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Investments in Unconsolidated Entities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	$ 34,471us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	$ 37,075us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Equity method investments, combined income statements
Revenues	1,729,820us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationRevenue	1,620,402us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationRevenue
Operating expenses	1,286,721us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCostOfSales	1,137,209us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCostOfSales
Operating income	443,099us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationGrossProfitLoss	483,193us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationGrossProfitLoss
Other income, net	4,829usm_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationOtherIncomeExpense	1,764usm_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationOtherIncomeExpense
Net income	447,928us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNetIncomeLoss	484,957us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNetIncomeLoss
Los Angeles SMSA Limited Partnership
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	$ 19,900us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = usm_LosAngelesSmsaLimitedPartnershipMember	$ 21,200us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = usm_LosAngelesSmsaLimitedPartnershipMember
Ownership interest in equity method investment	5.50%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = usm_LosAngelesSmsaLimitedPartnershipMember

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- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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- Definition

The amount of gross profit (loss) reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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