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Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill    
Balance, beginning of period $ 771,352  
Balance, end of period 765,792 $ 771,352
Licenses    
Licenses and Franchise Rights    
Balance, beginning of period 1,453,574 1,423,779
Acquisitions 345,807 [1] 44,410
Transferred to Assets held for sale   (56,809)
Exchanges 43,485 55,780
Divestitures   (15,220)
Other 1,482 1,634
Balance, end of period 1,844,348 1,453,574
Licenses | U.S. Cellular    
Licenses and Franchise Rights    
Balance, beginning of period 1,448,071 1,405,759
Acquisitions 345,807 [1] 41,707
Transferred to Assets held for sale   (56,809)
Exchanges 43,485 55,780
Other 1,482 1,634
Balance, end of period 1,838,845 1,448,071
Licenses | TDS Telecom Wireline    
Licenses and Franchise Rights    
Balance, beginning of period 2,800 2,800
Balance, end of period 2,800 2,800
Licenses | TDS Telecom Cable    
Licenses and Franchise Rights    
Balance, beginning of period 2,703  
Acquisitions   2,703
Balance, end of period 2,703 2,703
Licenses | Other    
Licenses and Franchise Rights    
Balance, beginning of period [2]   15,220
Divestitures [2]   (15,220)
Franchise rights | TDS Telecom Cable    
Licenses and Franchise Rights    
Balance, beginning of period 244,300 123,668
Acquisitions   120,979
Other (120) (347)
Balance, end of period 244,180 244,300
Goodwill    
Goodwill    
Balance, beginning of period 771,352 836,843 [3]
Acquisitions   33,610
Loss on impairment   (87,802)
Divestitures 5,005 (2,855)
Transferred to Assets held for sale   (8,444)
Other (555)  
Balance, end of period 765,792 771,352
Goodwill | U.S. Cellular    
Goodwill    
Balance, beginning of period 227,406 232,041 [3]
Divestitures   (291)
Transferred to Assets held for sale   (4,344)
Other (555)  
Accumulated impairment losses in prior periods   (333,900)
Balance, end of period 226,851 227,406
Goodwill | TDS Telecom Wireline    
Goodwill    
Balance, beginning of period 413,794 420,458 [3]
Divestitures 5,005 (2,564)
Transferred to Assets held for sale   (4,100)
Accumulated impairment losses in prior periods   (29,400)
Balance, end of period 408,789 413,794
Goodwill | TDS Telecom Cable    
Goodwill    
Balance, beginning of period 95,322 61,712 [3]
Acquisitions   33,610
Balance, end of period 95,322 95,322
Goodwill | TDS Telecom HMS    
Goodwill    
Balance, beginning of period 34,830 118,830 [3]
Loss on impairment   (84,000)
Balance, end of period $ 34,830 34,830
Goodwill | Other    
Goodwill    
Balance, beginning of period [3]   3,802
Loss on impairment   (3,802)
Accumulated impairment losses in prior periods   $ (500)
[1] Amount in 2015 includes purchases totaling $338.3 million made by Advantage Spectrum from the FCC for licenses in which it was the provisional winning bidder in Auction 97. See Note 6 — Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges, and Note 14 — Variable Interest Entities for further information. These licenses have not yet been granted by the FCC.
[2] Represents the transfer of licenses from Airadigm to U.S. Cellular in 2014. See Note 6 - Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges for additional information.
[3] 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.