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Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges, acquisitions (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended |  |  |
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Aug. 31, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Oct. 31, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Aug. 31, 2012 | Nov. 30, 2012
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | $ 771,352 us-gaap_Goodwill |  | $ 836,843 us-gaap_Goodwill |  |  |  |  |  | $ 797,194 us-gaap_Goodwill | [1] |  |
Licenses | 1,453,574 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements |  | 1,423,779 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Franchise rights | 244,300 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedFranchiseRights |  | 123,668 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedFranchiseRights |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase price | 315,496 us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_AcquisitionsMember | [2] | 324,166 us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_AcquisitionsMember | [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 33,610 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_AcquisitionsMember | [3] | 76,915 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_AcquisitionsMember | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Licenses | 44,410 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_AcquisitionsMember |  | 16,540 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_AcquisitionsMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Franchise rights | 120,979 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedFranchiseRights / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_AcquisitionsMember |  | 123,668 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedFranchiseRights / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_AcquisitionsMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Intangible assets subject to amortization | 14,056 us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_AcquisitionsMember | [4] | 28,725 us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_AcquisitionsMember | [4] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net tangible assets (liabilities) | 102,441 us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_AcquisitionsMember |  | 78,318 us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_AcquisitionsMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Cellular |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 227,406 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_USCellularSegmentMember |  | 232,041 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_USCellularSegmentMember |  |  |  |  |  | 269,307 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_USCellularSegmentMember | [1] |  |
U.S. Cellular | License Acquisitions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase price | 41,707 us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_LicensesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_USCellularSegmentMember | [2] | 16,540 us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_LicensesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_USCellularSegmentMember | [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Licenses | 41,707 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_LicensesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_USCellularSegmentMember |  | 16,540 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_LicensesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_USCellularSegmentMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Cellular | License Acquisitions | 700 Mhz Acquisition 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description of acquired entity | In August 2012, U.S. Cellular acquired four 700 MHz licenses covering portions of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma for $34.0 million. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Licenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 34,000 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements / tds_AcquisitionEventAxis = tds_AquisitionEvent2Member / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_LicensesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_USCellularSegmentMember |
U.S. Cellular | License Acquisitions | 700 Mhz Acquisition 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description of acquired entity | In November 2012, U.S. Cellular acquired seven 700 MHz licenses covering portions of Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin for $57.7 million. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Licenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 57,700 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements / tds_AcquisitionEventAxis = tds_AquisitionEvent3Member / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_LicensesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_USCellularSegmentMember
TDS Telecom Wireline |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 413,794 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomWirelineSegmentMember | [5] | 420,458 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomWirelineSegmentMember | [5] |  |  |  |  | 420,458 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomWirelineSegmentMember | [1],[5] |  |
TDS Telecom Cable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 95,322 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomCableSegmentMember |  | 61,712 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomCableSegmentMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
TDS Telecom Cable | Business Acquisitions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted average useful life, acquired finite lived intangibles | 4 years 7 months |  | 2 years 11 months |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase price | 273,789 us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_BusinessesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomCableSegmentMember | [2] | 264,069 us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_BusinessesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomCableSegmentMember | [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 33,610 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_BusinessesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomCableSegmentMember | [3] | 61,712 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_BusinessesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomCableSegmentMember | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Licenses | 2,703 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_BusinessesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomCableSegmentMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Franchise rights | 120,979 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedFranchiseRights / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_BusinessesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomCableSegmentMember |  | 123,668 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedFranchiseRights / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_BusinessesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomCableSegmentMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Intangible assets subject to amortization | 14,056 us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_BusinessesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomCableSegmentMember | [4] | 11,542 us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_BusinessesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomCableSegmentMember | [4] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net tangible assets (liabilities) | 102,441 us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_BusinessesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomCableSegmentMember |  | 67,147 us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_BusinessesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomCableSegmentMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
