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v2.4.1.9

Variable Interest Entities VIEs (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Assets |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 336,893,000 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue | $ 211,513,000 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue | $ 398,541,000 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue | $ 342,065,000 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Other current assets | 18,112,000 us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent | 90,834,000 us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent |  |
Licenses | 1,827,102,000 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements | 1,443,438,000 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements |  |
Property, plant and equipment, net | 2,645,117,000 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet | 2,728,217,000 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet |  |
Other assets and deferred charges | 211,453,000 us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent | 276,218,000 us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent |  |
Liabilities |  |  |  |
Current liabilities | 861,834,000 us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent | 856,894,000 us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent |  |
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures |  |  |  |
Total winning bid | 338,300,000 usm_FccLicenseAuctionTotalWinningBid |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities (VIE's) |  |  |  |
Assets |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 11,670,000 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember | 2,588,000 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember |  |
Other current assets | 234,000 us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember | 278,000 us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember |  |
Licenses | 651,281,000 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember | 312,977,000 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember |  |
Property, plant and equipment, net | 10,129,000 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember | 10,671,000 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember |  |
Other assets and deferred charges | 247,000 us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember | 60,059,000 us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember |  |
Total assets | 673,561,000 us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember | 386,573,000 us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember |  |
Liabilities |  |  |  |
Current liabilities | 3,634,000 us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember | 110,000 us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember |  |
Deferred liabilities and credits | 599,000 us-gaap_OtherDeferredCreditsNoncurrent / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember | 622,000 us-gaap_OtherDeferredCreditsNoncurrent / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember |  |
Total liabilities | 4,233,000 us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountLiabilities / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember | 732,000 us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountLiabilities / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember |  |
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures |  |  |  |
Capital contributions, loans or advances | 280,600,000 us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityFinancialOrOtherSupportAmount / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember |  |  |
Advantage Spectrum L.P. |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures |  |  |  |
Federal Communications Commission deposit |  | 60,000,000 usm_FccLicenseAuctionDepositPayment / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = usm_VariableInterestEntityAdvantageSpectrumMember |  |
Total winning bid | 338,300,000 usm_FccLicenseAuctionTotalWinningBid / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = usm_VariableInterestEntityAdvantageSpectrumMember |  |  |
Other auction charges | 2,300,000 usm_FccLicenseAuctionOtherCharges / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = usm_VariableInterestEntityAdvantageSpectrumMember |  |  |
Designated entity auction discount | 25.00%usm_FccLicenseAuctionDesignatedEntityDiscount / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = usm_VariableInterestEntityAdvantageSpectrumMember |  |  |
Licenses won | 124 usm_FccLicenseAuctionTotalLicensesWon / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = usm_VariableInterestEntityAdvantageSpectrumMember |  |  |
King Street Wireless L.P. |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures |  |  |  |
Cash distributions paid | 60,000,000 us-gaap_DistributionMadeToLimitedPartnerCashDistributionsPaid / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = usm_VariableInterestEntityKingStreetLPMember |  |  |
King Street Wireless, L.P. distribution paid to U.S. Cellular | 54,000,000 usm_DistributionMadeToParentCompanyByConsolidatedSubsidiary / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = usm_VariableInterestEntityKingStreetLPMember |  |  |
King Street Wireless, Inc. |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures |  |  |  |
King Street Wireless, L.P. distribution paid to King Street Wireless, Inc. | $ 6,000,000 usm_DistributionMadeToConsolidatedSubsidiaryByAnotherConsolidatedSubsidiary / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = usm_VariableInterestEntityKingStreetIncMember |  |  |

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