XML 49 R26.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.1.9

Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 336,893 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue | 211,513 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue | $ 398,541 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue | $ 342,065 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Fair Value | Level 1 |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 336,893 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember | 211,513 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 | 625,855 us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = usm_PublicDebtMember | 608,462 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 | 526,199 us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = usm_NonPublicDebtMember | 513,647 us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = usm_NonPublicDebtMember |  |
Book Value |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 336,893 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember | 211,513 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 | 617,000 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 | 532,793 us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = usm_NonPublicDebtMember | 532,722 us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = usm_NonPublicDebtMember |  |
Institutional |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions |  |  |  |
Fair value assumption, interest rate | 7.02%usm_FairValueAssumptionsInterestRate / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = usm_NonPublicDebtMember | 7.25%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
Name: | us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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

X
- 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
Name: | us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Interest rate assumption used in valuing an instrument. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | usm_FairValueAssumptionsInterestRate
Namespace Prefix: | usm_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=usm_NonPublicDebtMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |