Common Stockholders' Equity, Equity Repurchase (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Amount		$ 21,500,000
Treasury Shares
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Amount		21,500,000
Common Shares | TDS Parent Company
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common share repurchase authorization	On November 19, 2009, the Board of Directors of TDS authorized a $250 million stock repurchase program for purchase of 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 19, 2012
Special Common Shares | TDS Parent Company
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Number of shares acquired		748,000
Average cost per share		$ 28.73
Amount		21,500,000
US Cellular Common Shares | U.S. Cellular
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Number of shares acquired		1,276,000
Average cost per share		$ 48.83
Amount		$ 62,308,000
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.
The increase in number of shares allowed to be repurchased	1,300,000
Repurchase expiration	does not have an expiration date