TDS and U.S. Cellular Share Repurchases (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Amount	$ 21,500,000	$ 31,093,000
TDS Parent Company | Special Common Shares
Number of shares acquired	748,000	1,079,000
Average cost per share	$ 28.73	$ 28.81
Amount	21,500,000	31,092,000
US Cellular | US Cellular Common Shares
Number of shares acquired	1,276,000	523,000
Average cost per share	$ 48.83	$ 40.97
Amount	62,308,000	21,423,000
Common share repurchase authorization	On November 17, 2009, the Board of Directors of U.S. Cellular authorized the repurchase of up to 1,300,000 Common Shares on an annual basis beginning in 2009 and continuing each year thereafter, on a cumulative basis. These purchases will be made pursuant to open market purchases, block purchases, private purchases, or otherwise, depending on market prices and other conditions. This authorization does not have an expiration date.
Repurchase authorization, additional number of shares	1,300,000
Repurchase expiration	does not have an expiration date
TDS Parent Company
Common share repurchase authorization	On November 19, 2009, the Board of Directors of TDS authorized a $250 million stock repurchase program for both TDS Common and Special Common Shares from time to time pursuant to open market purchases, block transactions, private purchases or otherwise, depending on market conditions. This authorization will expire on November 19, 2012.
Repurchase authorization, dollar value	$ 250,000,000
Repurchase expiration	November 12, 2012