Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2011
Earnings per share
Net income available to common shareholders of TDS used in basic earnings per share	$ 52,242		$ 43,492
Adjustments to compute diluted earnings
Noncontrolling interest adjustment	(345)	[1]	(209)	[1]
Preferred dividend adjustment	12	[2]	12	[2]
Net income available to common shareholders of TDS used in diluted earnings per share	$ 51,909		$ 43,295
Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings per share
Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings per share	108,653,000	[3]	108,936,000	[3]
Effects of dilutive securities:
Stock options	202,000		540,000
Restricted stock units	180,000		184,000
Preferred shares	63,000		55,000
Weighted average number of shares used in diluted earnings per share	109,098,000	[3]	109,715,000	[3]
Basic earnings per share attributable to TDS shareholders	$ 0.48	[3]	$ 0.40	[3]
Diluted earnings per share attributable to TDS shareholders	$ 0.48	[3]	$ 0.39	[3]
Shareholder Vote Share Consolidation Amendment
Share Consolidation
Significant event, date	January 13, 2012
Common Shares
Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings per share
Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings per share	101,534,000		101,860,000
Share Consolidation
Share conversion ratio, Common shares	1.087
Common Shares | Stock Options
Effects of dilutive securities:
Antidilutive shares	4,301,000		1,557,000
Special Common Shares
Share Consolidation
Share conversion ratio, Common shares	1
Series A Common Shares
Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings per share
Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings per share	7,119,000		7,076,000
Share Consolidation
Share conversion ratio, Series A Common shares	1.087

[1] The noncontrolling income adjustment reflects the additional noncontrolling share of U.S. Cellular's income computed as if all of U.S. Cellular's dilutive securities were outstanding.

[2] The preferred dividend adjustment reflects the dividend reduction related to preferred securities that were dilutive, and therefore treated as if converted for shares.

[3] On January 13, 2012, TDS shareholders approved a Share Consolidation Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of TDS. Average basic and diluted shares outstanding used to calculate earnings per share for the comparative period presented have been retroactively restated to reflect the impact of the increased shares outstanding as a result of the Share Consolidation Amendment.