Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Long Term Debt (Narratives) (Details)

v2.4.0.6
Long Term Debt (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Loss on extinguishment of debt $ 0 $ (9,111,000) $ 0
2021 Notes [Member]
      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Subordinated Borrowing, Interest Rate 6.75%    
Debt Instrument, Call Date, Earliest Jun. 01, 2016    
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Jun. 01, 2021    
Debt Instrument, Frequency of Periodic Payment semi-annual interest payments    
Debt Instrument, Covenant Description The covenants in the Indenture restrict GCI, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries from incurring additional debt, but permits debt under the Senior Credit Facility and vendor financing as long as our leverage ratio, as defined, does not exceed 5.5 to one. If our leverage ratio does not exceed 5.5 to one, we are able to enter into sale and leaseback transactions; pay dividends or distributions on capital stock or repurchase capital stock; issue stock of subsidiaries; make certain investments; create liens on assets to secure debt; enter into transactions with affiliates; merge or consolidate with another company; and transfer and sell assets.  These covenants are subject to a number of limitations and exceptions, as further described in the Indenture.    
Loss on extinguishment of debt   9,100,000  
Deferred Finance Costs, Gross 3,600,000    
Long-term Debt 325,000,000    
2019 Notes [Member]
      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Nov. 15, 2019    
Debt Instrument, Frequency of Periodic Payment semi-annual interest payments    
Debt Instrument, Covenant Description The covenants in the Indenture restrict GCI, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries from incurring debt, but permits debt under the Senior Credit Facility and vendor financing as long as our leverage ratio, as defined, does not exceed 5.5 to one. If our leverage ratio does not exceed 5.5 to one, we are able to enter into sale and leaseback transactions; pay dividends or distributions on capital stock or repurchase capital stock; issue stock of subsidiaries; make certain investments; create liens on assets to secure debt; enter into transactions with affiliates; merge or consolidate with another company; and transfer and sell assets.  These covenants are subject to a number of limitations and exceptions, as further described in the Indenture.    
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 8.63%    
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage 9.09%    
Deferred Finance Costs, Gross 9,400,000    
Long-term Debt 425,000,000 425,000,000  
Senior Credit Facility [Member]
      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Jan. 29, 2015    
Debt Instrument, Covenant Description Borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility are subject to certain financial covenants and restrictions on indebtedness. Our Senior Credit Facility Total Leverage Ratio (as defined) may not exceed 5.25 to one; the Senior Leverage Ratio (as defined) may not exceed 3.00 to one; and our Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined) must not be less than 2.50 to one at any time.    
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity 75,000,000    
Line of Credit Facility, Capacity Available for Specific Purpose Other than for Trade Purchases 25,000,000    
Long-term Debt 80,000,000    
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding 10,000,000    
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount 349,000    
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity 64,700,000    
UUI and Unicom [Member]
      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Unused Borrowing Capacity, Amount $ 6,200,000    
UUI and Unicom [Member] | Minimum [Member]
      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 2.40%    
UUI and Unicom [Member] | Maximum [Member]
      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 4.50%