Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012 U.S. Cellular		Mar. 31, 2011 U.S. Cellular		Mar. 31, 2012 TDS Telecom	Dec. 31, 2011 TDS Telecom	Mar. 31, 2011 TDS Telecom	Dec. 31, 2010 TDS Telecom	Mar. 31, 2012 Non-Reportable Segment		Dec. 31, 2011 Non-Reportable Segment
Licenses
Balance, beginning of period	$ 1,494,014	$ 1,460,126	$ 1,475,994	[1]	$ 1,457,326	[1]	$ 2,800	$ 2,800	$ 2,800	$ 2,800	$ 15,220	[2]	$ 15,220	[2]
Acquisitions	11,096	300	11,096		300
Balance, end of period	$ 1,505,110	$ 1,460,426	$ 1,487,090	[1]	$ 1,457,626	[1]	$ 2,800	$ 2,800	$ 2,800	$ 2,800	$ 15,220	[2]	$ 15,220	[2]

[1] Prior to January 1, 2009, TDS accounted for U.S. Cellular's share repurchases as step acquisitions, allocating a portion of the share repurchase value to TDS licenses and goodwill, as required by GAAP in effect at that time. Consequently, U.S. Cellular's licenses and goodwill on a stand-alone basis do not match the TDS consolidated licenses and goodwill related to U.S. Cellular.

[2] "Non-Reportable Segment'' consists of amounts related to Suttle-Straus and, as of September 23, 2011, Airadigm.