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Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014	Feb. 19, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS CO/VA/
Entity Central Index Key	0000354963
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 682,000,000
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		24,157,215
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2014

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 68,917	$ 38,316
Accounts receivable, net	30,371	25,824
Income taxes receivable	14,752	16,576
Materials and supplies	8,794	10,715
Prepaid expenses and other	4,279	5,580
Deferred income taxes	1,211	963
Total current assets	128,324	97,974
Investments, including $2,661 and $2,528 carried at fair value	10,089	9,332
Property, plant and equipment, net	405,907	408,963
Other Assets
Intangible assets, net	68,260	70,816
Deferred charges and other assets, net	6,662	9,921
Other assets, net	74,922	80,737
Total assets	619,242	597,006
Current Liabilities
Current maturities of long-term debt	23,000	5,750
Accounts payable	11,151	12,604
Advanced billings and customer deposits	12,375	11,661
Accrued compensation	5,466	4,192
Accrued liabilities and other	7,162	9,787
Total current liabilities	59,154	43,994
Long-term debt, less current maturities	201,250	224,250
Other Long-Term Liabilities
Deferred income taxes	76,777	74,547
Deferred lease payable	7,180	6,156
Asset retirement obligations	6,928	6,485
Other liabilities	9,607	7,259
Total other liabilities	100,492	94,447
Commitments and Contingencies
Shareholders' Equity
Common stock, no par value, authorized 48,000 shares; issued and outstanding 24,132 shares in 2014 and 24,040 shares in 2013	29,712	26,759
Accumulated other comprehensive income	1,122	2,594
Retained earnings	227,512	204,962
Total shareholders' equity	258,346	234,315
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 619,242	$ 597,006

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current Assets
Investments at fair value	$ 2,661	$ 2,528
Shareholders' Equity
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	48,000	48,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	24,132	24,040
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	24,132	24,040

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME [Abstract]
Operating revenues	$ 326,946	$ 308,942	$ 288,075
Operating expenses
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	129,743	125,140	117,407
Impairment charge on goodwill	0	0	10,952
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below	69,370	67,673	60,646
Depreciation and amortization	65,890	60,722	64,412
Total operating expenses	265,003	253,535	253,417
Operating income	61,943	55,407	34,658
Other income (expense)
Interest expense	(8,148)	(8,468)	(7,850)
Gain on investments, net	208	756	858
Non-operating income, net	2,031	1,769	945
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	56,034	49,464	28,611
Income tax expense	22,151	19,878	12,008
Net income from continuing operations	33,883	29,586	16,603
Loss from discontinued operations of Converged Services, net of tax benefits of $0, $0 and $196, respectively	0	0	(300)
Net income	33,883	29,586	16,303
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate hedge, net of tax	(1,472)	3,457	(863)
Comprehensive income	$ 32,411	$ 33,043	$ 15,440
Net income per share, basic:
Net income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.41	$ 1.23	$ 0.69
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes (in dollars per share)	0	0	(0.01)
Net income (in dollars per share)	1.41	1.23	0.68
Net income per share, diluted:
Net income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	1.39	1.23	0.69
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes (in dollars per share)	0	0	(0.01)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 1.39	$ 1.23	$ 0.68
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic (in shares)	24,099	24,001	23,877
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted (in shares)	24,360	24,115	24,019

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Discontinued operations:
Loss from operations of Converged Services, tax benefits	$ 0	$ 0	$ 196

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 22,043	$ 175,616	$ 0	$ 197,659
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	23,838
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	$ 0	16,303	0	16,303
Other comprehensive income	0	0	(863)	(863)
Dividends declared	0	(7,896)	0	(7,896)
Dividends reinvested in common stock	$ 493	0	0	493
Dividends reinvested in common stock (in shares)	37
Stock based compensation	$ 1,842	0	0	1,842
Common stock issued through exercise of incentive stock options	$ 404	0	0	404
Common stock issued through exercise of incentive stock options (in shares)	55
Common stock issued for share awards	$ 0	0	0	0
Common stock issued for share awards (in shares)	45
Common stock issued	$ 10	0	0	10
Common stock issued (in shares)	1
Common stock repurchased	$ (143)	0	0	(143)
Common stock repurchased (in shares)	(13)
Net excess tax benefit from stock options exercised	$ 39	0	0	39
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 24,688	184,023	(863)	207,848
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	23,962
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	$ 0	29,586	0	29,586
Other comprehensive income	0	0	3,457	3,457
Dividends declared	0	(8,647)	0	(8,647)
Dividends reinvested in common stock	$ 475	0	0	475
Dividends reinvested in common stock (in shares)	20
Stock based compensation	$ 1,938	0	0	1,938
Common stock issued through exercise of incentive stock options	$ 1,186	0	0	1,186
Common stock issued through exercise of incentive stock options (in shares)	66
Common stock issued for share awards	$ 0	0	0	0
Common stock issued for share awards (in shares)	68
Common stock issued	$ 10	0	0	10
Common stock issued (in shares)	1
Common stock repurchased	$ (1,600)	0	0	(1,600)
Common stock repurchased (in shares)	(77)
Net excess tax benefit from stock options exercised	$ 62	0	0	62
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 26,759	204,962	2,594	$ 234,315
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	24,040			24,040
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	$ 0	33,883	0	$ 33,883
Other comprehensive income	0	0	(1,472)	(1,472)
Dividends declared	0	(11,333)	0	(11,333)
Dividends reinvested in common stock	$ 572	0	0	572
Dividends reinvested in common stock (in shares)	19
Stock based compensation	$ 2,624	0	0	2,624
Common stock issued through exercise of incentive stock options	$ 1,141	0	0	1,141
Common stock issued through exercise of incentive stock options (in shares)	51
Common stock issued for share awards	$ 0	0	0	0
Common stock issued for share awards (in shares)	81
Common stock issued	$ 6	0	0	6
Common stock issued (in shares)	1
Common stock repurchased	$ (1,785)	0	0	(1,785)
Common stock repurchased (in shares)	(60)
Net excess tax benefit from stock options exercised	$ 395	0	0	395
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 29,712	$ 227,512	$ 1,122	$ 258,346
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	24,132			24,132

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY [Abstract]
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.47	$ 0.36	$ 0.33

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	$ 33,883	$ 29,586	$ 16,303
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Goodwill impairment	0	0	10,952
Depreciation	63,324	56,583	57,961
Amortization	2,566	4,139	6,452
Provision for bad debt	1,678	2,019	2,870
Stock based compensation expense	2,624	1,938	1,842
Excess tax benefits on stock option exercises	(395)	(101)	(106)
Deferred income taxes	2,975	14,266	6,504
Net loss on disposal of equipment	1,975	753	426
Realized (gain) loss on disposal of investments	0	1	(66)
Unrealized (gains) losses on investments	51	(391)	(191)
Net gain from patronage and equity investments	(852)	(837)	(894)
Write-off of unamortized loan fees	0	0	780
Other	2,120	2,272	1,526
(Increase) decrease in:
Accounts receivable	(6,225)	(2,594)	(8,246)
Materials and supplies	1,921	(927)	(2,321)
Income taxes receivable	1,824	(11,871)	7,790
Increase (decrease) in:
Accounts payable	5,040	(2,145)	(4,690)
Deferred lease payable	1,024	1,253	729
Other prepaids, deferrals and accruals	1,460	320	(647)
Net cash provided by operating activities	114,993	94,264	96,974
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment	(68,232)	(117,028)	(89,053)
Proceeds from sale of equipment	551	331	102
Proceeds from sales of assets	0	25	3,803
Purchase of investment securities	0	(12)	0
Cash distributions from investments	43	121	1,227
Net cash used in investing activities	(67,638)	(116,563)	(83,921)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Principal payments on long-term debt	(5,750)	(1,977)	(178,397)
Amounts borrowed under debt agreements	0	0	230,000
Cash paid for debt issuance costs	0	0	(2,418)
Dividends paid, net of dividends reinvested	(10,761)	(8,191)	(7,403)
Excess tax benefits on stock option exercises	395	101	106
Repurchases of stock	(1,785)	(1,600)	(143)
Proceeds from issuances of stock	1,147	1,196	414
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(16,754)	(10,471)	42,159
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	30,601	(32,770)	55,212
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning	38,316	71,086	15,874
Ending	68,917	38,316	71,086
Cash payments for:
Interest, net of capitalized interest of $373 in 2014, $396 in 2013, and $486 in 2012	7,548	8,077	6,598
Income taxes paid (refunded), net	$ 17,233	$ 17,483	$ (2,482)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information Cash payments for:
Interest, net of capitalized interest	$ 373	$ 396	$ 486
Other cash flow information:
Exchange of equipment for new equipment purchase	$ 863	14,533	20,307
Increase (Decrease) in accounts payable		$ 6,492	$ 24,675

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Description of business: Shenandoah Telecommunications Company and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) provide wireless personal communications service (“PCS”) under the Sprint brand, and telephone service, cable television, unregulated communications equipment sales and services, and Internet access under the Shentel brand. In addition, the Company leases towers and operates and maintains an interstate fiber optic network. Pursuant to a management agreement with Sprint and its related parties (collectively, “Sprint”), the Company is the exclusive Sprint PCS Affiliate providing wireless mobility communications network products and services on the 800 and 1900 megahertz spectrum ranges in the geographic area extending from Altoona, Harrisburg and York, Pennsylvania, south through Western Maryland and the panhandle of West Virginia to Harrisonburg, Virginia. The Company is licensed to use the Sprint brand name in this territory, and operates its network under the Sprint radio spectrum license (See Note 7). The Company's other operations are located in the four-state region surrounding the Northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

A summary of the Company's significant accounting policies follows:

Principles of consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of all wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of estimates: Management of the Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions related to the reporting of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Management reviews its estimates, including those related to recoverability and useful lives of assets as well as liabilities for income taxes and pension benefits. Changes in facts and circumstances may result in revised estimates, and actual results could differ from those reported estimates.

Cash and cash equivalents: The Company considers all temporary cash investments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents included $40.0 million and $20.0 million invested in institutional cash management funds at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The Company places its temporary cash investments with high credit quality financial institutions. Generally, these investments are in excess of FDIC or SIPC insurance limits.

Accounts receivable: Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the Company’s existing accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance based on historical write-off experience and industry and local economic data. The Company reviews its allowance for doubtful accounts monthly. Past due balances meeting specific criteria are reviewed individually for collectability. All other balances are reviewed on a pooled basis. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. Accounts receivable are concentrated among customers within the Company's geographic service area and large telecommunications companies. Changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts for trade accounts receivable for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 are summarized below (in thousands):

	2014			2013			2012

Balance at beginning of year	$	924		$	1,113		$	838
Bad debt expense		1,678			2,019			2,870
Losses charged to allowance		(2,218	)		(2,390	)		(2,854	)
Recoveries added to allowance		378			182			259
Balance at end of year	$	762		$	924		$	1,113

Investments: The classifications of debt and equity securities are determined by management at the date individual investments are acquired. The appropriateness of such classification is periodically reassessed. The Company monitors the fair value of all investments, and based on factors such as market conditions, financial information and industry conditions, the Company will reflect impairments in values as is warranted. The classification of those securities and the related accounting policies are as follows:

Investments Carried at Fair Value: Investments in stock and bond mutual funds and investment trusts held within the Company’s rabbi trust, which is related to the Company’s unfunded Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, are reported at net asset value, which approximates fair value. Unrealized gains and losses are recognized in earnings.

Investments Carried at Cost: Investments in common stock in which the Company does not have a significant ownership (less than 20%) and for which there is no ready market, are carried at cost. This category includes required investments to obtain services, primarily CoBank. Information regarding investments carried at cost is reviewed for evidence of impairment in value. Impairments are charged to earnings and a new cost basis for the investment is established.

Equity Method Investments: Investments in partnerships and in unconsolidated corporations where the Company's ownership is 20% or more, but less than 50%, or where the Company otherwise has the ability to exercise significant influence, are reported under the equity method. Under this method, the Company's equity in earnings or losses of investees is reflected in earnings. Distributions received reduce the carrying value of these investments. The Company recognizes a loss when there is a decline in value of the investment which is other than a temporary decline. Investments include one investment partnership and several smaller investments in pooled projects.

Materials and supplies: New and reusable materials are carried in inventory at the lower of average cost or market value. Inventory held for sale, such as handsets and accessories, are carried at the lower of average cost or market value. Non-reusable material is carried at estimated salvage value.

Property, plant and equipment: Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost. The Company capitalizes all costs associated with the purchase, deployment and installation of property, plant and equipment, including interest costs on major capital projects during the period of their construction. Expenditures, including those on leased assets, which extend the useful life or increase its utility, are capitalized. Maintenance expense is recognized when repairs are performed. Depreciation is calculated on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Depreciation and amortization is not included in the income statement line items “Cost of goods and services” or “Selling, general and administrative.” Depreciable lives are assigned to assets based on their estimated useful lives. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the lesser of their useful lives or respective lease terms. The Company takes technology changes into consideration as it assigns the estimated useful lives, and monitors the remaining useful lives of asset groups to reasonably match the remaining economic life with the useful life and makes adjustments when necessary.

Valuation of long-lived assets: Long‑lived assets, such as property, plant, and equipment, and purchased intangibles subject to amortization, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.

Fair value: Financial instruments presented on the consolidated balance sheets that approximate fair value include: cash and cash equivalents, receivables, investments carried at fair value, payables, accrued liabilities, interest rate swaps and variable-rate long-term debt.

