Shenandoah Telecommunications (SHEN) 10-Q 7 Nov 16 2016 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Oct. 27, 2016
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS CO/VA/
Entity Central Index Key	354,963
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		48,915,405

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATE

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 27,531	$ 76,812
Restricted cash	2,167	0
Accounts receivable, net	79,944	29,778
Income taxes receivable	0	7,694
Inventory, net	14,128	4,183
Prepaid expenses and other	17,759	8,573
Deferred income taxes	0	907
Total current assets	141,529	127,947
Investments, including $2,889 and $2,654 carried at fair value	10,113	10,679
Building held for sale	4,950	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	667,741	410,018
Other Assets
Intangible assets, net	458,401	66,993
Goodwill	145,413	10
Deferred charges and other assets, net	5,478	11,504
Other assets, net	609,292	78,507
Total assets	1,433,625	627,151
Current Liabilities
Current maturities of long-term debt, net of unamortized loan fees	25,972	22,492
Accounts payable	34,974	13,009
Advanced billings and customer deposits	21,979	11,674
Accrued compensation	6,817	5,915
Income taxes payable	14,189	0
Accrued liabilities and other	31,533	7,639
Total current liabilities	135,464	60,729
Long-term debt, less current maturities, net of unamortized loan fees	783,595	177,169
Other Long-Term Liabilities
Deferred income taxes	146,966	74,868
Deferred lease payable	10,869	8,142
Asset retirement obligations	15,828	7,266
Other liabilities	42,597	9,039
Total other long-term liabilities	216,260	99,315
Commitments and Contingencies
Shareholders’ Equity
Common stock	44,427	32,776
Retained earnings	256,037	256,747
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	(2,158)	415
Total shareholders’ equity	298,306	289,938
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ 1,433,625	$ 627,151

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDAT3

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current Assets
Investments carried at fair value	$ 2,889	$ 2,654

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDAT4

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Operating revenues	$ 156,836	$ 85,212	$ 379,716	$ 255,202
Operating expenses:
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	58,317	30,570	140,354	91,541
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	40,369	18,306	96,263	55,024
Integration and acquisition expenses	15,272	2,129	35,801	3,153
Depreciation and amortization	46,807	19,118	96,961	53,119
Total operating expenses	160,765	70,123	369,379	202,837
Operating income (loss)	(3,929)	15,089	10,337	52,365
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(8,845)	(1,808)	(16,369)	(5,663)
Gain (loss) on investments, net	127	(211)	237	(12)
Non-operating income, net	1,400	391	2,910	1,265
Income (loss) before income taxes	(11,247)	13,461	(2,885)	47,955
Income tax expense (benefit)	(3,651)	5,465	(2,174)	19,199
Net income (loss)	(7,596)	7,996	(711)	28,756
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate hedge, net of tax	1,712	(979)	(2,573)	(1,560)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ (5,884)	$ 7,017	$ (3,284)	$ 27,196
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.16)	$ 0.17	$ (0.01)	$ 0.59
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.16)	$ 0.16	$ (0.01)	$ 0.59
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic (in shares)	48,909	48,406	48,768	48,364
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted (in shares)	48,909	49,071	48,768	48,967

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDAT5

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Member]
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 258,346	$ 29,712	$ 227,512	$ 1,122
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		48,265
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	40,864		40,864
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(707)			(707)
Dividends declared ($0.24 per share)	(11,629)		(11,629)
Dividends reinvested in common stock	544	$ 544
Dividends reinvested in common stock (in shares)		22
Stock based compensation	2,719	$ 2,719
Stock options exercised	996	$ 996
Stock options exercised (in shares)		87
Common stock issued for share awards	0
Common stock issued for share awards (in shares)		212
Common stock issued	11	$ 11
Common stock issued (in shares)		1
Common stock repurchased	(1,885)	$ (1,885)
Common stock repurchased (in shares)		(111)
Net excess tax benefit from stock options exercised	679	$ 679
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2015	289,938	$ 32,776	256,747	415
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		48,475
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(711)		(711)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(2,573)			(2,573)
Stock based compensation	2,980	$ 2,980
Stock options exercised	3,362	$ 3,362
Stock options exercised (in shares)		371
Common stock issued for share awards (in shares)		190
Common stock issued	6	$ 6
Common stock issued (in shares)		1
Common stock issued to acquire non-controlling interests of nTelos	10,400	$ 10,400
Common stock issued to acquire non-controlling interests of nTelos (in shares)		76
Common stock repurchased	(5,097)	$ (5,097)
Common stock repurchased (in shares)		(198)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2016	$ 298,306	$ 44,427	$ 256,037	$ (2,158)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2016		48,915

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDAT6

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Parenthetical)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015$ / shares
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.24

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDAT7

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Net income (loss)	$ (711)	$ 28,756
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	84,256	51,985
Amortization reflected as operating expense	12,705	1,134
Amortization reflected as contra revenue	8,883	0
Provision for bad debt	1,278	1,335
Straight line adjustment to management fee revenue	7,687	0
Stock based compensation expense	2,570	1,893
Excess tax benefits on stock awards	0	(655)
Deferred income taxes	(57,196)	(7,463)
Net (gain) loss on disposal of equipment	(144)	229
Unrealized (gain) loss on investments	(180)	190
Realized loss on disposal of investments	0	20
Net gains from patronage and equity investments	(497)	(540)
Amortization of long term debt issuance costs	2,608	430
Other	1,634	323
(Increase) decrease in:
Accounts receivable	7,903	(2,989)
Inventory, net	(6,134)	286
Income taxes receivable	8,294	14,752
Other assets	2,619	(3,990)
Increase (decrease) in:
Accounts payable	3,551	(4,174)
Income taxes payable	16,225	1,675
Deferred lease payable	2,728	733
Other deferrals and accruals	7,767	(807)
Net cash provided by operating activities	105,846	83,123
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment	(102,850)	(39,644)
Proceeds from sale of equipment	287	242
Cash distributions from investments	2,796	38
Cash disbursed for acquisition, net of cash acquired	(665,990)	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(765,757)	(39,364)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Principal payments on long-term debt	(207,816)	(17,250)
Amounts borrowed under debt agreements	835,000	0
Cash paid for debt issuance costs	(14,825)	(7,820)
Excess tax benefits on stock awards	0	655
Repurchases of common stock	(5,097)	(1,799)
Proceeds from issuances of common stock	3,368	826
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities	610,630	(25,388)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(49,281)	18,371
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning	76,812	68,917
Ending	27,531	87,288
Cash payments for:
Interest	14,671	5,550
Income taxes paid, net of refunds received	$ 23,851	$ 10,235

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDAT8

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Other cash flow information:
Capital expenditures	$ 14,200	$ 1,000
Common stock issued to acquire non-controlling interests of nTelos	10,400
Unamortized loan allocation to long-term debt current maturities	$ 4,300

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The interim condensed consolidated financial statements of Shenandoah Telecommunications Company and Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the interim results have been reflected therein. All such adjustments were of a normal and recurring nature. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 . The accompanying balance sheet information at December 31, 2015 was derived from the audited December 31, 2015 consolidated balance sheet. Operating revenues and income (loss) from operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the entire year. In connection with the nTelos acquisition and exchange transaction with Sprint (see Note 2), the Company has added the following significant accounting policies: Revenue Recognition Under the Company’s amended affiliate agreement, Sprint agreed to waive the management fee, which is historically presented as a contra-revenue by the Company, for a period of approximately six years. The impact of Sprint’s waiver of the management fee over the approximate six -year period is reflected as an increase in revenue, offset by the non-cash adjustment to recognize this impact on a straight-line basis over the contract term of approximately 14 years . Goodwill Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment on at least an annual basis. Impairment testing is required more often than annually if an event or circumstance indicates that impairment is more likely than not to have occurred. In conducting its annual impairment testing, the Company may first perform a qualitative assessment of whether it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount. If not, no further goodwill impairment testing is required. If it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount, or if the Company elects not to perform a qualitative assessment of a reporting unit, the Company then compares the fair value of the reporting unit to the related net book value. If the net book value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is measured and recognized. The Company conducts its annual impairment testing of goodwill as of October 1. Pension Benefits and Retirement Benefits Other Than Pensions Through the Company’s acquisition of nTelos, the Company assumed nTelos’ non-contributory defined benefit pension plan (“Pension Plan”) covering all employees who met eligibility requirements and were employed by nTelos prior to October 1, 2003. The Pension Plan was closed to nTelos 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, nTelos froze future benefit accruals. The Company uses 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. The Company also assumed two qualified nonpension postretirement benefit plans that provide certain health care and life benefits for nTelos retired employees that meet eligibility requirements. 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 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. The Company records annual amounts relating to the Pension Plan and postretirement benefit plans based on calculations that incorporate various actuarial and other assumptions, including discount rates, mortality, assumed rates of return, turnover rates and healthcare cost trend rates. The Company reviews its assumptions on an annual basis and makes modifications to the assumptions based on current rates and trends when it is appropriate to do so. The effect of modifications to those assumptions is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and amortized to net periodic cost over future periods using the corridor method.

