ATN International (ATNI) 10-Q 12 Nov 13 2013 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Nov. 12, 2013
Document and Entity Information	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'ATLANTIC TELE NETWORK INC /DE	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000879585	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-13	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'
Entity Filer Category	'Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	15,756,840
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current Assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$594,340	$136,647
Restricted cash	39,000	'
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $7.9 million and $8.6 million, respectively	44,818	38,867
Materials and supplies	8,963	8,033
Deferred income taxes	1,466	8,349
Prepayments and other current assets	9,813	5,597
Assets of discontinued operations	4,923	380,765
Total current assets	703,323	578,258
Property, plant and equipment, net	253,210	238,324
Telecommunications licenses	39,501	39,905
Goodwill	45,077	45,077
Trade name license	417	417
Customer relationships, net	1,905	2,206
Restricted cash	39,000	'
Other assets	6,733	6,688
Total assets	1,089,166	910,875
Current Liabilities:	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	'	15,680
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	44,307	29,773
Dividends payable	4,266	'
Accrued taxes	251,257	26,678
Advance payments and deposits	7,916	7,563
Other current liabilities	20,778	16,673
Liabilities of discontinued operations	17,719	73,910
Total current liabilities	346,243	170,277
Deferred income taxes	33,275	84,006
Other liabilities	6,761	11,452
Long-term debt, excluding current portion	'	250,900
Total liabilities	386,279	516,635
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)	'	'
Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc.'s Stockholders' Equity:	'	'
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding	'	'
Common stock, $0.01 par value per share; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 16,090,544 and 16,407,422 shares issued, respectively, and 15,576,721 and 15,755,340 shares outstanding, respectively	163	160
Treasury stock, at cost; 513,823 and 652,082 shares, respectively	-11,901	-5,286
Additional paid-in capital	133,576	123,253
Retained earnings	506,064	224,316
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-1,312	-8,297
Total Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc.'s stockholders' equity	626,590	334,146
Non-controlling interests	76,297	60,094
Total equity	702,887	394,240
Total liabilities and equity	$1,089,166	$910,875

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS	'	'
Accounts receivable, allowances (in dollars)	$8.60	$7.90
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$0.01	$0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	16,407,422	16,090,544
Common stock, shares outstanding	15,755,340	15,576,721
Treasury stock, shares	652,082	513,823

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_INCOME_

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
REVENUE:	'	'	'	'
Total revenue	$79,350	$73,312	$215,807	$207,884
OPERATING EXPENSES (excluding depreciation and amortization unless otherwise indicated):	'	'	'	'
Termination and access fees	14,112	14,435	40,768	42,404
Engineering and operations	9,509	9,903	28,349	29,834
Sales and marketing	4,370	4,299	13,646	14,877
Equipment expense	2,549	3,129	8,050	9,149
General and administrative	13,827	12,952	38,856	37,791
Transaction-related charges	2,610	2	2,674	7
Depreciation and amortization	12,335	12,421	36,517	38,304
Gain on disposition of long lived asset	'	'	-1,076	'
Total operating expenses	59,312	57,141	167,784	172,366
Income from operations	20,038	16,171	48,023	35,518
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):	'	'	'	'
Interest expense, net	-7,141	-2,985	-12,126	-10,755
Unrealized loss on interest rate derivative contracts	-5,675	'	-5,675	'
Other income (expense), net	-226	49	-198	-442
Other income (expense), net	-13,042	-2,936	-17,999	-11,197
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES	6,996	13,235	30,024	24,321
Income tax expense	2,481	4,145	11,294	9,032
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	4,515	9,090	18,730	15,289
INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	-1,960	8,922	5,166	23,428
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	305,197	'	305,197	'
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	303,237	8,922	310,363	23,428
NET INCOME	307,752	18,012	329,093	38,717
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests, net of tax:	'	'	'	'
Continuing operations	-2,945	-1,681	-5,934	-2,015
Discontinued operations	116	-365	-601	-885
Disposal of discontinued operations	-28,699	'	-28,699	'
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests, net of tax	-31,528	-2,046	-35,234	-2,900
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC. STOCKHOLDERS	276,224	15,966	293,859	35,817
NET INCOME PER WEIGHTED AVERAGE BASIC SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC. STOCKHOLDERS:	'	'	'	'
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$0.10	$0.48	$0.82	$0.86
Discontinued operations:	'	'	'	'
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	($0.12)	$0.55	$0.29	$1.45
Gain on sale of discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$17.57	'	$17.64	'
Total discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$17.45	$0.55	$17.93	$1.45
Total (in dollars per share)	$17.55	$1.03	$18.75	$2.31
NET INCOME PER WEIGHTED AVERAGE DILUTED SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC. STOCKHOLDERS:	'	'	'	'
Continued operations (in dollars per share)	$0.10	$0.47	$0.81	$0.85
Discontinued operations:	'	'	'	'
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	($0.12)	$0.55	$0.29	$1.44
Gain on sale of discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$17.45	'	$17.51	'
Total discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$17.33	$0.55	$17.80	$1.44
Total (in dollars per share)	$17.43	$1.02	$18.61	$2.29
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING:	'	'	'	'
Basic (in shares)	15,738	15,560	15,678	15,517
Diluted (in shares)	15,845	15,651	15,789	15,605
DIVIDENDS PER SHARE APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCK (in dollars per share)	$0.27	$0.25	$0.77	$0.71
U.S. wireless	'	'	'	'
REVENUE:	'	'	'	'
Total revenue	32,796	29,042	80,597	77,970
International wireless	'	'	'	'
REVENUE:	'	'	'	'
Total revenue	22,895	21,014	66,162	60,186
Wireline	'	'	'	'
REVENUE:	'	'	'	'
Total revenue	21,504	21,289	62,945	64,094
Equipment and other	'	'	'	'
REVENUE:	'	'	'	'
Total revenue	$2,155	$1,967	$6,103	$5,634

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	'	'
Net income	$329,093	$38,717
Other comprehensive income:	'	'
Unrealized (loss) gain on interest rate derivative, net of tax (benefit) of $(0.4) million and $2.0 million, respectively	6,985	-535
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	6,985	-535
Comprehensive income	336,078	38,182
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests	-35,234	-2,900
Comprehensive income attributable to Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc.	$300,844	$35,282

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Parenthetical) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	'	'
Unrealized gain on interest rate swap, tax	$2	($0.40)

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME2

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:	'	'
Net income	$329,093	$38,717
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows provided by operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	36,517	38,304
Provision for doubtful accounts	880	1,006
Amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs	6,657	2,068
Stock-based compensation	3,419	2,585
Unrealized loss on interest rate derivative contracts	5,675	'
Deferred income taxes	'	136
Income from discontinued operations	-5,166	-23,428
Gain on disposition of long-lived assets	-1,076	'
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	-305,197	'
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:	'	'
Accounts receivable	-3,832	-5,944
Materials and supplies, prepayments, and other current assets	-3,470	-2,268
Income tax receivable	'	11,545
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities, advance payments and deposits and other current liabilities	11,623	-52
Accrued taxes	-23,668	17,181
Other	7,307	2,545
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations	58,762	82,395
Net cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations	25,751	55,080
Net cash provided by operating activities	84,513	137,475
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:	'	'
Capital expenditures	-55,171	-28,575
Proceeds from disposition of assets	1,500	'
Net cash used in investing activities of continuing operations	-53,671	-28,575
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of discontinued operations, net	711,541	-21,930
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	657,870	-50,505
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:	'	'
Proceeds from borrowing under term loan	'	275,000
Proceeds from borrowings under revolver loan	'	46,378
Principal repayments of term loan	-272,137	-256,873
Principal repayments of revolver loan	'	-74,534
Proceeds from stock option exercises	1,450	1,240
Dividends paid on common stock	-7,839	-10,692
Distributions to non-controlling interests	-3,321	-1,294
Payments of debt issuance costs	-12	-3,564
Repurchase of non-controlling interests	'	-80
Investments made by non-controlling interests	135	1,040
Purchase of common stock	-1,288	-202
Net cash used in financing activities of continuing operations	-283,012	-23,581
Net cash used in financing activities of discontinued operations, net	-1,678	-716
Net cash used in financing activities	-284,690	-24,297
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	457,693	62,673
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of the period	136,647	48,735
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of the period	594,340	111,408
Supplemental cash flow information:	'	'
Interest paid	6,642	10,096
Taxes paid, net of refunds	$37,597	$6,225

ORGANIZATION_AND_BUSINESS_OPER

ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS	'
ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS	'
	1.  ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS
	The Company provides wireless and wireline telecommunications services in North America, Bermuda and the Caribbean. Through its operating subsidiaries, the Company offers the following principal services:
	·                  Wireless.   In the United States, the Company offers wholesale wireless voice and data roaming services to national, regional, local and selected international wireless carriers in rural markets located principally in the Southwest and Midwest. The Company also offers wireless voice and data services to retail customers in Bermuda, Guyana, the Caribbean and smaller markets in the United States.
	·                  Wireline.   The Company’s local telephone and data services include its operations in Guyana and the mainland United States. The Company is the exclusive licensed provider of domestic wireline local and long distance telephone services in Guyana and international voice and data communications into and out of Guyana. The Company also offers facilities-based integrated voice and data communications services to enterprise and residential customers in New England, primarily in Vermont, and wholesale transport services in Vermont and New York State.  In addition, the Company offers wholesale long-distance voice services to telecommunications carriers.
	The following chart summarizes the operating activities of the Company’s principal subsidiaries, the segments in which the Company reports its revenue and the markets it served as of September 30, 2013:
	Services	Segment	Markets	Tradenames
	Wireless	U.S. Wireless	United States (rural markets)	Commnet, Choice
		Island Wireless	Aruba, Bermuda, Turks and Caicos, U.S. Virgin Islands	Mio, CellOne, Islandcom, Choice
		International Integrated Telephony	Guyana	Cellink
	Wireline	International Integrated Telephony	Guyana	GT&T, eMagine
		U.S. Wireline	United States (New England and New York State)	Sovernet, ION
	The Company provides management, technical, financial, regulatory, and marketing services to its subsidiaries and typically receives a management fee equal to a percentage of their respective revenue. Management fees from consolidated subsidiaries are eliminated in consolidation. For information about the Company’s business segments and geographical information about its revenue, operating income and long-lived assets, see Note 11 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