The Company measures its interest rate swaps at fair value based on information provided by the counterparty and verified through calculation using a third party system, and recognizes it on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. Changes in the fair value of the swap acquired in 2012 are recognized in other comprehensive income, as this swap was designated as a cash flow hedge for accounting purposes. Changes in the fair value of the swap acquired in 2010 were recognized in interest expense, as the Company did not designate this swap agreement as a cash flow hedge for accounting purposes. The Company entered into these swaps to manage a portion of its exposure to interest rate movements by converting a portion of its long-term debt from variable to fixed rates.

Asset retirement obligations: The Company records the fair value of an asset retirement obligation as a liability in the period in which it incurs a legal obligation associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets that results from acquisition, construction, development and/or normal use of the assets. The Company also records a corresponding asset, which is depreciated over the life of the tangible long-lived asset. Subsequent to the initial measurement of the asset retirement obligation, the obligation is adjusted at the end of each period to reflect the passage of time and changes in the estimated future cash flows underlying the obligation. The Company records the retirement obligation on towers owned and cell site improvements where there is a legal obligation to remove the tower or cell site improvements and restore the site to its original condition. The terms associated with its operating leases, and applicable zoning ordinances of certain jurisdictions, define the Company’s obligations which are estimated and vary based on the size of the towers. The Company’s cost to remove the tower or cell site improvements is amortized over the life of the tower or cell site assets. Changes in the liability for asset removal obligations for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 are summarized below (in thousands):

	2014			2013			2012

Balance at beginning of year	$	6,485		$	5,896		$	7,610
Additional liabilities accrued		403			1,189			1,148
Changes to prior estimates		-			-			(2,265	)
Payments made		(334	)		(909	)		(846	)
Accretion expense		374			309			249
Balance at end of year	$	6,928		$	6,485		$	5,896

Cost in excess of net assets of businesses acquired (goodwill) and intangible assets: In connection with the acquisition of a business, a portion of the purchase price may be allocated to identifiable intangible assets with indefinite lives, such as franchise rights, and goodwill, which is the excess of the total purchase price over the fair values of the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets. Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are assessed annually, at November 30, for impairment and in interim periods if certain events occur indicating that the carrying value may be impaired. In the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company determined that goodwill in the Cable segment had become impaired, and an impairment charge of $11.0 million was recognized. The Company determined that no impairment of Cable segment franchise rights was required for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 . The fair value of cable franchise rights, which is determined by a “greenfield” analysis (Level 3 fair value), was determined to exceed its $64.1 million carrying value by approximately $5.3 million at December 31, 2014, down from $6.1 million of excess fair value at December 31, 2013.

Intangible assets consist of the following at December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):

	2014							2013
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net

Intangible assets subject to amortization:
Business contracts	$	1,898	$	(495	)	$	1,403	$	2,069	$	(479	)	$	1,590
Cable franchise rights		122		(122	)		-		122		(122	)		-
Acquired subscriber base		32,315		(29,556	)		2,759		32,325		(27,197	)		5,128
	$	34,335	$	(30,173	)	$	4,162	$	34,516	$	(27,798	)	$	6,718

	2014							2013
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net
Non-amortizing intangible assets:
Cable franchise rights	$	64,059	$	-		$	64,059	$	64,059	$	-		$	64,059
Railroad crossing rights		39		-			39		39		-			39
	$	64,098	$	-		$	64,098	$	64,098	$	-		$	64,098
Total intangibles	$	98,433	$	(30,173	)	$	68,260	$	98,614	$	(27,798	)	$	70,816

For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, amortization expense related to intangible assets was approximately $2.6 million, $4.1 million and $6.5 million, respectively. During 2012, the Company determined that, beginning in early 2013, it would not continue to provide service under two franchises acquired in 2010, and the Company reclassified and began amortizing the franchise rights associated with these markets over the expected remaining period during which services would be provided.

Aggregate amortization expense for intangible assets for the periods shown is expected to be as follows:

Year Ending December 31,	Amount
	(in thousands)
2015	$	1,411
2016		943
2017		514
2018		196
2019		112

Retirement plans: The Company maintains a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) for selected employees. This is an unfunded defined contribution plan. The Company created and funded a rabbi trust to hold assets equal to the liabilities under this plan. Participant balances and earnings on them continue to be maintained for this plan, but no new participants or contributions have been added to the plan since 2010.

The Company maintains a defined contribution 401(k) plan under which substantially all employees may defer a portion of their earnings on a pretax basis, up to the allowable federal maximum. The Company may make matching and discretionary contributions to this plan.

Neither the rabbi trust nor the defined contribution 401(k) plan directly holds Company stock in the plan’s portfolio.

Income taxes: Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company evaluates the recoverability of tax assets generated on a state-by-state basis from net operating losses apportioned to that state. Management uses a more likely than not threshold to make that determination and has concluded that at December 31, 2014 and 2013, a valuation allowance against certain state deferred tax assets is necessary, as discussed in Note 6.

Revenue recognition: The Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, services have been rendered or products have been delivered, the price to the buyer is fixed and determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Revenues are recognized by the Company based on the various types of transactions generating the revenue. For services, revenue is recognized as the services are performed. For equipment sales, revenue is recognized when the sales transaction is complete.

Under the Sprint Management Agreement, postpaid wireless service revenues are reported net of an 8% Management Fee and, since August 2013, a 14% Net Service Fee (increased from 12%), retained by Sprint. Prepaid wireless service revenues are reported net of a 6% Management Fee retained by Sprint.

Earnings per share: Basic net income per share was computed on the weighted average number of shares outstanding. Diluted net income per share was computed under the treasury stock method, assuming the conversion as of the beginning of the period, for all dilutive stock options. Of 697 thousand, 748 thousand, and 661 thousand shares and options outstanding at December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, 11 thousand, 129 thousand and 343 thousand were anti-dilutive, respectively. These options have been excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share shown below. There were no adjustments to net income in the computation of diluted earnings per share for any of the years presented.

The following tables show the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:

	2014			2013			2012

Basic income per share	(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Net income	$	33,883		$	29,586		$	16,303
Weighted average shares outstanding		24,099			24,001			23,877
Basic income per share	$	1.41		$	1.23		$	0.68

Effect of stock options outstanding:
Weighted average shares outstanding		24,099			24,001			23,877
Assumed exercise, at the strike price at the beginning of year		705			485			343
Assumed repurchase of shares under treasury stock method		(444	)		(371	)		(201	)
Diluted weighted average shares		24,360			24,115			24,019
Diluted income per share	$	1.39		$	1.23		$	0.68

Recently Issued Accounting Standards:

On May 28, 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective for the Company on January 1, 2017. Early application is not permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.

Discontinued Operations	12 Months Ended
Discontinued Operations	Dec. 31, 2014
Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Discontinued Operations	Note 2. Discontinued Operations The Company announced its intention to sell its Converged Services operation in 2008. The operating results from the sale have been presented as discontinued operations. Following a series of sales of properties during 2011 and 2012, the Company completed the disposition of all remaining properties during 2013. During 2012, discontinued operations accounted for $1.1 million in operating revenue, and losses before income taxes of $496 thousand.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the facts and circumstances leading to the completed or expected disposal, manner and timing of disposal, the gain (loss) recognized in the income statement and the income statement caption that includes that gain (loss), amounts of revenues and pretax profit or loss reported in discontinued operations, the segment in which the disposal group was reported, and the classification (whether sold or classified as held for sale) and carrying value of the assets and liabilities comprising the disposal group. Includes all disposal groups, including those classified as components of the entity (discontinued operations).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1436-107760

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1474-107760

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 20
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1510-107760

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-Publisher FASB
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-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e957-107759

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e1020-107759

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e1012-107759

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
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-Section 45
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Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
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-Section 50
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391110&loc=d3e2941-110230

+ Details

Investments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Investments [Abstract]

Investments

Note 3. Investments

The Company has three classifications of investments: investments carried at fair value, investments carried at cost, and equity method investments. See Note 1 for definitions of each classification of investment.

At December 31, 2014 and 2013, investments carried at fair value consisted of:

	2014		2013
	(in thousands)
Taxable bond funds	$	10	$	10
Domestic equity funds		2,553		2,419
International equity funds		98		99
	$	2,661	$	2,528

Investments carried at fair value were acquired under a rabbi trust arrangement related to the Company’s SERP. The Company purchases investments in the trust to mirror the investment elections of participants in the SERP; gains and losses on the investments in the trust are reflected as increases or decreases in the liability owed to the participants. The Company recorded unrealized losses of $51 thousand in 2014 and unrealized gains of $391 and $191 thousand during 2013 and 2012, respectively. There were no sales of investments during 2014. Sales of investments resulted in the recognition of $1 thousand of realized losses in 2013 and $66 thousand of realized gains in 2012. Fair values for these investments are determined by quoted market prices (“level 1 fair values”) for the underlying mutual funds, which may be based upon net asset value.

At December 31, 2014 and 2013, other investments, comprised of equity securities which do not have readily determinable fair values, consist of the following:

	2014		2013
Cost method:	(in thousands)
CoBank	$	3,749	$	3,343
Other – Equity in other telecommunications partners		755		766
		4,504		4,109
Equity method:
Private equity partnerships		2,419		2,365
Other		505		330
		2,924		2,695
Total other investments	$	7,428	$	6,804

The Company’s investment in CoBank increased $406 thousand and $375 thousand in the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, due to the ongoing patronage earned from the outstanding investment and loan balances the Company has with CoBank.

In the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company received distributions from its investments totaling $43 thousand in cash. Equity method investments had a net gain of $259 thousand in the year ended December 31, 2014. The Company’s ownership interests in equity method investees were unchanged during 2014.

Property, Plant and Equipment

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property, Plant and Equipment

Note 4. Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following at December 31, 2014 and 2013:

	Estimated Useful Lives	2014		2013
		(in thousands)
Land		$	3,700	$	3,415
Buildings and structures	10 – 40 years		103,341		96,700
Cable and wire	4 – 40 years		201,938		187,293
Equipment and software	2 – 16.7 years		366,342		346,072
Plant in service		$	675,321	$	633,480
Plant under construction			18,078		23,181
Total property, plant and equipment			693,399		656,661
Less accumulated amortization and depreciation			287,492		247,698
Property, plant and equipment, net		$	405,907	$	408,963

The Company traded in certain base station PCS equipment for 4G LTE base station equipment in 2014 and 2013, and received credits of $863 thousand and $14.5 million, respectively, against the fair value purchase price of the new equipment. The Company adjusted depreciation on equipment to be traded in so that the net book value at trade-in approximated the credit to be received.

Long-Term Debt and Revolving Lines of Credit

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Long-Term Debt and Revolving Lines of Credit [Abstract]

Long-Term Debt and Revolving Lines of Credit

Note 5. Long-Term Debt and Revolving Lines of Credit

Total debt consists of the following at December 31, 2014 and 2013:

		Interest Rate				2014		2013
					(in thousands)
CoBank Term Loan	Variable		2.67	%			224,250		230,000
Current maturities							23,000		5,750
Total long-term debt						$	201,250	$	224,250

On September 14, 2012, the Company executed an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with CoBank and with the participation of 16 additional Farm Credit institutions, for the purpose of refinancing the Company’s existing outstanding debt, funding capital expenditures to upgrade the Company’s wireless network in conjunction with Sprint’s wireless network upgrade project known as Network Vision, and other corporate needs.

The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement provides for three facilities, a Term Loan Facility, a Revolver Facility, and an Incremental Term Loan Facility. The Term Loan Facility requires quarterly principal repayments of $5.75 million which began on December 31, 2014, with the remaining expected balance of approximately $120.75 million due at maturity on September 30, 2019. The Term Loan Facility bears interest at 30-day LIBOR, currently 0.17%, plus a spread determined by the Company’s Total Leverage Ratio, currently 2.50%. The Company may elect to use rates other than the 30-day LIBOR as the base, but does not currently expect to do so.

The Revolver Facility provides for $50 million in immediate availability for future capital expenditures and general corporate needs. In addition, the Credit Agreement permits the Company to enter into one or more Incremental Term Loan Facilities, or to increase the Revolver Facility, in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $100 million subject to compliance with certain covenants. No draw has been made or is currently contemplated under either of these facilities. When and if a draw is made, the maturity date and interest rate options would be substantially identical to the Term Loan Facility. Repayment provisions would be agreed to at the time of each draw under the Incremental Term Loan Facility.

The Credit Agreement contains affirmative and negative covenants customary to secured credit facilities, including covenants restricting the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries, subject to negotiated exceptions, to incur additional indebtedness and additional liens on their assets, engage in mergers or acquisitions, dispose of assets, pay dividends or make other distributions, voluntarily prepay other indebtedness, enter into transactions with affiliated persons, make investments, and change the nature of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ businesses.

Indebtedness outstanding under any of the facilities may be accelerated by an Event of Default, as defined in the Credit Agreement.

The Facilities are secured by a pledge by the Company of its stock in its subsidiaries, a guarantee by the Company’s subsidiaries other than Shenandoah Telephone Company, and a security interest in all of the assets of the guarantors.