Acquisition of NTELOS Holdings

Acquisition of NTELOS Holdings Corp. and Exchange with Sprint	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Acquisition of NTELOS Holdings Corp. and Exchange with Sprint	Acquisition of NTELOS Holdings Corp. and Exchange with Sprint On May 6, 2016, the Company completed its previously announced acquisition of NTELOS Holdings Corp. (“nTelos”) for $665.4 million in cash, net of cash acquired. The acquisition was entered into to improve shareholder value through the expansion of the Company's Wireless service area and customer base while strengthening our relationship with Sprint. The purchase price was financed by a credit facility arranged by CoBank, ACB (see Note 14). The Company has included the operations of nTelos for financial reporting purposes for the period subsequent to the acquisition. The Company has accounted for the acquisition of nTelos under the acquisition method of accounting, in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805, “Business Combinations”, and will account for any measurement period adjustments under Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-16, “Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement Period Adjustments”. Under the acquisition method of accounting, the total purchase price is allocated to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with the acquisition based on their estimated fair values. The preliminary allocation of the purchase price was based upon management’s preliminary valuation of the fair value of tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed of nTelos, with the excess recorded as goodwill. The following table shows the initial estimate of value and changes recorded during the third quarter of 2016 (in thousands): Initial Estimate Revisions Revised Estimate Accounts receivable $ 48,476 $ 1,045 $ 49,521 Inventory 3,810 — 3,810 Restricted cash 2,167 — 2,167 Investments 1,501 — 1,501 Prepaid expenses and other assets 14,835 — 14,835 Building held for sale 4,950 — 4,950 Property, plant and equipment 223,900 3,571 227,471 Spectrum licenses 198,200 — 198,200 Customer based contract rights 198,200 5,162 203,362 Contract based intangible assets 11,000 — 11,000 Goodwill 151,627 (6,328 ) 145,299 Other long term assets 10,288 555 10,843 Total assets acquired $ 868,954 $ 4,005 $ 872,959 Accounts payable $ 8,648 $ (116 ) $ 8,532 Advanced billings and customer deposits 12,477 — 12,477 Accrued expenses 25,230 — 25,230 Capital lease liability 418 — 418 Deferred tax liabilities 124,964 2,758 127,722 Retirement benefits 19,461 (263 ) 19,198 Other long-term liabilities 14,056 — 14,056 Total liabilities assumed 205,254 2,379 207,633 Net assets acquired $ 663,700 $ 1,626 $ 665,326 Finalization of the purchase price allocations is dependent on final review and acceptance of the independent appraiser’s valuation report, which is on-going. Closing on the sale of the former nTelos headquarter building held for sale is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2016. Revisions to the provisional estimates shown above reflect: • adding $4.6 million of construction materials and inventory, less $1.0 million of software and other assets that the Company has determined have no utility to the Company post-acquisition; • the increases in accounts receivable and other long term assets relating to an adjustment to the estimated fair value of nTelos' financed handset receivables, applied to the current and long-term portions of these receivables. Losses on migrations of these receivables have been less than initially estimated; • the increase in net assets acquired resulting from the settlement of the appraisal rights dispute; • the value assigned to certain customer based intangibles increased by $5.2 million , with an offset to goodwill; and • the increase in deferred taxes payable (offset by an increase in goodwill) resulting from several of the changes shown above as well as true-ups in the net tax basis of fixed assets resulting from completion of nTelos' 2015 tax returns. In addition to the changes in balances reflected above, the Company revised the provisional estimated useful lives of certain assets and recorded an adjustment to depreciation expense of $4.6 million relating to the second quarter for these assets. Immediately after acquiring nTelos, Shenandoah Personal Communications, LLC, (“PCS”) a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, completed its previously announced transaction with SprintCom, Inc., an affiliate of Sprint Corporation (“Sprint”). Pursuant to this transaction, among other things, the Company exchanged spectrum licenses valued at $198.2 million and customer based contract rights, valued at $203.4 million , acquired from nTelos with Sprint, and received an expansion of its affiliate service territory to include most of the service area served by nTelos, valued at $287.8 million , as well as additional customer based contract rights, valued at $113.8 million , relating to nTelos’ and Sprint’s legacy customers in the Company’s affiliate service territory. These exchanges were accounted for in accordance with ASC 845, “Nonmonetary Transactions”. The transfer of spectrum to Sprint resulted in a taxable gain to the Company which will be recognized as the Company recognizes the cash benefit of the waived management fees over the next approximately six years. The value of the affiliate agreement expansion is based on changes to the amended affiliate agreement that include: • an increase in the price to be paid by Sprint from 80% to 90% of the entire business value of PCS if the affiliate agreement is not renewed; • extension of the affiliate agreement with Sprint by 5 years to 2029; • expanded territory in the nTelos service area; • rights to serve all future Sprint customers in the affiliate service territory; • the Company’s commitment to upgrade certain coverage and capacity in its newly acquired service area; and • a reduction of the management fee charged by Sprint under the amended affiliate agreement; not to exceed $4.2 million in an individual month until the total waived fee equals $251.8 million , as well as an additional waiver of the management fee charged with respect to the former nTelos customers until the earlier of migration to the Sprint back-office billing and related systems or 6 months following the acquisition; not to exceed $5.0 million . Intangible assets resulting from the acquisition of nTelos and the Sprint exchange, both described above, are noted below (dollars in thousands): Useful Life Basis Affiliate contract agreement 14 years $ 287,800 Customer based contract rights 4-10 years 113,761 Contract based intangible assets 3-19 years 11,000 The affiliate contract agreement intangible asset value was increased by $29.7 million during the third quarter of 2016 and will be amortized on a straight-line basis and recorded as a contra-revenue over the remaining 14 year initial contract term. The Company recorded an adjustment of $0.4 million of amortization expense on this asset during the third quarter of 2016 that related to the second quarter of 2016. The other contract based intangible assets will be amortized on a straight-line basis and recorded through amortization expense. The customer based contract rights will be amortized over the life of the customers, gradually decreasing over the expected life of this asset, and recorded through amortization expense. The customer based contract rights value was reduced by $24.5 million during the third quarter of 2016, and amortization expense was reduced by $0.5 million during the third quarter that related to second quarter 2016. The value of these two assets changed primarily due to the effect on the initial provisional values of where certain cash flows should be reflected in those valuations. The Company has recorded goodwill in its Wireless segment as a result of the nTelos acquisition. This goodwill is not amortizable for tax purposes, as the Company acquired the common stock of nTelos. Prior to the acquisition, nTelos was 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, nTelos obtained a Letter of Credit (“LOC”) in the amount of $2.2 million 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). In accordance with the terms of the LOC, nTelos deposited $2.2 million into a separate account at the issuing bank to serve as cash collateral and is presented as restricted cash. Such funds will be released to the Company when the LOC is terminated without being drawn upon by USAC, which is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2016. At the time of the acquisition, certain third party investors held a non-controlling interest in one of nTelos’ subsidiaries. Immediately after the acquisition of nTelos, the Company acquired these interests in exchange for 380,000 shares of Company common stock, to be paid in five equal installments, with the first installment paid immediately and the remaining four to be paid over the next 4 years . This transaction was valued at $10.4 million . In connection with the acquisition, at closing, the Company borrowed $810.0 million in term loans with a weighted average effective interest rate of approximately 3.84% . The proceeds were used to finance in part the acquisition, including the repayment of the Company’s term loan of $195.5 million , and the repayment of nTelos’ term loans at the outstanding principal amount of $519.7 million , without penalty. Following are the unaudited pro forma results of the Company for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , as if the acquisition of nTelos had occurred at the beginning of each of the periods presented. The three months ended September 30, 2016 are not presented as those results already include nTelos' results (in thousands): Three Months Ended 2016 2015 Operating revenues $ N/A $ 166,614 Income before income taxes $ N/A $ 2,588 Nine Months Ended 2016 2015 Operating revenues $ 492,114 $ 509,415 Income (loss) before income taxes $ (4,016 ) $ 39,680 The pro forma disclosures shown above are based upon estimated preliminary valuations of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as well as preliminary estimates of depreciation and amortization charges thereon, that may differ from the final fair values of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities and the resulting depreciation and amortization charges thereon. Other pro forma adjustments include the following: • changes in nTelos’ reported revenues from cancelling nTelos’ wholesale contract with Sprint; • the incorporation of the Sprint-homed customers formerly serviced under the wholesale agreement into the Company’s affiliate service territory under the Company’s affiliate agreement with Sprint; • the effect of other changes to revenues and expenses due to various provisions of the affiliate agreement, including fees charged under the affiliate agreement on revenues from former nTelos customers, a reduction of the net service fee charged by Sprint, the straight-line impact of the waived management fee, and the amortization of the affiliate agreement expansion intangible asset; and the elimination of non-recurring transaction related expenses incurred by the Company and nTelos; • the elimination of certain nTelos operating costs associated with billing and care that are covered under the fees charged by Sprint under the affiliate agreement; • historical depreciation expense was reduced for the fair value adjustment decreasing the basis of property, plant and equipment; this decrease was offset by a shorter estimated useful life to conform to the Company’s standard policy and the acceleration of depreciation on certain equipment; and • incremental amortization due to the customer-based contract rights associated with acquired customers. In connection with these transactions, the Company chose to proactively migrate the former nTelos customers to devices which can interact with the Sprint billing and network systems, and expects to incur a total of between $106 million and $126 million of integration and acquisition expenses associated with this transaction, excluding approximately $24 million of debt issuance costs. These costs include the nTelos back office staff and support functions until the nTelos legacy customers are migrated to the Sprint billing platform; costs of the handsets to be provided to nTelos legacy customers as they migrate to the Sprint billing platform; severance costs for back office and other former nTelos employees who will not be retained permanently; transaction related fees; net of proceeds from the sale of the former nTelos headquarters building. We have incurred $20.2 million and $43.9 million of these costs in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, including $0.7 million reflected in cost of goods and services and $4.2 million reflected in selling, general and administrative costs in the three month period ended September 30, 2016, and $1.0 million reflected in cost of goods and services and $7.1 million reflected in selling, general and administrative costs in the nine month period ended September 30, 2016. The amounts of operating revenue and income or loss before income taxes related to the former nTelos entity are not readily determinable due to intercompany transactions, allocations and integration activities that have occurred in connection with the operations of the combined company.

Intangible assets

Intangible assets	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Intangible assets	Intangible assets Intangible assets consisted of the following (in thousands): September 30, December 31, Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Non-amortizing intangibles: Cable franchise rights $ 64,431 $ — $ 64,431 $ 64,098 $ — $ 64,098 Finite-lived intangibles: Affiliate contract expansion rights $ 287,800 $ (8,883 ) $ 278,917 $ — $ — $ — Acquired subscribers – wireless 113,761 (11,442 ) 102,319 — — — Contract based intangibles – wireless 11,000 (458 ) 10,542 — — — Acquired subscribers – cable 25,265 (24,452 ) 813 25,326 (23,805 ) 1,521 Other intangibles 2,102 (723 ) 1,379 1,938 (564 ) 1,374 Total finite-lived intangibles $ 439,928 $ (45,958 ) $ 393,970 $ 27,264 $ (24,369 ) 2,895 Total intangible assets $ 504,359 $ (45,958 ) $ 458,401 $ 91,362 $ (24,369 ) $ 66,993 Aggregate amortization expense for intangible assets for the periods shown is expected to be as follows: Year Ending December 31, Amount (in thousands) 2016 Remaining $ 12,463 2017 45,091 2018 39,372 2019 35,428 2020 32,718 2021 30,139 thereafter 198,759 Total $ 393,970 Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 are shown below (in thousands): Goodwill as of December 31, 2015, Wireline segment $ 10 Goodwill recorded January 2016, Cable segment, Colane acquisition 104 Goodwill recorded May 2016, Wireless segment, nTelos acquisition 145,299 Goodwill as of September 30, 2016 $ 145,413

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment	Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands): September 30, December 31, Plant in service $ 1,020,014 $ 718,503 Plant under construction 75,976 36,600 1,095,990 755,103 Less accumulated amortization and depreciation 428,249 345,085 Net property, plant and equipment $ 667,741 $ 410,018

Earnings (loss) per share

Earnings (loss) per share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings (loss) per share	Earnings (loss) per share Basic net income (loss) per share was computed on the weighted average number of shares outstanding. Diluted net income per share was computed under the treasury stock method, assuming the conversion as of the beginning of the period, for all dilutive stock options. Of the 664 thousand shares and options outstanding at September 30, 2015 , 46 thousand were anti-dilutive. These shares and options have been excluded from the computations of diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 . Due to the net loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , no adjustment was made to basic shares, as such adjustment would have been anti-dilutive. There were no adjustments to net income (loss) for any period.

Investments Carried at Fair Val

Investments Carried at Fair Value	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Investments Carried at Fair Value	Investments Carried at Fair Value Investments include $2.9 million and $2.7 million of investments carried at fair value as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , respectively, consisting of equity, bond and money market mutual funds. Investments carried at fair value were acquired under a rabbi trust arrangement related to the Company’s nonqualified Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “SERP”). The Company purchases investments in the trust to mirror the investment elections of participants in the SERP; gains and losses on the investments in the trust are reflected as increases or decreases in the liability owed to the participants. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , the Company recognized $161 thousand in dividend and interest income from investments, and recorded net unrealized gains of $180 thousand on these investments. Fair values for these investments held under the rabbi trust were determined by Level 1 quoted market prices for the underlying mutual funds.

Equipment Installment Plan Rece

Equipment Installment Plan Receivables	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Accounts Receivable, Net [Abstract]
Equipment Installment Plan Receivables	Equipment Installment Plan Receivables As part of the acquisition of nTelos, the Company acquired the accounts receivable associated with nTelos’ Equipment Installment Plan, (“EIP”). This plan allowed EIP subscribers to pay for their devices in installments over a 24 -month period. At the time of an installment sale, nTelos imputed interest on the installment receivable using current market interest rate estimates ranging from approximately 5% to 10% . Additionally, the customer had 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 was 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. Immediately following the acquisition, the Company terminated the EIP offering but has continued to service the installment receivable and trade in obligation until such time that the customer migrates to Sprint. The accounts receivable associated with EIP and the trade-in liability were estimated at its fair value at acquisition date in accordance with ASC 805, “Business Combinations”. There was $9.3 million of unmigrated, acquired EIP receivables as of September 30, 2016 . The short term portion of $7.4 million is included in accounts receivable, net. The long term portion of $1.9 million is included in deferred charges and other assets, net. An additional $6.3 million of acquired EIP receivables have been subsequently transferred to Sprint and the resulting receivables from Sprint are also included in accounts receivable, net.

Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Investments, All Other Investments [Abstract]
Financial Instruments	Financial Instruments Financial instruments on the consolidated balance sheets that approximate fair value include: cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, receivables, investments carried at fair value, payables, accrued liabilities, interest rate swaps and variable rate long-term debt.

Derivative Instruments, Hedging

Derivative Instruments, Hedging Activities and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Derivative Instruments, Hedging Activities and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Derivative Instruments, Hedging Activities and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) The Company’s objectives in using interest rate derivatives are to add stability to cash flows and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. To accomplish this objective, the Company primarily uses interest rate swaps as part of its interest rate risk management strategy. Interest rate swaps (both those designated as cash flow hedges as well as those not designated as cash flow hedges) involve the receipt of variable-rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for the Company making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount. The Company entered into a pay-fixed, receive-variable interest rate swap of $174.6 million of notional principal in September 2012. This interest rate swap was designated as a cash flow hedge. The total outstanding notional amount of the cash flow hedge was $139.7 million as of September 30, 2016 . The outstanding notional amount decreases as the Company makes scheduled principal payments on the debt. In May 2016, the Company entered into a pay-fixed, receive-variable interest rate swap of $256.6 million of notional principal with three counterparties. This interest rate swap was designated as a cash flow hedge. The total outstanding notional amount of the cash flow hedge was $287.3 million as of September 30, 2016 . The outstanding notional amount increases with each expected draw on the term debt and decreases as the Company makes scheduled principal payments on the debt. In combination with the swap entered into in 2012 described above, the Company is hedging approximately 50% of the expected outstanding debt (including expected draws under the delayed draw term loan) associated with the nTelos acquisition. The effective portion of changes in the fair value of interest rate swaps designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. The Company uses its derivatives to hedge the variable cash flows associated with existing variable-rate debt. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the derivative is recognized directly in earnings through interest expense. No hedge ineffectiveness was recognized during any of the periods presented. Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to the interest rate swaps designated and qualified as a cash flow hedge, are reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on the Company’s variable-rate debt. As of September 30, 2016 , the Company estimates that $2.3 million will be reclassified as an increase to interest expense during the next twelve months due to the interest rate swaps since the hedge interest rate exceeds the variable interest rate on the debt. The table below presents the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instrument as well as its classification on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 (in thousands): Derivatives Fair Value as of Balance Sheet Location September 30, December 31, Derivatives designated as hedging instruments: Interest rate swap Accrued liabilities and other $ (2,283 ) $ (682 ) Other liabilities (1,355 ) — Deferred charges and other assets, net — 1,370 Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments $ (3,638 ) $ 688 The fair value of interest rate swaps is determined using a pricing model with inputs that are observable in the market (level 2 fair value inputs). The table below presents change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 (in thousands): Gains and (Losses) on Cash Flow Hedges Income Tax (Expense) Benefit Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Balance as of December 31, 2015 $ 688 $ (273 ) $ 415 Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications (5,832 ) 2,363 (3,469 ) Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (to interest expense) 1,506 (610 ) 896 Net current period other comprehensive loss (4,326 ) 1,753 (2,573 ) Balance as of September 30, 2016 $ (3,638 ) $ 1,480 $ (2,158 )

Accrued and Other Liabilities

Accrued and Other Liabilities	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]
Accrued and Other Liabilities	Accrued and Other liabilities Accrued liabilities and other includes the following (in thousands); September 30, 2016 December 31, 2015 Sales and property taxes payable $ 6,835 $ 1,055 Severance accrual, current portion 5,625 — Asset retirement obligations, current portion 8,063 — Other current liabilities 11,010 6,584 Accrued liabilities and other $ 31,533 $ 7,639 Other liabilities include the following (in thousands): September 30, December 31, Retirement plan obligations $ 22,156 $ 2,654 Non-current portion of deferred revenues 8,819 4,156 Straight-line management fee waiver 7,687 — Other 3,935 2,229 Other liabilities $ 42,597 $ 9,039

Segment Information

Segment Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment Information	Segment Information Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker. The Company has three reportable segments, which the Company operates and manages as strategic business units organized by lines of business: (1) Wireless, (2) Cable, and (3) Wireline. A fourth segment, Other, primarily includes Shenandoah Telecommunications Company, the parent holding company. The Wireless segment had provided digital wireless service to a portion of a four -state area covering the region from Harrisburg, York and Altoona, Pennsylvania, to Harrisonburg, Virginia, as a Sprint PCS Affiliate. With the recent acquisition of nTelos (see Note 2), the Company's wireless service has expanded to include south-central and western Virginia, West Virginia, and small portions of Kentucky and Ohio. This segment also owns cell site towers built on leased land, and leases space on these towers to both affiliates and non-affiliated service providers. The Cable segment provides video, internet and voice services in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland, and leases fiber optic facilities throughout southern Virginia and West Virginia. It does not include video, internet and voice services provided to customers in Shenandoah County, Virginia. The Wireline segment provides regulated and unregulated voice services, DSL internet access, and long distance access services throughout Shenandoah County and portions of Rockingham, Frederick, Warren and Augusta counties, Virginia. The segment also provides video and cable modem services in portions of Shenandoah County, and leases fiber optic facilities throughout the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, northern Virginia and adjacent areas along the Interstate 81 corridor through West Virginia, Maryland and portions of central and southern Pennsylvania. Three months ended September 30, 2016 (in thousands) Wireless Cable Wireline Other Eliminations Consolidated Totals External revenues Service revenues $ 111,001 $ 24,948 $ 4,948 $ — $ — $ 140,897 Other 7,978 2,031 5,930 — — 15,939 Total external revenues 118,979 26,979 10,878 — — 156,836 Internal revenues 1,140 587 7,854 — (9,581 ) — Total operating revenues 120,119 27,566 18,732 — (9,581 ) 156,836 Operating expenses Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 43,097 14,654 9,442 — (8,876 ) 58,317 Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 29,892 4,770 1,676 4,736 (705 ) 40,369 Integration and acquisition expenses 14,499 — — 773 — 15,272 Depreciation and amortization 38,038 5,860 2,822 87 — 46,807 Total operating expenses 125,526 25,284 13,940 5,596 (9,581 ) 160,765 Operating income (loss) $ (5,407 ) $ 2,282 $ 4,792 $ (5,596 ) $ — $ (3,929 ) Three months ended September 30, 2015 (in thousands) Wireless Cable Wireline Other Eliminations Consolidated Totals External revenues Service revenues $ 47,793 $ 22,284 $ 4,904 $ — $ — $ 74,981 Other 2,734 1,882 5,615 — 10,231 Total external revenues 50,527 24,166 10,519 — — 85,212 Internal revenues 1,109 251 6,759 (8,119 ) — Total operating revenues 51,636 24,417 17,278 — (8,119 ) 85,212 Operating expenses Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 15,572 14,124 8,212 — (7,338 ) 30,570 Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 9,027 4,948 1,688 3,424 (781 ) 18,306 Integration and acquisition expenses — — — 2,129 — 2,129 Depreciation and amortization 9,644 5,948 3,404 122 — 19,118 Total operating expenses 34,243 25,020 13,304 5,675 (8,119 ) 70,123 Operating income (loss) $ 17,393 $ (603 ) $ 3,974 $ (5,675 ) $ — $ 15,089 Nine months ended September 30, 2016 (in thousands) Wireless Cable Wireline Other Eliminations Consolidated Totals External revenues Service revenues $ 250,053 $ 73,455 $ 14,727 $ — $ — $ 338,235 Other 17,461 5,799 18,221 — — 41,481 Total external revenues 267,514 79,254 32,948 — — 379,716 Internal revenues 3,417 1,159 22,754 (27,330 ) — Total operating revenues 270,931 80,413 55,702 — (27,330 ) 379,716 Operating expenses Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 94,892 43,864 26,892 — (25,294 ) 140,354 Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 65,219 14,672 4,951 13,457 (2,036 ) 96,263 Integration and acquisition expenses 19,889 — — 15,912 — 35,801 Depreciation and amortization 70,026 17,834 8,789 312 — 96,961 Total operating expenses 250,026 76,370 40,632 29,681 (27,330 ) 369,379 Operating income (loss) $ 20,905 $ 4,043 $ 15,070 $ (29,681 ) $ — $ 10,337 Nine months ended September 30, 2015 (in thousands) Wireless Cable Wireline Other Eliminations Consolidated Totals External revenues Service revenues $ 144,917 $ 65,802 $ 14,543 $ — $ — $ 225,262 Other 8,611 5,495 15,834 — — 29,940 Total external revenues 153,528 71,297 30,377 — — 255,202 Internal revenues 3,319 585 18,950 (22,854 ) — Total operating revenues 156,847 71,882 49,327 — (22,854 ) 255,202 Operating expenses Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 47,661 41,378 23,224 — (20,722 ) 91,541 Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 26,996 14,924 4,923 10,313 (2,132 ) 55,024 Integration and acquisition expenses — — — 3,153 — 3,153 Depreciation and amortization 26,089 17,286 9,411 333 — 53,119 Total operating expenses 100,746 73,588 37,558 13,799 (22,854 ) 202,837 Operating income (loss) $ 56,101 $ (1,706 ) $ 11,769 $ (13,799 ) $ — $ 52,365 A reconciliation of the total of the reportable segments’ operating income (loss) to consolidated income (loss) before taxes is as follows: Three Months Ended (in thousands) 2016 2015 Total consolidated operating income (loss) $ (3,929 ) $ 15,089 Interest expense (8,845 ) (1,808 ) Non-operating income, net 1,527 180 Income (loss) before income taxes $ (11,247 ) $ 13,461 Nine Months Ended 2016 2015 Total consolidated operating income (loss) $ 10,337 $ 52,365 Interest expense (16,369 ) (5,663 ) Non-operating income, net 3,147 1,253 Income (loss) before income taxes $ (2,885 ) $ 47,955 The Company’s assets by segment are as follows: (in thousands) September 30, December 31, Wireless $ 1,106,023 $ 205,718 Cable 213,664 209,132 Wireline 109,647 105,369 Other 1,052,205 463,390 Combined totals 2,481,539 983,609 Inter-segment eliminations (1,047,914 ) (356,458 ) Consolidated totals $ 1,433,625 $ 627,151

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes The Company files U.S. federal income tax returns and various state and local income tax returns. With few exceptions, years prior to 2013 are no longer subject to examination. The Company is not subject to any state or federal income tax audits as of September 30, 2016 .

