt to Total		40	%
							Weighted Average Cost Capital		11.5	%
	Deferred Gain Right to Use	$	3,852		Cost		Historical Cost + Margin		Actual
			72,485				Discount Rate		8	%
							Trend Factor		1.7	%
							Term		1-10 years
							Cost Escalation Factor		2.4	%
Schedule of Floating-to-Fixed Interest Rate Swap	'
	The following table presents information about the floating-to-fixed interest rate swap in the notional amount of $192,500 as of and for the three and nine-month periods ending September 30, 2013:
		Three			Nine
		Months			Months
	Reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to interest expense	$	(1,082	)	$	(1,948	)
	Change in fair value credited to interest expense	$	(231	)	$	785
	Estimated amount of accumulated other comprehensive loss to be reclassified to interest expense within the next twelve months				$	(1,424	)

LongTerm_Obligations_Tables

Long-Term Obligations (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Long-Term Obligations	'
	Long-term obligations consist of the following at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively:
		2013			2012
	2010 senior credit facility term loan due 2016	$	347,725		$	431,200
	Debt discount - 2010 senior credit facility term loan due 2016		(1,838	)		(2,796	)
	6.25% convertible notes due 2018		114,000			120,000
	Debt discount - 6.25% convertible notes due 2018		(9,666	)		(11,602	)
	5.75% convertible notes due 2013		—			12,980
	Debt discount - 5.75% convertible notes due 2013		—			(114	)
	Revolving credit facility loan		—			—
	Capital leases and other long-term obligations		7,426			5,732
			457,647			555,400
	Less current portion		(12,865	)		(21,628	)
	Long-term obligations, net of current portion	$	444,782		$	533,772
Aggregate Maturities of Long-Term Obligations for Each of Five Years and Thereafter	'
	As of September 30, 2013, the aggregate maturities of long-term obligations for each of the five years and thereafter subsequent to September 30, 2013, were as follows:
	2013 (October 1 - December 31)	$	2,183
	2014 (January 1 - December 31)		14,253
	2015 (January 1 - December 31)		15,361
	2016 (January 1 - December 31)		318,730
	2017 (January 1 - December 31)		437
	2018 (January 1 - December 31)		114,288
	Thereafter		3,899
		$	469,151

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
Summary of Activity in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	'
	The following table summarizes the activity in accumulated other comprehensive loss for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2013:
			Defined			Interest			Total
			Benefit			Rate Swaps
			Pension
			Plans
	Balance, December 31, 2012		$	(3,491	)	$	(5,748	)	$	(9,239	)
	Other comprehensive income before reclassifications			—			790			790
	Reclassifications from accumulated comprehensive loss to net income			360			1,147			1,507
	Net other comprehensive income			360			1,937			2,297
	Balance, September 30, 2013		$	(3,131	)	$	(3,811	)	$	(6,942	)
Summary of Reclassifications from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss to Net Income	'
	The following table summarizes the reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013:
			Three			Nine
			Months			Months
	Amortization of defined benefit plan pension items: (1)
	Amortization of loss (3)		$	205		$	612
	Income tax effect			(84	)		(252	)
	After tax			121			360
	Amortization of loss on ineffective interest rate swap: (2)
	Reclassification to interest expense			1,082			1,948
	Income tax effect			(445	)		(801	)
	After tax			637			1,147
	Total reclassifications net of income tax		$	758		$	1,507
	-1	See Note 8 Retirement Plans for additional information regarding the Company’s pension plans.
	-2	See Note 3 Fair Value Measurements for additional information regarding the plan to terminate this swap.
	-3	Included in cost of services and sales and selling, general and administrative expense.

