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Supplemental Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009
Supplemental cash flow disclosures |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest paid | $ 60,604 |  | $ 59,049 |  | $ 77,877 |
Income taxes paid (refunded) | (54,469) |  | 53,050 |  | 36,863 |
Supplemental cash flows, stock based compensation |  |  |  |  |  |
Net cash receipts (disbursements) from exercise of stock options and vesting of other stock awards | 1,935 |  | 509 |  | (82) |
Common Shares |  |  |  |  |  |
Supplemental cash flows, stock based compensation |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares withheld | 120,250 | [1] | 310,388 | [1] | 200,025 | [1]
Aggregate value of shares withheld | 5,952 |  | 13,527 |  | 7,622 |
Cash receipts upon exercise of stock options | 5,447 |  | 3,574 |  | 1,572 |
Cash disbursements for payments of taxes | (3,512) | [2] | (3,065) | [2] | (1,654) | [2]
Net cash receipts (disbursements) from exercise of stock options and vesting of other stock awards | $ 1,935 |  | $ 509 |  | $ (82) |
[1] | Such shares were withheld to cover the exercise price of stock options, if applicable, and required tax withholdings.
[2] | In certain situations, U.S. Cellular withholds shares that are issuable upon the exercise of stock options or the vesting of restricted shares to cover, and with a value equivalent to, the exercise price and/or the amount of taxes required to be withheld from the stock award holder at the time of the exercise or vesting. U.S. Cellular then pays the amount of the required tax withholdings to the taxing authorities in cash.

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- Definition The amount of cash paid during the current period to foreign, federal, state, and local authorities as taxes on income, net of any cash received during the current period as refunds for the overpayment of taxes. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 29 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 27 -Subparagraph f -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 FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4297-108586 + Details
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- Definition The total cash inflow associated with the amount received from holders to acquire the entity's shares under incentive and share awards, including stock option exercises. This item inherently excludes any excess tax benefit, which the entity may have realized and reported separately. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Financing Activities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3255-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 123R -Paragraph A240 -Subparagraph i -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 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 18 -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 Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 19 -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. + Details
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