NTELOS 10-K 14 Mar 16 2015 FY Annual report Financial data

Document And Entity Information

Document And Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 07, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Registrant Name	NTELOS HOLDINGS CORP.
Entity Central Index Key	1,328,571
Trading Symbol	ntls
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		22,257,794
Entity Public Float			$ 80.6
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No

Condensed Consolidated Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Current Assets
Cash	$ 72,687	$ 73,546
Restricted Cash	0	2,167
Accounts receivable, net	53,021	35,177
Inventories and supplies, net	13,345	17,978
Prepaid expenses	9,350	8,295
Tax refund receivable	24,986	3,883
Other current assets	1,132	617
Other current assets from discontinued operations	2,121	14,763
Total current assets	176,642	156,426
Assets Held for Sale	62	4,317
Restricted Cash	2,167	0
Securities and Investments	1,522	1,522
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	326,260	266,054
Intangible Assets
Goodwill	63,700	63,700
Radio spectrum licenses	44,933	44,933
Customer relationships and trademarks, net	4,292	5,084
Deferred Charges and Other Assets	18,941	16,919
Deferred Income Taxes	2,737	3,360
Other Noncurrent Assets from Discontinued Operations	1,733	85,402
TOTAL ASSETS	642,989	647,717
Current Liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt	5,605	5,728
Accounts payable	20,532	24,130
Advance billings and customer deposits	12,772	10,284
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	18,003	20,255
Other current liabilities from discontinued operations	13,054	12,245
Total current liabilities	69,966	72,642
Long-Term Debt	514,634	519,491
Retirement Benefits	22,448	25,209
Deferred Income Taxes	12,272	1,685
Other Long-Term Liabilities	61,860	33,913
Other Noncurrent Liabilities from Discontinued Operations	835	27,729
Liabilities, Noncurrent, Total	$ 682,015	$ 680,669
Commitments and Contingencies
Equity (Deficit)
Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, authorized 100 shares, none issued	$ 0	$ 0
Common stock, par value $.01 per share, authorized 55,000 shares; 22,290 shares issued and 22,264 shares outstanding (21,634 shares issued and 21,616 shares outstanding at December 31, 2014)	214	214
Additional paid in capital	32,500	28,663
Treasury stock, at cost, 27 shares (18 shares at December 31, 2014)	(330)	(285)
Accumulated deficit	(65,840)	(53,634)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(7,142)	(9,090)
Total NTELOS Holdings Corp. Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)	(40,598)	(34,132)
Noncontrolling Interests	1,572	1,180
Stockholders' Equity, including portion attributable to noncontrolling interest, Total	(39,026)	(32,952)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)	$ 642,989	$ 647,717

Condensed Consolidated Balance3

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	100,000	100,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	55,000,000	55,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	22,290,000	21,634,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	22,264,000	21,616,000
Treasury stock, shares	27,000	18,000

Condensed Consolidated Statemen

Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Retail revenue	$ 168,674	$ 177,295	$ 172,427
Wholesale and other revenue	140,121	152,783	172,491
Equipment sales	53,845	30,056	14,848
Operating Revenues	362,640	360,134	359,766
Operating Expenses
Cost of services	89,413	80,763	74,017
Cost of equipment sold	87,753	73,044	58,481
Customer operations	68,484	74,990	71,130
Corporate operations	38,951	37,388	36,198
Restructuring	2,487	982	0
Depreciation and amortization	55,102	55,225	54,031
Gain on sale of assets	(11,111)	0	(4,442)
Operating expenses, total	331,079	322,392	289,415
Operating Income	31,561	37,742	70,351
Other Expense
Interest expense, net	(30,589)	(32,697)	(29,726)
Other income (expense)	80	(1,115)	(810)
Other Expense, Total	(30,509)	(33,812)	(30,536)
Income before Income Taxes	1,052	3,930	39,815
Income Tax Expense	2,187	747	16,127
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	(1,135)	3,183	23,688
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax	(9,903)	(55,349)	3,051
Net Income (Loss)	(11,038)	(52,166)	26,739
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	(1,168)	(1,468)	(2,061)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to NTELOS Holdings Corp.	$ (12,206)	$ (53,634)	$ 24,678
Earnings (Loss) per Share Attributable to NTELOS Holdings Corp.
Basic earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.10)	$ 0.08	$ 1.02
Basic earnings (loss) per common share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(0.47)	(2.62)	0.15
Basic earnings (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.57)	$ (2.54)	$ 1.17
Basic earnings (loss) per common share (in shares)	21,257	21,111	21,026
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.10)	$ 0.08	$ 0.99
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(0.47)	(2.62)	0.14
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.57)	$ (2.54)	$ 1.13
Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted (in shares)	21,257	21,111	21,826
Cash Dividends Declared per Share – Common Stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0.84	$ 1.68

Condensed Consolidated Stateme5

Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to NTELOS Holdings Corp.	$ (12,206)	$ (53,634)	$ 24,678
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Amortization of unrealized loss from defined benefit plans, net of $96, $45 and $167 of deferred income taxes in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively	470	71	263
Unrecognized gain/(loss) from defined benefit plans, net of $1,144 $5,039, and $3,299 of deferred income taxes in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively	1,478	(7,915)	5,180
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to NTELOS Holdings Corp.	(10,258)	(61,478)	30,121
Comprehensive Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	1,168	1,468	2,061
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	$ (9,090)	$ (60,010)	$ 32,182

Condensed Consolidated Stateme6

Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Amortization of unrealized loss from defined benefit plans, tax	$ 299	$ 45	$ 167
Unrecognized gain (loss) from defined benefit plans, tax	$ 941	$ 5,309	$ 3,299

Condensed Consolidated Stateme7

Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss)	$ (11,038)	$ (52,166)	$ 26,739
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization	60,103	76,459	72,944
Impairment and other charges	117	87,853	0
Gain on the sale of assets	(16,749)	0	(4,442)
Bad debt expense	20,070	15,171	15,511
Deferred income taxes	(5,797)	(33,359)	16,968
Equity-based compensation	3,448	2,969	5,553
Amortization of loan origination costs and debt discount	1,683	2,477	2,814
Write off unamortized debt issuance costs	720	895
Write off unamortized debt issuance costs	0	229	656
Retirement benefits and other	6,760	848	1,690
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable	(29,945)	(21,098)	(1,950)
Inventories and supplies	4,952	5,665	(14,381)
Other current assets	2,523	(7,097)	(1,577)
Tax refund receivable	(21,103)	(1,272)	0
Accounts payable	2,179	(444)	10,232
Other current liabilities	(9,751)	10,359	(4,147)
Retirement benefit contributions and distributions	(4,021)	1,999	(206)
Net cash provided by operating activities	4,151	89,488	126,404
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(95,710)	(107,000)	(80,708)
Proceeds from the sale of assets	97,592	0	4,644
Restricted cash pledged for letter of credit	0	0	(2,167)
Other, net	0	586	(2,613)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	1,882	(106,414)	(80,844)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of original issue discount	0	187,655	0
Debt issuance and refinancing costs	0	(3,551)	0
Repayments on senior secured term loans	(5,405)	(153,477)	(5,000)
Cash dividends paid on common stock	0	(27,235)	(27,054)
Capital distributions to noncontrolling interests	(776)	(798)	(1,561)
Other, net	(711)	(563)	299
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(6,892)	2,031	(33,316)
Increase (decrease) in cash	(859)	(14,895)	12,244
Cash, beginning of period	73,546	88,441	76,197
Cash, end of period	$ 72,687	$ 73,546	$ 88,441

Condensed Consolidated Stateme8

Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid In Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Total NTELOS Holdings Corp. Stockholders’ Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 44,535	$ 212	$ 51,005	$ (3)	$ 0	$ (6,689)	$ 44,525	$ 10
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		21,262		1
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Equity-based compensation	4,912	$ 2	5,054	$ (144)			4,912
Equity-based compensation (in shares)		257		8
Cash dividends declared	(36,275)		(11,597)		(24,678)		(36,275)
Capital distribution to noncontrolling interests	(1,561)							(1,561)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to NTELOS Holdings Corp.	24,678				24,678		24,678
Unrecognized gain/(loss) from defined benefit plans	5,180
Amortization of unrealized loss from defined benefit plans	5,180					5,180	5,180
Amortization of unrealized loss from defined benefit plans	263					263	263
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,061							2,061
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	43,793	$ 214	44,462	$ (147)	0	(1,246)	43,283	510
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		21,519		9
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Equity-based compensation	2,279		2,417	$ (138)			2,279
Equity-based compensation (in shares)		97		9
Cash dividends declared	(18,216)		(18,216)				(18,216)
Capital distribution to noncontrolling interests	(798)							(798)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to NTELOS Holdings Corp.	(53,634)				(53,634)		(53,634)
Unrecognized gain/(loss) from defined benefit plans	(7,915)					(7,915)	(7,915)
Amortization of unrealized loss from defined benefit plans	71					71	71
Amortization of unrealized loss from defined benefit plans	71
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,468							1,468
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	(32,952)	$ 214	28,663	$ (285)	(53,634)	(9,090)	(34,132)	1,180
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		21,616		18
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Equity-based compensation	3,792		3,837	$ (45)			3,792
Equity-based compensation (in shares)		648		9
Capital distribution to noncontrolling interests	(776)							(776)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to NTELOS Holdings Corp.	(12,206)				(12,206)		(12,206)
Unrecognized gain/(loss) from defined benefit plans	1,478						1,478
Amortization of unrealized loss from defined benefit plans	470						470
Amortization of unrealized loss from defined benefit plans	470
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,168							1,168
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ (39,026)	$ 214	$ 32,500	$ (330)	$ (65,840)	$ (7,142)	$ (40,598)	$ 1,572
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		22,264		27

Condensed Consolidated Stateme9

Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Equity (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Amortization of unrealized loss from defined benefit plans, tax	$ 299	$ 45	$ 167
Recognized loss from defined benefit plans, tax	$ 941	$ 5,309	$ 3,299

Description of Business

Description of Business	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Description of Business	Description of Business NTELOS Holdings Corp. (hereafter referred to as “Holdings Corp.” or the “Company”), through NTELOS Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiary (“NTELOS Inc.”) and its subsidiaries, is a regional provider of digital wireless communications services to consumers and businesses primarily in Virginia, West Virginia and certain portions of surrounding states. The Company’s primary services are wireless voice and data digital personal communications services (“PCS”) provided through NTELOS-branded retail operations and on a wholesale basis to other PCS providers, most notably through an arrangement with Sprint Spectrum L.P. (“Sprint Spectrum”), and Sprint Spectrum on behalf of and as an agent for SprintCom, Inc. (“SprintCom”) (Sprint Spectrum and SprintCom collectively, “Sprint”), which arrangement is referred to herein as the “Strategic Network Alliance” or "SNA." See Note 16 for additional information regarding this arrangement. The Company does not have any independent operations. Holdings Corp. was formed in January 2005 for the purpose of acquiring NTELOS Inc. On January 18, 2005 , Holdings Corp. entered into an agreement with NTELOS Inc. and certain of its stockholders to acquire the common stock of NTELOS Inc. On February 24, 2005, Holdings Corp. purchased 24.9% of NTELOS Inc. common stock and stock warrants. By May 2005, the Company had acquired all of NTELOS Inc.’s common shares, warrants and vested options. During the first quarter of 2006, Holdings Corp. completed an initial public offering of its common stock. Quadrangle Capital Partners LLP and certain of its affiliates (“Quadrangle”), a founding member of Holdings Corp., owns approximately 19% of the Company’s common shares as of December 31, 2015 . On August 10, 2015, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (“Merger Agreement”) with Shenandoah Telecommunications Company, a Virginia corporation (“Shentel”), and Gridiron Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Shentel (“Merger Sub”), pursuant to which, at the effective time of the merger (“Effective Time”), Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company surviving the merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shentel (“Merger”). Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time, each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (excluding (i) any shares of Common Stock that are owned by the Company, Shentel or any of their respective subsidiaries and (ii) any shares of Common Stock that are owned by any Company stockholders who are entitled to exercise, and properly exercise, appraisal rights with respect to such shares of Common Stock pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware) will be canceled and converted automatically into the right to receive $9.25 in cash, without interest. The completion of the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, including (i) the approval of the transaction by the Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”) and applicable state public utility commissions, (ii) the provision of all required notices to applicable state public utility commissions, (iii) the expiration of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (“HSR Act”), as amended, (iv) the absence of any proceeding, order or law enjoining or prohibiting the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (v) each party’s material performance of its obligations and compliance with its covenants, (vi) the accuracy of each party’s representations and warranties, subject to customary materiality qualifiers, (vii) the absence of a material adverse effect on the Company and (viii) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Master Agreement, dated as of August 10, 2015, between SprintCom, Inc., an affiliate of Sprint Corporation, and Shenandoah Personal Communications, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shentel (“Sprint Transactions”). Many of these conditions have already been satisfied, including, without limitation, approval of the merger by the Company’s stockholders, approval by the requisite state regulatory agencies and expiration of the HSR Act waiting period, and other of these conditions will be satisfied at the closing. However, other conditions, including the condition related to FCC approval, have not yet been satisfied. FCC approval is expected late in the first quarter or early in the second quarter of 2016 and the Merger is expected to close soon thereafter. The Merger Agreement contains certain termination rights for Shentel and the Company, including termination by either party if the Merger is not consummated by June 28, 2016 (as mutually extended). The Merger Agreement further provides that, upon termination of the Merger Agreement under specified circumstances, including in connection with a change of recommendation of the Company board of directors (the “Board”) or the acceptance of a superior proposal by the Board, the Company will pay Shentel a termination fee equal to $8.8 million plus reimbursement of up to $2.5 million in fees, costs and expenses incurred by Shentel in connection with the Merger. The Merger Agreement also provides that, upon termination of the Merger Agreement under specified circumstances, Shentel will pay the Company a termination fee of $25 million or $8.8 million , depending on the specific circumstances, plus reimbursement of up to $2.5 million in fees, costs and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the Merger. The completion of the Merger is not subject to a financing condition. On December 18, 2015, Shentel entered into a credit agreement with various lenders and CoBank, ACB, as administrative agent (collectively, the “Lenders”), that provides Shentel with senior secured credit facilities, including a revolving credit facility and two term loan facilities. The availability of the credit facilities under the credit agreement is subject to various conditions, including the consummation of the Sprint Transactions and the consummation of the Merger in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement. In addition, the commitments of the Lenders will terminate if the consummation of the Merger does not occur on or prior to June 28, 2016. Under certain conditions, if the Merger Agreement is terminated because of the failure of Shentel to obtain financing, Shentel will pay the Company the termination fee of $25 million plus reimbursement of up to $2.5 million in fees, costs and expenses referenced above. On August 24, 2015, Mr. Marvin Westen and Mr. Paul Sekerak, each filed a purported class action complaint relating to the merger in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. The Plaintiffs have sued all members of the Board, alleging that the members of the Board breached their fiduciary obligations to the purported class by agreeing to sell the Company for consideration deemed “inadequate” and by agreeing to deal protection terms that allegedly foreclose competing offers. Plaintiffs further allege that Shentel and Merger Sub (or, in the case of Mr. Sekerak, Shentel and the Company) for purportedly aiding and abetting the foregoing breaches. Plaintiffs seek, among other things, injunctive relief preventing consummation of the merger (and/or directing rescission of the transaction, to the extent already implemented), unspecified damages and an award of plaintiff’s expenses and attorneys’ fees. The Company and the members of the Board believe these claims are without merit and intend to defend themselves vigorously. On December 1, 2014, the Company entered into an agreement to sell its wireless spectrum licenses in its eastern Virginia and Outer Banks of North Carolina markets (“Eastern Markets”) for approximately $56.0 million . The transaction closed on April 15, 2015. The Company entered into lease agreements to continue using the Eastern Markets spectrum licenses for varying terms ranging from the closing date through November 15, 2015. Effective November 15, 2015, the Company ceased commercial operations and all subscribers had been migrated off our network. As a result of no longer providing service in the Eastern Markets, certain assets, liabilities and results of operations associated with this market are now being reported as discontinued operations. Accordingly, we have recast the prior period results to be comparable with the current discontinued operations presentation. See Note 3 for additional information regarding these charges.

