Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 164,990us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 18,404us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows from operating activities
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	147,085	167,753
Bad debts expense	29,132us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	20,492us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts
Stock-based compensation expense	5,740us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	4,955us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Deferred income taxes, net	(26,166)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(4,817)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	(34,471)	(37,075)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	12,985	12,818
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	4,251	1,934
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	(111,477)us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness	(6,900)us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net	(122,873)usm_GainLossOnLicenseSalesAndExchanges	(91,446)usm_GainLossOnLicenseSalesAndExchanges
Noncash interest expense	386	269
Other operating activities		47us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense
Changes in assets and liabilities from operations
Accounts receivable	(1,437)	79,586
Equipment installment plans receivable	(36,498)	2,394
Inventory	102,167us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	19,306us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories
Accounts payable	(18,691)	(40,557)
Customer deposits and deferred revenues	13,419	(1,510)
Accrued taxes	189,387	(15,403)
Accrued interest	9,504	9,182
Other assets and liabilities	(71,955)	(75,896)
Cash flows from operating activities	255,478	63,536
Cash flows from investing activities
Cash used for additions to property, plant and equipment	(116,079)	(109,498)
Cash paid for aquisitions and licenses	(279,656)	(9,135)
Cash received from divestitures and exchanges	274,111	103,042
Cash received for investments		10,000
Other investing activities	1,151	584
Cash flows from investing activities	(120,473)	(5,007)
Cash flows from financing activities
Common shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments	487	316
Common shares repurchased	(2,302)	(2,000)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(3,018)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts
Acquisition of towers in common control transaction	(2,437)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(225)	(346)
Other financing activities	(2,130)	(23)
Cash flows from financing activities	(9,625)	(2,053)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	125,380	56,476
Cash and cash equivalents
Beginning of period	211,513	342,065
End of period	$ 336,893	$ 398,541

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of expense related to write-down of receivables to the amount expected to be collected. Includes, but is not limited to, accounts receivable and notes receivable.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate amount of noncash, equity-based employee remuneration. This may include the value of stock or unit options, amortization of restricted stock or units, and adjustment for officers' compensation. As noncash, this element is an add back when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the difference between the fair value and the book value of the licenses that were sold or exchanged during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	usm_GainLossOnLicenseSalesAndExchanges
Namespace Prefix:	usm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash outflow resulting from the difference between consideration paid and the net book value of the transferred assets in a common control transaction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	usm_PaymentsForAcquistionOfAssetsInCommonControlTransaction
Namespace Prefix:	usm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of businesses and or intangible assets, net of any cash acquired in the business acquisition

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	usm_PaymentsForIntangibleAssetsAndToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	usm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration