Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

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

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Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share (Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share) (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Sep. 30, 2015
Sep. 30, 2016
Sep. 30, 2015
Common Stock - Class A [Member]        
Numerator [Abstract]        
Undistributed income (loss) allocable to common stockholders for basic computation $ 6,880 $ 15,293 $ 10,834 $ (15,838)
Reallocation of undistributed earnings (loss) as a result of conversion of Class B to Class A shares 677 1,418 1,035 (1,427)
Reallocation of undistributed earnings as a result of conversion of dilutive securities 141 22 447 0
Effect of derivative instrument that may be settled in cash or shares (2,827) (18) (9,327) 0
Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares (32) 4 (93) 0
Undistributed net income (loss) adjusted for allocation of undistributed earnings (loss) and effect of contracts that may be settled in cash or shares $ 4,839 $ 16,719 $ 2,896 $ (17,265)
Denominator [Abstract]        
Number of shares used in basic computation 32,033 34,031 33,008 35,037
Conversion of Class B to Class A common shares outstanding 3,154 3,155 3,154 3,158
Effect of derivative instrument that may be settled in cash or shares 264 781 602 0
Unexercised stock options 1 122 3 0
Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares 26 26 26 0
Number of shares used in per share computation 35,478 38,115 36,793 38,195
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to GCI common stockholders per common share $ 0.14 $ 0.44 $ 0.08 $ (0.45)
Common Stock - Class B [Member]        
Numerator [Abstract]        
Undistributed income (loss) allocable to common stockholders for basic computation $ 677 $ 1,418 $ 1,035 $ (1,427)
Reallocation of undistributed earnings (loss) as a result of conversion of Class B to Class A shares 0 0 0 0
Reallocation of undistributed earnings as a result of conversion of dilutive securities (247) (34) (787) 0
Effect of derivative instrument that may be settled in cash or shares 0 0 0 0
Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares 0 0 0 0
Undistributed net income (loss) adjusted for allocation of undistributed earnings (loss) and effect of contracts that may be settled in cash or shares $ 430 $ 1,384 $ 248 $ (1,427)
Denominator [Abstract]        
Number of shares used in basic computation 3,154 3,155 3,154 3,158
Conversion of Class B to Class A common shares outstanding 0 0 0 0
Effect of derivative instrument that may be settled in cash or shares 0 0 0 0
Unexercised stock options 0 0 0 0
Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares 0 0 0 0
Number of shares used in per share computation 3,154 3,155 3,154 3,158
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to GCI common stockholders per common share $ 0.14 $ 0.44 $ 0.08 $ (0.45)