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Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Land $ 33,947,000 $ 30,807,000  
Buildings 341,852,000 330,925,000  
Leasehold and land improvements 1,188,720,000 1,129,818,000  
Cell site equipment 3,100,916,000 2,874,397,000  
Switching equipment 1,155,114,000 1,113,780,000  
Office furniture and equipment 535,656,000 570,776,000  
Other operating assets and equipment 128,290,000 127,253,000  
System development 631,184,000 545,193,000  
Work in process 362,749,000 285,500,000  
Property, plant and equpment, gross 7,478,428,000 7,008,449,000  
Less: Accumulated depreciation (4,455,840,000) (4,218,147,000)  
Property, plant and equipment, net 3,022,588,000 2,790,302,000  
Depreciation and amortization expense 597,700,000 565,100,000 559,000,000
Loss on asset disposals, net $ 18,100,000 $ 9,900,000 $ 10,700,000
Buildings
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Useful life 20 years    
Leasehold Improvements [Member] | Minimum
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Useful life 1 year    
Leasehold Improvements [Member] | Maximum
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Useful life 30 years    
Cell site equipment | Minimum
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Useful life 6 years    
Cell site equipment | Maximum
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Useful life 25 years    
Switching equipment | Minimum
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Useful life 1 year    
Switching equipment | Maximum
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Useful life 8 years    
Office furniture and equipment | Minimum
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Useful life 3 years    
Office furniture and equipment | Maximum
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Useful life 5 years    
Other operating equipment | Minimum
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Useful life 5 years    
Other operating equipment | Maximum
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Useful life 25 years    
System development | Minimum
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Useful life 3 years    
System development | Maximum
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Useful life 7 years