Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual)

v2.4.0.6
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Jun. 22, 2011
Dec. 31, 2008
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Additional (Textual) [Abstract]          
Construction work in progress $ 29,563,000 $ 29,793,000      
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]          
Cash and cash equivalents 315,349,000 539,221,000 699,629,000   437,901,000
Cash equivalents 165,900,000 460,800,000      
Cash and cash equivalents held in domestic bank accounts 230,900,000 509,600,000      
Cash and cash equivalents held in foreign bank accounts 84,400,000 29,600,000      
Total allowances for doubtful accounts 3,763,000 7,300,000 9,069,000    
Allowances for doubtful accounts, Current 3,763,000 6,105,000      
Current retainage balances 117,100,000 119,400,000      
Non-current retainage balances 28,300,000 8,000,000      
Unbilled receivables 140,800,000 103,500,000      
Depreciation expense related to property and equipment 116,068,000 107,507,000 86,862,000    
Net property and equipment reclassified to prepaid expenses and other current assets and deemed assets held for sale   8,200,000 7,800,000    
Net losses from the impairment of assets held for sale   100,000 4,500,000    
Capitalized debt issuance costs 4,400,000 2,900,000      
Accumulated amortization of debt issuance costs 400,000 2,100,000      
Amortization expense related to capitalized debt issuance costs 901,000 642,000 921,000    
Debt issuance costs related to amendment 4,127,000        
Debt issuance cost write off 300,000        
Decrease in fair value of reporting units considered, for impairment calculation 10.00%        
Acquired ownership interest in HEP       39.00%  
Payment to acquire equity method investments (35,000,000)        
Cash paid for other investments (4,000,000)        
Change orders and/or claims 77,300,000 83,100,000      
Fiber Optic Licensing Terms, Minimum in years 5 years 5 years      
Fiber Optic Licensing Terms, Maximum in years 25 years 25 years      
Fiber optic deferred revenue 47,400,000 44,400,000      
Fiber optic non-current deferred revenue 38,300,000 34,700,000      
Fiber Optic Licensing [Member]
          
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Additional (Textual) [Abstract]          
Construction work in progress 14,100,000 11,300,000      
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]          
Depreciation expense related to property and equipment 13,829,000 12,749,000 9,419,000    
Internally Developed Software [Member]
          
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Additional (Textual) [Abstract]          
Construction work in progress $ 8,000,000 $ 5,500,000