The Company is subject to certain financial covenants to be measured on a trailing twelve month basis each calendar quarter unless otherwise specified. These covenants include:

a limitation on the Company’s total leverage ratio, defined as indebtedness divided by earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, of less than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00 from April 1, 2014 through March 31, 2015, and 2.00 to 1.00 thereafter;

a minimum debt service coverage ratio, defined as EBITDA divided by the sum of all scheduled principal payments on the Term Loans and regularly scheduled principal payments on other indebtedness plus cash interest expense, greater than 2.50 to 1.00 at all times;

a minimum equity to assets ratio, defined as consolidated total assets minus consolidated total liabilities, divided by consolidated total assets, of at least 0.325 to 1.00 through December 31, 2014, and at least 0.35 to 1.00 thereafter, measured at each fiscal quarter end;

As shown below, as of December 31, 2014, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenants in its credit agreements.

	Actual	Covenant Requirement
Total Leverage Ratio	1.67	2.50 or Lower
Debt Service Coverage Ratio	8.57	2.50 or Higher
Equity to Assets Ratio	41.7%	32.5% or Higher

The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement required the Company to obtain interest rate protection within 90 days of the amendment date for at least 33% of the aggregate principal balance of the Term Loan then outstanding, for not less than three years after such date. In September 2012, the Company entered into a pay fixed, receive variable interest rate swap (the 2012 swap) agreement covering approximately 76% of the outstanding principal of the Term Loan balance through its maturity. The 2012 swap fixes the effective rate on this portion of the debt at 1.13% over our margin, currently 2.50%, for an effective fixed rate of 3.63% at December 31, 2014. The Company has applied hedge accounting to this swap agreement. See Note 14 for additional information on hedging transactions.

The aggregate maturities of long-term debt for each of the five years subsequent to December 31, 2014 are as follows:

Year	Amount
	(in thousands)
2015	$	23,000
2016		23,000
2017		23,000
2018		23,000
2019		132,250
	$	224,250

The Company has no fixed rate debt instruments as of December 31, 2014. The estimated fair value of the variable rate debt approximates its carrying value. The fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap was an asset of $1.9 million and $4.3 million at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

The Company receives patronage credits from CoBank and certain of its affiliated Farm Credit institutions, which are not reflected in the stated rates shown above. Patronage credits are a distribution of profits of CoBank as approved by its Board of Directors. During the first quarters of 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company received patronage credits on its outstanding CoBank debt balance. The Company accrued $1.6 million in non-operating income in the year ended December 31, 2014, in anticipation of the early 2015 distribution of the credits by CoBank. Patronage credits have historically been paid in a mix of cash and shares of CoBank stock. The 2014 payout mix was 75% cash and 25% shares.

Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Income Taxes [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Note 6. Income Taxes

Total income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 were allocated as follows:

	2014			2013			2012
	(in thousands)
Income tax expense on continuing operations	$	22,151		$	19,878		$	12,008
Income tax benefit on discontinued operations		-			-			(196	)
Shareholders’ equity, for compensation expense for tax purposes in excess of amounts recognized for financial reporting purposes		(395	)		(101	)		(106	)
Other comprehensive income for changes in cash flow hedge		(993	)		2,315			(574	)
	$	20,763		$	22,092		$	11,132

The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in several jurisdictions. The provision for the federal and state income taxes attributable to income from continuing operations consists of the following components:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2014			2013			2012
	(in thousands)
Current expense
Federal taxes	$	16,592		$	3,404		$	3,741
State taxes		2,562			2,305			1,868
Total current provision		19,154			5,709			5,609
Deferred expense
Federal taxes		1,636			12,317			5,618
State taxes		1,361			1,852			781
Total deferred provision		2,997			14,169			6,399
Income tax expense on continuing operations	$	22,151		$	19,878		$	12,008
Effective tax rate		39.5	%		40.2	%		42.0	%

A reconciliation of income taxes determined by applying the federal and state tax rates to income from continuing operations is as follows for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:

		Years Ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	(in thousands)
Computed “expected” tax expense (35%)		$	19,612		$	17,312		$	10,014
State income taxes, net of federal tax effect			2,550			2,702			1,722
Other, net			(11	)		(136	)		272
Income tax expense on continuing operations		$	22,151		$	19,878		$	12,008

The effective rates vary among the years presented primarily due to state income taxes. Changes in the mix of income and/or losses among the Company’s subsidiaries, which file separate state returns for various states, result in variations in the effective tax rates

Net deferred tax assets and liabilities consist of the following at December 31, 2014 and 2013:

	2014			2013
	(in thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
Lease obligations	$	2,733		$	2,139
Deferred activation charges		108			107
Allowance for doubtful accounts		306			370
Inventory reserves		189			259
State net operating loss carry-forwards, net of federal tax		717			650
Accrued pension costs		1,086			1,018
Accrued compensation costs		1,550			1,140
Asset retirement obligations		2,790			2,601
Intangible assets		7,921			7,757
Goodwill		2,434			2,660
Deferred revenues		2,691			1,873
Total gross deferred tax assets		22,525			20,574
Less valuation allowance		(709	)		(591	)
Net deferred tax assets		21,816			19,983

Deferred tax liabilities:
Plant and equipment	$	87,941			84,772
Franchise rights		7,686			5,942
Section 481a deferred revenues		246			493
Deferred financing costs		106			128
Prepaid insurance		116			241
Gain on investments, net		409			115
Other, net		878			1,876
Total gross deferred tax liabilities		97,382			93,567
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	75,566			73,584

In assessing the ability to realize deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon generating future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods for which the deferred tax assets are deductible, management believes it more likely than not that the state net operating loss carry-forwards from its Converged Services segment will not be realized. The Company has a deferred tax asset of $717 thousand related to various state net operating losses, and carries this asset at $8 thousand, net of the valuation allowance of $709 thousand.

As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had no unrecognized tax benefits. It is the Company’s policy to record interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income before taxes.

The Company files U.S. federal income tax returns and various state and local income tax returns. With few exceptions, years prior to 2011 are no longer subject to examination. The Company is not currently subject to state or federal income tax audits as of December 31, 2014.

Significant Contractual Relationship	12 Months Ended
Significant Contractual Relationship	Dec. 31, 2014
Significant Contractual Relationship [Abstract]
Significant Contractual Relationship	Note 7. Significant Contractual Relationship In 1999, the Company executed a Management Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Sprint whereby the Company committed to construct and operate a PCS network using CDMA air interface technology. Under the Agreement, the Company was the exclusive PCS Affiliate of Sprint providing wireless mobility communications network products and services on the 1900 MHz band in its territory which extends from Altoona, York and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and south along the Interstate 81 corridor through Western Maryland, the panhandle of West Virginia, to Harrisonburg, Virginia. The Company is authorized to use the Sprint brand in its territory, and operate its network under Sprint’s radio spectrum licenses. As an exclusive PCS Affiliate of Sprint, the Company has the exclusive right to build, own and maintain its portion of Sprint’s nationwide PCS network, in the aforementioned areas, to Sprint’s specifications. The term of the Agreement was initially set for 20 years and was automatically renewable for three 10-year options, unless terminated by either party under provisions outlined in the Agreement. Upon non-renewal by either party, the Company has either the right or the obligation to sell the business at 80% of “Entire Business Value” (“EBV”) as defined in the Agreement. EBV is defined as i) the fair market value of a going concern paid by a willing buyer to a willing seller; ii) valued as if the business will continue to utilize existing brands and operate under existing agreements; and, iii) valued as if Manager (Shentel) owns the spectrum. Determination of EBV is made by an independent appraisal process. The Agreement has been amended numerous times, most recently during 2014. During 2010, the Company acquired the right to receive a share of revenues from approximately 50,000 Virgin Mobile customers in our service area and began selling Virgin Mobile and Boost prepaid products and services in its PCS network coverage area. Prepaid revenues received from Sprint are reported after deducting a 6% management fee charged by Sprint but before calculated expenses passed through from Sprint. The calculated expenses include handset subsidies to Sprint for the difference between the selling price of handsets and their cost, in the aggregate and as a net cost. The agreement also provides that the company shares the revenues and cost of certain prepaid activities based on Sprint’s national averages for prepaid services, rather than being specifically determined by customers homed in our geographic service areas. In December 2012, Sprint paid the Company $11.8 million to reimburse the Company for handset subsidies and other costs per gross add that had been calculated incorrectly by Sprint from inception of the prepaid program through September 30, 2012. During 2012, the Company amended its Agreement with Sprint in order to build a 4G LTE network in the Company’s service area. The Company mirrors Sprint’s Network Vision architecture using Alcatel Lucent equipment. At December 31, 2014, substantially all of the Company’s 537 base stations support 4G LTE service. In addition to adding 4G services to the Company’s network, the Company received access to additional 1900 and 800 MHz spectrum, extended the initial term of the contract five years from 2019 to 2024 and set the maximum contract length at 45 years. The agreement also increased the cap on the Net Service Fee related to postpaid revenues. Effective August 1, 2013, the Net Service Fee increased to its 14% maximum. There is also a management fee of 8% on postpaid revenues which has remained constant for the life of the contract. During 2013, the Company amended its Agreement with Sprint in order to allow Sprint to recover the capital costs incurred in providing the Company hardware and software components of the network. These components control and direct LTE traffic between LTE devices in the Company’s service area and the internet, in order to assure interoperability of the Company’s network with Sprint’s PCS network. The Company pays a one-time fee of $9.23 per incremental LTE device activated in the Company’s service area. The Company incurred $1.1 million and $1.3 million of these fees during 2014 and 2013, respectively. During 2014, the Company amended its Agreement with Sprint in order to allow the Company’s PCS stores to begin participating in Sprint’s handset financing programs, whereby Sprint enters into a financing agreement with the subscriber and the subscriber receives a handset from Sprint. The equipment revenue from the subscriber, the handset expense and any related bad debt are Sprint’s responsibility and are not recorded by the Company. Under the Sprint agreements, Sprint provides the Company significant support services such as customer service, billing, collections, long distance, national network operations support, inventory logistics support, use of the Sprint brand names, national advertising, national distribution and product development. Cost of equipment transactions between the Company and Sprint relate to inventory purchased and subsidized costs of handsets. These costs also included transactions related to subsidized costs on handsets and commissions paid to Sprint for sales of handsets through Sprint’s national distribution programs. The Company's PCS subsidiary is dependent upon Sprint’s ability to execute certain functions such as billing, customer care, collections and other operating activities under the Company's agreements with Sprint. Due to the high degree of integration within many of the Sprint systems, and the Company’s dependency on these systems, in many cases it would be difficult for the Company to perform these services in-house or to outsource the services to another provider. If Sprint is unable to perform any such service, the change could result in increased operating expenses and have an adverse impact on the Company's operating results and cash flow. In addition, the Company's ability to attract and maintain a sufficient customer base is critical to generating positive cash flow from operations and profits for its PCS operation. Changes in technology, increased competition, or economic conditions in the wireless industry or the economy in general, individually and/or collectively, could have an adverse effect on the Company's financial position and results of operations.

Related Party Transactions	12 Months Ended
Related Party Transactions	Dec. 31, 2014
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions	Note 8. Related Party Transactions ValleyNet, an equity method investee of the Company, resells capacity on the Company’s fiber network under an operating lease agreement. Facility lease revenue from ValleyNet was approximately $3.0 million, $3.0 million and $3.2 million in the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. At both December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had accounts receivable from ValleyNet of approximately $0.2 million. The Company's PCS operating subsidiary leases capacity through ValleyNet. Payment for usage of these facilities was $2.3 million, $1.7 million and $0.8 million in the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for related party transactions. Examples of related party transactions include transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiary; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) and entity and its principal owners; and (d) affiliates.

+ References + Details

Retirement Plans	12 Months Ended
Retirement Plans	Dec. 31, 2014
Retirement Plans [Abstract]
Retirement Plans	Note 9. Retirement Plans The Company maintains a defined contribution 401(k) plan. The Company's matching and employer discretionary contributions to the defined contribution 401(k) plan were approximately $2.5 million, $2.3 million and $2.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company maintains an unfunded, nonqualified Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “SERP”) for named executives. In 2010, the Company curtailed future participation in the SERP. Current participants may remain in the SERP and continue to earn returns (either gains or losses) on invested balances, but the Company will make no further contributions to the SERP and no new participants will be eligible to join the SERP. In order to provide some protection to the participants, the Company created a rabbi trust to hold assets sufficient to pay obligations under the SERP. Assets within the trust were invested to mirror participant elections as to investment options (a mix of stock and bond mutual funds); investment income, gains and losses in the trust were used to determine investment returns on the participants’ balances in the SERP. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the total liability due to participants in the SERP was $2.7 million and $2.5 million, respectively.

Stock Incentive Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Stock Incentive Plans [Abstract]

Stock Incentive Plans

Note 10. Stock Incentive Plans

The Company maintains two shareholder-approved Company Stock Incentive Plans allowing for the grant of equity based incentive compensation to essentially all employees. The 2005 Plan authorized grants of up to 1,440,000 shares over a ten-year period beginning in 2005. The term of the 2005 Plan expired in February 2014; outstanding awards will continue to vest and options may continue to be exercised, but no additional awards will be granted under the 2005 Plan. The 2014 Plan authorizes grants of up to an additional 1,500,000 shares over a ten-year period beginning in 2014. Under these Plans, grants may take the form of stock awards, awards of options to acquire stock, stock appreciation rights, and other forms of equity based compensation; both options to acquire stock and stock awards were granted. The option price for all grants has been the current market price at the time of the grant.

Option Awards

The Company did not grant stock options during 2014. During 2013 and 2012, the Company granted stock options to certain management employees. These grants consisted of incentive and non-qualified stock options, vesting 25% annually on the first through fourth anniversaries of the grant date, and having a maximum ten year life. In addition, during 2013 the Company granted stock options to a recently hired officer. This grant consisted of both incentive and non-qualified stock options, vesting 25% annually on the third, fourth, fifth and sixth anniversaries of the grant date, and having a maximum seven year life. These grants were accounted for as equity-classified stock options.

