Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share Earnings (Loss) Per Commong Share (Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share) (Details)

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Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share Earnings (Loss) Per Commong Share (Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share) (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Mar. 31, 2015
Common Stock - Class A [Member]    
Numerator [Abstract]    
Undistributed income (loss) allocable to common stockholders for basic computation $ 961 $ (17,723)
Reallocation of undistributed earnings (loss) as a result of conversion of Class B to Class A shares 90 (1,546)
Reallocation of undistributed earnings as a result of conversion of dilutive securities 117 0
Effect of derivative instruments that may be settled in cash or shares (2,668) 0
Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares (23) 0
Undistributed net income (loss) adjusted for allocation of undistributed earnings and effect of contracts that may be settled in cash or shares $ (1,523) $ (19,269)
Denominator [Abstract]    
Number of shares used in basic computation 33,696 36,217
Conversion of Class B to Class A common shares outstanding 3,155 3,159
Effect of derivative instruments that may be settled in cash or shares 869 0
Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares 26 0
Number of shares used in per share computation 37,746 39,376
Diluted net loss attributable to GCI common stockholders per common share $ (0.04) $ (0.49)
Common Stock - Class B [Member]    
Numerator [Abstract]    
Undistributed income (loss) allocable to common stockholders for basic computation $ 90 $ (1,546)
Reallocation of undistributed earnings (loss) as a result of conversion of Class B to Class A shares 0 0
Reallocation of undistributed earnings as a result of conversion of dilutive securities (217) 0
Effect of derivative instruments that may be settled in cash or shares 0 0
Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares 0 0
Undistributed net income (loss) adjusted for allocation of undistributed earnings and effect of contracts that may be settled in cash or shares $ (127) $ (1,546)
Denominator [Abstract]    
Number of shares used in basic computation 3,155 3,159
Conversion of Class B to Class A common shares outstanding 0 0
Effect of derivative instruments that may be settled in cash or shares 0 0
Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares 0 0
Number of shares used in per share computation 3,155 3,159
Diluted net loss attributable to GCI common stockholders per common share $ (0.04) $ (0.49)