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Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Dec. 31, 2008
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]        
Cash and cash equivalents $ 424,155 $ 276,915 $ 302,991 $ 173,586
Short-term investments 127,039 146,586    
Long-term investments 30,057 46,033    
Long term investment maturities - begin 18 months from December 31, 2011      
Long term investment maturities - end 21 months from December 31, 2011      
Fair Value
        
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]        
Cash and cash equivalents 424,155 [1] 276,915 [1]    
Long-term investments 30,140 [2],[3],[4] 46,034 [2],[3],[4]    
Long-term debt 899,022 [5] 850,374 [5]    
Fair Value | Certificates of deposit
        
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]        
Short-term investments   250 [2],[6]    
Fair Value | Government backed securities
        
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]        
Short-term investments 127,039 [2],[3],[6] 146,336 [2],[3],[6]    
Book Value
        
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]        
Cash and cash equivalents 424,155 [1] 276,915 [1]    
Long-term investments 30,057 [2],[3],[4] 46,033 [2],[3],[4]    
Long-term debt 876,111 [5] 863,657 [5]    
Book Value | Certificates of deposit
        
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]        
Short-term investments   250 [2],[6]    
Book Value | Government backed securities
        
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]        
Short-term investments $ 127,039 [2],[3],[6] $ 146,336 [2],[3],[6]    
[1] In preparing its Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2011, U.S. Cellular discovered certain errors related to the classification of outstanding checks with the right of offset. This error resulted in the misstatement of Cash for the year ended December 31, 2010. The amounts herein have been revised to reflect the proper amounts. See Note 2 — Revision of Prior Period Amounts for additional information.
[2] Designated as held-to-maturity investments and are recorded at amortized cost in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
[3] Includes U.S. treasuries and corporate notes guaranteed under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program.
[4] Maturities range between 18 and 21 months from the balance sheet date.
[5] Excludes capital lease obligations and current portion of Long-term debt.
[6] Maturities are less than twelve months from the respective balance sheet dates.