Significant Accounting Policies

Significant Accounting Policies and Other Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Significant Accounting Policies and Other Information	Significant Accounting Policies and Other Information Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (“GAAP”). Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results may differ from those estimates. Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its wholly-owned subsidiaries and those limited liability corporations where the Company or certain of its subsidiaries, as managing member, exercises control. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Revenue Recognition The Company recognizes revenue when services are rendered or when products are delivered and functional, as applicable. Certain services of the Company are billed in advance for service performance. In such cases, the Company records a service liability at the time of billing and subsequently recognizes revenue ratably over the service period. The Company bills customers certain transactional taxes on service revenues. These transactional taxes are not included in reported revenues as they are recognized as liabilities at the time customers are billed. The Company earns retail and wholesale revenues by providing access to and usage of its networks. Retail and certain wholesale revenues are recognized as services are provided. In long term contracts certain fixed elements are required to be recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the agreement. Revenues for equipment sales are recognized at the point of sale. Wireless handsets and other devices sold with service contracts are generally sold at prices below cost, based on the terms of the service contracts. The Company recognizes the entire cost of the handsets at the time of sale. The Company offers Equipment Installment Plan ("EIP"), which provides customers the option to pay for their devices over 24 months with no service contract. Additionally, after a specified period of time, customers have the right to trade in the original device for a new device and have the remaining unpaid balance satisfied. For customers that elect the EIP option, the Company recognizes revenue at the point of sale for the full retail price of the device, net of the estimated fair value of imputed interest and the estimated loss on trade-in. See Note 6 for additional information regarding EIP. The Company evaluates related transactions to determine whether they should be viewed as multiple deliverable arrangements, which impact revenue recognition. Multiple deliverable arrangements are presumed to be bundled transactions and the total consideration is measured and allocated to the separate units based on their relative selling price with certain limitations. The Company has determined that sales of handsets with service contracts related to these sales generated from Company-operated retail stores are multiple deliverable arrangements. Accordingly, substantially all of the nonrefundable activation fee revenues (as well as the associated direct costs) are allocated to the wireless handset and are recognized at the time of the sale, based on the fact that the handsets are generally sold below cost and thus appropriately allocated to the point of sale based on the relative selling price evaluation. However, revenue and certain associated direct costs for activations sold at third-party retail locations are deferred and amortized over the estimated life of the customer relationship as the Company is not a principal in the transaction to sell the handset and therefore any activation fees charged are fully attributable to the service revenues. The Company recognizes revenue in the period that persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery of the product has occurred or services have been rendered, it is able to determine the amount and when the collection of such amount is considered probable. Allowance for Doubtful Accounts The Company sells its PCS services and devices to individuals and commercial end-users and to other communication carriers. The Company has credit and collection policies to maximize collection of trade receivables and requires deposits on certain sales. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts based on historical results, current and expected trends and changes in credit policies. Management believes the allowance adequately covers all anticipated losses with respect to trade receivables and EIP sales. Actual credit losses could differ from such estimates. The Company includes bad debt expense in customer operations expense in the consolidated statements of operations. Changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 are summarized in the table below: Year Ended December 31, (3) (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Balance at beginning of year $ 4,608 $ 3,903 $ 2,934 Charged to operating expenses (1) 12,394 9,577 8,837 Deductions (2) (10,155 ) (8,872 ) (7,868 ) Balance at end of year $ 6,847 $ 4,608 $ 3,903 (1) Reflects provision for doubtful accounts, recorded in customer operations expense. (2) Reflects uncollectible accounts written off against the allowance, net of recoveries and credits issued to customers. (3) The table excludes provision for doubtful accounts of $7.7 million , $5.6 million and $6.7 million , and allowance for doubtful accounts of $1.5 million , $2.2 million , and $2.6 million recorded as part of discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively. See Note 3 for additional information regarding discontinued operations. Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities Year Ended December 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 Accrued payroll $ 5,010 $ 6,249 Accrued taxes 4,321 4,516 Other 8,672 9,490 Total $ 18,003 $ 20,255 Inventories and Supplies The Company’s inventories and supplies consist primarily of items held for resale such as devices and accessories. The Company values its inventory at the lower of cost or market. Inventory cost is computed on a currently adjusted standard cost basis (which approximates actual cost on a first-in, first-out basis). Market value is determined by reviewing current replacement cost, marketability and obsolescence. Long-Lived Asset Recovery Long-lived assets comprise property, plant and equipment, intangible assets (including goodwill, radio spectrum licenses, customer relationships and trademarks) and long-term deferred charges. Long-lived assets, excluding goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives, are recorded at cost and reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount should be evaluated pursuant to the subsequent measurement guidance described in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 360, Property, Plant and Equipment . Impairment is determined by comparing the carrying value of these long-lived assets to management’s best estimate of future undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets. If the carrying value exceeds the estimated undiscounted cash flows, the excess of the asset’s carrying value over the estimated fair value is recorded as an impairment charge. Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which the Company reviews and updates based on historical experiences and future expectations. Buildings are depreciated over a 50 -year life and leasehold improvements, which are categorized in land and buildings, are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful lives or the remaining lease terms. Network plant and equipment, which includes cell towers and site costs, and switch, cell site and other network equipment, are depreciated over various lives ranging from 5 to 17 years, with a weighted average life of approximately 10 years. Furniture, fixtures and other equipment are depreciated over various lives ranging from 2 to 18 years. The Company evaluates the appropriateness of estimated useful lives on at least an annual basis. Consideration is given to the trends in technological evolution and the telecommunications industry, the Company’s maintenance practices and the functional condition of long-lived assets in relation to the remaining estimated useful life of the asset. When necessary, adjustments are made to the applicable useful life of an asset class or depreciation is accelerated for assets that have been identified for retirement prior to the expiration of the original useful life. Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangibles Goodwill and radio spectrum licenses are considered indefinite-lived intangible assets. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are not subject to amortization but are instead tested for impairment annually, on October 1, or more frequently if an event indicates that the asset might be impaired. Before employing detailed impairment testing, the Company first evaluates the likelihood of impairment by considering relevant qualitative factors that may have a significant bearing on fair value. If we determine that it is more likely than not that goodwill is impaired, we apply detailed testing methodologies. Otherwise, we conclude that no impairment exists. For detailed testing, the Company uses a two-step process to test for goodwill impairment. Step one requires a determination of the fair value of each of the reporting units and, to the extent that this fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value (including goodwill), the step two calculation of implied fair value of goodwill is not required and no impairment loss is recognized. In testing for goodwill impairment, the Company utilizes an analysis which allocates enterprise value to the reporting units. The radio spectrum licenses relate primarily to PCS licenses in the markets that we serve. The Company considers a number of valuation methods, including market based and the Greenfield cash flow method, in its impairment testing for these assets. Income Taxes Deferred income taxes are provided on an asset and liability method whereby deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences and deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences. Temporary differences are the differences between the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment. The Company accrues interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and income tax expense, respectively. Pension Benefits and Retirement Benefits Other Than Pensions NTELOS Inc. sponsors a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan (“Pension Plan”) covering all employees who meet eligibility requirements and were employed by NTELOS Inc. prior to October 1, 2003. The Pension Plan was closed to NTELOS Inc. employees hired on or after October 1, 2003. Pension benefits vest after five years of plan service and are based on years of service and an average of the five highest consecutive years of compensation subject to certain reductions if the employee retires before reaching age 65 and elects to receive the benefit prior to age 65. Effective December 31, 2012, the Company froze future benefit accruals. In 2014, we adopted updated mortality tables published by the Society of Actuaries that predict increasing life expectancies in the United States. IRC Sections 412 and 430 and Sections 302 and 303 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended establish minimum funding requirements for defined benefit pension plans. The minimum required contribution is generally equal to the target normal cost plus the shortfall amortization installments for the current plan year and each of the six preceding plan years less any calculated credit balance. If plan assets (less calculated credits) are equal to or exceed the funding target, the minimum required contribution is the target normal cost reduced by the excess funding, but not below zero. The Company’s policy is to make contributions to stay at or above the threshold required in order to prevent benefit restrictions and related additional notice requirements and is intended to provide not only for benefits based on service to date, but also for those expected to be earned in the future. Also, NTELOS Inc. has nonqualified pension plans that are accounted for similar to its Pension Plan. NTELOS Inc. provides certain health care and life benefits for retired employees that meet eligibility requirements. The Company has two qualified nonpension postretirement benefit plans. The health care plan is contributory, with participants’ contributions adjusted annually. The life insurance plan also is contributory. These obligations, along with all of the pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans, are NTELOS Inc. obligations assumed by the Company. Eligibility for the life insurance plan is restricted to active pension participants age 50-64 as of January 5, 1994. Neither plan is eligible to employees hired after April 1993. The accounting for the plans anticipates that the Company will maintain a consistent level of cost sharing for the benefits with the retirees. The Company’s share of the projected costs of benefits that will be paid after retirement is generally being accrued by charges to expense over the eligible employees’ service periods to the dates they are fully eligible for benefits. NTELOS Inc. also sponsors a contributory defined contribution plan under IRC Section 401(k) for substantially all employees. The Company’s policy is to match 100% of each participant’s annual contributions for contributions up to 1% of each participant’s annual compensation and 50% of each participant’s annual contributions up to an additional 5% of each participant’s annual compensation. Company contributions vest after two years of service. Effective June 1, 2009, the Company began funding its 401(k) matching contributions in shares of the Company’s common stock. Further information regarding these plans is provided in Note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-08, Reporting of Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity , which changes the criteria for determining which disposals can be presented as discontinued operations and modifies related disclosure requirements. The guidance is effective prospectively for fiscal years and interim reporting periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2014, with early adoption permitted for transactions that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued or available for issuance. The standard was effective for the Company's fiscal year beginning January 1, 2015 and has been applied to the November 15, 2015 discontinuation of our Eastern Markets operations and all prior periods have been recast to reflect this adoption. See Note 3 for additional information and required disclosures. In May 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) . This ASU provides a framework that replaces the existing revenue recognition guidance and is intended to improve the financial reporting requirements. The guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those years, with early adoption being prohibited. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of the ASU on its financial statements. In August 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern , which requires management to assess an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures in certain circumstances. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. In April 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, which changes the presentation of debt issuance costs in the financial statements. ASU 2015-03 requires an entity to present such costs in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset. Amortization of the costs will continue to be reported as interest expense. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The guidance will be applied retrospectively to each period presented. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of the ASU on its financial statements. In April 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-05, Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement, which provides additional guidance regarding cloud computing arrangements. The guidance requires registrants to account for a cloud computing arrangement that includes a software license element consistent with the acquisition of other software licenses. Cloud computing arrangement without software licenses are to be accounted for as a service contract. This guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. In July 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Inventory: Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory, which changes the measurement principle for inventory from the lower of cost or market to lower of cost and net realizable value. The ASU also eliminates the requirement for these entities to consider replacement cost or net realizable value less an approximately normal profit margin when measuring inventory. This guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of the ASU on its financial statements. In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes , which requires that all deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in the balance sheet effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted, and may be applied either prospectively or retrospectively. We have adopted this guidance retrospectively as of December 31, 2015. The Consolidated Balance Sheet for the year ended December 31, 2014 has been restated to reflect this change in accounting principle and reclass of $22.8 million of "Deferred income taxes" from current to non-current. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases , which requires lessees to recognize assets and liabilities for most leases and would change certain aspects of current lease accounting, among other things. The guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of the ASU on its financial statements.

Discontinued Operations (Notes)

Discontinued Operations (Notes)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Disclosure [Text Block]	Discontinued Operations On December 1, 2014, the Company entered into an agreement to sell its wireless spectrum licenses in its eastern Virginia and Outer Banks of North Carolina markets (“Eastern Markets”) for approximately $56.0 million . The transaction closed on April 15, 2015. The Company entered into lease agreements to continue using the Eastern Markets spectrum licenses for varying terms ranging from the closing date through November 15, 2015. Effective November 16, 2015, we ceased commercial operations and all subscribers had been migrated off our network. As a result of no longer providing service in the Eastern Markets, certain assets, liabilities and results of operations associated with this market are now being reported as discontinued operations. Accordingly, we have recast the prior period results to be comparable with the current discontinued operations presentation. During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014, as a result of the agreement to sell the Company's wireless spectrum licenses in the Eastern Markets, the Company calculated its fair value to be $57.9 million , the sales price plus the implied value of the non-cash spectrum leaseback. Accordingly, an impairment charge of $29.0 million was recorded during the fourth quarter of 2014. In conjunction with the agreement to sell the wireless spectrum and wind down of its operations in the Eastern Markets, the Company concluded that a triggering event had occurred and assessed the recoverability of its long-lived assets. The Company first assessed the ability to redeploy Eastern Markets property, plant and equipment. For the property, plant and equipment that was deemed not to be redeployable, the Company used market quotes and recorded an impairment charge of $57.0 million during the fourth quarter of 2014 and wrote off abandoned construction in progress and certain other assets of $1.9 million . In addition, restructuring liabilities have been established for employee separations, lease abandonments, operating lease terminations, and other related costs, Employee separation costs consist of severance to be paid in accordance with the Company’s written severance plan and certain management contracts. Severance payments are expected to be paid through 2016. Contract termination costs include lease abandonment costs for retail stores and other termination costs for contractual obligations for network services. Lease abandonment costs represent future minimum lease obligations, net of estimated sublease income. Contract termination costs are expected to be paid through 2019 absent settlements with vendors. Other costs include legal and advisory fees, which were paid in 2015. Financial results for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 reported as Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations are as follows: Year Ended December 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Operating Revenues Retail Revenue $ 49,189 $ 112,808 $ 119,381 Wholesale and other revenue 3,179 1,794 2,338 Equipment sales 1,340 13,098 10,397 Operating Revenues 53,708 127,700 132,116 Operating Expenses Cost of services 28,731 37,906 33,933 Cost of equipment sold 1,199 31,427 32,574 Customer operations 12,574 30,784 35,104 Corporate operations 1,805 4,806 6,113 Restructuring 26,830 2,681 — Impairment 117 87,853 — Depreciation and amortization 4,999 21,235 18,913 Gain on sale of assets (5,637 ) — — 70,618 216,692 126,637 Operating Income (Loss) (16,910 ) (88,992 ) 5,479 Other Income (Expense) Other income (expense), net 127 2 (11 ) 127 2 (11 ) Income (Loss) before Income Taxes (16,783 ) (88,990 ) 5,468 Income Taxes (Benefit) (6,880 ) (33,641 ) 2,417 Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations $ (9,903 ) $ (55,349 ) $ 3,051 Assets and liabilities presented as discontinued operations as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 are as follows: (In thousands) December 31, 2015 December 31, 2014 Current Assets Accounts receivable, net $ 1,101 $ 9,070 Inventories and supplies — 319 Prepaid expenses 1,002 5,248 Other current assets 18 126 Total current assets from discontinued operations 2,121 14,763 Property plant and equipment — 23,893 Assets held for sale 1,733 59,954 Other non-current assets — 1,555 Total assets from discontinued operations $ 3,854 $ 100,165 Current Liabilities Current portion of long-term debt $ 55 $ 88 Accounts payable 6,003 411 Advance billings and customer deposits 115 4,848 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 6,881 6,898 Total current liabilities from discontinued operations 13,054 12,245 Long-Term Debt 46 101 Other Long-Term Liabilities 789 27,628 Total liabilities from discontinued operations $ 13,889 $ 39,974 Following is selected operating and investing cash flow activity from discontinued operations included in Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows: Year Ended December 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Depreciation and amortization $ 4,999 $ 21,235 $ 18,913 Impairment and other charges 117 87,853 — Bad debt expense 7,676 5,594 6,671 Restructuring payments 26,658 230 — Proceeds from sale of assets 62,838 — — Purchases of property, plant, and equipment 578 25,181 12,433

Supplemental Financial Informat

Supplemental Financial Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Supplemental Financial Information [Abstract]
Supplemental Financial Information	Supplemental Financial Information Cash The Company’s cash was held in market rate savings accounts and non-interest bearing deposit accounts. The total held in the market rate savings accounts at December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $39.7 million and $28.5 million , respectively. The remaining $33.0 million and $45.0 million of cash at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively, was held in non-interest bearing deposit accounts. Restricted Cash The Company is eligible to receive up to $5.0 million in connection with its winning bid in the Connect America Fund's Mobility Fund Phase I Auction ("Auction 901"). Pursuant to the terms of Auction 901, the Company was required to obtain a Letter of Credit (“LOC”) for the benefit of the Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”) to cover each disbursement plus the amount of the performance default penalty ( 10% of the total eligible award). USAC may draw upon the LOC in the event the Company fails to demonstrate the required wireless service coverage by the applicable deadline in 2016. The Company obtained the first LOC in the amount of $2.2 million, representing the first disbursement of $1.7 million received in September 2013, plus the performance default penalty of $0.5 million. In accordance with the terms of the LOC, the Company deposited $2.2 million into a separate account at the issuing bank to serve as cash collateral. Such funds will be released when the LOC is terminated without being drawn upon by USAC. Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations An asset retirement obligation is evaluated and recorded as appropriate on assets for which the Company has a legal obligation to retire. The Company records a liability for an asset retirement obligation and the associated asset retirement cost at the time the underlying asset is acquired. Subsequent to the initial measurement of the asset retirement obligation, the obligation is adjusted at the end of each period to reflect the passage of time and changes in the estimated future cash flows underlying the obligation, if any. The Company enters into long-term leasing arrangements primarily for tower sites and retail store locations. The Company constructs assets at these locations and, in accordance with the terms of many of these agreements, the Company is obligated to restore the premises to their original condition at the conclusion of the agreements, generally at the demand of the other party to these agreements. The Company recognizes the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation and capitalizes that cost as part of the cost basis of the related asset, depreciating it over the useful life of the related asset. The following table indicates the changes to the Company’s asset retirement obligation liability, which is included in other long-term liabilities, for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 : (In thousands) 2015 2014 Asset retirement obligations, beginning $ 19,236 $ 15,528 Net increases due to changes in, and timing of estimated future cash flows 438 2,901 Accretion of asset retirement obligations 1,111 807 Asset retirement obligations, ending $ 20,785 $ 19,236 The Company revised cost estimates used to determine the fair value of its asset retirement obligations resulting in an increase in the liability and related assets of $2.8 million at December 31, 2014. The Company recorded an immaterial amount in 2015. Advertising Costs The Company expenses advertising costs and marketing production costs as incurred (included within customer operations expense in the consolidated statements of operations). Advertising costs for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 were $11.9 million , $11.8 million and $10.9 million , respectively.

Supplemental Cash Flow Informat

Supplemental Cash Flow Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]
Supplemental Cash Flow Information	Supplemental Cash Flow Information The following information is presented as supplementary disclosures for the consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 : Year Ended December 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Cash payments for: Interest (net of amounts capitalized) $ 29,422 $ 34,891 $ 22,693 Income taxes 25,770 3,601 4,087 Cash received from income tax refunds 3,975 1,434 3,704 Supplemental investing and financing activities: Additions to property, plant and equipment included in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities 9,324 8,509 8,272 Borrowings under capital leases 67 562 380 Dividends declared not paid — — 9,221 The amount of interest capitalized was $1.3 million , $0.3 million and $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 , respectively.

Property, Plan And Equipment

Property, Plan And Equipment	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment	Property, Plant and Equipment The components of property, plant and equipment, and the related accumulated depreciation, were as follows: (In thousands) December 31, 2015 December 31, 2014 Land and buildings $ 27,406 $ 27,560 Network plant and equipment 451,996 345,373 Furniture, fixtures and other equipment 95,095 88,492 574,497 461,425 Under construction 27,577 16,859 602,074 478,284 Less: accumulated depreciation 275,814 212,230 Property, plant and equipment, net $ 326,260 $ 266,054 Buildings and improvements principally consists of owned general office facilities, retail stores and leasehold improvements. Network, plant and equipment includes switching equipment, cell site towers, site development costs, radio frequency equipment, network software, transport and transmission-related equipment. Furniture, fixtures and other equipment includes internal use software, office equipment, and other primarily consists of furniture, information technology systems, equipment and vehicles, and leased devices. Construction in progress, which is not depreciated until placed in service, primarily includes materials, transmission and related equipment, labor, engineering, site development costs, interest and other costs relating to the construction and development of our network. Depreciation expense relating to property and equipment was $54.3 million , $53.3 million and $51.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Intangible Assets	Intangible Assets Intangible Assets not Subject to Amortization Goodwill and radio spectrum licenses are not considered amortizable intangible assets. The Company allocates all its goodwill to the markets in western Virginia and West Virginia. The Company tested its goodwill and radio spectrum licenses as of October 1, 2015 and concluded that no impairment existed as of that date. Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization Customer relationships and trademarks are considered amortizable intangible assets. At December 31, 2015 and 2014 , customer relationships and trademarks were comprised of the following: December 31, 2015 December 31, 2014 (In thousands) Estimated Useful Life Gross Amount Accumulated Net Gross Amount Accumulated Net Customer relationship 17.5 years $ 36,900 $ (34,630 ) $ 2,270 $ 36,900 $ (34,305 ) $ 2,595 Trademarks 15 years 7,000 (4,978 ) 2,022 7,000 (4,511 ) 2,489 Total $ 43,900 $ (39,608 ) $ 4,292 $ 43,900 $ (38,816 ) $ 5,084 The Company amortizes its amortizable intangible assets using the straight-line method unless it determines that another systematic method is more appropriate. The estimated life of amortizable intangible assets is determined from the unique factors specific to each asset and the Company reviews and updates estimated lives based on later events and future expectations. Amortization expense was $0.8 million , $1.9 million , $3.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 , and 2013 , respectively. Amortization expense for the next five years is expected to be as follows: (In thousands) Customer Relationships Trademarks Total 2016 $ 324 $ 467 $ 791 2017 324 467 791 2018 324 467 791 2019 324 467 791 2020 324 154 478 Thereafter 650 — 650 $ 2,270 $ 2,022 $ 4,292