Adoption of New Accounting Prin

Adoption of New Accounting Principles	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]
Adoption of New Accounting Principles	Adoption of New Accounting Principles During 2016 , the Company adopted four recent accounting principles: Accounting Standards Update 2015-3, “Interest – Imputation of Interest” (ASU 2015-3), ASU 2015-17, “Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes”, ASU 2016-9, “Improvements to Employee Share-based Payment Accounting,” and ASU 2015-16, “Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments.” ASU 2015-3 requires that premiums, discounts, and loan fees and costs associated with long term debt be reflected as a reduction of the outstanding debt balance. Previous guidance had treated such loan fees and costs as a deferred charge on the balance sheet. As a result of implementing ASU 2015-3, the Company reclassified $1.6 million of unamortized loan fees and costs included in deferred charges and other assets as of December 31, 2015 to long-term debt. Approximately $0.5 million was allocated to current maturities of long-term debt, and $1.1 million to long term debt. Total assets, as well as total liabilities and shareholders’ equity, were also reduced by the same $1.6 million . In addition, the Company reclassified $4.3 million of unamortized loan fees and costs included in deferred charges and other assets to long term debt in connection with the new Term loan A-1 and A-2 borrowing related to the acquisition of nTelos. Total assets, as well as total liabilities and shareholders’ equity, were also reduced by the same $4.3 million . There was no impact on the statements of income or cash flows. ASU 2015-17 simplifies accounting for deferred taxes by eliminating the requirement to present deferred tax assets and liabilities as current and non-current in a classified balance sheet. Due to the immaterial balance of current deferred tax assets ( $0.9 million as of December 31, 2015 ), the Company has elected to apply this guidance prospectively, and thus prior periods have not been retrospectively adjusted. ASU 2016-9 simplifies certain provisions related to the accounting for the tax effects of stock-based compensation transactions. In particular for the Company, it eliminates the requirement to determine for each award whether the difference between book compensation and tax compensation results in an excess tax benefit or a tax deficiency, which generally speaking, result in an entry to additional paid-in-capital. Under the new guidance, all tax effects for exercised or vested awards are recognized as discrete items in income tax expense. The new guidance also allows an employer to withhold shares to cover more than the minimum statutory withholding taxes (but not more than the maximum statutory withholding requirements) without causing an equity-classified award to become a liability classified award. The other provisions of the new guidance are either not applicable or have no significant impact on the Company’s accounting for stock-based compensation transactions. The Company has elected to early adopt the new guidance and apply it prospectively to tax effects on share-based compensation transactions. ASU 2015-16 requires that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. See Note 2 for adjustments recorded during the third quarter of 2016.

Long-Term Debt and Revolving Li

Long-Term Debt and Revolving Line of Credit	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Long-Term Debt and Revolving Line of Credit	Long-term Debt and Revolving Line of Credit Total debt consists of the following: (In thousands) September 30, December 31, Term loan A $ — $ 201,250 Term loan A-1 478,937 — Term loan A-2 350,000 — 828,937 201,250 Less: unamortized loan fees 19,370 1,589 Total debt, net of unamortized loan fees $ 809,567 $ 199,661 Current maturities of long term debt, net of unamortized loan fees $ 25,972 $ 22,492 Long-term debt, less current maturities, net of unamortized loan fees $ 783,595 $ 177,169 As previously disclosed, on December 18, 2015, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement (as amended, the “2016 credit agreement”) with various banks and other financial institutions party thereto and CoBank, ACB, as administrative agent for the lenders, providing for three facilities: (i) a five year revolving credit facility of up to $75 million ; (ii) a five -year term loan facility of up to $485 million (Term Loan A-1”); and (iii) a seven -year term loan facility of up to $400 million (“Term Loan A-2”). In connection with the closing of the nTelos acquisition, the Company borrowed (i) $485 million under Term Loan A-1 and (ii) $325 million under Term Loan A-2, which amounts were used to, among other things, fund the payment of the nTelos merger consideration, to refinance, in full, all indebtedness under the Company’s existing credit agreement, to repay existing long-term indebtedness of nTelos and to pay fees and expenses in connection with the foregoing. In connection with the consummation of the nTelos acquisition, nTelos and its subsidiaries became guarantors under the 2016 credit agreement and pledged their assets as security for the obligations under the 2016 credit agreement. The 2016 credit agreement also includes $75 million available under the Term Loan A-2 as a “delayed draw term loan,” and in June 2016, the Company drew $25 million under this portion of the agreement. Finally, the 2016 credit agreement also includes a $75 million revolver facility. As of September 30, 2016 , the Company’s indebtedness totaled $809.6 million , net of unamortized loan fees of $19.4 million , with an annualized overall weighted average interest rate of approximately 3.83% . The Term Loan A-1 bears interest at one-month LIBOR plus a margin of 2.75% , while the Term Loan A-2 bears interest at one-month LIBOR plus a margin of 3.00% . LIBOR resets monthly. These loans are more fully described below. The Term Loan A-1 requires quarterly principal repayments of $6.1 million , which began on September 30, 2016, and will continue through June 30, 2017, increasing to $12.1 million quarterly from September 30, 2017 through June 30, 2020, increasing to $18.2 million quarterly from September 30, 2020 thereafter through March 31, 2021, with the remaining expected balance of approximately $260.7 million due June 30, 2021. The Term Loan A-2 requires quarterly principal repayments of $10.0 million beginning on September 30, 2018 through March 31, 2023, with the current remaining expected balance of approximately $160.0 million due June 30, 2023. The 2016 credit agreement also required the Company to enter into one or more hedge agreements to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. The Company elected to hedge the minimum required under the 2016 credit agreement, and entered into a pay fixed, receive variable swap on 50% of the aggregate expected principal balance of the term loans outstanding. The Company will receive one month LIBOR and pay a fixed rate of 1.16% , in addition to the 2.75% initial spread on Term Loan A-1 and the 3.00% initial spread on Term Loan A-2. The 2016 credit agreement contains affirmative and negative covenants customary to secured credit facilities, including covenants restricting the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries, subject to negotiated exceptions, to incur additional indebtedness and additional liens on their assets, engage in mergers or acquisitions or dispose of assets, pay dividends or make other distributions, voluntarily prepay other indebtedness, enter into transactions with affiliated persons, make investments, and change the nature of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ businesses. Indebtedness outstanding under any of the facilities may be accelerated by an Event of Default, as defined in the 2016 credit agreement. The Facilities are secured by a pledge by the Company of its stock in its subsidiaries, a guarantee by the Company’s subsidiaries other than Shenandoah Telephone Company, and a security interest in substantially all of the assets of the Company and the guarantors. The Company is subject to certain financial covenants to be measured on a trailing twelve month basis each calendar quarter unless otherwise specified. These covenants include: • a limitation on the Company’s total leverage ratio, defined as indebtedness divided by earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, of less than or equal to 3.75 to 1.00 from the closing date through December 30, 2018, then 3.25 to 1.00 through December 30, 2019, and 3.00 to 1.00 thereafter; • a minimum debt service coverage ratio, defined as EBITDA minus certain cash taxes divided by the sum of all scheduled principal payments on the Term Loans and scheduled principal payments on other indebtedness plus cash interest expense, greater than 2.00 to 1.00 ; • the Company must maintain a minimum liquidity balance, defined as availability under the revolver facility plus unrestricted cash and cash equivalents on deposit in a deposit account for which a control agreement has been delivered to the administrative agent under the 2016 credit agreement, of greater than $25 million at all times. These ratios are generally less restrictive than the covenant ratios the Company had been required to comply with under its previously existing debt arrangements. As of September 30, 2016 , the Company was in compliance with the covenants in the 2016 credit agreement. Future maturities of long-term debt principal are as follows (in thousands): Remainder of 2016 $ 6,062 2017 36,375 2018 68,500 2019 88,500 2020 100,625 Thereafter 528,875 Total $ 828,937

Pension Plan and Other Postreti

Pension Plan and Other Postretirement Benefits	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Pension Plan and Other Postretirement Benefits	Pension Plan and Other Postretirement Benefits The Company assumed, through its acquisition of nTelos, a qualified pension plan and other postretirement benefit plans. The following tables provide the benefit obligations, fair value of assets and a statement of the funded status as of the acquisition date (in thousands): Defined Benefit Pension Plan Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Benefit obligations, at acquisition $ 37,443 $ 4,568 Fair value of plan assets, at acquisition 22,813 — Funded status: Total liability, at acquisition (14,630 ) (4,568 ) Net pension income (expense) since acquisition date 39 (79 ) Total liability as of September 30, 2016 $ (14,591 ) $ (4,647 ) The accumulated benefit obligation for the defined benefit pension plan at May 6, 2016 was $37.4 million . 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 (income) for the plans for the period from acquisition date to December 31, 2016 (in thousands): Defined Benefit Pension Plan Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Components of net periodic benefit cost (income): Service cost $ — $ 18 Interest cost 956 108 Expected return on plan assets (1,018 ) — Net periodic cost (income) $ (62 ) $ 126 The assumptions used in the measurements of the Company’s benefit obligations at May 6, 2016 for the plans are shown in the following table: Defined Benefit Pension Plan Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Discount rate 3.85 % 3.85 % The assumptions used in the measurements of the Company’s net periodic benefit cost (income) for the consolidated statement of operations for the period from acquisition date through December 31, 2016 are: Defined Benefit Pension Plan Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Discount rate 3.85 % 3.85 % Expected return on plan assets 6.75 % — % The Company reviews the assumptions noted in the above tables 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. The Company uses updated mortality tables published by the Society of Actuaries that predict increasing life expectancies in the United States. For measurement purposes, an 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 the acquisition date. 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 average actual asset allocations by asset category and the fair value by asset category as of May 6, 2016 were as follows (in thousands): Asset Category Actual Allocation Fair Value Large Cap Value 32 % $ 7,244 Mid Cap Blend 9 % 2,026 Small Cap Blend 5 % 1,151 Foreign Stock – Large Cap 30 % 6,867 Bond 20 % 4,611 Cash and cash equivalents 4 % 914 Total 100 % $ 22,813 The actual and target allocation for plan assets is broadly defined and measured as follows: Asset Category Actual Allocation Target Allocation Equity securities 76 % 65-75 Bond securities and cash equivalents 24 % 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 May 6, 2016. 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 May 6, 2016, 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 income for the defined benefit pension plan in 2016 to be $0.1 million and expects the periodic benefit cost for the other postretirement benefit plans in 2016 to be $0.1 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 Benefit Pension Plan Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Remainder of 2016 $ 186 $ 48 2017 700 136 2018 720 131 2019 768 134 2020 868 142 Aggregate of next five years 6,219 977

Lease Commitments

Lease Commitments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Leases [Abstract]
Lease Commitments	Lease Commitments The Company leases land, buildings and tower space under various non-cancelable agreements, which expire between the years 2016 and 2051 and require various minimum annual rental payments. These leases typically include renewal options and escalation clauses. In general, tower leases have five or ten year initial terms with four renewal terms of five years each. The other leases generally contain certain renewal options for periods ranging from five to twenty years. Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases, including renewals that are reasonably assured at the inception of the lease, with initial variable lease terms in excess of one year as of September 30, 2016, are as follows (in thousands): Remainder of 2016 $ 12,229 2017 48,512 2018 48,135 2019 47,217 2020 46,130 2021 45,950 Thereafter 237,024 $ 485,197 The Company’s total rent expense was $28.6 million and $12.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The increase during the year resulted from leases assumed in the acquisition of nTelos. As lessor, the Company has leased buildings, tower space and telecommunications equipment to other entities under various non-cancelable agreements, which require various minimum annual payments. The total minimum rental receipts at September 30, 2016 are as follows (in thousands): Remainder of 2016 $ 1,532 2017 5,643 2018 5,235 2019 4,924 2020 4,241 2021 2,255 Thereafter 2,872 $ 26,702 The Company’s total rent income was $5.3 million and $4.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Total rent income includes month-to-month leases which are excluded from the table above.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events On October 17, 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a dividend of $0.25 per common share to be paid December 1, 2016 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 4, 2016. Before dividend reinvestments, the total payout is expected to be approximately $12.2 million .

Basis of Presentation (Policies

Basis of Presentation (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition Under the Company’s amended affiliate agreement, Sprint agreed to waive the management fee, which is historically presented as a contra-revenue by the Company, for a period of approximately six years. The impact of Sprint’s waiver of the management fee over the approximate six -year period is reflected as an increase in revenue, offset by the non-cash adjustment to recognize this impact on a straight-line basis over the contract term of approximately 14 years .
Goodwill	Goodwill Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment on at least an annual basis. Impairment testing is required more often than annually if an event or circumstance indicates that impairment is more likely than not to have occurred. In conducting its annual impairment testing, the Company may first perform a qualitative assessment of whether it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount. If not, no further goodwill impairment testing is required. If it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount, or if the Company elects not to perform a qualitative assessment of a reporting unit, the Company then compares the fair value of the reporting unit to the related net book value. If the net book value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is measured and recognized. The Company conducts its annual impairment testing of goodwill as of October 1.
Pension Benefits and Retirement Benefits Other Than Pensions	Pension Benefits and Retirement Benefits Other Than Pensions Through the Company’s acquisition of nTelos, the Company assumed nTelos’ non-contributory defined benefit pension plan (“Pension Plan”) covering all employees who met eligibility requirements and were employed by nTelos prior to October 1, 2003. The Pension Plan was closed to nTelos 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, nTelos froze future benefit accruals. The Company uses 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. The Company also assumed two qualified nonpension postretirement benefit plans that provide certain health care and life benefits for nTelos retired employees that meet eligibility requirements. 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 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. The Company records annual amounts relating to the Pension Plan and postretirement benefit plans based on calculations that incorporate various actuarial and other assumptions, including discount rates, mortality, assumed rates of return, turnover rates and healthcare cost trend rates. The Company reviews its assumptions on an annual basis and makes modifications to the assumptions based on current rates and trends when it is appropriate to do so. The effect of modifications to those assumptions is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and amortized to net periodic cost over future periods using the corridor method.
Adoption of New Accounting Principles	During 2016 , the Company adopted four recent accounting principles: Accounting Standards Update 2015-3, “Interest – Imputation of Interest” (ASU 2015-3), ASU 2015-17, “Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes”, ASU 2016-9, “Improvements to Employee Share-based Payment Accounting,” and ASU 2015-16, “Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments.” ASU 2015-3 requires that premiums, discounts, and loan fees and costs associated with long term debt be reflected as a reduction of the outstanding debt balance. Previous guidance had treated such loan fees and costs as a deferred charge on the balance sheet. As a result of implementing ASU 2015-3, the Company reclassified $1.6 million of unamortized loan fees and costs included in deferred charges and other assets as of December 31, 2015 to long-term debt. Approximately $0.5 million was allocated to current maturities of long-term debt, and $1.1 million to long term debt. Total assets, as well as total liabilities and shareholders’ equity, were also reduced by the same $1.6 million . In addition, the Company reclassified $4.3 million of unamortized loan fees and costs included in deferred charges and other assets to long term debt in connection with the new Term loan A-1 and A-2 borrowing related to the acquisition of nTelos. Total assets, as well as total liabilities and shareholders’ equity, were also reduced by the same $4.3 million . There was no impact on the statements of income or cash flows. ASU 2015-17 simplifies accounting for deferred taxes by eliminating the requirement to present deferred tax assets and liabilities as current and non-current in a classified balance sheet. Due to the immaterial balance of current deferred tax assets ( $0.9 million as of December 31, 2015 ), the Company has elected to apply this guidance prospectively, and thus prior periods have not been retrospectively adjusted. ASU 2016-9 simplifies certain provisions related to the accounting for the tax effects of stock-based compensation transactions. In particular for the Company, it eliminates the requirement to determine for each award whether the difference between book compensation and tax compensation results in an excess tax benefit or a tax deficiency, which generally speaking, result in an entry to additional paid-in-capital. Under the new guidance, all tax effects for exercised or vested awards are recognized as discrete items in income tax expense. The new guidance also allows an employer to withhold shares to cover more than the minimum statutory withholding taxes (but not more than the maximum statutory withholding requirements) without causing an equity-classified award to become a liability classified award. The other provisions of the new guidance are either not applicable or have no significant impact on the Company’s accounting for stock-based compensation transactions. The Company has elected to early adopt the new guidance and apply it prospectively to tax effects on share-based compensation transactions. ASU 2015-16 requires that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. See Note 2 for adjustments recorded during the third quarter of 2016.

Acquisition of NTELOS Holding27

Acquisition of NTELOS Holdings Corp. and Exchange with Sprint (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Schedule of Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation and Revisions Recorded	The following table shows the initial estimate of value and changes recorded during the third quarter of 2016 (in thousands): Initial Estimate Revisions Revised Estimate Accounts receivable $ 48,476 $ 1,045 $ 49,521 Inventory 3,810 — 3,810 Restricted cash 2,167 — 2,167 Investments 1,501 — 1,501 Prepaid expenses and other assets 14,835 — 14,835 Building held for sale 4,950 — 4,950 Property, plant and equipment 223,900 3,571 227,471 Spectrum licenses 198,200 — 198,200 Customer based contract rights 198,200 5,162 203,362 Contract based intangible assets 11,000 — 11,000 Goodwill 151,627 (6,328 ) 145,299 Other long term assets 10,288 555 10,843 Total assets acquired $ 868,954 $ 4,005 $ 872,959 Accounts payable $ 8,648 $ (116 ) $ 8,532 Advanced billings and customer deposits 12,477 — 12,477 Accrued expenses 25,230 — 25,230 Capital lease liability 418 — 418 Deferred tax liabilities 124,964 2,758 127,722 Retirement benefits 19,461 (263 ) 19,198 Other long-term liabilities 14,056 — 14,056 Total liabilities assumed 205,254 2,379 207,633 Net assets acquired $ 663,700 $ 1,626 $ 665,326
Intangible Assets Resulting from Acquisition	Intangible assets resulting from the acquisition of nTelos and the Sprint exchange, both described above, are noted below (dollars in thousands): Useful Life Basis Affiliate contract agreement 14 years $ 287,800 Customer based contract rights 4-10 years 113,761 Contract based intangible assets 3-19 years 11,000
Unaudited Pro forma Results of the Company	Following are the unaudited pro forma results of the Company for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , as if the acquisition of nTelos had occurred at the beginning of each of the periods presented. The three months ended September 30, 2016 are not presented as those results already include nTelos' results (in thousands): Three Months Ended 2016 2015 Operating revenues $ N/A $ 166,614 Income before income taxes $ N/A $ 2,588 Nine Months Ended 2016 2015 Operating revenues $ 492,114 $ 509,415 Income (loss) before income taxes $ (4,016 ) $ 39,680

Intangible assets (Tables)

Intangible assets (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Intangible Assets	Intangible assets consisted of the following (in thousands): September 30, December 31, Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Non-amortizing intangibles: Cable franchise rights $ 64,431 $ — $ 64,431 $ 64,098 $ — $ 64,098 Finite-lived intangibles: Affiliate contract expansion rights $ 287,800 $ (8,883 ) $ 278,917 $ — $ — $ — Acquired subscribers – wireless 113,761 (11,442 ) 102,319 — — — Contract based intangibles – wireless 11,000 (458 ) 10,542 — — — Acquired subscribers – cable 25,265 (24,452 ) 813 25,326 (23,805 ) 1,521 Other intangibles 2,102 (723 ) 1,379 1,938 (564 ) 1,374 Total finite-lived intangibles $ 439,928 $ (45,958 ) $ 393,970 $ 27,264 $ (24,369 ) 2,895 Total intangible assets $ 504,359 $ (45,958 ) $ 458,401 $ 91,362 $ (24,369 ) $ 66,993
Amortization Expense for Intangible Assets	Aggregate amortization expense for intangible assets for the periods shown is expected to be as follows: Year Ending December 31, Amount (in thousands) 2016 Remaining $ 12,463 2017 45,091 2018 39,372 2019 35,428 2020 32,718 2021 30,139 thereafter 198,759 Total $ 393,970
Changes in the Carrying Amount of Goodwill	Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 are shown below (in thousands): Goodwill as of December 31, 2015, Wireline segment $ 10 Goodwill recorded January 2016, Cable segment, Colane acquisition 104 Goodwill recorded May 2016, Wireless segment, nTelos acquisition 145,299 Goodwill as of September 30, 2016 $ 145,413

Property, Plant and Equipment (

Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment	Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands): September 30, December 31, Plant in service $ 1,020,014 $ 718,503 Plant under construction 75,976 36,600 1,095,990 755,103 Less accumulated amortization and depreciation 428,249 345,085 Net property, plant and equipment $ 667,741 $ 410,018

Derivative Instruments, Hedgi30

Derivative Instruments, Hedging Activities and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Derivative Financial Instrument as Well as its Classification on the Consolidated Balance Sheet	The table below presents the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instrument as well as its classification on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 (in thousands): Derivatives Fair Value as of Balance Sheet Location September 30, December 31, Derivatives designated as hedging instruments: Interest rate swap Accrued liabilities and other $ (2,283 ) $ (682 ) Other liabilities (1,355 ) — Deferred charges and other assets, net — 1,370 Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments $ (3,638 ) $ 688
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	The table below presents change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 (in thousands): Gains and (Losses) on Cash Flow Hedges Income Tax (Expense) Benefit Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Balance as of December 31, 2015 $ 688 $ (273 ) $ 415 Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications (5,832 ) 2,363 (3,469 ) Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (to interest expense) 1,506 (610 ) 896 Net current period other comprehensive loss (4,326 ) 1,753 (2,573 ) Balance as of September 30, 2016 $ (3,638 ) $ 1,480 $ (2,158 )

Accrued and Other Liabilities (

Accrued and Other Liabilities (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary of Accrued Liabilities and Other	Accrued liabilities and other includes the following (in thousands); September 30, 2016 December 31, 2015 Sales and property taxes payable $ 6,835 $ 1,055 Severance accrual, current portion 5,625 — Asset retirement obligations, current portion 8,063 — Other current liabilities 11,010 6,584 Accrued liabilities and other $ 31,533 $ 7,639
Summary of Other Liabilities	Other liabilities include the following (in thousands): September 30, December 31, Retirement plan obligations $ 22,156 $ 2,654 Non-current portion of deferred revenues 8,819 4,156 Straight-line management fee waiver 7,687 — Other 3,935 2,229 Other liabilities $ 42,597 $ 9,039

Segment Information (Tables)

Segment Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Selected Financial Data for Segments	Three months ended September 30, 2016 (in thousands) Wireless Cable Wireline Other Eliminations Consolidated Totals External revenues Service revenues $ 111,001 $ 24,948 $ 4,948 $ — $ — $ 140,897 Other 7,978 2,031 5,930 — — 15,939 Total external revenues 118,979 26,979 10,878 — — 156,836 Internal revenues 1,140 587 7,854 — (9,581 ) — Total operating revenues 120,119 27,566 18,732 — (9,581 ) 156,836 Operating expenses Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 43,097 14,654 9,442 — (8,876 ) 58,317 Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 29,892 4,770 1,676 4,736 (705 ) 40,369 Integration and acquisition expenses 14,499 — — 773 — 15,272 Depreciation and amortization 38,038 5,860 2,822 87 — 46,807 Total operating expenses 125,526 25,284 13,940 5,596 (9,581 ) 160,765 Operating income (loss) $ (5,407 ) $ 2,282 $ 4,792 $ (5,596 ) $ — $ (3,929 ) Three months ended September 30, 2015 (in thousands) Wireless Cable Wireline Other Eliminations Consolidated Totals External revenues Service revenues $ 47,793 $ 22,284 $ 4,904 $ — $ — $ 74,981 Other 2,734 1,882 5,615 — 10,231 Total external revenues 50,527 24,166 10,519 — — 85,212 Internal revenues 1,109 251 6,759 (8,119 ) — Total operating revenues 51,636 24,417 17,278 — (8,119 ) 85,212 Operating expenses Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 15,572 14,124 8,212 — (7,338 ) 30,570 Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 9,027 4,948 1,688 3,424 (781 ) 18,306 Integration and acquisition expenses — — — 2,129 — 2,129 Depreciation and amortization 9,644 5,948 3,404 122 — 19,118 Total operating expenses 34,243 25,020 13,304 5,675 (8,119 ) 70,123 Operating income (loss) $ 17,393 $ (603 ) $ 3,974 $ (5,675 ) $ — $ 15,089 Nine months ended September 30, 2016 (in thousands) Wireless Cable Wireline Other Eliminations Consolidated Totals External revenues Service revenues $ 250,053 $ 73,455 $ 14,727 $ — $ — $ 338,235 Other 17,461 5,799 18,221 — — 41,481 Total external revenues 267,514 79,254 32,948 — — 379,716 Internal revenues 3,417 1,159 22,754 (27,330 ) — Total operating revenues 270,931 80,413 55,702 — (27,330 ) 379,716 Operating expenses Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 94,892 43,864 26,892 — (25,294 ) 140,354 Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 65,219 14,672 4,951 13,457 (2,036 ) 96,263 Integration and acquisition expenses 19,889 — — 15,912 — 35,801 Depreciation and amortization 70,026 17,834 8,789 312 — 96,961 Total operating expenses 250,026 76,370 40,632 29,681 (27,330 ) 369,379 Operating income (loss) $ 20,905 $ 4,043 $ 15,070 $ (29,681 ) $ — $ 10,337 Nine months ended September 30, 2015 (in thousands) Wireless Cable Wireline Other Eliminations Consolidated Totals External revenues Service revenues $ 144,917 $ 65,802 $ 14,543 $ — $ — $ 225,262 Other 8,611 5,495 15,834 — — 29,940 Total external revenues 153,528 71,297 30,377 — — 255,202 Internal revenues 3,319 585 18,950 (22,854 ) — Total operating revenues 156,847 71,882 49,327 — (22,854 ) 255,202 Operating expenses Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 47,661 41,378 23,224 — (20,722 ) 91,541 Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 26,996 14,924 4,923 10,313 (2,132 ) 55,024 Integration and acquisition expenses — — — 3,153 — 3,153 Depreciation and amortization 26,089 17,286 9,411 333 — 53,119 Total operating expenses 100,746 73,588 37,558 13,799 (22,854 ) 202,837 Operating income (loss) $ 56,101 $ (1,706 ) $ 11,769 $ (13,799 ) $ — $ 52,365
Reconciliation of Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated	A reconciliation of the total of the reportable segments’ operating income (loss) to consolidated income (loss) before taxes is as follows: Three Months Ended (in thousands) 2016 2015 Total consolidated operating income (loss) $ (3,929 ) $ 15,089 Interest expense (8,845 ) (1,808 ) Non-operating income, net 1,527 180 Income (loss) before income taxes $ (11,247 ) $ 13,461 Nine Months Ended 2016 2015 Total consolidated operating income (loss) $ 10,337 $ 52,365 Interest expense (16,369 ) (5,663 ) Non-operating income, net 3,147 1,253 Income (loss) before income taxes $ (2,885 ) $ 47,955
Assets by Segment	The Company’s assets by segment are as follows: (in thousands) September 30, December 31, Wireless $ 1,106,023 $ 205,718 Cable 213,664 209,132 Wireline 109,647 105,369 Other 1,052,205 463,390 Combined totals 2,481,539 983,609 Inter-segment eliminations (1,047,914 ) (356,458 ) Consolidated totals $ 1,433,625 $ 627,151

Long-Term Debt and Revolving 33

Long-Term Debt and Revolving Line of Credit (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Long-term Debt	Total debt consists of the following: (In thousands) September 30, December 31, Term loan A $ — $ 201,250 Term loan A-1 478,937 — Term loan A-2 350,000 — 828,937 201,250 Less: unamortized loan fees 19,370 1,589 Total debt, net of unamortized loan fees $ 809,567 $ 199,661 Current maturities of long term debt, net of unamortized loan fees $ 25,972 $ 22,492 Long-term debt, less current maturities, net of unamortized loan fees $ 783,595 $ 177,169
Maturities of Long-term Debt	Future maturities of long-term debt principal are as follows (in thousands): Remainder of 2016 $ 6,062 2017 36,375 2018 68,500 2019 88,500 2020 100,625 Thereafter 528,875 Total $ 828,937

Pension Plan and Other Postre34

Pension Plan and Other Postretirement Benefits (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Projected Benefit Obligations, Fair Value of Plan Assets, and Funded Status of Plan	The following tables provide the benefit obligations, fair value of assets and a statement of the funded status as of the acquisition date (in thousands): Defined Benefit Pension Plan Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Benefit obligations, at acquisition $ 37,443 $ 4,568 Fair value of plan assets, at acquisition 22,813 — Funded status: Total liability, at acquisition (14,630 ) (4,568 ) Net pension income (expense) since acquisition date 39 (79 ) Total liability as of September 30, 2016 $ (14,591 ) $ (4,647 )
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Costs	The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit cost (income) for the plans for the period from acquisition date to December 31, 2016 (in thousands): Defined Benefit Pension Plan Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Components of net periodic benefit cost (income): Service cost $ — $ 18 Interest cost 956 108 Expected return on plan assets (1,018 ) — Net periodic cost (income) $ (62 ) $ 126
Assumptions Used to Determine Net Periodic Cost and Benefit Obligations	The assumptions used in the measurements of the Company’s benefit obligations at May 6, 2016 for the plans are shown in the following table: Defined Benefit Pension Plan Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Discount rate 3.85 % 3.85 % The assumptions used in the measurements of the Company’s net periodic benefit cost (income) for the consolidated statement of operations for the period from acquisition date through December 31, 2016 are: Defined Benefit Pension Plan Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Discount rate 3.85 % 3.85 % Expected return on plan assets 6.75 % — %
Actual and Target Allocation for Plan assets	The average actual asset allocations by asset category and the fair value by asset category as of May 6, 2016 were as follows (in thousands): Asset Category Actual Allocation Fair Value Large Cap Value 32 % $ 7,244 Mid Cap Blend 9 % 2,026 Small Cap Blend 5 % 1,151 Foreign Stock – Large Cap 30 % 6,867 Bond 20 % 4,611 Cash and cash equivalents 4 % 914 Total 100 % $ 22,813 The actual and target allocation for plan assets is broadly defined and measured as follows: Asset Category Actual Allocation Target Allocation Equity securities 76 % 65-75 Bond securities and cash equivalents 24 % 25-35 Total 100 % 100 %
Estimated Future Pension Benefit Payments and Other Postretirement Benefit Plan Payments	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 Benefit Pension Plan Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Remainder of 2016 $ 186 $ 48 2017 700 136 2018 720 131 2019 768 134 2020 868 142 Aggregate of next five years 6,219 977

Lease Commitments (Tables)

Lease Commitments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Leases [Abstract]
Schedule of Future Minimum Lease Payments Under Non-Cancelable Operating Leases	Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases, including renewals that are reasonably assured at the inception of the lease, with initial variable lease terms in excess of one year as of September 30, 2016, are as follows (in thousands): Remainder of 2016 $ 12,229 2017 48,512 2018 48,135 2019 47,217 2020 46,130 2021 45,950 Thereafter 237,024 $ 485,197
Schedule of Minimum Rental Receipts	The total minimum rental receipts at September 30, 2016 are as follows (in thousands): Remainder of 2016 $ 1,532 2017 5,643 2018 5,235 2019 4,924 2020 4,241 2021 2,255 Thereafter 2,872 $ 26,702

Basis of Presentation (Details)

Basis of Presentation (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016plan
Revenue Recognition [Abstract]
Period for sprint's waiver of the management fee	6 years
Contract term	14 years
Pension Benefits and Retirement Benefits Other Than Pensions [Abstract]
Vesting period of pension benefits	5 years
Number of consecutive years considered for pension benefits	5 years
Employee retires before reaching the age, elect to receive the benefit	65 years
Number of preceding plan years	6 years
Number of qualified nonpension postretirement benefit plans	2
Minimum [Member]
Pension Benefits and Retirement Benefits Other Than Pensions [Abstract]
Eligibility for the life insurance plan is restricted to active pension participants	50 years
Maximum [Member]
Pension Benefits and Retirement Benefits Other Than Pensions [Abstract]
Eligibility for the life insurance plan is restricted to active pension participants	64 years

Acquisition of NTELOS Holding37

Acquisition of NTELOS Holdings Corp. and Exchange with Sprint - Narrative (Details)	May 06, 2016USD ($)installmentshares	May 05, 2016USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Borrowing amount			$ 828,937,000		$ 828,937,000	$ 828,937,000		$ 201,250,000
Repayment of borrowing amount						207,816,000	$ 17,250,000
Integration and acquisition expenses			15,272,000	$ 2,129,000		35,801,000	$ 3,153,000
Term Loan [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Repayment of borrowing amount	$ 195,500,000
Spectrum Licenses [Member] | Sprint [Member] | Nonmonentary Exchange of Intangibles [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Nonmonentary transaction amount	198,200,000
Customer Based Contract Rights [Member] | Sprint [Member] | Nonmonentary Exchange of Intangibles [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Nonmonentary transaction amount	203,400,000
Additional Customer Based Contract Rights [Member] | Sprint [Member] | Nonmonentary Exchange of Intangibles [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Nonmonentary transaction amount	$ 113,800,000
Gain on nonmonentary transfer, period of recognition	6 years
Affiliate Contract Agreement [Member] | Sprint [Member] | Nonmonentary Exchange of Intangibles [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Nonmonentary transaction amount	$ 287,800,000
NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Consideration	$ 665,400,000
Property, plant and equipment, revisions, original appraised value					4,600,000
Property, plant and equipment, revisions, appraisal adjustment					1,000,000
Adjustment to depreciation expense			4,600,000
Extension in term of affiliate relationship agreement with sprint	5 years
Limit of waived fee under affiliate agreement	$ 251,800,000
Period for additional waiver of management fee	6 months
Letters of credit		$ 2,200,000
Percentage of amount to cover each disbursement and performance default penalty of total eligible awards		10.00%
Business acquisition, number of shares issued (in shares) | shares	380,000
Number of installment | installment	5
Number of pending installment | installment	4
Remaining period for payment of shares acquired value	4 years
Business acquisition, shares issued value	$ 10,400,000
Debt issuance cost	24,000,000
Severance costs			20,200,000			43,900,000
NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member] | Cost of Goods and Services [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Severance costs			700,000			1,000,000
NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member] | Selling, General and Administrative Costs [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Severance costs			4,200,000			$ 7,100,000
NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Borrowing amount	$ 810,000,000
Average effective interest rate	3.84%
Repayment of borrowing amount	$ 519,700,000
NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Before amendment right or obligation to sell business	80.00%
Integration and acquisition expenses	$ 106,000,000
NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
After amendment right or obligation to sell business	90.00%
Management fee charge by Sprint	$ 4,200,000
Additional waiver of management fee	5,000,000
Winning bid eligible to receive, amount		$ 5,000,000
Integration and acquisition expenses	$ 126,000,000
NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member] | Customer Based Contract Rights [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangibles, revision, increase (decrease)			(24,500,000)		$ 5,162,000
Amortization expense, revision, increase (decrease)			(500,000)
NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member] | Additional Customer Based Contract Rights [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Useful Life	4 years
NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member] | Additional Customer Based Contract Rights [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Useful Life	10 years
NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member] | Affiliate Contract Agreement [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangibles, revision, increase (decrease)			$ 29,700,000
Useful Life	14 years		14 years
Amortization expense, revision, increase (decrease)			$ 400,000