The fair values of these grants were estimated at the respective grant dates using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions (for 2013, the assumptions shown represent the weighted average of the two valuations):

	2013	2012
Dividend rate	2.38%	3.05%
Risk-free interest rate	1.15%	1.22%
Expected lives of options	6.14 years	6.25 years
Price volatility	40.66%	38.80%

Volatility is based on the historical volatility of the price of the Company’s stock over the expected term of the options. The expected term represents the period of time that the options granted are expected to be outstanding. The risk free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve, in effect at the date the fair value of the options is calculated, with an equivalent term.

Management has made an estimate of expected forfeitures and recognizes compensation costs only for those awards expected to vest. Compensation cost recognized in 2014, 2013 and 2012 totaled $452 thousand, $612 thousand and $561 thousand, respectively, and the income tax benefit for option-based compensation arrangements recognized in 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $78 thousand, $134 thousand and $129 thousand, respectively.

A summary of outstanding options at December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, and changes during the years ended on those dates, is as follows:

	Number of Options			Weighted Average Grant Price Per Option		Fair Value Per Option

Outstanding December 31, 2011		406,894		$	19.16

Granted		151,522			10.82	$	3.02
Cancelled		(8,728	)		25.26
Exercised		(55,000	)		7.34
Outstanding December 31, 2012		494,688		$	17.82

Granted		133,048			13.84	$	4.33
Cancelled		(10,591	)		25.26
Exercised		(66,638	)		16.82
Outstanding December 31, 2013		550,507		$	16.71

Granted		-			-	$	N/A
Cancelled		(1,073	)		25.26
Exercised		(50,758	)		22.43
Outstanding December 31, 2014		498,676		$	16.11

There were options for 498,676 shares outstanding at December 31, 2014 at a weighted average exercise price of $16.11 per share, an aggregate intrinsic value of $7.5 million and a weighted-average remaining contractual life of 5.7 years. There were options for 295,900 shares exercisable at December 31, 2014 at a weighted average exercise price of $18.26 per share, an aggregate intrinsic value of $3.8 million and a weighted-average remaining contractual life of 4.5 years. The aggregate intrinsic value represents the total pretax intrinsic value of in-the-money options, based on the Company’s closing stock price of $31.25 as of December 31, 2014.

During 2014, the total fair value of options vested was $0.7 million; the total intrinsic value of options exercised was $0.5 million. The total cash received as a result of employee stock option exercises was $1.1 million. The tax benefit realized from these exercises was $0.2 million.

As of December 31, 2014, the total compensation cost related to non-vested options not yet recognized is $0.2 million, which will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.5 years. During 2014, the Company updated its computation for employee share forfeitures, which increased recorded compensation expense by $156 thousand.

Stock Awards

In September 2007, the Company granted 68,130 performance shares to all members of the Board of Directors and essentially all employees during 2007. Directors and senior management in the aggregate were granted 23,404 performance shares (“management shares”); all other employees in the aggregate were granted 44,726 performance shares (“employee shares”). Management shares can vest at the fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth anniversary of the grant date if, for the thirty day period ending on the day prior to the respective anniversary date, the average closing price of a share of the Company’s common stock exceeds a defined target price. The target price for each anniversary date is equal to the grant date market price ($20.50 per share) plus $1.64 for each year since the grant date. Shares will vest only if the target price is achieved and the recipient has remained employed through, or reached normal retirement age before, the anniversary date that the target price is achieved on. No shares have vested under these awards. In September 2013, employee shares expired without vesting and were cancelled.

The Company estimated expected forfeitures of 40% for management shares and 35% for employee shares. During 2011, the Company revised its estimate of management share forfeitures to 15%, adding $48 thousand to recorded compensation expense. During 2013, the Company finalized its adjustment for employee share forfeitures to 39%, which lowered recorded compensation expense by $40 thousand.

In February 2012, 2013 and 2014, the Company made grants of 66,384, 62,283 and 67,781 non-vested shares to 17, 18 and 22 management employees, respectively. The 2012 and 2013 shares vest 25% annually. The 2014 shares vest 25% annually; however, if an employee reaches the age of 55, has achieved 10 years of service with the Company and retires, the shares immediately vest. The awards were valued at the market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant ($10.82, $13.84 and $26.01 per share, respectively). The Company also made grants of non-vested shares to the non-employee members of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company granted 14,784, 11,560 and 6,152 shares in 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively, valued at the market price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date ($10.82, $13.84 and $26.01 per share, respectively). The shares vest 33% annually.

In May 2012, 2013 and 2014, the Company made grants of non-vested shares to selected other employees. The Company granted 38,186 shares, of which 14,040 were vested and distributed immediately, in May 2012; granted 24,843 shares, of which 9,567 were vested and distributed immediately, in May 2013; and granted 16,832 shares, of which 4,695 were vested and distributed immediately, in May 2014. The remaining shares in each award vest in various schedules over four years. The awards were valued at the market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant ($10.51, $17.48 and $25.67 per share in 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively).

A summary of outstanding share grants at December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, and changes during the years ended on those dates, is as follows:

	Shares

Outstanding December 31, 2011		147,143

Granted		119,354
Cancelled		(8,098	)
Vested and issued		(45,045	)
Outstanding December 31, 2012		213,354

Granted		98,686
Cancelled		(30,994	)
Vested and issued		(67,956	)
Outstanding December 31, 2013		213,090

Granted		90,765
Cancelled		(5,382	)
Vested and issued		(80,837	)
Outstanding December 31, 2014		217,636

Compensation cost recognized for share awards during 2014, 2013 and 2012, was $2.2 million, $1.3 million and $1.3 million, respectively. The income tax benefit for share-based compensation arrangements was $0.9 million, $0.5 million, and $0.3 million for 2014, 2013 and 2012.

As of December 31, 2014, the total compensation cost related to non-vested share awards not yet recognized is $1.2 million which will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.4 years.

Major Customer	12 Months Ended
Major Customer	Dec. 31, 2014
Major Customer [Abstract]
Major Customer	Note 11. Major Customer The Company has one major customer relationship with Sprint that is a significant source of revenue. Approximately 58% of total operating revenues for the year ended December 31, 2014, and 59% of total operating revenues for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, were generated by or through Sprint and its customers using the Company's portion of Sprint’s nationwide PCS network. No other customer relationship generated more than 1.5% of the Company’s total operating revenues for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 or 2012.

Shareholder Rights Plan	12 Months Ended
Shareholder Rights Plan	Dec. 31, 2014
Shareholder Rights Plan [Abstract]
Shareholder Rights Plan	Note 12. Shareholder Rights Plan Effective as of February 8, 2008, the Board of Directors adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan (the “Plan”) to replace an expiring plan which was adopted in 1998. Under certain circumstances, holders of each right (granted at one right per share of outstanding common stock) will be entitled to purchase for $40 one half a share of the Company’s common stock (or, in certain circumstances, $80 worth of cash, property or other securities of the Company for $40). The rights are neither exercisable nor traded separately from the Company’s common stock. The rights are only exercisable if a person or group becomes or attempts to become, the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the Company’s common stock. Under the terms of the Plan, such a person or group would not be entitled to the benefits of the rights. The Plan provides that the Board of Directors may redeem the outstanding rights at any time for $.001 per right, and except with respect to the redemption price of the rights, any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company. The Plan provides for the Board of Directors to appoint a committee (the “TIDE Committee”) that is comprised of independent directors of the Company to review and evaluate the Shareholder Rights Plan in order to consider whether it continues to be in the interest of the Company and its shareholders at least every three years. Following each such review, the TIDE Committee will communicate its conclusions to the full Board of Directors, including any recommendation as to whether the Plan should be modified or the Rights should be redeemed. In January 2014, the TIDE Committee recommended to the full Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors approved, that the Plan be maintained as originally adopted.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for shareholders' equity comprised of portions attributable to the parent entity and noncontrolling interest, including other comprehensive income. Includes, but is not limited to, balances of common stock, preferred stock, additional paid-in capital, other capital and retained earnings, accumulated balance for each classification of other comprehensive income and amount of comprehensive income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(d),(e))
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-Paragraph d
-Article 4

Reference 15: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 16: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 17: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 18: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 19: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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+ Details

Lease Commitments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Lease Commitments [Abstract]

Lease Commitments

Note 13. Lease Commitments

The Company leases land, buildings and tower space under various non-cancelable agreements, which expire between the years 2015 and 2040 and require various minimum annual rental payments. These leases typically include renewal options and escalation clauses. In general, tower leases have five or ten year initial terms with four renewal terms of five years each. The other leases generally contain certain renewal options for periods ranging from five to twenty years.

Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases, including renewals that are reasonably assured at the inception of the lease, with initial variable lease terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2014, are as

follows:

Year Ending	Amount
	(in thousands)
2015	$	13,704
2016		13,604
2017		13,751
2018		13,516
2019		13,150
2020 and beyond		75,367
	$	143,092

The Company’s total rent expense was $16.1 million, $15.6 million, and $13.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

As lessor, the Company has leased buildings, tower space and telecommunications equipment to other entities under various non-cancelable agreements, which require various minimum annual payments. The total minimum rental receipts at December 31, 2014 are as follows:

Year Ending	Amount
	(in thousands)
2015	$	5,190
2016		3,674
2017		2,764
2018		1,523
2019		752
2020 and beyond		1,285
	$	15,188

The Company’s total rent income was $6.0 million, $5.6 million, and $6.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Total rent income includes month-to-month leases which are excluded from the table above.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Abstract]

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

Note 14. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

The Company’s objectives in using interest rate derivatives are to add stability to cash flows and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. To accomplish this objective, the Company primarily uses interest rate swaps as part of its interest rate risk management strategy. Interest rate swaps (both those designated as cash flow hedges as well as those not designated as cash flow hedges) involve the receipt of variable-rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for the Company making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount.

In August 2010, the Company entered into a pay fixed, receive variable interest rate swap of $63.3 million of notional principal. This interest rate swap was not designated as a cash flow hedge. Changes in the fair value of interest rate swaps not designated as cash flow hedges were recorded in interest expense each reporting period. The total outstanding notional amount of interest rate swaps not designated as cash flow hedges was $52.2 million as of December 31, 2012. This swap expired in July 2013. Changes in fair value recorded in interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, were decreases of $239 thousand and $213 thousand, respectively.

The Company entered into a pay fixed, receive variable interest rate swap of $174.6 million of initial notional principal in September 2012. This interest rate swap was designated as a cash flow hedge. The total outstanding notional amount of cash flow hedges was $170.3 million and $174.6 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The outstanding notional amount decreases as the company makes scheduled principal payments on the debt.

The effective portion of changes in the fair value of interest rate swaps designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income and is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. The Company uses its derivatives to hedge the variable cash flows associated with existing variable-rate debt. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the derivative is recognized directly in earnings through interest expense. No hedge ineffectiveness was recognized during any of the periods presented.

Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income related to the interest rate swap designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges are reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are accrued on the Company’s variable-rate debt. As of December 31, 2014, the Company estimates that $1.3 million will be reclassified as an increase to interest expense during the next twelve months due to the interest rate swap since the hedge interest rate exceeds the variable interest rate on the debt.

The table below presents the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments as well as its classification on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):

		Fair Value as of
	Balance Sheet Location	December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate swaps
	Accrued liabilities and other	$	(1,309	)	$	(1,590	)
	Deferred charges and other assets, net		3,180			5,926
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments		$	1,871		$	4,336

The fair value of interest rate swaps is determined using a pricing model with inputs that are observable in the market (level 2 fair value inputs).

The table below presents changes in accumulated other comprehensive income by component for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014 (in thousands):

	Gains and (Losses) on Cash Flow Hedges			Income Tax (Expense) Benefit			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Balance as of December 31, 2013	$	4,336		$	(1,742	)	$	2,594
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		(4,186	)		1,676			(2,510	)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (to interest expense)		1,721			(683	)		1,038
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)		(2,465	)		993			(1,472	)
Balance as of December 31, 2014	$	1,871		$	(749	)	$	1,122

- Definition

The entire disclosure for derivative instruments and hedging activities including, but not limited to, risk management strategies, non-hedging derivative instruments, assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and methodologies and assumptions used in determining the amounts.

+ References

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

Segment Reporting

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting

Note 15. Segment Reporting

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision makers. The Company has three reportable segments, which the Company operates and manages as strategic business units organized by lines of business: (1) Wireless, (2) Cable, and (3) Wireline. A fourth segment, Other, primarily includes Shenandoah Telecommunications Company, the parent holding company.

The Wireless segment provides digital wireless service to a portion of a four-state area covering the region from Harrisburg, York and Altoona, Pennsylvania, to Harrisonburg, Virginia, as a Sprint PCS Affiliate. This segment also owns cell site towers built on leased land, and leases space on these towers to both affiliates and non-affiliated service providers.

The Cable segment provides video, internet and voice services in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland, and leases fiber optic facilities throughout southern Virginia and West Virginia. It does not include video, internet and voice services provided to customers in Shenandoah County, Virginia.

The Wireline segment provides regulated and unregulated voice services, DSL internet access, and long distance access services throughout Shenandoah County and portions of Rockingham, Frederick, Warren and Augusta counties, Virginia. The segment also provides video services in portions of Shenandoah County, and leases fiber optic facilities throughout the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, northern Virginia and adjacent areas along the Interstate 81 corridor through West Virginia, Maryland and portions of Pennsylvania.