Long-Term Debt

Long-Term Debt	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Long-Term Debt	Long-Term Debt As of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 , the Company’s outstanding long-term debt consisted of the following: (In thousands) December 31, 2015 December 31, 2014 Senior secured term loans, net of unamortized debt discount $ 519,820 $ 524,504 Capital lease obligations 419 715 520,239 525,219 Less: current portion of long-term debt 5,605 5,728 Long-term debt $ 514,634 $ 519,491 Long-Term Debt, Excluding Capital Lease Obligations On November 9, 2012, NTELOS Inc. entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”), which amended and restated, in its entirety, that certain Credit Agreement dated August 7, 2009 (the “Original Credit Agreement”). The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement provided for (1) a term loan A in the aggregate amount of $150.0 million (the “Term Loan A”); and (2) a term loan B in the aggregate amount of $350.0 million (the “Term Loan B” and, together with the Term Loan A, the “Term Loans”). On January 31, 2014, the Company completed the refinancing of Term Loan A, which converted the outstanding principal balance of $148.1 million of Term Loan A into Term Loan B, and borrowed an additional $40.0 million under Term Loan B. The additional Term Loan B borrowings bear the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the Company’s existing Term Loan B borrowings. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement provides for a new Term Loan B in the aggregate amount of $533.8 million . The Term Loan B matures in November 2019, with quarterly payments of approximately $1.4 million beginning March 31, 2014 and continuing through September 30, 2019, and the remainder due on November 9, 2019. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement also permits incremental commitments of up to $125.0 million (the “Incremental Commitments”) of which up to $35.0 million can be in the form of a revolving credit facility. The ability to incur the Incremental Commitments is subject to various restrictions and conditions, including having a Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement) not in excess of 4.50 : 1.00 at the time of incurrence (calculated on a pro forma basis). As of December 31, 2015 , there were no commitments associated with the Incremental Commitments. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement provided that the Term Loan A be issued at a 1.0% discount ( $1.5 million ) and bear interest at a rate equal to either 3.5% above the Eurodollar Rate (as defined in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement) or 2.5% above the Base Rate (as defined in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement), and the Term Loan B be issued at a 1.0% discount ( $3.5 million ) and bear interest at a rate equal to either 4.75% above the Eurodollar Rate or 3.75% above the Base Rate. The refinancing provided that the refinanced amount plus the additional borrowing of $40 million be issued at a 0.25% discount ( $0.5 million ) and bear interest at a rate equal to either 4.75% above the Eurodollar Rate or 3.75% above the Base Rate. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement provides that the Eurodollar Rate shall never be less than 1.0% per annum and the Base Rate shall never be less than 2.0% per annum. All loans outstanding under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement are secured by a first priority pledge of substantially all property and assets of Ntelos Inc. and all material subsidiaries, as guarantors. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants which, among other things, restrict the ability of NTELOS Inc. and its guarantors to incur additional debt, grant liens, make investments, sell assets and make Restricted Payments (as defined in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, which include paying dividends). The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement has a Restricted Payments basket, initially set at $50.0 million , which can be used to make Restricted Payments, including the ability to pay dividends, repurchase stock or advance funds to the Company. This Restricted Payment basket increases by $6.5 million per quarter and decreases by actual Restricted Payments made after the date of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and by certain investments and debt prepayments made after the date of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. In addition, the Restricted Payment basket increases by the positive amount, if any, of 50% (or, if the Leverage Ratio as of the most recently ended twelve month period, was less than 2.75 : 1 . 0 , 75% ) of the Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement), for the most recently ended fiscal quarter in excess of $10.0 million . NTELOS Inc. may not make Restricted Payments if its Leverage Ratio (calculated on a pro forma basis) is greater than to 4.25 : 1.00 . In addition, this Restricted Payments basket increases by the amount of any mandatory prepayments on the Term Loans to the extent the lenders decline to receive such prepayment. There was no Excess Cash Flow for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 . The balance of the Restricted Payments basket as of December 31, 2015 was $86.1 million . Under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, mandatory debt prepayments of 50% of Excess Cash Flow for the most recently ended fiscal year (beginning with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013) must be made by the 90 th day of the following year, if the Leverage Ratio is above 4.50 : 1.00 . Mandatory debt prepayments of 25% of Excess Cash Flow for a fiscal year must be made by the 90 th day of the following year, if the Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than 4.50 : 1.00 but above 3.75 : 1.00 . If NTELOS Inc.’s Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than 3.75 : 1.00 for a fiscal year, NTELOS Inc. is not required to make an Excess Cash Flow mandatory debt prepayment for that fiscal year. At December 31, 2015 , NTELOS Inc.’s Leverage Ratio (as defined under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement) was 7.65 : 1.00 . In connection with the refinancing, the Company incurred approximately $3.8 million in creditor and third party fees, of which $3.7 million was deferred and is being amortized to interest expense over the life of the debt using the effective interest method. The Company also deferred $0.5 million in debt discounts related to the new Term Loan B borrowings, which are being accreted to the Term Loan B using the effective interest method over the life of the debt and are reflected in interest expense. Additionally, the Company wrote off a proportionate amount of the unamortized deferred fees and debt discount from the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement totaling $0.5 million and $0.2 million , respectively, which are reflected in other expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. Accretion of these discounts for each of the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $0.7 million . The aggregate maturities of long-term debt outstanding at December 31, 2015 , excluding capital lease obligations, based on the contractual terms of the instruments are as follows: (In thousands) Term Loan 2016 $ 5,405 2017 5,405 2018 5,405 2019 506,725 Total $ 522,940 The Company’s blended average interest rate on its long-term debt was approximately 6.4% and 6.3% for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. Capital Lease Obligations In addition to the long-term debt discussed above, the Company has entered into capital leases on vehicles with original lease terms of four to five years. At December 31, 2015 , the carrying value and accumulated depreciation of these assets was $1.9 million and $1.2 million , respectively. The total net present value of the Company’s future minimum lease payments is $0.4 million . As of December 31, 2015 , the principal portion of these capital lease obligations is due as follows: $0.2 million in 2016, $0.1 million in 2017 and less than $0.1 million in 2018 and 2019.

Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Financial Instruments	Financial Instruments The Company is exposed to market risks with respect to certain of the financial instruments that it holds. Cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities are reflected in the consolidated financial statements at cost, which approximates fair value because of the short-term nature of these instruments. The fair values of other financial instruments are determined using observable market prices. The following is a summary by balance sheet category: Long-Term Investments At December 31, 2015 and 2014 , the Company had an investment in CoBank, ACB (“CoBank”) of $1.5 million . This investment is primarily related to a required investment under the Original Credit Agreement and declared and unpaid patronage distributions of restricted equity related to the portion of the term loans previously held by CoBank. This investment is carried under the cost method as it is not practicable to estimate fair value. This investment is subject to redemption in accordance with CoBank’s capital recovery plans. Interest Rate Derivatives In February 2013, the Company purchased an interest rate cap for $0.9 million with a notional amount of $350.0 million , which caps the three month Eurodollar rate at 1.0% and expired in August 2015. The Company did not designate the interest rate cap agreement as a cash flow hedge for accounting purposes. Therefore, the change in market value of the agreement is recorded as a gain or loss in Other Expense. The Company recorded an immaterial loss for the year ended December 31, 2015 and losses of $0.2 million and $0.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The following table indicates the difference between face amount, carrying amount and fair value of the Company’s financial instruments at December 31, 2015 and 2014 . Face Carrying Fair (In thousands) Amount Amount Value December 31, 2015 Nonderivatives: Financial assets: Long-term investments for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value N/A $ 1,522 N/A Financial liabilities: Term Loans $ 522,940 $ 519,820 $ 517,710 Capital lease obligations $ 419 $ 419 $ 419 December 31, 2014 Nonderivatives: Long-term investments for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value N/A $ 1,522 N/A Financial liabilities: Term loans $ 528,345 $ 525,504 $ 459,660 Capital lease obligations $ 904 $ 904 $ 904 Derivative related to debt: Interest rate cap asset $ 350,000 * $ — $ — * Notional amount The fair values of the Term Loans under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement were derived based on bid prices at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 , respectively. The fair value of the derivative instrument was based on a quoted market price at December 31, 2014 . These instruments are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy described in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.

Equity and Earnings Per Share

Equity and Earnings Per Share	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]
Equity and Earnings Per Share	Equity and Earnings Per Share On August 24, 2009, the Board of Directors authorized management to repurchase up to $40.0 million of the Company’s common stock. The Company may conduct its purchases in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, through derivative transactions or through purchases made in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The share repurchase program does not require the Company to acquire any specific number of shares and may be terminated at any time. Through December 31, 2009, the Company had repurchased 523,233 shares for $16.9 million . The Company did not repurchase any of its common shares during fiscal years 2013 through 2015 under the authorization. Additionally, during the fiscal years 2015 and 2014, the Company repurchased approximately $0.1 million of restricted common stock in order to satisfy certain minimum tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of restricted stock. The computations of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 are as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2015 (In thousands) Continuing Operations Discontinued Operations Total Numerator: Net income (loss) attributable to common shares for earnings per share computation $ (2,303 ) $ (9,903 ) $ (12,206 ) Denominator: Total shares outstanding 22,264 22,264 22,264 Less: unvested shares (949 ) (949 ) (949 ) Less: effect of calculating weighted average shares (58 ) (58 ) (58 ) Denominator for basic earnings per common share – weighted average shares outstanding 21,257 21,257 21,257 Plus: weighted average unvested shares — — — Plus: common stock equivalents of stock options — — — Plus: performance stock units — — — Denominator for diluted earnings per common share – weighted average shares outstanding 21,257 21,257 21,257 Basic earnings (loss) per common share $ (0.10 ) $ (0.47 ) $ (0.57 ) Diluted earnings (loss) per common share $ (0.10 ) $ (0.47 ) $ (0.57 ) Year Ended December 31, 2014 (In thousands) Continuing Operations Discontinued Operations Total Numerator: Net income (loss) attributable to common shares for earnings per share computation $ 1,715 $ (55,349 ) $ (53,634 ) Denominator: Total shares outstanding 21,616 21,616 21,616 Less: unvested shares (463 ) (463 ) (463 ) Less: effect of calculating weighted average shares (42 ) (42 ) (42 ) Denominator for basic earnings per common share – weighted average shares outstanding 21,111 21,111 21,111 Plus: weighted average unvested shares — — — Plus: common stock equivalents of stock options — — — Plus: performance stock units — — — Denominator for diluted earnings per common share – weighted average shares outstanding 21,111 21,111 21,111 Basic earnings (loss) per common share $ 0.08 $ (2.62 ) $ (2.54 ) Diluted earnings (loss) per common share $ 0.08 $ (2.62 ) $ (2.54 ) Year Ended December 31, 2013 (In thousands) Continuing Operations Discontinued Operations Total Numerator: Net income (loss) attributable to common shares for earnings per share computation $ 21,627 $ 3,051 $ 24,678 Denominator: Total shares outstanding 21,510 21,510 21,510 Less: unvested shares (443 ) (443 ) (443 ) Less: effect of calculating weighted average shares (41 ) (41 ) (41 ) Denominator for basic earnings per common share – weighted average shares outstanding 21,026 21,026 21,026 Plus: weighted average unvested shares 422 422 422 Plus: common stock equivalents of stock options 285 285 285 Plus: performance stock units 93 93 93 Denominator for diluted earnings per common share – weighted average shares outstanding 21,826 21,826 21,826 Basic earnings (loss) per common share $ 1.02 $ 0.15 $ 1.17 Diluted earnings (loss) per common share $ 0.99 $ 0.14 $ 1.13 In accordance with ASC 260, Earnings Per Share , unvested share-based payment awards that contain rights to receive non-forfeitable dividends or dividend equivalents, whether paid or unpaid, are considered a “participating security” for purposes of computing earnings or loss per common share pursuant to the two-class method. T he Company's unvested restricted stock awards have rights to receive non-forfeitable dividends. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 , the Company has calculated basic earnings per share using weighted average shares outstanding and the two-class method and determined there was no significant difference in the per share amounts calculated under the two methods. For the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 , the denominator for diluted earnings per common share excludes approximately 1.6 million shares, 1.6 million shares and 1.8 million shares, respectively, related to stock options that were antidilutive for the respective periods presented. In addition, the performance-based portion of the performance stock units ("PSUs") is excluded from diluted earnings per share until the performance criteria are satisfied.

Stock Plans

Stock Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Stock Plans	Stock Plans The Company has employee equity incentive plans (referred to as the “Employee Equity Incentive Plans”) administered by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s board of directors, which permits the grant of long-term incentives to employees, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, performance stock units, incentive awards, other stock-based awards and dividend equivalents. The maximum number of shares of common stock available for awards under the Employee Equity Incentive Plans is 4,025,000 . The Company also has a non-employee director equity plan (the “Non-Employee Director Equity Plan”). The total number of shares of common stock originally available for grant under the Non-Employee Director Equity Plan is 200,000 . The Non-Employee Director Equity Plan together with the Employee Equity Incentive Plans are referred to as the “Equity Incentive Plans.” Awards under these plans are issuable to employees or non-employee directors as applicable. During the year ended December 31, 2015 , the Company issued 261,503 stock options under the Employee Equity Incentive Plans. No options were issued under the Non-Employee Director Equity Plan during 2015. During the year ended December 31, 2014 , the Company issued 347,023 stock options under the Employee Equity Incentive Plans and 27,170 stock options under the Non-Employee Director Equity Plan. The options issued under the Employee Equity Incentive Plans generally vest one-fourth annually beginning one year after the grant date and the options issued under the Non-Employee Director Equity Plan cliff vest on the first anniversary of the grant date. During the year ended December 31, 2015 , the Company issued 415,401 shares of restricted stock under the Employee Equity Incentive Plans and 87,525 shares of restricted stock under the Non-Employee Director Equity Plan. During the year ended December 31, 2014 , the Company issued 132,041 shares of restricted stock under the Employee Equity Incentive Plans and 11,338 shares of restricted stock under the Non-Employee Director Equity Plan. The restricted shares granted under the Employee Equity Incentive Plans generally cliff vest on the first or third anniversary of the grant date. The restricted shares granted under the Non-Employee Director Equity Plan cliff vest on the first anniversary of the grant date. Dividend and voting rights applicable to restricted stock are equivalent to the Company’s common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2015 , the Company granted 28,031 performance stock units ("PSUs") under the Employee Equity Incentive Plans to certain key employees. During the year ended December 31, 2014 , the Company granted 83,151 performance stock units ("PSUs") under the Employee Equity Incentive Plans to certain key employees. The PSUs cliff vest on the third anniversary of the grant date and are subject to certain performance and market conditions. Each PSU represents the contingent right to receive one share (or more based on maximum achievement) of the Company’s common stock if vesting is satisfied. The PSUs have no voting rights. Dividends, if any, that would have been paid on the underlying shares will be paid as dividend equivalent units on PSUs that vest, on or after the vesting date. Stock options must be granted under the Equity Incentive Plans at not less than 100% of fair value on the date of grant and have a maximum life of ten years from the date of grant. Stock options and other awards under the Equity Incentive Plans may be exercised in compliance with such requirements as determined by the Compensation Committee. The Company accounts for share-based employee compensation plans under ASC 718, Stock Compensation . Equity-based compensation expense from share-based equity awards is recorded with an offsetting increase to additional paid in capital on the consolidated balance sheet. For equity awards with only service conditions, the Company recognizes compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award. The fair value of each common stock option award granted in 2015 , 2014 and 2013 was estimated on the respective grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and the assumptions noted in the following table. The risk-free rate is based on the zero-coupon U.S. Treasury rate in effect at the time of grant, with a term equal to the expected life of the options. The Company uses its post-February 2006 initial public offering volatility to estimate volatility assumptions for each year. The expected option life represents the period of time that the options granted are expected to be outstanding and is based on historical experience. The expected dividend yield is estimated based on the Company’s historical and expected dividend yields at the date of the grant. 2015 2014 2013 Risk-free interest rate 2.0% 2.4% 1.3% to 1.5% Expected volatility 46.4% 39.2% to 39.4% 39.3% to 39.6% Weighted-average expected volatility 46.4% 39.4% 39.4% Expected dividend yield —% 8.5% to 12.9% 12.9% to 14.2% Weighted-average expected dividend yield —% 12.6% 13.5% Expected term 5 years 7 years 7 years Total equity-based compensation expense related to all of the Company’s share-based equity awards for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 and the Company’s 401(k) matching contributions was allocated as follows: Year Ended December 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Cost of services $ 651 $ 593 $ 634 Customer operations 615 918 1,067 Corporate operations 2,182 1,458 3,852 Equity-based compensation expense $ 3,448 $ 2,969 $ 5,553 Future charges for equity-based compensation related to instruments outstanding at December 31, 2015 are estimated to be $1.5 million for 2016, $1.0 million for 2017, $0.2 million in 2018 and less than $0.1 million for 2019. The summary of the activity and status of the Company’s stock option awards for the year ended December 31, 2015 is as follows: (In thousands, except per share amounts) Shares Weighted Average Exercise Price per Share Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term Aggregate Intrinsic Value Stock options outstanding at January 1, 2015 1,583 $ 19.09 Granted during the period 261 6.00 Exercised during the period 1 0.58 Forfeited/expired during the period (298 ) 21.13 Stock options outstanding at December 31, 2015 1,547 $ 16.50 6.5 $ — Exercisable at December 31, 2015 933 $ 20.19 5.4 $ — Total expected to vest at December 31, 2015 552 $ 12.10 The weighted average grant date fair value per share of stock options granted during fiscal years 2015 , 2014 and 2013 was $1.72 , $1.02 and $0.71 , respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during fiscal year 2015 and 2014 was an immaterial amount, with $0.1 million during fiscal year 2013 . The total fair value of options that vested during fiscal years 2015 , 2014 and 2013 was $0.6 million , $1.5 million and $1.6 million , respectively. As of December 31, 2015 , there was approximately $0.5 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.6 years. The summary of the activity and status of the Company’s restricted stock awards for the year ended December 31, 2015 is as follows: (In thousands, except per share amounts) Shares Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share Restricted stock awards outstanding at January 1, 2015 245 $ 14.93 Granted during the period 503 5.37 Vested during the period (136 ) 13.40 Forfeited during the period (21 ) 11.28 Restricted stock awards outstanding at December 31, 2015 591 $ 7.30 As of December 31, 2015 , there was $1.9 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted stock awards, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.9 years. The fair value of the restricted stock award is equal to the market value of common stock on the date of grant. The summary of the activity and status of the Company’s performance stock unit awards for the year ended December 31, 2015 is as follows: (In thousands, except per share amounts) Shares Weighted Average Grant Fair Value per Share Performance stock units outstanding at January 1, 2015 99 $ 11.24 Granted during the period 28 7.33 Vested during the period (47 ) 12.78 Forfeited during the period (10 ) 11.22 Performance stock units outstanding at December 31, 2015 70 $ 8.62 At December 31, 2015 , there was $0.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested PSUs, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.5 years . The fair value of the PSU is estimated at the grant date using a Monte Carlo simulation model. In addition to the Equity Incentive Plans discussed above, the Company has an employee stock purchase plan, which commenced in July 2006 with 100,000 shares available. Shares purchased under this plan have been issued from the treasury stock balance. If treasury shares are not available, new common shares have been issued for purchases under this plan. Shares are priced at 85% of the closing price on the last trading day of the month and settlement is done semi-annually. During fiscal years 2015 , 2014 and 2013 , 7,814 shares, 4,669 shares and 6,183 shares, respectively, were issued under the employee stock purchase plan. Compensation expense associated with the employee stock purchase plan for fiscal years 2015 , 2014 and 2013 was immaterial.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes The components of income tax expense from continuing operations are as follows for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 : (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Current tax expense: Federal $ 466 $ 508 $ 1,159 State 865 359 560 1,331 867 1,719 Deferred tax expense: Federal 1,452 412 12,002 State (596 ) (532 ) 2,406 856 (120 ) 14,408 $ 2,187 $ 747 $ 16,127 Total income tax expense was different than an amount computed by applying the graduated statutory federal income tax rates to income before taxes. The reasons for the differences are as follows for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 : (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Computed tax expense at statutory federal rate of 35% $ 369 $ 1,375 $ 13,936 Nondeductible merger expenses 1,313 — — Equity-based compensation 444 (364 ) — Nondeductible compensation 47 87 273 Noncontrolling interests (409 ) (514 ) (721 ) State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit 175 112 1,928 Other 248 51 711 $ 2,187 $ 747 $ 16,127 During 2015 , the Company recognized $0.4 million of tax expense related to equity-based compensation shortfalls in net income from continuing operations. In 2014, the Company recognized the benefit of $0.4 million of equity-based compensation deductions in continuing operations that previously were not recognizable under ASC 718. In addition, during 2014 and 2013 , the Company recognized a tax expense of approximately $1.0 million and $0.7 million , respectively, in stockholders’ equity associated with equity-based compensation. Deferred tax assets are not recognized for net operating loss carry-forwards resulting from excess benefits related to equity compensation. During 2015 , 2014 and 2013 , the Company recognized a tax expense of $1.2 million , $5.0 million and $3.5 million , respectively, in accumulated other comprehensive loss associated with the adjustments to various employee benefit plan liabilities in accordance with ASC 715. Income tax expense (benefit) allocated to other items was as follows for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013: (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Discontinued operations $ (6,880 ) $ (33,641 ) $ 2,417 Net deferred income tax assets and liabilities consist of the following components as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 : (In thousands) 2015 2014 Deferred income tax assets Retirement benefits other than pension $ 1,294 $ 1,232 Pension and related plans 6,256 7,158 Net operating loss 33,908 46,264 Accrued expenses 3,746 3,548 Other 4,160 3,153 49,364 61,355 Deferred income tax liabilities Property and equipment 44,234 45,011 Intangible assets 883 1,009 Licenses 13,782 13,660 58,899 59,680 Deferred income tax asset (liability), net $ (9,535 ) $ 1,675 The Company has certain Federal prior year unused NOLs, including certain built-in losses that are subject to limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“IRC”) Section 382. These prior year NOLs are subject to an adjusted annual maximum limit (the “IRC 382 Limit”) of approximately $8.9 million . Based on the IRC 382 Limit, the Company expects that $85.4 million of these prior year NOLs will be available to the Company as follows: $8.9 million in 2016 through 2024, $4.9 million in 2025 and $0.4 million in 2026. The Company also has certain state NOLs that will be available to the Company substantially similar to the Federal NOLs. The Company believes that it is more likely than not that its results of future operations will generate sufficient taxable income to realize the deferred tax assets. The Company recognizes interest related to unrecognized income tax benefits (“UTBs”) in interest expense and penalties on UTBs in income tax expense. The Company did not have any UTBs as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 . While the Company believes it has adequately provided for all tax positions, amounts asserted by taxing authorities could be greater than its accrued position. Accordingly, additional provisions could be recorded in the future as revised estimates are made or the underlying matters are settled or otherwise resolved. In general, the tax years that remain open and subject to federal and state audit examinations are 2012-2015, respectively.