TDS Telecom Cable | Business Acquisitions | Baja Broadband, LLC |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description of acquired entity | In August 2013, TDS Telecom acquired substantially all of the assets of Baja for $264.1 million in cash. Baja is a cable company that operates in markets primarily in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah and offers broadband, video and voice services, which complement the TDS Telecom portfolio of products. Baja is included in the Cable segment for reporting purposes. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase price |  |  |  |  | 264,100 us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / tds_AcquisitionEventAxis = tds_AquisitionEvent1Member / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_BusinessesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomCableSegmentMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |
TDS Telecom Cable | Business Acquisitions | BendBroadband |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description of acquired entity | In September 2014, TDS acquired substantially all of the assets of a group of companies operating as BendBroadband (“Bend”), headquartered in Bend, Oregon for $260.7 million in cash. Bend is a full-service communications company, offering an extensive range of broadband, fiber connectivity, cable television and telephone services for commercial and residential customers in Central Oregon. As part of the agreement, TDS also acquired a Tier III data center providing colocation and managed services and a cable advertising and broadcast business. Bend service offerings complement the current portfolio of products offered through TDS Telecom businesses. Goodwill was recorded due primarily to the expectation of future growth and synergies in Cable segment operations. The operations of the data center are included in the HMS segment. The operations of the cable and the advertising and broadcast businesses are included in the Cable segment. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase price |  |  |  |  |  | 260,700 us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / tds_AcquisitionEventAxis = tds_BendBroadbandAcquisitionEventMember / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_BusinessesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomCableSegmentMember |  |  |  |  |  |
TDS Telecom HMS |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 34,830 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomHostedAndManagedServicesMember |  | 118,830 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomHostedAndManagedServicesMember |  |  |  |  |  | 103,627 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomHostedAndManagedServicesMember | [1] |  |
TDS Telecom HMS | Business Acquisitions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted average useful life, acquired finite lived intangibles |  |  | 10 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase price |  |  | 43,557 us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_BusinessesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomHostedAndManagedServicesMember | [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  | 15,203 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_BusinessesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomHostedAndManagedServicesMember | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Intangible assets subject to amortization |  |  | 17,183 us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_BusinessesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomHostedAndManagedServicesMember | [4] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net tangible assets (liabilities) |  |  | 11,171 us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_BusinessesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomHostedAndManagedServicesMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
TDS Telecom HMS | Business Acquisitions | MSN Communications, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Voting stock acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00%us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquired / tds_AcquisitionEventAxis = tds_Aquisitionevent4Member / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_BusinessesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomHostedAndManagedServicesMember |  |  |  |  |
Description of acquired entity | In October 2013, TDS acquired 100% of the outstanding shares of MSN Communications, Inc. (“MSN”) for $43.6 million in cash. MSN is an information technology solutions provider whose service offerings complement the HMS portfolio of products. MSN is included in the HMS segment for reporting purposes. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase price |  |  |  |  |  |  | 43,600 us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / tds_AcquisitionEventAxis = tds_Aquisitionevent4Member / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_BusinessesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomHostedAndManagedServicesMember |  |  |  |  |
TDS Telecom HMS | Business Acquisitions | Vital Support Systems, LLC |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Voting stock acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00%us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquired / tds_AcquisitionEventAxis = tds_AquisitionEvent5Member / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_BusinessesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomHostedAndManagedServicesMember |  |  |  |
Description of acquired entity | In June 2012, TDS paid $46.1 million in cash to purchase 100% of the outstanding shares of Vital Support Systems, LLC (“Vital”). Vital is an information technology solutions provider whose service offerings complement the HMS portfolio of products. Vital is included in the HMS segment for reporting purposes. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase price |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 46,100 us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / tds_AcquisitionEventAxis = tds_AquisitionEvent5Member / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = tds_BusinessesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_TDSTelecomHostedAndManagedServicesMember |  |  |  |
Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  | $ 3,802 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_OtherSegmentMember | [6] |  |  |  |  | $ 3,802 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_OtherSegmentMember | [1],[6] |  |
[1] | Includes accumulated impairment losses in prior periods as follows: $333.9 million for U.S. Cellular, $29.4 million for Wireline and $0.5 million for Other.
[2] | Cash amounts paid for acquisitions may differ from the purchase price due to cash acquired in the transactions and the timing of cash payments related to the respective transactions.
[3] | The entire amount of Goodwill acquired in 2014 and 2013 was amortizable for income tax purposes.
[4] | At the date of acquisition, the weighted average amortization period for Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization acquired was as follows: 2014: 4.6 years for TDS Telecom cable business; 2013: 2.9 years for TDS Telecom cable business and 10 years for TDS HMS business
[5] | In July 2014, TDS Telecom sold certain Wireline markets.
[6] | TDS performed its annual impairment review of Goodwill in the fourth quarter of 2014. Based on the results of this review, TDS concluded that the entire amount of Goodwill related to Suttle-Straus was impaired, which resulted in a $3.8 million loss on impairment.

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