Effective for fiscal year 2014, the Company updated segment presentations to reflect two changes. First, in late 2013, the Company restructured its management team to primarily align its organization with its operating segments (Wireless, Cable and Wireline), rather than on a functional basis (sales and marketing, operations and engineering). As part of this restructuring, the Company determined that the operations associated with its video product offered in Shenandoah County, Virginia, would be included in the Wireline segment. The video services offered in Shenandoah County share much of the network which the regulated telephone company uses to serve its customers. These services had previously been included in the Cable segment.

Second, primarily as a result of the restructuring described above, the Company’s allocations of certain shared general and administrative expenses were updated to reflect how the senior management team makes financial decisions and manages resources. Since the Vice Presidents managing the operating segments do not directly control these expenses, the Company has chosen to record these at the holding company. As a result, certain costs, including finance and accounting, executive management, legal, and human resources, are now recorded to the Other segment as corporate costs. In this way, segment performance presents a clearer picture of the trends in an individual segment’s profitability.

The segment information provided for 2013 and 2012 below has been updated to conform to the 2014 presentation:

Year ended December 31, 2014 (In thousands)
	Wireless		Cable			Wireline		Other			Eliminations			Consolidated Totals
External revenues
Service revenues	$	191,147	$	70,972		$	20,383		-			-		$	282,502
Other revenues		11,867		13,431			19,146		-			-			44,444
Total external revenues		203,014		84,403			39,529		-			-			326,946
Internal revenues		4,440		150			23,506		-			(28,096	)		-
Total operating revenues		207,454		84,553			63,035		-			(28,096	)		326,946

Operating expenses
Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below		73,290		51,982			30,088		-			(25,617	)		129,743
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below		33,171		19,521			6,009		13,148			(2,479	)		69,370
Depreciation and amortization		31,111		23,148			11,224		407			-			65,890
Total operating expenses		137,572		94,651			47,321		13,555			(28,096	)		265,003
Operating income (loss)	$	69,882	$	(10,098	)	$	15,714	$	(13,555	)	$	-		$	61,943

Year ended December 31, 2013 (In thousands)
	Wireless		Cable			Wireline		Other			Eliminations			Consolidated Totals
External revenues
Service revenues	$	182,955	$	65,657		$	20,378		-			-		$	268,990
Other revenues		10,842		10,092			19,018		-			-			39,952
Total external revenues		193,797		75,749			39,396		-			-			308,942
Internal revenues		4,328		123			20,074		-			(24,525	)		-
Total operating revenues		198,125		75,872			59,470		-			(24,525	)		308,942

Operating expenses
Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below		72,995		45,767			28,603		-			(22,225	)		125,140
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below		32,812		19,052			5,344		12,765			(2,300	)		67,673
Depreciation and amortization		28,177		21,202			11,308		35			-			60,722
Total operating expenses		133,984		86,021			45,255		12,800			(24,525	)		253,535
Operating income (loss)	$	64,141	$	(10,149	)	$	14,215	$	(12,800	)	$	-		$	55,407

Year ended December 31, 2012 (In thousands)
	Wireless		Cable			Wireline		Other			Eliminations			Consolidated Totals
External revenues
Service revenues	$	162,912	$	61,252		$	19,779		-			-		$	243,943
Other revenues		13,398		9,322			21,412		-			-			44,132
Total external revenues		176,310		70,574			41,191		-			-			288,075
Internal revenues		3,328		289			18,927		-			(22,544	)		-
Total operating revenues		179,638		70,863			60,118		-			(22,544	)		288,075

Operating expenses
Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below		63,906		44,563			29,199		26			(20,287	)		117,407
Goodwill impairment		-		7,652			3,300		-			-			10,952
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below		27,281		17,642			5,714		12,266			(2,257	)		60,646
Depreciation and amortization		31,660		22,446			10,245		61			-			64,412
Total operating expenses		122,847		92,303			48,458		12,353			(22,544	)		253,417
Operating income (loss)	$	56,791	$	(21,440	)	$	11,660	$	(12,353	)		-		$	34,658

A reconciliation of the total of the reportable segments’ operating income to consolidated income from continuing operations before income taxes is as follows:

	Years Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2014			2013			2012
Total consolidated operating income	$	61,943		$	55,407		$	34,658
Interest expense		(8,148	)		(8,468	)		(7,850	)
Non-operating income, net		2,239			2,525			1,803
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	$	56,034		$	49,464		$	28,611

The Company’s assets by segment are as follows:

(In thousands)	December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013

Wireless	$	218,887		$	229,038
Cable		201,232			199,184
Wireline		98,081			92,455
Other		446,028			435,804
Combined totals		964,228			956,481
Inter-segment eliminations		(344,986	)		(359,475	)
Consolidated totals	$	619,242		$	597,006

- Definition

The entire disclosure for reporting segments including data and tables. Reportable segments include those that meet any of the following quantitative thresholds a) it's reported revenue, including sales to external customers and intersegment sales or transfers is 10 percent or more of the combined revenue, internal and external, of all operating segments b) the absolute amount of its reported profit or loss is 10 percent or more of the greater, in absolute amount of 1) the combined reported profit of all operating segments that did not report a loss or 2) the combined reported loss of all operating segments that did report a loss c) its assets are 10 percent or more of the combined assets of all operating segments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 34
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6534315&loc=d3e8981-108599

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6534315&loc=d3e8924-108599

Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6534315&loc=d3e8906-108599

+ Details

Quarterly Results (unaudited)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Quarterly Results (unaudited) [Abstract]

Quarterly Results (unaudited)

Note 16. Quarterly Results (unaudited)

The following table shows selected quarterly results for the Company.

(in thousands except per share data)

For the year ended December 31, 2014	First		Second		Third		Fourth		Total
Operating revenues	$	80,452	$	81,416	$	82,268	$	82,810	$	326,946
Operating income		15,680		15,793		14,144		16,326		61,943
Net income		8,616		8,615		8,003		8,649		33,883

Net income per share – basic		0.36		0.36		0.33		0.36		1.41
Net income per share – diluted		0.36		0.35		0.33		0.35		1.39


For the year ended December 31, 2013	First		Second		Third		Fourth		Total
Operating revenues	$	76,010	$	77,454	$	77,513	$	77,965	$	308,942
Operating income		15,209		14,500		13,262		12,436		55,407
Net income		8,351		7,842		6,717		6,676		29,586

Net income per share – basic and diluted		0.35		0.33		0.28		0.27		1.23

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Principles of consolidation:

Use of estimates:

Cash and cash equivalents:

Accounts receivable:

	2014			2013			2012

Balance at beginning of year	$	924		$	1,113		$	838
Bad debt expense		1,678			2,019			2,870
Losses charged to allowance		(2,218	)		(2,390	)		(2,854	)
Recoveries added to allowance		378			182			259
Balance at end of year	$	762		$	924		$	1,113

Investments:

Materials and supplies:

Property, plant and equipment:

Valuation of long-lived assets:

Fair value:

Asset retirement obligations:

	2014			2013			2012

Balance at beginning of year	$	6,485		$	5,896		$	7,610
Additional liabilities accrued		403			1,189			1,148
Changes to prior estimates		-			-			(2,265	)
Payments made		(334	)		(909	)		(846	)
Accretion expense		374			309			249
Balance at end of year	$	6,928		$	6,485		$	5,896

Cost in excess of net assets of businesses acquired (goodwill) and intangible assets:

Intangible assets consist of the following at December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):

	2014							2013
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net

Intangible assets subject to amortization:
Business contracts	$	1,898	$	(495	)	$	1,403	$	2,069	$	(479	)	$	1,590
Cable franchise rights		122		(122	)		-		122		(122	)		-
Acquired subscriber base		32,315		(29,556	)		2,759		32,325		(27,197	)		5,128
	$	34,335	$	(30,173	)	$	4,162	$	34,516	$	(27,798	)	$	6,718

	2014							2013
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net
Non-amortizing intangible assets:
Cable franchise rights	$	64,059	$	-		$	64,059	$	64,059	$	-		$	64,059
Railroad crossing rights		39		-			39		39		-			39
	$	64,098	$	-		$	64,098	$	64,098	$	-		$	64,098
Total intangibles	$	98,433	$	(30,173	)	$	68,260	$	98,614	$	(27,798	)	$	70,816

Aggregate amortization expense for intangible assets for the periods shown is expected to be as follows:

Year Ending December 31,	Amount
	(in thousands)
2015	$	1,411
2016		943
2017		514
2018		196
2019		112

Retirement plans:

Neither the rabbi trust nor the defined contribution 401(k) plan directly holds Company stock in the plan’s portfolio.

Income taxes:

Revenue recognition:

Earnings per share:

The following tables show the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:

	2014			2013			2012

Basic income per share	(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Net income	$	33,883		$	29,586		$	16,303
Weighted average shares outstanding		24,099			24,001			23,877
Basic income per share	$	1.41		$	1.23		$	0.68

Effect of stock options outstanding:
Weighted average shares outstanding		24,099			24,001			23,877
Assumed exercise, at the strike price at the beginning of year		705			485			343
Assumed repurchase of shares under treasury stock method		(444	)		(371	)		(201	)
Diluted weighted average shares		24,360			24,115			24,019
Diluted income per share	$	1.39		$	1.23		$	0.68

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Changes in Allowance for Doubtful Accounts for Trade Accounts Receivable

Changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts for trade accounts receivable for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 are summarized below (in thousands):

	2014			2013			2012

Balance at beginning of year	$	924		$	1,113		$	838
Bad debt expense		1,678			2,019			2,870
Losses charged to allowance		(2,218	)		(2,390	)		(2,854	)
Recoveries added to allowance		378			182			259
Balance at end of year	$	762		$	924		$	1,113

Changes in Liability for Asset Removal Obligations

Changes in the liability for asset removal obligations for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 are summarized below (in thousands):

	2014			2013			2012

Balance at beginning of year	$	6,485		$	5,896		$	7,610
Additional liabilities accrued		403			1,189			1,148
Changes to prior estimates		-			-			(2,265	)
Payments made		(334	)		(909	)		(846	)
Accretion expense		374			309			249
Balance at end of year	$	6,928		$	6,485		$	5,896

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets consist of the following at December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):

	2014							2013
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net

Intangible assets subject to amortization:
Business contracts	$	1,898	$	(495	)	$	1,403	$	2,069	$	(479	)	$	1,590
Cable franchise rights		122		(122	)		-		122		(122	)		-
Acquired subscriber base		32,315		(29,556	)		2,759		32,325		(27,197	)		5,128
	$	34,335	$	(30,173	)	$	4,162	$	34,516	$	(27,798	)	$	6,718

	2014							2013
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net
Non-amortizing intangible assets:
Cable franchise rights	$	64,059	$	-		$	64,059	$	64,059	$	-		$	64,059
Railroad crossing rights		39		-			39		39		-			39
	$	64,098	$	-		$	64,098	$	64,098	$	-		$	64,098
Total intangibles	$	98,433	$	(30,173	)	$	68,260	$	98,614	$	(27,798	)	$	70,816

Amortization Expense for Intangible Assets

Aggregate amortization expense for intangible assets for the periods shown is expected to be as follows:

Year Ending December 31,	Amount
	(in thousands)
2015	$	1,411
2016		943
2017		514
2018		196
2019		112

Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share

The following tables show the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:

	2014			2013			2012

Basic income per share	(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Net income	$	33,883		$	29,586		$	16,303
Weighted average shares outstanding		24,099			24,001			23,877
Basic income per share	$	1.41		$	1.23		$	0.68

Effect of stock options outstanding:
Weighted average shares outstanding		24,099			24,001			23,877
Assumed exercise, at the strike price at the beginning of year		705			485			343
Assumed repurchase of shares under treasury stock method		(444	)		(371	)		(201	)
Diluted weighted average shares		24,360			24,115			24,019
Diluted income per share	$	1.39		$	1.23		$	0.68

Investments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Investments [Abstract]

Investments Carried at Fair Value

At December 31, 2014 and 2013, investments carried at fair value consisted of:

	2014		2013
	(in thousands)
Taxable bond funds	$	10	$	10
Domestic equity funds		2,553		2,419
International equity funds		98		99
	$	2,661	$	2,528

Other Investments

At December 31, 2014 and 2013, other investments, comprised of equity securities which do not have readily determinable fair values, consist of the following:

	2014		2013
Cost method:	(in thousands)
CoBank	$	3,749	$	3,343
Other – Equity in other telecommunications partners		755		766
		4,504		4,109
Equity method:
Private equity partnerships		2,419		2,365
Other		505		330
		2,924		2,695
Total other investments	$	7,428	$	6,804

Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following at December 31, 2014 and 2013:

	Estimated Useful Lives	2014		2013
		(in thousands)
Land		$	3,700	$	3,415
Buildings and structures	10 – 40 years		103,341		96,700
Cable and wire	4 – 40 years		201,938		187,293
Equipment and software	2 – 16.7 years		366,342		346,072
Plant in service		$	675,321	$	633,480
Plant under construction			18,078		23,181
Total property, plant and equipment			693,399		656,661
Less accumulated amortization and depreciation			287,492		247,698
Property, plant and equipment, net		$	405,907	$	408,963

Long-Term Debt and Revolving Lines of Credit (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Long-Term Debt and Revolving Lines of Credit [Abstract]

Long-term Debt

Total debt consists of the following at December 31, 2014 and 2013:

		Interest Rate				2014		2013
					(in thousands)
CoBank Term Loan	Variable		2.67	%			224,250		230,000
Current maturities							23,000		5,750
Total long-term debt						$	201,250	$	224,250

Financial Covenants in Credit Agreements

As shown below, as of December 31, 2014, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenants in its credit agreements.

