Investments In Unconsolidated Entities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Disclosure Text Block

Investments in Unconsolidated Entities

NOTE 10 INVESTMENTS IN UNCONSOLIDATED ENTITIES

Investments in unconsolidated entities consist of amounts invested in wireless and wireline entities which are accounted for using either the equity or cost method as shown in the following table:

December 31,		2011			2010
(Dollars in thousands)
Equity method investments:
	Capital contributions, loans and advances	$	25,067		$	34,171
	Cumulative share of income		958,635			889,039
	Cumulative share of distributions		(825,261	)		(740,557	)
			158,441			182,653
Cost method investments			15,269			15,269
Total investments in unconsolidated entities		$	173,710		$	197,922

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities totaled $82.5million, $98.1million and $90.7 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively; of those amounts, TDS' investment in the Los Angeles SMSA Limited Partnership (“LA Partnership”) contributed $55.3 million, $64.8 million and $64.7 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. TDS held a 5.5% ownership interest in the LA Partnership throughout and at the end of each of these years.

The following tables, which are based on information provided in part by third parties, summarize the combined assets, liabilities and equity, and the combined results of operations of TDS' equity method investments:

December 31,		2011		2010
(Dollars in thousands)
Assets
	Current	$	435,732	$	424,965
	Due from affiliates		199,167		396,201
	Property and other		1,988,331		2,015,959
		$	2,623,230	$	2,837,125
Liabilities and Equity
	Current liabilities	$	304,742	$	278,837
	Deferred credits		82,371		73,496
	Long-term liabilities		36,056		38,225
	Long-term capital lease obligations		234		43,657
	Partners’ capital and stockholders’ equity		2,199,827		2,402,910
		$	2,623,230	$	2,837,125

Year Ended December 31,		2011		2010		2009
(Dollars in thousands)
Results of Operations
	Revenues	$	5,540,220	$	4,971,525	$	4,815,258
	Operating expenses		4,301,758		3,567,131		3,437,201
	Operating income		1,238,462		1,404,394		1,378,057
	Other income (expense)		960		36,168		41,802
	Net income	$	1,239,422	$	1,440,562	$	1,419,859