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Commitments and Contingencies, purchase commitments (Details) (USD $) | 6 Months Ended
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Jun. 30, 2013
BOSS Installation |
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |
Purchase commitment agreement description | As previously disclosed, on August 17, 2010, U.S. Cellular and Amdocs Software Systems Limited (“Amdocs”) entered into a Software License and Maintenance Agreement (“SLMA”) and a Master Service Agreement (“MSA”) (collectively, the “Amdocs Agreements”) to develop a Billing and Operational Support System (“B/OSS”). Pursuant to an updated Statement of Work dated June 29, 2012, the initial implementation of B/OSS is expected to take until the third quarter of 2013 to complete and total payments to Amdocs are estimated to be approximately $190.1 million (subject to certain potential adjustments) over the period from commencement of the SLMA in 2010 through the end of 2013. As of June 30, 2013, $116.3 million had been paid to Amdocs.
Purchase commitment required payments | $ 190,100,000
Purchase commitment required payments made | 116,300,000
Apple Products |
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |
Purchase commitment agreement description | In March 2013, U.S. Cellular entered into an agreement with Apple to purchase an estimated $1.2 billion of Apple iPhone products over a three-year period beginning later in 2013.
Purchase commitment period | three-year
Purchase commitment estimated payments | $ 1,200,000,000

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- Definition The minimum amount the entity agreed to spend under the long-term purchase commitment. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Describes the terms of a significant arrangement with a supplier (excluding an unconditional purchase obligation) to acquire goods or services over a period of time beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, which may include identification of the goods or services to be purchased, pricing, effects on pricing of failing to reach minimum quantities required to be purchased, cancellation rights, and termination provisions. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Specifies the time period covered by the arrangement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentTimePeriod
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount already paid by the entity under a long-term purchase commitment. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | usm_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentAmountPaid
Namespace Prefix: | usm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The estimated amount the entity agreed to spend under the long-term purchase commitment. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | usm_Longtermpurchasecommitmentestimate
Namespace Prefix: | usm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration