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Variable Interest Entities (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 1 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Jun. 30, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Assets          
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 631,549 $ 471,901 $ 874,860 $ 830,014
Other current assets   30,480 29,766    
Licenses   1,837,792 1,453,574    
Property, plant and equipment, net   3,726,455 3,846,125    
Other assets and deferred charges   255,761 334,554    
Liabilities          
Current liabilities   1,021,183 1,063,256    
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures          
Total winning bid   338,300      
Variable Interest Entities          
Assets          
Cash and cash equivalents   2,069 2,588    
Other current assets   211 278    
Licenses   651,281 [1] 312,977    
Property, plant and equipment, net   9,636 10,671    
Other assets and deferred charges   150 60,059    
Total assets   663,347 386,573    
Liabilities          
Current liabilities   83 110    
Deferred liabilities and credits   567 622    
Total liabilities   650 732    
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures          
Capital contributions, loans or advances   $ 280,600      
Advantage Spectrum L.P. | U.S. Cellular          
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures          
Federal Communications Commission deposit     $ 60,000    
Licenses won   124      
Total winning bid   $ 338,300      
Designated entity auction discount   25.00%      
Other auction charges   $ 2,300      
King Street Wireless L.P.          
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures          
Cash distributions paid $ 60,000        
King Street Wireless, L.P. distribution paid to U.S. Cellular 54,000        
King Street Wireless, Inc.          
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures          
King Street Wireless, L.P. distribution paid to King Street Wireless, Inc. $ 6,000        
[1] Includes payments totaling $338.3 million made by Advantage Spectrum to the FCC as described below.