Stock_Incentive_Plans_Tables

Stock Incentive Plans (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]	'
Summary of Activity for SSARs and Stock Options	'
	The following table summarizes the SSARs and stock option activity for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2013
		Number			Weighted		Weighted		Aggregate
		of Shares			Average		Average		Intrinsic
					Exercise		Remaining		Value
					Price		Life
	Outstanding at December 31, 2012		311		$	8.66
	Granted		—			—
	Exercised		—			—
	Canceled or expired		(12	)		5.36
	Outstanding at September 30, 2013		299			8.79		0.27	$	—
	Exercisable at September 30, 2013		299		$	8.79		0.27	$	—
Summary of Activity for Restricted Stock Units, Long-Term Incentive Awards and Non-Employee Director Stock Compensation	'
	The following table summarizes the restricted stock unit, long-term incentive award and non-employee director stock compensation activity for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2013:
		Number			Weighted
		of Shares			Average
					Grant Date
					Fair Value
	Nonvested at December 31, 2012		1,292		$	5.38
	Granted		677			1.89
	Vested		(972	)		4.5
	Canceled or expired		(49	)		6.55
	Nonvested at September 30, 2013		948		$	3.67
Summary of Activity for Performance Share Units	'
	The following table summarizes the performance share unit activity for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2013:
		Number			Weighted
		of Shares			Average
					Grant Date
					Fair Value
	Nonvested at December 31, 2012		764		$	4.09
	Granted		843			1.65
	Vested		(282	)		2.67
	Canceled or expired		(130	)		1.96
	Nonvested at September 30, 2013		1,195		$	2.94
Summary of Assumptions Used for Valuation of Equity Instruments Granted	'
	The following table summarizes the assumptions used for valuation of equity instruments granted during the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012:
		Nine Months  Ended
		September 30,
		2013		2012
	Restricted stock:
	Risk free rate	0.03% - 0.18%		0.18% - 0.21%
	Quarterly dividend per share	$—		$0.05
	Expected annual forfeiture rate	0% - 9%		9%
Share-Based Compensation	'
	The following table provides selected information about the Company’s share-based compensation for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012:
		Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
		September 30,					September 30,
		2013			2012		2013		2012
	Total compensation cost for share-based payments	$	550		$	969	$	2,268	$	2,662
	Weighted average grant-date fair value of equity instruments granted (per share)		2.57			2.25		1.76		2.68
	Total fair value of shares vested during the period		111			100		4,823		2,534
	Total intrinsic value of options exercised		—			—		—		—
	Unamortized share-based payments		2,132			2,839		2,132		2,839
	Weighted average period (in years) to be recognized as expense		1.9			1.3		1.9		1.3

Earnings_Per_Share_Tables

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Calculation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share	'
	The calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:
		Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
		2013		2012		2013		2012
	Net income (loss) applicable to common shares	$	77,598	$	8,244	$	118,760	$	8,586
	Tax-effected interest expense attributable to convertible notes		1,485		1,808		4,409		—
	Net income assuming dilution	$	79,083	$	10,052	$	123,169	$	8,586
	Weighted average common shares outstanding:
	Basic shares		47,159		45,664		46,592		45,511
	Effect of stock-based compensation		674		422		605		295
	Effect of convertible notes		11,513		13,351		11,619		—
	Diluted shares		59,346		59,437		58,816		45,806
	Earnings (loss) per share:
	Basic	$	1.65	$	0.18	$	2.55	$	0.19
	Diluted	$	1.33	$	0.17	$	2.09	$	0.19

Retirement_Plans_Tables

Retirement Plans (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Summary of Net Periodic Pension Expense for ACS Retirement Plan	'
	The following table presents the net periodic pension expense for the ACS Retirement Plan for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012:
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Interest cost	$	160		$	179		$	480		$	466
	Expected return on plan assets		(180	)		(174	)		(541	)		(440	)
	Amortization of loss		205			199			612			532
	Net periodic pension expense	$	185		$	204		$	551		$	558

Description_of_Company_and_Sum2

Description of Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)	Sep. 30, 2013
TekMate, LLC [Member]	'
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Percentage ownership interest in equity method investment	49.00%
Alaska Wireless Network, LLC [Member]	'
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Percentage ownership interest in equity method investment	33.00%

Equity_Method_Investments_Addi

Equity Method Investments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

2 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Jul. 19, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Jul. 22, 2013

Jul. 22, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Subsidiaries

2010 senior credit facility term loan due 2016 [Member]

Interest rate swaps [Member]

GCI Member [Member]

ACS Member [Member]

TekMate, LLC [Member]

Alaska Wireless Network, LLC [Member]

Alaska Wireless Network, LLC [Member]

Alaska Wireless Network, LLC [Member]

Alaska Wireless Network, LLC [Member]

GCI Member [Member]

Schedule Of Results Related To Equity Accounted Investees [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage ownership interest in equity method investment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

49.00%

33.00%

33.00%

33.00%

33.00%

'

Interest in equity method investees' earnings

'

$8,082

$45

$8,061

$45

'

'

'

'

'

$3

'

'

'

$8,064

'

Undistributed earnings

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

Number of subsidiaries under Contribution Agreement

'

'

'

'

'

2

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage ownership owned by subsidiaries in AWN

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

66.67%

33.33%

'

'

'

'

'

'

Cash payments to purchased assets

'

'

'

100,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Fair value of Company's interest in AWN

'

200,000

'

200,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Carrying value of wireless switching and transmission equipment

'

87,542

'

87,542

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Representation of GCI on AWN Board

'

'

'

'Representation of one of three seats on AWN's Board

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Operating agreement, Cumulative annual distribution in each of first eight quarters

'

12,500

'

12,500

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Operating agreement, Cumulative annual distribution in second eight quarters

'

11,250

'

11,250

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Aggregate adjustment capped

'

21,800

'

21,800

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Gain on sale of assets

'

'

'

132,424

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

83,200

'

132,424

Excess distribution

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,867

'

Interest in equity method investees' adjusted free cash flow

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4,167

5,389

'

9,556

'

Redeemable preferred stock shares issued

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

66,800

66,800

66,800

66,800

'

Excess of cost over the Company's share of net assets

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

35,501

35,501

35,501

35,501

'

Equity-method goodwill percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

64.50%

'

Principal payment on the term loan

'

'

'

'

'

'

65,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Termination of floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

192,500

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Notional amount of floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

385,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Termination charges

'

4,073

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, amount of reclassification

$707

$707

'

$1,507

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Equity_Method_Investments_Sche

Equity Method Investments - Schedule of Company's Ownership Interest and Investment in TekMate and AWN (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Schedule Of Results Related To Equity Accounted Investees [Line Items]	'	'
Equity method investment	$207,566	$2,028
TekMate, LLC [Member]	'	'
Schedule Of Results Related To Equity Accounted Investees [Line Items]	'	'
Percentage ownership interest in equity method investment	49.00%	'
Equity method investment	2,024	2,028
Alaska Wireless Network, LLC [Member]	'	'
Schedule Of Results Related To Equity Accounted Investees [Line Items]	'	'
Percentage ownership interest in equity method investment	33.00%	'
Equity method investment	$205,542	'

Equity_Method_Investments_Cond

Equity Method Investments - Condensed Financial Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule Of Results Related To Equity Accounted Investees [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Current Assets	$106,429	'	$106,429	'	$85,753
Total Assets	714,897	'	714,897	'	614,727
Current Liabilities	82,735	'	82,735	'	86,976
Total Liabilities	621,088	'	621,088	'	649,410
Equity	93,809	'	93,809	'	-34,683
Operating revenues	83,841	96,750	272,657	272,709	'
Net income	77,598	8,244	118,760	8,586	'
Alaska Wireless Network, LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Schedule Of Results Related To Equity Accounted Investees [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Current Assets	76,857	'	76,857	'	'
Total Assets	607,768	'	607,768	'	'
Current Liabilities	26,136	'	26,136	'	'
Total Liabilities	43,190	'	43,190	'	'
Equity	564,578	'	564,578	'	'
Operating revenues	'	'	58,826	'	'
Net income	'	'	25,259	'	'
Adjusted Free Cash Flow	'	'	$20,068	'	'

