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Basis of Presentation (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2012 | Mar. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2011
Basis of Presentation |  |  |
TDS ownership of U.S. Cellular | 84.00% |  |
Agent liability | $ 43,800,000 |  | $ 75,300,000
Amounts recorded gross in revenues that are billed to customers and remitted to governmental authorities | $ 35,300,000 | $ 31,400,000 |

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- Definition The amount of excise and sales taxes included in sales and revenues, which are then deducted as a cost of sales. Includes excise taxes, which are applied to specific types of transactions or items (such as gasoline or alcohol); and sales, use and value added taxes, which are applied to a broad class of revenue-producing transactions involving a wide range of goods and services. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 605 -SubTopic 45 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6408196&loc=d3e61097-111654 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 5 -Section 03 -Paragraph 1 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) -Number 06-3 -Paragraph 4 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
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