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Stock-Based Compensation, U.S. Cellular, Overview and Valuation model (Details) - U.S. Cellular - shares | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
U.S. Cellular 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, 2016, the only types of awards outstanding are fixed non-qualified stock option awards, restricted stock unit awards, and deferred compensation stock unit awards. |  |
U.S. Cellular Long-Term Incentive Plans | Stock Options | Minimum |  |  |
Stock-based compensation, overview |  |  |
Stock options expiration date | Apr. 03, 2017 |  |
U.S. Cellular Long-Term Incentive Plans | Stock Options | Maximum |  |  |
Stock-based compensation, overview |  |  |
Stock options expiration date | Apr. 01, 2026 |  |
U.S. Cellular 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 and vest over three years. |  |
U.S. Cellular Common Shares | U.S. Cellular Long-Term Incentive Plans |  |  |
Stock-based compensation, overview |  |  |
Shares reserved | 14,759,000 |  |
U.S. Cellular Common Shares | U.S. Cellular Long-Term Incentive Plans | Stock Options |  |  |
Black Scholes valuation model assumptions |  |  |
Expected life | 4 years 8 months | 4 years 7 months | 4 years 6 months
Expected annual volatility rate, minimum | 30.50% | 30.10% | 28.00%
Expected annual volatility rate, maximum | 30.50% | 30.10% | 28.10%
Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00%
Risk-free interest rate, minimum | 1.20% | 1.20% | 1.40%
Risk-free interest rate, maximum | 1.20% | 1.20% | 1.50%
Estimated annual forfeiture rate | 9.40% | 9.70% | 9.40%
U.S. Cellular Common Shares | Non-Employee Directors' Plan |  |  |
Stock-based compensation, overview |  |  |
Shares reserved | 169,000 |  |

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- Definition The forfeiture rate assumption that is used in valuing an option on its own shares. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition 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. + References No definition available. + Details
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