Fair_Value_Measurements_Additi

Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2013	Jul. 19, 2013	Nov. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
					Swap
Fair Value Assets Liabilities Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Long-term obligations	'	'	'	$457,647	$457,647	$555,400
Estimated fair value	'	'	'	200,000	200,000	'
Contribution to network usage rights	'	'	'	77,000	77,000	'
Accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities	'	'	'	3,852	3,852	'
Other long-term liabilities	'	'	'	72,485	72,485	'
Deferred revenue expected recognition period	'	'	'	'	'20 years	'
Notional amounts of floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps	'	'	'	'	192,500	'
Notional amounts of floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps, one	'	'	115,500	'	115,500	'
Notional amounts of floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps, two	'	'	77,000	'	77,000	'
Interest rate of floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps	'	'	'	6.96%	6.96%	'
Interest rate of floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps, one	'	'	7.22%	6.97%	6.97%	'
Interest rate of floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps, two	'	'	7.23%	6.98%	6.98%	'
LIBOR Spread	'	'	4.75%	4.50%	4.50%	'
Commencing swap date	'	'	'	'	30-Jun-12	'
Expiry date	'	'	'	'	30-Sep-15	'
Number of floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps	'	'	'	'	3	'
Credit Facility, as a result of the potential increment	'	'	'	65,000	65,000	'
Swap settled in cash	4,073	'	'	'	4,073	'
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, amount of reclassification	'	707	'	707	1,507	'
Marked-to-market resulted in an adjustment to interest expense	231	'	'	'	'	'
Auction Rate Securities [Member] | Estimated value [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Assets Liabilities Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fair value of long-term obligations	'	'	'	438,756	438,756	'
Auction Rate Securities [Member] | Carrying values [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Assets Liabilities Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Long-term obligations	'	'	'	$457,647	$457,647	'

Fair_Value_Measurements_Balanc

Fair Value Measurements - Balances of Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Detail) (Interest rate swaps [Member], USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value Of Assets And Liabilities Measured On Non Recurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other long-term liabilities Interest rate swaps	($3,619)	($9,819)
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Of Assets And Liabilities Measured On Non Recurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other long-term liabilities Interest rate swaps	'	'
Significant Other Observable Inputs Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Of Assets And Liabilities Measured On Non Recurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other long-term liabilities Interest rate swaps	-3,619	-9,819
Significant Unobservable Inputs Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Of Assets And Liabilities Measured On Non Recurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other long-term liabilities Interest rate swaps	'	'

Fair_Value_Measurements_Schedu

Fair Value Measurements - Schedule of Valuation Techniques to Measure Fair Value of Instruments and Significant Unobservable Inputs and Values (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
ACS' Estimated Fair Value	$200,000
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Investment in AWN [Member]	'
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
ACS' Estimated Fair Value	200,000
Principal Valuation Technique	'Discounted Cash Flow
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Investment in AWN [Member] | Risk-free Rate [Member]	'
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
Significant Input Values, rate	4.00%
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Investment in AWN [Member] | Debt Yield [Member]	'
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
Significant Input Values, rate	6.80%
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Investment in AWN [Member] | Beta [Member]	'
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
Significant Input Values, times	1
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Investment in AWN [Member] | Market Risk Premium [Member]	'
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
Significant Input Values, rate	5.00%
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Investment in AWN [Member] | Small Stock Premium [Member]	'
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
Significant Input Values, rate	5.50%
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Investment in AWN [Member] | Company Specific Risk [Member]	'
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
Significant Input Values, rate	2.00%
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Investment in AWN [Member] | Industry Debt to Total [Member]	'
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
Significant Input Values, rate	40.00%
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Investment in AWN [Member] | Weighted Average Cost Capital [Member]	'
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
Significant Input Values, rate	11.50%
Cost [Member]	'
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
ACS' Estimated Fair Value	72,485
Cost [Member] | Deferred Gain Right to Use [Member]	'
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
ACS' Estimated Fair Value	$3,852
Principal Valuation Technique	'Cost
Cost [Member] | Deferred Gain Right to Use [Member] | Historical Cost + Margin [Member]	'
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
Significant Input Values, description	'Actual
Cost [Member] | Deferred Gain Right to Use [Member] | Discount Rate [Member]	'
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
Significant Input Values, rate	8.00%
Cost [Member] | Deferred Gain Right to Use [Member] | Trend Factor [Member]	'
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
Significant Input Values, rate	1.70%
Cost [Member] | Deferred Gain Right to Use [Member] | Term [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
Significant Input Values, term	'1 year
Cost [Member] | Deferred Gain Right to Use [Member] | Term [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
Significant Input Values, term	'10 years
Cost [Member] | Deferred Gain Right to Use [Member] | Cost Escalation Factor [Member]	'
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
Significant Input Values, rate	2.40%