BASIS_OF_PRESENTATION

BASIS OF PRESENTATION	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
BASIS OF PRESENTATION	'
BASIS OF PRESENTATION	'
	2.  BASIS OF PRESENTATION
	The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The financial information included herein is unaudited; however, the Company believes such information and the disclosures herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading and reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) that are necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s financial position and results of operations for such periods. The year-end condensed balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  Results of interim periods may not be indicative of results for the full year.  These condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes should be read in conjunction with the Company’s 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
	On September 20, 2013, the Federal Communications Commission announced its approval of the previously announced proposed sale of the Company’s U.S. retail wireless business operated under the Alltel name to AT&T Mobility (“AT&T” or “AT&T Mobility”) for approximately $780 million in cash plus a sale price adjustment based on the working capital of the business.  The working capital payment is subject to adjustment based on the final working capital amount at the time of the sale.  As a result of that approval, the Company completed the sale on that date.
	The operations of the Alltel business, which were previously included in the Company’s U.S. Wireless segment, have been classified as discontinued operations in all periods presented.  The gain on the sale of the Alltel business recognized during the three months ended September 30, 2013, is also included in discontinued operations.
	See Note 4 for additional information.  Unless indicated otherwise, the information in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements relates to our continuing operations.
	Consolidation
	The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its majority-owned subsidiaries and certain entities, which are consolidated in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) authoritative guidance on the consolidation of variable interest entities since it is determined that the Company is the primary beneficiary of these entities.
	Certain revisions to correct profit and loss classifications have been made in the prior period financial statements. The changes match the elimination of income with expenses for inter-company shared services and align subsidiary accounting practices for bad debt expense presentation. The changes were not material to prior periods and did not impact operating income. The aggregate impact of the changes included a $0.4 million and $0.8 million adjustment from wireline revenue to termination and access fees and an increase of engineering and operations expense of $0.8 million and $2.4 million with a corresponding decrease in general and administrative expense for each of the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012, respectively.
	Additionally, during the three months ended September 30, 2013, the Company recognized approximately $0.6 million in Other Income to correct for an overstatement of prepaid calling card liabilities recorded in advance payments and deposits.   The Company determined that the impact of the correction of this error was not material to the current or any prior period financial statements.
	Our effective tax rates for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2013 were 31.3% and 35.5%, respectively. The three months ended September 30, 2012 includes a tax benefit of $1.3 million related to certain non-recurring tax credits.
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In February 2013, the FASB issued new guidance which requires companies to present information about reclassification adjustments from accumulated other comprehensive income in their financial statements or footnotes. This new guidance is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2012.  The adoption of the new guidance did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, income statement or cash flows.
	In July 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-11, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force),” which states that an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward. If a company does not have: (i) a net operating loss carryforward; (ii) a similar tax loss; or (iii) a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or the entity does not intend to use the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and should not be combined with deferred tax assets. The authoritative guidance is effective for fiscal years and the interim periods within those fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2013 and should be applied on a prospective basis. The Company does not expect that the adoption of this authoritative guidance will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.  See Note 9 for disclosure of reclassification adjustments from accumulated other comprehensive income.

USE_OF_ESTIMATES

USE OF ESTIMATES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
USE OF ESTIMATES	'
USE OF ESTIMATES	'
	3.  USE OF ESTIMATES
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. The most significant estimates relate to the allowance for doubtful accounts, useful lives of the Company’s fixed and finite-lived intangible assets, allocation of purchase price to assets acquired and liabilities assumed in purchase business combinations, fair value of indefinite-lived intangible assets, goodwill, the gain on sale of discontinued operations and income taxes. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

DISCONTINUED_OPERATIONS_SALE_O

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS - SALE OF U.S. RETAIL WIRELESS BUSINESS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS - SALE OF U.S. RETAIL WIRELESS BUSINESS	'
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS - SALE OF U.S. RETAIL WIRELESS BUSINESS	'
	4.  DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS — SALE OF U.S. RETAIL WIRELESS BUSINESS
	On September 20, 2013, the Federal Communications Commission announced its approval of the previously announced proposed sale of the Company’s U.S. retail wireless business operated under the Alltel name to AT&T for approximately $780.0 million in cash plus $17.4 million in working capital adjustments.  The Company previously reported the operations of this business within its U.S. Wireless segment.  As a result of that approval, the Company completed the sale of certain U.S. retail wireless assets on that date and recorded a gain of approximately $305.2 million calculated as follows (in thousands):
	Proceeds:
	Received			$	702,000
	Escrowed			78,000
	Working capital- preliminary			24,138
	Working capital- adjusted			(6,703		)
	Adjust proceeds			797,435
	Less: Net assets sold or impaired:
	Assets sold or impaired:
	Current assets	51,597
	Property, plant and equipment, net	190,970
	Telecommunications licenses	50,553
	Other intangible assets	37,434
	Other assets	13,202
	Liabilities sold:
	Current liabilities	(40,674	)
	Other liabilities	(22,796	)
	Net assets sold or impaired			280,286
	Less: Transaction related costs			13,517
	Pre-tax gain			503,632
	Less: Income taxes at effective rate			198,435
	Net gain on sale			$	305,197
	The $797.4 million in cash proceeds includes $78.0 million of cash being held in a general indemnity escrow account which, subject to the terms and conditions of the purchase agreement between AT&T Mobility and the Company governing the sale, this escrow will be released to the Company over the next eighteen months as follows; $19.5 million after 180 days; $19.5 million after 360 days; and the remaining $39.0 million after 18 months.  The Company has recorded the $78.0 million as restricted cash on its September 30, 2013 balance sheet with $39.0 million classified as a current asset and the remaining $39.0 million classified as long-term based on the timing of the expected cash proceeds.
	The Alltel trade name was not sold to AT&T Mobility. Due to trade name assignment restrictions, and no planned use through operations, the trade name was fully impaired. As a result, an impairment of $11.9 million was recorded as a part of the disposal and included in the net gain calculation.
	The Company also recorded $28.7 million for the minority shareholders’ interests in the sold operation which is based on the estimated final distribution to the minority shareholders and included in non-controlling interests on its September 30, 2013 balance sheet.
	The Company has reclassified the assets and liabilities of its Alltel operations to assets of discontinued operations and liabilities of discontinued operations within its December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2013 balance sheets. Those assets and liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
		December 31,			September 30,
		2012			2013
	Accounts receivable, net	$	34,225		$	—
	Materials and supplies	19,047			—
	Prepayments and other current assets	5,386			4,923
	Property, plant and equipment, net	212,222			—
	Telecommunications licenses	50,553			—
	Other intangible assets	42,746			—
	Other assets	16,586			—
	Assets of discontinued operations	$	380,765		$	4,923
	Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	20,486		$	17,719
	Accrued taxes	3,475			—
	Advance payments and deposits	11,435			—
	Other current liabilities	27,440			—
	Other liabilities	11,074			—
	Liabilities of discontinued operations	$	73,910		$	17,719
	Revenues and income from discontinued operations related to the Alltel business for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2013 were as follows (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended September 30,
		2012			2013
	Revenue from discontinued operations	$	115,692		$	88,036
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax expense (benefit) of $5,369 and $(1,020), respectively	8,922			(1,960		)
		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2012			2013
	Revenue from discontinued operations	$	349,703		$	299,519
	Income from discontinued operations, net of tax expense of $15,241 and $3,244, respectively	23,428			5,166

