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Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 211,513 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue | 342,065 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue | $ 378,358 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue | $ 424,155 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Short-term investments |  | 50,104 us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesCurrent |  |
Fair Value | Level 1 |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 211,513 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember | 342,065 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember |  |
Fair Value | Level 2 | Retail |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions |  |  |  |
Long-term debt | 608,462 us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = usm_PublicDebtMember | 309,852 us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = usm_PublicDebtMember |  |
Fair Value | Level 2 | Institutional |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions |  |  |  |
Long-term debt | 513,647 us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = usm_NonPublicDebtMember | 507,697 us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = usm_NonPublicDebtMember |  |
Fair Value | U.S. Treasury Notes | Level 1 |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions |  |  |  |
Short-term investments |  | 50,104 us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesCurrent / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember |  |
Book Value |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 211,513 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember | 342,065 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember |  |
Book Value | Retail |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions |  |  |  |
Long-term debt | 617,000 us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = usm_PublicDebtMember | 342,000 us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = usm_PublicDebtMember |  |
Book Value | Institutional |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions |  |  |  |
Long-term debt | 532,722 us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = usm_NonPublicDebtMember | 532,449 us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = usm_NonPublicDebtMember |  |
Book Value | U.S. Treasury Notes |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions |  |  |  |
Short-term investments |  | 50,104 us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesCurrent / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember |  |
Institutional |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions |  |  |  |
Fair value assumption, interest rate | 7.25%usm_FairValueAssumptionsInterestRate / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = usm_NonPublicDebtMember | 7.35%usm_FairValueAssumptionsInterestRate / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = usm_NonPublicDebtMember |  |

X
- Definition Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Cash -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6506951 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Cash Equivalents -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 1 -Article 5 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6676-107765 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3044-108585 + Details
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- Definition Amount after other than temporary impairment (OTTI) accretion, of investments in debt securities classified as held-to-maturity, expected to be converted to cash, sold or exchanged within one year or the normal operating cycle. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6871852&loc=d3e26626-111562 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28360136&loc=d3e22054-111558 + Details
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- Definition Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, excluding amounts to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer (current maturities). Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 + Details
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