Pension Plans and Other Postret

Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits	Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits The Company sponsors several qualified and nonqualified pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans for its employees. The following tables provide a reconciliation of the changes in the qualified plans’ benefit obligations and fair value of assets and a statement of the funded status as of and for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 , and the classification of amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets: Defined Benefit Pension Plan Other Postretirement Benefit Plans (In thousands) 2015 2014 2015 2014 Change in benefit obligations: Benefit obligations, beginning of period $ 38,282 $ 27,774 $ 3,111 $ 1,980 Service cost — — 47 40 Interest cost 1,519 1,375 126 98 Actuarial (gain) loss (4,095 ) 10,135 56 805 Benefits paid, net (1,963 ) (1,002 ) (119 ) (26 ) Benefit obligations transferred — — — 214 Benefit obligations, end of period $ 33,743 $ 38,282 $ 3,221 $ 3,111 Change in plan assets: Fair value of plan assets, beginning of period $ 24,718 $ 24,610 $ — $ — Actual return on plan assets (127 ) 1,148 — — Employer contributions — — 192 102 Benefits paid (2,021 ) (1,040 ) (192 ) (102 ) Fair value of plan assets, end of period $ 22,570 $ 24,718 $ — $ — Funded status: Total liability, end of period $ (11,173 ) $ (13,564 ) $ (3,221 ) $ (3,111 ) The accumulated benefit obligation for the defined benefit pension plan at December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $33.7 million and $38.3 million , respectively. The accumulated benefit obligation represents the present value of pension benefits based on service and salary earned to date. The defined benefit plan was frozen for future benefit accruals as of December 31, 2012. Accordingly, the accumulated benefit obligation is equal to the projected benefit obligation. The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit cost for the plans for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 : Defined Benefit Pension Plan Other Postretirement Benefit Plans (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 2015 2014 2013 Components of net periodic benefit cost: Service cost $ — $ — $ — $ 47 $ 40 $ 54 Interest cost 1,519 1,375 1,325 153 122 78 Recognized net actuarial loss 523 — 131 192 102 16 Expected return on plan assets (1,770 ) (1,886 ) (1,595 ) — — — Net periodic benefit cost $ 272 $ (511 ) $ (139 ) $ 392 $ 264 $ 148 Prior service costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period of active participants. Gains and losses in excess of 10% of the greater of the benefit obligation and the market-related value of assets are amortized over the average remaining service period of active participants. Unrecognized actuarial (gains)/losses in 2015 were $(2.1) million and $0.1 million for the defined benefit pension plan and the other postretirement benefit plans, respectively. The total amount of unrecognized actuarial (gain)/loss recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss at December 31, 2015 related to these respective plans was $4.4 million , net of a $(2.7) million deferred tax asset, and $0.7 million , net of a $(0.5) million deferred tax asset. The total amount reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss related to actuarial losses from the defined benefit plans was $0.2 million , $0.1 million , and $0.3 million for the three years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 , and 2013 , respectively, all of which has been reclassified to cost of services, customer operations, and corporate operations on the consolidated statement of operations for the respective periods. The assumptions used in the measurements of the Company’s benefit obligations at December 31, 2015 and 2014 are shown in the following table: Defined Benefit Pension Plan Other Postretirement Benefit Plans 2015 2014 2015 2014 Discount rate 4.35 % 4.00 % 4.35 % 4.10 % The assumptions used in the measurements of the Company’s net cost for the consolidated statement of operations for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 are: Defined Benefit Pension Plan Other Postretirement Benefit Plans 2015 2014 2013 2015 2014 2013 Discount rate 4.00 % 5.00 % 4.15 % 4.10 % 5.00 % 4.15 % Expected return on plan assets 6.75 % 7.25 % 7.75 % — — — Rate of compensation increase — — — — — — The Company reviews the assumptions noted in the above table annually or more frequently to reflect anticipated future changes in the underlying economic factors used to determine these assumptions. The discount rates assumed reflect the rate at which the Company could invest in high quality corporate bonds in order to settle future obligations. In doing so, the Company utilizes a Citigroup Pension Discount Curve applied against the Company’s estimated defined benefit payments to derive a blended rate. The Citigroup Pension Discount Curve is derived from over 350 Aa rated corporate bonds. The Company also compares this to a Moody’s ten-year Aa rated bond index for reasonableness. In 2014, the Company adopted updated mortality tables published by the Society of Actuaries that predict increasing life expectancies in the United States. Additionally, the Company updated the discount rate as discussed above. Mortality and discount rate changes increased the benefit obligations approximately $2.4 million and $7.1 million , respectively, as of December 31, 2014. For measurement purposes, a 8.0% annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered health care benefits was assumed for 2016 for the obligation as of December 31, 2015 . The rate was assumed to decrease one-half percent per year to a rate of 5.0 % for 2022 and remain at that level thereafter. Assumed health care cost trend rates may have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the health care plans. The effect of a 1% change on the medical trend rate per future year, while holding all other assumptions constant, to the service and interest cost components of net periodic postretirement health care benefit costs and accumulated postretirement benefit obligation would be a $0.1 million increase and a $0.6 million increase, respectively, for a 1% increase in medical trend rate and a $0.1 million decrease and a $0.5 million decrease, respectively, for a 1% decrease in medical trend rate. In developing the expected long-term rate of return assumption for the assets of the Defined Benefit Pension Plan, the Company evaluated input from its third-party pension plan administrator, including its review of asset class return expectations and long-term inflation assumptions. The Company also considered the related historical ten-year average asset return at December 31, 2015 as well as considered input from its third-party pension plan asset managers. The weighted average actual asset allocations by asset category as of December 31, 2015 and the fair value by asset category as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows: Actual Allocation as of Fair Value as of December 31, Asset Category (dollars in thousands) December 31, 2015 2015 2014 Large Cap Value 17 % $ 3,741 $ 4,082 Large Cap Blend 10 % 2,179 2,347 Large Growth 16 % 3,706 4,061 Mid Cap Blend 9 % 2,036 2,246 Small Cap Blend 5 % 1,088 1,348 Foreign Stock – Large Cap 20 % 4,535 4,778 Bond 19 % 4,358 4,849 Cash and cash equivalents 4 % 927 1,007 Total 100 % $ 22,570 $ 24,718 The actual and target allocation for plan assets is broadly defined and measured as follows: Asset Category Actual Target Equity securities 77 % 65-75% Bond securities and cash equivalents 23 % 25-35% Total 100 % 100 % It is the Company’s policy to invest pension plan assets in a diversified portfolio consisting of an array of asset classes. The investment risk of the assets is limited by appropriate diversification both within and between asset classes. The assets are primarily invested in investment funds that invest in a broad mix of publicly traded equities, bonds and cash equivalents (and fair value is based on quoted market prices (“Level 1” input)). The allocation between equity and bonds is reset quarterly to the target allocations. Updates to the allocation are considered in the normal course and changes may be made when appropriate. The bond holdings consist of two bond funds split relatively evenly between these funds at December 31, 2015 and 2014 . The maximum holdings of any one asset within these funds is under 4% of this fund and thus is well under 1% of the total portfolio. At December 31, 2015 , the Company believes that there are no material concentrations of risk within the portfolio of plan assets. The assumed long-term return noted above is the target long-term return. Overall return, risk adjusted return, and management fees are assessed against a peer group and benchmark indices. There are minimum performance standards that must be attained within the investment portfolio. Reporting on asset performance is provided quarterly and review meetings are held semi-annually. In addition to normal rebalancing to maintain an adequate cash reserve, projected cash flow needs of the plan are reviewed at least annually to ensure liquidity is properly managed. The Company does not expect to contribute to the pension plan in 2016 . The Company expects the net periodic benefit cost for the defined benefit pension plan in 2016 to be $0.3 million and expects the periodic benefit cost for the other postretirement benefit plans in 2016 to be $0.3 million . The following estimated future pension benefit payments and other postretirement benefit plan payments which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid in the years indicated: (In thousands) Defined Other 2016 $ 636 $ 87 2017 700 106 2018 720 99 2019 768 99 2020 868 100 Aggregate of next five years 6,219 746 Other Benefit Plans The Company also sponsors a supplemental executive retirement plan. This nonqualified plan, which has no plan assets, was closed to new participants in 2003. The projected benefit obligation of this nonqualified plan was $7.8 million and $8.3 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. The total expense recognized related to this plan was $0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 and $0.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 . The Company recognized $0.1 million of expense from previously unrecognized loss related to the supplemental executive retirement plan for each of the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 . Unrecognized actuarial (gain) loss was $(0.3) million and $1.2 million in 2015 and 2014 , respectively. The total balance of unrecognized actuarial losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss at December 31, 2015 and 2014 related to this plan was $2.1 million , net of a $1.3 million deferred tax asset, and $2.3 million , net of a $1.5 million deferred tax asset, respectively. The total expense to be recognized in 2016 for the nonqualified pension plan is approximately $0.4 million and the estimated payments are expected to be approximately $0.5 million . Estimated future benefit payments are expected to be paid in the years indicated: $0.5 million annually for each of the years 2016 through 2020 and $2.5 million in aggregate for the years 2021 through 2025. The Company also sponsors a contributory defined contribution plan under IRC Section 401(k) for substantially all employees. The Company’s matching contributions to this plan were $1.0 million , $1.2 million and $1.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 , respectively. The Company’s policy during these periods was to make matching contributions in shares of the Company’s common stock. All of the matching contributions for 2015 , 2014 and 2013 represented equity contributions.

Strategic Network Alliance

Strategic Network Alliance	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Stategic Network Alliance [Abstract]
Strategic Network Alliance	Strategic Network Alliance The Company provides PCS services and has contracted to provide LTE Services on a wholesale basis to other wireless communication providers, most notably through the SNA with Sprint in which the Company is the exclusive PCS/LTE service provider in the Company’s western Virginia and West Virginia service area (“SNA service area”) for all Sprint Code Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”) and LTE wireless customers. In May 2014 the parties entered into an amended agreement to extend the SNA. Pursuant to the terms of the SNA, the Company is required to upgrade its network in the SNA service area to provide LTE Services. As part of the amendment, the Company leases spectrum, on a non-cash basis, from Sprint in order to enhance the PCS/LTE services. The non-cash consideration attributable to the leased spectrum is approximately $4.9 million per year. The lease expense is recognized over the term of the lease and recorded within cost of services, with the offsetting consideration recorded within wholesale and other revenue. Additionally, the amended SNA provides the Company access to Sprint’s nationwide 3G and 4G LTE network at rates that are reciprocal to rates paid by Sprint under the amended SNA. The amended SNA provides that a portion of the amount paid by Sprint thereunder is fixed. The billable fixed fee element of the agreement was reduced pursuant to the amended SNA on August 1, 2015 and again on January 1, 2016. Additional annual reductions will occur on January 1 of each year. The Company accounts for this fixed fee portion of the revenue earned from the SNA revenue on a straight line basis over the term of the agreement. In addition, these reductions are subject to further upward or downward resets in the fixed fee element. These resets, if any, will be recognized in the period in which it occurs. The Company generated 37.8% , 41.3% and 46.6% of its revenue from the SNA for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 , respectively. Revenues under the SNA have an effective minimum amount of $9.3 million per month subject to annual adjustments. In September 2013 the Company reached a settlement with Sprint over the disputes related to the SNA. The settlement resolved the open disputes under the SNA, including the data rate reset dispute that began in the fourth quarter 2011 and the unrelated historical billing disputes that were asserted by Sprint in the third quarter 2012. In connection with the settlement, the Company recognized an additional $9.6 million in Operating Income, consisting of a $9.0 million increase in revenue (primarily related to a reversal of the previously disclosed accrual) and a $0.6 million decrease in cost of services, for the year ended December 31, 2013.

Commitments And Contingencies

Commitments And Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies Commitments The Company has various contractual obligations such as purchase commitments and other executory contracts, which may affect its financial condition, but are not recognized as liabilities in its consolidated financial statements. The Company is contractually committed to acquire handsets, network equipment and make certain minimum lease payments for the use of property under operating lease agreements for administrative office space, retail space, tower space and equipment, certain of which have renewal options. The leases for retail and tower space have initial lease periods of one to thirty years. These leases, with few exceptions, provide for automatic renewal options and escalations that are either fixed or based on the consumer price index. Any rent abatements, along with rent escalations, are included in the computation of rent expense calculated on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company’s minimum lease term for most leases includes the initial non-cancelable term plus at least one renewal period, as the exercise of the related renewal option or options based on the premise that failure to renew the leases imposes an economic penalty on the Company in such amount that a renewal appears to be reasonably assured. The Company’s cell site leases generally provide for an initial non-cancelable term of 5 to 7 years with three renewal options of 5 years each. For leases with an initial term of 10 years or greater, the Company includes only the initial lease term. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the assets’ useful life or the lease term, including renewal option periods that are reasonably assured. Rent expense for all operating leases for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 was $28.5 million , $24.1 million and $23.7 million , respectively. The following table summarizes the Company’s contractual commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases, and commercial commitments for network capital expenditures, handset equipment and other materials to support its operations, at December 31, 2015 : Operating Purchase (In thousands) Leases Commitments Total 2016 $ 15,250 $ 83,432 $ 98,682 2017 14,069 — 14,069 2018 13,153 — 13,153 2019 12,340 — 12,340 2020 10,963 — 10,963 Thereafter 51,520 — 51,520 $ 117,295 $ 83,432 $ 200,727 The Company has assigned certain leases with lease terms expiring on various dates through 2029 to various third parties. Although the Company is not a guarantor under these leases, it remains secondarily liable for the lease payments for which it was responsible as the original lessee. The maximum potential liability for future rental payments the Company could be required to make under these leases at December 31, 2015 was $1.7 million . The Company does not believe it is probable that it would be required to make any lease payments resulting from its secondary liability for these leases therefore, no liability has been recorded. Reserve for Contingencies On occasion, the Company makes claims or receives disputes related to its billings to other carriers, including billings under the SNA agreement, for access to the Company’s network. These disputes may involve amounts which, if resolved unfavorably to the Company, could have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements. The Company does not recognize revenue related to such matters until the period that it is reasonably assured of the collection of these claims. In the event that a claim is made related to revenues previously recognized, the Company assesses the validity of the claim and adjusts the amount of revenue recognized to the extent that the claim adjustment is considered probable and reasonably estimable. The Company periodically disputes network access charges it is assessed by other companies with which the Company interconnects, and is involved in other disputes, claims, either asserted or unasserted, and legal and tax proceedings and filings arising from normal business activities. While the outcome of such matters is currently not determinable, and it is reasonably possible that the cost to resolve such matters could be material, management believes that adequate provision for any probable and reasonably estimable losses has been made in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. In addition, on August 24, 2015, Mr. Marvin Westen and Mr. Paul Sekerak, each filed a purported class action complaint relating to the Merger in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. The Company cannot presently determine the ultimate resolution of this matter nor can it reasonably estimate the range of possible losses.

Quarterly Financial Summary

Quarterly Financial Summary	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Quarterly Financial Summary	QUARTERLY FINANCIAL SUMMARY (Unaudited) Fiscal Year 2015 First Second Third Fourth (In thousands, except per share amounts) Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter Operating Revenues $ 95,311 $ 91,388 $ 88,346 $ 87,595 Operating Income (Loss) 19,802 9,568 2,617 (426 ) Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations (1) 7,038 1,095 (4,228 ) (5,040 ) Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations 8,249 787 (4,498 ) (14,441 ) Net Income (Loss) Attributable to NTELOS Holdings Corp. (1) 14,796 1,610 (8,963 ) (19,649 ) Earnings (Loss) per Share Attributable to NTELOS Holdings Corp. (3) Basic earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations $ 0.29 $ 0.04 $ (0.21 ) $ (0.24 ) Basic earnings (loss) per common share from discontinued operations 0.39 0.03 (0.21 ) (0.68 ) Basic earnings (loss) per common share $ 0.68 $ 0.07 $ (0.42 ) $ (0.92 ) Diluted earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations $ 0.27 $ 0.04 $ (0.21 ) $ (0.24 ) Diluted earnings (loss) per common share from discontinued operations 0.37 0.03 (0.21 ) (0.68 ) Diluted earnings (loss) per common share $ 0.64 $ 0.07 $ (0.42 ) $ (0.92 ) Fiscal Year 2014 First Second Third Fourth Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter Operating Revenues $ 89,166 $ 86,125 $ 88,191 $ 96,652 Operating Income 12,635 10,232 10,064 4,811 Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations (2) 2,394 1,316 1,248 (1,775 ) Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations (672 ) (457 ) (92 ) (54,128 ) Net Income (Loss) Attributable to NTELOS Holdings Corp. (2) 1,286 484 804 (56,208 ) Earnings (Loss) per Share Attributable to NTELOS Holdings Corp. (3) Basic earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations $ 0.09 $ 0.05 $ 0.04 $ (0.10 ) Basic earnings (loss) per common share from discontinued operations (0.03 ) (0.03 ) — (2.56 ) Basic earnings (loss) per common share $ 0.06 $ 0.02 $ 0.04 $ (2.66 ) Diluted earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations $ 0.09 $ 0.04 $ 0.04 $ (0.10 ) Diluted earnings (loss) per common share from discontinued operations 0.03 (0.02 ) — (2.56 ) Diluted earnings (loss) per common share $ 0.06 $ 0.02 $ 0.04 $ (2.66 ) (1) Results for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2015 include decreased retail revenue due to continued adoption of lower rate plans and EIP service plan discounts and increased network costs to support additional capacity for our 4G LTE expansion. (2) Results for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014 include increased equipment revenue from EIP and the impairment and restructuring costs associated with the sale of the spectrum and the wind down of our operations in our Eastern Markets. (3) Per share amounts may not agree to annual amounts due to rounding.

