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Asset Retirement Obligation (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Asset retirement obligation
Asset retirement obligation - beginning balance	$ 189,745	$ 174,085
Additional liabilities accrued	2,664	6,688
Revisions in estimated cash outflows	5,888	(1,382)
Acquisitions of assets	3,891	63
Disposition of assets	(2,252)	(2,410)
Accretion expense	12,481	12,701
Asset retirement obligation - ending balance	212,417	189,745
U.S. Cellular
Asset retirement obligation
Asset retirement obligation - beginning balance	128,709	118,742
Additional liabilities accrued	2,105	4,757
Revisions in estimated cash outflows	5,888	(1,382)
Disposition of assets	(1,323)	(2,086)
Accretion expense	8,023	8,678
Asset retirement obligation - ending balance	143,402	128,709
TDS Telecom
Asset retirement obligation
Asset retirement obligation - beginning balance	61,036	55,343
Additional liabilities accrued	559	1,931
Acquisitions of assets	140	63
Disposition of assets	(929)	(324)
Accretion expense	4,403	4,023
Asset retirement obligation - ending balance	65,209	61,036
Non Reportable Segment
Asset retirement obligation
Acquisitions of assets	3,751
Accretion expense	55
Asset retirement obligation - ending balance	$ 3,806

The carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees.

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- Definition

Amount of accretion expense recognized during the period that is associated with an asset retirement obligation. Accretion expense measures and incorporates changes due to the passage of time into the carrying amount of the liability.

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