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Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Land	$ 30,807,000	$ 26,791,000
Buildings	330,925,000	317,474,000
Leasehold and land improvements	1,129,818,000	1,048,278,000
Cell site equipment	2,874,397,000	2,676,878,000
Switching equipment	1,113,780,000	991,934,000
Office furniture and equipment	570,776,000	520,756,000
Other operating equipment	127,253,000	120,586,000
System development	545,193,000	471,334,000
Work in process	285,500,000	166,506,000
Property, plant and equpment, gross	7,008,449,000	6,340,537,000
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	4,218,147,000	3,766,015,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,790,302,000	2,574,522,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	565,100,000	559,000,000	551,700,000
Loss on asset disposals, net	$ 9,900,000	$ 10,700,000	$ 16,200,000
Buildings
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful life	20
Leasehold and land improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful life - range maximum	30
Useful life - range minimum	1
Cell site equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful life - range maximum	25
Useful life - range minimum	6
Switching equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful life - range maximum	8
Useful life - range minimum	1
Office furniture and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful life - range maximum	5
Useful life - range minimum	3
Other operating equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful life - range maximum	25
Useful life - range minimum	5
System development
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful life - range maximum	7
Useful life - range minimum	3

X

- Definition

The cumulative amount of depreciation, depletion and amortization (related to property, plant and equipment, but not including land) that has been recognized in the income statement.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

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-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 12

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

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-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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X

- Definition

Gross amount, as of the balance sheet date, of long-lived, depreciable assets that include building structures held for productive use including any addition, improvement, or renovation to the structure, such as interior masonry, interior flooring, electrical, and plumbing.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 12

-Paragraph 5

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



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X

- Definition

Gross amount, at the balance sheet date, of long-lived assets under construction that include construction costs to date on capital projects that have not been completed and assets being constructed that are not ready to be placed into service.

+ References

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-Publisher AICPA

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-Number 12

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



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-Publisher FASB

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X

- Definition

The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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X

- Definition

Gross amount, at the balance sheet date, of long-lived, depreciable assets commonly used in offices and stores. Examples include desks, chairs, and store fixtures.

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-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 12

-Paragraph 5

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



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-Publisher FASB

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X

- Definition

The difference between the sale price or salvage price and the book value of a property, plant, and equipment asset that was sold or retired during the reporting period. This element refers to the gain (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 28

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



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-Publisher FASB

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X

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of real estate held for productive use. This excludes land held for sale.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

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X

- Definition

Gross amount, at the balance sheet date, of long-lived, depreciable assets that are an addition or improvement to assets held under lease arrangement.

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-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 12

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X

- Definition

Gross amount, as of the balance sheet date, of long-lived, depreciable assets used in the production process to produce goods and services.

+ References

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-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



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X

- Definition

Gross amount, at the balance sheet date, of long-lived physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. This can include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software.

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-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 12

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



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-Publisher FASB

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X

- Definition

Tangible assets that are held by an entity for use in the production or supply of goods and services, for rental to others, or for administrative purposes and that are expected to provide economic benefit for more than one year; net of accumulated depreciation. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.13)

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-Publisher SEC

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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X

- Definition

This element represents capitalized assets classified as property, plant and equipment not otherwise defined in the taxonomy.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 12

-Paragraph 5

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



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X

- Definition

The average useful life of long-lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The maximum useful life of long-lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The minimum useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software.

+ References

No definition available.

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X

- Definition

Premises equipment which performs the function of establishing and releasing connections on a per call basis between two or more circuts, services or communications systems.

+ References

No definition available.

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X

- Definition

Capitalized costs of purchased software applications and capitalized costs to develop software for long-term internal use.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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