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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	336,893us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	211,513us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	$ 398,541us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	$ 342,065us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Fair Value | Level 1
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Cash and cash equivalents	336,893us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember	211,513us-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	625,855us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = usm_PublicDebtMember	608,462us-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	526,199us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = usm_NonPublicDebtMember	513,647us-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	336,893us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember	211,513us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
Book Value | Retail
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Long-term debt	617,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = usm_PublicDebtMember	617,000us-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	532,793us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = usm_NonPublicDebtMember	532,722us-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

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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

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-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

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- Definition

Interest rate assumption used in valuing an instrument.

+ References

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