Equipment Installment Plan Rece

Equipment Installment Plan Receivable Equipment Installment Plan (Notes)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Equipment Plan Receivable Text Block [Abstract]
Financing Receivables [Text Block]	Note 6. Equipment Installment Plan Receivables EIP subscribers pay for their devices in installments over a 24-month period. At the time of an installment sale, the Company imputes interest on the installment receivable using current market interest rate estimates along with other inputs such as historical and expected credit losses and credit quality of its EIP base. The imputed interest is recorded as a reduction to equipment revenue and as a reduction to the face amount of the related receivable. Interest income is recognized over the term of the installment contract as interest income presented net of interest expense. The Company's imputed interest rate has ranged from approximately 5% to 10% . Additionally, the customer has the right to trade in their original device after a specified period of time for a new device and have the remaining unpaid balance satisfied. This trade-in right is measured at the estimated fair value of the device being traded in based on current trade-in values and the timing of the trade-in. The trade-in right is recorded as a reduction to the equipment revenue at the time of sale with a corresponding increase in liabilities. As of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the liability associated with this trade-in right was $4.7 million and $1.4 million , respectively, and is reflected in Advanced billings and customer deposits and Other Long-Term Liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. There was $4.4 million and $0.4 million of billed EIP receivables included in the Company's subscriber accounts receivable as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The following table summarizes the remaining unbilled EIP receivables at December 31, 2015 and 2014: (In thousands) December 31, 2015 December 31, 2014 EIP receivables, gross $ 37,898 $ 13,369 Deferred interest (2,764 ) (675 ) EIP receivables, net of deferred interest 35,134 12,694 Allowance for credit losses (2,324 ) (650 ) EIP receivables, net $ 32,810 $ 12,044 Classified on the consolidated balance sheet as: Accounts receivable, net $ 22,291 $ 5,252 Deferred Charges and Other assets 10,519 6,792 EIP receivables, net $ 32,810 $ 12,044

Restructuring Charges Restructu

Restructuring Charges Restructuring (Notes)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Restructuring and Related Activities Disclosure [Text Block]	Restructuring Charges In 2014, the Company initiated a plan to reduce operating expenses. In conjunction, the Company established restructuring liabilities for employee separations, lease abandonments, operating lease terminations, and other related costs, which are recorded in current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. A summary of the restructuring liabilities is presented below: (In thousands) Employee Separation Contract Terminations Other Total Cumulative charges incurred as of December 31, 2015 $ 3,063 $ 327 $ 79 $ 3,469 Balance as of December 31, 2013 $ — $ — $ — $ — Charges 982 — — 982 Utilization (32 ) — — (32 ) Balances as of December 31, 2014 $ 950 $ — $ — $ 950 Charges 2,081 327 79 2,487 Utilization (2,671 ) (76 ) (79 ) (2,826 ) Balances as of December 31, 2015 $ 360 $ 251 $ — $ 611 Employee separation costs for certain corporate employees consist of severance to be paid in accordance with the Company’s written severance plan and certain management contracts. Severance payments are expected to be paid through 2016. Contract termination costs include lease abandonment costs and other termination costs for contractual obligations. Lease abandonment costs represent future minimum lease obligations, net of estimated sublease income. Other costs include legal fees paid during 2015. The Company does not anticipate any additional significant costs to be incurred as part of this restructuring plan.

Significant Accounting Polici28

Significant Accounting Policies and Other Information (Policy)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (“GAAP”).
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 reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its wholly-owned subsidiaries and those limited liability corporations where the Company or certain of its subsidiaries, as managing member, exercises control. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition The Company recognizes revenue when services are rendered or when products are delivered and functional, as applicable. Certain services of the Company are billed in advance for service performance. In such cases, the Company records a service liability at the time of billing and subsequently recognizes revenue ratably over the service period. The Company bills customers certain transactional taxes on service revenues. These transactional taxes are not included in reported revenues as they are recognized as liabilities at the time customers are billed. The Company earns retail and wholesale revenues by providing access to and usage of its networks. Retail and certain wholesale revenues are recognized as services are provided. In long term contracts certain fixed elements are required to be recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the agreement. Revenues for equipment sales are recognized at the point of sale. Wireless handsets and other devices sold with service contracts are generally sold at prices below cost, based on the terms of the service contracts. The Company recognizes the entire cost of the handsets at the time of sale. The Company offers Equipment Installment Plan ("EIP"), which provides customers the option to pay for their devices over 24 months with no service contract. Additionally, after a specified period of time, customers have the right to trade in the original device for a new device and have the remaining unpaid balance satisfied. For customers that elect the EIP option, the Company recognizes revenue at the point of sale for the full retail price of the device, net of the estimated fair value of imputed interest and the estimated loss on trade-in. See Note 6 for additional information regarding EIP. The Company evaluates related transactions to determine whether they should be viewed as multiple deliverable arrangements, which impact revenue recognition. Multiple deliverable arrangements are presumed to be bundled transactions and the total consideration is measured and allocated to the separate units based on their relative selling price with certain limitations. The Company has determined that sales of handsets with service contracts related to these sales generated from Company-operated retail stores are multiple deliverable arrangements. Accordingly, substantially all of the nonrefundable activation fee revenues (as well as the associated direct costs) are allocated to the wireless handset and are recognized at the time of the sale, based on the fact that the handsets are generally sold below cost and thus appropriately allocated to the point of sale based on the relative selling price evaluation. However, revenue and certain associated direct costs for activations sold at third-party retail locations are deferred and amortized over the estimated life of the customer relationship as the Company is not a principal in the transaction to sell the handset and therefore any activation fees charged are fully attributable to the service revenues. The Company recognizes revenue in the period that persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery of the product has occurred or services have been rendered, it is able to determine the amount and when the collection of such amount is considered probable.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	Allowance for Doubtful Accounts The Company sells its PCS services and devices to individuals and commercial end-users and to other communication carriers. The Company has credit and collection policies to maximize collection of trade receivables and requires deposits on certain sales. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts based on historical results, current and expected trends and changes in credit policies. Management believes the allowance adequately covers all anticipated losses with respect to trade receivables and EIP sales. Actual credit losses could differ from such estimates. The Company includes bad debt expense in customer operations expense in the consolidated statements of operations.
Inventories and Supplies	Inventories and Supplies The Company’s inventories and supplies consist primarily of items held for resale such as devices and accessories. The Company values its inventory at the lower of cost or market. Inventory cost is computed on a currently adjusted standard cost basis (which approximates actual cost on a first-in, first-out basis). Market value is determined by reviewing current replacement cost, marketability and obsolescence.
Long-Lived Asset Recovery	Long-Lived Asset Recovery Long-lived assets comprise property, plant and equipment, intangible assets (including goodwill, radio spectrum licenses, customer relationships and trademarks) and long-term deferred charges. Long-lived assets, excluding goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives, are recorded at cost and reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount should be evaluated pursuant to the subsequent measurement guidance described in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 360, Property, Plant and Equipment . Impairment is determined by comparing the carrying value of these long-lived assets to management’s best estimate of future undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets. If the carrying value exceeds the estimated undiscounted cash flows, the excess of the asset’s carrying value over the estimated fair value is recorded as an impairment charge. Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which the Company reviews and updates based on historical experiences and future expectations. Buildings are depreciated over a 50 -year life and leasehold improvements, which are categorized in land and buildings, are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful lives or the remaining lease terms. Network plant and equipment, which includes cell towers and site costs, and switch, cell site and other network equipment, are depreciated over various lives ranging from 5 to 17 years, with a weighted average life of approximately 10 years. Furniture, fixtures and other equipment are depreciated over various lives ranging from 2 to 18 years. The Company evaluates the appropriateness of estimated useful lives on at least an annual basis. Consideration is given to the trends in technological evolution and the telecommunications industry, the Company’s maintenance practices and the functional condition of long-lived assets in relation to the remaining estimated useful life of the asset. When necessary, adjustments are made to the applicable useful life of an asset class or depreciation is accelerated for assets that have been identified for retirement prior to the expiration of the original useful life.
Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangibles	Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangibles Goodwill and radio spectrum licenses are considered indefinite-lived intangible assets. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are not subject to amortization but are instead tested for impairment annually, on October 1, or more frequently if an event indicates that the asset might be impaired. Before employing detailed impairment testing, the Company first evaluates the likelihood of impairment by considering relevant qualitative factors that may have a significant bearing on fair value. If we determine that it is more likely than not that goodwill is impaired, we apply detailed testing methodologies. Otherwise, we conclude that no impairment exists. For detailed testing, the Company uses a two-step process to test for goodwill impairment. Step one requires a determination of the fair value of each of the reporting units and, to the extent that this fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value (including goodwill), the step two calculation of implied fair value of goodwill is not required and no impairment loss is recognized. In testing for goodwill impairment, the Company utilizes an analysis which allocates enterprise value to the reporting units. The radio spectrum licenses relate primarily to PCS licenses in the markets that we serve. The Company considers a number of valuation methods, including market based and the Greenfield cash flow method, in its impairment testing for these assets.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes Deferred income taxes are provided on an asset and liability method whereby deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences and deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences. Temporary differences are the differences between the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment. The Company accrues interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and income tax expense, respectively.
Pension Benefits and Retirement Benefits Other Than Pensions	Pension Benefits and Retirement Benefits Other Than Pensions NTELOS Inc. sponsors a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan (“Pension Plan”) covering all employees who meet eligibility requirements and were employed by NTELOS Inc. prior to October 1, 2003. The Pension Plan was closed to NTELOS Inc. employees hired on or after October 1, 2003. Pension benefits vest after five years of plan service and are based on years of service and an average of the five highest consecutive years of compensation subject to certain reductions if the employee retires before reaching age 65 and elects to receive the benefit prior to age 65. Effective December 31, 2012, the Company froze future benefit accruals. In 2014, we adopted updated mortality tables published by the Society of Actuaries that predict increasing life expectancies in the United States. IRC Sections 412 and 430 and Sections 302 and 303 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended establish minimum funding requirements for defined benefit pension plans. The minimum required contribution is generally equal to the target normal cost plus the shortfall amortization installments for the current plan year and each of the six preceding plan years less any calculated credit balance. If plan assets (less calculated credits) are equal to or exceed the funding target, the minimum required contribution is the target normal cost reduced by the excess funding, but not below zero. The Company’s policy is to make contributions to stay at or above the threshold required in order to prevent benefit restrictions and related additional notice requirements and is intended to provide not only for benefits based on service to date, but also for those expected to be earned in the future. Also, NTELOS Inc. has nonqualified pension plans that are accounted for similar to its Pension Plan. NTELOS Inc. provides certain health care and life benefits for retired employees that meet eligibility requirements. The Company has two qualified nonpension postretirement benefit plans. The health care plan is contributory, with participants’ contributions adjusted annually. The life insurance plan also is contributory. These obligations, along with all of the pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans, are NTELOS Inc. obligations assumed by the Company. Eligibility for the life insurance plan is restricted to active pension participants age 50-64 as of January 5, 1994. Neither plan is eligible to employees hired after April 1993. The accounting for the plans anticipates that the Company will maintain a consistent level of cost sharing for the benefits with the retirees. The Company’s share of the projected costs of benefits that will be paid after retirement is generally being accrued by charges to expense over the eligible employees’ service periods to the dates they are fully eligible for benefits. NTELOS Inc. also sponsors a contributory defined contribution plan under IRC Section 401(k) for substantially all employees. The Company’s policy is to match 100% of each participant’s annual contributions for contributions up to 1% of each participant’s annual compensation and 50% of each participant’s annual contributions up to an additional 5% of each participant’s annual compensation. Company contributions vest after two years of service. Effective June 1, 2009, the Company began funding its 401(k) matching contributions in shares of the Company’s common stock. Further information regarding these plans is provided in Note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-08, Reporting of Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity , which changes the criteria for determining which disposals can be presented as discontinued operations and modifies related disclosure requirements. The guidance is effective prospectively for fiscal years and interim reporting periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2014, with early adoption permitted for transactions that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued or available for issuance. The standard was effective for the Company's fiscal year beginning January 1, 2015 and has been applied to the November 15, 2015 discontinuation of our Eastern Markets operations and all prior periods have been recast to reflect this adoption. See Note 3 for additional information and required disclosures. In May 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) . This ASU provides a framework that replaces the existing revenue recognition guidance and is intended to improve the financial reporting requirements. The guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those years, with early adoption being prohibited. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of the ASU on its financial statements. In August 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern , which requires management to assess an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures in certain circumstances. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. In April 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, which changes the presentation of debt issuance costs in the financial statements. ASU 2015-03 requires an entity to present such costs in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset. Amortization of the costs will continue to be reported as interest expense. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The guidance will be applied retrospectively to each period presented. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of the ASU on its financial statements. In April 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-05, Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement, which provides additional guidance regarding cloud computing arrangements. The guidance requires registrants to account for a cloud computing arrangement that includes a software license element consistent with the acquisition of other software licenses. Cloud computing arrangement without software licenses are to be accounted for as a service contract. This guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. In July 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Inventory: Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory, which changes the measurement principle for inventory from the lower of cost or market to lower of cost and net realizable value. The ASU also eliminates the requirement for these entities to consider replacement cost or net realizable value less an approximately normal profit margin when measuring inventory. This guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of the ASU on its financial statements. In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes , which requires that all deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in the balance sheet effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted, and may be applied either prospectively or retrospectively. We have adopted this guidance retrospectively as of December 31, 2015. The Consolidated Balance Sheet for the year ended December 31, 2014 has been restated to reflect this change in accounting principle and reclass of $22.8 million of "Deferred income taxes" from current to non-current. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases , which requires lessees to recognize assets and liabilities for most leases and would change certain aspects of current lease accounting, among other things. The guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of the ASU on its financial statements.
Cash	Cash The Company’s cash was held in market rate savings accounts and non-interest bearing deposit accounts. The total held in the market rate savings accounts at December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $39.7 million and $28.5 million , respectively. The remaining $33.0 million and $45.0 million of cash at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively, was held in non-interest bearing deposit accounts.
Restricted Cash	Restricted Cash The Company is eligible to receive up to $5.0 million in connection with its winning bid in the Connect America Fund's Mobility Fund Phase I Auction ("Auction 901"). Pursuant to the terms of Auction 901, the Company was required to obtain a Letter of Credit (“LOC”) for the benefit of the Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”) to cover each disbursement plus the amount of the performance default penalty ( 10% of the total eligible award). USAC may draw upon the LOC in the event the Company fails to demonstrate the required wireless service coverage by the applicable deadline in 2016. The Company obtained the first LOC in the amount of $2.2 million, representing the first disbursement of $1.7 million received in September 2013, plus the performance default penalty of $0.5 million. In accordance with the terms of the LOC, the Company deposited $2.2 million into a separate account at the issuing bank to serve as cash collateral. Such funds will be released when the LOC is terminated without being drawn upon by USAC.
Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations	Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations An asset retirement obligation is evaluated and recorded as appropriate on assets for which the Company has a legal obligation to retire. The Company records a liability for an asset retirement obligation and the associated asset retirement cost at the time the underlying asset is acquired. Subsequent to the initial measurement of the asset retirement obligation, the obligation is adjusted at the end of each period to reflect the passage of time and changes in the estimated future cash flows underlying the obligation, if any. The Company enters into long-term leasing arrangements primarily for tower sites and retail store locations. The Company constructs assets at these locations and, in accordance with the terms of many of these agreements, the Company is obligated to restore the premises to their original condition at the conclusion of the agreements, generally at the demand of the other party to these agreements. The Company recognizes the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation and capitalizes that cost as part of the cost basis of the related asset, depreciating it over the useful life of the related asset. The following table indicates the changes to the Company’s asset retirement obligation liability, which is included in other long-term liabilities, for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 : (In thousands) 2015 2014 Asset retirement obligations, beginning $ 19,236 $ 15,528 Net increases due to changes in, and timing of estimated future cash flows 438 2,901 Accretion of asset retirement obligations 1,111 807 Asset retirement obligations, ending $ 20,785 $ 19,236 The Company revised cost estimates used to determine the fair value of its asset retirement obligations resulting in an increase in the liability and related assets of $2.8 million at December 31, 2014. The Company recorded an immaterial amount in 2015.
Advertising Costs	Advertising Costs The Company expenses advertising costs and marketing production costs as incurred (included within customer operations expense in the consolidated statements of operations). Advertising costs for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 were $11.9 million , $11.8 million and $10.9 million , respectively.

Significant Accounting Polici29

Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Changes in Allowance For Doubtful Accounts	Changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 are summarized in the table below: Year Ended December 31, (3) (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Balance at beginning of year $ 4,608 $ 3,903 $ 2,934 Charged to operating expenses (1) 12,394 9,577 8,837 Deductions (2) (10,155 ) (8,872 ) (7,868 ) Balance at end of year $ 6,847 $ 4,608 $ 3,903 (1) Reflects provision for doubtful accounts, recorded in customer operations expense. (2) Reflects uncollectible accounts written off against the allowance, net of recoveries and credits issued to customers.
Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities	Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities Year Ended December 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 Accrued payroll $ 5,010 $ 6,249 Accrued taxes 4,321 4,516 Other 8,672 9,490 Total $ 18,003 $ 20,255

Discontinued Operations (Tables

Discontinued Operations (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Results Of Operations For Discontinued Operations [Table Text Block]	Financial results for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 reported as Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations are as follows: Year Ended December 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Operating Revenues Retail Revenue $ 49,189 $ 112,808 $ 119,381 Wholesale and other revenue 3,179 1,794 2,338 Equipment sales 1,340 13,098 10,397 Operating Revenues 53,708 127,700 132,116 Operating Expenses Cost of services 28,731 37,906 33,933 Cost of equipment sold 1,199 31,427 32,574 Customer operations 12,574 30,784 35,104 Corporate operations 1,805 4,806 6,113 Restructuring 26,830 2,681 — Impairment 117 87,853 — Depreciation and amortization 4,999 21,235 18,913 Gain on sale of assets (5,637 ) — — 70,618 216,692 126,637 Operating Income (Loss) (16,910 ) (88,992 ) 5,479 Other Income (Expense) Other income (expense), net 127 2 (11 ) 127 2 (11 ) Income (Loss) before Income Taxes (16,783 ) (88,990 ) 5,468 Income Taxes (Benefit) (6,880 ) (33,641 ) 2,417 Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations $ (9,903 ) $ (55,349 ) $ 3,051 Assets and liabilities presented as discontinued operations as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 are as follows: (In thousands) December 31, 2015 December 31, 2014 Current Assets Accounts receivable, net $ 1,101 $ 9,070 Inventories and supplies — 319 Prepaid expenses 1,002 5,248 Other current assets 18 126 Total current assets from discontinued operations 2,121 14,763 Property plant and equipment — 23,893 Assets held for sale 1,733 59,954 Other non-current assets — 1,555 Total assets from discontinued operations $ 3,854 $ 100,165 Current Liabilities Current portion of long-term debt $ 55 $ 88 Accounts payable 6,003 411 Advance billings and customer deposits 115 4,848 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 6,881 6,898 Total current liabilities from discontinued operations 13,054 12,245 Long-Term Debt 46 101 Other Long-Term Liabilities 789 27,628 Total liabilities from discontinued operations $ 13,889 $ 39,974 Following is selected operating and investing cash flow activity from discontinued operations included in Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows: Year Ended December 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Depreciation and amortization $ 4,999 $ 21,235 $ 18,913 Impairment and other charges 117 87,853 — Bad debt expense 7,676 5,594 6,671 Restructuring payments 26,658 230 — Proceeds from sale of assets 62,838 — — Purchases of property, plant, and equipment 578 25,181 12,433
Cash Flow, Operating Capital [Table Text Block]	Following is selected operating and investing cash flow activity from discontinued operations included in Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows: Year Ended December 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Depreciation and amortization $ 4,999 $ 21,235 $ 18,913 Impairment and other charges 117 87,853 — Bad debt expense 7,676 5,594 6,671 Restructuring payments 26,658 230 — Proceeds from sale of assets 62,838 — — Purchases of property, plant, and equipment 578 25,181 12,433

Supplemental Financial Inform31

Supplemental Financial Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Supplemental Financial Information [Abstract]
Asset Retirement Obligations	The following table indicates the changes to the Company’s asset retirement obligation liability, which is included in other long-term liabilities, for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 : (In thousands) 2015 2014 Asset retirement obligations, beginning $ 19,236 $ 15,528 Net increases due to changes in, and timing of estimated future cash flows 438 2,901 Accretion of asset retirement obligations 1,111 807 Asset retirement obligations, ending $ 20,785 $ 19,236

Supplementary Disclosures Of Co

Supplementary Disclosures Of Condensed Consolidated statements of Cash Flows (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]
Supplementary Cash Flow Information	The following information is presented as supplementary disclosures for the consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 : Year Ended December 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Cash payments for: Interest (net of amounts capitalized) $ 29,422 $ 34,891 $ 22,693 Income taxes 25,770 3,601 4,087 Cash received from income tax refunds 3,975 1,434 3,704 Supplemental investing and financing activities: Additions to property, plant and equipment included in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities 9,324 8,509 8,272 Borrowings under capital leases 67 562 380 Dividends declared not paid — — 9,221