Fair_Value_Measurements_Schedu1

Fair Value Measurements - Schedule of Floating-to-Fixed Interest Rate Swap (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
		Interest rate swaps [Member]	Interest rate swaps [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to interest expense	'	($1,082)	($1,948)
Change in fair value credited to interest expense	231	-231	785
Estimated amount of accumulated other comprehensive loss to be reclassified to interest expense within the next twelve months	'	($1,424)	($1,424)

LongTerm_Obligations_Schedule_

Long-Term Obligations - Schedule of Long-Term Obligations (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Long Term Debt Current And Noncurrent [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term obligations	$457,647	$555,400
Less current portion	-12,865	-21,628
Long-term obligations, net of current portion	444,782	533,772
2010 senior credit facility term loan due 2016 [Member]	'	'
Long Term Debt Current And Noncurrent [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term obligations	347,725	431,200
Debt instrument unamortized discount	-1,838	-2,796
6.25% convertible notes due 2018 [Member]	'	'
Long Term Debt Current And Noncurrent [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term obligations	114,000	120,000
Debt instrument unamortized discount	-9,666	-11,602
5.75% convertible notes due 2013 [Member]	'	'
Long Term Debt Current And Noncurrent [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term obligations	'	12,980
Debt instrument unamortized discount	'	-114
Revolving credit facility loan [Member]	'	'
Long Term Debt Current And Noncurrent [Line Items]	'	'
Revolving credit facility loan	'	'
Capital leases and other long-term obligations [Member]	'	'
Long Term Debt Current And Noncurrent [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term obligations	$7,426	$5,732

LongTerm_Obligations_Schedule_1

Long-Term Obligations - Schedule of Long-Term Obligations (Parenthetical) (Detail)	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
2010 senior credit facility term loan due 2016 [Member]	'	'
Long Term Debt Current And Noncurrent [Line Items]	'	'
Maturity year of senior credit facility term loan - start	'	'2010
Maturity year of senior credit facility term loan - end	'	'2016
6.25% convertible notes due 2018 [Member]	'	'
Long Term Debt Current And Noncurrent [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate of convertible notes	6.25%	6.25%
Maturity year of convertible notes	'2018	'2018
5.75% convertible notes due 2013 [Member]	'	'
Long Term Debt Current And Noncurrent [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate of convertible notes	'	5.75%
Maturity year of convertible notes	'	'2013