Acquisition of NTELOS Holding38

Acquisition of NTELOS Holdings Corp. and Exchange with Sprint - Schedule of Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation and Revisions Recorded (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	5 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	May 06, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Goodwill	$ 145,413	$ 145,413		$ 10
NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Accounts receivable	49,521	49,521	$ 48,476
Inventory	3,810	3,810	3,810
Restricted cash	2,167	2,167	2,167
Investments	1,501	1,501	1,501
Prepaid expenses and other assets	14,835	14,835	14,835
Building held for sale	4,950	4,950	4,950
Property, plant and equipment	227,471	227,471	223,900
Goodwill	145,299	145,299	151,627
Other long term assets	10,843	10,843	10,288
Total assets acquired	872,959	872,959	868,954
Accounts payable	8,532	8,532	8,648
Advanced billings and customer deposits	12,477	12,477	12,477
Accrued expenses	25,230	25,230	25,230
Capital lease liability	418	418	418
Deferred tax liabilities	127,722	127,722	124,964
Retirement benefits	19,198	19,198	19,461
Other long-term liabilities	14,056	14,056	14,056
Total liabilities assumed	207,633	207,633	205,254
Net assets acquired	665,326	665,326	663,700
Business Combination, Provisional Information, Initial Accounting Incomplete, Adjustments [Abstract]
Accounts receivable, revisions		1,045
Property, plant and equipment, revisions		3,571
Goodwill, revisions		(6,328)
Other long term assets, revisions		555
Total assets acquired, revisions		4,005
Accounts payable, revisions		(116)
Deferred tax liabilities, revisions		2,758
Retirement benefits, revisions		(263)
Total liabilities assumed, revisions		2,379
Net assets acquired, revisions		1,626
NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member] | Spectrum Licenses [Member]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Intangibles	198,200	198,200	198,200
NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member] | Customer Based Contract Rights [Member]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Intangibles	203,362	203,362	198,200
Business Combination, Provisional Information, Initial Accounting Incomplete, Adjustments [Abstract]
Intangibles, revision	(24,500)	5,162
NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member] | Contract Based Intangible Assets [Member]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Intangibles	$ 11,000	$ 11,000	$ 11,000

Acquisition of NTELOS Holding39

Acquisition of NTELOS Holdings Corp. and Exchange with Sprint - Intangible Assets Resulting from Acquisition (Details) - NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	May 06, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016
Affiliate Contract Agreement [Member]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill [Abstract]
Useful Life	14 years	14 years
Basis	$ 287,800
Additional Customer Based Contract Rights [Member]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill [Abstract]
Basis	$ 113,761
Additional Customer Based Contract Rights [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill [Abstract]
Useful Life	4 years
Additional Customer Based Contract Rights [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill [Abstract]
Useful Life	10 years
Contract Based Intangible Assets [Member]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill [Abstract]
Basis	$ 11,000	$ 11,000
Contract Based Intangible Assets [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill [Abstract]
Useful Life	3 years
Contract Based Intangible Assets [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill [Abstract]
Useful Life	19 years

Acquisition of NTELOS Holding40

Acquisition of NTELOS Holdings Corp. and Exchange with Sprint - Unaudited Pro forma Results of the Company (Details) - NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]
Operating revenues	$ 166,614	$ 492,114	$ 509,415
Income (loss) before income taxes	$ 2,588	$ (4,016)	$ 39,680

Intangible assets - Intangible

Intangible assets - Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 439,928	$ 27,264
Accumulated Amortization	(45,958)	(24,369)
Net	393,970	2,895
Total Intangible assets, gross	504,359	91,362
Intangible assets, net	458,401	66,993
Franchise Rights [Member]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]
Non-amortizing intangibles	64,431	64,098
Affiliate Contract Expansion Rights [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	287,800	0
Accumulated Amortization	(8,883)	0
Net	278,917	0
Acquired Subscribers - Wireless [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	113,761	0
Accumulated Amortization	(11,442)	0
Net	102,319	0
Contract Based Intangibles - Wireless [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	11,000	0
Accumulated Amortization	(458)	0
Net	10,542	0
Acquired Subscribers - Cable [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	25,265	25,326
Accumulated Amortization	(24,452)	(23,805)
Net	813	1,521
Other Intangible [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	2,102	1,938
Accumulated Amortization	(723)	(564)
Net	$ 1,379	$ 1,374

Intangible assets - Amortizatio

Intangible assets - Amortization Expense for Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Maturity Schedule [Abstract]
2016 Remaining	$ 12,463
2,017	45,091
2,018	39,372
2,019	35,428
2,020	32,718
2,021	30,139
thereafter	198,759
Net	$ 393,970	$ 2,895

Intangible assets - Changes in

Intangible assets - Changes in the Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill as of December 31, 2015	$ 10
Goodwill as of September 30, 2016	145,413
NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill as of September 30, 2016	145,299
Wireless [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill as of December 31, 2015	10
Wireless [Member] | NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill recorded	145,299
Cable [Member] | Colane [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill recorded	$ 104

Property, Plant and Equipment44

Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Property, plant and equipment [Abstract]
Total property, plant and equipment	$ 1,095,990	$ 755,103
Less accumulated amortization and depreciation	428,249	345,085
Net property, plant and equipment	667,741	410,018
Plant in Service [Member]
Property, plant and equipment [Abstract]
Total property, plant and equipment	1,020,014	718,503
Plant under Construction [Member]
Property, plant and equipment [Abstract]
Total property, plant and equipment	$ 75,976	$ 36,600

Earnings (loss) per share (Deta

Earnings (loss) per share (Details) shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015shares	Sep. 30, 2015shares
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Shares and options outstanding (in shares)	664	664
Options [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted earnings per share (in shares)	46	46

Investments Carried at Fair V46

Investments Carried at Fair Value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Investments carried at fair value	$ 2,889		$ 2,654
Dividend and interest income from investments	161
Net unrealized gains recognized	$ 180	$ (190)

Equipment Installment Plan Re47

Equipment Installment Plan Receivables (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	May 06, 2016	Nov. 07, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net			$ 79,944	$ 29,778
Deferred charges and other assets, net			5,478	$ 11,504
Subsequent Event [Member] | Transfer of Equipment Installment Receivables [Member] | Sprint [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Receivable from Sprint		$ 6,300
NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member] | Equipment Installment Plan Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Installment period	24 months
Equipment installment plan receivables			9,300
Accounts receivable, net			7,400
Deferred charges and other assets, net			$ 1,900
NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Equipment Installment Plan Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Estimated interest rate on receivable	5.00%
NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Equipment Installment Plan Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Estimated interest rate on receivable	10.00%

Derivative Instruments, Hedgi48

Derivative Instruments, Hedging Activities and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Narrative (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	May 31, 2016USD ($)counterparty	Sep. 30, 2012USD ($)
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of expected outstanding debt	50.00%
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Cash Flow Hedge [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Amount of notional principal interest rate swap			$ 174,600,000
Notional amount of cash flow hedges	$ 139,700,000
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Cash Flow Hedge [Member] | Three Counterparties [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Amount of notional principal interest rate swap		$ 256,600,000
Notional amount of cash flow hedges	287,300,000
Number of counterparties | counterparty		3
Interest Expense [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Amount reclassified as an increase to interest expense during next twelve months	$ 2,300,000

Derivative Instruments, Hedgi49

Derivative Instruments, Hedging Activities and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Schedule of Derivative Financial Instrument as Well as its Classification on the Consolidated Balance Sheet (Details) - Interest Rate Swap [Member] - Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net, by Balance Sheet Classification [Abstract]
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments	$ (3,638)	$ 688
Accrued Liabilities [Member]
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net, by Balance Sheet Classification [Abstract]
Derivatives liabilities, fair value	(2,283)	(682)
Other Liabilities [Member]
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net, by Balance Sheet Classification [Abstract]
Derivatives liabilities, fair value	(1,355)	0
Deferred Charges and Other Assets, Net [Member]
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net, by Balance Sheet Classification [Abstract]
Derivative assets, fair value	$ 0	$ 1,370

Derivative Instruments, Hedgi50

Derivative Instruments, Hedging Activities and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Before Tax [Roll Forward]
December 31, 2015	$ 688
September 30, 2016	(3,638)
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Tax [Roll Forward]
December 31, 2015	(273)
September 30, 2016	1,480
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
December 31, 2015	415
September 30, 2016	(2,158)
Gains and (Losses) on Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Before Tax [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications	(5,832)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (to interest expense)	1,506
Net current period other comprehensive loss	(4,326)
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Tax [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications	2,363
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (to interest expense)	(610)
Net current period other comprehensive loss	1,753
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications	(3,469)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (to interest expense)	896
Net current period other comprehensive loss	$ (2,573)

Accrued and Other Liabilities -

Accrued and Other Liabilities - Accrued LIabilities and Other (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]
Sales and property taxes payable	$ 6,835	$ 1,055
Severance accrual, current portion	5,625	0
Asset retirement obligations, current portion	8,063	0
Other current liabilities	11,010	6,584
Accrued liabilities and other	$ 31,533	$ 7,639

- Other Liabilities (Details)

- Other Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]
Retirement plan obligations	$ 22,156	$ 2,654
Non-current portion of deferred revenues	8,819	4,156
Straight-line management fee waiver	7,687	0
Other	3,935	2,229
Other liabilities	$ 42,597	$ 9,039

Segment Information - Narrative

Segment Information - Narrative (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016statesegment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments | segment	3
Non Sprint operations, number of states | state	4

Segment Information - Selected

Segment Information - Selected Financial Data for Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
External revenues [Abstract]
Service revenues	$ 140,897	$ 74,981	$ 338,235	$ 225,262
Other	15,939	10,231	41,481	29,940
Total external revenues	156,836	85,212	379,716	255,202
Internal revenues	0	0	0	0
Total operating revenues	156,836	85,212	379,716	255,202
Operating expenses:
Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	58,317	30,570	140,354	91,541
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	40,369	18,306	96,263	55,024
Integration and acquisition expenses	15,272	2,129	35,801	3,153
Total operating expenses	46,807	19,118	96,961	53,119
Total operating expenses	160,765	70,123	369,379	202,837
Operating income (loss)	(3,929)	15,089	10,337	52,365
Operating Segments [Member] | Wireless [Member]
External revenues [Abstract]
Service revenues	111,001	47,793	250,053	144,917
Other	7,978	2,734	17,461	8,611
Total external revenues	118,979	50,527	267,514	153,528
Internal revenues	1,140	1,109	3,417	3,319
Total operating revenues	120,119	51,636	270,931	156,847
Operating expenses:
Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	43,097	15,572	94,892	47,661
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	29,892	9,027	65,219	26,996
Integration and acquisition expenses	14,499	0	19,889	0
Total operating expenses	38,038	9,644	70,026	26,089
Total operating expenses	125,526	34,243	250,026	100,746
Operating income (loss)	(5,407)	17,393	20,905	56,101
Operating Segments [Member] | Cable [Member]
External revenues [Abstract]
Service revenues	24,948	22,284	73,455	65,802
Other	2,031	1,882	5,799	5,495
Total external revenues	26,979	24,166	79,254	71,297
Internal revenues	587	251	1,159	585
Total operating revenues	27,566	24,417	80,413	71,882
Operating expenses:
Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	14,654	14,124	43,864	41,378
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	4,770	4,948	14,672	14,924
Integration and acquisition expenses	0	0	0	0
Total operating expenses	5,860	5,948	17,834	17,286
Total operating expenses	25,284	25,020	76,370	73,588
Operating income (loss)	2,282	(603)	4,043	(1,706)
Operating Segments [Member] | Wireline [Member]
External revenues [Abstract]
Service revenues	4,948	4,904	14,727	14,543
Other	5,930	5,615	18,221	15,834
Total external revenues	10,878	10,519	32,948	30,377
Internal revenues	7,854	6,759	22,754	18,950
Total operating revenues	18,732	17,278	55,702	49,327
Operating expenses:
Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	9,442	8,212	26,892	23,224
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	1,676	1,688	4,951	4,923
Integration and acquisition expenses	0	0	0	0
Total operating expenses	2,822	3,404	8,789	9,411
Total operating expenses	13,940	13,304	40,632	37,558
Operating income (loss)	4,792	3,974	15,070	11,769
Operating Segments [Member] | Other Segments [Member]
External revenues [Abstract]
Service revenues	0	0	0	0
Other	0	0	0	0
Total external revenues	0	0	0	0
Internal revenues	0
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating expenses:
Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	4,736	3,424	13,457	10,313
Integration and acquisition expenses	773	2,129	15,912	3,153
Total operating expenses	87	122	312	333
Total operating expenses	5,596	5,675	29,681	13,799
Operating income (loss)	(5,596)	(5,675)	(29,681)	(13,799)
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
External revenues [Abstract]
Service revenues	0	0	0	0
Other	0		0	0
Total external revenues	0	0	0	0
Internal revenues	(9,581)	(8,119)	(27,330)	(22,854)
Total operating revenues	(9,581)	(8,119)	(27,330)	(22,854)
Operating expenses:
Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	(8,876)	(7,338)	(25,294)	(20,722)
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	(705)	(781)	(2,036)	(2,132)
Integration and acquisition expenses	0	0	0	0
Total operating expenses	0	0	0	0
Total operating expenses	(9,581)	(8,119)	(27,330)	(22,854)
Operating income (loss)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

