XML 94 R60.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.1.9

Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Licenses |  |
Balance, beginning of period | $ 1,401,126 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill | $ 1,456,794 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill
Acquisitions | 41,707 us-gaap_IndefinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired | 16,540 us-gaap_IndefinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired
Divestitures |  | (59,419)us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit
Transferred to Assets held for sale | (56,809)usm_AssetsHeldForSaleIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTransferred | (16,027)usm_AssetsHeldForSaleIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTransferred
Exchanges, net | 55,780 usm_IncreaseDecreaseLicensesExchange |
Other | 1,634 usm_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsOtherChanges | 3,238 usm_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsOtherChanges
Balance, end of period | 1,443,438 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill | 1,401,126 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill
Goodwill |  |
Balance, beginning of year | 387,524 us-gaap_Goodwill | 421,743 us-gaap_Goodwill
Divestitures | (1,092)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit | (505)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit
Transferred to Assets held for sale | (16,281)usm_AssetsHeldForSaleGoodwillTransferred |
NY1 & NY2 Deconsolidation |  | (33,714)usm_GoodwillDeconsolidated
Balance, end of year | $ 370,151 us-gaap_Goodwill | $ 387,524 us-gaap_Goodwill

X
- Definition Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillRollForward
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of divestiture of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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
Name: | us-gaap_IndefinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
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
Name: | us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsRollForward
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of write-off of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance and having a projected indefinite period of benefit associated with the sale of all or a portion of a reporting unit. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Goodwill that is transferred to assets held for sale during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | usm_AssetsHeldForSaleGoodwillTransferred
Namespace Prefix: | usm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
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
Name: | usm_AssetsHeldForSaleIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTransferred
Namespace Prefix: | usm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The aggregate amount of goodwill that was deconsolidated in the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | usm_GoodwillDeconsolidated
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
Name: | usm_IncreaseDecreaseLicensesExchange
Namespace Prefix: | usm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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
Name: | usm_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsOtherChanges
Namespace Prefix: | usm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration