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Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges, divestitures (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |  | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 8 Months Ended |  | 6 Months Ended |  | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 14 Months Ended | 26 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 14 Months Ended | 26 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 8 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 24 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 8 Months Ended | 24 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 14 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 26 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 14 Months Ended | 26 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
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Jun. 30, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2012 | Jun. 30, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Jun. 30, 2013 Divestiture transaction | Jun. 30, 2013 Divestiture transaction | Jun. 30, 2013 Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2012 Divestiture transaction | Jun. 30, 2013 Bolingbrook customer care center | Dec. 31, 2012 Bolingbrook customer care center | Jun. 30, 2013 Wireless market | Jun. 30, 2013 Non-operating market licenses | Jun. 30, 2013 Mississippi Valley | Dec. 31, 2013 Expected event Mississippi Valley | Dec. 31, 2013 Minimum Expected event Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2013 Minimum Expected event Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2014 Minimum Expected event Divestiture transaction | Jun. 30, 2013 Maximum Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2013 Maximum Expected event Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2013 Maximum Expected event Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2014 Maximum Expected event Divestiture transaction | Jun. 30, 2013 Purchase price Divestiture transaction | Jun. 30, 2013 Purchase price Divestiture transaction | Jun. 30, 2013 Purchase price Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2013 Purchase price Expected event Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2013 Purchase price Minimum Expected event Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2013 Purchase price Maximum Expected event Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2014 Sprint Cost Reimbursement Maximum Expected event Divestiture transaction | Jun. 30, 2013 Sprint Cost Reimbursement (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net Divestiture transaction | Jun. 30, 2013 Sprint Cost Reimbursement (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net Divestiture transaction | Jun. 30, 2013 Sprint Cost Reimbursement (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2014 Sprint Cost Reimbursement (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net Minimum Expected event Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2014 Sprint Cost Reimbursement (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net Maximum Expected event Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2014 Sprint Cost Reimbursement System operations Maximum Expected event Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2013 Net assets transferred Expected event Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2013 Non-cash charges for the write-off and write-down of property under construction and related assets Minimum Expected event Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2013 Non-cash charges for the write-off and write-down of property under construction and related assets Maximum Expected event Divestiture transaction | Jun. 30, 2013 Employee related costs including severance, retention and outplacement Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2014 Employee related costs including severance, retention and outplacement Minimum Expected event Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2014 Employee related costs including severance, retention and outplacement Maximum Expected event Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2014 Contract termination costs Minimum Expected event Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2014 Contract termination costs Maximum Expected event Divestiture transaction | Jun. 30, 2013 Contract termination costs Other current liabilities Divestiture transaction | Jun. 30, 2013 Contract termination costs Other deferred liabilities and credits Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2013 Transaction costs Minimum Expected event Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2013 Transaction costs Maximum Expected event Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2014 Incremental depreciation, amortization and accretion, net of salvage values Minimum Expected event Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2014 Incremental depreciation, amortization and accretion, net of salvage values Maximum Expected event Divestiture transaction | Dec. 31, 2013 Non-cash charges for the write-off and write-down of various operating assets and liabilities Expected event Divestiture transaction
Divestitures |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business divestiture date |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | May 16, 2013 |  |  |  | Jan. 01, 2013 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business divestiture description |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Effective January 1, 2013, U.S. Cellular transferred its Bolingbrook Customer Care Center operations to an existing third party vendor. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business divestiture agreement description |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | On November 6, 2012, U.S. Cellular entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with subsidiaries of Sprint Nextel Corporation (“Sprint”). Pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement, on May 16, 2013, U.S. Cellular transferred customers and certain PCS license spectrum to Sprint in U.S. Cellular's Chicago, central Illinois, St. Louis and certain Indiana/Michigan/Ohio markets (“Divestiture Markets”) in consideration for $480 million in cash. The Purchase and Sale Agreement also contemplated certain other agreements, together with the Purchase and Sale Agreement collectively referred to as the “Divestiture Transaction.” U.S. Cellular has retained other assets and liabilities related to the Divestiture Markets, including network assets, retail stores and related equipment, and other buildings and facilities. The transaction does not affect spectrum licenses held by U.S. Cellular or variable interest entities (“VIEs”) that are not currently used in the operations of the Divestiture Markets. Pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement, U.S. Cellular and Sprint also entered into certain other agreements, including customer and network transition services agreements, which require U.S. Cellular to provide customer, billing and network services to Sprint for a period of up to 24 months after the May 16, 2013 closing date. Sprint will reimburse U.S. Cellular for providing such services at an amount equal to U.S. Cellular's cost, including applicable overhead allocations. In addition, these agreements require Sprint to reimburse U.S. Cellular up to $200 million (the “Sprint Cost Reimbursement”) for certain network decommissioning costs, network site lease rent and termination costs, network access termination costs, and employee termination benefits for specified engineering employees. |  |  |  |  |  |  | On May 15, 2013, U.S. Cellular entered into an agreement with a third party to sell the subscribers, spectrum and the network assets for a Missouri market. |  | On June 28, 2013, U.S. Cellular entered into a definitive agreement to sell the majority of its Mississippi Valley non-operating market license (“unbuilt license”) for $308.0 million. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close by the end of 2013. In addition, the U.S. Cellular Board of Directors approved the sale of U.S. Cellular’s St. Louis area unbuilt license. In accordance with GAAP, the book value of both licenses has been accounted for and disclosed as “held for sale” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at June 30, 2013. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business divestiture agreement date |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Nov. 06, 2012 |  |  |  |  |  |  | May 15, 2013 |  |  | Jun. 28, 2013 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Transition services agreement duration |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 24M |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
(Increase) decrease in Operating Income | $ (219,092) |  | $ (84,163) | $ (220,558) |  | $ (169,365) |  |  | $ (199,719) | $ (154,583) | $ (110,048) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (55,407) |  |  |  | $ 14,593 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Expected period of recognition |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2013 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2013 | 2014 |  | 2013 | 2012 | 2013 |  |  | 2012 | 2014 | 2012 | 2014 |  |  |  | 2012 | 2013 | 2012 | 2014 | 2013
Cash received from divestitures |  |  |  | (480,000) |  | (49,786) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (308,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (480,000) | (480,000) | (480,000) |  | (480,000) | (480,000) | (200,000) | (8) | (8) | (8) | (120,000) | (160,000) | (40,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets transferred |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 213,593 | 213,593 | 213,593 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 213,593 |  |  |  | 213,593 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-cash charges for the write-off and write-down of property under construction and related assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (141) | 81 | 10,753 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 11,000 |  |  |  | 15,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Employee related costs including severance, retention and outplacement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 53 | 3,103 | 15,712 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16,000 |  |  |  | 25,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contract termination costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13,705 | 16,605 | 16,664 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 125,000 |  |  |  | 175,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Transaction costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,801 | 3,719 | 4,856 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,000 |  |  |  | 6,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net | (249,024) |  |  | (242,093) |  | (4,213) |  |  | (249,997) | (242,907) | (218,430) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (230,407) |  |  |  | (205,407) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Incremental depreciation, amortization and accretion, net of salvage values | 202,580 |  | 147,555 | 392,425 |  | 294,240 |  |  | 50,278 | 88,324 | 108,382 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 175,000 |  |  |  | 210,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-cash charges for the write-off and write-down of various operating assets and liabilities | 404,127 |  | 435,053 | 824,207 |  | 877,297 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance Sheet rollforward |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12,305 |  |  |  |  |  | 30 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Costs incurred |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,037 |  |  |  |  |  | 10,183 |  | 6,421 |  |  |  |  |
Cash settlements |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (10,282) | [1] |  |  |  |  | (3,405) | [1] |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjustments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2,934) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 372 |  |  |  |  |  | 942 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance, end of period |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5,498 |  |  |  |  |  | 7,750 |  | 6,421 |  |  |  |  |
Assets and liabilities held for sale |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current assets | 633 |  |  | 633 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 633 | [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Licenses | 74,765 |  |  | 74,765 |  |  | 140,599 |  |  |  |  | 140,599 |  |  |  |  | 2,909 | [2] | 71,856 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 669 |  |  | 669 |  |  | 72,994 |  |  |  |  | 72,994 |  |  |  |  | 669 | [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment | 3,179 |  |  | 3,179 |  |  | 4,275 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,275 | [3] | 3,179 | [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss on assets held for sale | (857) | [4] |  | (857) | [4] |  | (1,105) | [4] |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,105) | [3],[4] | (857) | [2],[4] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total Assets held for sale | 78,389 |  |  | 78,389 |  |  | 216,763 |  |  |  |  | 213,593 |  |  | 3,170 | [3] | 6,533 | [2] | 71,856 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Liabilities held for sale | $ 559 |  |  | $ 559 |  |  | $ 19,594 |  |  |  |  | $ 19,594 | [5] |  |  |  | $ 559 | [2],[5] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
[1] | Cash settlement amounts are included in either the Net income or changes in Other assets and liabilities line items as part of Cash flows from operating activities on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
[2] | On May 15, 2013, U.S. Cellular entered into an agreement with a third party to sell the subscribers, spectrum and the network assets for a Missouri market.
[3] | Effective January 1, 2013, U.S. Cellular transferred its Bolingbrook Customer Care Center operations to an existing third party vendor.
[4] | Loss on assets held for sale was recorded in (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
[5] | Liabilities held for sale primarily consisted of Customer deposits and deferred revenues.

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- Definition Represents the sum of the carrying value of all the Assets Held-for-Sale at the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 144 -Paragraph 47 -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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