	Actual	Covenant Requirement
Total Leverage Ratio	1.67	2.50 or Lower
Debt Service Coverage Ratio	8.57	2.50 or Higher
Equity to Assets Ratio	41.7%	32.5% or Higher

Maturities of Long-term Debt

The aggregate maturities of long-term debt for each of the five years subsequent to December 31, 2014 are as follows:

Year	Amount
	(in thousands)
2015	$	23,000
2016		23,000
2017		23,000
2018		23,000
2019		132,250
	$	224,250

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of long-debt instruments or arrangements, including identification, terms, features, collateral requirements and other information necessary to a fair presentation. These are debt arrangements that originally required repayment more than twelve months after issuance or greater than the normal operating cycle of the entity, if longer.

+ 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 210.5-02.22)
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Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5

+ Details

Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Income Taxes [Abstract]

Allocation of Income Tax Expense

Total income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 were allocated as follows:

	2014			2013			2012
	(in thousands)
Income tax expense on continuing operations	$	22,151		$	19,878		$	12,008
Income tax benefit on discontinued operations		-			-			(196	)
Shareholders’ equity, for compensation expense for tax purposes in excess of amounts recognized for financial reporting purposes		(395	)		(101	)		(106	)
Other comprehensive income for changes in cash flow hedge		(993	)		2,315			(574	)
	$	20,763		$	22,092		$	11,132

Components of Federal and State Income Taxes

The provision for the federal and state income taxes attributable to income from continuing operations consists of the following components:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2014			2013			2012
	(in thousands)
Current expense
Federal taxes	$	16,592		$	3,404		$	3,741
State taxes		2,562			2,305			1,868
Total current provision		19,154			5,709			5,609
Deferred expense
Federal taxes		1,636			12,317			5,618
State taxes		1,361			1,852			781
Total deferred provision		2,997			14,169			6,399
Income tax expense on continuing operations	$	22,151		$	19,878		$	12,008
Effective tax rate		39.5	%		40.2	%		42.0	%

Reconciliation of Income Taxes

A reconciliation of income taxes determined by applying the federal and state tax rates to income from continuing operations is as follows for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:

		Years Ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	(in thousands)
Computed “expected” tax expense (35%)		$	19,612		$	17,312		$	10,014
State income taxes, net of federal tax effect			2,550			2,702			1,722
Other, net			(11	)		(136	)		272
Income tax expense on continuing operations		$	22,151		$	19,878		$	12,008

Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

Net deferred tax assets and liabilities consist of the following at December 31, 2014 and 2013:

	2014			2013
	(in thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
Lease obligations	$	2,733		$	2,139
Deferred activation charges		108			107
Allowance for doubtful accounts		306			370
Inventory reserves		189			259
State net operating loss carry-forwards, net of federal tax		717			650
Accrued pension costs		1,086			1,018
Accrued compensation costs		1,550			1,140
Asset retirement obligations		2,790			2,601
Intangible assets		7,921			7,757
Goodwill		2,434			2,660
Deferred revenues		2,691			1,873
Total gross deferred tax assets		22,525			20,574
Less valuation allowance		(709	)		(591	)
Net deferred tax assets		21,816			19,983

Deferred tax liabilities:
Plant and equipment	$	87,941			84,772
Franchise rights		7,686			5,942
Section 481a deferred revenues		246			493
Deferred financing costs		106			128
Prepaid insurance		116			241
Gain on investments, net		409			115
Other, net		878			1,876
Total gross deferred tax liabilities		97,382			93,567
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	75,566			73,584

Stock Incentive Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Stock Incentive Plans [Abstract]

Stock Options Valuation Assumptions

	2013	2012
Dividend rate	2.38%	3.05%
Risk-free interest rate	1.15%	1.22%
Expected lives of options	6.14 years	6.25 years
Price volatility	40.66%	38.80%

Summary of Outstanding Options

A summary of outstanding options at December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, and changes during the years ended on those dates, is as follows:

	Number of Options			Weighted Average Grant Price Per Option		Fair Value Per Option

Outstanding December 31, 2011		406,894		$	19.16

Granted		151,522			10.82	$	3.02
Cancelled		(8,728	)		25.26
Exercised		(55,000	)		7.34
Outstanding December 31, 2012		494,688		$	17.82

Granted		133,048			13.84	$	4.33
Cancelled		(10,591	)		25.26
Exercised		(66,638	)		16.82
Outstanding December 31, 2013		550,507		$	16.71

Granted		-			-	$	N/A
Cancelled		(1,073	)		25.26
Exercised		(50,758	)		22.43
Outstanding December 31, 2014		498,676		$	16.11

Share Grant Activity

A summary of outstanding share grants at December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, and changes during the years ended on those dates, is as follows:

	Shares

Outstanding December 31, 2011		147,143

Granted		119,354
Cancelled		(8,098	)
Vested and issued		(45,045	)
Outstanding December 31, 2012		213,354

Granted		98,686
Cancelled		(30,994	)
Vested and issued		(67,956	)
Outstanding December 31, 2013		213,090

Granted		90,765
Cancelled		(5,382	)
Vested and issued		(80,837	)
Outstanding December 31, 2014		217,636

Lease Commitments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Lease Commitments [Abstract]

Future Minimum Lease Payments

follows:

Year Ending	Amount
	(in thousands)
2015	$	13,704
2016		13,604
2017		13,751
2018		13,516
2019		13,150
2020 and beyond		75,367
	$	143,092

Future Minimum Payments Receivable

The total minimum rental receipts at December 31, 2014 are as follows:

Year Ending	Amount
	(in thousands)
2015	$	5,190
2016		3,674
2017		2,764
2018		1,523
2019		752
2020 and beyond		1,285
	$	15,188

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Abstract]

Schedule of Derivative Financial Instruments as well as its Classification on the Consolidated Balance Sheet

		Fair Value as of
	Balance Sheet Location	December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate swaps
	Accrued liabilities and other	$	(1,309	)	$	(1,590	)
	Deferred charges and other assets, net		3,180			5,926
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments		$	1,871		$	4,336

Schedule of Derivative Financial Instruments Designated as Cash Flow Hedges on the Consolidated Income Statements

The table below presents changes in accumulated other comprehensive income by component for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014 (in thousands):

	Gains and (Losses) on Cash Flow Hedges			Income Tax (Expense) Benefit			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Balance as of December 31, 2013	$	4,336		$	(1,742	)	$	2,594
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		(4,186	)		1,676			(2,510	)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (to interest expense)		1,721			(683	)		1,038
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)		(2,465	)		993			(1,472	)
Balance as of December 31, 2014	$	1,871		$	(749	)	$	1,122

Segment Reporting (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Selected Financial Data for Segments

The segment information provided for 2013 and 2012 below has been updated to conform to the 2014 presentation:

Year ended December 31, 2014 (In thousands)
	Wireless		Cable			Wireline		Other			Eliminations			Consolidated Totals
External revenues
Service revenues	$	191,147	$	70,972		$	20,383		-			-		$	282,502
Other revenues		11,867		13,431			19,146		-			-			44,444
Total external revenues		203,014		84,403			39,529		-			-			326,946
Internal revenues		4,440		150			23,506		-			(28,096	)		-
Total operating revenues		207,454		84,553			63,035		-			(28,096	)		326,946

Operating expenses
Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below		73,290		51,982			30,088		-			(25,617	)		129,743
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below		33,171		19,521			6,009		13,148			(2,479	)		69,370
Depreciation and amortization		31,111		23,148			11,224		407			-			65,890
Total operating expenses		137,572		94,651			47,321		13,555			(28,096	)		265,003
Operating income (loss)	$	69,882	$	(10,098	)	$	15,714	$	(13,555	)	$	-		$	61,943

Year ended December 31, 2013 (In thousands)
	Wireless		Cable			Wireline		Other			Eliminations			Consolidated Totals
External revenues
Service revenues	$	182,955	$	65,657		$	20,378		-			-		$	268,990
Other revenues		10,842		10,092			19,018		-			-			39,952
Total external revenues		193,797		75,749			39,396		-			-			308,942
Internal revenues		4,328		123			20,074		-			(24,525	)		-
Total operating revenues		198,125		75,872			59,470		-			(24,525	)		308,942

Operating expenses
Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below		72,995		45,767			28,603		-			(22,225	)		125,140
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below		32,812		19,052			5,344		12,765			(2,300	)		67,673
Depreciation and amortization		28,177		21,202			11,308		35			-			60,722
Total operating expenses		133,984		86,021			45,255		12,800			(24,525	)		253,535
Operating income (loss)	$	64,141	$	(10,149	)	$	14,215	$	(12,800	)	$	-		$	55,407

Year ended December 31, 2012 (In thousands)
	Wireless		Cable			Wireline		Other			Eliminations			Consolidated Totals
External revenues
Service revenues	$	162,912	$	61,252		$	19,779		-			-		$	243,943
Other revenues		13,398		9,322			21,412		-			-			44,132
Total external revenues		176,310		70,574			41,191		-			-			288,075
Internal revenues		3,328		289			18,927		-			(22,544	)		-
Total operating revenues		179,638		70,863			60,118		-			(22,544	)		288,075

Operating expenses
Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below		63,906		44,563			29,199		26			(20,287	)		117,407
Goodwill impairment		-		7,652			3,300		-			-			10,952
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below		27,281		17,642			5,714		12,266			(2,257	)		60,646
Depreciation and amortization		31,660		22,446			10,245		61			-			64,412
Total operating expenses		122,847		92,303			48,458		12,353			(22,544	)		253,417
Operating income (loss)	$	56,791	$	(21,440	)	$	11,660	$	(12,353	)		-		$	34,658

Reconciliation of Income from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated

A reconciliation of the total of the reportable segments’ operating income to consolidated income from continuing operations before income taxes is as follows:

	Years Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2014			2013			2012
Total consolidated operating income	$	61,943		$	55,407		$	34,658
Interest expense		(8,148	)		(8,468	)		(7,850	)
Non-operating income, net		2,239			2,525			1,803
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	$	56,034		$	49,464		$	28,611

Assets by Segment

The Company’s assets by segment are as follows:

(In thousands)	December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013

Wireless	$	218,887		$	229,038
Cable		201,232			199,184
Wireline		98,081			92,455
Other		446,028			435,804
Combined totals		964,228			956,481
Inter-segment eliminations		(344,986	)		(359,475	)
Consolidated totals	$	619,242		$	597,006

Quarterly Results (unaudited) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Quarterly Results (unaudited) [Abstract]

Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information

The following table shows selected quarterly results for the Company.

(in thousands except per share data)

For the year ended December 31, 2014	First		Second		Third		Fourth		Total
Operating revenues	$	80,452	$	81,416	$	82,268	$	82,810	$	326,946
Operating income		15,680		15,793		14,144		16,326		61,943
Net income		8,616		8,615		8,003		8,649		33,883

Net income per share – basic		0.36		0.36		0.33		0.36		1.41
Net income per share – diluted		0.36		0.35		0.33		0.35		1.39


For the year ended December 31, 2013	First		Second		Third		Fourth		Total
Operating revenues	$	76,010	$	77,454	$	77,513	$	77,965	$	308,942
Operating income		15,209		14,500		13,262		12,436		55,407
Net income		8,351		7,842		6,717		6,676		29,586

Net income per share – basic and diluted		0.35		0.33		0.28		0.27		1.23

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) Megahertz State	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Description of business [Abstract]
Non Sprint operations, number of states \| State	4
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash equivalents	$ 40,000	$ 20,000
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	924	1,113	$ 838
Bad debt expense	1,678	2,019	2,870
Losses charged to allowance	(2,218)	(2,390)	(2,854)
Recoveries added to allowance	378	182	259
Balance at end of year	762	924	1,113
Asset Retirement Obligation [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	6,485	5,896	7,610
Additional liabilities accrued	403	1,189	1,148
Changes to prior estimates	0	0	(2,265)
Payments made	(334)	(909)	(846)
Accretion expense	374	309	249
Balance at end of year	$ 6,928	$ 6,485	$ 5,896
Minimum [Member]
Description of business [Abstract]
Megahertz spectrum used \| Megahertz	800
Investments: [Abstract]
Ownership percentage to consider Investments Carried at Equity Method Investments (in hundredths)	20.00%
Maximum [Member]
Description of business [Abstract]
Megahertz spectrum used \| Megahertz	1,900
Investments: [Abstract]
Ownership percentage to consider Investments Carried at Cost (in hundredths)	20.00%
Ownership percentage to consider Investments Carried at Equity Method Investments (in hundredths)	50.00%

