EX-12 4 exhibit12.htm EX-12

Exhibit 12

UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

| Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Dollars in thousands) |  | 2010 |  | 2009
EARNINGS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income before income taxes |  | $ | 229,232 |  |  | $ | 334,768 |
| Add (deduct): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities |  |  | (74,418 | ) |  |  | (73,247 | )
|  | Distributions from unconsolidated entities |  |  | 59,149 |  |  |  | 51,306 |
|  | Amortization of capitalized interest |  |  | 355 |  |  |  | 219 |
|  | Income attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries that do not have fixed charges |  |  | (17,540 | ) |  |  | (18,351 | )
|  |  |  |  |  | $ | 196,778 |  |  | $ | 294,695 |
| Add fixed charges: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Consolidated interest expense (1) |  |  | 48,918 |  |  |  | 59,065 |
|  | Interest portion (1/3) of consolidated rent expense |  |  | 29,624 |  |  |  | 31,042 |
|  |  |  |  |  | $ | 275,320 |  |  | $ | 384,802 |
FIXED CHARGES: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Consolidated interest expense (1) |  | $ | 48,918 |  |  | $ | 59,065 |
| Capitalized interest |  |  | 1,688 |  |  |  | 1,100 |
| Interest portion (1/3) of consolidated rent expense |  |  | 29,624 |  |  |  | 31,042 |
|  |  |  |  |  | $ | 80,230 |  |  | $ | 91,207 |
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES |  |  | 3.43 |  |  |  | 4.22 |

(1) Interest expense on income tax contingencies is not included in fixed charges.