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	'
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	'
	5.  FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
	In accordance with the provisions of fair value accounting, a fair value measurement assumes that a transaction to sell an asset or transfer a liability occurs in the principal market for the asset or liability or, in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market for the asset or liability and defines fair value based upon an exit price model.
	The fair value measurement guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The guidance describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
	Level 1	Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset and liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. Level 1 assets and liabilities include money market funds, debt and equity securities and derivative contracts that are traded in an active exchange market.
	Level 2	Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Level 2 assets and liabilities include debt securities with quoted prices that are traded less frequently than exchange-traded instruments and derivative contracts whose value is determined using a pricing model with inputs that are observable in the market or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data.
		This category generally includes certificates of deposit and non-exchange traded derivative contracts.
	Level 3	Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation.
	Assets and liabilities of the Company measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2013 are summarized as follows (in thousands):
		December 31, 2012
	Description	Quoted Prices in		Significant Other		Total
		Active Markets		Observable Inputs
		(Level 1)		(Level 2)
	Certificates of deposit	$	—	$	363	$	363
	Money market funds	1,755		—		1,755
	Total assets measured at fair value	$	1,755	$	363	$	2,118
	Interest rate derivative (Note 7)	$	—	$	11,142	$	11,142
	Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	—	$	11,142	$	11,142
		September 30, 2013
	Description	Quoted Prices in		Significant Other		Total
		Active Markets		Observable Inputs
		(Level 1)		(Level 2)
	Certificates of deposit	$	—	$	363	$	363
	Money market funds (1)	80,806		—		80,806
	Total assets measured at fair value	$	80,806	$	363	$	81,169
	Interest rate derivative (Note 7)	$	—	$	5,651	$	5,651
	Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	—	$	5,651	$	5,651
	(1)   Includes $78.0 million classified as restricted cash on the Company’s balance sheet.
	Certificate of Deposit
	As of December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2013, this asset class consisted of a time deposit at a financial institution denominated in U.S. dollars. The asset class is classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy because the fair value was based on observable market data.
	Money Market Funds
	As of December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2013, this asset class consisted of a money market portfolio that comprises Federal government and U.S. Treasury securities. The asset class is classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because its underlying investments are valued using quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets.
	Derivatives
	The Company is exposed to certain risks arising from both its business operations and economic conditions. When deemed appropriate, the Company manages economic risks related to interest rates primarily by managing the amount, sources, and duration of its debt funding and the use of derivative financial instruments. Specifically, the Company entered into derivative financial instruments to manage exposures that arise from business activities that result in the payment of future known and uncertain cash amounts, the value of which are determined by interest rates. The Company’s derivative financial instruments are used to manage differences in the amount, timing, and duration of its known or expected cash payments principally related to the Company’s borrowings.  These derivatives were settled at approximately their September 30, 2013 carrying value on October 2, 2013.
	We did not have any significant nonfinancial assets or nonfinancial liabilities that would be recognized or disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2013.  The Company did not have any transfers of assets or liabilities between levels of the fair value hierarchy during the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

LONGTERM_DEBT

LONG-TERM DEBT	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
LONG-TERM DEBT	'
LONG-TERM DEBT	'
	6.  LONG-TERM DEBT
	Long-term debt comprises the following (in thousands):
		December 31,			September 30,
		2012			2013
	Notes payable - Bank
	Term loans	$	268,000		$	—
	Revolver loan	—			—
	Note Payable — Other	4,072			—
	Total outstanding debt	272,072			—
	Less: current portion	(15,680		)	—
	Total long-term debt	256,392			—
	Less: debt discount	(5,492		)	—
	Net carrying amount	$	250,900		$	—
	Loan Facilities—Bank
	On May 18, 2012, the Company amended and restated its existing credit facility with CoBank, ACB (the “Amended Credit Facility”) providing for $275.0 million in two term loans and a revolver loan of up to $100.0 million (which includes a $10.0 million swingline sub-facility) and the capacity for additional term loans up to an aggregate of $100.0 million, subject to lender approval.
	On October 29, 2012, the Company further amended its Amended Credit Facility to provide for an additional letter of credit sub-facility to its revolver loan, to be available for issuance in connection with its Mobility Fund Support obligations. Under the amendment, the Company has the ability to use up to $55 million of its revolving credit facility for the issuance of letters of credit and currently has approximately $29.9 million of such Mobility Fund letters of credit outstanding which accrue a fee at a rate of 1.75% per annum on the outstanding amounts.  As of September 30, 2013, there were no draw-downs against these letters of credit.  If we fail to comply with certain terms and conditions upon which the Mobility Fund Support is granted, USAC will be entitled to draw the entire amount of the letter of credit applicable to the affected project, which includes penalty amounts.  The results of our Mobility Fund projects, once initiated, will be included in the Company’s “U.S. Wireless” segment. See Note 8 for additional information regarding the Mobility Fund.
	On September 20, 2013 the two term loans under the Company’s Amended Credit Facility were repaid in full.  The Company incurred nominal fees for the breakage of the term loans that were incurring interest at the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) .  In addition, the Company recorded approximately $5.5 million, including $4.7 million of debt discounts,  in interest expense during the three months ended September 30, 2013 related to accelerated amortization of deferred financing costs associated with the term loans.
	Amounts borrowed under the term loans bore interest through September 20, 2013 at a rate equal to, at the Company’s option, either (i) LIBOR plus an applicable margin ranging between 2.00% to 4.00% or (ii) a base rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 1.00% to 3.00%.  The base rate was equal to the higher of (i) 1.50% plus the higher of (x) the one-week LIBOR and (y) the one-month LIBOR; or (ii) the prime rate (as defined in the Amended Credit Facility). The applicable margin was determined based on the ratio of our indebtedness (as defined in the Amended Credit Facility) to our EBITDA (as defined in the Amended Credit Facility).
	Amounts borrowed under the revolver loan bear interest at a rate equal to, at our option, either (i) LIBOR plus an applicable margin ranging between 2.00% to 3.50% or (ii) a base rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 1.00% to 2.50% (or, in the case of amounts borrowed under the swing-line sub-facility, an applicable margin ranging from 1.50% to 3.00%.)  We must also pay a fee ranging from 0.25% to 0.50% of the average daily unused portion of the revolver loan over each calendar quarter, which fee is payable in arrears on the last day of each calendar quarter.
	The Amended Credit Facility contains customary representations, warranties and covenants, including covenants by the Company limiting additional indebtedness, liens, guaranties, mergers and consolidations, substantial asset sales, investments and loans, sale and leasebacks, transactions with affiliates and fundamental changes. In addition, the Amended Credit Facility contains financial covenants by the Company that (i) impose a maximum leverage ratio of indebtedness to EBITDA, (ii) require a minimum debt service ratio of EBITDA to principal, interest and taxes payments and (iii) require a minimum ratio of equity to consolidated assets. As of September 30, 2013, we were in compliance with all of the financial covenants of the Amended Credit Facility as amended.
	Note Payable—Other
	In connection with the CellOne Merger with M3 Wireless, Ltd., the Company assumed a term loan of approximately $7.0 million owed to Keytech Ltd., the former parent company of M3 and current 42% minority shareholder in the Company’s Bermuda operations. This term loan, which bore interest at 7% per annum, was repaid in full in July 2013.
	The Company believed that the carrying value of its debt approximated fair value which was based on quoted market prices and fell within Level 2 of the fair value measurement hierarchy.  A level 2 hierarchy was applied based on level of trade activity associated with the Company’s debt.

DERIVATIVE_INSTRUMENTS_AND_HED

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

'

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

'

7.  DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

The Company’s objective in using interest rate derivatives was to add stability to interest expense and to manage its exposure to the interest rate movements of its variable-rate debt. To accomplish this objective, the Company primarily used interest rate derivatives as part of its interest rate risk management strategy. Interest rate derivatives designated as cash flow hedges involved 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 effective portion of changes in the fair value of interest rate derivatives designated and that qualified as cash flow hedges was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income and was subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affected earnings.

The total outstanding notional amount of cash flow hedges was $140.5 million as of September 30, 2013.  As a result of the repayment of its variable-rate debt on September 20, 2013, the Company’s interest rate derivatives were determined to be ineffective and a loss of $5.7 million was recorded during the three months ending September 30, 2013.  On October 2, 2013, the Company terminated its interest rate derivatives and paid $5.4 million, the net fair value of those derivatives, to its counterparties.

Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income related to the interest rate derivatives were reclassified to “Unrealized loss on interest rate derivative contracts” as of the date of the prepayment of the Company’s outstanding term notes.

The table below presents the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments as well as its classification on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2013 (in thousands):

Liability Derivatives

Fair Value as of

Balance Sheet

December 31,

September 30,

Location

2012

2013

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

Interest Rate Derivatives

Other liabilities

$

11,142

$

5,651

Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments

$

11,142

$

5,651

The table below presents the effect of the Company’s interest rate derivatives, it’s only derivative financial instruments, on the consolidated income statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2013 (in thousands):

Effective Portion

Ineffective Portion

Three Months

Amount of Gain or

Location of Gain or

Amount of Gain or

Amount of Gain or

Location of Gain or

Amount of Gain or

Ended

(Loss) Recognized

(Loss) Reclassified

(Loss) Reclassified

(Loss) Recognized

(Loss) Reclassified

(Loss) Reclassified

September 30,

in Other

from Accumulated

from Accumulated

in Other

from Accumulated

from Accumulated

Comprehensive

Other

Other

Comprehensive

Other

Other

Income on Derivative

Comprehensive

Comprehensive

Income on Derivative

Comprehensive

Comprehensive

Income into Income

Income into Income

Income into Income

Income into Income

2012

$

(1,192

)

Interest expense

$

1,044

$

—

Interest expense

$

—

2013

—

Interest expense

—

—

Interest expense

—

Effective Portion

Ineffective Portion

Nine Months

Amount of Gain or

Location of Gain or

Amount of Gain or

Amount of Gain or

Location of Gain or

Amount of Gain or

Ended

(Loss) Recognized

(Loss) Reclassified

(Loss) Reclassified

(Loss) Recognized

(Loss) Reclassified

(Loss) Reclassified

September 30,

in Other

from Accumulated

from Accumulated

in Other

from Accumulated

from Accumulated

Comprehensive

Other

Other

Comprehensive

Other

Other

Income on Derivative

Comprehensive

Comprehensive

Income on Derivative

Comprehensive

Comprehensive

Income into Income

Income into Income

Income into Income

Income into Income

2012

$

(892

)

