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Variable Interest Entities VIEs (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Assets        
Cash and cash equivalents $ 378,358,000 $ 424,155,000 $ 276,915,000 $ 302,991,000
Other current assets 16,745,000 10,096,000    
Licenses 1,456,794,000 1,470,769,000 1,452,101,000  
Property, plant and equipment, net 3,022,588,000 2,790,302,000    
Other assets and deferred charges 78,148,000 59,290,000    
Liabilities        
Customer deposits and deferred revenues 192,113,000 181,355,000    
Current liabilities 754,999,000 722,280,000    
Capital contributions and advances 10,000,000 15,800,000    
Noncontrolling interests with redemption features 493,000 1,005,000    
Variable Interest Entities (VIE's)
        
Assets        
Cash and cash equivalents 5,849,000 12,086,000    
Other current assets 120,000 47,000    
Licenses 308,091,000 483,059,000    
Property, plant and equipment, net 16,443,000 9,450,000    
Other assets and deferred charges 887,000 153,000    
Total assets 331,390,000 504,795,000    
Liabilities        
Current liabilities 1,013,000 957,000    
Deferred liabilities and credits 3,024,000      
Total liabilities $ 4,037,000 $ 957,000    
VIE put options true      
Put option exercisable dates The limited partnership agreements of Aquinas Wireless and King Street Wireless 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 King Street Wireless and Aquinas Wireless will become exercisable in 2019 and 2020, respectively.      
Carroll PCS
        
Business Acquisition, Preexisting Relationship        
Date of acquisition Dec. 05, 2012      
Voting stock acquired 100.00%      
Acquired entity Carroll PCS, Inc.      
Acquisition description On September 7, 2012, U.S. Cellular acquired 100% of the ownership interest in Barat Wireless, Inc., the general partner of Barat Wireless, for an immaterial amount. On December 5, 2012, U.S. Cellular acquired 100% of the ownership interest in Carroll PCS, Inc., the general partner of Carroll Wireless, for an immaterial amount. Prior to these acquisitions, U.S. Cellular consolidated Barat Wireless, Barat Wireless, Inc., Carroll Wireless, and Carroll PCS, Inc. as VIEs. Subsequent to the acquisition dates these entities ceased to be VIEs but continue to be consolidated based on U.S. Cellular’s controlling financial interest in the entities.      
Barat Wireless, Inc.
        
Business Acquisition, Preexisting Relationship        
Date of acquisition Sep. 07, 2012      
Voting stock acquired 100.00%      
Acquired entity Barat Wireless, Inc.      
Acquisition description On September 7, 2012, U.S. Cellular acquired 100% of the ownership interest in Barat Wireless, Inc., the general partner of Barat Wireless, for an immaterial amount. On December 5, 2012, U.S. Cellular acquired 100% of the ownership interest in Carroll PCS, Inc., the general partner of Carroll Wireless, for an immaterial amount. Prior to these acquisitions, U.S. Cellular consolidated Barat Wireless, Barat Wireless, Inc., Carroll Wireless, and Carroll PCS, Inc. as VIEs. Subsequent to the acquisition dates these entities ceased to be VIEs but continue to be consolidated based on U.S. Cellular’s controlling financial interest in the entities.