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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Details) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of wireless customers |  | 4,900,000 |  |  |  |
Wireline and Cable connections |  | 1,200,000 |  |  |  |
Amounts recorded gross in revenues that are billed to customers and remitted to governmental authorities |  | $ 95,300 |  | $ 113,500 |  | $ 131,000
Advertising costs |  | 267,900 |  | 228,500 |  | 212,800
Other assets and deferred charges |  | 196,461 |  | 282,037 |  |
Long-term debt, net |  | 2,439,827 |  | 1,941,069 |  |
Service |  | 4,321,969 |  | 4,328,654 |  | 4,443,491
Effect of adoption of new ASUs |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements |  |  |  |  |  |
Other assets and deferred charges |  |  |  | (52,500) |  |
Long-term debt, net |  |  |  | (52,500) |  |
Long-term |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable |  |  |  |  |  |
Unbilled allowance for credit losses |  | 5,537 |  | 6,065 |  |
Allowance for doubtful accounts |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for doubtful accounts, beginning balance |  | 48,637 | [1] | 65,604 | [1] | 33,415
Additions, net of recoveries |  | 112,292 |  | 107,861 |  | 105,629
Deductions |  | (104,701) |  | (124,828) |  | (73,440)
Allowance for doubtful accounts, ending balance | [1] | $ 56,228 |  | 48,637 |  | 65,604
U.S. Cellular |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements |  |  |  |  |  |
TDS ownership of U.S. Cellular |  | 84.00% |  |  |  |
Agent liability |  | $ 75,700 |  | 95,300 |  |
Service |  | 3,350,431 |  | 3,397,937 |  | 3,594,773
U.S. Cellular | Loyalty Rewards Program |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred revenue |  |  |  | 94,600 |  |
Service |  | 58,200 |  |  |  |
U.S. Cellular | Loyalty Rewards Program | Special issuance |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred revenue |  |  |  |  |  | 43,500
TDS Telecom |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements |  |  |  |  |  |
Service |  | $ 985,656 |  | $ 937,510 |  | $ 853,067
[1] | In 2015 and 2014, balance includes an allowance of $5.5 million and $6.1 million, respectively, related to the long-term portion of unbilled equipment installment plan receivables.

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