XML 52 R27.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.2.0.727

Fair Value Measurements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value | Level 1
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 362,282	$ 211,513
Fair Value | Level 2 | Retail
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Long-term debt	614,846	608,462
Fair Value | Level 2 | Institutional
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Long-term debt	503,732	513,647
Book Value
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Cash and cash equivalents	362,282	211,513
Book Value | Retail
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Long-term debt	617,000	617,000
Book Value | Institutional
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Long-term debt	532,866	532,722
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 362,282	$ 211,513	$ 404,058	$ 342,065
Institutional
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Fair value assumption, interest rate	7.44%	7.25%

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



-Topic 210



-SubTopic 10



-Section 45



-Paragraph 1



-Subparagraph (a)



-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6676-107765



Reference 3: 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



Reference 4: 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 5: 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 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef



-Publisher SEC



-Name Regulation S-X (SX)



-Number 210



-Section 02



-Paragraph 1



-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ 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_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=usm_PublicDebtMember
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:

X

- Details

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