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Stock Based Compensation Overview, Expense and Valuation Model (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011 Year | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009
Stock based compensation |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense | $ 20,183,000 | $ 18,044,000 | $ 16,362,000
Income tax benefit | (7,581,000) | (6,812,000) | (6,154,000)
Total stock-based compensation expense, net of income taxes | 12,602,000 | 11,232,000 | 10,208,000
Unrecognized compensation cost for all stock-based compensation awards | 24,100,000 |  |
Weighted average period for recognition of unrecognized compensation cost for all stock-based compensation awards | 2 |  |
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options and other awards | 4,600,000 |  |
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Policy for Issuing Shares upon Exercise | U.S. Cellular uses treasury stock to satisfy requirements for Common Shares issued pursuant to its various stock-based compensation plans. |  |
System operations |  |  |
Stock based compensation |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense | 2,645,000 | 2,035,000 | 1,850,000
Selling, general and administrative expense |  |  |
Stock based compensation |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense | 17,538,000 | 16,009,000 | 14,512,000
2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan |  |  |
Stock-based compensation, overview |  |  |
Terms of Award | Under the U.S. Cellular 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan, 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, 2011, the only types of awards outstanding are fixed non-qualified stock option awards, restricted stock unit awards, and deferred compensation stock unit awards. |  |
2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan | Stock Options |  |  |
Stock based compensation |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense | 9,549,000 | 7,179,000 | 7,024,000
2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan | Restricted Stock Units |  |  |
Stock based compensation |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense | 10,037,000 | 10,056,000 | 8,640,000
2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan | Deferred Compensation Stock Units |  |  |
Stock based compensation |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense | 12,000 | 165,000 | 151,000
Employee Stock Purchase Plan |  |  |
Stock based compensation |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense | 255,000 | 314,000 | 241,000
Non-Employee Directors' Plan |  |  |
Stock based compensation |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense | $ 330,000 | $ 330,000 | $ 306,000
Common Shares | 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan |  |  |
Stock based compensation |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized | 5,836,000 |  |
Common Shares | 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan | Stock Options |  |  |
Stock-based compensation, overview |  |  |
Terms of Award | Stock options granted to key employees are exercisable over a specified period not in excess of ten years. Stock options generally vest over a period of three years from the date of grant. Stock options outstanding at December 31, 2011 expire between 2012 and 2021. However, vested stock options typically expire 30 days after the effective date of an employee’s termination of employment for reasons other than retirement. Employees who leave at the age of retirement have 90 days (or one year if they satisfy certain requirements) within which to exercise their vested stock options. The exercise price of options equals the market value of U.S. Cellular Common Shares on the date of grant. |  |
Black Scholes valuation model assumptions |  |  |
Expected life | 4.3 |  | 3.9
Expected life, minimum |  | 0.9 |
Expected life, maximum |  | 8 |
Expected annual volatility rate, minimum | 43.40% | 26.90% | 40.30%
Expected annual volatility rate, maximum | 44.80% | 43.90% | 44.20%
Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00%
Risk-free interest rate, minimum | 0.70% | 0.40% | 1.20%
Risk-free interest rate, maximum | 2.00% | 3.10% | 2.20%
Estimated annual forfeiture rate |  |  | 6.90%
Estimated annual forfeiture rate, minimum | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Estimated annual forfeiture rate, maximum | 7.80% | 8.40% |
Common Shares | 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan | Restricted Stock Units |  |  |
Stock-based compensation, overview |  |  |
Terms of Award | U.S. Cellular grants restricted stock unit awards, which generally vest after three years, to key employees. U.S. Cellular estimates the fair value of restricted stock units based on the closing market price of U.S. Cellular shares on the date of grant. The fair value is then recognized as compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of the awards, which is generally the vesting period. |  |
Common Shares | Employee Stock Purchase Plan |  |  |
Stock-based compensation, overview |  |  |
Terms of Award | The U.S. Cellular 2009 Employee Stock Purchase Plan became effective January 1, 2009. All remaining shares reserved under this plan were issued and the plan was terminated in the fourth quarter of 2011, in advance of its original termination date of December 31, 2013. Under this plan, eligible employees of U.S. Cellular and its subsidiaries could purchase a limited number of U.S. Cellular Common Shares on a quarterly basis. U.S. Cellular employees were also eligible to participate in the TDS Employee Stock Purchase Plan before this was terminated in the fourth quarter of 2011. |  |
Common Shares | Non-Employee Directors' Plan |  |  |
Stock based compensation |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized | 32,000 |  |

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- Definition As of the balance sheet date, the aggregate unrecognized cost of equity-based awards made to employees under equity-based compensation awards that have yet to vest. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 123R -Paragraph A240 -Subparagraph h -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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (i) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition The policy, if any, for issuing shares or units upon exercise or conversion of equity-based awards into shares of stock or units, including the source of those shares or units (that is, new share, treasury shares, new units or treasury units). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 123R -Paragraph A240 -Subparagraph k -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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (l) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition 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. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 123R -Paragraph A240 -Subparagraph e(2)(c) -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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (f)(2)(iii) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition The period of time an equity-based award is expected to be outstanding. An equity-based award's expected term is generally determined based on, among other factors, the instrument's contractual term and the effects of employees' expected exercise and post-vesting employment termination behavior. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 14.D.2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6793087&loc=d3e301413-122809 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 123R -Paragraph A240 -Subparagraph e(2)(a) -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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 14 -Section D -Subsection 2 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (f)(2)(i) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition The maximum period of time an equity-based award is expected to be outstanding. An equity-based award's expected term is generally determined based on, among other factors, the instrument's contractual term and the effects of employees' expected exercise and post-vesting employment termination behavior. + 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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- Definition 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. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition 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). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 123R -Paragraph A240 -Subparagraph a -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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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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. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 123R -Paragraph A240 -Subparagraph a -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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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