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Asset Retirement Obligaion (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Asset retirement obligation |  |  |  |
Asset retirement obligation - beginning balance | $ 195,568 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation | [1] | $ 179,607 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation |
Additional liabilities accrued | 2,507 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesIncurred |  | 635 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesIncurred |
Revisions in estimated cash outflows | (2,792)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationRevisionOfEstimate |  | 6,268 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationRevisionOfEstimate |
Disposition of assets | (44,403)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesSettled |  | (3,534)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesSettled |
Accretion expense | 12,534 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense |  | 12,592 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense |
Transferred to Liabilities held for sale | (10,902)usm_LiabilitiesHeldForSaleAroTransferred |  |  |
Asset retirement obligation - ending balance | 152,512 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation | [1] | 195,568 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation | [1]
Other current liabilities |  |  |  |
Asset retirement obligation |  |  |  |
Asset retirement obligation - ending balance | $ 5,900 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesMember |  | $ 37,700 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesMember |
[1] | The total amount of asset retirement obligations related to the Divestiture Transaction included in Other current liabilities was $5.9 million and $37.7 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

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- Definition The carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Asset Retirement Obligation -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505190 + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Amount of accretion expense recognized during the period that is associated with an asset retirement obligation. Accretion expense measures and incorporates changes due to the passage of time into the carrying amount of the liability. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392676&loc=d3e7480-110848 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Amount of asset retirement obligations incurred during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849 + Details
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Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Amount of asset retirement obligations settled, or otherwise disposed of, during the period. This may include asset retirement obligations transferred to third parties associated with the sale of a long-lived asset. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
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Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Amount of the Increase or Decrease in the amount of the asset retirement obligation during the current period for changes in the amount or timing of the estimated cash flows associated with the settlement of the obligation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c)(4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849 + Details
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- Details
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Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Asset retirement obligations that are transferred to liabilities held for sale during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | usm_LiabilitiesHeldForSaleAroTransferred
Namespace Prefix: | usm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
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Balance Type: |
Period Type: |