Property, Plan And Equipment (T

Property, Plan And Equipment (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment	The components of property, plant and equipment, and the related accumulated depreciation, were as follows: (In thousands) December 31, 2015 December 31, 2014 Land and buildings $ 27,406 $ 27,560 Network plant and equipment 451,996 345,373 Furniture, fixtures and other equipment 95,095 88,492 574,497 461,425 Under construction 27,577 16,859 602,074 478,284 Less: accumulated depreciation 275,814 212,230 Property, plant and equipment, net $ 326,260 $ 266,054

Intangible Assets (Tables)

Intangible Assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	Customer relationships and trademarks are considered amortizable intangible assets. At December 31, 2015 and 2014 , customer relationships and trademarks were comprised of the following: December 31, 2015 December 31, 2014 (In thousands) Estimated Useful Life Gross Amount Accumulated Net Gross Amount Accumulated Net Customer relationship 17.5 years $ 36,900 $ (34,630 ) $ 2,270 $ 36,900 $ (34,305 ) $ 2,595 Trademarks 15 years 7,000 (4,978 ) 2,022 7,000 (4,511 ) 2,489 Total $ 43,900 $ (39,608 ) $ 4,292 $ 43,900 $ (38,816 ) $ 5,084
Schedule of Expected Amortization Expense for the Next Five Years	Amortization expense for the next five years is expected to be as follows: (In thousands) Customer Relationships Trademarks Total 2016 $ 324 $ 467 $ 791 2017 324 467 791 2018 324 467 791 2019 324 467 791 2020 324 154 478 Thereafter 650 — 650 $ 2,270 $ 2,022 $ 4,292

Long-Term Debt (Tables)

Long-Term Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Long-Term Debt	As of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 , the Company’s outstanding long-term debt consisted of the following: (In thousands) December 31, 2015 December 31, 2014 Senior secured term loans, net of unamortized debt discount $ 519,820 $ 524,504 Capital lease obligations 419 715 520,239 525,219 Less: current portion of long-term debt 5,605 5,728 Long-term debt $ 514,634 $ 519,491
Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt	The aggregate maturities of long-term debt outstanding at December 31, 2015 , excluding capital lease obligations, based on the contractual terms of the instruments are as follows: (In thousands) Term Loan 2016 $ 5,405 2017 5,405 2018 5,405 2019 506,725 Total $ 522,940

Financial Instruments (Tables)

Financial Instruments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Schedule of Difference Between Face Amount, Carrying Amount and Fair Value of Financial Instruments	The following table indicates the difference between face amount, carrying amount and fair value of the Company’s financial instruments at December 31, 2015 and 2014 . Face Carrying Fair (In thousands) Amount Amount Value December 31, 2015 Nonderivatives: Financial assets: Long-term investments for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value N/A $ 1,522 N/A Financial liabilities: Term Loans $ 522,940 $ 519,820 $ 517,710 Capital lease obligations $ 419 $ 419 $ 419 December 31, 2014 Nonderivatives: Long-term investments for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value N/A $ 1,522 N/A Financial liabilities: Term loans $ 528,345 $ 525,504 $ 459,660 Capital lease obligations $ 904 $ 904 $ 904 Derivative related to debt: Interest rate cap asset $ 350,000 * $ — $ — * Notional amount

Equity and Earnings Per Share

Equity and Earnings Per Share (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]
Schedule of Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share	The computations of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 are as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2015 (In thousands) Continuing Operations Discontinued Operations Total Numerator: Net income (loss) attributable to common shares for earnings per share computation $ (2,303 ) $ (9,903 ) $ (12,206 ) Denominator: Total shares outstanding 22,264 22,264 22,264 Less: unvested shares (949 ) (949 ) (949 ) Less: effect of calculating weighted average shares (58 ) (58 ) (58 ) Denominator for basic earnings per common share – weighted average shares outstanding 21,257 21,257 21,257 Plus: weighted average unvested shares — — — Plus: common stock equivalents of stock options — — — Plus: performance stock units — — — Denominator for diluted earnings per common share – weighted average shares outstanding 21,257 21,257 21,257 Basic earnings (loss) per common share $ (0.10 ) $ (0.47 ) $ (0.57 ) Diluted earnings (loss) per common share $ (0.10 ) $ (0.47 ) $ (0.57 ) Year Ended December 31, 2014 (In thousands) Continuing Operations Discontinued Operations Total Numerator: Net income (loss) attributable to common shares for earnings per share computation $ 1,715 $ (55,349 ) $ (53,634 ) Denominator: Total shares outstanding 21,616 21,616 21,616 Less: unvested shares (463 ) (463 ) (463 ) Less: effect of calculating weighted average shares (42 ) (42 ) (42 ) Denominator for basic earnings per common share – weighted average shares outstanding 21,111 21,111 21,111 Plus: weighted average unvested shares — — — Plus: common stock equivalents of stock options — — — Plus: performance stock units — — — Denominator for diluted earnings per common share – weighted average shares outstanding 21,111 21,111 21,111 Basic earnings (loss) per common share $ 0.08 $ (2.62 ) $ (2.54 ) Diluted earnings (loss) per common share $ 0.08 $ (2.62 ) $ (2.54 ) Year Ended December 31, 2013 (In thousands) Continuing Operations Discontinued Operations Total Numerator: Net income (loss) attributable to common shares for earnings per share computation $ 21,627 $ 3,051 $ 24,678 Denominator: Total shares outstanding 21,510 21,510 21,510 Less: unvested shares (443 ) (443 ) (443 ) Less: effect of calculating weighted average shares (41 ) (41 ) (41 ) Denominator for basic earnings per common share – weighted average shares outstanding 21,026 21,026 21,026 Plus: weighted average unvested shares 422 422 422 Plus: common stock equivalents of stock options 285 285 285 Plus: performance stock units 93 93 93 Denominator for diluted earnings per common share – weighted average shares outstanding 21,826 21,826 21,826 Basic earnings (loss) per common share $ 1.02 $ 0.15 $ 1.17 Diluted earnings (loss) per common share $ 0.99 $ 0.14 $ 1.13

Stock Plans (Tables)

Stock Plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Summary of Stock Options Activity	The summary of the activity and status of the Company’s stock option awards for the year ended December 31, 2015 is as follows: (In thousands, except per share amounts) Shares Weighted Average Exercise Price per Share Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term Aggregate Intrinsic Value Stock options outstanding at January 1, 2015 1,583 $ 19.09 Granted during the period 261 6.00 Exercised during the period 1 0.58 Forfeited/expired during the period (298 ) 21.13 Stock options outstanding at December 31, 2015 1,547 $ 16.50 6.5 $ — Exercisable at December 31, 2015 933 $ 20.19 5.4 $ — Total expected to vest at December 31, 2015 552 $ 12.10
Summary of Restricted Stock Awards Activity	The summary of the activity and status of the Company’s restricted stock awards for the year ended December 31, 2015 is as follows: (In thousands, except per share amounts) Shares Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share Restricted stock awards outstanding at January 1, 2015 245 $ 14.93 Granted during the period 503 5.37 Vested during the period (136 ) 13.40 Forfeited during the period (21 ) 11.28 Restricted stock awards outstanding at December 31, 2015 591 $ 7.30
Summary of Performance Stock Units Activity	The summary of the activity and status of the Company’s performance stock unit awards for the year ended December 31, 2015 is as follows: (In thousands, except per share amounts) Shares Weighted Average Grant Fair Value per Share Performance stock units outstanding at January 1, 2015 99 $ 11.24 Granted during the period 28 7.33 Vested during the period (47 ) 12.78 Forfeited during the period (10 ) 11.22 Performance stock units outstanding at December 31, 2015 70 $ 8.62

Income Taxes (Tables)

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Components of income tax expense from continuing operations	The components of income tax expense from continuing operations are as follows for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 : (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Current tax expense: Federal $ 466 $ 508 $ 1,159 State 865 359 560 1,331 867 1,719 Deferred tax expense: Federal 1,452 412 12,002 State (596 ) (532 ) 2,406 856 (120 ) 14,408 $ 2,187 $ 747 $ 16,127 Income tax expense (benefit) allocated to other items was as follows for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013: (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Discontinued operations $ (6,880 ) $ (33,641 ) $ 2,417
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation	The reasons for the differences are as follows for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 : (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Computed tax expense at statutory federal rate of 35% $ 369 $ 1,375 $ 13,936 Nondeductible merger expenses 1,313 — — Equity-based compensation 444 (364 ) — Nondeductible compensation 47 87 273 Noncontrolling interests (409 ) (514 ) (721 ) State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit 175 112 1,928 Other 248 51 711 $ 2,187 $ 747 $ 16,127
Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities	Net deferred income tax assets and liabilities consist of the following components as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 : (In thousands) 2015 2014 Deferred income tax assets Retirement benefits other than pension $ 1,294 $ 1,232 Pension and related plans 6,256 7,158 Net operating loss 33,908 46,264 Accrued expenses 3,746 3,548 Other 4,160 3,153 49,364 61,355 Deferred income tax liabilities Property and equipment 44,234 45,011 Intangible assets 883 1,009 Licenses 13,782 13,660 58,899 59,680 Deferred income tax asset (liability), net $ (9,535 ) $ 1,675

Pension Plans and Other Postr40

Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Qualified Plans' Benefit Obligations and Fair Value of Assets and a Statement of the Funded Status	The following tables provide a reconciliation of the changes in the qualified plans’ benefit obligations and fair value of assets and a statement of the funded status as of and for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 , and the classification of amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets: Defined Benefit Pension Plan Other Postretirement Benefit Plans (In thousands) 2015 2014 2015 2014 Change in benefit obligations: Benefit obligations, beginning of period $ 38,282 $ 27,774 $ 3,111 $ 1,980 Service cost — — 47 40 Interest cost 1,519 1,375 126 98 Actuarial (gain) loss (4,095 ) 10,135 56 805 Benefits paid, net (1,963 ) (1,002 ) (119 ) (26 ) Benefit obligations transferred — — — 214 Benefit obligations, end of period $ 33,743 $ 38,282 $ 3,221 $ 3,111 Change in plan assets: Fair value of plan assets, beginning of period $ 24,718 $ 24,610 $ — $ — Actual return on plan assets (127 ) 1,148 — — Employer contributions — — 192 102 Benefits paid (2,021 ) (1,040 ) (192 ) (102 ) Fair value of plan assets, end of period $ 22,570 $ 24,718 $ — $ — Funded status: Total liability, end of period $ (11,173 ) $ (13,564 ) $ (3,221 ) $ (3,111 )
Schedule of Net Periodic Benefits Cost	The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit cost for the plans for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 : Defined Benefit Pension Plan Other Postretirement Benefit Plans (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 2015 2014 2013 Components of net periodic benefit cost: Service cost $ — $ — $ — $ 47 $ 40 $ 54 Interest cost 1,519 1,375 1,325 153 122 78 Recognized net actuarial loss 523 — 131 192 102 16 Expected return on plan assets (1,770 ) (1,886 ) (1,595 ) — — — Net periodic benefit cost $ 272 $ (511 ) $ (139 ) $ 392 $ 264 $ 148
Schedule of Assumptions Used	The assumptions used in the measurements of the Company’s benefit obligations at December 31, 2015 and 2014 are shown in the following table: Defined Benefit Pension Plan Other Postretirement Benefit Plans 2015 2014 2015 2014 Discount rate 4.35 % 4.00 % 4.35 % 4.10 % The assumptions used in the measurements of the Company’s net cost for the consolidated statement of operations for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 are: Defined Benefit Pension Plan Other Postretirement Benefit Plans 2015 2014 2013 2015 2014 2013 Discount rate 4.00 % 5.00 % 4.15 % 4.10 % 5.00 % 4.15 % Expected return on plan assets 6.75 % 7.25 % 7.75 % — — — Rate of compensation increase — — — — — —
Schedule of Weighted Average Actual Asset Allocations by Asset Category	The weighted average actual asset allocations by asset category as of December 31, 2015 and the fair value by asset category as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows: Actual Allocation as of Fair Value as of December 31, Asset Category (dollars in thousands) December 31, 2015 2015 2014 Large Cap Value 17 % $ 3,741 $ 4,082 Large Cap Blend 10 % 2,179 2,347 Large Growth 16 % 3,706 4,061 Mid Cap Blend 9 % 2,036 2,246 Small Cap Blend 5 % 1,088 1,348 Foreign Stock – Large Cap 20 % 4,535 4,778 Bond 19 % 4,358 4,849 Cash and cash equivalents 4 % 927 1,007 Total 100 % $ 22,570 $ 24,718
Schedule of Actual and Target Allocation	The actual and target allocation for plan assets is broadly defined and measured as follows: Asset Category Actual Target Equity securities 77 % 65-75% Bond securities and cash equivalents 23 % 25-35% Total 100 % 100 %
Schedule of Estimated Future Pension Benefit Payments and Other Postretirement	The following estimated future pension benefit payments and other postretirement benefit plan payments which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid in the years indicated: (In thousands) Defined Other 2016 $ 636 $ 87 2017 700 106 2018 720 99 2019 768 99 2020 868 100 Aggregate of next five years 6,219 746

Commitments And Contingencies (

Commitments And Contingencies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Contractual Obligations, Fiscal Year Maturity Schedule	Rent expense for all operating leases for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 was $28.5 million , $24.1 million and $23.7 million , respectively. The following table summarizes the Company’s contractual commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases, and commercial commitments for network capital expenditures, handset equipment and other materials to support its operations, at December 31, 2015 : Operating Purchase (In thousands) Leases Commitments Total 2016 $ 15,250 $ 83,432 $ 98,682 2017 14,069 — 14,069 2018 13,153 — 13,153 2019 12,340 — 12,340 2020 10,963 — 10,963 Thereafter 51,520 — 51,520 $ 117,295 $ 83,432 $ 200,727

Quarterly Financial Summary (Ta

Quarterly Financial Summary (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Quarterly Financial Summary	Fiscal Year 2015 First Second Third Fourth (In thousands, except per share amounts) Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter Operating Revenues $ 95,311 $ 91,388 $ 88,346 $ 87,595 Operating Income (Loss) 19,802 9,568 2,617 (426 ) Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations (1) 7,038 1,095 (4,228 ) (5,040 ) Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations 8,249 787 (4,498 ) (14,441 ) Net Income (Loss) Attributable to NTELOS Holdings Corp. (1) 14,796 1,610 (8,963 ) (19,649 ) Earnings (Loss) per Share Attributable to NTELOS Holdings Corp. (3) Basic earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations $ 0.29 $ 0.04 $ (0.21 ) $ (0.24 ) Basic earnings (loss) per common share from discontinued operations 0.39 0.03 (0.21 ) (0.68 ) Basic earnings (loss) per common share $ 0.68 $ 0.07 $ (0.42 ) $ (0.92 ) Diluted earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations $ 0.27 $ 0.04 $ (0.21 ) $ (0.24 ) Diluted earnings (loss) per common share from discontinued operations 0.37 0.03 (0.21 ) (0.68 ) Diluted earnings (loss) per common share $ 0.64 $ 0.07 $ (0.42 ) $ (0.92 ) Fiscal Year 2014 First Second Third Fourth Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter Operating Revenues $ 89,166 $ 86,125 $ 88,191 $ 96,652 Operating Income 12,635 10,232 10,064 4,811 Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations (2) 2,394 1,316 1,248 (1,775 ) Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations (672 ) (457 ) (92 ) (54,128 ) Net Income (Loss) Attributable to NTELOS Holdings Corp. (2) 1,286 484 804 (56,208 ) Earnings (Loss) per Share Attributable to NTELOS Holdings Corp. (3) Basic earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations $ 0.09 $ 0.05 $ 0.04 $ (0.10 ) Basic earnings (loss) per common share from discontinued operations (0.03 ) (0.03 ) — (2.56 ) Basic earnings (loss) per common share $ 0.06 $ 0.02 $ 0.04 $ (2.66 ) Diluted earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations $ 0.09 $ 0.04 $ 0.04 $ (0.10 ) Diluted earnings (loss) per common share from discontinued operations 0.03 (0.02 ) — (2.56 ) Diluted earnings (loss) per common share $ 0.06 $ 0.02 $ 0.04 $ (2.66 ) (1) Results for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2015 include decreased retail revenue due to continued adoption of lower rate plans and EIP service plan discounts and increased network costs to support additional capacity for our 4G LTE expansion. (2) Results for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014 include increased equipment revenue from EIP and the impairment and restructuring costs associated with the sale of the spectrum and the wind down of our operations in our Eastern Markets. (3) Per share amounts may not agree to annual amounts due to rounding.

Equipment Installment Plan Re43

Equipment Installment Plan Receivable Equipment Installment Plan Receivable (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Equipment Plan Receivable Text Block [Abstract]
Schedule of Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Table Text Block]	The following table summarizes the remaining unbilled EIP receivables at December 31, 2015 and 2014: (In thousands) December 31, 2015 December 31, 2014 EIP receivables, gross $ 37,898 $ 13,369 Deferred interest (2,764 ) (675 ) EIP receivables, net of deferred interest 35,134 12,694 Allowance for credit losses (2,324 ) (650 ) EIP receivables, net $ 32,810 $ 12,044 Classified on the consolidated balance sheet as: Accounts receivable, net $ 22,291 $ 5,252 Deferred Charges and Other assets 10,519 6,792 EIP receivables, net $ 32,810 $ 12,044

Restructuring Charges (Tables)

Restructuring Charges (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Costs [Table Text Block]	A summary of the restructuring liabilities is presented below: (In thousands) Employee Separation Contract Terminations Other Total Cumulative charges incurred as of December 31, 2015 $ 3,063 $ 327 $ 79 $ 3,469 Balance as of December 31, 2013 $ — $ — $ — $ — Charges 982 — — 982 Utilization (32 ) — — (32 ) Balances as of December 31, 2014 $ 950 $ — $ — $ 950 Charges 2,081 327 79 2,487 Utilization (2,671 ) (76 ) (79 ) (2,826 ) Balances as of December 31, 2015 $ 360 $ 251 $ — $ 611

Description of Business (Detail

Description of Business (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Date of acquisition agreement	Jan. 18, 2005
Spectrum License, Held for Sale	$ 56
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Sale of Stock, Price Per Share	$ 9.25
Merger Termination Fee	$ 8.8
Payments for Merger Related Costs	$ 2.5
NTELOS
Ownership interest acquired	24.90%
Quadrangle
Major shareholder ownership percentage	19.00%
Minimum [Member]
Merger Termination Fee Acquirer	$ 8.8
Maximum [Member]
Merger Termination Fee Acquirer	$ 25

Significant Accounting Polici46

Significant Accounting Policies and Other Information (Allowance For Doubtful Accounts) - (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year		$ 4,608	$ 3,903	$ 2,934
Charged to operating expense		20,070	15,171	15,511
Deductions	[1]	(10,155)	(8,872)	(7,868)
Balance at end of year		6,847	4,608	3,903
Customer Operations [Member]
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable [Roll Forward]
Charged to operating expense	[2]	12,394	9,577	8,837
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable [Roll Forward]
Charged to operating expense		7,676	5,594	6,671
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable		$ 1,500	$ 2,200	$ 2,600
[1]	Reflects uncollectible accounts written off against the allowance, net of recoveries and credits issued to customers.
[2]	Reflects provision for doubtful accounts, recorded in customer operations expense.

Significant Accounting Polici47

Significant Accounting Policies and Other Information (Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Accrued Liabilities, Current [Abstract]
Accrued payroll		$ 5,010	$ 6,249
Accrued taxes		4,321	4,516
Other	[1]	8,672	9,490
Total		$ 18,003	$ 20,255
[1]	The table excludes provision for doubtful accounts of $7.7 million, $5.6 million and $6.7 million, and allowance for doubtful accounts of $1.5 million, $2.2 million, and $2.6 million recorded as part of discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively. See Note 3 for additional information regarding discontinued operations.