Interest expense

$

3,100

$

—

Interest expense

$

—

2013

6,255

Interest expense

6,255

—

Interest expense

764

MOBILITY_FUND

MOBILITY FUND	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
MOBILITY FUND	'
MOBILITY FUND	'
	8.  MOBILITY FUND
	As part of the Federal Communications Commission’s (“FCC”) reform of its Universal Service Fund (“USF”) program, which previously provided support to carriers seeking to offer telecommunications services in high-cost areas and to low-income households, the FCC created two new funds, including the Mobility Fund, a one-time award meant to support wireless coverage in underserved geographic areas in the United States. In August 2013, the Company received FCC final approval for approximately $47.0 million of Mobility Fund support to its Alltel business (the “Alltel Mobility Funds”) and $21.7 million of Mobility Fund support to its wholesale wireless business (the “Wholesale Mobility Funds” and collectively with the Alltel Mobility Funds, the “Mobility Funds”), to expand voice and broadband networks in certain geographic areas in order to offer either 3G or 4G coverage. As part of the receipt of the Mobility Funds, the Company committed to comply with certain additional FCC construction and other requirements. In connection with the Company’s application for the Mobility Funds, the Company issued approximately $29.9 million in letters of credit to the Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”) in June 2013 to secure these obligations. If the Company fails to comply with any of the terms and conditions upon which the Mobility Funds were granted, or if it loses eligibility for the Mobility Funds, the FCC will be entitled to draw the entire amount of the letter of credit applicable to the affected project plus penalties and may disqualify the Company from the receipt of additional Mobility Fund support.
	In connection with the Company’s sale of its Alltel business on September 20, 2013, it notified the FCC and USAC that it would no longer be eligible to perform under the terms and conditions of the Alltel Mobility Funds. At that time, USAC chose not to draw any amounts under our letter of credit securing the Alltel Mobility Funds and the Company made a cash payment of approximately $4.6 million in penalty fees to USAC. The Company expects to be reimbursed for these penalty fees by AT&T Mobility. The Company expects to terminate the letters of credit securing our Alltel Mobility Funds upon receipt of the returned letters of credit from USAC.
	The Company began the construction of its Wholesale Mobility Funds projects during the third quarter of 2013  and its results are included in the Company’s “U.S. Wireless” segment. As of September 30, 2013, the Company has received approximately $7.3 million in Wholesale Mobility Funds. Of these funds, $3.1 million is recorded within other current liabilities while the remaining $4.2 million is recorded within other long-term liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2013. The presentation is based on the timing of the expected usage of the funds.

RECONCILIATION_OF_TOTAL_EQUITY

RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL EQUITY	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL EQUITY	'
RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL EQUITY	'
	9.  RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL EQUITY
	Total equity was as follows (in thousands):
		Nine months Ended September 30,
		2012									2013
		Atlantic Tele-			Non-Controlling			Total Equity			Atlantic Tele-			Non-Controlling			Total
		Network, Inc.			Interests						Network, Inc.			Interests			Equity
	Equity, beginning of period	$	294,266		$	58,264		$	352,530		$	334,146		$	60,094		$	394,240
	Stock-based compensation	2,585			—			2,585			3,419			—			3,419
	Comprehensive income:
	Net income	35,817			2,900			38,717			293,859			35,234			329,093
	Other comprehensive income(loss)-Gain (loss) on interest rate derivative (net of tax)	(535		)	—			(535		)	6,985			—			6,985
	Total comprehensive income	35,282			2,900			38,182			300,844			35,234			336,078
	Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options	1,240			—			1,240			6,778			—			6,778
	Dividends declared on common stock	(11,068		)	—			(11,068		)	(11,982		)	—			(11,982		)
	Distributions to non-controlling interests	—			(1,294		)	(1,294		)	—			(5,532		)	(5,532		)
	Investments made by minority shareholders	—			1,040			1,040			—			135			135
	Sale of non-controlling interests	—			—			—			—			(13,634		)	(13,634		)
	Repurchase of non-controlling interests	—			(80		)	(80		)	—			—			—
	Purchase of common shares	(202		)	—			(202		)	(6,615		)	—			(6,615		)
	Equity, end of period	$	322,103		$	60,830		$	382,933		$	626,590		$	76,297		$	702,887
	Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), by component, were as follows (in thousands):
		Interest			Projected			Translation			Total
		Rate Derivative			Pension			Adjustment
		Agreements			Benefit
					Obligation
	Balance at December 31, 2012	$	(6,959	)	$	(1,318	)	$	(20	)	$	(8,297	)
	Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, net of taxes of $2.5 million (1)	3,753			—			—			3,735
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes of $2.0 million	3,206			—			—			3,206
	Balance at September 30, 2013	$	—		$	(1,318	)	$	(20	)	$	(1,312	)
	(1) Includes a reclassification unrealized loss on interest rate derivative contracts of $3.1 million.

NET_INCOME_PER_SHARE

NET INCOME PER SHARE	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
NET INCOME PER SHARE	'
NET INCOME PER SHARE	'
	10.  NET INCOME PER SHARE
	For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2013, outstanding stock options were the only potentially dilutive securities. The reconciliation from basic to diluted weighted average common shares outstanding is as follows (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended		Nine months Ended
		September 30,		September 30,
		2012	2013	2012	2013
	Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding	15,560	15,738	15,517	15,678
	Stock options	91	107	88	111
	Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding	15,651	15,845	15,605	15,789
	The above calculations for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2013 do not include 322,000 and 29,000 shares, respectively, related to certain stock options because the effects of such were anti-dilutive. For the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2013, the calculation does not include 362,000 and 80,000 shares, respectively, related to certain stock options because the effect of such options was anti-dilutive.

SEGMENT_REPORTING

SEGMENT REPORTING	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
SEGMENT REPORTING	'
SEGMENT REPORTING	'
	11. SEGMENT REPORTING
	The Company has four reportable segments for separate disclosure in accordance with the FASB’s authoritative guidance on disclosures about segments of an enterprise. Those four segments are: i) U.S. Wireless, which generates all of its revenues in and has all of its assets located in the United States, ii) International Integrated Telephony, which generates all of its revenues in and has its assets located in Guyana, iii) Island Wireless, which generates a majority of its revenues in and has a majority of its assets located in Bermuda and which also generates revenues in and has assets located in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Aruba and Turks and Caicos and iv) U.S. Wireline, which generates all of its revenues in and has all of its assets located in the United States. The operating segments are managed separately because each offers different services and serves different markets.
	The following tables provide information for each operating segment.  Previous periods have been restated to remove our discontinued operations which were previously reported within our U.S. Wireless segment (in thousands):
		For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
		U.S. Wireless		International		Island			U.S.			Reconciling			Consolidated
				Integrated		Wireless			Wireline			Items
				Telephony
	Revenue
	U.S. wireless	$	29,042	$	—	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	29,042
	International wireless	—		6,838		14,176			—			—			21,014
	Wireline	152		16,351		—			4,786			—			21,289
	Equipment and other	85		377		1,451			54			—			1,967
	Total Revenue	29,279		23,566		15,627			4,840			—			73,312
	Depreciation and amortization	4,200		4,406		2,875			697			243			12,421
	Non-cash stock-based compensation	—		—		—			—			774			774
	Operating income (loss)	14,879		6,596		1,043			(566		)	(5,781		)	16,171
		For the Nine months Ended September 30, 2012
		U.S. Wireless		International		Island			U.S.			Reconciling			Consolidated
				Integrated		Wireless			Wireline			Items
				Telephony
	Revenue
	U.S. wireless	$	77,970	$	—	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	77,970
	International wireless	—		19,891		40,295			—			—			60,186
	Wireline	450		49,354		—			14,290			—			64,094
	Equipment and other	212		1,334		3,947			141			—			5,634
	Total Revenue	78,632		70,579		44,242			14,431			—			207,884
	Depreciation and amortization	13,634		13,424		8,444			2,135			667			38,304
	Non-cash stock-based compensation	—		—		—			—			2,566			2,566
	Operating income (loss)	35,799		16,973		(319		)	(1,655		)	(15,280		)	35,518
		For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
		U.S. Wireless		International		Island			U.S.			Reconciling			Consolidated
				Integrated		Wireless			Wireline			Items
				Telephony
	Revenue
	U.S. Wireless	$	32,796	$	—	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	32,796
	International wireless	—		7,046		15,849			—			—			22,895
	Wireline	152		15,640		—			5,712			—			21,504
	Equipment and other	109		388		1,594			64			—			2,155
	Total revenue	33,057		23,074		17,443			5,776			—			79,350
	Depreciation and amortization	4,039		4,551		2,551			816			378			12,335
	Non-cash stock-based compensation	—		—		—			—			926			926
	Operating income (loss)	18,293		7,028		3,292			(255		)	(8,320		)	20,038
		For the Nine months Ended September 30, 2013
		U.S. Wireless		International		Island			U.S.			Reconciling			Consolidated
				Integrated		Wireless			Wireline			Items
				Telephony
	Revenue
	U.S. wireless	$	80,597	$	—	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	80,597
	International wireless	—		20,330		45,832			—			—			66,162
	Wireline	457		46,493		—			15,995			—			62,945
	Equipment and other	313		1,151		4,468			171			—			6,103
	Total revenue	81,367		67,974		50,300			16,166			—			215,807
	Depreciation and amortization	12,119		13,476		7,705			2,252			965			36,517
	Non-cash stock-based compensation	—		—		—			—			2,898			2,898
	Operating income (loss)	40,472		19,596		7,226			(786		)	(18,485		)	48,023
		Segment Assets
		U.S. Wireless		International		Island			U.S.			Reconciling			Consolidated
				Integrated		Wireless			Wireline			Items
				Telephony
	December 31, 2012:
	Net fixed assets	$	52,944	$	126,532	$	33,745		$	17,489		$	7,614		$	238,324
	Goodwill	32,148		—		5,438			7,491			—			45,077
	Total assets (1)	161,038		191,314		77,120			30,888			69,750			530,110
September 30, 2013:
Net fixed assets	$	69,291	$	118,143	$	30,568		$	25,858		$	9,350		$	253,210
Goodwill	32,148		—		5,438			7,491			—			45,077
Total assets (1)	725,836		195,412		79,343			43,859			44,716			1,089,166
(1)   Total assets do not include $380,765 and $4,923 of assets associated with our discontinued operations as of December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2013, respectively.
	Capital Expenditures
	U.S. Wireless		International		Island			U.S.			Reconciling			Consolidated
			Integrated		Wireless			Wireline			Items
			Telephony
Nine months Ended September 30,
2012	$	7,516	$	7,362	$	3,915		$	7,280		$	2,502		$	28,575
2013	27,736		9,039		4,014			11,231			3,151			55,171