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) Franchise	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Impairment recognized	$ 0	$ 0	$ (10,952)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	34,335	34,516
Accumulated amortization	(30,173)	(27,798)
Net	$ 4,162	6,718
Number of franchises no longer supported \| Franchise	2
Amortization expense	$ 2,600	4,100	$ 6,500
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]
Gross Carrying Amount	64,098	64,098
Net	64,098	64,098
Total intangibles, gross carrying amount	98,433	98,614
Total net	68,260	$ 70,816
Amortization expense for intangible assets [Abstract]
2015	1,411
2016	943
2017	514
2018	196
2019	$ 112
Management Fee [Abstract]
Management fee (in hundredths)	8.00%
Net service fee (in hundredths)	14.00%	12.00%
Management fee retained (in hundredths)	6.00%
Cable Franchise Rights [Member]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 64,059	$ 64,059
Net	64,059	64,059
Fair value amount exceeding the carrying amount	5,300	6,100
Railroad Crossing Rights [Member]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]
Gross Carrying Amount	39	39
Net	39	39
Business Contracts [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	1,898	2,069
Accumulated amortization	(495)	(479)
Net	1,403	1,590
Cable Franchise Rights [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	122	122
Accumulated amortization	(122)	(122)
Net	0	0
Acquired Subscriber Base [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	32,315	32,325
Accumulated amortization	(29,556)	(27,197)
Net	$ 2,759	$ 5,128

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Earnings per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Stock options outstanding (in shares)	697				748				697	748	661
Antidilutive shares and options excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)									11	129	343
Net income	$ 8,649	$ 8,003	$ 8,615	$ 8,616	$ 6,676	$ 6,717	$ 7,842	$ 8,351	$ 33,883	$ 29,586	$ 16,303
Weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)									24,099	24,001	23,877
Basic income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.36	$ 0.33	$ 0.36	$ 0.36	$ 0.27	$ 0.28	$ 0.33	$ 0.35	$ 1.41	$ 1.23	$ 0.68
Effect of stock options outstanding [Abstract]
IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements									705	485	343
Assumed repurchase of shares under treasury stock method (in shares)									(444)	(371)	(201)
Diluted weighted average shares (in shares)									24,360	24,115	24,019
Diluted income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.35	$ 0.33	$ 0.35	$ 0.36					$ 1.39	$ 1.23	$ 0.68

Discontinued Operations (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Discontinued Operations (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Discontinued operations including amounts of operating revenue and income (loss) before income taxes [Abstract]
Discontinued operations accounted for operating revenues	$ 1,100
Loss before income taxes	$ 496

Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Investments at fair value	$ 2,661	$ 2,528
Unrealized losses	51
Unrealized gains		391	$ 191
Losses on sale of investments		1
Gain on sale of investments			$ 66
Investments [Line Items]
Cost method investments	4,504	4,109
Equity method investments	2,924	2,695
Total other investments	7,428	6,804
Increase in cost method investments	406	375
Distributions from investments	43
Gain on equity method investment	259
Private equity partnerships [Member]
Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	2,419	2,365
Other [Member]
Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	505	330
Taxable Bond Funds [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Investments at fair value	10	10
Domestic equity funds [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Investments at fair value	2,553	2,419
International Equity Funds [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Investments at fair value	98	99
CoBank [Member]
Investments [Line Items]
Cost method investments	3,749	3,343
Other [Member]
Investments [Line Items]
Cost method investments	$ 755	$ 766

Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Property, plant and equipment [Abstract]
Total property, plant and equipment	$ 693,399	$ 656,661
Less accumulated amortization and depreciation	287,492	247,698
Property, plant and equipment, net	405,907	408,963
Equipment exchange credit for new equipment purchase	863	14,533	$ 20,307
Land [Member]
Property, plant and equipment [Abstract]
Total property, plant and equipment	3,700	3,415
Building and Structures [Member]
Property, plant and equipment [Abstract]
Total property, plant and equipment	$ 103,341	96,700
Building and Structures [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Property, plant and equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	10 years
Building and Structures [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Property, plant and equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	40 years
Cable and Wire [Member]
Property, plant and equipment [Abstract]
Total property, plant and equipment	$ 201,938	187,293
Cable and Wire [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Property, plant and equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	4 years
Cable and Wire [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Property, plant and equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	40 years
Equipment and Software [Member]
Property, plant and equipment [Abstract]
Total property, plant and equipment	$ 366,342	346,072
Equipment and Software [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Property, plant and equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	2 years
Equipment and Software [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Property, plant and equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives	16 years 8 months 12 days
Plant in Service [Member]
Property, plant and equipment [Abstract]
Total property, plant and equipment	$ 675,321	633,480
Plant under Construction [Member]
Property, plant and equipment [Abstract]
Total property, plant and equipment	$ 18,078	$ 23,181

Long-Term Debt and Revolving Lines of Credit (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) Institution Facility	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	$ 224,250
Current maturities	23,000	$ 5,750
Total long-term debt	$ 201,250	224,250
Minimum percentage of aggregate principal balance on which entity obtain interest rate protection (in hundredths)	33.00%
Minimum days to obtain interest rate protection	90 days
Minimum time to maintain interest rate protection	3 years
Number of additional farm credit institutions \| Institution	16
Number of facilities included in Credit Agreement \| Facility	3
Aggregate principal amount of incremental term loan facilities, maximum	$ 100,000
Derivative asset, fair value	$ 1,900	4,300
Percentage of principal amount of loan on which entity entered in pay fixed receive fixed interest rate swap (in hundredths)	76.00%
Derivative effective interest rate (in hundredths)	2.50%
Derivative fixed interest rate (in hundredths)	3.63%
Percentage of effective interest rate on portion of debt (in hundredths)	1.13%
Financial covenants in its credit agreements [Abstract]
Total Leverage Ratio, Actual	1.67
Debt Service Coverage Ratio, Actual	8.57
Equity to Assets Ratio, Actual	41.7
Total Leverage Ratio, Covenant Requirement	2.50
Debt Service Coverage Ratio, Covenant Requirement	2.50
Equity to Assets Ratio, Covenant Requirement	32.5
Aggregate maturities of long-term debt [Abstract]
2015	$ 23,000
2016	23,000
2017	23,000
2018	23,000
2019	132,250
Long term debt, Total	224,250
Accrued in anticipation of early 2014 distribution of patronage credit	$ 1,600
Percentage of patronage credit paid in cash (in hundredths)	75.00%
Percentage of patronage credit paid in shares (in hundredths)	25.00%
CoBank Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	$ 224,250	230,000
Interest rate (in hundredths)	2.67%
Basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)	2.50%
Required periodic installments	$ 5,750
Expected final payment	$ 120,750
Maturity date	Sep. 30, 2019
Debt Instrument, Description of Variable Rate Basis	30-day LIBOR
Trailing month basis of financial covenants	12 months
Aggregate maturities of long-term debt [Abstract]
Long term debt, Total	$ 224,250	$ 230,000
CoBank Term Loan [Member] \| Amendment date through December 31, 2013 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)	0.17%
CoBank Term Loan [Member] \| January 1, 2015 and Thereafter [Member]
Financial covenants in its credit agreements [Abstract]
Equity to Assets Ratio, Actual	0.35
CoBank Term Loan [Member] \| April 1, 2014 through March 31, 2015 [Member]
Financial covenants in its credit agreements [Abstract]
Total Leverage Ratio, Covenant Requirement	2.50
CoBank Term Loan [Member] \| April 1, 2015 and Thereafter [Member]
Financial covenants in its credit agreements [Abstract]
Total Leverage Ratio, Covenant Requirement	2.00
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 50,000

Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income tax allocation [Abstract]
Income tax expense on continuing operations	$ 22,151	$ 19,878	$ 12,008
Income tax benefit on discontinued operations	0	0	(196)
Shareholder's equity, for compensation expense for tax purposes in excess of amounts recognized for financial reporting purposes	(395)	(101)	(106)
Other comprehensive income for changes in cash flow hedge	(993)	2,315	(574)
Income tax expense continuing operations and discontinued operations	20,763	22,092	11,132
Current expense
Federal taxes	16,592	3,404	3,741
State taxes	2,562	2,305	1,868
Total current provision	19,154	5,709	5,609
Deferred expense
Federal taxes	1,636	12,317	5,618
State taxes	1,361	1,852	781
Total deferred provision	2,997	14,169	6,399
Income tax expense on continuing operations	$ 22,151	$ 19,878	$ 12,008
Effective tax rate (in hundredths)	39.50%	40.20%	42.00%
Reconciliation of income taxes [Abstract]
Computed "expected" tax expense at (35%)	$ 19,612	$ 17,312	$ 10,014
State income taxes, net of federal tax effect	2,550	2,702	1,722
Other, net	(11)	(136)	272
Income tax expense on continuing operations	$ 22,151	19,878	$ 12,008
Federal statutory income tax rate (in hundredths)	35.00%
Deferred tax assets [Abstract]
Lease obligations	$ 2,733	2,139
Deferred activation charges	108	107
Allowance for doubtful accounts	306	370
Inventory reserves	189	259
State net operating loss carry-forwards, net of federal tax	717	650
Accrued pension costs	1,086	1,018
Accrued compensation costs	1,550	1,140
Asset retirement obligations	2,790	2,601
Intangible assets	7,921	7,757
Goodwill	2,434	2,660
Deferred revenues	2,691	1,873
Total gross deferred tax assets	22,525	20,574
Less valuation allowance	(709)	(591)
Net deferred tax assets	21,816	19,983
Deferred tax liabilities [Abstract]
Plant and equipment	87,941	84,772
Franchise rights	7,686	5,942
Section 481a deferred revenues	246	493
Deferred financing costs	106	128
Prepaid insurance	116	241
Gain on investments, net	409	115
Other, net	878	1,876
Total gross deferred tax liabilities	97,382	93,567
Net deferred tax liabilities	75,566	73,584
Increase in valuation allowance	709
Deferred tax asset related to various state net operating losses net of valuation allowance	8
Unrecognized tax benefits	$ 0	$ 0

Significant Contractual Relationship (Details) $ in Millions	5 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) Megahertz Renewal Site $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Jul. 08, 2010 Right
Significant Contractual Relationship [Line Items]
Additional term of contract		5 years
Initial term of contract		20 years
Number of contract renewals \| Renewal		3
Length of renewals		10 years
Right or obligation to sell business (in hundredths)		80.00%
Management fee on prepaid services (in hundredths)		6.00%
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Proceeds from reimbursement of handset subsidies and other costs incorrectly calculated from inception \| $				$ 11.8
Expected future net service fee (in hundredths)	14.00%
One-time fee per device for the amended Sprint agreement \| $ / shares		9.23
Service fees incurred during the period \| $		$ 1.1	$ 1.3
Management fee on post paid services (in hundredths)		8.00%
Number of base stations upgraded to new technology \| Site		537
Minimum [Member]
Significant Contractual Relationship [Line Items]
Megahertz spectrum used \| Megahertz		800
Maximum [Member]
Significant Contractual Relationship [Line Items]
Megahertz spectrum used \| Megahertz		1,900
Additional term of contract		45 years
Subscriber Base [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Number of Virgin Mobile rights acquired to receive customers share of revenues \| Right					50,000

Related Party Transactions (Details) - ValleyNet [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from related parties	$ 3.0	$ 3.0	$ 3.2
Accounts receivable, related parties	0.2	0.2
Expenses from transactions with related party	$ 2.3	$ 1.7	$ 0.8

Retirement Plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Retirement Plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
401 (k) Plan [Member]
Defined Contribution Plans [Line Items]
Contribution to plan	$ 2.5	$ 2.3	$ 2.4
SERP [Member]
Defined Contribution Plans [Line Items]
Liability due to participants	$ 2.7	$ 2.5

