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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
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.