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v2.4.1.9

Investment in Unconsolidated Entities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Equity and cost method investments |  |  |
Capital contributions, loans, advances and adjustments | $ 127,939 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentAggregateCost | $ 132,629 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentAggregateCost |
Cumulative share of income | 1,323,898 tds_EquityMethodInvestmentsCumulativeShareOfIncome | 1,186,900 tds_EquityMethodInvestmentsCumulativeShareOfIncome |
Cumulative share of distributions | (1,145,438)tds_EquityMethodInvestmentsCumulativeShareOfDistributions | (1,033,087)tds_EquityMethodInvestmentsCumulativeShareOfDistributions |
Equity method investments | 306,399 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments | 286,442 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments |
Cost method investments | 15,330 us-gaap_CostMethodInvestments | 15,330 us-gaap_CostMethodInvestments |
Total investments in unconsolidated entities | 321,729 us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures | 301,772 us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures | 179,921 us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities | 131,965 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | 132,714 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | 92,867 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Los Angeles SMSA Limited Partnership |  |  |
Equity and cost method investments |  |  |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities | 71,800 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_LosAngelesSmsaLimitedPartnershipMember | 78,400 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_LosAngelesSmsaLimitedPartnershipMember | 67,200 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_LosAngelesSmsaLimitedPartnershipMember
Ownership interest in equity method investment | 5.50%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_LosAngelesSmsaLimitedPartnershipMember | 5.50%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_LosAngelesSmsaLimitedPartnershipMember | 5.50%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_LosAngelesSmsaLimitedPartnershipMember
Aggregate equity method investments |  |  |
Equity method investments, combined assets |  |  |
Current | 733,133 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCurrentAssets / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember | 520,804 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCurrentAssets / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember |
Due from affiliates | 303,322 tds_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationDueFromAffiliates / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember | 408,735 tds_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationDueFromAffiliates / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember |
Property and other | 2,345,562 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNoncurrentAssets / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember | 2,080,436 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNoncurrentAssets / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember |
Total assets | 3,382,017 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationAssets / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember | 3,009,975 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationAssets / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember |
Equity method investments, combined liabilities and equity |  |  |
Current liabilities | 407,073 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCurrentLiabilities / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember | 355,167 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCurrentLiabilities / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember |
Deferred credits | 175,516 tds_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationDeferredCredits / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember | 89,198 tds_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationDeferredCredits / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember |
Long-term liabilities | 29,342 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNoncurrentLiabilities / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember | 31,605 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNoncurrentLiabilities / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember |
Long-term capital lease obligations | 1,722 tds_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationLongTermCapitalLeaseObligations / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember | 707 tds_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationLongTermCapitalLeaseObligations / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember |
Partners' capital and shareholders' equity | 2,768,364 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationEquity / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember | 2,533,298 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationEquity / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember |
Total liabilities and equity | 3,382,017 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationLiabilitiesAndEquity / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember | 3,009,975 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationLiabilitiesAndEquity / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember |
Equity method investments, combined income statements |  |  |
Revenues | 6,700,266 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationRevenue / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember | 6,239,200 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationRevenue / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember | 5,825,150 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationRevenue / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember
Operating expenses | 5,063,925 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCostOfSales / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember | 4,492,372 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCostOfSales / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember | 4,381,731 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCostOfSales / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember
Operating income | 1,636,341 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationGrossProfitLoss / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember | 1,746,828 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationGrossProfitLoss / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember | 1,443,419 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationGrossProfitLoss / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember
Other income, net | 6,741 tds_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationOtherIncomeExpense / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember | 4,019 tds_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationOtherIncomeExpense / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember | 7,190 tds_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationOtherIncomeExpense / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember
Net income | $ 1,643,082 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNetIncomeLoss / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember | $ 1,750,847 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNetIncomeLoss / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember | $ 1,450,609 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNetIncomeLoss / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = tds_AggregateEquityMethodInvestmentEntitiesMember

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- Definition The Company's cumulative and proportionate receipt of distributed earnings since inception of its investment accounted for under the equity method. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount, after adjustment, of cost-method investment. Adjustments include, but are not limited to, dividends received in excess of earnings after date of investment that are considered a return of investment and other than temporary impairments. + 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 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 325 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872867&loc=d3e40691-111596 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 325 -SubTopic 20 -Section 35 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29638308&loc=d3e40346-111594 + 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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