LongTerm_Obligations_Additiona

Long-Term Obligations - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 10, 2013	Aug. 29, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jul. 22, 2013	Sep. 10, 2013	Aug. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jul. 22, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified					2010 senior credit facility term loan due 2016 [Member]	6.25% convertible notes due 2018 [Member]	6.25% convertible notes due 2018 [Member]	6.25% convertible notes due 2018 [Member]	Maximum [Member]
									Board of Directors [Member]
Proforma Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Principal payment on the term loan	'	'	'	'	$65,000	$3,500	$2,500	'	'
Common shares issued	48,569	1,203	698	45,765	'	'	'	'	'
Interest rate of convertible notes	'	'	'	'	'	'	6.25%	6.25%	'
Maturity year of convertible notes	'	'	'	'	'	'	'2018	'2018	'
Authorized to issue common shares, percentage	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	10.00%
Common stock, shares authorized	145,000	'	'	145,000	'	'	'	'	4,700

LongTerm_Obligations_Aggregate

Long-Term Obligations - Aggregate Maturities of Long-Term Obligations for Each of Five Years and Thereafter (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
2013 (October 1 - December 31)	$2,183
2014 (January 1 - December 31)	14,253
2015 (January 1 - December 31)	15,361
2016 (January 1 - December 31)	318,730
2017 (January 1 - December 31)	437
2018 (January 1 - December 31)	114,288
Thereafter	3,899
Total	$469,151

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv2

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Summary of Activity in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 19, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Balance, December 31, 2012	'	'	'	($9,239)	'
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	'	'	'	790	'
Reclassifications from accumulated comprehensive loss to net income	707	707	'	1,507	'
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	'	915	302	2,297	-983
Balance, September 30, 2013	'	-6,942	'	-6,942	'
Defined Benefit Pension Plans [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Balance, December 31, 2012	'	'	'	-3,491	'
Reclassifications from accumulated comprehensive loss to net income	'	'	'	360	'
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	'	'	'	360	'
Balance, September 30, 2013	'	-3,131	'	-3,131	'
Interest rate swaps [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Balance, December 31, 2012	'	'	'	-5,748	'
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	'	'	'	790	'
Reclassifications from accumulated comprehensive loss to net income	'	'	'	1,147	'
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	'	'	'	1,937	'
Balance, September 30, 2013	'	($3,811)	'	($3,811)	'

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv3

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Summary of Reclassifications from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss to Net Income (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Amortization of defined benefit plan pension items	'	'
Amortization of loss	$205	$612
Income tax effect	-84	-252
After tax	121	360
Amortization of loss on ineffective interest rate swap	'	'
Reclassification to interest expense	1,082	1,948
Income tax effect	-445	-801
After tax	637	1,147
Total reclassifications net of income tax	$758	$1,507

Stock_Incentive_Plans_Summary_

Stock Incentive Plans - Summary of Activity for SSARs and Stock Options (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]	'
Number of Shares - Outstanding at December 31, 2012	311
Number of Shares - Granted	'
Number of Shares - Exercised	'
Number of Shares - Canceled or expired	-12
Number of Shares - Outstanding at September 30, 2013	299
Number of Shares - Exercisable at September 30, 2013	299
Weighted Average Exercise Price - Outstanding at December 31, 2012	$8.66
Weighted Average Exercise Price - Granted	'
Weighted Average Exercise Price - Exercised	'
Weighted Average Exercise Price - Canceled or expired	$5.36
Weighted Average Exercise Price - Outstanding at September 30, 2013	$8.79
Weighted Average Exercise Price - Exercisable at September 30, 2013	$8.79
Weighted Average Remaining Life - Outstanding at September 30, 2013	'3 months 7 days
Weighted Average Remaining Life - Exercisable at September 30, 2013	'3 months 7 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value - Outstanding at September 30, 2013	'
Aggregate Intrinsic Value - Exercisable at September 30, 2013	'

Stock_Incentive_Plans_Summary_1

Stock Incentive Plans - Summary of Activity for Restricted Stock Unit, Long-Term Incentive Award and Non-Employee Director Stock Compensation (Detail) (Restricted stock units [Member], USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Restricted stock units [Member]	'
Summary of activity for restricted stock units, long-term incentive awards and non-employee director stock compensation	'
Number of Shares - Nonvested at December 31, 2012	1,292
Number of Shares - Granted	677
Number of Shares - Vested	-972
Number of Shares - Canceled or expired	-49
Number of Shares - Nonvested at September 30, 2013	948
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value - Nonvested at December 31, 2012	$5.38
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value - Granted	$1.89
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value - Vested	$4.50
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value - Canceled or expired	$6.55
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value - Nonvested at September 30, 2013	$3.67

