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Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 9 Months Ended
--- | ---
Sep. 30, 2014
Licenses |
Balance, beginning of period | $ 1,401,126
Acquisitions | 41,707
Transferred to Assets held for sale | (68,288)
Exchanges, net | 15,719
Other | 408
Balance, end of period | $ 1,390,672

X
- Definition Amount of increase in assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with an indefinite life, resulting from a business combination. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
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Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance and having a projected 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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X
- Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
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Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Indefinite-lived intangible assets that were transferred to assets held for sale during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | usm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The net increase or decrease in Licenses (an indefinite lived intangible asset) carrying value as a result of exchanges that are primarily non-monetary in nature. + References No definition available. + Details
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Balance Type: | debit
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X
- Definition Changes not otherwise specified in the taxonomy to the account balance of a major indefinite-lived intangible asset class during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
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