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Variable Interest Entities VIEs (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Jan. 31, 2015 number
Assets |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 211,513,000 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue | $ 342,065,000 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue | $ 378,358,000 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue | $ 424,155,000 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue |
Other current assets | 90,834,000 us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent | 19,538,000 us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent |  |  |
Licenses | 1,443,438,000 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements | 1,401,126,000 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, net | 2,728,217,000 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet | 2,856,520,000 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet |  |  |
Other assets and deferred charges | 276,218,000 us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent | 117,735,000 us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent |  |  |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  |
Current liabilities | 856,894,000 us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent | 1,006,173,000 us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures |  |  |  |  |
Federal Communications Commission deposit | 60,000,000 usm_FccLicenseAuctionDepositPayment |  |  |  |
Capital contributions, loans or advances | 60,900,000 us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityFinancialOrOtherSupportAmount |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling interests with redemption features | 1,150,000 us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityOtherCarryingAmount | 536,000 us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityOtherCarryingAmount |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities (VIE's) |  |  |  |  |
Assets |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 2,588,000 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember | 2,076,000 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember |  |  |
Other current assets | 278,000 us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember | 1,184,000 us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember |  |  |
Licenses | 312,977,000 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember | 310,475,000 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, net | 10,671,000 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember | 18,600,000 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember |  |  |
Other assets and deferred charges | 60,059,000 us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember | 511,000 us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember |  |  |
Total assets | 386,573,000 us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember | 332,846,000 us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember |  |  |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  |
Current liabilities | 110,000 us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember | 46,000 us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember |  |  |
Deferred liabilities and credits | 622,000 us-gaap_OtherDeferredCreditsNoncurrent / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember | 3,139,000 us-gaap_OtherDeferredCreditsNoncurrent / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember |  |  |
Total liabilities | 732,000 us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountLiabilities / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember | 3,185,000 us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountLiabilities / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures |  |  |  |  |
Put option, exercisable dates | The limited partnership agreements of Advantage Spectrum, Aquinas Wireless and King Street Wireless also provide the general partner with a put option whereby the general partner may require the limited partner, a subsidiary of U.S. Cellular, to purchase its interest in the limited partnership. The general partner’s put options related to its interests in King Street Wireless and Aquinas Wireless will become exercisable in 2019 and 2020, respectively. The general partner’s put options related to its interest in Advantage Spectrum will become exercisable on the fifth and sixth anniversaries of the issuance of any license. |  |  |  |
Advantage Spectrum L.P. |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures |  |  |  |  |
Federal Communications Commission deposit | 60,000,000 usm_FccLicenseAuctionDepositPayment / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = usm_VariableInterestEntityAdvantageSpectrumMember |  |  |  |
Advantage Spectrum L.P. | Subsequent event |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Events |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent event, description | An FCC auction of AWS-3 spectrum licenses, referred to as Auction 97, began in November 2014 and ended in January 2015. U.S. Cellular participated in Auction 97 indirectly through its interest in Advantage Spectrum. A subsidiary of U.S. Cellular is a limited partner in Advantage Spectrum. Advantage Spectrum qualified as a “designated entity,” and thereby was eligible for bid credits with respect to spectrum purchased in Auction 97. To participate in this auction, a $60.0 million deposit was made to the FCC in 2014. Such amount is reflected in Other Assets and Deferred Charges in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Advantage Spectrum was the provisional winning bidder for 124 licenses for an aggregate bid of $338.3 million, net of its anticipated designated entity discount of 25%. Advantage Spectrum’s bid amount, less the initial deposit of $60.0 million, plus certain other charges totaling $2.3 million, are required to be paid to the FCC by March 2, 2015. |  |  |  |
Licenses won |  |  |  |  | 124 usm_FccLicenseAuctionTotalLicensesWon / us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis = us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = usm_VariableInterestEntityAdvantageSpectrumMember
Total winning bid |  |  |  |  | 338,300,000 usm_FccLicenseAuctionTotalWinningBid / us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis = us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = usm_VariableInterestEntityAdvantageSpectrumMember
Designated entity auction discount |  |  |  |  | 25.00%usm_FccLicenseAuctionDesignatedEntityDiscount / us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis = us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = usm_VariableInterestEntityAdvantageSpectrumMember
Other auction charges |  |  |  |  | $ 2,300,000 usm_FccLicenseAuctionOtherCharges / us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis = us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = usm_VariableInterestEntityAdvantageSpectrumMember

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