Segment Information - Reconcili

Segment Information - Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Reconciliation of income from continuing operations from segments to consolidated [Abstract]
Total consolidated operating income (loss)	$ (3,929)	$ 15,089	$ 10,337	$ 52,365
Interest expense	(8,845)	(1,808)	(16,369)	(5,663)
Non-operating income, net	1,527	180	3,147	1,253
Income (loss) before income taxes	$ (11,247)	$ 13,461	$ (2,885)	$ 47,955

Segment Information - Assets by

Segment Information - Assets by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	$ 1,433,625	$ 627,151
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	2,481,539	983,609
Operating Segments [Member] | Wireless [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	1,106,023	205,718
Operating Segments [Member] | Cable [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	213,664	209,132
Operating Segments [Member] | Wireline [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	109,647	105,369
Operating Segments [Member] | Other Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	1,052,205	463,390
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	$ (1,047,914)	$ (356,458)

Adoption of New Accounting Pr57

Adoption of New Accounting Principles (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	May 06, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Deferred tax assets		$ 0.9
NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Unamortized loan fees and costs reclassification	$ 24
Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 [Member] | Assets [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Unamortized loan fees and costs reclassification		(1.6)
Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 [Member] | Assets [Member] | NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Unamortized loan fees and costs reclassification		(4.3)
Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 [Member] | Other Assets [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Unamortized loan fees and costs reclassification		(1.6)
Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 [Member] | Other Assets [Member] | NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Unamortized loan fees and costs reclassification		(4.3)
Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 [Member] | Liabilities and Equity [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Unamortized loan fees and costs reclassification		1.6
Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 [Member] | Liabilities and Equity [Member] | NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Unamortized loan fees and costs reclassification		4.3
Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 [Member] | Long-term Debt, Current Maturities [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Unamortized loan fees and costs reclassification		0.5
Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Unamortized loan fees and costs reclassification		1.1
Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member] | NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Unamortized loan fees and costs reclassification		$ 4.3

Long-Term Debt and Revolving 58

Long-Term Debt and Revolving Line of Credit - Schedule of Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 828,937	$ 201,250
Less: unamortized loan fees	19,370	1,589
Total debt, net of unamortized loan fees	809,567	199,661
Current maturities of long-term debt, net of unamortized loan fees	25,972	22,492
Long-term debt, less current maturities, net of unamortized loan fees	783,595	177,169
Term Loan A [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	0	201,250
Term Loan A-1 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	478,937	0
Term Loan A-2 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 350,000	$ 0

Long-Term Debt and Revolving 59

Long-Term Debt and Revolving Line of Credit - Narrative (Details)	Dec. 18, 2015USD ($)facility	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of credit facilities | facility	3
Total debt, net of unamortized loan fees		$ 809,567,000	$ 199,661,000
Less: unamortized loan fees		$ 19,370,000	$ 1,589,000
Weighted average interest rate		3.83%
Variable swap rate	50.00%
Total leverage ratio through December 30, 2019	3.25
Total leverage ratio thereafter	3
Debt instrument covenants minimum liquidity, amount	$ 25,000,000
Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total leverage ratio from closing date through December 30, 2018	3.75
Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt service coverage ratio	2
One-month LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, fixed interest rate	1.16%
Term Loan A-1 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term of credit facility	5 years
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 485,000,000
Quarterly principal payment period one		$ 6,100,000
Quarterly principal payment period two		12,100,000
Quarterly principal payment period three		18,200,000
Remaining principal payment due		260,700,000
Term Loan A-1 [Member] | NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility amount borrowed	$ 485,000,000
Term Loan A-1 [Member] | One-month LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, variable interest rate	2.75%
Term Loan A-2 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term of credit facility	7 years
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 400,000,000
Proceeds from line of credit		25,000,000
Quarterly principal payment period one		10,000,000
Remaining principal payment due		$ 160,000,000
Term Loan A-2 [Member] | NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility amount borrowed	$ 325,000,000
Term Loan A-2 [Member] | One-month LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, variable interest rate	3.00%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term of credit facility	5 years
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 75,000,000
Delayed Draw Term Loan [Member] | Term Loan A-2 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility remaining borrowing capacity	$ 75,000,000

Long-Term Debt and Revolving 60

Long-Term Debt and Revolving Line of Credit - Maturities of Long-term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Remainder of 2016	$ 6,062
2,017	36,375
2,018	68,500
2,019	88,500
2,020	100,625
Thereafter	528,875
Total	$ 828,937	$ 201,250

Pension Plan and Other Postre61

Pension Plan and Other Postretirement Benefits - Benefit Obligation (Details) - NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	5 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	May 06, 2016
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, at acquisition		$ 22,813
Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Benefit obligations, at acquisition		37,443
Fair value of plan assets, at acquisition		22,813
Funded status:
Net pension income (expense) since acquisition date	$ 39
Total liability, at acquisition	(14,591)	(14,630)
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Benefit obligations, at acquisition		4,568
Fair value of plan assets, at acquisition		0
Funded status:
Net pension income (expense) since acquisition date	(79)
Total liability, at acquisition	$ (4,647)	$ (4,568)

Pension Plan and Other Postre62

Pension Plan and Other Postretirement Benefits - Narrative (Details) - NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member] $ in Thousands	May 06, 2016USD ($)bond_fund	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Assumed annual rate increase in per capita cost of covered health care benefits			8.00%
Assumed annual rate decrease in per capita cost of covered health care benefits for the next five years		0.50%
Assumed annual rate per capita cost of covered health care benefits, for year 2022 and thereafter			5.00%
Effect of one percentage point increase on service and interest cost components		$ 100
Effect of one percentage point increase on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation		600
Effect of one percentage point decrease on service and interest cost components		100
Effect of one percentage point decrease on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation		500
Number of bond funds | bond_fund	2
Maximum [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Holding percentage of one asset in bond fund	4.00%
Holding percentage of one asset in total portfolio	1.00%
Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Benefit obligations, at acquisition	$ 37,443
Expected net periodic benefit cost (income)		(100)
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Benefit obligations, at acquisition	$ 4,568
Expected net periodic benefit cost (income)		$ 100

Pension Plan and Other Postre63

Pension Plan and Other Postretirement Benefits - Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Details) - NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	8 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016
Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]
Components of net periodic benefit cost (income):
Net periodic cost (income)		$ (100)
Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member] | Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Components of net periodic benefit cost (income):
Service cost	$ 0
Interest cost	956
Expected return on plan assets	(1,018)
Net periodic cost (income)	(62)
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]
Components of net periodic benefit cost (income):
Net periodic cost (income)		$ 100
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member] | Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Components of net periodic benefit cost (income):
Service cost	18
Interest cost	108
Expected return on plan assets	0
Net periodic cost (income)	$ 126

Pension Plan and Other Postre64

Pension Plan and Other Postretirement Benefits - Assumptions (Details) - NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member]	8 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	May 06, 2016
Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]
Weighted average assumptions used in measurement of benefit obligations [Abstract]
Discount rate		3.85%
Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member] | Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Weighted average assumptions used in measurement of net cost [Abstract]
Discount rate	3.85%
Expected return on plan assets	6.75%
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]
Weighted average assumptions used in measurement of benefit obligations [Abstract]
Discount rate		3.85%
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member] | Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Weighted average assumptions used in measurement of net cost [Abstract]
Discount rate	3.85%
Expected return on plan assets	0.00%

Pension Plan and Other Postre65

Pension Plan and Other Postretirement Benefits - Asset Allocation (Details) - NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member] $ in Thousands	May 06, 2016USD ($)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Actual Allocation	100.00%
Fair value of plan assets	$ 22,813
Target allocations	100.00%
Large Cap Value [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Actual Allocation	32.00%
Fair value of plan assets	$ 7,244
Mid Cap Blend [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Actual Allocation	9.00%
Fair value of plan assets	$ 2,026
Small Cap Blend [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Actual Allocation	5.00%
Fair value of plan assets	$ 1,151
Foreign Stock - Large Cap [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Actual Allocation	30.00%
Fair value of plan assets	$ 6,867
Bond [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Actual Allocation	20.00%
Fair value of plan assets	$ 4,611
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Actual Allocation	4.00%
Fair value of plan assets	$ 914
Equity Securities [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Actual Allocation	76.00%
Target allocations, minimum	65.00%
Target allocations, maximum	75.00%
Bond Securities and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Actual Allocation	24.00%
Target allocations, minimum	25.00%
Target allocations, maximum	35.00%

Pension Plan and Other Postre66

Pension Plan and Other Postretirement Benefits - Future Benefit Plan Payments (Details) - NTELOS Holdings Corp. [Member] $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)
Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]
Estimated Future Benefit Payments [Abstract]
Remainder of 2016	$ 186
2,017	700
2,018	720
2,019	768
2,020	868
Aggregate of next five years	6,219
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]
Estimated Future Benefit Payments [Abstract]
Remainder of 2016	48
2,017	136
2,018	131
2,019	134
2,020	142
Aggregate of next five years	$ 977

Lease Commitments - Narrative (

Lease Commitments - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)renewal_term	Sep. 30, 2015USD ($)
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Rent expense	$ 28.6	$ 12.7
Rental income	$ 5.3	$ 4.7
Towers [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Number of renewals | renewal_term	4
Term of renewals	5 years
Towers [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Term of lease	5 years
Towers [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Term of lease	10 years
Other [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Term of lease	5 years
Other [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Term of lease	20 years

Lease Commitments - Schedule of

Lease Commitments - Schedule of Future Minimum Lease Payments Under Non-Cancelable Operating Leases (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Remainder of 2016	$ 12,229
2,017	48,512
2,018	48,135
2,019	47,217
2,020	46,130
2,021	45,950
Thereafter	237,024
Total	$ 485,197

- Schedule of Minimum Rental Re

- Schedule of Minimum Rental Receipts (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Receivable [Abstract]
Remainder of 2016	$ 1,532
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Receivable, in Two Years	5,643
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Receivable, in Three Years	5,235
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Receivable, in Four Years	4,924
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Receivable, in Five Years	4,241
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Receivable, in Six Years	2,255
Thereafter	2,872
Total	$ 26,702

Subsequent Events (Details)

Subsequent Events (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	Dec. 01, 2016	Oct. 17, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)			$ 0.24
Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Total payout of dividends	$ 12.2
Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)		$ 0.25