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Variable Interest Entities VIEs (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Dec. 31, 2008
Assets        
Cash and cash equivalents $ 424,155,000 $ 276,915,000 $ 302,991,000 $ 173,586,000
Other current assets 10,096,000 10,804,000    
Licenses 1,470,769,000 1,452,101,000 1,435,000,000  
Property, plant and equipment, net 2,790,302,000 2,574,522,000    
Other assets and deferred charges 59,290,000 50,367,000    
Liabilities        
Customer deposits and deferred revenues 181,355,000 146,428,000    
Current liabilities 722,280,000 648,484,000    
Capital contributions and advances 15,800,000 1,200,000    
Noncontrolling interests with redemption features 1,005,000 855,000    
Variable Interest Entities (VIE's)
        
Assets        
Cash and cash equivalents 12,086,000 1,673,000    
Other current assets 47,000 323,000    
Licenses 483,059,000 487,962,000    
Property, plant and equipment, net 9,450,000 1,548,000    
Other assets and deferred charges 153,000      
Total assets 504,795,000 491,506,000    
Liabilities        
Current liabilities 957,000 95,000    
Total liabilities $ 957,000 $ 95,000    
VIE put options true      
Put option exercisable dates The limited partnership agreements also provide the general partner with a put option whereby the general partner may require the limited partner, a subsidiary of U.S. Cellular, to purchase its interest in the limited partnership.  The general partner’s put options related to its interests in Carroll Wireless, Barat Wireless, King Street Wireless and Aquinas Wireless will become exercisable in 2013, 2017, 2019 and 2020, respectively.