Significant Accounting Polici48

Significant Accounting Policies and Other Information Significant Accounting Policies and Other Information (Reclassifications) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Customer operations	$ 68,484	$ 74,990	$ 71,130
Corporate operations	$ 38,951	$ 37,388	$ 36,198

Significant Accounting Polici49

Significant Accounting Policies and Other Information Significant Accounting Policies (Long-Lived Assets) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	50 years
Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	5 years
Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	17 years
Weighted Average [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	10 years
Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	2 years
Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	18 years

Discontinued Operations (Detail

Discontinued Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Spectrum License, Held for Sale	$ 56,000								$ 56,000
Discontinued Operations Retail Revenue									49,189	$ 112,808	$ 119,381
Discontinued Operations Wholesale and Other Revenue									3,179	1,794	2,338
Discontinued Operations Equipment Sales									1,340	13,098	10,397
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Depreciation and Amortization									4,999	21,235	18,913
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Trade Receivables	1,101				$ 9,070				1,101	9,070
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Revenue									53,708	127,700	132,116
Discontinued Operations Cost of Services									28,731	37,906	33,933
Assets Held-for-sale, Long Lived, Fair Value Disclosure					57,900					57,900
Impairment Charge on Reclassified Assets					29,000
Long-Lived Assets to be Abandoned, Carrying Value of Asset					1,900					1,900
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Operating Expense									70,618	216,692	126,637
Discontinued Operations Impairment Charge									117	87,853	0
Depreciation and Amortization, Discontinued Operations									4,999	21,235	18,913
Discontinued Operation, Provision for Loss (Gain) on Disposal, before Income Tax									(5,637)	0	0
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Costs of Goods Sold									1,199	31,427	32,574
Discontinued Operations Customer Operations									12,574	30,784	35,104
Discontinued Operations Corporate Operations									1,805	4,806	6,113
discontinued operations restructuring costs									26,830	2,681	0
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Operating Income (Loss)									(16,910)	(88,992)	5,479
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Income									127	2	(11)
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation, before Income Tax									(16,783)	(88,990)	5,468
Discontinued Operation, Tax Effect of Discontinued Operation									(6,880)	(33,641)	2,417
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax	(14,441)	$ (4,498)	$ 787	$ 8,249	(54,128)	$ (92)	$ (457)	$ (672)	(9,903)	(55,349)	3,051
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Inventory, Current	0				319				0	319
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Prepaid and Other Assets	1,002				5,248				1,002	5,248
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Assets, Current	18				126				18	126
Other current assets from discontinued operations	2,121				14,763				2,121	14,763
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Property, Plant and Equipment, Noncurrent	0				23,893				0	23,893
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Long Lived Assets	1,733				59,954				1,733	59,954
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Assets, Noncurrent	0				1,555				$ 0	$ 1,555
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets of Disposal Group									3,854	100,165
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Liabilities, Current	55				88				$ 55	$ 88
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Accounts Payable	6,003				411				6,003	411
Other current liabilities from discontinued operations	13,054				12,245				13,054	12,245
Costs in Excess of Billings	115				4,848				115	4,848
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Accrued Liabilities	6,881				6,898				6,881	6,898
Long-Term Debt	514,634				519,491				514,634	519,491
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Liabilities, Noncurrent	789				27,628				$ 789	$ 27,628
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Liabilities of Disposal Group									13,889	39,974
Restructuring Costs and Asset Impairment Charges									$ 117	$ 87,853	0
Bad debt expense									20,070	15,171	15,511
Payments for Restructuring									2,826	32
Restructuring Payments Discontinued Operations									26,658	230	0
Proceeds from Sales of Business, Affiliate and Productive Assets									62,838	0	0
Property, Plant and Equipment, Additions									578	25,181	12,433
Non-Redeployable Property, Plant and Equipment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Impairment Charge on Reclassified Assets					57,000
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Long-Term Debt	$ 46				$ 101				46	101
Bad debt expense									$ 7,676	$ 5,594	$ 6,671

Supplemental Financial Inform51

Supplemental Financial Information (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Market rate savings account			$ 39.7	$ 28.5
Non-interest bearing deposit accounts insured by FDIC			33	45
Increase in asset retirement obligation due to revision of cost estimates	$ 2.8
Advertising expense			$ 11.9	$ 11.8	$ 10.9
Connect America Fund's Mobility Fund Phase I Auction (Auction 90) [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Performance Default Penalty Under Government Funding Auction, as a Percentage of Total Funding			10.00%
Line of credit obtained pursuant to the terms of the Government funding auction, current borrowing capacity			$ 2.2
First scheduled disbursement under Government funding auction		$ 1.7
Performance default penalty under Government funding auction, amount			0.5
Restricted cash			2.2
Connect America Fund's Mobility Fund Phase I Auction (Auction 90) [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amount company is eligible to receive under Government funding auction			$ 5

Supplemental Financial Inform52

Supplemental Financial Informations (Changes To Company's Asset Retirement Obligation Liability) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward]
Asset retirement obligations, beginning	$ 19,236	$ 15,528
Net increases due to changes in, and timing of estimated future cash flows	438	2,901
Accretion of asset retirement obligations	1,111	807
Asset retirement obligations, ending	$ 20,785	$ 19,236

Supplemental Cash Flow Inform53

Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Supplementary Disclosures Of Condensed Consolidated statements of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash payments for:
Interest (net of amounts capitalized)	$ 29,422	$ 34,891	$ 22,693
Income taxes	25,770	3,601	4,087
Cash received from income tax refunds	3,975	1,434	3,704
Supplemental investing and financing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment included in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	9,324	8,509	8,272
Borrowings under capital leases	67	562	380
Dividends declared not paid	0	0	9,221
Interest capitalized	$ 1,300	$ 300	$ 100

Property, Plan And Equipment (N

Property, Plan And Equipment (Narratives) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life		50 years
Depreciation expense		$ 54.3	$ 53.3	$ 51
Impairment Charge on Reclassified Assets	$ 29
Long-Lived Assets to be Abandoned, Carrying Value of Asset	$ 1.9		$ 1.9
Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life		17 years
Weighted Average [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life		10 years
Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life		5 years
Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life		18 years
Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life		2 years

Property, Plan And Equipment (D

Property, Plan And Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment
Land and buildings	$ 27,406	$ 27,560
Network plant and equipment	451,996	345,373
Furniture, fixtures and other equipment	95,095	88,492
Total in service	574,497	461,425
Under construction	27,577	16,859
Property, plant and equipment, gross	602,074	478,284
Less: accumulated depreciation	275,814	212,230
Property, plant and equipment, net	$ 326,260	$ 266,054

Intangible Assets (Narrative) (

Intangible Assets (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Amortization expense	$ 0.8	$ 1.9	$ 3

Intangible Assets (Finite-Lived

Intangible Assets (Finite-Lived Intangible Assets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Amount	$ 43,900	$ 43,900
Accumulated Amortization	(39,608)	(38,816)
Customer relationships and trademarks, net	$ 4,292	5,084
Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Life	17 years 6 months
Gross Amount	$ 36,900	36,900
Accumulated Amortization	(34,630)	(34,305)
Customer relationships and trademarks, net	$ 2,270	2,595
Trademarks [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Life	15 years
Gross Amount	$ 7,000	7,000
Accumulated Amortization	(4,978)	(4,511)
Customer relationships and trademarks, net	$ 2,022	$ 2,489

Intangible Assets (Schedule Of

Intangible Assets (Schedule Of Future Amortization Expense) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Amortization Expense, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2,015	$ 791
2,016	791
2,017	791
2,018	791
2,019	478
Thereafter	650
Customer relationships and trademarks, net	4,292	$ 5,084
Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Amortization Expense, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2,015	324
2,016	324
2,017	324
2,018	324
2,019	324
Thereafter	650
Customer relationships and trademarks, net	2,270	2,595
Trademarks [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Amortization Expense, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2,015	467
2,016	467
2,017	467
2,018	467
2,019	154
Thereafter	0
Customer relationships and trademarks, net	$ 2,022	$ 2,489

Intangible Assets Schedule of I

Intangible Assets Schedule of Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 63,700	$ 63,700
Radio spectrum licenses	44,933	44,933
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of	$ (117)	$ (87,853)	$ 0

Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Det

Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details)	Jan. 31, 2014USD ($)	Nov. 09, 2012USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt			$ 522,940,000
Future payment	$ 1,400,000
Revolving credit facility		$ 35,000,000
Amended and Restated Credit incremental commitments maximal amount		$ 125,000,000
Debt discount rate write off		1.00%
Base rate maximum	2.00%
Initial amount of restricted payment basket		$ 50,000,000
Addition to restricted payment basket		$ 6,500,000
Percentage of increase in restricted payment		50.00%
Leverage ratio threshold for triggering increase in restricted payment percent		2.75
Default increase in restricted payments contingent on leverage ratio, percent		75.00%
Cash flow floor over which excess cash flow adds to the basket		$ 10,000,000
Balance of restricted payment basket			$ 86,100,000
Leverage ratio		4.50	0.0765
Creditor and third-party fees	$ 3,800,000
Deferred issuance and repricing costs	500,000
Deferred debt discounts	3,700,000
Accretion expense				$ 700,000
Unamortized deferred fees			$ 500,000
Unamortized discount			$ 200,000
Blended average interest rate			6.40%	6.30%
Additional borrowings	$ 40,000,000
Discount Rate On Additional Borrowings	0.25%
Debt Discount on Additional Borrowings	$ 500,000
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Four Years
Vehicles [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Carrying value of capital leases			$ 1,900,000
Accumulated depreciation			1,200,000
Future minimum lease payments, 2016			200,000
Future minimum lease payments, 2017			100,000
Future minimum lease payments, 2018 (less than)			$ 100,000
Term Loan A [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
New Term Loan Amount		$ 150,000,000
Term Loan A Balance Outstanding Transferred to Term Loan B	$ 148,100,000
Debt discount written off		$ 1,500,000
Bear interest rate		3.50%
Base interest rate		2.50%
Term Loan B [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
New Term Loan Amount		$ 350,000,000
Debt discount rate write off		1.00%
Debt discount written off		$ 3,500,000
Bear interest rate	4.75%	4.75%
Base interest rate	3.75%	3.75%
Term Loans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
New Term Loan Amount	$ 533,800,000
Stated percentage rate, minimum	1.00%
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Leverage Ratio less than		3.75%
Percentage of mandatory debt prepayments		50.00%
Mandatory debt prepayments of cash flow be made to more than		90 days
Leverage Ratio above		4.50%
Percentage of excess cash flow		25.00%
Leverage Ratio		0.0450
Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Leverage ratio		0.0425

Long-Term Debt (Schedule Of Lon

Long-Term Debt (Schedule Of Long-Term Debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Senior secured term loans, net of unamortized debt discount	$ 519,820	$ 524,504
Capital lease obligations	419	715
Debt and capital lease obligations	520,239	525,219
Less: current portion of long-term debt	5,605	5,728
Long-term debt	$ 514,634	$ 519,491

Long-Term Debt (Aggregate Matur

Long-Term Debt (Aggregate Maturities Of Long-Term Debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Nov. 09, 2012
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2,016	$ 5,405
2,017	5,405
2,018	5,405
2,019	506,725
Total	$ 522,940
Term Loan A [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
New Term Loan Amount		$ 150,000
Term Loan B [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
New Term Loan Amount		$ 350,000

Financial Instruments (Narrativ

Financial Instruments (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Summary of Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Cost method investments		$ 1,522	$ 1,522
Interest rate cap purchased, cost	$ 900
Notional amount of interest rate cap	$ 350,000
Interest rate cap rate	1.00%
Write off unamortized debt issuance costs		0	229	$ 656
CoBank [Member]
Summary of Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Cost method investments		$ 1,500	$ 1,500

Financial Instruments (Schedule

Financial Instruments (Schedule Of Difference Between Face Amount, Carrying Amount And Fair Value Of Financial Instruments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Financial liabilities:
Term Loans	$ 522,940	$ 528,345
Capital lease obligations	419	904
Derivative related to debt:
Interest rate cap asset		350,000
Carrying Amount [Member]
Financial assets:
Long-term investments for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value	1,522	1,522
Financial liabilities:
Term Loans	519,820	525,504
Capital lease obligations	419	904
Derivative related to debt:
Interest rate cap asset		0
Fair Value [Member]
Financial liabilities:
Term Loans	517,710	459,660
Capital lease obligations	$ 419	904
Derivative related to debt:
Interest rate cap asset		$ 0

Equity and Earnings Per Share65

Equity and Earnings Per Share (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Aug. 24, 2009
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]
Shares authorized to repurchase					$ 40
Repurchase of common stock, shares	523,233
Payments for repurchase of equity	$ 16.9
Restricted common stock, repurchased		$ 0.1	$ 0.1
Excluded from computation of diluted earnings per common share		1,600,000	1,600,000	1,800,000

Equity and Earnings Per Share66

Equity and Earnings Per Share (Schedule Of Computation Of Basic And Diluted Earnings Per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015		Sep. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2015		Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2014		Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations																	$ (1,135)	$ 3,183	$ 23,688
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax	$ (14,441)		$ (4,498)		$ 787		$ 8,249		$ (54,128)		$ (92)		$ (457)		$ (672)		(9,903)	(55,349)	3,051
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Operating Income (Loss)																	(16,910)	(88,992)	5,479
Numerator:
Net income (loss) applicable to common shares for earnings per share computation	$ (19,649)	[1]	$ (8,963)	[1]	$ 1,610	[1]	$ 14,796	[1]	$ (56,208)	[2]	$ 804	[2]	$ 484	[2]	$ 1,286	[2]	$ (12,206)	$ (53,634)	$ 24,678
Denominator:
Total shares outstanding	22,264								21,616								22,264	21,616	21,510
Less: unvested shares																	(949)	(463)	(443)
Less: effect of calculating weighted average shares																	(58)	(42)	(41)
Denominator for basic earnings per common share – weighted average shares outstanding																	21,257	21,111	21,026
Weighted Average Number of Shares, Restricted Stock																	0	0	422
Plus: incremental common shares attributable to share-based payment arrangements																	0	0	285
Denominator for diluted earnings per common share – weighted average shares outstanding																	21,257	21,111	21,826
Basic earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.24)		$ (0.21)		$ 0.04		$ 0.29		$ (0.10)		$ 0.04		$ 0.05		$ 0.09		$ (0.10)	$ 0.08	$ 1.02
Basic earnings (loss) per common share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(0.68)		(0.21)		0.03		0.39		(2.56)		0		(0.03)		(0.03)		(0.47)	(2.62)	0.15
Basic earnings (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)	(0.92)		(0.42)		0.07		0.68		(2.66)		0.04		0.02		0.06		(0.57)	(2.54)	1.17
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	(0.24)		(0.21)		0.04		0.27		(0.10)		0.04		0.04		0.09		(0.10)	0.08	0.99
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(0.68)		(0.21)		0.03		0.37		(2.56)		0		(0.02)		0.03		(0.47)	(2.62)	0.14
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.92)		$ (0.42)		$ 0.07		$ 0.64		$ (2.66)		$ 0.04		$ 0.02		$ 0.06		$ (0.57)	$ (2.54)	$ 1.13
Performance Stock Units [Member]
Denominator:
Plus: incremental common shares attributable to share-based payment arrangements																	0	0	93
Continuing Operations [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations																	$ (2,303)	$ 1,715	$ 21,627
Denominator:
Total shares outstanding	22,264								21,616								22,264	21,616	21,510
Less: unvested shares																	(949)	(463)	(443)
Less: effect of calculating weighted average shares																	(58)	(42)	(41)
Denominator for basic earnings per common share – weighted average shares outstanding																	21,257	21,111	21,026
Weighted Average Number of Shares, Restricted Stock																	0	0	422
Plus: incremental common shares attributable to share-based payment arrangements																	0	0	285
Denominator for diluted earnings per common share – weighted average shares outstanding																	21,257	21,111	21,826
Basic earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)																	$ (0.10)	$ 0.08	$ 1.02
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)																	$ (0.10)	$ 0.08	$ 0.99
Continuing Operations [Member] | Performance Stock Units [Member]
Denominator:
Plus: incremental common shares attributable to share-based payment arrangements																	0	0	93
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Denominator:
Total shares outstanding	22,264								21,616								22,264	21,616	21,510
Less: unvested shares																	(949)	(463)	(443)
Less: effect of calculating weighted average shares																	(58)	(42)	(41)
Denominator for basic earnings per common share – weighted average shares outstanding																	21,257	21,111	21,026
Weighted Average Number of Shares, Restricted Stock																	0	0	422
Plus: incremental common shares attributable to share-based payment arrangements																	0	0	285
Denominator for diluted earnings per common share – weighted average shares outstanding																	21,257	21,111	21,826
Basic earnings (loss) per common share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)																	$ (0.47)	$ (2.62)	$ 0.15
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)																	$ (0.47)	$ (2.62)	$ 0.14
Discontinued Operations [Member] | Performance Stock Units [Member]
Denominator:
Plus: incremental common shares attributable to share-based payment arrangements																	0	0	93
[1]	Results for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2015 include decreased retail revenue due to continued adoption of lower rate plans and EIP service plan discounts and increased network costs to support additional capacity for our 4G LTE expansion.
[2]	Results for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014 include increased equipment revenue from EIP and the impairment and restructuring costs associated with the sale of the spectrum and the wind down of our operations in our Eastern Markets.

