Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Licenses
Balance, beginning of period	$ 1,494,014		$ 1,460,126
Acquisitions	12,647		2,800
Other	786
Balance, end of period	1,507,447		1,462,926
Goodwill
Assigned value at time of acquisition					1,160,417		1,091,795
Accumulated impairment losses in prior periods					(363,340)		(363,340)
Balance, beginning of period	797,077		728,455
Acquisitions	20,364
Impairment	(515)
Other	(258)
Balance, end of period	816,668		728,455
U.S. Cellular
Licenses
Balance, beginning of period	1,475,994	[1]	1,457,326	[1]
Acquisitions	12,647	[1]	2,800	[1]
Other	786	[1]
Balance, end of period	1,489,427	[1]	1,460,126	[1]
Goodwill
Assigned value at time of acquisition					622,681	[1]	622,681	[1]
Accumulated impairment losses in prior periods					(333,900)	[1]	(333,900)	[1]
Balance, beginning of period	288,781	[1]	288,781	[1]
Balance, end of period	288,781	[1]	288,781	[1]
TDS Telecom
Licenses
Balance, beginning of period	2,800						2,800
Balance, end of period	2,800		2,800				2,800
Goodwill
Assigned value at time of acquisition					533,419	[2]	465,312	[2]
Accumulated impairment losses in prior periods					(29,440)	[2]	(29,440)	[2]
Balance, beginning of period	503,979	[2]					435,872	[2]
Acquisitions	20,364	[2]
Other	(258)	[2]
Balance, end of period	524,085	[2]	435,872	[2]			435,872	[2]
Non-Reportable Segment
Licenses
Balance, beginning of period	15,220	[3]
Balance, end of period	15,220	[3]
Goodwill
Assigned value at time of acquisition					4,317	[3]	3,802	[3]
Balance, beginning of period	4,317	[3]					3,802	[3]
Impairment	(515)	[3]
Balance, end of period	$ 3,802	[3]	$ 3,802	[3]			$ 3,802	[3]

[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] The entire Goodwill balance of $29.4 million at the TDS Telecom CLEC business segment was impaired in 2004. The remaining Goodwill balance at TDS Telecom is attributed to the ILEC and HMS business segments.

[3] "Non-Reportable Segment'' consists of amounts related to Suttle-Straus and, as of September 23, 2011, Airadigm. During the second quarter of 2012, a sustained decrease in TDS' stock price resulted in a triggering event, as defined by GAAP, requiring an interim impairment test of Licenses and Goodwill as of June 30, 2012. Based on this test, TDS concluded that the entire amount of Goodwill related to Airadigm was impaired resulting in an impairment loss of $0.5 million and no impairment of Licenses.