Consolidated Balance Sheet (USD $) In Thousands	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 504,952	$ 294,426
Short-term investments	110,761	146,586
Accounts receivable
Customers and agents, less allowances of $21,620 and $24,455, respectively	310,524	331,452
Roaming	42,378	37,218
Affiliated	218	226
Other, less allowances of $1.846 and $1,361, respectively	81,214	55,123
Inventory	148,770	112,279
Income taxes receivable	35,121	41,397
Prepaid expenses	56,607	53,356
Net deferred income tax asset	26,757	26,757
Other current assets	10,693	10,804
Total current assets	1,327,995	1,109,624
Assets held for sale	60,829
Investments
Licenses	1,470,550	1,452,101
Goodwill	494,737	494,737
Customer lists, net of accumulated amortization of $96,487 and $96,153, respectively	425	759
Investments in unconsolidated entities	160,374	160,847
Notes and interest receivable - long-term	3,959	4,070
Long-term investments	45,297	46,033
Total investments	2,175,342	2,158,547
Property, plant and equipment
In service and under construction	6,778,852	6,340,537
Less: Accumulated depreciation	4,124,358	3,766,015
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,654,494	2,574,522
Other assets and deferred charges	61,941	50,367
Total assets	6,280,601	5,893,060
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt	101	101
Accounts payable
Affiliated	11,976	10,791
Trade	360,788	281,601
Customer deposits and deferred revenues	177,123	146,428
Accrued taxes	43,910	39,299
Accrued compensation	48,117	65,952
Other current liabilities	95,665	121,823
Total current liabilities	737,680	665,995
Liabilities held for sale	858
Deferred liabilities and credits
Net deferred income tax liability	742,343	583,444
Other deferred liabilities and credits	235,032	234,855
Long-term debt	880,411	867,941
Commitments And Contingencies
Noncontrolling interests with redemption features	923	855
U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity
Series A Common and Common Shares	88,074	88,074
Additional paid-in capital	1,382,826	1,368,487
Treasury Shares, at cost	(153,011)	(105,616)
Retained earnings	2,294,562	2,135,507
Total U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity	3,612,451	3,486,452
Noncontrolling interests	70,903	53,518
Total equity	3,683,354	3,539,970
Total liabilities and equity	$ 6,280,601	$ 5,893,060

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Current Liabilities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6509677

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6361293&loc=d3e6935-107765

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19

-Subparagraph a

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 43

-Chapter 3

-Section A

-Paragraph 7

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682