EXHIBIT 23

                     CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference in this Form 10-K of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. of our report
dated January 25, 2002 on the consolidated financial statements of Telephone
and Data Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries, (the "Company") included in the
Company's 2001 Annual Report to Shareholders, to the inclusion in this Form
10-K of our report dated January 25, 2002 on the financial statement
schedules of the Company and to the incorporation by reference of such
reports into the Company's previously filed S-8 Registration Statements, File
No. 33-35172, File No. 33-57257, File No. 33-64035, File No. 333-23947, File
No. 333-58121, File No. 333-58127, File No. 333-76453 and File No. 333-71688,
and into the Company's previously filed S-3 Registration Statements, File No.
33-8564, File No. 33-8857, File No. 33-68456, File No. 33-59435 and File No.
333-38355, and into the Company's previously filed S-4 Registration
Statements, File No. 33-45570 and File No. 33-64293.

ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

Chicago, Illinois
March 27, 2002