Employee Benefit Plans, defined Contribution Plan (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Defined Contribution Pension and Other Postretirement Plans Disclosure [Abstract]
Description of defined contribution plan	Defined Contribution Plans TDS sponsors a qualified noncontributory defined contribution pension plan. The plan provides benefits for the employees of TDS Corporate, TDS Telecom and U.S. Cellular. Under this plan, pension costs are calculated separately for each participant and are funded annually. Total pension costs were $17.5 million, $17.5 million and $18.8 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. In addition, TDS sponsors a defined contribution retirement savings plan (“401(k)”) plan. Total costs incurred from TDS’ contributions to the 401(k) plan were $22.1 million, $21.6 million and $20.9 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. TDS also sponsors an unfunded nonqualified deferred supplemental executive retirement plan for certain employees to offset the reduction of benefits caused by the limitation on annual employee compensation under the tax laws.
401(k)
Defined Contribution Pension and Other Postretirement Plans Disclosure [Abstract]
Defined contribution cost	$ 22.1	$ 21.6	$ 20.9
Pension
Defined Contribution Pension and Other Postretirement Plans Disclosure [Abstract]
Defined contribution cost	$ 17.5	$ 17.5	$ 18.8

- Definition

Description of the terms and benefits provided by the employer's defined contribution plans. A defined contribution plan provides benefits in return for services rendered, provides an individual account for each participant, and has terms that specify how contributions to the individual's account are to be determined rather than the amount of benefits the individual is to receive. Under a defined contribution pension plan, the benefits a participant will receive depend solely on the amount contributed to the participant's account, the returns earned on investments of those contributions, and forfeitures of other participants' benefits that may be allocated to such participant's account. A description of the plan(s) including employee groups covered, the basis for determining contributions, and the nature and effects of significant matters affecting comparability of information for all periods presented.

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