Common Shareholder's Equity (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Schedule of common shares, rollforward

The following table summarizes the number of Common, Special Common and Series A Common Shares issued and repurchased.
			Common Shares	Special Common Shares	Common Treasury Shares	Special Common Treasury Shares	Series A Common Shares
(Shares in thousands)
Balance December 31, 2009			57,082	63,442	7,277	13,717	6,492
	Repurchase of shares		-	-	-	2,394	-
	Conversion of Series A Common Shares		11	-	-	-	(11)
	Dividend reinvestment, incentive and compensation plans		-	-	(79)	(200)	29
Balance December 31, 2010			57,093	63,442	7,198	15,911	6,510
	Repurchase of shares		-	-	-	748	-
	Dividend reinvestment, incentive and compensation plans		-	-	(86)	(226)	39
	Reclassification as a result of Share Consolidation Amendment (1)		68,409	(63,442)	17,053	(16,433)	570
Balance December 31, 2011			125,502	-	24,165	-	7,119
	Repurchase of shares		-	-	868	-	-
	Conversion of Series A Common Shares		10	-	-	-	(10)
	Dividend reinvestment, incentive and compensation plans		-	-	(392)	-	51
Balance December 31, 2012			125,512	-	24,641	-	7,160
(1)		Reflects the impact of the Share Consolidation Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of TDS, as approved by the TDS shareholders on January 13, 2012.

Share repurchases

			Number of	Average Cost
Year Ended December 31,			Shares	Per Share		Amount (1)
(Dollars amounts and shares in thousands)
2012
	U.S. Cellular Common Shares		571	$	35.11	$	20,045
	TDS Common Shares		868		23.08		20,026
2011
	U.S. Cellular Common Shares		1,276	$	48.82	$	62,294
	TDS Common Shares		-		-		-
	TDS Special Common Shares		748		28.73		21,500
2010
	U.S. Cellular Common Shares		1,235	$	42.76	$	52,827
	TDS Common Shares		-		-		-
	TDS Special Common Shares		2,394		28.42		68,053
(1)		Amounts reported in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows may differ from these amounts due to repurchases and subsequent cash settlements occurring in different years.