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
Mar. 31, 2017
Mar. 31, 2016
Common Stock - Class A [Member]    
Numerator:    
Undistributed net income (loss) allocable to common stockholders for basic computation $ (50,072) $ 961
Reallocation of undistributed earnings as a result of conversion of Class B to Class A shares (5,057) 90
Reallocation of undistributed earnings as a result of conversion of dilutive securities 0 117
Effect of derivative instrument that may be settled in cash or shares 0 (2,668)
Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares 0 (23)
Undistributed net loss adjusted for allocation of undistributed earnings (loss) and effect of contracts that may be settled in cash or shares $ (55,129) $ (1,523)
Denominator:    
Number of shares used in basic computation 31,220 33,696
Conversion of Class B to Class A common shares outstanding 3,153 3,155
Effect of derivative instrument that may be settled in cash or shares 0 869
Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares 0 26
Number of shares used in per share computation 34,373 37,746
Diluted net loss attributable to GCI common stockholders per common share (USD per share) $ (1.60) $ (0.04)
Common Stock - Class B [Member]    
Numerator:    
Undistributed net income (loss) allocable to common stockholders for basic computation $ (5,057) $ 90
Reallocation of undistributed earnings 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 0 (217)
Effect of derivative instrument 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 loss adjusted for allocation of undistributed earnings (loss) and effect of contracts that may be settled in cash or shares $ (5,057) $ (127)
Denominator:    
Number of shares used in basic computation 3,153 3,155
Conversion of Class B to Class A common shares outstanding 0 0
Effect of derivative instrument 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 3,153 3,155
Diluted net loss attributable to GCI common stockholders per common share (USD per share) $ (1.60) $ (0.04)