Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Earnings (Loss) per Common Share Earnings (Loss) per Common Share (Diluted) (Details)

v3.6.0.2
Earnings (Loss) per Common Share Earnings (Loss) per Common Share (Diluted) (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Sep. 30, 2016
Jun. 30, 2016
Mar. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Sep. 30, 2015
Jun. 30, 2015
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Class A Common Stock                      
Numerator [Abstract]                      
Undistributed Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders                 $ (3,343) $ (23,858) $ 6,595
Undistributed Earnings (Loss) Allocated to Participating Securities, Basic                 (324) (2,167) 577
Reallocation of undistributed loss as a result of conversion of dilutive securities                 0 0 1
Effect of derivative instrument that may be settled in cash or shares                 (1,837)    
Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares                 (5)    
Net income (loss) adjusted for allocation of undistributed earnings and effect of contracts that may be settled in cash or shares                 $ (5,509) $ (26,025) $ 7,173
Denominator [Abstract]                      
Weighted average common shares outstanding                 32,526 34,764 36,112
Conversion of Class B to Class A common shares outstanding                 3,154 3,157 3,162
Effect of derivative instrument that may settled in cash or shares                 612    
Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares                 26    
Unexercised stock options                   0 112
Number of shares used in per share computation                 36,318 37,921 39,386
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to General Communication, Inc. common stockholders per common share (USD per share) $ (0.47) $ 0.14 $ (0.01) $ (0.04) $ (0.24) $ 0.44 $ (0.41) $ (0.49) $ (0.15) $ (0.69) $ 0.18
Class B Common Stock                      
Numerator [Abstract]                      
Undistributed Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders                 $ (324) $ (2,167) $ 577
Undistributed Earnings (Loss) Allocated to Participating Securities, Basic                 0 0 0
Reallocation of undistributed loss as a result of conversion of dilutive securities                 (154) 0 (2)
Effect of derivative instrument that may be settled in cash or shares                 0    
Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares                 0    
Net income (loss) adjusted for allocation of undistributed earnings and effect of contracts that may be settled in cash or shares                 $ (478) $ (2,167) $ 575
Denominator [Abstract]                      
Weighted average common shares outstanding                 3,154 3,157 3,162
Conversion of Class B to Class A common shares outstanding                 0 0 0
Effect of derivative instrument that may settled in cash or shares                 0    
Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares                 0    
Unexercised stock options                   0 0
Number of shares used in per share computation                 3,154 3,157 3,162
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to General Communication, Inc. common stockholders per common share (USD per share)                 $ (0.15) $ (0.69) $ 0.18