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Common Share Repurchases (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands | 9 Months Ended
--- | ---
Sep. 30, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2014
Share repurchases |  |
Amount |  | $ 31,794
Treasury Shares |  |
Share repurchases |  |
Amount |  | $ 31,794
Common Shares | TDS Parent Company | Treasury Shares |  |
Share repurchases |  |
Number of shares acquired |  | 1,230
Average cost per share |  | $ 25.85
Amount |  | $ 31,794
Common share repurchase authorization | On August 2, 2013, the Board of Directors of TDS authorized a $250 million stock repurchase program for the purchase of TDS Common Shares from time to time pursuant to open market purchases, block transactions, private purchases or otherwise, depending on market conditions. This authorization does not have an expiration date. |
Repurchase authorization, dollar value | $ 250,000 |
Repurchase expiration | does not have an expiration date |
U.S. Cellular Common Shares | U.S. Cellular | Treasury Shares |  |
Share repurchases |  |
Number of shares acquired | 154 | 384
Average cost per share | $ 34.85 | $ 39.37
Amount | $ 5,362 | $ 15,124
Common share repurchase authorization | On November 17, 2009, the Board of Directors of U.S. Cellular authorized the repurchase of up to 1,300,000 Common Shares on an annual basis beginning in 2009 and continuing each year thereafter, on a cumulative basis. These purchases will be made pursuant to open market purchases, block purchases, private purchases or otherwise, depending on market conditions. This authorization does not have an expiration date. |
Repurchase authorization, additional number of shares | 1,300 |
Repurchase expiration | does not have an expiration date |

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- Definition The increase in number of shares allowed to be repurchased. This amount is an addition to the balance of allowable share repurchases from the prior year and has been authorized by an entity's Board of Directors under a stock repurchase plan. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Total cost of shares repurchased divided by the total number of shares repurchased. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6405813&loc=d3e23239-112655 + Details
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