Stock Plans (Narrative) (Detail

Stock Plans (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Beginning of vesting period after grant date for Employee Equity Incentive Plan, in years	1 year
Number of shares issued during the period	503,000
Stock options to be granted, minimum percentage	100.00%
Future charges for equity-based compensation, 2015	$ 1.5
Future charges for equity-based compensation, 2016	1
Future charges for equity-based compensation, 2017	0.1
Future charges for equity-based compensation, 2018	$ 0.1
Weighted-average grant date fair value per share of stock options granted	$ 1.72	$ 1.02	$ 0.71
Total intrinsic value of options exercised			$ 0.1
Total fair value of options vested	$ 0.6	$ 1.5	$ 1.6
Unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options	0.5
Unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted stock awards	$ 1.9
Shares available for employee stock purchase plan	100,000
Shares price percentage	85.00%
Shares issued under the employee stock purchase plan	7,814	4,669	6,183
Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation cost recognition period,	2 years 219 days
Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation cost recognition period,	1 year 328 days
Performance Stock Units [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares issued during the period	28,000
Unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options	$ 0.3
Unrecognized compensation cost recognition period,	1 year 6 months 18 days
Employee Equity Incentive Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Maximum number of shares of common stock available for awards under the Equity Incentive Plan.	4,025,000
Employee Equity Incentive Plan [Member] | Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of stock options issued	261,503	347,023
Employee Equity Incentive Plan [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares issued during the period	415,401	132,041
Employee Equity Incentive Plan [Member] | Performance Stock Units [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares issued during the period	28,031	83,151
Non-Employee Director Equity Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Maximum number of shares of common stock available for awards under the Equity Incentive Plan.	200,000
Non-Employee Director Equity Plan [Member] | Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of stock options issued		27,170
Options issued under Employee Equity Incentive Plan vest fractionally annually	25.00%
Non-Employee Director Equity Plan [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares issued during the period	87,525	11,338

Stock Plans (Stock Option Valua

Stock Plans (Stock Option Valuation Assumptions) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions and Methodology [Abstract]
Risk-free interest rate, minimum	2.00%	2.40%	1.30%
Risk-free interest rate, maximum	2.00%	2.40%	1.50%
Expected volatility, minimum	46.40%	39.20%	39.30%
Expected volatility, maximum	46.40%	39.40%	39.60%
Weighted-average expected volatility	46.40%	39.40%	39.40%
Expected dividend yield, Minimum	0.00%	8.50%	12.90%
Expected dividend yield, Maximum	0.00%	12.90%	14.20%
Weighted-average expected dividend yield	0.00%	12.60%	13.50%
Expected term	5 years	7 years	7 years
Future Charges For Equity-Based Compensation Year 4	$ 0.1

Stock Plans (Stock-based Compen

Stock Plans (Stock-based Compensation Expense) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Equity-based compensation expense	$ 3,448	$ 2,969	$ 5,553
Cost of Sales and Services [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Equity-based compensation expense	651	593	634
Customer Operations [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Equity-based compensation expense	615	918	1,067
Corporate Operations [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Equity-based compensation expense	$ 2,182	$ 1,458	$ 3,852

Stock Plans (Summary Of Stock O

Stock Plans (Summary Of Stock Options Activity) (Details) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)$ / sharesshares
Shares
Stock options outstanding at January 1, 2013 (in shares) | shares	1,583
Granted during the period (in shares) | shares	261
Exercised during the period (in shares) | shares	(1)
Forfeited during the period (in shares) | shares	(298)
Stock options outstanding at January 1, 2013 (in shares) | shares	1,547
Exercisable at December 31, 2013 (in shares) | shares	933
Total expected to vest at December 31, 2013 (in shares) | shares	552
Weighted Average Exercise Price per Share
Stock options outstanding at January 1, 2013 (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 19.09
Granted during the period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	6
Exercised during the period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	0.58
Forfeited during the period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	21.13
Stock options outstanding at December 31, 2013 (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	16.50
Exercisable at December 31, 2013 (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	20.19
Total expected to vest at December 31, 2013 (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 12.10
Additional Stock Options Disclosures [Abstract]
Outstanding at December 30, 2013, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term	6 years 6 months
Exercisable at December 30, 2013, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term	5 years 4 months 20 days
Outstanding at December 30, 2013, Aggregate Intrinsic Value | $	$ 0
Exercisable at December 30, 2013, Aggregate Intrinsic Value | $	$ 0

Stock Plans (Summary Of Restric

Stock Plans (Summary Of Restricted Stock Awards Activity) (Details) shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015$ / sharesshares
Shares
Shares outstanding at January 1, 2013 (in shares) | shares	245
Granted during the period (in shares) | shares	503
Vested during the period (in shares) | shares	(136)
Forfeited during the period (in shares) | shares	(21)
Shares outstanding at December 31, 2013 (in shares) | shares	591
Weighted Average Grant Fair Value per Share
Shares outstanding at January 1, 2013 (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 14.93
Granted during the period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	5.37
Vested during the period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	13.40
Forfeited during the period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	11.28
Shares outstanding at December 31, 2013 (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 7.30

Stock Plans (Summary of Perform

Stock Plans (Summary of Performance Stock Awards Activity) (Details) shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015$ / sharesshares
Shares
Shares outstanding at January 1, 2013 (in shares) | shares	245
Granted during the period (in shares) | shares	503
Vested during the period (in shares) | shares	(136)
Forfeited during the period (in shares) | shares	(21)
Shares outstanding at December 31, 2013 (in shares) | shares	591
Weighted Average Grant Fair Value per Share
Shares outstanding at January 1, 2013 (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 14.93
Granted during the period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	5.37
Vested during the period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	13.40
Forfeited during the period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	11.28
Shares outstanding at December 31, 2013 (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 7.30
Performance Stock Units [Member]
Shares
Shares outstanding at January 1, 2013 (in shares) | shares	99
Granted during the period (in shares) | shares	28
Vested during the period (in shares) | shares	(47)
Forfeited during the period (in shares) | shares	(10)
Shares outstanding at December 31, 2013 (in shares) | shares	70
Weighted Average Grant Fair Value per Share
Shares outstanding at January 1, 2013 (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 11.24
Granted during the period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	7.33
Vested during the period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	12.78
Forfeited during the period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	11.22
Shares outstanding at December 31, 2013 (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 8.62

Income Taxes (Narrative) (Detai

Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax [Line Items]
Equity-based compensation	$ 444	$ (364)	$ 0
Federal statutory income tax rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Recognized tax benefit		$ 1,000	$ 700
Recognized tax cost included in other comprehensive income	$ 1,200	5,000	$ 3,500
Net operating loss carryforwards adjusted annual maximum limit	8,900
Expected prior NOLs available	8,900
2025 [Member]
Income Tax [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforward	4,900
2026 [Member]
Income Tax [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforward	400
Irc382Limit [Member]
Income Tax [Line Items]
Expected prior NOLs available	85,400
Continuing Operations [Member]
Income Tax [Line Items]
Equity-based compensation	$ 400	$ 400

Income Taxes (Components Of Inc

Income Taxes (Components Of Income Tax Expense) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Nondeductible merger expenses	$ 1,313	$ 0	$ 0
Discontinued Operation, Tax Effect of Discontinued Operation	(6,880)	(33,641)	2,417
Current tax expense:
Federal	466	508	1,159
State	865	359	560
Current tax expense (benefit)	1,331	867	1,719
Deferred tax expense:
Federal	1,452	412	12,002
State	(596)	(532)	2,406
Deferred income taxes	856	(120)	14,408
Income tax expense	$ 2,187	$ 747	$ 16,127

Income Taxes (Reconciliation Of

Income Taxes (Reconciliation Of Effective Tax Rate) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Computed tax expense at statutory federal rate of 35%	$ 369	$ 1,375	$ 13,936
Nondeductible merger expenses	1,313	0	0
Equity-based compensation	444	(364)	0
Nondeductible compensation	47	87	273
Noncontrolling interests	(409)	(514)	(721)
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit	175	112	1,928
Other	248	51	711
Income tax expense	$ 2,187	$ 747	$ 16,127

Income Taxes (Income Tax Expens

Income Taxes (Income Tax Expenses (Benefit) Allocation) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Discontinued operations	$ (6,880)	$ (33,641)	$ 2,417

Income Taxes (Net Deferred Tax

Income Taxes (Net Deferred Tax Assets And Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Deferred income tax assets
Retirement benefits other than pension	$ 1,294	$ 1,232
Pension and related plans	6,256	7,158
Net operating loss	33,908	46,264
Accrued expenses	3,746	3,548
Other	4,160	3,153
Deferred income tax assets	49,364	61,355
Deferred income tax liabilities
Property and equipment	44,234	45,011
Intangible assets	883	1,009
Licenses	13,782	13,660
Deferred income tax liabilities	58,899	59,680
Deferred tax liabilities, net	$ (9,535)
Deferred tax assets, net		$ 1,675

Pension Plans and Other Postr78

Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits (Narratives) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Effect of Adopting Updated Mortality Tables					$ 2,400
Defined Benefit Plan, Effect of Discount Rate Changes					$ 7,100
Percentage of gains and losses in excess of benefit obligation and market-Related value of assets amortized.					10.00%
Unrecognized actuarial gain (loss)					$ (300)	$ 1,200
Rate of increase(decrease)					1.00%
Maximum percentage of asset within bond holdings.					4.00%
Maximum percentage of bond holding to total portfolio					1.00%
Target Allocation					100.00%
Forecast [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Ultimate health care cost trend rate			5.00%	8.00%
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax					$ 200	100	$ 300
Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Accumulated benefit obligation					33,700	38,300
Unrecognized actuarial gain (loss)					(2,100)
Unrecognized actuarial gain (loss) recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income					4,400
Deferred tax assets					(2,700)
Effect of one percentage point increase on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation					100
Effect of one percentage point decrease on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation					100
Net periodic benefit cost (gain)					272	(511)	(139)
Benefit obligation					33,743	38,282	27,774
Define benefit plan, estimated future benefit payments, year 2014					636
Define benefit plan, estimated future benefit payments, year 2015					700
Define benefit plan, estimated future benefit payments, year 2016					720
Define benefit plan, estimated future benefit payments, year 2017					768
Define benefit plan, estimated future benefit payments, year 2018					868
Define benefit plan, estimated future benefit payments, years 2019-2013					6,219
Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member] | Forecast [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Net periodic benefit cost (gain)				$ 300
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Unrecognized actuarial gain (loss)					100
Unrecognized actuarial gain (loss) recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income					700
Deferred tax assets					(500)
Effect of one percentage point increase on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation					600
Effect of one percentage point decrease on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation					500
Net periodic benefit cost (gain)					392	264	148
Benefit obligation					3,221	3,111	1,980
Define benefit plan, estimated future benefit payments, year 2014					87
Define benefit plan, estimated future benefit payments, year 2015					106
Define benefit plan, estimated future benefit payments, year 2016					99
Define benefit plan, estimated future benefit payments, year 2017					99
Define benefit plan, estimated future benefit payments, year 2018					100
Define benefit plan, estimated future benefit payments, years 2019-2013					746
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member] | Forecast [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Net periodic benefit cost (gain)				300
Nonqualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Unrecognized actuarial gain (loss) recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income					2,100	2,300
Deferred tax assets					(1,300)	(1,500)
Benefit obligation					7,800	8,300
Expense recognized related to other benefit plans	$ 300	$ 400
Previously unrecognized loss related to supplemental executive retirement plan					100	100	100
Define benefit plan, estimated future benefit payments, year 2014					500
Define benefit plan, estimated future benefit payments, year 2015					0
Define benefit plan, estimated future benefit payments, year 2016					0
Define benefit plan, estimated future benefit payments, year 2017					0
Define benefit plan, estimated future benefit payments, year 2018					0
Define benefit plan, estimated future benefit payments, years 2019-2013					2,500
Nonqualified Pension Plans [Member] | Forecast [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Expense recognized related to other benefit plans				400
Expected other benefit plans payments				$ 500
Defined Contribution 401(K) Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Company's 401K Matching Contributions					$ 1,000	$ 1,200	$ 1,100

Pension Plans And Other Postr79

Pension Plans And Other Postretirement Benefits (Reconciliation Of The Changes In The Qualified Plans' Benefit Obligations And Fair Value Of Assets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of period	$ 24,718
Fair value of plan assets, end of period	22,570	$ 24,718
Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]
Change in benefit obligations:
Benefit obligations, beginning of period	38,282	27,774
Service cost	0	0	$ 0
Interest cost	1,519	1,375
Actuarial (gain) loss	(4,095)	10,135
Benefits paid, net	(1,963)	(1,002)
Benefit obligations transferred	0	0
Benefit obligations, end of period	33,743	38,282	27,774
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of period	24,718	24,610
Actual return on plan assets	(127)	1,148
Employer contributions	0	0
Benefits paid	(2,021)	(1,040)
Fair value of plan assets, end of period	22,570	24,718	24,610
Funded status:
Total liability, end of period	(11,173)	(13,564)
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]
Change in benefit obligations:
Benefit obligations, beginning of period	3,111	1,980
Service cost	47	40	54
Interest cost	126	98
Actuarial (gain) loss	56	805
Benefits paid, net	(119)	(26)
Benefit obligations transferred	0	214
Benefit obligations, end of period	3,221	3,111	1,980
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of period	0	0
Actual return on plan assets	0	0
Employer contributions	192	102
Benefits paid	(192)	(102)
Fair value of plan assets, end of period	0	0	$ 0
Funded status:
Total liability, end of period	$ (3,221)	$ (3,111)

Pension Plans and Other Postr80

Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits (Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Interest cost	1,519	1,375	1,325
Recognized net actuarial loss	523	0	131
Expected return on plan assets	(1,770)	(1,886)	(1,595)
Net periodic benefit cost	272	(511)	(139)
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	47	40	54
Interest cost	153	122	78
Recognized net actuarial loss	192	102	16
Net periodic benefit cost	$ 392	$ 264	$ 148

Pension Plans And Other Postr81

Pension Plans And Other Postretirement Benefits (Assumptions Used In Measurements Of Net Cost For The Consolidated Statement Of Operations) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Weighted Average Assumptions Used in Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Discount rate	4.35%	4.00%
Defined Benefit Plan, Weighted Average Assumptions Used in Calculating Benefit Obligation [Abstract]
Discount rate	4.00%	5.00%	4.15%
Expected return on plan assets	6.75%	7.25%	7.75%
Rate of compensation increase		0.00%	0.00%
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Weighted Average Assumptions Used in Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Discount rate	4.35%	4.10%
Defined Benefit Plan, Weighted Average Assumptions Used in Calculating Benefit Obligation [Abstract]
Discount rate	4.10%	5.00%	4.15%

Pension Plans and Other Postr82

Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits (Weighted Average Actual Assets Allocations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Actual Allocation	100.00%
Fair Value of Plan Assets	$ 22,570	$ 24,718
Large Cap Value [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Actual Allocation	17.00%
Fair Value of Plan Assets	$ 3,741	4,082
Large Cap Blend [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Actual Allocation	10.00%
Fair Value of Plan Assets	$ 2,179	2,347
Large Growth [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Actual Allocation	16.00%
Fair Value of Plan Assets	$ 3,706	4,061
Mid Cap Blend [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Actual Allocation	9.00%
Fair Value of Plan Assets	$ 2,036	2,246
Small Cap Blend [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Actual Allocation	5.00%
Fair Value of Plan Assets	$ 1,088	1,348
Foreign Stock - Large Cap [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Actual Allocation	20.00%
Fair Value of Plan Assets	$ 4,535	4,778
Bond [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Actual Allocation	19.00%
Fair Value of Plan Assets	$ 4,358	4,849
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Actual Allocation	4.00%
Fair Value of Plan Assets	$ 927	$ 1,007

Pension Plans and Other Postr83

Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits (Actual And Target Allocations for Plan Assets) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Actual Allocation	100.00%
Target Allocation	100.00%
Equity Securities [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Actual Allocation	77.00%
Equity Securities [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target Allocation	65.00%
Equity Securities [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target Allocation	75.00%
Bond Securities And Cash Equivalents [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Actual Allocation	23.00%
Bond Securities And Cash Equivalents [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target Allocation	25.00%
Bond Securities And Cash Equivalents [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target Allocation	35.00%

Pension Plans and Other Postr84

Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits (Estimated Future Pension Benefit And Other Postretirement Payments) (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Health Care Cost Trend Rate Assumed for Next Fiscal Year	1.00%
Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2,014	$ 636
2,015	700
2,016	720
2,017	768
2,018	868
Aggregate of next five years	6,219
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2,014	87
2,015	106
2,016	99
2,017	99
2,018	100
Aggregate of next five years	$ 746

Strategic Network Alliance (Det

Strategic Network Alliance (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Attributable Annual Non Cash Spectrum Lease Cost	$ 4.9
Percentage of revenue		37.80%	41.30%	46.60%
Revenue minimum per agreement		$ 9.3
SNA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, effect on operating income (loss), increase		9.6
Litigation settlement, effect on revenue, increase		9
Litigation settlement, effect on cost of sales, decrease		$ 0.6

Commitments And Contingencies86

Commitments And Contingencies (Narratives) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Renewal options of years	5 years
Rental expense for all operating leases	$ 28.5	$ 24.1	$ 23.7
Maximum [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Purchase commitments expensed over period	7 years
Minimum [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Purchase commitments expensed over period	5 years

Commitments And Contingencies87

Commitments And Contingencies (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)
Operating Leases
2,015	$ 15,250
2,016	14,069
2,017	13,153
2,018	12,340
2,019	10,963
Thereafter	51,520
Total	117,295
Other Commitments
2,015	83,432
2,016	0
2,017	0
2,018	0
2,019	0
Thereafter	0
Total	83,432
Total
2,015	98,682
2,016	14,069
2,017	13,153
2,018	12,340
2,019	10,963
Thereafter	51,520
Total	$ 200,727

Commitments And Contingencies O

Commitments And Contingencies Other Commitments (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)
Tower Leases [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Future Rental Payments, Potential Liability	$ 1.7

Quarterly Financial Summary (Na

Quarterly Financial Summary (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Increased equipment cost	$ 87,753	$ 73,044	$ 58,481

Quarterly Financial Summary (De

Quarterly Financial Summary (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015		Sep. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2015		Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2014		Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Operating Revenues	$ 87,595		$ 88,346		$ 91,388		$ 95,311		$ 96,652		$ 88,191		$ 86,125		$ 89,166		$ 362,640	$ 360,134	$ 359,766
Operating Income (Loss)	(426)		2,617		9,568		19,802		4,811		10,064		10,232		12,635		31,561	37,742	70,351
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	(5,040)	[1]	(4,228)	[1]	1,095	[1]	7,038	[1]	(1,775)	[2]	1,248	[2]	1,316	[2]	2,394	[2]
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax	(14,441)		(4,498)		787		8,249		(54,128)		(92)		(457)		(672)		(9,903)	(55,349)	3,051
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to NTELOS Holdings Corp.	$ (19,649)	[1]	$ (8,963)	[1]	$ 1,610	[1]	$ 14,796	[1]	$ (56,208)	[2]	$ 804	[2]	$ 484	[2]	$ 1,286	[2]	$ (12,206)	$ (53,634)	$ 24,678
Earnings (Loss) per Share Attributable to NTELOS Holdings Corp. (3)
Basic earnings (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.92)		$ (0.42)		$ 0.07		$ 0.68		$ (2.66)		$ 0.04		$ 0.02		$ 0.06		$ (0.57)	$ (2.54)	$ 1.17
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	(0.24)		(0.21)		0.04		0.27		(0.10)		0.04		0.04		0.09		(0.10)	0.08	0.99
Basic earnings (loss) per common share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(0.68)		(0.21)		0.03		0.39		(2.56)		0		(0.03)		(0.03)		(0.47)	(2.62)	0.15
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)	(0.92)		(0.42)		0.07		0.64		(2.66)		0.04		0.02		0.06		(0.57)	(2.54)	1.13
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(0.68)		(0.21)		0.03		0.37		(2.56)		0		(0.02)		0.03		(0.47)	(2.62)	0.14
Basic earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.24)		$ (0.21)		$ 0.04		$ 0.29		$ (0.10)		$ 0.04		$ 0.05		$ 0.09		$ (0.10)	$ 0.08	$ 1.02
[1]	Results for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2015 include decreased retail revenue due to continued adoption of lower rate plans and EIP service plan discounts and increased network costs to support additional capacity for our 4G LTE expansion.
[2]	Results for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014 include increased equipment revenue from EIP and the impairment and restructuring costs associated with the sale of the spectrum and the wind down of our operations in our Eastern Markets.

Equipment Installment Plan Re91

Equipment Installment Plan Receivable Equipment Plan Receivable (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Balance	$ 4,700	$ 1,400
EIP receivables, gross	4,400	400
Accounts receivable, net	53,021	35,177
Deferred Charges and Other Assets	18,941	16,919
Advance billings and customer deposits	(12,772)	(10,284)
Equipment Installment Plan Receivable [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
EIP receivables, gross	37,898	13,369
Deferred interest	(2,764)	(675)
EIP receivables, net of deferred interest	35,134	12,694
Allowance for credit losses	(2,324)	(650)
EIP receivables, net	32,810	12,044
Accounts receivable, net	22,291	5,252
Deferred Charges and Other Assets	$ 10,519	$ 6,792
Maximum [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Receivable with Imputed Interest, Effective Yield (Interest Rate)	10.00%
Minimum [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Receivable with Imputed Interest, Effective Yield (Interest Rate)	5.00%

Restructuring Charges Restruc92

Restructuring Charges Restructuring and Related Activities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended			24 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Severance Costs	$ 2,081	$ 982		$ 3,063
Business Exit Costs	327	0		327
Other Restructuring Costs	79	0		79
Restructuring and Related Cost, Incurred Cost				3,469
Restructuring	2,487	982	$ 0
Payments for Restructuring	(2,826)	(32)
Restructuring Reserve	611	950	0	611
Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Payments for Restructuring	(2,671)	(32)
Restructuring Reserve	360	950	0	360
Contract Termination [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Payments for Restructuring	(76)	0
Restructuring Reserve	251	0	0	251
Other Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Payments for Restructuring	(79)	0
Restructuring Reserve	0	$ 0	$ 0	0
Minimum [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve	0			0
Minimum [Member] | Contract Termination [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve	0			0
Minimum [Member] | Other Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve	0			0
Maximum [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve	0			0
Maximum [Member] | Contract Termination [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve	0			0
Maximum [Member] | Other Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve	$ 0			$ 0