Stock_Incentive_Plans_Summary_2

Stock Incentive Plans - Summary of Activity for Performance Share Units (Detail) (Performance share units [Member], USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Performance share units [Member]	'
Summary of activity for performance share units	'
Number of Shares - Nonvested at December 31, 2012	764
Number of Shares - Granted	843
Number of Shares - Vested	-282
Number of Shares - Canceled or expired	-130
Number of Shares - Nonvested at September 30, 2013	1,195
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value - Nonvested at December 31, 2012	$4.09
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value - Granted	$1.65
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value - Vested	$2.67
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value - Canceled or expired	$1.96
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value - Nonvested at September 30, 2013	$2.94

Stock_Incentive_Plans_Summary_3

Stock Incentive Plans - Summary of Assumptions Used for Valuation of Equity Instruments Granted (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
			Restricted stock [Member]	Restricted stock [Member]	Restricted stock [Member]	Restricted stock [Member]
					Minimum [Member]	Maximum [Member]
Restricted stock:	'	'	'	'	'	'
Risk free rate, Maximum	'	'	0.18%	0.21%	'	'
Risk free rate, Minimum	'	'	0.03%	0.18%	'	'
Quarterly dividend per share	$0.05	$0.15	'	$0.05	'	'
Expected annual forfeiture rate	'	'	'	9.00%	0.00%	9.00%

Stock_Incentive_Plans_ShareBas

Stock Incentive Plans - Share-Based Compensation (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Total compensation cost for share-based payments	$550	$969	$2,268	$2,662
Weighted average grant-date fair value of equity instruments granted (per share)	$2.57	$2.25	$1.76	$2.68
Total fair value of shares vested during the period	111	100	4,823	2,534
Total intrinsic value of options exercised	'	'	'	'
Unamortized share-based payments	$2,132	$2,839	$2,132	$2,839
Weighted average period (in years) to be recognized as expense	'1 year 10 months 24 days	'1 year 3 months 18 days	'1 year 10 months 24 days	'1 year 3 months 18 days

Earnings_Per_Share_Additional_

Earnings Per Share - Additional Information (Detail)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
	Employee Stock Option [Member]	Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) [Member]
Earnings Per Share Basic And Diluted [Line Items]	'	'
Anti-dilutive shares excluded from calculation	299	311

Earnings_Per_Share_Calculation

Earnings Per Share - Calculation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss) applicable to common shares	$77,598	$8,244	$118,760	$8,586
Tax-effected interest expense attributable to convertible notes	1,485	1,808	4,409	'
Net income assuming dilution	$79,083	$10,052	$123,169	$8,586
Weighted average common shares outstanding:	'	'	'	'
Basic shares	47,159	45,664	46,592	45,511
Effect of stock-based compensation	674	422	605	295
Effect of convertible notes	11,513	13,351	11,619	'
Diluted shares	59,346	59,437	58,816	45,806
Earnings (loss) per share:	'	'	'	'
Basic	$1.65	$0.18	$2.55	$0.19
Diluted	$1.33	$0.17	$2.09	$0.19

Retirement_Plans_Summary_of_Ne

Retirement Plans - Summary of Net Periodic Pension Expense for ACS Retirement Plan (Detail) (ACS Retirement Plan [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
ACS Retirement Plan [Member]	'	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Interest cost	$160	$179	$480	$466
Expected return on plan assets	-180	-174	-541	-440
Amortization of loss	205	199	612	532
Net periodic pension expense	$185	$204	$551	$558

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Capital expenditure obligation	$5,000
Litigation reserve	$925