Stock-Based Compensation, U.S. Cellular, Overview and Valuation model (Details) - U.S. Cellular - shares	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
2005 and 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plans
Stock-based compensation, overview
Terms of award	Under the U.S. Cellular Long-Term Incentive Plans, U.S. Cellular may grant fixed and performance based incentive and non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and deferred compensation stock unit awards to key employees. At December 31, 2015, the only types of awards outstanding are fixed non-qualified stock option awards, restricted stock unit awards, and deferred compensation stock unit awards.
2005 and 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plans \| Stock Options \| Minimum
Stock-based compensation, overview
Stock options expiration date	Apr. 03, 2016
2005 and 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plans \| Stock Options \| Maximum
Stock-based compensation, overview
Stock options expiration date	Apr. 01, 2025
2005 and 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plans \| Deferred Compensation Stock Units
Stock-based compensation, overview
Terms of award	Certain U.S. Cellular employees may elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of their annual bonuses and to receive a company matching contribution on the amount deferred. All bonus compensation that is deferred by employees electing to participate is immediately vested and is deemed to be invested in U.S. Cellular Common Share stock units. The amount of U.S. Cellular’s matching contribution depends on the portion of the annual bonus that is deferred. Participants receive a 25% match for amounts deferred up to 50% of their total annual bonus and a 33% match for amounts that exceed 50% of their total annual bonus; such matching contributions also are deemed to be invested in U.S. Cellular Common Share stock units.
U.S. Cellular Common Shares \| 2005 and 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plans
Stock-based compensation, overview
Shares reserved	9,340,000
U.S. Cellular Common Shares \| 2005 and 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plans \| Stock Options
Black Scholes valuation model assumptions
Expected annual volatility rate, minimum	30.10%	28.00%	29.20%
Expected annual volatility rate, maximum	30.10%	28.10%	39.60%
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Risk-free interest rate, minimum	1.20%	1.40%	0.70%
Risk-free interest rate, maximum	1.20%	1.50%	2.40%
Estimated annual forfeiture rate, minimum	9.70%	9.40%	0.00%
Estimated annual forfeiture rate, maximum	9.70%	9.40%	8.10%
U.S. Cellular Common Shares \| 2005 and 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plans \| Stock Options \| Minimum
Black Scholes valuation model assumptions
Expected life	4 years 7 months	4 years 6 months	4 years 7 months
U.S. Cellular Common Shares \| 2005 and 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plans \| Stock Options \| Maximum
Black Scholes valuation model assumptions
Expected life	4 years 7 months	4 years 6 months	9 years
U.S. Cellular Common Shares \| Non-Employee Directors' Plan
Stock-based compensation, overview
Shares reserved	183,000

The maximum forfeiture rate assumption that is used in valuing an option on its own shares.

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- Definition

The minimum forfeiture rate assumption that is used in valuing an option on its own shares.

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Date the equity-based award expires, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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The estimated dividend rate (a percentage of the share price) to be paid (expected dividends) to holders of the underlying shares over the option's term.

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The estimated measure of the maximum percentage by which a share price is expected to fluctuate during a period. Volatility also may be defined as a probability-weighted measure of the dispersion of returns about the mean. The volatility of a share price is the standard deviation of the continuously compounded rates of return on the share over a specified period. That is the same as the standard deviation of the differences in the natural logarithms of the stock prices plus dividends, if any, over the period.

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The estimated measure of the minimum percentage by which a share price is expected to fluctuate during a period. Volatility also may be defined as a probability-weighted measure of the dispersion of returns about the mean. The volatility of a share price is the standard deviation of the continuously compounded rates of return on the share over a specified period. That is the same as the standard deviation of the differences in the natural logarithms of the stock prices plus dividends, if any, over the period.

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The maximum risk-free interest rate assumption that is used in valuing an option on its own shares.

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The minimum risk-free interest rate assumption that is used in valuing an option on its own shares.

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The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

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- Definition

Description of pertinent provisions of equity-based compensation awards that have actual or potential impact upon the company's financial statements.

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Expected term of share-based compensation awards, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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