COMMITMENTS_AND_CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	'
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	'
	12.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
	Regulatory and Litigation Matters
	The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to certain regulatory and legal proceedings and other claims arising in the ordinary course of business, some of which involve claims for damages and taxes that are substantial in amount. The Company believes that, except for the items discussed below and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, for which the Company is currently unable to predict the final outcome, the disposition of proceedings currently pending will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
	In August 2013, the Company received FCC final approval for approximately $47.0 million of Mobility Fund support to its Alltel business (the “Alltel Mobility Funds”) and $21.7 million of Mobility Fund support to its wholesale wireless business.  See Note 8 for further discussion.
	In November 2007, Caribbean Telecommunications Limited (“CTL”) filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey against GT&T and ATN claiming breach of an interconnection agreement for domestic cellular services in Guyana and related claims. CTL asserted over $200 million in damages. GT&T and ATN moved to dismiss the complaint on procedural and jurisdictional grounds. On January 26, 2009, the court granted the motions to dismiss the complaint on the grounds asserted. On April 4, 2013 CTL filed a similar claim against GT&T and the PUC in the High Court of Guyana. The Company believes the claim is without merit and is duplicative of a previous claim filed by CTL in Guyana that was dismissed. There has been no action on this matter since the April 2013 filing.
	The Guyana Parliament is continuing to consider the telecommunications legislation originally introduced in August 2012, which, if passed and assented to by the President, would, among other things, effectively terminate GT&T’s exclusive right to provide international long distance services.
	Historically, the Company has been subject to litigation proceedings and other disputes in Guyana that while not conclusively resolved, to the Company’s knowledge have not been the subject of other discussions or other significant activity in the last five years. It is possible, but not likely, that these disputes may be revived. The Company believes that none of these additional proceedings would, in the event of an adverse outcome, have a material impact on its consolidated financial position, results of operation or liquidity.  For all of the regulatory, litigation, or related matters listed above and in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company believes some adverse outcome is probable and has accordingly accrued $5.0 million as of September 30, 2013.

SUBSEQUENT_EVENT

SUBSEQUENT EVENT	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
SUBSEQUENT EVENT	'
SUBSEQUENT EVENT	'
	13.  SUBSEQUENT EVENT
	See Note 7 for the termination of our interest rate derivates on October 2, 2013.

ORGANIZATION_AND_BUSINESS_OPER1

ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS	'
Schedule of the operating activities of the Company's principal subsidiaries, the segments in which the Company reports its revenue and markets served	'
	Services	Segment	Markets	Tradenames
	Wireless	U.S. Wireless	United States (rural markets)	Commnet, Choice
		Island Wireless	Aruba, Bermuda, Turks and Caicos, U.S. Virgin Islands	Mio, CellOne, Islandcom, Choice
		International Integrated Telephony	Guyana	Cellink
	Wireline	International Integrated Telephony	Guyana	GT&T, eMagine
		U.S. Wireline	United States (New England and New York State)	Sovernet, ION

DISCONTINUED_OPERATIONS_SALE_O1

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS SALE OF U.S. RETAIL WIRELESS BUSINESS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS - SALE OF U.S. RETAIL WIRELESS BUSINESS	'
Schedule of gain on sale of operations	'
	As a result of that approval, the Company completed the sale of certain U.S. retail wireless assets on that date and recorded a gain of approximately $305.2 million calculated as follows (in thousands):
	Proceeds:
	Received			$	702,000
	Escrowed			78,000
	Working capital- preliminary			24,138
	Working capital- adjusted			(6,703		)
	Adjust proceeds			797,435
	Less: Net assets sold or impaired:
	Assets sold or impaired:
	Current assets	51,597
	Property, plant and equipment, net	190,970
	Telecommunications licenses	50,553
	Other intangible assets	37,434
	Other assets	13,202
	Liabilities sold:
	Current liabilities	(40,674	)
	Other liabilities	(22,796	)
	Net assets sold or impaired			280,286
	Less: Transaction related costs			13,517
	Pre-tax gain			503,632
	Less: Income taxes at effective rate			198,435
	Net gain on sale			$	305,197
Schedule of reclassification of assets and liabilities of Alltel operations into discontinued operations	'
	Those assets and liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
		December 31,			September 30,
		2012			2013
	Accounts receivable, net	$	34,225		$	—
	Materials and supplies	19,047			—
	Prepayments and other current assets	5,386			4,923
	Property, plant and equipment, net	212,222			—
	Telecommunications licenses	50,553			—
	Other intangible assets	42,746			—
	Other assets	16,586			—
	Assets of discontinued operations	$	380,765		$	4,923
	Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	20,486		$	17,719
	Accrued taxes	3,475			—
	Advance payments and deposits	11,435			—
	Other current liabilities	27,440			—
	Other liabilities	11,074			—
	Liabilities of discontinued operations	$	73,910		$	17,719
Schedule of revenues and income from discontinued operations	'
	Revenues and income from discontinued operations related to the Alltel business for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2013 were as follows (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended September 30,
		2012			2013
	Revenue from discontinued operations	$	115,692		$	88,036
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax expense (benefit) of $5,369 and $(1,020), respectively	8,922			(1,960		)
		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2012			2013
	Revenue from discontinued operations	$	349,703		$	299,519
	Income from discontinued operations, net of tax expense of $15,241 and $3,244, respectively	23,428			5,166

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Tables

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	'
Schedule of assets and liabilities of the entity measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'
	Assets and liabilities of the Company measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2013 are summarized as follows (in thousands):
		December 31, 2012
	Description	Quoted Prices in		Significant Other		Total
		Active Markets		Observable Inputs
		(Level 1)		(Level 2)
	Certificates of deposit	$	—	$	363	$	363
	Money market funds	1,755		—		1,755
	Total assets measured at fair value	$	1,755	$	363	$	2,118
	Interest rate derivative (Note 7)	$	—	$	11,142	$	11,142
	Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	—	$	11,142	$	11,142
		September 30, 2013
	Description	Quoted Prices in		Significant Other		Total
		Active Markets		Observable Inputs
		(Level 1)		(Level 2)
	Certificates of deposit	$	—	$	363	$	363
	Money market funds (1)	80,806		—		80,806
	Total assets measured at fair value	$	80,806	$	363	$	81,169
	Interest rate derivative (Note 7)	$	—	$	5,651	$	5,651
	Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	—	$	5,651	$	5,651
	(1)   Includes $78.0 million classified as restricted cash on the Company’s balance sheet.

LONGTERM_DEBT_Tables

LONG-TERM DEBT (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
LONG-TERM DEBT	'
Schedule of long-term debt	'
	Long-term debt comprises the following (in thousands):
		December 31,			September 30,
		2012			2013
	Notes payable - Bank
	Term loans	$	268,000		$	—
	Revolver loan	—			—
	Note Payable — Other	4,072			—
	Total outstanding debt	272,072			—
	Less: current portion	(15,680		)	—
	Total long-term debt	256,392			—
	Less: debt discount	(5,492		)	—
	Net carrying amount	$	250,900		$	—

DERIVATIVE_INSTRUMENTS_AND_HED1

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

'

Schedule of fair value of the Company's derivative financial instruments as well as its classification on the consolidated balance sheet

'

The table below presents the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments as well as its classification on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2013 (in thousands):

Liability Derivatives

Fair Value as of

Balance Sheet

December 31,

September 30,

Location

2012

2013

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

Interest Rate Derivatives

Other liabilities

$

11,142

$

5,651

Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments

$

11,142

$

5,651

Schedule of effect of the Company's interest rate derivatives, it's only derivative financial instruments, on the consolidated income statements

'

The table below presents the effect of the Company’s interest rate derivatives, it’s only derivative financial instruments, on the consolidated income statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2013 (in thousands):

Effective Portion

Ineffective Portion

Three Months

Amount of Gain or

Location of Gain or

Amount of Gain or

Amount of Gain or

Location of Gain or

Amount of Gain or

Ended

(Loss) Recognized

(Loss) Reclassified

(Loss) Reclassified

(Loss) Recognized

(Loss) Reclassified

(Loss) Reclassified

September 30,

in Other

from Accumulated

from Accumulated

in Other

from Accumulated

from Accumulated

Comprehensive

Other

Other

Comprehensive

Other

Other

Income on Derivative

Comprehensive

Comprehensive

Income on Derivative

Comprehensive

Comprehensive

Income into Income

Income into Income

Income into Income

Income into Income

2012

$

(1,192

)

Interest expense

$

1,044

$

—

Interest expense

$

—

2013

—

Interest expense

—

—

Interest expense

—

Effective Portion

Ineffective Portion

Nine Months

Amount of Gain or

Location of Gain or

Amount of Gain or

Amount of Gain or

Location of Gain or

Amount of Gain or

Ended

(Loss) Recognized

(Loss) Reclassified

(Loss) Reclassified

(Loss) Recognized

(Loss) Reclassified

(Loss) Reclassified

September 30,

in Other

from Accumulated

from Accumulated

in Other

from Accumulated

from Accumulated

Comprehensive

Other

Other

Comprehensive

Other

Other

Income on Derivative

Comprehensive

Comprehensive

Income on Derivative

Comprehensive

Comprehensive

Income into Income

Income into Income

Income into Income

Income into Income

2012

$

(892

)

