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Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges, exchanges (Details) (USD $) | 6 Months Ended |  | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Mar. 31, 2014 Spectrum exchange | Jun. 30, 2014 Spectrum exchange
Exchanges |  |  |  |
Agreement date |  |  |  | Feb. 14, 2014
Asset exchange description |  |  |  | On February 14, 2014, U.S. Cellular completed an exchange whereby U.S. Cellular received one E block PCS spectrum license covering Milwaukee, WI in exchange for one D block PCS spectrum license covering Milwaukee, WI. The exchange of licenses provided U.S. Cellular with spectrum to meet anticipated future capacity and coverage requirements. No cash, customers, network assets, other assets or liabilities were included in the exchange. As a result of this transaction, U.S. Cellular recognized a gain of $15.7 million, representing the difference between the $15.9 million fair value of the license surrendered, calculated using a market approach valuation method, and the $0.2 million carrying value of the license surrendered. This gain was recorded in (Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges in the Consolidated Statement of Operations in the first quarter of 2014.
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges | $ (91,446,000) |  | $ (15,700,000) |
Fair value |  |  | 15,900,000 |
Carrying value | $ 1,437,831,000 | $ 1,401,126,000 | $ 200,000 |
Asset exchange, valuation method |  |  |  | market approach valuation method

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- Definition Carrying amount (original costs adjusted for previously recognized amortization and impairment) as of the balance sheet date for the capitalized costs to acquire rights under a license arrangement (for example, to sell specified products in a specified territory) having an indefinite period of benefit. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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- Definition Disclosure of the accounting treatment and method of measurement for nonmonetary exchanges of assets or liabilities or related to a transfer of nonmonetary assets for which the Entity receives no assets in return. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 845 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457305&loc=d3e32049-108421 + Details
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- Definition The difference between the sale price and the book value of licenses that were sold or exchanged during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
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