Stock Incentive Plans (Details)	1 Months Ended							12 Months Ended
Stock Incentive Plans (Details)	May 31, 2014 $ / shares shares	Feb. 28, 2014 Employee $ / shares shares	May 31, 2013 $ / shares shares	Feb. 28, 2013 Employee $ / shares shares	May 31, 2012 $ / shares shares	Feb. 29, 2012 Employee $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2007 $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) Plan $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of Stock Incentive Plans \| Plan								2
Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Outstanding at beginning of year (in shares)								748,000	661,000
Outstanding at end of period (in shares)								697,000	748,000	661,000
The 2005 Plan [Member]
Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares authorized for issuance (in shares)								1,440,000
Additional number of shares authorized for issuance (in shares)								1,500,000
Life of award								10 years
The 2005 Plan [Member] \| Stock Options [Member]
Fair Value Assumptions [Abstract]
Dividend rate (in hundredths)									2.38%	3.05%
Risk free interest rate (in hundredths)									1.15%	1.22%
Expected lives of options									6 years 1 month 20 days	6 years 3 months
Price volatility (in hundredths)									40.66%	38.80%
Share-based Compensation Expense \| $								$ 452,000	$ 612,000	$ 561,000
Share based compensation income tax benefit \| $								78,000	$ 134,000	$ 129,000
Compensation cost related to non-vested \| $								$ 200,000
Weighted-average period								2 years 6 months
Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Outstanding at beginning of year (in shares)								550,507	494,688	406,894
Granted (in shares)								0	133,048	151,522
Cancelled (in shares)								(1,073)	(10,591)	(8,728)
Exercised (in shares)								(50,758)	(66,638)	(55,000)
Outstanding at end of period (in shares)								498,676	550,507	494,688
Options, weighted average grant price per option [Roll Forward]
Outstanding at beginning of year (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares								$ 16.71	$ 17.82	$ 19.16
Granted (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares								0	13.84	10.82
Cancelled (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares								25.26	25.26	25.26
Exercised (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares								22.43	16.82	7.34
Outstanding at end of period (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares								$ 16.11	16.71	17.82
Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair value per option (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares									$ 4.33	$ 3.02
Intrinsic value of outstanding options \| $								$ 7,500,000
Weighted average remaining contractual life								5 years 8 months 12 days
Number of options exercisable (in shares)								295,900
Weighted average exercise price, options exercisable (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares								$ 18.26
Intrinsic value, options exercisable \| $								$ 3,800,000
Options exercisable, weighted average remaining contractual term								4 years 6 months
Share Price (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares								$ 31.25
Fair value of options vested \| $								$ 700,000
Intrinsic value of options exercised \| $								500,000
Proceeds from stock options exercised \| $								1,100,000
Tax benefit realized from exercise of stock options \| $								200,000
Compensation, nonvested awards, compensation cost not yet recognized \| $								$ 200,000
Compensation, nonvested awards, cost not yet recognized, period for recognition								2 years 6 months
Stock Awards Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Additional compensation expense \| $								$ 156,000
The 2005 Plan [Member] \| Stock Options [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Life of award								10 years
The 2005 Plan [Member] \| Stock Options [Member] \| Management Shares [Member]
Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options annual vesting percentage (in hundredths)								25.00%
The 2005 Plan [Member] \| Stock Options [Member] \| Officer [Member]
Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Life of award								7 years
The 2005 Plan [Member] \| Performance Shares [Member]
Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares authorized for issuance (in shares)							68,130
Stock Awards Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair value per share (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares							$ 20.50
Premium on grant date fair value (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares								$ 1.64
The 2005 Plan [Member] \| Performance Shares [Member] \| Management Shares [Member]
Stock Awards Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Period Stock Awards Can Vest							30 days
Estimated expected forfeitures (in hundredths)								40.00%
Estimated forfeiture rate of awards (in hundredths)									15.00%
Additional compensation expense \| $									$ 48,000
The 2005 Plan [Member] \| Performance Shares [Member] \| Employee Shares [Member]
Nonvested Shares [Roll Forward]
Granted (in shares)							44,726
Stock Awards Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Estimated expected forfeitures (in hundredths)								35.00%
The 2005 Plan [Member] \| Performance Shares [Member] \| Directors and Senior Management [Member]
Nonvested Shares [Roll Forward]
Granted (in shares)							23,404
The 2005 Plan [Member] \| Performance Shares [Member] \| Employee Share [Member]
Stock Awards Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Estimated expected forfeitures (in hundredths)									39.00%
Additional compensation expense \| $									$ 40,000
The 2005 Plan [Member] \| Non Vested Shares [Member]
Fair Value Assumptions [Abstract]
Share-based Compensation Expense \| $								$ 2,200,000	1,300,000	$ 1,300,000
Share based compensation income tax benefit \| $								900,000	$ 500,000	$ 300,000
Compensation cost related to non-vested \| $								$ 1,200,000
Weighted-average period								2 years 4 months 24 days
Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Compensation, nonvested awards, compensation cost not yet recognized \| $								$ 1,200,000
Compensation, nonvested awards, cost not yet recognized, period for recognition								2 years 4 months 24 days
Nonvested Shares [Roll Forward]
Nonvested number, at beginning of year (in shares)								213,090	213,354	147,143
Granted (in shares)								90,765	98,686	119,354
Cancelled (in shares)								(5,382)	(30,994)	(8,098)
Vested and issued (in shares)								(80,837)	(67,956)	(45,045)
Nonvested number at end of year (in shares)								217,636	213,090	213,354
The 2005 Plan [Member] \| Non Vested Shares [Member] \| Management Shares [Member]
Nonvested Shares [Roll Forward]
Granted (in shares)		67,781		62,283		66,384
Stock Awards Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair value per share (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares		$ 26.01		$ 13.84		$ 10.82
Number of employees participating in grants of non vested shares \| Employee		22		18		17
Number of years of service with the company								10 years
Share based awards vesting annually (in hundredths)								25.00%	25.00%	25.00%
The 2005 Plan [Member] \| Non Vested Shares [Member] \| Employee Shares [Member]
Nonvested Shares [Roll Forward]
Granted (in shares)	16,832		24,843		38,186
Vested and issued (in shares)	4,695		9,567		14,040
Stock Awards Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair value per share (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 25.67		$ 17.48		$ 10.51
The 2005 Plan [Member] \| Non Vested Shares [Member] \| Non Employee Director Shares [Member]
Nonvested Shares [Roll Forward]
Granted (in shares)		6,152		11,560		14,784
Stock Awards Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair value per share (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares		$ 26.01		$ 13.84		$ 10.82
Share based awards vesting annually (in hundredths)								33.00%

Major Customer (Details) - Operating Revenues [Member] - Sprint Nextel [Member] - Customer	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Number of Major Customer	1
Concentration risk (in hundredths)	58.00%	59.00%	59.00%
Maximum [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (in hundredths)	1.50%	1.50%	1.50%

Shareholder Rights Plan (Details) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
Shareholder Rights Plan (Details) - $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2014	Feb. 08, 2008
Shareholder Rights Plan [Abstract]
Number of rights granted per share owned (in shares)		1
Price per half share of common stock (in dollars per share)		$ 40
Alternate price per half share of common stock (in dollars per share)		$ 80
Beneficial ownership that triggers the shareholder rights, Minimum (in hundredths)		15.00%
Redemption price of rights (in dollars per right)		$ 0.001
Time period for independent directors to review the Shareholders' Rights Plan	3 years

Lease Commitments (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Lease Commitments (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) Renewal	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Future minimum payments under non-cancelable agreements [Abstract]
2015	$ 13,704
2016	13,604
2017	13,751
2018	13,516
2019	13,150
2020 and beyond	75,367
Total future lease payments	143,092
Rent expense	16,100	$ 15,600	$ 13,100
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Receivable [Abstract]
2015	5,190
2016	3,674
2017	2,764
2018	1,523
2019	752
2020 and beyond	1,285
Total minimum rental receipts	15,188
Rent income	$ 6,000	$ 5,600	$ 6,100
Towers [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Number of renewals \| Renewal	4
Term of renewals	5 years
Towers [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Terms of leases	5 years
Towers [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Terms of leases	10 years
Other [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Terms of leases	5 years
Other [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Terms of leases	20 years

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2014	Aug. 31, 2010
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total	$ 2,594
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total	1,122	$ 2,594
Interest Expense [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Changes in fair value recorded in interest expense		239	$ 213
Amount reclassified as an increase to interest expense during next twelve months	$ 1,300
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, expiry date	Jul. 31, 2013
Amount of notional principal interest rate swap				$ 174,600	$ 63,300
Notional amount of interest rate swaps	$ 170,300	174,600
Gains and (Losses) on Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax [Abstract]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax	4,336
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, before Tax	(4,186)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (to interest expense), before tax	1,721
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(2,465)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax	1,871	4,336
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax	(1,742)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, tax	1,676
Amounts reclassified From accumulated other comprehensive income tax (to interest expense)	(683)
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss), tax	993
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax	(749)	(1,742)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total	2,594
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	(2,510)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (to interest expense), net of tax	1,038
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(1,472)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total	1,122	2,594
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net	1,871	4,336
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Accrued liabilities and other [Member] \| Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivatives Liabilities, Fair Value	(1,309)	(1,590)
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Deferred charges and other assets, net [Member] \| Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Assets, Fair Value	$ 3,180	$ 5,926
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount of interest rate swaps			$ 52,200

Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) State	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) State Segment	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments \| Segment									3
Non Sprint operations, number of states \| State	4								4
External revenues [Abstract]
Service revenues									$ 282,502	$ 268,990	$ 243,943
Other revenues									44,444	39,952	44,132
Total external revenues									326,946	308,942	288,075
Internal revenues									0	0	0
Total operating revenues	$ 82,810	$ 82,268	$ 81,416	$ 80,452	$ 77,965	$ 77,513	$ 77,454	$ 76,010	326,946	308,942	288,075
Operating expenses [Abstract]
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below									129,743	125,140	117,407
Goodwill impairment									0	0	10,952
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below									69,370	67,673	60,646
Depreciation and amortization									65,890	60,722	64,412
Total operating expenses									265,003	253,535	253,417
Operating income	16,326	14,144	15,793	15,680	12,436	13,262	14,500	15,209	61,943	55,407	34,658
Reconciliation of income from continuing operations from segments to consolidated [Abstract]
Total consolidated operating income	16,326	$ 14,144	$ 15,793	$ 15,680	12,436	$ 13,262	$ 14,500	$ 15,209	61,943	55,407	34,658
Interest expense									(8,148)	(8,468)	(7,850)
Non-operating income, net									2,239	2,525	1,803
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									56,034	49,464	28,611
Assets by segment [Abstract]
Assets	619,242				597,006				619,242	597,006
Other [Member]
External revenues [Abstract]
Service revenues									0	0	0
Other revenues									0	0	0
Total external revenues									0	0	0
Internal revenues									0	0	0
Total operating revenues									0	0	0
Operating expenses [Abstract]
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below									0	0	26
Goodwill impairment											0
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below									13,148	12,765	12,266
Depreciation and amortization									407	35	61
Total operating expenses									13,555	12,800	12,353
Operating income									(13,555)	(12,800)	(12,353)
Reconciliation of income from continuing operations from segments to consolidated [Abstract]
Total consolidated operating income									(13,555)	(12,800)	(12,353)
Assets by segment [Abstract]
Assets	446,028				435,804				446,028	435,804
Total Segments [Member]
Assets by segment [Abstract]
Assets	964,228				956,481				964,228	956,481
Reportable Segments [Member] \| Wireless [Member]
External revenues [Abstract]
Service revenues									191,147	182,955	162,912
Other revenues									11,867	10,842	13,398
Total external revenues									203,014	193,797	176,310
Internal revenues									4,440	4,328	3,328
Total operating revenues									207,454	198,125	179,638
Operating expenses [Abstract]
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below									73,290	72,995	63,906
Goodwill impairment											0
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below									33,171	32,812	27,281
Depreciation and amortization									31,111	28,177	31,660
Total operating expenses									137,572	133,984	122,847
Operating income									69,882	64,141	56,791
Reconciliation of income from continuing operations from segments to consolidated [Abstract]
Total consolidated operating income									69,882	64,141	56,791
Assets by segment [Abstract]
Assets	218,887				229,038				218,887	229,038
Reportable Segments [Member] \| Cable [Member]
External revenues [Abstract]
Service revenues									70,972	65,657	61,252
Other revenues									13,431	10,092	9,322
Total external revenues									84,403	75,749	70,574
Internal revenues									150	123	289
Total operating revenues									84,553	75,872	70,863
Operating expenses [Abstract]
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below									51,982	45,767	44,563
Goodwill impairment											7,652
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below									19,521	19,052	17,642
Depreciation and amortization									23,148	21,202	22,446
Total operating expenses									94,651	86,021	92,303
Operating income									(10,098)	(10,149)	(21,440)
Reconciliation of income from continuing operations from segments to consolidated [Abstract]
Total consolidated operating income									(10,098)	(10,149)	(21,440)
Assets by segment [Abstract]
Assets	201,232				199,184				201,232	199,184
Reportable Segments [Member] \| Wireline [Member]
External revenues [Abstract]
Service revenues									20,383	20,378	19,779
Other revenues									19,146	19,018	21,412
Total external revenues									39,529	39,396	41,191
Internal revenues									23,506	20,074	18,927
Total operating revenues									63,035	59,470	60,118
Operating expenses [Abstract]
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below									30,088	28,603	29,199
Goodwill impairment											3,300
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below									6,009	5,344	5,714
Depreciation and amortization									11,224	11,308	10,245
Total operating expenses									47,321	45,255	48,458
Operating income									15,714	14,215	11,660
Reconciliation of income from continuing operations from segments to consolidated [Abstract]
Total consolidated operating income									15,714	14,215	11,660
Assets by segment [Abstract]
Assets	98,081				92,455				98,081	92,455
Eliminations [Member]
External revenues [Abstract]
Service revenues									0	0	0
Other revenues									0	0	0
Total external revenues									0	0	0
Internal revenues									(28,096)	(24,525)	(22,544)
Total operating revenues									(28,096)	(24,525)	(22,544)
Operating expenses [Abstract]
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below									(25,617)	(22,225)	(20,287)
Goodwill impairment											0
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below									(2,479)	(2,300)	(2,257)
Depreciation and amortization									0	0	0
Total operating expenses									(28,096)	(24,525)	(22,544)
Operating income									0	0	0
Reconciliation of income from continuing operations from segments to consolidated [Abstract]
Total consolidated operating income									0	0	$ 0
Assets by segment [Abstract]
Assets	$ (344,986)				$ (359,475)				$ (344,986)	$ (359,475)

Quarterly Results (unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Quarterly Results (unaudited) [Abstract]
Operating revenues	$ 82,810	$ 82,268	$ 81,416	$ 80,452	$ 77,965	$ 77,513	$ 77,454	$ 76,010	$ 326,946	$ 308,942	$ 288,075
Operating income	16,326	14,144	15,793	15,680	12,436	13,262	14,500	15,209	61,943	55,407	34,658
Net income from continuing operations									33,883	29,586	16,603
Net income	$ 8,649	$ 8,003	$ 8,615	$ 8,616	$ 6,676	$ 6,717	$ 7,842	$ 8,351	$ 33,883	$ 29,586	$ 16,303
Net income per share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.36	$ 0.33	$ 0.36	$ 0.36	$ 0.27	$ 0.28	$ 0.33	$ 0.35	$ 1.41	$ 1.23	$ 0.68
Net income per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.35	$ 0.33	$ 0.35	$ 0.36					$ 1.39	$ 1.23	$ 0.68

- Definition

The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.

+ References + Details

- Definition

The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

+ References + Details