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Investment in Unconsolidated Entities | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
Disclosure Text Block |
Investment in Unconsolidated Entities | NOTE 10 INVESTMENTS IN UNCONSOLIDATED ENTITIES Investments in unconsolidated entities consist of a mounts invested in wireless entities which are accounted for using either the equity or cost method as shown in the following table:
December 31, | 2011 |  | 2010
(Dollars in thousands) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investments: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Capital contributions, loans and advances | $ | 13,787 |  |  | $ | 22,885 |
| Cumulative share of income |  | 928,019 |  |  |  | 857,533 |
| Cumulative share of distributions |  | (805,321 | ) |  |  | (721,182 | )
|  |  | 136,485 |  |  |  | 159,236 |
Cost method investments |  | 1,611 |  |  |  | 1,611 |
Total investments in unconsolidated entities | $ | 138,096 |  |  | $ | 160,847 |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities totaled $83.6 million, $97.3 million and $96.8 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively; of those amounts, U.S. Cellular's investment in the Los Angeles SMSA Limited Partnership (“LA Partnership”) contributed $55.3 million, $64.8 million and $64.7 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. U.S. Cellular held a 5.5% ownership interest in the LA Partnership throughout and at the end of each of these years. T he following table s, which are based on information provided in part by third parties, summarize the combined assets, liabilities and equity, and the combined results of operations of U.S. Cellular's equity method investments:
December 31, | 2011 |  | 2010
(Dollars in thousands) |  |  |  |  |
Assets |  |  |  |  |
| Current | $ | 404,751 |  | $ | 392,042
| Due from affiliates |  | 199,167 |  |  | 396,201
| Property and other |  | 1,935,125 |  |  | 1,962,128
|  | $ | 2,539,043 |  | $ | 2,750,371
Liabilities and Equity |  |  |  |  |
| Current liabilities | $ | 300,780 |  | $ | 277,035
| Deferred credits |  | 79,787 |  |  | 69,750
| Long-term liabilities |  | 22,943 |  |  | 24,558
| Long-term capital lease obligations |  | 234 |  |  | 43,657
| Partners' capital and shareholders' equity |  | 2,135,299 |  |  | 2,335,371
|  | $ | 2,539,043 |  | $ | 2,750,371
Year Ended December 31, | 2011 |  | 2010 |  | 2009
(Dollars in thousands) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Results of Operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Revenues | $ | 5,519,024 |  | $ | 4,950,306 |  | $ | 4,793,269
| Operating expenses |  | 4,282,277 |  |  | 3,549,098 |  |  | 3,418,116
| Operating income |  | 1,236,747 |  |  | 1,401,208 |  |  | 1,375,153
| Other income, net |  | 4,976 |  |  | 37,701 |  |  | 42,898
| Net income | $ | 1,241,723 |  | $ | 1,438,909 |  | $ | 1,418,051

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