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Commitments, Contingencies and Other Liabilities, purchase commitments (Details) (Billing And Operational Support System Installation, USD $) | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2011
Billing And Operational Support System Installation |
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |
Purchase commitment required payments | $ 122,000,000
Purchase commitment required payments made | $ 22,800,000

X
- Definition The minimum amount the entity agreed to spend under the long-term purchase commitment. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Payments made to date on the minimum amount the entity agreed to spend under the long-term purchase commitment. + Details
Name: | usm_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentAmountPaid
Namespace Prefix: | usm
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration