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Investment in Unconsolidated Entities, Deconsolidation (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Apr. 03, 2013
Deconsolidation of New York Partnerships |  |  |  |
Investments in unconsolidated entities | $ 321,729,000 us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures | 301,772,000 us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures | $ 179,921,000 us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures |
St. Lawrence Seaway RSA Cellular Partnership |  |  |  |
Deconsolidation of New York Partnerships |  |  |  |
Ownership interest in equity method investment | 60.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / tds_DeconsolidationAxis = tds_Deconsolidation1Member |  |  |
New York RSA 2 Cellular Partnership |  |  |  |
Deconsolidation of New York Partnerships |  |  |  |
Ownership interest in equity method investment | 57.14%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / tds_DeconsolidationAxis = tds_Deconsolidation2Member |  |  |
St. Lawrence Seaway RSA Cellular Partnership and New York RSA 2 Cellular Partnership |  |  |  |
Deconsolidation of New York Partnerships |  |  |  |
Date Of Deconsolidation | Apr. 03, 2013 |  |  |
Deconsolidation gain | 14,500,000 us-gaap_DeconsolidationGainOrLossAmount / tds_DeconsolidationAxis = tds_Deconsolidation3Member |  |  |
Investments in unconsolidated entities |  |  |  | $ 114,800,000 us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / tds_DeconsolidationAxis = tds_Deconsolidation3Member
Discounted cash flow valuation approach | St. Lawrence Seaway RSA Cellular Partnership and New York RSA 2 Cellular Partnership |  |  |  |
Fair Value Inputs |  |  |  |
Average expected revenue growth rate (next ten years) |  | 2.00%tds_FairValueInputsRevenueGrowthRate / tds_DeconsolidationAxis = tds_Deconsolidation3Member / us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis = us-gaap_IncomeApproachValuationTechniqueMember |  |
Terminal revenue growth rate (after year ten) |  | 2.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsLongTermRevenueGrowthRate / tds_DeconsolidationAxis = tds_Deconsolidation3Member / us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis = us-gaap_IncomeApproachValuationTechniqueMember |  |
Discount Rate |  | 10.50%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate / tds_DeconsolidationAxis = tds_Deconsolidation3Member / us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis = us-gaap_IncomeApproachValuationTechniqueMember |  |
Discounted cash flow valuation approach | Minimum | St. Lawrence Seaway RSA Cellular Partnership and New York RSA 2 Cellular Partnership |  |  |  |
Fair Value Inputs |  |  |  |
Capital expenditures as a percentage of revenue |  | 14.90%tds_FairValueInputsCapitalExpenditurePercentage / tds_DeconsolidationAxis = tds_Deconsolidation3Member / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember / us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis = us-gaap_IncomeApproachValuationTechniqueMember |  |
Discounted cash flow valuation approach | Maximum | St. Lawrence Seaway RSA Cellular Partnership and New York RSA 2 Cellular Partnership |  |  |  |
Fair Value Inputs |  |  |  |
Capital expenditures as a percentage of revenue |  | 18.80%tds_FairValueInputsCapitalExpenditurePercentage / tds_DeconsolidationAxis = tds_Deconsolidation3Member / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember / us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis = us-gaap_IncomeApproachValuationTechniqueMember |  |

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- Definition Capital expenditures as a percentage of revenue, used as an input to measure fair value. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The amount of the gain (loss) recognized by the parent and included in its attributable portion of net income for the period due to deconsolidation of a subsidiary or derecognition of a group of assets. The gain (loss) recognized and included in the net income attributable to the parent for the period is generally computed as the difference between: (a) the aggregate of: (1) the fair value of any consideration received; (2) the fair value of any retained noncontrolling investment in the former subsidiary at the date the subsidiary was deconsolidated; and (3) the carrying amount of any noncontrolling interest in the former subsidiary (including any accumulated other comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interest) at the date the subsidiary was deconsolidated and (b) the carrying amount of the former subsidiary's assets and liabilities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1B -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=18733093&loc=SL4582445-111684 + Details
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- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
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- Definition Interest rate used to find the present value of an amount to be paid or received in the future as an input to measure fair value. For example, but not limited to, weighted average cost of capital (WACC), cost of capital, cost of equity and cost of debt. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (bbb) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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- Definition Total investments in (A) an entity in which the entity has significant influence, but does not have control, (B) subsidiaries that are not required to be consolidated and are accounted for using the equity and or cost method, and (C) an entity in which the reporting entity shares control of the entity with another party or group. Includes long-term advances receivable from a party that is affiliated with the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership. + 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 210.5-02.12) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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