Interest expense

$

3,100

$

—

Interest expense

$

—

2013

6,255

Interest expense

6,255

—

Interest expense

764

RECONCILIATION_OF_TOTAL_EQUITY1

RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL EQUITY (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL EQUITY	'
Schedule of reconciliation of total equity	'
	Total equity was as follows (in thousands):
		Nine months Ended September 30,
		2012									2013
		Atlantic Tele-			Non-Controlling			Total Equity			Atlantic Tele-			Non-Controlling			Total
		Network, Inc.			Interests						Network, Inc.			Interests			Equity
	Equity, beginning of period	$	294,266		$	58,264		$	352,530		$	334,146		$	60,094		$	394,240
	Stock-based compensation	2,585			—			2,585			3,419			—			3,419
	Comprehensive income:
	Net income	35,817			2,900			38,717			293,859			35,234			329,093
	Other comprehensive income(loss)-Gain (loss) on interest rate derivative (net of tax)	(535		)	—			(535		)	6,985			—			6,985
	Total comprehensive income	35,282			2,900			38,182			300,844			35,234			336,078
	Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options	1,240			—			1,240			6,778			—			6,778
	Dividends declared on common stock	(11,068		)	—			(11,068		)	(11,982		)	—			(11,982		)
	Distributions to non-controlling interests	—			(1,294		)	(1,294		)	—			(5,532		)	(5,532		)
	Investments made by minority shareholders	—			1,040			1,040			—			135			135
	Sale of non-controlling interests	—			—			—			—			(13,634		)	(13,634		)
	Repurchase of non-controlling interests	—			(80		)	(80		)	—			—			—
	Purchase of common shares	(202		)	—			(202		)	(6,615		)	—			(6,615		)
	Equity, end of period	$	322,103		$	60,830		$	382,933		$	626,590		$	76,297		$	702,887
Schedule of changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), by component	'
	Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), by component, were as follows (in thousands):
		Interest			Projected			Translation			Total
		Rate Derivative			Pension			Adjustment
		Agreements			Benefit
					Obligation
	Balance at December 31, 2012	$	(6,959	)	$	(1,318	)	$	(20	)	$	(8,297	)
	Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, net of taxes of $2.5 million (1)	3,753			—			—			3,735
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes of $2.0 million	3,206			—			—			3,206
	Balance at September 30, 2013	$	—		$	(1,318	)	$	(20	)	$	(1,312	)
	(1) Includes a reclassification unrealized loss on interest rate derivative contracts of $3.1 million.

NET_INCOME_PER_SHARE_Tables

NET INCOME PER SHARE (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
NET INCOME PER SHARE	'
Schedule of reconciliation from basic to diluted weighted average common shares outstanding	'
	The reconciliation from basic to diluted weighted average common shares outstanding is as follows (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended		Nine months Ended
		September 30,		September 30,
		2012	2013	2012	2013
	Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding	15,560	15,738	15,517	15,678
	Stock options	91	107	88	111
	Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding	15,651	15,845	15,605	15,789

SEGMENT_REPORTING_Tables

SEGMENT REPORTING (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
SEGMENT REPORTING	'
Schedule of information for each operating segment	'
	Previous periods have been restated to remove our discontinued operations which were previously reported within our U.S. Wireless segment (in thousands):
		For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
		U.S. Wireless		International		Island			U.S.			Reconciling			Consolidated
				Integrated		Wireless			Wireline			Items
				Telephony
	Revenue
	U.S. wireless	$	29,042	$	—	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	29,042
	International wireless	—		6,838		14,176			—			—			21,014
	Wireline	152		16,351		—			4,786			—			21,289
	Equipment and other	85		377		1,451			54			—			1,967
	Total Revenue	29,279		23,566		15,627			4,840			—			73,312
	Depreciation and amortization	4,200		4,406		2,875			697			243			12,421
	Non-cash stock-based compensation	—		—		—			—			774			774
	Operating income (loss)	14,879		6,596		1,043			(566		)	(5,781		)	16,171
		For the Nine months Ended September 30, 2012
		U.S. Wireless		International		Island			U.S.			Reconciling			Consolidated
				Integrated		Wireless			Wireline			Items
				Telephony
	Revenue
	U.S. wireless	$	77,970	$	—	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	77,970
	International wireless	—		19,891		40,295			—			—			60,186
	Wireline	450		49,354		—			14,290			—			64,094
	Equipment and other	212		1,334		3,947			141			—			5,634
	Total Revenue	78,632		70,579		44,242			14,431			—			207,884
	Depreciation and amortization	13,634		13,424		8,444			2,135			667			38,304
	Non-cash stock-based compensation	—		—		—			—			2,566			2,566
	Operating income (loss)	35,799		16,973		(319		)	(1,655		)	(15,280		)	35,518
		For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
		U.S. Wireless		International		Island			U.S.			Reconciling			Consolidated
				Integrated		Wireless			Wireline			Items
				Telephony
	Revenue
	U.S. Wireless	$	32,796	$	—	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	32,796
	International wireless	—		7,046		15,849			—			—			22,895
	Wireline	152		15,640		—			5,712			—			21,504
	Equipment and other	109		388		1,594			64			—			2,155
	Total revenue	33,057		23,074		17,443			5,776			—			79,350
	Depreciation and amortization	4,039		4,551		2,551			816			378			12,335
	Non-cash stock-based compensation	—		—		—			—			926			926
	Operating income (loss)	18,293		7,028		3,292			(255		)	(8,320		)	20,038
		For the Nine months Ended September 30, 2013
		U.S. Wireless		International		Island			U.S.			Reconciling			Consolidated
				Integrated		Wireless			Wireline			Items
				Telephony
	Revenue
	U.S. wireless	$	80,597	$	—	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	80,597
	International wireless	—		20,330		45,832			—			—			66,162
	Wireline	457		46,493		—			15,995			—			62,945
	Equipment and other	313		1,151		4,468			171			—			6,103
	Total revenue	81,367		67,974		50,300			16,166			—			215,807
	Depreciation and amortization	12,119		13,476		7,705			2,252			965			36,517
	Non-cash stock-based compensation	—		—		—			—			2,898			2,898
	Operating income (loss)	40,472		19,596		7,226			(786		)	(18,485		)	48,023
		Segment Assets
		U.S. Wireless		International		Island			U.S.			Reconciling			Consolidated
				Integrated		Wireless			Wireline			Items
				Telephony
	December 31, 2012:
	Net fixed assets	$	52,944	$	126,532	$	33,745		$	17,489		$	7,614		$	238,324
	Goodwill	32,148		—		5,438			7,491			—			45,077
	Total assets (1)	161,038		191,314		77,120			30,888			69,750			530,110
	September 30, 2013:
	Net fixed assets	$	69,291	$	118,143	$	30,568		$	25,858		$	9,350		$	253,210
Goodwill	32,148		—		5,438			7,491			—			45,077
Total assets (1)	725,836		195,412		79,343			43,859			44,716			1,089,166
(1)   Total assets do not include $380,765 and $4,923 of assets associated with our discontinued operations as of December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2013, respectively.
	Capital Expenditures
	U.S. Wireless		International		Island			U.S.			Reconciling			Consolidated
			Integrated		Wireless			Wireline			Items
			Telephony
Nine months Ended September 30,
2012	$	7,516	$	7,362	$	3,915		$	7,280		$	2,502		$	28,575
2013	27,736		9,039		4,014			11,231			3,151			55,171

BASIS_OF_PRESENTATION_Details

BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Details) (Alltel sale, AT&T Mobility, USD $)	Sep. 20, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Alltel sale | AT&T Mobility	'
Pending Sale Of U.S. Retail Wireless Business	'
Consideration for sale of operations in all-cash transaction	$780

BASIS_OF_PRESENTATION_Details_

BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013
			Reclassifications	Reclassifications	Reclassifications	Reclassifications	Reclassifications	Reclassifications	Reclassifications	Reclassifications	Reclassifications
			Wireline revenue	Wireline revenue	Termination and access fees	Termination and access fees	Engineering and operations expense	Engineering and operations expense	General and administrative expense	General and administrative expense	Other Income
BASIS OF PRESENTATION	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Effective tax rate (as a percent)	35.50%	31.30%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Tax benefit related to certain non-recurring tax credits	'	$1.30	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Reclassifications	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Prior period reclassifications	'	'	($0.40)	($0.80)	$0.40	$0.80	$0.80	$2.40	($0.80)	($2.40)	$0.60

DISCONTINUED_OPERATIONS_SALE_O2

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS SALE OF U.S. RETAIL WIRELESS BUSINESS (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 20, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Assets sold or impaired:	'	'	'	'	'	'
Current assets	'	$703,323,000	'	$703,323,000	'	$578,258,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	'	253,210,000	'	253,210,000	'	238,324,000
Telecommunications licenses	'	39,501,000	'	39,501,000	'	39,905,000
Other assets	'	6,733,000	'	6,733,000	'	6,688,000
Liabilities sold:	'	'	'	'	'	'
Current liabilities	'	-346,243,000	'	-346,243,000	'	-170,277,000
Other liabilities	'	-6,761,000	'	-6,761,000	'	-11,452,000
Net gain on sale	'	305,197,000	'	305,197,000	'	'
Restricted cash, current	'	39,000,000	'	39,000,000	'	'
Restricted cash, long-term	'	39,000,000	'	39,000,000	'	'
Minority shareholders' interests in sale of operations	'	28,699,000	'	28,699,000	'	'
Revenues and income from discontinued operations	'	'	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax expense (benefit)	'	-1,960,000	8,922,000	5,166,000	23,428,000	'
Alltel Sale | AT&T Mobility	'	'	'	'	'	'
SALE OF U.S. RETAIL WIRELESS BUSINESS	'	'	'	'	'	'
Consideration for sale of operations in all-cash transaction	780,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Working capital adjustments	17,400,000	'	'	'	'	'
Proceeds:	'	'	'	'	'	'
Received	702,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Escrowed	78,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Working capital- preliminary	24,138,000	'	'	'	'	'
Working capital- adjusted	-6,703,000	'	'	'	'	'
Adjust proceeds	797,435,000	'	'	'	'	'
Assets sold or impaired:	'	'	'	'	'	'
Current assets	51,597,000	'	'	'	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	190,970,000	'	'	'	'	'
Telecommunications licenses	50,553,000	'	'	'	'	'
Other intangible assets	37,434,000	'	'	'	'	'
Other assets	13,202,000	'	'	'	'	'
Liabilities sold:	'	'	'	'	'	'
Current liabilities	-40,674,000	'	'	'	'	'
Other liabilities	-22,796,000	'	'	'	'	'
Net assets sold or impaired	280,286,000	'	'	'	'	'
Less: Transaction related costs	13,517,000	'	'	'	'	'
Pre-tax gain	503,632,000	'	'	'	'	'
Less: Income taxes at effective rate	198,435,000	'	'	'	'	'
Net gain on sale	305,197,000	'	'	'	'	'
Release period of escrowed cash	'18 months	'	'	'	'	'
First release of amount of escrowed cash	19,500,000	'	'	'	'	'
Second release of amount of escrowed cash	19,500,000	'	'	'	'	'
Third release of amount of escrowed cash	39,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted cash	78,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted cash, current	39,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted cash, long-term	39,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Minority shareholders' interests in sale of operations	28,700,000	'	'	'	'	'
Assets and liabilities of discontinued operations	'	'	'	'	'	'
Accounts receivable, net	'	'	'	'	'	34,225,000
Materials and supplies	'	'	'	'	'	19,047,000
Prepayments and other current assets	'	4,923,000	'	4,923,000	'	5,386,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	'	'	'	'	'	212,222,000
Telecommunications licenses	'	'	'	'	'	50,553,000
Other intangible assets	'	'	'	'	'	42,746,000
Other assets	'	'	'	'	'	16,586,000
Assets of discontinued operations	'	4,923,000	'	4,923,000	'	380,765,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	'	17,719,000	'	17,719,000	'	20,486,000
Accrued taxes	'	'	'	'	'	3,475,000
Advance payments and deposits	'	'	'	'	'	11,435,000
Other current liabilities	'	'	'	'	'	27,440,000
Other liabilities	'	'	'	'	'	11,074,000
Liabilities of discontinued operations	'	17,719,000	'	17,719,000	'	73,910,000
Revenues and income from discontinued operations	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue from discontinued operations	'	88,036,000	115,692,000	299,519,000	349,703,000	'
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax expense (benefit)	'	-1,960,000	8,922,000	5,166,000	23,428,000	'
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, tax expense (benefit)	'	-1,020,000	5,369,000	3,244,000	15,241,000	'
Alltel Sale | AT&T Mobility | Trade names | Alltel	'	'	'	'	'	'
Liabilities sold:	'	'	'	'	'	'
Impairment of intangible assets	$11,900,000	'	'	'	'	'
Alltel Sale | AT&T Mobility | Minimum	'	'	'	'	'	'
Liabilities sold:	'	'	'	'	'	'
Period of first release of escrowed cash	'180 days	'	'	'	'	'
Period of second release of escrowed cash	'360 days	'	'	'	'	'
Period of third release of escrowed cash	'18 months	'	'	'	'	'

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Detail

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Details) (Recurring basis, USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)	'	'
Fair value measurements	'	'
Assets measured at fair value	$80,806	$1,755
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) | Money market funds	'	'
Fair value measurements	'	'
Assets measured at fair value	80,806	1,755
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)	'	'
Fair value measurements	'	'
Assets measured at fair value	363	363
Liabilities measured at fair value	5,651	11,142
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Interest rate derivative	'	'
Fair value measurements	'	'
Liabilities measured at fair value	5,651	11,142
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Certificate of deposit	'	'
Fair value measurements	'	'
Assets measured at fair value	363	363
Total	'	'
Fair value measurements	'	'
Assets measured at fair value	81,169	2,118
Liabilities measured at fair value	5,651	11,142
Total | Interest rate derivative	'	'
Fair value measurements	'	'
Liabilities measured at fair value	5,651	11,142
Total | Certificate of deposit	'	'
Fair value measurements	'	'
Assets measured at fair value	363	363
Total | Money market funds	'	'
Fair value measurements	'	'
Assets measured at fair value	80,806	1,755
Total | Restricted cash	'	'
Fair value measurements	'	'
Assets measured at fair value	$78,000	'

LONGTERM_DEBT_Details

LONG-TERM DEBT (Details) (USD $)

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 20, 2013

Sep. 20, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 20, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

18-May-12

Sep. 20, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 20, 2013

Sep. 20, 2013

Sep. 20, 2013

Sep. 20, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

18-May-12

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

18-May-12

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Oct. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Oct. 29, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Bermuda wireless operations

Amended Credit Facility

Amended Credit Facility

Amended Credit Facility

Term loans

Term loans

Term loans

Term loans

Term loans

Term loans

Term loans

Term loans

Term loans

Term loans

Revolver loan

Revolver loan

Revolver loan

Revolver loan

Revolver loan

Revolver loan

Revolver loan

Revolver loan

Revolver loan

Swingline sub-facility

Swingline sub-facility

Swingline sub-facility

Swingline sub-facility

Letter of credit sub-facility

Letter of credit sub-facility

Letter of credit sub-facility

Letter of credit sub-facility

Note Payable - Other

Note Payable - Other

One-week LIBOR

One-month LIBOR

Prime Rate

item

Amended Credit Facility

Amended Credit Facility

Amended Credit Facility

Amended Credit Facility

Amended Credit Facility

Amended Credit Facility

Amended Credit Facility

Minimum

Minimum

Maximum

Maximum

Amended Credit Facility

Amended Credit Facility

Amended Credit Facility

Amended Credit Facility

Amended Credit Facility

Amended Credit Facility

Amended Credit Facility

Amended Credit Facility

Amended Credit Facility

Amended Credit Facility

Amended Credit Facility

Amended Credit Facility

M3 Wireless, Ltd.

item

LIBOR

Base rate

Minimum

Minimum

Maximum

Maximum

LIBOR

Base rate

LIBOR

Base rate

LIBOR

Base rate

Minimum

Maximum

Base rate

Minimum

Maximum

Keytech Ltd.

LIBOR

Base rate

LIBOR

Base rate

Base rate

Base rate

Long-term debt

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Outstanding debt

'

'

$272,072,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

$268,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$4,072,000

'

Less: current portion

'

'

-15,680,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total long-term debt

'

'

256,392,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Less: debt discount

'

'

-5,492,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net carrying amount

'

'

250,900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maximum borrowing capacity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

275,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

100,000,000

'

'

'

'

10,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

55,000,000

'

'

Outstanding letters of credit

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

29,900,000

'

29,900,000

'

'

'

Number of term loans

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maximum aggregate additional borrowings subject to lender approval

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

100,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Draw downs against issued letters of credit

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

Number of loans repaid in full

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs

6,657,000

2,068,000

'

'

'

'

'

4,700,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest expenses

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Description of variable rate basis

'

'

'

'

'one-week LIBOR

'one-month LIBOR

'Prime Rate

'

'

'

'

'LIBOR

'Base Rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'LIBOR

'Base Rate

'

'

'

'Base Rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Basis spread on variable rate (as a percent)

'

'

'

'

1.50%

1.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.00%

1.00%

4.00%

3.00%

2.00%

1.00%

3.50%

2.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.50%

3.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

Commitment fee (as a percent)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.25%

0.50%

'

'

'

'

'

1.75%

1.75%

'

'

'

Term loan assumed

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$7,000,000

Ownership interest held by minority shareholder (as a percent)

'

'

'

42.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Effective interest rate (as a percent)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

7.00%

DERIVATIVE_INSTRUMENTS_AND_HED2

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Oct. 02, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
		Derivatives designated as hedging instruments	Derivatives designated as hedging instruments	Interest Rate Derivatives	Interest Rate Derivatives	Interest Rate Derivatives	Interest Rate Derivatives	Interest Rate Derivatives
							Derivatives designated as hedging instruments	Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total outstanding notional amount of cash flow hedges	$140,500,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Derivative instruments and hedging activities	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Loss on derivative determined to be ineffective	'	'	'	'	5,700,000	5,700,000	'	'
Payment made to counterparties for termination of derivatives	'	'	'	5,400,000	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, liability derivatives	'	$5,651,000	$11,142,000	'	'	'	$5,651,000	$11,142,000

DERIVATIVE_INSTRUMENTS_AND_HED3

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES (Details 2) (Interest rate derivatives, Designated as cash flow hedges, USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Interest rate derivatives | Designated as cash flow hedges	'	'	'
Derivative instruments and hedging activities	'	'	'
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income on Derivative, Effective Portion	($1,192)	$6,255	($892)
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income into Income, Effective Portion	1,044	6,255	3,100
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income into Income, Ineffective Portion	'	$764	'

MOBILITY_FUND_Details

MOBILITY FUND (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2013

Aug. 31, 2013

Sep. 20, 2013

Aug. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

item

U.S. Wireless

U.S. Wireless

U.S. Wireless

U.S. Wireless

Letters of credit

Alltel Mobility Funds

Alltel Mobility Funds

Wholesale Mobility Funds

Wholesale Mobility Funds

Wholesale Mobility Funds

Wholesale Mobility Funds

Letters of credit

U.S. Wireless

U.S. Wireless

U.S. Wireless

Other current liabilities

Other long-term liabilities

MOBILITY FUND

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of new funds created by FCC

'

'

2

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Mobility Funds approved by FCC

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$47,000,000

'

$21,700,000

'

'

'

Letters of credit posted to USAC

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

29,900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Cash payment of penalty fees for default

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4,600,000

'

'

'

'

Revenue

$79,350,000

$73,312,000

$215,807,000

$207,884,000

$33,057,000

$29,279,000

$81,367,000

$78,632,000

'

'

'

'

$7,300,000

$3,100,000

$4,200,000

RECONCILIATION_OF_TOTAL_EQUITY2

RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL EQUITY (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Changes in total equity	'	'	'	'
Equity, beginning of period	'	'	$394,240	$352,530
Stock-based compensation	'	'	3,419	2,585
Comprehensive income:	'	'	'	'
Net income	307,752	18,012	329,093	38,717
Other comprehensive income(loss)-	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) on interest rate derivative (net of tax)	'	'	6,985	-535
Comprehensive income	'	'	336,078	38,182
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options	'	'	6,778	1,240
Dividends declared on common stock	'	'	-11,982	-11,068
Distributions to non-controlling interests	'	'	-5,532	-1,294
Investments made by minority shareholders	'	'	135	1,040
Sale of non-controlling interests	'	'	-13,634	'
Repurchase of non-controlling interests	'	'	'	-80
Purchase of common shares	'	'	-6,615	-202
Equity, end of period	702,887	382,933	702,887	382,933
Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc.	'	'	'	'
Changes in total equity	'	'	'	'
Equity, beginning of period	'	'	334,146	294,266
Stock-based compensation	'	'	3,419	2,585
Comprehensive income:	'	'	'	'
Net income	'	'	293,859	35,817
Other comprehensive income(loss)-	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) on interest rate derivative (net of tax)	'	'	6,985	-535
Comprehensive income	'	'	300,844	35,282
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options	'	'	6,778	1,240
Dividends declared on common stock	'	'	-11,982	-11,068
Purchase of common shares	'	'	-6,615	-202
Equity, end of period	626,590	322,103	626,590	322,103
Non-Controlling Interests	'	'	'	'
Changes in total equity	'	'	'	'
Equity, beginning of period	'	'	60,094	58,264
Comprehensive income:	'	'	'	'
Net income	'	'	35,234	2,900
Other comprehensive income(loss)-	'	'	'	'
Comprehensive income	'	'	35,234	2,900
Distributions to non-controlling interests	'	'	-5,532	-1,294
Investments made by minority shareholders	'	'	135	1,040
Sale of non-controlling interests	'	'	-13,634	'
Repurchase of non-controlling interests	'	'	'	-80
Equity, end of period	$76,297	$60,830	$76,297	$60,830

RECONCILIATION_OF_TOTAL_EQUITY3

RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL EQUITY (Details 2) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
		Interest Rate Derivative Agreements	Projected Pension Benefit Obligation	Projected Pension Benefit Obligation	Translation Adjustment	Translation Adjustment
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	'	'	'	'	'	'
Balance at beginning of period	($8,297,000)	($6,959,000)	($1,318,000)	($1,318,000)	($20,000)	($20,000)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, net of taxes of $2.5 million	3,735,000	3,753,000	'	'	'	'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes of $2.0 million	3,206,000	3,206,000	'	'	'	'
Balance at end of period	-1,312,000	'	-1,318,000	-1,318,000	-20,000	-20,000
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, tax	2,500,000	2,500,000	'	'	'	'
Reclassification unrealized loss on interest rate derivative contracts	3,100,000	3,100,000	'	'	'	'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, tax	$2,000,000	$2,000,000	'	'	'	'

NET_INCOME_PER_SHARE_Details

NET INCOME PER SHARE (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Reconciliation from basic to diluted weighted average common shares outstanding	'	'	'	'
Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding	15,738,000	15,560,000	15,678,000	15,517,000
Stock options (in shares)	107,000	91,000	111,000	88,000
Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding	15,845,000	15,651,000	15,789,000	15,605,000
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	'	'	'	'
Anti-dilutive stock options excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	29,000	322,000	80,000	362,000

SEGMENT_REPORTING_Details

SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
			item
SEGMENT REPORTING	'	'	'	'	'
Number of reportable segments	'	'	4	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	$79,350	$73,312	$215,807	$207,884	'
Depreciation and amortization	12,335	12,421	36,517	38,304	'
Non-cash stock-based compensation	926	774	3,419	2,585	'
Operating income (loss)	20,038	16,171	48,023	35,518	'
Segment Assets	'	'	'	'	'
Net fixed assets	253,210	'	253,210	'	238,324
Goodwill	45,077	'	45,077	'	45,077
Total assets	1,089,166	'	1,089,166	'	910,875
Assets associated with discontinued operations	4,923	'	4,923	'	380,765
Capital Expenditures	'	'	'	'	'
Capital expenditures	'	'	55,171	28,575	'
U.S. wireless	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	32,796	29,042	80,597	77,970	'
International wireless	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	22,895	21,014	66,162	60,186	'
Wireline	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	21,504	21,289	62,945	64,094	'
Equipment and other	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	2,155	1,967	6,103	5,634	'
U.S. Wireless	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	33,057	29,279	81,367	78,632	'
Depreciation and amortization	4,039	4,200	12,119	13,634	'
Operating income (loss)	18,293	14,879	40,472	35,799	'
Segment Assets	'	'	'	'	'
Net fixed assets	69,291	'	69,291	'	52,944
Goodwill	32,148	'	32,148	'	32,148
Total assets	725,836	'	725,836	'	161,038
Capital Expenditures	'	'	'	'	'
Capital expenditures	'	'	27,736	7,516	'
U.S. Wireless | Wireline	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	152	152	457	450	'
U.S. Wireless | Equipment and other	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	109	85	313	212	'
International Integrated Telephony	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	23,074	23,566	67,974	70,579	'
Depreciation and amortization	4,551	4,406	13,476	13,424	'
Operating income (loss)	7,028	6,596	19,596	16,973	'
Segment Assets	'	'	'	'	'
Net fixed assets	118,143	'	118,143	'	126,532
Total assets	195,412	'	195,412	'	191,314
Capital Expenditures	'	'	'	'	'
Capital expenditures	'	'	9,039	7,362	'
International Integrated Telephony | International wireless	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	7,046	6,838	20,330	19,891	'
International Integrated Telephony | Wireline	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	15,640	16,351	46,493	49,354	'
International Integrated Telephony | Equipment and other	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	388	377	1,151	1,334	'
Island Wireless	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	17,443	15,627	50,300	44,242	'
Depreciation and amortization	2,551	2,875	7,705	8,444	'
Operating income (loss)	3,292	1,043	7,226	-319	'
Segment Assets	'	'	'	'	'
Net fixed assets	30,568	'	30,568	'	33,745
Goodwill	5,438	'	5,438	'	5,438
Total assets	79,343	'	79,343	'	77,120
Capital Expenditures	'	'	'	'	'
Capital expenditures	'	'	4,014	3,915	'
Island Wireless | International wireless	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	15,849	14,176	45,832	40,295	'
Island Wireless | Equipment and other	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	1,594	1,451	4,468	3,947	'
U.S. Wireline	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	5,776	4,840	16,166	14,431	'
Depreciation and amortization	816	697	2,252	2,135	'
Operating income (loss)	-255	-566	-786	-1,655	'
Segment Assets	'	'	'	'	'
Net fixed assets	25,858	'	25,858	'	17,489
Goodwill	7,491	'	7,491	'	7,491
Total assets	43,859	'	43,859	'	30,888
Capital Expenditures	'	'	'	'	'
Capital expenditures	'	'	11,231	7,280	'
U.S. Wireline | Wireline	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	5,712	4,786	15,995	14,290	'
U.S. Wireline | Equipment and other	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	64	54	171	141	'
Reconciling Items	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	378	243	965	667	'
Non-cash stock-based compensation	926	774	2,898	2,566	'
Operating income (loss)	-8,320	-5,781	-18,485	-15,280	'
Segment Assets	'	'	'	'	'
Net fixed assets	9,350	'	9,350	'	7,614
Total assets	44,716	'	44,716	'	69,750
Capital Expenditures	'	'	'	'	'
Capital expenditures	'	'	$3,151	$2,502	'

COMMITMENTS_AND_CONTINGENCIES_

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2013	Nov. 30, 2007	Sep. 30, 2013
	Alltel Mobility Funds	Wholesale Mobility Funds	Lawsuit filed by CTL	Pending litigation, adverse outcome
			Minimum
Commitments and contingencies	'	'	'	'
Period for which litigation proceedings and other disputes have not been the subject of discussions or other significant activity	'	'	'	'5 years
Accrued contingent liability	'	'	'	$5
Mobility Funds approved by FCC	47	21.7	'	'
Damages asserted	'	'	$200	'